When Chu Feiliang heard what Rong Guang said, she was truly stunned for a long moment.
She smiled, looking at Rong Guang’s flushed face. She felt like teasing her further, but remembering the few times Rong Guang had avoided her, she didn’t quite dare.
What if she misjudged something and really angered her enough to run away?
And have Rong Guang avoid her for a few more days?
That wouldn’t be worth it at all.
Without Rong Guang around, her life was so dull, so lacking in fun.
She shook her head with a hint of regret and said slowly, “Let’s wait for an opportunity.”
When the opportunity arose, she really wouldn’t mind tying Rong Guang up with a rope. One end tied to her waist, wrist, or ankle would be fine, and the other end, she would hold in her own hand. Wherever she went, Rong Guang would have to follow.
Preferably a red rope, maybe with a couple of bells on it.
The mere thought of this scene was enough to make one feel very happy.
Rong Guang was too embarrassed to ask exactly when would count as an opportunity. After thinking for a moment, she could only nod in agreement, saying, “Then… then I’ll wait.”
If they really did get together in the future, and Chu Feiliang really proposed tying her up to go out together, then… she would definitely still be willing.
Rong Guang pressed her hands to her face, trying to cool the burning heat radiating from it.
She didn’t know what had happened. Chu Feiliang had clearly been talking about the scene, but the topic had suddenly veered off in a direction that was hard to rein in.
The final scene to be filmed was the one where Wen Mou, after being ordered for the second time to eat only vegetarian food and abstain from meat and spicy dishes, simply couldn’t bear it anymore and went to the back kitchen to steal some food.
However, whether she was stealing cooked food or the raw ingredients was still unknown. Everything depended on Director Zhang’s decision and would be arranged according to the specific circumstances at the time.
Stealing food wasn’t the important part. What was important was the scene of admonishment after Wen Mou was dragged by the back of her collar to the bedroom by Ji Ying for the second time. It was a scene that built from tension to a high point.
She didn’t know how it would be filmed, or how they could play around with it to create something different.
Rong Guang blinked, feeling a bit of anticipation and longing.
She and Chu Feiliang were so familiar with each other now. Logically, she should be able to film her final scene very smoothly.
If they could create some very special memories… that would be even better.
In the future, when she couldn’t see Chu Feiliang, she could still reminisce on her own.
Because of her accidentally sprained ankle, Rong Guang spent a rather comfortable period on set. Wherever she went, someone would help her with tasks. Even for moving a stool, someone would specially come over to place it flat for her and then help her sit down.
She didn’t have many scenes left, and most of them only required her to lie there, listening to all the external developments. However, the camera would occasionally give her a close-up while she was “asleep,” so she had to be mindful of her blinking and breathing frequency to avoid breaking character, which was also quite difficult.
On this day, Rong Guang was lying there, on the verge of falling asleep.
Ever since Jiang Wenmou’s “accident,” Ji Ying had been taking care of her like a child, personally handling her food, clothing, and daily life.
Of course, the drama couldn’t show anything too superficial, but the necessary elements were still there. For example, dressing, washing up, and even sponge baths were all done by Ji Ying alone.
And Ji Ying was played by Chu Feiliang.
So, in a roundabout way, it meant… Chu Feiliang had been taking care of her all this time.
Rong Guang felt the sensation of Chu Feiliang gently wiping her palm with warm water. It was so gentle, so warm.
The north wind howled outside the window, but she was tucked under a blanket in the room with a charcoal fire burning nearby. The pressure of Chu Feiliang’s touch on her palm was like a tickle, making Rong Guang’s scalp tingle with comfort.
Even after Director Zhang called “cut,” she didn’t want to open her eyes, wanting to savor the lingering aftertaste of that moment.
Chacha walked over to her, intending to wake her up for lunch.
It was time for the mid-shoot meal break. She had already gotten the food Rong Guang wanted today and had it placed outside, waiting for her to come out and eat.
Then, Chacha saw Rong Guang’s blissful expression, as if she were floating on air.
Chacha tilted her head and gently tapped Rong Guang’s arm.
