This time, Bao Ruanruan's livestream was being held in the living room of Beijiao No. 1. To protect the room's priv...
This time, Bao Ruanruan's livestream was being held in the living room of Beijiao No. 1.
To protect the room's privacy, the camera was aimed directly at a white wall.
Apart from a vase of pale pink roses on the table, none of the other furnishings was in shot.
Yet the pale pink petals formed a striking contrast with Bao Ruanruan's expression as she tsked in disgust at the villainous demon consort antagonist on screen.
"Can't you do something fit for human eyes?"
"We're already six episodes in, and you're still causing trouble?"
At home, Bao Ruanruan was wearing loungewear: fuzzy coral fleece printed with soft pink peaches of immortality.
But the look on her face was like an overexcited audience member in a comedy skit seeing Momo Rong🔗 for the first time.
She was one step away from standing up, planting her hands on her hips, dragging Momo Rong out of the screen, and beating her up!
"Aiyo, you killed another little eunuch. Don't you know that you've just gotten yourself into serious trouble?"
Her expression was practically screaming, 'tsk, tsk, tsk'.
She instantly covered her own eyes with both her hands.
She could not bear to watch the scene any more.
[ ...... ]
[ ............ ]
[You... 2333331 if you're not in the school moral education textbook, I refuse to read it.]
Sitting across from Bao Ruanruan at the dining table, Xue Jing, who had stayed behind especially to watch the livestream, felt the corner of his forehead twitch.
By rights, he should have been in his study at that moment, examining the data of the international freight company he was preparing to acquire. Yet he had pushed the matter back, squeezing out time to accompany her on this livestream first.
Since it was the first time this girl had played a villain, he was afraid that some of the female lead's fans might criticise her during the live stream after the show aired. He was worried that she might become upset if she saw those comments.
But... he really had not expected this.
She scolded herself so severely that even the audience was left speechless.
Aside from some viewers who liked the demon consort and wanted her to appear in the second season, there were still some people online who were full of righteousness and supported the female lead, hating the villain so much that it made their teeth itch2. In every episode, they kept asking when the demon consort would go offline3.
Since Bao Ruanruan was livestreaming today, some viewers had already left comments a few days ago saying that they wanted to come and see the 'bad woman'.
He had originally been worried about this kind of thing.
But now, Xue Jing held his forehead.
A trace of laughter slipped from between his lips.
What exactly was going on inside her little melon-seed head4?
Xue Jing looked appreciatively at the young lady before him. She was staring at the computer screen with righteous, awe-inspiring indignation, as if she wanted to k!ll the bad character with her own hands.
He noticed that her cheeks had turned rosy red with anger, and they almost matched the peach pattern on her pyjamas.
"Emperor, are you capable or not? Hurry up and throw her into the Cold Palace!"
"Ai, I don't want to see her anymore. Please don't let her come out. I'm afraid I won't be able to control myself."
The comments section had descended into complete chaos.
Lines of ellipses floated past.
Usually, as long as Bao Ruanruan was on camera, the livestream scrolling comments would be very lively.
Everyone would either write 'hahahaha' or flood the screen with all kinds of playful, jokey text every time.
But today, Bao Ruanruan's performance had left everyone unsure how to react.
Who could have imagined it?
Who would have expected her to be so invested in scolding the character she played herself that she had been talking non-stop until that moment?
How were they supposed to respond to that?
Urgent: waiting online for a scrolling comment template.
Finally, under the lead of a mom fan, a turning point appeared.
[Kiddo, this shows that you've acted so well that even you got angry watching yourself.]
Now, that's a truly bizarre yet creative way to dish out some rainbow fart5!
But, upon careful consideration, wasn't that precisely the case?
[Right, this shows that Bao Ruanruan's acting is really pretty good.]
[If even she can get furious watching her own character, then there's clearly nothing wrong with her acting.]
[+1, I'm a pure passerby6, and Xiao Bao played this role well.]
"Mm, I also think the demon consort was indeed acted fairly well."
Bao Ruanruan looked at the scrolling comments, and her little face lit up.
But in the next moment, her expression became serious.
"But I absolutely can't play this kind of role again next time."
[233331 There's a bit of red on that stone7; fellow Daoist, this role really isn't something you should play!]
[High EQ answer: I can't act like this again next time; Low EQ answer: Ptooey! The director didn't let me play a righteous character. I'm so mad!]
[Before I clicked in, I really didn't expect you to be such a show person8!]
[Hahaha.]
The plot of episode six was still playing on the screen.
Meanwhile, the scrolling comments were endlessly joyful.
Bao Ruanruan, in particular, despite being part of the cast, ended up giving Kunning a rather different take on the costume-drama genre.
"This Consort Xian was harmed while pregnant. That's too tragic. Sigh."
"Bad people really should be punished."
"But actually, this amount of musk isn't enough to cause a miscarriage. If just smelling it is enough to cause problems, then Consort Xian must not have a very strong constitution in real life either."
As Bao Ruanruan watched the episode, her little face was full of regret and pain.
"Don't just stay in your room embroidering flowers. Come out, walk around, and get some sun, okay?"
"First, take care of your body, then have children. Keep your priorities straight~"
When the scene reached the part where the female lead, still only a low-ranking concubine, was slapped by the villain…
Bao Ruanruan covered her own little face even more.
"It's best to bite down on something in your mouth; otherwise, your teeth can easily cut the inside of your mouth and your tongue."
[.....]
[!]
The drama then changed to the next scene.
Viewers could see that the Empress remained uninvolved and never became angry.
Even when the demon consort did not come to pay her respects, she still smiled.
Every time the audience saw this, they hated her for failing to fight back, feeling that she was far too weak and too much of a punching bag9.
