Chapter 862
Meanwhile, right as Ning Ran reached the entrance, she received a particrly “grand” wee.
When Shi Jie''s fan club received news about the music video, they arranged for a group of die-hard
fans to make a white banner protesting against the making of a music video with Ning Ran and Shi Jie
in it.
On those banners were words like: Don''t let the crone ride Shi''s coattails!
Give Shi back! Don''t taint him!
Your shamelessness will be your downfall! Get lost, crone!
The banner looked frightening, and anyone would have thought that they were protesting something
more serious.
Those people were kept outside the schoolpound by security, and since they could not see their
favorite star, they became even more agitated and loud.
When Ning Ran''s car drove past them, they waved their banners and their fists. Some even pointed
their middle fingers at the car.
s, they were actually unsure which car was Ning Ran''s, so they pointed their middle finger at every
car that went into the school.
Worried that Ning Ran would be affected by their behavior, Wang Xiaoou quietly consoled her by
saying, “Most of Shi Jie''s fans are kids. They''re minors, so don''t take their behavior to heart.”
Ning Ran was unbothered, however. In fact, she found their banners and the words amusing. She had
heard of many things being the key to someone''s downfall, but she rarely came across people
criticizing another''s shamelessness as the other person''s downfall.
There are so many shameless people in this world. Are you saying all those shameless people will end
up terrible?
Empty heads, rashness, and childishness were the main features of young people, but Ning Ran did
not think of them as anything. People who were still young like them did not need to bear many
responsibilities—they merely needed to love and hate in simple terms.
“I don''t mind,” Ning Ran muttered, smiling and shaking her head. “They have the right to express their
opinions. Stars be stars with the support of their fans. I don''t think it matters to me that they''re
going up against me to support Shi.”
“Really?” Wang Xiaoou was still worried.
“Yes. They''re just children. Why should I take their words to heart?” Ning Ran chuckled.
“That''s nice. It''s good to have a mindset like yours,” Wang Xiaoou said, feeling much more relieved.
As they spoke, they reached the filming site, and the car came to a stop. Shi Jie came over and
greeted, “Ms. Ding!”
“Hello, Shi. You''ve grown a little taller since thest time I saw you,” Ning Ran teased.
“You''re messing with me again! But Ms. Ding, you look even prettier than before,” Shi Jie remarked
with joy in his eyes.
“I''m serious about you getting taller. Is the director here? I''d like to greet him first.”
“Director Xie is over there, but...” Shi Jie trailed off before smiling.
Ning Ran could see the awkwardness in his smile. On her way to the site, she had heard that Xie Dazui
was strict toward artistes, so she guessed he was going to assert his dominanceter.
Xie Dazui was talking to a staff member at the side. He had a beard, and he had a fierce look. He
looked more like he belonged in the streets as a gang boss than in the art industry.
“Hello, Director Xie. I''m Ding Mi,” Ning Ran carefully greeted as she walked over to him.
“You''re veryte for someone who isn''t a big shot,” Xie Dazui instantly criticized as he looked at Ning
Ran from head to toe.
Ning Ran nced at the time and said, “Please don''t say that. There''s still half an hour left before the
agreed time. I''m early, notte.”
Xie Dazui only scoffed before falling silent.
Hisck of response prompted Ning Ran to sheepishly walk away, but she was annoyed.
It''s not as if I owe you anything. I''d have ignored it if you were just glum, but who are you trying to act
cool for? Shi Jie''s the one who invited me to this. I can understand his fans protesting against me being
in a work with him, but you, as a director, are doing the same as them?
“Go and prepare yourself. The filming will start in five minutes,” the director then said.
Five minutes? Is he messing with me? I can''t even finish my makeup in five minutes.
Ning Ran usually went around without makeup unless she had filming or unless she was going to
attend major social events. Otherwise, she would only put basic skin care.
Hence, she only applied light makeup before leaving the house that day—she did not even use any
lipstick.
Wang Xiaoou wanted to reason with the director, but Ning Ran stopped her with a look.
They had yet to start filming, and Ning Ran did not wish to have a falling out this early.
However, Shi Jie could not bear watching in silence anymore. “Director Xie, Ms. Ding just arrived, and
she hasn''t had any time for preparation. Five minutes wouldn''t be enough for makeup. At the very
least, she should have half an hour''s time, right?”
The director took a glimpse at his watch. “The sunlight is suddenly at its perfect brightness. It''ll be too
bright if we''re anyter. I have my standards in filming, and it''s her problem if she''ste. I won''t give
extra time to the actors. You have four minutes left.”
“Director Xie, this is too—”
Shi Jie started protesting, but Ning Ran stopped him. “It''s fine. Let''s not argue about this anymore. Five
minutes it is.”
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Since Ning Ran only had five minutes, redoing her makeup was out of the question.
Hence, she changed into a white shirt and a pair of ck pants before taking off her earrings and
ne. Then, she tied her hair up into a simple ponytail.
When Ning Ran walked toward the camera, she was slow.
She was doing her best to recall the way her teachers carried themselves, moved, smiled, and talked.
It was then everyone realized the expression on Ning Ran''s face changed as the way she carried
herself changed as well.
She was an artiste a moment ago, and it was obvious from the way she smiled and acted. There were
habits formed from frequent attendance at social events.
However, those habits were fading away as Ning Ran ambled toward the camera. The look in her eyes
seemed purer, and the way she walked seemed more solemn.
Xie Dazui noticed Ning Ran''s change, of course. As an experienced director, he knew that Ning Ran
was immersing herself in the setting.
All the excellent actors had to immerse themselves before filming to y their roles.
Many actors even remained as their characters throughout the period of filming. They shed away their
own selves to ensure that they would stay in character.
Despite that, not many actors could actually immerse themselves fully into the story, especially actors
who trended on the inte. They often had empty looks in their eyes, and their expressions were stiff.
They were merely acting for the sake of acting—there was nothing deeper than that.
However, Xie Dazui felt that the woman in front of him was bing more and more like a middle
school teacher.
Every profession had its unique qualities, and the professionals in that field had simrly unique
demeanors that could be obvious or subtle.
A middle school teacher had to have a certain degree of somberness, for she could not be all smiles
with the students all day. However, she also had to be of a certain degree of friendly, for she, too, could
not be grim with them all the time. That would be more like a military instructor than a teacher.
The somberness and friendliness were qualities that everyone could see manifesting on Ning Ran.
Xie Dazui was taken aback. He never thought that Ning Ran would be able to use her expressions and
demeanor to disy the most important qualities of a middle school teacher.
After the surprise was a wave of excitement. He could foresee the smoothness of the filming that day.
He was sure that he would wrap up that scene in less than ten takes.