Chapter 218: This Really Wasn’t Like Beauty Gu!
Gu Xiqiao felt that Cheng Zhou was really too venomous sometimes. But come to think of it, what was a newbie? A newbie was a fresh bud of a flower, and it needed everyone’s love and care to grow. Just as she was about to smile towards the person, she found that the newcomer was Fu Xuejun, and her face changed instantly.
“Director Cheng, I will demonstrate properly.” Gu Xiqiao’s smile vanished suddenly, a grave expression on her face as she nodded at Cheng Zhou.
Cheng Zhou: “…” This was the first time he had seen her so serious, and he was not quite used to it.
This really wasn’t like Beauty Gu at all!
The crew members were all familiar with each other, and had been working with him for the past three movies that he had done. A small portion of them here were the kinds that tried to kiss up to Gu Xiqiao, and a lot of them were extremely loyal (brain dead) fans.
They didn’t know Gu Xiqiao that well, but they all knew that her reputation among the crew was good, and they were all fond of her. It might even be better than Li Yu’s if they were to compare them.
She was friendly to everyone, even if you were just the janitor, she would give you a warm look and not just a passing glance. She didn’t place herself to be superior to anyone, and she was just a person that made everyone like her from the bottom of their hearts.
For the first time, they could feel Gu Xiqiao’s dislike for somebody.
When Fu Xuejun first came, it was obvious she was a pampered lady. She was innocent and cute, thinking that with just her looks she would be able to act in a movie. Her expression was off, and her movements were stiff under the camera. Even the other crew members couldn’t bear to continue watching her, and they didn’t blame Cheng Zhou for losing his temper.
Gu Xiqiao didn’t like her, so obviously the others didn’t either. Gu Xiqiao made the entire crew turn their backs on her, just by showing up.
Fu Xuejun who was sitting in the corner, looked coldly at Gu Xiqiao. She was able to reach this level with the guidance of Baili Wenxi, what did Gu Xiqiao have? Cheng Zhou was actually asking this girl to teach her?
“Miss Fu, Director Cheng’s expectations of you are high. The saying goes, ‘Love Well, Whip Well’.” Fu Xuejun’s assistant whispered into her ear. “Director Cheng will understand when there’s a comparison.”
The assistant’s words instantly made Fu Xuejun’s mood better.
She sat in the same spot, waiting to see Gu Xiqiao getting scolded like a dog by Director Cheng.
Sheng Yin stood beside the two, glancing at Fu Xuejun doubtfully.
“What are you guys doing?” Du Yixin watched as a staff member waited eagerly with his phone in hand, and had even dropped whatever he had been doing a second ago.
It wasn’t only the staff beside him, every other person in the vicinity had also pulled out their phones and were having looks of anticipation on their faces. Cheng Zhou was getting the others to prepare the stage in a mad rush.
Having been with so many other crews, this was the first time Du Yixin was witnessing such a weird scene.
The staff saw that it was Du Yixin asking him, so he turned and explained in a serious tone, “Brother Du, I’m preparing to record Beauty Gu. Then I’m going to bring it home and lick the screen when I can.”
Beauty Gu? The girl just now? Du Yixin thought back to her face just now, and she was indeed an ethereal beauty, but it was undeniable that she was very young. Could it be… she’s the female lead?
The staff beside him suddenly dropped his phone, and before Du Yixin could react, he realized that there was no sound of the phone hitting the ground.
“Little Song, how many times do you intend to change your phone in a month?” A clear voice spoke.
Du Yixin slowly turned his head.
And was momentarily stunned.
The woman who stood a few steps away was dressed in plain green clothes, not a wrinkle or hair out of place. She was wrapped in white fox fur on the outside, her skin was pale and glowing, almost transparent. Her eyebrows were a delicate arch, and her eyes slightly squinting when she looked at people. Her eyes were a beautiful ripple, and her appearance was beautiful and ethereal.
Arrogant, haughty, and stubborn, that was the female lead that Gu Xiqiao was playing, the fox demon—Feng Qiqi!
Du Yixin had a very good memory, and the first impression that Gu Xiqiao had given him was that she was delicate and elegant, nothing like the person who was standing in front of him right now who was dazzling beyond words.
In this moment, he finally understood why Cheng Zhou had rejected all other suggestions and applications of the female leads, and had picked one himself instead.
Little Song finally came out of his daze, taking his phone back.
