After staying home like a shut-in for an entire week, Su Youtian’s face had visibly rounded out.
There was another layer of fat around Tuotuo’s neck too. Early in the morning, it rolled, jumped, and howled around on Su Youtian’s blanket.
“Awooo!!!”
Su Youtian finally snapped and dragged it into the blankets to knead it around.
“Are you trying to stop me from ever getting a good night’s sleep?”
After being rubbed around until dizzy, Tuotuo sprawled weakly across the pillow, kicking its four stubby legs while panting heavily.
Su Youtian crawled out of the blankets with messy hair and glanced at the time. It was already eleven in the morning.
She couldn’t help sighing.
“Sigh, I’ve really degenerated.”
After saying that, she swept a hand across the snack-filled nightstand beside her bed, found a half-finished carton of milk, and slurped noisily from it.
Tuotuo took a bite of dog food and barked in agreement with her.
“Well, look at you learning how to respond now.”
As she was speaking, the phone on her bedside table suddenly rang.
Su Youtian scrambled frantically across the cabinet searching for it, knocking snacks everywhere in the process.
Finally, she found the phone buried inside a half-eaten bag of potato chips.
She glanced at the caller ID.
“Shen Haolin?”
For some reason, she had a bad feeling about this.
The moment she answered, Shen Haolin’s voice came through.
“Sheng Xia, are you free today?”
Su Youtian squeezed Tuotuo’s little paw and replied, “What’s up?”
“I want to treat you to coffee, and also give you a surprise.”
Su Youtian scratched her hair. “Where are we meeting?”
At noon, before she even got close, Su Youtian saw Shen Haolin already waiting inside the café.
Across from him sat a casually dressed middle-aged man leaning against his chair. His thick beard was streaked black and white, and the deep lines around his mouth made him look stern. Even the way he looked at people carried an unconscious air of scrutiny.
Su Youtian froze.
“Shen Haolin isn’t bringing me to meet his parents, is he…”
Then she added worriedly, “Oh no, oh no. Is his dad going to throw a check in my face and tell me to stay away from his son?”
【…You’re overthinking this.】
Su Youtian continued, “Do you think I should beg pitifully, or throw the check back in his face?”
【You could also eat the check.】
“…Get lost!”
Su Youtian coughed lightly and slowly walked into the café.
Today Shen Haolin was wearing a white suit, his hair neatly styled as well. The moment he saw Su Youtian, his eyes lit up.
“Sheng Xia, you’re here.”
Su Youtian hurried over and whispered, “Why did you call me here?”
Shen Haolin smiled at her.
“I want to introduce someone to you…”
Su Youtian immediately grabbed his hand.
“Bro, I don’t think I’m mentally prepared for this yet. This is way too sudden…”
Shen Haolin reassuringly patted her shoulder and led her forward.
“I guarantee this is someone you’ll really want to meet. You’ll definitely be happy.”
Su Youtian waved her hands frantically.
“No no no, you’re throwing me into a whirlpool of morality and money. My self-control really isn’t that strong…”
Shen Haolin laughed.
“You’re thinking too much. As long as I’m here, nobody will bully you.”
But that’s your father, bro!
The middle-aged man stood up and looked Su Youtian over from head to toe.
“So this is Miss Sheng.”
Su Youtian smiled awkwardly while secretly glancing at his pocket.
If he really pulled out a check, should she offer her left cheek or her right cheek first?
N-No wait, she wasn’t even Shen Haolin’s girlfriend. Why was she overthinking this so much?
Shen Haolin introduced him.
“This is Chen Rui’an, Director Chen.”
Di-Director?
Su Youtian instinctively straightened her posture.
“Hello, Director Chen.”
Chen Rui’an examined her face carefully. Su Youtian felt like a slab of pork being inspected by a customer deciding the best cooking method.
After they sat down, Shen Haolin finally explained the reason for the meeting.
Chen Rui’an was preparing to film a television drama. One of Shen Haolin’s friends had family members among the investors. Shen Haolin had begged them for a long time before finally managing to get Su Youtian inserted into the cast.
Although it was only the fourth female lead role, it was still far better than those extras who struggled day and night for scraps of screen time.
Sitting in her chair, Su Youtian could hardly believe what she was hearing.
Even though she never really wanted to get involved in the entertainment industry, every girl had dreamed of becoming a celebrity at some point. Standing in the center of a stage under countless spotlights, speaking tearfully yet proudly about how hard things had once been, thanking the production crew, thanking the director, thanking the TV stations, thanking CCTV…
“System, I… I’m going to act in a drama!”
【I believe in you. You’re the incarnation of a drama queen already!】
“I… I’m kind of excited!”
Across from her, Chen Rui’an enthusiastically introduced his television drama, practically spraying spit everywhere as he talked.
Su Youtian listened attentively, unable to stop herself from imagining becoming an overnight sensation.
Maybe she’d wear flowing robes and fly through immortal realms on a sword. Or maybe she’d wear a tight office skirt while bustling through a corporate building. Or perhaps she’d glide gracefully through a mansion in an elegant gown…
Oh my god, just imagining it was exciting!
Chen Rui’an sat upright, his face full of passion and seriousness as he talked about his drama.
“Our television series will definitely become the most groundbreaking drama of 2017!”
“Our television series will definitely become a symbol of an era that inspires the nation!”
“Our television series will definitely break through all the vulgar trends and become the leader of the spirit of the times!”
He spoke with such passion that Su Youtian couldn’t help asking curiously:
“D-Director, can I ask what this groundbreaking masterpiece of ours is called?”
Chen Rui’an frowned.
