Chapter 91: Joining the Set

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Early the next morning, Gao Xin made a special trip to pick up Xia Xin and drive her to the film set.

Gao Xin opened the car door and handed Xia Xin a cup of bubble tea. She said, “I thought I’d pick you up; otherwise, it would be quite a hassle for you to take a cab by yourself. Plus, I remembered you and Jing MO live in the same neighborhood, so I thought I’d try my luck, and it paid off.”

Xia Xin, getting into the car, teased, “You do enjoy surprises. What if you didn’t run into me? Then your trip would have been in vain. Next time, you can give me a call in advance.”

Gao Xin chuckled, “Okay, you’re quite the talker. I got you some breakfast—buns, steamed buns, and a sandwich. You can pick whichever you like.”

Xia Xin happily enjoyed her breakfast and said, “Thanks.”

“We’re friends, no need to be polite,” said Gao Xin.

Upon arriving at the film set, Xia Xin realized that she actually knew the male lead of the production, MO Shu, who had been on the variety show with her a few days ago.

MO Shu saw Xia Xin and came over to greet her politely, “I heard about your adventures on the variety show; you’re quite brave.”

Xia Xin replied, “Thinking back, I’m still a bit scared.”

MO Shu politely said, “If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. Welcome aboard.”

Afterward, everyone went about their business. Xia Xin was summoned by the director, Jia Bing, to discuss her scenes scheduled for later. After explaining, Jia Bing showed Xia Xin some pictures of the cat that would appear in the production.

Observing the cat in the photos, Xia Xin saw that it was a completely white Ragdoll cat, cute and adorable with expressive eyes.

Jia Bing continued, “This is my wife’s cat, and she’s very fond of it. She insisted on having it in this film.”

Xia Xin immediately realized that Jia Bing was showcasing his affection publicly, so she didn’t comment.

Jia Bing then instructed Xia Xin to go and have her special effects makeup done. He informed her that her scenes would be filmed in two hours.

To make Xia Xin’s appearance resemble that of the Ragdoll cat, white makeup was applied to her face, a process that took nearly two hours. Just as she finished, Jia Bing came to notify her. Due to too many retakes by actors earlier in the day, they had run behind schedule, so her scenes would be delayed.

The makeup artist said, “After you’re done with makeup, you can wait at the set. This way, when it’s time for your scenes, we can start right away. Also, Mr. Jia seems to be shooting a scene where MO Shu appears shirtless now. It’s worth a watch.”

Looking at the makeup artist’s expectant expression, Xia Xin politely returned a smile and went to the set. Then, Xia Xin only understood why the makeup artist was looking forward to it when she arrived at the scene. This scene was worth watching. MO Shu’s figure was indeed very good. He had an eight-pack and a perfect chest. Water droplets hung on the lines of his muscles. Coupled with MO Shu’s gentle and handsome face, any girl would probably blush when they saw him.

However, Xia Xin didn’t have time to admire MO Shut s physique; she was focused on her own performance. Although she had done some commercial work before, this was a different ballgame. The set was crowded, and she couldn’t help but feel self-conscious under the gaze of so many people. Her body felt rigid, like a robot.

In this role, Xia Xin had to mimic a cat’s graceful and confident movements while walking. However, Xia Xin’s walk was anything but graceful; it was stiff, and she even tripped. After just a few steps, the director angrily called for a cut!

Jia Bing glared at Xia Xin with frustration. His demeanor was a stark contrast to the affectionate behavior he had displayed earlier. He seemed like an irritated monster ready to scold anyone he caught.

Xia Xin felt embarrassed and apologized profusely.

Jia Bing said, “You’re a person, not a zombie! You’re walking like a mummy; there’s no grace at all. Let’s take it from the top again!”

However, even after several retakes, Xia Xin couldn’t find her groove. The director, now in an irritable mood, decided to postpone her scenes and shoot others first.

Feeling guilty, Xia Xin left the set. As she walked away, she overheard some people whispering, “Why did the director hire someone with no experience? It’s a waste of everyone’s time, isn’t it?”

Another person chimed in, “Lower your voice. She’s here with Gao Xin, so she must have some connections…”