Mu Xuefei tried hard to recall the plot of the script before she remembered the only crying scene of the cannon-fodder supporting actress, Shui Yu.
The novel was titled Tales of the Great Qing Dynasty, a relatively popular ancient time-travel novel with a background similar to the isolationist Qing Dynasty. It told the story of campus belle Bai Lan, who accidentally got into a car accident and then traveled back in time to the Qing Dynasty, becoming the unloved legitimate daughter of the prime minister’s household. Once in ancient times, she used modern knowledge to dress as a man and open inns, restaurants, and brothels. Being clearly different from ancient women, the female lead made various outstanding men fall in love with her.
Because of some advanced ideas, she caught the attention of her fiancé, Zhao Anlan, who was disguised as a good-for-nothing prince. The two of them hit it off like fire and dry tinder, developing mutual affection during their daily interactions.
At that time, the emperor was foolish, lustful, and had no sons at all. When his body was eventually hollowed out, the emperor’s only younger brother, Zhao Anlan, inherited the throne, and the female lead was also made empress. Zhao Anlan took only a single ladle from a river of three thousand, and the two of them even became a historical romance tale for later generations.
After Zhao Anlan ascended the throne, she continuously suggested developing agriculture and maritime industries, strengthening military power, opening up the country’s borders to develop international relations, lifting the isolationist policy, and so on, changing the historical trajectory that the Qing Dynasty should have followed.
In the novel, aside from large portions of descriptions regarding the female lead’s struggles, there was also a fair amount of content concerning the romantic entanglements between the female lead and the male lead. The role of Shui Yu, the cannon-fodder supporting actress, existed solely to push the relationship between the two further.
Shui Yu lost her parents at a young age, was adopted by the Zhao household’s secret guards, and was then chosen by Zhao Anlan to be a secret guard. She was later planted by Zhao Anlan inside a demonic cult to gather news about the martial arts world and report people or matters endangering the imperial court back to Zhao Anlan.
However, Shui Yu’s biggest mistake was developing romantic feelings for Zhao Anlan and letting this admiration be discovered by the female lead.
In the script, Shui Yu understood that she shouldn’t have this kind of feeling. Therefore, when she was sent by Zhao Anlan to protect Bai Lan, even though she knew Zhao Anlan paid excessive attention to Bai Lan and even fell in love with her, she never let the jealousy born from this admiration affect her mission, still conscientiously protecting the female lead.
Yet she didn’t care, while the female lead cared that her man was being coveted by someone else. Although the female lead didn’t show it on the surface, secretly she disliked the women around Zhao Anlan, especially those who liked him.
Consequently, when Bai Lan was ambushed on the outskirts of town, she used the excuse of being unable to block the attack to implicate Shui Yu and get her injured. Even though Shui Yu knew, remembering Zhao Anlan’s instructions, she let the female lead leave first and stayed behind alone to cover the rear.
By the time she gritted her teeth and killed all the enemies, she couldn’t hold on any longer. Due to her severe injuries, and because the female lead deliberately delayed a little time to punish her, she ultimately died.
They say that before a person dies, they recall their most beautiful moment. She remembered the day she was brought to the Zhao household by the secret guards and chosen by Zhao Anlan to be a secret guard.
“What is your name?”
“Shui Yu.”
“Starting today, you are my secret guard.”
In the sunlight, Zhao Anlan’s eyes seemed to reflect only her alone—that place was her entire world.
“Drip—” As a tear slid down her cheek, Shui Yu’s eyes slowly closed, and the hand clutching the wound at her abdomen also slowly slid down.
One could tell from the script that Shui Yu’s character was very lovable. Even though she only had around ten-odd appearances, she played a very important role in the entire plot, and this kind of silently devoted love would definitely win over the audience.
“Miss Mu, do you have any questions?” Looking at the complex expression on Mu Xuefei’s face, the person in charge seemed oblivious to how difficult that crying scene was to act well, speaking up again, “If there are questions, then let’s move to the next person.”
“No, I was just thinking about the plot.” Mu Xuefei smiled apologetically, hurriedly signaling that she was ready.
Mu Xuefei lay prone on the dance studio’s wooden floor, clutching her abdomen as if holding onto some wound.
At that time, having never waited for Bai Lan to bring people for rescue, what was Shui Yu’s feeling?
She understood that the female lead had a problem with her, she just didn’t expect the other person to actually have murderous intent. Yet, Shui Yu was cold by nature; even knowing she died because Bai Lan didn’t bring people in time to rescue her, she probably wouldn’t feel hatred, but rather regret—that she could no longer see the man who caused ripples in her heart, nor the cult leader who had warned her not to approach Zhao Anlan.
