The Movie Queen is Flirtatious and Doting - Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Breakfast consisted of the basics—steamed buns, soy milk, deep-fried dough sticks, and porridge. Ye Yansheng watched Gu Yinglian eat, and a brief silence settled between them.

Seeing the gaze fixed on her, Gu Yinglian asked, “Aren’t you eating?”

“I already ate,” Ye Yansheng replied.

Gu Yinglian looked at the spread. “If you already ate, why did you buy so much?”

“I accidentally grabbed too much. I figured you’d be able to finish it, so it didn’t matter.”

“What kind of delusion led you to believe I could eat all this?”

Ye Yansheng chuckled. “Isn’t it true? Last time at the Celebrity Restaurant, you had two BBQ pork buns, two bowls of rice, cleared a whole table of dishes, and didn’t even leave any soup…”

“Was it really that exaggerated?”

“When you were at my house, you didn’t eat much—probably out of politeness. But compared to this breakfast, that was quite a bit more. So, this should be nothing to you.”

“Are you accusing me of overeating?” Gu Yinglian muttered. “I just don’t like wasting food.”

“I’m not accusing you; I’m just stating facts. Besides, for someone who eats so much, you don’t gain a pound. Do you have poor absorption?”

“My digestive system is perfectly fine, thank you for your concern.”

“That kind of ‘eat anything and stay thin’ physique is truly enviable,” Ye Yansheng sighed.

Gu Yinglian thought to herself: Heh, keep dreaming.

After finishing breakfast, Gu Yinglian changed her clothes and applied light makeup. By the time she stepped out, Ye Yansheng had already returned to her own room. Ready to go, Gu Yinglian knocked on her neighbor’s door. “Sister Ye.”

After a short wait, Ye Yansheng emerged, fully made up and looking radiant. She took Gu Yinglian by the arm. “Let’s go.”

…

The workday began. The staff was busy setting up the scene while the leads finished their makeup. The dressing room was noisy, filled with extras and stylists.

Today’s shoot was a big scene: Tianshui Group’s new product launch. The plot: As the launch is in full swing, Gu Yinglian appears and publicly claims that Tianshui’s water quality is compromised. Before a crowd of reporters, this is a bombshell that could destroy the company. Tianshui denies the claims, calling them absurd. Just as they are about to kick her out, Ye Yansheng intervenes. To clear any doubt, she calls for third-party experts to test samples on the spot. Out of ten bottles sampled, four test positive for excessive nitrites. The crowd erupts in chaos.

Tianshui Group is a legacy brand, a memory for generations. Originally a mineral water company, it later acquired beverage companies to expand. It’s the industry leader. For years, the public has trusted them. Now, with the nitrite scandal breaking at a live launch—how will Tianshui respond?

The above was the “reporter’s” broadcast on set.

Ye Yansheng looks at Gu Yinglian, sensing a massive conspiracy (Close-up: Intense expression). To stabilize the scene, Ye Yansheng takes the stage to give a speech. She first admits to a lapse in oversight and promises a thorough investigation to give the public a clear answer. This batch of products will be pulled from the market, and Tianshui will cooperate with the authorities to ensure all future products meet safety standards.

This statement is enough to quiet most of the critics; even if the public has doubts, the “relevant authorities” serve as a buffer.

But Gu Yinglian doesn’t let her off. With a cold laugh, she says, “Can beverages made with such tainted water even be consumed? You found nitrites today, but what about the batches you didn’t test? Who knows how many people have already drunk it without knowing?”

The reporters join in the questioning. One asks if all previous Tianshui products were truly safe, or if they too were tainted.

Ye Yansheng answers the press: “I can guarantee that Tianshui products are of the highest quality and pass strict inspections before reaching the market. You can rest easy. As for this Miss Jin… I don’t know why you are here today. I only know you were recently fired by Tianshui, and that during your time as my secretary, you leaked company secrets to a competitor. Out of respect for your past contributions, I didn’t press charges then. Now, I have reason to suspect you are conspiring to frame Tianshui. We will be pursuing legal action. Miss Jin, please cooperate with the investigation. Thank you.”

The reporters immediately turn their cameras on Gu Yinglian. Seeing the wall of lenses, she panics and tries to flee, but Ye Yansheng signals the security guards to take her away.

…

This entire scene took countless NGs. Ye Yansheng’s control of the set was excellent and her performance was flawless, but Gu Yinglian struggled, needing several takes to pass. With so many people on set, it was naturally chaotic—either a “reporter” would forget their lines, or someone would burst out laughing. By the end of the scene, the director looked like he’d aged ten years.

By noon, they finally finished the morning shoot. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. As Ye Yansheng went to find Gu Yinglian for lunch, she was swamped by a group of fans among the extras asking for autographs and photos. Unable to refuse, she signed for everyone. Gu Yinglian waited on the side. Once the fans were handled, Ye Yansheng walked over. “Let’s go.”

They returned to the company canteen and found a seat by the window. “How did you feel today?” Ye Yansheng asked.

“It was alright,” Gu Yinglian said.

“You’re acting more and more like the character,” Ye Yansheng noted.

“You’re too kind.”

“No, there’s real progress. It proves you’ve been thinking deeply about the role.”

“I’m slowly finding the ‘feeling,'” Gu Yinglian admitted. “Once I find it, it gets easier. I’m starting to understand why she talks like that, why she does what she does.”

“Acting is actually quite simple,” Ye Yansheng said. “Just treat yourself as the character. During the scene, tell yourself: ‘I am her, and she is me. We are one.’ Find your positioning, find the common ground between you and the character, and then let yourself go. Acting is a form of re-creation. Whether a role is good or not depends on how you understand and control it.”

“Thank you, Sister Ye. I’ve learned a lot.”

After lunch, they returned to the dorms to rest. Since the afternoon shoot involved other actors first, they weren’t in a hurry.