What To Do If The System Forces You To Exercise

The two little newcomers watched the entire morning filming. It can be said that it was quite an eye-opener to the two budding actresses, for this was real acting in the flesh. The performances in the morning were all performed by older actors and actresses, experienced artists that only needed one take to finish a scene. This perfect beginning to the start of a long filming process caused the other crew and cast members to feel excited and motivated. The whole crew and cast were smiling and full of vitality. 

Lunch was at noon and the food was also prepared by the hotel. Each person was allocated three dishes and some coup, along with a big chicken leg too. 

Wen Jiexi grabbed her bowl and greeted Li Lingemeng and Wen Ting who was sitting next to Chu Heling. If one wanted advice on acting skills, then of course the most suitable person to ask is Chu Heling. This person was not only kind, but also the heroine! Compared to Yan Haocheng, the leading actor with a bad case of facial paralysis or Lan Yuyan who will turn every discussion into frivolous gossip, naturally, it was Chu Heling who was better to talk to. 

"Cough…." Chu Heling had just accepted the beef soup her assistant handed to her and had only taken a sip when these two eager children jumped her, scaring her to almost choke on her food. 

"Sister Heling, are you ok?" Wen Jiexi patted Chu Heling's back in worry. 

"I'm fine…" Chu Heling was not perturbed by the overeager actions of the two. After spending so much time in the entertainment industry, she can easily tell who had malicious designs towards her and the two newcomers in front of her definitely did not have any schemes hiding behind their smiling faces. Furthermore, newcomers were terrible at hiding their emotions, and as artists from Xingle, their basic character was guaranteed. 

"Hehe, Sister Heling, I'm a big fan of yours! Can I have your autograph?!" Wen Ting studied the Chu Heling who had removed her makeup with bright eyes. If Su Chenyu was her Goddess, then Chu Heling was like the gentle older sister she never had! All her negative emotions instantly disappeared when she sees that gentle smile! She had chosen Xingle just because her two favorite female actresses were here. Hehehe! I met them on my first drama,! I'm so lucky! 

"Ah…? Of course…" Chu Heling froze for a second but nodded in the end. 

"Hehe, please sign here!" Wen Ting patted her shirt excitedly. She just happened to be wearing an all-white, off-shoulder shirt today and she smiled happily as she offered a pen. 

"Sign…on your clothes?" Chu Heling's tone was a little hesitant. Although the shirt didn't look like it was an expensive brand, if she signed the shirt then Wen Ting will have to wear her signature around the entire day. Plus, it was hard to sign a shirt while a person was still wearing it but she couldn't ask the other person to take it off. 

"Yup!" Wen Ting nodded eagerly, directly pulling on the hem of her shirt and straightening the folds. 

"Hehehe, this way it will be easier to sign!" 

"Alright." Towards this chummy newcomer, Chu Heling smiled mirthfully and picked up the pen to sign her name. 

While Su Chenyu's signature gave off a domineering and awe-inspiring feeling, Chu Heling's signature was more comfortable and warm. Truly, one's personality can even affect their handwriting. 

"Whahaha! I got an autograph! I'm going to wear this shirt every day!" Wen Ting vowed and then danced around happily. 

"No, I think you should still change your clothes every day." Chu Heling didn't know whether to laugh or cry. 

"Oh…what a pity." Wen Ting looked down at the signature on her shirt. In her heart, she thought, What if I bring over every piece of clothing I own for Sister Heling to sign!!! I'm excited just thinking about it! 

"Cough, cough…." Seeing how Wen Ting has completely forgotten their initial objective the moment she saw Chu Heling, Wen Jiexi coughed helplessly to remind her. Then with a sheepish smile, she said to Chu Heling, 

"Sister Heling, we watched your performance just now and it was amazing. This…we don't have much experience, only some practice lessons from the company. I'm afraid I cannot fully immerse myself in my role like you do. So We were wondering if we can ask you, Sister Heling, for some advice."

"Of course you can! I only have one more scene to shoot in the afternoon and then afterward we can discuss your questions."

