When we arrived at the temporary studio for the film crew, I felt it was such a coincidence! The main director for the promotional video turned out to be Ghost Director, who we had worked with before on the perfume commercial. The first thing he said when he saw Fu Junyan and me getting out of the car together was: “So you two are really together now…”
I was embarrassed, but Fu Junyan just nodded with a slight smile. He didn’t seem surprised to see Ghost Director at all, and greeted him warmly: “It’s been a while.”
The most troublesome part of period costumes is the makeup and hairstyling. I had barely sat down before I was pulled into the makeup room to have my hair done and extensions added. Fu Junyan was in a more pitiful state – he had to wear a wig cap. Fortunately, this wasn’t a Qing dynasty drama, otherwise, everyone’s beloved Junyan would have had to be bald! I couldn’t help giggling as I imagined Fu Junyan with a shiny bald head.
This laugh and head movement caused the hairstylist, who was pulling my hair, to yank it painfully. I let out an “Ouch!” which made Fu Junyan turn around. He looked at me with concern, then shook his head helplessly. He turned back to the hairstylist doing my hair and said gently: “Xiao’ai is afraid of pain, please be gentler.” Hearing Fu Junyan speak to her, the hairstylist grinned widely and became much more gentle. I rubbed my nose embarrassedly and didn’t dare let my mind wander again…
The first filming location for the promotional video was at the Lingering Garden. At 5 pm, after all the tourists had left, the film crew entered the garden accompanied by staff from the relevant department. Considering the makeup and costume changes, Fu Junyan and I were separated into two different vans to prepare on the way. This time, the makeup artist gave me a standard ancient young lady’s hairstyle, with a jade hairpin and a pink flower adorning the sides – simple and neat. My costume was a pink-yellow gauze dress embroidered with daisies, looking comfortable and graceful. I was very pleased when I saw it, checking myself in the small mirror again and again. I had never acted in a period drama before and didn’t know I could look like this in ancient costume… I daydreamed, wondering how handsome Fu Junyan would look if he were transported back to ancient times, since everyone always called him “Junyan the Young Master.”
I had just opened the car door when Fu Junyan’s van also stopped. The costume designer who was traveling with him got out first, then I saw Fu Junyan slowly step out. He was wearing a plain white scholar’s robe with gold-embroidered orchids on the cuffs. A small, exquisite jade ruyi hung from the sash at his waist. His features were truly beautiful, his whole person elegant and refined. As he moved, he seemed to float like an immortal – truly a dazzling, splendid young master.
I unconsciously stepped out of the car and stood in front, staring at him blankly. No one could imagine a man could be this beautiful…
Someone nearby, I don’t know who, stared in awe and recited: “A fairy descends from the Ninth Heaven to the mortal world.”
Another person recited: “The person on the road is like jade, a young master unmatched in the world.”
In my heart, I thought that my father wasn’t wrong – just based on his looks alone, I would definitely be enchanted by his beauty… Absolutely would be…
For the first scene of filming, I had to climb up onto a roof beam. The makeup artist helped fix my hair, then I went to get hooked up to the wire harness. Soon, under everyone’s watchful gaze, I was up on the roof beam. After making sure I was safely seated on the beam, Fu Junyan retreated outside the study, holding a thread-bound book, ready to begin.
This promotional video for Suzhou was unfolding as a tender, romantic love story – essentially a short film.
In the story, Fu Junyan played Lu Shaoyou, the third son of the Minister of Personnel. I played Mu Qingqing, the youngest daughter of the Governor of Jiangsu.
Lu Shaoyou and Mu Qingqing were betrothed as children. Since it was a childhood betrothal, they had met a few times when they were young. But children’s memories are weak, and as they grew older, they had little contact due to propriety. One day, the mischievous Mu Qingqing was chatting idly with her close friend about the vain and arrogant young masters in the city. She couldn’t help but wonder what her own fiancé looked like now. So this youngest daughter of the Mu family, relying on the amateur skills she had secretly learned from her brother, decided to play thief for once.
But Mu Qingqing had barely snuck into Lu Shaoyou’s study when she heard approaching footsteps from outside before she could look around properly. Mu Qingqing froze, her big eyes blinking mischievously. After bumping her head on the roof beam several times, she finally managed to hide up on the beam using her amateur skills.
