We Are Filthy, Born From Mud - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Yes, She Is Very Excellent

Life is not easy; Liangu acts…

Hu Yinghua did indeed spot Zong Yougu by the parking lot of the studio.

She saw Zong Yougu squatting casually on the edge of a flower bed, her slender fingers pinching a blade of foxtail grass, the green tuft sweeping haphazardly on the ground.

Zong Yougu’s leisurely appearance made Hu Yinghua even more furious.

She immediately rushed forward and yanked Zong Yougu up.

“Sister Yougu, how could you lie to me? Wait, it’s good that you lied to me! I knew you weren’t the kind of irresponsible person who would just suddenly go back home.”

Hu Yinghua prattled on, forcefully suppressing the anger in her heart while skillfully putting on an ingratiating smile.

“Sister, I know you didn’t mean it. You were just deliberately stalling to pursue the perfect result. Sister, can we please go back now?”

Hu Yinghua kept smiling, carefully observing Zong Yougu.

In truth, she wasn’t that keen on selling omelets. She still really needed this job, especially with such a high salary.

“Sister, can we go back to the hotel first? Will you be ready to shoot tomorrow?”

“Shoot?”

Zong Yougu’s tone seemed somewhat confused.

However, given Zong Yougu’s usual capriciousness, Hu Yinghua mentally rolled her eyes, assuming Zong Yougu was just looking for a new way to cause trouble.

Hu Yinghua took a deep breath and spoke as if coaxing a child: “Sister Yougu, are you implying that the script isn’t with you? It’s okay, I brought the script. You can look at it again.”

Zong Yougu finally took the script from Hu Yinghua, but she didn’t look at it. She rolled up the thick script and slowly rubbed it in her hands.

“But I’m not good at acting.”

When Hu Yinghua heard Zong Yougu say this, she rolled her eyes again internally, but showed no reaction on her face, still smiling:

“How could that be? Sister Yougu, do you know how we praise you privately? We all think you were born to do this job! How could you not be good at acting?

Yes, the character you need to portray this time is certainly different from previous roles, with a large range and some challenges.

But with your skill, playing a killer should be a piece of cake.”

Hu Yinghua tried every way she could to coax Zong Yougu. She felt that her appearance was exactly like the opportunistic flatterer she most despised as a child.

“Killer?”

“Yes, you can definitely do it.”

“Me playing a killer, huh…”

Hu Yinghua saw Zong Yougu suddenly smile very happily, her mouth wide open, revealing a set of white teeth.

Zong Yougu was always eccentric, so Hu Yinghua was used to it.

Zong Yougu didn’t speak, so Hu Yinghua also maintained silence.

Say more, make more mistakes; say nothing, make no mistakes.

This was her professional motto.

“Hmm? What did you say the shoot was scheduled for?”

“Sister Yougu, the shoot is scheduled for tomorrow.”

“It can be today.”

“Today? But—”

“Is there a problem?”

Hu Yinghua met Zong Yougu’s gaze. She felt that look was like a bucket of cold water being poured over her.

Even when Zong Yougu was her most difficult and demanding self, she never gave her this feeling before.

She continued to smile and spoke: “Okay, I’ll go communicate that now. It’s hot outside, Sister Yougu, please get in the car first.”

“Okay.”

The lounge vehicle slowly started. The blackout curtain drew shut at the right time, and the cold air from the AC hit Zong Liangu’s face.

The assistant’s words still echoed in her ear.

But she wasn’t Zong Yougu; her name was Zong Liangu.

Although her life had been bizarre, and even though she believed her acceptance level was high, she still felt dazed.

Her life was indeed strange. Raised in an orphanage, she accidentally stumbled into becoming a killer.

She liked the job because it was stable.

There were so many people in the world, so many wicked people, so many evil intentions, so many desires.

As long as humanity wasn’t extinct, she wouldn’t be out of a job—it was an even more secure job than an iron rice bowl.

If she remembered correctly, she should be dead.

After successfully completing her first big hit, she was overly happy and drove her car right into a reservoir.

A bizarre, darkly humorous death.

Zong Liangu rubbed her head, feeling a headache coming on.

The vehicle drove on, and she swayed gently in her seat.

She initially thought she had been reborn.

She was ready to recite the familiar lines:

I am Zong Liangu, and I am reborn, reborn in the year I turned twenty-two. In my last life, I was a killer who died in a car crash. In this life, I will be careful and prudent, relying on hard work to achieve financial freedom.

