The birth of an actor

Chapter 60 Chengde
September in Beijing is just the beginning of autumn, with the weather just starting to feel crisp and clear, but it's not as comfortable as early October.

Fan Bing yawned lazily and got off the bus amidst its swaying motion.

After getting off the bus, she checked the time and found it was just past 8 o'clock. She didn't wander around but just stood in the shade at the bus stop with a few other people waiting for the bus.

The only difference is that while others are waiting for the bus, she's waiting for peace of mind.

Just then, she heard the voices of two very young girls talking next to her.

"Hey, I ran into Anxin again yesterday."

"..."

Fan Bing's ears suddenly perked up.

Who?
Peace of mind?

"We ran into each other again? Where?"

“On the playground, I went for a run in the morning and saw him walking around the playground in a very strange way, like a theatrical performer.”

"Why are you up so early?"

"Yes. That's how we met... but I didn't dare to go up and talk to them."

"His bald head is really ugly."

"Huh? I don't think so. I think he's quite manly."

"He's only sixteen, what kind of manly charm does he have?"

"Hehe, anyway, I think it's pretty good."

"Didn't you go and say hello?"

"Hehehe, I was too embarrassed. But I heard that a few girls in the freshman year often talk to him, so I guess they're interested in him."

"Definitely. He's quite famous now, a freshman. He's an actor, good-looking, and has a good personality..."

Listening to their conversation, Fan Bing stared blankly ahead, wondering to herself how miserable An Xin's life at school must be.

Until I heard a familiar motorcycle sound.

She instinctively turned her head and, amidst the two girls' silence, saw Anxin, wearing a baseball cap and with two large backpacks on the motorcycle footrest, walking towards her.

Indeed, An Xin looks awkward without her hair, but Fan Bingbing still managed a mischievous smile.

"here."

She waved to Anxin in a very generous manner.

Then, amidst the surprised gazes of the two girls, Anxin arrived at the bus stop and stopped the bus.

"You're early."

"Just arrived. Have you packed everything?"

"Ah."

Anxin glanced at the two girls staring at her and pointed:
"These two bags are enough."

"hey-hey."

Fan Bing smiled and stepped into the back seat, her hand immediately gripping An Xin's waist.
"Let's go."

"Ah."

Anxin didn't think much of it and slowly started the motorcycle by twisting the throttle.

At that moment, whether intentionally or unintentionally, Fan Bing put his arm around An Xin's waist and glanced at the two girls.

Her eyebrows, which were specially thinned during the makeup session, were slightly arched, giving her an air of... a sense of superiority.

She didn't know why she did it, but after raising her eyebrows and looking at the two stunned girls, she felt quite satisfied.

My mood improved as a result.

She pressed the cushion against Anxin's back and smiled:

"You're quite popular at school. I heard girls talk to you every day?"

"Of course, the line of people who want to talk to me stretches all the way to Liuliqiao."

"Hahaha~"

The girl happily closed her eyes and lazily yawned.
"I'll take a nap."

"...Didn't you just get up?"

"I was too excited last night and couldn't sleep."

"it is good."

Amidst the sputtering of the motorcycle, Fan Bing instinctively revealed a sense of security.

She hadn't experienced this sense of security for many days.

……

Today is the 19th, the day the two of them set off to meet up with the film crew and head to Chengde together.

Fan Bing didn't actually need to make a special trip to see An Xin, but she just wanted to come. So the two of them had to go back home and get Fan Bing's large suitcase.

Along with it was a styrofoam box, which was full of free-range chickens.

After moving into the dormitory, he didn't drink for more than half a month.

With a lot of luggage, the two took a taxi together to the hotel, where a bus was already waiting.

The entire film crew traveled there together by bus.

After loading their luggage into the car, the two naturally sat side by side in the back seat.

Fan Bingbing sits by the window, while An Xin sits by the aisle.

"Hey, did I tell you?"

"what?"

"Sister Zi fired the male model she had just hired."

"why?"

"He asked Sister Zi for a raise, but she was already paying him 150 a day, and he still wanted more. Sister Zi got angry and said, 'Do you think you're Anxin?'"

Anxin's lips twitched:
"What's it to me?"

"How is this none of your business? As soon as you left, a bunch of bosses kept asking where you went. And when they chatted, they often compared him to you. I guess he was feeling uncomfortable, right? Plus, some people were talking behind Sister Zi's back, saying that she treated you badly, so you left her... Plus, the men's version hasn't been selling well lately. With all these things combined, Sister Zi gave him a good scolding and fired him. This time, she even asked me to ask you... if you're interested in doing some part-time work on Saturday and Sunday..."

"Ha, what did you say?"

"I'm telling you, Sister Zi, you're too fickle. Isn't having me enough? How can you be two-timing me?"

"Hahaha……"

He was happy, and the girl was happy too, shaking her head as she laughed.
"However, Sister Zi is also considering that the men's version will be a bit difficult to sell this fall. But with me here, I'm the pillar of stability. I can sell at least three or four packs of the women's version every day. She's considering whether to focus solely on the women's version."

"...I'm counting on you?"

"Not really. It's mainly because she met two Koreans in Guangzhou this time and they're opening a factory here. Their women's clothing designs are really stylish... Look at what I'm wearing..."

