Chapter One: Unfulfilled Ambition

  Two days later, Yu Xi officially started filming.

  The play was in the late afternoon, when Lin Xiao went to see it, he found that more than a dozen spray bottles had been placed, and there were several spray guns. Ladders of different heights were lined up in a row.

  At five o'clock in the evening, he entered the dressing room. For the six o'clock play, he had to put on makeup ahead of time.

  However, he entered the dressing room but did not see Liu Yiyi. After waiting for ten minutes, he saw her walking in with a pale face and holding her stomach.

  "Others have stomachaches and came a bit late." Liu Yiyi explained in a soft voice, "Maybe they ate something wrong last night and felt uncomfortable when they got up this morning."

  "Trouble you, Yiyi Ge." Lin Xiao looked at his face and indeed it was pale to the point of being frightening. Looks like he didn't have an easy night.

  Liu Yiyi didn't say anything either, glanced at her watch and started getting ready.

  Time is passing minute by minute, and there are still ten minutes to go before the show starts. I also need to listen to the director's instructions. However, drawing waterproof makeup is a hassle, and I still have a small half that hasn't been drawn yet.

  "Oh no!" Just then, Liu Yiyi suddenly let out a soft cry, clutched her stomach and squatted down, breaking out in a cold sweat.

  "Will it hurt again?" Lin Xiao was stunned, there were still ten minutes left, and he could finish drawing quickly, but Liu Yiyi went to the bathroom, and time was absolutely not enough.

  Liu Yiyi nodded painfully with a pained expression on her face. She stood up and wanted to draw again, but the next second, she squatted down.

  "No...can't hold it in anymore...I'm going to the bathroom." After saying that, he hastily ran out.

  "What am I supposed to do now? There are still ten minutes before the auction starts!" Lin Xiao frowned and asked.

  Liu Yiyi had already rushed out of the door in a gust of wind, and her voice floated back in "The makeup stuff is on the table, you take care of it! It's just a little bit short, you can refer to the other half and make up for it."

  "Bang!" The sound of the door slamming shut came, and it was clear that Liu Yiyi was already in a state of extreme urgency.

  Lin Xiao smiled wryly and picked up the bottles and jars on the table, carefully examining them. Each item had a label stuck to it.

  After searching for a good while, he finally found the pen and foundation. Indeed, as Liu Yiyi said, most of it was already done, only the part above the nose was left, which was still relatively simple.

  However, in order to make himself look more presentable, he took the initiative to contact the system for the first time.

  "Search, tools." He said softly in his heart.

  In an instant, rows of things that seemed like a game mall appeared on the retina, and the names above them made him extremely surprised.

  "Acting skill boost 30%, price 1000, lasts for 1 hour."

  "Dynamism boost 50%, price 5000, lasts for 3 hours."

  "Movie emperor level acting, price 1500, lasts for 10 minutes."

  If he hadn't realized that this system was real, he would have thought it was a fantasy.

  After searching for a while, he finally found the makeup props. Like before, there were ones from third-rate to gold medal makeup artists, categorized by level and time. He chose a third-rate one that lasted ten minutes, very cheap, only 300.

  There is only 1,600 yuan left on his card this month's salary.

  "He's made up his mind." He said to himself, and instantly, the system voice sounded again in a cold tone "Purchase successful, the medicine has taken effect."

  He picked up the makeup tools without hesitation and started applying makeup to himself. His hands were extremely agile, showing no signs of being a beginner at all.

  In just eight minutes, he finished drawing himself and hastily put down his tools, rushing towards the film set.

  On the scene, people have basically arrived. This time, his opponent is Mingzhu, the old drama bone Gao Lanchun, the uncrowned king. However, this play is mainly performed by Gao Lanchun, and his pressure is not great.

  A groundsman was busy filling the sprinkler system, ladders placed on the pitch in the morning were all in position, with a member of staff on each ladder holding long poles to secure the sprinklers and bring rain where necessary.

  "Here he is." Vice Director Jia was discussing with Gao Lan Chun and nodded when he saw Lin Xiao coming over.

  "Sorry, Yiyi's brother is not feeling well and it took a bit more time." Lin Xiao said apologetically and quickly sat down to listen to the director's instructions.

  "This scene is about you being defeated and scattered, escaping back alone in a daze. You'll be meeting Ming Xiangjie next." Vice Director Jia explained in detail, "You don't need to overact, just cooperate well with Teacher Gao."

  Gao Lan Chun smiled and said, "Director Jia, you can't discourage the enthusiasm of newcomers. There are still many places to explore in this scene."

  "I know that." Jia deputy director pushed his glasses "Third-rate actors can meet the script requirements, second-rate actors can see beyond the script, and first-rate actors can perfectly interpret a play. However, Lin Xiao is just a newcomer, this scene, actually Teacher Gao alone can hold it down."

  "How would you know if you don't try?" Gao Lan Chun smiled and took a sip of tea. "I think he can give it a shot, as long as the director doesn't mind cutting a few more times."

  Jia's deputy looked at him in surprise, Chen Dao Ming had already agreed to let Lin Xiao appear more on screen, now even Gao Lan Chun was also in favor of it?

  "I'll tell Director Chen about this. I also can't make a decision on this matter."

  After discussing for a while, Gao Lan Chun proposed several ideas, and Vice Director Jia expressed his willingness to continue the exchange. Twenty minutes later, Chen Jialin also arrived, accompanied by a group of people as usual.

  "Alright, it's good that actors have ideas, don't put too much emphasis on seniority." Chen Jialin nodded after hearing Gao Lanchun's idea. "However, tell Lin Xiao that he only has two chances to CUT, if he misses them, then follow the script."