Mu Qingqing clenched her teeth, hugged the beam, and took a breath as she lay on top of it. Then, with a creak, the study door slowly opened. She saw the handsome young master slowly enter, as graceful as bamboo, with looks she had never seen before. She couldn’t help but open her mouth wide, almost letting out an exclamation, but quickly covered her mouth with her hand. However, she loosened her grip too fast and almost fell off the beam. So Mu Qingqing found herself flailing about on the beam, swaying back and forth in a panic.
While the young lady was in a mess up above, it was a different scene below the beam. Lu Shaoyou had already sat down at the desk, adjusted his robes, and holding a thin book, began to read aloud softly. His refined face was partially illuminated by the lamplight, looking even more handsome and elegant. Mu Qingqing was first mesmerized by the sight, then pouted, thinking that this Lu Shaoyou was quite studious. She remembered that her own brother would also go to the study at night to read, but would return to rest after no more than half an hour. So Mu Qingqing relaxed her whole body and lay on the beam, secretly watching Lu Shaoyou.
She heard his warm voice reciting: “King Xuan of Qi asked, ‘Can I hear about the affairs of Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin?’… He asked, ‘What virtue is needed to become a true king?’ The reply was, ‘One who protects the people and becomes king, none can resist.’… A gentleman, when it comes to animals, seeing them alive cannot bear to see them die; hearing their cries cannot bear to eat their meat. That is why gentlemen keep away from the kitchen…”
Mu Qingqing swayed her head as she listened on the beam. But after a long while, Lu Shaoyou kept repeating the same passage over and over. She saw him close the book and stammer through half a sentence. Mu Qingqing listened boredly, realizing he was trying to memorize the text. She yawned slightly, having heard it several times now and feeling tired of it. Moreover, the young lady was sleepy… So she grumbled to herself, hoping Lu Shaoyou would leave soon…
At this point, she saw Lu Shaoyou reach out to adjust the lamp wick. Mu Qingqing sighed internally, knowing Lu Shaoyou truly wouldn’t leave anytime soon. She blinked her eyes, deciding she might as well take a nap while hugging the beam tightly.
Mu Qingqing woke up groggily once on the beam. She heard Lu Shaoyou still reciting: “Can I hear about the affairs of Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin?…” Mu Qingqing glanced over, her expression stiff, inwardly cursing Duke Huan and Duke Wen to go squat in her family’s outhouse… Helplessly twisting her stiff neck, Mu Qingqing had no choice but to hug the beam and go back to sleep.
After a long while, Mu Qingqing woke up again. By now, the sky was starting to lighten. She had slept for too long this time, her whole body stiff and sore. She winced in pain at the slightest movement. But when she looked down at the beam, she nearly fainted from anger. What was this?! This Lu Shaoyou had been reciting all night, and was still on the original ‘Affairs of Duke Huan and Duke Wen’ chapter. It would be fine if he was still reciting! But he couldn’t even get through the beginning after all this time? And now he was opening the book to read it again? What was this about?
Mu Qingqing suddenly flared up. She leapt down from the beam, stood angrily in front of the desk, and slammed it hard. Seeing Lu Shaoyou look up at her in surprise, she immediately began: “Can I hear about the affairs of Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin… A gentleman, when it comes to animals, seeing them alive cannot bear to see them die; hearing their cries cannot bear to eat their meat. That is why gentlemen keep away from the kitchen…”
Mu Qingqing recited in one breath the ‘classic’ that Lu Shaoyou had been repeating in her ear all night, her face red as she glared at him, panting. Then she put her hands on her hips, raised her chin, and pointed at Lu Shaoyou’s nose, scolding: “You idiot! Is it that difficult? Idiot! Idiot!! Is memorizing a book that hard? Is it that difficult? Idiot!” Not feeling she had vented enough, she slapped the table again before storming out through the main door in a huff.
The study suddenly fell silent, with only Lu Shaoyou’s clear, pure eyes calmly watching her retreating figure. He looked up at the beam, paused with the book in his hand, and chuckled softly.
This Lu Shaoyou’s opening character was really too dull and foolish, so when the camera lit up, I saw Fu Junyan, who looked like a refined young master, acting so dumb and stupid that he couldn’t even memorize a book. The contrast was really too great. I really couldn’t help but laugh, and once I started laughing at that point, I just kept going out of habit, completely disrupting the scene. Later, when I couldn’t stop laughing, I hugged the beam and pointed at Fu Junyan, saying: “Lu Shaoyou is just a good-looking idiot… He can’t even memorize a book…” Ghost Director finally turned black-faced below and slapped his script, actually retorting: “That’s you!” I froze on the beam, my face turning red and white at his words.
