Self-Perception - Chapter 13

“Okay,” she whispered.

When Wen Jinyan woke up, Gu Wansheng had already left again. When she got out of bed, her thighs felt like cotton, completely weak.

She was too unrestrained last night.

Wen Jinyan leaned against the wall to take a shower and changed into clean clothes. As soon as she finished changing, her WeChat started vibrating again.

[Gu Wansheng]: I asked Xiao Qiu to bring you breakfast. You should be awake by this time.

Scrolling up, there was an earlier message:

7:23 AM

[Gu Wansheng]: I’m heading out for the shoot first. If I don’t reply to your message when you wake up, it means I’m shooting. Xiao Qiu will come to bring you breakfast later.

Wen Jinyan replied: Mhm. I’m up.

The reply from the other side came quickly:

[Gu Wansheng]: Looking at the time, Xiao Qiu should be arriving soon. Remember to eat breakfast.

Right after she hung up the phone, the doorbell rang. Wen Jinyan looked through the peephole, saw the person outside, and opened the door.

“Sister Jinyan, this is the breakfast Sister Gu asked me to bring you.”

“Thank you,” Wen Jinyan took it and stepped aside. “Come in and sit.”

“Okay.” Meng Qiu came in and stood straight to the side. Wen Jinyan sat down at the dining table chair and opened the container. It was millet porridge with some side dishes.

Seeing Meng Qiu standing, she said, “Feel free to sit.”

This sentence sounded like a host speaking to a guest. Wen Jinyan only realized it after she spoke, but she chose not to correct it; she would just be more careful next time.

“Okay.” Meng Qiu sat down opposite Wen Jinyan nervously, her eyes fixed on the tabletop.

What topic should I bring up?

Meng Qiu’s hands under the table were nervously twisted together. Wen Jinyan didn’t pay attention to Meng Qiu, just lowered her head to eat.

“Sister Jinyan…” Meng Qiu just looked up, right as Wen Jinyan lowered her head.

Wen Jinyan was wearing a white shirt. The top button of the shirt was undone, and when she lowered her head, she could clearly see the area just above her collarbone.

That was… a hickey!!!

Last night, Sister Gu and her…

“Hm?” Wen Jinyan uttered a questioning sound. Why did Meng Qiu call her and then not say anything?

“Nothing, nothing. Sister Gu said if you want to go to the set later, she asked me to pick you up. If you don’t want to go to the set, you can ask me to accompany you to look around the film city.”

Wen Jinyan finished the millet porridge in her mouth and wiped her mouth. “I’ll go to the set.”

“Okay,” Meng Qiu said the same thing for the third time.

Wen Jinyan hesitated for a few seconds before asking, “Are you afraid of me?”

Meng Qiu nodded mentally. Who wouldn’t be afraid of a cold faced ‘royal sister’?

“How could I be?” Meng Qiu forced a smile.

Wen Jinyan looked at her poor acting but didn’t expose her lie.

“Have you eaten yet?”

“Yes, I have,” Meng Qiu’s words were sincere this time, and at the same time, her favorability towards Wen Jinyan increased slightly.

“Then let’s go,” Wen Jinyan stood up and changed her shoes. Just as her hand gripped the doorknob, Meng Qiu spoke up. “That… Sister Jinyan, do you need to cover up the mark on your collarbone?”

Wen Jinyan took out her phone, opened the camera, and looked at her collarbone. The mark was still very obvious.

Did she actually forget to cover that spot just now?

“Thank you, wait for me,” Wen Jinyan expressionlessly put her slippers back on and headed to the bedroom.

To be so calm and composed, she truly is an ice cold beauty.

Wen Jinyan repeatedly checked the exposed skin in the mirror, and after making sure there were no uncovered areas, she left the room.

“Let’s go.”

Meng Qiu took her through the back door to the set.

“Sister Jinyan, I got you a stool. If you don’t feel comfortable standing, you can sit,” Meng Qiu placed the folding stool where Gu Wansheng was visible.

