She walked up and hugged Luo Shu happily, "I’ve missed you so much!"
"I’ve missed you too," Luo Shu said with a smile.
Mu Wan felt something from Luo Shu’s belly suddenly bump against her own, and she immediately stepped back in surprise, looking at Luo Shu’s stomach, "Your belly is so big! How many months are you?" After the last selection contest ended, she had signed a contract with Starlight Entertainment. At first, she was busy with training, and then under the company’s arrangements, she took on some minor roles in films and TV shows to hone her skills. Playing the role of Xue Baochai this time was a great challenge for her.
"Five months. You’re playing Xue Baochai this time," Luo Shu looked at Mu Wan’s costume and indeed found it reminiscent of Xue Baochai.
Mu Wan smiled and nodded, then slowly turned around in front of Luo Shu before her expression changed, and she said with a cold laugh, "What a privileged young lady, what a girl who has never left the inner quarters, spouting such nonsense, if only you would speak plainly. I don’t know either. What you’re saying sounds so strange, and that’s why I’m asking you."
After finishing, she burst into laughter, "How about that? Do I look a bit like Xue Baochai?"
"The spitting image of Sister Bao," Luo Shu said, nodding with a smile of approval.
"Thanks for the compliment, sister! I am honored," Mu Wan said as she curtsied playfully with a cheeky smile.
"Whose older sister is this? She’s really beautiful!" A clear laugh came from one side as Zhang Qi and her group approached.
"You all made it!" Mu Wan said with a smile, waving at them. She had met Zhang Qi and her group several times before, and they had already become friends.
"Mu Wan, your outfit is so beautiful! You look like someone who stepped out of a painting," Liu Mengyao praised as she scrutinized Mu Wan.
"Is acting fun?" Chen Xiaomeng asked with an interested look on her face.
"It’s fun, but it’s also quite tiring, especially shooting at night. I’m dead tired, and my eyelids keep fighting each other. Look, I’ve even got dark circles under my eyes," Mu Wan pointed out under her eyes. If not for Li Yuan’s makeup skills and the Snow Skin Cream Luo Shu gave her, she would really look like a panda right now.
"I see! I was thinking about having Wang Fei arrange a small role for me to try, but hearing what you said, maybe I shouldn’t. It seems I’m not cut out for acting," Chen Xiaomeng sighed. Eating and sleeping were indispensable for her.
"By the way, where’s your Brother Bao?" Xiao Yan looked around curiously. She was very interested in seeing who played the character described in the book as having a face like the moon in its full glory, color like the dawn’s first bloom, temples like carve-cut, brows like ink painting, seeming to smile even when angry, and eyes filled with affection even in a stern gaze. The natural charm was all in the tip of the brows, and all the emotions of a lifetime gathered at the corners of the eyes as Jia Baoyu.
Mu Wan looked around, "He was just here; he’s probably busy with something. You’ll see him in a bit."
"So you won’t be free these few days?" Zhang Qi asked.
Mu Wan nodded, feeling helpless, "I had agreed with Wang Fei to attend her wedding, but I have scenes these next two days and just can’t find the time." Although Wang Fei was an investor, the director had the final say in scheduling. She couldn’t just disrupt the whole crew’s progress for her sake.
"Mu Wan, let’s go over our lines again, it’s almost our turn," the young man who had been rehearsing with Mu Wan earlier came over, dressed in brocade, wearing a Golden Chi Pendant around his neck and a Five-colored Silk Ribbon tied to a piece of Beautiful Jade. He had an exceptionally beautiful face, fair skin, and under his long lashes were eyes that were slightly upturned, filled with allure.
"Okay!" Mu Wan replied, then looked at the group, "This is Jia Baoyu, does he resemble the one described in the book?"
"If it weren’t for his voice, I would have suspected he’s a woman in disguise, he’s just too beautiful."
"Truly, as handsome as the full moon and as colorful as the dawn’s first bloom."
"I’m off to rehearse, do you want to come and watch?" Mu Wan asked the others.
"Sure!" they nodded in agreement.
Mu Wan turned to Mo Li, who was already close by, and introduced both sides, "This is Mo Li. Mo Li, these are all my friends."
"Hello! I’m Chen Xiaomeng. I’m really happy to meet you," Chen Xiaomeng extended her hand, admiration twinkling in her eyes as she looked into Mo Li’s. The moment Mo Li appeared, she was enchanted by his demeanor. She had seen many men, but had never encountered someone like Mo Li.
"Hello!" Mo Li shook hands with Chen Xiaomeng and nodded with a smile to everyone.
Chen Xiaomeng blushed and shyly retracted her hand, her heart beating erratically at that moment.
"Let’s go, we’re heading to the Inner Residence," Mu Wan said as she headed toward the Inner Residence. The scene they were about to shoot was to be filmed there.
The group arrived at the Inner Residence to find the director already instructing everyone on setting the scene.
Mu Wan and Mo Li stepped aside to run through their lines a few times. Hearing the director calling for them, Mu Wan looked at Luo Shu and the rest, pointed towards the set that was ready, and said, "I’m going in now."
"We’re rooting for you!" they gestured encouragingly to Mu Wan.
"Mo Li, good luck to you too," Chen Xiaomeng said with a shy smile to Mo Li.
"Thank you!" Mo Li’s lips curved slightly as he stepped toward the set.
Chen Xiaomeng watched Mo Li with fascination, her gaze lingering even as he walked into the building, unwilling to look away.
"Hey, snap out of it," Zhang Qi waved her hand in front of Chen Xiaomeng, "This girl must be love-struck."
"Definitely. Her eyes were practically glued to him."
"If you like him, go for it boldly. I support you."
Chen Xiaomeng’s cheeks flushed as she glared at them irritatedly, "Stop talking nonsense, I am not into him at all." She simply thought Mo Li was good-looking; she definitely did not have a crush on him.
"Come on, let’s go watch Mu Wan act."
"If you can resist not following us, we’ll believe you’re not into him."
Chen Xiaomeng watched as everyone walked into the building. After hesitating for a moment, she followed, "I’m going to watch Mu Wan, not Mo Li."
Seeing Chen Xiaomeng following them in, everyone turned and teased her with knowing smiles.
Chen Xiaomeng blushed and glared at them, then shifted her gaze to Mu Wan and the others who were acting. When she saw Mo Li, her heart started racing again. Could it be she really had a crush on him, that it was really love at first sight?