Unlike big cities this tranquil village awoke to the insistent crow of a rooster , although the mountains were still shrouded in a mystical veil of early morning fog, lending an ethereal quietness to the landscape. But the viallgers were already started there day in this darkness .Within her humble abode, Su Yue stirred from her her sleep by the aroma of breakfast which was already wafting through the air. Sheng Yan, her ever-capable assistant, had prepared this meal also , as she had prepared the dinner the night before. Su Yue couldn’t help but marvel at the almost superhuman versatility of the two assistants Jiang Ci had sent to her .
In thethreshing ground of the village , the crew had erected several tents, in which one served as the actors’ combined dressing and makeup room. Inside, Chu Mengyun sat before her makeup mirror, her face wore a mask of displeasure. Though not from a family of immense wealth, she had never experienced such austere living conditions before . The villager’s home she was staying in, supposedly the best-decorated in the village and recently renovated, was in reality was a chaotic mess. The Children’s clothes of the host’s family lay strewn everywhere, and garbage littered the all around the floor—a clear sign of the family’s nonchalant attitude toward cleanliness.
Her room itself was cramped and filled with clutter, even the small table and cabinet emitting a musty odor. The 1.5-meter-wide bed was barely big enough for her and her agent, a discomfort she begrudgingly tolerated for the shoot . But what truly frayed her nerves were the pigs in the backyard of the house. Even with windows and doors tightly shut, the pungent smell of pig waste permeated her room all night as she tried to sleep. Adding to her torment, the family’s daughter, only two years younger than her , had incessantly pestered her all night with questions about the entertainment industry—its earnings, entry requirements, and pathways. Chu Mengyun, was almost driven to impatience, had finally given a dismissive wave to her assistant which in turn make her leave.
The thought of spending another two to three months in this envoironment gnawed at her all night . And with Su Yue, a complete novice, likely to prolong filming with her inexperience, the ordeal could easily stretch to three months or more. The prospect of this thought filled her with a profound sense of unease.
Just then, Su Yue, having finished her breakfast, arrived for her makeup. As the tent curtain lifted, Chu Mengyun, catching Su Yue’s reflection in the mirror, observed this newcomer entering with three assistants. A strange flicker of disdain crossed Chu Mengyun’s eyes. Such a display of power for a new face in the industry—it seemed overtly arrogant and high-profile.Still on the outside she remained calm .
“Good Morning,” Chu Mengyun greeted, turning her head towards SuYue .
“Morning,” Su Yue replied, settling into the dressing table on the opposite side.
“Did you sleep well last night?” Chu Mengyun asked, stifling a yawn. She’d heard her own accommodation was the best; surely Su Yue’s was even worse.
“Very well,” Su Yue responded. Sheng Tian and Sheng Yan had ingeniously transformed her room. Though the bed lacked a soft mattress, two layers of quilts made it remarkably comfortable, topped with luxurious, skin-friendly silk sheets and quilts. The subtle scent of ice cream-infused candles had ensured a restful night’s sleep for help .
“Really?” Chu Mengyun offered a polite, somewhat forced smile. As Su Yue’s face glowed with a healthy, rosy flush—the kind that comes from deep, restorative sleep. Chu Mengyun silently conceded that perhaps she was the only one truly “squeamish,” incapable of adapting to harsh environments, while others seemingly embraced any conditions for there work.
In this play, Su Yue’s character’s name was Ji Yao, a blind village girl, while Chu Mengyun portrayed a young, city-bred teacher, who just arrives in the village to teach . Their appearances thus needed to be starkly different. Chu Mengyun’s character, being urban and avant-garde, was styled with delicate, sophisticated makeup and a beautiful dress, reflecting her modern sensibilities.
On Su Yue’s side, the makeup artist found herself in a perplexing situation. Standing beside Su Yue, she felt a slight nervousness. It was her first time working with such an impeccably beautiful face—flawless, snow-white, and requiring absolutely no makeup. Yet, to fit the role, Su Yue needed to appear a bit ugly “
The makeup artist tried to lift Su Yue’s hair, preparing to style it, only to discover its extraordinary grith . As female actroresses hair often subjected to heat and dye, even with diligent care, rarely retained such health. But Su Yue’s long, black hair was smooth as silk , and boasted such a natural luster that stirred envy in any woman . The makeup artist than braided Su Yue’s hair on both sides, then pulled a few strands around her cheeks to create a deliberately messy effect.
But after looking at the styled Su Yue, her face appeared even more tender and childlike, leaving the makeup artist feeling somewhat lost. She added a layer of bangs to cover Su Yue’s beautiful forehead and eyebrows, then applied blush to Su Yue’s snow-white cheeks, aiming to diminish her inherent aura and highlight a rustic charm. But Su Yue’s features were so exquisite that even the “plateau red” that looked earthy on others appeared endearing on her. Finally, the makeup artist chose a more “village girl” outfit for Su Yue: a simple dark-blue top and loose black trousers.
