After finishing a scene, Qin Wei took a short break before having to film night scenes.
Qin Wei was taking a nap in the production van near the set. She didn't have much time left before going home to prepare for exams! She had to pass calculus!
She accidentally fell asleep and dreamed that Su Yang was giving her math problems. He then smiled and closed the calculus book, saying to her:
"How can you be so dumb? But it's okay, just keep learning slowly since you don't take the exam until next year. Oh I forgot to tell you, you're the only one in the class who failed calculus.
You have to take a make-up exam at the start of next semester, which means you'll have to keep studying over the whole break. While others are out playing over New Year's, you'll be home studying. While they eat New Year's Eve dinner, you'll be home studying..."
But make-up exams aren't easy to pass. With your current study habits, you probably won't pass the make-up either. Then you'll have to retake the course...retaking means starting over from the beginning. Will you even be able to pass?
It doesn't matter if you can't pass. There's still the graduation exam..."
Qin Wei woke up with a start, feeling her heart racing.
...
"Sis, it's about time, are you awake? I'm opening the car door..."
After Li Liang spoke, she opened the door and saw Qin Wei sitting in the car with a cold expression on her face, eyes lowered, seemingly unhappy, giving off a strong oppressive aura.
Li Liang reflexively shrank her neck back. The last time she felt her sister was a bit frightening was when she drank too much...
Qin Wei didn't say anything. She just got out of the car and followed Li Liang back to the set.
Everyone could feel that Qin Wei was very unhappy today.
Director Yuan explained the night scene to them, wanting everyone to wrap up quickly so they could rest. He asked everyone to get into the right mindset, hoping to get every scene in one take -
"Do you have any thoughts about me?"
Gong Lan pinched Zhao Yu's chin and asked her.
The night was just right, the moon hung high, stars shone bright, shadows of trees swayed, fireflies danced.
It felt like time had stopped.
Zhao Yu looked at her for a long, long time.
"Yes."
Zhao Yu answered honestly,
"I hope you live well..."
A gust of wind blew by, ruffling Gong Lan's hair, as if wanting to say something. But then she saw Zhao Yu get up and look at Lu Wei behind her.
Just as Zhao Yu was about to explain, she saw Lu Wei put his index finger to his lips, a thick murderous aura flashing through his eyes:
"Shhh..."
Lu Wei took out a plum blossom dart and threw it at Zhao Yu!
Zhao Yu pulled Gong Lan aside. The dart pierced the neck of the assassin behind her.
Without even a sound, the assassin was dead.
Lu Wei breathed a sigh of relief, glanced at Zhao Yu, then threw his sword to her.
Zhao Yu hung the sword at her waist, slowly drew it from its sheath, and carefully surveyed her surroundings before realizing their fight had exposed them and enemies were coming.
There were too many, victory uncertain.
"Cut! Take five, get ready for the fight scene."
Director Yuan called out.
Su Yang was about to go rest, but Qin Wei grabbed his wrist. The two looked at each other, seeming to say something.
What they said wasn't important. What was important was that Li Liang shipped them again. She silently took out her phone to take pictures. Although she could only admire them herself for now, when the movie came out, or during promotions, the photos she took could become legendary works for the QinYang cp -
An intimate gaze between the two brothers under the night sky.
Li Liang had good taste. This photo later became the cover picture for the QinYang cp fansite, and was the breakout photo for the couple. Many fanfic authors wrote stories based on this photo as the backdrop...
No one knew what Qin Wei and Su Yang said to each other. They just saw the two walk over to the break area together, and under the set lights, opened a book.
Studying by candlelight, gaining knowledge by any means, early to bed and early to rise, burning the midnight oil, keeping up with studies by moonlight...
These were all phrases used to describe Qin Wei.
...
After a half hour break, next up was a big battle scene. Filming ended around 4am and the crew went back to the hotel. The sky was already bright.
"Everyone go back and sleep...we'll continue shooting in the afternoon."
Everyone was dead tired. They each went back to their rooms, showered, slept.
They returned to the set in the afternoon. What they were filming was the final scene in the movie -
After a night of intense fighting, it was impossible to kill all the enemies. Zhao Yu and Lu Wei stayed back to cover the rear while Lin Cong took Gong Lan away first.
A thrilling chase through the woods.
Finally, the four of them emerged from the woods, enemies dead or gravely wounded, but they were also completely exhausted.
Just then, the palace dancer Zhao Yu had fought before caught up to them.
They hadn't determined a winner last time, so it seemed this time there had to be a result, the victor being the one who could live.
"You guys take her away."
Zhao Yu blocked their path.
"That's the captain's order."
Lu Wei tried to stay, but Lin Cong didn't let him speak.
"Don't worry."
He said, then forced Lu Wei to take Gong Lan away.
Zhao Yu put on her mask for a final life or death battle.
The intense, realistic fight scenes flowed smoothly during filming...
But something unexpected happened at the end.
The opponent didn't follow the choreographed moves, attacking a beat faster.
That was normal, accidents happen often during martial arts scenes. Everyone had accumulated all kinds of bumps and bruises these past days of shooting.
But her weapon was a blade. Though not sharpened, it was made of metal for authenticity. It was hollow but still metal, a direct hit would definitely cause injury.
So when she slashed down, Qin Wei dodged, momentum bringing Chen Xinya down the small hill behind her.
Not a big fall, but unluckily, Xinya broke her leg.
Staff and assistants rushed over to help and took her to the hospital. She had to drop out.
Director Yuan sighed repeatedly.
Qin Wei even went to comfort her:
"Why not use a stunt double?"
Director Yuan waved his hand:
"It's fine, I'm just afraid I'll laugh out loud. How clever am I?
I film multiple versions of every scene. If one actor can't do it, I'll just use another version.
Unlike other investors who worry about lead actors getting injured, halting filming, I don't have that concern. Other than the main leads, if another actor gets hurt, I'll just cut their scenes!"
Clever indeed, though tough on the actors.
After the break, filming had to continue.
Zhao Yu and Lu Wei rushed over to regroup with them, while Gong Lan had reached her homeland, the city gates where troops waited to welcome her.
She looked back and saw Zhao Yu, breaking into a smile.
And Zhao Yu rarely showed a slight smile as well.
An arrow flew over, the camera didn't show who was hit, just a close up of Gong Lan's eyes.
Her smile froze, her eyes filled with terror, gradually going blank, gradually losing their shine.
A teardrop rolled down...
"Cut!! Forest scenes wrapped!!"
When Director Yuan said this, the sky was already dark. The busy day finally ended.
Everyone cheered excitedly, because they were going home.
"Vacation time! Because the school notified us some classes are ending and it's time for exams."
Director Yuan added.
Rarely was there such a long silence on set.
