Chapter 153: Bianji in a Grey Frock
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
Qin Guan picked several primary books on Buddhism and some buddhist stories. He had no intention of becoming a monk. Bianji was focused on having intercourse with a princess in the play after all.
There was an accomplished martial artist at his college, Mou Xiaoliu. According to Huang Jiajia, Mou was the student of a master who engaged in Xing Yi Fist. Learning a little from her would have to be enough.
When Qin Guan appeared at the door of Mou Xiaoliu's classroom, even the tutor could not control the students. They all started screaming.
The tutor had taught Qin Guan the year before. She waved at him to go away, shouting, "Qin Guan, you troublemaker! Stay away from my class! There are still ten minutes left!"
During the last ten minutes, Mou was completely distracted. She couldn't hear what the tutor was saying. All she remembered was Qin Guan gesturing at her that he would be waiting for her outside.
As soon as the bell rang, Mou ran out of the classroom with her bag without telling her friend.
Qin Guan smiled at the girl with puppy eyes. "Could you help me, Mou Xiaoliu? Are you good at fist fighting? Could you teach me? I'll pay you!"
Mou nodded. "No problem. I'll do it for free!"
Qin Guan didn't listen to her. He would be taking up as much of her time as a part-time job, so he had to compensate her. Mou asked Qin Guan seriously, "Do you want to formally acknowledge someone as your master?"
Qin Guan shook his head. "I just want to learn some fixed patterns. The basic skills are not important to me."
It would be simple. Without any further questions, Mou made a short introduction in a clearing of trees.
"I am a student of Xing Yi Fist. My ancestor had Li Cunyi as his master, and he inherited the Big Frame School in Hebei Province. The basic techniques of Xing Yi Fist are three body stances, five fist patterns, and twelve shapes. I have to prepare for our lessons. We can start this weekend. Is that alright?"
Qin Guan nodded happily.
At Teacher Rong's command, Sister Xue had made several Tang suits for him, including a kung fu costume, which had cost her a lot.
If I practice martial arts on the tree path at the Fayuan Temple in that costume, I might turn into Buddha on the spot.
Several days later, Qin Guan picked up Mou in his Cherokee to go meet Sister Xue. Their expenditure was supervised by Sister Xue, but Qin Guan also majored in accounting, so the extra money for tuition had to be considered a reasonable expense. His agent had to approve of his teacher though.
Qin Guan took Mou to Professor Li's hall. At the beginning, Sister Xue seemed doubtful because of Mou's age, but Mou shocked her by showing them the first fighting pattern.
She demonstrated a series of fist movements before them. Her moves were simple yet practical, performed with irresistible force.
Mou finished her performance and waited for praise with shining eyes. Itching to try, Qin Guan said, "It's my turn!"
He imitated Mou's performance almost perfectly, which shocked both Sister Xue and Mou. Although Qin had just copied the pattern, not her force, it was still enough for the film. Sister Xue felt assured. Qin Guan was thinking about his gift of extraordinary retentive memory, which was usually more practical in memorizing documents.
He could copy the simple movements, but he was still inferior compared to students who had been practising for a long time.
Still, Qin Guan was getting better and better at Xing Yi Fist. Sister Xue was quite satisfied with Mou. She was a very hardworking, simple girl.
She proposed that Mou become Qin Guan's temporary assistant during the summer holidays, and Mou accepted with extreme pleasure. Qin Guan didn't even express an opinion.
Mou would have to find a part-time job in the summer anyway. What would be better than staying close to her prince? They made the decision right before it was time for Qin Guan to audition for "Romance During the Tang Dynasty."
It was the final audition before shooting started. Actually, the actors had basically been selected, but because of the promotion of Li Shaohong, the assistant director of "Romance During the Tang Dynasty" had decided to give Qin Guan a chance to try for the role of Bianji.
The crew had taken advantage of the props from the "Daming Palace", saving a large amount of money, so it made sense that they give him a chance to audition.
Qin Guan was wearing a green Tang suit with loose cuffs and trouser legs. The suit looked like a frock from a distance, and in combination with his short haircut, he looked almost like a real monk.
He put his palms together devoutly and greeted the assistant director, who recognized the extreme beauty of suppressing sensual passion.
He was the one in charge of the casting. Excited, he took Qin Guan to Director Gong and the head scriptwriter, who were explaining the plot to a handsome young man with fake eyelashes.
The assistant director didn't think much of him. There were many actors there for the audition after all. He pushed Qin Guan toward Director Gong and said, "This is Qin Guan. He was recommended by Director Li. Isn't he more handsome than the others?"
The director had originally thought that the young man standing before him was a cute boy, but compared to Qin Guan, Nie Jin looked like an inferior being.
The scriptwriter looked cheered up. The romance was obviously fabricated, unofficial history focusing on love and legends. Bianji, who had been a nobody in history, was the main character of his script.
The role had to be interpreted three times, during three periods of the man's life, childhood, adolescence, and youth. Qin Guan was the most devout and refined actor he had seen for the part.
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Chapter 154: Success and Failure
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
Qin Guan looked up as a breeze went through the lower hem of his frock. He moved gracefully, in the style of a scholar. A light smell of sandalwood surrounded him.
