Chapter 182: Urgent Shooting

Xiang Fei stood in the Yongsheng Pictures conference room, walls covered with concept art and cast lists for The Changjin Lake. He picked up a red pen and circled several key roles—

Wu Qianli: Zhang Guorong

Mei Sheng: Cheng Long

Division Commander: Lin Zhengying

Sergeant Lei: Hong Jinbao

Wu Wanli: Xie Tingfeng

Tan Ziwei: Zhou Xingxing

Yu Congrong: Chow Yun-fat

Madame Xiang pushed open the door, holding a stack of documents: "Fei, how are the other actors arranged?"

Xiang Fei didn't look up: "For battlefield medics, nurses, or soldiers, let the rest choose for themselves."

Madame Xiang nodded: "Liu Fuyong wants to play Ying, Liang Chao wants to play the communications soldier, and Zhang Xueyou and Wang Fei have volunteered to sing the theme song together."

Xiang Fei finally looked up, a faint smile on his lips: "Good. Tell them we start filming tomorrow."

Late at night, Xiang Fei called Cai Wen.

"Brother Wen, I need your help."

On the other end of the line, Cai Wen's voice was sleepy: "Fei? What's so urgent at this hour?"

"I want to invite Master Gu Yue, Master Wang Tiecheng, and Master Wang Wu Fu to join us."

Cai Wen instantly woke up: "You're serious? They're type-cast actors—they rarely appear in commercial films."

Xiang Fei's voice was firm: "This isn't a commercial film. Tell them it's a tribute to Hong Kong's return, the wish of every Chinese child."

There was a silence on the line for several seconds before Cai Wen finally spoke: "Alright, I'll try."

Three days later, Masters Gu Yue, Wang Tiecheng, and Wang Wu Fu appeared in the Yongsheng Pictures conference room.

Master Gu Yue stared at the script, frowning: "Director Xiang..."

Xiang Fei stood up and bowed deeply: "Three masters, I know this request is bold. But Hong Kong is about to return—we want this film to express Hong Kong people's love for the motherland."

Master Wang Tiecheng flipped through the script, his fingers trembling slightly: "These lines... written so well."

Master Wang Wu Fu looked up, tears glistening in his eyes: "We'll act. No pay. Just feed us."

Xiang Fei's eyes burned with emotion: "Thank you, three masters!"

In a remote location in Northeast China, the set was minus twenty degrees.

Zhang Guorong, wrapped in a military overcoat, stamped his feet from the cold: "Fei, do we really have to take off our coats for this scene?"

Xiang Fei nodded: "Comrade Wu Qianli leads his troops in ambush—they must remain perfectly still."

Cheng Long rubbed his hands as he walked over: "Rong, I'll freeze with you!"

Lin Zhengying, dressed in his division commander's uniform, spoke sternly: "Stop complaining. Think of the Volunteer Army back then."

"Action!"

On camera, Zhang Guorong as Wu Qianli led the soldiers lying motionless in the snow, flakes settling on them, gradually covering them like "ice sculptures."

Behind the monitor, Xiang Fei stared fixedly at the screen, his fists clenched white.

"Cut! Perfect!"

The entire crew burst into applause. When Zhang Guorong and Cheng Long were helped up, they were too frozen to speak.

Late at night, in the hotel room.

Xiang Fei sat at the piano, his fingers lightly tapping the keys. Zhou Huimin brought hot tea and sat quietly beside him.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked softly.

Xiang Fei didn't answer. Suddenly, his fingers played a melody on the keys.

"Whenever I feel pain—"

Zhou Huimin's eyes lit up: "This is..."

Xiang Fei continued playing, humming softly:

"I love you, China, my beloved mother"

Zhou Huimin joined in, their voices echoing in the room.

Outside the door, Zhang Guorong and Cheng Long stopped, listening in silence.

"Should we go in?" Cheng Long whispered.

Zhang Guorong shook his head: "Let them finish."

After filming ended the next day, Xiang Fei gathered all the actors.

"Everyone, I've written a song—I want it to be the film's theme. He held up the sheet music. "I hope everyone sings it together."

Zhang Xueyou raised his hand first: "I'm in!"

Wang Fei smiled: "I've already prepared."

Xiang Fei stood before the piano, Masters Gu Yue, Wang Tiecheng, and Wang Wu Fu in the front row, all actors lined up neatly.

The piano began. Xiang Fei started singing:

"I love you, China, my beloved mother"

Zhang Guorong's voice was clear, Cheng Long's deep, Zhou Xingxing unusually solemn, Chow Yun-fat eyes closed in immersion...

The song drifted out of the recording studio, echoing over the set.

After the final scene was shot, the entire set fell silent.

Xiang Fei picked up the megaphone, his voice choked: "The Changjin Lake—wrapped!"

Everyone embraced. Cheng Long and Zhang Guorong cried like children, Lin Zhengying wiped tears silently, Hong Jinbao and Yuan Biao and others blinked back tears as they clapped hands.

Master Gu Yue walked up to Xiang Fei, gripping his hand tightly: "Director Xiang, thank you for letting us take part in such a great work."

Xiang Fei shook his head: "I should be the one thanking you."

Under the night sky, the melody of "I Love You, China" rose once more, and everyone sang in chorus without prior agreement...