Chapter 11: Someone's More Impatient Than You

The set went dead quiet. Everyone waited to see how Qin Ting would respond; across the vast soundstage, the only sound was the electric buzz of the megaphone in Director Zhang's hand.

Qin Ting felt as if ropes bound her from head to toe. Every step was an effort; she had no idea where to put her hands, and no idea what to say beyond sorry.

The actress beside her nudged her back, urging her forward.

"Director Zhang, I'm sorry."

"Is that any use? The whole crew has wasted how much time because of you? It's the first day of shooting and this is what you pull. Can you actually act, or can't you?"

Director Qin, silent until now, finally spoke: "Did you memorize your lines?"

"I did. I memorized all of them." Qin Ting nodded hard.

Director Zhang looked skeptical. He picked up the script. "Run it for me, then."

She cleared her throat and recited every line of the scene like a robot—including the solo passages of Zou Songpu's that came before hers.

"...All right, all right. Your lines are fine, your diction is fine. So how come the second the cameras roll, you fall apart? What are you playing at?"

"No, Director, I'm not playing..." Qin Ting waved her hands frantically, sweat running down. She wanted to explain herself, but she could hardly come out and say I'm not professional enough, and after racking her brain she found she had nothing to say at all.

"You're afraid you'll act it badly." Zou Songpu took a sip of water and said it flatly from the side.

"Afraid? Fear is what makes you bad. I know you came from short dramas—episodes a few minutes long. I need you to understand: our budget is nothing like what you worked with, and we can afford to waste time even less." Director Zhang, thoroughly exasperated, lit a cigarette. At the sight of it, Zou Songpu retreated several steps.

"Here's what we'll do. Take twenty minutes and collect yourself. If it still doesn't work this time, pack up and go home."

It happened to be meal break, so the whole crew broke for lunch, and her twenty minutes stretched considerably. In her trailer, Qin Ting heaved a long sigh, wearing a face like a funeral—no appetite for water, and less for food.

Her assistant couldn't bear it and set her own homemade lunch on the table. "Sister, at least eat a little."

"I can't. I suddenly feel like everything I learned before amounts to nothing here. I'm less professional than the extras—at least they never blank out mid-scene."

Zhao Jing spoke up. "Were you like this in acting class too?"

"No, class was fun. The teacher said I had talent, that I was smart." Qin Ting propped her chin in her hand, her enunciation crisp as ever. "But it's different here. Everyone is so serious, and the actors I play against are all far more famous than I am. I met them all at the table read, but a table read is nothing like a live shoot. I feel like I can't keep up with their rhythm, and it makes me panic. And the more I panic, the less I can focus. And besides..." She couldn't quite get the rest out.

"So what's the plan—quit? The penalty clause is several times your annual salary for five years over."

Before Qin Ting could sort out an answer, someone knocked at the door.

"Who is it?" Zhou Dao went to see.

"Me."

Assistant Zhou recognized the voice instantly and flung the door open. "Mr. Zou?!"

Zou Songpu stood at the door with his water cup, not coming in. "Do you still want to act?"

Qin Ting knew the question was for her and answered at once. "I want to! But I'm scared..."

"Then if you want to act, get off the trailer. Quickly."

"Mr. Zou, what do you think you're doing?" Zhao Jing yanked Qin Ting back before she could climb down, pulling the girl behind her, her face all warm smiles—only the wariness in her eyes was plain for Zou Songpu to see.

He looked Zhao Jing up and down and, unusually, said more than a sentence: "You're her manager? Strange—I don't believe I've seen you. You weren't standing by her at the opening ceremony. Only now do you remember what your job is?"

Embarrassment was written all over Zhao Jing's face; she was struck speechless. And it was true. At the opening ceremony, Ning Jiajia had been in one of her dramatic states, sending her recorded threat video straight up the chain to Zhang Youfu. Of course the boss didn't want his company linked to an actress's suicide; he had called Zhao Jing at once and ordered her to calm Ning Jiajia down and promise her whatever resources she wanted once things settled. Qin Ting held such a big pie in her hands and never fought for anything anyway—surely she wouldn't kick up a fuss this time either.

To Qin Ting, a heavyweight had just descended to save her life. She shook off Zhao Jing's hand and followed him off the trailer. Seeing Zhao Jing still rooted in place, Zhou Dao worried the two might be caught alone by the paparazzi and scrambled down after them—only to find Zou Songpu's assistant there as well. The two assistants greeted each other and exchanged contact info on the spot.

Zou Songpu led the way. The four of them arrived at the trailer of Han Yu, the actress playing the mother, and knocked. "Teacher Han, it's Xiao Zou."

"Xiao Zou, it's unlocked—come in, come in. Didn't expect you this fast."

Qin Ting entered and bowed to Han Yu. "I'm sorry, Teacher Han. I've delayed the schedule and taken up your time."

Han Yu had just eaten and was reading her script; she quickly helped her up. "It's nothing. I'm never afraid of inexperience—only of a bad attitude. Knowing to be anxious already puts you streets ahead of the rest." She added, "And someone is more impatient than you are."

"Teacher Han, I just didn't want the schedule delayed," Zou Songpu finished for her.

"Yes, yes, I understand. Have you all eaten? Shall we begin?"

The three of them drilled, over and over, the exact spots where Qin Ting had frozen, until the blocking was carved into her memory—so that even if nerves took her, her movements and the scene's flow would carry on without her.

"When we were shooting this morning, I noticed your eyes kept darting around. Is it that eye contact makes you nervous?" Han Yu had no airs at all, which put Qin Ting at ease.

"Yes. Mr. Zou—I came from short dramas. Honestly, our star levels aren't that far apart; believe it or not, I even played leads fairly often. But coming here, I just can't adjust. I need some time."

"There isn't that much time to give you here." Zou Songpu hadn't expected that, on the very first day of shooting, she would be the reason he spoke this many words. He kept having to sip water; his throat was beginning to hurt.

Han Yu patted him lightly. "Hey—sore throat, fewer words. Little Qin, you have an honest face. I can tell you're not a slacker; that's the only reason I'm saying all this. If you're nervous about eye contact, try looking at the spot between the other person's brows. Come—let's practice."

Qin Ting followed her advice and fixed on the spot between her brows. It really was far easier than direct eye contact. "Thank you, Teacher Han—this helps so much!"

Then she turned to Zou Songpu. "And thank you, Mr. Zou. Thank you for bringing me over."

Zou Songpu glanced at his phone and answered with a nod. Just then Xiao Chen rapped on the door and came in carrying several cups of water. "You three must be exhausted—have some water. It's about time; we should head back to set."

When shooting resumed in the afternoon, Qin Ting was far steadier than she had been in the morning. A few small slips were caught and corrected on the spot, and the day's work wrapped without further disaster. After wrap, Director Zhang called her over. "This afternoon was passable. Don't do it again."

"Understood. Thank you for your hard work, Director."

She had promised her fans a livestream today, and she couldn't break a promise. Checking the call sheet, she saw tomorrow's scenes started in the afternoon, so she had Zhou Dao look for somewhere near the hotel where she could stream.