The set went quiet for a moment. Then Fu Junyan slightly raised his eyes and suddenly looked at Ghost Director, asking in a soft voice: “Are you very familiar with Xiao’ai?” Ghost Director’s face stiffened, and he coughed lightly, just turning to tell the staff to prepare again.
I rubbed my nose, only now realizing that this promotional video was being shot on film, so each cut burned money. It wasn’t a commercial film to begin with, and didn’t have much investment, so no wonder Ghost Director was about to explode. I felt guilty… I glanced secretly at Fu Junyan. He winked at me, gesturing for me to hold the beam tightly. I nodded obediently, sticking my tongue out at him, and gently patted the beam like I was patting An’an, making him lower his head and smile. Then I behaved well, following his lead into the mood, and didn’t cause any more trouble.
After removing my makeup, I went to wait by the van as usual for the end of work. But today there was no one at the van. I had just turned to leave when I heard voices talking. Curious, I leaned in to eavesdrop, and heard Ghost Director say with some displeasure: “Junyan, you’ve always been meticulous in your work. I never knew you were the type to be protective, being so lenient with Xiao’ai.”
Fu Junyan? I paused, expecting him to deflect the question skillfully as usual, but heard him chuckle and ask instead: “Why shouldn’t I be lenient with her? Why should I be strict with her? What do I hope for her to do? I don’t hope for anything from her, I just hope she lives a happy life. Ah Gui, you must have never truly been in love.”
Listening to this, I covered my pounding heart, unable to speak for a moment.
In the story, in the early spring of the third or fourth month, Mu Qingqing followed her mother to the Lu residence, waiting for the imperial exam results to be posted. On this day, Lu Shaoyou faced his first failure in the exams. So this handsome young man, as elegant as an orchid, angrily jumped into the lake. When he was rescued, he looked at his mother with clear, pure eyes full of guilt and said: “In a moment of desperation, Shaoyou was overcome with shame and anger, and wanted to drown himself.” Hearing this, his mother embraced her son and wept loudly…
Mu Qingqing watched for a long while, then pushed away her mother’s hand and walked forward. She frowned slightly, tilting her head to look at this fiancé who was still elegant and refined despite being soaked. Her bright eyes rolled around mischievously.
The sudden appearance of a bright red pomegranate-colored skirt caught his eye. Lu Shaoyou was startled. He slowly raised his head to look at Mu Qingqing, his clear eyes seeming to be shrouded in mist, indescribably beautiful. “It’s you…” he murmured.
Mu Qingqing raised an eyebrow and nodded. Seeing that Madam Lu had turned to look at her upon hearing the voice, wiping her tears with a handkerchief, she cleverly changed her attitude in an instant. She immediately adopted a gentle demeanor, lowering her eyes respectfully as she curtsied, speaking shyly and softly: “This humble one is Qingqing of the Mu family. Greetings to Aunt Lu and Third Young Master.” As she spoke, she took out a handkerchief and shyly half-covered her mouth, saying: “Qingqing doesn’t know much, but has heard father and brother speak of a bird that stays in the king’s courtyard for three years without flying or singing. In Qingqing’s view, the Young Master has refined features. Although he has encountered an obstacle this time, he is like this bird – when it doesn’t fly, it rests; when it flies, it soars to the heavens. When it doesn’t sing, it’s silent; when it sings, it startles the world. This is truly the appearance of one destined for greatness. I hope the Third Young Master won’t be discouraged…”
Madam Lu knew that this Mu Qingqing was famous in Suzhou for being virtuous and well-mannered. Now seeing her so magnanimous and sensible, she was even more delighted and increasingly fond of this future daughter-in-law, feeling that her family background, appearance, looks, and temperament were all excellent.
Lu Shaoyou was also somewhat moved. Although he knew something was odd, as she had changed completely in an instant, he didn’t point it out. He just smiled slightly, suddenly radiating charm.
Seeing her son smile, Madam Lu was even more pleased. Disregarding propriety between men and women, she pushed her third son, saying: “Silly child, hurry and change out of those wet clothes, then accompany Qingqing for a walk in the garden.”
