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Chapter 22: Human Relations Were So, It’s All Acting

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　　一觉昏沉睡到大傍晚，爬起来的时候奚墨浑身酸麻，走路都在飘，洗了个澡换身相称的裙子，理过妆容，这才看起来精神一些了，只是面色还是偏白了点。颜听欢打电话叫她，奚墨准备一番，下楼去酒店餐厅。

What should have been a short nap turned into a long sleep until evening. When Xi Mo had gotten up, she was sore all over. Even as she walked she was out of it. She took a shower, changed into a skirt that matched, then did her makeup. Only then did she look more energetic, but her complexion was still rather pale. Yan Tinghuan gave her a call, so she prepared and made her way down to the dining room.

　　这种开宴其实并没有多正式，全部是剧组人员，到时候可是要一起吃盒饭的，气氛就整得如同聚餐，比较随意。

A banquet like this wasn’t all that formal. Everyone was a member of the crew, they would all have to eat lunch boxes with each other once they started working. The atmosphere was much like a communal meal, people did as they please.

　　到的时候餐厅里已经有不少人，统筹，摄影，场记，灯光，化妆，录音等等都在，这些人在剧组里又分属不同的小组，绥廷是部大制作，每个小组人数都挺多，大部分比较年轻有干劲，围了好多桌，凑在一起有说有笑的。

When she made her way down, many people have already gathered. Coordinator, photographers, script supervisor, lighting technicians, makeup artists, sound recorders, and so on were all here. All of these people had their own groups within the crew. Since the project was rather large this time, each group had a lot of people. Most of the more energetic younger workers surrounded many tables and were happily chatting away.

　　林启堂的助理也在那，和统筹等人一起招呼场面，之前颜听欢和奚墨去林启堂那走动过几次，那助理和她们也算比较熟了，见了就热情地招手：“阮小姐，颜小姐，你们来了。”

Lin Qitang’s assistant was also there and called out greetings with the rest of the people at the scene. Since Yan Tinghuan and Xi Mo had taken a walk at Lin Qitang’s place before, they were somewhat familiar with each other at least. As such, they were given a enthusiastic wave, “Miss Ruan, Miss Yan, you guys finally came.”

　　颜听欢是个自来熟，亲亲热热地在那扎了堆，毫不避讳，助理和统筹他们都很吃她这一套，颜听欢笑眯眯地说以后还请大家多多关照她家“阮夜笙”，众人连忙客套说这是当然，这是当然。奚墨状态不佳，换做以前她见了颜听欢这样，肯定会腹诽脸都被她丢光了，现在也只是站在旁边，懒得搭理，随便她。

Yan Tinghuan was a social butterfly, she warmed up and got close to people easily, so she greeted back much in the same way. The assistant and coordinator easily ate it up as Yan Tinghuan greeted back with a smile and even asked them to take care of “Ruan Yesheng” well. Everyone promptly replied back politely it was only natural to do so. Xi Mo was not in the best state. In the past, if he were to see Yan Tinghuan like this, she would mentally curse that she was losing all face. But as of now, all she did was stand beside her, too lazy to care and let her be.

　　助理介绍过奚墨，又给她介绍那些工作人员。

The assistant introduced Xi Mo, then introduced the various crew members to her.

　　奚墨没跟这个剧组的人接触过，一个都不认识，以前她是影后，红得简直没边了，从来都是别人过来巴结她，腆着脸排成长龙，她最烦这些，于是连别人的脸都懒得去记，更别说是名字。这回助理说到他们的名字，她就礼貌地微笑问好，一副谦和有礼的派头，也许是她的确有了些许改变，名字太多不可能都记住，也没必要，但留心看过之后，她也算是把这些工作人员的脸都认了个大概。

Xi Mo had never got in touch with this crew before, so she did not know a single person. As the Film Empress, she was so popular people simply couldn’t see her as they please. It was always other people coming over to fawn over her with thick faces and there were enough people to form long lines. She always felt it was annoying, so she never even bothered remembering their faces, let alone their names. But now, as the assistant introduced them to her, she politely smiled and greeted them, showing an amiable attitude. Perhaps she really was changing subtly, although she couldn’t remember all their names since there were too many and it wasn’t necessary, she at least carefully committed their faces to memory so she could recognize these crew members.

