In the script, Guan Han’s role was not extensive. At most, she only had three to four scenes.
The most significant and crucial scene was when the male lead, Chunyu Yuan, was trapped in a water dungeon, and Meng Xuan came to rescue him.
The set was prepared last night with dim lighting, iron chains hanging from above, and a water level just below the knees, creating a somewhat eerie atmosphere.
Si Cheng’s face was marked with several makeup bruises and bloodstains. To depict the effect of being whipped, his clothes had numerous cuts, revealing faint red marks underneath.
He walked into the water, and an assistant approached to handcuff his wrists, suspending him. After adjusting his hair to make him look disheveled, they left the water dungeon.
The half-suspended position was naturally uncomfortable. White mist escaped from his mouth, and Si Cheng shivered. The water wasn’t too icy, but in the cold winter month, with minimal clothing and torn clothes, it became unbearable after a while.
Sighing, Si Cheng smiled at Xu Qiao outside, stopped his trembling legs, nodded at Jiang Wen, indicating he was ready.
Jiang Wen made a gesture, took out a small megaphone, and shouted twice, “Props and lights in position! Actors in position. Silence on set. Let’s rehearse the scene!”
Once the lights and props were ready, there arose an issue with Guan Han.
While Si Cheng dangled in the water dungeon for quite some time, she hesitated to immerse herself.
Having completed her makeup and changed into her attire, she exuded a gentle and charming presence. The white dress, tailored for Meng Xuan, showcased the costume designer’s dedication, evident in its superior quality. Compared to the cheap garments worn by others like Xu Qiao, it elevated several notches.
Guan Han gazed at the pool of water, fingers twirling around her hair’s end, expressing some reluctance, “I’ll rehearse my lines with him outside.”
Jiang Wen smiled. “This segment involves a fight scene. Barely any lines. Rehearse outside for what?”
He sighed and explained, “For a fight scene like this, you have to get in the water. Blocking, movements — everything needs to be tested in the water for the right effect before shooting.”
Guan Han didn’t say anything. She stood on the side, looking somewhat forlorn, her heels seemingly nailed to the ground.
What could be done? They couldn’t just push her into the water directly, could they?
The surrounding actors sensed the tension, exchanged glances, and dared not make a sound.
Jiang Wen forced a polite smile. “Didn’t we discuss this water dungeon scene before?”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Director Jiang, yes, we did discuss it, and Hanhan didn’t refuse to act. But can’t the props team at least warm the water up a bit?” Guan Han’s agent pulled her a few steps away from the water pool, and said with annoyance, “In this freezing weather, making our Hanhan perform a water fight scene in cold water — what if she falls sick?”
It’s not like you’re the only one getting in the water. Haven’t you seen the male lead soaking there for half the day? Actors these days, always this or that, how did you even get to where you are today?
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Before Jiang Wen could finish, the agent sneered. “Can they compare to Hanhan?”
Hearing this, the expressions of the surrounding actors changed, and their initial favorable impressions of Guan Han plummeted. Fine, they couldn’t compare. After all, whose fault was it that their Hanhan had the highest status and was the most precious?
The agent crossed arms, a mocking smile on their face, “Director Jiang, you wouldn’t want Hanhan to fall ill, right? People outside might start saying your ‘Chatting About’ crew is inhumane.”
This somewhat threatening remark left Jiang Wen alternating between pale and flush. He remained silent, his face stern.
For a moment, the set descended into an eerie silence.
Holding a cup of hot water, Guan Han took a sip and, with two small dimples forming at the corners of her mouth, said, “Director Jiang, since you sincerely invited me to guest, I naturally want to perform well. It’s just these past two days, I’ve been having severe menstrual cramps, making it impossible to endure cold water.”
Hearing this reason, Jiang Wen’s expression softened a bit. After all, actresses have those days every month.
Glancing at her, Jiang Wen said, “Then we can postpone this scene to next week.”
Location scouting and set construction in the film and television city consumed budgets like flowing water. Each day delayed was a luxury they couldn’t afford. Now that the water dungeon set was ready, if Guan Han refused to act, the budget losses would undoubtedly be substantial.
Well, let it be next week.
Just as Jiang Wen made up his mind, Guan Han across from him flashed an apologetic smile. “My schedule is tight lately. I’ll be filming on location out of town next week.”
This was implicitly stating that next week wouldn’t work either.
Putting down her cup, she rubbed her hands together, brought them to her mouth to exhale warm air, looking innocent and charming. “Director Jiang, didn’t we agree in the contract to shoot for three days?”
Her agent adjusted her cashmere coat and glanced at Jiang Wen. “We’ll abide by the contract. Three days won’t be short of what you’re owed. How many shots you can capture is the director’s concern.”
Jiang Wen was on the verge of laughter. He had finally figured out the situation. Did she look down on him, this relatively unknown director of a small web series? With another director, this “big shot” wouldn’t be so difficult to negotiate with.
The “Chatting About” crew was small, and there was no intimidating star. From the leads to the supporting roles, everyone got along harmoniously. From the start of production until now, no actor had caused any trouble – it was quite worry-free.
Guan Han had given him a lesson — what it meant to arrive a bit late but still show up.
Reflecting now, it was uncertain if that menstrual excuse was genuine. She straightforwardly expressed her reluctance to shoot scenes that were both tiring and dirty.
Taking a deep breath, Jiang Wen glanced at Si Cheng still in the water pool, then waved his hand, signaling someone to help him out.