If there is an afterlife, I hope to stay far away from the lord, never see, never know, and thus… never love.
Finally, silently finishing her lines in her heart according to the script, Mu Xuefei slowly closed her eyes, the corners of her lips curling up as if thinking of something satisfying, except that streams of tears slipped from her closed outer eye corners.
The five people inside the room didn’t recover for a long time. It wasn’t until Mu Xuefei stood up upon hearing no one call a halt that their thoughts were pulled back.
“Cough, cough, go back and wait quietly for the good news. When the results come out, we’ll notify you.”
“Sorry to trouble you.” Seeing the four people’s satisfied expressions and the unwillingness hidden deep in Bai Tiantian’s eyes, Mu Xuefei had her own calculations in mind.
“Hold on,” just as she wanted to leave, she was suddenly called back. “There was still something missing in your eyes just now, do you know?”
Something missing? Mu Xuefei was puzzled. Looking at the elderly person who spoke, she asked, “What emotion did I miss?”
“It’s not this.” The elderly person smiled and stroked his beard, not explaining directly, “It’s better to discover this kind of thing for yourself. Go call the next person.”
Mu Xuefei: “…”
Although curious, since she didn’t get an answer, she could only push it aside, pull open the door, and walk out together with the person in charge. At a glance, she spotted Yun Yongjun leaning against the wall with her eyes closed to rest. She hurriedly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and walked over toward the other person.
Of course, she didn’t have the skill to cry on command; she had simply pinched her own thighs hard in a spot where they wouldn’t notice. Now, accidentally touching the pinched area, it stung slightly—it was probably bruised purple by now.
“How was it?”
The moment Mu Xuefei approached, Yun Yongjun opened her eyes, swept a glance over her, and then let her gaze linger on her eyes, “You cried?”
“I happened to draw a crying scene.” Although the crying scene was the moment where Shui Yu was most heartbreaking throughout the novel, it wasn’t easy to express so many emotions at once, so it could also be said to be the most difficult scene among all of Shui Yu’s parts.
“A crying scene?” Yun Yongjun frowned, her tone a lot colder, “It’s just a minor role, why is it necessary to test this?”
“Most likely Bai…”
“Don’t think you’re done just because you smoothly acted your way through.” Just as Mu Xuefei intended to voice her guess, Bai Tiantian’s baby voice came from behind her once more.
“I never thought I was done for.” For Bai Tiantian, who was always lingering like a ghost, Mu Xuefei also felt helpless. Why was this person holding such a grudge just because of a bump?
“Hmph, I hope you don’t cry when you leave the crew later.” Bai Tiantian had long since known about Mu Xuefei’s sharp tongue, so after falling short, she planned to leave.
“Wait a moment.” Yun Yongjun suddenly spoke up, walking toward Bai Tiantian’s direction, bending down to lean close to her, “Miss Bai, are you playing the female lead for this script?”
Bai Tiantian subconsciously gave Mu Xuefei a cold look and, finding the other person frowning, felt happy in her heart, so she nodded at Yun Yongjun. Thinking Yun Yongjun intended to get close to her, she hurriedly said with a smile, “Miss Yun, I’m your fan…”
Who knew that once Yun Yongjun got her answer, she turned around and left, ignoring her delighted expression.
“What’s wrong?” As soon as Yun Yongjun returned to her side, Mu Xuefei spoke up, complex thoughts flashing in her eyes.
“Nothing, just asking about something.” Yun Yongjun unnoticeably glanced at the person opposite her for a moment before speaking with a smile, “Just asking if she’s the female lead, that’s all.”
Just that simple? Mu Xuefei looked puzzled, and wanted to ask further, but was interrupted by the knocking sound of a staff member, forcing her to swallow her words back down.
After that, the two of them concentrated on eating, and until they left the restaurant, Mu Xuefei never managed to ask.
When the two of them returned home and prepared to separate, Yun Yongjun suddenly grabbed Mu Xuefei’s wrist, raised a hand to flick the center of her brow, and then, amidst the other person’s puzzled gaze, reached out to gently rub the spot she had just flicked. Her lips refused to straighten out no matter what, “Don’t think too much, you won’t be able to sleep.”
“Goodnight then.” After rubbing for a moment, she finally let go and entered the adjacent room.
Left standing in place, Mu Xuefei subconsciously touched the center of her brow, her expression suddenly relaxing, a flash of pleasure crossing her eyes as her lips parted softly, “Goodnight.”
Perhaps due to Yun Yongjun’s effect, she didn’t have any more strange dreams, but instead slept peacefully through the night until dawn.