I Don’t Mind You Being Ugly and Blind
Chapter 83
In Jingyuan entertainment officce the secretary's entered carried an unexpected piece of news: Sheng's Group is here, and they wanted to invest in our new film. Jin Mingjing's face lit up with relief hearing this news . He'd been at odds with his family becuase of him starting his own company , so they had frozen all his funds , and he was desperate for an injection of cash to keep his company afloot till the production of his new film. It seemed hiring the renowned Director Guan was paying off. Sheng's Group, he thought, must truly believe in this project and the director .
The guests were ushered into the conference room by the secretary with great care . But when Gu Qing relayed Jiang Ci's words to Jin Mingjing, "Is this really what your boss means." Jin Mingjing's brow furrowed. This investor had a very weird set of demands: delete all intimate scenes, every single one, even holding hands. "Are you kidding me?" he wanted to yell. "Is your boss from qin dynasty ? What era is this?"
Gu Qing, noticing Jin Mingjing's discomfort, maintained a business-like tone. "Of course, our boss also specifically stated that if your company doesn't accept the investment, he will pursue an acquisition." Jin Mingjing's face darkened further. He knew Sheng's Group's power. While their influence had waned since Sheng Minghao took over, they were still a force to be reckoned with. But Sheng Minghao was supposed to be busy with a new project. Could it be the mysterious figure rumored to have taken over shares after the previous patriach's death? The "boss" must be that enigmatic man. And his target seemed to be the lead actors themselves. Jin Mingjing, a shrewd man, quickly put the pieces together. He spun a chair around and sat, offering Gu Qing a counter-proposal.
"They suggested using a stand-in?" Jiang Ci's brow furrowed slightly.
"That's right," Gu Qing confirmed. "President Jin believes a film can't have absolutely no physical contact, but for hand-holding or kissing, a stand-in could be used."
A stand-in? And let him watch another man kiss Su Yue's face? Impossible! Jiang Ci's eyes narrowed. "No. The intimate scenes must be deleted."
"Mr. Jiang," Gu Qing ventured, "Madam took on this role because the plot was within her comfort zone. If the script is suddenly changed, she might be unhappy. Perhaps you should ask her first ."
Jiang Ci lazily lifted his gaze, a cold sneer on his lips. "You're too nosy!"
The day's filming primarily focused on Su Yue and Xu Shen's scenes. Anyone who initially believed Su Yue was merely a pretty face with no experience was quickly proven wrong after today . Her camera presence and acting skills were remarkable. Director Guan, known for his meticulousness, only asked for retakes on minor details. While Su Yue passed most scenes on the first take, leading to an early wrap for the crew.
"I think I owe you an apology," Xu Shen said, walking over to Su Yue. He was still in character as Fang Licheng, lean and radiating youthful energy.
Su Yue looked at him, not quite understanding.
"I honestly thought you had no acting skills and would slow us down," Xu Shen admitted, a true gentleman.[Read More Here]
"But your acting is surprisingly good. In fact, I was the one making mistakes that caused retakes. Have you truly never acted before?" Her immersion in the role and natural expressions made him believe she was Ji Yao.
"It's okay ," Su Yue replied indifferently. Outsiders assuming this was her first time was normal. " I really haven't acted before, but you can just say I'm a born actress." Her expression was calm, with no hint of deception.
Xu Shen nodded, agreeing. He, too, was a testament to natural talent, having won awards this early in his career. After a brief chat with him , Su Yue headed back to Granny Ping's house. After a long hiatus in her career , the intense filming had left her exhausted.
At night lying on her bed, Su Yue called Jiang Ci. The phone rang once before he answered. "Aao. I'm done working for today . Are you still busy?" It was already dark outside.
Jiang Ci, clearly pleased by her call, dropped his pen and leaned back in his chair. "Well, I am quite busy."
"You're busy..." Su Yue blinked, deliberately teasing him. "Then I won't bother you anymore ?"
"Hey!" Jiang Ci scoffed immideatly.Trying to stop her disconnecting the call
Su Yue quietly smiled, while rolling her eyes. Knowing his stingy nature, she stopped teasing him. "Jiang Ci, did you read the script i sentt?" How's it is ?
