Even though the fan group had very few members, it was still something worth celebrating to An Juexiao. And since it was happy news, she could not help wanting to share it. She first chatted about it with Gu Keqing, who immediately applied to join the fan group as well. Then she told Gu Zhanran too.
An Juexiao: I have fans too now! There is even a fan group!
An Juexiao: Do you think one day my fan group could expand into a nationwide group, and maybe even provincial branches and overseas groups? Hehehe~
When Gu Zhanran received An Juexiao’s messages, he was on a plane. Looking at her lively, animated texts, he replied with an amused smile,
Gu Zhanran: It will.
After receiving his reply, An Juexiao’s mood immediately brightened.
An Juexiao: These past few days I have been doing posture and deportment training. It is completely closed off, even our phones have to be handed in. Suddenly I feel like being a modern person is really great, not so many rules, and life is convenient and fast.
An Juexiao: Also, now that all the actors have joined the set, those actresses are all so slim, every single one of them, their waists are like willow branches. I finally understand why Sister Xi says I am fat.
An Juexiao: I really am fat QAQ
An Juexiao: I have been eating vegetarian food every day lately and I am about to lose the will to live, but Sister Xi and Maruko can openly eat chips, fried chicken, and milk tea right in front of me!
An Juexiao: Sister Xi is truly wise. Even with a face fit for a female star, she chose to be a manager instead.
Now that An Juexiao had just joined the production, Li Xi, as her manager, naturally had to help smooth out her relationships. During this period, Li Xi took An Juexiao around to build rapport with the film’s producers, director, and lead actors, then flew off again, leaving Zhang Xiaowan to continue accompanying An Juexiao.
An Juexiao: Speaking of which, Nancheng is really hot and humid. I can write down the recipe for that cooling herbal tea for you, you can make it yourself to drink.
Gu Zhanran: I am not in Nancheng. I am on a plane.
An Juexiao: Huh? Can you use your phone on a plane?
The moment she sent it, An Juexiao felt stupid.
An Juexiao: Alright, alright, I get it. Poverty limits my imagination. The world of rich people is probably just different.
Gu Zhanran: You already said everything for me.
An Juexiao froze. She awkwardly rubbed her chin, then looked back over the chat history. Her messages really did seem… pretty many. So many that Gu Zhanran had barely replied a few times while she had already sent an entire basketful.
An Juexiao coughed lightly a few times, then could not help asking Zhang Xiaowan beside her,
“Do I talk too much?”
“Sis, you finally noticed?” Ever since An Juexiao verbally battled the netizens last time, not only stabilizing her reputation but also gaining a batch of fans, Zhang Xiaowan had been completely won over and had started calling her sis.
An Juexiao was an easygoing person and did not fuss over small things. Even though she was younger than Zhang Xiaowan, once Zhang Xiaowan insisted on calling her sis, she simply let her. And so the two of them ended up in the oddly amusing situation of calling each other sis.
An Juexiao: “…”
At this point, An Juexiao still had not realized that the more you care about someone, the more you want to share your joys and sorrows with them. She only felt that she had talked a bit too much and worried that Gu Zhanran might find her annoying.
An Juexiao hesitated in silence for quite a while. Then, when no reply came from her, Gu Zhanran sent another message.
Gu Zhanran: Resting already?
An Juexiao: Mm-hmm. I trained all day, so I am a little tired.
Gu Zhanran: Then get some rest early. Good night.
An Juexiao read and reread Gu Zhanran’s message. When her eyes fell on the words “good night,” she felt a strange trace of melancholy and reluctance to let the conversation end. Thinking about it, she had not seen Gu Zhanran for quite a while.
“Oh, stop staring at your phone.” Zhang Xiaowan pressed down on An Juexiao’s hand. “You have horse-riding practice tomorrow. Go to sleep early and get your energy back.”
“Horse riding?” The listless An Juexiao instantly perked up the moment she heard that. Raising a hand, she cheered, “Finally, I do not have to stay cooped up indoors learning boring posture anymore. Horse riding, just thinking about it sounds fun!”
Zhang Xiaowan pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh. “I think you just do not want to stay indoors and keep getting emotionally damaged by the other actresses’ figures.”
“…” An Juexiao huffed for a while, then argued, “I am only a few centimeters away from my goal too.”
The next day, dressed in riding gear, An Juexiao arrived at the stables on time. Su Lanxue, Peng Chenglang, and the rest of the main cast were already there waiting.
For Song of Tang Fantasy, Director Zhang had boldly chosen young actors to carry the film. When the official cast announcement came out, it sparked quite a bit of discussion. Everyone felt Director Zhang was taking a huge risk, and very few people were optimistic about the move.
But Director Zhang had always been an unconventional man who never cared much about outside opinions, and the film’s preparations continued in an orderly way.
Since the cast was made up mostly of young actors, they all grew familiar with one another within just a few days. Peng Chenglang, in particular, really liked spending time with the straightforward An Juexiao. After chatting more, they discovered they were fellow provincials, which brought them even closer.
“Juexiao!” Peng Chenglang rode over under the guidance of the horse trainer and called out to her, invitingly, “Come on, ride with me. Let your big brother here be your Prince Charming on a white horse.”
Peng Chenglang had acted in a few period dramas before and already had some experience riding, so out of all the actors he picked it up the fastest.
