Fate Trading System – Chapter 174

Plan A

Spirit Alliance 15

Longing

Speaking about others behind their backs is a delicate matter. Some say that speaking ill of others behind their backs is what petty people do, but it depends on the nature of the gossip.

Some people, harboring dissatisfaction but too embarrassed to speak directly, can only privately complain to close friends. Others maliciously spread rumors, and worse still, some do it to harm others’ interests.

However, regardless of the nature of the gossip, being caught by the subject or others is always an extremely awkward situation.

The director approached awkwardly, wringing his hands, and smiled at Su Xin.

“Well… please don’t take it to heart. This kid is a bit dense and sometimes speaks without thinking. Xiaosu, please don’t dwell on it. We’re all colleagues here.”

With the director trying to smooth things over, she naturally wouldn’t persist. After all, she hadn’t been the one to start this.

“I understand, Director. Mr. Chen, I address you as senior because you’ve been in the industry longer than me and have more experience. I’m just a newcomer who recently debuted. However, I want to say that which actress the director chooses to play this Holy Maiden role doesn’t seem to have much to do with you as the male lead. We don’t even have any scenes together, do we? My character doesn’t survive past three episodes. The female lead, who has the most scenes with me, hasn’t raised any objections. Yet you, the male lead, come complaining to the director and questioning why others weren’t cast, really…”

Su Xin left her words hanging, covering it with a smile, but the sarcasm was evident to everyone.

The director’s expression darkened. Although he indeed had family relations with this junior actor and they were quite close, that wasn’t justification for questioning his casting choices on set.

After all, who was the director here?

“I don’t think I’m wrong. There are so many celebrities in the entertainment industry, plenty of actresses to choose from. How did it end up going to a newcomer like you? We originally had someone else in mind.”

Su Xin had just heard that they had originally considered Ji Yu, wanting to have a big star make an appearance to boost ratings.

But the fees for A-list stars versus unknowns were vastly different, something the director must have considered.

“I just told you, Ji Yu doesn’t have time for this project. She’s a big star, understand? You think you can just book her whenever you want? Besides, do you know about the budget? It’s limited. Ji Yu has her own event to attend, so she can’t participate in our filming. Don’t you understand, Chen Bai? You’re my nephew, so I’m letting you make a scene. If this were any other director today, they would’ve kicked you out already, believe it or not?”

The director was angry now. Why couldn’t this kid get it? He didn’t seem to realize how powerful the backing of this newcomer was. Even if this newcomer had gotten in through connections or casting couch, what business was it of his? The newcomer had nothing to do with him, and her acting ability spoke for itself. While you could tell she was new and somewhat inexperienced, it wasn’t embarrassingly bad. Some people who had been in the entertainment industry for years couldn’t act as well as her, and she showed more genuine feeling.

The director’s words weren’t just meant for Chen Bai, but also for Su Xin to hear.

By first making a show of scolding and then revealing their family relationship, even if Su Xin wanted revenge later, it wouldn’t be as complete.

It was like when a troublesome child at home accidentally offends a guest – if the parent scolds the child first in front of the guest, the guest can’t really say much more.

“Mr. Chen Bai, it’s like this – I noticed from the beginning that you were prejudiced against me. But that’s fine, have your prejudices. It doesn’t affect me. However, regarding what you just said, there are some logical issues I’d like to address.”

“May I ask how you obtained the male lead role in this TV series?”

“Of course not like certain people who use connections. When I wanted to act in this drama, I felt I was suitable for the male lead, so I had my agent submit the script, then I came for an audition, competed with other candidates, and won the role.”

“Good. My process was actually the same. The director thought I was suitable for this role, so he sent it to my agent. But since this is just a supporting role that appears for three episodes, there weren’t any competitors, so I came to play this role. Do you see any problem with that? Do you think I used connections to get in? Whose connections would I have used? The director’s?”

Su Xin spoke these words still maintaining her calm demeanor; she wouldn’t get angry over such a small matter.

Chen Bai glanced at the director and swallowed whatever he was about to say.

“Director, please continue to the set to check on the scene with Sister Xiaoya.”

“Yes, go ahead, go ahead.”

After Su Xin left, the director stood there looking at Chen Bai with exasperation.

