Huayu: Starting with Xiang Yu, the Hegemon of Western Chu

On the night after filming the scene depicting Xiang Liang's death, Chen Mo received a phone call.

It was a call from Chen Daomin.

"Are you free tonight? Let's go out and sit for a bit."

Chen Mo was somewhat surprised.

During the days of filming, he and Chen Daomin met a few times on set, but most of the time they just nodded and greeted each other.

Chen Daomin is not the kind of person who would chat with people on set.

He gets into character as soon as he arrives on set, and leaves as soon as he's done filming, making him extremely efficient.

The idea of ​​someone proactively inviting someone out for a chat is something that almost never happens in the memories of the crew members on set.

"I'm free," Chen Mo said.

"Exit the east gate of the film and television base, turn left, and there's a small teahouse. I've arrived."

Chen Mo changed into casual clothes and walked over.

The teahouse was small, with only three tables. The owner was an old man in his sixties. His tea-making skills were average, but the teahouse was quiet.

Chen Daomin sat by the window, with a pot of Tieguanyin tea and two cups in front of him.

Seeing Chen Mo come in, he raised his chin, gesturing for him to sit down.

"I heard about today's scene." Chen Daomin poured him a cup of tea. "Gao hope deleted his own proposal?"

"Um."

"Was that 'laugh first, then cry' approach your idea?"

"right."

Chen Daomin picked up his teacup, took a sip, and didn't rush to comment.

The way he drinks tea is very similar to the way he acts: slow and unhurried, yet every movement exudes composure.

"Do you know what role I played when I was young?" Chen Daomin suddenly said.

"Which one?"

"Cao Cao".

Chen Mo sat up slightly.

The Cao Cao portrayed by Chen Daomin 28 years ago is widely recognized as one of the most classic portrayals of Cao Cao in film and television history.

To this day, no one has been able to surpass it.

"That role took eight months to film, and I sat in the hotel all night on the day filming wrapped."

Chen Daomin spoke in a very calm tone, as if he were talking about an unimportant old story.

"Because I found myself unable to 'get out.' I lived in Cao Cao's body for eight months. When it was time to move out, I realized that I could no longer distinguish between Cao Cao's thoughts and my own, Chen Daomin's, thoughts."

Chen Mo didn't speak, but his fingers tightened slightly.

Because he understands that feeling.

He's only been filming for less than two weeks, and there are already similar signs.

After returning to his rented room at night, he would sometimes unconsciously think about problems in the way Xiang Yu did.

For example, when he was eating in the cafeteria today, someone accidentally bumped his arm. His first reaction was not "It's okay", but a cold, condescending gaze.

That look lasted less than a second before disappearing, but he was startled.

"Getting too involved in a role is a double-edged sword."

Chen Daomin said, "It can elevate your performance to a level that others can't reach, but it can also devour you. You have to learn one thing."

"What?"

"Shut down".

Chen Mo looked at him.

"Give it your all when filming, and pull the character out of your body the moment the camera stops." Chen Daomin tapped the table lightly with his index finger. "It's not about slowly withdrawing, it's about cutting it off completely. You are Chen Mo, not Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu is the character you're playing, not you as a person. Once this line is blurred, you'll be in great danger."

Chen Mo remained silent for a long time.

Then he nodded.

"I've got it."

Chen Daomin looked into his eyes to make sure he had really listened before picking up his teacup again.

The two drank tea in silence for a while.

The night outside the window was quiet, and the lights of the film and television base shone in the distance, like a miniature city.

The teahouse owner was dozing off behind the counter, completely unaware that the two customers in front of him were one of the country's top actors and the "Front-Facing General" who had recently become a hot topic online.

It's just two ordinary people sitting in a shabby little teahouse, drinking Tieguanyin tea that costs sixty yuan a pot.

If this scene were seen by those marketing accounts, they could probably create another press release titled "Chen Daomin's Late-Night Secret Meeting with Chen Mo Suspected of Discussing a Conspiracy."

But at this moment, there was no conspiracy in this teahouse.

There was only a pure exchange between an older actor and a younger actor about the performance itself.

"Do you know why I asked you to come out today?" Chen Daomin suddenly asked.

"have no idea."

"Because I want to tell you something." Chen Daomin put down his teacup, his tone different from before, with a rare seriousness. "When you were filming the audition scene for the Feast at Hongmen, there was a moment when I got into character."

Chen Mo was stunned for a moment.

"It's not that I'm helping you get into character, it's that you're pulling me into it." Chen Daomin looked at him. "I've been acting for over thirty years, and I can count on one hand the number of people who can make me lose control during a scene. You're the youngest one."

This statement carries immense weight.

Chen Mo was so taken aback that he didn't know how to respond.

He opened his mouth, but said nothing.

Chen Daomin smiled.

"Don't be nervous, I'm not complimenting you."

"And who are you?"

"I'm telling you that you have this talent, but you also have this danger. The more talented an actor is, the more likely they are to be negatively affected by the role. Remember what I'm saying today."

Chen Mo nodded again.

This time, he pressed harder.

Chen Daomin looked at him and smiled again.

Then he said something that Chen Mo had never expected.

"If I were thirty years younger, I would fight you for the role of Xiang Yu."

The teahouse was silent for three seconds.

Looking at the 58-year-old actor in front of him, Chen Mo suddenly felt a lump in his throat.

It wasn't just being moved.

It's something that's hard to describe in words.

It's like someone who has traveled a very, very long way, and on the road meets a senior who has traveled even further than him. The senior looks back at him and says: "You are heading in the right direction."

keep going.

"Thank you, Teacher Chen," Chen Mo said.

Chen Daomin waved his hand.

"Don't thank me. Just take good pictures of your Xiang Yu; that's the best thanks you can give."

After saying that, he stood up, said "I've paid for the tea," and left.

Chen Mo sat alone in the teahouse, staring blankly at the pot of Tieguanyin tea that had gone cold for a while.

Then he took out his phone, opened the notes app, and wrote a line.

"When filming, I was Xiang Yu. The moment the camera stopped, I became Chen Mo again."

After finishing writing, I read it twice and then put my phone away.

I got up, went back to my rented room, took a shower, and went to bed.

He set his alarm for 5 a.m. before going to sleep.

We're filming the Battle of Julu tomorrow.

That was the most glorious battle of Xiang Yu's life.

With a do-or-die spirit, he achieved victory against overwhelming odds and became a legend in a single battle.

He needs to save all his energy for tomorrow.

Before closing his eyes, he remembered Chen Daomin's words.

"If I were thirty years younger, I would fight you for it."

The corners of her mouth curved slightly.

Then I fell asleep.