I Was Taken by the Female Lead After Transmigrating into a Book - Chapter 64

The last shot was a long take. Two girls lay in a small rented room. One was lying on her back, breathing calmly, seemingly asleep. The other was lying on her side, curled up into a ball, but her brow was tightly furrowed, clearly thinking. The room had no air conditioning, making it even more humid and stuffy after the summer rain. The only thing providing a breeze was a small electric fan humming away. The curtains would occasionally flutter from a breeze, which was the only thing that could relieve the unbearable heat. The final shot was of this moment. The camera zoomed out, focusing on the bustling crowds scattered in the aftermath of the rain.

“Cut!”

The scene was filmed until noon. Bai Feifei didn’t even have time to eat. She went into the RV and took a hot shower, finally getting rid of her wet clothes and hair. When she came out, she found that Huo Wu was already sitting at the table. The dishes on the table were all uncovered, and a bowl of authentic sour soup, a common summer dish in Luoshui City, was cooling in front of a small fan. Bai Feifei came out wrapped in a bath towel and a shower cap. She stood in front of the fan for a moment to cool off. Huo Wu moved the fan away and also took the soup.

“Isn’t the air conditioning cold enough for you?” Huo Wu swatted away Bai Feifei’s hand, which was still trying to reach for the fan.

Bai Feifei immediately said, “I just took a shower, so I’m hot.”

“Go dry off and eat.” Huo Wu paused for a moment and said, “The spicy hot pot you ordered hasn’t been delivered yet.”

On the table were some simple stir-fried dishes. They had Huo Wu and Bai Feifei’s names on them, and the portions were small, probably because Huo Wu had asked for them to be that way. In the summer, Bai Feifei often didn’t eat well. When she had no appetite, she would often just eat fruit or spicy hot pot. When she was on the road, she would just find the nearest hot pot restaurant to eat at. But she was a true fan of it and could eat it for a long time without getting tired of it. She also had a good constitution and wouldn’t get acne no matter how much spicy food she ate, or else she would have stopped eating it a long time ago. But her stomach was not good, so she couldn’t eat anything too spicy, in case it affected the filming schedule. She wouldn’t add too much spice, and it was barely a bone broth dish. It was basically like eating grass, and she had never had an authentic one.

Bai Feifei immediately went back to change her clothes. When she reached the door, she peeked her face out again and looked at Huo Wu as if she wanted to say something. Huo Wu had been watching her the whole time. Noticing Bai Feifei’s expression, she said unhurriedly, “Just say it if you have something to say.”

Bai Feifei’s mouth wasn’t visible, so she picked at the door frame with one hand. “I also wanted you to blow-dry my hair.” When she spoke like that, it was like she was whining. When that soft, sweet tone came out, Huo Wu almost never disagreed with her requests. She had just softened for a moment, thinking that this might not be right. Bai Feifei seemed to have a better grasp of how to act cute. She didn’t know when it started, but Bai Feifei was no longer so cautious around her. She no longer stammered when she spoke. She would make requests, test the boundaries, and then cross them.

Before she could figure out what was going on, Bai Feifei came flying out in a small camisole dress like a colorful butterfly. She didn’t know how she did it, but in just a few movements, she squeezed herself into the seat. Her head was tilted to the side. She was holding a hairdryer and a comb and was trying to put them in Huo Wu’s hand. Huo Wu silently let Bai Feifei put the props in her hand. She turned her head and saw that Bai Feifei’s feet were curled up in comfort. Her pale feet were wiggling in the light. Her feet were more pleased than she was.

Huo Wu almost couldn’t hold back her laugh. She plugged in the hairdryer and turned it to the lowest setting to blow-dry Bai Feifei’s hair.

“Are you tired?”

“Not really.” Bai Feifei said, “I’ve learned a lot more. Walking, talking, breathing… and eating. I never knew that even these things have a certain way of doing them. It’s very interesting. And I feel like even though we were filming a rain scene, I was basically in one place and didn’t move much, so I didn’t use as much energy.”

Huo Wu didn’t say anything about her comment on “not using as much energy.” She had repeatedly crawled in the mud. There were small cuts from the rocks on the parts of her skin that were exposed. Her skin had turned pale and had a rash from being covered by the plastic wrap. She had never mentioned any of these things.

“I wish I could film an action scene in the future if I get the chance,” Bai Feifei said, her words taking a turn. “When I was filming, all I could hear was the sound of the rain. I was thinking, if this was in ancient times, and I was a killer with amazing martial arts skills but was hiding it, that would be so cool.” She got more excited as she spoke. “I would ‘whoosh’ out of my hiding spot, and then ‘swish swish swish’ with a few moves, and the people chasing me would all be dead! Then I would get rid of the bad guys, hide my identity, and leave without taking a single thing with me!”

