Huayu Entertainment: It was the young actress who took the initiative.

Chapter 100 These two really look like a married couple

September 5th.

Hengdian, Zhejiang Province.

It was almost dark when Chen Mo's van entered Hengdian.

The scenery outside the car window was so familiar that it made me feel at ease.

Those antique buildings, those hotels with film crew banners hanging on them, and those extras hurrying by in their costumes.

Zhang Qiang parked the car steadily in front of the hotel.

Chen Mo got out of the car and took a deep breath.

There's a chill in the air in Hengdian, a chill that suggests autumn is approaching.

He recalled his first visit to Hengdian last year.

When he filmed "Three Lives Three Worlds," he was just a newcomer who had just landed the role of Donghua Dijun.

Now a year has passed.

He returned here with the Magnolia Award, two hit dramas, and 15 million fans.

Several fans were already waiting in the hotel lobby.

When Chen Mo entered, their eyes lit up, but they all politely refrained from screaming, simply saying in hushed tones, "Welcome to Hengdian, Teacher Chen Mo!"

"Good luck with your new film!"

Chen Mo nodded to them, took the letter they handed him, and gave it to Li Xiaoyu.

Step into the elevator.

Li Xiaoyu pressed the floor button, then turned and said, "Brother Mo, the opening ceremony is at nine o'clock tomorrow morning. Makeup starts at eight, and we have to leave at seven-thirty."

"it is good."

The elevator doors opened.

Chen Mo entered the room, put down his luggage, and sat down on the sofa.

The phone rang.

It was Wang Lihua who called.

"arrive?"

"Just arrived."

"Okay. I need to tell you something."

Wang Lihua's voice came from the other end of the phone, "Li Landi's agent just contacted me and said she wants to visit you on set while you're in Hengdian."

Chen Mo was taken aback: "Li Landi?"

"Yes, isn't 'Hello, Old Times' going to be released soon? Late November. They want to generate some buzz beforehand."

Wang Lihua paused for a moment, then said, "When we visit the set, we'll have the marketing accounts take some photos and post them with the hashtag 'Lin Yang Yu Zhou Zhou After-Sales Service,' to generate some buzz for the couple."

Chen Mo understood.

This is a common advertising tactic.

With the drama about to air, the male and female leads visited each other on another set to create some "after-sales" buzz, allowing fans to ship them and generating buzz for the drama.

What do you think?

"Okay, when are you coming?"

She said she'll be here in a few days and will let you know in advance.

"it is good."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Mo leaned back on the sofa.

Outside the window, the night in Hengdian was gradually deepening.

the next day.

September 6th.

It is advisable to turn on the machine.

Outside a film studio in Hengdian World Studios.

A huge red backdrop stood at the entrance, proclaiming: "Wishing 'Ashes of Love' a Successful Start to Filming!"

-

The red carpet stretched from the backdrop all the way down the steps, with flower baskets lining both sides.

Dozens of flower baskets, sent by investors, platforms, partners, and fans of the lead actors, were lined up in two rows, tied with red ribbons and inscribed with various blessings.

Chen Mo's van was parked outside the photography studio.

The moment the car door opened, screams surged forth like a tidal wave.

"Chen Mo!!!"

"Aaaaaaah!"

Chen Mo got off the bus.

He wore a simple sweatshirt today, embroidered with the logo of the "Ashes of Love" crew, paired with black trousers, looking clean and refreshing.

Security guards quickly formed a human wall.

Chen Mo waved to his fans.

The fans screamed even louder.

Li Xiaoyu followed behind him, holding a bag in her hand, ready to receive the letter.

But there were too many people.

Hands reached out from all directions, letters were handed out, and fans were taking photos with their phones.

Li Xiaoyu's hands were too full to handle everything. Letters slipped from her hands, and as she bent down to pick them up, new letters were handed to her.

She was a little flustered.

Just then, a hand reached out and took the letter from her hand.

Li Xiaoyu looked up.

It was discovered that it was Li Yitong.

She was already standing next to me, wearing the same hoodie, with a faint smile on her face.

"Give it to me."

She took a stack of letters from Li Xiaoyu, then turned to the fans, smiled as she accepted the new letters, and whispered to them, "Thank you, I'll keep them for him."

Li Xiaoyu was stunned for a moment.