“Juexiao, you had better be careful.” Su Lanxue rode over as well and teased, “If the reporters photograph you riding with him and it gets out, his girlfriend fans will tear you to pieces.”
Peng Chenglang said, “It is not as scary as you make it sound.”
Watching the two of them seated high up on horseback, An Juexiao felt eager to try it herself. She made a face at Peng Chenglang. “I do not want you as my Prince Charming on a white horse. I am going to find my own horse.”
Peng Chenglang clutched his chest dramatically and sighed, “I, the nation’s first-love heartthrob, actually got rejected. My heart hurts so much.”
Both An Juexiao and Su Lanxue burst out laughing at his antics. Once she had finished laughing, An Juexiao hurried off to find the horse trainer.
The trainer was tall and thin. Because he worked outdoors year-round, his skin was tanned dark. Among the crowd of fair-skinned handsome men and beautiful women, he stood out so much that An Juexiao spotted him with no effort at all. He led her over to the stables.
“All these horses have gentle temperaments. Which one do you like?”
An Juexiao looked around and noticed a tall, strong black horse in a stall farther away. Its coat was sleek and glossy, but the most interesting thing was its mane, which was slightly curly.
“That emo horse is kind of hilarious,” An Juexiao said, pointing at it.
The trainer followed the direction of her finger and laughed. “You have a good eye. That one is descended from racehorses. Both its parents have excellent bloodlines and won eight horse-racing championships between them. It was supposed to be a racehorse too, but because its mane is curly, and because it has a bit of a temper, the original owner sold it. Since then it has been kept here.”
“But curly hair is cute,” An Juexiao protested on its behalf. “Sir, can I try riding it?”
“It is not one of the stable’s horses. It belongs to a private owner who boards it here,” the trainer said regretfully. “You should pick another one. That chestnut one is nice, or this yellow one, how about that?”
The trainer recommended several horses in a row, but An Juexiao was not satisfied with any of them. Sometimes affinity was just a strange thing. After circling around for a while, she finally chose a white horse.
The trainer led the horse out. The little curly-haired black horse snorted several times at the white horse, and the white horse shook its head and snorted back in response.
Watching the two horses exchange snorts back and forth, An Juexiao found it fascinating. “Are they talking to each other?”
“Horses are very spiritual animals. These two usually get along very well. Now that Little White is coming out, of course Little Black wants to say hello.” As he adjusted the saddle, the trainer continued, “When you ride, keep the reins tight, and only place about one-third of your foot in the stirrup. Never shove the whole foot in.”
An Juexiao asked curiously, “Why not?”
“If your foot gets stuck in the stirrup, it is easy for something bad to happen.” The trainer gently guided An Juexiao to stand at the horse’s side. “Also, do not stand behind a horse. It could kick by accident. One kick can kill a person.”
An Juexiao nodded with lingering fear and said she understood.
“But you do not need to worry too much. The horses at this stable all have gentle temperaments,” the trainer said, then glanced toward the little curly-haired black horse. “Of course, that one is the exception.”
The curly-haired black horse seemed to understand what the trainer said. It huffed unhappily and snorted several times in protest.
The trainer lowered his voice and said to An Juexiao, “This black horse is really smart. Last time, its owner praised another horse for being pretty right in front of it. It got so angry that it chewed on its owner’s hair, tossed fodder onto the owner’s head, and even bullied that other horse.”
“Hahaha, so it has such a childish temper.” Hearing the horse trainer tell that amusing story, An Juexiao found it especially interesting.
“These horses are basically children,” the trainer said as he held the reins and spoke to An Juexiao. “Come on, get on.”
Only when she walked closer did An Juexiao realize that the horse was even taller than she had imagined. When she stepped onto the stirrup, she had to push up twice before finally getting into the saddle. Seated on the horse’s back, she rode while the trainer led the horse from below and taught her how to apply force, how to control the direction, and other basics.
At first, An Juexiao’s palms were slick with sweat, and even her legs were stiff. Gradually, though, she grew used to the height of the horse. Especially since this Little White really was as obedient as the trainer had said.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, hahaha!”
In the distance came Peng Chenglang’s cheerful laughter.
An Juexiao looked over and saw that Peng Chenglang had already boldly started riding on his own. Su Lanxue was also a quick learner, and there was no longer a trainer by her side either.
Just then, another actor came to find the trainer, so An Juexiao said, “Sir, it is fine. I can manage on my own.”
“Alright then. Hold the reins tight and do not let it run around. If anything happens, call for someone.”
An Juexiao nodded. When the trainer had just left, she really was a little flustered, but she soon realized that the white horse was far calmer than she was. It simply strolled along at an easy pace, and little by little, her heart relaxed as well.
Little White carried An Juexiao along and along, and before long it passed by the stables.
An Juexiao asked in confusion, “Huh, why are you back here?”
Little White bobbed its head up and down and snorted, as if responding to her.
“You cannot be looking for that emo horse, can you?” An Juexiao stroked the white horse’s sturdy mane. As she spoke, she peered into the stables, only to find that the curly-haired emo horse was nowhere to be seen.
“Stop thinking about it. Your emo horse has gone out for a stroll.” An Juexiao patted the horse’s head.
The white horse seemed to understand. Clop, clop, clop, it lifted its hooves and left again.
Author’s note:
No need for me to tell you who the owner of the emo horse is, right? Hehe.