Chapter 27: A Lazy Victory Mission

Chapter 27: A Lazy Victory Mission

At one in the morning, in Room 1907 of the Jiangzhou Film Base Grand Hotel, a soft yellow light still illuminated the living room window. Tang Fei put down the script on the desk in the room's sitting area, reviewing the lines she had just memorized.

Scene One: A debate between Su Yang and his classmates.

Location: Front lawn of Su Yang's residence

Time: Afternoon

Fellow Student A (bows to the north): Sage King rules over North China and Central China with formidable generals and strategists at his command. In my view, the Sage King is the paramount power and should be the one to unite the land.

Fellow Student B (brushes off his clothes): Not so, not so. North China borders the icy lands where the chill creeps closer each year. Lately, eight out of twelve months are frozen. The region has sparse population and meager yields. Similarly, Central China experiences four months of frost. Thus, the Sage King's eagerness to conquer the southern warm lands has been halted by the Southern Capital's Lord on the northern bank of the Lan River for three years, proving him unworthy. The Southern Capital's Lord, with his fertile lands and stable people, will surely contend for the world in the future.

Fellow Students (arguing in chorus): Sage King! Southern Capital's Lord! White River Island! Green Plain Army! Hundred Link Fort! Listen to me! Follow my reasoning! Ha? Ho? Naive opinions!

Su Yang (stands and claps): My dear friends, no need to rush. Let's savor this mountain wild tea before we resume our debate.

Su Yang (looks at Li Xiuyun): You all must appreciate Xiuyun's craftsmanship. Make sure to calm your minds and taste it properly.

...

{Su Yang, rolling up his sleeves, points to the heavens and earth while standing on a large bluestone slab}: The Sacred King and the Southern Capital's Lord are the mightiest forces of our time. Yet, they are mutually constrained by the Lan River, allowing the Green Plain Army, White River Island, and the Hundred Linked Forts to rise amidst the chaos.

However, the Green Plain Army, despite its military prowess, lacks capable administrators; their lack of supplies confines them to the Shu region, relying on natural barriers without the ability to conquer the world. White River Island is invincible on water but trapped on its island, unable to seize mainland territories; it can only defend what it has. As for the Hundred Linked Forts, their loose coalition of leaders unite in victory and scatter in defeat; they are not a genuine threat.

Our friends have forgotten the role of the County Guardian, protecting the homeland in times of turmoil, staying put for the sake of peace. Everyone knows this grand aspiration, but it cannot be taken at face value.

Under the County Guardian's protection, our village has enjoyed over a decade of tranquility. Who among our elders and villagers does not remember the Guardian's kindness? The County Army's drills have never been neglected, and their swift actions in suppressing bandits and outlaws are evident.

The County Guardian, operating from a secluded area, has secretly developed and amassed considerable strength. I would stake a copper coin on their capabilities.

{Su Yang, drenched in sweat}

{Li Xiuyun offers a teacup}: Brother Su, take a break.

{Su Yang turns to Li Xiuyun, making a mischievous face}: Am I impressive or what?

{Li Xiuyun smiles, biting her lip, choosing not to respond}.

...

Tang Fei had memorized the entire script by heart. Now, her eyes were sore, her head was dizzy, and a dull ache throbbed in her forehead – her body was signaling that it needed rest.

She still wanted to practice tea ceremony etiquette and refine the nuances of her lines, as well as the expressions she should give when others were speaking. She had fought hard for this role and was determined to deliver a flawless performance, deserving of Zhou Weichuan's treatment of her as the lead actress.

Under the pressure of the tight filming schedule, she refused to hinder the team or compromise the quality of the final production. She didn't want to disappoint those who had chosen her.

Deciding to give the Energy Pill a try, she tapped the card with an image of a bottle on it. A small white bottle shimmered, and an image of a purple pill appeared, labeled "X1."

