Rebirth in Hengdian

Chapter 19: The director's difficulties

I think I butchered this chapter more than the previous ones. Unexpectedly, Baidu and several translation sites barely helped.

As always, I tried my best guys.

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CHAPTER 19

The morning on the second day, Chen Pingping accompanied Li Zixi to the filming site and after that, she went alone to rent a car. After arriving at the car rental shop, she immediately rented a car. Chen Pingping herself can drive, therefore, after paying the deposit, she drove the car back alone.

　　Arriving at the site, it looks a bit extreme. Today is the shooting of her family's Xixi's big wedding scene. She excitedly ran to Li Zixi's side and asked: "Xixi, how do I remember that this isn't your scene this morning, ah? Didn't you say shooting will be shopping with Yu You in the morning?"

　　Li Zixi was peacefully and serenely sitting in the dressing room, letting the makeup artist apply heavy makeup on her face. Although painting her face too much is uncomfortable, it was required for the filming and she could only endure it. Besides, this is better than entering the water in winter and wearing a cotton padded jacket in summer.

　　Hearing Chen Pingping's words, she didn't reply to her question and asked first: "Is the car rented?"

　　Chen Pingping nodded vigorously and said, "Yes, already rented. This small thing, I can still do it."

　　Li Zixi habitually laughed, but as soon as her mouth opened, the makeup artist's hand paused. Immediately, she tightened her face and whispered an apology: "*I'm sorry, caused you trouble."

[*I'm sorry (不好意思) – the phrase has no exact equivalence in English. The pinyin is bù hǎoyìsi. It seems that it is used in different situations like saying 'sorry' or 'excuse me' but there's a common undertone of embarrassment for causing inconvenience]

　　As the saying goes, *don't hit a smiling man. A celebrity with a good attitude still adds a good impression. The makeup artist laughed too and said: "It's alright, don't laugh too much."

[*don't hit a smiling man – after admitting one's mistake, the offended party might forgive easily]

　　Li Zixi said: "Okay." After speaking, she said to Chen Pingping, "You did a good job today, it's commendable. Also, you have been gone for more than an hour, that scene has already been filmed."

　　"Wow, my family's Xixi is awesome, so fast to finish shooting a scene. Now we can shoot the next scene in advance!" Chen Pingping happily praised Li Zixi.

　　Powerlessness surged in Li Zixi's heart. She faintly said, "You think too much, it's not sure yet when this scene will be filmed. Just put on makeup in advance, that's all. It may have to wait until the afternoon, it may also be at night."

　　Chen Pingping's face suddenly drooped down again and said, "In this way ah..." Don't know what she thought of, she immediately regained her spirits, "But, Xixi, you are already great, one scene is finished so soon. Maybe we are lucky, we can shoot in the afternoon. This way we can go back earlier to the imperial capital."

　　Li Zixi said in her heart: *My child, you think too much, it's not up to me to decide when to film. That depends on the state of the actors ahead. If the actors ahead shoot fast, she can also finish shooting faster. If the actors ahead gets NG, then congratulations to you, have to wait slowly.

[*My child – 孩纸 (hái zhǐ) literal translation would be 'child paper'. Baidu Baike said that the word was coined from a common typographical error. Supposedly, it was spelled as 孩子 (hái zi), meaning 'child', which is close-sounding with 孩纸. The suffix 子 was replaced with 纸. I resorted to 'my child' because 'child paper' sounds awkward.]