Jiang Wen, staring at Xu Qiao for quite a while, sighed in relief as the earlier restlessness from the challenging shoot dissipated.
The production of “Chatting About” faced financial constraints, particularly in the art and costume department. Apart from the leads’ outfits, others unavoidably appeared cheap.
Xu Qiao’s attire, assembled from a few thin fabrics, was no exception.
Yet, on him, it managed to exude an elegant and vibrant effect.
Zhang Yinghui, full of envy, nudged Si Cheng’s shoulder, teasing in a hushed tone, “If I were Chunyu Yuan, I’d definitely abandon Guan Nianyan to rest and fly together with Jin’er.” Guan Nianyan was the character played by her in “Chatting About.”
Si Cheng, coming back to his senses, couldn’t comprehend Zhang Yinghui’s words. He rubbed the script’s footer with his fingers and mumbled, “Jin’er is not a girl…”
Zhang Yinghui laughed subtly. “You just don’t get it.”
Si Cheng, confused, was about to ask Zhang Yinghui what she meant, but seeing Xu Qiao coming towards them, he quickly closed his mouth.
Xu Qiao nodded at the two, with inquiring eyes turning to Jiang Wen.
The dissatisfaction on Jiang Wen’s typically stern face was now replaced with deep smile lines, portraying a newfound satisfaction. “The styling looks good. Go take the official photos.”
But with Xu Qiao’s lackluster photogenic skills, Li Feifei couldn’t help but worry.
Earlier, when Xu Qiao was shooting promotional photos, he appeared stiff the moment he stood in front of the camera. Despite the photographer’s attempts to guide him and encourage relaxation, the outcomes were predictably subpar.
However, this time, it went surprisingly smoothly.
Inside the studio, Xu Qiao effortlessly stretched and posed under the lens. The photographer, with an exaggerated tone, directed him to achieve the desired movements and expressions. Excitement sprayed out when Xu Qiao perfectly presented them.
With the red attire fluttering, every expression – a frown or a smile, a lowered gaze or a lifted eye – exuded an irresistible charm.
Compared to before, the Xu Qiao under the lens now possessed a captivating charm as if undergoing a transformation.
“Darling, you’ve got a camera face! Your on-camera performance is outstanding!” After completing the shoot, the photographer winked at Xu Qiao, connected the camera to the computer screen, and showed him and Li Feifei the just-captured results.
The unedited raw images appeared before them. Li Feifei, upon seeing them, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Even in simple shots with a plain background and flat lighting, he managed to look so attractive. As expected of his big brother.
In the evening, Xu Qiao’s first scene was finally filmed.
This scene involved Jin’er stealing information from the leads, only to be discovered, leading to a chase.
Precision was essential for the action scenes. It required not only a skilled martial arts director but also actors who had undergone specialized combat training for varying durations, ranging from two weeks to three months.
Si Cheng and Zhang Yinghui, being the main characters, had a fair share of action scenes. They had learned from the martial arts director for a while.
When it was Xu Qiao’s turn, as Jin’er had few fight scenes throughout the film and he lacked acting experience, Jiang Wen had very modest expectations for him.
Just a few poses, a couple of sword twists, a slow-motion shot with a wire stunt – occasionally adding some close-ups would be enough, that was how Jiang Wen had planned it in his mind.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
With the dwindling number of exceptional martial artists and the younger generation’s fear of hardship, many action scenes for young actors were shot in a similar manner.
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The movements flowed seamlessly, pleasing to the eye.
Hearing Jiang Wen calling him, Xu Qiao turned to look, a strand of hair sweeping across his cheek as he executed the move, creating a graceful curve. “Hmm? Director, what were you saying just now?”
Jiang Wen’s gaze unintentionally fell on Xu Qiao’s hand holding the sword. “Nothing.”
Clearing his throat, Jiang Wen picked up the megaphone and shouted, “Alright, the lighting and props are all set. On set, everyone quiet. Let’s do a rehearsal first, go through it once, and when it’s close enough, we’ll shoot for real!”
After the three actors confirmed their positions, Jiang Wen briefed them on the upcoming shoot and made sure everything was in order before officially starting the filming.