Tang Fei sensed a chill flow from her tongue, down through her chest and abdomen, then up to her brain, spreading to her limbs. Her vision cleared, and the dull ache in her forehead turned into a refreshing coolness. Picking up the script, she found her thoughts clearer than ever before. Each line now had a corresponding expression and emotion in her mind, and she promptly began jotting down annotations.

In just twenty minutes, she had completed all the notes. Even with Li Xiuyun's relatively few lines, such efficiency was astonishing!

Tang Fei, referring to her notes, continued reading the lines, infusing emotions and contemplation with each repetition to grasp the subtle differences. She then refined the details accordingly.

The darkness by the window gradually dissipated, giving way to a grayish dawn. Streetlights extinguished one by one, yet in the brightly lit riverside apartment, Tang Fei was kneeling on the floor, practicing her tea ceremony gestures in mid-air, virtually adjusting her movements. In the standing mirror on the carpet, her actions appeared both graceful and leisurely.

Instead of adopting a formal sitting posture, Tang Fei, considering Li Xiuyun's background and her likely freedom from strict conventions due to her association with the unpredictable Su Yang, assumed her character to be less rigid. Therefore, she adjusted her stance, placing a mirror opposite her to observe her movements. The goal was to achieve a tilt that exuded both relaxation and elegance within the visual frame.

Acting is not solely about realism; television dramas are a popular art form conveyed through visuals. Apart from performance and emotional impact, aesthetics also play a crucial role.

Enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the cinematic scenes was indeed necessary.

At half past five in the morning, when He Zhou opened the room door alongside the hotel staff delivering breakfast, he was greeted by the sight of Tang Fei elegantly virtually brewing tea in front of the mirror.

In the hands of an ordinary person, such behavior might prompt the server to suspect a paranormal incident, causing them to flee in terror.

Yet, the delivery person, upon seeing Tang Fei in front of the mirror, did not sense any strangeness. Instead, they found the scene harmonious. Tang Fei's graceful figure and fluid movements were a delight to behold.

This is a painting.

Despite the person before him being clad only in a robe, with hair loose, there was a serenity in their presence that transported him to a tranquil, distant forest.

He Zhou's gaze fell on the untouched bed and sofa, noticing the scattered documents and script notes covering the floor. Clearly, his cousin had spent the night working!

"He Zhou, what's wrong? What are you doing?" He Zhou quickly pulled Tang Fei up from the carpet, holding her hands in his and rubbing them. After a few turns, he realized that her hands were warmer than his, not at all cold as he had imagined.

"A Zhou, why are you here?" Tang Fei's face was rosy with a healthy glow, showing no signs of a sleepless night.

"Sis, did you stay up all night?" He Zhou leaned in to check, confirming that the bed had not been touched. Seeing the detailed notes she had made, he knew it couldn't have been a short endeavor. "Did you secretly go online to read those nonsense messages?"

"I've given you my phone and computer. I didn't even turn on the TV. Where would I go to look at anything, A Zhou? You're growing up, controlling your sister now." Tang Fei stretched, yet despite kneeling for hours, she felt no ache or fatigue.

The Energy Pill truly was a miraculous drug. Reflecting on its previous functions and effects, Tang Fei marveled at its power – the emperor in that game could probably function day and night after consuming it.

"Did you have insomnia? Should we find a psychiatrist?" Recalling Tang Fei's dark past, He Zhou became anxious.

"I slept! I just woke up early to practice." Tang Fei patted He Zhou's shoulder. "Don't jump to conclusions."

"Sis, this is serious. Without proper rest, how can you shoot for over ten hours straight?" He Zhou punched his palm. "I'll ask the production team for a break."

"Come back! Who said you could take a break?" Tang Fei tugged at his collar, pulling him back, turning his face red and making him cough.

"My body is fine, and my emotions are stable. When I say I'm sleeping, I mean it. Understand? After breakfast, accompany me to get styled, and don't delay the production schedule." Tang Fei felt the need to set an alarm for future pretense of sleep, but for now, she had to make do with this ruse.