Rong Guang stirred and reluctantly opened her eyes. After glancing around, she said in a light, airy voice, “What is it, Chacha?”
Chacha helped her up and said in a crisp voice, “Time to eat.”
Rong Guang couldn’t help but clench her fists.
She didn’t know if it was her imagination, but during the scene just now, Chu Feiliang seemed to have… gently tickled her palm.
The movement was so slight that Rong Guang almost thought it was just an illusion.
But the faint, tingling numbness from her palm was still there, making her heart itch.
She pursed her lips, glanced at her left hand, and asked in a low voice, “Where’s your Sister Chu?”
“She went to watch the scene,” Chacha said, bringing Rong Guang’s shoes over for her to put on.
Rong Guang’s ankle was, as expected, swollen. But because Chacha had massaged it for her at night, it wasn’t too severe. The color had already changed from the initial blackish-purple to the current bluish-purple, and it would go down soon.
Therefore, to promote blood circulation, she wasn’t wearing a shoe on her injured foot. Instead, it was wrapped in something thick, just enough to keep it warm.
Rong Guang hopped to her feet. Knowing that “watching the scene” meant watching the playback, she thought for a moment and said, “Let’s go over and take a look too.”
Chacha considered it. The food was in a thermal container anyway, so there was no rush; it wouldn’t get cold. So she went over with Rong Guang.
Chu Feiliang was sitting on a stool to the side. She had found a lollipop from somewhere, still unwrapped, and was slowly squeezing the crinkly wrapper in her hand.
Director Zhang was earnestly telling her, “This part was handled very well. I think we can add a bit more later.”
Rong Guang craned her neck to take a look.
The moment her eyes fell on the screen, she was hit with a barrage of shocks—the display was showing none other than the scene of Chu Feiliang holding her hand, slowly and repeatedly squeezing it for fun.
Not only was she playing with it, but it was also a zoomed-in close-up shot!
Rong Guang watched as her palm was turned over and over and caressed by Chu Feiliang. If she didn’t know the person touching her in the shot was Chu Feiliang, she would have suspected it was harassment!
“A bit more? Are you sure?” Chu Feiliang raised an eyebrow.
Director Zhang remained very serious. “Of course. Although Jiang Wenmou didn’t really die, she never truly wakes up by the end. She remains in this state. How are the readers supposed to scrounge for sweet moments? They can only start with you—you need to show more of that feeling of being unable to let her go. Just think about how you’ve done it before, and do the same now.”
“…How did I do it before?” Chu Feiliang asked with her arms crossed and a blank expression.
Director Zhang paused, then decisively backed down, not intending to continue this topic.
Some things are better left unsaid even if understood.
If he spelled everything out, it would lose its meaning.
Then, as he turned his head, Director Zhang saw Rong Guang. His eyes lit up, and he waved her over, saying, “Come, Xiao Rong, sit here. I was just about to discuss something with you!”
An assistant who was particularly good at reading the situation had already given his stool to Rong Guang. After thanking him, Rong Guang asked, “What is it…?”
“Nothing major.” Director Zhang got straight to the point, pointing at the short clip playing on a loop on the screen. “This scene, what do you think of it?”
He then added, “Considering the entire plot of The Eldest Princess, and knowing that Jiang Wenmou is on the brink of death, what do you feel when you see Ji Ying personally taking care of you, washing your clothes, feeding you, bathing you, and occasionally touching you with great affection?”
Rong Guang was taken aback.
Then her expression became a little strange.
She hesitated for a moment, thought about it seriously, and said, “Director, logically, I think it should be a very moving scene…”
After all, surviving a great disaster, discovering the one you love most among millions, and what’s more fortunate, she’s still alive.
This kind of recovery of something lost is the most joyous thing.
Director Zhang nodded, encouraging her to continue.
Rong Guang’s expression became a bit conflicted. “But the way you describe it, why does it sound like Teacher Chu is taking care of her own puppy, not a person…”
Director Zhang was completely stunned.
He turned back and rewatched the clip, following Rong Guang’s description.
