Chapter 113 – Not Leaving the Palace Until the Script is Mastered

Chapter 113 - Not Leaving the Palace Until the Script is Mastered

In the Happiness Hotel production, as per online discussions, all actors except Jiang Xiaoying were considered to be powerhouses in their craft.

They were part of the film and television industry's unsung heroes, those with modest fan bases and little fame but could effortlessly outshine rising stars with their performances.

Wang Hongying, being a director's offspring, with his father still holding a high status in the industry, naturally attracted a supporting cast that was both low-profile and talented for his debut project.

Jiang Xiaoying, also from an influential family, had known Wang Hongying since childhood. It was only when Wang found himself unable to select the right person for Lan Xiaomei's role that she stepped in to lend a hand.

Tang Fei stood out as a unique exception among the group. Now, Wang Hongying's plan to stay low and then make a grand entrance had been foiled due to Tang Fei's uniqueness. The Happiness Hotel was being scrutinized from inside out through a microscope.

During their lunch break, the Happiness Hotel production team read through the exposé posts.

Jiang Xiaoying flipped through them, "My resume isn't even as comprehensive as theirs! Do they work for the census bureau?"

Wang Hongying sighed and slapped her thigh decisively, "We can't be low-key anymore! Let's go all out! We'll be the most outstanding web series out there!"

Jiang Xiaoying was displeased with how Tang Fei had brought attention to the production team, "Troublemaker, human trending topic, wherever she goes, chaos follows. While the boycott is purely slander, it's true that she was two days late. With such an attitude, she's affecting us all."

"It's understandable for people to have urgent matters, as long as it doesn't happen frequently." The eldest among them, Zhou Zhao, spoke calmly. "We'll judge her attitude based on how she approaches this career once she joins the team. For now, let's not make any premature evaluations. Little Ying, come over, let's rehearse our scenes. You're about the same age, right? You don't want to be outshone by her when she arrives tomorrow."

Jiang Xiaoying stuck out her tongue. "Coming, Dad. Let me clarify! I'm actually a year younger than her, I'm only 21. I won't be overshadowed by some amateur."

Jiang Xiaoying portrayed Lan Xiaomei, the daughter of Lan Yi, the hotel owner played by Zhou Zhao.

As Lu Zhihao, who was cast as the electrical and plumbing engineer, recited his lines, he discussed with Wu Qun, who portrayed the administrative manager, Guo Jing. They exchanged their interpretations of the script. Upon hearing their conversation about Tang Fei, both of them furrowed their brows. Lu Zhihao whispered, "Sis Qun, Director Wang said Tang Fei has quite an impressive acting skill. Is that true? I have the most scenes with her."

"Let's wait and see when she arrives. I'm not too optimistic about someone asking for leave right after the shoot begins. Focus on your own performance. The quality of the drama depends on the entire team, but the success of your character is in your hands," Wu Qun closed the script and sighed. "I'll go watch Teacher Zhou Zhao and Little Ying's rehearsal."

Gong Xu wore a bitter expression. "Xu Wan isn't just a simple decorative character either. Sigh."

...

Back at her residence, Tang Fei found He Zhou had printed out the full Happiness Hotel script and shooting schedule – a thick stack of papers.

After the online investigation into Happiness Hotel, He Zhou had become increasingly anxious. He knew that the cast was made up of talented actors, but previously, they hadn't been under such scrutiny.

Now that everyone was paying attention, any misstep from his cousin would be magnified a hundredfold and ridiculed.

"Big sis, they're all seasoned veterans. If you do end up being compared, don't panic." He Zhou let out a sigh and handed the script to Tang Fei.

"A Zhou, it's you who's too nervous. Relax and take a deep breath. Let me take a look at the script first!" In truth, Tang Fei was also anxious. The Happiness Hotel and the Spiritual Frenzy were too close in timeline, and after filming, she immediately had to tackle the main quest. She simply wasn't prepared.

The people she would be acting alongside had honed their skills on stages where they directly faced the audience. Undoubtedly, their command of dialogue would surpass that of ordinary actors.

On stage, the audience from afar wouldn't be able to see facial expressions clearly. The emotions conveyed through the lines and the ability to stir emotions were especially crucial.

Moreover, there was no room for error on stage. There were no second chances. A single performance could last hours, requiring both physical stamina and exceptional abilities to reach the pinnacle of acting.

These people had at least five years of stage experience, with some having over two decades.

If the old Tang Fei were placed in this situation, it would have been absolute hell.

