Pei Qingjian opened his suitcase and took out the script. Ning Rong pulled up the freshly issued call sheet on her phone. Together, they went scene by scene.
Before arriving, Pei Qingjian had already studied and analyzed the role of Luo Fei in depth. He referenced many similar characters and interpreted Luo Fei according to what audiences tended to like in this type of role.
Ning Rong quickly noticed his improvement.
Compared to his performance during the audition, Pei Qingjian now clearly understood Luo Fei’s personality and style much better.
“You performed very well. You’ve improved a lot since the last time I saw you,” Ning Rong praised generously.
Pei Qingjian felt a little embarrassed. “Last time, I only just received the audition notice. I did some preparation, but it wasn’t thorough enough.”
“Now it’s different. I’ve prepared more deeply and even asked Brother Song for guidance several times, so I’m performing relatively better.”
“Brother Song?”
“Song Ye,” Pei Qingjian explained. “I worked with him in my previous project.”
Ning Rong had, of course, heard of Song Ye.
She nodded lightly. “You have this spirit of learning and are willing to seek guidance. No wonder you improve so fast.”
Pei Qingjian smiled lightly, feeling a little shy at her praise.
Ning Rong, however, felt nothing unusual.
She genuinely thought Pei Qingjian had made significant progress and had potential. But given his limited acting experience, while he had improved, some areas were still lacking subtlety.
She patiently guided him, carefully explaining lines and performance techniques.
Pei Qingjian listened earnestly, learning with all his attention.
Seeing the notes in his script grow denser and denser, Ning Rong couldn’t help but ask, “Am I asking too much?”
Honestly, given Pei Qingjian’s acting experience, he was already performing well.
But Ning Rong had far more experience and skill. Looking at him from a higher perspective, she couldn’t help but set higher expectations, hoping he could surpass his current ability.
This meant Pei Qingjian had to put in extra effort. Ning Rong worried he might feel tired, unhappy, or frustrated.
After all, Pei Qingjian was already performing strongly within his current limits.
He didn’t expect her to ask this, feeling that she was both gentle and considerate.
He shook his head. “Not at all.”
“Sister, the fact that you’re willing to teach me is already a great thing. I’m happy, not bothered by your expectations.”
“Besides, a strict teacher produces outstanding students. If you’re demanding, it shows you genuinely want to teach me and help me perform better. I should be thanking you.”
He spoke from the heart.
Hiring a tutor costs money, and the tutor leaves when the time is up, giving only what is paid for. They would never patiently guide you for free.
But Ning Rong didn’t ask for anything. Every careful word and action helped him fine-tune lines and performance techniques. She didn’t have to do this—it was purely for his benefit.
Thinking of this, Pei Qingjian felt a little warm inside.
It felt as if she truly regarded him as her little brother.
Although he’d never had a sister or been treated as a little brother before, this feeling was unmistakable—and kind of magical.
“You’re really kind, sister,” Pei Qingjian said, smiling, eyes crinkling.
Ning Rong felt slightly embarrassed, laughing lightly. He was truly adorable.
When Zhou Pengyue thought it was about time for dinner and went to find Pei Qingjian, he saw him sitting on the sofa, rehearsing lines with Ning Rong.
After he said a few lines or acted out a scene, Ning Rong would correct small details in his delivery or movement.
Her adjustments were minor, yet surprisingly, after each correction, Pei Qingjian looked more natural and relaxed.
Zhou Pengyue was astonished—Ning Rong actually… took the initiative to do this?
Seeing him, Ning Rong stood. “Go ahead and eat first. After dinner, we’ll continue.”
Pei Qingjian looked puzzled. “Sister, aren’t you eating with us?”
Zhou Pengyue: !!! Sister… sister?!
Pei Qingjian, do you even know what you’re saying?!
Ning Rong hadn’t expected him to say that—did he actually want to eat with her?
“Sure,” she agreed.
Zhou Pengyue: !!!
She actually agreed!
What on earth had happened while he was away? How had it come to the point of calling her “sister” and wanting to eat together?!