  6:30, all personnel are in place. This time, even newcomers have come to see the first rain scene experience of entering the circle. Many people want to take a look.

  "Everyone in position." Chen Jialin adjusted the camera and shouted. With his voice, all the people on the ladders began to tilt their watering cans, and instantly, the area within a radius of 20 meters was shrouded in a "rain of silk".

  “A！”

  Lin Xiao didn't even frown, and he walked straight into the "rain". The pea-sized raindrops hit his body, and soon his clothes were soaked through.

  The newcomers around stared with wide eyes, seeing it on TV was one thing, but experiencing it in reality was another. Such heavy rain and such heavy clothes, hanging on anyone's body would be extremely uncomfortable.

  Gao Lan Chun also walked in immediately, nodding secretly. New actor, adapting to the rain scene very quickly.

  "But this is just the beginning, as the rain gets heavier, your clothes will get heavier too. How are you going to perform smoothly in this situation? That's what you should be thinking about. Don't waste this opportunity to show off." He thought to himself, looking at Lin Xiao.

  Off the court, Li Ruijin also arrived, his eyes fixed tightly on Lin Xiao.

  Yin Zhen, played by Lin Xiao, stumbled and staggered from afar, disheveled and listless, as if he had lost his soul.

  "Ming Xiang, who is that?" Mingzhu, played by Gao Lan Chun, looked in the direction of Lin Xiao's arrival with a group of palace attendants holding umbrellas.

  The light was extremely dim, with only a small fill light, as the camera froze on Gao Lan Chun's face.

  Gao Lan Chun slightly furrowed her brow, her eyebrows squeezing together as she looked in the direction Lin Xiao was running.

  "Ming Xiang." Lin Xiao ran to Gao Lan Chun's side, his eyes slightly red, gritting his teeth, with a mix of emotions on his face from almost dying and being reborn.

  "Ah, good." In front of the director's chair, several people nodded in agreement. If nothing unexpected happens, this scene will be over soon.

  "Ah-ya?!?" Gao Lan Chun shook slightly, her lower jaw trembling, and both hands hurriedly supported Yun Chou "Big brother...... what's wrong with you?"

  "Brother Ming!" Lin Xiao shouted with a sob. "We were ambushed by Ge Er Dan, and only I barely escaped with my life... the soldiers..."

  He gritted his teeth and made a face as if he was about to cry, in the rain, without actually crying.

  "What about others?" Gao Lan Chun hastily asked back, through the lens, looking at his fingers grasping Lin Xiao's arm were all white.

  "Lao Gao is indeed a seasoned actor, Ming Zhu's tension and joy were all revealed in just a few words." Yao Chang'an nodded in admiration in front of the camera.

  "This play, Lao Gao alone can hold it down, and in front of Lao Gao, he can still shine, it's too difficult." Chen Jialin also nodded in agreement "Although I gave him two chances to CUT, but if this continues, I'm afraid he'll be overwhelmed by the momentum."

  Qian Zhong, who was following beside him, reminded him in a timely manner, "Director Chen, the people for the next scene are already preparing."

  "Just get it over with. The next scene is scheduled for 7 o'clock, there's no time to waste on this one."

  Chen Jialin thought for a moment, then turned to the stage manager and said, "Let the next performer's makeup team come in. We'll try to finish this scene within ten minutes. Lao Gao's acting skills are fine, Lin Xiao can just follow him and it'll be okay. He only has two scenes here, so after we're done, he can have some spare time."

  "As for the opportunity of CUT." He hesitated for a moment "Let's leave it till next time."

  In fact, Lin Xiao has such an idea now. Every move of Gao Lan Chun seems to be pulling him, he wants to make his own innovation, but unfortunately, every step seems to be pulled one step ahead.

  "It can't go on like this." He gritted his teeth, Gao Lan Chun's counterpart was not Chen Dao Ming's screen test, the two were completely incomparable in terms of caution.

  Do you want to use props? He hesitated.

  "Big brother, get up quickly." Mingzhu's face was filled with pain and sadness as she helped Lin Xiao up, her expression a mix of concern for both her teacher and friend. "Are you okay?"

  Lin Xiao clenched his teeth and shook his head, he also wanted to perform more perfectly, but unfortunately, under such an acting opponent, it was really too difficult even in a formal shooting.

  "The Emperor is currently at the Front Army's large camp." Gao Lan Chun sighed, and personally had someone put a canopy on Lin Xiao's carriage. "Big Brother... it would be better to go see the Emperor first and report your safety."

  Lin Xiao nodded, the camera moved back to Gao Lan Chun's face, he stroked his beard thoughtfully, his eyes "floated" upwards, looking afar at the rainy sky with a contemplative gaze.

  "Good eyesight!" "As expected of Old Gao!" The discerning old actors all spontaneously praised in unison.

  "Director Chen, the actors for the next scene have all arrived. Li Hongtao, who plays Ge Er Dan, and Wang Yuetian, who plays Bao Rilong Mei, are both waiting outside now." Qian Zhongyi said in a low voice after glancing at the people who had just arrived.

  "Uh-huh, just change after filming." Chen Jialin looked at the camera lens, and if there was no problem, she would pass it in one take.

  "Big Brother!" Just as Lin Xiao was about to leave the screen, Gao Lan Chun suddenly turned her head and shouted, her voice firm and very decisive.

  Seeing Lin Xiao turn around, he hesitated and said "I don't know how to respond when Da Ge meets the Emperor later..."

  Just then, Gao Lan Chun suddenly furrowed her brow and stared intently at Lin Xiao's face.

  The people near the director's chair also found something wrong. Chen Jialin made a decisive decision and shouted "CUT!"