Chapter 3
After sending Ye Lan home, Jiang Chi got out of the car and smoked a cigarette, waiting for the dry, chilly night breeze in Beicheng1[Literally means “northern city”. Although it is a real place, in stories it typically means a generic big northern city, or Beijing.] to cool down his face.
The drunken Ye Lan was like hormones on legs. Spending half an hour in the car with him had made Jiang Chi a little dizzy.
After standing in the cold wind for a while, his mind cleared. He patted his face a couple times, got back into the car, and headed home. It was already past 2 a.m. He had to go back quickly to rest. Tomorrow’s scenes were very important. He absolutely could not drop the chain2[“drop the chain” is Dongbei (Northeastern) slang, which means screwing up at an important time. Comes from a bicycle chain slipping off.] at the critical moment.
Fortunately, there were no morning scenes tomorrow, and in the afternoon, Ye Lan had an outdoor scene that had nothing to do with Jiang Chi. In the evening, they had a two-person scene together. Nevertheless, he went to the studio early the next day.
The assistant director3[The assistant director is in charge of logistics, managing the cast and crew, and keeping track of the filming progress.] said with difficulty. “I’m sorry, your* dressing room hasn’t been prepared yet. We’re a bit short on staff and Director Ren will be here soon. Everything is a mess and we’re all busy, so we couldn’t find a suitable room… Is it okay if I have them set up a temporary stall for you* with a curtain? I’m really sorry…”
His assistant, Li Weili, frowned upon hearing this. “People come and go here…”
Jiang Chi didn’t care, and said, “It’s okay. I came too early. There’s no need to put up a curtain, don’t let it affect the lighting. Have the makeup artist come over. In the meantime, I’ll watch the stand-in block the scene4[“blocking a scene” is when the director and lighting crew works out the positioning and movements of actors in relation to the cameras, before the actual shooting begins. Since this is very time-consuming and standing under hot lights could melt the actors’ make-up, this is often done by stand-ins who do not appear on camera.], to familiarize myself in advance.”
The assistant director let out a sigh of relief and pressed his palms together in a namaste5[The gesture made when praying, pressing both palms against each other. In many Eastern cultures, it is used as a greeting, a sign of respect, or a show of gratitude or apology.
] gesture. “I’m so sorry, next time I will definitely prepare it for you in advance, then someone… go, hurry up and call for makeup, Jiang Chi-laoshi6[-laoshi means “teacher”, like what you would call a teacher at school. It’s typical for established veterans in the entertainment industry to be addressed this way. As for why Jiang Chi is addressed this way… it’s because he’s famous so people don’t want to offend him.] is already here.”
The assistant director hurriedly went back to work.
Jiang Chi smiled at Li Weili. “That’s enough, what is there to be angry about? Have you forgotten how I had to put on makeup sitting on a haystack, in the past?”
“How could it be the same?!”
Li Weili had been with him for three years now. He watched Jiang Chi grow in popularity step-by-step, from an 18th tier small transparent7[A “transparent” is a celebrity who isn’t really famous, someone who wouldn’t be recognized on the street.] to a first tier.
This year, Jiang Chi exploded in popularity, and his treatment also improved a lot as a result. He became accustomed to being put on a pedestal. Coming here and seeing people not taking Jiang Chi seriously, he had long kept a ball of fire in his heart.
He muttered in a low voice, “The conditions fluctuate up and down. When they’re bad, you don’t even have a lounge to rest in. Now they want you to get your makeup done here. In the future…”
“Don’t talk nonsense.” Jiang Chi lightly scolded Li Weili, and said quietly, “It’s normal for the conditions to change a lot on set. It’s not the same as filming in a studio. A realistic film set is what it is. Of course the conditions will fluctuate up and down.”
Li Weili said angrily, “Then why did they first assign Emperor Ye’s…”
“Shhh…”
The sound of footsteps reverberated in the corridor. Jiang Chi hurriedly gave Li Weili a look, and Li Weili immediately shut his mouth. Ren Haichuan and Ye Lan had arrived.
The set with and without these two esteemed gods were two completely different places. As soon as the pair entered the door, all the staff on set instantly began moving two times faster.
The two production assistants who had just been hiding behind a curtain, laughing and chatting away, immediately fell silent. Checking the timetable hurriedly with a serious face, Jiang Chi’s makeup artist trotted over while pushing the makeup cart. While repeatedly apologizing to Jiang Chi, he called over his assistant to help.
