Chapter 253: The Slap

The two stood firm and began their lines.

“Am I wrong? If you weren’t being supported, where did you get the money to buy a big house? I see you’re just relying on selling yourself to survive—”

Upon hearing this, Yun Xuan’s beautiful face flushed with anger as she raised her hand and slapped Chen Yurou hard across the left cheek!

“Smack!”

The two had always had conflicts, but Yun Xuan never resorted to violence against women. In the past, no matter what Chen Yurou did, she would only respond with words. However, today she couldn’t tolerate it and delivered a slap that was heavy in the context of the scene.

So heavy, in fact, that Chen Yurou lost her balance and crashed into a nearby flower stand, drawing the attention of everyone around.

In such scenes, slapping is usually staged without actual contact; one person pretends to hit while the other turns their face to avoid it, adding sound effects in post-production to make it appear seamless.

Before this scene, Director Zhang had briefed them on how to find the right rhythm, emphasizing that they shouldn’t dodge too early, or it would look fake.

After delivering the slap, Jiang Xiaobai was stunned.

The pain in her palm reminded her that she hadn’t just slapped Zhao Chenyu lightly; it had landed solidly without any force being absorbed by a turned face.

She stood there in shock, and Director Zhang and the crew were equally taken aback.

That slap was indeed loud.

According to the script, Chen Yurou was supposed to crash into the flower stand, but perhaps due to the shock of the slap, she stood there dazed, not making the move at all, instead covering her face in disbelief as she stared at Jiang Xiaobai.

“Cut!”

Director Zhang walked over, “What’s going on? Why didn’t you dodge? Quickly prepare some ice packs to put on your face.”

The first part of his statement was directed at Chen Yurou, while the latter part was for the crew.

“I didn’t expect her to move so quickly; I wasn’t prepared in time… I’m fine, Director, let’s do it again,” Zhao Chenyu said, lowering her hand, her cheek flushed, and then she glanced at Jiang Xiaobai.

Jiang Xiaobai felt something was off about her words…

I moved quickly?

No, didn’t we agree that I would start after you said the words “selling yourself”?

“Alright then, let’s shoot it again. This time, pay attention,” Director Zhang nodded and instructed Jiang Xiaobai, “Don’t be too fast; remember to give her a subtle cue with your eyes, don’t make it too sudden.”

Actually, she hadn’t been sudden at all…

Jiang Xiaobai wanted to say something, but Director Zhang had already signaled the camera crew to get ready, so she held her tongue.

“I see you’re just relying on selling yourself to survive—”

It was the same line again, but this time Jiang Xiaobai was careful. Before making her move, she shot a glance at Zhao Chenyu. Outsiders might not notice anything, but Zhao Chenyu would definitely perceive it as a cue that she was about to strike.

However—

“Smack!”

The loud slap landed on Zhao Chenyu’s face once more, the sound just as sharp as the last.

Zhao Chenyu covered her face, gasping in pain, and the subsequent action still didn’t continue.

Director Zhang approached, “What are you doing? Is this scene really that difficult?”

The two weren’t just starting their performance; they had already shot nearly half of their scenes together. They should have established a level of cooperation and understanding by now, so why was it so difficult at this moment?

It was just a matter of borrowing space and turning a face; how could they not sync up?

Director Zhang was baffled.

“Director, I’m following our agreement. The lines match, and I gave her the eye signal; I don’t know why she didn’t dodge,” Jiang Xiaobai explained.

“I—I don’t know either! I wanted to dodge, but her movements were too quick; I couldn’t react in time,” Zhao Chenyu said with a hint of grievance, her voice trembling as if she were genuinely hurt. “Xiaobai, can you go a bit slower? My face really hurts…”

Jiang Xiaobai: …

She bit her lip, looking at Zhao Chenyu, whose eyes held a hint of darkness.

Zhao Chenyu was already not unattractive; at this moment, on the verge of tears, her voice hoarse with pain, it evoked a sense of pity.

Everyone present had clearly heard those two loud slaps, so inevitably, when they looked at Jiang Xiaobai, there was a hint of blame.

It was just acting; why did you hit her so hard? You really hurt her!

“Xiaobai, slow down your slap a bit. Don’t strike the moment before; give it a moment to build up,” Director Zhang advised.

Jiang Xiaobai paused for a moment before nodding.

Slow, huh?

Alright then.

“I see you’re just relying on selling yourself to survive—”

After Zhao Chenyu shouted her line again, Jiang Xiaobai made her move.

This time, it was almost in slow motion; if she slowed down any further, it would look like she was gently caressing Zhao Chenyu’s face. This time, Zhao Chenyu tilted her face, and there was no crisp sound.

Following the script, she continued with the action, crashing into the flower stand, which drew the attention of their classmates. Everyone was confused but knew that Yun Xuan had slapped Chen Yurou, so they criticized her. Yun Xuan, however, proudly glanced at the crowd before finally fixing her gaze on Zhao Chenyu—

“Not satisfied? Come find me anytime; I’ll give you as many slaps as you want.”

With that, she turned and left.

“Cut.”

This segment ended, but Director Zhang frowned, clearly dissatisfied.

He was at a loss; the first two slaps were thunderous, while the last one was like a drizzle, creating too much of a disparity!

But to reshoot?

He glanced at Zhao Chenyu’s already reddened face and ultimately decided against it.

What if they tried again and it still landed?

Forget it; he would just edit the three takes together to create a complete scene.

“Alright, take a break. We’ll continue with the remaining scenes in the afternoon. Chenyu, go ice your face; don’t let it swell up more.”

