Chapter 158: It is Their Loss
Song Meng pointed at them with a trembling finger. However, everyone ignored her. Just as she was trying to play a tragic scene, Li Xiangling served the dishes. The aroma of the dishes blew everything she had in mind away.
“Unbelievable, you actually went through all the question sets in one day and are going to take the theory exam right after that!”
Song Meng asked Yun Xiangxiang out of curiosity the next day, as she knew that Yun Xiangxiang was going to go through the questions. It ended in Song Meng’s astonishment.
Yun Xiangxiang completely ignored her. She did a morning’s worth of questions to refresh her memory of the theories she nearly forgot.
She took out the new script for “Jiu Se” in the afternoon. Meticulously, she studied it.
There were no dramatic changes to the story. It only became more detailed. However, Yun Xiangxiang quieted down when she went through the mid-to-late stage of the script.
Jiu Se became the mistress of the political strongman by giving him what he wanted. Her opera performance on the stage attracted the strongman’s attention.
Although there were not many opera scenes in the whole script, Yun Xiangxiang thought that they were crucial.
Particularly the scene where Jiu Se used her performance to send info to her organization’s members right under the strongman’s nose.
She called He Wei, “Brother Wei, I want to learn a bit about the basics of opera.”
“You still have time for that?” He Wei was surprised that Yun Xiangxiang called him for this.
“I can work overtime while shooting to add to it,” Yun Xiangxiang mulled over it before saying.
Yun Xiangxiang had noticed it only now. She could only seize every chance she had to enrich it. She did not need it to be fully identical, but at least it should look the part.
She needed to provide that vicarious thrill for the audience.
“The opera’s makeup is thick. Only three scenes need it. Du Changrong plans to get a stuntwoman for you,” He Wei replied.
Yun Xiangxiang shook her head, “Brother Wei, I want to put in my best effort. If I cannot do it, for the sake of the film’s continuity, naturally I will accept a stuntwoman. But if I can do it, I do not want to employ a stuntwoman.”
Yun Xiangxiang respected the stuntmen. They were the crew who gave it their all behind the scenes.
They contributed everything dangerous, tiring, and professional in the films.
However, she also respected her own work. Since she took the job and the money, she needed to be responsible for this character.
She could never guarantee that she would need no stuntwoman for life. She was not omnipotent after all.
However, she wished to do everything herself to her best effort. Her chest could be held higher if she did that.
He Wei kept his silence for a while. “Okay, I’ll arrange it for you. We’ll meet up with the upper management for NI.G tomorrow after you are done with your exam.”
“Okay,” Yun Xiangxiang replied obediently.
Yun Xiangxiang studied the script for a little while longer before looking for Song Mian with the script in her hands.
After she had entered the room with the correct pa.s.sword, she saw Song Mian watering the flowers on the veranda.
“This bud looks so unique. What kind of flower is it?” Yun Xiangxiang saw a little plant in the pot when she walked over there.
She could not discern it through the leaves. Its bud resembled a lotus, but it was different. It was a white flower with some violet on its edges.
Yun Xiangxiang imagined what it would look like after it had blossomed. It looked exquisite.
“It is a new species type,” said Song Mian curtly. He put his watering can down. Turning his head aside, he asked, “Anything I can help you with?”
“What? Can’t I come here just because I miss you?” Yun Xiangxiang half lied.
“Oh, then let’s take a stroll outside then…,” As he spoke, Song Mian dragged Yun Xiangxiang and pretended to go outside.
Yun Xiangxiang immediately tugged on him, “Okay, okay. I have something that I need your help with.”
With his lips stretched, Song Mian’s smile was warmer than the sun, “What is it?”
“My new script,” Yun Xiangxiang handed the script to Song Mian. “I want to have a coach to teach me about opera.”
He Wei did not plan to prepare it for her. Even though He Wei would do it now that she had requested, Yun Xiangxiang still worried that he would not manage to get anyone in such short notice.
That was why she sought Song Mian out. The Song Family was an ancient family. Many parts of it still had that pure ancient culture with them.
Yun Xiangxiang thought that Song Mian must know a grandmaster in opera. She had to utilize her boyfriend’s connection.
“The opera is the gem of our traditional culture. Father loves it too.” Song Mian said to Yun Xiangxiang when he reached the later part of the script, “This opera of yours is the Shaoxing opera. I’ll ask father.”
With that said, Song Mian took his phone out. Master Song’s voice came through after the phone was connected, “Now this isn’t something you see every day. You actually called me on your own, brat.”
“Xiangxiang wants to learn about Shaoxing opera…”
“Learning about Shaoxing opera? Shaoxing opera is great! It is the essence of our culture! I’ll call Old Man Yuan right now and have him teach my daughter-in-law himself!”
“Ai, Uncle Song!” Yun Xiangxiang pounced on the phone in a hurry to stop Master Song from hanging up.
“Little Xiang, you don’t even miss me. You didn’t even come visit during the new year. Oh, I feel so sad,” Master Song sighed.
Yun Xiangxiang immediately felt awkward, “Uncle Song, I’ll visit you after I have taken my theory exam.”
“Hahahaha, you promised. I am waiting for you.” Master Song immediately became all smiles.
“I will definitely come over.” After Yun Xiangxiang had guaranteed, she said, “Uncle Song, I’m just learning it for a film. Just simply look for a coach whose schedule is okay.”
Don’t call those on the top to teach me. That pressure would be crazy. Besides, won’t that be a bit over the top?
“Simply? How can I simply look for someone to teach you when you want to learn?” The old master was upset. “About the time…you call the shots!”
After Master Song finished his domineering declaration, he hung up before giving Yun Xiangxiang any chance to say anything.
Yun Xiangxiang rubbed her forehead, “I should not have sought you out…”
She did not expect such big movements to be made. She felt embarra.s.sed about receiving this help.
“Don’t think too much about it. They want father to give them something to do badly.”
Song Mian pulled Yun Xiangxiang into his embrace, “You’re doing charity work. They can repay their debts to my father and loosen up some of their psychological pressure.”
“Pfft!” Yun Xiangxiang could not hold her laugh in. “Everything I do is right in your eyes, aren’t they?”
“Yes,” Song Mian answered without hesitation.
Yun Xiangxiang did not know what to say. She leaned against Song Mian’s chest. Unbeknownst to her, Song Mian gazed at the script, his mind mulling over something.
The forty-five minute exam on the next day flew by. The results were produced on the spot. Naturally, Yun Xiangxiang pa.s.sed it without any trouble.
Yang Xin asked, “How are you going to practise the five segments?”
Yun Xiangxiang smiled cryptically, “I’ll practise at home.”
Yang Xin did not snap out of it even after Yun Xiangxiang had left. Not even in her dreams did she think that she would have a student where she was only a coach in name.
Yun Xiangxiang went to see the upper management of NI.G in China with He Wei. They had lunch together happily.
The management from NI.G however, said regretfully, “Overall, we think that Miss Yun Xiangxiang is better. We do hope that we can collaborate with Yun Xiangxiang. But regretfully, from the call that I have received from HQ today, we find out that our choice is still The Era of Stars.
If they had chosen The Era of Stars at this moment, their choice would definitely be Qin Yue.
“Don’t be discouraged, NI.G is The Era of Stars’ resource anyway.” He Wei consoled Yun Xiangxiang.
“It is their loss for not choosing me,” Yun Xiangxiang had a confident smile.