This translation is by Pocketrobbin at S h a n g h a i f a n t a s y . c o m

Surrounded by a bunch of staff, Li Linlin caught a glimpse of Shang Ci.

He’s wearing a mask and a hat, leaving only a pair of eyes out. There was no emotion in them making him appear unapproachable.

Last time when the promotional photos were taken, Li Linlin didn’t see Shang Ci. She heard the producer said that he had work that day, so they arranged for him to shoot on another day. Li Linlin had always been curious about Shang Ci, not because he’s a popular traffic star, but because he’s an artist of Shengteng Entertainment.

“I think Shengteng is quite discerning.” Wu Hui’er leaned towards Li Linlin while looking in Shang Ci’s direction. “During last time’s photo shoot, I also heard from the producer that the crew didn’t really want Shang Ci. But because Shengteng was also one of the investors, they stuffed him in. Guess what happened? Before the drama even started filming, Shang Ci’s popularity already exploded!”

Shang Ci previously acted in a costume drama. It started airing several weeks ago. Unexpectedly, after just over ten episodes, he became famous overnight and directly entered the echelon of top stream actors. In addition to his pretty good acting skills, the main reason was that he’s handsome, especially his appearance in the costume drama, which had attracted a lot of fans.

“Although he played the male lead in his previous drama, he’s just a supporting actor in this one. But acting in a Huanyu drama will only widen the gap between him and other actors.”

After hearing what Wu Hui said, Li Linlin nodded and said, “Isn’t it to be expected that Shengteng’s great? It’s under Brother Yiran.”

“……Yes, yes, yes, your family’s Brother Yiran is the most powerful.” Wu Hui couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

Under the arrangement of the staff, Shang Ci finally got away after taking photos with the present fans. The opening ceremony was about to begin, and Shang Ci also walked over to Li Linlin and the others and greeted them.

Zheng Yang was just watching the scene between Lin Zhen and Li Linlin earlier. Now that Shang Ci had come over, his expression wasn’t as good as before. It’s not just female stars who engaged in infighting, the same goes for male stars.

Although Shang Ci wasn’t even the second male lead in 《Fatal Heartbeat》 and could only be regarded as the third male lead, the character design of the role he’s playing was pretty good. Xiao Yiren was a policeman. At the beginning of the story, he met the female protagonist Zhou Rongrong and helped her find her biological parents. Later, Ou Jiaxu designed various traps to frame the female protagonist, and it was Xiao Yiren who’s investigating the case.

In the original novel, he was also one of the male characters who fell in love with the female protagonist. However, in order to prevent the female lead from looking too Mary Sue, the screenwriter cut off Xiao Yiren’s emotional connection with her. In the drama, only the first and second male leads have emotional entanglements with the female protagonist.

Originally, Zheng Yang had nothing to worry about with such a small role. However, now that Shang Ci’s popularity wasn’t inferior to him, the male lead, he’s naturally unhappy.

Fortunately, the opening ceremony started soon and no one chatted much. After the ceremony, Li Linlin was collected by a staff to put on makeup and change clothes.

She had a scene that day, the part where she’s inside a gym. The crew prepared professional clothes for her and also brought in a coach. Li Linlin came out with her hair in a high ponytail, and the coach looked her up and down. “I heard from the director that you’ve been practicing during this time? It seems to have some effect.”

“That’s right. Look, I have muscles.” Li Linlin earnestly went to show off her muscles to the coach. “Look, look.”

The coach glanced at it and said with a smile, “Your muscles are quite small, but it’s fine. Just practice some more.”

“Coach Guo, tell Little Sister Linlin how to move later.” The director stood aside looking at the equipment and took the time to say to them, “Design the actions. You’re clear on how the camera will move later, right?”

“Yes.” Coach Guo nodded and said to Li Linlin, “I’ll demonstrate it to you first. The movements aren’t difficult so you can follow me on the side.”

“Okay.” With gloves on her hands, Li Linlin struck her fists in a decent manner.

Li Linlin had been smart since she was a child and learn things very quickly. She had quickly picked up the movements taught by her coach too. After the director came to see her again in person, the filming of Li Linlin’s first scene officially started. There were a total of three cameras on the set, all shooting from different angles. The director asked Li Linlin to shoot twice in order to collect more material for later editing.

This gym was a built set and it was next to the Ou family’s living room. Li Linlin and Zheng Yang also had a scene that day. Li Linlin was just a supporting actress and didn’t have that many parts, especially in the beginning.

The early stage was mostly for the emotional development between the male and female lead.

“Acting in a TV drama is different from a stage play. You can lighten up a bit.” During the gap between shots, the director pulled Li Linlin on the side to speak to her. “There’s nothing wrong with your performance itself, however, you need to change the habits you’ve acquired when doing theater.”

Li Linlin nodded and said, “I understand. The teacher from the drama club also mentioned this issue to me. I’ll pay more attention to adjusting it.”

“Okay. You’re smart, and the shot just now is much better than the first one.” The director criticized but still did not forget to praise her strengths. “Also, Ou Jiaxu is relatively pure in the early stage, so in your scene with Teacher Zheng later, you have to pay attention to your emotions and be appropriately girlish.”

