Fu Yingyu realized she was starting to like this little girl.
——It was rare to meet someone who was so pleasing to her eyes, and surprisingly, it turned out to be a three-year-old child.
"Little one, how did you come to join this production?" In a good mood, Fu Yingyu felt, for the first time, an urge to learn more about a stranger.
Gu Suisui: "The director uncle from my last set recommended me. He said this production needed a child actor and that the role would suit me, so he asked if I wanted to help out."
Fu Yingyu was taken aback by how simple and casual the whole process seemed.
It looked like Director Chen really liked this adorable little one, even phrasing the recommendation so delicately, as if afraid of putting pressure on the child and her parents. Although Director He Zhiliang's fame and commercial value weren't quite at Director Chen's level, he had quite the reputation in art films and often won awards at film festivals.
"Little one, if I remember correctly, your name is Suisui, right?" She had heard the little girl's nickname from Lu Chi when she saw her crying on set and gave her candy.
The little cotton candy proudly said her name: "My name is Gu Suisui! The 'sui' as in 'one-two-three'."
[Translator's Note: "随" (sui) is a common character, meaning "to follow," the same "随" used in counting or ordering (like counting "one-two-three").]
Fu Yingyu smiled: "Gu Suisui... it's a good name, wishing for your peace and prosperity year after year. Your parents must love you very much."
Parents who could give their child such a name must surely love their child very much.
Indeed, who wouldn't like such a well-behaved and cute child?
"Little Suisui, you wouldn't happen to be playing the childhood version of my character, would you?" Fu Yingyu thought briefly and quickly guessed what role the little girl was playing in the film.
In Zhen Feng Xiang Dui, there were only two child roles - the older sister wouldn't fit as she was too old, so it could only be the younger sister.
Gu Suisui asked, puzzled: "...Then which role are you playing, pretty sister?"
Gu Suisui had very few scenes in the film, and she only received an individual script. Moreover, given her young age, everyone assumed she couldn't read, so she never actually read the script - all her lines were read to her by staff members and Feng Yaoqin, and she just had to memorize and act them out.
Fu Yingyu took out the script and explained, "I'm playing the grown-up version of your character, the second female lead in this film."
The little cotton candy, having only recently gained sentience, had formed all her aesthetic standards based on her two spirit sisters.
Hearing this, Gu Suisui cupped her cheeks with both hands, looking at the beautiful sister beside her who had an aura similar to her tree demon sister, her eyes lit up with excitement: "Really? That's great!"
Fu Yingyu raised an eyebrow at her reaction: "Are you that happy to be like me?"
She had always known that her personality wasn't particularly likable. If it weren't for her good looks and willingness to put herself out there, she probably wouldn't have achieved her current resources and success.
This was the first time a child had willingly approached her and thought she was a good person.
"Because you're so pretty, sister!" Gu Suisui said without hesitation.
"Suisui, since you say such nice things, sister will teach you a life lesson today." Fu Yingyu's lips curled into a faint smile. "Don't trust people easily. The prettier the brothers and sisters are, the more likely they are to deceive you."
Gu Suisui, naturally drawn to beauty, widened her eyes and asked, "Pretty sister, are you one of them?"
Fu Yingyu didn't want to lie to the child: "Yes, so you shouldn't trust me easily either." Speak to people as they are, speak to ghosts as they are. Telling different stories to different folks, and keeping quiet if you can't speak well - this was the basic rule of survival in the entertainment industry.
Gu Suisui's newly awakened mind turned this over, and she suddenly understood, saying seriously: "Then when I grow up, I also want to be a sister who can deceive people." Actually, whether she could deceive people wasn't important - the main thing was becoming prettier.
Fu Yingyu: "..." Is this the point of what I said just now??
Indeed, she had overestimated the IQ of a three-year-old child.
This little crybaby's earlier insight into Ji Min's true nature must have been pure coincidence. After all, she had only given Suisui two pieces of candy and she was considered a good person by her.
How could such an innocent and pure child possibly understand the kind of things she was saying.
Fu Yingyu sighed softly, patted her head, and said: "Suisui, don't call me pretty sister anymore, just call me Sister Fu." She was already in her twenties, and it felt awkward having a three-year-old calling her pretty sister all the time.
Gu Suisui, being naturally friendly and not at all shy, sweetly called out: "Sister Fu!"
Fu Yingyu responded with a "mm," and though not particularly warm, her eyes were smiling, "Follow Sister Fu, and you'll get candy." While she couldn't guarantee anything else, at least in this production, she could look after her.
