In the blink of an eye, it was the middle of March. Actors started entering ãQuestioning Deity Sectãâs production crew.
Lu Zhi Wei packed her clothes and Wen Yao sent her over.
It would most likely only take around two months to finish filming the junior sisterâs scenes.
At that time, it would be summer, but it was still spring right now and it was cold.
Lu Zhi Wei had to bring both spring and summer clothes with her.
She didnât want to trouble Wen Yao to go to her house and help to pack her clothes.
Furthermore, Wen Yao had never really gone to her house before, nor had she helped Lu Zhi Wei pack her luggage. How could she know what Lu Zhi Wei wanted or didnât want?
After entering the crew, an employee was responsible for arranging the accommodations.
Once everything was arranged, then she would meet with the rest of the actors.
ãQuestioning Deity Sectãâs director Guo Hui specially arranged a banquet before filming started, to let the actors get to know each other quicker.
Lu Zhi Wei followed the employee to the hotel, and she just had to wait until it was time to attend the banquet after everything was done.
It was a funny coincidence.
When she left ãPhoenixãâs crew, it was with a banquet.
Now that sheâs joining ãQuestioning Deity Sectãâs crew, it was also with a banquet.
It was so coincidental that she couldnât help but laugh.
The hotel was still an ordinary hotel, there wasnât anything worth getting excited about.
After all, she wasnât one of the main leads. She still had a long way to go.
The employee left to settle the next actor after telling them the way to get to the restaurant and the timing of the banquet.
The two of them entered the room.
After they walked in, Wen Yao started encouraging her again: âHard work will be rewarded, I believe Zhi Wei jie will be able to stay in the same hotel as the main leads next time!â
Lu Zhi Wei smiled at her: âAlright, Iâll borrow your auspicious words[1].â
It was still early and Lu Zhi Wei wasnât in a rush to attend the banquet.
She slowly unpacked her luggage, bringing out her toiletries and cosmetics one by one.
She was so calm and collected, it was almost as if she didnât care whether it was a new environment or not.
Wen Yao saw how at ease she was, thought for a moment and asked: âZhi Wei jie, do you need me to stay to accompany you to the banquet?â
When actors were filming on set, their managers mostly wouldnât be with him, it was usually their assistant accompanying them.
Zhang Xian Rui, Sang Wan Ciâs manager, was one such example. She would always only go to visit Sang Wan Ci when her work wasnât too busy.
Aside from that, she wouldnât show up, it was the assistant who was with Sang Wan Ci.
But Lu Zhi Wei wasnât a big celebrity, so having a manager was already a luxury, let alone an assistant.
Wen Yao still had other things to do, but she was worried that Lu Zhi Wei who had just entered a new environment would need a familiar face around.
If she left, Lu Zhi Wei would be all alone.
Lu Zhi Wei was unperturbed: âNo need, Iâm not a kid. Go ahead if you have work, donât eat into your schedule.â
As a small transparent entity who had been in the world for so long, a new environment and a banquet werenât anything to her.
It was just sitting there, having a meal and remembering a few faces.
Seeing how reliable she was, Wen Yao was relieved.
She suddenly was a bit dazed.
Thinking back to the initial audition for ãQuestioning Deity Sectã, she was afraid Lu Zhi Wei was secretly a bad person who liked stirring up trouble.
When Lu Zhi Wei wanted to speak to Sang Wan Ci, she wasnât willing to leave the room.
In the blink of an eye, so much time had passed.
That initial doubt and scepticism had long disappeared like a puff of smoke.
Lu Zhi Wei had become a reliable and warm jiejie in her heart.
âThen Iâll make a move first.â Wen Yao stood up, âZhi Wei jie, give me a call if you have any issues.â
Lu Zhi Wei nodded and sent her off.
It was only after she returned and unlocked her phone that she realised her sister, Lu Si Jiao, had texted her.
From the last time she sent birthday greetings, Lu Si Jiao had constantly kept in touch.
As if it wouldnât be like the past anymore.
She wouldnât forget her jiejie after chatting for a while.
She wouldnât abandon her jiejie like the rest during the New Year.
[Lu Si Jiao]:Â Jie, what are you up to?
Lu Zhi Wei closed the room door.
