We Are Filthy, Born From Mud - Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Yes, She’s Good at Making Trouble. Let Yu Yulai Come to Life…

“Is our Yu Yulai here yet?”

Wan Chunming liked to address actors by their character names on set. She looked left and right but couldn’t see any sign of Zong Yougu.

Wan Chunming, the director of A Guide to Student Socialization, had a decent relationship with Director He Gui. When He Gui learned that the lead for Wan Chunming’s next project was Zong Yougu, she had first nodded and offered endless words of praise, affirming Zong Yougu’s talent. Then, she had cast a sympathetic gaze toward Wan Chunming.

She looked around and whispered: “This girl is a real troublemaker. You’re in for a rough ride.”

Wan Chunming patted He Gui on the shoulder. She prided herself on having seen all sorts of storms and remained calm, thinking He Gui was just making a mountain out of a molehill.

However, thirty minutes before the opening ceremony, Zong Yougu was still nowhere to be found. The stage managers asked around but got no answers.

Wan Chunming chuckled; she finally understood why He Gui always looked so exhausted. But geniuses have always had their quirks. Compared to true disasters, Zong Yougu’s penchant for tardiness and playing hide-and-seek was minor. As long as her performance was up to par, these small matters were negligible.

Zong Yougu’s motorhome finally pulled up to the entrance of the set. As soon as the door opened, Hu Yinghua, who had arrived early to coordinate, ran over.

“Hello, Sister Yougu. The ceremony is about to start; you need to hurry,” Hu Yinghua said anxiously.

“Got it,” Zong Yougu replied with a smile.

“Also…” Hu Yinghua’s eyes darted around, hesitating.

“Also what?”

“It’s just that… your dressing room has been occupied,” Hu Yinghua said cautiously.

“Can’t you just kick them out?”

“But… we don’t even know that lady. What if she did it by mistake… Fine, I’ll go kick her out immediately.”

Zong Yougu nodded in satisfaction.

Hu Yinghua turned to handle it, but after a few steps, she realized Zong Yougu was still standing in place.

Zong Yougu looked at her as if it were the most natural thing in the world: “I don’t know the way. If you don’t lead me, how am I supposed to know where the ceremony is?”

Hu Yinghua immediately led the way, and only then did Zong Yougu start walking at a leisurely, unhurried pace.

“Yu Yulai has arrived,” the stage manager shouted.

Wan Chunming glanced at her watch; Zong Yougu had arrived exactly on the dot. She laughed—at her age, she enjoyed dealing with eccentric people.

“Director, is it okay to put this here?”

“Sure.” Wan Chunming waved her hand dismissively.

Thus, an altar covered in red cloth was set up in front of the cameras. According to tradition, they should have sacrificed a sheep. But Wan Chunming felt that was unnecessary, so in the center of the red velvet sat a childish stuffed sheep doll. As long as the sentiment was there, it was fine.

She wasn’t a superstitious person. Since she started directing, she had never bothered with opening ceremonies. Firstly, it was a waste of time; secondly, she didn’t believe in it at all. She loathed doing things that were just self-deception. If killing a sheep could guarantee a smooth shoot, the world’s best directors would be in the wet markets. If lighting two sticks of incense could make wishes come true, the world would be perpetually shrouded in smoke.

But—

Her eyes swept across the fresh, young faces. They were all fledgling actors, kids who hadn’t performed in major productions yet. She couldn’t help but think of herself decades ago, doing grunt work behind directors, exhausted day in and day out.

An opening ceremony could increase their exposure and generate buzz for the drama. Her journey hadn’t been easy; without connections or capital, she had taken many detours. If it weren’t for the help of senior colleagues, she would have given up long ago and never achieved what she had today.

She could feel her physical stamina declining, and she was gradually finding it harder to manage everything. Perhaps this would be the last drama she directed. She loved this industry and hoped to give some support to those currently entering it.

Her gaze was involuntarily drawn to Zong Yougu. Even without He Gui’s praise, her years of experience told her that Zong Yougu was an exceptional actor. During the audition, Zong Yougu’s understanding of Lin Lingwan was unique and incisive, perfectly dissecting the character’s psyche.

However, even if there hadn’t been a pre-selected actor, Wan Chunming hadn’t planned on letting Zong Yougu play Lin Lingwan. Perhaps Zong Yougu hadn’t noticed it herself, but her physical appearance and aura were clearly a better fit for Yu Yulai—that unstoppable momentum and irresistible presence. More importantly, Yu Yulai and Lin Lingwan have massive scenes together—confrontations of thoughts and ideologies. The person playing Yu Yulai had to be someone who could truly understand Lin Lingwan.

In short, looking at the options, there was no one more suited for Yu Yulai than Zong Yougu.

“Is everyone here?” she shouted through a megaphone.

“Everyone’s here!” her partner shouted from another corner.

