Chapter 55: Boyfriend Is a Dog

As usual, Fang Hong and Bao Jinjin explained it to Liu Tianxian again, then she performed.

Bao Jinjin is the screenwriter; she understands the characters' psychology best, and if anything feels out of place, she can help revise the lines on the spot!

When preparations were nearly complete, Fang Hong called Guo Jinfei over and said: "This scene is crucial—you need to guide Yifei, providing her with emotion and reactions."

"Got it!"

Guo Jinfei nodded—he was trained in theater, and his acting was solid.

Almost all the actors in this play had some acting experience; only Liu Tianxian was a novice, meaning every other actor had to carry her.

Because whether it's Zhang Songwen's wealthy boss, Pan Yueming's gold-digger, or even Guo Jinfei as the ex-boyfriend, the plot all revolves around Liu Tianxian.

Filming began quickly: Liu Tianxian stood on the steps, Guo Jinfei stood below them, facing each other.

"I always lick your boots like a dog, yet you always stand there haughtily, motionless, looking down on me."

"Yes, you're beautiful, heavenly gorgeous, while I can only look up at you from below—I've looked up enough, I can't take it anymore, my neck's about to snap from gazing up!"

"Does that mean you're the only one in the world with self-respect? I have it too—I'm not your dog, I'm a person, I'm a person!"

Guo Jinfei's emotions built layer by layer until, when he shouted "person," he slapped himself twice hard, looking utterly remorseful!

The original script and emotion weren't like this—it wasn't this intense!

This dialogue was rewritten, specifically for Liu Tianxian; the emotional delivery was also revised, tailored entirely for her.

This fits her image perfectly!

Even if Liu Tianxian is stunningly beautiful, she's cruel, aloof, and treats her boyfriend like a dog—not a person!

That's the core of the breakup—amplify this, and the plot becomes far more believable.

There's no choice: Liu Tianxian is too beautiful—even her bangs can't hide how beautiful she is!

This scene relies on Guo Jinfei to build up the emotion.

And Liu Tianxian doesn't need to show expression—she only needs to suppress her emotion and feign arrogance: "I don't need you to take me home anymore. Go."

Guo Jinfei waved his hand, paused beside the taxi, then turned back and said: "Take care of yourself."

Liu Tianxian said nothing, only put on a "fake smile."

"Cut!"

Fang Hong wasn't at the monitor—he stood just outside the camera frame, explaining to Liu Tianxian: "A fake smile is when your lips smile but your eyes don't—it's unnatural. Watch me."

He then showed her a mechanical, utterly fake smile.

Then he returned to his normal expression: "Got it?"

Liu Tianxian nodded, copying him: her face showed no smile, but the corners of her mouth curled upward—her expression was extremely unnatural.

"Yes, OK, cameraman, give her a close-up!" Fang Hong clapped.

No preparation needed—the cameraman just raised his camera and shot straight at her face.

The crew and actors watching said nothing—after all, isn't a director's job to train actors?

Liu Tianxian felt this man taught her nothing but techniques, nothing from within.

If you can express it with technique, why use inner feeling?

Fang Hong just wanted convenience—who cares how you feel inside? The audience can't see that; they only see what you show.

Liu Tianxian had never experienced much in life—she wasn't suited for the "method" approach.

Even if Liu Tianxian lacked inner emotion, Fang Hong could still stir the audience's feelings through props, voiceover, and editing.

This was the expressive school—something entirely different from what Liu Tianxian had known before.

By this point in the plot, the setup was complete; now came Liu Tianxian's emotional outburst.

That is, the chase scene.

Liu Tianxian stood frozen in place, as if recalling, struggling—then her eyes grew moist, and she sprinted after the departing taxi.

In the end, she couldn't bear to let go of this love; she ran while crying, her humble figure heartbreaking.

In reality, nothing much was visible on set, no real feeling—only after post-production added filters and voiceover did the emotion come alive.

Fang Hong's character suddenly appeared and pulled Liu Tianxian into a tight embrace.

"Let me go, it's too late! Let me go!" Liu Tianxian struggled fiercely.

"Slap!"

Fang Hong slapped her—hard, but not too hard.

Yu Xian, sitting behind the monitor, didn't yell "Cut!"

But Liu Tianxian herself stepped out of character and told Fang Hong: "No, you have to hit me for real—I can't find the feeling otherwise."

"Alright, then bear with it!" Fang Hong said.

Liu Tianxian nodded, signaling him to go ahead.

Fang Hong signaled the crew to restart filming.

"Slap!!"

Another slap landed on Liu Tianxian's cheek, her hair whipping from the force—this time harder.

The set fell silent—this slap was definitely too hard!

Fang Hong delivered his line: "Awake yet?"

"Still not enough—hit me harder," Liu Tianxian stepped out of character again, still not finding the feeling.

"This isn't right," Fang Hong said.

"It's fine—hit harder, I think I can handle it," Liu Tianxian said seriously.

She still wanted to find the feeling—the inner truth!

"Alright, then bear with it—we'll do it in one take," Fang Hong didn't want her to suffer more.

"Go!" Liu Tianxian nodded firmly.

The makeup artist used powder to cover her face, because her skin was too delicate and had been slapped red.

Filming resumed.

"Slap!!!"

That slap was especially loud—no dubbing needed.

Liu Tianxian's hair flew up from the blow; she was dazed and instinctively covered the side of her face that had been struck.

It really hurt—her face ached, her heart ached, and her emotion was perfect.

But she didn't forget her acting; she looked up at the departing taxi, tears streaming down her face "splash splash!"

The crew stood frozen, watching; they knew Liu Tianxian was dedicated, because during the filming of her first movie, she was never late or left early.

She would shoot until whenever they said, never complaining!

But this time, it felt like she was pushing herself too hard—because they could all hear the slap, and it was heavy!

Actors Zhang Songwen, Guo Jingfei, and Pan Yueming watched from a distance, some with arms crossed, others silently observing.

This slightly shattered their perception of Liu Tianxian.

They had always thought Liu Tianxian was just a star who relied on her benefactor and her beauty, starting with a royal flush, still several levels below real actors.

Now, looking again, regardless of whether her acting was good or not, her attitude toward the profession was admirable!

Very impressive!

Except for Zhang Songwen, the other actors had barely interacted with Liu Tianxian.

Any contact had been because Liu Tianxian had once attended his coaching class, but back then, their relationship was purely employer-employee, with no personal connection.

Pan Yueming had only made a cameo in his previous drama.

He still remembered the kiss with the Principal—deeply, because she had kissed him while lying on top of him.

The scene was still playing; Liu Tianxian's expression shifted from sorrow, and she said, "Thank you!"

That "thank you" was for Fang Hong—it jolted her awake, making her realize her relationship with her ex-boyfriend was truly over!

Fang Hong grabbed her arm and turned, walking away into the distance; their silhouettes grew smaller and smaller under the dim streetlight.

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(End of Chapter)