Just then, the person who called herself her assistant arrived.

Only then did Zong Liangu realize that she might not be reborn but transmigrated to a whole new timeline.

Here, she wasn’t Zong Liangu and wasn’t a killer.

She was Zong Yougu, an actress.

An actress…?

“Sister Yougu, the director said they’ll shoot your scene immediately after this one is finished. The crew is preparing. But—”

Hu Yinghua hesitated.

“But what?”

“But the director said that if you perform poorly again this time, you’ll be out… Her exact words were, ‘I’d rather use someone without talent than someone who causes too much trouble.’” Hu Yinghua grasped Zong Liangu’s hand desperately. “Sister Yougu, I don’t want to sell omelets. You must perform well, okay?”

Zong Liangu subtly pulled her hands out and quietly grabbed a tissue to wipe them.

After completing this, she slowly spoke: “There will absolutely be no problem.”

Seeing the assistant look hesitant, she pointed to her head: “It’s all in here. Trust me.”

“Oh, right. What was your name again?”

“Sister Yougu, my name is Hu Yinghua.”

“Okay, Xiaohua. You’re only nervous because you have nothing to do. Xiaohua, go get me a cup of iced water.

It needs exactly thirteen cubes of ice, and the water must fill the cup to exactly the top of the ice.”

Zong Liangu waved her hand and finally spread open the script.

She skimmed the text at a glance. The words entered her brain with extreme efficiency.

Her memory had always been excellent. She knew she had a talent in this area; otherwise, she would never have become a killer.

She had to memorize much more complex things in the past.

She raised her hand to check the time. A minute and a half—she had mastered all the details of the performance.

She was to portray a killer living anonymously in the city, constantly committing murders for money.

Greedy, debauched, and unscrupulous, yet with a tragic past, desperately trying to numb her inner pain through repeated acts.

In short, although the role didn’t have much screentime, it was a complex and important villain.

The scene’s content involved her being exposed by a friend, and her subsequent arrest amid despair and struggle.

It included fighting and dramatic dialogue—it was indeed challenging.

But for her, it was just acting out her own life.

The corners of her mouth curved into a smile again.

Since fate had given her this opportunity, Zong Liangu would live well under the identity of Zong Yougu.

“Xiao Zong, over here.”

The person wearing a dark green work vest and holding a megaphone waved at her.

Based on her experience watching films and television, this person should be the director.

“Yes,” Zong Liangu smiled.

“Your assistant should have told you. If you’re not in the right state this time, I won’t continue using you. You know there are hundreds of people here, and we can’t let one person affect everyone’s shooting schedule.”

Zong Liangu continued to smile: “That won’t happen, and… my state is excellent.”

The director also smiled: “Alright, let your actions speak.”

Zong Liangu sat down on the single sofa as directed by the photographer.

She was surrounded by lights. The lights suspended high above lit up in sequence. She was enveloped in dazzling light, as if truly bathed in sunlight. She felt her entire being was glowing right now.

“3, 2, 1, Action!”

With the loud clap of the slate, Zong Liangu immediately entered the role.

She stared blankly at the light cast on the floor. The glaring reflection made her eyes slightly moist.

“Why are you doing this! I don’t even know when you started going down the wrong path! Clearly… clearly… What am I supposed to do?”

A powerful female voice rang out behind Zong Liangu—it was her scene partner.

Zong Liangu turned her head and saw a familiar face.

It was Su Tongguo.

This was one of the few friends she had in school. It was thanks to her that Zong Liangu even knew that fevers could kill people.

A fleeting look of emptiness crossed Zong Liangu’s face, but she quickly adjusted her expression, recovering her indifferent state.

“So what?” she said lightly.

“So what? Do you know what you’re doing? You weren’t like this before! No, wait, maybe you’ve always been like this. You were just good at pretending. You pretended to be innocent and kind in front of me.”

“Kind?”

Zong Liangu rose from the sofa, turning her back to Su Tongguo.

She reached out towards the light, seemingly trying to grasp something from the rays.

She quickly turned around and walked towards Su Tongguo, harshly pressing her left hand onto Su Tongguo’s shoulder and pointing her right hand out the window.

“There is no one kinder on earth than I am.

I merely lowered my moral standards a little bit, and discarded a little sense of shame.

But—

But isn’t this excusable?”