“The director is asking if the actors have finished their makeup,” a staff member announced, reminding them of the director’s presence.
“I’m ready here,” Chu Mengyun said, glancing at Su Yue’s simple attire with a faint curl of her lips before walking out.
Su Yue also rose from her seat , with a script in hand, and glanced at her reflection in the mirror . This transformation was indeed quite fitting for her character.
Since Su Yue hadn’t had a makeup photo shoot before, the director began filming immediately after she took some quick shots in a makeshift studio. The first scene of the day involved Chu Mengyun’s character arriving in the village as a teacher. Su Yue watched it from the side, while reviewing her script, as Sheng Yan thoughtfully pulled up a chair for her. Mao Yuanyuan, feeling somewhat useless around her , quickly asked Su Yue, “Miss Su, your first scene with the male lead is next. Do you need me to help you with your lines?”
“Not for now,” Su Yue replied. She wouldn’t claim a photographic memory, but she could reliably memorize lines after reading the script three times. There would be no need for lip-syncing or panicked forgetting.
“Do it all over again!” Director Guan’s voice boomed. This was Chu Mengyun’s third take. “Pay attention to your demeanor; don’t be too pretentious,” he advised again .
Xu Shen, now fully made up and costumed, emerged from his tent . His face now bore faint scratches and a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth, his black clothes adding to his rugged appearance. He embodied Fang Licheng, the male protagonist completely , with a fierce stubbornness and arrogance in his body . He approached Su Yue on the side and said . “I’ll lead you through it later, so don’t be nervous.” He feared Su Yue’s potential stage fright would slow down production even more .
“Thank you,” Senior ,Su Yue responded concisely, watching as Chu Mengyun finally nailed shot in her her sixth take.
Chu Mengyun’s assistant rushed forward when the director said okay . Keep pushing—you’re doing great! I’ve prepared warm water and fruit for you . Let me help you to rest.” As Chu Mengyun settled onto a reclining chair, accepting the water from her assiatant . She felt she had performed considerably well. Spotting Su Yue walking near by, she secretly hoped the newcomer’s acting wouldn’t be too terrible; as she dreaded spending an entire day on a single scene.
The assistant offered Chu Mengyun the script, but she waved it away. “Follow them to the next location, record the scene, and bring it back for me to see.” She recalled a certain actress who had over thirty NGs during a shoot and fervently hoped Su Yue wouldn’t break that record, especially given their many shared scenes. She didn’t want to be held back. The assistant, long accustomed to Chu Mengyun’s unspoken requests, nodded. “Okay, I’ll go right away.”
The next shot was the opening scene depicting the childhood sweethearts, the heroine and hero. “You can play it first, and I’ll point out any issues,” Director Guan instructed Su Yue. He had chosen her knowing her inexperience, so his tolerance level was higher for her than any other actor . Su Yue nodded in acknowledgment.
This scene depicted Ji Yao, the heroine, emerging from her house after hearing the hero call her name. The challenge lay in portraying Ji Yao’s blindness.
“Action!” Director Guan shouted. He watched Su Yue intently on the screen. One moment, Su Yue held a slight smile; the next, it vanished. Her clear, translucent eyes became instantly vacant, devoid of focus, her expression utterly natural. She groped her way to the door, then stepped out, moving with the convincing gait of a blind person.
“Licheng, you’re here,” Ji Yao said, a joyful and shy smile gracing her lips. Even though her eyes lacked brightness, yet her mood was visibly palpable.
Fang Licheng, played by Xu Shen, chewed on a withered straw root he’d found . “I’ve brought you some rice,” he said casually to Ji Yao. “Didn’t want you to starve alone .” He grimaced in pain as he grinned, likely due to the wound on his mouth, but uttered no sound. He kicked a bag of rice at his feet, then said impatiently, “I’ll help you move it to the kitchen. Don’t be stingy to use it later .” He glanced at Ji Yao with feigned disgust. “You’re skinny and ugly. Eat some rice to grow , and I’ll buy you more when this is gone.”
“Licheng, how many kilograms of rice did you buy this time ?” Ji Yao asked softly, her lips still now curved in a gentle smile.
“You don’t need to know ” Fang Licheng retorted, tossing the straw aside. He hoisted the entire bag of rice onto his shoulders and strode into the house.
“You don’t want the money? Then stay for dinner…” Ji Yao followed, her movements slow and hesitant due to her blindness, but her clear voice was gentle as it was gradually fading as the two figures disappeared into the room.
“Okay! Take one more! A guarantee take!” Director Guan shouted, cutting the scene.
Xu Shen’s acting skills were undeniably stellar, justifying his Best Actor award. But Su Yue—Director Guan was utterly captivated. He had prepared himself to guide her through every single step, yet from beginning to end, Su Yue’s performance was breathtakingly natural. It was as if she was Ji Yao, and Ji Yao was her!
“Have you had contact with any blind people before?” Director Guan asked, approaching Su Yue as she watched the replay.