“Thank you, Director. I understand,” Zhao Chenyu replied obediently, but before leaving, she shot a glance at Jiang Xiaobai, her eyes filled with resentment.

“Sister Xiaobai!”

Ming Zhu was angry, tugging at Jiang Xiaobai’s arm, seemingly wanting to confront Zhao Chenyu.

But Jiang Xiaobai gave her a look, “Let’s go back first.”

With two hours until the afternoon scenes, they decided to return to the hotel. As soon as they entered, Ming Zhu couldn’t hold back:

“What does that Zhao Chenyu mean? She just stood there and let you hit her! When you actually hit her, she turned around and claimed you did it on purpose because you moved too fast!”

“What else could it mean? Just revenge,” Jiang Xiaobai replied, feeling frustrated but understanding that Zhao Chenyu had chosen to take action.

In her eyes, she was the one responsible for her scenes being cut. Unable to resist the production’s decisions, she could only vent her frustrations on Jiang Xiaobai.

“Hmph, just petty tricks that don’t hold up! She’s too underhanded!” Ming Zhu said, exasperated.

Last time with Dong Ran was sneaky, and this time was no different!

“I’m wondering if she has more tricks up her sleeve…” Jiang Xiaobai pondered.

 

 

Chapter 254: Princess Carry

Whether there are any follow-up moves, just watch and see.

After a brief rest at noon, Jiang Xiaobai arrived at the set in the afternoon, ready to continue working.

In the afternoon, she had a scene with Bai Chen. By this point in the story, the two characters had developed a familiarity and slight feelings for each other, but they still exchanged sharp words, engaging in a verbal sparring match.

This scene was brief, and once it was completed, Jiang Xiaobai would have her scenes with Zhao Chenyu.

As the second female lead, Zhao Chenyu originally had a substantial amount of screen time, but it was later reduced by about half due to edits from Xia Mu, bringing her role closer to that of the third female lead, Jiang Yi.

Recently, her scenes had been quite intense, and after finishing these, she would take a break until the game storyline filming started again.

However, when Zhao Chenyu arrived, everyone was taken aback.

Her cheeks were puffed up, swollen red as if she had been beaten, causing her appearance to look somewhat distorted.

Director Zhang was startled. “What happened? Didn’t you apply ice?”

“I did for a while, but I was too tired and fell asleep. When I woke up, it looked like this…” Zhao Chenyu felt embarrassed under the gaze of so many people and turned her head slightly. “I’m sorry, Director, I might delay the progress of the crew.”

Of course, Director Zhang couldn’t blame her; this was technically an injury sustained while working. He quickly reassured her, telling her to go back to the hotel and rest properly. Whenever she recovered, she could return to work.

“I’m sorry, Xiaobai, for causing a delay in your work,” Zhao Chenyu said to Jiang Xiaobai, though her expression seemed forced, as if she were making herself greet her.

Jiang Xiaobai noticed some crew members whispering about the two of them, speculating about the situation.

“It’s okay,” Jiang Xiaobai replied, encouraging her to take care of herself, and then Zhao Chenyu left.

With their planned work disrupted, Director Zhang thought for a moment and instructed his assistant, “Go get Baobei. Let him and Xiaobai shoot the scene in the infirmary.”

The assistant quickly made a phone call to notify him.

Most of Lu Baobei’s scenes were at home, with some shots of him interacting with classmates at school, but those had already been filmed. He was now waiting on set, ready to fill in some minor shots before he could leave early.

He didn’t have any fighting scenes, so he was one of the first to leave the crew, but he had a decent amount of screen time since he was the younger brother of the female lead.

Lu Baobei arrived shortly after.

He was the youngest in the crew, polite and well-mannered, greeting everyone he met. With his delicate features, he was well-liked by everyone, from the director to the crew members.

Especially among the female crew members, they often sought him out to chat or take pictures, and they couldn’t help but pinch his cheeks.

Lu Baobei was good-natured and accepted it all with a smile.

However, he was also treated the best in the crew; the girls loved to buy snacks, and whenever they saw him, they would always share some with him. According to him, he had gained two pounds since starting work with the crew.

“This scene is where you get injured. We’ll shoot here first, then move to the school infirmary. We’ll start soon,” Director Zhang said upon seeing him.

In this storyline, Lu Baobei goes to school to find his sister and overhears some boys discussing rumors about Chen Yurou, saying that Yun Xuan was being supported by someone. Angered, he gets into a fight and ends up injured, prompting Yun Xuan to rush over and take him to the infirmary.

The fight scene only required a few extras to play students, so once filming started, Jiang Xiaobai stood to the side, watching Lu Baobei and the extras perform.

Lu Baobei was alone and slender, easily overpowered by the larger college students. He was quickly knocked to the ground and subjected to punches and kicks.

During this, the makeup artist applied some bruises to Lu Baobei’s face.

“Yun Bao!”

Seeing the director’s cue, Jiang Xiaobai jogged onto the scene, rushing over to scoop Lu Baobei into her arms. The classmates, seeing the “female demon,” scattered in all directions.

Then came the scene of Yun Xuan carrying her brother to the infirmary.

Just as Director Zhang was about to call cut, he noticed Jiang Xiaobai had already moved.

With one hand under Lu Baobei’s knee and the other around his waist, she effortlessly lifted him into a princess carry!

Director: …

Crew members: …

Lu Baobei’s face turned red instantly, but fortunately, his injuries concealed the blush.

Zhang Weiguo rubbed his head, still trying to process what had just happened.

What just occurred?

The slender Jiang Xiaobai lifted Lu Baobei in a princess carry?