“Thank you.”

“No problem, no problem. I’ll go get you a bottle of water.”

“No need, I’m not thirsty yet. I’ll come find you if I get thirsty later,” Wen Jinyan gently stopped her.

They both stood to the side, able to see Gu Wansheng clearly.

Gu Wansheng was wearing a red costume for this scene, looking luxurious and noble.

Seeing Wen Jinyan staring, Meng Qiu explained, “Sister Gu’s drama is about an unfavored princess who marries a hostage prince and they use each other. Sister Gu plays the princess.”

“That sounds quite interesting.”

In her line of sight, Gu Wansheng, dressed in gorgeous robes, walked gracefully into the sedan chair, the sound of suona horns incessant.

“Cut, that take is good!”

“Next scene, please!” Bai Jin shouted into the megaphone towards the center of the set.

“Can we go watch by the director?”

“Yes, Director Bai is very approachable.”

Bai Jin was focused on the monitor, wearing headphones. Wen Jinyan and Meng Qiu stood behind her, not disturbing her.

A passing staff member saw them standing and kindly suggested, “You can grab a folding stool and sit.”

“Got it, thank you,” Meng Qiu smiled sweetly.

“Save one take,” Bai Jin took off her headphones and noticed someone next to her. Thinking it was the assistant director, she reached out directly. “Hand me the script on the table.”

The nearby table was quite far from Bai Jin. Meng Qiu was searching for it, but Wen Jinyan immediately glanced at the items on the table, accurately picked up the script, and handed it to Bai Jin.

Bai Jin looked at the extended hand, which was fair and slender. Only then did she realize this person was not the assistant director.

Bai Jin looked up and met a pair of amber eyes.

“Miss Wen.”

“Director Bai, the script,” Wen Jinyan kept her hand extended.

“Thanks,” Bai Jin took it. “Did Gu Wansheng show you the script?”

“No.”

“Do you want to take a look? Wansheng’s scene will take the whole morning, you might have to wait a while for her.” A staff member, seeing the situation, quickly placed a folding chair next to Bai Jin.

“Is that alright?” Wen Jinyan noticed the staff member’s small action while speaking and thanked her.

The staff member was a young girl. Hearing Wen Jinyan’s thanks, she thought her action hadn’t gone unnoticed and smiled shyly.

“It’s not some kind of secret, what does it matter?” Bai Jin handed the script to her. She then picked up the walkie-talkie and spoke to the photography team. “Camera one, zoom in on the frame, focus on Female Lead 1’s facial expression.”

Wen Jinyan looked at the monitor. The picture focused on the facial expression of the princess played by Gu Wansheng.

It was cold and emotionless, yet there was a hint of sadness in her eyes, highlighting a contradiction. It made people wonder if she was sad because she was being used as an object, or if she was sad for someone else.

It must be said that Gu Wansheng’s acting was excellent. Just this one look, even without reading the script, allowed Wen Jinyan to sense the pain of the princess who, despite being royalty, lacked the dignity of one.

Wen Jinyan was a little interested in the script, and also slightly confused. The beginning was somewhat similar to one of her previous scripts…

It wasn’t until she opened the script, her fingertip resting on the page, that she paused for a long time without turning it.

Her hand trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly. The fingertips gripping the page turned white, and the eyelashes hidden behind her semi-rimless glasses fluttered gently.

The fingertip touching the black words on the white paper felt like an electric current, going straight to her heart. Wen Jinyan adjusted her breathing.

This is her script, the unfinished work she was forced to abandon.

“Director Bai, where did you get this script?”

“I bought it,” Bai Jin asked, confused by the sudden question. “Is there a problem?”

“No.”

She hadn’t expected the script to reappear, and even less that that person would sell a script that was only one-third complete.

What a leech, with only profit in their eyes. They wouldn’t even let her go after she left.

