The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 71. Getting Hit on Set (Second Update, PK for Subscriptions)

Chapter 71: 71. Getting Hit on Set (Second Update, PK for Subscriptions)

Shen Qinglan gave him a glance but said nothing, silently slipping her phone into her pocket.

The two continued to stroll aimlessly.

Finally, Shen Qinglan saw a crowd ahead; it seemed they had arrived at the location. Shen Qinglan and Fu Hengyi slowly made their way over.

Indeed, a film crew was shooting. Someone was maintaining order outside, and there was no way to get in. Shen Qinglan didn’t insist on entering and just stood outside, peering through the crowd. She could clearly see the scene inside. The actors currently shooting were unknown to her. She looked to the side and, sure enough, spotted Yu Xiaoxuan not far off.

Dressed in a green ancient costume and holding several pages, Yu Xiaoxuan was reading intently, probably memorizing her lines. The makeup this time was certainly more thoughtful than the extras’ makeup from last time.

"Aren’t you going to say hello?" Fu Hengyi asked.

Shen Qinglan shook her head; she just came to have a look. Just as she was about to leave, she heard the director inside calling Yu Xiaoxuan’s name. Apparently, it was Yu Xiaoxuan’s turn. Shen Qinglan hesitated, then stayed.

On set, upon hearing Director Li Liqun’s call, Yu Xiaoxuan put down her script and swiftly walked up.

This scene mainly told the story of the second daughter of the Prince Manor oppressing the third daughter, and Yu Xiaoxuan played the third daughter’s maid. Dissatisfied with how the second daughter always bullied others using her status, she stood up for her own mistress, which led to her being punished by the second daughter.

Both the second and third daughters were portrayed by newcomers selected through an audition process, high-talented students from the Beijing Film Academy who had previously acted in a few obscure dramas.

Even the actresses playing their maids were formally trained, leaving Yu Xiaoxuan the only complete amateur among them.

The third daughter appeared in the Prince Manor’s garden with her maid Qingyi, her face clouded with worry. Seeing her mistress’s troubled expression, Qingyi was indignant, "Miss, this matter was clearly done by the second miss. Why didn’t you clarify it with the madam at the time?"

The third daughter gave a wry smile, "Qingyi, you don’t understand. My older sister is the legitimate daughter, and I’m just a concubine-born child. What good would it do to speak up? The madam wouldn’t take my side anyway."

"But we can’t just take this lying down. Recently, the second miss has been increasingly outrageous. If you keep stepping back, she’ll only push further."

The third daughter furrowed her brows and scolded in a soft voice, "Qingyi, shut your mouth. It’s not for a mere maid like you to discuss the masters’ rights and wrongs."

Qingyi closed her mouth, feeling wronged.

"Oh, how coincidental, younger sister." From behind, the second daughter approached slowly with her maid Jade.

"Older sister." The third daughter bowed slightly.

"Second miss." Qingyi followed suit with a greeting.

Looking down upon her younger sister, the second daughter said, "Little sister, let me offer my congratulations beforehand."

The third daughter’s brows knit together, "I’m not sure what you mean, older sister."

The second daughter chuckled, "I just came back from our mother’s place, where I overheard her discussing a good marriage arrangement for you – to become Minister Liu’s household’s wife."

As soon as the second daughter finished, the third daughter’s complexion turned as pale as paper. Minister Liu was the Minister of Revenue, powerful and influential, but already fifty years old—he could have been her grandfather.

"Congratulations, little sister, for you’ll soon become the Minister’s wife, oh hahaha."

"Second Miss, stop spreading lies here. The person the lady mentioned is actually you," Qingyi spoke out, face seething with anger. "You didn’t want to marry Minister Liu, so you pushed my young mistress forward. How can there be someone as shameless as you in this world?"

Qingyi’s words turned the faces of two people present pale—one out of fear and the other out of anger.

She, trembling with rage, pointed at Qingyi, "You, a mere servant, dare to interrupt when your masters are speaking. Today, I shall teach you what rules mean. Jade, open your mouth."

The maid Jade rolled up her sleeves and went forward with a vicious smile. Qingyi tried to run but was held up by two brawny maidservants, unable to break free.

Jade came forward and delivered a slap, the crisp sound echoing through the film set. Shen Qinglan heard it from the outside.

She could feel that the person playing Jade was hitting for real, and not holding back at all, which caused Shen Qinglan’s brows to furrow slightly.

On the film set, Jade slapped Qingyi and twisted her face. It was supposed to be a backhand slap next, but Jade suddenly laughed, "Director, sorry, I couldn’t help laughing."

Director Li Liqun frowned, clearly displeased, but said nothing, "This take, let’s do it again, starting from the maids holding down Qingyi," seeing the red mark on Yu Xiaoxuan’s face, "Makeup artist, touch up Xiao Xuan’s makeup."

Yu Xiaoxuan, holding her face, silently glanced at the actress playing Jade. The latter gave her an apologetic smile and earnestly said, "Xiao Xuan, I’m sorry, I didn’t control my strength well just now. Are you okay?"

Yu Xiaoxuan gritted her teeth, "I’m fine."

"That’s good to hear. I was afraid I had hurt you."

The makeup artist touched up Yu Xiaoxuan’s makeup, and she let out a hiss. The makeup artist frowned and whispered, "Are you silly? When she hits you, you should turn your head with the motion. It only needs to look like you were hit. You need to understand how to stage it, got it? Who gets hit solidly like that?"

Yu Xiaoxuan laughed, "I’m just inexperienced, thank you for the reminder. Otherwise, I would probably get slapped again later."

The makeup artist laughed. Yu Xiaoxuan was easy-going and hardworking. When not acting, she often helped them with whatever she could, so everyone on the film crew liked this girl.

When the scene restarted, Jade rolled up her sleeves, walked toward Qingyi, and swung a slap toward Qingyi’s face. Qingyi tilted her head to dodge most of the force, but the wind of Jade’s palm still swept across her face.

Shen Qinglan clearly saw Yu Xiaoxuan’s face turn pale from pain, yet she still silently finished the scene. And just that one scene had to be shot four times, which meant Yu Xiaoxuan endured four slaps, although the latter ones weren’t as hard as the first. Nevertheless, it was evident to Shen Qinglan, and anyone would realize, that the girl playing Jade was doing it intentionally.

Shen Qinglan stood outside the film set, watching Yu Xiaoxuan get hit again and again without a word, and regretted encouraging her to enter the show business.

After the scene was over, Shen Qinglan saw Yu Xiaoxuan’s left cheek was completely swollen, and no amount of foundation could cover it up.

So the director had no choice but to let Yu Xiaoxuan rest for the day, postponing the remaining scenes for tomorrow.

"Let’s go," Shen Qinglan said indifferently, and left the film set with Fu Hengyi, not looking for Yu Xiaoxuan. She thought that Yu Xiaoxuan wouldn’t want her to see her in such a state.

After all, every time Yu Xiaoxuan called her, she would say that although filming was exhausting, it was still very enjoyable and interesting.