Chapter 437: Reflection (5,000-word update!)

In May, the weather began to warm up.

Lu Yan He got out of the car and walked toward the studio.

It had been over a month, nearly two, since *Squid Game* started filming.

This series was about to wrap up.

Lu Yan He was about to leave for the Hezhou Film Festival, so he had specifically come over this weekend to see how the production was going and to visit the set.

The all-star cast of this series had kept major media outlets camping out since the very beginning of filming.

Lu Yan He often saw Jiang Yuqian and Liu Zefan appearing in leaked photos, sometimes even trending on social media.

Although Lu Yan He was not a lead actor in *Squid Game*, everyone on the crew knew he was the screenwriter.

His sudden appearance in the studio surprised everyone.

Only a few people knew Lu Yan He would be coming today.

The scenes being filmed today were the glass bridge sequences.

This scene depicted them encountering a new challenge—a glass bridge suspended high in the air. The bridge surface was composed of different types of glass; some panes were solid and safe to step on, while others, once stepped upon, would shatter, causing the person to fall directly from the heights and crash into a pile of flesh and blood.

To help the actors experience this authentic, desperate fear, Director Yao Yuanzhi had the set built five meters above the ground, creating a practical glass bridge. Of course, this glass bridge was safe and would not shatter when stepped on.

Not only that, but air cushions were also installed beneath the practical glass bridge as a precaution.

However, despite this, the actors were still frightened by the height when performing. That cautious, fearful feeling of standing on the glass bridge didn't need to be acted—it came out naturally.

Lu Yan He saw the actors standing on the high platform from a distance.

Yao Yuanzhi was standing on a lift, positioned right next to the glass bridge.

Yao Yuanzhi was saying something to the actors.

The series' producer, Wei Lai, was on set and immediately came over to greet Lu Yan He when she saw him.

"Yan He, you're here. Why didn't you give us a heads-up? I could have gone to the entrance to pick you up."

Wei Lai was sent by Arctic Light Video and was well aware of the attitude Arctic Light Video held toward this young man. Therefore, she didn't dare to be arrogant in front of Lu Yan He and was very enthusiastic.

Lu Yan He smiled at Wei Lai and asked, "Is Jiang Zixin not here today?"

Lu Yan He had less interaction with Wei Lai; the person usually responsible for representing Arctic Light in dealings with Lu Yan He was Jiang Zixin.

Jiang Zixin was also one of the executive producers for both *Squid Game* and *My Own Swordsman*.

Wei Lai replied, "Zixin had some business to attend to back at the company today."

"When will this series wrap up?" Lu Yan He asked.

Wei Lai said, "The studio scenes are expected to be finished in about a week. After that, there are a few location scenes left to shoot, which should take about three or four days."

Lu Yan He: "So it's almost wrapped."

"Yes," Wei Lai nodded. "The filming for this series has been quite smooth, and all departments have been cooperating very well."

"That's good."

Suddenly, a heart-wrenching scream came from above their heads, startling them both, and they immediately looked up.

They discovered it was the actress Zhang Meisu, who played Liu Meiren, trying to find her state of mind.

She was crouching on the glass bridge, screaming at the top of her lungs.

Lu Yan He could hear Yao Yuanzhi's voice telling her, "It needs to be more heart-wrenching. The intensity just now wasn't enough."

It was a false alarm.

Lu Yan He breathed a sigh of relief.

He had thought something had actually gone wrong.

Seeing Lu Yan He relax, Wei Lai laughed.

"Now you know what our daily filming environment is like, right?" Wei Lai joked. "We staff members are often startled by the actors suddenly rehearsing or finding their state of mind on set. I'm almost having a nervous breakdown."

Lu Yan He laughed along.

"I can imagine the scene; it's certainly not easy," Lu Yan He said. "Hearing you say that, it feels like everyone is very dedicated to this series."

"Very dedicated. They often go play escape rooms together after work."

