Two weeks later, on the set of “Dragon Sparrow.”
Selena had finished her makeup and had been waiting in her private dressing room. Her personal makeup artist and two assistants sat nearby, browsing the web with her, trying to pass the time.
In the future world, the internet was more user-friendly. Everyone had a wristband they wore from birth, displaying personal information and identity codes. These wristbands also allowed internet access and communication.
However, the wristband’s screen was relatively small, mainly used for basic internet functions. Most people used mobile holographic screens, which were more versatile and user-friendly, capable of displaying three-dimensional holographic images with clearer and more complete visuals.
Selena checked real-time entertainment news but didn’t find any explosive headlines. She then opened her social media profile on FW and asked her assistant to take a photo, which she uploaded with a caption: “First scene of the shoot today. Hope everything goes smoothly! #Nervous #Excited.”
After sending the post, Selena waited for a response. Within seconds, her post received numerous comments. Most were from her fans, offering words of encouragement. Some eagle-eyed fans noticed the details and asked, “Why is the nervous emoji? Is our goddess going to have a scene with a god today?! The first scene?!”
Selena saw these responses and smiled satisfactorily. She was quite savvy in keeping her audience engaged and raising their curiosity. Although she didn’t win Zhang Kai’s show last time, she now had a movie in her hands where she was starring alongside Arnold himself as the female lead.
She understood the value of this opportunity and planned to make the most of it. She wanted to use this movie with Arnold to boost her career to new heights.
After the comment related to Arnold came out, the subsequent reactions were positive. Many fans began screaming and calling him a god. Comments flooded in with enthusiasm, and people eagerly requested Selena to post a photo of Arnold, so they could virtually “lick” their screens. The comment count and likes rapidly increased.
Selena brought her own makeup artist today. The makeup artist, seeing Selena’s post, envied her and said, “You must be earning quite a bit from the flower count on FW, right?” On FW, liking posts using flowers required payment, so flowers equated to real money. Many celebrities were willing to activate FW for this reason.
Selena shrugged, neither confirming nor denying. However, her facial expression revealed her current mood. Even though it was only the first day on set, she had yet to meet Arnold. Nevertheless, she could already imagine the reactions after this film aired. She was the female lead, and she was certain she would become even more famous!
Selena stood up and stretched. The two assistants, not willing to sit and play, stood up obediently, waiting for instructions. Selena had a high-profile reputation in private, especially when she was in front of her agent. She turned around, feeling somewhat bored, and asked, “Why is it so quiet outside?”
Although it was a dedicated dressing room, the soundproofing wasn’t great. However, today it was strangely quiet. Hearing Selena’s question, one of the assistants approached the door to check the situation. The makeup artist, who had been ignored by the big star earlier, spoke up hesitantly, “It’s nothing. Just an Asian newcomer.”
An Asian newcomer? Selena and her assistants exchanged glances. However, Selena, who had attended the exchange meeting, couldn’t ignore the meaning behind those words.
This information has spread like wildfire in the entertainment industry recently. A pure-blooded, stunningly beautiful Asian with a perfect Oriental face, mesmerizing promotional photos, and the backing of an experienced agent like Jian Anning. You are reading on novelping.com, the official source.
When Selena heard “Asian newcomer,” the first face that came to her mind was that newcomer’s. She found it hard to believe. Could that newcomer have landed a role in a high-level film like “Dragon Sparrow” right away?
In her heart, Selena instinctively wanted to deny it, believing it was impossible. But when she thought about the newcomer’s company and agent, she couldn’t completely dismiss the possibility. She decided to go and see for herself.
As she opened the door, she was greeted by an empty corridor. There was no one in sight, just a couple of crew members passing by. Selena brightened up and asked, “Where are the crew members?”
One of the men hesitated before pointing forward. “Oh, Arnold is here.”
Selena smiled, relieved. She had known it all along. It couldn’t possibly be that newcomer.
In the dressing room, Xie Ze was practically surrounded by people, and Jian Anning was on the verge of going crazy!
“Back off, back off! Don’t cross this line! He’s still getting his makeup done!” Jian Anning was like a protective mother hen, with a surprisingly assertive tone. She pointed at several people and added, “If you take photos, keep them to yourselves, don’t post them online!! It’s confidential! Got it?”
