Chapter 213: Overdoing the Show-Off

Filming continued, and this scene passed after a few more takes.

Liu Tianxian could only follow the director's lead; after all, the director consistently wanted her to externalize her performance, not to have inner acting, so she could only exaggerate her expressions.

The unbearable headache scenes had appeared many times earlier, the purpose being to build a sense of imminent crisis.

In other words, she was about to die; if she didn't find the serum, her head would explode.

The first half of this scene was about pressure—pressing hard—while the second half was the release of that repression, an explosive sense of satisfaction.

This time Wen Muye was filming; Chen Sicheng was afraid he couldn't help but say something harsh, but also feared the Principal wouldn't be pleased. It was really tough.

Fang Hong sat down beside Chen Sicheng: "What, you have objections?"

"No, I just don't quite understand—it's different from what I know about acting." Chen Sicheng said it somewhat tactfully.

After all, the man was the big boss and money man.

"A little more tolerance, a little less complaining. Actors all need guidance. You can lead them to change, but if you say things that hurt too much, that's not good—it'll dampen their enthusiasm and plunge them into self-doubt." Fang Hong spoke earnestly.

Liu Tianxian often doubted herself—working so hard yet never doing well enough. What exactly was wrong? She often fell into confusion, into bewilderment.

Chen Sicheng lowered his head slightly, appearing silent; he hadn't thought that much about it either, only wanting to film this scene well.

As for the actors' feelings, he indeed rarely considered them.

"Whether it's acting, filming, or doing anything else, confidence is very important. An actor without confidence can't act well, and the same goes for a director." Fang Hong added.

"Thank you!"

Chen Sicheng also knew that the Principal saying so much to him meant he had high hopes for him.

Otherwise, with that status of his—film or don't, if you don't want to film then get lost—there were plenty of frustrated directors eager to seize the chance.

"No need to be so polite. Like before, just do what you do, just make the approach a little gentler." Fang Hong patted his shoulder.

"Alright, I understand."

With those words, Chen Sicheng felt reassured.

Fang Hong was simply looking after the emotional well-being of everyone in the crew, keeping the set in a harmonious, relaxed atmosphere.

Unlike other crews, which were like powder kegs ready to blow at any moment—what's with all those on-set tyrants? That's incompetence. Was Lao Mouzi a tyrant? Liu Tianxian also needed a relaxed atmosphere; when she acted, she liked to keep herself wound very tight.

Of course, this was the current Liu Tianxian.

Filming continued normally on this scene. Liu Tianxian was acting very hard, but sometimes she just couldn't meet the directing team's requirements; Chen Sicheng and Wen Muye patiently taught her.

If she couldn't learn, they'd grind through dozens more takes.

This film was different from the earlier "Bad Genius"—in Bad Genius, the female lead basically had few emotions, just breezing through with cheat-level abilities.

In this film, the female lead had a rich variety of emotions—pain, wisdom, endurance, fear—and a weakness: her adoptive parents.

For Liu Tianxian, this was very difficult to act, and a real challenge.

In the next part of the plot, Liu Tianxian's headaches grew more and more severe, often accompanied by nosebleeds. She knew her time was running out; without the serum, she would die.

The original version had a scene of seeing a doctor; this version didn't! Because she was already super-intelligent, and through her knowledge of medicine she knew she only had a few months left.

On top of that, her adoptive mother had developed Alzheimer's, often becoming senile; her adoptive father was old and didn't have much income, so the family was financially strained.

Driven by these multiple factors, Liu Tianxian decided to enter the National Magic Competition.

This way she could earn money, and also reveal her abilities, luring the enemies to come to her and send her back to the base.

One could say Liu Tianxian had thought it through perfectly.

So she transformed into an innocent little rabbit, and at a magic competition, performed telekinesis.

This act amazed the audience, and she easily took the championship and prize money to help with household expenses.

The magic competition was broadcast on television, and Bai Boshi—played by Song Jia—saw it; a cold smile gradually appeared on her face.

