I Ran Away After Flirting with the Goddess - Chapter 23

Chapter 23

After Shen Lishu finished speaking, Ji Ning froze for a moment, a bit unable to tell exactly what the Best Actress meant. Only An Rongrong covered her mouth and silently turned away, coughing to hide her laughter.

If she hadn’t spent time with Shen Lishu, An Rongrong would have certainly felt that the Best Actress was being too blunt and that her humor was misplaced. But after getting to know her, she knew the Goddess was absolutely doing it on purpose.

Before the three of them could exchange many more words, the assistant director came over to urge them to go to makeup.

Ji Ning’s acting wasn’t bad; she was fully capable of handling the role of Chen Yu.

The first scene filmed today was Chen Yu’s reaction when she first learns that Luo Yue’s “boyfriend” is actually a woman. Her eyes were full of shock, lack of understanding, and confusion—as if she were curious about how a woman and another woman could possibly have a “spark.”

Ji Ning didn’t really understand the lesbian community to begin with, so her reaction in this shot could be described as a natural performance of her true self.

The second scene involved Luo Yue inviting Chen Yu out to hang out, with the location being Ye Tan’s house. Facing her girlfriend’s niece, Ye Tan appeared calm and composed on the surface, but in reality, she was extremely anxious and nervous. She had cleaned the house over and over again and set out fresh fruit, all out of fear of not being accepted.

This part of the filming seemed like an insignificant plot insertion, but in reality, Chen Yu’s appearance laid the groundwork for the direction of the entire film.

That is: Ye Tan and Luo Yue’s relationship could not remain underground forever; it would eventually be discovered. First by Chen Yu, then by Luo Yue’s family, and finally, there was the matter of society’s view of lesbians as a whole. From the very beginning, Luo Yue’s personality dictated that she would always live under the gaze and judgment of others.

These problems were like icebergs beneath the sea level; no matter how well they were hidden, a corner would always be exposed. The relationship between Ye Tan and Luo Yue was like a grand but impractical ship. The title of this film is Sink (Chénlún), which also punningly suggests a “sinking vessel” (Chénlún). Thus, the ending of the movie was already set in stone right here.

After the morning filming ended, the assistant director called everyone to eat their boxed lunches.

Although Ji Ning wasn’t an A-list star, she had gained some popularity and resources over the last two years. She didn’t usually eat the crew’s boxed lunches; she generally had a nutritionist specifically prepare her three meals. She assumed Shen Lishu, as a Best Actress, would surely be the same. Instead, she saw An Rongrong pick up two lunch boxes and casually hand one to Shen Lishu.

The Best Actress sat on a sofa in a corner of the set to eat. She didn’t go down to the RV to rest, nor did she have food delivered. She was so down-to-earth she practically lacked any “divine” star ego.

Among the actors in the entire crew, no one had a higher status than Shen Lishu. Since even the Best Actress didn’t go to the RV, Ji Ning felt that if she went down, it would make her look like she was putting on airs and being a diva. Furthermore, she wanted to get closer to Shen Lishu—or rather, to curry favor with her. What better opportunity than a meal together?

China’s “dining table culture” was no joke.

Ji Ning had her assistant get her a lunch box and walked over to Shen Lishu and An Rongrong. “Can I sit here?”

An Rongrong froze. Hearing the voice, she looked up at Ji Ning. Internally, she was extremely resistant, but before she could say anything, Ji Ning had already sat down next to Shen Lishu, smiling as she threw out a topic: “It’s so hot today.”

Some people are just that naturally familiar.

“It is hot,” Shen Lishu smiled, glancing sideways at Ji Ning, who had just sat down on her left. “Three people squeezed onto one sofa how could it not be hot?”

An Rongrong was originally sitting on Shen Lishu’s right. Now with Ji Ning there, the two of them had Shen Lishu sandwiched in the middle, airtight.

An Rongrong and Ji Ning exchanged a look, and both stood up sheepishly to change places. One sat on a nearby sofa, while the other sat on a small stool.

“Rongrong, have you graduated from university yet?” Ji Ning struck up a conversation with An Rongrong on the stool. “Which school?”

“Not yet,” An Rongrong couldn’t help but feel her ego inflate at the mention of this. Her back straightened, her “tail” wagged, and her face was full of pride. “I go to the same school as Sister Lishu!”

By rounding it up, the Goddess was her senior one of her own! An Rongrong looked at Shen Lishu with sparkling eyes and crinkled lids. “I super love the Goddess!”

Ji Ning: “…”

Ji Ning thought her own skin was thick enough in this industry, but she didn’t expect An Rongrong’s skin to be even thicker! This flattery was laid on just like that! No technical skill involved, just disgustingly blunt!

What kind of person was Best Actress Shen? What kind of blowing smoke and flattery hadn’t she seen? Could she really capsize her ship in such a small ripple?

The facts proved she could.

Shen Lishu had only one weakness: she loved hearing nice things, especially flattery that was sincere and came from the heart like An Rongrong’s. She found it exceptionally enjoyable.

Like a reward, Shen Lishu took a butterfly shrimp from her own lunch box and put it into An Rongrong’s. An Rongrong’s tail instantly shot up to the sky, wagging back and forth.

Ji Ning watched their interaction with a slack jaw, her mind blown by what she was seeing. Was the Best Actress so used to bells and whistles that she actually preferred a “straight ball” approach?

She cleared her throat and looked at Shen Lishu, imitating An Rongrong’s bluntness. “I also super love you. I’ve watched every single one of your works.”

Flattery it was just moving one’s mouth; it’s not like she couldn’t do it too.

But Ji Ning never expected that the Best Actress wouldn’t play by the rules. She simply replied, “Oh? Which works of mine have you seen?”

Ji Ning: “…”

Ji Ning froze in place, silenced.

Fck!!!*

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