ALL NOVEL
Chapter 145
Just as Smooth Sailing 2 was overwhelmingly celebrated online for Ji Ruochu finally reprising her role after three years, her scenes also came to the most critical part.
That is, when little junior apprentice sister Qian Siqi turns against her former senior apprentice brothers and sisters.
Unlike Smooth Sailing's happy beginning, sad middle, and triumphant end as the protagonist ascends to immortality, Free Roaming 2 starts by showing things from the perspective of many of Qian Siqi's senior apprentice brothers and sisters.
As a result, if you don't watch to the end, you'd probably think this sequel still focuses on the previous main characters. After all, despite twenty years having passed in the movie, those main characters are still in their prime... Oh no, they still have charm... Oh no, never mind, not important.
In short, in half of the movie, after the former main character group spends a long time searching for and protecting little junior apprentice sister, they finally succeed in welcoming her—
Yes, you read that right. Her complete turn to the dark side. As for why...
"Ruo Ruo, how are your preparations going?"
Director Qiu and the screenwriter smiled as they walked over to Ji Ruochu, who was getting into character.
"Director," Ji Ruochu started to stand.
But the two warmly stopped her.
"Sit, sit..." Director Qiu smiled, his face full of kindly wrinkles.
"Going alright," Ji Ruochu answered his earlier question.
"Good enough is fine. Don't worry. We've been waiting three years for this. One or two more days makes no difference. If you have any questions, you can ask me or the director," the screenwriter also said with a smile, just short of saying, "If need be, I can change the script on the spot."
When I wrote it, I didn't expect an untrained person to play the role, so I made the character as complex and multi-layered as possible.
"That's right, that's right. For this scene, just remember not to show too much resentment or be too calm. After all, you do harbor some resentment towards the sect and your former senior apprentice brothers and sisters. Later, look at Senior Apprentice Sister Xue with some warmth, and the other two senior apprentice brothers and sisters can be a little colder. Also—"
"Ahem." Seeing the director say more and more, the screenwriter quickly gave a soft cough.
When Director Qiu realized what was happening, the Ji family couple in front of him already looked very unhappy, seeming to say: Are you sure you didn't come here to add pressure?
Ji Ruochu: ??.jpg
Director Qiu: ...suddenly feeling guilty for no reason.
"Director, props are in place!"
Fortunately, the props team, who had been cursed out by the director these past few days, came at the right time to defuse the situation.
"Got it! Notify the actors." After speaking, he turned back, "Ruo Ruo, if you're not ready, you can think it over some more..."
"No need, Director. I can start any time."
Unlike in private, Ji Ruochu never called Director Qiu grandpa on set, only director. The meaning was obvious—no mixing too much personal feelings during work.
But that was clearly just her own thought. The entire crew, from top to bottom, looked at her with great kindness. Case in point...
"Good, good, then Grandpa Qiu will go gather everyone to start filming." Director Qiu left with a wrinkly smile.
Three minutes later, Ji Ruochu in white stood among a crowd dressed in sect apparel.
By this point in the plot, a group of former senior apprentice brothers and sisters had urgently searched for their junior apprentice sister and successfully brought her back to the sect.
They had even taken her to pay respects to her late teacher, who was also Qian Siqi's master.
In front of the previous Sect Leader's grave.
"Junior apprentice sister, come kowtow to master. If master's spirit is aware in heaven, he would definitely be very happy to know you're still alive."
"That's right, junior apprentice sister. Before master passed, you were his biggest concern."
Everyone had tears shimmering in their eyes and the atmosphere had already become sorrowful.
Yet unbeknownst to them, one of the protagonists they spoke of, Qian Siqi, had red-rimmed eyes yet a cold look in their depths.
"That's right," Qian Siqi finally said after a long while. "If master knew I was still alive, he'd be so happy..."
"Junior apprentice sister, don't be too sad. Although master has passed, your senior apprentice brothers and sisters will take good care of you. Rest assured, from now on, no one will ever bully you again!"
"Really?"
"Of course!"
"Even if I've caused great disaster?"
"Oh please, what great disaster could you cause? Besides, you're the sect leader personally chosen by our late master. What disaster is there that our entire sect can't withstand?"
"Then that's good." Qian Siqi smiled, then under the watch of everyone present, circulated her internal energy and slammed her palm out—
Bang!
The gravestone instantly shattered.
Everyone present: !?
"Unfilial wretch!!"
Amidst their shock, a rebuke rang out. The next second, fierce palm force came as promised.
Despite easily being able to dodge with a slight movement, Qian Siqi stood firm as a boulder and quietly watched the three former senior apprentice brothers and sisters who had just said they would protect her and were still in doubt.
The white clothes highlighted her weakness, while her expressionless face concealed torrents of emotion that leaked out upon meeting her three senior apprentice siblings' eyes.
The others quickly echoed the sentiment as the woman in white, appearing frail yet standing ramrod straight, perfectly embodied both softness and strength.
She was like a child who knew she had done wrong but stubbornly refused to admit her mistake. Her eyes, brimming with tears, seemed to say, "Will you still protect me?"
Seeing her like their childhood days, the three reflexively joined hands to block the palm strike that was about to land on their junior apprentice sister.
Moreover, thanks to the three's excellent inner force, they not only repelled the attacker back ten meters, but also made the person cough up a mouthful of fresh blood.
Everyone else: ?!!!
"Cut! Done!" Behind the monitor, Director Qiu excitedly called to stop filming, then immediately called over the editing team.
"Yes, that's the eye expression. Cut it right into the trailer! Put it at the start! Edit it right now! Our Free Roaming 2 is going to be a hit, a definite hit! Hahahaha!"
...
Even after the extras left, the director's hearty laughter could still be heard on set.
Ji Ruochu, now sitting nicely on a small stool drinking bone broth her father had simmered, listening: ...Can't help but worry a bit about the director's mental state.
Thanks to Ji Ruochu's acting and fantastic shots, plus the rest of the scenes already completed earlier, Qian Siqi's role finished filming after just one week from this scene. Thus, Free Roaming 2 also officially wrapped.
That day, [Director Qiu Sobbed Uncontrollably at Wrap Party] trended on social media.
For a time, netizens suspected Director Qiu was actually extremely disappointed by the footage and unable to replace the female lead, thus grief-stricken.
Soon, some netizens started dismissing Free Roaming 2 again, dismissing newcomer Ji Ruochu's acting, and even condemning the Ji family for using money to buy their little princess the female lead role.
[Let's be honest. Not just anyone can make it as an actor. If Ji is a genius, she should let her talent shine in her own field instead of taking the spot of a budding actress in the entertainment industry where there's no shortage of new actresses.]
[Speaking of which, don't this year's gaokao scores come out tomorrow?]
With that comment, netizens' attention instantly shifted.