Jiang Yuqian had mentioned this to him.

She said the *Squid Game* actors often went to play escape rooms together just to find that feeling from *Squid Game*. They even played the thrilling, horror-themed ones.

For this series, the biggest draw isn't any single star, but the subject matter itself. By using various methods to make themselves believe in the story's background and enter the performance context, the actors actually make it easier for the audience to enter the series.

Lu Yan He watched from below for about half an hour.

Because he didn't want others to tell them he was there, he didn't want to interrupt them.

Half an hour later, Yao Yuanzhi finally came down on the lift.

As soon as he came down, he saw Lu Yan He.

"Hey!" Yao Yuanzhi waved at Lu Yan He very happily.

Lu Yan He stepped forward to greet him: "Hello, Director. You've been working hard lately. Your dark circles seem even worse than the last time I saw you."

Yao Yuanzhi laughed and said, "There's no helping it. I'll get some good rest and catch up on sleep after we finish this series. Your script is written so well that every scene can be used directly as a shooting guide for each department. I don't need to provide much explanation; everyone knows exactly what to do. I have a premonition that this series will be very popular—no worse than *Seventeen Layers*."

Lu Yan He nodded with a smile.

"I think so too," he said. "After this series airs, you will become one of the highest-valued directors."

Yao Yuanzhi looked excited and said, "Actually, I have an idea I've been wanting to talk to you about."

"What idea?" Lu Yan He asked.

Yao Yuanzhi said, "I really like this story. If the results after airing are good, I want to film a second season. I wonder if you have any plans to write a script for a second season?"

Lu Yan He said, "Not for the moment. However, if the results are good, this series is quite suitable for a sequel. It has a world-view that is very suitable for developing sequels."

"Yes," Yao Yuanzhi nodded. "And it's entirely possible to develop many stories."

Seeing Yao Yuanzhi's excitement, Lu Yan He smiled, nodded, and said, "If you're interested, Director, go ahead and do it. I have absolutely no problem with that."

"Are you willing to grant me the authorization?" Yao Yuanzhi asked, pleasantly surprised.

"Yes, of course," Lu Yan He nodded. "However, I don't have the time to continue writing the scripts for the sequels myself; it will have to depend on you."

Yao Yuanzhi rubbed his hands together, eager to try.

Lu Yan He was certainly willing to support Yao Yuanzhi's idea of filming a sequel or spin-off to *Squid Game*. This series was inherently a very commercial story; if it could be filmed as a series, it meant gaining greater influence and earning more money.

The fact that Yao Yuanzhi was able to become the director of *Squid Game* in the first place already proved he was the most suitable director for this series; otherwise, Arctic Light wouldn't have found him. With someone like this willing to take the baton and continue developing *Squid Game*, Lu Yan He only needed to authorize it as the screenwriter and copyright holder of the first season to easily collect copyright fees and subsequent profit shares.

Hearing their conversation, Wei Lai immediately took note and took the opportunity to report the conversation between Lu Yan He and Yao Yuanzhi to Zheng Huairen.

Lu Yan He's visit to the set this time was mainly to check on the progress of the series and see how the filming was going.

After watching the scene and some of the footage filmed over the past few days, Lu Yan He knew in his heart that this series was a sure thing.

Yao Yuanzhi was a very qualified series director. He didn't play any fancy tricks in this series; every shot was crisp and clean, which fit the story style of *Squid Game* perfectly.

Especially the issue he had earlier about not wanting to focus on close-ups of the actors during the "Red Light, Green Light" scene—that was completely gone in the later parts. Clearly, Yao Yuanzhi was a director with a very calculated mind; he knew exactly what he wanted to film and what it should look like. When filming "Red Light, Green Light," he wanted to show the cruelty and authenticity of this death game as panoramically as possible. Later, as the plot developed and the characters became richer and more three-dimensional, he began to use closer distances to express the characters' inner struggles.

