MY - 6

Jiang Xi’s resources were secured.

After a few calm days, she resumed work. A few days before joining the crew, Ji Yuanzhou asked her out for dinner.

Ji Yuanzhou was busy with work, only having time to eat with Jiang Xi in the evening.

They met at a Western restaurant. Ji Yuanzhou, as usual, arrived a step late.

Jiang Xi teased her: “Why aren’t you working overtime tonight?”

Ji Yuanzhou placed her handbag on the sofa, smiling and talking nonsense: “I specifically took time off for you.”

Jiang Xi laughed along.

Ji Yuanzhou asked: “Where’s the shoot starting this time?”

Jiang Xi said: “The old place.”

Hearing it was still the same filming location as the previous drama, Ji Yuanzhou guessed: “Another historical drama?”

Jiang Xi nodded: “Yes, historical.”

Ji Yuanzhou smiled, glancing at her forehead: “Be careful of your hairline.”

Because actors in historical dramas wear wigs, it can affect hairline growth.

“It’s fine,” Jiang Xi didn’t take it seriously, “It doesn’t affect me.”

Soon, the Western meal arrived. Jiang Xi spread her napkin and picked up her knife and fork to cut her steak.

Jiang Xi’s skin had a cool paleness, and the cold cutlery made her fingers appear even more slender and pale. She put a piece of steak into her mouth.

Ji Yuanzhou raised the red wine beside her, gesturing towards Jiang Xi: “May the filming go smoothly.”

Jiang Xi put down her silver fork, also raised her wine glass, and took a sip: “Thanks for the good wishes.”

“What role did your manager get you this time?”

Jiang Xi said: “They’re all likable characters, not many scenes.”

Ji Yuanzhou looked at her: “Not many scenes is fine, as long as you have work to shoot.”

“That’s true.”

Ji Yuanzhou lowered her gaze, cutting the steak on her plate, and asked: “Is it going to continue like this?”

Jiang Xi looked up, then lowered her gaze again, thinking of something: “Yes.”

After a few seconds, she added: “Or what else?”

Ji Yuanzhou stopped, looked up: “Do you love acting?”

“It’s alright.” It wasn’t about loving it or not; it was just doing her job well.

After a few seconds of silence, Ji Yuanzhou asked directly: “What about painting?”

Jiang Xi froze.

Ji Yuanzhou’s smoky voice was magnetic, speaking unhurriedly: “Forget about all the bad things from before, start all over again.”

Jiang Xi paused for a long time, then after a while, lowered her gaze and chuckled: “How can a person only have good things happen? Let it be.”

She added: “Besides, I haven’t painted in so many years, I wouldn’t know how anymore.”

Ji Yuanzhou knew Jiang Xi was lying. Jiang Xi had a talent for painting since childhood; even if she hadn’t painted for several years, she wouldn’t have completely forgotten how. But she didn’t say anything more; painting had always been a sensitive topic for Jiang Xi.

Ji Yuanzhou changed the subject: “How many months will you be gone this time?”

Jiang Xi said: “Probably three or four months.”

“Alright,” Ji Yuanzhou said, “I’ll make time to visit you then.”

Jiang Xi teased her: “Am I worth a daily salary of several thousand?” Ji Yuanzhou’s company and position commanded a very high salary.

Ji Yuanzhou: “More than that, I’ll stay at your place for two days.”

Jiang Xi smiled: “Alright, welcome.”

________________________________________

In the days leading up to joining the crew, Jiang Xi didn’t go out much, spending her time at home studying the script.

This time, she was still a supporting character, but her ranking had moved from third female lead to second female lead. Jiang Xi didn’t really care about these things; as long as there was work to do.

Living alone meant no one to bother her. Jiang Xi had a few peaceful days, and in a blink of an eye, it was time to join the crew.

After joining the crew, life became a monotonous routine: only filming, nothing else. Sometimes she would finish work past midnight, and then have to get up a few hours later before dawn to start working again.

This particular day, Jiang Xi woke up before dawn. Ancient makeup and hairstyles were complex, requiring some time.

There was a scene involving falling into water that day. Jiang Xi had read the newly added script several times last night, and now, with nothing to do, she flipped through it again.

The makeup artist was applying her wig. As Jiang Xi flipped through the script, a bottle of milk suddenly appeared on the table in front of her.

She looked up and saw Xu Yanran in the mirror.

Xu Yanran, a fellow actress from the same crew, had delicate features, expressive eyes, and two small dimples when she smiled.

She greeted Jiang Xi: “Morning.”

Jiang Xi smiled: “Morning.”

“I brought you a bottle of milk,” Xu Yanran said, “I just drank one myself; this flavor is quite good.”

“Thank you.”