Zhou Pengyue’s mind was in turmoil, but he kept a calm expression as he walked out with Pei Qingjian.
Dinner was at the hotel restaurant. After they finished, Pei Qingjian returned to rehearsing lines with Ning Rong.
They hadn’t been at it long when, around 8:30, the director sent a message in the group chat, asking the four members of the Luo family to go to the sixth-floor meeting room for a script reading.
Pei Qingjian stood and walked out with Ning Rong.
Zhou Pengyue followed behind, feeling that something about this was… unusual.
The four of them sat neatly in the meeting room.
The director and screenwriter, following the call sheet, began the reading.
The actors playing Luo Rong and Luo Fei’s parents were veterans. The moment they spoke, their lines flowed as naturally as everyday conversation.
Pei Qingjian, having been tutored intensely by Ning Rong for several hours, was no longer nervous.
He sat in his chair, leaning slightly, resting his cheek on one hand, lazily delivering his lines.
The actress playing Luo Fei’s mother noticed immediately. “Sit properly, you’re slouching.”
Pei Qingjian pouted slightly, then straightened up, exuding effortless charm.
They went through the scenes planned for tomorrow.
To the surprise of the director and screenwriter, everyone performed very well. Ning Rong and the two veteran actors were expected, but Pei Qingjian’s performance was unexpectedly solid too.
His performance wasn’t flawless or textbook-perfect, but compared to his audition and his current understanding of Luo Fei, it was impressive.
Director Zhang Nan had cast him mainly for Ning Rong. She performed best with Pei Qingjian, so he was chosen. Zhang Nan, as the director, planned to teach him as needed.
Wang Bin thought similarly: Pei Qingjian had a solid foundation. With proper guidance, he could perform well—and his looks suited the character’s image.
Now, both Zhang Nan and Wang Bin were genuinely surprised.
He seemed… almost ready without much teaching.
His grasp of the role was strong. Occasional minor flaws felt natural, reflecting a young man not yet fully polished by the world.
To improve this much in just over twenty days was remarkable. Zhang Nan was astonished. “Xiao Pei, did you do private prep work?”
Pei Qingjian nodded. “Before coming, Sister Ning helped me rehearse lines and guided me quite a bit.”
Now Zhang Nan was even more surprised.
Ning Rong had a reputation as a cold beauty in the industry.
Her debut role was a cold-faced assassin. That role was easy for her—just look cold and keep killing.
People thought she might be a pretty face with little acting skill. But after playing three successive cold characters, then suddenly a superficially cheerful but secretly irritable character, everyone realized her acting talent.
The more people learned about her, the more her real personality seemed to match her on-screen persona.
She didn’t enjoy chatting, especially with men. Most of the time she’d say, “Talk to my agent.”
Her agent was a short-haired, professional woman known as Sister Wei.
Even when Zhang Nan met her to discuss the drama, Sister Wei spoke most of the time, while Ning Rong listened silently, occasionally sharing her thoughts.
Her aloofness, accolades, and popularity made this normal for the crew. After all, talent allows people to have their own temperament.
Yet now Pei Qingjian said she had guided him extensively.
This seemed completely out of character, but Zhang Nan remembered that during auditions, Ning Rong had looked at Pei Qingjian with a hint of warmth.
Had they known each other before?
No, that couldn’t be. During the audition, all three—Zhang Nan, Pei Qingjian, and Ning Rong—had the same polite, unfamiliar gaze. His acting alone couldn’t have convinced her otherwise.
Zhang Nan scratched his head, thinking, well, harmonious relationships in the cast were good. Especially since Ning Rong was willing to guide Pei Qingjian, that was even better.
“All right, all right,” Zhang Nan said with a smile. “Now I understand why you’ve improved so fast. That’s good. Be sure to learn from your sister.”
“Mm,” Pei Qingjian replied without hesitation.
Ning Rong smiled lightly, looking pleased.
All the actors performed well. The director only gave minimal guidance for minor issues.
“Nothing else today. Everyone has worked hard. Let’s call it a day. Rest well and see you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow.”
They left the meeting room one by one.
