I Was Taken by the Female Lead After Transmigrating into a Book - Chapter 18

Huo Wu followed the direction of Ji Meng’s finger and saw only a dense crowd of people.

Li Ke had explicitly stated the requirements for this audition—natural hair color, and a completely bare face, not even semi-permanent makeup. This immediately eliminated countless young girls who had gotten semi-permanent eyebrows and eyeliner.

Perhaps because this condition triggered some kind of association, besides the dense crowd of heads bobbing, there were also white shirts and white skirts, all in a uniform style. Even many students from famous schools specifically chose the white uniform.

Even so, Huo Wu immediately saw the commotion in the center. Bai Feifei was there, in the middle of the crowd, looking angry and as if she was yelling something.

Her voice was muffled by the mask, and she asked a staff member rushing by, “What’s going on over there?”

“Ms. Huo?” The person who was grabbed was stunned. They looked up and realized who it was. They quickly composed themselves and pointed over there. “It looks like they’re arguing. A young girl fainted. The specific situation still needs to be confirmed. It might be too hot. They’re all pampered young girls who haven’t suffered much, and they just couldn’t handle it. I’m calling the doctor stationed on the set now.”

Huo Wu nodded, let go of the person, but her eyebrows were tightly furrowed.

“I’ll go take a look,” Ji Meng observed Huo Wu’s expression for a while and said on her own initiative, “It’s not a big deal. Although I haven’t seen Feifei much, I have been seeing her often these past few days. She’s not a person who would throw a tantrum, especially not in this kind of situation.”

Bai Feifei could be a little impish at times and always had a little cleverness, but she was the kind of person you’d like, and you’d feel that this young girl was full of spirit. The feeling Bai Feifei gave her, besides those occasional playful moments and the banter she shared with Fu Xiaoxiao, was one of maturity.

It was a kind of calmness that was almost inconsistent with her age. She was like an old person who had been through a lot, but Bai Feifei was clearly a young girl in her early twenties, with a face that still had a hint of childishness.

This sense of incongruity had lingered in Ji Meng’s heart for a long time. But connecting it to Bai Feifei’s family situation, she didn’t find it surprising. The occasional times she acted like a child were only in front of Huo Wu.

Ji Meng couldn’t help but look over there as well.

Huo Wu didn’t show anything, but her eyebrows were still furrowed. Ji Meng shrugged, put her hands behind her back, and walked over there like an old man strolling with his bird.

In the industry, her identity was no secret. Everyone knew she was Huo Wu’s agent. But in front of these kids who hadn’t graduated yet, or had just entered the entertainment industry, and had probably never even seen a lead actor in person, no one could actually call out who she was.

However, just in case, Ji Meng still found a place where she could clearly see the situation but wouldn’t attract too much attention.

It was still chaotic over there.

The area where the people were queuing at the entrance was a mess, with a lot of people crowded inside and out. In a crowded place, the sounds could easily merge into a single resonance, leaving only a buzzing sound in her ears. Ji Meng was standing far away and was already frowning from the harsh noise. She couldn’t imagine what the situation was like for Bai Feifei, who was in the eye of the storm.

Thinking about this, she looked around and waved to a prop master on the side.

The prop master also knew her and quickly came over. “Sister Meng, do you need something?”

“Is there a place where I can see what’s going on in that crowd from above?” Ji Meng said. “It’d be best if I can hear what they’re saying.”

“Yes,” the prop master was familiar with the area. After all, this set would also be part of the actual filming, so he had to scout it beforehand. He pointed to the second floor across from them and said with a smile, “They just put up a small platform over there. You can get to it from the end of the corridor… Huh? Isn’t that Ms. Huo?”

Ji Meng also said, “Huh?” with no less confusion than the prop master.

She wasn’t familiar with the area, and it took her a few turns around the venue to find the small platform the prop master mentioned. Before long, she saw someone up there.

It really was Huo Wu.

When did she go up there?!

Ji Meng: “…”

She opened her mouth, suddenly not knowing what to say, and said to the prop master, “Okay, thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” the prop master smiled, a little nervous. “Is there something wrong with that platform? How come I see Director Li went up there too?”

Ji Meng had no idea.

She shook her head without hesitation. “Who knows? It’s hard to guess what a great director is thinking. Just do your part, and don’t worry about anything else.”

On the platform.

As soon as Li Ke came out of the director’s office, he saw Huo Wu on the small platform.

He looked around, carried the cast list in his hand, and walked over. He looked down and said, “What’s all the commotion down there?”

Huo Wu glanced at him. “See for yourself.”

Li Ke wasn’t bothered by her cold attitude and really squatted down.

The distance was still a bit far. He could hear the voices, but he couldn’t see the faces clearly. Li Ke thought for a moment and took a pair of binoculars out of his pocket.

Huo Wu: “…”

Li Ke began his live commentary. “Oh, my. A group of people are gathered around two young girls, chatting very lively. One is lying down, and one is kneeling. It’s quite a scene. Is this a rehearsal? They’re working hard. Oh, the girl who’s kneeling looks quite spirited.”

His tone suddenly changed. He saw that the person lying on the ground was in a bad situation, and he frowned. “—Did they call a doctor? It’s been a few minutes, and no one has gone over yet? Are they waiting for someone to die?”

It was only then that Huo Wu said, “The doctor has already gone over.”

Li Ke nodded, stopped his downward motion, climbed back up, and sat down. He smacked his lips and said, “These kids nowadays don’t pay attention to exercising. They faint at the drop of a hat.”

He looked at his watch. The start time was approaching, and the screenwriters and producers were already seated below. He suddenly thought of something and smiled. He moved a steel tripod under his butt, sat there, and continued to look through his binoculars. He said to Huo Wu, “Wanna work overtime today?”