[Lu Zhi Wei]: Getting ready for work
[Lu Zhi Wei]: Whatâs up?
[Lu Si Jiao]: Nothing nothing, I was just asking out of concern
Seeing âconcernâ, Lu Zhi Weiâs eyes curved into two small crescents.
She was very happy. Please read at jiulian lian . wordpress . com
Even if this kinship was more than twenty years late.
Itâs okay. Having it is better than not having it. As long as it was present, she was happy.
[Lu Zhi Wei]: Thank you
She could only reply with those two words.
After 26 bleak years of life, she always lacked the right words to say when faced with kindness.
It was like when Sang Wan Ci was nice to her, she could only stupidly say âthank youâ.
She couldnât think of another word to express her happiness in that moment.
Separated by the screen, however, Lu Si Jiao felt that those two words were filled with distance and alienation.
It was only natural for family to care for each other.
Why was it when it came to them, the older sister had to say thank you to the younger sisterâ¦â¦
Lu Si Jiao clutched her phone, her mood dropping immediately.
ââ Jiejie must be resenting me for forgetting her in the past, right?
But she couldnât blame Lu Zhi Wei for her distance.
It wasnât her who had asked them to stay away, it was them who had forgotten about her existenceâ¦â¦
So it was only right for them to make it up to Lu Zhi Wei.
Because of that, she wasnât discouraged and continued to try to get closer to her sister.
[Lu Si Jiao]: Getting ready for work?
[Lu Si Jiao]:Â Jie, what are you working as now? Can you tell me?
The young girlâs curiosity was seeping out of the screen.
Lu Zhi Wei thought about it, and wanted to give her a surprise.
ââ She was going to film secretly, then shock Lu Si Jiao!
[Lu Zhi Wei]: An ordinary job that you can see anywhere
[Lu Zhi Wei]: Maybe in the future you might even see me
[Lu Zhi Wei]: Or wait till I have some achievement in this field, then youâll be able to see me
[Lu Si Jiao]: ?
She was suddenly presented with a riddle???
Scratching her head, Lu Si Jiao couldnât figure it out.
She had no choice but to reply âalright thenâ.
That was the end of the conversation.
Lu Zhi Wei had pretty much finished unpacking her things.
Looking at the clock, it was still early.
But she had nothing left to do, so she decided to take a walk and wait until it was time for the banquet.
This time, she didnât know anybody in the crew except for Sang Wan Ci.
But Sang Wan Ci canât abandon the main actorsâ table and sit with her again like she did last time.
So she figured it would be the same as always, sitting quietly, having her meal, watching everybody get along, then leave.
It was pretty good, she would take it as a free meal.
She thought happily.
â¦Â Please read at jiulian lian . wordpress . com
After Sang Wan Ci entered the production, she followed Zhang Xian Rui to meet Director Guo Hui first.
Zhang Xian Rui would always appear when her artistes first entered the production and make introductions.
As such, the crew wouldnât make things difficult for her artistes as a way of showing respect to her.
Director Guo Hui was in her early forties, looking like a scholar dressed in a gentle and intellectual manner with a pair of round, black-rimmed spectacles.
Seeing her female lead arrive, she welcomed them with a smile.
She had always looked favourably upon Sang Wan Ci.
Because Sang Wan Ci looked like the female lead Qiao Jing in ãQuestioning Deity Sectã, and her acting was lively, with scenes easily finished.
Such a good actress, which director wouldnât like her?
Director Li, who had just finished working with her, already was full of praise.
Guo Hui spoke about how she was full of anticipation for Sang Wan Ciâs upcoming performance.
Sang Wan Ci replied humbly: âIâve only entered this industry for a short while and I donât have much experience, Iâll have to trouble Director Guo to look after me.â
Guo Hui smiled and patted her hand.
Seeing Guo Hui satisfied, Zhang Xian Rui was relieved.
Guo Hui told them to go to the restaurant first and she would be there shortly after finishing up some work.
As juniors, Sang Wan Ci and Zhang Xian Rui didnât dare to take up more of her time so they agreed and left.
As she left Guo Huiâs temporary studio, Sang Wan Ci looked deep in thought.
Seeing it, Zhang Xian Rui looked at her watch as she asked: âWhat are you thinking about?â
Sang Wan Ci didnât hide it: âLu Zhi Wei.â
Zhang Xian Rui raised an eyebrow: âOh right, I remember she is acting in this show too, right?â
Sang Wan Ci nodded.
