Ridiculous.
Don't judge a book by its cover.
Qin Wei was going to properly educate Xiao Yan who had a twisted worldview, but before she could say anything, she saw Li Liang come in.
"Yan sister, I saw Su Yang, he was sitting in the corner silently reading the script. He really is as gentle as jade, simply an ancient scholar going to take an exam... Oh no! He's like a young master from a prestigious scholarly family! Oh my god, I can, I can, I can!! "
As soon as Li Liang came in, she couldn't wait to share with Xiao Yan,
"From now on, every novel I read, the male lead will have a face!"
Ridiculously far-fetched.
Qin Wei really couldn't help but retort:
"Li Liang, all the novels you read are BL!"
Li Liang: "Yangyang is so good looking, of course he should be with a boy! I hope he can be with Shen Kai... The weak scholar x the ruthless general, I hope they can get married!"
Xiao Yan: "..."
Qin Wei looked at Xiao Yan, and then: "..."
"Oh have you gone to see Susu yet! My god hahaha, the camera simply can't capture his beauty! He's so handsome I love him so much, I want to marry him!"
The one who came in was Xiao Chen from their own team, usually taking some product shots and behind-the-scenes footage for later promotion.
Ridiculously far-fetched.
Usually the boy looks so disinterested, how could he make their hearts flutter so much for Su Yang??
It made Qin Wei very curious, just how handsome is Su Yang in person??
After hair and makeup and wardrobe change, Li Liang held up a sun umbrella to send Qin Wei to the set. Today's scenes were being shot in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. To get in, they first had to climb many levels of white marble stairs.
In order to recreate authenticity and shoot in a magnificent manner, there were extra many stairs.
Almost at the top, looking up, they saw a slender youth not far away standing at the entrance of the hall, wearing a brocade mandarin gown. He had one hand behind his back and held a script in the other. His whole being was thin but upright, with little trace of the mundane world about him, as if he had stepped out of a painting.
Seeing the girl in red climbing up the stairs, the corners of his mouth curved up slightly.
Li Liang, standing to the side, even felt that she and her sun umbrella were destroying the atmosphere too much. The two of them looked so beautiful, it gave her the fleeting feeling of returning to a thousand years ago...
So Li Liang silently retreated to the side.
As she retreated, the sun shone on Qin Wei's face. The glaring light made her have to squint her eyes.
But very quickly, the glare was blocked again.
Looking up, it turned out to be that handsome youth in ancient costume who was now standing before her, one level above on the stairs, holding up his script to shade her from the sun.
He was indeed very good looking, but most artists in this circle were good looking. What set him apart was his slender yet resilient scholarly air, as well as an aloof and cold aura beyond worldly affairs.
"Qin Wei? Nice to meet you, I'm Su Yang."
His tone was very flat, but his voice was very pleasant to listen to.
Since he knew who she was, there was no need for excessive self-introduction. Qin Wei restrained her gaze and simply said "Hello", then walked right past him up the stairs.
Li Liang reluctantly took one last glance at Su Yang, then immediately held up her umbrella again to chase after Qin Wei:
"Sis, sis don't be angry..."
...
Once on set, Su Yang also followed inside. Yao Director called him over to stand next to Qin Wei as they listened to him explain the scene.
"Although the storyline has already entered the second half at this point, the leads' feelings for each other have been established but not explicitly stated.
Now everyone else is gone, and the male lead's northern expedition to reclaim his country is also on the agenda. This is where you two bid farewell, your words and actions cannot be inappropriate, but you still need to convey your feelings."
After Yao Director finished, he pointed at the script, "Let's try it from here."
The lines were already memorized, so Qin Wei could act without looking at the script. Her partner seemed to have also memorized his lines, handing his script to an assistant and getting into character.
"Traveling a thousand miles, take care of yourself, don't forget that Mang Er and I are still waiting for your return in this imperial city."
"You...take care of yourself, and please take care of Mang Er on my behalf. He lost his mother early, and I, his father, have been negligent. He is only close with you. If you don't mind, please treat Mang Er as..."
"I have always treated Mang Er as my own son, and you...must come back..."
...
There were quite a few lines in this scene, but the two of them went through it flawlessly!
Qin Wei let out a sigh of relief. She thought that after sending away one popular actor, they had welcomed another who certainly wouldn't have time to read the script either, and Qin Wei had prepared herself to hear every line repeated eight times.
She didn't expect Su Yang to not only be very familiar with the script, but to have already memorized his lines.
Since both their lines were fine and smooth, Director Yao didn't seem very happy.
"Qin Wei, you're looking at Su Yang as you say your lines. It's like you two are negotiating."
As he spoke, Yao Director walked up to Su Yang and acted out Qin Wei's lines with emotion and gestures.
Yao Director said to Qin Wei: "He is your male lead, Su Yang. You love him very much. You need to show your love, while also conveying restraint. Your eyes are so beautiful, use them to show the feeling of 'my eyes are full of him'."
After stepping aside, Yao Director called out: "Again!"
"Traveling a thousand miles, take care of yourself, don't forget that in this imperial city..."
"Cut! Is the female lead threatening the male lead?"
"Again!"
"Traveling a thousand miles, take care of yourself, don't forget in this imperial..."
"Cut! Qin Wei, are you hoping with that look that Su Yang doesn't come back?"
Yao Director scratched his head and turned to say to Su Yang:
"Why don't you try your lines first, see if it can stir her emotions."
Su Yang nodded: "You...take care of yourself, and take care of Mang Er on my behalf..."
"Cut! Are you two going to the civil affairs bureau to get a divorce? Has your love run its course?"
"You...take care of yourself..."
"Cut! Su Yang, are you designating a guardian? You don't want to come back either, right??"
Director Yao was getting a headache. After rehearsing for a whole morning, neither had big problems with their lines or expressions based on his directions, but somehow it still lacked a sense of feeling. On the monitor every scene looked like they were deliberately keeping an emotional distance.
Yao Director: "Can you two love each other a little more?"
Qin Wei: "..."
Su Yang: "..."
After shooting for several hours without achieving what Yao Director wanted, seeing that the two leads had lost all feeling, continuing would only make it worse.
So Yao Director said to take a break first while he thought about how to shoot this.
...
Everyone else went to eat lunch, leaving only the two leads and Yao Director looking at the script together. Of course, their agents also didn't leave and stood waiting by the door.
Yao Director didn't speak, and neither did the two actors. The set was extremely quiet...
"Why don't you two just date!"
Yao Director broke the silence. Both agents rushed in with indignation. Yao Director chuckled and clapped his hands.
"I'm just joking to lighten up the mood! You don't have to really date, but there are still many scenes between you two! You should at least chat more privately!"
Yao Director looked up at the two agents:
"I know you both are on the rise and discourage dating, but you have to find a way to get them into character! Otherwise their on-screen chemistry as male and female leads will be zero. You don't want this drama to flop because of this, right???"