"Thank you, Sister Heling!" Wen Jiexi and Wen Ting looked at each other and nodded excitedly.

The lunch break passes by quickly and the first scene in the afternoon was Chu Heling's. Wen Jiexi once again witnesses Chu Heling's acting skills. Although she has not achieved the maximum acting level like Su Chenyu, Chu Heling was still at the forefront of acting. 

"Huuuu…." Chu Helign walked into a tent set to the side to change. After putting on plain clothes and wiping her sweat, she walked out. 

"Sister Heling! You've worked hard! Do you care for some juice?" Wen Ting said, holding out a bottle of orange juice she had bought from the convenience store. 

"Thank you." Chu Heling accepted it with a smile. 

"Alright, let's go watch the next scene first. Also, did you two have any acting experience before you joined Xingle?"

"Yes, I participated in HIOC's commercial before entering Xingle." Wen Jiexi nodded. 

"I haven't had any acting experience." Wen Ting scratched her head sheepishly. 

"When acting, the first thing an actress must overcome is not their acting skills. Even an actress with impressive skills will have their performance affected when they first face the camera. Unless they have strong adaptability or fast reaction times, their performances tend to be, how to put it….a little stiff. After all, the lens of the camera is a completely different feeling in our everyday film. So, saying this, someone like Jiexi who has experienced it personally should understand this feeling." Chu Heling explained while waving a phone in her hand. 

"It's true when I first faced a camera, I was really nervous. Whenever I think about how everyone will see my acting and that it will be broadcasted to countless people, a certain kind of tension freezes me up and it's really hard for me to act naturally at first." Wen Jiexi smiled and agreed with Chu Helin's words. The trembling of her heart and the stiffness of her body was a feeling she would never forget even though she wasn't as afraid now.

"Eh, it's that serious…." Wen Ting looked at the expressions of the two in front of her and understood an inkling of the pressure they experienced. 

"Once you have overcome the overwhelming pressure of the camera, then you will have really started on your path to acting. Remember, everyone starts out the same. Although they are not perfect yet, acting skills can only be perfected through on the job training." Chu Heling then pointed at the current scene being played and at the Lan Yuyan who was standing in the middle of the set. As the first newcomer to enter the battlefield, he already had to restart twice with the director yelling 'CUT!' for both times. The rest of the cast and crew had not made any mistakes and seemed rather accustomed to the repeated takes.

"Since the Director is also considered a newcomer, even if your performance is not very good, it won't leave any devastating impact. To tell you the truth, for a newcomer to complete a scene within three takes is already impressive but it's extremely difficult. One has to get better slowly and shouldn't feel pressure by the fact that your seniors can finish a scene in one take. According to what I can tell from your current situations, it will be acceptable for you to finish a scene in five takes. After all, there are newcomers everywhere in this film and the possibility of multiple takes is very high. All us old hands have been mentally prepared and warned about this, so don't worry about attracting an ire."

"There are other newcomers in this drama?! Why haven't I seen any? There are only a few people here!" Wen Ting looked around puzzledly. 

"That's because only those with the most important roles, meaning those with the most amount of lines, will stay on set for the longest time. Most people will only show their faces for a few scenes and then leave. In fact, they might even leave and continue on to their next gig immediately after they finish their part. That's why although there are only a few people here, the hotel is packed full of people from the two crews."

"Eh, no wonder there are so few people here. So that's why I only saw about a fourth of the characters mentioned in the script during the filming." Wen Ting rubbed her chin thoughtfully. 

Wen Jiexi felt a little shocked, did Wen Ting really think that the people she saw were the only cast members? Should she say this thinking is simple or naive?

"Anyhow…what roles are you two playing." Hearing Chu Heling's words, Wen Ting blinked and then said proudly, 

"I-I am paying the role of Mingxin!" Wen Ting immediately replied. She looked up at Chu Heling like a puppy who wanted a prize from their owner. Her eyes practically said, Hey, hey, I am a newcomer and yet I got this role! Miss gentle older sister, please praise me!!

