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As night deepened, the corridors of the Hengdian World Studios Hotel were covered with thick carpets, absorbing all footsteps.

Liu Tao stood in front of Su Ning's door, hesitated for a moment, and then raised her hand to knock on the door.

She held in her hand the script of "Nirvana in Fire," which had been turned over and was now slightly curled at the edges. Several pages of it were covered with labels.

The door opened quickly, and Su Ning appeared to have just taken a shower, her hair still damp. She was dressed in a comfortable dark casual outfit, looking less sharp and more approachable than Prince Yu.

"Sister Tao?" He was a little surprised, but then stepped aside. "Please come in."

"Thank you."

The room was warmly lit, and some documents and a laptop were spread out on the table, indicating that Suning had been working there earlier.

A faint, refreshing scent of shower gel filled the air.

"Su Ning, did I disturb you?" Liu Tao walked into the room, her tone perfectly polite.

"No! I just took a shower too."

Then Liu Tao waved the script in her hand, trying to cover up her misunderstanding, and said, "Tomorrow is our crucial scene together. Xia Dong is ordered to investigate Prince Yu. There are too many veiled meanings in the lines, and I feel a little unsure about how to handle it. I wanted to come and go with you to get a feel for it."

She was referring to the seemingly calm but actually turbulent probing exchange between Xia Dong, the head of the Suspended Mirror Bureau, and Prince Yu, Xiao Jinghuan, in the drama.

The dialogue in that scene was concise yet full of hidden meanings, demanding a high level of control over the actor's micro-expressions and tone.

"Sister Tao, you've gone to such great lengths! Actually, I'm just a self-taught actress, so I'm definitely not as good as a veteran like you." Su Ning smiled and invited her to sit down, pouring her a glass of water.

"Hehe, don't be modest! Some people are really talented at acting. For example, your roles as Taozi in 'Under the Zhengyang Gate' and Jiang Weimin in 'Parents' Love' were both quite remarkable."

"Actually, I'm also thinking about this scene. When facing Xia Dong's probing, Prince Yu has to act flawlessly and maintain the demeanor of a prince, but he can't let her completely figure out his secrets. It's really hard to strike the right balance."

The two then quickly got into work mode.

They sat side by side on the sofa, the script spread out on the coffee table.

“Su Ning, look here,” Liu Tao pointed to a line of dialogue. “Xia Dong said, ‘Your Highness seems quite worried about state affairs lately.’ This is a test. What tone should I use? Pure respect, or a hint of subtle scrutiny?”

Su Ning pondered for a moment, leaned back slightly, and his eyes instantly became more profound, as if he had entered the state of Prince Yu: "At this time, Prince Yu already knew Xia Dong's purpose. He replied, 'It is my duty to share the emperor's burdens and receive his bounty.' This is standard official rhetoric. So when you ask this question, Sister Tao, you should show respect on the surface, but your eyes can carry a hint of... well, a kind of calm observation, like a hunter assessing his prey."

Liu Tao nodded thoughtfully, tried reading the lines aloud, and her eyes indeed showed a sharper, more probing look.

She then asked, "So when Xia Dong vaguely mentioned 'rumors in the martial arts world,' how should Prince Yu's inner vigilance be outwardly expressed? Was it merely a change in his eyes?"

“Not only that,” Su Ning leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice to create a sense of pressure, “there can be a slight pause before slowly putting down the teacup, the movement should be half a beat slower than usual, this subtle slowness can reflect his inner weighing. At the same time, the smile on his face cannot be reduced, but the temperature must be lowered.”

The two analyzed each sentence in this way, sometimes pondering it individually, sometimes imitating the characters' dialogue, and even standing up and moving around, trying different expressions and body language.

Liu Tao, as expected of an experienced actress, grasped the essence immediately and quickly captured Xia Dong's "keen insight hidden beneath a businesslike exterior."

Suning's accurate grasp of Yu Wang's psychology also earned her her secret admiration.

During the process, Liu Tao inadvertently looked up and saw Su Ning's focused profile silhouetted against the light, as well as his slightly furrowed brows from the serious discussion. A slight tremor ran through her heart.

This man plays an ambitious character on screen, but off screen he displays such professionalism and composure.

She quickly composed herself and focused her attention back on the script.

After nearly an hour of meticulous work, both of them felt more confident about the next day's shoot.

"That's great, Su Ning. I feel much more at ease after rehearsing with you." Liu Tao closed the script and said sincerely, her previous sense of distance melting away considerably during the professional exchange.