Although Lu Baobei was young, he was still a big boy, not short at all, weighing over a hundred pounds. Yet, Jiang Xiaobai just picked him up and ran so quickly; it looked quite surreal…

The filming location was not far from the infirmary. Zhang Weiguo had planned to drag over a table for Lu Baobei to lie on while Jiang Xiaobai posed for the princess carry shot, capturing only the upper body of Lu Baobei to avoid showing the table.

Then they would switch to the infirmary scene, where a doctor would already be there to take Lu Baobei for treatment, so it wouldn’t be difficult to film.

However, Jiang Xiaobai’s series of movements flowed seamlessly. After easily lifting Lu Baobei, she ran toward the infirmary. The cameraman was momentarily stunned but quickly reacted and followed to capture the entire scene.

Director Zhang instructed someone to keep up, and the scene transitioned to the infirmary.

The doctor was played by an actor, who had been standing near the door, ready to receive patients. He didn’t expect to see a girl rushing in, carrying someone while shouting, “Doctor, please check on my brother!”

My goodness!

Impressive!

The actor playing the doctor almost wanted to shout “666,” but upon seeing the camera, he held back. He hurried to the bedside, conducting an examination, and finally said, “It’s nothing serious; just some rest for a few days. I’ll prescribe some medication for the external injuries; make sure he applies it regularly.”

Jiang Xiaobai nodded in agreement while subtly rubbing her wrist.

When she had placed Lu Baobei on the bed, she had miscalculated her movement and bumped into the iron bed frame, causing her wrist to throb painfully.

At that moment, she suddenly felt warmth on her hand; a pair of soft little hands were gently massaging the spot where she had bumped it.

Turning around, Jiang Xiaobai saw Lu Baobei behind her, in a spot the camera couldn’t capture, reaching out to soothe her injured wrist.

Feeling her gaze, he looked up and smiled at her.

Clean and pure.

 

 

 

Chapter 255: At That Moment, I Didn’t Dare to Move

Despite the messy makeup covering much of Lu Baobei’s delicate face, making him look somewhat comical, his clear eyes still brought comfort to those who saw him.

Jiang Xiaobai couldn’t help but smile at him.

Once this scene was finished, the next few segments would show Jiang Xiaobai bringing food to visit him, along with scenes involving Luo Tian taking care of him.

The script supervisor prepared the food, and Jiang Xiaobai changed into a new outfit, indicating that a new day had arrived in the storyline. She then brought the food to Lu Baobei’s bedside to take care of him.

When she arrived, Lu Baobei was sleeping. As he lay there, Jiang Xiaobai waited by the bed for a moment, and soon, Lu Baobei’s eyelashes fluttered before he opened his eyes to meet hers.

“Did my sister come?” he asked, attempting to sit up.

Since his injuries were not severe and it had been a day or two, the makeup artist had adjusted his makeup to make the injuries look lighter.

Seeing this, Jiang Xiaobai got up to help him, placing a pillow behind his back for support.

As she assisted him, she felt that Lu Baobei was not putting all his weight on her hands; instead, he was sitting up straight on his own, with his back relaxed, making it seem as though she was lifting him.

This small action revealed that he was a very considerate child, and such details were not put on; it was likely just his natural disposition.

The scenes with Lu Baobei in the infirmary were not extensive, but in the storyline, three days had passed, so Jiang Xiaobai changed outfits three times for this segment.

When they finished filming, it coincided with dinner time.

“Jiang Xiaobai, you’re impressive! You’re so strong! I couldn’t tell at all from the outside,” Director Zhang remarked, astonished as he approached her.

Jiang Xiaobai hadn’t realized there was anything unusual about her actions until she heard Director Zhang’s comment and saw the approving expressions on the others’ faces. She understood how startling that movement must have been for them.

“Uh… I often work out, so I guess I’m a bit strong,” she replied, feeling a bit shy.

She practiced basic martial arts techniques, dreaming of mastering extraordinary skills, but she was still confident in her physical strength.

Not to mention Lu Baobei, she could lift Director Zhang too!

Just as Director Zhang was about to speak, he noticed Jiang Xiaobai’s gaze and instinctively shut his mouth, feeling a bit uneasy.

“What’s with this awkward vibe?” he thought.

“That move of Xiaobai’s was so manly! When she picked him up, I almost wanted to scream,” someone commented.

“Total boyfriend material!” another added.

“Baobei, what did you feel at that moment? Were you moved?” the crew members, now familiar with the actors, began to tease.

Lu Baobei’s face flushed again at their words, and he chuckled awkwardly, “I didn’t dare to move at that time…”

Everyone paused for a moment before bursting into laughter.

“Well, it makes sense; that’s why Zhao Chenyu got beaten up like that today,” a sudden voice interrupted, causing the surroundings to fall silent.

The speaker was Feng Gang, a man in his early twenties, who seemed to have some sort of connection with the assistant director. He often spoke without thinking, lacking both emotional and intellectual intelligence, which frequently led to offending others. Everyone disliked him but was hesitant to speak out due to his background.

His sudden comment amidst the laughter caused the atmosphere to shift dramatically, leaving everyone feeling awkward.

Some even looked at Jiang Xiaobai with scrutinizing eyes.

“We were filming; it was her fault for not dodging,” Jiang Xiaobai said sternly, correcting Feng Gang.

Such comments shouldn’t be made lightly; otherwise, they could lead to misunderstandings. What did he mean by saying Zhao Chenyu got hurt like this?

Anyone who didn’t know might think it was personal animosity rather than acting!

