"I don’t care, I just won’t film this scene anymore!" Lai Yuaner, with her cellphone in her hand, said this almost resentfully.
After she spoke, her eyes reddened again: "It must be because of Tang Li, I have no idea how she got in with Ruan Jiang, but Ruan has always wanted her to play Ying Xuaner, and now I’ve got the role. He’s holding a grudge, which is why he’s targeting me in the crew ."
The voice of Lai Shengxia came from the receiver: "Don’t you have two screenwriters with you? Before you started filming, didn’t you have them look over the script?"
"Ruan Jiang said this part can’t be changed and it must be filmed according to the script." Lai Yuaner’s tears fell like beads off a string: "He also said Tang Li was able to play the part, so why couldn’t I? Even though I am the real Ying Xuaner, he keeps bringing up Tang Li all the time. Others are laughing at me behind my back, delighting in my misery!"
Lai Shengxia said: "Now hand your phone to Sister Wen."
Tang Li was looking over the script in the resting room when Wu Xuehan ran in like the wind, sat down beside her, clutching her purse and panting as if in a great rush, and told Tang Li: "The script in the building next door was changed again a few minutes ago!"
Hearing that, Tang Li looked up from the script: "What happened?"
"It was Ningmang Film and Television’s President Fang who personally called the director."
Wu Xuehan’s appearance was pleasing and her personality was soft, which made her quickly familiar with the crew in just two days; she was occasionally able to learn some news: "It was Brother Xiao Liang who happened to meet a props master from next door, and he told him that there was a scene Lai Yuaner filmed 13 takes of and couldn’t get right. Later, Director Ruan received a call—President Fang told him to change that scene."
Speaking thus, Wu Xuehan extended her left hand and spread her fingers: "Lai Yuaner’s mother invested fifty million into this movie, so even Director Ruan has to consider her feelings in his decisions. Brother Xiao Liang told me this is called ’capital [rape]’."
Before she had finished speaking, a crew member knocked on the door of the resting room.
"Tang Li, someone is looking for you outside."
Tang Li walked out of the villa and saw Lai Shengxia.
Under the streetlight, Lai Shengxia’s slender and graceful figure cast a silhouette on the fence, her red dress accentuating her elegance and sentimentality.
In Tang Li’s memory, Lai Shengxia always favored the bright color red.
But red also symbolizes plundering.
Hearing the footsteps, Lai Shengxia turned around: "I came to visit Yuaner at her set, and since you, Ah Li, happened to be next door, I thought I’d come to see you."
Tang Li smiled faintly: "Big sister should have called me before coming, so I could have met you at the entrance."
"No need to meet me." Lai Shengxia said with a chuckle: "You and Yuaner are both busy. I’m already grateful if my sudden visit hasn’t caused you both any trouble."
Then, she asked with concern: "Is this your first time acting? Are you not used to it?"
Tang Li’s reply was very formal: "Still adapting."
"Yuaner has already told me about the incident online. Why didn’t you tell the family?" There was worry in Lai Shengxia’s voice, then she curved her lips into a smile: "I’m actually quite happy that you like acting. In the future, our family might have two big stars."
"I’m not comparable to Yuaner." Tang Li chuckled: "Yuanyuan is a top-tier actress, and I’m just a newcomer who has a lot to learn."
Lai Shengxia took Tang Li’s hand and held it affectionately: "Whether a newcomer or a top actress, you both are my sisters. Since you’ve decided to join this industry, you should still sign up with a talent agency. Like those attacks on Weibo, if you had an agent, they would handle them for you. Take Sister Wen, for instance, her resources in the industry are top-notch."