Ren Haichuan walked while talking to Ye Lan. He was frowning and speaking rapidly, though his voice was not particularly stern. Ren Haichuan’s entire person was the calm and dignified type8[不怒自威, lit. “without anger, one’s dignity emerges”, which means that gravitas can be shown by not losing your temper. The director exemplifies this phrase.].
Jiang Chi would usually get nervous every time he listened to him explaining a scene. On the other hand, Ye Lan was much more promising9[The phrase used here for “promising” also means “ambitious” or “successful” and it is typically used to describe people’s kids. Jiang Chi is implied to be “a waste” or “trash” in comparison, because he can’t stand up to Director Ren.] than Jiang Chi. He wore a pair of huge shades, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth. A relaxed expression plastered on his face, he nodded from time to time, laughed occasionally, and responded with a few words.
Jiang Chi lowered his head, pretending to play on his phone, but his focus remained on Ye Lan. He watched Ye Lan listening to the director explain the scene, watched Ye Lan hand his cigarette butt to his assistant, taking the coffee that his assistant just bought for him, watched him chattering to Ren Haichuan with a straw in his mouth, laughing loudly after being scolded, watched him gesturing toward Ren Haichuan, signalling to talk later, and then walking over alone…
Walking over?! Jiang Chi was instantly energized.
He didn’t dare to look up. In his peripheral view, Ye Lan approached step by step, and stopped when he was one meter away.
Jiang Chi remained silent, secretly gulping.
“Why are you putting on makeup here?” Ye Lan looked at Jiang Chi and smiled. “What’s the matter, little friend10[As I explained in Chapter 2, “little friend” is what people call primary school students and young children.]? We just got a bit closer last night, and now you’re shy again?”
“No, no.” Jiang Chi motioned to the makeup artist to wait a while, getting up and saying cautiously, “I was just… just thinking about the scene, so I didn’t notice when you* arrived.”
Ye Lan looked around, took a sip of coffee, and asked, “Where’s your dressing room?”
Jiang Chi briefly explained, saying, “It’s fine, I can see everyone working here. It’s better than being bored in the dressing room.”
“Well, you have a good temper.” Ye Lan smiled and said to Jiang Chi’s makeup artist, “Go to mine, what’s the meaning of doing it here.”
The makeup artist was stunned for a moment, hurriedly bowing to show his gratitude, “Thank you, Ye-laoshi, thank you, thank you, Jiang-laoshi?”
Jiang Chi’s tongue was in a knot. After being reminded by the makeup artist, he stammered, “Will it… will it disturb you*? I actually…”
“Disturb what? My dressing room is big. It’s just right to let Director Ren come over and explain the scene.” After speaking, Ye Lan left on his own. Jiang Chi suppressed the little excitement in his heart and followed after Ye Lan, one in front and one behind.
The two wanted to run through the scene while putting on make-up, but unexpectedly, the crew had scheduled an interview a long time ago. Ye Lan was invited over, leaving Jiang Chi to read his script.
Jiang Chi sat on the makeup chair, looked around Ye Lan’s huge dressing room, and let out a sigh of relief.
Jiang Chi picked up the script book. After flipping through it for a few months, the edges and corners had already curled up. On the cover, which was held together loosely and about to fall off, two big characters were written: Scum11[人渣, lit. “Human Dregs”. From now on, I will translate the title of their movie as “Scum”, because that’s essentially what it means.].
“Scum”, originally called “Who hasn’t liked a few scumbags when they were young”, is about the more than ten years of emotional entanglement of the two male leads. In the script, Ye Lan played Zhan Ming and Jiang Chi played Pei Ran.
At the beginning of the movie, the teenage actor who played little Zhan Ming[YL] stopped a classmate who tore Pei Ran’s[JC] school workbook in an alley12[The word used for alley is hutong, a Mongolian word originating from the Yuan dynasty, which is used to describe the extremely narrow and un-uniform alleys between courtyard houses, in northern Chinese cities such as Beijing. 
]. Without saying a word, he directly slammed a beer bottle over the person’s head.
In the play, Pei Ran[JC], played by Jiang Chi, and Zhan Ming[YL], were bamboo horse and bamboo horse13[Comes from the phrase 青梅竹马, lit. “green plum and bamboo horse”, meaning childhood sweethearts, or a girl and boy who played together as children. In this case, since they’re both boys, they’re bamboo horse and bamboo horse.]. Pei Ran[JC] was homosexual from head to toe. He had liked Zhan Ming[YL since he was a child. When he was young, he did homework for him and helped him hide from the teacher. When he grew up, he blocked wine14[“blocking wine” means that he drank wine on his behalf at events, to prevent him from getting drunk. Generally something you would only do for your boss or your “boss”.] for him and helped him calm down his ex-girlfriends.