But Bao Ruanruan stuck out a thumb.
"Silence is golden10. Develop quietly first."
"First become strong, then finish off the villain in one clean sweep~ Smart!"
[!]
When the Old Buddha11 appeared, Bao Ruanruan looked even more envious and yearning.
This was clearly a character this child had been craving for a long time.
When her clothes came, she just stretched out her hands; when her food came, she just opened her mouth12.
Everyone in the entire harem fought until their heads were broken and their blood flowed13, yet they still had to lower their heads and pay their respects to her.
It was simply too wonderful.
"So, this drama tells us that when you're young, you should work hard and climb to the mountain peak14. In your later years, things will be much easier for you."
[!]
[Enterprise-level after-viewing reflection15!]
"This drama also tells us that we can't relax when it comes to educating our children. Otherwise, if our son, the Emperor, turns out to be a muddle-headed ruler, then we're finished."
"Now, as long as our son, the Emperor, doesn't cause trouble, who cares if you come or don't come to pay respects! This Old Mother can rely on her own private little treasury and enjoy several more decades of good fortune~"
As Bao Ruanruan spoke, she picked up the little notebook beside her.
She recorded it very seriously.
[Aside from giving a thumbs-up, what else can I do? What an excellent stand-up comedy routine!]
[Bao: "Key knowledge point. I have to record this quickly."]
[A good memory is not as good as a rotten pen16. Has everyone remembered it? Struggle when young and you'll become Old Buddha11 in old age; don't struggle when young and you'll sweep the Cold Palace in old age!]
[23331, I really suspect this isn't a costume palace-fighting drama. Isn't this just a large-scale educational film?]
You can always trust Bao Ruanruan.
Countless Ruan mom-fans and career-fans rushed into the livestream room, then left cheerfully pleased.
There was no need for them to quarrel with other fans, defend the drama or the role, or speak up for the villain.
Bao Ruanruan alone could make everything in the livestream room as harmonious as favourable wind and timely rain17.
Everyone who left the livestream room had a smile on their face.
It was far too joyful.
It was like enjoying a whole McDonald's meal with such unrestrained indulgence.
There was also a sense of substance — the happiness that came from gaining something useful.
Who said that watching livestreams and dramas was a waste of time?
They had learnt something new!
[Did you know that this tiny amount of musk wouldn't actually cause a miscarriage? Palace-fighting dramas really aren't rigorous, eh.]
[It's normal that her constitution is poor. Consorts all lack exercise. If you let a peasant woman enter the palace, she'd be fine.]
[I'm a little Jinjiang author, and I've been inspired~ A peasant woman enters the palace and counterattacks19 her way to become Empress. What, you want to use musk on me? Ineffective! What, you want to use saffron on me? Ineffective! What, you want to trip me so I fall and miscarry? Heh, my constitution is good, so I didn't fall!]
[Hahahahaha, d@mn, I want to read this book!]🦊
It was Monday noon and, since Kunning wasn't scheduled to air today, everyone was feeling rather bored.
As there hadn't been any new plot updates, the drama's Weibo Super Topic had dropped to 36th place.
However, after Bao Ruanruan's livestream, the production team's Super Topic was flooded with real-time comments, creating a cheerful atmosphere where everyone was happy together.
It was as if they had reached a complete HE21 grand finale ahead of time.
The production crew's Super Topic instantly climbed to third place.
Quite a few people were unfamiliar with Weibo and could not find the production crew's Super Topic, so they left comments under Bao Ruanruan's topic tag when they came across it.
The old topic, #Netizens Want to Buy Bao Ruanruan a Resurrection Armour22#, was once again pushed up into the real-time trending heat.
"She's just playing a villain, yet she's still jumping this high23; she really has guts! And resurrection too?"
This conversation happened in Tang Yuxin's room.
Her manager really couldn't stand it.
Three days ago, because of Bao Ruanruan's trending search, all the attention was stolen from the one they had bought for Tang Yuxin's movie.
Nowadays, netizens preferred freshness and happiness.
Films in which the protagonist died scared them.
Consequently, netizens were not very interested in Tang Yuxin's trending topic. Instead, they made a similar topic about Bao Ruanruan trend even harder.
Not even the manager had expected this to happen.
"Brother, don't say that."
Tang Yuxin revealed a tolerant smile.
"After all, we also bought a trending search."
"That's different. We bought a trending search to market positive values. Both your character and your story fit the current broadcasting authority's main melody24, and they have a positive and correct guiding effect on the audience."
"But she's a villain, yet she bought this kind of brazen daytime trending search, just to get the netizens to praise her. She even wants the villain to be the protagonist in the second season. What kind of demons and monsters25 are these?"
The manager was very unconvinced.
The more understanding and considerate Tang Yuxin was, the less he understood how Bao Ruanruan Studio operated.
They really had no bottom line26.
The manager hadn't watched that drama, but last Friday, he had checked the real-time trending searches.
"Just wait. Sooner or later, she'll overturn her car27."
Tang Yuxin smiled.
The current censorship system was very strict.
If someone tried to promote an atmosphere of wrongdoing, then, in serious cases, not only would the production crew be criticised, but the drama itself might be reported, taken down, and ordered to make corrections.
"Brother, cool down. It's not as if I, as an actress, can report another actress, right? Everyone has it hard."
A look of pity appeared on Tang Yuxin's face.
But the manager's eyes lit up. That was right. Why shouldn't they report it?
After all, they were industry professionals with bottom lines, and they wanted to make the industry atmosphere more positive.
Reporting improper conduct was everyone's responsibility.
Wouldn't it be fine if he had the assistant find a few fans to carry out the plan?
