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Chapter 24: Maybe She Was Born An Actress.
TL: Resonance
第二天五点钟阮夜笙就爬了起来，她有点在意昨晚上那个影子，早上心不在焉的。
Ruan Yesheng got up at 5am the next day. She was absent minded as she was a little worried about the shadow she saw last night.
冯唐唐一早在她房间里等着，作为奚墨的私人助理，忙前忙后地给她张罗，还下去买了早餐，十分狗腿地送到阮夜笙面前：“奚姐，趁热吃点吧，待会就上妆了，估计顾不上。”
Feng Tangtang was waiting in her room early in the morning, attending to her needs as Xi Mo’s personal assistant. She went down to buy breakfast and served it before Ruan Yesheng like a lackey. “Sister Xi, eat it while it’s hot. You will have to put on make up later on and probably won’t have the time to eat.”
阮夜笙还在想事情，一时分了心，冯唐唐在她以前的生活中实在太过熟悉了，熟悉到了有些东西已经是理所当然的地步，一下忘了自己的处境，和颜悦色地说：“糖糖，我有点吃不下，你吃吧。”
Ruan Yesheng was still thinking about something. She was too familiar with Feng Tangtang in her previous daily life, familiar to the point that she has taken some things for granted. In a moment of distraction, she forgot her current situation and said amiably, “Tangtang, I don’t really have an appetite. You can have it.”
冯唐唐吓了个哆嗦：“……”
Feng Tangtang trembled in shock. “…”
奚姐这是没睡醒呢，还是有着别具一格的起床气呢？
Is Sister Xi still half asleep or does she have a unique kind of temper when she just woke up?
不过仔细想想，这些天她和奚姐接触，似乎奚姐对她的确比以前要温柔一些，虽然还是冷冷淡淡的，但有时候竟然能从奚姐那里感受到真正的关心，恍惚觉得奚姐有时看她的眼神也特关怀。她一度怀疑自己受虐惯了，可能患上了斯德哥尔摩症，虐着虐着也就产生了错觉，认为奚姐对自己特别和气，差点就去看心理医生。
But now that she thinks about Sister Xi and her interaction for the past few days, it seems that sister Xi has indeed treated her gentler than before. Even though she is still cold and indifferent, she could feel genuine concern from sister Xi sometimes. She dazedly felt that sister Xi looked at her sometimes with caring eyes. She once suspected whether she got used to the abuse[1] and got Stockholm syndrome. After all the abuse, she started having illusions that sister Xi treats her very kindly. She almost went to see a psychologist.
阮夜笙见冯唐唐脸色像刚被雷劈过，立刻也认识到了自己的失误，端了神色朝冯唐唐一瞥，淡道：“我学你家那位阮阮的，学得像么？”
Ruan Yesheng saw that Feng Tangtang’s expression looked as if she just got struck by lightning and immediately realised her mistake. She gave Feng Tangtang a glance and said calmly, “I learned it from that Ruan Ruan of yours. Was it similar?”
冯唐唐：“……”
Feng Tangtang: “…”
然后她立刻鼓掌：“你是影后，怎么可能不像！太……太像了，你简直就是阮阮！”
Then, she immediately clapped, “You’re the film empress, how can it not be similar! It… It was too similar. You were simply Ruan Ruan!”
阮夜笙露了个意味不明的表情。
Ruan Yesheng showed a meaningful expression.
冯唐唐顿时操心起自己的马屁是否拍到了马腿上，还把马腿拍瘸了。
Feng Tangtang immediately worried whether her flattery had failed and even rubbed Xi Mo up the wrong way.
阮夜笙对着镜子整理了一下自己的衣着，今天要上妆，她也就顶了一个素面朝天：“以后我叫你糖糖吧。”
Ruan Yesheng faced the mirror and adjusted her clothes. She will be putting on make up later on, so she was currently without makeup. “I will call you Tangtang from now on.”
冯唐唐：“……”
Feng Tangtang: “…”
阮夜笙故意回头看她，冷笑：“糖糖是阮夜笙的专利？”
Ruan Yesheng purposely looked back at her and sneered, “Is the word Tangtang patented by Ruan Yesheng?”