The director and scriptwriter were both shocked. The most surprised one was Nie Jin though, who was trying out for the role.
Although he had graduated from the Shanghai Theatre Academy, he hadn't gotten a chance to star in any decent TV plays. The scriptwriter had made changes to the story and made Bianji the main character.
The unknown handsome young man would be his rival for the part. Director Gong seemed to appreciate him very much.
The director was slightly excited. A monk who aroused the deep love of a princess and had intercourse with her, thus break religious precepts, sounded a lot like Qin Guan. He looked at Nie Jin, who was standing behind him in confusion. This boy is outstanding and professional too. Besides, I just promised him the leading role. It would be shameful to take my word back.
The scriptwriter maintained a clear mind before Qin Guan's beauty. He kindly pointed to the new script, reminding the director of the different periods in Bianji's life. The director thought about the simple, honest actor who would play Bianji as a teenager and looked at Qin Guan again.
Finally, he realized that he would not be able to find two more actors to match Qin Guan's looks. For the consistency of the whole play, he had to reject Qin Guan.
He told him to wait for them to get back to him, which was what they usually told people when they failed an audition. Nie Jin exhaled in relief. No one would want to be Qin Guan's opponent. I got very lucky today. It seems like my ordinary beauty brought me luck.
Qin Guan's legendary victory streak was broken. In the modelling circle, his beauty was a prominent advantage that swept away all obstacles, but when it came to films and TV shows, which were more complex, it was a double-edged sword.
The producer, scriptwriter, director and actors could reject anyone. No one could get successful easily, unless they were beautiful. In 2000 though, there weren't that many plays or roles for beautiful actors to select from.
Qin Guan's range of character choices was limited. At the time, all the directors were dreaming of international prizes.
The overseas media was not interested in a rising China though, but in the everyday lives of ordinary Chinese people.
Many directors had been on the wrong path. Reality didn't equal ugliness. It also encircled the true meaning of beauty and love. In the lens though, those were omitted, either consciously or unconsciously.
This restriction was not caused by Qin Guan's looks, but the political and economic environment. Qin Guan still had a long way to go.
A good beginning was still just a beginning. After thorough consideration, Qin Guan collected his thoughts and smiled confidently.
Just in time, Assistant Mou handed him a bottle of mineral water. In the early summer, a considerate girl could make anyone happy. The small flies in the water were merely a detail!
Qin Guan was ready to go again. He started his car and drove off to his next audition.
His second audition was a piece of cake. Yang Lianting was only a supporting part in Zhang Jizhong's play "The Legendary Swordsman". The character would appear in several episodes though, so Zhang himself would make the final decision.
Qin Guan had no idea about the great advantage he had until Zhang opened his mouth and he heard him speak with the accent of his hometown.
Unless one was an anchorman or a TV show host, their local accent was clear to their fellow townsmen.
Their native dialect narrowed the gap between them, and the bold and generous Director Zhang was very satisfied with Qin Guan. He made a decision as soon as possible. Linghu Chong would not be getting the lead. That co-star was not worthy of Qin Guan's talent.
Usually Director Zhang would leave after a cup of tea, but the two of them chatted happily for more than half an hour. By the time they were ready to leave, Qin Guan was on Zhang's white list. Sister Xue also took this chance to get Zhang's private telephone number.
It was a happy surprise and a blessing in disguise. One successful interview and an unsuccessful one. Qin Guan considered himself a lucky guy.
Yang's part would begin in Zhejiang Province in July, when Qin Guan would be on summer vacation. It seemed that Qin Guan wouldn't be able to return home that year, so he decided to spend time at his new house. The adjustments had been finished, but there was still no furniture inside.
When everything was ready, Qin Guan counted his savings and picked up his girlfriend to visit the Ikea in Madian.
Cars were rare in the capital at the time, so there was no traffic jam. The Ikea was located at the north side of Madian, so its parking place was sufficient for its customers.
Aiming in fashion and simpleness, Ikea satisfied the demands of the petty bourgeoisie and the white-collar class.
Qin Guan parked his car, opened the passenger door, and locked it after Cong Nianwei got out. They stepped inside the mall hand in hand.
The thing that impressed Qin Guan the most was the western fast food. His favorite dessert was the ice-cream cone.
The golden yellow cone was crisp and it smelled wonderful. Snow-white ice-cream with a thick milky fragrance was squeezed out of the machine, accumulating in the cone like a small torch. The little tail at the end was so sweet!
Cong Nianwei bit the white ice-cream with her pink lips, leaving a cute mark. Qin Guan stared at the cone in Cong Nianwei's hand with shining eyes, making her feel embarrassed.
"Do you prefer vanilla?" Cong Nianwei kindly exchanged her ice-cream for Qin Guan's. Maybe he just didn't like chocolate.
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Chapter 155: Let's Build A Love Nest Together
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
Cong Nianwei was not prepared when Qin Guan lowered his head to kiss her lips. She tasted like vanilla, sweet, cold, and smooth.
Cong Nianwei was annoyed by her boyfriend, who reached out for a yard after taking an inch. After their first kiss, Qin Guan had become an addict. He would take advantage of any chance to kiss her. Cong Nianwei was already afraid to be with him in public.
