After resting at home for a week, Song JinXing's vacation officially ended.
After filtering out the resources of Shiyong Investment and a bunch of bad scripts, Rong finally picked out a script with the best quality and production.
"Ancient background, with two female leads setting, and the other actress you are partnering with is Xie Yunwei. Her acting is quite good. Since her popularity is slightly bigger, although it's a two female leads setting, her scenes will be slightly more than yours, but I’ve discussed with the production team that later when promoting, they will promote it as a two female leads direction."
Song JinXing sat on the sofa and read through the script sample sent by the crew. The screenwriter Lin Fuchao had a good reputation in the industry, and the quality of the story was very high, not those brainless illogical crappy scripts.
With Zhong Ruanxing’s current status, she could get such a high quality script without auditioning, and could even partner with second-tier little flower Xie Yunwei to play two female leads, which is considered leveraging the other’s popularity.
There was nothing more to nitpick.
Song JinXing felt it was feasible. He also took photos of the script and sent it to Zhong Ruanxing. After reading it, she was very satisfied too, "The role you're playing happens to be a cold character, which is in your comfort zone and quite suitable." So the contract was signed smoothly.
TV dramas have longer shooting cycles than movies, involving more characters and plots. Before joining the crew, script discussions were held one after another.
The director this time was called He Jing. Compared to Zeng Mingsong, he looked even more stern without a hint of a smile, because he had been frowning for many years, with two deep wrinkles at the corners of his mouth, making him look even more severe.
When Song JinXing went to the scene, he found that there was also an acquaintance in the crew this time.
Yu Liang also got the second male lead role in this TV series called "Floating Sounds", which was a great opportunity for him. When reading the script, Song JinXing noticed that character. In Zhong Ruanxing’s words, it was a character that could attract a lot of fans.
The actors didn't know who else had been cast before the script discussion. Yu Liang arrived first and greeted the other actors in the crew one by one. He had just sat down when he saw Song JinXing walk in.
Joy burst out in his eyes, but he just waved at Song JinXing with restraint and smiled happily.
Almost all the main roles were present, except for Xie Yunwei, who had the biggest popularity and status in the crew. He Jing didn't explain and directly announced the start of the discussion.
Xie Yunwei was absent in the next few discussions.
Yu Liang secretly said to Song JinXing: "I heard she hasn't finished shooting another drama, so she couldn't make it. Not only the discussions, but also unable to join the crew at the beginning. Because she's the female lead specified by the investor, she can't be replaced. So we can only wait."
After the meeting, He Jing stopped Song JinXing. His stern eyes looked him up and down, "Can you dance?"
Song JinXing shook his head.
He Jing asked again, "Have you learned martial arts?"
Song JinXing shook his head again.
He Jing said with a stern face, "You have a lot of fighting scenes. Find a teacher to teach you a bit before joining the crew. I want to see crisp and smooth fighting scenes from you later."
Song JinXing nodded and said ok.
After he left, the executive director walked over and said, "This actor is a good choice this time. His temperament and image match the aloof and cold-blooded female killer Shuoqian Si very well. With a flutter of her eyes, that feeling just comes out."
But He Jing shook his head, "Too pretty."
The executive director was surprised, "Being pretty is not good? I can already imagine her being stunning after makeup. The audience nowadays just likes to watch these big beauties."
He Jing glanced at him, "Then you go resolve it when Xie Yunwei makes a fuss later?"
The executive director faltered and muttered, "Right, after all, they are written as twin sisters born to the same parents in the script. The older sister being so much prettier than the younger sister is hard to convince the public. Tricky."
...
There was still half a month before joining the crew. In addition to memorizing scripts and lines and getting into character during this half month, there was now the added task of practicing fighting scenes.
At dinner with Zhong Ruanxing at Four Seasons Cloud Top that night, Song JinXing relayed He Jing's questions to her, "Can you dance?"
Zhong Ruanxing said, "I can."
Song JinXing asked again, "Do you know martial arts?"
Zhong Ruanxing smiled shyly, "A little bit."
Song JinXing: "......"
Alright, it was him dragging her down.
He told her He Jing's requirements. Zhong Ruanxing was very interested, "My fighting scenes look very good. Directors have praised me before. Don't worry, with the foundation of this body of mine, and extremely flexible joints, I can bend backwards and touch my heels!"
Song JinXing: "......?"
What?
Seeing his confused look, Zhong Ruanxing put down her chopsticks, eager to demonstrate, "Like this—"
Song JinXing’s pupils contracted. Before he could stop her, he heard a shriek, "Ow my poor waist—!"
Ten minutes later, Zhong Ruanxing was lying face down on the sofa. Song JinXing expressionlessly lifted her clothes and applied red flower oil on his own body.
Zhong Ruanxing eyed him sideways. Not reflecting on herself at all, she even mocked him, "Song JinXing, your body is useless. You can't even bend your waist." She sighed, "Exchanging bodies with you, I really lost out."
Song JinXing's expression was blank as he increased the force kneading her waist.
She shrieked, "Ouch, be gentler! I'm wrong, I didn't lose out. You are very capable!"
The corners of his lips flickered up fleetingly. His movements quickly became gentle again.
Fortunately he worked out regularly. After Zhong Ruanxing switched over, she had also practiced yoga using his body, so his joints were not too stiff either. The sudden backwards bending just strained the muscles a little without injuring his waist.
While enjoying the waist massage, Zhong Ruanxing took out her phone and found the number of the martial arts teacher who had taught her before.
He happened to be free and they settled the time and tuition. The next day, Song JinXing started training under the martial arts teacher.
Before leaving, Zhong Ruanxing hesitated, reminding him, "Take care of yourself."
Song JinXing: "?"
The next day he understood what she meant.
This martial arts teacher named Niu was absolutely ruthless when teaching students. Even with Song JinXing's high pain tolerance, he still sucked in air after a day of training.
In the evening when Zhong Ruanxing came to pick him up, she immediately winced at the sight of him, "As expected, Teacher Niu is still so heavy-handed."
Back then when she was learning fighting scenes from Teacher Niu, she would go home every day with a swollen black and blue face. During that time, the aunties in the neighborhood crazily gossiped that the Zhong family's little star was not focusing on her work and went out fighting people every day and even lost!
Song JinXing's mouth twitched.
No wonder she insisted on picking him up and dropping him off today. If he took a cab looking like this, the driver would most likely take him to the police station. Driving himself... no, his thighs and calves were twitching in pain. Stepping on the brake pedal would be too dangerous.
Zhong Ruanxing very experiencedly took out the Yunnan Baiyao she had prepared in advance from the car, "Spray some first. I'll give you a massage when we get back. Ah, no wonder Teacher Niu has been single for so many years. He can be so ruthless even towards such a pretty face."
She asked tilting her head, "Stay at my house these few days? In your condition, if you go home my dad and Yuyu will worry again."
Although that was his home, hearing it from her mouth, Song JinXing's heart inexplicably thumped.
He lowered his eyes and said, "Okay."
