After Being Blackened All Over the Internet, I Ruled the Military Variety Shows
Chapter 402 - 393: The Face Seems Swollen

Chapter 402: Chapter 393: The Face Seems Swollen

"Hey, I’m back!"

Pei Xinyuan was sitting on a lounge chair waiting for her scene when someone suddenly tapped her shoulder.

She turned her head and met Han Jiaojiao’s exuberant face.

Her eyes lit up, "You’re finally back," and she pulled over an empty stool beside her, "Sit down and rest."

When she saw Cheng Qian return earlier without Han Jiaojiao, she got worried and sent a message.

She only felt slightly at ease after receiving Jiaojiao’s reply that she had gone with Director Lin to the Shengjing Little Lady’s preparation studio in the film city.

Now that Jiaojiao was finally back safe and sound, she could finally relax.

"So, how was it touring the studio? Does it seem reliable?"

"Absolutely reliable, very professional." Han Jiaojiao was very confident, "When I went there, there were about a hundred people working, the departments were all clearly divided, everyone was busy and full of passion. You wouldn’t hire a hundred people just to act out a show, right? Xinyuan, I really feel like my luck is finally here this time!"

Pei Xinyuan looked at the joyful smile on Han Jiaojiao’s face, but what popped into her mind was the look that Cheng Qian and Lin He exchanged in the private room earlier, and she couldn’t bring herself to congratulate her.

Luckily, Jiaojiao was too excited to notice, so she propped her head up and stood up, "I can’t take it anymore. I had quite a bit to drink at the dinner table earlier, and the alcohol is hitting me a bit. Now that I’ve reported back, you continue with your shoot. I need to go lie down."

"Be careful on the road."

Watching Han Jiaojiao leave with steady steps, Pei Xinyuan couldn’t help but glance at Cheng Qian who was acting in front of the camera.

In full general attire, he looked every bit the part of a righteous man.

Considering how Jiaojiao was now fully invested in the Shengjing Little Lady drama, she hoped that what she saw in the private room was just a trick of the eyes.

*

Before they knew it, they were only two days away from relocating the crew for shooting in Liangchuan.

The crew’s atmosphere and progress were great these past two days, and with Chong Yin officially signed, Wei Xiao was in such a good mood that he announced a day off for the crew.

Of course, this was also due to the upcoming relocation. Aside from the actors who had already wrapped, everyone else in the crew had to make the long journey to Liangchuan in the northwest, which would take at least a month.

By giving everyone a day off, they could reunite and say goodbye to family and friends.

Once they reached Liangchuan, the notorious poor signal might even make communication problematic.

But before the day off, there was a happy occasion to celebrate.

She Man, who played Concubine Fu Qingshan, the third female lead, and Xu Ling’an, playing the fourth lead Princess Jin’an, both wrapped successfully.

After they finished their last scenes, Wei Xiao and Jiang Lingxi, each holding a bouquet of flowers they’d prepared, handed them over.

"Congratulations on wrapping!"

She Man had acted in quite a few dramas in the past and was used to wrapping up. At this moment, she even felt a sense of relief.

In the past, everyone in the crew would flatter her, and as the lead, she even had the power to change the script. But this time, making a comeback, she wasn’t the lead, and people’s enthusiasm had waned. The director even publicly rebuked her for her lack of professionalism. She endured it only to maintain her reputation and not quit midway.

Now that she’s finally wrapped, she’s free!

She accepted the bouquet, thanked them calmly, and made an excuse to go to the dressing room to remove her makeup.

For Xu Ling’an, it was truly her first time, her first time stumbling through the role of Princess Jin’an, going through the young princess’s life. She felt a sense of completion and an indescribable reluctance.

Moreover, there were many people she’d met in the crew congratulating her. Thinking about this farewell, it was possible they’d never meet again, and the sentimental young girl found her eyes starting to well up.