Su Yue, observing her own steady performance, replied, “Yes, I’ve been in close contact with one .” Living with Jiang Ci for so long, she could vividly recall how he looked when he was blind, even with her eyes closed.
Beside them, Xu Shen was even more astonished than the director. His own initial takes were usually slow and often imperfect. Yet, the moment Su Yue walked out of the room, he instantly connected with his character. Before him was Ji Yao; and he was Fang Licheng. In that brief shot, Su Yue had, remarkably, led him to give this shot . It was extremely baffling that a newcomer was leading a Best Actor in a scene!
Chu Mengyun, still resting, was surprised when her assistant returned so quickly. “Didn’t I ask you to go to the set? Why are you back so soon?”
The assistant panted, taking a deep breath before speaking. “the shot is over.”
“So fast?” Chu Mengyun wondered, a thought quickly forming: Was Su Yue’s performance so abysmal that Director Guan couldn’t bear to watch? “Give me the phone.”
The assistant handed over the phone. “They did the scene in one go , no NGs.” He consciously lowered his voice on the last part, remembering Chu Mengyun’s six NGs earlier.
“What? Impossible!” Chu Mengyun exclaimed, as she was clicking on the video. But as the video progressesd her face remained a mask of disbelief until the very end. “Did Director Guan coach her through every single step before filming?”
The assistant shook his head. “Director Guan didn’t give any guidance; he just let Su Yue perform. I didn’t expect it to pass in one take—no reshoots needed at all.” The assistant stifled the urge to praise Su Yue even further. “I heard Director Guan even ask Su Yue if she’d been in contact with blind people, and she said yes.”
Chu Mengyun switched off the phone screen. “So that’s it. She’s familiar with playing a blind person.”
Meanwhile, Jiang Ci had spent the entire day in meetings with his most trusted confidants. For years, Sheng Minghao’s influence had permeated the company, and now, it was time for a meticulous purge for this infectious virus from Sheng corporation. Suddenly, his phone, resting on the conference table, vibrated, displaying two new messages: containing a video and a photo.
With a tap, he opened the photo. It depicted Ji Yao and Fang Licheng seated at the same table, sharing a meal. Jiang Ci’s dark eyes deepened. Though their chairs were not touching, he found the proximity infuriating, especially the smile on Su Yue’s face.
“How much longer it needed to eradicate Sheng Minghao completely?” Jiang Ci abruptly demanded.
“Mr. Jiang, the contract was signed only yesterday. It will take at least two months for the earliest results, and a while longer to gather all the evidence against him ,” Gu Qing reported.
Jiang Ci frowned, dissatisfied with his answer . “Too slow. One month at the absolute latest, no matter the method .I want this matter resolved .” His patience was wearing thin. Two months without seeing Su Yue was like an unbearable eternity for him .
“Yes, President Jiang.”
“Meeting adjourned,” Jiang Ci said, his voice now felt even colder . He picked up his phone and left the office.
Watching Jiang Ci depart, a baby-faced man beside Gu Qing, Gu Quan (Gu Qing’s younger brother and also a subordinate of Jiang Ci), exclaimed, “Brother, what do we do? There isn’t enough time. Why did President Jiang suddenly shorten the deadline just now ?”
“The contract can only follow the normal process. We’ll have to accelerate on the evidence side,” Gu Qing mused. He, too, was surprised by Jiang Ci’s sudden change of heart. He knew that President Jiang had recently sent someone to protect his wife, and that she was filming in the countryside . He wondered if this unexpected urgency was related to his wife’s departure. From Jiang Ci’s earlier requests—buying a small supermarket, repeatedly canceling trending topics, booking an entire movie theater—Gu Qing sensed a profound shift in his boss, all seemingly centered around his wife, Su Yue.
Upon returning to his office, Jiang Ci settled into his black executive chair and, without hesitation, opened the video. It was a clip of Su Yue’s acting, sent by Sheng Yan at his explicit instruction. He observed Su Yue’s appearance in the video: something pink had been applied to the sides of her face, her bangs were neat and thick, making her look terribly rustic, and her clothes were, to say the least, appalling.
Still Jiang Ci’s dark eyes remained fixed on the video, from beginning to end.
So ugly!
He sneered in disgust, yet his fingertips instinctively clicked “replay”…
When Gu Qing was called back into the office, he assumed Jiang Ci had forgotten to mention something during the earlier meeting. “Mr. Jiang,” he began.
“Go to Jinyuan Entertainment and inform their boss that I wish to invest in their company’s new movie,” Jiang Ci stated lazily, his dark eyes still fixed on the screen.
“Huh?” Gu Qing’s head snapped up in surprise. Their group had never ventured into the entertainment industry, let alone invested in films.
“My sole condition is this: all intimate scenes in the play must be deleted, and the bodies of the male and female protagonists cannot be too close,” Jiang Ci continued, his eyes half-closed, his tone casual. “If they do not accept the investment, you may inform them that our group will acquire their company tommorow.”
“Yes, President Jiang,” Gu Qing replied, still bewildered by the instructions.