Huo Wu’s body was shaking with Bai Feifei’s movements. When Bai Feifei got to the exciting part, she suddenly lifted her head, and her head and the hairdryer in Huo Wu’s hand had a close encounter.

“Ouch!”

Bai Feifei quickly covered her head and lay still. Huo Wu lifted the hairdryer away from her head. The two of them were speechless for a moment. Huo Wu turned off the hairdryer and put it to the side. She bent her index finger and gently tapped Bai Feifei on the other side of her forehead. “I didn’t see any clouds, but I do see a lot of color on you.”

Ah Wu can make jokes now. This thought made Bai Feifei happy for a long time.

“Long hair is so uncomfortable in the summer,” Bai Feifei said lazily as she lay flat. “It’s slow to wash and slow to dry, and it’s very hot. It’s also very heavy when I tie it up.” Huo Wu gently stroked Bai Feifei’s hair. In the drama, when she first appeared, her character had a refined, wavy hairstyle. That was in Fusang’s memory. At that time, the family of three was still very happy. Her biggest worry every day was how to escape her mother’s styling. The crew had already been looking at wigs before the actress was cast because not many actresses had long hair. Most of them had shoulder-length hair for easier styling. The longest was only to their armpits, which wasn’t long enough for the character. But after Bai Feifei was cast, they saved a lot of money on wigs. Bai Feifei’s hair was long and straight. It was black and shiny. Even with just a simple hair mask, it looked like it had been professionally treated after being washed.

Huo Wu also liked Bai Feifei’s long hair. It was very soft to the touch. If she took good care of it, she could run her fingers all the way through it. It was very nice to touch. Better than a cat. Huo Wu silently kneaded it a few more times. Seeing how comfortable Bai Feifei looked when she kneaded her head, she said, “You can cut it shorter.”

Bai Feifei closed her eyes and said, “Mmm,” her voice rising, which was a question.

Huo Wu gently combed her fingers through it. “Don’t cut it too short. It would also look very beautiful if you thinned it out a little.”

“I’m not cutting it,” Bai Feifei mumbled. “I was just kidding. I’m used to it after so many years. I was just complaining. I remember you like my long hair… I’m not cutting it.”

Huo Wu was stunned for a moment.

Bai Feifei followed up, “If I can get my hair blown dry and get a scalp massage often, then that would be even better. I think my occasional complaints might also go away.”

Huo Wu couldn’t hold back her smile anymore. It grew a lot. Perhaps it was the free time in the afternoon, but she really thought Bai Feifei’s suggestion was great. When she read the script, giving Bai Feifei a full-body massage seemed much more interesting than just walking around the room. Much, much more interesting.

The afternoon scene was between Bai Feifei and the actress who played her mother, as well as the main doctor. The scene took place in a hospital. Fusang had to talk to the main doctor about her mother’s condition and decide on the next treatment plan. At the same time, the old doctor with gray hair and a bent back used a few but powerful words to tell Fusang what to do in the future.

“You’re really taking on a lot of work,” Huo Wu said, staring at the monitor.

Bai Feifei’s wounds were still visible and couldn’t be hidden. Summer clothes were thin, and it would be too suspicious to wear a jacket in the nearly 40-degree weather. So her wounds were all exposed.

“Anyway, the sets are all in the same area,” Li Ke shrugged. “It’s a good thing Luoshui City isn’t big, but the layout is pretty logical.” So a lot of the important scenes in the drama could be filmed in order instead of jumping around. This drama never lacked funding, so Li Ke could be stubborn and do whatever he wanted to make sure the actors were in the best condition.

In the doctor’s office, an old man and a young girl were sitting at the corner of a desk. Director Chen looked at his computer screen and said kindly, “Your mom’s condition has stabilized a lot. She can be discharged in a while.”

“Thank you, Uncle Chen.”

When Fusang faced a familiar elder, her smile was sincere and full of trust. At this moment, she almost forgot all her other unhappiness. It was as if she was sick as a child, and she would just come here to find Uncle Chen, tell him what was bothering her, get some medicine, and go home to enjoy her sick leave.

But the fantasy was short-lived. Director Chen had already noticed the wounds on Fusang’s body, but since Fusang hadn’t brought them up, he didn’t feel it was appropriate to ask. The serious conversation was over, so he tactfully said, “The semester is almost over, isn’t it? Are you under a lot of pressure?”

Fusang’s face showed a hint of embarrassment. “It’s okay. I’ve been a little busy recently… I’ll try to catch up later.” Director Chen just nodded at her words. “If you don’t understand anything, remember to ask your teachers. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Teachers are just afraid that you’ll hold it in and not ask, and then you’ll understand less and less, and your grades will drop.”

Fusang’s expression shifted slightly. She suddenly said, “Uncle Chen, what kind of student do you think would make a teacher pay more attention to them?”