　　阮夜笙的这副皮囊十分勾人，奚墨又将这张脸笑得恰到好处，回答滴水不漏，剧组人员和她说话的时候，顿时觉得如沐春风，认为她脾气好，以后合作起来想必也很好相处，心里纷纷对她好感度暴涨。

Ruan Yesheng’s body was a really sexy one, with Xi Mo also putting her face to use by smiling just right and replying amiably, the crew members were left in a great mood and felt she had a great character. They would be able to cooperate well in the future, and their favorable opinion of her rose sharply. 

　　好歹也是重要女配，奚墨的座位被安排在里面的大包厢里，明星多，各自的经纪人随行在侧，连制片人也在，算是都能照顾到。

In any case, she was also an important female side character, so Xi Mo’s seat was arranged within a large private room. There were many celebrities there, each had their manager with them. Even the producer was there, they were all taken care of at least.

　　包厢里堪称星光璀璨，制作阵容摆在那，好多个配角都是正当红的演员，只是奚墨什么场面没见过，她自己分量重他们许多，在包厢里看着，根本没感觉。里面一些演员相互都认识，有的甚至合作过好几部了，要么在那假客套，要么在那真叙旧，还要捧制片和导演的场，大家都在忙活，他们又对阮夜笙这副皮相不熟，于是也没有什么人来搭理奚墨。

The private room could be described as beaming with starlight in the way it was arranged. Many of the supporting characters were actors and actresses that were currently popular. But Xi Mo was an experienced actress, what scenes had she not seen before? As she observed the people in the room, she did not feel it was particularly special. The actors and actresses inside all knew each other, some had worked together on several films together. As such, they were either giving perfunctory greetings, or talking about old times. They even needed to fawn over the film and the Director, they were all very busy. Since they were not very familiar with Ruan Yesheng, nobody came over to bother Xi Mo.

　　奚墨正好落得个清静，和颜听欢在座位上落了座，目光扫过去，发现阮夜笙还没来。

Xi Mo enjoyed this peace and sat in her seat with Yan Tinghuan. She swept her gaze across everyone and noticed that Ruan Yesheng had not arrived yet.

　　一圈看过去，她看见了严慕。

As she looked around, she found Yan Mu.

　　严慕个高腿长，眉目清俊，尤其是身边围了几个女演员，看上去便更加显眼。不知道他说了什么，几个女演员笑得绽开了花，严慕也在那笑，一双眼亮晶晶的，缀满星光。

Yan Mu was tall with long legs, and had a pure and handsome appearance. He was surrounded by a couple actresses which made him stand out even more. She didn’t know what he said, but a couple actresses burst out into laughter. Yan Mu was also laughing with them, his eyes bright with starlight.

　　他出道没几年，原本是歌手，不温不火了一段时间，后来接了一部戏饰演男主，凭借讨巧的男主人设和他出众的外表，电视剧播出后迅速以燎原之势火遍全国，荣登男神榜首，红了之后一直片约不断，广告不断，俘获了千万粉丝的少女心，又在圈内赢得众多女演员的好感。

He had debuted a couple years now and had started out as a singer. After muddling along for a while with no major popularity, he took on a role as the main male lead. Through his role as a clever male lead and his outstanding appearance, he quickly became popular once the drama was broadcasted. He became one of the heartthrob at the top of the rankings of other celebrities. After he became popular, he made more films and did countless advertisements, capturing countless female fan’s hearts. Within the entertainment circle itself, he also obtained favorable opinions of many actresses. 

　　这次他饰演绥廷的男主角，也就是汉和帝刘肇，和邓绥同为这部戏的主心骨，可见其地位。

His role this time was the male lead of Sui Ting, Emperor He of Han who was the backbone of this film. His importance could clearly be made out.

　　奚墨和他合作过几次，她生性冷淡，只是觉得这人给她的印象还不错，倒是没有真的将他当朋友，实际上她也的确没有真心朋友，圈内浮躁，她不想深交，那些看似朋友之间的关心互动，也不过是她罩在外面的一层壳。

Xi Mo had worked with him a couple times before. But since she was a naturally cold person, she merely had a pretty good impression of him and did not really take him as her friend. In fact, she did not have true friends. The entertainment circle was fickle, she did not want to make any deep attachments. Those friend-like interactions she had with some people was merely a shell she had made.

　　人情如此，得装样子。

Human relations were so, it’s all acting.

　　严慕看起来却真把她当做好朋友了，他年纪比她小，也不管奚墨接不接受，追在后面叫她姐，以前时不时给她发点消息。逢年过节送个问候，说些趣事，就算奚墨不回，他似乎也自得其乐。

But Yan Mu seems to really take her as a friend. He was younger than her, and seemed to not care whether she accepted him or not. He would follow after her and call her sister, and would even send her some news from time to time. During Chinese New Years or other holidays, he would also send her his greetings and tell her some interesting events. Even if she doesn’t reply, he found amusement for himself easily. 