Jiang Lingxi, seeing this, silently handed her some tissues she had prepared.

"An’an, all good things must come to an end..."

Xu Ling’an nodded while sniffing, "I know, sister."

She understood, but she couldn’t control her emotions entirely.

And there was something she’d been keeping to herself for days.

But these days, everyone was rushing, preparing for the shoot relocation, and as the female lead, her sister was the busiest.

Seeing her sister’s weary look after each wrap-up, she was reluctant to disturb her.

As the twilight fell during their last scene, the production of "Empress Yuan Zhao" at the film studio was officially completed.

After packing up, everyone headed to the hotel for a lively wrap party.

Since two actors were wrapping up, more people attended the party than before.

Considering Xu Ling’an was young and played a lower-ranked character, She Man finally got a taste of the protagonist treatment at this wrap party.

After drinking toasts, she stood up, pushed her chair back, and went to the restroom.

As she walked back through the corridor, she nearly collided with someone wearing a black hoodie whose face she couldn’t see clearly.

The person walked briskly, and when she turned her head, she only caught a glimpse of a figure turning a corner.

She had to suppress her mood and continued walking. As she walked, she suddenly felt an itch on her neck and instinctively scratched it.

Opening the private room door, the first person she saw was Jiang Lingxi sitting by the window.

The other was holding a teapot in one hand and a cup in the other, refilling it with lowered eyes.

Her expression was nonchalant, and her fingers were jade-like.

Even though she wasn’t sitting in the main seat, she was somehow the first person one would notice.

Jiang Lingxi handed the cup of tea to Xu Ling’an, who had sipped some wine and was struggling with the spicy taste. She looked up and met She Man’s gaze.

The private room lights were warm, intentionally creating a cozy atmosphere.

But she didn’t see any warmth in She Man’s eyes, more like apprehension.

Especially after seeing her portrayal of both middle-aged and elderly Emperor Yuan Zhao without breaking character, there was only a facade of politeness left.

However, she didn’t mind. Her attendance at the wrap party was because of the other main character.

When She Man got closer, Jiang Lingxi pinched her nose as she nearly sneezed, noticing She Man’s face seemed odd.

She remembered She Man’s face wasn’t this big. Why did it look like it suddenly swelled?

Xu Ling’an, having calmed her spicy tongue with some tea, was about to complain to her sister about how terrible the white wine was and wondered why so many people liked it. But then she saw her sister looking puzzled at She Man coming closer, so she followed her gaze.

Nothing seemed unusual!

She whispered, "What’s wrong, sister?"

"Doesn’t She Man’s face look a bit swollen to you?"

"Huh?" Xu Ling’an instinctively glanced over, meeting She Man’s eyes.

She Man scratched her chin, "Do you have something to tell me, An’an?"

"No, no." Xu Ling’an shook her head, withdrew her gaze, and continued whispering with her sister, "Not really, maybe you saw it wrong, sister. Earlier, Shadow Queen She was always wearing a fancy crown that made her face look small. Without it, her face looks bigger."

"Maybe." Jiang Lingxi considered that the possibility of She Man being punched during her outing was nil and, though confident in her powers of observation, reluctantly agreed with Xu Ling’an’s explanation.

Otherwise, it was unexplainable.

"Sister, after the wrap party ends, can I sleep with you tonight?" Xu Ling’an asked, smiling brightly.

Jiang Lingxi stroked her sister’s head, hesitated, then nodded, "Okay."

Xu Ling’an immediately beamed with delight.

It was already past eleven when they left the hotel. Even those who lived in the Imperial City found it too late to take a night bus home, so they all returned to the hotel.

Jiang Lingxi, with Xu Ling’an and Lu Zhengzheng, just got into their room, and before they could close the door, they heard a loud crash from across the hall, followed by a scream, "Ah, my face!"

Lu Zhengzheng, who was about to close the door, remarked, "Is Shadow Queen She drunk and throwing a tantrum?"