He didn't film human nature from the perspective of an art film, but used the approach of a commercial film. The actors' performance styles were relatively extroverted—a very restrained extroversion. Whether it was anger or rumors, many shots fully displayed the actors' acting skills, giving them plenty of room to perform. At noon, Lu Yan He ate the crew's boxed lunch with the actors.

Filming in a studio had one advantage: the dining conditions were better. The crew specifically set up a large table for them so they could sit together and have a relatively hearty lunch.

Jiang Yuqian asked Lu Yan He, "When are you leaving for Hezhou?"

Lu Yan He said, "*Rouge* is scheduled to be screened in the middle. I plan to go a day early and come back right after attending the premiere."

Jiang Yuqian asked, "Is the schedule that tight again?"

"The classes for this semester haven't ended yet, so I have to rush back for class," Lu Yan He explained. "It will be much better next semester; I won't have classes, and the first draft of my graduation thesis is already written, so my time will be relatively freer."

Jiang Jun smiled and said, "Then you'll be completely free from time constraints and can do more projects. Do you have any other projects coming up?"

"Yes," Lu Yan He nodded. "Besides *Love Letter*, there's another youth romance film to shoot, but it hasn't started yet. I've been busy with *Love Letter* lately."

Jiang Jun asked, "Is there a role I can play?"

"For a youth romance film, there are only cameo roles," Lu Yan He said.

"A cameo is fine too. After finishing *Squid Game*, I don't have any other roles lined up," Jiang Jun said. "I need to find some new work for myself."

Lu Yan He smiled and said, "Okay."

He noticed that Liu Zefan and Wang Jing also looked eager to speak.

Lu Yan He quickly said, "I plan to play the male lead in this film myself, and there is already an intended candidate for the female lead."

Lu Yan He had originally wanted to say this so they wouldn't ask for roles.

Who knew that after he said this, the currently popular actor Liu Zefan seemed to gather his courage and said, "Is the second male lead suitable for me? I'm not two years older than you; acting in a youth romance film should be quite appropriate, right?"

After Liu Zefan spoke, Wang Jing immediately said, "I'm still in college, so I'm definitely suitable too."

Director Yao Yuanzhi laughed and said, "Can you two have some ambition? It's fine for Xiao Jing, who is still on the rise, but Liu Zefan, you're a popular actor, and there are plenty of first-tier male lead roles looking for you. It's one thing to play a supporting role in our series, but you want to continue playing a supporting role in Lu Yan He's film?"

Liu Zefan said, "My agent told me not to consider supporting roles in other films, but playing a supporting role in Yan He's films is no problem."

"Why? Because Yan He's films are very popular?" Yao Yuanzhi asked. "People are different from people; if I asked you to play a supporting role, your agent definitely wouldn't agree."

Liu Zefan shook his head and said very seriously, "Yan He's films being popular is one aspect. On the other hand, a more important reason is that in the scripts Yan He writes, the supporting roles are no less brilliant than the male lead. That's exactly what my agent told me."

Lu Yan He didn't expect to receive such high praise from Liu Zefan's agent.

He put his hands together, "Please thank your agent for me."

Liu Zefan asked, "Then, can I play the second male lead in your film?"

"Uh... I actually wanted to say that the second male lead in that film might not be as brilliant as the police officer you're playing in *Squid Game*," Lu Yan He said. "If you're willing to play it, I certainly welcome it, but don't just take roles or make decisions randomly. I'll pass the script to your agent later, and you two can study it carefully before replying to me."

Liu Zefan said, "My agent said that if it's your film, I can take the opportunity if I have one; no need to ask him, just agree directly."

Lu Yan He: "..."

He couldn't help but ask, "Who is your agent? Why is he so confident in me?"

Liu Zefan said, "Li Xia."

"That name sounds so familiar," Lu Yan He felt he had an impression, but couldn't place it.