“It depends on the situation and the student, and of course, the teacher,” Director Chen said, writing down the names of some medications on a piece of paper. Some of the medications their hospital didn’t have, so she would have to buy them elsewhere. After he finished writing, he added, “For students, those with excellent grades can attract the attention of teachers, directors, and even the school administration. For those with poor grades, the attention usually stops at the directors. For some who are particularly bad, the kids who can’t be taught anymore will be reported to the police.”

Fusang looked thoughtful. “What about the teachers?”

“Some love their students like their own children, some just see it as a job, and some are just going through the motions… There are all kinds of them,” Director Chen said.

Fusang let out a soft “mm.”

Director Chen said, “Why are you suddenly asking about this?”

Fusang looked up and smiled. A moment later, she shook her head and said, “Uncle Chen, if a student encounters something really bad at school, what can she do?”

“Keep the evidence, seek help, protect yourself, and…” Director Chen paused for a moment. “Don’t get caught up in it and keep your grades up. Make yourself better.”

Fusang pursed her lips and said in a low voice, “Okay.” The paper with the medication names was crumpled in her hand.

After saying goodbye to Director Chen, Fusang opened the office door. But when she looked up, she unexpectedly saw her mother around the corner. Fusang called out blankly, “Mom?”

Wen Ruxin stood there, wearing a loose hospital gown and soft slippers. Over time, age had left many marks on her face. Every time Fusang saw her, she felt like her mother had gotten a little older. But that was a very sad thing. Because it was her mother who was getting older. Her white hair had increased, her wrinkles had deepened, and her face had become pale and old. She gave off a sense of being on the verge of death. This was nothing like the mother she remembered, who was always happy and optimistic and held in her father’s palm. The pain of the illness was too much for her. Wen Ruxin’s expression was always blank, and her eyes were empty, staring at nothing.

But at this moment, her gaze was fixed on Fusang. She had an emotion on her face besides apathy for the first time since she got sick. It was unconcealed sadness and guilt. She held onto the handrail and staggered forward a few steps, but before she could touch Fusang, she slowly pulled her hand back. A moment later, she said as if to herself, “Sangsang, what happened to you at school?”

As she spoke, her eyes were mostly on the wounds on Fusang’s exposed skin: her forearm, shoulder, cheek… almost every part of her body that was visible had wounds of varying sizes. It was still unknown if these wounds would leave scars, but at the moment, they were a bright red scab. Her daughter was bruised all over, but she hadn’t asked her mother for help. Instead, she had to find a way to ask other elders for help, in a roundabout way. She tried to ask what happened, but all she got in response was silence.

The last shot was focused on Fusang’s face. The script didn’t say what she should do, but the director hadn’t yelled “cut,” which meant it was an opportunity for the actress to improvise. If it was good, he would keep it. If it wasn’t, he would cut it.

Fusang looked up and gave a smile that was uglier than crying. But in just a split second, her expression was under control. She only had a smile, and it could even be called happy. Fusang said, “Nothing, Mom.”

This improvisation made Li Ke cheer. “The micro-expressions are so good,” Li Ke said, re-watching the last seven seconds. “In seven seconds, the emotional change and the improvised lines, Feifei’s acting is so natural and full of spirit. It’s so natural that it doesn’t even feel like she’s acting.”

“Isn’t this the kind of modern feel you wanted?” Huo Wu said from the side. Every time Li Ke re-watched it, she would re-watch it, too. From the slightest furrow of her brow to the expansion of her entire smile, it was all perfectly timed. But when Li Ke said it was “processed,” Huo Wu felt it wasn’t entirely true. This might be Bai Feifei’s own personal experience. A real scene that happened with her real mother in a hospital hallway.

She came to her senses and grabbed the assistant director next to her. “Where’s Feifei?” The assistant director pointed in the distance. “I just saw Teacher Bai go out to make a phone call.”

Li Ke had finally gotten enough. He happily reached out and said, “We’ll watch your solo parts later. We can keep a lot of them. I’m not gonna lie to you, you’ve gotten so lazy over the years. Are you not in the mood to improvise anymore? You just act the way I tell you to. Are you giving me all the creative control…?” He just reached out his hand, but before he could touch the device, Huo Wu slapped it away.

Li Ke was full of questions and rubbed his hand. “Why did you hit me?” It was true that she had filmed less in the past few years. She had only done one drama in three years. That one was to help a friend out, and she couldn’t say no. Even though she tried her best, she felt it was just okay. It was a good thing the script was good and the director was great. It started off strong and went crazy, winning a lot of awards and also getting her a Best Actress award. But her performance was just average, and even if no one said it, Huo Wu wouldn’t deny it.

Huo Wu said calmly, “I improvised in this drama.”

Li Ke was successfully sidetracked again. “You’re right. There are a lot of parts that I want to watch on a big screen. All right, let’s get the whole crew some extra food tonight.” Huo Wu looked at the screen a few more times, at Fusang, who had tears in her eyes. She ignored Li Ke’s rambling and turned to leave the set.