“Whatever,” Huo Wu had known him for too long and already understood his intention. She nodded.

Below, it was still chaotic.

It was already hot, and the high temperatures had lasted for almost half a month. It didn’t cool down at night. The world felt like a steamer. In the middle of summer, the sun was already out before six in the morning, and by seven or eight, the sun was scorching the ground. They were in an open area, with no shade nearby.

Bai Feifei was instantly drenched in sweat. She called out several times, but the chaotic crowd of girls surrounding her didn’t hear what she was saying.

Bai Feifei rolled her eyes. She felt for the girl’s breathing. It was short and rapid, her face was covered in a cold sweat, and her lips were pale. Bai Feifei frowned, knelt on the ground, and took off her jacket to shade her and fan her.

Just then, Fu Xiaoxiao, who had broken through the crowd and left her side, rushed back, holding a big, burly man like he was a little chick. The man was wearing a white coat and carrying a bag with a red cross on it.

Fu Xiaoxiao held a megaphone in one hand, shouting at the top of her lungs, and used her small shoulders to push through the people around her. As she pushed, she shouted, “Move back! Move back! Let’s get some air!!”

The megaphone was very powerful. Although Fu Xiaoxiao’s actions were reckless, they were effective. Her voice even resonated throughout the not-too-large open space, echoing like a love song in a valley: “Move—back—get some—air—!!”

Fu Xiaoxiao put down the megaphone and pressed the playback button with satisfaction. In that instant, the megaphone’s loud voice completely filled the air.

This time, the area around them was completely clear.

Fu Xiaoxiao finally took a breath. She looked at the crowd that had finally dispersed and said to Bai Feifei, “Babe, you’re so smart. You knew to ask me to get the doctor.”

Bai Feifei didn’t have time to pay attention to her. She gave her a congratulatory pat on her head, looked at the doctor, and said, “Is this low blood sugar?”

The doctor wasn’t sure. After a preliminary assessment, she said, “Yes, she fainted from low blood sugar. She probably doesn’t have a history of illness, and she didn’t bring any emergency medication… How did she faint? How did you know she had low blood sugar?”

Bai Feifei paused for a moment and first answered the important and more likely to cause trouble question. “I was walking a bit fast just now and… brushed against her, and she fainted. I have a friend with low blood sugar, and I’ve seen it many times, so I’ve learned about it.”

When she said this, her expression was a little strange.

If this wasn’t a film set, but a main road, she would have suspected that this young girl was faking it—the two of them had only brushed against each other’s clothing.

The doctor nodded at her words. “Then she must have already been about to faint at that time. She just used your momentum to fall.”

Bai Feifei: “.” You can borrow momentum like that?

While the two of them were talking, the young girl on the ground slowly woke up. Her eyes wandered for a moment, and then she regained her consciousness. She looked at her body in a panic and, seeing that her clothes were neat, she subconsciously asked, “What happened to me?”

“Low blood sugar,” Bai Feifei handed her a piece of chocolate and took the bottled water that Fu Xiaoxiao had gotten for her. She said, “Eat this first. What’s your number? How about you go to the waiting area next to us and rest for a bit?”

“I’m number twenty-eight.” The girl was helped up by Bai Feifei. When her hand touched Bai Feifei’s forearm, it was so cold that Bai Feifei shivered.

Her number tag was showing on her waist, number twenty-eight, Wu Qingying.

Seeing that the situation had come to an end, the crowd of people who had been surrounding them also dispersed.

The girls who had been chattering, and who had been in groups of two or three, with “helpless” and “spectator” written all over their faces, now came over to Wu Qingying, showing sincere concern.

“Are you okay? You fainting all of a sudden scared us to death…”

“Yeah, you have no idea how scary it was. There was a big thud when you fell!”

Bai Feifei smiled as she listened to this and walked away with Fu Xiaoxiao.

She patted the dust she had gotten on her knees and butt. Fu Xiaoxiao walked beside her, bending down to help her pat it. She said with a little regret, “Babe, why won’t it come off? These are the only pants you have in your closet that don’t show your thighs.”

“How can white pants ever be clean?” Bai Feifei sighed and tied her sunscreen jacket around her waist. She smiled at the dejected Fu Xiaoxiao. “Doesn’t this work?”

“Then what about your knee?” Fu Xiaoxiao looked down and was stunned. “Why is it bleeding?”

It was better not to mention it.

When she did, Bai Feifei felt the sharp, stinging pain coming from her knee. Her face scrunched up, and she said with a tearful expression, “That little girl fell too hard just now. I slid on my knees to catch her, and my knee probably hit a rock.”

Fu Xiaoxiao’s face wrinkled in pain. She felt so bad. She saw the wound and her eyes immediately turned red. She blew on it twice and then said, “The wound is too deep. We have to put medicine on it. I’ll go get some medicine for you. Wait for me.”

Bai Feifei nodded, sighed, and began to pray that the audition scene she would draw later wouldn’t have any action scenes.

Although it was a youth romance drama, the action scenes were not as difficult as those in historical or fantasy dramas, but there were always some scenes that required running and jumping.

Normally, this wouldn’t be difficult, but the wound was right on her knee, and the area was large, so it really hurt right now.

“Maybe it’ll stop hurting after I rest for a while,” Bai Feifei muttered. She cheered up, patted the number tag on her body, looked at the center of the area, and waited for her number to be called to draw her audition scene.

However, the center of the area was empty. The director’s seat was empty.

Bai Feifei looked at the seat next to the director. Huo Wu’s seat was also empty.