Zhang Xian Rui adjusted her sleeves: âThen the two of you really are quite fated.â
Sang Wan Ci nodded again lightly.
Zhang Xian Rui had nothing left to instruct her after sending her to the place.
Although Sang Wan Ci had entered the industry late, but she was obedient and hardworking, not giving her any trouble.
Such a good sapling, she hated that she couldnât put all of Sang Wan Ciâs excellent points on a board and show them to the newer actors as an example.
âThereâs not much left now, Iâll head back first.â
Sang Wan Ci blinked: âYouâre not going to eat first before you go?â
Zhang Xian Rui waved her hand: âI still have work to do, Iâll give this a miss.
âIâm leaving, call me if thereâs anything.
âIf anybody causes trouble for you, give me a call too.â
Sang Wan Ci was Meng Lian Yuâs beloved niece.
If Sang Wan Ci suffered any hardship under her, that troublesome woman Meng Lian Yu would look for her again.
ââ Oh, not just Meng Lian Yu.
After sending off Zhang Xian Rui, Sang Wan Ci gave Lu Zhi Wei a call.
Although they were friends, they hadnât seen each other for a long while after the new year.
It wasnât easy to have a collaboration, so it was only natural to check in on each other.
The call went through quickly, and a familiar voice came from the other side: âWan Ci?â
âItâs me.â Sang Wan Ci asked, âI just got to the production set, where are you?â
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There were a few trees planted next to the restaurant, with a swing under a tree.
Lu Zhi Wei was sitting on it, swinging gently.
She looked at the sky for a bit, then the ground for a bit, then she looked at the different colours above the heads of strangers walking by.
Most of them were the warm, pale yellow that symbolised a passerby, there was nothing special.
Looking at it, her thoughts started wandering.
What colour would the original male lead Qiu Luo be now?
It wouldnât be like she thought, the ridiculous second female lead, right?
According to the idol drama script, the second female lead would usually like the male lead and fight with the female lead.
If Qiu Luo really became the second female lead, she didnât dare to imagine that scene.
It was simply too horrifying.
And the female lead would be too pitiful, if she wasnât cheated by the second male lead, she would be harmed by the second female lead.
ââ What kind of stupid script is this, who did her Teacher Sang offend!
She tried to ask Lao Wu if the world line was pre-written by someone.
Lao Wu didnât reply to her question straightforwardly.
ãThis curious child, can you stop always trying to ask about the system?
ãAre you planning to come to work in our system?ã
ãOh?ãLu Zhi Wei smiled slightly, ãI can compete for a job?ã
ãYou canât.ã Lao Wu immediately shut her down.
Lu Zhi Wei raised an eyebrow.
This fellow, he had no hesitation when answering.
ãAlright, I was just kidding. I wanted to ask, there wonât be any problems with Qiu Luoâs judgement right?ã
Lao Wu asked her back: ãWhat problem?ã
Lu Zhi Wei gave a bold theory: ãFor exampleâ¦â¦ He became the second female lead?ã
Lao Wu: ãâ¦â¦
ãNot bad, you have a vivid imagination. When you no longer want to be an actress, we can go write novels. Thereâs no way youâll starve to death.ã
Lu Zhi Wei: ãâ¦â¦ã
She was too flattered.
Lao Wu replied seriously: ãIn terms of the system setting, this problem doesnât exist. Because once the character setting is determined, there wonât be any changes.ã
It was like a finished novel, the main characters were the main characters, the supporting characters were the supporting characters. They were all set in stone, nobody could change it.
Of course, nobody could guarantee that there wouldnât be exceptional accidents.
ãBut it was really an accident that you got the male protagonist halo.ã
Lao Wu started analysing it.
ãI guess itâs because when the problem happened, Qiu Luoâs male protagonist halo was shaken as a result and the character setting started going haywire.
ãAnd Sang Wan Ci was near you at that moment, and noticed you, so the messed up male protagonist halo determined you were the male lead and fell onto your body.ã
ãâ¦â¦ã
Lu Zhi Wei was speechless: ãDonât you think this sort of judgement is too random?ã
Lao Wu pushed up his spectacles calmly: ãNo, you donât understand.