Wen Jinyan continued to flip through the script. The first third had not been altered much. Just as she was halfway through, Bai Jin repeatedly called for a cut.

“Cut, actors take a twenty-minute break.”

Bai Jin turned her head and found Wen Jinyan reading the script intently. She asked, “What do you think of the script?”

“It’s very good,” Wen Jinyan gave a definite reply. “The initial push and pull, the mutual utilization, to gradually recognizing each other’s difficulties through interaction, slowly understanding each other, and becoming each other’s soft spot. However, I haven’t finished the rest.”

“You read quite fast,” Bai Jin smiled, and a sight of plain white clothing entered her view.

“What are you talking about?” Gu Wansheng saw Bai Jin chatting with Wen Jinyan right after the scene, and Bai Jin was even smiling.

“I was talking about the script with Director Bai,” Wen Jinyan said.

Gu Wansheng secretly felt a pang of jealousy: I was asking her, not you.

Bai Jin skipped the topic and asked, “Aren’t you going to touch up your makeup?”

“It’s not too late to do it later. If I mess it up now, I’ll have to redo it, and the makeup artist will be the one getting angry in the end.”

Gu Wansheng was still in her costume. The plain white costume accentuated her exceptional temperament, making her appear untouched by the world, like a pure white lotus rising from the mud. The makeup on her face was very light, highlighting a sense of elegance.

In the drama, the little princess, unloved by the emperor, prefers to wear simple white clothes, appearing fragile and pitiable. Yet, little do people know that this little princess is a dark lotus, hungry for power and influence.

“Jinyan.”

“Hm?” Wen Jinyan snapped out of her thoughts.

“Do you want to stay here or come with me?” Gu Wansheng repeated.

Wen Jinyan lifted her eyes to look. Gu Wansheng was standing entirely in the light. The fine dust particles under the light seemed to be covered by a faint veil, enveloping her. Coupled with her attire, for a moment, she looked like a goddess descending to earth to save the suffering.

“I’ll go with you.”

Gu Wansheng was pleased by her obedient appearance and raised an eyebrow in Bai Jin’s direction.

Bai Jin, understanding, went speechless: “……”

Seriously, you’ll get jealous over anything.

“I know your wife loves you, now go. Don’t bother me here,” Bai Jin shooed them away.

Gu Wansheng was calm on the surface but happy on the inside.

Wen Jinyan was led forward by her for a distance before asking, “What was wrong with Director Bai just now?”

“Perhaps her menstrual cycle is irregular, making her prone to mood swings,” Gu Wansheng made up a serious-sounding excuse, then chuckled to herself.

Wen Jinyan casually asked, “You even keep track of Director Bai’s menstrual cycle?”

Gu Wansheng glanced sideways at her. The woman was wearing glasses, and her eyes were bright. Gu Wansheng retracted her gaze as if nothing happened.

Is she jealous? Even when she’s jealous, she’s so cute.

Wen Jinyan didn’t know about Gu Wansheng’s schemes and over-imaginative thoughts. She only knew that Gu Wansheng seemed even happier after hearing her say that.

Gu Wansheng’s point of happiness was strange. Did that topic really make her so happy?

The two arrived at the makeup room. There was no one inside. Gu Wansheng pulled Wen Jinyan to sit on the sofa.

She reached out and tidied Wen Jinyan’s hair. Wen Jinyan naturally lowered her head.

Gu Wansheng was even more delighted. She withdrew her hand and gently asked, “Are you bored? If you are, you can ask Xiao Qiu to take you sightseeing nearby.”

“No, I’m not bored,” Wen Jinyan told the truth.

Gu Wansheng continued, “I’ll probably be shooting all day today, and I don’t know when we’ll wrap up tonight. If you want to write your novel, you can go back to the hotel.”

“Writing a novel can be done anytime, but I want to stay here a little longer.” Gathering material and inspiration is important.

The speaker spoke innocently, but the listener took it to heart.