冯唐唐此时不表忠心，更待何时：“不，不，不！奚姐你这么叫我，我觉得很亲切，我身边很多人都这么叫我的，我很喜欢！”
If Feng Tangtang doesn’t show her loyalty now, when else would she do so? She hurriedly replied, “No no! I just felt closer when sister Xi called me this way. Many people around me call me this way too. I like it very much!”
阮夜笙绷着脸没再说什么，往门口走，唇角这才弯了弯。
Ruan Yesheng had a sullen look and no longer spoke. The corner of her lips hooked up only as she approached the door.
到了化妆间，不少人都到了，奚墨也在。颜听欢昨晚上喝了酒，估计不到中午起不来，奚墨也懒得叫她，自己一个人早早地下来了，旁边没人黏着，她神清气爽。
When she arrived at the dressing room, there were already quite a few people there. Xi Mo was also there. Yan Tinghuan drank last night and probably wouldn’t get up before noon. Xi Mo was too lazy to call her, so she came down alone early in the morning. With no one sticking to her, she felt refreshed.
古装戏上妆花费的时间非常久，光是一个头发就能梳半天，为了抓紧时间，梳妆师早已经在奚墨头上开工了，阮夜笙不说话，径直在她边上的空位置坐下，奚墨也看到了镜子里的阮夜笙。
It takes a very long time to complete the makeup for ancient costumes. Just the hair alone can take half a day. To save time, the hairstylist has already started working on Xi Mo’s hair. Ruan Yesheng didn’t speak and sat straight down on the empty seat beside Xi Mo. Xi Mo also saw Ruan Yesheng in the mirror.
梳妆师正在跟奚墨聊天：“阮小姐你皮肤真好。”
The hairstylist was currently chatting with Xi Mo. “Miss Ruan, your skin is so nice.”
奚墨微笑着，随口一应：“哪里，我觉得奚墨的皮肤比我实在好太多了。”
Xi Mo smiled and responded casually, “How could it be. I feel that Xi Mo’s skin is much better than mine.”
阮夜笙毫不客气地送了一记眼刀给她，只是这眼刀看着倒更有点媚眼如丝的滋味。
Ruan Yesheng unceremoniously gave her a glare, but this glare had a more alluring touch to it.
梳妆师注意到旁边坐着的阮夜笙，先是一愣，跟着也笑了，忙两边不得罪地说：“哈哈，奚姐皮肤好，可是这边人尽皆知的事。组长，奚姐过来了，在这里呢！”
When the hairstylist noticed Ruan Yesheng who was sitting at the side, she was stunned for a moment. Then, she laughed and said without offending both sides, “Haha, sister Xi having good skin is something everyone knows. Leader, sister Xi has come. She’s over here!”
阮夜笙便享受起原本属于奚墨的待遇，由梳妆组的头儿亲自梳妆。
Ruan Yesheng started enjoying the treatment that originally belonged to Xi Mo as her hair gets styled personally by the leader of the hairstylist.
两个人坐一排，视线交叉，各自扭头看着镜子里真正的自己。
The two of them sat in the same row and their sights crossed as both of them turned their heads to look at the mirror reflecting their true self.
气氛十分诡异。
The atmosphere was very strange.
两个梳妆师以为她们俩同时落枕，扭了脖子。
The two hairstylists thought that the both of them had stiff necks at the same time and sprained their necks.
等到统筹走进来分发今天的工作安排表和下午戏的剧本页，两人这才移开目光，各自拿着一叠纸低头看。
The two of them looked away only after the production coordinator came in to distribute today’s work schedule and the script for this afternoon filming. They each took a stack of paper and lowered their heads to read.
工作排得满满当当的，连根针都插不进去，定妆完后就是开机仪式，下午就开拍，晚上还有夜戏，任务非常重。
The schedule was fully packed with work that even a needle cannot be inserted in between. After putting on the makeup, there will be an start-up ceremony[2]. Filming will start in the afternoon, and there’s also a night scene which they would have to film at night. The workload is very heavy.