As punishment, she took a bite out of the ice-cream in Qin Guan's hand. It was chocolate, and it tasted sweet and slightly bitter.
They headed directly to the third floor, planning to shop from top to bottom. In the service centre on the first floor, they got an Ikea pencil, a map, and a list of all the products. Ikea was always considerate.
Qin Guan and Cong Nianwei were drawn to the new products on the third floor, where the bedroom furniture was exhibited.
They saw a three-piece French style set that included a wooden queen-sized bed, a bedside table, and a big closet. The closet was designed for a couple, and it cost 3,900 yuan. The small bedside table could also be used as a dresser. The drawers on both its sides could hold more sundries. It cost 699 yuan. It would cost Qin Guan about 6,498 yuan to furnish the whole bedroom. Qin Guan felt a pain in his chest. Realizing that Cong liked the furniture though, the mean thoughts in his mind were pushed out. But will she stay overnight for the furniture?
Cong Nianwei had no idea about Qin Guan's plans. As a top student at the Architecture Department, she liked those kind of things. In her mind, such simple furniture was easy to assemble and it was suitable for a young person's home. She was really enjoying decorating a new house.
Gritting his teeth, Qin Guan bought a curtain that reached the floor, a complete set of sheets, cushions, towels, and two hairy carpets. Everything matched Cong Nianwei's taste, and it cost Qin Guan about 2,000 yuan.
We didn't even buy household appliances! Qin Guan sniffled and pulled Cong Nianwei to the kitchen supplies section, where he spent hundreds of yuan.
The Dazhong electric appliance market was nearby. Qin Guan could only afford to buy a fridge, but women were all born shopaholics. There were no exceptions. Cong Nianwei was a straight-A student, but she still was one. Right before leaving, she took pity on Qin Guan and treated him to a portion of chips and a hot dog to comfort the bankrupt boy.
Qin Guan had the impulse to tell her that he still had about 10,000 yuan left in savings, but he was planning on spending it on her birthday present.
During the summer holidays, her tutor would be teaching at a big program. Cong Nianwei would be one of the assistants, and she would perform data analysis. She was also planning on staying in the capital for the holidays to earn both money and experience.
It was the first time they would be spending a whole holiday together. Qin Guan would be able to celebrate her birthday with her in a happy, sweet way.
Dating time always flew by. After begging for a French kiss, Qin Guan saw Cong Nianwei off and she ran into her dormitory building.
The final battle had come. With a calm expression, Qin Guan took the CET 6, which was normally meant for postgraduates.
He wrote swiftly and finished the paper without any difficulty.
The invigilator watched the other students, who were obviously older than Qin Guan. They seemed to be regretting that their offspring hadn't lived up to their expectations. What a promising student! If you fail to get a higher score than the sophomore, don't choose me as your tutor!
The surrounding seniors were annoyed by Qin Guan. Do you want to piss us off, young man? Do you think you're talented? Show us your paper then!
When the invigilator turned around, the senior student on Qin Guan's right kicked his desk vigorously and commanded in a low voice, "Hey, young man! You seem smart. Share your answers with me, or I'll make your life miserable!"
With a shy smile, Qin Guan pushed his papers towards him.
I blamed you wrongly. You are a loyal man! Before he could copy off Qin Guan though, the invigilator appeared behind his back like a ghost. Qin Guan pretended to write and turned his paper over.
The invigilator kicked against the desk of the senior student, who was too proud to cover his tracks.
He's staring at me! Does he know?
Looking at Qin Guan's innocent eyes, the invigilator reminded him kindly, "Watch your papers. Better fold them. Don't help those cheaters, or you'll be unfair to yourself. I know you are a hardworking man."
Qin Guan nodded tamely at the tutor, who seemed happy to be saving a lamb from the claws of a wolf.
The senior student was under close surveillance until Qin Guan submitted his papers and left.
Under that kind of pressure, and thanks to his poor knowledge of English, his results were awful.
Qin Guan's finals were finished, and the summer holidays began.
Qin Guan called his parents and friends to inform them about his arrangement. Zhou Jing and Li Jian beat their chests and stamped their feet in outrage. They'd have to depend on themselves now.
Laughing, Qin Guan hung up and opened the door of his new home. The cozy smell overwhelmed him. Although the living room was still empty, the warm bedroom and fully-equipped kitchen were enough for him to comfortably spend the holidays there.
He put the shopping bags beside the fridge and filled it with groceries. He was very satisfied with his work.
Everything was ready for Cong Nianwei. After handing the spare key to her, he would fly to Zhejiang to begin shooting for his new play.
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Chapter 156: The Legendary Swordsman Yang Lianting
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
Qin Guan wouldn't tell anyone, but thanks to the popularity of "Daming Palace", he had done a back cover for ELLE Clothing. Moving from the inner pages to the back cover was quite a leap. Besides, he had also gotten an invitation to audition for the Capital Fashion Week.
After Qin Guan dealt with all his affairs, he left the capital, blowing a kiss at Cong Nianwei, who saw him off reluctantly.
The play "The Legendary Swordsman" had been struck by bad luck and suffered through many hardships and dangers.
The original leading actor, Shao Wen, had been replaced by Li Jipeng after six episodes had been shot. There were thousands of people participating in the 40-episode TV play, so there were unpredictable changes every day.