But what could he do? Zhan Ming’s[YL] life was full of peach blossoms15[“peach blossoms” means love affairs, romantic entanglements, or people who are attracted to you.], full of passions. For over ten years, there had been people beside him, coming and going, without end. But it was never Pei Ran’s[JC] turn.
Pei Ran[JC] wanted to give up a few times, but Zhan Ming[YL] was truly good to him, fighting for him when they were in school, and making plans for him when they started working. From childhood to adulthood, whenever something related to Pei Ran[JC] happened, Zhan Ming[YL] was always the first to stand up.
Due to an accident, Zhan Ming[YL] learned that Pei Ran[JC] was gay. Because of impulsiveness and a momentary sense of novelty, Zhan Ming[YL], who could only use his lower body to think, suggested to Pei Ran[JC]: You like men anyway, so why don’t you try with me? At that time, Zhan Ming[YL] didn’t know that Pei Ran[JC] had already liked him for so many years.
This “try” only lasted a few months. After seeing Zhan Ming[YL] flirting with other boys with his own eyes, Pei Ran[JC] fully realized how big a mistake he made.
Pei Ran[JC], who was soft on the outside and steel on the inside, resolutely cut off all contact with Zhan Ming[YL].
The scene they were filming tonight took place many years after the two broke up. It was a scene in which Zhan Ming[YL] finally found Pei Ran[JC], who had left and moved far away from home, and came seeking reconciliation.
Jiang Chi had long memorized his lines. There weren’t many words, and the focus was on the emotional drama. In the movie, this was the second time the two people met after reuniting.
It was a lesser part shock and anger at first sight, and a greater part restraint and resignation arising from past feelings. Jiang Chi was the main character in this scene.
Ren Haichuan and Ye Lan, who had just finished their brief interview, pushed open the door and walked in. The two were still discussing something in a low voice. Ren Haichuan frowned slightly, while Ye Lan looked indifferent, and then smiled in surprise, “Trying to match schedules with me, are they crazy?”
Ren Haichuan: “…”
Ren Haichuan was too lazy to care about Ye Lan, and walked directly toward Jiang Chi. Not waiting for Jiang Chi to greet him, Ren Haichuan said immediately, “Let’s talk while you put on your makeup.”
“In your heart.” Ren Haichuan sat on the side, calmed his mind, and slowly said after a moment of silence, “You still like him, you like him and hate him. Because you like him, in turn, you hate yourself for being weak.”
Jiang Chi nodded.
“In a bit, you have to be very emotional, but it is not enough for you to simply express anger. The source of your pain and madness is that after experiencing so many things, you still like him without self-control. You are completely fighting against yourself.” Ren Haichuan looked Jiang Chi in the eye, “You’ve had a crush on him for more than ten years. Have you ever had a crush on someone before?”
Ye Lan, who was sitting on the side, looked over with interest. Jiang Chi’s face instantly reddened, and he nodded.
“That’s good.” Ren Haichuan pointed to Ye Lan and said, “Imagine him as the person you have a crush on, in a while… Your anger is for him, your grief and indignation are for yourself, the latter is the important point, okay?”
Jiang Chi took a light breath and said, “Understood.”
Ren Haichuan looked at Ye Lan and said, “I already explained your part to you. This is a key scene for Jiang Chi, a turning point in your feelings. Pay attention, don’t steal the scene. It’s enough to express your part. There’s no need to burst out in colour.”
Ye Lan smiled lightly, “Look at what you* just said, I’m going to steal the scene?”
Ren Haichuan looked at Jiang Chi, “If I have one, I’ll say one16[Comes from a longer phrase meaning “if I have one, I’ll say one; if I have two, I’ll say two”, meaning being frank and speaking the truth.]. Right now, you still can’t catch Ye Lan’s acting, so during your key scenes, he needs to back off a bit. Don’t think too much and just act well.”
If he was facing some other little fresh meat, Ren Haichuan would never speak like this. Never mind offending them, who knows how many people would distort his words and spread rumours behind his back. After spending some time with Jiang Chi, Ren Haichuan knew that he was someone who could differentiate between good and bad, so he was speaking more and more bluntly.
Naturally, Jiang Chi understood, and sincerely said, “I understand what you* mean. Between Ye Lan-ge and I, the difference in acting ability is too large, so I can only do my best.”
