Chapter 5 Carrying a Scandal

Song Que took the ‘Xiao Zuoyi’ role and brushed his physique to 49 before joining the crew. This effect was immediate; the daily sleep loss had little to no impact on him.

Director Li actually has tremendous doubts about whether to use Song Que or not. This drama intends to follow the public praise route; the cast must have no disrepute. He disliked Song Que’s lousy reputation, but Song Que’s performance made him like him very much. He couldn’t even see the candidates who were initially selected. Director Li was so upset that Wang Yi endorsed Song Que again. Director Li finally decided, and Song Que’s performance after joining the group also made him very satisfied with the decision.

Among the relatively high-ranking roles, Song Que had the most martial arts scenes and was the only one who did not need a substitute. Director Li only preferred his acting, but he did not expect that he was also very talented in martial arts. The martial arts instructor has only taught him the movements once, but Song Que can remember them. After trying a few times, he will be able to master them. Without a stand-in, there was no need to use various close-up perspectives, the difficulty of directing was reduced, and the presented picture was a classic. In order to improve the overall level of the martial art setup, director Li began to consciously give Song Que a chance to show his face.

Men know men best, but Song Que’s performance in the crew was evident to all. There were many beautiful girls in the crew, and there were also many little girls who lost their heads at the slightest coax. Although Song Que was a gentle person, he didn’t get too close. He maintained a gentleman’s distance, not to mention the petty advantage with his hands, not even taking a little advantage with his mouth. Whether he was really unmoved or pretending to be unaffected, he was a person with remarkable self-control.

The entertainment industry was full of fake couples. What kind of cheating or violence domestic, as long as there is no real evidence. Director Li didn’t believe it at all. He even started to hate the scandals that hindered the future of a good actor.

Song Que didn’t know that director Li admired him so much. After all, director Li was the most strict with him. Even if he performed outstandingly, he still couldn’t avoid being struck, and the reshoots were repeated repeatedly. However, Song Que thought that no matter what, Director Li wouldn’t make fun of his own films. It’s good to keep improving, and he didn’t have a single complaint. He was at the mercy of director Li.

The days were spent filming; today was Song Que’s last scene and also the last scene of Xiao Zuoyi’s life.

The special effects artist made many arrows on Song Que’s back. Wang Yi, who came over, saw this smile and said, “Brother, you look like a hedgehog now.” 

Wang Yi called him ‘brother’ in the play at the beginning. And called him ‘Brother Song’ outside the play. Later, she didn’t pay attention to it anymore and called him brother inside and outside the play. Song Que also treated her as a little sister. He smiled slightly when he heard the words but was not annoyed.

Wang Yi shook her head and said, “Brother, this is not good; what should I do if I end up laughing like this later?”

Song Que tapped her forehead, didn’t mean to joke with this little sister, and reread the script. Wang Yi saw the fierce gaze that director Li gave her, quickly picked up the script, and read it.

Shooting started.

Xiao Zuoyi was covered in arrows and looked highly tragic from the back. Still, he firmly protected Xiao Zuoyun in his arms.

Yan Ran arrived with someone; Xiao Zuoyi’s legs could finally be bent; he knelt down and let go of his sister in his arms, revealing her little white face.

Xiao Zuoyi’s back was horrible, and his face was stained with blood, but the little sister who he guarded with all his might, her face was still clean.

Xiao Zuoyi’s eyes were somewhat lax, and his expression seemed to be a little stiff, but when he looked at Xiao Zuoyun, his eyes seemed to have a natural brilliance, and they came to life again.

Xiao Zuoyun was stunned.

The last radiance of the setting sun. These four words flashed through her mind.

[In Chinese, it was hui guang tan zhao(回光返照)]

Xiao Zuoyun also knelt in front of her brother, tears streaming down her face.

Xiao Zuoyi slowly drew out his saber as if he wanted to use it to support his body. Xiao Zuoyun, without thinking, hugged and gave her exhausted brother support.

Xiao Zuoyi pushed her gently. Xiao Zuoyun didn’t understand what he meant and only heard him say hoarsely: “Let me see your face.”

Xiao Zuoyun’s tears did not stop; she supported her brother’s body with her hands so that he could see her.

Xiao Zuoyi’s eyes became very distant as if recalling everything in the past.

“Your father destroyed my whole family but left me alone to be raised as if we were a parent and child. In my life, my parents’ hatred can’t be snowed, the kindness of raising can’t be repaid, love is impossible, and I can’t get what I want. It’s like a joke.”

Others didn’t understand the meaning of those eight words, but Xiao Zuoyun understood. She understood when Xiao Zuoyi hugged her and protected her life. She understood why Xiao Zuoyi refused to marry a wife and why Xiao Zuoyi often hesitated; she understood…

Xiao Zuoyi stretched out his hand to touch her face but suddenly spit out a mouthful of blood, failed to touch it, then lost consciousness forever.