“Xiaobai’s performance was fine; it was indeed Chenyu who didn’t dodge in time. She might not have acted in such scenes before, so her reaction was a bit slow,” Director Zhang explained in front of everyone.

After reviewing the footage, he noticed that Jiang Xiaobai’s movements were correct, but Zhao Chenyu had slightly misjudged her reaction. If there was a problem, it lay with Zhao Chenyu, not Jiang Xiaobai.

However, Zhang Weiguo was an experienced director who knew how to discern these things, but that didn’t mean everyone else did.

They only knew that Zhao Chenyu had a swollen face and assumed Jiang Xiaobai had hit too hard, leaving her no chance to dodge.

Like Feng Gang, who, upon hearing Director Zhang’s words, didn’t argue but had an expression of disbelief, clearly not taking it in.

“Alright, alright, that’s a wrap! Everyone, head back,” Director Zhang said, not wanting to say more, as it might imply some hidden agenda. He waved his hand, signaling everyone to leave.

After returning to the hotel, Ming Zhu came to find Jiang Xiaobai. “Sister Xiaobai, I asked Juzi, and he said Luoluo did inquire about you going to the airport. He probably followed you because he knew you helped his girlfriend that day.”

“Oh, I see. Thanks for letting me know.”

“Yeah, I also asked Juzi to convey our gratitude,” Ming Zhu replied and then brought up another matter. “Sister Ran called just now and suggested we open a Douyin account. With Luoluo’s promotion these days, we’ve gained some popularity there, so it’s a good time to start.”

Jiang Xiaobai previously only had a Weibo account and hadn’t opened accounts on other platforms. Though Linglong had set up a few overseas accounts, they barely had any followers.

Now, Dong Ran felt the timing was right; besides Douyin, there were a couple of other popular platforms. It would be better to open them all now, so she could post updates across multiple platforms simultaneously in the future.

“Opening an account… does that mean I need to record some videos to upload?” Jiang Xiaobai pondered and asked.

This was different from Weibo, where one could post text or photos. For Douyin, videos had to be uploaded.

Videos were undoubtedly more troublesome than photos or text, especially for the first post after opening the account, which required some thought.

“I have an idea, Sister Xiaobai. I just discussed it with Sister Ran, and she thinks it’s feasible,” Ming Zhu suggested. “You’re currently on set, so if you could release some behind-the-scenes footage of the filming, it should be quite interesting… Oh, I think your action of picking up Baobei today would definitely catch people’s attention! If we post that online, it’ll surely attract a lot of views!”

Ming Zhu suddenly recalled that scene and felt increasingly convinced it was a good idea.

 

 

Chapter 256: Not Simple

“You can do this, but it needs to be approved by Director Zhang; otherwise, it would be a breach of contract.”

Jiang Xiaobai thought about it and found the suggestion quite good. During filming, many things could be recorded as material, such as makeup, styling, and behind-the-scenes bloopers.

In this production, there would be action scenes and special effects, and characters would perform stunts. Posting these online would likely attract viewers.

However, one thing to note was that many contracts explicitly state that without the crew’s consent, actors and staff cannot publish related content online; otherwise, it constitutes a breach of contract. Even if it isn’t explicitly stated in the contract, it’s still necessary to inform the director, as failing to do so would be inappropriate.

The next day, after arriving on set, Jiang Xiaobai privately inquired about this matter with Zhang Weiguo. He thought about the image of Jiang Xiaobai carrying Lu Baobei and couldn’t help but smile, “Sure, posting this online could generate some buzz. How about this, I’ll have someone compile some videos from the shoot, and we can pick a few to post on the official account on Weibo. You can share whichever ones you like on your Weibo and other accounts.”

“Sounds good, thank you, Director Zhang.”

While they were talking, Xia Mu approached with an unfriendly expression.

“Look at this news,” she said, handing her phone to Zhang Weiguo.

Jiang Xiaobai wanted to leave when she saw Xia Mu coming, but the “you all” stopped her. As Zhang Weiguo looked at the phone, she leaned over to peek.

The phone displayed a post from a blogger.

[Entertainment Journalist Big Tooth v: Today, I spotted Zhao Chenyu in a commercial street. She personally queued to buy a large cup of milk tea. I accidentally captured her, but I noticed she had injuries on her face, possibly from a fight. Seems like there’s a story here; what do you all think?]

Accompanying the post were two pictures. The first showed a busy street with a milk tea shop where many people were queuing, and among them stood a long-haired woman in black. Even though her face was obscured by her hair, her elegant posture made her stand out.

The milk tea shop was quite famous, named “A Big Cup.”

The second picture zoomed in on her left cheek, revealing a red and swollen mark that looked alarming, clearly indicating she had been slapped.

This close-up also confirmed her identity; anyone who had watched “Fireworks and Roses” would recognize Zhao Chenyu as the female lead.

The blogger wasn’t very famous, and Zhao Chenyu’s popularity was moderate, but he tagged the post with the topic—”King of E-Sports.”

The show had a decent fanbase, including original novel fans and fans of several main actors like Bai Chen, so the addition of this topic generated many comments.

“How could Zhao Chenyu get beaten up? It must have taken considerable force!”

“Isn’t she currently filming? She wouldn’t have gotten hurt on set, would she?”

“Wait, I seem to remember Chen Yurou has a scene where she gets slapped, and the one hitting her is the female lead, Yun Xuan.”

“So, are you saying Jiang Xiaobai did this? Isn’t that a bit excessive? Aren’t these scenes usually staged?”

The onlookers were very interested in such matters, speculating about which two actresses were at odds and who was feuding with whom, thus elevating the topic.