"Yuxin, you're just too kind. Forget it, go and read your script."
Tang Yuxin smiled.
Not long after her manager left, she saw several messages pop up in her fan group.
— If this kind of villain can be enthusiastically supported or idolised, then palace-fighting dramas may very likely be classified as harmful subject matter in the future.
— One fan with no sense of judgement has smeared all the other viewers of costume dramas!
— We must speak out; otherwise, if palace-fighting dramas are completely banned in the future, it'll be too late for regrets.
Someone in the fan group quickly posted links to the online reporting site and complaint hotlines.
Tang Yuxin glanced at it, then sent several voice messages.
"Feifei, it's Sis Yuxin. You seem to be recording a show together with Bao Ruanruan, right? Alas, there's something I'm not sure whether to tell you."
"I don't have any prejudice against her, but it seems she has bought a trending search to praise her own villainous performance. She bought one last Friday, and today she bought another one that's about to rush into the top twenty."
"I'm not close to her, but maybe you can remind her. If she gets reported because of this, that wouldn't be good."
After Tang Yuxin had finished speaking, a faint chuckle escaped from the corner of her mouth.
The system hadn't said anything about her mischievous plan.
However, based on her observations over the past few weeks, she thought that the decrease in her support rate might be related to Bao Ruanruan.
Yang Xueni, Lu Wenhao, and Qu Feifei had all appeared on a show together with her.
According to the system, if they came to like someone else, their support rate for Tang Yuxin would decrease.
Then, could this 'someone else' be Bao Ruanruan?
She had to test it!
Qu Feifei was very righteous.
If she found out that Bao Ruanruan had done this, she would definitely be disgusted.
If she told Qu Feifei this information and Qu Feifei's support for her increased as a result, that would mean... Bao Ruanruan had really had taken her supporters from her before.
From now on, she would definitely have to compete with Bao Ruanruan!
Tang Yuxin thought it over for a while.
Then she sent messages to Yang Xueni and Lu Wenhao as well.
"Xueni, I have something urgent to ask you. Do you have Bao Ruanruan's contact details?"
"Wenhao, it's Sis Yuxin. Is it convenient for you to talk now? Do you have Bao……."
After sending three test messages in a row, Tang Yuxin sat and waited.
Before long, her phone vibrated.
[Lu Wenhao: I don't have her contact information. Zhen Xuan does. I'll ask him to contact her right now! Tell her to withdraw the trending search!]
Is it that urgent?
Is he really that worried about Bao Ruanruan being affected by this trending search?
Tang Yuxin froze for a moment.
When she went to the Lu family, she hadn't seen him value her, his future sister-in-law, this much.
[Lu Wenhao's support rate for you has increased by 1.6%.]
[Psychological interpretation of key capture target28: He thanks you for providing useful information and helping an important friend of his.]
Tang Yuxin: "……!"
Was Bao Ruanruan already an important friend of his?
Even his support rate had risen this much.
Before she even had time to look in the mirror and check how her appearance had improved…
Another vibrating message popped up.
[Qu Feifei: Ah, Sis Yuxin, I'll contact her right now to withdraw the trending search! Thank you for reminding me. I'll treat you to a meal next time~]
Tang Yuxin: "?"
Was her big fan29 already this close to Bao Ruanruan?
This girl had even forgotten that Bao Ruanruan had ruined her engagement ceremony before.
Although Lu Wenyao had been hammered30, that only happened recently.
How long had it been?
Had their relationship improved so much that she wanted to thank her on Bao Ruanruan's behalf and treat her to a meal?
[Qu Feifei's support rate for you has increased by 0.8%.]
Tang Yuxin: "......"
The last time she treated Qu Feifei to a meal, her support rate had even dropped.
Could one sentence of helping Bao Ruanruan actually make it rise this quickly and significantly today?
Just as she was about to continue her analysis, a video call invitation popped up.
— Yang Xueni wants to video call you...
Tang Yuxin casually accepted it.
On the screen, she saw Yang Xueni standing in front of the production crew's camera as the make-up artist touched up her makeup. She was stamping her feet anxiously.
"Yuxin, is this true or not?"
"Aiyo, I saw this real-time hot topic of hers…… Sigh, what is she doing? Does her studio not have brains!"
Finally, there was one person who was criticising Bao Ruanruan.
"No, Yuxin, I won't talk to you anymore. I have to hurry up and call her to get her to withdraw the trending search."
"I'm hanging up!"
The video call ended in one second.
Tang Yuxin could hardly react in time.
[Yang Xueni's support rate for you has increased by 0.7%.]
It had risen more than during their most recent phone call.
No matter how she listened to it, her tone did not sound like she was disgusted with Bao Ruanruan.
Instead, she seemed very anxious, wanting Bao Ruanruan to solve the problem quickly and not wanting her to be reported.
Yang Xueni was very protective of her.
Tang Yuxin was stunned.
As she had expected, all three of them had increased their support rates.
However, the process was different from what she had anticipated.
They did not seem to think Bao Ruanruan’s character was problematic because of this trending search.
They were even very worried about her.
Bao Ruanruan had definitely stolen these people's support rates from her, right?
She had been shut away in seclusion filming for several months, and they had already become this dead-set devoted to Bao Ruanruan?
Tang Yuxin did not understand and was greatly shocked.
But just as she was about to properly study Bao Ruanruan, a burst of cold system audio sounded.
[Qu Feifei's support rate has decreased by 1.2%.]
[Lu Wenhao's support rate has decreased by 1.5%.]
[Yang Xueni… decreased by 0.8%.]
Tang Yuxin: "???"
The manager's hurried voice could be heard coming from the corridor.