定厄是邓绥的侍女，相对造型会朴素一些，她比邓绥大，出场时已经过了及笄年龄，第一个造型的发饰只有一青一白两枚淡雅的簪子，所以奚墨的妆容也比阮夜笙快一些定完。阮夜笙这副皮囊原本的眼睛生得勾人，眼角略挑，为了更符合角色定位，化妆师特地描了更冷冽的眼线，眉和眼角也做了处理，立即将那股子满溢出来的风情收敛了，加上奚墨静下来时表情沉稳，眼神波澜不惊，十分贴合定厄的形象，旁边的人看着她，只觉得她就是从古代走出来的美人，她就是定厄。
Ding E is Deng Sui’s maid, so her costume would be plainer in comparison. She is older than Deng Sui. When she first makes her appearance in the show, she is already of marriageable age[3]. For her first style, her hair accessory only consisted of two elegant hair pins, one green and one white. Hence, Xi Mo’s make up was done earlier than Ruan Yesheng. Ruan Yesheng’s original body’s eyes were born alluring and slightly hooked at the edge. In order for her appearance to be more in line with the role, the makeup artist specially drew a colder eyeliner. Her eyebrows and the corner of her eyes were also dealt with, which immediately curbed the amorous feeling overflowing from her body. To add on, Xi Mo’s facial expression and eyes were calm when Xi Mo is quiet, making her very fitting of Ding E’s image. When the people around looked at her, they only felt that she was a beauty that came out of ancient times. She is Ding E.
她第一套定下的是湛青色曲裾，压纹青边，内里雅白，看上去是素净的色，近看花纹精致，端丽无匹，从试衣间走出来的时候，众人都目不转睛地盯着她看。
Her first set of clothes is a cyan wavy Ju dress with green embossing on the edges of her clothes and a graceful white innerwear. The colours look plain and neat, but if you take a close look, you can see the exquisite patterns, making Xi Mo look incomparably dignified and beautiful. When she came out of the fitting room, everyone couldn’t help but stare at her.
奚墨做事毫不拖泥带水，定完妆，林启堂看过也觉得满意了，就过去那边拍照。
Xi Mo never does things sloppily. After finishing her makeup, Lin Qitang took a look. Once he felt satisfied with it too, she went to the other side to take photos.
而邓绥出身名门，她的妆容，衣着，配饰当然是十分考究的，为了视觉美感，服装在参考当时汉服制式的基础上，添加了更多改良设计，且随着剧情推进，邓绥的不断成长，数量足有几十套之多。剧组到时候会挑选其中各阶段最具代表性的定妆，发到官博和各大媒体网站上，分时间段进行宣传。
As Deng Sui was born in a prestigious family, her makeup, clothing and accessories were of course very elegant. The clothes were made with reference to Hanfu clothes as a basis. For visual beauty effect, they have added more improved design to the base Hanfu clothes. As the plot progresses, Deng Sui would keep growing as well. There were tens of sets of clothes for her. During each photo shoot, the crew would choose the most representative clothing and make up for each stage. The photos taken would be sent to the official blog and major media websites and used for promotion at different time periods.
为了凸显邓绥在剧本设定上的“姿容姝美，妍丽无双”，化妆下足了功夫，期间改了又改，阮夜笙自己适当地也提了点意见，最后终于定下了最佳方案。
In order to highlight Deng Sui’s character setting of “beautiful appearance, unparalleled beauty” stated in the script, a lot of effort was put into the makeup. The time changed and changed. Ruan Yesheng also gave some comments at appropriate times and they finally settled on the best plan.
等阮夜笙走进摄影棚的时候，穿了一身主体色调为雅粉色的宫服，流苏佩玉，仪态翩翩，华美却又并不繁冗。妆容果然是奇妙的东西，这下子奚墨长相原本承载的那抹冷意完全被掩盖，阮夜笙双手拢了宫服袖襟，款款步入灯光之中，顾盼生辉之间，邓绥所需要的那种气质顿时呼之欲出了。
When Ruan Yesheng walked into the photo studio, she was wearing palace clothes which had elegant pink as its main colour. She was wearing a tassel attached to jade and had an elegant bearing, looking beautiful yet not tedious. Makeup is really amazing. The coldness originally carried by Xi Mo’s appearance is now completely concealed. Ruan Yesheng held together the sleeves of her palace clothes with both hands and walked step by step into the lights. During her movement, the temperament that was required as Deng Sui immediately manifested.