"Half of it," Jiang Ci said slowly. He'd stopped at the kissing scene, realizing the rest would need to be cut anyway.
"Then what do you think of the kissing scene?" Su Yue couldn't resist teasing him further.
His thin lips twitched dangerously. Jiang Ci's dark eyes narrowed. "Do you want to film it?"
Su Yue, still on the bed, toyed with a strand of her hair. "Is it okay?"
As her words hung in the air, Jiang Ci's cold snort came through the phone. "Don't even think about it!" How dare she ask?
Su Yue let go of her hair, pressing her lips together to stifle her laughter. After a moment, she said, "You're not even allowing this ? So domineering! Aoao, kissing scenes and bed scenes are normal in films."
"Su Yue!" Jiang Ci's voice was low and displeased. There was a pause. With a gloomy tone , he added, "You can use a stand-in for these scenes ." This was Gu Qing's rejected suggestion from earlier.
"Oh," Su Yue said, having already told the director she'd use a stand-in. She'd just wanted to tease him. "Then I'll listen to you and use a substitute." She used the opportunity to praise herself. "Jiang Ci, I'll be obedient ,okay ."
Jiang Ci's chest tightened for a second, but Su Yue's soft, coaxing words smoothed it over. The corners of his lips unconsciously lifted, completely forgetting his earlier firm rejection of a stand-in. He'd just contradicted himself in this short span of time .If Gu Qing was present at this time he will sutrely be shocked to death seeing his changed behaviour . Su Yue heard him snort on the phone and knew he was satisfied. They hadn't seen each other in days, and Su Yue genuinely missed him. Without the usual awkwardness of facing him, directly , she spoke softly and sweetly telling him about her day. In his large, dark office, Jiang Ci held his phone, his cold eyebrows raised, with a faint smile playing on his lips.
On the next day in the rest area, Mao Yuanyuan stormed over from the makeup tent, her face flushed with anger. "Miss Su," she whispered, crouching beside Su Yue's chair. "I just overheard Chu Mengyun and her agent talking about you in the dressing room."
Su Yue looked up, curious. "What did they say?" In the past, other actresses had gossiped about her, but it was always about her face, nothing new.
"I heard Chu Mengyun say you're a newcomer playing a big role, and you brought three assistants to the crew! She said there must be a 'sugar daddy' behind you, or you wouldn't have gotten the lead role. And... she also said your acting skills are just 'so-so' despite everyone praising you." Mao Yuanyuan was furious. She'd almost burst in and confronted them right there and than.
In their short time together, Mao Yuanyuan had discovered Su Yue was not only beautiful but also kind. Even though Mao Yuanyuan wasn't as capable as Sheng Yan and Sheng Tian, Su Yue never spoke harshly or showed irritation towards her . Mao Yuanyuan had also witnessed Chu Mengyun scold her own assistant twice, even poking her in the head. Mao Yuanyuan felt incredibly lucky and had come to admire Su Yue even more . So hearing her goddess slandered baselessly enraged her to the core.
"Miss Su, I can go scold her back!" Mao Yuanyuan volunteered.
"No," Su Yue said, tapping Mao Yuanyuan's forehead. "If you scold her, and she has a thick skin, it won't affect her. You'll just look unreasonable."
"Then we just let her be?" Mao Yuanyuan's anger simmered.
"No," Su Yue shook her head. "You'll see later." The entertainment industry was full of people who smiled to your face and stabbed you in the back. Su Yue was accustomed to it. But she wasn't a kind, generous person, nor was she a pushover. She would retaliate in her own way .
Next, Su Yue and Chu Mengyun had a scene together. Chu Mengyun, with three years of experience and considered one of the best young actresses, was eager for this scene. She'd been disgusted by the crew's daily praise of Su Yue's acting, dismissing it as merely saving face for the director. She planned to crush Su Yue in this scene, proving her inferiority infront of all the crew .
The scene depicted Li Xiao, the second female lead, in love with the male protagonist, Fang Licheng. Li Xiao's teaching assingment in the village was ending, and she wanted Fang Licheng to leave with her, but he refused, determined to stay and care for Ji Yao, who had lost her sight years ago saving him. Li Xiao, believing Fang Licheng was staying out of a sense of obligation, visited Ji Yao to persuade her to let him go.
