Chapter 19

I think I butchered this chapter more than the previous ones. Unexpectedly, Baidu and several translation sites barely helped.

As always, I tried my best guys.

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CHAPTER 19

The morning on the second day, Chen Pingping accompanied Li Zixi to the filming site and after that, she went alone to rent a car. After arriving at the car rental shop, she immediately rented a car. Chen Pingping herself can drive, therefore, after paying the deposit, she drove the car back alone.

Arriving at the site, it looks a bit extreme. Today is the shooting of her family's Xixi's big wedding scene. She excitedly ran to Li Zixi's side and asked: "Xixi, how do I remember that this isn't your scene this morning, ah? Didn't you say shooting will be shopping with Yu You in the morning?"

Li Zixi was peacefully and serenely sitting in the dressing room, letting the makeup artist apply heavy makeup on her face. Although painting her face too much is uncomfortable, it was required for the filming and she could only endure it. Besides, this is better than entering the water in winter and wearing a cotton padded jacket in summer.

Hearing Chen Pingping's words, she didn't reply to her question and asked first: "Is the car rented?"

Chen Pingping nodded vigorously and said, "Yes, already rented. This small thing, I can still do it."

Li Zixi habitually laughed, but as soon as her mouth opened, the makeup artist's hand paused. Immediately, she tightened her face and whispered an apology: "*I'm sorry, caused you trouble."

[*I'm sorry (不好意思) – the phrase has no exact equivalence in English. The pinyin is bù hǎoyìsi. It seems that it is used in different situations like saying 'sorry' or 'excuse me' but there's a common undertone of embarrassment for causing inconvenience]

As the saying goes, *don't hit a smiling man. A celebrity with a good attitude still adds a good impression. The makeup artist laughed too and said: "It's alright, don't laugh too much."

[*don't hit a smiling man – after admitting one's mistake, the offended party might forgive easily]

Li Zixi said: "Okay." After speaking, she said to Chen Pingping, "You did a good job today, it's commendable. Also, you have been gone for more than an hour, that scene has already been filmed."

"Wow, my family's Xixi is awesome, so fast to finish shooting a scene. Now we can shoot the next scene in advance!" Chen Pingping happily praised Li Zixi.

Powerlessness surged in Li Zixi's heart. She faintly said, "You think too much, it's not sure yet when this scene will be filmed. Just put on makeup in advance, that's all. It may have to wait until the afternoon, it may also be at night."

Chen Pingping's face suddenly drooped down again and said, "In this way ah..." Don't know what she thought of, she immediately regained her spirits, "But, Xixi, you are already great, one scene is finished so soon. Maybe we are lucky, we can shoot in the afternoon. This way we can go back earlier to the imperial capital."

Li Zixi said in her heart: *My child, you think too much, it's not up to me to decide when to film. That depends on the state of the actors ahead. If the actors ahead shoot fast, she can also finish shooting faster. If the actors ahead gets NG, then congratulations to you, have to wait slowly.

[*My child – 孩纸 (hái zhǐ) literal translation would be 'child paper'. Baidu Baike said that the word was coined from a common typographical error. Supposedly, it was spelled as 孩子 (hái zi), meaning 'child', which is close-sounding with 孩纸. The suffix 子 was replaced with 纸. I resorted to 'my child' because 'child paper' sounds awkward.]

At this time, the makeup artist Xiao Zhang couldn't help but interject: "Your family's Xixi indeed is very fast in filming. As a newcomer, you are doing well. Oh, looking forward to your future development!"

Chen Pingping proudly told the makeup artist: "Yes, our family's Xixi is the best."

Li Zixi shook her head. Looking at Chen Pingping, she said: "You ah, don't blow it, help pack things up." After speaking, she also faced Xiao Zhang and said, "Thank you, thank you for your compliment. Also, thank you for your makeup, it's very beautiful."

Xiao Zhang, packing things up, raised her head and said to Li Zixi, "You're welcome, it's my job. Jiayou."

Li Zixi smiled and nodded.

"Kacha" Chen Pingping, holding the phone towards Li Zixi, took a picture.

Li Zixi turned her head, frowned and said, "Don't upload to social networking sites. The director has rules."

Chen Pingping smiled foolishly and said, "Don't worry, Xixi, I won't upload. It's just that your profile just now is really beautiful, I couldn't hold back."

After a while, Yu You came in also with makeup. From afar, seeing Yu You at the moment, Li Zixi raised an eyebrow. Really an elegant and fine young man. But as he approached, seeing the same heavy makeup on his face, Li Zixi, with a 'puchi', let out a loud laugh.

Originally, Yu You was stunned by Li Zixi's appearance. Hearing the laughter, he immediately regained his senses and asked: "What's wrong, is there something funny on my body?" As he asked, he looked up and down at his clothes.

"No, very handsome." Li Zixi said while shaking her head.

Yu You asked suspiciously: "That, why did you just look at me then suddenly laugh out loud?"