"So it was a misunderstanding. That trending search wasn't bought by Bao Ruanruan? Haha, we got it wrong then…"
Tang Yuxin: "?!"
"Of course I didn't buy it."
At Beijiao No. 1, Bao Ruanruan received a call from Yang Xueni after receiving messages from Qu Feifei and Lu Wenhao.
She looked surprised at the sudden call and messages.
"Then is someone trying to harm you?"
Yang Xueni asked anxiously.
"Ahem, ahem, listen. It's not like I care about your personal affairs or anything. It's just that we're about to start filming Assistant again. If something happens to you or if people start to question your character, won't it affect the show?"
Bao Ruanruan nodded repeatedly before blowing on her chrysanthemum wolfberry tea.
Then she gently took a sip.
Her expression gradually became serious, too.
"You're right, Nini. I'll check my trending search right now. If there are any improper comments, I'll report them."
You, a celebrity, personally stepping in to report your own fans? Is that really okay?
Yang Xueni broke out in a cold sweat.
Stop doing that!
"Is your manager ignoring you again?"
Yang Xueni was speechless.
Thinking about it, she could not help but worry her assistant-heart to pieces31.
"I'll ask Brother Jiang to help you deal with it. You absolutely must not do this yourself."
"This is for the sake of the ratings of the next episode of Assistant."
Make no mistake: she didn't lend a hand because she liked Bao Ruanruan.
"Okay, thank you, Nini~"
Bao Ruanruan lifted her little feet and slipped them into her cotton slippers.
Having an assistant really did make her life easier.
The Great Landlord was right. She still needed some helpers.
Meanwhile, at a production set.
After Yang Xueni hung up the phone, she felt deeply anxious.
She hurriedly asked the director for ten minutes off and went to ask her manager, Jiang Zhengle, for help.
Even in front of her own manager of four years, her eyes still darted around a little as she explained the whole story from beginning to end.
"It's pretty urgent."
"Hurry and deal with it."
Jiang Zhengle even gave her an extra look.
"Didn't you previously want to persuade Bao Ruanruan to jump ship32 and follow you? If so, you have to show Bao Ruanruan some of your managerial abilities, right?"
Yang Xueni gave him a push.
Jiang Zhengle's expression turned strange.
After a long while, he finally squeezed out a dry, 'heh-heh.'
"What makes you think that a studio capable of making an already-famous actress work as an assistant to a little newcomer is lacking in ability?"
After what happened last time when he tried to poach Bao Ruanruan...
Sorry, he had decided to give up right away.
Yang Xueni: "....."
You gave up way too quickly.
Where's your sincerity?
"Would they need me for this kind of crisis?"
Although Jiang Zhengle said that, he still took out his phone.
Out of concern, he opened Weibo to check what was going on.
"First, I'll check how many views the topic has. If it's over a hundred million, then it'll be difficult to handle if it gets reported."
When Yang Xueni heard this, her face changed colour.
Yuxin had already seen it, so how could it not be over a hundred million?
This was terrible.
She hurriedly moved closer to take a look, but before she could make anything out, Jiang Zhengle gave a confused 'Huh?'
"Where is there any improper promotion?"
"Isn't this quite positive? The comment section and real-time discussion are all very harmonious."
Yang Xueni: "?"
You definitely misunderstand what harmony means.
You're a manager with no moral bottom line.
"Netizens are calling for the villain to be resurrected. If someone grabs hold of her little pigtail33……"
Halfway through speaking, Jiang Zhengle handed her his phone.
[Bao Ruanruan said that her going offline in episode eight is far too late! It would be best if the female lead took her out in episode one and sent her into the Cold Palace to reflect. Female leads these days really aren't that impressive, hhhhh.]
[Bao Ruanruan even went online to beg the Emperor to come to his senses. She's been causing trouble for seven episodes and still hasn't been found out! She was anxious to death!]
[Kiddo Ruan had cried pitifully and begged netizens to make her reflect and cry! Absolutely don't go easy on her!]
[Click in and watch #Bao Ruanruan Scolds Herself Online, Ptooy, As If You're Worthy Of Acting In Season Two?!#]
Yang Xueni: "……??"
She casually clicked on the livestream link.
There was no helping it; this title was simply too attractive.
Even though she had only asked for a ten-minute break, she clicked on the livestream recording anyway.
As soon as she entered, she saw Bao Ruanruan wearing an expression that looked as if she wished she could strangle herself to death.
'A bad woman like this still wants to get the Emperor's love? Stop dreaming, give it up! You old demon hag34!'
Yang Xueni immediately covered her mouth with her hand.
She did this to avoid letting out an inelegant laugh.
The corners of her mouth moved involuntarily.
Her cheekbones could not help rising.
Sorry, it's too funny.
Hahaha……
"…Xue, stop laughing. Do you still remember that you have to act in a crying scene later?"
Jiang Zhengle held his forehead.
Yang Xueni: "!"
"Right, shouldn't you be busy shooting your drama? Where on earth did you pick up that rumour? Honestly, there's nothing wrong with what Bao Ruanruan did here."
Jiang Zhengle gave his own artist, who had been letting her mind wander, a special reminder.
"The production crew is full of fish and dragons mixed35, so don't get tricked. Could it be some briefcase company 36 trying to cheat you, female celebrities, out of public relations fees?"
There were many scams like this in the entertainment industry.
Some celebrities were especially afraid of being smeared37 by marketing accounts, and they would easily panic and lose composure, causing them to spend money to buy peace38.
"Don't act foolishly. Send Bao Ruanruan a message too and tell her to use her common sense."
"Don't let someone fix their eyes39 on her."