Xu Yanran’s makeup and hair were already done. She idly watched the makeup artist work on Jiang Xi: “Your wig looks better than mine.”

Xu Yanran’s scenes were more important than Jiang Xi’s, and more significant roles usually received more meticulous makeup and hair.

Jiang Xi smiled: “Yours looks better, more refined.”

“These things aren’t always better when they’re more complicated,” Xu Yanran sighed, “My wig is so heavy, it’s almost bending my spine. Why do I have to endure such pressure at this age?”

The makeup artist and Jiang Xi laughed.

Xu Yanran had a lovely personality, naturally endearing, unpretentious, and exceptionally sincere. Her demeanor also showed that she was a girl who had grown up in wealth and without worries.

This was indeed true; everyone in the industry knew that Xu Yanran was the daughter of Director Xu Guosheng and Director Chen Meng. The drama Jiang Xi was currently filming was directed by Chen Meng.

But even with this background, Xu Yanran didn’t put on airs and was very easy to get along with.

After chatting for a while, Xu Yanran’s stomach started to rumble.

Jiang Xi turned her head to look at her: “Didn’t have breakfast?”

Xu Yanran pouted: “Only ate an egg.”

Then she quietly asked Jiang Xi: “Sister Jiang Xi, do you have any snacks?”

“Yes, do you want some?”

Just then, Xu Yanran’s manager walked in and heard Xu Yanran asking for snacks: “Snacks? Didn’t I tell you to strictly control your diet these past few days?”

Xu Yanran felt her luck might be bad today, turned her head, and drooped her face to look at her manager: “Why do you have to come at this exact moment?”

The manager flicked her on the head: “Isn’t it to keep an eye on you? Otherwise, you’ll be running wild in a bit.”

Then she looked at Jiang Xi: “Jiang Xi, don’t mind her. Don’t spoil her appetite. She hasn’t been hungry for even half a day and she can’t stand it already.”

Xu Yanran retorted: “An egg doesn’t count. It’s been at least twelve hours from 7 PM last night until now. How is it not even half a day of hunger? It’s half a day already.”

The manager tutted: “Are you negotiating? Alright, your mom was just rushing you. Finish up and get out quickly.”

The set was already ready.

Cen Wanzhe, the male actor with whom Jiang Xi had a scene, had just arrived. This actor had recently gained unexpected popularity after his previous drama aired, and his schedule had become correspondingly busy.

Cen Wanzhe’s first order of business upon arrival was to go to the makeup room to get ready. Usually, Jiang Xi and he would take time to go over the script, but today there wasn’t time.

After Cen Wanzhe arrived on set, he politely nodded to Jiang Xi.

Jiang Xi nodded in return.

Speaking of which, they had already collaborated on two dramas, both times as official partners, but their relationship wasn’t warm, not even familiar. Cen Wanzhe had a refined and aloof personality, and Jiang Xi wasn’t much of a talker. They only interacted professionally.

Still, having worked together for a while, there was still a good understanding between them. During the actual shoot, they didn’t make any major mistakes.

The first scene ended smoothly. During a break for touch-ups, Jiang Xi received a message from her manager, Tong Yun.

• See what netizens are saying about your acting.

Attached were a few screenshots. Tong Yun must have found them somewhere; they were netizens’ reviews of her acting in her previous drama.

Jiang Xi didn’t look closely, just scrolled through. The screenshots mostly criticized her acting.

No acting skills, no experience, just a pretty face.

Surprisingly, there was one comment praising her for having “spirit” and suggesting she might improve with more roles.

Jiang Xi rarely looked at these things and seldom went online. She replied to Tong Yun.

• Got it.

After replying, she turned off her phone, preparing for the next scene.

________________________________________

The weather was bad today, with a cold front bringing chilly winds. For this scene, Jiang Xi needed to go into the water. The stream water was very cold, flowing at a steady pace.

Director Chen Meng, a female director, was directing Jiang Xi. After Chen Meng finished, Jiang Xi nodded.

Chen Meng patted her shoulder: “The water’s cold today, bear with it, try to get it in one take.”

Jiang Xi: “Okay.”

Before filming began, Jiang Xi extended her foot to test the water.

Cold.

She expressionlessly retracted her foot.

Although this last scene wasn’t done in one take, it was finished relatively quickly. Jiang Xi fell into the water several times, her entire body soaked, water dripping from her hair.

When she came out, a staff member handed her a towel and hot water.

Jiang Xi draped the towel over herself and casually wiped herself a few times. She had no more scenes, so Jiang Xi went to the changing room to change her clothes, then returned to the hotel.

Back in her room, she checked her phone and realized Tong Yun had replied.

Jiang Xi glanced at it. The gist was that she was lazy and showed no intention of changing her attitude. The words reeked of exasperation.

