It's not right, this is -10 after -5.
That means the original favorability was negative. Why?
I don't understand.
Thinking this, Xia Qingtian still gritted her teeth and exchanged pleasantries.
Watching Sun Pengxuan go to greet others again, Xia Qingtian muttered to herself.
In her memory, Sun Pengxuan had always been lukewarm, without any scandals. Coupled with his decent acting and good looks, he had quite a good public image.
But she hadn't provoked him, so why did he have "dislike"?
"Qingtian, a reporter wants to interview you. Do you want to accept?" Li Mengxiao handed Xia Qingtian a bottle of mineral water and said, "I've skimmed through the reporter's questions, and they are all fairly normal."
"Then accept it." Xia Qingtian took a sip of water, nodded, and tidied her appearance.
Li Mengxiao then led over the interviewing reporter, and the interview went smoothly.
Xia Qingtian handled herself naturally and was good at playing along with prompts. Soon, other reporters came over, and in a short while, Xia Qingtian was surrounded.
Outside the crowd, Sun Pengxuan gazed at Xia Qingtian's direction with a cold look.
Beside Sun Pengxuan, someone teased the director, "Director Zhao really struck gold. I didn't expect this Xia Qingtian to suddenly become so popular, a professional in trending topics."
"Yes, with the increased popularity, future publicity will be easier."
"I just don't know about her acting skills." Sun Pengxuan said with a subtle tone, "To choose a newcomer for such an important role... Director Zhao is truly bold and skilled."
"Director Zhao personally selected her, so her acting skills won't be too bad." The others didn't grasp Sun Pengxuan's implied meaning of being "bold and skilled" and thought he was just worried about Xia Qingtian's acting as a newcomer. They smiled and said, "Director Zhao values this drama very much, and Gu's Entertainment has invested a lot of money, so it won't be bad."
"Yes, the incense burned so brightly at the commencement ceremony today. It's definitely fine, everything will be auspicious and smooth!" Everyone chatted happily. Sun Pengxuan took a deep look at Xia Qingtian in the crowd before turning to walk elsewhere.
Everything auspicious?
Everything smooth?
It was already very bumpy from the start.
Meanwhile, Xia Qingtian was not only dealing with reporters' interviews but also an unfriendly gaze.
"It's about time. Let's go eat," the directorial team began to arrange for everyone to dine.
Only then did Xia Qingtian have some free time. She first joined everyone for a group meal and was then safely sent back to the hotel.
Admittedly, the crew's treatment was quite good. She, the third female lead, was staying in a small suite with a living room, a second bedroom, and a kitchenette.
The living room also had a sofa bed, and the entire room could comfortably sleep three or four people.
"Do the male and female leads get even better accommodations? Like presidential suites?" Xia Qingtian asked curiously, lying on the sofa.
"The male and female leads also have these small suites," Li Mengxiao said, brewing a pot of plum tea to aid digestion. "Your room was originally a double room, but Sister Ning contacted the crew in advance to get it upgraded."
"Wow, Sister Ning is so kind." Xia Qingtian held the cup of plum tea and took a sip. It didn't taste as good as Mobius's.
Frankly speaking, Li Mengxiao's cooking skills had always been very good, and this plum tea was also delicious.
It was just a little bit inferior to Mobius's.
Sigh...
They were all carbon-based life forms, so why was Mobius so outstanding?
"Qingtian? Qingtian!" Li Mengxiao called out to Xia Qingtian a few times.
"Hmm?" Xia Qingtian finally snapped back to attention and looked at Li Mengxiao. "What's wrong?"
"Filming officially starts tomorrow. You should go take a bath and get some good rest. It will be difficult to sleep well after this," Li Mengxiao said helplessly. "What were you thinking just now? I called you several times."
"No, it's probably just because it's my first time joining a crew, I'm a bit excited." Xia Qingtian chuckled, drank the plum tea in her cup, and then got up to shower.
While Xia Qingtian was showering, Li Mengxiao changed all the hotel's duvet covers and sheets to her own and lit a calming, elegant incense in the master bedroom.
Xia Qingtian slept soundly and happily. The next day, she joined the crew for filming.
In the early stages, Princess Yingyue, the third female lead played by Xia Qingtian, was a daughter of the grassland – free-spirited, unrestrained, and doted on by the nomadic people. Her accessories were also predominantly cute.
Princess Yingyue met, befriended, and fell in love with the male lead, Feng Cheng, who was being pursued. She was Feng Cheng's lifelong "white moonlight."
The first day of filming depicted Princess Yingyue saving Feng Cheng, hiding him, and secretly feeding him water and treating his illness.
Feng Cheng was played by Cheng Jinyun, a rising idol under Gu's Entertainment.
Cheng Jinyun had handsome features, and with the skilled touch of the makeup artist, he presented a delicate, sickly "puppy-like" appearance.
Let alone the kind-hearted Princess Yingyue, who had been protected very well since childhood, anyone else would have been unable to refuse to save him.
"Young lady, I haven't yet asked for your esteemed name." Feng Cheng, leaning on his arm, looked at Princess Yingyue, who was about to leave, and said, "For saving my life today, Feng Cheng will surely repay you with a bubbling spring."
"Anya." Princess Yingyue had snuck out and dared not reveal her real name to a stranger she had just met. She only gave her maid's name.
After saying the name, she pouted playfully, then ran out with a shy expression.
"Anya..." Feng Cheng murmured the name, appearing somewhat bewildered. "How beautiful..."
"Cut!" Director Zhao clapped his hands and shouted, "This take is good! Makeup artists, quickly touch up the makeup. Prop crew, bring the props. We'll shoot the next take."
Hearing the director, everyone immediately got busy.
Once the actors and props were ready, Director Zhao called out again, "All departments ready!"
The severely injured Feng Cheng was constantly fed and cared for by Princess Yingyue in the cave. Gradually, a mutual, nascent affection grew between them through their interactions.
Feng Cheng's injuries gradually improved under Princess Yingyue's care, and her feelings for this outsider evolved from sympathy and curiosity into a vague fondness.
Princess Yingyue's elder brother, Prince Zardo, was the first to notice something amiss with Princess Yingyue. Following the clues, he found Feng Cheng.
Prince Zardo, concerned that this outsider might bring disaster to the grasslands, led his men to surround Feng Cheng.
Princess Yingyue appeared in the critical moment and had Feng Cheng take her hostage to evade pursuit.
This part was an outdoor scene and could be considered a small climax in the plot, a crucial point for the warming of Princess Yingyue and Feng Cheng's feelings.
When this scene was being filmed, Xia Qingtian had been with the crew for two weeks. The entire Z City had experienced a significant temperature drop. On the horse ranch on the outskirts of Z City, the grass was covered in a layer of white frost.
As a major scene, Xia Qingtian had expected riding a horse to be difficult, but she hadn't expected anything to be amiss until she was about to get on the horse.
It seemed the stirrups had been tampered with.