The table-read schedule arrived with Qin Ting's script.
On the way there, she repeatedly checked the densely packed dialogue and the stack of pages a full finger joint thick, then took two extra fish-oil capsules for her brain.
Seeing her face turn slightly pale, Zhou Dao reached out and held her hand. “Don't be nervous. You've read through it at home several times.”
“This is my first table read with so many people. I don't know what to expect.” Qin Ting's heart pounded as though it would leap out. Even checking her college entrance exam scores hadn't made her this nervous.
“I brought throat lozenges. Have one if you're nervous. Just pretend you're at home reading for me. Sister Zhao's already there, waiting at the entrance.”
They were using their own motorhome today. The driver would wait nearby, so they didn't have to worry about bad weather making the return trip difficult. Qin Ting tried to control her heartbeat. If it raced too fast, her ears and tail might pop out again.
Revealing herself like that before twenty or thirty well-known industry figures would be practically the same as announcing her departure from the biosphere.
Most of the film's cast were based in roughly the same area, so the table read would take place at a hotel in the neighboring city. After a week of reading, everyone would take a brief two-day break before traveling to the filming location to begin the shoot.
The vehicle made good time. They'd left early, expecting rain to cause a long traffic jam, but arrived almost half an hour ahead of schedule.
Zhao Jing had only just arrived as they got out. The normally decisive agent had recently been tied up by Ning Jiajia, who insisted that she find her a place in a production with an even stronger cast than Sunny Days. She had to outdo Qin Ting.
Spoiled since childhood, Ning Jiajia believed herself inherently better than everyone else. Whatever she wanted, people had to bow and scrape and present it immediately. Zhao Jing had only agreed to manage her in the first place, against her better judgment, because she was Zhang Youfu's niece.
Lately, wanting to manage only Qin Ting had put Zhao Jing badly at odds with Zhang Youfu. It left her wearing a sour expression every day.
“Sister Zhao, you're early too. Don't you live more than thirty kilometers away?”
“No time to chat. Looks like almost everyone's here. Let's go in.”
The three hurried along. Zhao Jing and Assistant Zhou escorted Qin Ting to the conference-room door, watched her enter, then returned to the artist lounge to wait.
A long table stood inside, place cards marking everyone's seats. After briefly greeting the others, Qin Ting sat down. Turning her eyes, she found the name “Zou Songpu” prominently displayed immediately to her left.
If only she were nearsighted... Qin Ting despaired.
Besides that, once she'd sat down, the others kept glancing at her even while their conversations continued. Whenever she accidentally met their eyes, they smiled slightly and naturally looked away, as though nothing had happened.
It unnerved her. She'd talked with an AI late into the night, asking where she would usually sit at a table read. Every answer had put her beside the female lead. Who could have known that a director would always do the unexpected?
She quietly rose and approached the assistant director. “Good morning, Mr. Zhang. I'm Qin Ting, playing Zhenqing. May I ask to change seats?”
He adjusted his glasses. “Good morning, Qin Ting. The seating's been arranged. You're wondering why you're beside the male lead, right?”
“Yes, exactly. It's my first film, and I don't have much experience. I'm worried I won't get into character and might disrupt him by sitting beside him.”
“Don't worry. You won't distract Zou Songpu. Sitting next to him might even help him draw you into the role. Besides, Director Qin approved the arrangement. It probably won't be easy to change.” Turning slightly, he shielded his mouth. “He's been in a terrible mood over the script revisions. They even replaced the screenwriter. Best not to provoke him.”
Qin Ting thanked him and obediently returned to her seat.
Actors weren't allowed to be distracted by other matters during the read. Everyone had handed their electronic devices to their staff before entering. With nothing else to do before it began, Qin Ting opened her script again.
The door opened. Hearing chairs move, she stood with the others. Qin Sheng had arrived.
Behind him came a tall man in a black T-shirt and a mask.
She recognized Zou Songpu immediately. Closing her eyes briefly, she struggled to greet him normally. “Hello, Mr. Zou. I'm Qin Ting, playing the second female lead. I'm delighted to work with you and look forward to learning from you.”
He glanced at her and gave a brief acknowledgment.
“Before we begin, as chief director, I owe you all an apology.” Qin Sheng stood and bowed. “My oversight caused everyone to receive the unrevised script. I've dealt with those responsible, and designated staff will contact your agencies as soon as possible regarding contracts and penalties. I hope we'll work together during filming to create a perfect production. Thank you.”
Director Zhang then spoke. “We'll be asking a lot of you. We know there's a great deal of dialogue and considerably more emotionally demanding scenes than before. We won't rush the schedule this time. Good work takes time. Let's work it out together.”
“Can we still make next year's Zunying Awards?” Zou Songpu asked.
“The major rewrite was our responsibility. We'll speed up the post-production process once filming wraps. A rough estimate says we should just make it. Shall we begin?”
No one objected. Everyone agreed to cooperate, and some volunteered to adjust their schedules.
The revised story made the male lead and second female lead siblings, giving Qin Ting and Zou Songpu more dialogue together. As an older brother, Tian Yuan worried about leaving his sister at home running the martial arts school with their mother. He called or messaged every day.