　　虽说心里没把严慕这个万千少女心中的男神当根葱，到底也是熟人，奚墨便屈尊纡贵地多赏了他几眼。严慕旁边坐着柳于丝，柳于丝其人也很红，只是据传她红起来的方式比较另辟蹊径，她是睡红的，这档子事早已经被网友扒烂了。

Although she did not particularly care about Yan Mu who was the god of countless girl’s hearts, since they were acquaintances, Xi Mo deign to bestow upon him a longer look than others. Liu Yusi sat by Yan Mu, who was also rather famous. But it was rumored that the way he got famous was the alternative way, she slept her way up. This matter had long been dug up by the internet.

　　柳于丝听严慕在那说话，眼神压根就没离开过他，手脚都恨不得长在严慕身上才好。

As Liu Yusi listened to Yan Mu talk, her eyes never left him. Her hands simply wished to cling onto him.

　　有人给严慕拿酒，严慕在圈里出了名的脾气好，是大牌却丝毫没有大牌架子，笑着站起来去接，坐下的时候不动声色地又把屁股挪了个位置，离柳于丝远了点，估计是怕柳于丝的手脚真长他身上。

Someone gave Yan Mu some wine. Yan Mu was well known for his good temper within the circle. He did not act like a big shot and stood up with a smile to take it. When he sat back down he wordlessly shifted his seat a bit to give himself some space from Liu Yusi. He was probably really afraid she would start clinging onto him.

　　奚墨看热闹看得脸色没什么变化，心里倒是有点同情严慕了。

As Xi Mo watched the entertainment her face did not particularly change, but mentally she was sympathizing with him a bit.

　　严慕喝口酒，四处看了看，似乎是看到了奚墨这边，奚墨已经侧过脸，瞥向旁边正吃得气定神闲的颜听欢。

Yan Mu took a drink of his wine and looked around, and seemed to have noticed the situation over at Xi Mo’s spot. Xi Mo had already looked away and was looking at the eating and idle Yan Tinghuan.

　　“餐前点心还不错。”颜听欢推了一碟酱萝卜给她：“尝尝，开个胃。”

“The appetizers are pretty good.” Yan Tinghuan pushed a dish of pickled radish to her, “Try it, get your appetite going.”

　　奚墨很想像摇鸭子似的摇着颜听欢的脖子让她看看她自己的德行，再让她看看在座其他经纪人的表现。

Xi Mo really wanted to shake Yan Tinghuan’s neck like one would to a duck and have her take a look at her conduct, then compare herself to how the other managers were acting.

　　然而颜听欢心无旁骛，专心吃萝卜。

Yet Yan Tinghuan’s heart was free of worries and concentrated on eating her radishes.

　　奚墨没脾气了，也跟她一起吃萝卜。

Xi Mo lost her anger and ate radish with her.

　　“阮小姐？”旁边有个男人叫她。

“Miss Ruan?” A man called for her next to her.

　　奚墨抬起头，就见严慕不知道什么时候过来了，一瞬有点吃惊，也许是尚在昏沉的中暑状态，也许是这家酒店秘制的酱萝卜的确好吃，她还以为自己仍是奚墨，见严慕这小子过来，顿时就以为他又要对自己烦得要死地热情起来，正想着怎么敷衍他。

Xi Mo raised her head and found Yan Mu who had made his way over to her at some unknown time and was a bit startled. Maybe because she was dizzy from heatstroke, or maybe because the pickled radish at this hotel was really good, she was still thinking of herself as Xi Mo. Seeing him making his way over, she immediately thought about how she was going to be annoyed to death and how she should get rid of him.

　　然后她就意识到严慕叫的是阮小姐。

After that she became aware that what he called her was Miss Ruan.

　　按道理严慕近几年才出道，那时候阮夜笙早不知道去哪里了，两人根本生活在不同的世界，如同两条平行线没有交点，想不到严慕竟然会主动过来。

According to reason, Yan Mu made his debut in recent years. By that point, Ruan Yesheng had long been buried so they lived in completely different worlds. They were like two parallel lines that had no intersections, she didn’t expect Yan Mu to take the initiative to come over.

　　奚墨站起来，朝严慕点头，微笑，问好。

Xi Mo stood up, nodded at him, smiled and greeted him.

