Chapter 51: Wai Rui Gu De

Due to the tight schedule and heavy workload, Fang Hong was also busy with his own tasks.

He waved and said, "Senior Bao, please explain the story's key points to Yifei."

This script was written by Bao Jinjin, so we'll follow her vision—Fang Hong only needs to control the visuals and cinematic language.

Fang Hong merely had a broad view of the story's existence; he didn't remember the details well and had to rely on the screenwriter to refine them.

In truth, he wasn't as cultured as she was.

Let professionals handle professional tasks—don't overstep your bounds. If you try to do everything yourself, you'll likely inject your own subjective emotions into the drama.

For example, if the drama has many hated characters, you might want them to suffer punishment during filming—that's too arbitrary.

Villains don't think of themselves as villains!

"Got it!"

Bao Jinjin agreed, took her notebook, and went aside with Liu Tianxian to explain the story.

The two women were similar in age, and Bao Jinjin was a true artsy girl—they should get along well.

This scene depicts Liu Tianxian, while delivering a wedding dress to a client, spotting her boyfriend Guo Jingfei buying perfume with his best friend, their gestures intimate.

This kicks off the story of "33 Days of Heartbreak."

"Old Yu, take the actors through the blocking next," Fang Hong continued directing.

Blocking is like rehearsal—it lets actors know how to perform this scene.

Also, it confirms actor positions, determines the best shooting angles, then marks the floor with tape so actors know their exact spots and directions during performance.

Yu Xian is the Executive Director—he must be familiar with the entire shooting process so Fang Hong can send him overseas on assignment.

Also, Yu Xian is doubling as cinematographer, since no replacement has been found yet; but there are two other cinematographers and assistants, so it's not overwhelming.

Time slipped by quietly; once everything was ready, background extras took their places and main actors assumed their positions.

This scene had nothing for Fang Hong to do, so he could sit calmly behind the monitor and direct.

All crew members were on high alert, ready to shoot the first shot.

"Wait!"

Looking at Liu Tianxian in the monitor, Fang Hong suddenly raised his hand.

The crew stared blankly, thinking he was about to yell "Action," nearly turning on the cameras—startling everyone.

Liu Tianxian, holding the prop wedding dress, had just lifted her foot toward the elevator; hearing his call, she retracted her foot and gave him a helpless little expression.

Fang Hong ignored everyone else and waved: "Makeup team, Styling Director—come here."

Then he walked toward Liu Tianxian on set.

The makeup artists followed him over.

"Can you make her look ordinary—like an average person on the street?" Fang Hong pointed at Liu Tianxian.

Liu Tianxian was too beautiful; her appearance didn't suit the character's design.

If she's this gorgeous and gets dumped, viewers will only curse Guo Jingfei as an idiot—they won't feel any identification.

Make her ordinary if you can!

The Styling Director studied Liu Tianxian carefully and hesitated: "Principal, this is difficult."

Her face is breathtaking—how could it ever look ordinary?

Fang Hong looked at Liu Tianxian, who wore a gray knit sweater over a white chiffon blouse.

On any other woman, this outfit would be utterly plain, the epitome of simplicity.

But with her face, it somehow radiated a retro elegance.

Being naturally beautiful is also a problem.

Seeing the man stare at her, Liu Tianxian tugged at her clothes: "Why are you staring at me like that?"

"You're too beautiful—I'm just looking a little longer," Fang Hong said.

Liu Tianxian wanted to kick him—could he speak properly?

Fang Hong told the stylist: "Add bangs to her forehead."

Hearing the order, one stylist immediately brought several fake bangs and fitted them onto Liu Tianxian.

Liu Tianxian cooperated well, bending her knees slightly so the stylist could reach—she was 170 cm tall, and the stylist was a woman, shorter than her.

After the bangs were secured, the stylist stepped back; Liu Tianxian's long hair fell loosely, her bangs hanging down—she did look a bit more ordinary.

Liu Hai, all is well; the stylist stood to the side, Liu Tianxian's long hair hung loose, her bangs falling forward, indeed making her look a bit more ordinary.

"Try another style," Fang Hong said.

The stylist switched to a new set of bangs—this time with a 3:7 part, making her prettier, but less effective than the previous one.

"Put back the previous bangs," Fang Hong instructed.

The stylist switched back to the earlier bangs and reattached them to Liu Tianxian.

"That's it—at least she looks human now," Fang Hong muttered, signaling it was fine.

That sounded like an insult!

Liu Tianxian wasn't pleased; she stepped up to him, pointed a finger at his chest: "How dare you talk like that? Who are you calling not human?"

Fang Hong looked at her finger, slender as a spring onion, tapping his chest: "You're not human."

He wore only a T-shirt; though September in Beijing wasn't hot, it wasn't cold either—wearing a T-shirt was normal for a young man with his fiery constitution.

So when she poked him, he clearly felt the pressure.

"Say that again," Liu Tianxian glared, her voice fierce but cute.

"Before the bangs, viewers saw you as a fairy—you're too beautiful, you know? Now your looks are slightly toned down—got it?"

Fang Hong knew she'd misunderstood and explained.

Fang Hong knew she had misunderstood, so he explained.

The main goal was to avoid delaying filming; if time allowed, he'd have argued with her about whether she was even human.

"Oh, so that's how it is!"

Liu Tianxian smiled slightly, embarrassed, thinking he was scolding her, and affectionately patted his chest.

"It's fine, let's roll!"

Fang Hong waved his hand and continued filming.

Women think too much—don't they know what they're like?

The scene was simple, no lines: Liu Tianxian sees her boyfriend cheating, all three freeze in place, and the supporting actress just needs to spray perfume.

It wasn't real perfume—it was just a glass bottle filled with water.

Because spraying real perfume might not produce mist, and it would affect the air, so they used a fake one.

Since they'd rehearsed, the scene was done in two takes; Fang Hong shouted "Cut!" and that was it!

"Director, shouldn't I show a pained expression?" Liu Tianxian was quite good at reading the room.

She felt that seeing her boyfriend cheat on her best friend, she ought to react—not just stand there stunned.

Can you even do that? Fang Hong didn't say that—it would be too harsh and likely earn him a glare; instead, he said, "It's not impossible, I'm just worried you'll struggle."

That sounded much better.

"I'll give it a try—I want to challenge myself," Liu Tianxian said.

Then give her the chance, Fang Hong said: "Alright, let's shoot another take."

Chen Zhixi, watching on set, grew displeased and walked up to Fang Hong, whispering: "The mall will open soon."

Filming here while the store is open isn't just a matter of a few coins.

Her job was to save money!

Fang Hong checked the time and said: "It's fine, I know what I'm doing."

The crew kept their equipment in place, and the actors cooperated fully as they began filming again.

Liu Tianxian watched Guo Jingfei cheat on her best friend and tried to make a pained expression, even biting her lip.

"Good, wonderful, pack up and move to the next location."

Fang Hong didn't waste time—he waved his hand and ordered the crew to move to the next shooting location.

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(End of Chapter)