After he finished speaking, Jiang Zhengle waved his hand, asking Yang Xueni to return to the director and begin telling her to get into the right emotional state for her role.
But Yang Xueni froze.
That was right. Where had this fake news about Bao Ruanruan being reported come from?
Had Yuxin heard it somewhere, or had she seen something online and made the connection herself?
Wasn't this looking for trouble when there was none40 and calling a deer a horse41?
Yang Xueni could not help sighing. "Yuxin must have been so busy and muddled on set that she saw a headline and believed it to be true."
Yuxin had probably just skimmed through the hashtags without checking them properly.
She couldn't blame Yuxin for it, though.
But — Bao Ruanruan was really funny and righteous, too.
As soon as she thought of the words from the livestream, she lowered her head, and her shoulders began to shake.
"Xiaxia, can you help me find Bao Ruanruan's livestream and send it to me? I want to watch it once I've finished acting."
That video was too stress-relieving!
At the same time, Qu Feifei and Lu Wenhao also discovered that they had worried for nothing.
When they saw Bao Ruanruan roasting herself without holding back on the livestream while also aspiring to become the Old Buddha11, with such righteous awe, they let out a breath of relief and couldn't help but laugh.
As expected, they knew it.
Bao Ruanruan was definitely not that muddle-headed.
"Brother, I think I need to learn from Bao Ruanruan. As an idol, one still has to have correct three views42."
Qu Feifei even enthusiastically recommended Bao Ruanruan's livestream video to her brother.
"Dad, I finally understand now what three people make a tiger43 means. What you said before about verifying facts for ourselves and not easily believing any conclusion — I understand it a little now."
After dinner, Lu Wenhao ate fruit, sighing to his old dad, Lu Zhengda.
"Oh? How so?" Lu Zhengda narrowed his eyes with interest.
His younger son had grown again.
The father and son instantly watched Bao Ruanruan's livestream together.
Lu Wenyao passed by and only heard his father say, 'This Bao Ruanruan is still pretty good. I do think she's indeed a bit better than many celebrities nowadays.'
Was his dad actually very satisfied with Bao Ruanruan?
Lu Wenyao had never heard his dad praise an entertainer like this before.
Not even his future daughter-in-law, Tang Yuxin, had achieved that.
Amid Lu Wenyao's shock, another terrifying thought suddenly crossed his mind.
Could it be that his dad preferred a daughter-in-law like Bao Ruanruan?
Had he been wrong to protect Tang Yuxin so single-mindedly?
Bao Ruanruan… was actually much better?
[Qu Ji'en's support rate for you has decreased by 0.5%.]
[Lu Wenyao's support rate for you has decreased by 0.8%.]
Tang Yuxin: "……?!
[One big fan29 has climbed over the wall44.]
[Fan support rate has decreased by 0.5%.]
Tang Xi, the former owner of the No. 10 Tang Yuxin fan group, took a deep breath.
Looking at all the comments in the group saying they wanted to report Bao Ruanruan, she had a head full of black lines45.
[Group owner: I suggest you all go and watch the livestream.]
Tang Xi suddenly felt that it was all so meaningless.
Had she actually always been in this kind of unable-to-distinguish-blue-red-black-white46 fan circle?
[Group owner: I don't want to manage the fan group anymore. I'm stepping down from the group owner position. If anyone wants to be the new group owner, they can create a new group, and I'll dissolve this one.]
[HongTang19345: !]
[BaiTang3276: ? Group owner, is today April Fools' Day?]
[Group owner: Group management matters will temporarily be handed over to the other admins. Don't @ me anymore.]
Tang Xi weakly logged out of her account.
She did not want to deal with these things anymore.
From now on, she would happily just be a passive viewer of Sis Yuxin's works.
The instant she logged out, her whole body felt light.
"Fake Mum, where are you?"
"Didn't we agree to rewatch episode eight together today?"
Tang Xi immediately grinned and looked at her WeChat.
Seriously.
If she were in a bad mood, then she should watch Ruan Hui's happy performance!
"Coming!"
*
The heated online discussions about Bao Ruanruan's role as a demon consort lasted for three to four days. Then, several producers came to Bao Ruanruan Studio with scripts for female lead roles in costume dramas.
"A fallen princess counterattacks19s, a revenge heroine counterattacks19s, a crown princess counterattacks19s..."
Bao Ruanruan glanced at the story summaries and her eyes almost turned into mosquito-coil eyes47.
They really were dead set on making her lock horns48 with the word 'counterattack19', huh?
Xue Jing had already skimmed through them once.
The ones delivered to her were all scripts that he felt had character growth arcs and complete story frameworks.
But Bao Ruanruan immediately rested her fair chin on the living room table, which had just been wiped with alcohol, and rubbed her chin against it.
Xue Jing glanced at her, his expression revealing nothing, and pushed one of the scripts towards her.
Bao Ruanruan opened her eyes and looked at it.
She lifted her head.
"The Female Physician's Tale?"
She instantly grinned and became interested.
In this fictional dynasty, a beautiful girl had no choice but to enter the palace through the imperial selection process. Fortunately, because a consort was jealous of her, she was assigned to the Imperial Medical Bureau.
In order to treat the consorts, they also trained some female physicians.
Starting from scratch, she slowly became the palace's number-one female imperial physician.
Later, the Emperor even fell in love with her, but he respected her and gave her enough freedom.
"This one is acceptable."
Bao Ruanruan found this script reasonable.
It was much more reliable than the idea of a fallen princess counterattacking19.
Having medical skills, a useful specialised skill that could protect one's life, and then using it to reach the top, was reasonable and fitting.
Without even reading the script details, she could already imagine a group of palace maids and eunuchs smiling at her; a group of consorts who had fought each other to the death treating her with every kind of care, and even the Emperor, who held life-or-death power over his harem, being polite to her.