“Yes.” Li Linlin nodded and took notes of everything the director said in her mind. In the novel version of 《Fatal Heartbeat》, Ou Jiaxu was hostile to the female lead Zhou Rongrong from the moment she appeared and treated her like an eyesore. After Wang Xin changed the script, Ou Jiaxu did not care too much about Zhou Rongrong in the beginning. Later, it was discovered that Zhou Rongrong had been involve with her fiancé, and adding the fact that Zhou Rongrong had stolen their parents’ love after returning to the Ou family, Ou Jiaxu became completely evil.

After such changes, the portrayal of the characters must also be altered. In addition to changes in costumes and styles, the actors themselves must also make appropriate adjustments. Li Linlin had never studied acting professionally. She learned many things on the spot while watching and listening. Although the traces of theater performance were too heavy at the beginning, she soon mastered the scale of acting in a TV drama.

“When I went to get food just now, I heard the director and producer praising you.” Wu Hui sat next to Li Linlin and whispered to her, “They said you’re making rapid progress and have talent.”

Li Linlin thought for a while, then told Wu Hui, “It’s not just talent, it’s probably because I learn everything quickly.”

Wu Hui: “……”

Oh. 🙂

“Assistant Wu will take us to Yinwan today. Xixi called just now and said they’re coming to pick us up later.”

Upon hearing this, Li Linlin’s eyes lit up. “Then is Brother Yiran coming?”

“Not happening. Since your Brother Yiran is so busy, sending us his assistant is already good enough.” Wu Hui rolled her eyes at her.

Li Linlin only had one scene in the afternoon, and she called it a day after filming. When she came out after changing clothes, she was still saying to Wu Hui, “Playing a supporting role still has its benefits. Look, I can leave early.”

“……You seem quite proud?” Wu Hui snickered. “There’s no aspiration at all.”

“Who said I don’t have any aspiration?” Wasn’t she doing this just to pursue Brother Yiran?

“Linlin, Wu Hui, here!” Assistant Wu’s car had arrived. Chen Xi was sitting in the back seat, and when she saw the two coming over, she lowered the window and waved at them.

Li Linlin and Wu Hui carried their things and sat in the car while the two assistants got into Li Linlin’s nanny van and wouldn’t go to Yinwan with them.

After both vehicle drove away, Lin Zhen clicked her tongue disdainfully. She even had luxury cars to pick up and drop her off the set. As expected of Princess Linlin, her manner was really grand.

Assistant Wu drove the car to Yinwan after helping the three of them carry the few small suitcases they brought. “President Chen said that you can use everything on the house as you please. I will pay for all related expenses on time so you don’t have to worry about it. As for the rooms, you still need to choose it yourselves. I will show you around when we arrive.”

Li Linlin said, “Sorry to trouble you, Assistant Wu.”

Assistant Wu smiled. “Don’t mention it. It’s also part of my job. We’re here.”

He led the three little sisters out of the elevator. There were only two households on every floor of Yinwan, one on the left side of the elevator and one on the right side. Chen Yiran’s house was on the right. Assistant Wu dragged the luggage over and gave them the password and card for the door lock. “You can change the password later. I’ll put the instruction manual for this lock on the coffee table in the living room.”

After opening the door with a beep, Assistant Wu bent down and took out the slippers from the shoe cabinet for them. “These are the slippers I prepared for you in advance. They’re all new.”

“Wow, Assistant Wu, you’re so thorough.”

Assistant Wu was praised by Li Linlin and looked a bit bashful. “No, no, it’s what I should do.”

Chen Xi put on the slippers and said to Li Linlin, “If he isn’t thorough, can he stay by my brother’s side?”

“You’re right.” Li Linlin also put on the slippers and walked in with everyone.

“Oh my goodness, this living room is so big, and this balcony, it’s simply my dream house!” Wu Hui excitedly rushed to the big balcony like Grandma Liu visiting the Grand View Garden^[1]be overwhelmed by new experiences and luxurious surroundings. “Linlin, Xixi, come and take a look, the view here is so nice!”

The life of the rich was truly a joyous one!

Chen Xi and Li Linlin walked over, leaned on the balcony and took in the air. “It’s really good. It’s close to the financial center of A City and the air carries the smell of money.”

Assistant Wu stood on the side with a bag in hand and told them, “Xinghai Garden, where President Chen lives, is adjacent to the financial center, and every inch of land is valuable.”

Li Linlin blinked and asked Assistant Wu, “Does Brother Yiran live there alone?”

“Yes. President Chen didn’t like taking people back. Even I rarely go there.”

“I see.” Li Linlin pursed her lips, looked at Assistant Wu and asked softly, “What about…… women?”

“That’s even more impossible.” Feeling that the topic was getting sensitive, Assistant Wu, who didn’t dare to discuss his boss’s personal matters behind his back, took the initiative to change the topic, “Let me show you around and you can pick a room on the way.”

“Okay.”

The three girls followed him around the house, each picking a room they like and pushing their luggage inside. Li Linlin pulled Assistant Wu to the side and asked him, “Assistant Wu, you’ve been with Brother Yiran for so long, you must know what he likes, right?”

Assistant Wu replied without even thinking, “He likes to buy houses.”

“……Except buying houses.”

“Then that would be working.”

Li Linlin: “……”

“Just-, he doesn’t have any hobbies or anything like that?”

Assistant Wu thought for a while, then told her, “President Chen usually works out. He does sports like golf, table tennis, equestrian fencing, and such. However, it didn’t seem like he’s fond of those very much as most of it is for socializing for work.”

“……” So to sump it up, what he loves most was still work?