Huayu: The young actress is heavily dependent on me

Chen Li snapped out of her thoughts, picked up her phone, and opened Weibo.

In February 2014, smartphone screens weren't that big, and the Weibo client interface wasn't nearly as fancy as it would become later.

He clicked on the yellow eye icon and entered the registration page.

Phone number, verification code, set password, enter nickname...

The profile picture he used was a side profile photo taken by the makeup artist on set the day before yesterday.

After filming the scene where he fell into the water that day, he sat on a rock by the river. The sunlight shone from the side, outlining his silhouette with a golden edge.

After the makeup artist posted the photo in the work group, several female staff members chased after her asking for the original image.

Okay, let's go with this one.

He thought for a moment, then solemnly wrote down the introduction:

A student from the Performance Department of Beijing Film Academy, Class of 13, and an actress in "Nirvana in Fire" and "Ban Shu Legend".

However, to be fair, he doesn't have a single follower on Weibo yet; he's a complete newbie and hasn't even applied for the "V" verification next to his profile picture.

After all, applying for personal verification requires having at least 50 followers, at least 20 people you follow, and more than 10 Weibo posts, none of which he meets.

Moreover, actor certification requires submitting an application letter or authorization letter with an official seal, which he hasn't had time to deal with yet.

Whatever, let's finish the task first.

After registering, Chen Li browsed through the recommended following list and immediately spotted Dilraba's Weibo account.

Her profile picture is a selfie of herself wearing sunglasses, showing half her face, and smiling with her eyes crinkling.

My most recent Weibo post was last night, accompanied by a photo of me intently studying a script, with the caption:

"Keep it up! Tomorrow will be another day full of energy!"

The number of likes has already exceeded 12,000.

Chen Li clicked into the comments section, considered it for a moment, and typed a line.

"How was your script reading? Were you scared after falling into the water today? //@Dilraba: Keep it up, keep it up! Tomorrow will be another energetic day!"

send.

Then he turned off his phone, changed his clothes, and went out the door.

......

When Chen Li arrived at the film set, he saw from afar that the assistant director, Lao Zhou, was wandering around in the middle of the set with a walkie-talkie.

Upon seeing Chen Li, Old Zhou's eyes lit up, and he rushed forward to greet her.

"Chen Li! You're just in time! Hurry up and change into your costume; we've added a major scene today!"

"Adding scenes?" Chen Li was taken aback.

"Yes!" Old Zhou's face crinkled into a wide smile.

"The director said that your previous horse riding scenes were very well done, and the character of Kou Feng is becoming more and more vivid as the story is written."

"The screenwriter worked through the night to revise a romantic scene, specifically the one where Princess Anxin confesses her feelings to Kou Feng. The script was just printed out this morning!"

As he spoke, Lao Zhou pulled out a stack of A4 papers, still smelling of ink, from his pocket and stuffed them into Chen Li's hand.

Chen Li took it and flipped through it.

The script was covered with annotations from the director and screenwriter.

The content is not complicated.

After spending this time together, Princess Anxin finally mustered the courage to confess her feelings to Kou Feng.

Kou Feng, due to his lowly status and uncertain future, struggled internally and hesitated to respond.

"The director said that this scene was meant to capture that feeling of wanting to love but holding back, of wanting to love but not daring to."

Old Zhou patted Chen Li on the shoulder and lowered his voice.

"Xiao Chen, you'd better make the most of this. The director rarely gives supporting actors this much screen time; this is the first time."

Chen Li nodded, her gaze passing over Lao Zhou and landing on the door of the dressing room not far away.

Dilraba was standing there, already dressed in her costume.

She wore a light blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with a pale yellow silk sash tied around her waist, and her hair was styled in an exquisite bun, adorned with a plain silver hairpin.

Their eyes met across half the film set.

Dilraba's ears turned red at a visible speed, then she quickly looked away, pretending to bend down and adjust her skirt.

Chen Li couldn't help but chuckle, then looked away and walked towards the dressing room.

In fact, it's not uncommon in the film and television industry for production teams to deliberately bring actors together.

When Hollywood was filming "Twilight", the director deliberately created opportunities for Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart to be alone together.

The goal is to create real sparks between them on the big screen.

Later, the two indeed fell in love while filming. The tender gazes they exchanged in the movie were something that couldn't be acted out just by acting skills.

Although domestic film crews won't say it outright, the directors all know what's going on.

Genuine emotions are always more moving than forced acting.

Especially the romantic scenes.