That scene was far too wonderful.
Wasn't this the young, hardworking version of Old Buddha11?
"Then I'll accept this one."
He knew it.
Xue Jing lowered his eyelids, put the other scripts away, and nodded.
"The costume fitting is next week. The expected filming period is around seventy days."
"The drama will have about twenty-eight episodes."
He did not want her to waste time acting in a water-injected drama18.
He had skimmed through this script once and asked the screenwriter to remove any unnecessary content.
This was her first female lead.
The script had to be more refined.
"Take your time reading the script. If there's anything you want to discuss with the screenwriter, I'll ask Chen Feng to create a group chat."
As Xue Jing said this, he stood up.
Chen Feng, who had been sitting beside them and listening silently the whole time, nodded vigorously.
Wearing a mask, he just made two 'ah' sounds.
With a head full of black lines, Bao Ruanruan pushed the hot tea towards him and said with concern, "You don't have to work this hard. If you have a bad cold, go back and rest."
As she spoke, she heartlessly opened the window for ventilation.
Chen Feng: "......"
He knew it. He shouldn't be here; he should be in the wind49.
He wasn't hurt at all.
Chen Feng stood up, pointed at the script, and then pointed at Xue Jing.
Bao Ruanruan raised her little face suspiciously. "You want to take leave, and leave the rest for our dear Great Landlord to do?"
Chen Feng: "……"
Dear…… Great Landlord?
How come he only had the title Brother Feng, with no descriptive adjective in front?
Yet under his accusing gaze, the corners of Xue Jing's mouth flew upward.
When Xue Jing saw the young girl's confused look…
"What he means is, this film is invested in by me."
Back then, he had felt there was no need to tell an artist such details, but now......
Xue Jing was just about to continue explaining when he saw the young lady before him lift her fair little face and slowly open her pink little mouth.
She revealed an expression of 'Ah, I should have thought of that long ago!'
Then, in an instant, she pounced onto the tabletop in distress and grabbed his cufflink.
"!"
"Great Landlord, don't be impulsive!"
Xue Jing stiffened. "!"
"Even if you think highly of me, what virtue or ability of mine would make you bet all your savings on my drama?"
Xue Jing: "......"
Chen Feng: "......"
Bao Ruanruan gave a soft 'ying', then raised a snow-white, worried little face.
"How much did you invest? Brother, we need to be cautious."
Hearing the young lady call him 'brother' for the first time, Xue Jing felt half his body go numb.
While blood rushed toward his face.
But in the next second, the young lady tightened her grip on his sleeve.
"Investment has risks; entering the market requires caution."
Bao Ruanruan took a deep breath.
"On TV, there are lots of people who fail at investing and jump off buildings..."
She was actually quite concerned about his safety.
Xue Jing revealed a slight smile.
How could he be that fragile?
This investment was nowhere near that point yet.
But the girl's next sentence made the corner of his mouth twitch.
"Dear Great Landlord, let me ask one question first."
Bao Ruanruan covered her little heart.
"If the drama flops50 and we lose everything down to the principal, can we still keep our two Beijiao No. 1 houses?'
For some unknown reason, the tenant's sorrow clung to her, oh~
Chen Feng coughed once, then started to shake before covering his mask.
Xue Jing laughed from anger, and after a long while, managed to squeeze words out from between his teeth.
"Then you… should act well."
Bao Ruanruan bit her lip.
Cruel life had finally made a move against this little kitty.
"I think I can sign up for two acting classes starting today. What do you think?"
Heh.
If the young and strong do not work hard, they will only grieve in vain over protecting the house.51
She could not afford to lose.
"I'm also doing this for Great Landlord's house by giving it my all and racking my brains."
"If this drama doesn't lose money, can I obtain permanent residence rights?"
Bao Ruanruan's pure eyes, like a little deer's, blinked hard.
"......"
Xue 'house tool-man52' Jing took a deep breath.
Originally, investing in her drama was a way to slowly tell her about his real business.
But now, hehe.
However, when he looked at her sparkling eyes and her small face shining with hope and expectation, his anger suddenly vanished like smoke and scattered like clouds.
Seeing her vivid aliveness and her commitment to making her dream life a reality spread warmth through his chest.
She was as resilient as moss beneath tree roots53.
She was so resilient that… it made one's heart ache.
"Mm. As long as you act in this drama and your performance is recognised by the industry."
Xue Jing chuckled and shook the script in his hand.
He was also willing to be her house tool-man52.
"Regardless of profit or loss, I won't take this house back."
Bao Ruanruan froze for a moment before reacting.
Then she suddenly jumped up, opened her mouth wide, and smiled like a daisy swaying in the wind54.
"I'll read the script right now!"
Xue Jing raised the corners of his lips.
Chen Feng: "......"
Why did he feel that something about these two was not quite right?
Why did he have the feeling that he was a surplus55?
Mm, it must be because of his cold, right?
By the weekend of With Dreams shooting, when the Blue Team had completed the 1,000-person travel task and finally received approval from the production team for free activity time, Bao Ruanruan was single-mindedly thinking about work.
"Where should we go to have fun?"
Zhen Xuan had been looking forward to it for a long time; dance practice at the end of the year was too exhausting.
Qu Feifei also nodded. "I want to go horseback riding.
Lu Wenhao's eyes lit up.
"I know a riding stable. I have a membership."
They all then looked at Bao Ruanruan, only to see her holding a script wrapped in a neat cover.
She was reading it seriously, not even lifting her head.
"Sis Ruanruan, would you like to go horse riding?" Zhen Xuan asked respectfully.
