Chapter 6

Professor Cheng?

The newcomer's question left everyone baffled.

The title "teacher" is considered an honorific in the entertainment industry.

Whether major or minor roles, new actors address seniors as "teacher."

But everyone in this dorm is just extra cast—how could they possibly deserve to be called "teacher" by crew members?

"Oh, Professor Cheng, you walked off too fast—this actor's notice should've been left with you. Luckily, Director Lai reminded me, or I wouldn't have known where to find you."

The young man standing at the door, seeking Professor Cheng, immediately bowed respectfully upon seeing Cheng Chen.

"My apologies, I left in a hurry and forgot. Thanks for coming all this way—what's your surname?"

Cheng Chen took the notice and smiled as he asked the newcomer.

"No need for formalities—I'm Zhang. Just call me Xiao Zhang. I'm the camera assistant for Group B; your upcoming scenes are under our team's shoot."

"So Director Lai told me to deliver this notice to you as a heads-up—we'll be working together for a long time."

This Xiao Zhang was truly shrewd: though it was Cheng Chen who had forgotten the notice, he said not a word about it.

First he introduced himself, then invoked Lai Shuiqing to make Cheng Chen feel the crew's regard for him—unintentionally helping Cheng Chen show off in front of his roommates.

No one in the crew is naive—they're all sharp operators. He likely sensed the tension in the dorm already.

His words gave Cheng Chen prestige while forcing Cheng Chen to owe him a favor.

Cheng Chen was an old hand—he understood Xiao Zhang's intent in a few sentences. He nodded with a smile and held up the notice toward Liu Chen.

Liu Chen's face flushed red and pale by turns, his eyes filled with suppressed rage, standing frozen like a statue.

Xiao Zhang kept saying "Professor Cheng" and "you"—this group of extras had never been treated this way.

Besides, Cheng Chen couldn't possibly have asked a crew member to act with him.

The truth was right before their eyes—Liu Chen had no choice but to accept it.

His earlier boast, "I'll eat whatever you take," now felt like a slap across his face.

After exchanging a few words with Cheng Chen, Xiao Zhang left. He spoke little, but every word helped Cheng Chen—and he stopped just short of overdoing it. A very clever man.

"Alright, guys, I'm off." Cheng Chen greeted everyone, took a few steps, then turned back, looked at Liu Chen, and said seriously: "Actually… landing the role of Song Qingshu… isn't hard at all."

The implication: what seems impossible to you is effortless for me.

What is called "killing with words"?

This is killing with words!

Liu Chen's expression was a masterpiece of fury—his teeth clenched with hatred—but Cheng Chen no longer cared to watch.

As for that bet of "I'll eat whatever you take"… Cheng Chen had long outgrown such juvenile games.

…

After obtaining the rental address from the fellow villager, Cheng Chen rushed straight to his new apartment and began studying the Song Qingshu notice.

No wonder Lai Shuiqing was so frantic—he'd just learned that Song Qingshu's next scene was scheduled for the day after tomorrow.

If Cheng Chen hadn't appeared in time, Lai Shuiqing would have had to hire someone from outside to play Song Qingshu.

Looking at the packed schedule, time was tight—without hesitation, Cheng Chen threw all his focus into Song Qingshu's scenes…

After two days of sleepless study, he wrote thick stacks of notes on the character's biography, psychological depth, and performance boundaries—and had essentially mastered Song Qingshu's role.

As for the lines, whether because he'd been reborn, Cheng Chen found he memorized things astonishingly fast.

Basic lines—he'd read them once or twice and remembered them almost perfectly; even long, convoluted monologues, after five minutes of reading, he could recite word-for-word.

…

"Good,

Cut!"

"Cheng Zai, that was excellent!"

After Cheng Chen's performance, Lai Shuiqing, seated beside the monitor, gave him a thumbs-up.

Working with an actor like this is a joy—he not only memorized his own lines and plot, but also memorized his scene partner's lines and motivations.

When his co-actor stumbled, Cheng Chen would smoothly feed him lines, saving Lai Shuiqing considerable effort.

More importantly, Cheng Chen understood Cantonese—this bridge between director and actor made everyone's job much easier.

"Thank you for your praise, Director Lai." Cheng Chen smiled at Lai Shuiqing. He didn't leave after finishing his scene—he stayed to watch the others' performances.

In acting, a mentor matters, but cultivation depends on the individual.

It requires not only watching and practicing, but also observing others' performances and silently reflecting.

Absorbing their strengths and integrating them into one's own style.

Lai Shuiqing picked up his megaphone and said: "Move to next set—notify Zhou Zhiruo to come on set in costume!"

The script supervisor responded and immediately ran toward Gao Yuanyuan's trailer.

Hearing Gao Yuanyuan was about to appear, Cheng Chen snapped to attention.

For half a month on set, he'd already met Su Youpeng and Jia Jingwen and exchanged a few words with them.

Only Gao Yuanyuan he had never seen.

He had long wanted to meet this future goddess, adored by countless men.

Most of "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" was filmed on location in Jingcheng, so the move took little time.

Half an hour later, Cheng Chen saw Gao Yuanyuan walking slowly toward them, dressed in a pink-and-white costume.

"Sorry, Director, I kept you waiting." Gao Yuanyuan apologized softly.

Delicate, graceful, exquisitely beautiful—her steps like willow branches swaying in the wind, like a pure white flower of this world.

At this moment, Gao Yuanyuan was beautiful in her purity, beautiful enough to stir pity.

Lai Shuiqing's casting eye was truly exceptional—he made one feel as if they were seeing the early, helpless, pure, and untainted Zhou Zhiruo from the original novel.

At this age, Gao Yuanyuan was as lovely as a blooming flower, graceful and increasingly beautiful.

"Zhao Youting, the hatred of stealing my wife is irreconcilable!" Cheng Chen silently cursed as he saw Gao Yuanyuan at this stage.

"Mm, since you're here, let's begin." Lai Dao nodded.

"Yes!" Gao Yuanyuan replied brightly.

The next scene should be in episode 25 of the edited TV series, roughly following the plot:

Jinhua Popo blocked the Emei Sect disciples and challenged Miejue Shitai to fight; according to the plot, Miejue Shitai had already died at Wanan Temple by this point.

Thus, Zhou Zhiruo stepped forward in her master's place, but was defeated by Jinhua Popo; to save her fellow disciples, Zhou Zhiruo willingly swallowed poison and followed Jinhua Popo overseas in search of the Dragon Slaying Saber.

Lai Shuiqing sat back down beside the monitor and picked up the megaphone.

"Good, lights?"

"Lights in position!"

"Props?"

"Props in position!"

"Camera in position!"

"All departments ready, roll!"

……