“非常好！”林启堂大为赞赏。
“Excellent!” Lin Qitang complimented greatly.
众人也纷纷交耳称赞，说不愧是奚姐。
Everyone else also complimented saying ‘As expected of sister Xi.’.
奚墨坐在一旁看着阮夜笙在那按照要求或低眉，或垂头静思，或回眸微笑，特写打到面部，只跟桃花骤然盛放似的，明艳得让人晃了神。
Xi Mo sat at one side and watched Ruan Yesheng lowering her brows, lowering her head in thought, or looking up at the camera with a smile as requested by the photographer. There was a close-up on her face, of which she looked like a blooming peach blossom, so bright and dazzling.
即使那张脸是属于自己的，但是此时此刻，却好像看不到自己的模样。
That face belonged to Xi Mo herself, but at this moment, she couldn’t seem to see her own appearance.
阮夜笙将其掩盖了，转而披上了邓绥的皮。
Ruan Yesheng had covered it up and put on Deng Sui’s skin.
也许她天生就是个演员。
Maybe she was born an actress.
奚墨想着，移开目光，难得平静地将手里的剧本翻过去一页。
Xi Mo thought. She looked away and flipped over to the next page of her script in rare calmness.
许久，第一批定妆照终于拍完了，交给后期去修片，林启堂拍拍手，吸引注意力说：“后面陆续还有好几组定妆，大家到时候看统筹下发的安排表，现在过去参加开机仪式。”
A long time later, the first batch of publicity photos were finally taken. After leaving it for retouching during post-production period, Lin Qitang clapped his hands to attract the people’s attention and said, “There are still a few sets of publicity photos to be taken afterwards successively. At that time, everyone can look at the work schedule given out by the production coordinator and follow accordingly. Now, let’s head over to join the start-up ceremony.”
阮夜笙轻声问旁边的路清明：“会有多少媒体到场？”
Ruan Yesheng asked Lu Qingming who was next to her softly, “How much media would be here?”
路清明道：“林导这次没请多少媒体，都是自己人，粉丝也不知道，你可以放轻松点。”
Lu Qingming replied, “Director Lin didn’t invite much media this time, they are all our own people. Even the fans do not know, you can relax a little.”
阮夜笙掀了下眼皮，淡淡的：“媒体拍摄的时候是不是不会拍我全身，只让我故意擦过镜头，在某个角落留下半个背影？”
Ruan Yesheng raised her eyes and said indifferently, “When the media is taking photos, is it that they will not take my whole body? They will purposely let me pass by the camera lens and take a picture of me only when half my back figure can be seen at some corner?”
路清明笑了下：“我就知道不说你也会明白。”
Lu Qingming laughed and replied, “I knew you would understand even if I didn’t say it.”
有的剧组开机仪式整得隆重，恨不得将媒体全请来报道，粉丝挤爆，但是林启堂之前就抛出了男女主演的噱头在那溜粉，网上对由谁来主演炒得沸沸扬扬的，这次开机仪式便故意低调，到时候只需要把几张故意欲遮又不掩的现场照片发出去，就如在原本沸腾的水里再投一枚深水炸弹，增加讨论度，必然比直接宣传来得更有效果。
For some crews, their start-up ceremony is very grand and they can’t wait to invite all the media to come and report and have fans crowding all over. However, Lin Qitang had previously released information of the supposed “male lead and female lead that are starring in the show” gimmick to trick fans and gain hype. There is a lot of hype about who will be the starring in the show on the Internet. During this start-up ceremony, he has also purposely remained low-key. When the time comes, they just have to release photos of the scene which they “deliberately concealed yet couldn’t cover up”. It’s like dropping a bomb into water that is already boiling. This can increase discussion about the show and will definitely be more effective than directly publicising.
“林启堂这只狐狸。”阮夜笙说着，看了看奚墨那边，奚墨没有看她，转身走了。
“Lin Qitang that sly fox.” After saying so, Ruan Yesheng looked towards Xi Mo’s side. Xi Mo didn’t look at her, so she turned to leave.