If she didn't feel like going, they would gladly choose another option.
After all, the Blue Team had relied entirely on her to carry them flying56.
Today's rest had all been made possible by her efforts.
"Horseback riding?"
Bao Ruanruan froze for a moment and lifted her little face from the script.
If it had been before, she definitely would have refused such a dangerous activity.
But now…… She flipped through the script, rustling the pages, and sure enough, she found a place marked in red marker.
Mm, there's a horseback-riding scene.
"Okay, let's go."
Qu Feifei and the other two immediately smiled.
What could be happier than their core teammate wanting to play the same thing as them?
But that happiness only lasted for a few short seconds.
"I heard that Hengcheng Film Studio has a filming area specifically for horse-riding scenes. Let's go there."
Bao Ruanruan closed the script.
With her safe house tied to her entire family's fortune and life, she had now become 'a serious Bao Bao'.
"Maybe there'll be a production crew recruiting extras who can ride horses?"
Qu Feifei: "?"
Zhen Xuan: "?"
Lu Wenhao: "? What?"
"We can apply to be extras."
The three blue-team members: "……!"
[!]
The scrolling comments were all shocked.
However, Bao Ruanruan spoke with her eyes growing brighter and brighter.
She thought it was a wonderful idea.
"We can make use of this opportunity to be extras."
"You can all experience the joy of horseback riding while I seize the time to sharpen my acting skills."
The other three members of the Blue Team had shocked expressions, as if they had been copied and pasted.
Copied from the previous second into this second.
There was no change, but if you looked carefully, you could see that they were even more shocked.
Bao Ruanruan pressed her hands together, her little face glowing brightly. "One move, two gains57! Leader, what do you think?"
Zhen Xuan: "…… I…… Mm, okay."
He then received eye rolls from Qu Feifei and Lu Wenhao.
The Leader has sold his own soul58!
Is no one going to control this?
No one.
Not even Director Zheng Mingchang, who was suddenly cut into the live stream footage, could believe what he was seeing.
He turned back and pointed at the monitor screen in disbelief.
"What did she say?"
"She wants to join a production crew as an extra to sharpen her acting skills?"
Sadness came like mountains collapsing and seas overturning59 on him!
"When I asked her to do tasks properly and complete the show's games properly, she was never this motivated!"
Now that it was free activity time and he wasn't managing her, she had become hardworking instead?
Director Zheng clutched his chest.
Was she born to go against his production team?
[Director Zheng: "If Yu was already born, why was Liang also born?60 So acting was actually her main wife61!"]
[Director Zheng: "Do you love me or him~ Is he really better than me?"📹]
[Hhhhh, d@mn, every commentator on this variety show is a mic hog62, enough, enough, Director Zheng is already crying. Not one of you mic hogs is innocent~]
[The ones truly hurt are us. After watching a whole season of the variety show, only today did I discover that she isn't Safety Commissioner Bao Qingtian63, but an acting-obsessed performer who loves acting as much as life.]
[This is shocking! So this is actually her true form!]
The group of viewers all had their understanding of Bao Ruanruan refreshed.
Clearly, one season of the variety show was already nearing its final wrap-up64, yet they felt as if they were watching it for the first time.
It was as if they had never known Bao Ruanruan before.
This was especially apparent when she went to audition as an extra and was told that there were only a few minor soldier roles that would receive a boxed meal65. Her little face turned pale and both her hands trembled....
She could not accept it at all.
Yet she still gritted her teeth66 to answer, "I-I'll act."
The scrolling comments were filled with exclamation marks.
[Kiddo Ruan!]
[5555567 Who's crying? It's mama.]
Author's Note:
Ruan: For the sake of a lifelong safe house, it's time to work just a little harder!
Footnotes Full List
- 233333 (èr sān sān sān sān sān) — Chinese internet laughter, similar to 'hahahaha')
- 恨得牙痒痒 (hèn de yá yǎngyǎng) — to hate someone intensely
- 下线 (xiàxiàn) — internet/drama slang for a character exiting the plot, often by dying or disappearing
- 小脑袋瓜子 (xiǎo nǎodài guāzi) — affectionate colloquialism for someone's head or way of thinking
- 彩虹屁 (cǎihóng pì) — internet slang for exaggerated praise or flattery
- 纯路人 (chún lùrén) — internet slang for a neutral non-fan
- I think this phrase means there's still a bit of human in the devil consort's stone heart?
- 秀人 (xiùrén) — internet slang for someone funny, dramatic, or good at putting on an entertaining show
- 受气包 (shòuqìbāo) — 'bag that receives anger'; someone who silently suffers mistreatment
- 沉默是金 (chénmò shì jīn) — it is wise to stay silent
- 老佛爷 (lǎo fóyé) — 'Old Buddha'; respectful palace title for the Empress Dowager, especially Cixi, used here as a symbol of supreme comfort and authority
- 衣来伸手,饭来张口 (yī lái shēn shǒu, fàn lái zhāng kǒu) — 'clothes come, stretch hand; rice comes, open mouth'; to live in complete comfort and be waited on by others
- 爬到山峰 (pá dào shānfēng) — metaphor for reaching the top or gaining high status
- 企业级观后感 (qǐyè jí guān hòu gǎn) — internet-style exaggeration meaning a very professional or high-level review
- 好记性不如烂笔头 (hǎo jìxìng bù rú làn bǐtóu) — writing things down is better than relying on memory
- 风調雨顺 (fēng tiáo yǔ shùn) — everything goes smoothly and peacefully
- 注水剧 (zhùshuǐ jù) — slang for a drama padded with unnecessary filler
- 逆袭 (nìxí) — to rise against the odds and turn the tables
- If I'm not mistaken, this kind of storyline does exist. I just can't remember the title.
