Chapter 17. Lead actress
In the morning, Ren and White bear reached the film set.
Just like the previous time, the staff was moving hurriedly and fixing the set for the shoot but this time something was different about them.
They were not looking at Ren with indifferent expressions, now their expressions were of slightly admiration and respect.
Some were even whispering among themselves. Ren had gotten slightly famous because of his acting and the viral video, at least among the staff and crew members.
As soon as Ren and White bear entered the indoor set, they were greeted by Chu Min who was coming towards them with a smile and...a sandwich in his hand.
"Hey, Ren, I saw your video. You are really getting famous."
Chu Min said while chewing the sandwich. He was looking hungry.
"Brother Chu, it looks like you didn't eat any breakfast this morning."
"Yeah, I had a morning interview."
"Morning interview!! Did it go well?"
"Well!! It was disastrous. The person taking my interview was just awful. He was continuously asking my proactive questions like 'What is my plan if the movie flopped' or 'Did I regret choosing this project'."
Chu Min took a second to eat the whole sandwich and continued.
"He was acting like the movie has already flopped. That damn bastard!!"
White bear expression dropped slightly when he heard that. He mumbled under his breath.
"Well, he must be thinking like that, looking at the past records."
"Don't look at the past records. The past is the past, we should look at the future instead."
Ren said trying to uplift the mood. He was optimistic about the movie as he knew that it will do good business.
"Yeah, we should look at the future. I am also sure that the movie will fare well with the box office."
Chu Min as he laughed. If it was before, he would not say those words with confidence but after watching Ren play the role of Jay, he was sure that the movie will fare well.
And if it didn't did good business, it will just mean that their luck was bad.
"Why is there so much female costumes on the set?"
White bear said as he pointed at the staff member carrying female dresses.
"Didn't you knew that we will be having a scene with Li Xinru."
"Li Xinru!!"
White bear gave a dumbfounded expression when he heard that. It was not a exaggerated response as Li Xinru was a goddess in many people's hearts.
Li Xinru, hardly anyone in China would not know her name.
She debuted when she was only 16 years old as the lead vocal of a idol group. She quickly garnered praise because of her beauty and singing skills.
She acted as the head of her idol group for 4 years before having a dispute with her agency.
After that, she left the agency and started her career as an actress. It's already been 4 years since then.
In those 4 years, she had acted in several movies and dramas but she hasn't gained a image as a lead actress.
People still recognised her as a 'Former idol group leader' rather than a 'Lead actress'.
Despite that, she had many fans and was popular among every age group.
'Even my mother liked her.'
Ren thought as he entered the dressing room with Chu Min and White bear.
"Ah, I told you not to use this shade, it made my face look chubbier."
When Ren heard that voice, he subconsciously glanced at the girl having her makeup.
She was beautiful as if innocence and sexiness had mixed together, forming a fairy.
It was the first time Ren had seen such a beauty in his real life. Watching her, he thought that she really is a fairy.
She was Li Xinru.
While grumbling about her makeup, she turned around as she noticed Ren's group.
Her eyes scanned around the surrounding and ultimately stopped at Ren.
"Are you the new rookie who surprised the director?"
"Ah, yes, my name is Xin Ren. It's nice to meet you."
Ren was surprised for a second but he quickly composed himself and greeted her as he bowed slightly.
Although, he was older mentally, Li Xinru was his senior in the industry. It was just proper etiquette to greet her while bowing.
"Hmm, I like your attitude. Juniors should be like you, composed and respectful towards their seniors, unlike someone else."
Her gaze lingered and she stopped at Chu Min who was eating another sandwich.
"Ah, what did I do, now?"
Chu Min asked as he questioned her. He was not able to understand what was the thing that he did wrong.
"You are still asking that. It's that, the thing in your hand!!"
"Ah, you mean this??"
Chu Min said as he pointed at the thing in his hand which was surprisingly a sandwich.
"It's just a sandwich."
When Chu Min said that, Li Xinru hopped from her chair and said as she glared towards Chu Min.
"Just a sandwich? You know that, I am on a diet, right. I will be swayed if you eat those things in front of me."
"That's not my problem."
As Chu Min and Li Xinru argued over a sandwich, Ren could not help but smile.
He didn't knew that Li Xinru personality was like this. He had thought of her as a cold and composed female. It was the conception he had got after watching her act.
She had mostly done cold and composed women roles in her movies and dramas. Her image among the public was of a hard working woman.
As Ren was watching them, someone approached him.
She was a woman who looked to be in her mid 30s. She wore a business suit and she has a smile on her face.
"Hello, I am Su Ling, Li Xinru's manager."
"Ah, I am Xin Ren."
The lady introduced herself as Li Xinru manager. After greeting Ren, she glanced at White bear who was watching Li Xinru intensely.
Ren elbowed him slightly and he was quick to compose himself.
"Ha, I, I am Ren's manager. My name is Dong Shu but you can call me White bear."
"Hehe, that's a pretty good nickname. It suits you."
Su Ling said as she glanced at White bear's bear like body.
After some casual talk, Su Ling glanced towards Li Xinru and said.
"You must be surprised to know her real personality."
"Ah, well, it's a surprise as I had thought of her as a strict person rather than a cheerful one but it's a pleasant surprise."
"Yeah, it's a great to know her real personality and I feel that this suits her more."
When Ren and White bear said that, Su Ling giggled as she said.
"It's good that you liked her. Several people did not like her carefree personality and think that she is not taking her role seriously. Truthfully, she is just trying to distract herself from the pressure by acting like that."
Ren felt that those words were true as several actors often take their work seriously. Many people did not like to distract themselves as they wanted to get immerse in their roles.
In that way, many people can take her actions as offensive. Although, Ren felt that way, Su Ling's last sentence disturbed him.
"What do you mean by the last sentence? Is something pressuring her?"
When Ren asked that question, Su Ling titled her head as she said.
"Don't you know about the matter that the investors are coming to the set today?"
"Investors??"
When Ren and White bear shook their head, Su Ling said with a doubtful look.
"You really don't know, maybe, the director didn't tell you as he didn't wanted to pressure you."
"Yeah, that seems plausible."
Ren said that with a smile but his insides were again feeling with nervousness and anxiety.
He glanced to his right and saw that White bear was looking at him worriedly.
'Don't worry, it's just investors. I have prepared hard for this role. I can't give up at this point.'