“Nephew, I supported you when you entered the entertainment industry, after all, you graduated from a prestigious school and were professionally trained. Making it as an actor isn’t easy, and if you want to become famous, you need to have something special. Your acting is decent, and your looks are quite good – you could go far in this field. But your judgment and demeanor are lacking. I’m telling you this directly because you’re my nephew, not an outsider. Let’s end this discussion here today. In the future, think before you act and speak, alright?”

Chen Bai stood there with an unpleasant expression but still nodded.

“I know you admire Ji Yu and want to get closer to her, but don’t take out your frustrations on others. If you really have what it takes, then try to act in the same movie or TV series as her. Though she’s not doing TV dramas recently. Just keep working hard.”

The director knew his nephew had always idolized Ji Yu, so naturally he was disappointed she wasn’t cast. However, that girl had quite a few rumors in the industry, and her reputation wasn’t great. Recently, she seemed to have offended some big shot and nobody knew how that would turn out. The real reason she didn’t take this drama was to lay low for a while, though her official excuse was having other activities. Since he was old friends with her assistant, the assistant had told him a bit more.

Su Xin finished filming her scenes within a few days, and now she was shooting her final scene before moving on to her next project.

“Action!” The scene began.

“Watch out!”

On the magnificent battlefield, the young woman saw a blade flying towards her direction, aimed directly at the woman beside her.

The maiden immediately changed her position to block the fatal strike, saving the life of the person beside her, but losing her own life in the process.

The blood pack was pierced, and Su Xin’s clothes were stained with large patches of blood.

The previous severe injury scene had already been filmed; now they were shooting what happened before.

Sometimes when watching TV or movies, the scenes aren’t shot in sequence, but rather one part first, then another part, before finally being edited together.

“Justice… will prevail.”

Her pure white feathered robe was now stained with dust and blood. Though gravely wounded, her eyes remained startlingly bright.

“Cut! Su Xin’s makeup is a bit smeared. Let’s touch up the makeup first, then continue. Qiu Xiaoya, you’re trying too hard. Don’t overdo it – the grief should be more subdued, understand? It should be deep sorrow.”

The director called cut and criticized Qiu Xiaoya for overacting.

Su Xin, who had been lying in Qiu Xiaoya’s arms, sat up when she heard “cut,” allowing the makeup artist to approach with their kit to touch up her makeup. Her naturally healthy complexion was covered with a sickly pallor, made up to look like she was at death’s door, with traces of blood still at the corner of her mouth.

Actually, being stabbed in the heart usually doesn’t cause blood-spitting unless the lungs are pierced. The blood-spitting scenes in TV shows or movies when characters are severely injured are just an artistic expression.

Blood-spitting = extremely severe injury, about to die soon

Heart stabbing = fatal wound

So they combined the two – whenever there’s an abdominal or heart injury, blood-spitting must occur.

“Let’s do that segment again. The final cry can fade into silence, but you must show that tension.”

Directors usually scold people quite harshly, but because of the earlier incident, the director’s tone was relatively gentle.

“Understood.”

This character was actually quite simple – a Holy Maiden who grew up in the Celestial Tribe, with little exposure to the outside world, but possessed pure faith.

She believed in love, justice, peace, and courage, being portrayed as an extremely pure character who could treat even the female lead she’d only known for a few days as a dear friend, even dying for her. In real life, such a person would be called a “Holy Mother”, a true “Holy Mother.”

Originally, this term was complimentary, used to praise women who were kind, pure, selfless, and noble. Not every woman could earn the title “Holy Mother.” But somehow, the term gradually became distorted.

A true “Holy Mother” has a clear sense of right and wrong, proper values, selfless dedication, and self-sacrifice.

A fake “Holy Mother” lacks moral boundaries and wastefully flaunts their kindness. Simply put, it’s problematic because that kind of excessive sympathy and kindness becomes irritating and appears artificial. Many girls try to fake this personality to appear kind, lovely, and innocent.

Real “Holy Mothers” are rare in this world, while fake ones are abundant. Genuine kindness is different from being a fake “Holy Mother” – one deserves praise, while the other doesn’t deserve to be cherished.

Su Xin finished filming her scenes here and received a phone call from Chu Qiu in the afternoon.

“Hello, boss, you’re calling me now? Is something wrong? I’m taking a flight back tomorrow.”

Su Xin was packing in her hotel room, though there wasn’t much to pack – she hadn’t brought much and could leave at any time.

“I heard you were bullied?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“We’ll talk when you’re back. I miss you.”

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