Even now, with a new actor taking her place, it was only like moving from the eighteenth level of hell to the tenth.

To hold her own against them in a scene would be as challenging as expecting a primary school student to score full marks on a middle school exam.

Tang Fei dismissed He Zhou and prepared to focus and thoroughly study the scenes she would be shooting the next day.

Regardless of which level of hell it was, she would give it her all. She couldn't back down from challenges; only by pushing forward might she discover her own potential!

She looked at the constantly flashing Time-Space Palace icon in the top right corner of her vision.

Perhaps she should check the script in the System Space. It would likely be more efficient without any external distractions.

Tang Fei locked the bedroom door and set an alarm on her phone for four o'clock in the morning. She prepared herself for a night of using Energy Pills, Memory Cards, and Time Cards.

After putting away her phone, Tang Fei grabbed the script and tapped to enter the Time-Space Palace.

"Enter Time-Space Palace."

"Loading space..."

Suddenly, everything before Tang Fei's eyes went dark. Following an electronic sound indicating the completion of loading, a tiny white dot in the darkness began expanding rapidly, filling half of the black expanse. The white light transformed into a massive white circle that descended upon her head.

"External time: February 19, 2021, 14:09:33"

"Palace time: Year 0, Month 0, Day 0, 00:00:00"

Tang Fei was momentarily blinded by the dazzling white light, but as it faded, she cautiously opened her eyes to find herself standing in a classical corridor.

Behind her was a small garden, roughly three square meters in size, while the distant view was obscured by a veil of gray. The corridor itself was severed from the outside world beyond three meters.

Directly ahead were two closed, red-lacquered wooden doors, each two meters high and three meters wide. Carved into the upper half of the doors were intricate patterns of flowers, birds, and butterflies.

In the upper right corner of her vision, time was displayed:

"External Time: February 19th, 2021, 14:09:33"

"Palace Time: Year 0000, Month 0, Day 0, 00:01:10"

There was even a time-keeping service – perfect, now she wouldn't have to worry about losing track of the time outside.

Tang Fei reached out to push open the door, stepping over the threshold into a room of about seventy square meters. In the center of the wall opposite the entrance hung a painting of a mountain waterfall. Above and on either side of the artwork were plaques. At the top read "Warm Breezes Induce Dreams." To the left was inscribed "Chasing Wind and Embracing Moon," and to the right, "Soaring Clouds and Plucking Stars."

Beneath the painting was a two-meter-wide, four-meter-long couch, its surface covered with an unknown fur in pristine white, as pure and spotless as snow.

In the center of the room stood a copper hearth, which she ignited as she opened its door.

Vaporous white smoke ascends, carrying with it a subtle fragrance of orchid, its temperate warmth soothing to the very bones.

A pale yellow plush rug surrounded the hearth, adding a touch of warmth to the room.

To the left of the room stood a desk and chair, with an empty bookshelf nearby. The desk held sheets of paper and writing tools.

Opposite the desk stood an unopened window, its lattice adorned with the motif of a jade rabbit pounding medicine. To the right was a small, tightly shut door, its frame carved with cloud patterns. Tang Fei tried her hand at pushing both the door and the window, but despite her considerable strength, neither budged. It seemed this area was not yet accessible. After inspecting every corner of the room and testing its functions, she took a seat at the desk.

At this moment, the timestamp in the upper right corner of her vision caught her attention.

"External Time: February 19, 2021, 14:09:33"

"Palace Time: Year 0, Month 0, Day 0, 00:24:41"

The time outside hadn't changed at all?

Tang Fei hastily took out her phone, and the time on it was also frozen at 14:09. She counted to a hundred, and the time remained the same.

A small space where time had stopped?

Tang Fei glanced at the script in her hand!

She could give it a shot!

She wouldn't leave the palace until she figured out this script! The reward for the main quest was something valuable—it was a fair trade.

Tang Fei opened the script, tapped on the memory card, and popped a vitality pill. She quickly memorized her lines.

Lost in her concentration, she failed to notice the emergence of a new task notification on the system interface.

"Task Triggered"

"Eagle Takes Flight"

"The Empress's reputation remains obscure, her brilliance concealed like a jewel in the sand, and her strength doubted. Prove the might of the fledgling eagle's future by showcasing absolute power, soaring high into the skies!"

"Task Reward: Six-Star Makeup Card, Ink Sketch"

"A blank makeup card that allows the host to define three attributes (such as gentleness, nobility, or radiance) to create a personalized makeup look."