He Zhou was pinned under Tang Fei's iron fist, weighing 200 jin, unable to move. Apart from frowning in concern and anger, he dared not say more. He feared that any resistance might provoke her further, leading to even more extreme reactions.

At this moment, Zhou Weichuan sat in his car, flipping through a magazine while listening to the radio. "Hai Sheng, notify the legal department to gather all evidence proving that Yao Hui's accusations of 369 plagiarism are false. List every penny of damage done to our reputation by the rumors. If the losses can't be quantified, have a third-party agency issue an assessment report. Track down the source of the spread, especially those close to Yao Hui, such as marketing companies and influential stars. Bite off a chunk of their flesh for us."

"Understood, Boss."

"In ten days, Tang Fei will finish filming. Arrange a signing ceremony with Time Culture. Officially announce to the industry that she is our top star. Before that, her reputation must be redeemed. The legal department needs to act swiftly." Zhou Weichuan glanced at the magazine. "Contact our closely affiliated brand partners and inquire if they're willing to sponsor Tang Fei's wardrobe."

Buzzzz...

Zhou Weichuan felt a sudden buzz of static in his ear, accompanied by a distortion of white lines before his eyes.

"Triggered Task: Clearing the Name"

"The Empress has been wronged and her voice cannot reach the heavens. Her reputation has fallen, and imperial favor is lost. Restore your name and bring it back to positive standing."

"Current Reputation: -509 (Infamous) (-72 today) (Continuously declining)"

"Reward item: Skill Card, Impersonation LV1."

He frowned and waved his hand in front of his eyes, and the buzzing sound and blurry white figure disappeared.

"Boss, what's wrong with you?" Zheng Haisheng noticed Zhou Weichuan's unusual behavior from the rearview mirror.

"Nothing much, maybe I didn't get enough rest and my vision is a bit blurry," Zhou Weichuan massaged his temples, feeling perplexed about what had just happened.

Before he could dwell on it, his phone vibrated in his hand.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Zhou, this is the production manager of Spiritual Surge. There's news from the hotel today that Teacher Tang didn't sleep all night and might be suffering from insomnia. Yet, she insisted on filming during the day without taking a break. I thought it was necessary to inform you."

"She's being reckless!"

Zhou Weichuan paused with his left hand on the magazine, slightly bending his fingers in exertion.

Soon after, the lifestyle producer also called to report the same news. Zhou Weichuan's face remained stern. When he signed Tang Fei, he believed she was mentally mature and resilient, not easily affected by gossip or criticism.

This time, he had already severed her contact with the outside world and arranged for her to shoot in isolation. Why had she become so vulnerable?

Zhou Weichuan felt somewhat discontented.

"Hai Sheng."

"Boss?"

"Book a ticket to Jiangzhou."

Halfway through her makeup session at the Jiangzhou Film Studio, Tang Fei's vision was suddenly filled with a row of words, accompanied by a crisp ding-dong sound.

"Triggered Quest: Clearing One's Name"

...

What was Clearing One's Name?

She remembered that there was no such quest when she played the game – it was just simple card draws, makeup, costume changes, and throwing items at opponents.

Puppetry? Could it possibly make up for her lack of lines! But how was she supposed to complete the mission?

"External aid, please speak up."

With her phone and computer confiscated, and internet access cut off during filming, what else could she do but focus on acting?

The row of text in Tang Fei's vision gradually vanished as if it had heard her thoughts, revealing a strategy guide.

"Strategy for completing the Vindication Mission: Win by doing nothing."

Tang Fei's startled reaction almost made her slip off her chair; the makeup artist's pencil nearly drew crooked lines on her face.

Winning without effort – such a fortunate turn of events!

However, the reputation points displayed beside her kept dwindling: -1, -1, -1.

It was like being poisoned in a game, continuously draining her "health."

So, by putting effort into her acting and raising her reputation within the crew, she could contribute. For everything else, she'd have to rely on the system and wait for that effortless victory. The string of -1s was alarming; she blinked, and they disappeared.

This game is growing increasingly peculiar.