But... she wondered why, even though this child seemed quite silly, she was so likable?
"Sister Fu, you're so nice!" Gu Suisui, focusing entirely on the candy, nodded vigorously.
After finding Lu Chi brother as a temporary backing in Dormant, Gu Suisui had now found Sister Fu in Zhen Feng Xiang Dui.
Over the next few days, she lived quite well, and the childhood scenes of the two protagonists were almost finished. After tomorrow's final scene, Gu Suisui would wrap up her part.
"Sister Su, these are the nougat Sister Fu gave me today. Have one too." Gu Suisui had already divided the candies in her mind - one for mom, one for Sister Su, and one for herself.
"No need, I don't like candy." Su Yuqing looked at Gu Suisui opposite her, who had become so happy just from getting three candies and was still insisting on giving her one, feeling quite a headache.
"Sister Su, just have one~ It's very sweet~" Gu Suisui gently tugged at her sleeve and said coquettishly.
"..." Su Yuqing suddenly regretted softening her attitude towards her on the first day of filming when she couldn't get into character.
This three-year-old Gu Suisui must be made of nougat, otherwise why would she be so clingy?!
And she bloomed at the slightest bit of warmth - it was just a few extra words exchanged, and now she couldn't shake her off even if she wanted to!
These past few days, Gu Suisui had been sharing her snacks with her at all hours. If she didn't eat them, this child wouldn't make a fuss or cry, she'd just keep looking at her with those innocent big eyes, refusing to leave no matter what.
Who could resist that?!
Moreover, Su Yuqing had a grudge from her past life against Gu Suisui. Having to face the little girl's face every day and still managing to hold back from doing anything - she had already used up all her patience since her rebirth.
Su Yuqing glumly took the nougat, unwrapped it and put it in her mouth, "I ate it, are you satisfied now? Can you go?"
Gu Suisui's little voice was soft and sweet: "Satisfied! I'm going!"
Heehee, Sister Su ate my snacks again today (/≧▽≦/)~
After the female lead eats nine hundred and ninety-nine times... her ill will towards me should disappear, right?
It should work, right?
After all, how can anyone resist the healing power of snacks! They're food! Delicious food!!
Gu Suisui firmly believed her plan was feasible, counting on her fingers how many more times were left to complete the plan perfectly.
...
In the production, besides taking care of her daughter's daily life, Feng Yaoqin also took the opportunity to meet many people.
Before getting pregnant and having a child, with her high school education, Feng Yaoqin couldn't find any stable, easy work in the capital. She had worked as a bartender and as a real estate sales agent, which had trained her social skills.
Within a few days of joining the production, she had become familiar with the staff and gained quite a bit of useful information from them.
"Xiao Zhu, is what you told me last time true about a reality show looking for ordinary children?" Feng Yaoqin asked while offering a cigarette to the short-haired woman beside her.
"Of course it's true." Lighting technician Xiao Zhu took out her lighter and lit the cigarette. "Sister Feng, I think your Suisui would be perfect for it. She's so pretty, and it doesn't cost anything to sign up. Why not give it a try? What if the show really picks your child?"
For reality shows like this, where they take cute kids on trips, when the production team selects ordinary children, they're basically just looking for good-looking ones to travel with celebrities. It's not tiring, and it might even increase exposure quite a bit.
However, this reality show might have high requirements for the children's looks, as the celebrity children participating were all generally good-looking. But she thought Gu Suisui didn't need to worry about that at all; the little girl was so cute, with a lively and clever personality. She would definitely attract countless fans.
If she were on the production team, she would have chosen her directly.
"If she really gets selected, how much would the payment for this reality show be approximately?" This was what Feng Yaoqin cared about most. Since the show's entry requirements weren't high, the payment probably wouldn't be too high either, right?
Xiao Zhu lazily blew out a puff of smoke and stretched out five fingers.
Feng Yaoqin guessed: "Fifty thousand in total?"
Xiao Zhu shook her head with a smile and said: "Sister Feng, what are you thinking? How could the appearance fee for this kind of reality show be so little? It's fifty thousand per episode."
"You know, that's only because your child is just an ordinary person. The other celebrities bring their children along - take the most famous Actress Zhang for example, her appearance fee per episode is in the seven figures."
What? A million?!
Feng Yaoqin drew in a sharp breath when she heard this number. Although she knew being a celebrity was profitable, she hadn't imagined it was that profitable.
A seemingly effortless parent-child travel reality show, just letting your child eat, drink, and play, could earn that much money in one go??