An Juexiao did not expect Gu Zhanran to take it so seriously.
But if he wanted to listen, then she would read. To be precise, Gu Zhanran could be considered half her patron and boss.
An Juexiao was quite professional. Worried that Gu Zhanran might be confused by the lines, she first sent a voice message summarizing the story of “Three Realms,” and specifically explained the background of the character Witch Qing. Only then did she select a passage of lines and read them to him.
These lines were from Witch Qing’s final scene, also the most emotionally complex part.
After her younger sister died tragically, she slaughtered the heartless man who had betrayed her sister along with his entire family. With countless lives stained on her hands, she fell deeper into demonic corruption and became a sharp blade in the hands of the main villain. Later, she died during the campaign in which the male lead led the forces of justice to besiege the villain. This particular scene was her confrontation with the male lead and the righteous faction.
“I have never done anything wrong! The one at fault is that scumbag…”
An Juexiao sent two voice messages to Gu Zhanran, both delivering the same line but with different emotions.
An Juexiao: Which one do you think is better? The first is disdain and contempt, the second is hatred and sorrow.
As An Juexiao thought it through, Witch Qing discovered she had a younger sister who had grown up within the righteous sect. At first, she felt jealousy and even looked down on her sister’s naive innocence, yet after her sister was abandoned and died miserably because of a scumbag, she chose to avenge her.
She hated the villain who had dragged her into darkness, yet at the same time felt gratitude for his upbringing. She despised the hypocrisy of the righteous, yet when she infiltrated the male lead’s camp, she could not help but feel a sense of attachment.
An Juexiao: Witch Qing changes too much before and after, she is full of contradictions. The emotions I expressed feel a bit thin, like something is missing. I still lack a thread to connect her transformation.
Gu Lucky Star: Those who live in darkness yearn even more for the light, especially if they have once seen it.
An Juexiao felt as if Gu Zhanran’s words had awakened her from a dream. She quickly reorganized her understanding of Witch Qing.
When Witch Qing discovered that her sister lived in the light, surrounded by the care of her senior brothers, she felt both jealousy and envy.
She disguised herself as her sister and infiltrated the male lead’s camp. Although it was merely to complete the task assigned by the villain, during the mission she experienced the joy of living under the sunlight.
She could not betray the villain who had raised her, so unconsciously she treated her sister as another version of herself in this world. She hoped her sister could live well, as if that meant she herself could also live well.
But in the end, the scumbag caused her sister’s death. That was not just her sister, it was also her light of hope. She fell into complete despair, and so she personally killed the scumbag.
After sorting out Witch Qing’s motivations, An Juexiao read the lines again. This time, she was very satisfied.
Gu Zhanran: Your emotional transitions are very quick, and your handling of details is also very good.
An Juexiao: If you put yourself in her shoes, the poorer you are, the more you long for money. Isn’t that a mix of love and hate, tossing and turning in heartbreaking despair? [crying]
Gu Zhanran: …
The next day, An Juexiao woke up early and happened to run into Xin Yan when leaving the hotel.
Xin Yan had already received news that An Juexiao had returned to the production. Later, she heard that An Juexiao was staying in a luxury suite, receiving the same treatment as the male and female leads. She had been so angry she could not sleep all night, and her eyes were still slightly swollen.
“You act all proud like some pure lotus rising from the mud, but in the end you are just clinging to a powerful backer and shamelessly coming back.”
An Juexiao glanced at her and replied confidently, “Since you know I have a powerful backer, then don’t provoke me, otherwise be careful, I might go whining to my big boss and have all your scenes cut out.”
Of course, An Juexiao would never actually go whining. She was just trying to scare Xin Yan, and unfortunately for Xin Yan, she believed it.
And it was not entirely unreasonable for her to believe it. After all, An Juexiao really had returned. Before figuring out who her backer was, Xin Yan did not dare to clash with her like before.
Xin Yan shot her an unwilling glare and stormed off in frustration.
When An Juexiao arrived on set, perhaps because of the favor of recommendation, she grew closer to Li Lingyin. Although she already knew her return was not entirely due to Li Lingyin, there was still some help involved, so she remained grateful.
Li Lingyin asked, “I heard you argued with Xin Yan this morning?”
An Juexiao, who was memorizing her lines, paused in surprise.
“Gossip in the crew spreads faster than airplanes.” Li Lingyin winked at her.
An Juexiao pressed her lips together. “She was the one who started it.”
“With your straightforward personality, you will easily offend people in this industry,” Li Lingyin said. Although she spoke that way, she actually felt quite pleased. Bringing An Juexiao back had been the right move. All morning, Xin Yan had been as quiet as a chicken.
“I don’t provoke others unless they provoke me.”
“And that backer you bragged about…”
“Ahem, I made that up, just to scare her.”
Li Lingyin curved her red lips, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes as she smiled. “You really dare to spout nonsense.”
With just a few exchanges, she had already figured out An Juexiao’s background. With no real backing, she felt at ease.
After staying with the crew for a few days, An Juexiao felt as if a door to a new world had opened. Every day, aside from memorizing lines, she would chat with Gu Zhanran about interesting happenings on set, or in other words, report her daily work.