Wan Chunming nodded, satisfied. She looked up at the sky. The weather today was truly wonderful; white clouds dotted the azure sky, with an occasional breeze. The bright sunlight spilled over the young actors; as she had noticed during auditions, they all possessed an unconcealable ambition.

“What are you looking at so intently?”

Wan Chunming turned around. it was Ge Ya. Ge Ya was making a special appearance as a teacher.

“Nothing, just a bit sentimental. Time flies; we’ve become old relics.”

“Speak for yourself. I’m only in my early forties; I can act for another thirty years without a problem,” Ge Ya waved a hand.

This conversation didn’t reach Zong Yougu’s ears. She just stood among the actors, her eyes scanning the crowd, taking measure of her colleagues.

Due to the argument in the car, Zong Liangu was sulking and refused to come with her no matter what. Since today was just the ceremony and one dialogue scene between her and Lin Lingwan—nothing major—she let Zong Liangu be.

Bang—

Confetti cannons fired into the sky, and colorful plastic ribbons tumbled in the wind. The director stood at the front, flanked by staff and actors. The director bowed, and everyone behind followed suit. Zong Yougu stood in the first row, right behind the director.

This was a perk of being the lead, she supposed. After waiting so long, she finally stood in this position; it was impossible not to be excited. Zong Yougu didn’t bow with much piety. She didn’t believe in any of this. If there were really ghosts and gods, someone as wicked as Zong Yougu would have been hauled away long ago.

Bang—

More confetti was launched.

“Everyone stand still, let’s take a group photo!” Wan Chunming called out.

The cast fanned out under the guidance of the stage managers. They were split into four rows, with Zong Yougu right in the center of the first row. Her eyes were fixed directly on the camera. Her heart pounded, pumping blood into her limbs; she felt her fingertips tingle with heat.

“I’ll say three, two, one, and what do you say?”

“A successful start!”

“Louder!”

“A SUCCESSFUL START!”

The shutter clicked, freezing everything in that moment.

“Alright, everyone work hard for the upcoming shoot. The schedule will be sent to the group chat. If something comes up—sickness or family issues—talk to me in advance. I hope that through our collective efforts, this drama will be perfect!”

Wan Chunming was happy; her features softened, and the wrinkles on her face made her look even more kind and gentle.

“Teacher Yougu, I’m in charge of your hair and makeup. Your costume is ready; please follow me.”

The speaker was a young woman with bright eyes.

Zong Yougu smiled: “Okay.”

As she walked, she observed her surroundings.

“Please try this on first to see if it fits.”

Before her was a school uniform. It was a tracksuit style, navy blue to hide dirt, made of a fabric that looked comfortable.

“So realistic. It looks like it was bought straight off a high schooler,” Zong Yougu laughed, though there wasn’t much warmth in her eyes.

“Of course! You can’t be careless when working with Director Wan. Initially, we planned on pure white because it looks good on camera, but Director Wan refused point-blank. She said, ‘Do you have no common sense? Uniforms have to be dirt-resistant; don’t just do things on a whim.'”

The stylist laughed at her own story. She was talkative and continued enthusiastically: “Teacher Yougu, don’t be fooled by how easygoing the director seemed just now. When it comes to filming, she’s incredibly serious and strict. For a while there, we all wanted to take a detour whenever we saw her!”

As she talked, she gathered Zong Yougu’s hair into a crisp ponytail. Once the hair was done, the “student vibe” appeared instantly. Her hair was stiff, and the flyaways were unruly, poking out slightly. Thus, when Zong Yougu smiled, she looked like a sunny, lively youth; when she didn’t smile, she looked exactly like a rebellious, defiant teenager.

She put on the uniform. She stared blankly at the somewhat unfamiliar self in the mirror.

Fourteen was definitely one of the most important years of her life. That was the year she committed an irreparable mistake, left everything behind, and welcomed a new life—she was adopted. After being adopted, she finally had the chance to go to a normal school, where she met Su Tongguo. However, she found it hard to get used to life there. The knowledge she had gained at the orphanage wasn’t enough to keep up with the school curriculum, and she became reclusive. It was during that time she snuck out of school and began her acting journey, discovering her talent.

She looked at herself in the mirror. This was the alternative path she hadn’t taken, and the path Zong Liangu hadn’t stepped onto either.

“Hey, do you know who’s playing Lin Lingwan?” Zong Yougu asked suddenly, her curiosity finally winning out.

“Lin Lingwan? It’s a newcomer. Apparently, she’s never acted in anything before. Her name is quite strange… I think it’s Quan He.”

“Quan He,” Zong Yougu repeated.

“Teacher Yougu, were you originally aiming for Lin Lingwan? At first glance, I also thought you suited Lin Lingwan better, but the director insisted you weren’t right for it and that you fit Yu Yulai better. Don’t let us down!” the stylist said with a grin.

“Fine.”

Zong Yougu stood up and patted her pant legs. She was going to bring Yu Yulai to life, and she wanted to see exactly who was “better suited” for Lin Lingwan than she was.