That's when Qin Guan's good luck stopped. When he arrived at Zhenjiang, he was greeted by the typical intense summer heat of South China. The temperature was as high as 50 degrees, and the Wuxi shooting location was a great test for the actors, who were wearing multiple layers of costumes.
Director Zhang's plan had been to finish the play within 180 days, but despite the favorable beginning, he had experienced various difficulties ever since the play had started in March.
At the beginning, Shao Wen had been irresponsible towards his role, considering CCTV's investment of tens of millions a trifling matter.
The change of the leading actor meant that the crew's previous work had been in vain.
A heavy rain in June had washed off the decorations of the Medicinal God Temple, and the art designers and prop masters had had to start over again, which had delayed the whole process and been a complete waste of money.
Compared to those difficulties, the heat was nothing for the crew. Plus, the famous author Jin Yong had transferred the rights of the play to CCTV for only one yuan.
Qin Guan had joined the crew like a small river reaching the sea.
He wouldn't miss any opportunity to learn from others, as he knew very little about acting to begin with.
It wasn't until he began to copy from older actors though that accidents started happening one after the other. Qin Guan felt sad about them.
Miao Jiajia, the actor who portrayed Yue Lingshan, twisted his ankle and his foot swelled up like a balloon.
Qin Guan looked at the stunt double for the acrobatic fighting and flying, who used a heavy hanging wire, and estimated that the danger was coefficient with the fighting. Who said that this wasn't a hard job? Just try and fight someone for 200 rounds!
Qin Guan had learned a lot from Miao's accident. At the time, young actors focused on their attitude instead of their acting skills.
They all wore three-layered costumes with long sleeves. Their sweat would drip down when they were standing still, but when the director shouted "Filming!", they would put down their fans and newspapers and devote themselves to the scene.
Nobody cried of exhaustion. They all wanted to get the job done.
Out of all the crew, Qin Guan preferred to spend time with his partner the most.
That was, as you can imagine, the actress who portrayed Dongfang Bubai, Mao Weitao.
The older woman was not a professional actress, but a Yue Opera performer. She was actually famous for portraying a young man. Director Zhang had taken a fancy to her at first glance though and asked her to temporarily join his crew.
As an alumnus of the third generation of Yin School, Mao had been assigned to direct the Zhejiang Hundred-Flower Yue Opera Group. She had gotten the job thanks to her perfect opera skills and neutral stage appearance.
She had arrived on set two days after Qin Guan. As soon as she'd joined the crew, she had stood out.
Sister Mao had immediately liked Qin Guan, who was playing her brother Lian. Qin Guan was a silly, but earnest young boy. In their spare time, she taught him some simple Yue Opera arias, which he absorbed very quickly. If he wasn't too old and had no intention of engaging in the art, Sister Mao would have recruited him.
Several happy days later, their parts appeared in the play.
As Qin Guan was getting dressed, he couldn't help but make jokes about the costumes. There was a really big difference between male and female directors.
Director Zhang instruct the prop men on how to make a sword or a jade cup gorgeous, but when it came to costumes, his taste was awful.
As the virtual hierarch of the Sun Moon Holy sect, Yang Lianting was wearing a grey rustic gown. There was a lot of lacework and embroidery on the gown, but the colors clashed horribly. Qin Guan also had to wear a high crown on his head. It was ridiculous!
Qin Guan was the No.1 model in the domestic young modelling circle though, so he looked valiant in his thick clothes. If it wasn't for the high temperature, his outfit would have been outstanding.
Both Yang Lianting and Zhang Changzong were toy boys, but Zhang was gentle and soft, while Yang was a tough guy. People considered him Dongfang Bubai's toy boy, but he considered Dongfang his wife. He was by nature a chauvinist.
He asked unscrupulous things of Dongfang and reproached her at will. On the other side, he loved her very much. He was a complicated character with a lot of depth.
Yang Lianting's first scene was a group scene. Tens of figurants and leading actors would have their first fierce collision in a cave of the Sun Moon Holy Sect.
The throne of the hierarch was high on the rock. There were countless cameras around it.
Director Zhang still had a good impression of Qin Guan, his younger fellow townsman. As an upright man, he warned Qin Guan, "Don't forget your lines. Stupid green hand mistakes will be acceptable, but stupid careless mistakes will be detestable."
Qin Guan sighed slightly in relief. He was the youngest actor if one didn't count the figurants. That distrustful view did not belong just to the main actors. The figurants were also sweating for him.
Actually, the members of the Sun Moon Holy Sect wore thicker clothes than anyone else. Some of them were even wearing large cloaks.
Everyone was waiting silently in position. "On your marks! Ready? Three, two, camera!"
The cameras started filming. Qin Guan walked out of the cave with his hands clasped behind his back. The camera hanging high above him couldn't capture the details of his outfit. Everyone around could only hear his voice.
Step by step, Qin Guan read his lines carefully. "Elder Shangguan, you succeeded in capturing Linghu Chong. His Excellency is quite happy with you."
"It's thanks all to His Excellency's blessing." As soon as Shangguan finished his sentence, the camera turned to Qin Guan and panned out. Yang Lianting's full image appeared on Director Zhang's monitor.