This was the most perfect superhuman she had cultivated!

But the base wasn't hers alone to decide; behind her were the higher-ups and the United States headquarters. The higher-ups still meant to eliminate Superhuman No. 1.

She couldn't bear to part with it, because she believed she could control Superhuman No. 1—through the serum.

This created a contradiction.

This was foreshadowing for the second film, planting seeds for conflicts on multiple fronts.

Song Jia sent Young Master Zhao—the character played by Fang Hong—and Li Zhuomei, to bring Liu Tianxian back.

Meanwhile, headquarters sent Xie Miao, along with a large armed force, to eliminate Superhuman No. 1.

In the original plot, the people sent by headquarters were too weak—they couldn't even beat the young nobleman. Here, they were strengthened without limit.

At the very least, they couldn't be weaker than Young Master Zhao! Each of the three sides had their own schemes. All of this was within Liu Tianxian's expectations; the only things beyond her control were her headaches and her adoptive parents.

From here, the plot's conflicts intensified dramatically.

This was also the film's turning point from repression to exhilaration, and special effects would be needed—Best Special Effects personally came to direct, coordinating with the action design.

Actually, no action design was really needed; Liu Tianxian didn't have that big a range of movement—she was already invincible.

It was just that the dramatic scenes were a bit complex, with several layers of emotion that needed to transition.

Film first; problems that can't be solved can be dealt with later.

One night, Liu Tianxian happened to have a headache, a heart-wrenching pain that made her lose all sense of perception.

When the headache subsided, she sensed that her adoptive parents had been kidnapped.

This filled her with terror. The moment she stepped out of her room, a gun emerged from the darkness and pressed against her head.

At the same time, her adoptive mother had a knife held to her neck, surrounded by fully armed Men in Black.

Liu Tianxian didn't move, her face helpless: "What exactly do you want?"

"Superhuman No. 1?" A scarred man at the head stepped out from the darkness.

"I don't know what you're talking about. Please, let me go, let my family go." Liu Tianxian begged desperately.

Seeing she wouldn't confess, a subordinate grabbed her adoptive mother's hair and yanked her head up, pressing the knife back; fresh blood flowed from the adoptive mother's neck.

"You don't confess, she dies." The scarred man said.

"It's not me, really not me, I already said it's not me." Liu Tianxian's expression was bewildered, weak, terrified—multiple emotions intertwined on her face, making one ache with pity and oppression. The scarred man signaled his men to shoot.

Immediately, Liu Tianxian's gaze sharpened, killing intent flashing across her face; she tilted her head and dodged the bullet aimed at her skull.

With a casual punch, she sent the nearby Man in Black flying several meters away, unconscious.

Then came a few teleports; she knocked down all armed personnel around her. Before the scarred man could react, Liu Tianxian seized his throat and slammed him against the wall.

The entire process took less than three seconds—clean, efficient.

The original version used guns. Who among masters uses guns? Does Fang Long use guns? Does Spiderman use guns? Does Captain America use guns? Minor players get wiped out instantly—this showcases Liu Tianxian's power after growing up, elevated to another level.

"I said it's not me, I said it's not me."

Liu Tianxian's face was expressionless; she slapped the scarred man several times, reducing half his face to a bloody pulp.

"Not you? You monster." The scarred man murmured weakly.

Liu Tianxian snapped his neck—cruel method—and this scene was witnessed by her adoptive mother.

Her adoptive mother recoiled in terror, as if Liu Tianxian truly were a monster—this pierced Liu Tianxian's heart. She stared at her own hands, caked in blood.

"The emotion here is unease—the unease of losing familial love," Fang Hong told her.

For every excessive emotion, Fang Hong patiently explained, slowly demonstrated, from philosophy to life.

Anyway, after filming ended each night, they had nothing else to do and could discuss the script together.

But it wasn't easy to act—if merely knowing the emotion guaranteed performance, everyone would be a Best Actor or Best Actress. Liu Tianxian had to comprehend it herself; others could only guide.