With no one else around, Mu Qingqing immediately reverted to her true self. After angrily rushing out of the study that day, she had regretted it, knowing they would meet again in the future and worried about what trouble her fiery temper might cause. When she came to the Lu residence today, she had been very anxious. But she never expected Lu Shaoyou to be so amusing – failing the exam was one thing, but to jump into the lake! Yet the sincerity in his eyes was somewhat endearing, and he hadn’t exposed her act in front of his mother. Thinking of this, she felt more at ease. Being naturally spirited and fearless, she became even more relaxed. She thought to herself that if her future husband could bear her true nature, and she wouldn’t have to pretend once they were alone, that would be excellent.
Although she thought this way, Mu Qingqing’s face showed no sign of softening. She sat in the pavilion pouting, watching Lu Shaoyou who had changed into clean clothes, and shook her head slightly. Under Lu Shaoyou’s gentle gaze, she muttered mercilessly in a soft voice: “I called you an idiot, and you really are an idiot. My mother had me dress up this morning to congratulate you, but I knew it would be a waste of effort…” She sighed, covering her mouth as she laughed, her beautiful face tilted as she looked at Lu Shaoyou, asking softly: “Do you know what I’m thinking?”
Lu Shaoyou said nothing, still looking at her gently, exuding an air of calm and peace.
Mu Qingqing raised her delicate hand, suddenly alluring. She glanced at Lu Shaoyou from the corner of her eye and said: “I was thinking, if you amount to something, I’ll hold an umbrella for you once, like a page boy.”
Lu Shaoyou was startled upon hearing this, then laughed softly, seeming to mock himself. He looked at Mu Qingqing’s stunningly beautiful and lively face, lowering his eyes in deep thought. If Mu Qingqing had looked into his eyes at that moment, she would have realized that this man was not so foolish after all…
Mini-scene: Brother-in-law, what’s that sound? One day, Gu Xiao’an puffed out his chubby little face and toddled into the study on his short legs. His round little hand tugged at Fu Junyan’s trouser leg, his big eyes blinking as he looked up at Fu Junyan, pitifully puffing out his cheeks.
Fu Junyan felt the movement and looked down, pausing his work to meet An’an’s gaze. He gently patted the little one’s head and asked patiently: “What’s wrong, An’an?”
Gu Xiao’an tilted his little head as he looked at Fu Junyan, blowing two bubbles before asking: “Brother-in-law, why was sister yelling this morning?” Fu Junyan blinked, his ears turning slightly red. He calmly picked up Gu Xiao’an and held him, rubbing his little hands as he slowly and firmly said: “An’an must have heard wrong.”
Little An’an puffed out his cheeks again, rubbing his ears in confusion and looking down at his fingers.
The next day, while Gu Baobei was still asleep, Fu Junyan was awake, propped up on his side watching his darling’s sleeping face. Suddenly he heard soft footsteps outside the door. The steps were light, but the little duck on the shoe soles made quacking sounds. He immediately knew it was a certain little dumpling. Fu Junyan’s mouth curved knowingly as he gently pushed the still-dreaming Gu Baobei.
The pufferfish had trouble waking up. She grunted a few times and turned over to continue sleeping. Fu Junyan smiled gently, got out of bed, and quietly opened the door a crack before returning to tug at the pufferfish again.
The pufferfish was angry. She finally opened her eyes to glare at the energetic Fu Junyan, grumbling softly: “Are you going to let me sleep or not? We’ve been at it all night…” Then she pouted pitifully and whined coquettishly: “Junyan, I’m tired…”
Fu Junyan chuckled softly and leaned in close to whisper something in the pufferfish’s ear. The pufferfish’s eyes immediately widened, her face burning red, now fully awake. Then she tugged on Fu Junyan’s arm and asked in embarrassment: “What should we do?”
Fu Junyan blinked, turning slightly to look at the bright little head peeking through the door crack, and smiled. Then he suddenly pounced on Gu Baobei and started tickling her. She dodged and hid, shaking with laughter, but couldn’t escape.
A while later, they heard the soft footsteps and quacking shoe soles fading away outside the door. Now knowing the truth, little Gu Xiao’an’s chubby face was bright, his sparkling big eyes blinking as he revealed his cute dimples. He returned to his room and grabbed Xiao Qi, who was still lying in the corner, and started tickling it. Left, right, up, down – poor Xiao Qi ran around helplessly, barking pitifully. White dog fur flew everywhere.
Afterwards, Fu Junyan stopped and hugged the breathless Gu Baobei, nuzzling her shoulder and patting her back comfortingly. But he teased: “Listen, the sound effects are the same…”
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