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Chapter 157: Hierarch's Secret Garden
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
Qin Guan's appearance in full costume and makeup was more shocking in the small monitor than in real life. Wearing his high crown and loose gown, Qin Guan smiled before speaking. He was quite the domineering toy boy.
His lines were perfect. No mistakes whatsoever!
"Cut! Stop!" The first break was because of Ren Woxing. The older actor was really surprised by Qin Guan's ability to recite lines. He had failed to control his expression and frowned.
Lv Xiaohe, the man who portrayed Ren Woxing, was a very capable actor. As a bold and straightforward man from Northeastern China, he looked down upon pretty boys. Qin Guan, who had joined them half-way through the shooting, had attracted the attention of all the girls on the crew as soon as he'd arrived.
Teacher Lv thought Qin Guan was protected by some sponsor or director. He looks like a peacock, not an actor. Just read his record! Qin Guan felt misunderstood. It's not my fault I'm handsome.
In his first scene, Qin Guan's lines were clear and his rhythm was perfect, not at all inferior compared to the other actors'. Lv Xiaohe was too surprised to control the muscles on his face.
The first break was not Qin Guan's fault. Fortunately, the previous film had been reserved, and they could start over from the moment Elder Shangguan had tried to bribe Qin Guan. It was not such a big mistake.
The figurants heaved a long breath and wiped the sweat off their heads. It was so hot! Taking the chance, Qin Guan lifted his arm up and wiped his face quickly. (The prop master shouted, "Hey! Stop!")
Teacher Lv was left speechless by Qin Guan's action. His nature seems different than his appearance! He felt better for some reason.
They went on. Yang Lianting was bribed into leading Linghu Chong and the others into the hall, where the most important scene would take place.
Hundreds of figurants filled the hall. The air was stuffed with the heat and the moist smell of the cave.
Director Zhang was irritated again. He shouted at everyone, "Take responsibility for yourselves and finish it in one take! I'll curse anyone who makes a mistake!"
To be honest, most directors were bad-tempered. They had to establish their prestige and take responsibility. A bad film was a derelict of duty, not only for them, but also for their whole crew. A director cursing was nothing out of the ordinary.
Qin Guan had even more lines in the next scene. Because of the echo inside the cave, he had to deliver every word and sentence clearly in a loud voice. His speed had to be neither too fast, nor too slow. Everyone was worried about the green hand, but they witnessed a miracle.
Qin Guan finished his monologue without stammering and answered his partner's questions successfully. While he was speaking, he walked around the throne, gesturing in an imposing manner. He seemed like a behind-the-scenes master.
According to the story, Yang had been attacked and broken one of his legs before he'd been caught by the rebels.
Qin Guan didn't give up. He finished the five-minute vigorous scene with a painful expression.
In the scene, the hero and heroine had only a few lines, while Qin Guan had to make a long speech. They both looked at their young co-star with new eyes.
Qin Guan couldn't tell them that he was gifted, but he enjoyed the special treatment of the senior actors. The mountains in Zhejiang were harsh but graceful, just like a painting.
In midsummer, the flowers were blooming. The palace of Dongfang had cost a lot. The camera followed them, mounting the peak. Dongfang Bubai was hiding in the luxurious garden, so they could only hear his voice.
Feeling the crowd approaching, Dongfang became slightly angry. He grumbled to his lover in a flirtish manner, "I won't see anybody except you!"
Qin Guan's leg hurt. With the green leaves as background, handsome Yang delivered the most sincere and shocking words between two lovers, "If I refuse to bring them here, they'll kill me. I won't die without seeing you for the last time." The camera zoomed in on his devoted expression.
The love between two evil characters could also be pure and true. Everyone suddenly felt guilty for forcing Dongfang.
At his words, Dongfang drew himself up to his full height, surprising everyone.
Teacher Mao's appearance in full makeup was unparalleled. Her gestures and expression were domineering, charming, and fierce.
She covered Qin Guan gently with a blanket (50 degrees, three-layers of costume, and a woollen blanket). Qin Guan felt dizzy from the heat. The camera turned to the others, who were taking pleasure in his misfortune. No one was showing any signs of solidarity or friendship.
The camera turned around as Dongfang spoke.
"Are you hurting?" He took Yang's hand, expressing tenderness and love through his eyes. Meanwhile, he took a handkerchief from his sleeve and scrubbed the sweat off Qin Guan's forehead.
Qin Guan pushed him away aggressively, just like a violent man would his wife. He exploded without any reason, "What are you thinking about? All your enemies are here! Why are you fussing like a woman? Kill them, and then we'll have time to care for each other!"
Director Zhang took a big close-up of Qin Guan's face. With his handsome face and vigour, Qin Guan seemed quite aggressive even against the No. 1 leader among the martial arts circles.
It was his honor to have such a handsome man as his lover.
Dongfang was not angry. He actually liked his attitude. He nodded at Yang shyly, but became really fierce when he turned around to face his enemies.
His long dress was dancing in the air along with the falling petals. Dongfang took an elegant leap and fell down together with flowers. The silk threads landed after him.
Dongfang picked up his beloved Lian and flew into the flowers. The beauties and the flowers complimented each other.
The scene was finished. When Director Zhang sat before the running camera, everyone fell silent. It was a really good effect.