Then she saw—

Li Yitong stood next to Chen Mo, helping him collect the letters while saying "thank you" to each fan who handed one.

Her movements were very natural, as if she had done it many times before, and her smile was very gentle.

Chen Mo noticed it too, and he turned his head to look at Li Yitong.

In the sunlight, she lowered her head and carefully read the letter, a strand of hair falling down and covering half of her face.

She collected a stack of letters, turned around and handed them to Li Xiaoyu, then turned back to collect the next batch.

Chen Mo couldn't help but smile, and a word suddenly popped into his mind:

Virtuous and capable.

She is not the kind of virtuous woman in the traditional sense.

It's a feeling that makes people feel at ease and secure just by looking at it.

Like right now, they're not dealing with fans, but doing something very ordinary together.

Received email.

signature.

thank.

Standing side by side.

A fan shouted from the crowd, "Xue, you're so gentle!"

"Yi Tong and Chen Mo are a perfect match!"

"Jinmi and Xufeng, charge!"

Li Yitong blushed slightly upon hearing these shouts.

But she didn't say anything, she just continued receiving letters and smiling.

After receiving the letter, the two walked into the photography studio together.

Li Xiaoyu followed behind, carrying a large stack of letters in her arms, still sighing inwardly:

That scene just now really looked like a married couple.

The studio was already packed with people.

Zhu Ruibin was standing in front of the backdrop, chatting with several investor representatives.

Upon seeing Chen Mo and Li Yitong enter, he immediately waved: "Chen Mo, Yitong, come here, let's take some photos first."

The two walked over and stood in front of the backdrop.

Flashes of light went off one after another.

After taking group photos, they took individual photos.

Chen Mo stood in front of the camera, still with that calm and collected demeanor.

Li Yitong stood in front of the camera, her smile gentle, her eyes tender.

After filming, Zhu Ruibin called the two of them together: "The opening ceremony later will follow this procedure: first, the production company and director will speak, then the lead actors will go on stage to introduce themselves, the host will ask questions, and finally the media will ask questions."

He looked at Chen Mo and said, "Chen Mo, you are the male lead. When it's your turn to speak later, please say more."

Chen Mo nodded.

"no problem."

Chen Mo and Li Yitong greeted Luo Yunxi and Chen Yuqi and chatted for a while, since there was still some time before the departure ceremony.

Since everyone is young, they get along quite quickly.

It was exactly 9:00 AM.

The opening ceremony officially began.

Zhu Ruibin took the stage first to speak, thanking the investors, the platform, and all the crew members.

Then there's producer Liu Ning.

Then came several representatives from the investors.

After completing the entire process, it was finally time for the main actors to make their appearance.

The host stood on the stage, smiling, and announced, "Next, let's welcome the lead actors of 'Ashes of Love' to the stage!"

Amid applause, the actors took to the stage one by one.

The first one is Luo Yunxi, who played Runyu, a gentleman, gentle and refined.

Then there's Chen Yuqi, who plays Liu Ying.

Then there were several supporting actors.

at last-

"Let's welcome Chen Mo, who plays the male lead Xu Feng!"

The actress who plays the female lead Jinmi is Li Yitong!

The applause suddenly became enthusiastic.

Chen Mo and Li Yitong walked onto the stage together.

The two stood side by side in the center of the stage.

The flashes of light were continuous, one after another, like lightning that never goes out.

The host smiled and waited for the applause to subside before asking, "Mr. Chen Mo, is this your first time working with Director Zhu? What attracted you to take on the role in 'Ashes of Love'?"

Chen Mo took the microphone and thought for a moment: "First of all, it's the script. After reading the script, I felt that the character of Xu Feng was very layered, from the proud god of fire to the affectionate phoenix, and then to the struggle and pain in the later stages. This transformation process is very attractive to me."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Secondly, there's Director Zhu. I've seen Director Zhu's films, and I admire his guidance of the actors and his attention to detail."

It's an honor to work with a director like him.

Zhu Ruibin smiled and nodded from below the stage.

The host continued, "And what about Yitong? What was your reason for accepting Jinmi's role?"

Li Yitong took the microphone and thought for a moment: "The character Jinmi is innocent and naive in the early stages, and doesn't understand anything. Later, she experiences many things and becomes mature, broken, and desperate."

This kind of contrast is a huge challenge for an actor.

