Huayu Entertainment: The Birth of a Succubus Top Star

After the opening ceremony, "Joy of Life 3" officially entered the intensive filming stage.

Before dawn, Gu Zhiyan had already arrived at the dressing room.

The makeup and styling of Fan Xian in the third season are significantly different from the first two seasons. He has shed the carefree and lively spirit of his youth, and his eyebrows and eyes have been given a sense of vicissitude. His base makeup is heavier, and the corners of his eyes are slightly darkened, which highlights the fatigue and forbearance after experiencing the battles in the court.

The stylist carefully adjusted the hair ornament and plain brocade robe. The bronze mirror reflected the figure of the boy who used to laugh and play, now burdened with heavy responsibilities.

The first scene filmed was a solo scene of Fan Xian sitting alone in the cold stone chamber of the Observation Hall.

The vast film set was lit only by a few cold-toned lights, the stone walls were mottled, and the air was filled with the smell of smoke and dust from the set.

There were no extras; the entire scene was almost entirely carried by Gu Zhiyan's emotions.

In the script, Fan Xian has just experienced betrayal, the loss of friends, and a future shrouded in uncertainty. He is filled with resentment and exhaustion.

The director gave the order to start filming.

Gu Zhiyan, who had just been whispering details to the stage manager, instantly got into character.

He sat with his shoulders slumped before the stone table, his fingertips gently stroking the waist badge of the Judgement Bureau, his knuckles turning slightly white. All gentleness had faded from his eyes, leaving only a deep weariness. A faint, almost bitter smile appeared on his lips. Without uttering any loud lines, just a single glance conveyed the character's inner struggle.

The entire shot was filmed in one take.

"Cut!" the director shouted from behind the monitor, and the crew members breathed a sigh of relief. A low round of applause rang out on set.

The daytime filming schedule was packed, with scenes involving group scenes in the imperial court and scenes between rivals in the Imperial Censorate.

The cast and crew are full of veteran actors, creating a strong atmosphere on set. During breaks, Wu Gang and Chen Daoming would often pull Gu Zhiyan aside to discuss the rhythm of their scenes together, refining their lines back and forth.

During occasional breaks, a small number of fans would wait outside the film set, quietly watching from behind the fence, without making a fuss or disturbing the filming, only holding up small support signs.

When Gu Zhiyan sees this during her break, she will nod slightly in acknowledgment, wave briefly, and then turn back to filming.

After a long day of intense filming, Gu Zhiyan naturally needed to relax when she returned to the hotel at night. With Song Yi, Chen Yao, Li Qing, Li Chun, and Xin Zhilei all there, she could relax to her heart's content.

A few behind-the-scenes photos from the film crew have surfaced online, with some candid shots of the crew in period costumes quietly going viral.

The hashtag 【Gu Zhiyan and Fan Xian on set】quietly climbed to the top of the trending searches.

The comments section became lively again.

"Reuters' appearance is amazing; the sense of brokenness from years of life is spot on."

"Veteran actors huddled together refining their lines—that's the kind of atmosphere a period drama should have on set."

"I've already started imagining the plot of season three, and I'm eagerly waiting for Fan Xian to wreak havoc on everyone."

Some passersby remarked, "The same actor, playing the same role again after several years, has actually grown in demeanor and temperament along with the character."

The days of closed-off filming went by one after another. The summer in Hengdian was exceptionally hot and humid. The costumes were thick and layered. After filming a major scene, Gu Zhiyan's inner garment was often completely soaked with sweat. But as soon as the start bell rang, he would always quickly enter Fan Xian's world.

The story of "Joy of Life 3" is gradually taking shape under the lens.

……

At midday on the Hengdian film set, the blazing sun made the stone slabs outside the studio scorching hot, while inside, the air conditioning was mostly turned off, creating a suffocating atmosphere.

Today's filming scene is a key moment in "Joy of Life 3," showing Fan Xian confronting Emperor Qing in his study.

The spacious and magnificent imperial study was decorated with the fragrance of sandalwood, bright yellow gauze curtains, and neatly arranged civil and military ornaments.

Chen Daoming, dressed in a dragon robe, sat upright on the high seat, his imperial aura silently pouring down with his gaze.

Gu Zhiyan, dressed in a dark blue official robe with the waist badge of the Director of the Censorate hanging from his waist, slowly walked into the hall.

There was not a trace of his usual carefree smile.

He lowered his head slightly, but his back remained perfectly straight. Although he was a subject paying homage to the king, he exuded a tenacious spirit that refused to bow down.

"Fan Xian, do you know your crime?"

Emperor Qing's voice was unhurried and light, yet it carried a tremendous weight, silencing the entire room.

All the staff on the sidelines subconsciously lowered their breathing.

Gu Zhiyan slowly raised her head.

The moment Fan Xian looked up, all the gentleness in his eyes vanished, and his gaze met the emperor's on the high throne. He did not flinch or show any fear. His eyes were filled with disappointment, heartbreak, and a hint of suppressed grief and indignation.

"I do not know what crime I have committed."

He spoke slowly, each word clearly echoing in the empty imperial study.

The voice wasn't raised, but the stubbornness in the words had already torn through the thin veil between the ruler and his subject.

"You secretly investigated Ye Qingmei's past, colluded with court officials, and privately investigated confidential files. Are you not guilty?" Emperor Qing tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, his gaze sharp as a knife, fixed on the person below.

The instant I heard the name Ye Qingmei.

Gu Zhiyan's Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

In that instant, all his emotions could no longer be suppressed. A faint blush crept up the corners of his eyes, but he forcefully suppressed the surging emotions within them, a desolate yet mocking smile curving his lips.

"Your Majesty." He took a step forward, the hem of his robe brushing against the floor tiles. "What I investigated was merely a past event that should have been revealed. My mother dedicated her entire life to the Qing Kingdom, and in the end, she doesn't even deserve justice?"

Taking this step is an open act of confrontation.

Emperor Qing's gaze suddenly turned cold as he sat on his high throne, and the two opposing auras clashed fiercely within the imperial study.

There were no shouting or arguing, but the back-and-forth exchanges of lines created a tension that almost overflowed the screen.

The two exchanged barbs, each word a sharp rebuttal, their words concealing a hidden tension.

The entire long take was completed in one go.

Until the very last line of dialogue, the director shouted, "Cut! That's a wrap!"

The studio was silent for a few seconds, then bursts of suppressed applause erupted on set.

During the break, Gu Zhiyan and Chen Daoming sat on a bench and continued to discuss the details of their scene together.

After a short break, the production assistant announced the start of filming. Gu Zhiyan closed the script, readjusted her mind, and stepped into the light and shadow of the Imperial Study once again.

This behind-the-scenes footage of the confrontation in the Imperial Study was released as a short clip by the production team just a few days later.

The short video quickly went viral, and the hashtag "[Fan Xian confronts Emperor Qing]" rapidly climbed to the top of the trending searches.

The live chat and comment section instantly erupted.

"I got goosebumps! This is Fan Xian in season three, no longer the boy who would joke around with the emperor."

"The scenes between Gu Zhiyan and Chen Daoming were simply divine battles; the tension between their eyes alone brought me to tears."

"Without shouting or yelling, he still managed to create a suffocating sense of oppression; his acting was incredibly nuanced."

"I can feel Fan Xian's chill through the screen, and I can't wait to see the full episode."

"Gu Zhiyan truly portrayed Fan Xian's entire journey of growth perfectly!"

……