开机仪式定在下午要拍的场景邓府花园，照例布了香案，插了香，摆了烧猪贡品，后面拉着中国社会主义特色的大红横幅——“绥廷”剧组开机大吉！说来也有意思，每个剧组一旦开机，都整得跟封建社会道士祭天似的，就差拿着剑对着那满桌香烛喷一口水，叫声妖孽休走，也不知道谁规定的。
The start-up ceremony is held at the scene to be filmed this afternoon, which is the Deng’s mansion garden. As usual, they put up the incense holder and placed their incense on it, then placed the roasted pig as offering. Pulling behind was the characteristic red banner of chinese society— “Sui Ting” crew starting with good luck! It was also quite interesting to think about. Whenever a crew starts filming, they would make it seem like they are a feudal system with taoist priest making offerings to heaven. All they were short of was the priest holding a sword and spitting a mouth of water on the table full of candles and shouting ‘evildoers to leave’. Who knows who made these rules.
林启堂带着一众主创人员和演员在那上香，对着请来的媒体作秀。
Lin Qitang brought along the producer, director, screenwriter and actors of the crew to pray, putting on a show for the invited media.
摄影师来跟阮夜笙打招呼，叫声奚姐辛苦了，阮夜笙心里跟明镜似的，点点头，一个转身往旁边人群颇多的地方走，这一走还得撩出一个那么漫不经心的演技。她走了几步，走到路清明面前跟他说话，略侧了头，只让自己拿半边脸对了镜头。下午还有戏，她也就没卸妆，梳好的发髻上坠了玉钗，刚好将她衬了个犹抱琵琶半遮面的欲语还休，后面则是路清明木桩子似的布景板。
The photographer came to greet Ruan Yesheng, saying that sister Xi has worked hard. Ruan Yesheng knew what the photographer wanted. Nodding her head, she turned and walked towards the direction of the crowd. During this walk, she also had to act casual like nothing unusual is happening. She walked a few steps and reached Lu Qingming. As she talked to him, she turned her head slightly, revealing only half her face to the camera lens. They still have to film this afternoon, so her makeup wasn’t removed. Her neatly bunned up hair had a jade hairpin which happened to enhance the inexplicable feeling of obscurity. Behind her was the wooden-like Lu Qingming as backdrop.
摄影师难得见到摆拍都能拍出一股子偶然撞见的意味，心花怒放，拍了许多张，朝阮夜笙连连致谢。
It was rare for the photographer to be able to take a posed photograph that could actually give out a real sense of accidental encounter. Feeling ecstatic, the photographer took many photos and thanked Ruan Yesheng repeatedly.
阮夜笙左右瞥了瞥，见奚墨一个人站在那边的墙下，这墙古色古香的，几棵树枝繁叶茂，探出墙头来，树影斑驳在奚墨湛青压白的戏服上，又漏了金色的光点下来，让她有了些脱离热闹的凉薄滋味。
Ruan Yesheng glanced left and right and saw Xi Mo standing alone beside the wall. The wall had an antique flavour. A few flourishing tree branches sticked out from above the wall, its shadow spotting over Xi Mo’s cyan and white costume. Some golden light spilled through the leaves as well, making Xi Mo have the cool feeling of being away from the bustle.
这让阮夜笙萌生了想要过去的念头。
This made Ruan Yesheng have the thought of going over there.
天气炎热，不知道为什么，见奚墨站在那，她又觉得凉快。
The weather was hot, but for some reason, seeing Xi Mo standing there made her feel cool.
她这么想着，的确也这么做了，旁边路清明看她迈开步子，说：“要去哪里？让顾栖松跟着你，别走太远。”
She thought so and indeed did so. Lu Qingming who was beside her saw her move and said, “Where are you going? Let Gu Qisong follow you. Don’t go too far.”
发生了酒店那事之后，路清明时常要表现他老妈子般的十二分关心，许多事都想让助理兼保镖的顾栖松跟着。
After what had happened in the hotel, Lu Qingming often displayed great concern like that of a grandma and wanted the assistant cum bodyguard Gu Qisong to follow for many things.