Mingxin is the junior sister disciple that follows after the heroine, Long Yichen. As a gifted disciple of the first branch, she was only weaker than Long Yichen and the male lead who's immortal name, bestowed by their Master, was Xuan Wang. The three were the pride and joy of the first branch. 

Mingxin was originally a quiet girl but then fell in love with Xuan Wang. However, when she witnessed the love between Long Yichen and Xuan Wang, she could only take a step back and watch quietly from behind. In the end, she was killed by the Right Protector, which was Wen Jiexi's character. She died to protect the male lead. She was a girl who did not let love cloud her brain and sacrificed herself for her loved ones. It was also because of this event that pushed Logn Yichen and Xuan Wang to make up their minds about eradicating the Demonic Sect. 

"You're the infatuated supporting female lead? Not bad." Chu Heling raised an eyebrow. The role didn't exactly fit with Wen Ting's personality, but she can't really say anything as her role is one of the most incompatible with her own gentle personality…

"Hehehe, I will work hard!" Hearing Chu Heling praise her, Wen Ting looked like she was floating on air, her face brimming with excitement. 

"I am acting the role of the Right Protector of the Demonic Sect." Wen Jiexi glanced helplessly at the Wen Ting who was dazed with joy and then politely answered Chu Heling's question. 

"The Right Protector?!" Chu Heling stared at Wen Jiexi in surprise. If she remembered correctly, the role that needed the most technical skills in this entire film was the role of the Right Protector. Other than the main characters of the film, her favorite character was this Right Protector. As the Demonic Sect's Right Protector and yet a kind mute doctor, no one really knew what this character was thinking. She seldom showed any emotions and only when the boss died did she reveal any of her thoughts. Chu Heling had wanted to ask the screenwriter, just what exactly was the purpose of this Right Protector? The character obviously did not have much contact with the male or female leads yet compared with the Left Protector, this character had a lot more screen time. Could it be a secondary plot? 

"En, yes." Wen Jiexi nodded.

"Huh, huh? I remember that stunt performers were given priority to the Right Protector's role but…wait…stunt performer?" Wen Ting looked Wen Jiexi up and down, her eyes full of doubt. 

As for Wen Ting's disbelieving gaze, Wen Jiexi was now immune to it. As long as she can prove herself, why does she care what people think about her? 

"So we have two completely different roles and you're also…the one who finishes me off." Wen Ting patted Wen Jiexi's shoulder with a smile. Then she squeezed Wen Jiexi's arm and asked curiously. 

"Jiexi, are you really a stunt performer? Can you do a backflip.?"

Giving Wen Ting a helpless glance, Wen Jiexi took a few steps back. She kicked her feet gently and putting some pressure on her waist, she lifted her body and tumbled through the air before landing gently on the ground. She looked around, but fortunately, since everybody was watching the acting performances instead, not many saw her backflip. Not to mention, as a stunt performer, a backflip was no big deal. 

"How's that?" Wen Jiexi asked as she walked back. 

"Oh…oh, oh! Jiexi, that was so awesome! So cool! I used to dream about doing that but unfortunately, I can only do a forward somersault…" Wen Ting slumped her shoulders. If she knew how to backflip then she could've shown off her coolness in front of her Goddess!

Wen Jiexi: Did you think I learned how to do this just to show off how cool I am?!!!

"Don't worry, a forward somersault is also an amazing move, not many people can do that." Wen Jiexi patted Wen Ting's shoulder. 

Wen Ting: Is this supposed to comfort me!?

"Since Wen Ting and I have to face the same opponents, then I can help her go through the basics before a scene to get a feeling for it. However, Jiexi, it would be better for you to work with someone like Yuyan. You are the Right Protector after all and others for the time where you go down to the Mortal Realm, most of your scenes will be with the Demonic Sect leader." Chu Heling suggested to Wen Jiexi. 

"I know, but if I work with Yuyan…I have a feeling I'll be dragged into a two-hour gossip session instead…" Wen Jiexi explained with a wry smile. 

I think that actually will happen….Chu Heling thought speechlessly. 

"You two should observe the actors and actresses who are performing before you. I know there is a limit to this as I believe you two have done your homework before coming here. However, the only I can do is help you practice your scenes. I can help you immerse yourself into the scenario and practice a few times until you master it."