Xiao Zuoyun cried out and hugged Xiao Zuoyi tightly.

“Brother!”

It rained heavily, and most of the bloodstains on Xiao Zuoyi’s face were washed away, revealing that handsome and incomparable face. The gloomy air between the eyebrows that ran through the first half of the play finally dissipated, sleeping like a child with no burden.

Affection and righteousness, love and hate, he used his life to give his answer.

Song Que was killed.

Wang Yi, who said before the play she would laugh, had not been able to get out of the character for a long time. Red eyes and nose, squatting aside, it looked like she was sulking.

Director Li looked with amusement, pointed at Song Que, and said, “Go and comfort your little sister.”

Song Que felt helpless, walked over, and squatted down.

Wang Yi was said to be the heroine, but she was ranked second and third in the play, so it would be acceptable to squat for a while. Director Li was so generous.

Song Que said: “What’s wrong? Feeling uncomfortable?”

Wang Yi said, “Um.”

Song Que did not comfort her but squatted quietly with her.

Wang Yi’s cry has not yet dissipated.

“Brother, you must have a very good life in the future, so you don’t have much comparison with the inside and outside of the film.”

Song Que smiled and said, “Yes. Little sister, you have a bright future, don’t stop on the road scenery easily. You will regret it, brother will wait for you to win the award and ascend the throne.”

Wang Yi knew that he saw her excessive love. Still, he did not condone it and gently pushed her away, keeping her away from his tattered reputation and letting her stick to her own path.

You must know that Wang Yi has such resources at a young age. On the one hand, she has the strength and popularity; on the other hand, she naturally has some connections. If Song Que was with her, only she would suffer, and Song Que would gain benefit. Wang Yi believes that she is usually intelligent and calm. Still, at this moment, she is just a girl in love, and it is best to be manipulated.

But Song Que did not.

Wang Yi wiped her eyes and scolded him fiercely: “You are in this situation because you don’t know how to write despicable things! No matter in terms of appearance or acting skills on this set. How many are there that can match you? But you still have to match people here!”

Song Que smiled understandingly as if he fully understood the reason for her tantrum. Wang Yi ran away until Song Que left the crew; she didn’t come out to see him off.

Song Que’s play ended, and he returned to the daily routine of fitness and acting classes. Xiao Zuoyi’s filming has not been finished yet, and it will take a while before broadcast. At this stage, without work, his reputation will not improve. After the remarkable stage passed, there were not many topics left. Still, Song Que didn’t even have variety shows on offer. He was patient, doing everything he should do every day.

Waiting and waiting, the opportunity came.

After teacher Song from the acting class and director Li communicated, finally a decision was made. She approached Song Que and said, “Among my many students, you are not the most spiritual nor the most diligent, but you are the best combination of the two. Those who are spiritual are not as assiduous as you are. And the hardworking ones are not as spiritual as you are. The teacher admires you and has always wanted to recommend you to director Lou. Now I want to ask you, is your scandal true?”

Director Lou was the best domestic director for crime films.

Song Que said: “Cheating and domestic violence are both fakes.”

Teacher Song said, “Do you have any evidence?”

In fact, she just asked casually. If there was evidence, Song Que would have brought it up long ago. Will he wait until now?

Song Que said with a wry smile: “It’s often the hardest thing for people to prove that he didn’t do anything. However, he didn’t do it, which means he didn’t do it. At least no one can provide evidence that I did it.”

Teacher Song asked: “Is it possible for you and your ex-wife to resolve the conflict? Can you ask her to help clarify it?”

Song Que had a headache about what happened to the original owner and Zhang Menglu. He already had an idea, but he still couldn’t understand. He didn’t know why the two of them did this. At this moment, he could only sigh and say, “This is equivalent to getting Lulu to admit that she lied. It’s too difficult.”

Teacher Song didn’t put any hope on this, although she was disappointed. It is still within the acceptable range. She was very optimistic about Song Que at first. Still, she didn’t expect that before she had time to make a decision, people would go to Lao-Li to film, and she thought she would miss it. Unexpectedly, Xiao-Lou’s film took a long time to go back and forth from the script to the preparation because it couldn’t find a suitable actor. It was so coincidental that Song Que was finished there. During the meal together, Director Li was full of praise for Song Que, which made Director Lou think, and Teacher Song made up her mind. Good actors were hard to find, but since Song Que has sworn that he has never done the things in the rumors, they will work together to clean him up. Don’t let an unfounded scandal ruin an actor with great potential.

With the efforts of several parties, Song Que got the script of 《Double Crime》.

Despite the endorsement of Director Li and Teacher Song, Director Lou arranged an audition for Song Que. But unlike in the past, even if Song Que failed to achieve the feeling that Director Lou wanted, as long as he was a little bit special, Director Lou would still use him because he couldn’t afford to drag it anymore.

But if Song Que’s acting skills were worthless, Director Lou would offend Director Li and Teacher Song; he refuses to use such an actor.