顾栖松其人高大，沉默寡言，是个一棍子打不出一个闷屁的典范，偶尔蹦跶一个不知道从哪里看来的冷笑话，只冷得现场一佛出世，二佛升天，冯唐唐却对他很有好感，逢人就说顾哥为人幽默，说的笑话很好笑，只让阮夜笙认为她这可怜的智商已经除了将她的心糊了个透彻，还顺带粉碎了她的听力，视力，理解力。
Gu Qisong is tall and taciturn. He’s an example of the type of person who would keep silent and wouldn’t respond no matter what you do. Occasionally, he will say a cold joke he learned from god knows where. The joke is so cold that everyone is dead inside, but Feng Tangtang has a very good impression of him. Whenever she meets someone, she will say that brother Gu is very humorous and that his jokes are very funny. This made Ruan Yesheng feel that Feng Tangtang’s poor IQ had not only confused her heart thoroughly, but also shattered her hearing, vision, and comprehension along the way.
“不用，我就到墙那边去乘凉，那不有树么？”阮夜笙摆摆手，顾栖松原本在给她撑伞，见她走了，识趣地打着伞不远不近地跟着，路清明看顾栖松过去，这才放心地去处理别的事务了。
“No need. I’m only going towards the walls to cool off. Isn’t there a tree there?” Ruan Yesheng waved her hand. Gu Qisong was originally holding an umbrella for her. Seeing her walk away, he knowingly held the umbrella and followed after her not too closely yet not too far away. Seeing Gu Qisong heading over, Lu Qingming is finally rest assured to go settle other matters.
阮夜笙走到一半，奚墨也注意到了她，表情有些微妙。
When Ruan Yesheng was halfway there, Xi Mo also noticed her and Xi Mo’s expression was slightly perplexed.
不过奚墨并没有走开。
However, Xi Mo did not walk away.
阮夜笙踱到树影底下。
Ruan Yesheng walked until she reached beneath the shadows of the tree.
两人一左一右地站了，彼此没有言语，只是各自看着前方，盛夏的阳光仿佛在这一刻将周遭的声音尽数收纳，只留下树上那么一片蝉鸣，于是连这蝉鸣都变得空了起来。
The two stood left and right. They both didn’t speak and just looked at the front. The midsummer sunlight seemed to have captured all the surrounding sound at this moment, leaving behind only the sound of cicada on the tree. Hence, even the cicada cries became empty.
过了许久，两人依然还是无声无息的，两棵树似地栽在那，谁也不开口。说来也奇怪，这么热的天气，旁边又有个她颇不待见且占了她一身皮囊的阮夜笙，还是这种有点尴尬的安静，几样聚在一起完全可以炸出一个冲天炮仗，奚墨竟然也没有感觉到哪怕一丝的暴躁。
After a long time, the two of them were still silent. The two stood planted there like two trees, neither of them talking. It was rather strange to say: The weather was so hot, beside her stood the unwelcomed Ruan Yesheng who took her body, and they were also in this kind of awkward silence. When combined together, these few things were completely able to create a blasting firecracker, but Xi Mo actually didn’t even feel the slightest irritability.
她认为眼下的情景是合理的，难得清静舒坦，甚至有那么一点不想去打破。
She felt that the current situation is reasonable. The quietness and comfort were rare to come by, she even felt a little bit of reluctance to break it.
然而过了一会，阮夜笙打破了：“最近这几天有没有看见什么让你感觉不好的东西？”
However, Ruan Yesheng broke the silence after a while. “In the last few days, did you see anything that doesn’t make you feel good about it?”
这问题问得没头没脑的奇怪，奚墨漠然道：“有。”
This question was strange and came out of nowhere. Xi Mo replied indifferently, “Yes.”
“在哪看见的？什么样子？”
“Where did you see it? What does it look like?”
“就在这。”奚墨道：“你。”
“Right here.” Xi Mo replied, “You.”
阮夜笙：“……”
Ruan Yesheng: “…”
然后阮夜笙眯着眼笑了下：“你答不对题，我是问感觉不好的——东西，很显然，‘我这样子’不算个东西。”
Then, Ruan Yesheng narrowed her eyes and said with a smile, “You didn’t answer the question correctly. What I asked was something that didn’t make you feel good. Very obviously, ‘something like me’ is not considered a thing.”
