Chapter 24: A Minor Extra

Lunch was a sumptuous affair. Lin Mo looked at her meal, which even included a glass of grape juice. She sat alone at the dining table, eating at a slow and steady pace.

Just then, her phone rang. Lin Mo frowned, and upon checking the screen, she saw it was from a woman named Sister Li—someone she knew from the film crew who was in charge of managing extras. She had assumed it was Qin Lian calling to pester her again.

"Hello?"

"Mo Mo, is your head better? Are you alright now?"

Lin Mo lowered her eyes. "I'm fully recovered. Is there something you need?"

Li Hongmei sounded very apologetic. "It’s like this—because of the carelessness of some crew members, you ended up getting injured. The assistant director mentioned that there’s a small supporting role that requires a bit of screen time, and we need to cast someone new. I felt terrible about what happened to you, so I wanted to see if you’d like to come over and take the opportunity. It’ll take about an hour to shoot, and the pay is 500 yuan."

Lin Mo hesitated. The studio was on the outskirts of the city, not too far away. "When is it?"

"It’s for a scene tonight. You’d be playing a favorite concubine of the Emperor—the kind of role that meets their end in three minutes."

Lin Mo agreed. Five hundred yuan... She only had a little over 600 yuan in her WeChat account, so she had no reason to turn down the money. "Alright, I'll be there tonight."

Lu Mingzhu, who had come over to get some water, accidentally overheard the call. "Mo Mo, why are you pushing yourself so hard? Picking up a side gig right after work? Your foot is injured, and the President even specifically instructed you to rest."

"Well, I haven't saved enough for my tuition yet," Lin Mo replied without trying to hide it. "Acting is quite easy, and my foot doesn't hurt anymore. Besides, I have nothing else to do."

Lu Mingzhu shook her head. Children from poor families have to grow up fast; it really isn't easy. She didn't say anything more. However, that afternoon, when Weisheng Yan asked about Lin Mo, she mentioned it in passing.

Weisheng Yan lowered his gaze. "Advance her this month's salary."

Lu Mingzhu was surprised. "This..." It wasn't really standard practice to advance a new employee's salary after only one day of work. If others found out and started asking for the same, it wouldn't be ideal. "How about... the day after tomorrow?"

Weisheng Yan didn't seem to care. "As you wish."

Lu Mingzhu watched the boss's tall, cold back as he walked away, feeling a bit confused. Why was he taking such care of Lin Mo? It was practically an unsolved mystery.

When it was time to clock out, Lin Mo hurriedly packed her things. She still had to get to the set for makeup.

***

Her entire day's work had consisted of translating one article, which was already saved on the computer. When Weisheng Yan returned to the office, he saw that it was completely empty; his little secretary had run off faster than a rabbit the moment work ended.

Zheng Xiu was waiting downstairs. "Yo, all by yourself? Brother Yan, the little rabbit was delivered right to your doorstep, and you let her get away?"

"Stop talking nonsense." Weisheng Yan got into the car.

Zheng Xiu hopped into the passenger seat. "I’m serious. What’s so special about her? You, Young Master Weisheng, have never been short of little beauties around you. If you wanted, you could have a different one every single day of the year." Zheng Xiu clicked his tongue. "Don't tell me you fell in love at first sight? That’s not your style."

Weisheng Yan gave him a chilling look. "Is your tongue too loose? Say one more word, and you won't be opening your mouth for the rest of your life."

Zheng Xiu clamped his mouth shut instantly.

Weisheng Yan’s eyes were dark and heavy. He only felt that she was pleasant to look at, and that was all. For him, his heart had been like stagnant water for eight hundred years. She was just a bit special—merely because she looked so fragile that one couldn't help but take a second look.

***

By the time she arrived at the film city, it was already past 6:00 PM. Lin Mo’s phone started buzzing with calls and messages from the Lin family, but she ignored them all. Once Li Hongmei came to usher her inside, she switched her phone to "Do Not Disturb."

"Mo Mo, you’re pretty, so I specifically recommended you," Li Hongmei said.

This was the first film crew Lin Mo had worked for. She vaguely remembered that someone had dropped something, which had knocked her unconscious, but she couldn't recall the specific details. Afterward, the matter had simply been brushed aside, and she hadn't paid it any more attention. Li Hongmei was a warm-hearted, blunt person who had been genuinely concerned about Lin Mo's injury.

"Director Zhou, this is Lin Mo. Take a look, will she do?"

Director Zhou glanced at her. "Fine, go get her into makeup. Oh, and there are two lines. Xiao Li, you tell her what they are in a moment." Director Zhou couldn't help but look at Lin Mo twice more; she was very pretty, but the entertainment industry was never lacking in beautiful people, so he didn't pay her much more mind. The industry was all about resources and luck. Commoners rising to the top did happen, but it was rare.

Li Hongmei smiled. "Mo Mo, hurry up and do a good job. Getting two lines isn't easy!"

Lin Mo understood. Back then, she had struggled as an extra for over half a year before she even got a chance to speak a line. She went to the props department to get her costume. The makeup artist, exhausted from a long day, hastily applied makeup to Lin Mo. Her face, however, was stunning.

"A favorite concubine... a bit, well, pure," the makeup artist murmured. "I’ll apply a *huadian* (forehead decal) on you."

After the makeup artist finished, she looked at Lin Mo—her face was cold and beautiful, yet possessed the captivating charm of a young girl. The touch of red between her brows made her look exceptionally exquisite.

The makeup artist was slightly surprised. "Are you a specially invited actor?" Specially invited actors were professionals brought in for supporting roles; they commanded higher pay and naturally produced higher quality work.

Lin Mo smiled. "No, I’m just an extra."

The makeup artist was puzzled. Was the quality of extras really this high nowadays? "Go on then. Come back here to remove your makeup when you're done."

Lin Mo, dressed in ancient costume, walked toward the set. Xiao Li briefed her on her lines. "Just two. One is to insult the heroine: 'What kind of thing are you? How dare you compete with me?' The second is to kneel and beg: 'Your Majesty, no! I was wrong!' Got it?"

Lin Mo nodded. Even if she only had two lines, she would perform them well. She didn't even remember what this drama was, but watching from the sidelines, she realized it was a popular historical romance from back then. It was a bit melodramatic, but it had been a massive hit, turning a small budget into a huge profit.

Lin Mo’s acting skills were excellent, honed through real, hard work. When she stepped onto the set, she stood before the cameras she knew so well and skillfully found her best angles. She spent the first part as a background prop, and later, she delivered her two lines. She performed brilliantly; the arrogance and beauty of the favorite concubine, followed by the pitiful, tearful beauty, were perfectly portrayed.

With just two lines, they wrapped in a single take. The director behind the lens was surprised. After he called "Cut," Lin Mo walked away.

The director looked puzzled. "Was she invited?"

Director Zhou shook his head. "Just an extra."

The director nodded, lost in thought.

As Lin Mo walked away to remove her makeup, a few sunflower seed shells fell on her head. Someone was mocking her nearby. "It’s her again. She got smacked into the ICU last time by Sister, how dare she come back?"

"Keep your voice down. What if someone investigates?"

Lin Mo looked up and saw the assistant of the third female lead spitting out seeds. When she caught their gaze, they awkwardly walked away. Lin Mo’s expression darkened. How exactly did she end up in the ICU last time?