Their fair skin and slender hands were interlocked. Qin Guan leant against the throne, just like the real king of the kingdom.
Director Zhang waved at the actors, indicating that they could go on. Dongfang waved his long red sleeves and took an attractive pose. Several lines of speech broke the silence. The fight was about to start.
Lying on the throne, Qin Guan watched them with envy. Yang's leg was broken. He could do nothing but show his concern for his lover during the battle.
Why was Director Zhang still zooming in on Yang's face then? That was a foul! It was a bias towards his fellow townsman!
Actually, Dongfang's close-ups were far more than Qin Guan's, but they were tragic in a lot of ways.
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Chapter 158: The Wire is Nothing
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
The acrobatic fighting scenes were complicated. They had to repeat the same scene many times.
The first time, Qin Guan looked alive and happy as he was watching them. The second time, he was serious. The third time, it was really hot. The fourth and fifth time, it was like a dried fish was lying on the throne under the sunlight.
God! Who would save poor Yang Lianting? People seemed to guess his heartfelt wish. Finally, Xu Qing rolled Qin Guan up. In the next scene, he would be hanging up from a wire.
It was his first time trying high-tech props. The special effects group tried to move the mobile block, but Qin Guan felt uncomfortable. The audience would just see the handsome actors on the screen, but the actors themselves felt terrible while filming it.
In the scene, Qin Guan had to slide backwards and hit a pillar. To make the strike look more horrifying, he had to spit a mouthful of water.
Before the director could shout "Camera!", Qin Guan gestured for a break. Sister Xue, who was standing beside him, hastened to give him a bottle of water.
After drinking more than half of it, Qin Guan felt refreshed. If he had been dehydrated like that, he would not have spit out water, but blood.
Qin Guan turned around and saw that all the actors had taken this chance to rest. He had to hold on to the equipment though.
He leant weakly against the artificial hill and waited for a full 10 minutes before the crew was done. Then they moved on to the next scene.
This was the last scene for him. When it was over, he would get another bonus.
"On your marks! Special effects! Three, two, camera!"
The machine rolled at high speed, pulling Qin Guan backwards. Bang! Qin Guan's back hit the pillar hard.
Director Zhang looked through the lens. Qin Guan had not spit the water out in time. He waved at everyone. Another take!
Bang! Another heavy hit. Teacher Mao couldn't bear to watch. Fortunately, Qin Guan had learned something from Mou Xiaoliu. He tightened the muscles on his back. His back was slightly red after the hits, but there was no wound.
The scene was repeated three times before Director Zhang was satisfied. The onlookers now had a better opinion of Qin Guan. He was a good-looking, smart, hard-working boy after all.
Anyone who was steadfast in their work was welcome everywhere. Teacher Mao seemed concerned about Qin Guan, while Ren Woxing patted his shoulder in encouragement. Was I just unintentionally accepted by another teacher? Yay!
Then Qin Guan's character died. A sword went through Yang Lianting's heart, and he fell down gracefully before he was covered by petals. Dongfang looked down at him. Yang died with a calm expression on his face, as if he had just fallen asleep. Flowers were still floating around him. It was a visually beautiful scene.
Fresh red blood flowed out of the corners of Qin Guan's mouth. The dying Dongfang caressed Qin Guan's chest and uttered his final words on earth, "I love you, Brother Lian."
Then he collapsed into his lover's arms with a smile, and they died in each other's embrace.
Dongfang had to fall into Yang's arms from a high place, but as a dead man, Qin Guan had to remain still.
The stunt double hit Qin Guan hard.
Bang! Qin Guan's small feet jerked slightly, which satisfied the director. See? He is really devoted to his work, even when he's pretending to be a corpse!
I'm really jerking from the hit, not because that's the normal reaction of a corpse. Qin Guan closed his eyes and endured the pain, waiting for Teacher Mao to replace the stunt double. Luckily, her weight was more bearable.
"Hold on till Dongfang dies!" Sister Xue encouraged Qin Guan in a low voice. Qin Guan held his breath. Mao's face touched his chest for a few seconds before Director Zhang shouted, "Cut!"
It was the most beautiful voice he'd ever heard. Qin Guan stood up immediately, holding his stomach dramatically. The most difficult scene had finally been finished.
He looked at the other actors. Judging by the progress of the shooting, the play would most likely finish in late September.
Sister Xue went to get Qin Guan's bonus. It had taken several days to finish his two short scenes. It was really hard work.
Teacher Mao's scenes were also finished at the same time. The two of them had become friends in a few days.
As a newcomer from the modeling circle, Qin Guan had gotten to know Director Zhang, and he felt proud of himself for that. After receiving the crew's praise, he returned to the capital without a stop.
His girlfriend was waiting for him at home anxiously. He wondered if Cong Nianwei had been longing to see him while he'd been gone.
He was obviously overthinking. He sneaked inside his nest only to find that the rooms were clean. There were no living traces inside his bedroom.
There was no one in the bathroom either. There was only a bowl of leftover fried rice in a plastic wrap in the fridge, indicating Cong Nianwei's presence.
Qin Guan smelt it. It's fresh. It must have been cooked recently. He noticed that the groceries in the fridge were different. He had been gone for more than ten days after all.