"Sister Tao, you're too modest. Your experience has benefited me greatly." Su Ning stood up to see her off, her tone sincere. "Tomorrow on set, let's try to get it in one take."

"Okay, one take." Liu Tao smiled, walked out of the room, and turned back to say, "Get some rest, see you tomorrow."

However, Liu Tao's alluring and sophisticated aura made Su Ning a little distracted. "Sister Tao, would you like a cup of coffee?"

"Wouldn't that be too intrusive?" Liu Tao, who also understood the implication, asked meaningfully.

"Sister Tao is a great beauty in the entertainment industry! How could I be ungrateful?"

“Okay! I’ll try your coffee too.” Liu Tao then locked the door to Suning’s suite from the inside.

Su Ning then pulled Liu Tao by the hand and led her to the bedroom next door...

An hour or two later, Liu Tao glared at Su Ning with a flirtatious look in her eyes, "Hmph! You seem so honest, but it turns out your mind is full of wicked schemes."

"Hehe, Sister Tao, I'm a normal man. How could I possibly remain calm when faced with a beautiful woman in my arms?"

"I'm leaving! I have filming tomorrow." Liu Tao put on her clothes again, got up, and left.

"Sister Tao, will there be another chance in the future?" Su Ning asked, holding Liu Tao's hand.

"What? Addicted?" A smug look appeared on Liu Tao's face.

"Kind of."

"That depends on whether we have the opportunity to cooperate again in the future."

After seeing off the sophisticated Liu Tao, Su Ning returned to her room. Looking at the two water glasses side by side and the script spread out on the coffee table in the living room, a smile appeared on her lips.

The experience of clashing with a formidable opponent is exhilarating in itself.

After Liu Tao left, walking in the quiet corridor, she was filled with anticipation for the filming the next day, as well as a subtle, complex feeling about the man in that room.

……

The next morning, the sun shone exceptionally brightly.

Inside the restaurant, Chen Xiaojun ate her breakfast quietly, but her eyes kept glancing towards the elevator entrance.

When she saw Su Ning appear looking radiant, she immediately lowered her head and vigorously chopped the fried eggs on the plate.

It's as if they've mistaken the despicable Suning for a fried egg on a plate...

However, Su Ning sat down opposite her with her tray in hand: "Good morning, Junjun."

Chen Xiaojun didn't look up, her voice muffled: "Good morning."

Noticing her unusually low mood, Su Ning raised an eyebrow, about to speak, when she heard her suddenly cough lightly and ask casually:
"Ahem, Mr. Su, I heard that last night... Sister Tao went to your room?" She finally raised her head, staring intently at him, a hint of mockery and jealousy on her lips.

Su Ning paused slightly in the hand holding the spoon, but her expression remained unchanged: "Yes, rehearsing the scene. Today's confrontation with Xia Dong is very important, and we need to go over some details beforehand."

His tone was as flat as if he were discussing the weather.

"Oh? Discussing the script..." Chen Xiaojun drawled, tapping her fork lightly on the rim of the plate, making a crisp sound. "In the dead of night, a man and a woman alone, just... discussing the script?"

She leaned forward slightly, lowered her voice, and her eyes were full of "you're kidding me" meaning, "Based on my 'understanding' of you, Mr. Su, if a mature beauty like Sister Liu Tao offered herself up, would you just be acting?"

Su Ning was taken aback by her words and put down her spoon with a sigh: "Cough! Junjun, what you're saying... do I look like that kind of person?"

"Hmph," Chen Xiaojun snorted coldly, turning her face away. "Whether you're that kind of person or not, you know it in your heart. I just wonder... what Sister Fan Lin would think if she knew about this?"

She deliberately emphasized the words "Sister Fan Lin" with a distinctly threatening tone.

Su Ning's expression finally changed. He looked around warily, and unconsciously leaned towards Chen Xiaojun, lowering his voice even further: "Junjun, you can't joke like that. We're really just working."

He paused, then his tone became somewhat pleading, "Tell me! What do you want... for you to believe me and keep this 'secret'?"

Chen Xiaojun turned her head, a sly and smug smile on her face, like a kitten that had stolen a fish.

She mimicked Su Ning's usual negotiation style, tapping her finger lightly on the table, and asked in return, "Mr. Su, what conditions do you think would be appropriate for me to propose?"

Seeing her like this, Su Ning knew that she wouldn't get through this without making some sacrifices today.

He rubbed his temples and began listing options: "A raise? Double your year-end bonus? Or... a promotion? Let you take on the part-time role of deputy director of the bizarre and fantastical content department? Or, how about the company provides you with a car? To make your future travel easier?"