Of course, there was still a significant gap from being a hot topic, but many people had already seen it.

Director Zhang’s expression darkened as he read the post. “What’s going on? Isn’t Zhao Chenyu resting in the hotel due to her injuries? How could she be out in the city buying milk tea? And how coincidental that someone caught her face on camera?”

“It’s either intentional or just a coincidence, but which one…”

Xia Mu smirked and looked at Jiang Xiaobai. “You two have a grudge.”

This wasn’t a question but a statement.

Jiang Xiaobai paused for a moment. “She thinks the reduction of her scenes was targeted at her by me.”

After she said this, both Zhang and Xia Mu fell silent for a moment.

“I’ll personally ask her about this…” Director Zhang said, his expression displeased, but before he could finish, his phone rang.

Jiang Xiaobai saw “Zhao Chenyu” displayed on the caller ID, and her eyes flickered.

Director Zhang answered the call and put it on speaker mode.

In this corner, only the three of them were present, so there was no need to worry about anyone overhearing.

“Director Zhang, I’m really sorry. I didn’t expect to be photographed when I went out yesterday. I was invited out by a friend outside the industry, and she insisted on having milk tea, so I had to accompany her. I’m really sorry; I’ll clarify this matter personally and won’t cause trouble for the crew.”

Zhao Chenyu sounded anxious, her voice tinged with panic, effectively cutting off any reprimand Zhang was about to deliver.

“You need to clarify this situation properly and don’t say too much, or you know the consequences.”

Zhang Weiguo rarely spoke in such a serious tone. After saying this, Zhao Chenyu on the other end paused for a moment before replying, “Okay, I understand. I’ll go explain right away.”

After hearing Zhao Chenyu’s first sentence, Xia Mu lowered her head again to look at the images on her phone.

Initially, she only noticed the crowd and hadn’t paid attention to anything else, but now that she looked closely, she noticed a girl standing to the right of Zhao Chenyu in the first picture. Her appearance and demeanor were understated, making her easy to overlook.

Seeing this, Xia Mu smiled knowingly and remarked, “This second female lead… is not simple.”

Zhang Weiguo had already hung up the phone and casually said, “Alright, she’ll clarify it herself. It’s not a big deal; it should just be a misunderstanding.”

Xia Mu shot Zhang Weiguo a sidelong glance, her eyes filled with disdain.

Jiang Xiaobai was unexpectedly looking at Xia Mu.

Zhang Weiguo didn’t think much of it and didn’t blame him. Zhao Chenyu’s unique demeanor and her generally good relationships with others naturally earned her some trust.

Moreover, others were unaware of the past between Zhao Chenyu and Dong Ran, so they didn’t know what “history” she had, making this reaction understandable.

However, Xia Mu’s remark caught Jiang Xiaobai off guard.

“Alright, let’s hope she can clarify this. If she tries to pull any tricks… hehe.”

With a light laugh, Xia Mu walked away with her phone.

About ten minutes after Zhao Chenyu finished her call, she updated her Weibo status.

She directly retweeted the blogger’s post and replied, “Everyone, calm down. I was just in a rush to hang out with friends after filming and didn’t have time to remove my makeup~~”

Her explanation was unexpected for Jiang Xiaobai; she had anticipated that Zhao Chenyu would be deliberately ambiguous but didn’t expect such a swift clarification.

 

 

Chapter 257: Turning the Page

 

Looking at the comments under Zhao Chenyu’s Weibo post, most fans believed her explanation immediately. Some joked about her love for milk tea and whether that shop really had such good drinks, while others questioned if the marks on her face were real injuries rather than makeup.

Jiang Xiaobai still had scenes to shoot, so she asked Ming Zhu to keep an eye on the situation while she got back to work. Zhao Chenyu was still on leave; her injuries wouldn’t heal in just two days. For an actress, her face was the most important asset, and with it swollen like that, she couldn’t possibly continue filming. Even if Director Zhang was unhappy, there was nothing he could do.

That evening, Director Zhang sent Jiang Xiaobai the edited video clips, which were the most interesting segments so far. She could choose which ones to post online herself. The “King of E-Sports” crew also selected a clip to post on their official Weibo account.

Interestingly, the clip they chose featured Jiang Xiaobai carrying Lu Baobei. While princess carries often appear in dramas, very few actors actually carry their co-stars from start to finish.

It was one thing that male actors generally lacked strength, and another that costumes could be long and heavy. Most importantly, sometimes they had to deliver lines while carrying someone, requiring them to appear calm and natural while speaking to the female lead with a loving gaze.

Male actors often expressed their frustration, “I can’t do that!”

They’d be out of breath, struggling to deliver their lines, faces turning red from exertion. How could they maintain an elegant demeanor under such conditions?

Moreover, such scenes weren’t shot in one take. Sometimes the positioning was off or the visual aesthetics didn’t work, and if the female lead’s clothes wrinkled or the skirt didn’t fall nicely, they’d have to reshoot multiple times.

That’s why, for these types of scenes, they usually only filmed the moment of the lift, while other parts would either be shot from the waist up or from a distance, with male actors pretending to carry a dummy. In some cases, they even placed the female lead in a small cart, with the male lead pretending to carry her while staff pushed the cart from behind, later removing it with special effects.

Only a few male actors genuinely carried their co-stars from start to finish.

However, when Jiang Xiaobai carried Lu Baobei, she did so all the way to the medical room, completing the action herself. The entire scene was filmed clearly, and she moved with such agility that it seemed like she was carrying a plush toy rather than a boy.