她这样子就是奚墨原本的样子，奚墨迎面接了她的唇枪舌剑，心里自然也终于跟冲天炮仗似的炸了。早炸晚炸，反正她迟早都要炸。
What she is now is Xi Mo’s original appearance. Xi Mo took her sharp words head on and her heart finally exploded like firecrackers. No matter when it happens, her anger will explode eventually.
奚墨抱着双臂，斜斜睨了她一眼：“那你还真比不过我，至少我认为‘我这样子’还是个东西。”不管是不是东西，反正不是她自己，随便说。
Xi Mo crossed her arms and gave Ruan Yesheng a sideway glance. “Then you really can’t compare to me. At least, I feel that ‘something like me’ is still a thing.” Whether it’s a thing or not, it’s not hers anyway. She can say whatever she wants.
阮夜笙：“……”
Ruan Yesheng: “…”
奚墨装模作样将身子往那边倾了倾，只在中间留了余地，接道：“就是不知道‘我这样子’具体是个什么东西？你给看看，能不能看出来？”
Xi Mo leaned over in pretense. Leaving only some room in the middle, she continued, “I just don’t know what kind of thing is ‘something like me’? Take a look, can you tell?”
阮夜笙摇摇头，也装模作样将她身上原本属于自己的皮囊细细上下看了一圈，似是品鉴了一番，才说：“恕我眼拙看不出，我就只能看出‘这样子’特别美，管她什么东西呢，美就行不是？”
Ruan Yesheng shook her head and also pretended to take a close look at the body that originally belonged to her. After she has seemingly appraised it, she said, “Forgive my imperceptive eyes. I can only see that ‘something like you[4]’ is very beautiful. Who cares what kind of thing she is, isn’t it enough that she is beautiful?”
“也对，管她什么东西呢，脸皮挺厚就行不是？”奚墨皮笑肉不笑的。
“That’s true. Who cares what kind of thing she is, isn’t it enough that she is thick skinned?” Xi Mo gave a fake smile.
阮夜笙看她回击得挺顺溜，并没有提别的，知道她的确是没见过什么奇怪的点，也就放了心。
Ruan Yesheng saw that Xi Mo was fighting back pretty smoothly and did not mention anything else. With that, she knew that Xi Mo really didn’t see anything strange and felt relieved.
而就在这个时候，墙外面突然抛过来一团黑影，外面像是被黑布包了一层。
At this moment, a ball of black was suddenly thrown over from outside the wall. It seemed to be wrapped in a layer of black cloth on the outside.
那个玩意出现得那样突兀，奚墨眼风瞥到了，完全是出于身体本能的避开，同时眼疾手快将阮夜笙拉扯了一把，带着她往旁边躲。不过奚墨还穿着曲裾，行动颇为拘谨，躲开时脚一扭，差点摔了。
That thing appeared so abruptly. Xi Mo caught a glimpse of it and avoided it instinctively. At the same time, she agilely pulled Ruan Yesheng along to dodge one side. However, Xi Mo was still wearing her Ju dress which restrained her movement. When she dodged, she twisted her ankle and almost fell.
不远处顾栖松看见了这一幕，立刻就沉下脸往这边跑。
Gu Qisong who was nearby saw this scene and immediately ran over here with a grim face.
总算没被砸到，奚墨暗自踮了踮有些疼的脚，松开阮夜笙。
In the end, they didn’t get smashed by the thing. Xi Mo secretly stretched the slightly hurting leg and let go of Ruan Yesheng.
阮夜笙全程没有出声，只是低喘着，后背沁出冷汗，定定看着那玩意落在距她不足半米的位置，溅了一地血，还飞着凌乱的几片毛。
Ruan Yesheng didn’t say anything at all during the entire process. She was only panting and her back was covered in cold sweat. She looked fixedly at the thing that landed less than half a meter away from her. The ground was splashed with blood and a few feathers flew around messily.
这是一只公鸡。
This is a rooster.
已经死了。
It was already dead.
有人在这只公鸡的脖子上干净利落地抹了一刀，再将它抛过来，底下裹它尸体的黑布散开了，于是它就那么扭了脖子躺在地上，眼睛睁着，浑浊的眼白翻出来看着阮夜笙。
Someone made a neat cut on this rooster’s neck, then threw it over. The black cloth underneath its body used to wrap the rooster earlier spread open. Hence, the rooster just laid there with a twisted neck and its eyes opened. The cloudy white part of its eyes was turned out and looking at Ruan Yesheng.