Then he had to admit that Rong Guang seemed to be right.
—This was probably how Chu Feiliang took care of her own dog.
Wiping its mouth after it eats, always grabbing its paws to play with, squeezing and kneading them and liking to look between its toes, and when there’s nothing else to do, petting its head and smoothing its fur…
Weren’t these the same actions as Chu Feiliang’s when she touched Rong Guang today?!
He cleared his throat, attempting to salvage some dignity for Chu Feiliang.
However, he had probably underestimated the extent of Chu Feiliang’s thick skin and talent for sophistry.
Chu Feiliang glanced at Rong Guang and said, “Would a person who genuinely dislikes dogs wipe a strange dog’s mouth, knead its paws, and pet its head?”
Rong Guang thought about it. Wiping the mouth, probably not. An unfamiliar dog wouldn’t let you touch its paws either, but petting its head was acceptable.
But the prerequisite was ‘dislikes dogs’.
Two out of three were a no, so she shook her head and said, “No.”
“Then that settles it.” Chu Feiliang tilted her head up, wearing an ‘I’m right about everything’ expression, and said matter-of-factly, “It’s because I like it that I did those things. Since I did those things out of affection, it doesn’t matter what I treat it as. The point is, it’s okay to do them. Ji Ying is willing to do those things precisely because she likes Jiang Wenmou. Otherwise, if you swapped in someone else, would Ji Ying be willing to do these things for her?”
Rong Guang was convinced by Chu Feiliang.
She thought about it carefully and realized it actually made a lot of sense.
When you truly like someone, you’ll find them adorable no matter how you look at them.
You’ll always feel like you’re seeing a kitten or a puppy, always wanting to reach out and pet them, tuck them into your arms for a hug, and if possible, you’d want to touch their little paws too.
Just like how she saw Chu Feiliang.
If she were allowed, she would really want to kiss, hug, and lift Chu Feiliang high.
Rong Guang squeezed her hand, feeling that indescribable, heart-deep tingling sensation welling up again.
To be liked and cared for so carefully by someone was also a very happy thing.
Thus, the successfully persuaded Rong Guang looked at Director Zhang and said, “Then Director, how do you think we should add to it?”
Although she might not need to give any actions or reactions, she should probably be mentally prepared.
Otherwise… what if Chu Feiliang launched a surprise attack on her, no longer satisfied with just touching her hand?
Rong Guang knew she was being delusional, but she couldn’t help her thoughts from drifting in that direction.
What if it really happened?
After all, this wasn’t the first time Chu Feiliang had kissed her.
Even though it was in a drama, it was enough to satisfy her.
Hearing Rong Guang’s question, Director Zhang’s gaze naturally turned to Chu Feiliang. “What do you think?”
Chu Feiliang crossed her arms, her body relaxed against the back of the chair. She said slowly, “What do I think?”
“How to add to it?” Director Zhang smiled along with her. “It’s hard to give you a formatted script for this kind of thing. Sometimes it depends on your on-the-spot reaction. After all, most of these actions are things you do during your main scenes with others.”
Chu Feiliang thought for a moment and said with a smile, “Then just watch my improvisation.”
After speaking, she turned to look at Rong Guang and said softly, “Be mentally prepared. I don’t know what I’ll end up doing.”
Rong Guang choked on her own saliva, her face flushing red as she nodded. “I… I know. I’ll be prepared.”
After saying that, she pursed her lips, her face blushing, not knowing what on earth she was so excited about.
Director Zhang felt that something about this conversation wasn’t quite right, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. He had other things to attend to, so he had to let it go and went off to do other work.
The agarwood Rong Guang had given out was indeed a huge hit with the crew.
Over the past two days, most people had tried it, and almost everyone who used it felt that the incense Rong Guang gave seemed to be exceptionally calming. Not only did they sleep well at night, but their minds were also instantly soothed, truly allowing them to find peace and quiet.
The work pressure in their industry was high, and their schedules had little to do with a normal person’s routine. They often had to work late into the night, and without the ability to adjust to different time zones, one couldn’t last long in this line of work. As a result, most of them were not in great physical condition, and insomnia and vivid dreams were common occurrences.