“This feeling, take a few pictures of this makeup first.” Cheng Zhou immediately ordered the photographer, and other staff immediately rushed forward to help, shouting to and fro which made it obvious to everyone that this person was very popular in the set.
This was a role that Gu Xiqiao had never played before, and Cheng Zhou was slightly worried in the beginning that she might not have the right aura and temperament, and was prepared to drill her for a few days. Unexpectedly, Gu Xiqiao was Gu Xiqiao, and she was able to grasp the role with ease.
His worries and concerns were all in vain in the end!
Cheng Zhou had a sh*t eating grin on his face.
In the corner of the set, Fu Xuejun’s face was green with envy. She had thought that with Baili Wenxi’s guidance, there would be a difference of sky and earth between her and Gu Xiqiao, but she didn’t expect her to be the earth!
As though that was not astonishing enough, something else that was more astonishing came up!
When Gu Xiqiao was taking photos in her getup, every single item was prepared meticulously by the crew.
But when it was Fu Xuejun’s turn, either her sword wasn’t there, or there was something wrong with her clothes. “Can’t you get everything ready?” Adding on Cheng Zhou’s impatient frenzy, no matter how much patience a person had, Fu Xuejun couldn’t bear it.
“Miss Fu, the sword was in your hands just a moment ago. If you don’t know where it is, how will I know?” The props manager said pointedly, as his heart thought, ‘Don’t think that I didn’t hear you talking bad about Beauty Gu with the others just now!’
Fu Xuejun tolerated these situations, but when it was lunch time, she opened her box to find only two vegetables. When she looked up at Gu Xiqiao’s lunch, there were two chicken legs!
She couldn’t help but suspect that the entire morning had been orchestrated by Gu Xiqiao!
Being bullied the entire morning, Fu Xuejun threw the lunch box to the side angrily. “This is too much!”
She took her assistant, intending to walk out of the door with a calm face.
“Miss Fu, think about it thoroughly. If you walk out that door, you won’t be able to return.” Gu Xiqiao leisurely appeared behind her.
Fu Xuejun remembered what Fu Wei had said to her, and she stopped in her tracks. She looked at Gu Xiqiao with a scowl.
Gu Xiqiao’s expression was indifferent, as though she didn’t care about her at all. It gave her a feeling of playing with a stray cat.
“What have you got to be so arrogant about? Your role was given to you by my father. Believe it when I say the moment I open my mouse, the female lead for ‘Divergent Paths’ will be changed!” Fu Xuejun walked up to her as she recalled this fact, and her expression eased from its ugly twisted one.
When did her role become something that was given to her by Fu Wei? Wasn’t it something she and Cheng Zhou had agreed on before all this? Gu XIqiao was confused for a moment. She tugged her ears lightly, and lifted her chin at Fu Xuejun. “Come again?”
“I said,” Fu Xuejun looked Gu Xiqiao in the eyes. “Don’t think I don’t know that this role was given to you by my father. He invested a hundred million yuan in this production.”
Thinking bout how her heiress status in the ancient martial arts world had been stripped because of this person in front of her, and how her position in her family would be replaced by this person, a new wave of hatred and resentment surged up in her. Fu Xuejun glared at Gu XIqiao.
Gu Xiqiao: WTF?
The entire funding of the crew and production was from Nine Heavens, when had Nine Heavens become Fu Xuejun’s father?
Although Gu Xiqiao was smiling on the outside, there was no warmth in her eyes at all.
‘Lil system, does Fu Xuejun think my temper is so good?’
The system spirit floated into existence in front of her. “Just ignore this brainless b*tch, Beauty Qiao. But Fu Wei really did discuss this with Director Cheng, and he rejected it.” Having said that, the system hacked and let Gu Xiqiao listen to a recording between Cheng Zhou and Fu Wei.
Gu Xiqiao walked away thoughtfully after that.
Behind them, Du Yixin and Sheng Yin came out from a hidden corner. He had heard the conversation between the two girls loud and clear, and he glanced at Gu Xiqiao’s direction with an indescribable expression.
“It’s good to be beautiful these days,” Sheng Yin said suddenly. “There’ll be many praises for it.”
Du Yixin turned to Sheng Yin, his brows furrowed and a cold expression on his face. “That’s true, but she also has great acting skills.”