When Jiang Xiaobai saw that clip, she couldn’t help but twitch her lips, feeling as if she and Lu Baobei had swapped roles.

“Hahaha, this one! Posting this will definitely increase my followers, hahaha…”

Linglong was already laughing uncontrollably.

There were many people on the production team, and not only had they edited the most exciting moments, but they also added some funny music, making Jiang Xiaobai’s running steps seem like she was dancing to a beat…

It was too silly.

If another actress had filmed this scene, it might have given off a “tough girl” vibe. However, in the video, Jiang Xiaobai looked slender, her long hair swaying with her movements…

It was quite the contrast.

Yet, this very contrast made it even more interesting, compelling viewers to watch repeatedly.

Ming Zhu had already registered Jiang Xiaobai’s account, but she hadn’t posted anything yet. After some thought, Jiang Xiaobai decided to use this video as her first post.

She might ride on their popularity by posting it almost simultaneously with the production team.

She handed the video to Ming Zhu for posting on various accounts, then inquired about Zhao Chenyu.

“She only made a brief explanation and hasn’t spoken up since; it’s been very quiet,” Ming Zhu said. “I looked at the comments, and not many people are fixated on this issue. Most are just making friendly jokes, so if nothing unexpected happens, it should blow over quickly.”

Jiang Xiaobai felt something was off.

Blown over?

But if it were that easily brushed aside, what was the point of Zhao Chenyu’s antics?

First, she took two heavy slaps, then put on a pitiful act in front of the crew, and soon after, she was deliberately photographed with injuries while buying milk tea…

Jiang Xiaobai went through the events in her mind but still couldn’t figure out what Zhao Chenyu was trying to achieve. In the end, she had to give up.

However, she knew that things would not truly end.

Two days later, Zhao Chenyu returned to the set.

By now, her face showed almost no signs of injury, just a slight redness that could easily be covered with a bit more foundation and concealer.

“Sorry for wasting everyone’s time; I’m ready to continue working now.”

Upon seeing everyone, Zhao Chenyu sincerely apologized and then distributed small gifts she had brought along with her assistant.

She had bought snacks, including cookies and milk tea, as well as healthier cut fruits, allowing everyone to take whatever they wanted.

There was plenty, enough for everyone to at least try one kind, which was considerate of her.

“Wow, isn’t this the cookie from Shitianji? I heard you need to reserve at least a day in advance to buy their stuff. Mmm… the cranberry flavor is so good!”

“There’s milk foam milk tea! I want some!”

“This fruit is so fresh, and it’s already cut! Chenyu, you’re so thoughtful and caring.”

Everyone praised her.

The actors were fine; they had assistants and agents to help them get what they wanted. But the crew members practically lived on set, eating simple boxed meals three times a day, and were too busy to run into the city for delicious food.

Now that Zhao Chenyu was being so considerate, everyone was happy to compliment her.

“I’m glad you all like it. If I have time in the future, I’ll have Xiaoyu buy some more,” Zhao Chenyu smiled and then looked at Jiang Xiaobai. “Xiaobai, I specially prepared a portion for you. I hope you don’t mind.”

As she spoke, she handed Jiang Xiaobai a specially wrapped portion.

Ming Zhu was nearly gritting her teeth; this woman’s demeanor was flawless, appearing so gentle and kind, but Ming Zhu increasingly found her terrifying.

Her thoughts were too deep!

Jiang Xiaobai met her gaze, and Zhao Chenyu merely smiled back, showing no hidden intentions. However, some people around them were watching and whispering, their eyes filled with anticipation for the drama.

Jiang Xiaobai smiled as well.

“Thank you very much! I was so envious when I saw the news of you buying milk tea in the city the other day, but unfortunately, I’m too busy with work right now; I really have no time at all. Sigh.”

Jiang Xiaobai accepted the gift, then furrowed her brows and sighed, putting on a look of deep sorrow.

Zhao Chenyu’s smile momentarily stiffened before returning to normal.

Filming continued, and in the following days, Zhao Chenyu behaved as usual, causing no more trouble and appearing like an ordinary, diligent actress.

 

 

Chapter 258: It’s Raining

In the past couple of days, several new accounts registered by Jiang Xiaobai had quietly gained popularity. The most popular was her account on Douyin, where her only post featuring a princess carry had amassed nearly 500,000 likes. This number was quite impressive; even those who became famous on that platform didn’t necessarily get that many likes on every post.

“Xiaobai, Luoluo, and An Jiujiu have been promoting you, and even Chao Nan and Bo Xing have commented!” Ming Zhu excitedly shared with Jiang Xiaobai where all these numbers were coming from.

Luoluo had already risen to fame on Douyin, boasting a large following, while An Jiujiu was an internet celebrity known for her food broadcasts, occasionally going live on Douyin. They were both regular users of the platform, which served as their base.

Although Chao Nan and Bo Xing didn’t use Douyin much, they would occasionally have their assistants post one or two updates, and they had a decent number of followers.

After “The World of Mortals” became popular, many Douyin users requested Chao Nan to sing a segment there, which prompted Chao Nan to invite Jiang Xiaobai to sing a part of “The World of Mortals.” The response was very positive once it was posted.

After Ming Zhu finished speaking, she opened Luoluo’s account to show Jiang Xiaobai the post he made yesterday.

“Yay, my idol has joined Douyin! I’m so happy! Does this mean I can interact with my idol more often now? @Jiang Xiaobai.”

