Chapter 194: Summer Vacation!
Waking up at nine, Yu Linna opened her eyes to the sleeping face of a dark-haired girl, her features inches away, the faint scent of orange blossom shampoo tickling her nose.
This scene… it was familiar…
How had they ended up sleeping together again?
And she was still in her clothes from the night before, her tracksuit, though it hadn’t affected her sleep.
Suddenly, Ye Zhiyun’s brow furrowed, her eyes slowly opening, her dark pupils reflecting Yu Linna’s face.
The girl’s face flushed, and she tried to pull away, but Ye Zhiyun’s grip was too tight.
“Morning, Nana.”
“Morning…”
An awkward silence filled the air.
Yu Linna, blushing furiously, nestled into Ye Zhiyun’s embrace, wanting to disappear. She had rarely shared a bed with another girl, the only two times in her life both with Ye Zhiyun, a fact that made her incredibly shy.
Her face was so hot, it could boil water.
“Since you’re up, let’s get some breakfast.”
“Okay…”
Released from her embrace, Yu Linna scrambled out of bed and rushed to the bathroom to wash up.
Ye Zhiyun, scratching her head, yawned, watching her go, a small smile playing on her lips.
This was nice, wasn’t it?
She wished every day could be like this.
A week after the gaokao, in the sweltering heat of mid-June, Nangong Ying’s new film, Blade of Shadows, premiered. With her newfound fame and the presence of established actors, the film garnered considerable attention, the martial arts genre, though declining in popularity, still a favorite among domestic and international audiences. Though Nangong Ying’s role as the female lead was relatively minor, with only thirty minutes of screentime, she was the main draw.
The film, about a wandering martial artist who falls for a powerful yet naive woman, was a typical male-oriented fantasy, with the male protagonist having multiple wives, a trope designed to appeal to the market, filled with comedy, action, and beautiful women.
It earned eighty million yuan on its opening day, its box office success continuing throughout its run, grossing 340 million in its opening weekend, its reviews mediocre, a solid commercial success, with a rating of 8.2 on a popular movie review site.
It grossed 590 million in its second week, 670 million in its third, and 799 million in its fourth, its total box office reaching 800 million yuan.
For a Chenghe production, it was a profitable venture, another victory for the company. The film was also released in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore, continuing to generate revenue, the martial arts genre still popular in overseas markets, though its decline was inevitable.
Nangong Ying’s fame, however, soared, her two films grossing over 2.5 billion yuan, an incredible achievement for a newcomer. Her fanbase grew, not just among men, but also women, a rare phenomenon, a testament to her genuine talent, her acting and martial arts skills captivating audiences, not just her beauty.
She had recently started filming a new movie, her schedule packed, her work ethic unwavering. After the gaokao, she had immediately returned to work, managing her studio, fielding offers from various directors. Wanting to avoid being typecast as a martial arts actress, she had declined several offers, until Chenghe presented her with a police action film, a genre she was eager to explore.
“Nangong Ying has made us a lot of money. Signing her was a good decision. I knew she was a promising talent.”
Yu Tianchen, standing in the conference room, looked out at the cityscape, a smile on his face. Beside him stood a portly, middle-aged man, his face oily, his complexion rosy, the same man who had tried to exploit Yu Linna.
“We have to keep her. We signed her, but she can’t make movies for us forever. Glory Productions wants to borrow her for a film. They’re a major company; if Nangong Ying agrees, we can’t refuse.”
“We should consider renewing her contract, but it will be difficult.”
“What about… force?”
“That won’t work. She’s famous now, not the same girl she was before. The old methods won’t work. And do you think someone who has been burned by us before will fall for the same trick again?”
“Hmph, she betrayed her own friend; she’s no different from us. Everyone in this industry… few can resist temptation. So pure, so innocent… how many people can truly maintain that?” the man in the suit sneered.
It was true. Few could remain untainted in this industry.
Nangong Ying was one of them, a part of their world, their destinies intertwined.
Speaking of Nangong Ying, she was on set, filming the police action film with Director Yuwen, finally playing the female lead, her role central to the story, with a romantic subplot. Though she had wanted to do a crime thriller, her influence in the industry wasn’t yet strong enough to choose her own projects.
The action genre, once a staple of Chinese cinema, with its legendary stars, had been declining in recent years, the new generation of actors failing to fill the void. But Nangong Ying’s emergence had reignited interest in the genre.
On set, she was the consummate professional, determined to finish filming before the summer ended. If she was accepted into the Beijing Film Academy, a new chapter in her life would begin.
Li Yuexin, despite her own busy schedule, filming a television series, often visited her on set. Nangong Ying, when working, was a whirlwind of energy, her dedication almost obsessive, perhaps using work as an escape.
“Little Ying, you must be tired. Drink some water.”
“Thank you.”
She took the water bottle, gulping down half of it, the summer heat, the tight-fitting police uniform, making filming outdoors unbearable.
Though a star, she had only one assistant, and she performed most of her own stunts, except for the most dangerous ones. Injuries were inevitable. In the first two days of filming, she had been hit in the face, requiring a trip to the hospital for ice packs. A week later, she had been cut on the leg by a real knife, mistaken for a prop by a crew member, a mistake that could have ended her career. The crew member had been fired.
Now, with her leg bandaged, she continued filming, her professionalism earning her the respect of the entire cast and crew.
Today, she faced another challenge.
In one scene, her character, in pursuit of a criminal, had to jump through the open window of a moving car, tackle the criminal, and apprehend him.
It was a high-risk stunt, requiring a real performance, not special effects. The stunt double refused to do it, the risk too great.
The director offered a high price, fifty thousand yuan, but no one was willing to take the risk. He considered cutting the scene.
“Director, if they won’t do it, I will.”
“Nangong, are you sure? This is incredibly dangerous. And your leg… it hasn’t healed yet! You have to be sure!”
This wasn’t a joke; a single mistake could be fatal.
Nangong Ying knew the risks, but… her position in the industry was still too precarious; she couldn’t afford to be complacent. To earn recognition, she had to work harder.
This was an opportunity, a chance to prove herself, and perhaps… a form of penance.
If she died, it was fate. If she survived, she would be even more famous.
She wanted to be more famous.
She wanted to be recognized.
“Little Ying! Are you crazy?!”
“I’m not crazy, Director. Let’s start. I can do it.”
Seeing her determination, the director had no choice but to agree, instructing the crew to prepare. As the cameras rolled, the other actors watching with concern, Nangong Ying’s expression changed, her eyes filled with a steely resolve, a look of someone who had accepted their fate.
Having chosen her dream, having betrayed her friend, she would walk this path to the end, no matter how difficult, no matter how dishonorable, she would prove her worth. She had nothing left to lose.
“Action!”
The car started, moving slowly, the scene to be sped up in post-production. Nangong Ying, her eyes fixed on the open window, prepared to jump.
Closer, closer, three seconds, two seconds, one second…
Zero.
She leaped, her body soaring through the air, her mind blank…
