How did I become famous?

Filming has finally begun.

Having reached a consensus on the general direction of the film, Liu Mang and others' filming progress was not fast, but it was definitely not slow either.

However, when the film was about to show Chen Qing and Kira meeting at that video store, the movie stalled again.

"Card!"

With a furious shout, Liu Mang stormed up to Chen Yongren: "What kind of acting is this? Are you a policeman from a model opera? Who are you trying to impress with that righteous look on your face? At this point, you're supposed to vaguely suspect that Kira is the murderer, but you haven't said it outright. You're supposed to act like, 'I know you're the murderer, I know you know I know, but I'm not going to say it!' But you're so stiff right now! You don't even understand that feeling of silent eye contact, that gradual change in your gaze!"

Chen Yongren was stunned by his rant.

In fact, not only Chen Yongren, but Fang Bie was also stunned by what he said.

It has been almost half a month since filming began.

In the past two weeks, Fang Bie hasn't called "Cut" once, although he's the one who calls "Action".

Fang Bie used to call the "card" at the end of the workday or when it was time to eat, but after a few days Liu Mang took over that right as well.

This made Fang Bie feel like a complete outsider.

For example, was there a problem with Chen Yongren's acting here just now?

Fang Bie thought there was no problem.

But Liu Mang felt there was a problem.

"Am I so unskilled that I can't even see this?"

This is Fang Bie's idea.

He can spot problems with the acting of young heartthrobs and "Best Actresses" in TV dramas and movies at a glance, but he can also spot the good acting of true veteran actors.

Why does it stop here?

It's not actually that exaggerated; it's just that the requirements for movies are much higher than for TV series.

Liu Mang was particularly strict.

Fang Bie's attention was only focused on Chen Yongren's melancholy eyes and stubble, and he didn't pay attention to anything else.

Because he didn't pay much attention.

Or perhaps his focus wasn't here, but rather on his house in Los Angeles.

He just wanted filming to end quickly so the movie could be released soon.

Time does not stand still because Fang Bie is lost in thought; this scene was reshot once again.

Inside the video store, Yoshikage Kira and Yongren Chen sat side by side on two chairs, with a stereo system in front of them.

Yoshikage Kira wore a warm smile, like a record store owner who hadn't seen an old friend in a long time, enthusiastically showing off his collection of equipment.

"This speaker is a standard Hong Kong-made product, costing over ten thousand. With the addition of a local cable costing over a thousand, it's comparable to European products costing over ten thousand. The highs are sweet, the mids are accurate, and the lows are deep; in short, it's crystal clear. The stereo effect is so strong, it's like the music is being sung right in front of you."

He paused, then suddenly turned to look at Chen Yongren's profile and smiled, "Just like that record store back then."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yongren turned to meet his gaze, his eyes stern: "I don't like listening to music; I prefer watching movies. You go back..."

"Card!"

Liu Mang, holding a megaphone, shouted, then his face darkened: "How many times have I told you! You can't act like this! You can't act like this! And you still act like this!"

Chen Yongren's lips moved slightly, and he explained in a low voice, "But... we always look at suspects like this in the station. After all, the script says I should already know he's the criminal at this point, and I'm playing a police officer..."

"Movies and reality are completely different!" Liu Mang glared angrily and couldn't help but swear.

Then he put down the loudspeaker, said "Take a ten-minute break" and went to find Fang Bie who was sitting behind the monitor.

"Old Fang, I have something I want to tell you."

Fang didn't look up. He first told the others to go and rest, then handed him a cigarette, lit it for him, and asked with a smile, "Calm down first. What's wrong?"

Liu Mang took a deep drag on his cigarette and sighed, "Sigh... Lao Fang, isn't it a bit too frivolous of you to cast someone who has never made a film as the lead? For the sake of the film, I suggest you change the actor."

Seeing that Fang Bie remained silent, he continued, "If you really want him to join our production team, you might as well let him play a minor role first to get used to what it's like to be an actor."

Fang shook his head and said slowly, "No, Chen Qing must be played by him."

It wouldn't be in line with his mindset if he didn't play the role of Chen Yongren.