Ye Lan was long accustomed to being praised, but after hearing this sentence, he was inexplicably pleased. He picked up the script and flipped through it, suddenly interrupting, “The kiss scene in a while… is it real spears and live blades?”
Jiang Chi: “…”
Which book said that you couldn’t remember anything that happened while drunk?
Ren Haichuan frowned and said in an unkind tone, “What’s the matter? You still want to fake it?!”
“How could I.” Ye Lan leaned on the makeup vanity, put his hands in his pockets, and licked his lips. “I’m asking you*. Later, when I’m forcefully kissing him, do I need to give him a French kiss?”
Jiang Chi was screaming inside, what was Film Emperor Ye doing?!
Ren Haichuan said with a cold face, “You decide based on the situation.”
Ye Lan chuckled, “How embarrassing. If I start using my tongue later, it will look like I’m doing it on purpose.”
Ren Haichuan gave Ye Lan a strange look. He didn’t know where today’s waves came from. Director Ren decided what he couldn’t see wouldn’t annoy him, so he turned and left.
The corners of Ye Lan’s mouth lifted slightly. He turned his head toward Jiang Chi, trying to not laugh. “What should I do? Director Ren didn’t say whether to French kiss… What do you think? You’re the main character in this scene, so I’ll listen to you. “
Listen to me, listen to me, listen to me…
Jiang Chi’s head was dizzy for a while, and with a red face, he tried his best to stay calm, his voice so quiet that it was inaudible, “You*… decide.”
After saying these few words, Jiang Chi was so embarrassed that even his ears were red.
“I said… hahahaha, I won’t tease you anymore.” Ye Lan couldn’t hold back and laughed. “I won’t bully you. In a while, I’ll bite you a few times at most, I won’t go too far.”
Ye Lan sat on his makeup chair and looked at Jiang Chi’s humiliated little face, his heart full of hidden laughter. He had discovered since yesterday that Jiang Chi, this little fresh meat, was simply too amusing.
* formal you (您)
- 1[Literally means “northern city”. Although it is a real place, in stories it typically means a generic big northern city, or Beijing.]
- 2[“drop the chain” is Dongbei (Northeastern) slang, which means screwing up at an important time. Comes from a bicycle chain slipping off.]
- 3[The assistant director is in charge of logistics, managing the cast and crew, and keeping track of the filming progress.]
- 4[“blocking a scene” is when the director and lighting crew works out the positioning and movements of actors in relation to the cameras, before the actual shooting begins. Since this is very time-consuming and standing under hot lights could melt the actors’ make-up, this is often done by stand-ins who do not appear on camera.]
- 5[The gesture made when praying, pressing both palms against each other. In many Eastern cultures, it is used as a greeting, a sign of respect, or a show of gratitude or apology.]
- 6[-laoshi means “teacher”, like what you would call a teacher at school. It’s typical for established veterans in the entertainment industry to be addressed this way. As for why Jiang Chi is addressed this way… it’s because he’s famous so people don’t want to offend him.]
- 7[A “transparent” is a celebrity who isn’t really famous, someone who wouldn’t be recognized on the street.]
- 8[不怒自威, lit. “without anger, one’s dignity emerges”, which means that gravitas can be shown by not losing your temper. The director exemplifies this phrase.]
- 9[The phrase used here for “promising” also means “ambitious” or “successful” and it is typically used to describe people’s kids. Jiang Chi is implied to be “a waste” or “trash” in comparison, because he can’t stand up to Director Ren.]
- 10[As I explained in Chapter 2, “little friend” is what people call primary school students and young children.]
- 11[人渣, lit. “Human Dregs”. From now on, I will translate the title of their movie as “Scum”, because that’s essentially what it means.]
- 12[The word used for alley is hutong, a Mongolian word originating from the Yuan dynasty, which is used to describe the extremely narrow and un-uniform alleys between courtyard houses, in northern Chinese cities such as Beijing.]
- 13[Comes from the phrase 青梅竹马, lit. “green plum and bamboo horse”, meaning childhood sweethearts, or a girl and boy who played together as children. In this case, since they’re both boys, they’re bamboo horse and bamboo horse.]
- 14[“blocking wine” means that he drank wine on his behalf at events, to prevent him from getting drunk. Generally something you would only do for your boss or your “boss”.]
- 15[“peach blossoms” means love affairs, romantic entanglements, or people who are attracted to you.]
- 16[Comes from a longer phrase meaning “if I have one, I’ll say one; if I have two, I’ll say two”, meaning being frank and speaking the truth.]