With the stylist’s assistance, Xu Qiao covered the lower half of his face with a black cloth, leaving only his eyes visible.
Walking into the set, he raised a finger to signal his readiness.
“Scene 18, three shots in one take. A—ction!” As the script supervisor’s voice echoed, the characters in the set came to life.
In the frame, Xu Qiao, clad in black, leapt into the room from the window under the cover of night. The moonlight cast a hazy glow, outlining his slender figure.
Jiang Wen stared at the monitor, habitually tapping his fingers on his thigh, displaying a satisfied expression.
Xu Qiao was wrapped tightly from head to toe, concealing his features, yet he could captivate onlookers when on camera.
This innate charm and charisma weren’t possessed by everyone. The external label of him being just a “vase” seemed unfairly biased.
Watching his flawless and decisive movements, acting felt… comfortable.
Yes, comfortable. Jiang Wen found an appropriate adjective and continued to focus intently on the monitor.
Soon, Chunyu Yuan and Guan Nianyan discovered the mysterious figure, and a skirmish ensued. The clash of long swords produced a crisp and resonant sword song.
Xu Qiao’s swordplay was incredibly agile, the swaying of his robes creating a rustling sound, exuding an impressive aura.
In a close-up shot, his eyes emitted a piercing cold light.
Jiang Wen’s tapping fingers abruptly halted, leaning in as he stared intently at Xu Qiao’s movements through the lens.
Wide-eyed, the martial arts director beside him found it hard to believe the unfolding scene before him.
Others might not discern the intricacies, but having grown up in a martial arts studio, he could tell that Xu Qiao’s moves were not merely a showy display. There was a palpable, deadly intimidation in each strike.
In contrast, Si Cheng and Zhang Yinghui’s actions seemed limp and cumbersome, making it unbelievable for Jiang Wen that Xu Qiao hadn’t undergone training.
Fortunately, Xu Qiao adhered to the script’s requirements, portraying a stumbling appearance against the two assailants.
Si Cheng and Zhang Yinghui pressed on, each move calculated. After a series of clashes, Zhang Yinghui swung her sword.
Xu Qiao showcased exceptional flexibility, arching backward to evade the strike. From an incredible angle, he countered and forced her to retreat with an upward swing.
“Excellent!” Jiang Wen inwardly cheered, nodding approvingly.
This was a panoramic shot.
On the rooftop, the figure in black displayed unparalleled flexibility. Arching gracefully backward under the moonlight, their silhouette resembled a mermaid emerging from the water, singing with a gracefully extended neck.
The androgynous, slender figure held a long sword reflecting a cold light, with soft hair ties swaying in the wind…. This scene gave a surreal feeling reminiscent of a CGI blockbuster.
Taken individually, it was a poster that seemed to have occurred by chance.
It was so beautiful that Jiang Wen’s heart brimmed with surprise, making a firm decision to include this scene in the promotional trailer.
Following this, Si Cheng caught the retreating Zhang Yinghui, and Xu Qiao took the opportunity to turn and slip through the window of the Drunken Joy Pavilion.
A flutter of light curtains, and the silhouette vanished.
“Cut!” Jiang Wen took off his headphones, checked the playback, and said, “This part is good. Si Cheng and Yinghui, add a close-up shot for your fight scene.”
Everyone understood what Jiang Wen meant.
It meant that Xu Qiao’s part was flawless, while Si Cheng and Zhang Yinghui’s fight scene lacked something, needing close-ups and slow-motion shots to compensate.
Initially, they thought Xu Qiao might falter in his first scene, but unexpectedly, he passed with flying colors. Instead, Si Cheng and Zhang Yinghui, the well-coordinated leads, needed additional shots.
People couldn’t help but feel a bit surprised.
Si Cheng took a breath, looked at Xu Qiao, who had removed his face mask, with a calm expression, and sincerely said, “Brother Xu Qiao, you’re amazing!”
Xu Qiao gave him a playful wink. Tonight marked their first collaboration, and Si Cheng’s performance had pleasantly surprised him.
Si Cheng seemed young, with lightly honey-colored round eyes that looked moist. The corners of his eyes drooped slightly, giving him a seemingly gentle appearance.
