Chapter 20: Zhou Xun

Zhou Xun.

For a certain period in the future, Zhou Xun could be said to be extremely popular. She was so popular that her advertisements were on every street corner, and her dramas were playing on every television.

Chen Nuo had once heard it said that she was the most talented actress in the mainland entertainment industry.

After Chen Kexin shouted "action," he immediately understood why that was said.

Lighting a cigarette, taking a puff, and exhaling the smoke, she rested her hand on the back of the chair, turned her face to the side, and glanced at him without even giving him a full look. She crossed her legs, and with a hint of impatience and nonchalance, she lightly let a few words drift from her mouth: "If you have something to say, say it."

The aura and manner of a big star rushed toward Chen Nuo along with these few words.

Then, Chen Kexin was surprised to find that the tall, handsome young man from before had vanished instantly. In his place was a workplace sycophant with a hunched back, bent knees, and a fawning expression. Facing the other party's unfriendly attitude, he didn't feel the slightest bit awkward, and he said with a fawning smile: "Miss Zhou, I just want to ask two questions, just two. First, may I ask what your thoughts are on the recent rumors regarding your rumored boyfriend?"

Li Er almost applauded in admiration. The reaction of this kid, Chen Nuo, was truly too fast. Although she had conducted several on-site tests and had watched Chen Nuo play the mute many times, at this moment, Li Er still really wanted to applaud for Chen Nuo.

What is a good actor?

A good actor needs to be able to catch the "baggage" thrown by their scene partner, and at the same time, be able to actively throw it back. A good scene is never performed well by just one actor; it must be achieved through mutual contribution between actors.

Zhou Xun's ability to get into character quickly was famous in the industry, but the fact that Chen Nuo could catch the other party's "baggage" and react extremely quickly to throw it back—this point alone was enough to leave a deep impression on Chen Kexin.

"That's all bullshit!" Hearing the reporter's malicious question, Zhou Xun sat up straight, her eyes widened, and she pointed her cigarette-holding hand vaguely at the other party twice in the air. "You reporters are all fucking talking nonsense. Go do whatever you want, just don't be an eyesore here."

A flash of triumph crossed the reporter's eyes, because this was the reaction he wanted to get. With a hint of provocation, he said in a sharp, piercing tone: "Miss Zhou, do you mean to say that your boyfriend hasn't been with other women, right?"

Never mind Zhou Xun, even Li Er, listening from the side, felt that this person was very detestable. His gaze was detestable, his voice was detestable, his expression was detestable; every word he said was detestable.

"Go fuck yourself." Sensing the trap in the question, Zhou Xun naturally wouldn't answer. She cursed viciously, turned her back, and didn't even want to look at this person again.

Zhou Xun had turned her back, but she didn't know that the moment she turned away, the reporter's eyes immediately began to dart around shiftily, as if observing the room for any potential gossip. His eyes moved rapidly, but his mouth still used that disgusting tone: "Miss Zhou, why get angry? We're all just doing our jobs. By the way, are you still in contact with your ex-boyfriend, Mr. Liang?"

Hearing this, Zhou Xun turned back around and said coldly: "Does that have anything to do with you? I need to put on makeup, please get out."

The moment Zhou Xun turned back, Li Er saw Chen Nuo's eyes instantly stop moving.

Her gaze shifted toward Chen Kexin, and a hint of a smile appeared at the corners of her mouth.

What does it matter if one can't sing? May I ask, across the mainland, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, how many actors sing well? An actor is an actor; acting is obviously the priority. And now, look, this is the strength of a Beijing Film Academy student... no, a future Beijing Film Academy student. "Fine, then I'll go." To everyone's surprise, this time the reporter actually agreed immediately. Then, he turned his back to everyone and walked toward the door. After taking two steps, he did a forty-five-degree side-glance back. The oily, sleazy middle-aged man from before was gone, replaced by a sharp-eyed hunter. He said to the prey in his net with a triumphant tone: "Miss Zhou, my second question is, I've taken intimate photos of you and your rumored boyfriend. What do you think I should do?"

But this time, Li Er didn't think he was good.

This was an amateur actor; this was the consequence of not having undergone systematic training. Without a script, the actor's own instincts had overridden their consciousness. In other words, she believed Chen Nuo had lost control in this scene.

However, Li Er did not notice that the Mr. Liu beside her, who had been watching with a blank expression the whole time, suddenly had his eyes light up when he saw this slightly distracting move by Chen Nuo.

"Alright, cut!"

Just as Li Er expected, as soon as Chen Nuo's turn came out, Chen Kexin immediately called cut. "Alright, let's stop there."

Li Er said: "Chen Nuo, why did you add that movement at the end? Isn't it a bit unnecessary?"

The reason she took the initiative to attack was simple. If she pointed out the parts where Chen Nuo didn't perform well, others wouldn't harp on it.

Chen Nuo was about to explain, but Mr. Liu spoke first: "Professor Li, I don't quite agree with your opinion. I think Chen Nuo's turn just now was very well done, and the pose he struck at the end was also very masculine. If it's filmed and put on the big screen, it should be very handsome. I think the audience has a need to appreciate beauty; they love to see shots like this. So, I like his design."

Li Er smiled and said: "Mr. Liu, no matter how good-looking or handsome this movement is, it is still superfluous."

"If the audience loves to see it, then it's not superfluous."

Li Er maintained her smile and said nothing more.

Chen Kexin said at this moment: "Actually, I think Professor Li is right. Chen Nuo's movement in this scene is indeed not necessary; it makes the audience focus on him as a person, and takes them out of the scene. However, Mr. Liu is also right, because when we make movies, we must consider the market and what the audience likes to see. Zhou Xun, what do you think?"

Zhou Xun smiled and said: "Professor Li, please don't be angry. To tell you the truth, I actually quite like his design. It's mainly because he isn't greasy; even with this somewhat exaggerated movement, it looks quite comfortable and natural. So, I think it's fine."

Chen Kexin then laughed and said: "Professor Li, to be honest, I didn't call cut just now because I thought there was a problem with his acting, but because I felt that we had seen enough by that point."

(End of chapter)