Li Xiao found Ji Yao and immediately stated her purpose.
"Miss Li, are you saying that Licheng doesn't want to leave because of me, because I'm a burden to him?" Ji Yao lowered her eyes, her voice though calm, but her fingertips subtly tightening.
Sitting in the dimly lit room, Li Xiao's temperament remained striking. "I believe you know Licheng very well; after all, you were childhood sweethearts. You may not be able to see his situation in the village, but that doesn't mean you truly don't feel it. Ji Yao, if you truly care about him, then persuade him to come with me and stop being a burden to him."
Ji Yao suddenly lifted her head, her dark, beautiful eyes devoid of focus. Her tone was gentle but subtly sharp.[Read More Here]
"I am Licheng's burden? Then did you ask Licheng if he thought the same way?"
Chu Mengyun, playing Li Xiao, stared at Su Yue, momentarily forgetting her lines and expression.
"Stop!" Director Guan frowned. "Chu Mengyun, what are you doing? Say your lines!"
Chu Mengyun snapped back to reality, slight blush of embaressment crept on her face. Su Yue's sharp delivery of dialouge had momentarily stunned her. "I'm sorry, Director, I forgot my lines."
"Again!" Director Guan signaled.
Ji Yao's dark eyes fixed on Li Xiao's position, waiting for an answer.
"Stop!" Director Guan said again. "Chu Mengyun, you need to show expression, speak your lines. What are you doing just sitting there?"
"I'm sorry, Director, I forgot my lines again." Chu Mengyun bit her lip. She couldn't understand why, when facing Su Yue, she felt subconsciously nervous and suppressed.
"Again!" Director Guan insisted.
Li Xiao heard the questioning in Ji Yao's tone. She wasn't inherently a bad person; she simply loved Fang Licheng and couldn't bear for him to waste his life in the village. She believed her perspective was valid; Fang Licheng had many ways to repay his gratitude without sacrificing his entire life.
"I know you like Licheng, and I know your eyes were blinded saving him," Li Xiao said, steading herself. "But you can't let Licheng take care of you for the rest of his life and stay in this village forever. Ji Yao, honest words are always hard to hear. You might find my words offensive today , but I'm telling you the truth. If you truly like Licheng, you should do what's best for him, and you shouldn't be so selfish ."
"Am I being selfish?"
Ji Yao's usually gentle lips twisted into a sarcastic smile. Her face was slightly blurred in the dim room, and her tone deepened. "Is it true that teachers are good at criticizing people? Go back. I may not be good at being human or preaching, but I know etiquette, righteousness, and shame."
Li Xiao stammered, "You let, you let..."
"Stop, stop, stop!"
Director Guan glared at the stuttering Chu Mengyun. "Chu Mengyun, what's wrong with you today? Did you not memorize your lines? Just say so if you can't, don't waste everyone's time." Director Guan was notoriously strict. While he didn't usually scold for lack of expression, forgetting lines was an actor's most basic requirement. Chu Mengyun couldn't even meet that.
"Director, I'm not in a good state today. I want to take a break." Chu Mengyun's face burned under the crew's strange gazes.
"Okay, everyone take a rest."
When Chu Mengyun returned to her spot, her agent immediately asked, "What happened? You made so many mistakes."
Chu Mengyun shook her head, unable to speak. She couldn't admit that while acting, she felt utterly suppressed by Su Yue, a crushing pressure in her heart. Every time she looked at Su Yue's face or eyes, she subconsciously felt oppressed. She would never concede that Su Yue's acting skills were too good, that she was overwhelmed by Su Yue's presence!
As Su Yue also returned to her resting place. Mao Yuanyuan eagerly approached, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Miss Su, your acting skills are incredible! That Chu Mengyun had the nerve to trash your acting in the dressing room, and now she's completely been slapped in the face." She finally understood what Su Yue had meant earlier: embarrassing the other party by outshining them was the ultimate payback, and it felt incredibly satisfying.
"It's not enough," Su Yue said, taking a few sips of water from her thermos. Her fresh, moist lips looked even more beautiful.