　　笑来笑去的，今天她的脸都要笑僵了。

Smiling here, smiling there, her face was going to be rigid from all this smiling today.

　　“我是严慕。”严慕的开场十分自然，也十分直白，并且十分傻气。

“I am Yan Mu.” Yan Mu’s opening greeting was very natural, very frank, and very foolish.

　　奚墨笑笑：“大名如雷贯耳，我怎么可能不知道呢，男神你真幽默。”

Xi Mo continued smiling, “With your well-known reputation, how could I not know you? You sure are funny god.”

　　严慕像是被突然塞了一颗糖，甜得眼里的星光更是璀璨：“你把我当你男神吗？”

Yan Mu acted as if he was suddenly shoved a candy, sweetened up so much even his eyes were shining, “Do you take me as your god too?”

　　奚墨：“……”

Xi Mo: “…”

　　真是老样子没变！

A leopard really can’t change its spots!

　　傻白甜！客套话，你也信！

You naive idiot! You even believed polite greetings?

　　奚墨滴水不漏，说：“你可是大家的男神。”

Xi Mo continued on with perfect defense, “You are everyone’s god.”

　　“什么男神不男神的，那都是大家捧高我了。”严慕笑道：“你叫我小慕吧。”

“What god and so on, everyone really put me up too high.” Yan Mu smiled, “You can call me Xiao Mu.”

　　奚墨：“……”

Xi Mo: “…”

　　你怎么不让我叫你小明呢！

Why don’t you straight up tell me to call you Xiao Ming![1]

　　奚墨装出略显局促的模样，别人看她一眼，只觉得她的确是那副因初来乍到而谦恭有礼的模样，气质纯净得惹人疼：“你太客气了。说实话我对剧组还不熟，挺紧张的，在这坐着不敢动，没想到你会过来跟我打招呼。”

Xi Mo put on an ill-at-ease appearance. Anyone that took a look at her would really think she was a polite and modest newcomer, her aura was pure and made people want to help her, “You are too polite. To tell the truth, I am a bit nervous since I’m not very familiar with this crew and decided to just sit here. I didn’t expect you to come and greet me.”

　　严慕说：“到剧组来，大家都是一家人，就算不熟也很快就熟起来了，放开一点，别紧张。”

Yan Mu spoke, “In a crew, everyone is family. Even if you aren’t familiar with everyone you will be eventually. Relax, don’t be nervous.”

　　奚墨心里绕过一道弯，趁机小小地开个客套的玩笑：“谢谢。你这么关照我，要是被你的粉丝们知道，怕她们要吃了我呢。”

Xi Mo’s heart made a detour and seized this chance to make a polite joke, “Thank you. With you taking care of me so much, if your fans find out, they might just eat me.”

　　“都在一个剧组，以后还要一起拍戏，相互关照是应该的。”

“We are all part of this crew and need to make a film, taking care of each other is only natural.”

　　奚墨心说鬼才信你。

Xi Mo mentally thought, ‘Only ghosts would believe you.’

　　严慕虽然在她看来是傻白甜，那也是在他觉得熟悉的人面前，必须得严慕对其很有好感才行。傻白甜可不是真傻，严慕在圈子里没架子，也只是他走的路线，并不代表他认不清自己的地位有多高，站在他那种大红人的角度来看，可犯不着特地来跟一个不熟还过气了的女演员套近乎。

Although Yan Mu looked like the sweet naive type, he was only like that with people he felt familiar with and really had a good opinion of. The sweet naiveness isn’t really naive. Yan Mu did not put on an air of arrogance within this circle and it was the way he decided to take things. It did not mean he did not understand his own high position. From the point of view of a highly popular star, it was not worthwhile to specifically make friends with an actress that was both past her prime and someone he was unfamiliar with.

　　莫非严慕真认识阮夜笙？

Perhaps Yan Mu really does know Ruan Yesheng?

　　看起来也不对，严慕对她的态度也不像是相互认识的样子，还挺客套的，开口都说的是阮小姐，后面的对话中也看不出两人以前有任何交集，似乎这就是第一次见面。

It doesn’t seem so either. Yan Mu’s attitude towards her did not seem like they were familiar. He greeted her politely and called her Miss Ruan. His followup chat were all things a stranger would say, this does seems to be their first meeting.

　　于是奚墨客客气气地开始套话：“我以为这里没什么人认识我，没想到你知道我的名字，真是荣幸。说真的，挺受宠若惊的。”

As such, Xi Mo started to politely try to worm her way out, “I thought nobody here would recognize me, I didn’t expect you to know my name, it is indeed an honor. Really, I am a bit overwhelmed by this.”

