Chapter 5 (Ignite At a Touch)
Chapter 5
Zhou Yining followed Wan Wei's instructions and activated her Weibo account with a verified badge.
On the first day her Weibo was live, she posted a greeting to everyone.
Soon, netizens noticed that this newcomer was quite something. The actresses Zhou Wei and Jingxin, as well as Yu Yuanhang, all from the same crew of 'Tai’ping Dynasty', had followed her. Additionally, many other artists with considerable popularity had also followed her. Was she really a newcomer?
Netizens were curious about Zhou Yining's identity, and everyone was waiting for the paparazzi to reveal something. That very night, someone posted a long Weibo thread, exposing all of Zhou Yining's personal information and family background.
"Graduated with a master's degree from XX University in the UK, daughter of the CEO of a listed company in S City, cousin of the president of Huachen Film and Television, Qin Sen. No wonder she could play Concubine Ning in 'Tai’ping Dynasty'. This background is quite impressive, almost on par with Jingxin."
"This educational background is impressive, ranking in the top three among female artists in the entertainment industry. What's the story behind carrying a bag of cash? Flaunting wealth? She's probably going to be targeted by thieves now [bye bye]."
"The blogger says she absolutely hates Brother Dong. Is that true? She's playing Brother Dong's concubine in 'Tai’ping Dynasty'. I'm worried she might poison him! [scream]"
"I'm worried about Brother Dong's safety! I have to go to her Weibo and leave a warning!"
"With Brother Dong's powerful fan base, would she dare to do anything?"
...
That night, Zhou Yining opened Weibo and was startled to see her eyes widen.
...What happened??
She had only 188 followers, but there were 3688 new comments and 2389 new @ mentions.
Could it be that she gained followers? No, that couldn't be right. She only had 188 followers, most of whom were friends and crew members, with twenty or thirty advertising followers and zombie accounts. Where did all these comments and @ mentions come from?
She clicked to skim through them and found they were all full of sarcasm and abuse.
How did this happen all of a sudden? Just as she was trying to find the source of the incident, her phone rang. It was Wan Wei.
It seemed something had happened.
When the call connected, Wan Wei said directly, "You're on Weibo's hot search, but it's not good news. All your information has been exposed. This matter can't be stopped now, and even if it could, it wouldn't do any good. Don't say anything, and don't reply to any comments."
So, that was why she was on Weibo's hot search.
But how did she get on the hot search? Could it be that her secret account where she badmouthed Ji Dongyang had been exposed?
Zhou Yining frowned, and after a long while, she said, "Okay."
Wan Wei suddenly chuckled, "Getting on the hot search on the first day of opening your Weibo isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's either fame or infamy. Let's hope it's the former."
Zhou Yining pouted, "What about fame and infamy?"
Wan Wei chuckled again, "That's fine too, as long as it's not all infamy. Tomorrow is your first day on set. Be careful, I won't come to see you."
After explaining all the necessary matters, Wan Wei hung up the phone.
Zhou Yining clicked on the Weibo hot search, and her name was indeed trending. Fortunately, it wasn't the exposure of her secret account.
After reading the long Weibo post, she sneered sarcastically.
Look at this world; there are always people who can't stand to see her do well.
...
The next morning, Zhou Yining drove to the set by herself. After being on Weibo's hot search the night before, the people in the crew couldn't help but stare at her. They hadn't expected this girl to have such a significant background. What they were more curious about was her backpack. They had often seen her carrying a bag in Hengdian, which looked quite heavy. No one had imagined that the girl was carrying a bag of cash.
This was very tempting for thieves!
The only people in the crew with their own dressing rooms were Ji Dongyang and Zhou Wei. The other important supporting actors shared rooms by gender. As Zhou Yining passed by Ji Dongyang's dressing room, she happened to meet him coming out in full emperor attire. The two of them exchanged a silent glance and then looked away.
Zhou Yining smiled, "Good morning, Brother Dong."
Ji Dongyang glanced at her, "Hmm."
Zhou Yining laughed and walked away.
In the makeup room, Jingxin was dressed as a maid, and the other three actresses playing the concubines had already had their makeup done. They greeted her as she came in and then went out to prepare.
Zhou Yining threw her bag aside and went to change into her costume.
The makeup artist stared at Zhou Yining's bag and looked at Jingxin, "Is it true that she carries cash in her bag?"
Jingxin nodded, "There's never less than fifty thousand yuan in her bag."
The makeup artist, "Wow, that's a lot!"
Zhou Yining changed into her costume and sat in front of the makeup mirror. The makeup artist began to apply her makeup, praising her skin, and while applying her eye makeup, she couldn't help but praise her more, "Your eyes are so beautiful. Once the eyeliner is on, you're so enchanting it makes water envious. The small mole here on your cheek is the perfect finishing touch. Combined with your eyes and makeup, you look lazily seductive like a wild cat, the really seductive kind!"
Zhou Yining's skin was fair and delicate, with almost no imperfections. Except for a small, barely visible mole on her left cheek, about a centimeter above the tip of her nose, which made her face look very special and added a touch of charm.
Zhou Yining blinked her beautiful, bright almond-shaped eyes and smiled seductively, "Really? Can I seduce people?"
The makeup artist was dazzled by her eyes and nodded vigorously, "Absolutely seductive!"
Zhou Yining laughed, "Good, then I'll go seduce the emperor later."
The people present laughed out loud.
