Actresses

Chapter 8: The Boss's Self-Awareness!

When Shi Jiahe served the rice, the casserole of mushrooms and ribs, the minced meat and vegetables, and the golden coin eggs, He Yuran could not resist the temptation of human instinct and appetite. Her icy face melted instantly, and she flew over like a bullet.

"My goodness, this is so lavish..." He Yuran's eyes were practically glowing blue; she was clearly starving. "Where are the chopsticks? Where are the chopsticks?! I'm going to start eating right now!"

Shi Jiahe set out the tableware. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Sister Ran. I don't know if it will suit your taste, but please make do with this."

Without any hesitation, He Yuran grabbed a piece of pork rib and stuffed it into her mouth. She chewed a few times, her cheeks puffed out, and her eyes widened immediately. "So delicious! Jiahe, my darling! So delicious!!"

"Really?" Shi Jiahe hadn't cooked in a while, and she put a piece of pork rib in her mouth with some skepticism, then her expression relaxed.

Thankfully, my cooking skills haven't deteriorated.

He Yuran was too preoccupied to speak. She used her chopsticks to pick up a little of each dish, piling it into a small mountain in her bowl, and then buried her head in her food. Shi Jiahe's earlier gloom vanished. She even regretted that she had impulsively put the mushrooms into the casserole to stew as well; she should have stuck to the original plan and made the cumin-fried mushrooms. That way, she could have surprised He Yuran even more.

Since they started working together, they've eaten countless meals together—at business dinners, special meals on set, and even ordering takeout from the studio—but never before had they truly focused on the "food" itself like they did today. He Yuran kept exclaiming how delicious it was while eating. And it was the first time Shi Jiahe had ever seen Ran-jie finish a whole bowl of rice.

"These ribs are better than any I've ever had at any restaurant before. What seasonings did you use? Did you buy some exclusive stewing seasoning online?" He Yuran asked with great interest about cooking-related business matters.

"I didn't use any stewing spice packet, I didn't even add star anise or bay leaves," Shi Jiahe said with a hint of pride. "It's mainly because the pork ribs I bought were fresh. I pan-fried them beforehand to prepare the basic seasoning, and then I stewed them in a clay pot for a sufficient amount of time. Actually, as long as you let the ingredients bring out their natural flavor to the fullest, it will taste delicious. You don't need such complicated seasonings."

"The original flavor of the ingredients? You're talking like an acting teacher." He Yuran patted her stomach without any manners, leaned back in her chair, and said, "It's so delicious, I'm so full. I'll have to starve for at least a week before I dare to weigh myself."

"Sis, what did you just say?" Shi Jiahe's heart skipped a beat. "Why is it the acting teacher?"

"Oh, back when I was a freshman in the acting department—hey Jiahe, do you have dental floss?"

Shi Jiahe quickly handed over the dental floss box.

He Yuran elegantly picked at her teeth for another minute before continuing, "Back then, the professors in our department told us that no matter if we became big stars or left this industry, we should cherish the present, because this is when we are most authentic, like the raw ingredients in a chef's hands. But it's also when we have the strongest earthy taste, because we haven't undergone any processing yet and can't become a dish. Don't you think that sounds like what you just said?"

After saying that, He Yuran chuckled to herself for a while.

Shi Jiahe pondered He Yuran's words thoughtfully, then, as if remembering something, slapped her forehead. "Sister Ran, I think I've got an idea!"

"What is it?"

This time, Shi Jiahe thought for a moment before saying, "My mind is a bit of a mess, let me organize my thoughts. We've always been struggling with what kind of roles we should play, haven't we? Now I'm starting to understand what kind of film we're going to make."

"Shi Jiahe, don't think you can fool me. I can't tell!"

Seeing He Yuran's wary expression, Shi Jiahe couldn't help but laugh, "What good would it do me to lie to you? My happiness is my happiness, my dear sister. I might actually be having feelings for you!"

He Yuran shuddered and frowned: "Has feelings for me? That makes sense..."

"Hey!" Shi Jiahe patted He Yuran on the shoulder and pulled her to sit down on the sofa again, so they could chat more easily. "Sister Ran, answer me a question first: if you don't consider the salary and cast, what do you mainly look for when you accept a role?"