Qin Ting felt awkward at the sight of Zou Songpu and feared he might recognize her. During their scenes, she never dared meet his gaze, keeping her head down over the script, her delivery rather stiff.
Director Zhang reminded her, “Qin Ting, it's best to make some eye contact with your scene partner during a table read. It'll help when we start shooting.” He added a joke. “What little sister is scared of her big brother?”
Everyone laughed. The serious atmosphere eased a little, and people relaxed—except Qin Ting.
She cleared her throat, forced herself to look Zou Songpu in the eyes, and delivered her next line. “Brother, Mom and I have finished cooking. When are you coming home?”
Only nineteen Chinese characters, yet she felt ants crawling all over her. She immediately lowered her head, wishing she could plunge straight into the script.
“It'll be a while before I get home. I stopped to buy a cake from your favorite shop. If you're hungry, don't wait for me.” He cleared his throat. “Just remember not to eat too much.”
More than half a year had passed since his accident, yet he still hadn't fully recovered. Today, he'd brought a large water bottle and kept taking sips.
The next long stretch involved the male and female leads, giving Qin Ting ample time to observe the man beside her.
She didn't dare stare continuously, only steal sidelong glances the way the others had looked at her earlier. One second this time, two seconds the next. With each glance, her gaze lingered longer.
Zou Songpu kept feeling an intent gaze on him. At first, when he looked that way, all he saw was the actress's profile and the fine down on her face where sunlight touched it. Later, as the looks lasted longer, he met her eyes during a pause in his lines and discovered that though she appeared to be watching him, her mind had already wandered.
He disliked people who didn't take their work seriously. Irritated, he frowned and looked her up and down, then glanced at her script. Several passages were annotated, neat, square little characters crowded together. His estimation of her recovered slightly. She'd apparently done her homework. Looking back at her, he happened to notice a few cat hairs clinging to her clothes. A cat owner. Another small improvement in his opinion.
Within seconds, Qin Ting's standing in Zou Songpu's mind had risen and fallen several times. She knew nothing of it. Outwardly watching him, she was actually planning to ask Zhou Dao for braised pork ribs once they finished.
Zou Songpu noticed first that her line was coming. He coughed while taking a drink, bringing her back to herself.
She hurriedly focused, picking up her dialogue as the female lead finished.
Several hours passed without any sign that the director intended to stop. Hunger made Qin Ting irritable and restless in her chair, but neither lead said anything. Even Zou Songpu, drinking more often and growing slightly hoarse, didn't complain. As a supporting actress, she could hardly speak up. All she could do was shift occasionally and move her legs.
Unfortunately, one movement knocked against Zou Songpu's leg. His line faltered noticeably, drawing a puzzled look from the director.
Qin Ting was about to speak, but Zou Songpu got there first. “Director, my throat's uncomfortable. I'd like a break.”
Director Qin checked his watch and exclaimed, “My fault, my fault! It's already afternoon, and no one reminded me. Your throat probably still isn't ready for so much talking at once. Let's stop. Everyone have lunch, take a rest, and stretch a little.”
Only after most people had left did Qin Ting get up and drift toward her lounge like a hungry ghost.
The moment she entered, she collapsed onto the sofa and said weakly, “I'm so hungry... so hungry... I want braised pork ribs...”
“Braised pork ribs, coming up!” Zhou Dao opened the lunchbox. Fragrance rushed into Qin Ting's nose.
She sat up at once, one leg kneeling on the seat and the other braced on the floor, and wolfed down the meal. In moments, everything her assistant had prepared was gone. Rubbing her stomach, she reclined sideways on the sofa and told Zhou Dao how difficult the day had been.
“You know, I asked to change seats, and they rejected me immediately. At first, I didn't even dare look up at him. Whenever I lowered my head, I felt someone glaring at me. Then I'd sneak a look, and he'd be reading his script. I was terrified he'd recognize me, pick me up, throw me out, and call me a pervert. I was also scared my heartbeat would make my ears pop out. And I had to keep track of my cues! I couldn't just read dryly. I had to put feeling into it.” She took a long drink. “I'm dying of thirst. But he and the female lead—Cheng Hexi, the one who recently won the Outstanding Actress award—look so good together. Shame there's no romance between them.”
Zhou Dao teased her. “What about your romance with Zou Songpu?”
“Don't make things up! We're siblings. Siblings! Besides, later on I spaced out while looking at him. All I could think was when we'd finish so I could eat. That chair made my backside feel like it was splitting in two. I wanted to stretch my legs and accidentally hit him. I nearly died of embarrassment!”
“What happened next?” Zhou Dao asked.
“I think he couldn't take it anymore either. He'd nearly finished that huge bottle of water. He said his throat hurt, so we took a break.”
Qin Ting ordered four drinks, slept for half an hour, and returned to the conference room. Zou Songpu happened to be there too. She placed one drink beside him and gave two others to the female lead and second male lead.
“Mr. Zou, I noticed you were nearly out of water this morning, so I took the liberty of bringing you a drink. I order from this place often...”
“No, thank you.”