Chinese entertainment: What's wrong with actresses wanting to improve?

Li Chun didn't know how she got up from the sofa.

Her cardigan had somehow slipped to the floor, and the strap of her white nightgown was askew.

Only two wall lamps were lit in the room, their warm yellow light elongating the shadows of the entangled figures on the sofa and casting them onto the wall, like a dynamic, impressionistic painting.

She stood beside the coffee table, her toes curled up on the carpet.

Reason told her she should turn and leave, but her gaze was fixed on her, unable to look away.

Huang Mengying's actions became increasingly unrestrained, and Fu Yibai's breathing became heavier and heavier, with red wine and some more primal scent filling the air.

"Chunchun"

Huang Mengying lifted her head from Fu Yibai's chest, her cheeks flushed and her lips moist, and reached out her hand.

"come over."

The hand appeared exceptionally white under the dim light, with the fingertips slightly upturned, like some kind of irresistible call.

Li Chun's knees trembled slightly.

She took a step forward, then another, until her fingers touched Huang Mengying's fingertips.

Huang Mengying grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the sofa.

Fu Yibai leaned back on the sofa and looked up at her.

He didn't speak, but the heat in his eyes made Li Chun feel her face burning.

Huang Mengying's fingers climbed up Li Chun's shoulder and gently pulled down the crooked shoulder strap of her nightgown.

Li Chun's body trembled slightly, and she subconsciously raised her hand to cover her chest, but Huang Mengying grabbed her wrist.

"Don't be afraid."

Huang Mengying leaned close to her ear and whispered comforting words.

Then she turned her head and gently kissed Fu Yibai's lips, giving Li Chun her place.

Li Chun closed her eyes.

The moon peeked out from behind the clouds outside the window.

The night sky over the plateau was so clear it was almost transparent. Moonlight streamed into the room, enveloping the entire bedroom in a hazy, silvery-gray hue.

Li Chun couldn't tell whose hand it was, whose breath it was, or whose heartbeat it was.

Her consciousness gradually melted away in the warm yellow glow.

She only remembered that at one moment, Huang Mengying whispered "Relax" in her ear, and then her body completely lost its own control.

The pain lasted only a moment.

Then came a long, continuous, wave-like surge of unfamiliar sensations.

At two o'clock in the morning, the night in Zhaotong Ancient City became completely quiet.

Li Chun lay on the left side of the bed, covered with a thin blanket, her cheeks still bearing the lingering blush.

Her breathing had calmed down, but her eyes were still open, staring blankly at the silhouette of the chandelier on the ceiling.

Huang Mengying lay beside her, one arm draped over her waist, already asleep, her breathing even and deep.

Fu Yibai came out of the bathroom, changed into a dry set of pajamas, and sat down on the edge of the bed.

Li Chun's gaze shifted to him, met his eyes for a second, and then quickly looked away.

"Are you alright?"

Li Chun nodded, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she just buried her face in the pillow.

Fu Yibai did not ask any further questions.

He reached out and gently ruffled the top of her hair, then turned off the wall lamp.

In the darkness, he could feel Li Chun turn over and turn her face toward him.

"Go to sleep."

Li Chun did not answer.

But after a few minutes, Fu Yibai felt a warm hand reach out from under the blanket, the fingertips touching the back of his hand, and then he pulled back as if he had been electrocuted.

Fu Yibai smiled and took her hand in his own, his fingers threading through hers.

Li Chun's fingers stiffened for a moment, then slowly relaxed and clasped his hand.

In the darkness, she breathed a soft sigh of relief.

At six o'clock in the morning on April 27, the sound of walkie-talkies and the dull thud of suitcase wheels rolling over the carpet could be heard in the corridor of the film crew's residence.

As Fu Yibai pushed open the door, two stagehands carrying equipment happened to pass by in the corridor.

Good morning, Director Fu.

"morning."

He walked to the elevator, where Jing Tian was already waiting.

She was wearing a light gray sweatshirt and black leggings, her hair was tied in a high ponytail, and she was holding a hot Americano that she had brought from the restaurant.

Seeing Fu Yibai walk over, she raised her glass and waved it at him.

"I brought you coffee."

Fu Yibai took the coffee she offered and took a sip.

The elevator doors opened, and Huang Mengying helped Li Chun walk over from the corner of the corridor.

Li Chun was wearing loose dark blue sweatpants and a white sweatshirt. Her hair was down and her complexion was normal, but she was walking noticeably slower than usual.

Huang Mengying held her arm with one hand and dragged her own suitcase with the other, muttering something under her breath.

Seeing Fu Yibai and Jing Tian at the elevator entrance, she smiled and greeted them.

Good morning, Sister Tian Tian.

"morning."

The four people entered the elevator, the doors closed, and their reflections were mirrored on the metal walls.

During the elevator's descent, only Huang Mengying spoke, saying that she had looked up travel guides for Dali and that she could go out and explore after moving there today.

After arriving in Dali, the film crew resumed their fast-paced work.

In early May, the sun shines brightly in Dali, and the surface of Erhai Lake glistens with tiny silvery lights.

The art team found an old Bai ethnic house by Erhai Lake and transformed it into Si Teng's modern residence. There is a century-old osmanthus tree in the courtyard, with a trunk so thick that it takes two people to hug it, and its canopy covers most of the courtyard.

The props team set up a rattan table and chairs under the tree, and placed tea sets and a half-open book on it to create the atmosphere of Si Teng's daily life.

The core of the following scenes is the confrontation between Si Teng and Bai Ying.

Huang Mengying stayed in Dali for four days, and all of her scenes as Shen Yindeng were completed.

After finishing work, she treated the whole team to a hot pot meal of sour fish soup in the ancient city. During the meal, she drank some wine and, with a flushed face, toasted and thanked each staff member.

The next morning, she packed her bags and returned to Beijing. Before leaving, she kissed Jing Tian on the cheek and whispered something in Li Chun's ear.

Li Chun's face flushed red instantly. She reached out to hit her, but the girl had already dragged her suitcase and run out of the hotel lobby.

After Huang Mengying left, Li Chun became less talkative.

She continued to film diligently on set, and after work, she ate with everyone, appearing to be no different from before.

But when she watched the playback next to the monitor, her gaze couldn't help but drift towards Fu Yibai.

When Fu Yibai spoke to her, her ears would turn slightly red.

After finishing work and returning to the hotel, she was always the first to go back to her room, close the door, and never come out again.