Caught in Affairs with Superstar

Chapter 527: Chapter 401: Rehearsal Highlights

The song was sung from start to finish.

The director went up on stage and approached Song Chi and Zhou Yun.

”Both of you, you need to interact more on stage.” Director Zhang said with a smile tinged with helplessness, ”Everyone is here for you two.”

Song Chi said, ”Director, we’re just singing a song, but we’re not planning to show off our love in front of the cameras. Let’s forget it, holding hands is enough.”

What else could the director say with Song Chi speaking like that?

”At least increase the eye contact then, especially Xiao Yun. During the performance, Song Chi looked at you many times, but you didn’t meet his gaze and kept looking elsewhere.”

But to any discerning eye, it wasn’t because Zhou Yun was quarreling with Song Chi and didn’t want to make eye contact, it was... shyness!

The director himself didn’t want to believe this conclusion.

A female celebrity who’s on fire right now, one who routinely trends on social media and has enough fans to incite envy from any top-tier actress, was actually shy on stage because she was singing a duet with her boyfriend!

If he said this to someone else, they wouldn’t believe him and would accuse him of spreading rumors.

Whether in front of the camera or on social media, the public image of Zhou Yun had nothing to do with the words timid or shy.

She could be sweet and charming, but she was certainly not the docile type.

She could also be radiant with joy, but she was also known to outright curse people on Weibo when she got angry.

The incidents that happened with Zhou Yun built up her image to everyone.

This image encompassed various aspects, but the director would bet that shyness was definitely not one of them.

Zhou Yun said with a smile, ”Alright, I’ll pay attention. It’s my first time singing on stage with him, so I’m a bit nervous.”

That ”him” referred to Song Chi.

”Later during the actual performance, we’ve invited a pair of dancers to dance on the other side,” the director said. ”Their movements won’t intersect with yours. You don’t have to interact with them or mind our cameras. Our cameras will capture the two of you. Finally, the spot where both of you will stand is a bit towards the back, right here.”

The director pointed to a spot on stage marked with a silver cross of tape.

”You two should walk to this point holding hands before stopping.”

Zhou Yun nodded.

”Can we run through it one more time?” Zhou Yun asked. ”Is there still time?”

The director picked up the walkie-talkie to ask, ”Has Su Yan arrived?”

”Not yet, Director Zhang. Su Yan’s side says they’re making final adjustments to the performance costume and can’t come over.”

The director’s eyelids twitched.

”Tell Su Yan’s side that we will be making final preparations for the performance soon, and we only have this last hour for rehearsals,” said the director. ”Any further delays and there won’t be time for rehearsal this afternoon.”

”Director, I told them, but they’re adamant about getting the costume finalized before coming over.”

The conversation transmitted through the walkie-talkie, audible to both Zhou Yun and Song Chi.

After some thought, Zhou Yun said to the director, ”Director, why don’t Song Chi and I run through it first? Actually, the main part is me; as long as I know my position, it’s fine. Song Chi and Su Yan have already run through it before, right?”

The director nodded hesitantly.

”Or should we wait for Su Yan and then the three of you rehearse together?” the director suggested. ”You three are the finale for today - it’s a crucial spot. After the performance, there will be an interview by the host to promote ’Heart Inquiry’ and give out red packets to the audience.”

Zhou Yun figured that Su Yan probably wouldn’t be coming at all.

She said, ”Mhm, got it, it’s okay, Director. Since Su Yan can’t make it now, Song Chi and I will rehearse another song first. I’ll run my part to familiarize myself with it, and we can sync up with her later when she arrives.”

The director, upon hearing this, nodded his head.

The trio’s chorus segment was after their duet.

So, they wouldn’t have to go back on stage at this step. After ”I Hear Your Voice” was sung, Song Chi would welcome Su Yan up on stage, and she would appear from the lift. After singing her part, Zhou Yun and Song Chi would move to their designated positions. Once Su Yan finished singing, the camera would switch to Song Chi, then to Zhou Yun, and eventually, the three would move to the center of the stage to sing together.

When Zhou Yun sang her part, she was extremely cautious and meticulous.

The director, after listening, was amused and said, ”Xiao Yun, your singing isn’t bad at all. Sing a bit louder, will you?”

Zhou Yun replied, ”Don’t worry, Director. During the actual performance, even if I go off-pitch, I won’t let you down. I definitely won’t be this timid.”

The director was puzzled upon hearing ”even if I go off-pitch, I won’t let you down.”

For a moment, he doubted his understanding.

If going off-pitch wasn’t a letdown, what did letting someone down mean to Zhou Yun?

...

Later, in the actors’ dressing room.

Su Yan had a dressing room to herself.

Her assistant returned from the side of the stage to the dressing room and said, ”Yanyan, I just went to see Zhou Yun and Song Chi’s rehearsal, and you didn’t get to hear Zhou Yun sing - I was baffled.”

Su Yan, who publicly claimed she was getting her performance costume adjusted, was currently sitting in her chair applying a facial mask.

She glanced at her assistant through the mirror and asked, ”What about Zhou Yun’s singing?”

”She sang so timidly... it’s like she was afraid to open her mouth at all,” the assistant said. ”I was taken aback. The staff beside me all said they didn’t expect Zhou Yun to have stage fright.”

Su Yan let out a light laugh and said, ”Someone who’s only debuted a few years and isn’t a professional singer, of course it’s normal to be nervous and have stage fright in such an event. Look at you making a big deal out of nothing.”

”That’s true, Sister Yanyan, you’re performing on the same stage as her today, and she simply can’t compare to you,” the assistant said excitedly. ”Next to you two on camera, it will only highlight her stage fright even more.”

”Of course, with Yanyan’s years of performance experience, you’ve always been the highlight of the New Year’s event,” Su Yan’s agent He Ting said, flattering her with a smile. ”Okay now, Yanyan, it’s time for you to go for the final rehearsal - there are some parts of the routine you haven’t run through yet. The performance is the most important thing, so hurry up.”

Only then did Su Yan take off her mask and let out a long sigh.

”Really, a whole bunch of people were waiting just for her, and now that she’s here, I have to go and coordinate the rehearsal again. It feels like we’re going backward,” Su Yan complained as she glared at He Ting. ”Sister Ting, you promised me movies before. When will you get me a good movie to do? We can’t let Zhou Yun keep jumping over my head forever, right? It’s ridiculous for a senior like me to accommodate the rehearsal schedule for a junior like her.”