- HE — 'Happy Ending'; fandom/novel slang for a happy ending
- 复活甲 (fùhuó jiǎ) — gaming slang for an item that revives/protects someone after death, used jokingly here as protection for her
- 跳得这么高 (tiào de zhème gāo) — acting too boldly, arrogantly, or ostentatiously
- 主旋律 (zhǔ xuánlǜ) — official mainstream values or ideologically approved themes
- 妖魔鬼怪 (yāomó guǐguài) — used to mean something absurd, improper, or outrageous
- 没有底线 (méiyǒu dǐxiàn) —no principles or moral limits
- 攻略対象 (gōnglüè duìxiàng) — dating-game/system novel term for a person one is trying to win over
- 大粉 (dà fěn) — an influential or major fan in a fandom
- 被锤了 (bèi chuí le) — internet slang for being exposed with solid evidence
- 操碎了一颗助理心 (cāo suì le yì kē zhùlǐ xīn) — 'worried an assistant's heart until it shattered'; jokingly means she was extremely worried as if she were Bao Ruanruan's assistant, though she did play a role as her assistant in the variety show, Assistant.
- 跳槽 (tiàocáo) — to change jobs, agencies, or companies
- 抓住小辫子 (zhuā zhù xiǎo biànzi) — to seize on someone's weakness or fault
- 老妖婆 (lǎo yāopó) — 'old demon woman'; an insulting term for a malicious older woman
- 鱼龙混杂 (yú lóng hùnzá) — a mixed crowd of good and bad people
- 皮包 company (píbāo gōngsī) — 'leather-bag company'; a shell company or scam company
- 黑 (hēi) — 'blacken'; internet slang for slandering or attacking someone online
- 花钱买太平 (huā qián mǎi taiping) — pay money to avoid trouble
- 盯上 (dīng shàng) — 'stare onto'; to target someone
- 没事找事 (méi shì zhǎo shì) — 'no matter, seek matter'; to create trouble unnecessarily
- 指鹿为马 (zhǐ lù wéi mǎ) — to deliberately misrepresent the truth
- 三观正确 (sān guān zhèngquè) — proper worldview, values, and outlook on life
- 三人成虎 (sān rén chéng hǔ) — repeated rumours can make people believe something false
- 爬墙 (pá qiáng) — fandom slang for switching affection or support from one idol to another
- 一头黑线 (yì tóu hēixiàn) — comic/anime-style expression for speechlessness, embarrassment, or frustration
- 不分青红皂白 (bù fēn qīnghóng zàobái) — not distinguishing right from wrong
- 蚊香眼 (wénxiāng yǎn) — 'mosquito-coil eyes'; spiral-eyed dizziness or confusion, like in cartoons
- 干上了 (gàn shàng le) — 'started doing/fighting with'; colloquial expression meaning to become stuck in conflict or entangled with something
- 不该在这里, 该在风里 (bù gāi zài zhèlǐ, gāi zài fēng lǐ) — meme-like self-pitying line meaning he is unwanted or out of place
- 扑了 (pū le) — entertainment slang for a work failing commercially or in popularity
- 少壮不努力, 保房徒伤悲 (shàozhuàng bù nǔlì, bǎo fáng tú shāngbēi) — a parody of 少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲, 'if one does not work hard when young, one will grieve in old age'
- 房子工具人 (fángzi gōngjùrén) — internet slang for someone reduced to a useful function, here being useful because of his houses
- 像是树根下的苔草 (xiàng shì shùgēn xià de táicǎo) — a metaphor for humble yet stubborn resilience
- 笑成了一朵迎风飘荡的雏菊 (xiào chéng le yì duǒ yíng fēng piāodàng de chújú) — 'smiled into a daisy drifting against the wind'; a metaphor for an open, bright, delighted smile
- 多余 (duōyú) — metaphorically feeling like a third wheel or unnecessary presence
- 带飞 (dài fēi) — 'carry and fly'; gaming/internet slang meaning to carry a team to victory
- 一举两得 (yì jǔ liǎng dé) — 'one action, two gains'; to achieve two benefits with one action
- 出卖了自己的灵魂 (chūmài le zìjǐ de línghún) — metaphor for betraying one's principles
- 排山倒海 (pái shān dǎo hǎi) — 'push mountains, overturn seas'; overwhelming and powerful
- 既生瑜何生亮 (jì shēng Yú hé shēng Liàng) — 'since Zhou Yu was born, why was Zhuge Liang born'; historical allusion expressing jealous rivalry. There are two songs with this phrase. The first one is a song with this exact phrase as its title, sung by Guo Shaojie and Liu Siwei. The other one is 2 lines from the lyrics of 烈火战马+空城计+重庆魂 (Live), sung by Gai. I don't know which one the author was referring to. Probably Gai? It was the most recent one (2020).
- 大房 (dàfáng) — metaphor for the true primary love or priority
- 麥霸 (rénjūn màibà) — 'microphone tyrant'; internet slang meaning everyone loves singing/quoting songs
- 包青天 (Bāo Qīngtiān) — 'Bao of the Blue Sky'; cultural reference to Judge Bao, symbol of justice and fairness. 🦊: I will continue with this term from now on. 😅
- 收官 (shōuguān) — 'closing move'; showbiz/go-game term for nearing the end
- 領盒飯 (lǐng héfàn) — entertainment slang for a character dying or being killed off
- 咬牙 (yǎoyá) — 'bite teeth'; to endure and force oneself to continue
- 55555 (wǔ wǔ wǔ wǔ wǔ) — 'five-five-five'; Chinese internet crying sound, like "wuwuwu"
COMMENTS