She didn’t take it to heart, tossed her phone aside, and went into the bathroom to shower.

________________________________________

Around ten PM, a restaurant on Xiling Road.

Lu Nandu was having dinner with Chen Meng.

The crew finished filming at nine PM, and as soon as they wrapped, Lu Nandu picked up Chen Meng to have dinner here.

Chen Meng put a piece of food on Lu Nandu’s plate: “Why do you have time to see Auntie Chen today? Aren’t you quite busy after taking over the company?”

Lu Nandu was here for business and had just finished work two hours ago.

He said: “Didn’t Uncle Xu tell me to visit you more often last time? If I don’t come, won’t he hit me with a broom until my legs break?”

Director Xu, Xu Guosheng, was Director Chen Meng’s husband, or more precisely, ex-husband. The two met through their directing profession, were married for twenty years, and divorced six years ago. Their daughter, Xu Yanran, stayed with her mother.

Chen Meng chuckled after hearing Lu Nandu say that Xu Guosheng told him to visit her: “You rascal, you haven’t grown up at all. You’re the only one who dares to mention him in front of me.”

Lu Nandu smiled, saying nothing.

“How has he been lately?” Chen Meng’s tone was indifferent.

“You mean Uncle Xu?”

Chen Meng didn’t nod, nor did she deny it.

Lu Nandu said: “I think you two should just call each other and chat. It’s just a few button presses, convenient and hassle-free, saves you both from asking me for updates.”

Chen Meng was amused and shook her head helplessly: “You, child.”

Lu Nandu was just joking, saying: “He’s doing very well. No health issues recently, and work is going smoothly.”

Chen Meng nodded slightly, saying nothing more.

________________________________________

The rest of the dinner involved Chen Meng asking Lu Nandu about his work and life. After finishing, Chen Meng still had to return to the crew. Lu Nandu went to the parking lot to get his car to drive Chen Meng back.

As they neared the film set, Chen Meng continued to remind him: “The weather’s cold here these days, wear more clothes, don’t catch a cold.”

“And drink plenty of water.”

Lu Nandu parked the car in front of the hotel: “Alright, you take care of yourself too.”

Chen Meng got out of the Mercedes.

Not far away, Jiang Xi emerged from the hotel entrance.

Chen Meng was closing the car door when she saw her: “Jiang Xi?”

Hearing her name, Jiang Xi looked up and greeted her: “Director Chen.”

Chen Meng frowned: “Caught a cold? Your voice doesn’t sound right.”

Jiang Xi had felt drowsy and gone straight to sleep after her shower this afternoon. She woke up an hour ago to find her throat sore and swollen, her head heavy and light-headed. After checking her temperature with a thermometer, she realized she had a high fever.

Chen Meng asked: “Did you catch a chill after going into the water this afternoon? Even a slight chill in this weather can cause a cold.”

“Probably,” Jiang Xi said, wearing a mask, “It’s fine, I’ll go to the pharmacy to buy some medicine.”

If it weren’t for work tomorrow, Jiang Xi wouldn’t bother with such a minor illness.

“Pharmacy?” Chen Meng shook her head: “No, it’s best to go to the hospital. Your voice sounds like you might have a fever. Going to the hospital is safer; having a doctor prescribe some medicine will help you recover faster.”

The filming location was in a remote area, and the nearest district hospital was still some distance away.

Jiang Xi was about to say it wasn’t necessary, but Chen Meng had already bent down and asked the person in the car: “A’Du, do you still need to go back to the city?”

Jiang Xi paused slightly, because of the name “Du,” but she didn’t think it was him, her face calm.

However, the next second, a familiar male voice from the car startled Jiang Xi.

“Yes, it’s on the way to the hospital.”

It was so sudden that Jiang Xi’s mind went blank for a moment.

The passenger window was halfway down, so she couldn’t see the person in the driver’s seat.

Chen Meng said: “Then give this young lady a ride to the hospital.”

As soon as Chen Meng finished speaking, Jiang Xi said: “No need.”

After speaking, Jiang Xi realized her tone was overly cold due to her emotions. Chen Meng also seemed surprised, turning to look at her.

Jiang Xi softened her tone: “If I need to go, I can go by myself; it’s no trouble.”

Chen Meng seemed somewhat disapproving: “This place is remote, and it’s dangerous for a girl to go to the hospital alone. Let him take you, it’s on his way anyway.”

Normally, Chen Meng wouldn’t interfere this much, but it was already past midnight, and it was indeed unsafe for a girl to be alone on the road.

Chen Meng’s reasoning was sound, and she had good intentions, so Jiang Xi had no reason to refuse. And she had already refused once before; refusing again would make people suspicious.

After a long pause, Jiang Xi could only say: “Then I’ll trouble you.”