Chapter 35: Standing Tall Once More

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Yao Kang was still a little nervous when filming began, but the moment he saw the smile at the corners of Qi Fei’s eyes and the gentleness in her gaze, he knew they had succeeded.

The very first take went smoothly.

When the director called, “That’s a pass,” applause broke out all around them, and Qi Fei was not the only one who grew excited.

No one had expected such a dramatic change in Qi Fei. Quite a few people could not understand how she had suddenly figured things out. Still, it was a good thing—at least they would not have to work overtime anymore.

After a morning of filming, Qi Fei had more or less found the knack for performing emotional scenes. Her back straightened at once.

She rushed over to Tian Wei, brimming with excitement. “Weiwei, come on. I’m taking you out for a feast.”

This was all thanks to Tian Wei. Otherwise, Qi Fei had no idea when she would have figured it out.

Looking at Qi Fei’s radiant smile, Tian Wei knew that her own words had merely served as a spark. Given how brilliantly Qi Fei performed her other scenes, it had only been a matter of time before she found the right approach.

Sometimes, one simply had to admit that talent existed. In such a short time, Qi Fei had mastered the technique—and even more remarkably, she portrayed the emotions with astonishing accuracy.

If Tian Wei had not known that Qi Fei regarded the male lead as a walking pile of cash, she might genuinely have believed, judging from Qi Fei’s expression and demeanor, that Qi Fei had fallen for him.

Add to that her flawless face…

Her teacher had been right. Some people were simply born to make a living in this profession.

Qi Fei had barely finished speaking when Yao Kang lifted his head from in front of the monitor and ruined the mood. “Forget it for tonight. We’re filming a night scene.”

Hearing that, Qi Fei could do nothing but nod obediently.

If not for her, everyone would not have had to work overtime. Qi Fei knew how to handle people, though; during a break in filming, she ordered fruit and desserts for everyone on the crew.

The people who had originally been harboring complaints were suddenly left with nothing to say.

The following day, after work wrapped, Qi Fei excitedly dragged Tian Wei out for a lavish meal.

Although Yao Kang had arranged separate staff meals for her, they tasted fairly good and even came with fruit afterward. Still, eating the same flavors every day was unbearably painful for someone as devoted to food as Qi Fei.

Halfway through the meal, Qi Fei’s phone rang.

It was a video call from Su Xiang. This was the first time the two of them had ever video-called; before this, they had been too lazy to type in their group chat and had generally settled for voice calls.

Qi Fei had to admit that she was rather looking forward to seeing Su Xiang for the first time. They were already so familiar with each other, yet she had no idea what he looked like. It felt like meeting an online friend in person.

Aside from Shi Lin, whose social media occasionally showed signs of life, the accounts belonging to Tong Sheng, Su Xiang, and Wan Yang were as empty as if they were fake.

Not that Qi Fei could criticize them—her own account had only recently been created, and it contained no posts either.

As soon as she answered, she saw a man appear on the screen.

“Wow, he’s so handsome.”

Tian Wei glanced over instinctively and happened to see an exceptionally handsome man on the screen. She could not help praising him.

There was nothing improper about letting her see, so Qi Fei tilted the phone toward Tian Wei.

“Is he handsome?”

This time Tian Wei could see him even more clearly. She nodded repeatedly.

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“Very handsome. Extremely handsome.”

“And he’s not the sort of handsome man with delicate, feminine features. His features are sharply defined, and there’s a distinctly masculine appeal to him.”

Qi Fei took another reluctant look and unconsciously furrowed her brow. Was her taste in men really that bad?

Su Xiang’s lips had initially been curved into a smile after answering the call, but Qi Fei’s words and expression made the smile vanish instantly.

“Do you even know how to talk, Seven-Seven?”

“Miss, am I not handsome?”

“Handsome, handsome—very handsome. You’re even more handsome than the male lead in our show. Are you an actor too?”

When she heard the question, Tian Wei hurriedly joined in.

Hearing that, Su Xiang turned toward Qi Fei with a smug smile. “Did you hear that?”

He had been praised for his looks ever since childhood, and this was the first time someone had said to his face that he was not handsome. “I have the kind of face that can earn a living on its own.”

“Oh. Then the entry requirements for making a living off your face are pretty low.”

Su Xiang fell silent.

“What’s gotten into you, Feifei? Your tongue is still as poisonous as ever.”

Even Su Xiang, usually the most composed of men, was beginning to lose his composure.