He really knew quite a few people in the entertainment industry and couldn't immediately remember who was who.

Jiang Yuqian reminded him, "Li Xia also manages another actor you know: Meng Li."

Lu Yan He realized, "Ah? You and Meng Li have the same agent?"

Liu Zefan nodded.

He added, "However, Meng Li is Meng Li, and I am I. I also dislike Meng Li."

His attitude was expressed very clearly.

Lu Yan He didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Li Xia.

He remembered—the person who was as worldly and shrewd as Zhou Ping'an.

Lu Yan He suddenly had a great change in his view of Li Xia.

Probably because of Meng Li, Lu Yan He's previous impression of Li Xia was that of a very worldly woman with many schemes.

But after Liu Zefan's words just now, Lu Yan He suddenly felt that Li Xia was actually just doing her job and fulfilling her duties.

After several exchanges with Liu Zefan, Lu Yan He had already realized that Liu Zefan was a young male actor who might be even more naive and less worldly than him. However, he was able to shine in his career under these circumstances, and his agent must have played a significant role.

Lu Yan He nodded.

"Okay, I'll contact your agent later."

A look of happiness appeared on Liu Zefan's face.

Wang Jing couldn't help but ask, "What about me? What about me? You can't take Liu Zefan and not take me!"

Lu Yan He looked at the girl who had collaborated with him on *Late Spring* and had excellent acting talent, smiled, and said, "Don't come to act in this film; I have another role for you."

"Ah?" Wang Jing was stunned at first, then overjoyed, her eyes lighting up instantly.

Jiang Yuqian suddenly thought of something and looked at Lu Yan He.

Her eyes were asking, is it that film of hers?

Lu Yan He nodded slightly.

In *Telephone*, besides the role played by Jiang Yuqian, there was also a role for a young girl. The two female leads of this film were the two of them.

This young girl's role required great acting skills. Among the actresses Lu Yan He knew who could play a student and have such acting skills, there were only Wang Jing and Sui Fangran from *Sanshan*. By comparison, Lu Yan He certainly preferred Wang Jing, whom he was more familiar with.

In the time it took to eat a meal, both Liu Zefan and Wang Jing had received invitations for Lu Yan He's next film, making the other actors inexplicably jealous.

However, they were either not popular enough like Liu Zefan, or they didn't have the familiarity with Lu Yan He like Wang Jing, who had collaborated with him on *Late Spring*, to dare to speak up. None of them were embarrassed to ask Lu Yan He for a role.

Being able to act in *Squid Game* was already very good.

Lu Yan He smiled and said, "Everyone, don't be in a hurry to take on new roles. After *Squid Game* airs, your pay will definitely increase, and you will receive more scripts and have more choices."

After he said this, everyone happily agreed.

Who among the actors participating in this series wouldn't hope for that?

Wasn't the reason everyone was eager to participate in Lu Yan He's projects precisely for this purpose?

After Lu Yan He finished the meal with everyone, he said goodbye and left.

Before leaving, Jiang Yuqian chatted with Lu Yan He by his car for a while.

Jiang Yuqian said, "I've also been seriously thinking about something while filming *Squid Game* recently."

"What is it?" Lu Yan He asked.

"Is it necessary for me to transform, or rather, is it necessary for me to be single-mindedly wanting to win an award?" Jiang Yuqian said. "Whether it's *Squid Game* or *Telephone*, I don't think they are films that can win awards, but I have a strong resonance with both characters, especially Jiang Cao. I've been with her for nearly two months, and I even dream that I am in the story of the play, following her emotional ups and downs."

Lu Yan He nodded.

"I'm thinking, perhaps my acting skills are simply not enough to allow me to act in those films that can win awards, but acting in these roles that I resonate with allows me to dig out my true emotions and become one with the character," Jiang Yuqian said. "These two films have indeed made me have such thoughts." ===== CHAPTER 438 =====