"Thank you, Sister Heling!"

"Sister Heling is the best!"

They had originally wanted to practice with Chu Heling in the first place and cheered happily. Then Wen Ting leaned closed to Chu Heling and asked hesitantly, 

"Then…then Sister He Loing, since the crew will be on set for a long time today, why don't we hurry back first and start practicing?" 

"Of course." Chu Heling laughed. Although the girl looked hesitant, her eyes were practically begging for Chu Heling to agree and so the woman nodded her head. 

Since Chu Heling and Wen Ting had a lot of scenes together, it would be easy for them to practice together. Although they were senior and junior sister disciples, one of them was cold and the other was quiet. Other than discussion related to cultivation, the two apprentices did not talk much. Since they were the only two from the first branch, their upbringing and character development depended greatly on this loneliness. 

As the only two people in the first brach, with the sudden introduction of a straight, opposite-sex character (the male lead) it was natural to feel attraction to him. Since Mingxin had never seen the world and only seen one other male creature (her master), it was easy for her to fall in love with the male lead. Towards love, she was like a blank piece of paper while the male lead, unfortunately, does not notice this love. 

"Senior Sister…I don't understand this technique, can you teach me?"

Long Yichen looked indifferently at Mingxin…

"That's not right…Wen Ting, Mingzin is supposed to be the quiet type, so she would not hold her Senior Sister's arm while using that coquettish tone." Chu Heling looked helplessly at the girl who had embraced her arm for the second time.

"Ah!" Wen Ting jumped back and wiped the nonexistent drool. Ah! Seeing my idol so indifferent yet so beautiful really makes me want to eat tofu-*cough* I mean, I want to be close to her. 

She bowed in apology to Chu Heling, 

"S-sorry, Sister Heling! G-vie me another chance! I will stop trying to eat-cough…..I will try my best!" 

Wen Jiexi wanted to palm her forehead in helplessness and then grab Wen Ting's shoulder to shake her back and forth. What exactly do you want to continue doing? She's kindly practicing with us and you keep trying to eat tofu and even did it twice…uh…I can even see through her intentions easily! 

"Senior Sister, regarding this technique, Mingxin does not understand this part. May I ask if Senior Sister is able to help?" The young girl held a book in her hands and faced an older woman who was standing under a tree while looking off into the distance. There was no immediate response but the girl did not show any nervousness nor did she turn around and leave. Instead, she stood and waited quietly. 

After who knows how long, the woman finally turned around. After focusing her gaze on the girl, the woman opened her mouth, 

"Bring it here."

"Sorry to disturb Senior Sister." The girl bowed slightly to the woman and then came slowly to the woman's side, stopping about two paces away from the cold woman. 

Then came the discussion about the technique. Wen Jiexi felt a little surprised at Wen Ting acting seriously this time. Once she gets serious, Wen Ting acted much better than the previous two times. 

"So how was it, how was it? How was my acting?" Wen Ting rushed over to Wen Jiexi and asked brightly, full of confidence in her acting skills, and looked up expectantly. 

"I think it was not bad, at the very least there weren't many mistakes." Wen Jiexi wasn't stingy with her praise. At least from her newcomer's viewpoint, there weren't many mistakes. 

"Not bad for a newcomer, but your eyes still do not have the same quiet feeling. There is not enough restraint in it. If you are paired with another newcomer in a scene, I'm afraid that there will be a lot of mistakes on both sides." Chu Heling came over and stated her opinion. 

"Restraint? What does that mean?" Wen Ting scratched her head puzzledly. She didn't quite understand what Heling wanted to say.

"Have you ever heard of tricking actors into acting? As long as an actor or actresses with good skills lead the way, they can eventually bring out the best in a newcomer during a scene. Of course, this can only be achieved when they reach a high level of acting. For example, it is hard to show emotions through the eyes, but if the other actor can bring out that emotion by incorporating minute changes in expression, then acting can be brought to the next level." Chu Heling thought about it and tried to explain it through a more understandable statement. 

