CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 37: YOUR PUNCHING BAG HAS ARRIVED

On the film set.

Feng Zhong repeatedly watched the morning’s fight scene playback, completely engrossed.

Having practiced martial arts since childhood and served in the army for a few years, he had a good grasp of various fighting styles.

He could tell at a glance whose skills were real and who was just putting on a show.

Since he started directing, besides the few genuine martial arts stars like Ye Shaochen, he hadn’t seen any actor with such impressive skills.

Even the stunt doubles and action directors weren’t as good as that extra from the morning.

Luckily, he asked and found out that the extra was a woman, truly a fortunate discovery.

Look at those fighting moves, smooth and crisp, with not an ounce of excess. It’s the kind of skill that comes from real battle experience.

This is exactly the kind of person he envisioned for Yan Fei.

But it’s rare to find such a woman in acting, unless he recruited from a military base.

He initially thought Lin Wei’s martial arts background suited the character and used her as a compromise, but now by comparison, her skills just seemed flashy and inadequate.

"Director Feng, the people are here."

The assistant brought Ji Ning and Ye Tong to the director’s area on set.

Ye Tong was a bit nervous, her head slightly lowered, using her hair to cover the bruise on her face.

Ah...

How could I be so foolish?

Should’ve spent a bit more on an ice pack.

How am I supposed to face people like this?

Why didn’t I think of that earlier?

Ye Tong wished she could lower her head right into the ground.

Feng Zhong glanced at Ye Tong and told his assistant, "Xiao Yang, go grab an ice pack from Lao Wang."

"Ah... No need, no need, my skin’s thick, it’ll be fine soon."

Ye Tong was overwhelmed by the attention.

Feng Zhong smiled, "If you want to be on camera, the actor’s face is crucial."

He then looked past Ye Tong to Ji Ning, who was silently focused on her boxed meal, and paused to ask, "Is the food enough? Do you need another box?"

Ji Ning raised her head, gestured a ’two’ with her fingers.

Ye Tong just realized Ji Ning was still eating her meal, awkwardly tugged her clothes, giving her a look.

"No need, no need, Sister Ning skipped breakfast."

Feng Zhong wore a kind smile, gesturing for the other assistant to bring four more boxed meals.

"Come, sit here and eat, let’s chat while we eat."

Ji Ning gave him a look that said "you’re quite sensible."

Feng Zhong’s smile widened even more.

This extra is interesting...

Ye Tong carefully sat down, somewhat anxious as she looked at the boxed meal before her. Across, Feng Zhong opened a boxed meal too, using chopsticks to start eating.

It seemed he really intended to eat and chat with them.

This was the closest she’d been to a director since starting her acting journey.

Usually she would just daydream about being suddenly noticed by a director.

But now her dream was coming true.

Ah... So exciting...

What should I do, Sister Ning?

She suppressed her excitement and turned to look, Ji Ning had already finished one boxed meal and was ready to start the second one.

That manner, I can’t bear to watch...

"What are your names?" Feng Zhong took the chilled drinks from the assistant and handed them out.

Ye Tong snapped back to reality and quickly said, "My name is Ye Tong."

She then glanced at Ji Ning, seeing her only focused on eating, she discreetly kicked her.

"Ji Ning."

Feng Zhong was slightly taken aback, then chuckled, "Ji Ning, that’s a great name, like the famous female general."

Ji Ning nodded.

Exactly, everywhere on TV, always seeing various versions of "myself."

Feng Zhong asked again, "Where did you learn your kung fu?"

Ye Tong saw Ji Ning focused only on eating again, she kicked her once more, this time receiving a death glare.

She immediately shrank back and whispered, "The director is asking you a question."

Ji Ning turned toward Feng Zhong, swallowed the food in her mouth and said, "Self-taught, don’t act, ask her."

Feng Zhong was momentarily speechless.

This girl has personality.

"Your skills are good, very suitable for playing Yan Fei, if..."

"She can too, my face is ugly, not camera-ready." Ji Ning said after a big gulp of the chilled drink, pointing at Ye Tong.

Feng Zhong: ...

Are you kidding me?

If she could, she wouldn’t have been beaten all over by Lin Wei.

Feng Zhong looked at Ji Ning, whose face was covered in a beard, with tanned skin that obscured her features, yet whose eyes were filled with a "trust me you won’t lose out" expression.

After thinking for a moment, he decided to give Ye Tong a chance: "Alright, come for an audition this afternoon."

Ye Tong was dumbfounded.

What? Audition?

It wasn’t until her leg got a sharp pain that Ye Tong snapped out of it, quickly stood up and bowed 90 degrees to Feng Zhong.

"Thank you, Director, for this opportunity, I will perform well."

***

Bathroom.

Ye Tong giggled foolishly at her reflection, splashed her face with some water, the bright red palm marks had mostly faded, leaving only a slight pink.

Today felt like a dream.

This 24K golden opportunity left her a bit dizzy.

"Sister Ning, did I hear right earlier? The director wants me to audition?"

Ji Ning lounged by the door, eating a koala ice cream, gave her a sideways glance, "Have you mastered the moves I taught you?"

Ye Tong was taken aback, "What moves?"

Ji Ning rolled her eyes inwardly, "Parking lot..."

Ye Tong finally remembered, during their earlier practice in the parking lot, Ji Ning had shown her a few moves.

Ah... she forgot...

"Sister Ning..."

Ji Ning looked at the image in the mirror of the girl, with clasped hands and a pitiful look, and with a sip, the koala ice cream was finished, leaving just a stick, casually tossing it into a nearby trash can.

"Follow me."

Ye Tong’s eyes lit up, she immediately turned off the water and quickly followed behind her.

Sister Ning is really nice.

I’ll make her a pot of braised pork tonight.

...

Ji Ning brought her to an empty area with no one around.

She taught her a few moves to temporarily handle Feng Zhong’s questions, considering Ye Tong’s situation.

Ji Ning’s skills were honed for survival in chaotic times, difficult for someone like Ye Tong, who had never fought and never seen blood, to learn.

But this simple-minded girl was serious about acting, with strong mimicry skills, learning quickly, and could presumably fool people for a short while.

Later, with some strength training, she’d be able to mimic about seventy percent of the skill, enough to handle that old man in future scenes.

With a lollipop stick in her mouth, Ji Ning leaned back leisurely against the tree, enjoying the cool breeze.

The autumn sun wasn’t as hot as summer, but it was still stifling, making Ye Tong’s fair face flushed red, her forehead covered in sweat.

Her moves went from awkward to skilled gradually.

Suddenly, Ji Ning shouted: "Stop!"

Ye Tong immediately stopped her actions and turned around to look at her, "Sister Ning, did I do something wrong?"

"Here comes your sandbag."

Hmm?

What sandbag?

"You little bitch, you dare to step over my niece to climb up, I’m gonna fight with you."

Lin Qing approached with a vicious expression, reaching out to scratch Ye Tong’s pretty face.

She was on the verge of exploding with anger.

When Ye Tong registered for this production, there was only one spot left for extras out of twenty, and Lin Qing intentionally pushed the role of ’Cui Niang’ to her, recommending Ye Tong to Li Tao. The intent was to have her niece embarrass Ye Tong publicly.

Unexpectedly, this little bitch let her friend injure her niece and stepped over her for the role, preparing to audition for "Yan Fei".

It’s utterly shameless.

Today, she’s going to teach her a lesson!