A top star in the Chinese entertainment industry, but also a Taoist priest.

When they were almost done practicing, Chen Yao brought over a bunch of things, and Chen Shouyi smiled after taking a look at them.

Chen Yao placed a few tangerines, a box of mung bean cakes, and several bottles of energy drinks on the prop box.

She took one out, peeled it, and gave half to Chen Shou, while eating two pieces herself, though a hint of regret lingered on her face.

"The tangerines aren't very tasty anymore; they're out of season."

Chen Shouyi broke off a piece, popped it into his mouth, and chewed it. It was quite juicy and sweet enough; he didn't see anything wrong with it at all.

"It's quite sweet."

Chen Yao couldn't help but laugh when she saw how much he enjoyed his food.

"You've never tasted anything truly delicious."

"When are you going to send me something really delicious?"

Chen Yao tilted his head and thought for a moment: "Next year, I'll send it to you when it's released."

"Okay, I'll wait." Chen Shouyi stuffed the last piece into his mouth, his cheeks puffing out.

Seeing that he was eating happily, Chen Yao took out another one from the bag and placed it next to him. Then, as if she remembered something, she took out a book from her bag and handed it to him.

"Oh, right, this is for you."

"This is what I used at school," Chen Yao explained. "There are some notes in it. Although I haven't fully understood them myself, you can take it back and look through it. It should be helpful for filming."

Chen Shouyi took the book and flipped through it. There were many annotations on the margins of the pages, with small and neat handwriting. Some places were underlined, some were marked with one or two stars, and some paragraphs had a few short notes written next to them.

"This book mainly discusses Stanislavski's acting system," Chen Yao leaned closer and pointed to the open page.

"The core is the method acting approach. Actors need to experience the emotions of the character from the inside out and become the character themselves."

She thought for a moment and added, "The opposite of the experiential movement is the method movement, where actors don't actually have to go back into the emotions."

For example, if you're playing someone who has lost a loved one, the method acting approach requires you to recall your most painful moments.

However, the Method approach can use external techniques such as breathing control and physical movement to evoke emotions, without necessarily reopening old wounds.

After finishing speaking, Chen Yao paused for a moment, then added somewhat embarrassedly:

"I've only been out of school for a short time, so that's all I can say. As for acting, I'm still learning myself."

After she finished speaking, she suddenly realized that she might have been too serious when she was explaining the theory, and her ears started to burn.

Chen Shouyi listened attentively, nodded to show his understanding, then flipped through a couple of pages and casually asked:

"Isn't there a Down syndrome performance rule?"

Chen Yao was taken aback: "What performance rules?"

"Tang's Acting Rule: Don't cede the spotlight to your opponent; you have to fight for the lead!"

Chen Yao's expression changed from confusion to realization, then she poked his shoulder in an annoyed tone:

"You've been watching too much 'iPartment'!"

"Shouzhuo loves to watch," Chen Shouyi explained with a smile, "and I've watched quite a few myself."

A wistful smile unconsciously appeared on his face. Last year, when the show had just finished airing, its popularity was almost phenomenal.

However, the ending, whether in the movie or the TV series, was somewhat controversial, but of course, he didn't care if he didn't want to watch it.

Chen Yao put his hands behind his back and leaned forward slightly:

"We only have a lot of scenes together in the whole show. Are you trying to outshine me someday?"

"Sure," Chen Shouyi replied casually, flipping through his notes.

"So, do you still want to learn or not?" Chen Yao crossed her arms and tried to keep a straight face as she looked at him.

"Of course I want to." Chen Shouyi closed the book, his joking expression disappearing.

"Then study carefully," Chen Yao said irritably. "You'll have an exam after you finish studying."

What will the exam be about?

"You'll find out when the time comes." Chen Yao couldn't hold back her words, and the curve of her lips completely betrayed her.

The two looked at each other, and Chen Shouyi laughed.

Chen Yao looked at him and smiled, and suddenly felt as if she had caught the smile on her face.

She couldn't help but poke the book again: "Honestly, although I'm still learning myself, the things in this book are quite useful to me. At least they can help you avoid some detours."