This was a straightforward advertisement, but it wasn’t annoying because the video was Luoluo showcasing his latest Hanfu try-on. Dressed as a traditional scholar, he held a folding fan and spun around, the layers of his clothing flowing beautifully like falling petals, which was truly stunning.

He was tall and slender, exuding an ancient charm. In that exquisite Hanfu, he looked just like a cultured gentleman from ancient times, especially with his graceful movements; a slight flick of his wrist effortlessly opened the fan into a semicircle, looking very elegant.

Jiang Xiaobai noticed that his post had nearly a million likes, and the comments were numerous, so she clicked to read a few.

“Luoluo, you’ve changed! You hadn’t updated in days, and now your first post is an advertisement for someone else! Fine, my idol is chasing stars now; what can I do? I’ll just have to follow Jiang Xiaobai.”

“This outfit is too beautiful! Please share the store link!”

“Jiang Xiaobai is on Douyin? I just followed her and liked the post. Luoluo, praise me!”

“Just tell me the price so I can give up!”

These were some of the top comments, and interestingly, while Luoluo hadn’t replied to many comments, he did respond to the one that said, “Luoluo, praise me,” with a simple, “Thank you!”

This action seemed to signal many commenters to post similar messages, almost all saying, “I’ve followed and liked your idol; please give me a shout-out!”

With such enthusiastic promotion, Jiang Xiaobai couldn’t remain indifferent. She began typing a comment, “Thank you, Luoluo, for your support.”

After commenting, she watched An Jiujiu’s video, which featured a newly discovered restaurant. In the video, she ordered a huge serving of lobster noodles, with chewy handmade noodles paired with lobster sauce, creating a visually striking presentation. Watching her eat with such delight made Jiang Xiaobai swallow hard.

It looked so good; she wanted to try it.

The video caption read, “Xiaobai is on Douyin too! Welcome! Come see how delicious my lobster noodles are~ @Jiang Xiaobai.”

The two had only exchanged a few words while filming “Taste Wars,” and had no other interactions. Now, An Jiujiu was actively reaching out, genuinely helping her while also trying to ride on her coattails.

In most people’s eyes, there was still a significant difference between an internet celebrity and a star.

Jiang Xiaobai replied, “I’m so hungry; are you responsible for that, Jiujiu?”

After responding, Jiang Xiaobai returned to the comments under her princess carry post and replied to several, including those from Chao Nan and Bo Xing.

Since this was her first post, Jiang Xiaobai put in extra effort; usually, she would let Ming Zhu manage it.

But this was only temporary; she knew she couldn’t manage so many platforms alone in the future, so she would involve Linglong in managing these accounts. How to allocate responsibilities would be up to them to discuss.

As updates on the official account of “King of E-Sports” continued, the video went viral.

Viewers were not unfamiliar with behind-the-scenes content from film sets, but many were not particularly interested. If they didn’t understand the jokes or didn’t recognize the stars, they would quickly lose interest after a glance, lacking the desire to delve deeper.

The public’s attention was drawn to things that seemed novel and exciting at first glance, and the princess carry almost perfectly satisfied the psychological needs of most viewers.

Thus, even without the production team buying trending topics, this Weibo post quickly gained traction.

Comments flooded in from netizens .

“I watched this three times, trying to find evidence of a stunt, but I finally confirmed that this is real! It’s really real!”

“Did the crew really not use a harness? I don’t believe it!”

“What kind of strength is this? My goodness, this lady is incredible! Can I apply for a carry?”

“Jiang Xiaobai, you’re amazing!”

Jiang Xiaobai directly reposted this video on her Weibo, which caused her comments to explode as well, with questions about its authenticity, how it was done, and whether she really had that much strength.

“Hahaha, I didn’t expect that video to be so effective. Looks like we need to shoot more behind-the-scenes content in the future.”

Director Zhang was very pleased with the outcome. He smiled broadly in the production team, feeling both happy and proud. If he had a tail, it would surely be wagging high in the air at this moment.

Work continued, and after another week of filming, Zhao Chenyu completed her scenes, with only a few game fight shots left to film in the studio, so she took a break and left the set.

Jiang Xiaobai, however, still had a month left of modern scenes to finish.

With Zhao Chenyu gone, Ming Zhu was in the best mood. Just thinking about not having to face that hypocritical face for a month made her smile and hum songs, which amused Jiang Xiaobai to no end.

“It’s raining! It’s raining! Everyone prepare; we’re about to shoot the rain scenes!”

“Finally, it’s raining! Hurry up, everyone get ready!”

After finishing a scene, while Jiang Xiaobai was resting, she suddenly heard excited voices outside.

If someone didn’t know better, they might think it was gold falling from the sky instead of rain.

“…If someone who doesn’t know hears this, they might think we’re experiencing a hundred-year drought and suddenly got a downpour,” Ming Zhu chuckled.

 

 

Chapter 259: Cloud Dream

Jiang Xiaobai smiled, “The director has been waiting for this rain for almost a month, so it’s no wonder everyone is excited.”

The script included scenes set in the rain, and there were multiple such scenes. To shoot these, they either had to wait for natural rain or create their own. However, artificial rain could look unrealistic, and if not done well, it could lead to continuity errors. Natural rain was much better, which is why Director Zhang had been closely monitoring the weather.

A couple of days ago, he saw the weather forecast predicting rain, but as they waited, it never came—only overcast skies. Today, however, it finally started to rain.

An assistant came over to inform Jiang Xiaobai that her next scene would involve saving someone in the rain with the male lead, Bai Chen. She needed to get her makeup and clothes ready, as they would start filming in 20 minutes.

“What makeup? I won’t wear any,” she replied.