"Because we are *patients with similar conditions empathizing with each other. Seeing your face with heavy makeup too, my heart suddenly became balanced."

[*Patients with similar conditions empathize with each other – empathizing/pitying each other because of the same suffering or misfortune; misery loves company]

Yu You, hearing this explanation, wanted to roll his eyes at her.

"Yesterday, why didn't I find you so talkative ah? I thought you were a quiet flower fairy. Turns out, once opening your mouth, I realized that you are actually a flower demon ah."

Li Zixi, also not willing to show weakness, replied: "Yesterday, I also didn't find you so funny ah. I thought you were a quiet handsome man. Turns out, once opening your mouth, I realized that you are actually..." With that, Li Zixi paused on purpose.

"What is it?"

"You are actually still a handsome man." Chen Pingping continued spoonily. Yu You is so handsome today ah, begging for marriage. Especially standing together with her family's Xixi. Absolutely handsome brother and beautiful girl, *the man is able and the woman is beautiful, a pair of beauties ah.

[*the man is able and the woman is beautiful – a perfect couple worthy of each other]

Hearing Chen Pingping's words, Li Zixi gave her a "*teachable child" look. This is what a good assistant should do. When she's out of words, time to take over and lead from there. Although she knew in her heart, it was very likely that this good assistant had started to be spoony again.

[*teachable child (孺子可教) – Young man/child worthy to be cultivated]

Yu You looked at the two people in front and said, "Your assistant is really clever ah. What scene are you filming ah. You two, *one sings one responds. Go directly do *Shuanghuang."

[*one sings one responds – echo each other; collaborating with great connection]

[*Shuanghuang – a folk art where two artists perform with one doing the physical act or pantomiming and one doing the talking and singing while hiding behind the first artist]

After speaking, everyone laughed out loud.

After laughing, Yu You looked around and said in a low voice: "It's hard work for you today."

Li Zixi raised an eyebrow, looked at Yu You and said, "What do you mean?"

Yu You shrugged and said: "Although everyone is applying makeup on their faces, you actresses wear thicker makeup, it will be very uncomfortable after a long time. Moreover, it is not good for the skin."

Li Zixi quickly grasped the main point: "Long time?"

He didn't expect Li Zixi to be smarter than he thought. Yu You sighed helplessly: "Yes ah, it will take a long time. The most conservative estimate shooting will be tonight, and possibly it will be tomorrow."

Li Zixi puzzledly asked: "Why, ah?" Once filming wth Yu You started, only then it will be known if it will be a very long time. She had seen the prior notice; it was not a very big scene nor a very difficult drama ah.

Yu You looked at Li Zixi and said, "You know, every crew has several people who aren't good but very powerful."

Li Zixi's heart chilled with disappointment listening to Yu You's explanation. Although she knew she might wait a long time, she didn't expect that she might wait until tomorrow.

"Every time, filming these people's scenes, Director Jin is always...um, not in a good mood." Yu You used a euphemistic term to say.

"Then why not..." Li Zixi raised her head and looked at Yu You, almost blurting out.

Why not replace those several actors, why let them stay in the crew.

Yu You smiled, meaningfully looked at Li Zixi and said, "Yes ah, why not...What do you say?"

Li Zixi understood that she had asked a very stupid question. Why not? Even a strict and harsh director, even a quality pursuer director, there is always a helpless time.

For their own work, for art, for their own reputation. In the selection of important roles, the director has nothing to say. However, in some less important roles, for ratings and investment, the director is bound to make some unwanted choices.

For a director with high standards and strict requirements, presumably doing this, he is more uncomfortable than anyone.

Because he couldn't bear to put his hard work in vain, he still made strict demands on these people while filming.

However, the level of these people is relatively poor. Some people, because of their strong background, are disdainful towards the director and don't cooperate with the director's work. Combining these factors will make the director's mood not so good. Hate themselves for making a compromise, but also hate that these *rotten woods are difficult to carve.

[*rotten wood, difficult to carve – a metaphor for difficulty in educating or bringing up someone]

Figuring this out, Li Zixi looked at Yu You's eyes, nodded, and said: "Many people have their own difficulties, can't follow what the heart desires nor do what they want to do."

Yu You nodded with a smile. He likes talking with smart people. Unfortunately, in this circle, smart people are lacking the most, and the most important are smart people.

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The author has something to say:

I seem to hear you again behind the scenes saying that I am short, saying that the male lead scenes are not enough... Because there will be many scenes of the male lead in the future, I am afraid of him being proud, so let him be cold first!

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T/N:

"You know, every crew has several people who aren't good but very powerful." --> This line had me in tears. It took me hours to understand what Yu You was saying. I can't figure out what 卡戏卡的 and 厉害 mean. The former, I can't find a translation. The latter, I don't know if it's positive or what.

Also, Xixi made me so confused. She started as someone smart that knows the ways of the circle but didn't pick up the power game? Just a few chapters ago, she sounds like she knew about it. Weird.