Seeing Si Cheng shivering as he walked out, Jiang Wen handed him a small heater and redirected his gaze to Guan Han. “So, what do you suggest? We can’t just cut these scenes.”
Guan Han suggested, “For this segment, we can find someone to substitute. I’ll fill in for the parts that require a close-up.”
Not yet famous to that extent, but already picking up quite a few bad habits.
Jiang Wen, also with a temper, couldn’t be bothered and stood beside, his face stern and silent. The assistant director, seeing this, smiled apologetically. “Our crew is small, and finding a stand-in is genuinely challenging, especially someone with a similar physique to yours.”
All in all, they had only signed up for three days of shooting. With all this back and forth, it seemed like they might not finish filming.
Guan Han’s agent gestured to the side, “Can’t find one? I think she’s quite suitable.”
Everyone followed her gaze and saw Zhang Yinghui standing next to Xu Qiao. Their body sizes and heights were indeed quite similar, but… although Zhang Yinghui wasn’t hugely popular, she was still the female lead of “Chatting About.”
Having the female lead to as a stand-in for a cameo role – the rumors would surely circulate, and who knows how Zhang Yinghui would be portrayed.
Zhang Yinghui, realizing all eyes were on her, hesitated for a moment, opened her mouth, and stood awkwardly in place, fingers curling in a particular way.
Xu Qiao leaned against the table, casually glancing in Guan Han’s direction.
Whether Guan Han was genuinely on her menstrual cycle remained uncertain, but Zhang Yinghui was indeed experiencing real menstrual pain.
Earlier, when he noticed Zhang Yinghui taking a pill and swallowing it, he casually asked and learned about her severe menstrual cramps. Despite taking ibuprofen to alleviate the pain, she hadn’t mentioned it to others and had been enduring it while filming.
Seeing Guan Han suggesting the female lead as a stand-in, Xu Qiao let out a light laugh and shifted his gaze to Jiang Wen. “Director, Big Sister Yinghui is also having stomach cramps.”
Emphasizing the word “also,” Xu Qiao looked at Guan Han, who had a rosy complexion and a content expression, with a smirk that seemed like a half-smile.
Observing Zhang Yinghui continuously hunching over, holding her stomach, with a pale complexion and beads of sweat on her forehead, Jiang Wen realized she was genuinely in severe pain.
“What should we do then?” Guan Han expressed some distress. “We still need to find someone.”
Several supporting actresses nearby avoided eye contact, afraid of drawing her attention. Who would willingly stand in for her, especially in the freezing cold water on such a chilly day?
Zhang Yinghui could only sigh. She had worked her way up from minor roles, and finally got her very first female lead role.
While others might not value this small web series, for her, it might be a unique opportunity. She wanted to excel in every aspect and didn’t want to burden the production with delays. She would do everything possible to share the load.
It was just being a stand-in. She had done it before when playing minor roles. Zhang Yinghui let go of her stomach, about to agree, but Xu Qiao reached out and stopped her.
She looked at Xu Qiao in puzzlement, then saw him stand up and ask, “Director, do you think I’ll do? I can substitute.”
Li Feifei, who had been absentmindedly watching the scene, choked on the hot water he was drinking. When did his big brother Xu Qiao become so kind and willing to help?
Zhang Yinghui was stunned, her eyes instantly turning red. She hadn’t expected Xu Qiao to step forward and help her at this moment.
Tugging at his sleeve, Zhang Yinghui shook her head. “Xu Qiao…”
Xu Qiao soothingly glanced at her, then turned to Jiang Wen. “The water dungeon is deep. Standing in it will not reveal my actual height. It should be fine.”
Hearing Xu Qiao’s words, Jiang Wen first froze, then assessed him from head to toe. Xu Qiao had a slender and non-bulky physique. Trying a female appearance might just work.
With Guan Han unwilling to act, and someone volunteering to help, he had no choice but to give it a try.
“Alright, take Xu Qiao to change into costume with the stylist.”
The other actors exchanged glances, finding the current development somewhat bizarre.
While it wasn’t uncommon for men to stand in as body doubles for women, it usually happened in challenging fight scenes where some female actors couldn’t keep up physically.
Xu Qiao wasn’t a professional stunt double. He also had some popularity, so it didn’t seem fitting for him to stoop to the level of standing in for others, especially for an actress.
With conflicting expressions, everyone watched as Xu Qiao trailed behind the stylist towards the dressing room. When he disappeared around the corner, they withdrew their gaze and glanced at Guan Han.
Regardless of their previous opinions about Xu Qiao, at this moment, facing the outsider Guan Han, everyone’s thoughts was surprisingly unanimous: this is just too much!
What a primadonna. Got a little fame and looks down on everyone. Who knows how this little fame she has even came to be. A little snake like her boyfriend.
Thank you for the chapter!
Everyone condemning her behavior is actually so cute, I get they can’t confront her directly, but their thinking about Xu Qiao is wholesome
Thank you for the update ☺️
💀💀why did she became an actress anyway like girl the world doesn’t revolve around you🙄🙄
Ty for the chapter 🫶
This novel is so good I can’t wait for the face slapping!
I’m really looking forward to when the asskicking starts 😤
Thank you for the chapter 😁
Thanks for the chapter! Seriously, a little show with some success or whatever & she already thinks she’s a Hollywood superstar?
Following on-going series’s make me want smack my head into a can of beer!
Oh girl if you keep behaving like this, then your downfall just around the corner!🙄
Congratulations, lady whatever, everyone hates you now. I can already imagine how well our Xu Qiao will do~