Chapter 14: This Newbie Is Actually Not Bad

Qiao Mei was sitting under a tree practising her lines before she was called up to the stage.

"I am" (cuts in)

"Good morning I'm Xiao Li. I am your Manager chosen by the Director to groom you to become a top-tier actress"

Qiao Mei tilted her head in confusion.

"I get to have my Manager?" 

"Yes, and I hope we'll be able to work together," Xiao Li said, praying in her heart that Qiao Mei is not like other actresses.

"Okay, let's work together to make me a top-tier actress!" Qiao Mei said enthusiastically.

Xiao Li was completely satisfied with the person whom she was to groom. 

"Okay, let's first get you dressed up. You'll be having a scene with Tang Yi soon", Xiao Li said, picking up some of her belongings and leading Qiao Mei to the dressing room. 

… 

Qiao Mei entered the dressing room to find out it was empty,

"You're the only one yet to get dressed", Xiao Li commented, coming in with a black Changshan and a fair, tall lady.

"Ohh" Qiao Mei said, her eyes drifting to the lady beside Xiao Li.

"This is Xi Xi. She'll be your make-up artist," Xiao Li said, pushing her forward.

" But first, come here. Let's get you dressed before a makeover" " she said, pushing Qiao Mei into a secluded space to get dressed.

A few minutes later, Qiao Mei came out dressed in a black Changshan.

"Wow, you look good in everything," Xiao Li said, smiling brightly.

Qiao Mei went to the mirror,

"It looks like I've gone back to the Han dynasty; I feel so heroic,", she said, smiling, admiring herself. 

"Qiao Mei you're coming up soon" A crew member shouted from the door immediately running back to the scene.

"Come here, let's get your makeup done", Xiao Li said, bringing a chair for Qiao Mei to sit on.

… 

Qiao Mei came out of the dressing room, with her head up high, satisfied with the outcome of her costume.

"Wow, she looks like her character!"

"So  beautiful!"

"She looks so heroic!"

Qiao Mei heard the comments of the actresses and she felt immensely satisfied.

"Sister Qiao Mei! I'm so envious of your skin, you look so beautiful, I'm willing to marry you!" Dan Ting said walking towards Qiao Mei.

"Aiyo!, I'm blinded by your beauty too!" Qiao Mei said, stretching her hands with closed eyes like she couldn't see.

"Hehe, you're so funny," Dan Ting said laughing at Qiao Mei's response.

"Your scene is coming up next, aren't you afraid?" Dan Ting said, staring at Qiao Mei's face.

"I am alright! I mean, it's my first time, and I'm taking such an important role. I'm so afraid I don't want to screw up" Qiao Mei said, rubbing her hands together due to the freezing weather.

"Qiao Mei report to the scene"

Qiao Mei heard the director's voice, she turned and faced Dan Ting.

"You got this girl," Dan Ting said, cheering her up.

"Okay, I got this!" Qiao Mei said and immediately started walking to the stage. 

… 

Qiao Mei stood before Tang Yi on the stage, the fear was evident in her eyes.

"Qiao Mei, calm down; it's gonna be okay. We're familiar enough to shoot this thing. There's nothing to be afraid of. Take a deep breath let's begin"

Qiao Mei did as instructed,

"Qiao Mei, come on, you already look as heroic as your character, you can do this!" Jialu cheered from behind the scene.

"Okay let's begin!" Qiao Mei said with determination in her eyes.

The Director's voice came from backstage. "Okay, in three, two, one. Action!"

They began acting, Qiao Mei made some mistakes but was corrected by the director. She kept an open mind and repeated some scenes that the director wasn't satisfied with… ..

"And cut!" The director shouted his gaze fixed on Qiao Mei with faint smiles on his lips.

The Assistant Director saw how the Director was smiling at her, and he smiled. 

"The newbie is good; she managed to get the scene without much repetition", he commented, smiling and looking at Qiao Mei, who was laughing with Tang Yi.

" I told you, you could do it," Tang Yi said, patting Qiao Mei on the head.

" Thank you for teaching me well, senior Tang Yi," Qiao Mei said, smiling brightly, bowing to show her respect to him.

"Common, if you address me as Senior, I'll feel too old. You can call me Brother Tang Yi,", Tang Yi said, smiling at Qiao Mei.

… 

Tao Xi was resting far away from the scene in her van when her assistant came and whispered something in her ears. 

"Brother Tang Yi!" Tao Xi said angrily, 

"I've tried talking to him but he always puts on airs. We've acted together but he didn't tell me to call him Brother. But now that slut just got close to him his letting her address him casually"

" Qiao Mei you would have stayed on your lane but you managed to mess with the wrong person"

She said bringing out her phone to call the CEO of Weibo. After the call ended she smiled viciously,

"Let's see you how long you'll last", she stated and stepped out of the van, completely uninterested in resting.

… 

In the evening, the whole team were seated at the dining table enjoying their dinner.

"A toast to Miss Qiao" 

Qiao Mei was utterly shocked she raised her head to see Tang Yi giving her a toast, she quickly stood up,

" Thank you Senior," Tang Yi raised an eyebrow

" Ah I mean Brother Tang Yi" Qiao Mei said leaving everybody in shock

" Brother Tang Yi!" Kept repeating over and over in their minds.

The other newbies felt jealous seeing Qiao Mei in the spotlight. Dan Ting felt happy for her.

Mo Nuan and Tao Xi rolled their eyes. 

… 

Qiao Mei was lying on her bed when she heard a knock on her door. She opened it to see Dan Ting with her stomach full of something she couldn't see.

"Are you interested in late-night snacks"

Qiao Mei's eyes widened upon hearing what Dan Ting said,

"Come in" She opened the door wider for Dan Ting to enter. She turned to see her bed full of snacks; some were her favourite, while she hadn't had some before.

"Oh my goodness, how did you manage to get them?" Qiao Mei said, opening her favourite chocolate.

"Arghhh" she groans with satisfaction.

"I went out to get them while you were on stage," Dan Ting said, winking mischievously.

"Dammit, I've missed them so much they wouldn't let us eat even a little!" Qiao Mei said, closing her eyes and enjoying the taste of the chocolate bar. 

"Oh yeah, I saw a little of your acting before I went out. You're so good!" Dan Ting said smiling.

"Thank you very much, trust me I was very afraid on the stage"

"Your scene is tomorrow, have you mastered your lines?" Qiao Mei asked.

"I'm still in the process, I'll sleep a little bit late today" 

"Why do you have to sleep late? Are you with it? Let me help you," Qiao Mei said.

" Um.. I think.. ah, there it is," Dan Ting said, bringing out her script.

Qiao Mei began helping Dan Ting prepare for a role the next day.