A glance, a micro-expression...

Viewers may not be able to articulate exactly what's good about these details, but they can definitely feel it.

So when director Gordon Chan discovered the subtle, unspoken chemistry between Dilraba and Chen Li, he immediately ordered the screenwriter to revise the script overnight.

This natural chemical reaction shouldn't be wasted.

Half an hour later, Chen Li came out after changing into her costume.

Kou Feng's attire was as sharp as ever.

He wore a black, fitted outfit with a leather belt around his waist, and his long hair was tied up high, revealing his well-defined jawline.

Dilraba also came out of the dressing room.

The two stood side by side, one in black and one in green, one aloof and the other gentle.

The visuals were so stunning that director Gordon Chan clicked his tongue in approval behind the monitor.

"Alright, alright, stop dawdling, let's go through the scene once!" Gordon Chan shouted through a megaphone.

"Attention all departments—"

The clapperboard snapped shut.

"Scene 42, Shot 1 of *Ban Shu Legend*, Action!"

The camera zooms in.

The reeds along the riverbank swayed gently in the morning breeze, and the water in the distance shimmered.

Chen Li led the horse ahead, while Dilraba carefully followed behind, lifting her skirt.

"Kou Feng".

Dilraba's voice was soft, with a slight tremor.

Chen Li stopped walking without turning around.

"When...when are you leaving?"

"First thing tomorrow morning."

"So fast?"

Dilraba bit her lip, her eyes slightly reddening.

She took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind, and quickly walked up to Chen Li, blocking his way.

"I have something to tell you."

Chen Li looked down at her, his gaze as calm as a stagnant pool: "Please speak, Princess."

"Don't call me princess!"

Dilraba's voice suddenly rose half an octave, then fell back down, carrying a hint of grievance.

"You know perfectly well...you know perfectly well that I don't like hearing you call me that."

Chen Li was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly: "Miss An."

Dilraba's lips twitched, as if she wanted to say something, but she couldn't utter a single word.

Behind the monitor, Gordon Chan held his breath.

This detail wasn't in the script; Dilraba added it herself.

"I..." Dilraba's voice was broken and intermittent.

"I know you're leaving, I know you have important things to do, I know I shouldn't stop you..."

She looked up, her eyes brimming with tears, but stubbornly refused to let them fall.

"But I'm scared."

"I'm afraid that if you leave, I'll never see you again..."

Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost a whisper.

I'm afraid you'll forget me.

Chen Li's Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

Gordon Chan clenched his fist behind the monitor.

This reaction is so real.

It wasn't an exaggerated display of emotion, nor a deliberate, affectionate gaze; it was simply a subtle, almost imperceptible movement of the Adam's apple.

But this small gesture conveyed the turmoil in the heart of a man who was not good with words.

"Miss An," Chen Li's voice was a little hoarse, "I, Kou... am but a mere warrior, unworthy of your kindness."

"Who said that!"

Dilraba panicked and grabbed Chen Li's sleeve.

"You are highly skilled in martial arts, you are loyal and righteous, and you... you can even play the zither. What makes you unworthy of me?"

"In my eyes, you are a hundred times, a thousand times better than those princes and nobles!"

As she spoke, tears finally streamed down her face.

"I don't want any wealth or status, and I don't care what your identity is... I just want..."

She looked up at Chen Li, her eyes blurry with tears, her lips trembling slightly.

"I just want to be with you."

The film set was so quiet that only the rustling of the wind through the reeds could be heard.

Everyone held their breath.

Chen Li lowered his head and looked at the girl in front of him who was crying her eyes out.

Sunlight streamed in from the side, falling on her face, and her teardrops reflected the shimmering light.

At that moment, he suddenly couldn't tell whether it was Princess Anxin or Dilraba.

"Card--"

Gordon Chan stood up from behind the monitor and clapped his hands vigorously.

Immediately afterwards, thunderous applause erupted throughout the set.

Old Zhou clapped his hands until they were red, and the lighting technician whistled.

Several female staff members had tears in their eyes, wiping away their tears while clapping enthusiastically.

"Great! That's wonderful!"

Chen Jiashang strode over, his face showing a rare look of excitement.

"Let's get this one right in one take!"

"Xiao Chen, Dilraba, you two are amazing! Especially the detail of Dilraba grabbing her sleeve, and Chen Li, your subtle expression of your Adam's apple bobbing—it was incredible!"

"These kinds of details are more effective than any lines of dialogue!"