　　严慕一直在笑：“我在林导那看过阮小姐你的资料。”

Yan Mu continued smiling, “I saw your information from Director Lin.”

　　“哦？”奚墨故作惊讶。

“Oh?” Xi Mo put on an act of surprise. 

　　没事你看人家资料做什么，吃饱了撑的。

If it’s not important, why did you look at someone’s information? You were too bored and got nothing to do?

　　严慕想来也知道自己这样过来打招呼恐怕会带来疑惑，在场明星那么多，偏偏他就主动到这来了，怎能不让人多想，于是解释说：“当初剧组找我的时候，给我看了剧本，我很喜欢这个故事，立刻就接下了。后面详细看完了剧本，很喜欢里面定厄这个角色，一直都好奇谁来演的，但是林导对这个选角挺挑剔的，一直没定下来，之后我听说定的你，就问了问，在林导那知道了你的情况。”

Yan Mu probably also knew that him coming to greet her like this was suspicious. With so many celebrities around, he just had to take the initiative to talk to her of all people. How could people not be suspicious? As such, he explained, “Back then, when the crew got in contact with me and gave me the script, I had immediately liked it and accepted. Afterwards, I carefully finished reading the script and really liked the character Ding E. I was always curious who would take the role, but Director Lin was always pretty picky about who would take it and never made a decision. Afterwards, I heard you were chosen for the role, so I asked about you. I heard from Director Lin about your circumstances.”

　　他笑起来非常温暖：“我是定厄的粉丝。”

He smiled very warmly, “I am Ding E’s fan.”

　　奚墨盯着他。

Xi Mo stared at him.

　　这个笑容让奚墨感觉到他眼里的感情似乎是真挚的，那真的是一种喜欢，甚至真的是那种作为粉丝的喜欢。严慕这个人，喜欢就是喜欢，不喜欢就是不喜欢，他分得很清楚，在圈子里混到他这种地位，还这么干净的，也的确是少了。

This smile made Xi Mo feel that he was very sincere. It really was a type of like, and it was really the type of like from a fan. When it comes to Yan Mu, if he liked something, then he liked something. If he didn’t, then he didn’t. For him to get to his current position within this circle and still be so clean, it was very rare.

　　严慕是个聚光灯，他出现在奚墨边上，很快就有其他人拢过来。这些人一向现实，他们大概是想看看能让严慕主动靠近的究竟是怎样一号人物，是否需要结交，结果走过来一看，发现却是个没什么印象的生面孔。

Yan Mu was a spotlight. With his appearance by her, other people quickly made their way over as well. These people were usually realistic, they were probably coming over to check out who had Yan Mu take the initiative to find and whether or not they should make friends with them. What they found was a face that they had no impressions of.

　　柳于丝站在一旁，颇有些阴阳怪气地打量着奚墨。

Liu Yusi stood by, sizing up Xi Mo in a peculiar manner.

　　圈子里更新换代非常快，突然哪天有的人就消匿了，突然哪天就有几个不知道从哪个旮旯蹿出来的人爆红了，露脸的人那么多，哪能个个都经得住时间的考验，过不了多久就被凉薄地抛在脑后。

The changes within the entertainment circle was quick, people would quickly come and go. Some would disappear forever, while others would pop out from some corner and instantly become famous. With so many faces within this circle, and not all of them could withstand the test of time. People would quickly be thrown to the back of the memory and forgotten.

　　在座很多新生代演员没看过阮夜笙演戏，阮夜笙成名很早，退隐也快，这些演员那时候还在学校啃课本呢，根本不认得阮夜笙这张脸。而其中就算有些人以前曾经见过她大红，阮夜笙现在的面孔也与当初的青涩不同，只如开好了的花那样妩媚成熟，相隔这么多年再看，仅仅是觉得脸部轮廓熟悉，倒也没能立刻想起来。

The present new actors and actresses all have never seen Ruan Yesheng act before. Ruan Yesheng became famous early and lost it fast as well. These people were pretty much still doodling in their school books when she had become known. They simply could not recognize her. And even if some people among them had seen her before when she was popular, Ruan Yesheng’s current face was different from her younger one. Her features were now like a mature and well-bloom flower, with so many years between then and now, even if they thought her face looked familiar, no one could immediately remember her.

Footnotes:

[1]Xiao Ming is often used as the name of comedy character.

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