By now, it was past ten. Pei Qingjian didn’t have time to continue rehearsing with Ning Rong. In the elevator, he said goodbye, then he and Zhou Pengyue headed down to the second floor.
It wasn’t until they returned to their room that Zhou Pengyue finally couldn’t hold it in.
“You and Teacher Ning…”
“What’s wrong?” Pei Qingjian asked, puzzled.
Zhou Pengyue looked at him. “What’s wrong? I should be asking you—you two knew each other before?”
Pei Qingjian shook his head. “No, we only met on the audition day.”
“So… you called Teacher Ning ‘sister’?”
“She told me to,” Pei Qingjian explained. “She said she was only a few years older than me, and in the drama, she’s my sister. So she said it would be better for me to call her sister—it would help me get into character.”
Zhou Pengyue: …Good grief, Ning Rong actually took the initiative!
“What’s that expression for?” Pei Qingjian asked, seeing him hesitate, looking strange.
He thought Zhou Pengyue was strange, and Zhou Pengyue thought Ning Rong was strange.
“Do you know what Ning Rong is famous for in the industry?”
“Good acting?” Pei Qingjian guessed.
“Besides that?”
“Pretty?”
Zhou Pengyue: …
Pei Qingjian blinked innocently. “Then tell me.”
“Cold and aloof,” Zhou Pengyue said, increasingly puzzled. “She’s beautiful, sure, but most of the time she keeps a cold expression. That’s not just an act—it’s reality. Most of the time, she doesn’t speak; her agent speaks for her, and she doesn’t get involved in others’ affairs.”
“One of my friends, also an agent, once told me that one of his actors had a cameo in Ning Rong’s movie. He said, ‘Don’t be fooled by her looks—she’s really cold. Even when the male lead had ten NGs with her, Ning Rong remained indifferent, sitting on a chair, drinking coffee. The actor was frustrated, the director was frustrated, but she just smiled and let it go. If he wanted guidance, her agent said to ask the director.’”
“And now?” Zhou Pengyue continued, bewildered. “She actually took the initiative to rehearse lines with you, guide your acting… and let you call her sister?!”
Zhou Pengyue couldn’t make sense of it. “She wouldn’t… like you, would she?”
Pei Qingjian: …
He thought Zhou Pengyue was overthinking. If Ning Rong liked him, would she really have him call her sister? That would immediately make any romantic possibility… impossible—love turning into a sibling-like relationship!
But by Zhou Pengyue’s logic, she was being unusually kind to him. Yet there was nothing to gain from him.
Pei Qingjian couldn’t figure it out and decided not to dwell on it.
“As long as I feel she means no harm, there’s no reason to speculate behind her back. Otherwise, it’d be wasting her goodwill.”
Zhou Pengyue smiled. “Fair enough. I just thought it was strange, so I mentioned it.”
Pei Qingjian nodded. Zhou Pengyue, as his manager, naturally looked out for him, so he understood.
And Ning Rong had been genuinely nice to him, letting him call her sister. Pei Qingjian didn’t want to speculate about her motives either.
He decided to just accept it gracefully.
Meanwhile, Sister Wei watched Ning Rong, a little exasperated. “Why did you go guide Pei Qingjian? So this whole afternoon, you weren’t in your room—you were over there?”
Ning Rong: …
Sister Wei sat beside her, clearly ready for a serious talk.
Ning Rong quickly stood. “I’m going to sleep—you should rest too.”
Sister Wei: …
Ning Rong reached out and pulled her up. “Go back.”
Sister Wei, frustrated: “Did you plan this from the start?”
She asked, “So when you heard the production was looking for a young actor, you made sure Pei Qingjian auditioned, fearing the crew might overlook him?”
Ning Rong: …
“Could it be… you like him?” Sister Wei suddenly asked.
Author’s note:
Ning Rong: Well, depends on what kind of ‘like.’ A sister’s affection for a little brother is a form of like! ^_^
Zhou Pengyue / Sister Wei: Headache… seriously, headache.
Pei Qingjian / Ning Rong: Happy… genuinely happy.
Zhou Pengyue / Sister Wei: …