ãThere are some big criteria for the protagonist halo judgement, they basically all revolve around each other.
ãBeing noticed by the other protagonist is one of them.
ãOf course, there are other deeper layers to the judgement, but at that point, the male protagonist halo was already in chaos, it could only be forced to continue working, so itâs not hard to understand why the judgement was hasty.ã
Lu Zhi Wei was in a daze as she listened.
But one thing was clear: It basically equated to Sang Wan Ci being the one who gave her the male protagonist halo.
ãThereâs really no way to take off the halo?ãLu Zhi Wei couldnât help but ask.
ãThere is.ã
Lao Wu was finally honest this time around.
ãFind a tall building.ã
Lu Zhi Wei listened seriously: ãMmhmm, and then?ã
If she had a notebook with her, she would even take notes in case she needed it in the future.
Lao Wuâs voice was incredibly stern: ãThen jump down and make sure you definitely can die.ã
Lu Zhi Wei: ã?ã
Waitâ¦â¦ Wasnât there something wrong here?!
Lao Wu: ãWhen the protagonist dies, the halo will completely vanish.ã
Lu Zhi Wei: ãâ¦â¦ã
Lao Wu: ãOther methods will work too, as long as you can die immediately. How about it, do you want to try it?ã
ãNo, thanks.ã Lu Zhi Weiâs face was stern as she refused immediately.
Lao Wu laughed.
He knew Lu Zhi Wei wouldnât do such a thing.
Because she was scared of pain.
Lu Zhi Wei felt her scalp prickle as she thought about his words.
God, jumping from a building, how painful would that be, she couldnât take itâ¦â¦
But even the games she played at least allowed her to resurrect from the dead. How was it that when it came to this, the protagonist would die immediately.
Wasnât there some sort of protagonist protection system that would kick in as long as the world didnât reach its ending?
Lao Wu said there wasât.
But he had once heard from Bai Zhi that there was a system that had turned on the protagonist protection system before.
As long as the protagonist died unexpectedly before accomplishing the ending, the world would reset and go back in time by 30 minutes.
But then, they met a stubborn host who insisted on showing off her own spirit by relying on this protection system. The system was enraged and even got caught by the Space Time Administration after that.[2]
It was simply a host without any similar predecessors or successors.
From then on, the system learnt its lesson and basically never turned on the protagonist protection system.
A protagonist who couldnât be controlled was not a good thing.
Thinking of Bai Zhi, Lao Wu couldnât help but feel sad for a fleeting instant.
Sighâ¦â¦ He didnât know where she was now, if she was living well or not.
He quickly adjusted his emotions, there was no need to tell this story to Lu Zhi Wei.
He was still working for the system, he couldnât tell her this story and encourage her to revolt like that host, right?
Life-cherishing Lu Zhi Wei was still sitting on the swing and looking at the sky.
Itâs such a shame thereâs no protection system.
Although she wouldnât dare to use it even if it existed.
Because she was scared of pain.
It was precisely because she was scared of pain, that she had managed to force herself to survive until this day.
Sometimes, she would think to herself, could it be that this fear of pain was the reason that God had given her to keep living.
There was only hope and change if one continued to live.
It was only then that they would meet their light.
She was deep in thought when a voice suddenly came from beside her: âWhat are you thinking about?â
She immediately straightened and stopped the swing, looking towards the sound.
Sang Wan Ci had appeared and was standing by the swing.
She had light makeup on, and she was wearing a loose white sweater and beige-coloured wide leg trousers. Her long hair was lazily draped over her shoulders.
Her whole person was emanating a leisurely, charming aura.
Lu Zhi Wei looked at her in a daze, then exclaimed: âWhen did you get here?â
Sang Wan Ci replied: âJust.â
Lu Zhi Wei was suddenly filled with doubt: âHow come I didnât hear anything?â
Sang Wan Ciâs face didnât change: âYou were too absorbed in your thoughts.â
Lu Zhi Wei scratched her nose embarrassedly.
Sang Wan Ci sat down next to her, with only the tips of her fingers visible under the loose sleeve of her sweater.
Exerting a bit of force, the swing started swaying again.