"Uh……"

"You have to admit, Korean clothes are really stylish. A lot of people in the market are now making clothes based on their designs; there's even a specific term for it: 'Korean style.' They just take pictures of the clothes worn by the male and female leads in popular dramas, and they sell incredibly well. Sister Zi said they're selling like hotcakes at the Thirteen Factories area..."

The two sat close together, chatting about the changes in the clothing market.

It wasn't until other staff members started getting on the bus one after another that this continued.

Then, Zhao Wei, Zhou Jie, and other main actors took their seats one after another. Actually, looking at it this way, the entire "Princess Pearl" cast wasn't that big.

Apart from the minibus carrying the leadership, the rest of the staff, including the lead actors, filled one bus.

Although everyone nodded and greeted each other, they were still not familiar with each other and sat in their respective places, chirping softly.

At 9:30, the bus departed on time, heading towards Chengde.

Fan Bing stopped talking and started yawning.

Seeing this, Anxin knew she was sleepy and asked:
"Why don't you take a nap?"

"Ah."

She tilted her head toward the glass... but a few minutes later, the girl, whose brain was throbbing from the glass, turned and leaned on Anxin's shoulder.

So, I gently lowered my shoulders to make her more comfortable.

But after a few minutes, the girl suddenly sat up straight and pulled out her bag from under her feet:

"I forgot to give this to you."

She took out a curly hairpin from it.

"This is……"

"The cushion I knitted for you, didn't I say I'd knit one for you..."

"...Big sister, summer is over."

"Hehe, my skills have become rusty."

As Fan Bing spoke, she unfolded her curly hair and showed it to him.

It's just a very ordinary cushion... no pattern, no skipped stitches, just a piece of fabric woven together with blue thread.

After the demonstration, she rolled up the cushion, placed it between the two of them, and leaned against it.

I have to say, this feels much better.

So Anxin stopped talking and closed her eyes to recall the various contents of the original novel "Princess Pearl".

Four hours passed in the blink of an eye.

When Fan Bing woke up, she saw An Xin's admiring gaze.

The girl started sleeping before even leaving the highway tollbooth and didn't wake up the entire way.

I didn't wake up until I got to Chengde.

This sleep quality... is truly something else.

"arrive?"

Looking at the various vendors selling "Chengde Almonds" with signs hanging on the national highway outside the bus, Fan Bing asked.

"Ah."

"Are Chengde almonds... delicious?"

"Won't we know once we buy some?"

"Then you'll come with me... I'm afraid of getting scammed. My mom says there are a lot of swindlers doing business along this national highway, they cheat you out of your money..."

"Hmm...wait, is that the Summer Palace?"

Looking out the window at the distant cluster of buildings, Anxin shook her head slightly.

"I don't know either. But I just heard them say that this is the best time for us to film, because the Chengde Mountain Resort is only open in July and August, so there are no tourists now. Without tourists, our filming should go very smoothly. The plan is to stay here for ten days, and then go to Chifeng for five days. We'll finish filming all the outdoor scenes in half a month."

"Huh? So fast? Wasn't it supposed to take three months...?"

"It won't take that long..."

"Oh right, did you talk to Director He about focusing on filming your scenes first?"

"I already said that Sister He has agreed."

The two chatted like this, and as Fan Bing gradually needed to use the restroom, they finally arrived at a somewhat old-looking hotel in Chengde.

The hotel did look quite old, but it had already put up a banner that read "Welcome to the 'Princess Pearl' TV series crew".

Everyone got off the bus and, under Cao Lihai's guidance, began to collect their respective room keys.

While we were getting the room key, I heard him say:

"Take your room key to the restaurant for lunch. After the crew finishes eating, gather in the conference room on the second floor. The actors can rest directly..."

"Don't worry, what's your number?"

"301."

As he spoke, he glanced at the girl's room key:
"What about you?"

"Huh? I'm from 408."

The girl was a little disappointed; she thought she would be with Anxin.

Regardless, everyone still took their luggage and headed to their respective rooms.

But when she got to room 301, she was stunned the moment she opened the door.

A private room?

Although the area is not large, it looks even smaller than a normal room...

He was genuinely surprised to see that the room contained only a large bed.

Just then, another assistant director on the set, Tian Zhibin, walked up to An Xin. He glanced instinctively into An Xin's room, paused for a moment, then chuckled.

"Ha, don't worry, we're pretty lucky."

"Uh……"

Looking at the dazed Anxin, Tian Zhibin smiled and said:
"We filled up the third and fourth floors of the hotel. After coordinating, there are only two small single rooms left besides the large single rooms. Looks like it'll be just the two of us..."

Upon hearing this, An Xin paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded.
"That's pretty lucky, you don't have to listen to other people snoring."

"Haha, you're right. It's just that the room is smaller than theirs... but it's enough for me."

"Ah."

"Okay, let's go rest."

"Ok."

After exchanging pleasantries, Anxin dragged her suitcase into the house.

The room was indeed small.

But it is true that single rooms are more comfortable than double or even triple rooms.

After putting down his bag and settling his luggage, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Then he took out the script.

My scenes should be relatively concentrated, and I should try to finish filming them within a month.

This is already a "privilege" granted by He Xiuqiong.

After all, school holidays are only one month long.

To keep things on schedule and avoid any mishaps... I need to prepare well myself.

(End of this chapter)