"Okay," Chen Shouyi placed the book on the table beside him, "I will read it carefully."

Chen Yao nodded and didn't say anything more.

Time flies the fastest on a film set.

Chen Shouyi's first scene went much more smoothly than expected.

The costume department prepared a costume for him. The person in charge of the costume was a female teacher in her forties surnamed Zhou. She came over carrying a neatly folded Taoist robe, looked Chen Shouyi up and down, and then smiled.

"Master, I know you usually wear purple robes," Teacher Zhou said, unfolding his costume to reveal a gray-blue coarse cloth Taoist robe, thick in material but simple in texture.

"But Zhuo Yun's status in the sect isn't that high, so we can't use purple. Will you make do with this grayish-blue?"

Chen Shouyi waved his hand and took the costume directly, putting it on.

He didn't care what color his Taoist robe was; he could wear purple, and naturally, he could wear gray-blue as well. Zhuo Yun was just an ordinary disciple, and dressing too nicely would only make him seem out of place.

When he came out in his costume, the stage manager, Lao Zhou, whistled: "Wow! Daoist Master, you look completely different in these clothes!"

It was definitely different. Chen Shouyi glanced at the playback screen next to the monitor; the image of himself on the screen was completely different from his usual self.

The coarse gray-blue robe made him appear heavier, his shoulders and back straight, his handsome features still present, but he had lost his usual aloofness and gained a restrained sharpness.

"This is what it looks like right after coming down the mountain," Xu Huikang nodded in satisfaction from behind the monitor. "The Taoist priest has made good preparations."

Lin Yufen, who came to check on the situation, also nodded, which was unusual for her.

The moment the lights came on in the studio, Chen Shouyi felt an aura completely different from that of a ritual.

Performing rituals emphasizes a solemn communication with heaven and earth, while filming is an artificial replication of life.

Monitors, light stands, microphone poles, reflectors—these cold pieces of equipment constitute a complete set of precisely operating instruments, and he is standing right in the center of it.

"All departments, prepare—" Xu Huikang's voice rang out, "Scene 17, Take 1, Act 1 of 'Axiu,' begin!"

The first scene is when Zhuo Yun has just entered the town and, while following the scent of a fox demon, accidentally wanders into a forest.

Chen Shouyi didn't intend to make a splash; he just wanted to perform normally. However, the effect of his normal performance clearly exceeded the production team's expectations.

On the monitor, Zhuo Yun stepped out from the edge of the viewfinder, his steps small but his rhythm extremely steady, with each step spaced almost exactly the same.

His gaze swept from the trees in front of him to the fallen leaves at his feet, looking with extreme care. He didn't seem like a Taoist priest searching for demons; he looked more like an experienced old scout.

"The Taoist priest's timing in turning his head was impeccable," Xu Huikang whispered to the photographer next to him. "He turned just before the camera's focus fell on that tree."

The photographer didn't respond, but simply readjusted the focus to ensure he could keep up with Chen Shouyi's next movements.

The shot was not complicated. Zhuo Yun walked out from the depths of the forest, parted the branches, and stopped in front of a huge tree hole.

He needed to kneel down and close his eyes to sense the demonic energy.

Without saying a word, Chen Shouyi knelt on one knee and pressed his right hand into the soil.

His breathing was slow and rhythmic, his shoulders and back rising and falling slightly with each breath, his entire body completely still. This stillness lasted for about eight seconds, and everyone watching the monitor held their breath.

"Cut!" Xu Huikang jumped up, somewhat surprised. "That take was perfect! Daoist Master, who taught you that rhythm?"

"It's all thanks to Teacher Chen." Chen Shouyi stood up, patted the dirt off his knees, and glanced at Chen Yao with a smile.

Chen Yao was standing next to the monitor, engrossed in watching it.

Upon hearing Chen Shouyi's words, she was taken aback for a moment before meeting his gaze.

"When did I ever teach you this?"

"You said yesterday that we should hold back," Chen Shouyi raised his voice slightly. "Was I holding back well?"

Chen Yao opened her mouth, wanting to say, "You call this being restrained?", but swallowed the words back.