Because of this, without her knowledge, Rong Guang had brought a considerable new distribution channel to her hometown’s agarwood industry.
This news also reached the film base for The Eldest Princess.
The day Rong Guang received Duan Nong’s call, she had just woken up.
Perhaps because it was winter and the human body’s recovery ability wasn’t as fast as in summer, her foot hadn’t fully healed, but she could barely put weight on it.
If she rested well, she would be able to move normally in a couple of days, and her work could get back on track sooner. However, to be on the safe side, she was still using a crutch to walk and slowly exercise these past two days.
But this sight, in the eyes of the unknowing Duan Nong, was quite alarming.
When Duan Nong saw Rong Guang walking with a limp, holding a crutch, she was almost furious. She asked repeatedly, “What on earth happened to you? For such a dangerous scene, couldn’t you have used a stunt double? Couldn’t you have just told the director not to shoot a close-up? Couldn’t a stunt double have just replaced you? How are you going to train with this leg? The performance is in less than a month, can you even do it?”
Rong Guang listened to her nagging, her brows furrowed the entire time. Only after Duan Nong finished did her brow relax a little. “No,” she said.
“Why not?!” Duan Nong’s eyes widened. She then pouted and said, “That’s what I do—the second unit director didn’t agree to me using a stunt double at first either, but didn’t I end up using one? Just don’t shoot a close-up, that’s all. It’s not like a stage performance that can’t be substituted. Even in a live performance, when you’re not in the right state, you can slack off a bit. What’s the big deal?”
On matters like this, it was almost impossible for Rong Guang and Duan Nong to see eye to eye.
So she didn’t say any more, only stating faintly, “You can’t always cut corners. One day, you’ll face the consequences. By doing it myself, I can also gain more experience.”
Rong Guang didn’t look at her. Following the doctor’s instructions, she carefully put pressure on her ankle, trying to slowly move it, striving to be able to move freely sooner.
Duan Nong waited for a while. Seeing that Rong Guang didn’t reply, she grew even angrier.
She looked at Rong Guang’s delicate and beautiful side profile on her phone, her emotions calmed a bit, and she said slowly, “I won’t argue with you about this. We can never agree on it. But you have to explain to me why so many people in the crew got a gift from you, but I didn’t, right?”
Rong Guang was stunned, not yet realizing what Duan Nong was talking about, when she heard her continue, “And everyone is saying it’s agarwood your grandma specially sent you, praising its effects to the high heavens, saying it smells good and is affordable… Everyone at the base here is talking about it, and I’m the only one who doesn’t know. Aren’t you being a bit too much?”
Only then did Rong Guang realize what Duan Nong was talking about. It was the incense she had given out earlier.
She was speechless for a moment, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. “If you want some, I’ll send you a few boxes when I get back. I still have quite a bit left here. Or if you’re in a hurry for a gift, I can send it to you now.”
Duan Nong had gotten what she wanted, but she was still relentless. “No rush, it’s the same if you give it to me in person when you get back. You’re willing to give it to me when I ask, so what were you doing before? Did I have to come and ask you personally? If I hadn’t asked, you weren’t planning on giving me any, were you?”
“You’ve misunderstood,” Rong Guang said nonchalantly.
Her gaze fell on her own ankle, and she suddenly remembered a scene she had filmed before.
At that time, she was still in the role of Wen Mou, innocent and harmless. Out of curiosity about what a brothel was like, she wanted to take a stroll and broaden her horizons.
As expected, as a woman, she couldn’t even get through the main door of the brothel and was shooed away by the ‘sisters’ who thought she was there to steal their business.
Wen Mou naturally wouldn’t give up. She simply climbed through a window and found a room to enter.
But after wandering around the room, she didn’t see anything new. Feeling tired, she simply fell asleep.
She slept so soundly that day turned to night, completely buried in her nest of blankets.
When she woke up, her ankle was being held by Ji Ying, and she couldn’t pull it back into the blankets no matter how she tried. She had a brief nightmare and was jolted awake by the cold.