However, nobody paid attention to this protective mother hen because everyone’s attention was fixed on Xie Ze, who had changed into his costume and was in the process of getting his makeup done.
The film “Dragon Sparrow” was set in the space-age calendar, against the backdrop of the famous “Gene Wars.” It told the story of a mercenary who went on the run to protect the “Dragon Sparrow,” a gene of the reverse-type. In this story, Xie Ze played “Ael,” who was the son of the mercenary who had entrusted the “Dragon Sparrow” to the mercenary and also entrusted his life to the mercenary’s leader, Jo.
In this story, “Ael” was a physically weak but emotionally rich and infectiously positive young boy. So, ever since he accepted this role, Xie Ze had embarked on the arduous journey of weight loss.
To make a fresh impression during the exchange meeting, Xie Ze had spent hours in the gym every day. But now, he had to portray a “physically weak” teenager, so he had to starve himself at home, depriving his body of protein. He ate a bit of vegetables in the morning and then starved himself, without any exercise. He lay on his bed every day, occasionally getting up to drink water. He had endured this for a full two weeks, all to reach this day.
After starving for two weeks, he had lost his energy. His body had become weaker, and the small muscles he had worked so hard to build were gone. When he walked with Jian Anning to the film set, he felt lightheaded and fragile, as if he could float away with a gust of wind. Xie Ze had suffered immensely. This chapter was taken from novelping . com without permission.
However, who could have imagined that in his current state, he would be particularly pitiable and lovable in the eyes of others!
If Xie Ze used to give off the impression of an energetic and sensible young man, now he had completely transformed into a weak and adorable boy. His skin was pale, and his face looked thinner. Beneath his white shirt, he had a slender frame. Yet, he possessed an incredibly rare pure Oriental face. His eyes were big and bright, and when he looked at people, he blinked innocently.
How could his black pupils be so enchanting? Did he have his eyeliner and black contact lenses naturally? Ahhh!
Xie Ze had no idea how he appeared to others at the moment. He was genuinely exhausted from two weeks of starvation. When he had applied a bit of nutritional supplement earlier today to maintain his energy, he looked at himself in the mirror and felt like a frail chick. However, in the eyes of others, this chick was a tender, adorable bunny! And he had naturally applied eyeliner and black contact lenses!
The entire film crew was in an uproar! Ahhh! Was this the Asian newcomer who had been rumored? Ahhh! Why did he look so fragile? Come to your big sister’s embrace!! Big sister will take good care of you!
Asians were quite rare in the entertainment industry, and in most cases, anyone with Asian heritage who entered the entertainment industry received a green light. Moreover, Xie Ze, with his face that clearly stated, “My bloodline is pure,” was even more exceptional.
The film crew had yet to officially start working, but a group of people had already gathered outside Xie Ze’s dressing room. After he finished changing, he pushed the door open and was nearly blinded by the flashing cameras. In today’s first scene, he wore a camouflage outfit, with deep green contrasting sharply with his fair skin. The color contrast accentuated his somewhat fragile demeanor, so when he stepped out, he was immediately surrounded by a crowd of screaming fans.
To be honest, Xie Ze was actually enjoying the treatment he was receiving as an Asian actor now. He knew that back then, Asians in Hollywood had a tough time, but now with these storylines that seemed to have a Midas touch, he felt deeply touched, even though he was too exhausted to cry. Instead, he managed to muster a smile and send it to everyone.
Jian Anning had cleared a path for him with great difficulty, but they still hadn’t made it out of the dressing room. She finally shouted, “We still need to get the makeup done! We’re running out of time!”
The people in the front rows, who were squished together, were recording videos and taking photos with their mobile screens. They shouted back, “Makeup artist?? Makeup artist! Quick, call the makeup artist over!”
One of the women shouted back, putting her mobile screen away, “Damn it! I am the makeup artist!!” She was met with envious glares from the people around her.
Xie Ze really had no strength at the moment. In reality, he didn’t need to starve himself into this state. However, Tom knew that Xie Ze had been dieting for the movie, and today he had to shoot all of El’s weakest scenes to ensure the authenticity of the storyline. So, he had insisted that Xie Ze come to set today in his most vulnerable state.