Mao Yuanyuan was stunned, her eyes filled with admiration. Ah, her goddess, crushing another woman's face, was truly magnificent. Sheng Yan and Sheng Tian exchanged glances, their eyes glinting. They'd initially thought Su Yue, with her delicate appearance, would be soft-tempered. But after spending time with her, they realized she looked gentle and indifferent only until her boundaries were crossed. Once provoked, she would retaliate, rationally and without mercy.
Su Yue was oblivious to the complex thoughts of her three assistants. She closed her eyes on her seat her whole body was , calm and composed, a stark contrast to the increasingly nervous Chu Mengyun not far away.
When filming resumed, Chu Mengyun's performance was even worse than before the break. She tried to avoid looking at Su Yue but was still felt affected.
"Stop, do it again!"
"Do it all over again!"
"Again!"
"Come again!"...
Director Guan grew agitated. "This scene isn't working today. We'll keep shooting!"
It was already dark, but since it was an indoor scene, it didn't matter. However, the crew was hungry and tired,and as the time passes their resentment towards Chu Mengyun growing further . Whispers of complaint began spreading amongst the staff. They hated encountering actors with poor acting skills the most , knowing it meant everyone would be dragged down with them .
Finally, Chu Mengyun, recognizing her disastrous performance and sensing the crew's frustration, begged Director Guan to reschedule the scene for tomorrow. As she left, she cast a faint glance at Su Yue. At first, she hadn't realized, but after the whole day, she knew: Su Yue had deliberately sabotaged her performance for the secene .
After that incident a month passed reletively fast . Only a few shots remained in the village. If not for the recent heavy rain, which caused delays, the rural segment would have been completed. As the rain continued to pour, drumming against the windowpane with a loud "click." Outside, a vast, blurry white obscured everything. Trapped indoors, everyone was restless.
Su Yue slowly turned her gaze from the window. The weather forecast showed rain for another month. So she called Jiang Ci. "Aao, it's been raining heavily here. The forecast for tomorrow is also light rain, just right for the last few shots." Those remaining shots involved Fang Licheng and Li Xiao leaving the village on a rainy day, with Ji Yao groping through the rain to bid Fang Licheng farewell.
Jiang Ci's lips were a little dry and pale. Hearing her, he frowned slightly, his hand pausing over the documents. He lazily instructed Su Yue, "After the rain, have the two assistants make you ginger tea. And you can't act like a child and refuse to drink it."
"Got it," Su Yue pouted, hating the taste of ginger. "By the way, I heard the investors for this drama are coming tomorrow. With all this rain, I wonder which investor is so energetic, and idle, to come all the way here."
Jiang Ci's lips twitched hearing this , but he said nothing.
The next day, around noon, the heavy rain that had relentlessly poured for seven days finally lightened. Director Guan decided to seize this opportunity to finish the last, crucial shots. The crew moved out first, leading the way, followed by Su Yue, her assistants, and other actors.
Walking through the mountains was an arduous task . The incessant rain had churned the ground into muddy potholes, and with the rain still falling, every step was a struggle to take . Chu Mengyun walked beside Su Yue. Ever since she'd provoked the crew's complaints and realized Su Yue's deliberate sabotage, she'd stopped even superficial pleasantries. After all, discord between female leads was common in the industry.
She looked down at her muddy high heels, her mood sour even more . [Read More Here]
Then she glanced at Su Yue, who walked with surprising ease, thanks to her transparent shoe covers. How had she acquired those in such a remote place? Chu Mengyun muttered under her breath, listlessly following the group.
Suddenly, the rain intensified, falling so heavily that it stung their faces, making it nearly impossible to open their eyes.
"It's raining heavily again, can we still film in this weather ?" someone questioned.
"Should we turn back? It's too much rain to shoot."
"It's dangerous here with this heavy rain. Where's Director Guan? Ask him if we should go back and take shelter for a while," another suggested.
"Director Guan is at the front with the crew, call him..."
Everyone stopped, unable to move forward in the deluge. Filming today also seemed impossible. At that moment, a deafening "Boom!" echoed from above.
"Landslide! Run quickly!" someone screamed. Then, a powerful rush of air swept over them. Su Yue looked up in shock, seeing a massive slide of mud and rocks cascading down the mountain. She tried to run, but Chu Mengyun, standing beside her, gripped her arm, holding her back.
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