Chapter 35: If the Villain Won’t Cause Trouble, I’ll Do It Myself

The next two days were more or less the same.

When the production crew began preparing early in the morning, Ling Xiaoli helped the staff with whatever tasks she could manage.

Once filming officially began, she would move a small stool to the corner, place her laptop on her legs, and hold An Actor Prepares in her hands, constantly comparing it with what she saw.

She wasn’t just keeping an eye on Su Xuan. She was also studying acting.

Ling Xiaoli had absolutely no experience filming movies before this. In truth, stage plays and films were vastly different.

If someone who had acted on stage for years suddenly acted in a film, they might easily overdo it.

On the other hand, if someone accustomed to films suddenly acted in a stage play, they might end up emotionally moving themselves onstage while the audience below saw absolutely nothing.

In short, stage plays required abundant physical expression and extremely solid command of dialogue.

Films, meanwhile, required just the right amount of expression and delicate eye acting.

She had hurriedly read several books related to acting, but ultimately, she still had to combine theory with practical experience.

Director Hu truly lived up to his reputation as a renowned director. His ability was extraordinary. With just one or two words of guidance—or a well-placed scolding at a critical moment—he could bring an actor to their best possible state.

After only a few days, Ling Xiaoli felt that she had gained an enormous amount.

She had gone from knowing absolutely nothing to knowing at least one thing.

Well, that’s already pretty good…

Director Hu even praised her privately for her determination to keep studying despite the freezing weather.

But the problem was—why was Su Xuan still making no move?

Ling Xiaoli had been anxiously watching Su Xuan all day, only to see Su Xuan’s smile toward her become increasingly “kind.”

Ling Xiaoli felt chills run down her spine.

No. This can’t continue!

If Su Xuan won’t cause trouble, then I’ll help her cause trouble!

………

On the fourth day after arriving at the production crew, Ling Xiaoli moved her little stool closer to Su Xuan.

It was roughly close enough that Su Xuan would be able to hear what was happening around her whenever she took a break.

In any case, Ling Xiaoli changed her position every day, so no one would find it strange.

Then Ling Xiaoli began putting her acting skills into practice.

“6 5 5 5 3 5 4, I wandered down this lively street…”

She hummed softly.

“Something seems a little off. 6 5 5 5 3 5 5, I wandered down this lively… Hmm, this one is right.”

The keyboard began clacking.

“But I still feel like, I don’t care…”

She hummed it repeatedly.

Every now and then, the sound of a drum, guitar, or some other instrument rang out.

During filming, she remained completely still. Only during breaks could anyone hear the faint sounds.

By the end of the morning, everyone knew that Ling Xiaoli hadn’t been studying acting that day. Instead, she had been working on songwriting.

The tunes she occasionally hummed sounded pretty good.

Some people were curious. Some were looking forward to it. Others were disdainful.

Naturally, she also attracted the attention of the person she wanted to attract.

At lunchtime, Ling Xiaoli made no effort to avoid anyone. She began talking to Luo Zhaoyin about her composition.

She even appeared extremely happy, saying that she would finish the remaining parts that afternoon and sing it for Luo Zhaoyin that evening.

In the afternoon, a cheer from Ling Xiaoli during a break announced to everyone that her work was complete.

Seeing Su Xuan also send her a “kind” smile, Ling Xiaoli’s lips curved upward slightly.

Excellent acting required sufficient groundwork.

That evening, during dinner, Ling Xiaoli chattered excitedly with Luo Zhaoyin about the song’s progress. She even hummed two sections on the spot, receiving a positive response.

………

After dinner, filming resumed.

Ling Xiaoli changed the file name, created a shortcut on the desktop, and finally configured the video-monitoring software.

Then she made an excuse to leave, giving certain people the opportunity they needed.

Twenty minutes later—

“Who touched my computer? Where’s my song?!”

Ling Xiaoli’s cry of alarm drew everyone’s attention.

Even Director Hu looked over.

Fortunately, it was break time. Otherwise, Ling Xiaoli would have been scolded.

By then, it was already dark. Visibility was poor to begin with, and the set was chaotic. No one had noticed someone tampering with Ling Xiaoli’s computer.

Not only was the song gone. All the related drafts and source materials had disappeared as well.