In Qi Fei’s eyes, Su Xiang was indeed fairly good-looking, but at most he counted as a slightly handsome young man. He was still a ways off from the handsome men whose photos she had seen online. Tian Wei was exaggerating far too much.

The men Qi Fei considered truly handsome were the universally acknowledged top-tier beauties from the last century to the present day.

Tian Wei could tell that the two of them were close. Since Qi Fei had already been so blunt, she did not bother to hold back and asked directly, “So, Feifei, how handsome would you say this handsome man is, on a scale of ten?”

The moment she asked, Su Xiang stared fixedly at Qi Fei as well.

Qi Fei thought for a moment. “Six or seven.”

“Wow, Feifei, your standards are incredibly high.”

Were they?

“Then what would a ten out of ten look like?”

“I haven’t seen a ten yet.”

Even the men regarded as the most handsome in the world could score at most a nine. After all, a perfect ten required more than good looks; other qualities had to contribute as well.

Su Xiang finally could not take it anymore. “If you don’t praise me for being handsome, I’m not telling you the good news. So, are you going to say it or not?”

To Qi Fei, his petulant, embarrassed expression made him look like a child who had been denied a piece of candy.

With no choice, she humored him. “Handsome, handsome, handsome. You’re the most handsome.”

At last, a smile appeared on Su Xiang’s face.

“You heartless girl. I even went out of my way to find you work.” The last time, he had failed to help Qi Fei and had even made her take a pointless trip. To be honest, it had been a considerable blow to his pride.

How could a man as proud as Su Xiang possibly let that go?

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And so—

“The newest season of Ultimate Variety is about to begin filming. Would you be interested in becoming a regular cast member?”

“Does it pay?”

Su Xiang fell silent.

Tian Wei fell silent too.

Qi Fei’s question left Su Xiang completely stunned. “Seven-Seven, have you fallen into a money pit?” He had assumed Qi Fei would be delighted by the recommendation. Who could have imagined that the first thing out of her mouth would be that?

Tian Wei was stunned for a moment as well, then began nodding furiously from the side.

It paid. It paid very well.

If Qi Fei had not been reborn from the apocalypse and had instead come from Earth, she would have recognized the moment she first saw the show that Ultimate Variety was essentially another world’s version of The Challenge.

“Who gets to appear on a smash-hit variety show like Ultimate Variety just because they want to? Even if there were no appearance fee, people would still be fighting tooth and nail for a spot.”

Then Tian Wei remembered who she was talking about and felt that everything suddenly made sense.

“Qi Fei isn’t some obscure minor actress like the rest of us. She’s a well-known second-tier actress now, so it’s entirely possible that she simply doesn’t want to do variety shows.”

Tian Wei thought this way because she did not know Qi Fei’s current circumstances. Su Xiang, however, understood them perfectly.

Qi Fei had only just terminated her contract, and her new manager had no connections whatsoever. Establishing a foothold in the entertainment industry was no easy matter.

The project she was filming now was merely an online drama. Even if she spent several months finishing it, it might ultimately make no splash at all. She had recently accepted a supporting role, but filming would not begin for several months, and after the production period was taken into account, Qi Fei might not appear in the public eye for the better part of a year.

Although Qi Fei was still enjoying some popularity, if she rarely appeared on-screen, the entertainment industry would eventually forget her.

To be honest, Tian Wei was not free of envy when she saw a friend proactively introducing Qi Fei to new work. Perhaps this was the kind of network only established entertainers possessed.

After all, the variety show was immensely popular. It was not something anyone could simply ask to join, especially not as a regular cast member.

“None of the cast members on Ultimate Variety are paid poorly. So many actors want to go on variety shows because they are exceptionally lucrative. A single episode can earn more than filming several television dramas.”

One episode could earn more than several dramas?

That sentence hit Qi Fei like a shot of adrenaline. “All right. I’ll take it.”

“What can I do to help you?” She believed that one should not accept a favor without repaying it.

Su Xiang had helped her again and again. Although she was touched, she did not believe that anyone in this world offered affection without expecting something in return. He must have an ulterior motive.

Clearly, Qi Fei was overthinking it this time.

Su Xiang still felt embarrassed that something he had considered a sure thing the previous time had ultimately fallen through. Shi Lin had even teased him about it for several days.

So this time, he had simply helped her on a whim.

Qi Fei felt that she owed him a favor, but to Su Xiang, it had been nothing more than a minor courtesy.

From his unconcerned tone, Qi Fei guessed that he truly had not taken it seriously. Since that was the case, she did not say anything more; otherwise, she would seem overly precious.

At worst, she would repay the favor when he needed her help in the future.