Volume 1 Chapter 24: A Sudden Shift in Style, Letting Loose
As noon approached, everyone had arrived at the gathering point designated by the production team.
However, not everyone was there yet. The first to arrive were the power couple of the film industry, Guo Yuxuan and Xiao Nan.
These two usually maintained a cold and aloof image in public, and they didn’t seem like the type to appear on variety shows. So, everyone was quite curious about why they had agreed to join this program.
When they arrived, they greeted everyone with a somewhat exaggerated politeness.
“Hello, Film Emperor Guo. We meet again.”
Guo Yuxuan nodded repeatedly. “That’s right. I’m already tired of seeing her at home, and now we have to be together on the show too.”
He joked with a smile, and anyone could tell he was subtly bragging about being able to appear on a variety show with his wife, even though he pretended to complain.
Xiao Nan shot him a playful glare, walked over, and pinched his earlobe. “Oh, so you don’t say you’re tired of me at home, but as soon as we’re on the show, you start letting loose, huh?”
The barrage of comments erupted with laughter.
[Hahahahaha, these two are killing me!]
[??? Help! Why are my cold and aloof film emperor and empress acting like this?!]
[To the person above, if you dig into their old videos, you’ll realize they’ve actually toned it down a lot.]
[There’s no such thing as cold and aloof! These two are just a pair of goofballs. Before, their management was too strict, so they didn’t dare act out. Now that they’re free from control, they’ve started letting loose.]
[Thank goodness! If you check their Weibo, even if you go in crying, you’ll come out laughing!]
The two of them didn’t notice the barrage of comments. Instead, they continued bickering, and the audience, never one to miss out on drama, eagerly fueled the fire.
The commotion only ended when the third guest arrived—the rising star, Pucheng.
He rose to fame through a talent show, with a handsome and captivating appearance, especially his vibrant red hair, which exuded confidence and boldness.
His momentum was strong, having debuted as the winner of the talent show and attracting a large fanbase.
When Pucheng arrived, he first offered a shy smile, which contrasted with his flamboyant hair color.
“Hello, seniors,” he said, bowing slightly.
As soon as he appeared, the barrage of comments went wild, unstoppable.
[Aaaaaah, my baby! So well-behaved! Mommy wants to kiss you!]
[Hehe… drooling… Pucheng, my treasure… hehe…]
Some even boldly spoke up.
[I used to be socially awkward, but after meeting Pucheng, he made me socially dead.]
[?????? You’re so weird. By the way, got any more? I’ll steal some. smirking]
The live broadcast screen was displayed right in front of them, so the comments were clearly visible. As soon as Pucheng arrived, the barrage skyrocketed.
Guo Yuxuan couldn’t help but shake his head and sigh. “Ah, I’m really getting old. I can’t attract the young folks anymore.”
Xiao Nan mercilessly added, “You’re finally realizing it. Hurry up and hit the gym when you get back. Even I’m tired of you, let alone those young girls.”
Guo Yuxuan: “…” He looked utterly defeated.
After saying that, she turned to talk to Pucheng, completely ignoring him.
The barrage was flooded with laughter once again.
Next to arrive was the talented actor Cheng Ju. He spoke very little and had a somewhat reserved and shy demeanor. He seemed a bit nervous, which was understandable since it was his first time on a variety show.
After greeting the other guests, he quietly took a seat on a chair.
The meeting spot already had several stools set up. Song Jingmian received the notification that it was time to head over.
Song Jingmian felt a bit nervous inside, but she had mentally prepared herself before coming. Plus, having acted in so many dramas in her past life, her courage had grown considerably.
Led by a staff member, she arrived at the large tent the production team had set up.
Upon arriving, she realized several people were already there.
The atmosphere was lively, mainly due to the banter between the Best Actor and Best Actress. Pucheng seemed to have blended in with them, joining in the conversation as well.
Only Cheng Ju, standing to the side, occasionally chimed in with a few words.
As she approached, the sharp-eyed Xiao Nan spotted her.
At that moment, the two were still bickering.
When Xiao Nan saw her, her eyes lit up, and a smile curved her lips.
The woman who had just been fierce now wore a gentle expression.
Guo Yuxuan had his back to her, so he couldn’t see the person behind him. Frowning at Xiao Nan’s sudden change, he asked, “Huh? What’s wrong with you? Having a fit?”
Her sudden smile made Guo Yuxuan’s face twitch. Before he could ask further, Xiao Nan loudly called out her name.
“Jingmian’s here?!”
Her tone was filled with barely concealed excitement.
Hearing this, everyone turned to look.
A girl with a bright smile was glancing their way, her eyes meeting theirs.
She wore a light green dress, her skin exceptionally fair, glowing under the sunlight. Notably, she had a dimple at the corner of her mouth, making her smile especially sweet.
For a moment, the group seemed to erupt.
“Wow!!”
Most of them didn’t know Song Jingmian well, but the supporting female role she played at sixteen was many people’s cherished memory. They were also aware of the recent events involving her.
Having seen her on screen for so many years, everyone was particularly welcoming toward her.
Especially Xiao Nan, who had played the lead female role in that film, while Song Jingmian had portrayed her younger self.
Walking up to her, Song Jingmian smiled warmly and called out, “Sister Nan.”
It was their first meeting in many years. Even the usually composed Xiao Nan couldn’t help but tear up at the familiar address.
“Ah, Mianmian.”
When Xiao Nan had acted alongside Song Jingmian back then, she had taken an immediate liking to the young girl. She was lively and adorable, yet when portraying her teenage years, she conveyed a sense of despondency and melancholy.
Xiao Nan had admired her, thinking it remarkable for a first-time actress to achieve such depth.
Later, she learned that Song Jingmian was an orphan. When she was very young, she had been kidnapped. During the abduction, the kidnappers had been involved in a car accident, though fortunately, it wasn’t too severe.
However, when she woke up, she remembered nothing. The doctors later explained that the impact had damaged her memory. She was only six at the time, but she knew she had been taken by traffickers.
When she regained consciousness, her hands and feet were bound.
The car was wrecked, but the traffickers always found ways to move her. At the time, she was taken to a small town, where they disguised themselves as her parents to board a bus and leave.
Fortunately, on the way, they encountered the director of the orphanage returning to her hometown. Sensing something amiss, the director intervened, and Song Jingmian was freed.
But there was one key detail she hadn’t mentioned: it seemed there had been a little boy kidnapped alongside her back then…
Why did it seem familiar? In truth, she wasn’t sure. After the car accident, she had forgotten many things, but she vaguely remembered a boy who had been abducted with her.
It was just a pity—she didn’t even know his name, and even his face had grown hazy in her memory.
Xiao Nan felt a pang of sorrow. She hadn’t expected that this usually carefree girl had gone through such experiences, and she couldn’t help but sigh.
No wonder, when she acted in this film, that intensity and emotion within her were expressed so thoroughly.
Pulling her thoughts back, Xiao Nan looked at the girl who had now grown up, feeling deeply gratified.