“What, Mr. Shen didn’t tell you?”
Su Youtian shook her head.
Chen Rui’an proudly declared:
“The name of our drama took me and the screenwriter three days and three nights to finalize. Not only industry insiders, even the investors praised it!”
Su Youtian rubbed her hands together.
“So what exactly is it called?”
Chen Rui’an announced:
“Legend of the Anti-Japanese War: The Magical Seven Heroines.”
“You’re playing the fourth sister, Mad Fourth Sister.”
Su Youtian: “…”
Shen Haolin shouted behind her, “Sheng Xia! Sheng Xia, don’t leave!”
Shen Haolin nearly yanked her pants off trying to stop her. Su Youtian dragged him to the side.
“Sorry, but I seriously cannot do this job!”
Shen Haolin said helplessly, “Come on, I begged my friend forever for this opportunity. There are too many people with connections in the entertainment industry nowadays. It’s not easy to squeeze someone in.”
Su Youtian gritted her teeth.
“What if they make me hide grenades in my pants?!”
Shen Haolin: “???”
Su Youtian shook her head weakly.
“Forget it, you wouldn’t understand.”
Sigh, hiding grenades in her pants would already be the better outcome. If they made her tear enemy soldiers apart barehanded, her face would become a meme passed down for generations.
Shen Haolin continued persuading her.
“Sheng Xia, opportunities disappear in an instant. Besides, this is your starting point in the entertainment industry. Once you’ve filmed one project, you won’t have to worry about getting a second one. Stop overthinking it, okay?”
Su Youtian called out to the System in her mind.
“System buddy, why aren’t you saying anything? Hurry up and give me a task so I’ll have a reason to accept this.”
The System said speechlessly:
【This is the first time I’ve ever seen a host actively asking for tasks. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re plotting. You only have three tasks left to complete, I’m not wasting them on meaningless plotlines like this.】
Su Youtian argued righteously:
“How is this meaningless? This is the turning point of Sheng Xia’s life! What about the entertainment industry side plot? Without the side plot, how am I supposed to meet the female lead? And if I don’t meet the female lead, how am I supposed to court death?”
【…Fine. Since you’re being so proactive, I’ll count this as a freebie.
Ding! Please accept Chen Rui’an’s invitation within ten seconds and become the fourth female lead in the television drama.】
Su Youtian immediately relaxed in relief. With a solemn expression, she turned to Shen Haolin.
“I think what you said makes perfect sense. Director Chen, I’ve decided to play this fourth female lead and bring glory to our television drama!”
Chen Rui’an nodded in satisfaction.
“To be honest, since you didn’t enter the crew through formal channels, I originally had some complaints. But after seeing your attitude today, I think your awareness is pretty impressive. Young lady, work hard. Maybe you’ll become famous overnight.”
Su Youtian twitched the corner of her mouth.
There really was a chance she’d become famous because of an actual “explosion.”
After returning home, Su Youtian got the script and practiced every day in front of Tuotuo.
“Surrender, Japanese devils! You can’t escape the palms of us seven sisters!”
After saying that, she smacked Tuotuo right on the belly with her palm.
Tuotuo got tickled and rolled all over the floor.
With a face full of righteous justice, Su Youtian pointed a mop at Tuotuo and made pew pew noises.
“Pretending to be dead is useless! Today I, Mad Fourth Sister, will make sure you never return alive!”
The System could not take it anymore.
【Someone save me…】
“Very good, System. You’ve got the emotional tone down perfectly. I’ve decided to appoint you as Japanese Devil Number Two. You will now rehearse scenes with me unconditionally!”
【Get lost!】
At the filming set, crew members moved props back and forth in an orderly manner.
Yuan Wei stood squeezed among the background extras, staring blankly at the distant cameras.
Chang Lun came over drenched in sweat, clutching a tiny portable fan.
“Yuan Wei! Why are you squeezing in with them? Hurry up and get over here!”
Yuan Wei walked over. Chang Lun immediately threw an arm around his shoulder.
“Man, your body is still cool as ever. How come you barely sweat?”
Yuan Wei tilted his head slightly away from the heat radiating off him.
“I do. Just less.”
What he meant was that he did sweat, only not very much. If you didn’t spend enough time around him, you really wouldn’t understand him.
Chang Lun shook his head.
“You brat, after all these years you’re still the same. Can’t squeeze a fart out of you in three sentences. Anyway, the job I found for you is being a stunt double. It’s difficult, but not overly difficult. If I didn’t know you had some skills, I wouldn’t dare bring you here.”
Yuan Wei nodded.
Watching the martial arts instructor shouting and throwing punches across the set, Chang Lun seriously reminded him:
“I already talked with them. You’re new, so they won’t give you anything too difficult. When you’re doing action scenes, protect yourself as much as possible, got it?”
Yuan Wei appreciated the favor and nodded seriously.
Chang Lun felt gratified and tried to pat his head, only for Yuan Wei to dodge away.
A props assistant walked over carrying a set of clothes while looking around.
“Yuan Wei? Yuan Wei? Who’s Yuan Wei?!”
Chang Lun shouted, “Over here!”
The props assistant smiled slightly when he saw Chang Lun.
“Brother Chang, this is Yuan Wei’s costume. He’s the stunt double for the fourth female lead. The director knows what he’s doing and won’t give him overly difficult moves.”
Chang Lun accepted the costume and patted the assistant on the shoulder.
“Alright, kid, go get busy.”
Then he turned around and shook the clothes open.
“Hey, this color sure is… unique. Try it on first.”
Yuan Wei lifted his eyes for a look.
An entire outfit of bright green.