Chapter 74: A Washed-up Actor

Zhao Ying and He Hui, they were veterans in the business. They had been working for decades. Even Wen Xue had to show them some respect, much less Mo Li.

When they were off camera, Mo Li would prepare drinks for them. She smiled and was very friendly to them. Mo Li always had respect for people who were masters in their respective fields.

Plus Mo Li did learn a lot just from their conversations. To be frank, during the acting teacher’s classes, Mo Li did not really learn much because it was too different from what she was used to. The lady kept telling her to unleash her inner self and speak to the audience, she might as well be talking in another language.

However, Zhao Ying and He Hui were more technical when they exchanged acting tips. When they talked about finding the best camera angles, Mo Li instantly could relate that to light reflection and refraction from physics; when they talked about microexpressions, Mo Li instantly was reminded of the activity of the orbital facial muscles from her years of being a doctor. She internalized this knowledge and was appreciative of the two senior actors’ incidental help.

“Are you new here?”

Mo Li nodded. This was indeed a new environment for her so there was no need to hide that. He Hui looked at Mo Li and smiled kindly, “Girl, you have the looks to succeed in the business. Be aware of the opportunities coming your way.”

Zhao Ying added with a smile, “That’s right, your chance will come.”

Mo Li nodded politely. Strangely enough, in her past life, she was heavily averse to the entertainment business because she assumed everyone had bad personality. But these two seniors proved that it was not all bad apples. So now that she was presented with this chance, Mo Li found it to be quite interesting.

Seeing how serious Mo Li was, the people around her smiled while Wen Xue’s face turned up with derision. This chick has a good appearance but that’s all. Just look at how inexperienced she is… But she does look familiar…

“Are you one of the crew interns? You look so young, you must just be in high school!” Zhao Ying commented.

Mo Li answered, “I only come to help out around the set during the weekends.”

“The set is a good training ground for young people, if you can keep on with this attitude, you’ll have a bright future.” Mo Li couldn’t help but smile hearing He Hui’s praise. This was also a self-deprecating smile as she realized how joyful she could get from other people’s praises. After all, she had been lavished with plenty of accolades in her past, but this was in a field she was completely new to so it was quite refreshing.

Soon, some of the young actors walked over, hoping to get some pointers from the seniors.

Mo Li frowned slightly, she was uncomfortable around these people. Just not too long ago, Mo Li heard them mocking another actor in the cast, An Wan who was around 30 years old.

An Wan was a bright star 4 years ago but after the news got out that she was a kept mistress, her career tanked. She was sidelined by her agency and she developed depression from it.

Old Madam Mo adored her serials. Mo Li would accompany her grandmother to watch them when she had the time. The woman was a very good actor.

Of the actors among her generation, there was no one better than her. Mo Li was greatly impressed by her acting so she had a deep impression of her. She did not expect to work in the same set at An Wan now.

The crew was a microcosm of the real society. From the actors to crew, majority of them was incredibly snobbish. Even the junior crew members knew which asses to kiss and which asses to kick.

For example, Wen Xue was surrounded by people, adored like the star that she was. An Wan though sat to the side, with no one to even care about her. Mo Li sighed in her heart.

Mo Li read from the original that An Wan got the chance to play the mother to Qiao Qing when the latter got into the entertainment business. [1]

Qiao Qing provided An Wan with the light to walk out from depression.

An Wan’s expose created quite a ruckus within the business when it was first revealed but eventually the public moved on as they often did. However, it had left a lasting scar on An Wan. The business was darker than most people thought. However, Mo Li found An Wan to be quite a character, she didn’t look like the kind of person who would be someone’s kept mistress or be defeated by depression. Mo Li had reasons to believe there was a conspiracy behind this. Perhaps An Wan had offended someone she shouldn’t.

“We have apple-carrot juice and Oolong tea, which do you prefer?” Mo Li’s job was to take care of everyone on set. So she walked to An Wan’s side and offered.

An Wan was thinking about something. When she heard Mo Li, she lifted her head and smiled, “The Oolong Tea please. Thank you. You must be Nie Li’s newest star. Thank you for your hard work.”

Mo Li was surprised by 2 things. One, her relationship with Nie Li should be a secret so how did An Wan know?

Two, An Wan was so humble and polite. She had a gentle and magnanimous presence. According to the other young actors, An Wan often acted like a big shot on set and she was very arrogant. If she didn’t like something, she would slap her assistant in public.

Mo Li should have known better to buy into those rumors.

[1] Every female protagonist has to be an actor… huh

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