The light of the sunset was shining down on the balcony outside the living room. The lock was opened with a clang, and Cong Nianwei opened the door slowly with two bags of fruit and vegetables in her hands.
Qin Guan opened his arms wide for Cong Nianwei, who was dressed casually, and shouted enthusiastically, "Surprise!"
"God! You scared me!" Cong Nianwei looked frightened. Her bags fell down and several potatoes rolled out of them.
She stared at Qin Guan angrily. "Come help me!"
This is not in the script. Generally speaking, when a male actor on TV opens his arms, his girlfriend runs up to him like a bird! Yet this is what I get!
Cong Nianwei went into the kitchen as if she was in her own house. "Wash and clean the vegetables. You can steam the fried rice that's in the fridge. I made it this noon. I thought that if you returned late this evening and I was not in, you could have some homemade food," she told Qin Guan.
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Chapter 159: I Love You
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
Qin Guan was slightly surprised and moved. "You left food for me every day?" he asked.
Cong Nianwei was busy cooking. She was chopping a green onion into small pieces. "Of course not. I counted the days and left food for you before you returned. I didn't stay here. I'd just drop in every evening to eat the food. I didn't want it to go to waste!"
My silly girl, I'm not concerned about the food, but about the fact that you cared enough for me to make it.
Qin Guan had originally thought that their position in the relationship was not equal. He had been obsessed with Cong Nianwei for two lives and he just wouldn't let her go.
He was the weak one who kept chasing her. As a straight-A student at the Architecture Department, Cong Nianwei was always calm and reasonable. Girls like her were serious even when they were in love. Qin Guan was still swayed by the pros and cons of their relationship though.
It was only on that day that he felt loved during their everyday life.
His girlfriend didn't ask him to act gracefully. She didn't look down on him because he was poor. She didn't show off to others about his achievements or feel inferior because of his rising social status.
She was splendid on stage and good at cooking. She had a mighty heart, but she also cared about him. F*ck! I want to cry!
Just do it! Qin Guan threw the potatoes back into the basin and hugged Cong Nianwei from behind. He lowered his head and buried his face in her hair, murmuring softly, "Weiwei, I love you."
Cong Nianwei was so startled, she nearly cut her finger with the kitchen knife.
As she felt his broad chest and heard his low, charming voice though, she felt slightly intoxicated.
Opening her lips, she replied, "I love you too."
Her sweet-smelling hair and honest reply made Qin Guan's blood flow south.
"What's this? What's so hard?" Cong Nianwei was a little confused. Qin Guan lifted his butt to move that essential part of his away from her. A shorter boy would have failed, but he pulled it off thanks to his height. He still hated to part with his girlfriend though.
Cong Nianwei seemed to realize what was going on. Her face suddenly turned as red as an apple. She plunged the knife into the cutting board with a bang and shouted, "Qin Guan!" The excited part of him was frightened into shrinking.
After giving the situation some thought, Qin Guan decided to wash the vegetables instead.
Cong Nianwei was still speechless by the time she was done cooking. Qin Guan lit several aromatic candles, which were usually used for bubble baths, and turned off the lights. There were various aromas, including lily and rose lavender. It was really romantic, but no one could have had dinner with that thick smell in the air.
Having such a silly boyfriend was terrible!
Qin Guan turned on the lights resentfully and blew out the candles.
TV had cheated him again! Where was his candlelit dinner?
Even though they ate the dinner Cong Nianwei had cooked with love, Qin Guan was still aching for something. Leaning against the door frame, he took his most handsome pose and asked her in a low, deep voice, "Darling, will you stay tonight?"
Cong Nianwei looked at him as if he was an idiot. She put the clean tableware away and answered, "None of my stuff is here. I have to return to my dormitory."
Qin Guan leant against the other side of the frame and said tenderly, "There's a supermarket downstairs. We can buy some stuff for you. We have enough time. Besides, I'm worried about you. You live in that dormitory alone. It's said that there's a ghost on QH campus. It's too dangerous."
It's more dangerous to stay with a fool like you.
Cong Nianwei had been living in that dormitory for several days. There were lots of students who spent their holidays at college. There was nothing to be worried about.
Qin Guan had just returned that day though, and she really wanted to stay with him. "Maybe tomorrow," she answered hesitantly. "I didn't come prepared today."
Qin Guan snapped and stepped forward to lift her. He wanted to swirl her around to express his happiness.
Bang! Qin Guan had forgotten how tall he was. Cong Nianwei's forehead hit the door frame hard.
The two of them looked at each other silently. Qin Guan put Cong Nianwei down and stood there respectfully, waiting for her reproach.
Cong Nianwei burst into laughter. She kicked Qin Guan's leg and said, "It's late, take me back home!"
Qin Guan relaxed and decided to try to get more out of the situation. He looked at Cong Nianwei with a pitiful, flirting expression. "I'm afraid of the dark. There aren't many people living on this block. I don't want to be alone. Stay and keep me company. I'll sleep on the floor. I swear!"
Liar! A bold man like you afraid of dark? Qin Guan ignored Cong's disdainful look and brazenly dragged her down to the supermarket.
Cong Nianwei followed him, getting everything she needed to spend the night there.