Su Tongguo twisted her wrist, breaking free from Zong Liangu’s grip.

She sneered: “Excusable?”

Zong Liangu shrugged, her face full of frankness: “Yes. You are the noble one. You are kind, you are optimistic, and you are compassionate.”

Su Tongguo watched Zong Liangu warily, cautiously stepping closer to her.

According to the script, Zong Liangu kicked over the prop coffee table.

The legs of the table splayed out, and scattered glass shards separated the two of them.

Zong Liangu smiled. Her sharp canine tooth pressed against her lower lip. Long eyelashes cast a shadow beneath her eyes.

Gloomy, obsessive, unrepentant.

“Friend—I should still be able to call you a friend, right?” She remained calm and composed. “Friend, but even a person like you wouldn’t necessarily be kind if you were in my shoes.”

Zong Liangu crouched down. She played with the glass shards on the floor. Each one refracted colorful light in her hand like a diamond, also cutting her palm.

“I have a tragic past, a story that makes listeners weep. This muddy upbringing is, of course, the reason for my evil actions. I have no reason not to do evil. I constantly feel wronged, especially, especially when I see you.”

Zong Yougu’s voice grew softer and softer. She no longer looked at Su Tongguo, only immersing herself in her own world, fiddling with the tiny glass fragments on the ground.

“What am I supposed to do with you?” Su Tongguo’s voice was tiny.

Zong Liangu laughed: “You ask me? Why don’t you just let me go… Just kidding.”

She put down the glass, actively stepped over the coffee table, walked to the sofa, and pulled handcuffs out of Su Tongguo’s bag.

“I surrender. I’ve had enough of this life. Boring, tedious. So… arrest me.”

The metallic handcuffs were grasped in Zong Liangu’s hand, stained with Zong Liangu’s blood.

“Cut!” the director shouted through the megaphone.

Zong Liangu was about to move, but the director immediately stopped her: “Xiao Zong, don’t move yet. Camera, get two more shots.”

The camera was only an arm’s length from Zong Liangu. Zong Liangu could clearly hear the recording beeps, the small sound making her heart tremble heavily.

“Good! That’s great, Xiao Zong.”

Only then did Zong Liangu relax. She panted heavily.

She looked around. The dazzling lights shone on her, making the heat feel intense.

In the distance were the director, seriously watching the monitor, and Su Tongguo, wiping away sweat.

Zong Liangu felt an unprecedented sense of relief and invigoration. She liked this life.

Being an actress isn’t bad, she thought. Right now, actress and killer were tied for the number one spot on her list of most desired jobs.

The director excitedly grabbed Zong Liangu and pulled her over to the monitor.

“You always manage to surprise me. I knew I didn’t misjudge you.”

Zong Liangu continued to smile.

“Your handling of this part was genius. I never thought it could be done that way. Oh, and remember to treat your wound.”

Zong Liangu smiled and nodded.

“Happy wrap! I hope we can collaborate again next time.” The director patted her shoulder.

“Thank you.”

Zong Liangu strode out. The thick clouds blocked the sun, but they couldn’t block her good mood.

“Zong Yougu!”

Su Tongguo angrily threw a jacket onto her: “You didn’t take your clothes.”

Before Zong Liangu could react, Su Tongguo had already turned and left, leaving Zong Liangu utterly bewildered.

Hu Yinghua offered the iced water.

Zong Liangu counted. Not one more, not one less—thirteen cubes.

She smiled contentedly.

“Sister Yougu, I knew I didn’t misjudge you. You were incredible today! I felt like my eyes were only on you.”

“Is that so?” Zong Liangu answered casually. She poured the iced water onto her hand. The cold water stung her wound, making her feel even more awake.

“You completely overshadowed Miss Su. From where I was standing, I even felt like Miss Su couldn’t keep up with your acting. I knew I was right to follow you! No wonder Miss Su was angry; you were truly phenomenal today!”

Zong Liangu smiled genuinely.

“Take me home.”

“No problem! I booked your flight for the day after tomorrow. Is that okay?”

“Good.”

Zong Liangu closed her eyes. She felt somewhat concerned about the dreams she’d had a few days ago.

She kept dreaming that she was acting, and one day she dreamed of a person who looked exactly like her.

She always cared about this.

Is that the real Zong Yougu? Is she still alive?

It would be best if she were dead, like me.

Otherwise, if she is alive, I will have to worry about replacing her.