Filming didn't stop; the scene continued from where it left off.

"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

Before Liu Tianxian could grieve, applause rang out. She looked up.

There entered Young Master Zhao—also Fang Hong—accompanied by the beautiful female assassin Li Zhuomei.

The female assassin was gorgeously dressed, yet her eyes betrayed unmasked hostility.

The two walked in from the doorway; Fang Hong was arrogant, hands in his pockets, standing before Liu Tianxian: "I'll give you two choices: one, come with me; two, I kill everyone around you."

"As long as you don't harm my family, I'll go with you." Liu Tianxian knew the target had appeared—this was exactly her plan to return to base.

Fang Hong raised his hand, wiping the blood from her face, sneering: "You're different from when you were little. Grown prettier."

Liu Tianxian stared at him coldly. This man teased her—but for the serum, she endured it.

Just as Fang Hong and Li Zhuomei were about to take Liu Tianxian away, a figure crashed through the wall with a "Boom!"

A flying kick shot toward the three—ferociously powerful. It was Xie Miao, dispatched by headquarters, making a spectacular entrance.

Fang Hong blocked it outright; Li Zhuomei dodged while simultaneously launching several flying knives toward the attacker—mind-controlled.

Only Liu Tianxian remained calm, utterly still.

This displayed each of their martial levels.

The flying knives stabbed wildly across Xie Miao's body, slicing his skin—he felt no pain, caught the blades barehanded.

The sliced skin healed rapidly.

Seeing he was one of their kind, Li Zhuomei recalled the flying knives.

Xie Miao stared coldly at the three, then pointed at Liu Tianxian: "You—must die!"

Liu Tianxian smirked. What is this? Also coming to boast before her?

Without warning, the two fiery individuals clashed.

Their movements were astonishingly fast. Xie Miao thought himself invincible—yet within seconds, Liu Tianxian dragged him outside.

She knew if they fought inside, they might demolish her adoptive parents' home.

Fang Hong and the others followed outside to watch.

Outside, they saw Liu Tianxian overpowering Xie Miao, pounding him relentlessly. Yet his self-healing ability was strong—he was slammed into the ground "Boom! Boom! Boom!"—and remained unharmed.

Liu Tianxian hit with raw brute force.

Here, Liu Tianxian was holding back—she didn't want to kill him, didn't want anyone to know how far beyond imagination her power truly was.

Without restraint, she couldn't guarantee Song Jia would still administer her serum upon returning to base.

She had lived peacefully for ten years—during which she continuously grew stronger, long surpassing S-Class.

She didn't even know what realm she had reached!

Because she was born with a Super Body—others, no matter how much they used drugs to enhance, were merely postnatal!

The battle was one-sided; Fang Hong and the others watched calmly.

After a long fight, Xie Miao was utterly defeated, lying on the ground gasping for breath, as if he'd been thoroughly worn out.

This was overconfidence backfiring!

Fang Hong stepped forward, mocking: "That's it?"

Xie Miao glared at him, too exhausted to fight. This woman was simply too strong—the intel was completely wrong.

"Aren't you going to kill her? If not, we're leaving." Fang Hong reached to wrap his arm around Liu Tianxian's shoulder.

Liu Tianxian slapped his hand away.

"I just put your adoptive parents to bed. Is this how you treat me?" Fang Hong's tone was teasing—but it was a threat.

Liu Tianxian fell silent, yielding.

"That's better!"

Fang Hong chuckled, wrapping his arm around her; the three got into a car and drove off.

This scene was finished. The fight scenes were manageable—special effects, martial arts choreography, and set design could always get it done; worst case, use a stunt double.

Liu Tianxian herself was trained in martial arts; she only needed to convey power. No complex movements—because in her eyes, these people were trash, no challenge at all! But conveying the multiple emotions in this scene made Liu Tianxian find it extremely difficult.

(End of Chapter)