In 'Tai’ping Dynasty', the scenes previously filmed in Hengdian were about the Prince of Xiao leading the army to quell the rebellion. At the end of the war, the old emperor died, and the Prince of Xiao ascended the throne. Zhou Yining's character, Mu Ning, was originally a concubine of the Prince of Xiao. Mu Ning's father had made great contributions, so after the Prince of Xiao ascended the throne, he made Mu Ning the Empress Ning. However, it was unexpected that Empress Ning would become the infamous Poisonous Empress in the future.
Today was Zhou Yining's first scene, and it was also her scene with Ji Dongyang.
Zhou Yining's scenes were scheduled for the afternoon. Now, the court officials' scenes were being filmed. She watched Ji Dongyang sitting on the dragon throne, his eyes sharp, every expression radiating sharpness. There was no denying that he indeed had an innate regal aura.
Director Xu shouted, "Cut! Next group, get ready!"
Ji Dongyang took a break in the middle of filming, waiting for the afternoon scenes. He walked down the steps and paused as he passed Zhou Yining, glancing at her.
Zhou Yining smiled at him, "Good morning, Your Majesty."
Ji Dongyang looked at her for a few seconds and then slowly shifted his gaze away, "It's not time to shoot yet, no need to be so polite."
With that, he walked to the chair next to him, took the eyepatch from his assistant, put it on, and leaned back, not moving.
Zhou Yining made a face at his eyepatch, hating the poker-faced emperor.
After lunch, the first scene of the afternoon began filming.
The clapperboard sounded, and all eyes focused on Zhou Yining and Ji Dongyang.
Empress Ning, in a rose-colored, cross-collared, floor-length dress, walked gracefully into the Imperial Study, followed by two maids. After Empress Ning had paid her respects, she took the ginseng tea from the maid's tray, smiling as she walked over, "Your Majesty, you are so busy with state affairs that I am worried you might overtax your health."
Empress Ning placed the ginseng tea on the table, and the emperor looked up at her. Empress Ning smiled, placing her arm on his shoulder, and with a side twist, she sat on his lap...
Director Xu, "Cut! Zhou Yining, are you a zombie? Why are your movements so stiff?"
Zhou Yining, "..."
She hadn't expected Director Xu to use such harsh words.
She glanced at the expressionless Ji Dongyang and quickly got up from his lap, standing there to listen to Director Xu's scolding.
Director Xu, "Didn't I go over the scene with you earlier? You're supposed to be trying to please the emperor. With such stiff body movements and smile, would any man be moved or softened?"
Zhou Yining quickly apologized, "Director, I'll do it again."
Second time.
Director Xu, "Cut! Don't you know what 'to refuse and yet to welcome' means? Don't just keep leaning towards the emperor!"
...
Twelfth time, Director Xu, "Cut! Fortunately, you're thin, otherwise if we keep filming like this, the emperor's legs will be ruined by you sitting on them!"
Zhou Yining, "..."
Director Xu, I'm about to be worn out by your scolding.
Director Xu said irritably, "Take a twenty-minute break. Jingxin, help Zhou Yining find her acting groove, teach her how to act!"
The named Jingxin was a bit surprised, looking at Zhou Yining and Ji Dongyang, "Okay."
Zhou Yining got up from Ji Dongyang's arms for the twelfth time, and Ji Dongyang also stood up, looking down at her, "Didn't you say you wouldn't hold me back? You're the actress I've worked with who has the most NG's."
It seemed that the prediction had come true so quickly.
Zhou Yining bit her lip, wanting to retort, but lacking the confidence, she was momentarily stuck.
After a few seconds, she angrily flung her sleeves and walked away.
The moment she entered the dressing room, Jingxin began to criticize Zhou Yining, "You need to make your eyes more seductive when you look at Dong Ge. He's the emperor, you're a concubine of the harem. The way you were just now, it didn't look like you were trying to please him. I think you wanted to give him a cup of poisoned tea..."
Zhou Yining waved her hand, a bit annoyed, "I know how to please! How to be coquettish! But when I see Ji Dongyang's face, I just can't be coquettish, let alone seductive!"
Jingxin glared at her, "This is what being an actor is about. Even if you hate your co-star, once you've accepted the job, you have to act. Do you even want to act? If Qin Sen knew you had so many NG's..."
Zhou Yining quickly said, "You mustn't tell my cousin."
Jingxin, "If I don't tell him, Director Xu will say something, and the crew will talk."
Jingxin continued, "Dong Ge is a strong actor. If you keep up with such poor acting in front of him, he'll probably see you as a clown."
Zhou Yining, "..."
Jingxin didn't hold back in her criticism, "Or think you're just stupid. You don't want to be looked down upon like that, do you?"
Zhou Yining was stunned for a moment, then stood up and glared at her, "Who's stupid? Just watch me, I'll either seduce him to death or annoy him to death!"
Jingxin, "..."
Did she go too far?
Wait, that wasn't what she meant!
Zhou Yining had already run out.
Filming resumed.
Empress Ning, as soft as boneless, leaned against the emperor, her breath like orchid as she whispered in his ear, "Your Majesty, it's been a long time since you've visited me..."
The emperor's expression remained unchanged, slightly pushing her body away, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth, "I've been busy with state affairs recently."
Empress Ning pouted, her phoenix eyes blinking, and leaned in again, rubbing her cheek against his neck, "Your Majesty..."
The director behind the monitor suddenly slapped his forehead and shouted into the loudspeaker, "Zhou Yining, you're a concubine of the harem! Not a prostitute! You don't have to be so flirtatious!"
Zhou Yining, "..."
Ji Dongyang glanced at the girl still sitting on his lap, expressionlessly snorted from his nose.
Zhou Yining suddenly looked at him, "Why are you snorting at me?"
Ji Dongyang looked at her, "Never been in love?"
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