Satisfied, Qin Guan spread the large Ikea carpet on the living room floor (he'd been driven out of the bedroom). He looked at the sleeping Cong Nianwei in satisfaction.
The lights were out, and the dim moonlight slid through the curtains and fell on her shoulders. The thin covers set off her soft lines. She looked gentle in the quiet night.
Standing by the door, Qin Guan stared at her silently for a while. He didn't leave until her breathing slowed down and she fell into a deep sleep.
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Chapter 160: Gunpowder Smoke at Fashion Week
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
Qin Guan nearly cried out as he lay on the hairy carpet. It's too hot! I'm such a coward! If I'd insisted, maybe I would have gotten a chance to sleep on the bed.
Stop dreaming, boy. Just sleep. You have a lot to do tomorrow.
The next day, Qin Guan put on his best clothes before Cong Nianwei's doubtful gaze. He had an interview that day.
The Capital Fashion Week would begin in September, and dozens of domestic and foreign brands had gathered at outlets east of the capital. There was a large demand for models for the fashion show.
Several Asian countries with a flourishing model industry had acted without delay, sending their top models to the Chinese capital.
Some European and American brands couldn't bring their own models to the fashion show though, so they needed to explore the talent in China.
The Plaster Flag Nation and the Pickle Nation wouldn't let that opportunity go. They were near China, which worked to their advantage, and they also had their own brands in the Fashion Week.
Frankly speaking, they were taking food right out of China's bowl.
With the resume Sister Xue had prepared under his arm, Qin Guan looked at the outlet buildings in shock. They had been decorated beyond recognition.
There had originally been several small European style buildings there, but all the shops along the street had been given to the exhibitors for free so they could take care of their affairs before Fashion Week.
The street had been remoulded into a flea market by various fashionable guys.
Large advertisement boards had been placed outside the buildings, clothing racks were messy and disorganized, and accessories, buttons and scarves were piled in baskets and boxes.
The most attractive part was the models shuttling around with their paperwork in hand. They walked among the brands in pursuit of an audition. Only the luckiest ones would get a chance to participate in the show.
There were English, Japanese and Korean models. It was a splendid assembly of top and second-line models. If one ignored the thick gunpowder smoke on the street, it was almost a feast for the eyes.
Qin Guan gave his car key and other belongings to Sister Xue and stepped into the square with a thick pile of papers. He attracted the attention of the other waiting models right away.
Everyone looked at him. He seemed like a very strong rival.
"Mr. Xiaoquan, is he a fellow countryman?"
"I don't think so. He must be Chinese."
"Oops! Will we audition for the same brands as him?"
"Don't worry. Generally speaking, Chinese guys are inferior to us. The brands we're after set high standards for model temperament. He might be handsome, but he will not qualify. We don't need to take him seriously. Our strategy is to look down on our opponents. Why do you get discouraged?"
"You're right, I'm too young."
That was the conversation that took place among the Plaster Flag Nation group. It was comparatively polite. They basically just considered Qin Guan an embroidery pillow. Let's see what the Pickle Nation was saying though.
"Our models are all handsome. They're the best ones. Look at those Chinese peasants and those short Plaster Flag Nation guys! Ha ha!"
"Senior Piao, look at that Chinese guy!"
Wow! An arch enemy. Qin Guan was wearing a black fitting, round-collar T shirt and jeans that set off his perfect figure.
He walked up to the group of models leisurely, greeting Ouyang Fen, who pretended not to recognize him.
Ouyang shrank into the group of Chinese models. That guy is so good at attracting hatred. The models at the square were divided into four groups based on their nationality.
Domestic models and models from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan were together, while those from Western and Latin countries were in the same group. Different races aimed for different brands, so they got along well. Although they were all Asian models models though, models from the Plaster Flag Nation and the Pickle Nation stood out from their Chinese peers.
In 2000, Asian models didn't exhibit extraordinary talent at major international fashion shows. Thanks to the flourishing fashion industry though, there were several hot models emerging from the Plaster Flag Nation, including Liyuanlei, Shangtian Dapu, and so on. Fashion magazines, such as JJ, Ray, and Sweet, grew like mushrooms after the rain.
As a result, they were entering the Chinese Fashion Week with full confidence.
Unlike the devoted models of the Plaster Flag Nation though, the Pickle Nation preferred to market its own products. The models' entertainment skills were overall good, so before they distinguished themselves in the fashion industry, they acted on films or TV. That was why the Pickle Nation was called the Nation of Unprofessional Models.
The representatives of the first generation were Che Shengyuan and Song Chengxian, who strived to open the way for more models.
Their followers tried their best to squeeze in various shows to increase their popularity. They saw the new millennium as the first light of dawn.
Compared to the models from the Plaster Flag Nation, they were not as calm. Overseas large-scale fashion shows were of great significance to them.
That was why they sent someone to interrogate Qin Guan. It was a male model who seemed very kind. The two of them talked in standard English and strange Pickle English.
"Hello, sir. We are from the Pickle Nation. Which auditions will you attend today?"
Qin Guan was surprised with his direct question, but it was unnecessary to hide. He looked at the timetable of the whole Fashion Week. There were nine days in total. He could try out for one show for each day if he didn't want to work very hard.
He felt confident about himself, and he told the model the brands he preferred. There were more than 30, which surprised the other model.
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