"Hmm... the more different the character is from me, the better; the greater the challenge, the better."

"Right, good actors like roles that are very different from themselves because they can break through and feel a sense of accomplishment when playing them. In the past two years, when we read scripts, we have also focused on some very—" Shi Jiahe gestured for a long time but couldn't find a suitable description, "In short, themes and roles that are not so ordinary."

"Yes, if you want to praise me as a good actor, then that's definitely the truth, but what exactly are you trying to say?"

"Don't rush, let me break it down step by step. We've been struggling with what constitutes a good script and what kind of role suits you, but now I think that's not the point anymore. Frankly, trying to guess what the audience wants to see is wrong; the audience themselves don't even know what they want to see. Besides, is the standard for a good script in the eyes of industry professionals the same as the standard for a good script in the eyes of the audience? Nobody can say for sure now, and it's no longer important because almost nobody watches movies anymore. Rounding it up, it's practically the same as there are no good scripts anymore. So let's stop being trapped in our old logic. Sister, do you remember what Teacher Ye said? The blessing of a great director is both a blessing and a curse. Your representative works in your twenties were thanks to good directors who amplified your qualities at the time. Now, more than a decade has passed, and the times are completely different. You've grown and changed a lot over the years. I think we should take some of your current qualities and create works based on them, instead of trying to fit ourselves into roles that are completely different from what others have written."

"My personality? Don't you guys always say I'm annoying in private and tell me to say less? That scared me so much that I rarely do interviews anymore."

"Using a facet of your personality isn't about completely exposing you. Besides, you're actually quite cute in private, sis." Shi Jiahe paused suddenly after saying that, and then realized that her words were a bit too cheesy.

He Yuran was quite pleased to hear this. "Oh, it's rare to see you praising me like this today."

Seeing that Ran Jie was unusually pleased, Shi Jiahe thought it best to strike while the iron was hot. "So I think we could put together a drama about the entertainment industry and have you play a female star, what do you think?"

This time, He Yuran was speechless. "Who would watch a drama about the entertainment industry? Forget movies, even TV series on this topic haven't been made many in recent years. Besides, bringing up things from the entertainment industry will only invite more criticism..."

Shi Jiahe thought to herself, "She's truly a top-tier female celebrity." Although He Yuran is usually narcissistic and eccentric, she is always clear-headed when it comes to important matters, and her remarks are all reasonable.

"Sister Ran, I think if something isn't filmed well, it's not that the subject matter is bad, but rather that the creative angle is wrong. Actually, we've all forgotten one thing while we're in it: the entertainment industry is a perfect place to showcase human nature. Fame and fortune are magnified here, and because netizens have some basic knowledge of celebrity gossip, there's not much cost in explaining certain plot points, so it's very suitable as a story background. Then we can add another layer of other themes, which can also give the audience more diverse stimulation. To put it simply, it's about taking your most likable qualities and layering them on a genre-specific story."

He Yuran pondered for a moment. "It sounds like it makes sense. But don't forget we're making an ensemble piece."

"I haven't forgotten. I think it's possible to balance both. Because this story definitely needs more than one character; everyone has their own personality traits. But putting others aside for now, the important thing is to be true to yourself. When we talk about authenticity, we often mistakenly think of the authenticity you had when you first debuted, when you were 20 years old. But I'm talking about the present, the you of today. This also fits the story that the audience wants to see now. The audience doesn't want to see you at 20."

"...I'm still a bit confused. I'm trying to understand, so, as a female celebrity, I'm supposed to play a female celebrity, and that role has to be very similar to my current personality in real life. But what aspects of me would be suitable for the audience to appreciate and like?"

Shi Jiahe and He Yuran stared at each other for a few seconds without saying a word, but He Yuran got anxious first.

"Can't you say anything at all? You could at least say it's beautiful!"

"Sister, you are beautiful, but that's not new to the audience."

"...What do you mean?!"

