Chapter 40: That Child Is Gold Buried in the Sand!

Previously, the director had only given Shengzai this cameo role out of respect for Ma Jianai’s face and because Shengzai asked for no pay.

In fact, this character was originally just a background extra; the acting demand could be very high, or it could be almost nonexistent.

A high acting demand meant finding a child who could remain expressionless as a wild wolf lunged at him—such a child was nearly impossible to find.

But if the acting demand was nearly nonexistent, the technical team could handle the close-up entirely in post-production, replacing it with the wolf’s or the actor’s back.

That meant as long as the actor was a child, they almost automatically met the requirement—even gender didn’t matter.

But after seeing Shengzai’s earlier performance, the director changed his mind.

He realized Shengzai’s appearance was outstanding—he had the potential to debut as a child star—and with the “kendo boy” concept, cutting all his scenes would be a terrible waste.

So before filming officially began, the director, out of goodwill, repeatedly warned Shengzai.

Of course, though he valued talent and saw Shengzai’s potential, that was all he could do.

If Shengzai failed to pass several takes, he could do nothing more.

After all, film cost money, and everyone’s time was precious; they couldn’t keep giving Shengzai endless chances.

If the boy could seize the opportunity, the director would naturally give him close-ups, and Shengzai might gradually emerge as a standout in this film.

But if he failed to seize it, the director would have to follow the original plan and erase all of Shengzai’s facial expressions and shots in post-production.

“Action!”

At the director’s command, the professionals beside him immediately gave instructions to the police dog.

Upon receiving the order, the police dog instantly sprinted toward Shengzai and Jianai.

Large dogs naturally resemble wolves, and with the prop team’s masterful makeup, the police dog charging at them now looked exactly like a snarling, hungry wolf.

“Ah! Don’t come near—!”

The child star who could cry in ten seconds cried on cue, but Shengzai could tell Ma Jianai, this tsundere little girl, was genuinely terrified—not acting.

Because the original script didn’t include Jianai collapsing from sheer fear.

Yet the director beside him didn’t call cut, meaning her current fear didn’t disrupt the original script.

In fact, the terrified Jianai now better matched the script’s intent.

‘Then it’s my turn to perform now!’

According to the original script, when the wolf lunged, Shengzai was supposed to charge forward with his sword, then get knocked flying by a single claw swipe.

The director’s only requirement was that he not swing wildly in panic.

But as the national kendo champion, it was hard to ask him to swing his bamboo sword randomly.

‘So I just need to strike its paw, then act like I’m knocked back, right?’

Understanding what he needed to do, Shengzai lifted his head again—and his gaze instantly changed.

The director, who had been watching the camera intently, froze the moment he saw Shengzai’s eyes.

He’d assumed that as a five-year-old child, even with psychological preparation, Shengzai would show fear facing such a “big scene.”

But now, seeing Shengzai’s eyes clearly, he was stunned.

What kind of gaze was that? What kind of expression? How could a mere five-year-old, facing a lunging wolf, display such fierce determination?

Is this really a five-year-old? Does a child this young possess such unshakable mental fortitude?

Soon after, everyone present—including the director—was stunned by Shengzai’s next move.

Because according to the director’s instructions, Shengzai only needed to swing his sword forward casually; the script called for a kendo boy battling a wolf.

But considering the police dog’s strength, even an average adult wouldn’t stand a chance, let alone a five-year-old.

Yet neither the director nor anyone present expected that the moment the “wolf” lunged, Shengzai’s small body shot forward like a cannonball, swinging his bamboo sword—taller than himself—straight across the wolf’s paw.

“No matter what happens, I will never retreat!

Because my grandfather once said, the sword in one’s hand is wielded to protect the weak!”

As Shengzai swung his bamboo sword, he spoke his only line in the film with the same resolute expression.

After receiving power-sharing from Shengzai in other worlds, even in his current five-year-old body, he could fight even a truly ravenous wolf, let alone a harmless police dog.

But after landing the strike, Shengzai suddenly remembered: according to the film’s script, he was supposed to be knocked back.

So quickly, after sweeping his sword, he arched his body midair, feigning loss of balance and flying backward.

“Yuan Ye, tell that police dog to charge at the child again.”

Hearing the director’s words, the staff beside him froze—according to the script, this shot should’ve ended already.

“Don’t stand there dumbfounded—I’m the director. Do as I say now.”

Don’t you see? That child is gold buried in the sand. His emotional performance and movements—could a five-year-old possibly do that?”

“His acting can be even better; it’s just the plot limiting his potential!”

Hearing the director, everyone present finally understood—he’d spotted little Shengzai’s talent and planned to expand his scenes.

Such situations were rare during filming, but the director had the right to make such calls.

“Whoosh—!”

Outside the set, a crew member whistled and gave several hand signals; the “wolf,” which had been slowly approaching Jianai, now turned its head toward Shengzai again.

Shengzai, who had been lying on the ground preparing to leave, froze when he saw the “wolf” charge at him once more—and the camera still aimed at him.

【This has nothing to do with the script I was given!】

(End of chapter)