Linglong, hearing this, immediately began removing Jiang Xiaobai’s makeup. “Your natural look is enough. Normally, makeup is for looking more spirited on camera, but for rain scenes, it’s better to go without. The effect will be much better that way. As for clothes… let’s go with the black dress.”

When it rains, clothes get wet, and light-colored fabrics can become see-through. Darker colors won’t show what’s underneath and can also create a slimmer appearance. Jiang Xiaobai agreed with this reasoning and let her proceed.

The scene itself wasn’t difficult. After working with Bai Chen for a while, they had developed a good rapport. They had a minor delay during the first take due to the rain effects, but after a second take, they passed easily.

Although it was getting colder, the characters were dressed for late summer, which was already a bit chilly. After getting drenched in the rain, even Jiang Xiaobai, who had a robust constitution, shivered after finishing the scene.

“Hurry, dry off and change out of those wet clothes!” Ming Zhu had already prepared towels and a thick coat. Upon seeing Jiang Xiaobai, she quickly dried her hair and then pushed her towards the changing room to change.

Once she changed into warmer clothes, Jiang Xiaobai felt a bit better, though she still felt a little cold. Just as she stepped out of the changing room, she saw Ming Zhu holding a cup of hot tea, offering it to her. “Sister Xiaobai, quickly drink this ginger tea while it’s hot! It was just delivered by Baobei.”

The name “Lu Baobei” was amusing, and everyone had gotten used to calling him Baobei, as the diminutive sounded more endearing.

“Huh?” Jiang Xiaobai was a bit surprised. “Delivered by Lu Baobei?”

“Yes! He said drinking ginger tea can help prevent illness. He happened to have some and brought it over for us, even sending some to Bai Chen,” Linglong said, unable to help but praise him. “He’s so thoughtful! At such a young age, he’s already such a warm-hearted guy. I wonder which girl will be lucky enough to have him in her life…”

“He really is warm-hearted.”

Jiang Xiaobai thought of the detail when he gently massaged her wrist while she was in bed, and she nodded seriously, taking a sip of the ginger tea, feeling warmth spread through her.

The female lead had two rain scenes. Today she had one with the male lead, and the other was with her brother. However, it was getting late, so they couldn’t film the latter and would have to wait until tomorrow. She hoped it would keep raining; otherwise, they would have to wait for another opportunity.

After changing clothes and resting for a bit, Jiang Xiaobai returned to the hotel. She took a hot shower, and when she came out to check her phone, she discovered a piece of news—

“Yun Qi’s first solo album after leaving the group—’Cloud Dream’—is now hotly released!”

Jiang Xiaobai was momentarily confused upon seeing the name Yun Qi, then remembered that it was the name of the little girl from the Rainbow duo.

Since the group disbanded, there had been occasional updates about Cai Cai, but most of it was about her failed performances. Her fame had significantly declined, and it seemed she had reached a point where she couldn’t even get commercial gigs. However, Xiao Qi had remained silent, with no news at all.

Today, she was making her debut with an album?

This news had made it to the top ten trending topics, and along with the announcement, there was also an MV for the title track, “Cloud Dream.”

Jiang Xiaobai first skimmed through the text, then opened the video and put on her headphones.

The MV was quite interesting. It began with animated scenes reminiscent of a fairy tale, depicting beautiful landscapes in the clouds. Then, an animated little girl appeared, barefoot, with a ribbon tied over her eyes, walking on the clouds and occasionally stumbling.

Xiao Qi’s voice soon filled the air, ethereal and delicate, carrying a fragile beauty, like a lost girl without a home.

The animated girl wandered aimlessly on the clouds, while below, the scenery was blurred but revealed countless twinkling lights, bustling with life. The girl floated alone, her white dress revealing slender calves, evoking sympathy.

As the song progressed, the ribbon over her eyes loosened, eventually drifting down.

The scene followed the ribbon, which transformed into a bamboo dragonfly that spun upwards, flying back to the clouds.

On the clouds, first appeared a pair of bare feet, then the same delicate calves and the hem of a white dress… gradually revealing Xiao Qi’s pure face.

Her makeup had a natural quality, her skin radiant and pure, reminiscent of a first crush from youth—clean and translucent.

Xiao Qi reached out to take the bamboo dragonfly, which then began to move, but this time not upwards; it descended.

Holding it, Xiao Qi glided down like a parachute. Along the way, she saw shadows moving within tall buildings and a spinning Ferris wheel. Finally, she descended slowly, landing in an ordinary house, stopping in a girl’s bedroom.

The final scene showed Xiao Qi lying on the bed, sweetly smiling and closing her eyes, drifting into a pleasant dream.

This song didn’t showcase high notes or vocal techniques, yet it possessed a rare clarity and ethereal quality, exuding healing power. As Jiang Xiaobai listened to her voice, she felt a sense of tranquility and subtle beauty within her heart.

Aside from Xiao Qi herself and the final bedroom scene, all other settings and characters were presented in animation, and the production was exquisite.

Without realizing it, Jiang Xiaobai listened to the song twice.

“This is so beautiful! I feel like my heart has been purified.”

“This is the first time I think Xiao Qi is so beautiful, and her singing is still so lovely. She was truly overlooked before.”

“This is the best song I’ve heard recently! I want to download the album and hope every song is this good!”

“I’m obsessed with this song!”

“I’ve waited so long for you, Yun Qi. You’re no longer the Xiao Qi from before.”

The comments below were lively. Xiao Qi had a substantial fanbase, and during her quiet days, everyone had been concerned about her development and emotions. Now that she had resurfaced, netizens were excited.