âWhat were you thinking about?â
Lu Zhi Wei laughed: âAbout everything, I was too bored.â
Sang Wan Ci nodded and asked: âItâs been a while since we met, have you been well lately?â
Lu Zhi Wei looked at the clear blue sky with her head tilted: âGood, everythingâs the same, how about you?â
Sang Wan Ci folded her arms and looked at the flowers on the ground: âBusy with work, itâs alright.â
âYou didnât rest?â
âI did, a few days at home before entering the production.â
âThen thatâs good. Your health is most important. Itâs no good for your body if youâre too busy. You must take care of yourself, so that your family and fans wonât worry about you.â
Listening to her concerned words, Sang Wan Ci subconsciously looked at her.
Then she lightly and gently hummed in acknowledgement.
âYou too.â Please read at jiulian lian . wordpress . com
Lu Zhi Wei smiled: âDonât worry, I know how to take care of myself. Being healthy is my number one goal in life.â
âThatâs good.â Sang Wan Ci said.
As the two of them chatted, at this moment, a man walked over from afar with his assistant.
The male lead for the movie Qiu Luo had arrived.
Lu Zhi Wei couldnât help but take a few more glances at him.
Mainly to see the colour of the indicator on top of his head.
ââIt was a deep yellow colour.
Looks like he was demoted to a supporting role by the system.
If the judgement hadnât made an error, then he would certainly be the second male lead.
But whether he would be a good second male lead, or an evil second male lead, Lu Zhi Wei couldnât tell.
The male protagonist halo changed, the female protagonist didnât follow the script at all.
Very little of the original plot could be used.
Furthermore, Qiu Luo, who had suddenly become a second male lead, nobody knew what sort of script he would get.
But no matter what script he got, as the male lead, Sang Wan Ci couldnât let him snatch away the female lead and harm her.
Looking at Qiu Luo with her own eyes, Lu Zhi Wei had to admit he was good-looking.
No wonder his fans would boast of him as the âworldâs famous product[3]â.
She looked at Sang Wan Ci unknowingly.
The Miss Sang who was paired with him previously was also looking at him.
Looking intently at him.
Her eyes were scrutinising him.
Lu Zhi Wei: â?â
She was conflicted.
She realised that Sang Wan Ci would almost always look at Qiu Luo.
It was the case over the new year, and it was the case now.
If it wasnât for Sang Wan Ciâs expression being overly cold, she would suspect her heart was moved and she was secretly in love with him!
Lao Wu opened his mouth leisurely: ãAt this time, you should be a bit more domineering as the male lead. Turn Sang Wan Ciâs face towards you and make her see only you.ã
Lu Zhi Wei: ãâ¦â¦ã
Her eyebrows suddenly raised up.
A strong worry took over her heart.
She was scared the system would act up now.
ãShut up, Iâm scared the system will adopt your idea, then do I still want to live after that?!ã
Lao Wu listened in amusement.
But at this moment, Sang Wan Ci suddenly turned around and looked at Lu Zhi Wei, interrupting the two of them: âLetâs go inside.â
Lu Zhi Wei agreed and got up with her.
Qiu Luo suddenly noticed them and walked over quickly.
ââ Greeting Sang Wan Ci.
âItâs our first time meeting each other, Miss Sang, hello.â
Immediately going to the heroine.
Using such a flirty tone.
It was the second male lead for sure.
Lu Zhi Wei was relieved.
Then the two of them watched as Qiu Luo took a flower from his assistant and presented it to Sang Wan Ci.
The two of them were mystified.
Qiu Luo: âThe flower is beautiful, like Miss Sang.
âI hope you will like it.â
After that, he smiled devilishly.
Sang Wan Ci: ââ¦â¦â
Lu Zhi Wei: ââ¦â¦â
ââ What a greasy person[4].
[1] åä½ åè¨ â Quite a literal translation, but it basically means to borrow someoneâs lucky words in hopes that what they say will come true. Jump back up.
[2] If you donât know this, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!! Make sure you read She Is The Protagonist by the same author, itâs a great novel. Jump back up.
[3] 人é´åå â So this is a term Iâm not very familiar with, but itâs basically saying the person is famous in the world. I googled it and saw it used to describe Blackpink so, yeah. Jump back up.
[4] This should be relatively understandable, but it basically means someone whoâs corny, uses a lot of oily pickup lines etc.