Being shot back by Du Yixin, she gave an awkward smile. She didn’t know Gu Xiqiao that well, only that this person had been occupying the Weibo hot topic list some time ago. Nowadays, the hot topic slots were basically bought with money, so Sheng Yin didn’t pay much attention to it.
Only, she didn’t expect to see Gu Xiqiao in person among the ‘Divergent Paths’ crew today.
The water in the entertainment circle was too deep, and Sheng Yin felt that it was better not to dive in too deep. However, her attitude towards Gu Xiqiao became colder.
The character that Du Yixin was playing was a ruthless immortal swordsman, Ji Zhang’gui.
In this scene, it was a fight between him and Gu Xiqiao. Right before the shoot started, he suddenly received a WeChat message from Li Yu.
Li Yu: Don’t say that I didn’t let you know in advance. Remember not to let go of your sword later during the shoot.
Du Yixin stared at the chat for a while, not understanding what Li Yu’s words meant.
Five minutes later, both people took the stage.
The pear blossoms filled the sky as the wind blew in the valley, signifying the first meeting of the female and male lead.
The male lead had just saved a trapped child.
Feng Qiqi was dressed in green cotton garbs, and kept away her hand fan the moment she caught sight of Ji Zhang’gui. Slender white fingers reached out, lifting Ji Zhang’gui’s chin upwards. Her demeanor was cheerful, her tone light as she said, “I am Feng Qiqi.”
Her eyes were slightly hooded, but you could see the deep, obsidian eyes that were like an abyss. There seemed to be a layer of mist floating in them, and it made the heart of the person looking into her eyes pound rapidly in their ribcage, the light around them making the surroundings fade and seemingly like an illusion.
“Let go.” Ji Zhang’gui looked at her indifferently, not affected in the slightest by the glow.
“Cut!” Cheng Zhou waved his hand. “It’s a bit too much, Little Du, your expression is slightly off. Pay attention next time.”
“I understand.” Du Yixin returned to his seat slowly, watching Gu Xiqiao who was already on the stunt wires. There was no expression on his face, but he could feel how fast his heart was beating in his chest.
The next scene was still Gu Xiqiao’s.
It was a fantasy fight scene. Cheng Zhou had always strived for perfection in his movies, and although it was just a fighting scene, he wouldn’t add the slightest amount of anything into it. The scene would be completely real, and other than adding in the fighting effects later on, no other special effects would be used.
Du Yixin slowly came back to himself, looking at the crew members beside him. “This is a fighting scene, where’s the martial arts instructor?”
“Miss Gu doesn’t need one.” Someone answered with a smile.
Another person turned around. “The martial arts instructor will cry if he sees Gu Xiqiao!”
This sentence surprised Du Yixin.
The girl who was on the stunt wire had an indifferent expression on her face as usual. She drew the beautiful sword, and was tied in midair as though she was floating above the ground.
“OK! Ji Zhang’gui, get ready.” Cheng Zhou waved his hand.
Du Yixin stepped forward, and Gu Xiqiao had already released the stunt wires on her. Just as Du Yixin was about to be strapped in, a slender hand came out to stop him. “Brother Du, this wire is broken.”
Gu Xiqio picked up a section of the wires as she spoke, showing him the crack on it.
Cheng Zhou was at her side immediately, and when he saw the cracks, his face paled rapidly as he looked towards Gu Xiqiao, fear stabbing in his heart.
The props manager too, paled. “I checked every single corner when Miss Gu went up, it was all fine!”
“I know, it’s not your fault.” Gu Xiqiao patted the prop’s master’s shoulder as she assured him. “When I went up it was fine, it might be because I’m too heavy.”
Although Gu Xiqiao didn’t seem concerned, Cheng Zhou was not letting the matter go so easily. In a production, this was something that was the most terrifying to see. If it happened once, who’s to say it wouldn’t happen twice?
“It’s getting late, let’s call it a day for now,” Cheng Zhou said with a sullen face, vowing to investigate this matter.
Gu Xiqiao glanced at Cheng Zhou, and he knew that he would be wasting effort in regards to this matter.
But she didn’t say anything, changing out of her clothes, her phone in her hands while she played games.
Du Yixin and Sheng Yin were not far behind her, and they saw Gu Xiqiao getting into a black car. The distance was too far and they couldn’t see the person in it, but everyone could still recognize these low-key luxury cars anywhere. There were even a few smaller groups that had exclaimed in pleasant surprise.