The system watched everything going around it with rapt attention. It took in everything with enthusiasm. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity after all! It had never been on a movie set before and this experience was truly novel to it but what attracted it most was it host's eyes.
Suddenly, they aren't like dead fishes, ah! She looks like someone who picked up money on the street. The system commented. Though the connection was a bit… different. The system knew what it was talking about.
Su Qingtang crouched behind the door waiting for her cue to burst in and take action. Her eyes were alight, alight with flames of true and utter delight. It wasn't like normal where although she had an expression of happiness, but it was a joy that exuded from within. It seemed the Host was serious about acting after all. This didn't seem like a random burst of energy at all.
The system hated to burst her bubble but it was necessary. It would be bad if she spoiled such a good scene. So far the team hadn't NG'ed on this scene. Everyone was watching with rapt attention to see if the shoot would go through on one attempt. "Host, get ready! Its almost time."
Realising her expression was off she put on an expression of anxiousness and tried to get herself into the mood.
Lin Yanfeng clenched his fist impossibly tighter. Veins popping in his forehead. "That isn't a part of the deal… Where will we get double the money?"
Mr. Wen smiled. A cruel smile… Well it was as cruel as the actor could muster. Su Qingtang noticed this and once again lamented about the stress of being an actor. He had practiced this smile in the mirror so much that he could probably do it in his sleep only to do it once on screen and probably never use it again.
A flash of silver and a knife is placed under Yan Man's neck. This was her cue. Su Qingtang… No. Qin Shining burst through the door, a look of anxiousness on her face. She ran and tackled the partner away from her friend.
A flash of light and a team of men rush into the building. Mr. Wen jumps up but is quickly apprehended. A bit of chaos ensues.
The stunned Yan Man who had been pushed out of the way felt a burn at her thoat, lightly touching it her hands come away red. Stunned she looks around for her saviour only to see a figure curled up on the ground. Her heart dropped. This figure… wasn't it familiar? She rushed over to the figure and turned the person over. This… Wasn't this Qin Shining?! Why was she here?
Cough. Cough.
Bright red blood ran down her cheeks and red peach blossom bloomed on her chest. "M- Man-er."
A smile bloomed on Qin Shining's face she raised her hand to wipe the tears that unknowingly fell from her eyes. "I… I'm… sorry... I-"
Her hand fell leaving a bright red stain on Yan Man's face. This wasn't like how they usually depicted it in the movies where people have time to say their last words. Death is no respecter of time or place. It comes and goes as it wills and follows all its whims, leaving trails of despair in its wake.
"Ning- Shining! Why are you closing your eyes? What are you apologizing for?" Seeing Qin Shining close her eyes a switched seemed to flip in Yan Man's brain. "Shining! Open your eyes."
Blood stained tears dripped from her eyes as she hugged her best friend closer. Pressing her so close it seemed she wanted to meld their bodies together.
"Little Man." A police officer walks up to Yan Man. His eyes reddening as he takes in the girl on the floor. "You need to follow us to the station… I know you cant bear to leave her but as you know… it's protocol."
Yan Man nodded dazedly. Qin Shining was just playing around. Ill wait until she jumps up and calls for April fools. Except, its November…
"How did you get here?"
The officer smiled sadly. "Little Ning called. She said you might be in trouble… We came as fast as we could but…" The officer didn't really know what to say everything had happened so suddenly.
A sad moment passes before the director calls for cut. Su Qingtang quickly gets up off the horribly cold floor, patting at the goosebumps that covered her entire arm where it touched the floor. Director Qiao laughed when he saw her expression.
The older man walked over before placing a nice red packet into her hands. It was customary to give a red packet to someone who had pretended to die while acting, a kind of well wish of sorts. "You did really well, Su Qingtang. Your level of acting surprised me.. With more training it would be natural for you to succeed. Have you ever thought of attending film college?"
Film college? To be completely honest, Su Qingtang had thought of this before but she hadn't really thought about it as a current reality, but more of a thing she could do in the somewhat far future.
Qiao Bifan saw her expression and surmised that she hadn't really thought about it. He sighed. It would be sad if the acting world lost such a good seedling.
As she watched him leave Su Qingtang reached into her sweater and removed the blood bag from the inside of it. She held the bag with a complex look on her face before decisively throwing it into the trash.
"Host did well! As expected of the Host of a wonderful system as me!" The system didn't forget to praise itself. It was awesome after all. Choosing such a good host shows how amazing it as a system was! It couldn't wait to show off.
Unlike usual where she would make fun of the system she takes this comment with a smile. A bright and broad smile stretching across her face.