She paused, then added, "Moreover, I'm really looking forward to collaborating with Professor Chen Mo."

Good-natured cheers rose from the audience.

The host's eyes lit up, and seizing on this point, she followed up with, "Oh? Why is Yitong looking forward to collaborating with Teacher Chen Mo?"

Li Yitong glanced at Chen Mo, then smiled and said, "Because we worked together in 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes,' he played Yang Kang and I played Huang Rong, but we didn't have any romantic scenes together. This time we're playing lovers, and I'm really looking forward to it."

The host laughed and said, "Now that you've gone from being 'uncle and sister-in-law' to being a couple, will it feel any different?"

Li Yitong blushed slightly, but still said frankly, "It feels... quite strange. This time, Xu Feng and Jin Mi are in love from beginning to end, and there are still many things they need to work on together."

The host nodded, then turned to Chen Mo: "Mr. Chen Mo, what about you? How was it working with Yi Tong again?"

Chen Mo thought for a moment, then said seriously, "It feels very reassuring."

"Reassuring?"

"Yes. Because I knew she was a good actress, and I knew she could handle my performance."

When filming scenes with an opponent, you don't need to worry about them messing up; you can just focus on your own performance.

He looked at Li Yitong, "This feeling is precious."

Li Yitong blushed slightly upon hearing his words.

But she did not avoid his gaze.

She just looked at him, a smile on her lips.

A commotion erupted from the audience.

The host quickly regained control: "Alright, alright, now it's time for questions from the media reporters."

A reporter raised their hand: "Mr. Chen Mo, although you and Yi Tong didn't have any romantic scenes in 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes,' will you have an advantage in terms of chemistry playing a couple this time?"

Chen Mo thought for a moment, then replied, "There's definitely some understanding between us. After all, we've worked together once, so we know each other's habits and pace."

He paused, "But the relationship between Xu Feng and Jin Mi is completely different from that of Yang Kang and Huang Rong. So we still need to work things out again and rebuild our understanding."

The reporter then asked Li Yitong, "Yitong, what do you think? What's the difference between playing a couple with Chen Mo and playing a regular couple?"

Li Yitong thought for a moment, then said seriously, "The biggest difference is—the eyes."

"Eyes?"

"Yes. When acting in ordinary scenes with someone, your gaze towards them is peaceful and cooperative."

But when you're playing lovers, there needs to be something in your eyes when you look at each other.

I like him, I depend on him, I can't bear to part with him, and I can't do anything about it.

She glanced at Chen Mo. "That kind of look can't be acted out. You have to really have feelings for that person to have that kind of look."

Zhu Ruibin, sitting in the audience, couldn't stop smiling when he heard this.

Liu Ning whispered to him from the side, "We've really struck gold."

At this moment, another reporter raised his hand: "Mr. Chen Mo, you just said that your eyes should have something in them. When you look at Yi Tong, do you have that kind of look?"

Chen Mo was stunned for a moment.

Then he laughed.

He did not answer the question.

He simply turned his head and glanced at Li Yitong.

How to describe that glance?

It's very natural, very everyday, like saying, "Look, they're asking this kind of question again."

Like people who have been together for a long time, they don't need to say anything; they can know what the other is thinking with just a glance.

The way Chen Mo looked at Li Yitong, the unspoken understanding, the naturalness, the way it was something that could be felt without acting.

The fans nearby started making a fuss again.

Immediately afterward, a female reporter stood up and asked, "Mr. Chen Mo, you've already starred in two hit dramas this year, and now you've taken on 'Ashes of Love.' Are you feeling any pressure regarding future viewership ratings?"

"There is definitely pressure. But pressure can also be a driving force. Every role is a new challenge, and I will do my best to play Xu Feng well."

Another reporter stood up and asked, "Professor Chen Mo, has there been any change in your collaboration with Professor Li Yitong this time?"

Chen Mo glanced at Li Yitong: "Changes? Probably mainly in the relationships between the characters."

Li Yitong added from the side: "Yes, the characters this time require more interaction, so we will rehearse in advance to get a feel for the roles."

The reporter pressed further, "So, what do you two think is the nature of Xu Feng and Jin Mi's relationship? Could you share a little bit with us?"