But in the recent fight scene, he displayed a fierce and gallant demeanor, truly evoking the aura of a young hero.
After Si Cheng and Zhang Yinghui completed their shots, it was time for tonight’s highlight – Jin’er’s first appearance. In the book, the author used a lot of vivid descriptions for Jin’er’s entrance:
【The grand hall, once filled with drunken revelry, was now chaotic and in disarray.
Amidst the flashing blades and shadows, guests and courtesans ran in panic, knocking down a youth in red.
Amidst the fleeing courtesans adorned in jewels and silks, the youth, with a single red ribbon tying his hair, was loosely wrapped in a light, flowing red robe.
Chunyu Yuan saw the youth slowly lift his head, revealing lips resembling peach blossoms curving into a smile.
In that instant, the surrounding chaos seemed to retreat all at once.】
Jiang Wen continuously checked the lighting and set design, repeatedly going over the script with Xu Qiao, then finally exclaimed loudly to those around:
“Even if we only film this scene tonight, skip the others if needed. It must leave everyone in awe, got it?”
As the most detestable villain in the book, the more splendid the entrance, the more impactful the subsequent contrast.
When everything was set, Xu Qiao stepped into the set.
The dim light cast a faint glow, and layers of draped gauzy curtains fluttered in the breeze of a fan, revealing only a vague silhouette of Xu Qiao within.
Later on, Jiang Wen exclusively used close-up shots.
Slender, fair fingers slowly pulled down the hairband, and a cascade of black hair poured down, the strands ambiguously entwining in the air. The black face mask dropped, revealing a delicate chin and two rosy lips distinctly defined in the dark night.
Jiang Wen knew how to create an atmosphere and build suspense. The close-up shots were ample, but he deliberately avoided giving Xu Qiao a full-face shot.
Finally, Xu Qiao removed the black attire, revealing a bare shoulder. However, layers of curtains were blown in front of the lens, obscuring the figure.
As the curtains fell, Xu Qiao had already changed into the red robe.
On the other side, Si Cheng and Zhang Yinghui, accompanied by their subordinates, entered the Drunken Joy Pavilion, surrounding it with weapons, searching for the shadow of the person in black.
Courtesans, women, and patrons screamed in shock, scattering in all directions.
At this moment, Xu Qiao descended the stairs, accidentally knocked down by people running in panic.
In the shot, Xu Qiao sat on the ground, black hair loosely gathered with a red ribbon. His attire seemed poised to slip off his shoulder.
Bowing his head, his features obscured, only glimpses of fair skin peeped through the seams of his hair.
Si Cheng approached, bowing to him and asking, “May I ask, young lady, did you happen to see a person in black entering?”
The hall buzzed with noise, yet Xu Qiao seemed to be encased in a natural barrier, silent and still.
After a moment, he shifted slightly, a faint curve appearing at the corner of his mouth. “Young lady…?”
In Jiang Wen’s monitor, Xu Qiao’s black hair framed red lips that parted gently. His voice, tinged with a hint of intoxication, carried a touch of coquetry.
“In Drunken Joy Pavilion, why bother about a person in black? Instead, why not spend a delightful night with Jin’er…”
The last four words were low, languid, and shrouded in ambiguity.
He slowly raised his head, revealing his face completely under the camera.
Xu Qiao presented an innocent and naive smile. This smile, coupled with his playful words, created a strangely harmonious yet eerie sensation.
From the overhead angle, the alluring face with flowing black hair, vibrant red robe inexplicably stirred the most hidden desires in the depths of the heart.
Si Cheng stood frozen in place, fingers unconsciously twitching. A rush of heat surged uncontrollably to his face, turning him red from his neck to his ears.
“Cut!”
I love a powerful MC who has things going his way, it’s such a joy to read.
Thank you for the chapter!
He is brilliant!
Thank you for the update!
❤🌸🌸
Thanks for the chapter!
He’s beautiful! And extremely charismatic, that’s for sure!
Thank you for translating! 💜
Thank you for the update 😘
Omgomgomgomggggg ahahahah gotta love Xu Qiao. Poor baby Si Cheng is hit XD
Thanks for the chapter~
Thank you for the update ☺️
Thanks for the chapter! I just love good acting scenes!