As he spoke, he carefully observed Chen Xiaojun's expression, only to find that she simply smiled at him, neither nodding nor shaking her head.

Only after he finished speaking did Chen Xiaojun slowly pick up her juice, take a sip, and then say, word by word, in a clear and slow tone:
"I want them all."

Su Ning was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled, shaking his head and sighing, "Chen Xiaojun, Chen Xiaojun! Your ability to take advantage of someone's misfortune is getting more and more skillful."

“Likewise,” Chen Xiaojun raised her chin, her smile growing even brighter. “I learned it from you, President Su. So, how about it? Deal?”

The sunlight fell perfectly on her face, and her eyes sparkled with a triumphant light and an indescribable intimacy.

Su Ning looked at her, and finally nodded with a helpless smile, "Deal. You little spy."

"That's pretty much it."

"Actually, Sister Tao and I were just discussing the script."

"Humph! Are you kidding me?"

"By the way! My apartment in Xizihupanyuan is a two-unit-per-floor building. I recently bought the apartment across the street. You can move in when we go back this time."

"What? You really want to call me 24/7?"

"What do you say?"

……

In fact, the filming location of "Nirvana in Fire" was far more than just Hengdian.

To perfectly present the grandeur of the capital of Liang, the tranquility and depth of the mansions, and the unique frontier scenery in the drama, the crew traveled to various locations such as Xiangshan Film and Television City in Zhejiang and Wuxi Water Margin City in Jiangsu for filming.

The sheer volume of scenes and the tight schedule spurred the development of an efficient A/B group simultaneous shooting mode.

Directors Kong Sheng and Li Xue each led an elite team, advancing side by side in different locations, allowing the power struggles within Jinling City and the chivalrous grudges in the martial arts world to be presented in parallel and wonderfully in the same time and space.

Time flies by amidst the busy work day and night. The camera captured Mei Changsu's infallible strategies, Prince Jing's integrity and perseverance, Princess Nihuang's heroic demeanor, and Prince Yu's deep ambition. It also embodies the hard work of all the staff working on and off screen.

June has arrived in the blink of an eye, and filming has entered its final sprint stage.

On June 4th, the crew conducted a crucial day of reshoots, meticulously refining some detailed shots to ensure the final product was flawless.

When the last reshoot was completed perfectly with the director's "Cut!", a round of applause, tinged with exhaustion but filled with immense satisfaction, rang out on set.

June 7th, a day that deserves to be recorded in the history of the film crew.

Filming for the entire series of "Nirvana in Fire" has officially wrapped!
As the final shot of the last scene perfectly froze, the assistant director excitedly shouted through a megaphone, "I announce..."

When the entire crew of "Nirvana in Fire" announced their successful wrap-up, the entire set was instantly filled with cheers and applause.

The actors and staff, who had worked hard for months, hugged and high-fived each other, and some even excitedly threw their scripts into the air, releasing the pressure and joy that had been building up for so long.

The atmosphere reached its peak at the wrap party that night.

The main creative team, main actors, and heads of various departments gathered together.

Directors Kong Sheng and Li Xue delivered emotional speeches, thanking the entire crew for their hard work and professionalism, and expressing their confidence and expectations for this labor of love.

The main actors, including Hu Ge, Wang Kai, Su Ning, Chen Xiaojun, and Liu Tao, also raised their glasses to toast each other.

During the gathering, everyone reminisced about the many fun and unforgettable moments from the filming period...

From persevering in heavy costumes during the sweltering heat to the chaotic filming of outdoor scenes in torrential rain; from sparks of inspiration during rehearsals to a teacher's unintentional, "divine" laugh...

The hardships of the past have all been transformed into cherished memories amidst the joy of success.

Amidst the clinking of glasses, there was a palpable sense of reluctance to part with the time spent working together, and a firm belief that "Nirvana in Fire" would undoubtedly create a viewing frenzy after its broadcast.

This belief is not unfounded.

By this time, Shandong Film & Television had already established a reputation for "conscientious production" in the industry and among audiences with a series of well-made and highly acclaimed works such as "Parents' Love" and "No War in Beiping".

"Anything produced by Shandong Film & Television is guaranteed to be of high quality" has become a consensus.

With such a strong production team, a solid script, and the dedicated performances of all the actors, no one doubts that "Nirvana in Fire" will become another phenomenal blockbuster, leaving a significant mark on the history of Chinese period dramas.

The banquet will eventually come to an end, but the legend of "Nirvana in Fire" has only just begun.

All participants were filled with pride and anticipation, preparing to face the scrutiny of the market and the applause of the audience.

...(End of chapter)