Chapter 192: Zhou Xingxing's Acting

Early morning, the crew of "Drive My Car" was already busy on set. Stagehands moved equipment, lighting technicians adjusted gear, makeup artists organized their toolboxes, and excitement shone on everyone's faces.

"Director, Brother Hong has arrived," the assistant director reported, jogging over.

Xiang Fei turned back and saw Hong Jinbao striding forward in casual wear, with a solemn Zhou Xingxing following behind.

"Ah Fei!" Hong Jinbao laughed heartily. "This location is perfect! Sea and wind—it's ideal for an art film!"

Xiang Fei smiled and stepped forward to greet him: "Brother Hong, your scene is the first one today. Are you ready?"

Hong Jinbao patted his chest: "Ready to shoot anytime!"

Zhou Xingxing added quietly: "Brother Fei, I'm ready too..."

Xiang Fei patted his shoulder: "Xingzai, relax. We're shooting Brother Hong's scenes first; your part is scheduled for the afternoon."

The first scene was a shot of Hong Jinbao, playing Li Jun, standing alone at the pier, gazing at the distant sea, smoking in silence.

"This scene has no dialogue," Xiang Fei explained to Hong Jinbao. "It relies entirely on the eyes and body language to convey the loneliness and confusion within a middle-aged man's heart."

Hong Jinbao nodded: "Understood."

"Action!"

The camera focused on Hong Jinbao. He lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, exhaled the smoke slowly, and fixed his gaze on the distance, as if piercing the horizon to see some unspeakable past. His brows furrowed slightly, yet a faint, bitter smile lingered on his lips, and the whole figure radiated a heavy sense of exhaustion.

Behind the monitor, Xiang Fei nodded slightly. Hong Jinbao's performance exceeded his expectations—the tough guy known for martial arts films had managed to grasp the delicate emotions of an art film with such precision.

"Cut! Perfect!"

Hong Jinbao immediately broke character and walked over with a grin: "How was it? Not bad, right?"

Xiang Fei gave a thumbs-up: "Brother Hong, with this acting, I'm betting on you for the Oscar for Best Actor!"

Hong Jinbao laughed loudly: "Don't flatter me to death!"

Hong Jinbao didn't know that Xiang Fei's words would prove prophetic; he truly won the Best Actor Oscar.

During the noon break, Zhou Xingxing sat in a corner silently flipping through the script, his fingers unconsciously tapping his knee.

Xiang Fei walked over and handed him a cup of hot coffee: "Nervous?"

Zhou Xingxing took the coffee and gave a bitter smile: "A little... This is my first time playing a role like this."

"The character Wu Wenbin is indeed complex," Xiang Fei said, sitting beside him, "but you must trust your instincts. The subtle expressions you use in comedies are actually more delicate than those of many serious drama actors."

Zhou Xingxing looked up, a flash of surprise in his eyes: "Really?"

"Of course," Xiang Fei smiled. "For the afternoon scene, just pretend you're playing a non-comedic Zhou Xingxing. Give it a try."

Zhou Xingxing took a deep breath and nodded.

At two in the afternoon, Li Bingbing arrived on set. She wore simple, loose black clothing, her hair slightly curled, her makeup light, yet she exuded an indescribable beauty of fragility.

"Hello, Director," she nodded politely to Xiang Fei. "I'm here to report."

Xiang Fei sized her up and smiled with satisfaction: "Your look today fits perfectly."

Li Bingbing smiled: "I've studied the script for a long time and hope to do well."

"Go get made up first," Xiang Fei said. "In half an hour, we'll shoot your first scene with Xingzai."

The afternoon scene was the first meeting between Wu Wenbin, played by Zhou Xingxing, and Su Yin, played by Li Bingbing, in a coffee shop.

"Action!"

Zhou Xingxing pushed the door open and entered the coffee shop, his gaze wandering, carrying a carefree sense of decadence. He casually found a seat by the window and ordered a black coffee.

Li Bingbing emerged from the kitchen, holding a coffee pot. Her steps were very light, her eyes cast down, yet she paused slightly the moment she saw Zhou Xingxing—a detail not in the script, entirely her improvisation.

Zhou Xingxing looked up and met her gaze. The air between them seemed to freeze for a second, then Li Bingbing gently set down the coffee pot and asked in a low voice: "Would you like sugar?"

Zhou Xingxing shook his head: "No need. A bit bitter is better."

This scene was originally planned to be three minutes long, but the chemistry between the two was so good that Xiang Fei didn't call cut, letting them improvise freely. In the end, the scene took a full seven minutes, yet it presented an unexpected sense of realism.

"Cut! Amazing!" Xiang Fei stood up excitedly. "This segment can go straight into the final cut!"

Zhou Xingxing breathed a sigh of relief, wiping sweat from his forehead: "I was afraid I'd mess it up..."

Li Bingbing smiled and handed him a bottle of water: "You acted very well, really."

Night fell, and the lights on set turned off one by one.