For example, on her first day of filming, she was a bit nervous and had three NG takes, but overall her performance was good and the director was satisfied.
Gu Zhanran: Too formal.
So An Juexiao obediently adjusted her tone.
An Juexiao: The male lead’s fans came to visit the set again today, and they brought lots of delicious food!
An Juexiao: The other actresses were all very polite, they just took a bite and let me have the rest. I’m so full today I keep burping.
Gu Zhanran: They are not being polite, they are afraid of gaining weight.
An Juexiao: …
Their conversations continued like elementary school diary entries, growing more familiar and lively, never missing a day.
One day, An Juexiao was injured while filming a wire stunt. When she fell from a height, she was completely dazed and was immediately carried back to the hotel to rest. Over the next few days, she focused on recovering and did not chat with Gu Zhanran.
That day, she was lying on the soft bed reading her lines when the doorbell suddenly rang.
She looked through the peephole and saw someone who surprised her standing outside. She opened the door and asked in astonishment, “President Gu, what are you doing here?”
Gu Zhanran looked travel-worn, as if he had just gotten off a plane and rushed straight to the hotel. He looked An Juexiao over, seeing that she was completely unharmed, and revealed an expression even more surprised than hers. “I heard your fall was quite serious…” He had come to visit her.
As he spoke, he stopped mid-sentence, because An Juexiao was holding a script in one hand and spicy strips in the other, lounging leisurely, not looking like someone seriously injured at all.
Hearing why he came, An Juexiao suddenly felt a warmth in her heart. She reassured him, “It’s just a minor injury, nothing serious.”
As if to put him more at ease, she even struck a pose. “The stunt director just taught me a new move, want me to perform it for you?”
Before she could finish, Gu Zhanran pressed a hand onto her shoulder, his dark eyes fixed deeply on her.
“It’s good that you’re fine.”
His expression was so serious that it made An Juexiao feel a little embarrassed. She murmured, “President Gu, you came all this way just for this…”
“I was already coming to discuss business, I just moved up the schedule a bit after hearing you were injured.”
“Oh! And you still managed to get a plane ticket, you’re pretty lucky. Tickets to the film studio city are really hard to get!”
After all, with so many productions and stars gathering there, flights to the studio city were in extremely high demand.
“A plane ticket? No,” Gu Zhanran said. “I came by private jet.”
“…………” An Juexiao felt like her eyes must have been covered in dirt to have thought he looked travel-worn.
The shock of wealth left her momentarily speechless. After a long pause, she foolishly asked the most universal question, “Have you eaten?”
“Not yet. Let’s go.” Gu Zhanran smiled faintly, his eyes like stars.
At this point, An Juexiao was still quite naive. She actually believed him, and boldly decided to play the host and treat him to a meal.
Only much later, after she had taken Gu Zhanran’s private jet herself, did she learn that it had not only a chef, but also a mini cinema, a massage bathtub, and a luxurious bed.
“Wait for me a moment.” An Juexiao left the door slightly ajar and went inside to change clothes.
Before going out, a girl always needed to tidy herself up a bit.
Gu Zhanran waited politely outside. Suddenly, voices came from the stairway corner.
“That An Juexiao really thinks she’s above everyone, always bragging about having a powerful backer, acting like no one is worth her attention.”
“Shh, keep your voice down, don’t let people think we’re gossiping.”
“Sister Xin, I’m just telling the truth, how is that gossip?”
“Alright, some things are better left unsaid.” Xin Yan pretended to calm her assistant, then stepped out from the corner. When she saw Gu Zhanran, she looked embarrassed and flustered. “President Gu, what a coincidence.”
Gu Zhanran frowned slightly, his cold eyes looking at her indifferently.
An Juexiao suddenly poked her head out through the door gap and fired back, “What coincidence? Didn’t you deliberately pass by and talk so loudly that the whole floor could hear your gossip?”
“With mouths like loudspeakers, chattering nonstop, afraid no one would hear, and you still have the nerve to say keep it down?” An Juexiao mocked. “Do you even know how to write the word ‘quiet’?”
Xin Yan and her assistant flushed red with anger. Xin Yan glanced at Gu Zhanran’s expression, which remained calm and unreadable. Unable to gauge his thoughts, she could only leave in embarrassment.
After Xin Yan left, An Juexiao, who had just been like an angry cat with raised fur, instantly deflated. She touched her cheek awkwardly and looked at Gu Zhanran. “I swear, I only said it once.”
“Once?” Gu Zhanran raised an eyebrow.
“I, I just said you were my big backer brother, and that was only to annoy Xin Yan. I didn’t use your name to bully anyone.”
Hearing her not deny it but honestly admit it, even emphasizing it was only once, Gu Zhanran curved his lips in a faint smile. “Actually, ‘big backer brother’ sounds quite nice.”
“???” An Juexiao was completely baffled.
Nice?
He disliked being called boss, yet liked being called big backer brother?
Gu Zhanran’s taste was truly… exceptionally unique.