Ji Ying had received news that Wen Mou had gone to the brothel and had been missing for a whole night. Worried that she had been tricked by some illusion—that the spies thought she hadn’t entered when in fact she had been deceived by the brothel’s usual tricks—she had brought her people to conduct a direct search.
In the end, she was identified by the ankle sticking out from under the covers.
Because Wen Mou was always a restless sleeper, she often only covered her upper body with the blanket, leaving her feet out to cool off.
Rong Guang rubbed her chin. Could she expose her ankle again and let Chu Feiliang hold it?
It might even serve as a nice callback.
“What are you thinking about?” Duan Nong asked suspiciously from the other end.
Rong Guang came back to her senses and smiled at her. “Nothing—I’ll send you the stuff later. Is there anything else?”
Duan Nong frowned and said nothing.
Rong Guang’s attitude made her very unhappy. She was about to say something when her assistant knocked on the door, saying her takeout had arrived.
Duan Nong said hurriedly, “I’m going to get my takeout. Don’t hang up, wait for me.”
Rong Guang had been too busy lately.
She didn’t really have much time or energy to continue catering to Duan Nong’s emotions. Plus, it was nearing the end of the year, and she had to prepare for the concert in December. On top of that, she had sprained her ankle, so she was actually a bit anxious.
Moreover…
Rong Guang glanced at the incense box used for storing stick incense in the corner of the room. She lowered her head slightly, sat on the floor, and massaged her ankle intermittently.
Duan Nong said she had never given her incense, but she was wrong.
When she first started as a trainee and formed NO.1, those days were actually very hard.
Her grandmother didn’t know what to send her, so she could only pack as many things as possible that a young girl would like.
Handmade sachets, scented pouches, as well as stick incense and scented candles.
As a friend, Rong Guang had given a lot to her NO.1 teammates from their training days, not stingy at all.
Unfortunately, when she offered the gifts that her grandmother had put so much effort into making, she was met with merciless ridicule from the Duan Nong of that time, who said the smell was unpleasant, the appearance was ugly and rustic, and completely trampled all over her kind intentions.
At that time, Yi Chun and Tang Shi were also young and followed Duan Nong’s lead, doing whatever she said. This put Rong Guang in an awkward position, often making her feel so bad she wanted to hide and cry.
But crying always seemed too dramatic, so she could only vent all her energy into her daily training.
Usually, after a full day of practice, she would be too tired to feel sad anymore.
But back then, her young heart, wanting to make friends and get along with everyone, was carefully held out, only to be ruthlessly thrown to the ground and crushed by Duan Nong. Rong Guang wasn’t one to hold grudges, but she still felt hurt.
It was from then on that whenever her grandmother sent her local specialties from her hometown, Rong Guang never shared them with the other three again.
Just then, the door to the training room was pushed open from the outside. Rong Guang, sitting on the floor, subconsciously looked back.
She saw Chu Feiliang squinting from the bright sunlight flooding the room. Shielding her eyes with one hand, she found Rong Guang’s figure through the gaps between her fingers and smiled brightly. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere. So you’re here.”
Rong Guang’s spirits lifted instantly, and she staggered to her feet.
She was a bit unsteady and was caught by Chu Feiliang, who had entered the room. Looking up, she said, “Are you looking for me for something?”
“There is something.” Chu Feiliang tilted her head and held out her hand. “Teacher Rong, do me a favor and spare some more agarwood. Of the ones you gave me before, I sent some home. My grandma and sister at home also like the scent. The rest I’ve already burned through, not even a speck is left. Now the room doesn’t have a scent burning, and it feels strangely unfamiliar.”
Duan Nong was on the other side of the screen.
She hurried back into her room with her takeout, and seeing the radiant smile on Rong Guang’s face—a smile that hadn’t been directed at her for a long time—she suddenly couldn’t say another word. Her chest even felt a little tight.
At that moment, she suddenly felt a wave of something akin to panic, feeling that some things… seemed to be spiraling out of her control, no longer within the scope of her understanding.
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