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

Back at the hotel that evening, Chen Shouyi took a shower, changed into clean clothes, and sat cross-legged in the bathroom. He opened the book "An Actor Prepares" that Chen Yao had given him and began to read it page by page.

The spiritual energy in my dantian has become accustomed to this daily rhythm; whenever I meditate, the energy within my body will automatically begin to circulate.

But soon, Chen Shouyi put down his book and heard footsteps. They were very light, but they were definitely coming in his direction.

Then, there was a knock on the door.

He walked over and opened the door. Chen Yao was standing in the doorway, holding a box of washed blueberries.

"I just bought these on the spur of the moment, here, have a taste." She shoved the blueberries into his hand.

Chen Shouyi looked down at the box of blueberries, then at her, and stepped aside to move out of the doorway.

Chen Yao walked in and sat down naturally, glancing at the open book "An Actor Prepares," then picked it up and flipped through it.

Chen Shouyi also sat down, opened the plastic box, picked up a blueberry and put it in his mouth.

"You've been going back and forth between two points every day these past few days," Chen Yao said, closing her book and tilting her head to look at him.

"Film set, hotel, film set, hotel. You stay in the room reading at night, and you won't come out for a stroll unless I call you."

"Isn't the pressure from the director enough?" Chen Shouyi chuckled.

"No way, he wants every scene to be done in one take so you can finish filming as soon as possible."

Chen Yao laughed after she finished speaking, but quickly suppressed the smile, as her words had touched on a topic she didn't really want to discuss.

Both Chen Shouyi and Zhuo Yun knew that Chen would leave after filming Zhuo Yun's scenes, but they had never said it to each other in person.

Chen Yao looked down at his fingers, and after a moment spoke:

"Do you have any other films or TV shows to shoot?"

"I told you before."

"The second male lead in 'Love O2O'?" Chen Yao immediately replied.

"Yeah, that's right." Chen Shouyi picked up another blueberry and put it in his mouth. "Filming starts in June, so I'll go back for a few days and then have to join the crew."

Chen Yao remained silent for a moment, then took a deep breath, and when she looked up again, her expression had returned to normal.

"Then you should hurry up and read it during this time," she pointed to the book in his hand, "It would be best if you could finish it before joining the crew."

"Okay," Chen Shouyi replied. "I'll finish reading it in three days."

"boast."

"I read books very quickly by nature."

Chen Yao gently kicked him and laughed. She knew he did read quickly; it seemed like he could do everything faster than others.

"I'm going back now. You can take your time looking at them. Remember to eat the blueberries tonight, they won't be fresh tomorrow."

"Okay." Chen Shouyi stood up and saw her to the door, watching her leave.

After stepping into May, the temperature in Hengdian suddenly soared.

Chen Shouyi's filming progress has become a regular topic of conversation on set these days.

Xu Huikang would tell everyone he met, "Our Taoist priest is exceptionally gifted," his tone a mix of amazement and pride, and an urge to introduce Chen Shouyi to all the directors he knew.

Gao Linbao had only filmed a few long shots of Chen Shouyi before and thought he was just an average newcomer. Then one day, he happened to come to the set and saw a medium shot of him. After that, he started saying everywhere that this person was not like a newcomer at all.

As May drew to a close, Chen Shouyi's final scene was fast approaching.

The scene was scheduled for the afternoon, and the studio had been busy since morning. The lighting crew set up a ring of softboxes in front of the green screen, adjusting the lighting in the entire shooting area to the moonlight described in the script.

At 3 p.m., all departments were in place.

The last scene of Zhuo Yun in "Legend of Nine Tails Fox" is also the end of the emotional storyline between Zhuo Yun and Hua Yue.

The atmosphere on set was much quieter than usual, and the crew moved props more gently, as everyone knew the importance of this scene.

When Chen Shouyi entered, Chen Yao was already standing under the lights.

Her light blue dress was stained with mottled dirt, her face was pale, and her lips were bloodless.

She closed her eyes while the makeup artist applied a thin layer of loose powder. When she opened her eyes, her gaze passed through the crowd and landed directly on Chen Shouyi. Then she smiled slightly.

Xu Huikang walked up to the two men and said, "There is a key point in the emotional aspect of this scene."

He looked at Chen Yao, "After Hua Yue offered her inner core, she already knew her fate. When you kissed Zhuo Yun, it was probably as a farewell, so don't rush to cry. Let the tears fall after the kiss. Can you do that?"

Chen Yao nodded without saying anything.

Xu Huikang then turned to Chen Shouyi: "Zhuo Yun was ordered to capture the demon from the very beginning, but at this moment he has completely let go of it."

He held Hua Yue in his arms, not wanting her to leave, yet unable to keep her. "You've sheathed your sword for so long; the final strike can't be taken back, understand?"

Chen Shouyi hummed in agreement, and Xu Huikang nodded.

Chen Yao closed her eyes and took a slow, deep breath. When she opened her eyes again, she was completely different.

"All units, prepare—" Xu Huikang's voice came from behind the monitor, "Come on, let's go through the first half first. Teacher Chen, how's your performance?"

Chen Yaochong gave him a thumbs up.

"Power on!"

The clapperboard snapped shut.

Hua Yue's figure swayed precariously in the wind, her pale blue skirt billowing and falling with the night breeze; her cultivation had completely dissipated.

The moment the inner elixir leaves the body, the body feels as light as a leaf that could be blown away by the wind at any moment.

Zhuo Yun reached out and caught her, supporting her shoulder from behind with one arm and holding her cold fingers with the other.

"Why do you have to—" Zhuo Yun's voice was very low.

"I've realized," Huayue leaned against him, raising her hand to touch his face, "that I think I've fallen for you."

She tilted her head back and kissed him.

This kiss was Huayue's final farewell to Zhuoyun.

It is also what Chen Yao wants to say to Chen Shouyi. It is not a line, but all the countless impulses that have been suppressed and resurfaced under Hua Yue's identity and the relationship between the characters.

Everything was contained in this kiss, expressed through the name of Huayue.

Chen Shouyi felt Chen Yao tremble slightly for a moment. He tightened his grip on her shoulders and then closed his eyes.

The staff around were all waiting, waiting for Hua Yue's body to begin turning into specks of light, waiting for her fingers to slide off Zhuo Yun's face, waiting for Chen Yao's lips to leave, waiting for her to curl up into a small white fox.

But none of this happened, since these scenes were created with special effects in post-production.

Xu Huikang stared at the monitor, his brows furrowed slightly.

The lighting technician subconsciously adjusted the light positions, thinking that his lighting was making the image look a bit floaty.

The script supervisor looked down at the clapperboard in his hand, then looked up at the monitor, his mouth slightly open.

The two are not separated yet.

"Card--"

Xu Huikang's voice came from behind the monitor, followed by a brief silence. Chen Shouyi straightened up, but Chen Yao had not yet loosened his collar.

Chen Yao looked up, and at that moment, Chen Shouyi saw that her eyes were still glistening with tears.

There was something indescribable in her eyes when she looked at him: a sense of bewilderment, reluctance, and a touch of inexplicable melancholy.

She whispered something, so softly that the microphone didn't pick it up, and so softly that the people around her didn't have time to react.

"Can I hug you one more time?"