After all, the classic scenes and lines of "Infernal Affairs" feel incomplete without Chen Yongren.

Liu Mang earnestly advised him, "Old Fang, I know you sympathize with his situation. But our film has poured all the money earned from 'Captain China' into it; it's all or nothing. I didn't advise you against it when Miss Su invested the budget, but this time you absolutely have to listen to me. Seriously, for the sake of your film, this lead actor has to be replaced!"

Fang Bie shook his head: "No one is more suitable than him."

"Can--!"

"No buts," Fang interrupted him. "What if I said he could act well?"

"But we can't all just keep doing retakes to help him find his rhythm, can we?" Liu Mang said irritably. "Maybe he'll become a good actor in the future, but if he can act well in this movie, I'll fucking kiss Wu Kai!"

Fang was shocked: "So you two are the real love?"

"Nonsense!" Liu Mang said irritably, "I mean what you're saying is simply impossible!"

Will he kiss Wu Kai?

How is that possible!

The two had just had a fight when they last met.

Although that was the reason why Liu Mang went to Wu Kai's place every day to show off after the box office of "Captain China" took off.

"If you're going to talk about this, I'm not sleepy anymore." Fang Bie rubbed his eyes, threw his military coat on the chair, and then stood up. "Remember what you said, if he can act well, you have to go and kiss Wu Kai."

"If he can act well within five takes."

"OK! It's decided then!" Fang Bie smiled slightly and walked into the arena. "I'll go and give him some pointers."

On the other side, Chen Yongren was also smoking, his eyes even more melancholy, his stubble even more unruly.

Even when Liu Jianming and Kira Yoshikage were there to comfort him, it was no use.

Fang, who had walked over, chuckled: "What's wrong, Officer Chen? Lost your confidence?"

Chen Yongren said with a wry smile, "Director Fang, I think... maybe you should replace me."

He had indeed lost some confidence, and he felt quite guilty.

The whole production crew was waiting for him, and the more anxious he got, the worse he performed, and the worse he performed, the more anxious he got—it was a vicious cycle.

He even considered going back to the bureau to ask the leaders if they would still take him in.

Fang Bie sat down next to him and patted him on the shoulder: "You are the lead actor personally selected by me, Fang Bie. If I say you're fine, then you're fine."

It would be strange if there were any problems with Chen Yongren playing a "modified Chen Yongren"!

"But......"

"No buts, let me tell you where the problem lies."

Fang Bie lit a cigarette for himself: "First, where do you think your problem lies?"

He didn't know what the problem was either; he just couldn't figure it out.

Chen Yongren thought for a moment and replied, "Perhaps it's... natural? My acting wasn't natural enough."

"Yes, that's it." Fang Bie nodded.

He knows nothing!

He was just going along with what Fang said.

"Actually, your mindset is wrong. You think you have to portray the feeling of a policeman, but the identity of a policeman is not important." Fang Bie kept talking nonsense. "What's important is the character of Chen Qing himself."

Chen Yongren muttered to himself, "Chen Qing himself..."

He looked up: "But Director Fang, I wrote a character biography of over 30,000 words, and I thought I had almost completely grasped the role. So where exactly is the problem?"

"The problem lies in your own mindset." Fang Bie said, a cigarette dangling from his lips, a confident expression on his face. "The more you try to act like a policeman, the more contrived it seems. At this point, I suggest you try the substitution method."

"The substitution method?" Chen Yongren asked with a puzzled look.

"Yeah, it's the substitution method." Fang Bie continued his nonsense, "Think about how you felt when you were frustrated and unsuccessful, and then you finally decided to quit your job to act. And how you felt when I agreed to let you be the lead in my movie, you understand?"

Although Fang Bie himself didn't understand, at least this made him seem less superfluous on set.

He also really wanted to see Liu Mang forcibly kiss Wu Kai...

That would be really interesting.

Chen Yongren closed his eyes and thought for a moment, then opened them with a firm look in his eyes: "Director Fang, I understand, thank you."

Fang nodded with relief: "It's good that you understand."

What exactly did he understand?

"Director Fang, I'm off then."

"Okay, go ahead."

The break time was over, and filming resumed.