姿态诡异，看上去就像个被切开喉咙流了一地血的死人。
Its posture was strange and looked like a dead person whose neck was cut and bled until the ground was covered in blood.
顾栖松是特种兵退役，身体各方面反应迅捷，幸好这边没什么人看见，为了避免引发骚乱恐慌，他赶紧把折叠伞收了，将地上那只死鸡丢进去包了个严实，阮夜笙显然被惊得有点没过神，刚好奚墨站在她旁边，顾栖松顺手就将它塞了过去。
Gu Qisong retired from the special force and his body responded quickly in all aspects. Fortunately, not many people looked at this side. In order to avoid causing a panic, he quickly put away the folding umbrella, threw the chicken inside and wrapped it up tightly. Ruan Yesheng was obviously shocked and still hasn’t come back to her senses. Xi Mo just happened to be standing beside her, so Gu Qisong stuffed the chicken into her hands.
奚墨顿时被一只鸡塞了个满怀：“……”
Xi Mo was suddenly stuffed with a chicken: “…”
顾栖松已经三步并作两步，扒着围墙翻了出去。
Gu Qisong had already moved away quickly and climbed the wall to get to the other side.
奚墨抱着鸡，盯着阮夜笙。
Xi Mo carried the chicken and stared at Ruan Yesheng.
阮夜笙还是一脸神游天外的表情，奚墨以为她被吓得魂都飞了，心里顿时就有了那么一点涩涩的滋味，不知道为什么，总之不大舒服。她琢磨了下，想去安慰安慰，但是从小到大，她都不知道安慰两字究竟怎么写的。
Ruan Yesheng still has an absent-minded look. Xi Mo thought that she got shocked to the point her soul flew out and her heart immediately felt a little constricted. She didn’t know why, but she just didn’t feel that comfortable. She pondered for a moment and wanted to comfort Ruan Yesheng. However, ever since young, the word comfort wasn’t even in her dictionary.
于是在那杵了一会，奚墨僵着脸，终于憋出一句话来：“你别怕，鸡在我这呢。”
Hence, Xi Mo was stuck there for a while. After a while, Xi Mo finally forced out a sentence with a stiff expression, “Don’t be scared, the chicken is with me.”
阮夜笙这才缓缓抬头，看了她：“……”
Only then did Ruan Yesheng slowly lift her head to look at her: “…”
[1] Abuse – I don’t think she meant the literal sense of abuse. Probably just Xi Mo being a cold person in general. The chinese word used is also used by readers when they comment that the writer is abusing them through angst story writing.
[2] Start-up ceremony – https://baike.baidu.com/tashuo/browse/content?id=5d5bb1f89a42f1495c7b215e
I only translated a small part of it for understanding in this novel, but there are some pictures of what the ceremony is like if you are interested to learn more.
According to the website, the audience are becoming more interested in what’s happening behind the screen. Other than what can be seen on television and cinemas, the audience is becoming more curious of the behind-the-scenes acts. Hence, pictures of their initial start of filming, behind-the-scenes moments and set location are exposed to the public. In the chinese film industry, whenever there is a new show being filmed, there is a need for a start-up ceremony. They will choose an auspicious day and have a worshipping ceremony.
At this start-up ceremony, the table used for the worshipping ceremony will be covered in a red cloth and is used to worship Emperor Guan (worshipped as god of war, wealth and protector of merchants in the past but more as god of protection, wealth and business is modern days). On the table, there is an incense holder as well as roasted suckling pig and fresh fruit presented as offerings. The camera most often used would be covered with a red cloth. The leading actor, producer, director and screenwriter of the crew will pray in turn. At the end, they will remove the red cloth covering the camera and announce the start of filming.
[3] Marriageable age in ancient China – 15 years old
[4] Xi Mo and Ruan Yesheng are using the same words 这样子 over and over again. They have different meanings depending on the context of the sentence which is difficult to get across in English translation. The main meaning of the words in this context is “something like this” which doesn’t flow well if I just insert them into the sentences. Other meanings of 这样子 are: ‘in this way’, ‘this appearance of mine’.
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