Chen Mo thought about it carefully, choosing his words carefully, before answering the question: "The relationship between Xu Feng and Jin Mi is consistent throughout, sweet from beginning to end, and then heartbreaking from beginning to end."

He paused for a moment, then added, "This kind of emotion might require us to deliver a more nuanced performance."

Li Yitong nodded: "That's right. Moreover, Jinmi didn't understand love in the early stages, and Xu Feng was the one who gradually taught her how to love."

This process of going from ignorance to deep love, and from deep love to despair, can be very challenging.

The reporters took notes quickly.

Another reporter stood up: "Mr. Chen Mo, what's your relationship with Ms. Li Yitong like in private? Will it affect filming?"

A commotion arose from the audience.

Chen Mo smiled and said, "We actually have a pretty good relationship in private; we're good friends."

But when we were filming, we were Xu Feng and Jin Mi, not Chen Mo and Li Yitong.

Li Yitong nodded in agreement: "Yes. We keep our professional and private lives very separate."

The reporter wanted to ask another question, but the host interrupted in time: "Okay, due to time constraints, one last question."

A female reporter stood up: "I would like to ask, Mr. Chen Mo and Ms. Li Yitong, what do you think is the biggest point of fit between each other and the role?"

""

Chen Mo answered first, looking at Li Yitong: "The biggest point of convergence between Yitong and Jinmi is their stubbornness within their innocence."

Jinmi may seem silly, but she is actually very stubborn at heart.

Yitong is the same; she looks gentle, but she's actually very opinionated.

Li Yitong paused for a moment, then smiled. Her smile was gentle and sweet. She took the microphone and looked at Chen Mo: "I think the biggest point of compatibility between Teacher Chen Mo and Xu Feng is that gentleness within pride."

Xu Feng may appear aloof and superior, but he is actually very soft-hearted.

Teacher Chen Mo is the same; he looks very capable, but actually—”

She thought for a moment, "Actually, Teacher Chen Mo is very kind to the people around him."

A chorus of "Wow!" erupted from the audience, and some reporters whispered among themselves, "That answer was so sweet!"

"There's definitely something going on between them."

"The chemistry between them is almost overflowing."

After the opening ceremony, the usual incense offering and blessing ceremony took place.

Zhu Ruibin, along with all the main actors, stood in front of the incense table, each holding three sticks of incense.

May the filming go smoothly and may the crew be safe.

After offering incense, Zhu Ruibin smiled and said to everyone, "Alright, good luck on the first day of work! Take a good rest this afternoon, and we'll officially start filming tomorrow!"

The crowd dispersed.

Chen Mo and Li Yitong walked out of the photography studio side by side.

Outside, the fans hadn't left yet, and when they saw the two of them come out, there was another burst of screams.

Chen Mo walked over, collected a few more letters, and then signed his name.

Li Yitong stayed by his side, continuing to collect his mail and saying "thank you" to every fan.

The sunlight fell on her, casting a soft glow on her face.

Chen Mo looked at her.

Looking at her profile as she looked down to receive the letter, at her earnest expression of gratitude, at a strand of her hair that was blown by the wind.

He suddenly realized that she was really beautiful.

It's not the kind of stunningly beautiful.

It's the kind of good-looking that grows on you.

And the more you look at it, the more beautiful it becomes.

Li Yitong noticed his gaze and looked up: "What's wrong?"

Chen Mo smiled and said, "It's nothing."

He paused for a moment, then said, "I just think you're quite virtuous."

Li Yitong paused for a moment, then her face flushed slightly. She lowered her head and continued reading the letter, muttering softly, "Stop being so cheeky."

But the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up in a smile.

In the afternoon, Chen Mo returned to the hotel.

I had just lain down when my phone rang.

It was a message from Li Xiaoyu: "Teacher Chen Mo, the photos from today's opening ceremony are out. There are a few pictures of you standing together with Teacher Li Yitong, they're really touching. Liu Chang said we can post them on Weibo, is that okay?"

Chen Mo clicked on the photo.

The first picture shows him and Li Yitong standing on the stage, side by side, both smiling happily.

The second photo is of him turning his head to look at Li Yitong, captured by a reporter's camera.

The third picture shows the two of them receiving a letter together. Li Yitong is looking down attentively as she receives the letter, while he stands beside her, looking at her profile.

He stared at it for a long time, then couldn't help but laugh and typed back, "Send it."