Leisurely Traveler with Check-in System

Chapter 48: Chapter 48: He Praised My Professionalism

When filming resumed, Li Younan had already changed positions, standing at a small stall behind the main characters, occasionally looking at the accessories and wandering around.

Li Younan admired the professionalism of the actors to some extent. Even though Yiyi had just fallen flat on her back, she quickly regained her composure and continued filming, which was truly impressive in terms of professionalism.

However, it was true that her state wasn’t great, and the director had to call for retakes many times. The original plan was to finish filming within two hours, but they ended up taking 4 hours to get it done, leaving the remaining time for catching up with the schedule.

In the afternoon, the crew provided box lunches. This time, Li Younan naturally ate with the extras. Since the actress didn’t need to chat him up, there was no need to communicate.

He found a quiet corner, sat alone with the box lunch, quietly savoring it. Of course, the taste wasn’t great, so Li Younan could only comfort himself by thinking he was savoring the various aspects of life.

Just at that moment, a shadow extended from the side to the ground in front of him. Li Younan looked up to see the leading actress standing there expressionlessly, then she sat down beside him with a box lunch in her hand.

There’s a saying: When you’re down on your luck, it just gets worse.

The actress’s box lunch was of higher standard, containing a braised chicken leg. She slowly fiddled with the box lunch using chopsticks, showing no interest in eating. She picked up the chicken leg, then put it down again. After the third attempt, the chicken leg slipped from between the chopsticks and fell to the ground.

This was the final straw that broke the camel’s back. Lan Yiyi stared blankly at the chicken leg covered in dirt on the ground, her nose twitching twice, tears streaming down again.

Li Younan sighed slightly, saying, ”You’re a star after all, it’s really not great for your image.”

Lan Yiyi pouted, saying, ”What kind of star am I? I’ve cried so many times, and there’s not even a tabloid news about it. Not even a story about an actress acting like a diva, being pretentious, or having a princess syndrome... no one seems to care who I am.”

Li Younan asked curiously, ”Is this your first time filming?”

Lan Yiyi wore a somewhat odd expression, saying, ”How could that be? Where would a newcomer get so many lead roles?”

”Everyone says you’re a cast member with investment.”

”...”

”I’ve played many supporting roles!” Lan Yiyi said indignantly.

Li Younan nodded, ”But I haven’t watched any of them... you really don’t need to worry about having a star image, I truly don’t recognize you.”

Lan Yiyi’s expression was complicated, and she sighed, ”But you’re right, it is my first lead role, and there’s so much I’m not mentally prepared for.” She sighed deeply again, saying, ”Work is exhausting, I really don’t want to work at all.”

Li Younan nodded in deep agreement.

Lan Yiyi asked again, ”Did you just enter this industry recently?”

Li Younan blinked, silently scooped a couple of bites of rice, swallowed them, and then said slowly, ”No, I’m not a front-line actor.” He smiled, saying, ”I’m just a tourist, thought this was interesting so came to experience it.”

Lan Yiyi was a bit surprised, there were many tourists experiencing extras, but someone like Li Younan who kept coming back was quite rare. Lan Yiyi lowered her head, ”I thought you were professional, you really look like an actor, great image.”

Li Younan finished the rice in his box lunch in a few gulps, then cleaned up the trash, saying, ”I have a question.”

Lan Yiyi looked puzzled, tilting her head to look at Li Younan.

Li Younan said slowly, ”Didn’t I compliment your dedication this afternoon? Then you got mad...” Li Younan stroked his chin, showing a thoughtful expression, ”Is there something taboo about this phrase in your circles?”

Lan Yiyi paused, seeing Li Younan’s sincere expression, it didn’t seem like a joke. If this expression was an act, then Li Younan would undoubtedly be an Oscar winner. Lan Yiyi realized something, showing a complex look, asking, ”Do you really think I’m professional?”

Li Younan nodded, ”I think you’re more dedicated than the male lead.”

Lan Yiyi showed a slightly odd expression, her cheeks reddened, and she asked with her head lowered, ”Why do you think so?”

Li Younan looked ahead, nonchalantly saying, ”If the male lead hadn’t taken a leave, I wouldn’t have had the chance to be a stand-in... that day when I stood in for you, you invited me to act with you during lunch and guided me on how to shoot, I thought you were very attentive. After the official shoot...”

Li Younan gestured with his hands, coughed, ”Wasn’t there supposed to be physical contact? You didn’t mind at all, which I really admire... Oh, and your final improvised part, I thought was impressive and professional... even I was moved by it, that’s pretty much it.”

Li Younan laughed, ”Though I don’t fully understand, it seemed pretty dedicated to me.”

Upon hearing an answer completely different from what she imagined, Lan Yiyi instinctively lowered her head, her gaze wandering nervously on the ground, avoiding Li Younan’s eyes filled with gratitude and admiration. She tried to pull out a polite smile, but it froze halfway. Her throat tightened, the words she wanted to say spun several times on her tongue, ultimately swallowed back, only forming a few quick and dry ”ha-ha” sounds.

There was some misunderstanding here.

Li Younan’s misunderstanding wasn’t only about her but also about the male lead. Li Younan thought the male lead wasn’t dedicated because he took a day off, but the reason for the leave... he probably didn’t know was because of a scene the day before that, due to her mistake, caused the male lead to be in the rain for two more hours.

As for Li Younan considering her professional in that performance, the reason was...

Lan Yiyi softly said, ”Li Younan, you actually look more handsome than the male lead.”

Li Younan was taken aback, coughed, ”Oh, really?”

Lan Yiyi said, ”But thank you for your recognition, you’re right, I am a dedicated actress. You should become my fan, I can give you my contact information!”

”I can’t.” Li Younan refused without hesitation, ”Contact info is fine, but I won’t be your fan.”

Lan Yiyi showed a disdainful expression, ”Who are you to be so snooty? Fine, don’t then.”

After talking with Li Younan for a while, all the gloominess in her mood had dissipated.

Lan Yiyi stood up, asking, ”So when do you plan to leave? I mean, leave Hengdian?”

Li Younan crouched down, picked up the chicken leg Lan Yiyi had dropped earlier, putting it in the trash bag, saying slowly, ”Not sure, maybe tomorrow, or perhaps the day after.”

Lan Yiyi asked with slight disappointment, ”So you won’t be here tomorrow?”

Li Younan smiled slightly, ”Yeah, I won’t be here.”

Lan Yiyi fell into silence, suddenly taking out her phone after a moment, then held a QR code up to Li Younan saying, ”Here, scan me.”

Li Younan didn’t play coy, gladly scanned the private WeChat of this unknown n-line celebrity. After adding her as a friend, Li Younan curiously asked, ”Oh, by the way, do you have fans?”

Lan Yiyi sighed with annoyance, loudly saying, ”Yes! Yes! Yes! Who do you look down on?”

Li Younan laughed heartily.

Lan Yiyi wasn’t needed in the next scene, but Li Younan still had a part.

After eating the boxed lunch, they started filming again soon. Li Younan continued playing a background gentleman, wandering around the male lead with a folding fan.

Lan Yiyi stayed in a corner, silently watching the scene. Her gaze was completely drawn to background actor Li Younan.

The male lead was performing vigorously, while Li Younan merely seemed curious, looking around like someone who had never seen the world.

His silly appearance actually made Lan Yiyi secretly laugh.

”He even praised me for being dedicated, hmph...”