"If I can do that, will I become a first-class actress?" Wen Ting's eyes widened. 

"En….I guess you can say that, but you must match your eyes with your expression and actions…" Chu Heling didn't even finish speaking when her hands were grabbed by Wen Ting and were shaken vigorously a few times. 

"Thank you, thank you, Sister Heling! With this, I believe I will be able to pass my debut with flying colors!"

Che Heling and Wen Jiexi: ….Is this the so-called 'so pleased as to lose one's sense of measure because of praise' personality?

"It's Jiexi's turn now!" Wen Ting continued. 

"En…Jiexi and I don't seem to have many scenes together….most of our scenes are when we brush past each other or when we met coincidentally and start fighting. If you really want a scene where we interact together than it can only be that one scene and…"

"It's ok, we'll just go with that one." Wen Jiexi scratched her head embarrassedly. She couldn't exactly ask for Sister Heling to start fighting with her, could she? It would be bad if she injured the other. 

As for the scene mentioned….It was when the Right Protector acted as the mute doctor in the Mortal Realm and was treating many patients in a small village. Long Yichen was seriously injured in a fight and had fallen into the mortal realm, only to be picked up by villagers who brought her to their village. Although the Right Protector knew Long Yixhen's identity, she was wearing a special human face mask and couldn't reveal her own identity. In the end, she still healed Long Yischen's wounds. However, Long Yichen had long since discovered her identity as well and because of this incident, Long Yichen was willing to let the Right Protector live in the end. 

Wen Jiexi watched as Chu heling laid on the ground without hesitation and sighed in reverence at the other party's deviation. Furthermore, even though there was no pale makeup to indicate a strong injury, Chu Heling's eyes were shut tightly and her lips pursed. From just that, one could feel that the other party was in great pain. 

The Right Protector stared at the woman brought before her….this person…is the eldest disciple of the first branch. She squatted and turned over the body to feel her pulse and then carefully picked up the person to enter the small cabin beside her. She quickly wrote a prescription for the villager next to her and then picked up a washbasin and towel to help clean the blood and dust from the body. The main injury was a torn wound where the bone was visible, a long gash that started from the left shoulder and down to the right waist. The rest of the body was covered in small scars and open wounds. For ordinary people, the amount of blood that she had lost would have killed her already. However, as an immortal, the woman still retained her breath. 

After cleaning the wounds, the door opened and the villager quickly placed a basket of herbs down. Slowly turning the herbs into a medical paste with her spiritual force, the Right Protector then applied the paste onto the woman before dressing the wounds with bandages. The Right Protector looked one last time at the woman still in a coma and then turned around and left the cabin. Before she left, the Right Protector also set up an enchantment around the cabin, an illusion to protect the injured woman within before walking away. 

"Done. Sister Heling, are you alright?" Wen Jiexi quickly came back to Chu Heling's side, the woman still lying blankly on the ground. 

"Ah….I'm fine, I'm fine, just a little surprise." Chu Heling waved and then looked at Wen Jiexi's thin arms. When the girl had picked her up just now, she was really surprised! And it was a princess carry too! 

Turning towards Wen Ting, she saw the other was similarly dumbfounded. From this, she can tell that even though her eyes were closed, that feeling was not an illusion. This was the first time she had been picked up and carried in her entire life. And it was actually a girl younger than herself, and taller then herself…she felt rather conflicted right now….

"Jiexi! Jiexi!" Wen Ting suddenly rushed forward to grab Wen Jiexi's shoulder excitedly. 

"Jixi, seeing your strength, I wholeheartedly believe you are a stunt performer now. Please accept me as your disciple! I also want to be able to princess carry the person I love in the future!" 

Hah? Wen Jiexi was dumbfounded, You want to princess carry a man?!

T/N notes: 

*eat tofu: slang for taking advantage of someone sexually, like touching someone inappropriately. Usually used jokingly.

Tsk, tsk, Jiexi, don't assume everyone is straight. What if Wen Ting wants to princess carry a woman? Speaking of, all aboard the Chu Heling x Wen Ting ship!! We're accepting passengers now!