Shi Jiahe thought to herself, "I'm going all out today, I'll just say whatever comes to mind." "Sister, let's not even talk about how good-looking and well-maintained you are, just look at the Chinese entertainment industry, are there any actresses who aren't good-looking? No, right?"

This is the first time that Shi Jiahe has mentioned other actresses without her getting angry.

"..."

He Yuran stared at Shi Jiahe with wide eyes, holding his breath, but didn't say anything.

"The audience is already used to these things, and besides, your appearance is just your least noteworthy advantage. In the years I've worked with you, the thing I admire most about you is your pride."

"...What kind of talk is that!" He Yuran looked utterly dejected. "The audience doesn't want to see a defeated quail acting all proud; it's just annoying to hear."

"Oh, in a drama, your character is built up through a series of events, not just words. Let's start with examples. For instance, do you know when I started to feel close to you and began to speak more casually?"

"It's your first day on the job," He Yuran said matter-of-factly.

"Bullshit! Who opens up to the boss on the very first day?" Shi Jiahe rolled her eyes.

He Yuran shrugged and said nonchalantly, "Oh, I thought it was only natural that everyone around me would fall in love with me upon meeting me."

"It was the first time I visited you on set after I joined the company. I remember it very clearly. That day you were wearing a costume, a very fitted cheongsam, filming a scene within a scene in a dream. Then I had dinner with you in the RV. The makeup artist and assistant were all out, so it was just the two of us in the RV. I was quite reserved. I was thinking about what to say, but you were eating so elegantly. And you were wearing a cheongsam, so I felt like nothing I said would be appropriate. Just as I was thinking about it, you suddenly put down your chopsticks halfway through your meal and said out of the blue, 'Do you want to see me break a boulder on my chest? This costume is so uncomfortable to wear, I want to smash it open.' At that moment, I had a feeling, 'Oh, isn't this just a cute and adorable little girl?'"

"Baby, stop talking, I'm going to cry if you keep going. No, no, I'm already crying." He Yuran's eyes were practically brimming with tears, and she was fanning her face with both hands. "But, how come I don't remember anything about it?!"

Seeing that the person was putting on an act again, Shi Jiahe didn't bother with her and continued talking to herself.

"Anyway, from that day on, I felt that you weren't the kind of high and mighty superstar. Although I need to consider you at work and try my best to protect you, in private you're like a half-sister to me, someone who can fight and make a fuss."

As she spoke, Shi Jiahe also became emotional, and tears welled up in her eyes. At least at this moment, the usual gap between the two seemed to be shrouded in mist, leaving only a hazy tenderness for the time being.

"You still say you're not acting?! I think you are!" He Yuran suddenly shouted.

As Shi Jiahe wiped away her tears, she realized that the remaining tears didn't need wiping; they had already been swallowed back by anger. "Why would I lie to you? I'm not an actress, why would I need to..."

"No, the more you say that, the more heartless I seem, because I really don't remember... I just feel like I've been bossing you around since day one?" Saying this, He Yuran looked around and asked, "Hey, how long have you lived here? When did you buy it?"

"I don't own a house, I'm renting. Sis, why are you suddenly asking this?"

"I've never cared where you live before, but since I'm here today, I should at least ask. This place doesn't look very big, and it's crammed together like a warehouse. I thought you always teased me about living a more refined life than me, but it turns out you're not much better off."

"I live alone, a one-bedroom apartment is enough for me. I considered renting a two-bedroom to store my things, but the rent is much higher, and I travel a lot for work, so I don't think it's necessary. After all, some packages can be delivered to the company anyway." Shi Jiahe herself wondered if she had been too serious in her answer. How much of what she said would her sister actually listen to?

Haven't you considered buying a house?

"I couldn't afford to buy a house when prices were high a few years ago, but with the economic situation these days, I'm hesitant to buy one. Besides, I think it's better not to take on a mortgage rashly. So, I haven't considered it yet."

"So—do you like the house you're living in now?"

"I've lived here for two years now, it's alright, I'll see how it goes next year. After all, prices are dropping all around here, so if the rent doesn't go up or they lower it a bit, I'll probably renew the lease."

"If you want this house, how about I buy it for you?" He Yuran suddenly said seriously.