BXBX NOVEL Chapter 15
Chapter 15: Only Appearance Matters
Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
Although she had guessed Han Jing’s intention, Yun Xiangxiang was still very moved. She and Han Jing were neither relatives or friends. Accepting the film offer was nothing more than a transaction. Han Jing must have searched for a long time only to be met with disappointment many times, hence why she regarded Yun Xiangxiang with respect.
Han Jing wasn’t the type who beat around the bush. After settling the details, she offered hospitality and treated Yun Zhibin’s family of three to a meal, asking if they would like to stay in Sichuan for a few days, even offering to arrange a tour guide for them. Yun Zhibin refused, saying that he needed to go home to tend to his pregnant wife, and so Han Jing booked them a flight for the next day.
Han Jing was very busy. Due to location constraints, there were many locations that probably needed to be filmed aerially. There were too many things she had to prepare. Apparently, she had already filmed the aerial photography of the changing of seasons in a year, ensuring that all risk factors were eliminated.
[Wei Shanshan: Xiangxiang, I heard that you have signed the contract for “University Dream”!]
Two days after Yun Xiangxiang arrived home, Wei Shanshan asked about it with a shocked tone in the group chat.
[Yun Xiangxiang: That’s right. It’s a really exciting film.]
[Yi Yan: What is the theme of “University Dream”?]
[Wei Shanshan: It’s about life in harsh living conditions. I’ll show you all some photos, have a look at the filming location {JPG}{JPG}{JPG}...]
Yun Xiangxiang saw the realistic scenes of heavy snowfall. Those small roads, hills and cliffs looked very real.
[Yun Xiangxiang: Shanshan, did you also go for the audition?]
[Wei Shanshan: Yeah, I did. At first, I thought I could overcome it, but when I stood on that cliff, my entire body was shaking. My mind went blank and my whole body froze up gripping the rope ladder. I even had nightmares for a couple of nights after I got back!]
[Fang Nanyuan: This shot needs to be filmed by aerial photography. I feel like if I stepped on that road it would definitely collapse. If I fell, will they even be able to find my remains?]
[Yi Yan: Even if it’s about impoverished students seeking education, isn’t the location way too harsh? Xiangxiang, why would you accept this?]
[Wei Shanshan: Right. These are the photos I got from the crew, but these photos don’t completely show what the actual environment is like. Xiangxiang, you’re so brave. No matter how famous you become in the future, I won’t even feel jealous!]
It seemed like the filming location of “University Dream” had traumatized Wei Shanshan significantly. Yun Xiangxiang thought it was alright. After all, she had a mature soul, her endurance would be different from Wei Shanshan’s.
[Fang Nanyuan: I think it looks exciting. Do they need a male lead? Take me.]
[Yi Yan: Take me +1]
[Wei Shanshan: You two are insane. You haven’t even been to the place; you don’t know how terrifying it is. I would rather watch horror films than experience this.]
[Yun Xiangxiang: Go away. This film only has one protagonist. The rest are fillers.]
[Fang Nanyuan: {} Then I can only visit you to expand my horizons when you begin filming.]
[Yi Yan: I want to go too.]
[Wei Shanshan: {} Don’t even think about it. There’s no way to enter unless you guys climb the mountains. Teacher Han flew us in via a helicopter for our auditions.]
[Fang Nanyuan: Teacher Han? Helicopter? My god, there must be a number of scenes in this film that has to be taken by aerial shot. Who is this big shot? Who are the investors?]
[Wei Shanshan: {} Beg me, then I’ll tell you.”
[Yi Xiangxiang: Which Teacher Han is directing?]
[Yun Xiangxiang: As a fellow girl, I stand by Shanshan.]
[Wei Shanshan: Hahahaha... I love you, Xiangxiang {}]
[Fang Nanyuan: {} This is a feminist world. I retreat...]
[Yi Yan: Take me with you.]
After all the chatters, the girls finally told the boys that the director was Han Jing, and all the funds were supplied by Han Jing alone. After all, she had already auditioned a number of girls for the female lead. It was not exactly a secret.
In the “Caring Love” group chat, Zhou Wei sent the promotional poster. They didn’t take part in the shooting, the images were directly taken from the film.
Yun Xiangxiang was stunned when she saw it. She was right in the center of the poster, the biggest and the most eye-catching spot. In the list of names at the bottom of the poster, hers was the first.
[Yun Xiangxiang: Teacher Zhou, I don’t think this is a good idea...]
[Zhou Wei: When you went to Sichuan, I had a discussion with the three of them and they all agreed to this.]
[Fang Nanyuan: Only appearance matters. The four of us are small fish. Naturally, the most attractive promotional poster will be chosen.]
[Yi Yan: That’s right; the three of us selected this one. Since we’re using your face to attract people’s attention, it wouldn’t make sense to not list your name first.]
[Wei Shanshan: {} I can’t blame anyone but myself for being ugly.]
[Zhou Wei: Hahahaha, alright now. You are all good kids. Our movie will premiere on the first day of the Lunar New Year. The three of them are based in Beijing, they will definitely be there for the premiere. Xiangxiang, will you come?]
Yun Xiangxiang contemplated for a moment before rejecting.
[Yun Xiangxiang: Uncle Zhou, I won’t go.]
If she didn’t go, Wei Shanshan and the others would get more attention. They already gave her the most eye-catching position in the poster to her, so she should repay them. However, she should at least explain herself.
[Yun Xiangxiang: I’m joining the crew of “University Dream” in July, and I would probably be filming until this time next year. I barely have time to study for Grade 12, so I need to use all the time I get to study and do my best to grasp all the knowledge I learned in high school.]
[Zhou Wei: That’s fine. You study hard. I wish you the best for your college entrance exam.]
Putting down her phone, Yun Xiangxiang thought that the friendship she had with Wei Shanshan and the other two was incredibly rare. She hoped that they could continue to maintain this friendship forever.
Following that, Yun Xiangxiang devoted herself to her stdies. Yun Zhibin felt relieved yet bittersweet to see her current state. Until now, he didn’t have the guts to tell his wife how much money Yun Xiangxiang received for her new movie because he was worried his wife would ask more questions. Even after he returned, he had nightmares for nights.
Over winter break, Yun Xiangxiang learned to make soup, and she even became addicted to it. Even though she wasn’t particularly talented at it, she was taking it slowly. In this life, she was going to try her hardest to eliminate any possibility of getting gastric issues.
Fast forward to Lunar New Year’s Eve. Yun Xiangxiang only saw all her relatives when their family had a reunion dinner. Yun Zhibin was the third child, he had two older brothers, a younger brother, a few older sisters and a younger sister. However, not all of them came home, but they still managed to fill two large tables.
Yun Xiangxiang realized that in the Yun Family, her first and second aunt loved to gossip, but it was never annoying. Her first uncle was an honest farmer. Her second uncle was an easygoing man who handled a small business. Her fourth uncle was a white-collar salaryman in the corporate world. Her fourth aunt was a woman even more beautiful than Su Xiuling. Her fourth aunt took care of her household very well despite playing mahjong everyday. Her cousin Yun Miaomiao was also a nice and pretty girl.
When the adults were handing out New Year’s lucky money, Yun Xiangxiang felt like she was floating. She was an orphan in her past life, and so she never knew what New Year’s lucky money was.
“Hey, third brother, can you show me the shops outside the new campus?” Her second uncle Yun Zhiwu spoke up embarrassed after their meal.