Chapter 10: Anyone Who Didn't Know Would Think He Was the Protagonist

At the desk, Zhang Jian let go of the computer, tapped the cigarette case, took out a cigarette and lit it, and took a deep drag.

Hoo~

He exhaled a long plume of white smoke and nodded in satisfaction.

Worthy of being Soft Zhonghua — the smoke is thick and steady, the aroma strong and lingering, the tar neither light nor heavy.

Every step is done to perfection.

He flicked the ash off and Zhang Jian headed outside.

He was going to check on the filming situation, and on Zhang Ruoyun and Beside Qi Hui Hui.

He certainly didn't want his scene messed up by some graduate with zero experience.

On the other side.

Du Yuming brought Beside Qi Hui Hui and Zhang Ruoyun to find Chen Haowei.

"Old Du, what is it?" Seeing Beside Qi Hui Hui and Zhang Ruoyun, his brow shifted slightly, as if it had creased for a moment.

Du Yuming said in a low voice, "Old Chen, I have an idea I want to discuss with you."

At once, Du Yuming laid out the connection between the White-Headed Spring Couplets and the Nineteenth Route Army, and along the way mentioned the Cantonese suggestion Beside Qi Hui Hui had proposed.

After hearing it all, Chen Haowei was equally stunned: "There's even such a thing?"

Just like Du Yuming, he too held a deep reverence for those anti-Japanese-war forebears.

Filming this drama was not just work — there was a strong emotion in it as well.

"That's a good suggestion, let me jot it down." At once, he pulled out a small notebook and wrote down Beside Qi Hui Hui's proposal.

There wasn't time to find an actor, but they could dub it in post.

TV dramas rarely did on-set sound recording to begin with.

Their drama still had a large number of actors speaking Japanese later on, and those were also dubbed.

Of course, Emblem wasn't dubbed — although… his Japanese was terrible.

But it was fine; hardly anyone had heard Japanese anyway, so they probably wouldn't be able to tell.

"Beside Qi Hui Hui, is it?" Chen Haowei capped his pen and looked at Beside Qi Hui Hui with a smile.

The demands weren't high, and the suggestion was good.

Where was this a case of pulling strings? This was clearly a good guy.

Chen Haowei's impression improved greatly — a handsome young man, pleasant to listen to, and so good at handling things.

A real talent!

Too bad Producer Zhang didn't seem to think much of him, otherwise a supporting role would be a sure thing.

"I wonder if you'd be interested in making a cameo as Nineteenth Route Army battalion commander Tang De?" Chen Haowei extended the invitation:

"As for compensation, our crew will offer the corresponding top rate."

Ding~

【Host has come into contact with director Chen Haowei, gaining one lottery opportunity. Would you like to draw now?】

Beside Qi Hui Hui's heart stirred; after a moment's thought, he decided to draw now.

【Congratulations to the host on obtaining the skill: Explosion-Scene Filming and Safety Inspection】

What would I even do with this skill?

"Thank you, Director Chen — sorry to trouble you all." Beside Qi Hui Hui felt gloomy inside but kept his face unchanged, smiling and nodding.

Zhang Ruoyun also smiled at the side, rubbing his hands together, sharing in the glory.

That's my senior brother for you!

"Isn't that inappropriate?" At that moment, a rather untimely voice suddenly rang out.

Emblem walked over and said, "The actor playing that role has already put on the costume and done the makeup — wouldn't it be bad to swap people over a word or two?"

In this scene, he was playing a student fresh to the battlefield, cowering before the artillery fire, his face full of despair and fear.

And then this kid would descend like a divine soldier and save everyone.

On top of that, he's so ridiculously handsome, with such a great build.

Put him in a military uniform and he'd probably be handsome beyond belief.

Anyone who didn't know would think this kid was the protagonist.

That simply wouldn't do!

Faced with the sudden interjection, both directors couldn't help but frown.

Emblem was indeed the male lead backed by the investor, but that didn't mean he should interfere with their casting.

It was overstepping.

"Heh heh, Director Chen and I both feel he can play Tang De." Du Yuming said with a genial smile.

Chen Haowei chuckled, "Old Du's right."

Hearing that, Emblem froze for a moment — he had just noticed Director Chen's expression wasn't right.

Shouldn't he be thoroughly annoyed at someone pulling strings?

How did his attitude change all of a sudden?

Thinking of this, Emblem felt a bit sullen — something wasn't right here.

"Alright, back to your marks." Director Chen clapped his hands and called out, "Beside Qi Hui Hui, go put on your costume and do your makeup — the moment you're ready, we start shooting."

"Got it." Beside Qi Hui Hui replied, and followed the crew member to change costume and do makeup.

Old Zhang ambled over, watching Beside Qi Hui Hui leave.

"Heh heh, he looks pretty good — he must have caught your eye." Zhang Jian said evenly with a smile.

"Dad, my senior brother is amazing, he knows everything." Zhang Ruoyun said with a hint of pride.

Old Du's kind demeanor clashed somewhat with his fierce appearance: "Just an extra, nothing worth noticing."

He naturally knew that Producer Zhang held a slight grudge against Beside Qi Hui Hui; though unclear why, who could fault the producer for overseeing the director?

Zhang Jian smoked a soft Zhonghua cigarette, the mellow, fragrant smoke barely suppressing the gloom in his heart.

Is this kid really that good? That both Old Du and Old Chen would take a liking to him?

Before long, Beside Qi Hui Hui approached wearing a khaki Central Army uniform.

His posture was tall and upright, his gaze firm and sharp.

Add the pistol and Sam Browne belt, and the image of a valiant officer leaped forth.

"Little Qi, that outfit isn't bad," Old Du said, nodding his bald head.

Wen Zhang felt a bit gloomy; well, he was truly going to be upstaged.

"Alright, everyone take your positions—" Director Chen shouted into the microphone.

After waiting a few minutes, once the cameramen, actors, and extras were in place, Director Chen gave the order:

"'Snow Leopard,' Scene 37, Take 1, action!"

Boom, boom, boom!

Immediately, explosions erupted one after another; pre-buried charges detonated in succession, and the acrid smell of gunpowder rushed toward the set.

The two sides of prepared extras "clashed," recreating the January 28th War of Resistance.

On one side were the Nineteenth Route Army in blue-gray uniforms with flat-pancake-style steel helmets; on the other, the Japanese Navy Landing Force in black naval uniforms.

One must admit, 'Snow Leopard' truly excels in costumes, makeup, and props.

The January 28th conflict initially involved the Japanese Navy; only later did the main force switch to the lowly, earth-yellow "dog-skin" Army troops familiar to the public.

"Cut!" Director Chen called a halt: "Very good!"

"Wen Zhang, Tao Feifei, get ready; extras, rest in place for five minutes."

Having spoken, Director Chen walked onto the set to check the pre-buried charges and explosives once more.

Wen Zhang and Tao Feifei squatted in a corner, cultivating their emotions.

They needed to portray that despair, unwillingness, and the emotion of confessing amidst the flames of war.

They also needed the desperate, tragic resolve of holding a grenade ready for suicide, and the joy of surviving the ordeal.

The two embraced, clutching a grenade and trembling, eyes slightly closed, summoning their emotions.

On the other side, Beside Qi Hui Hui strolled leisurely to the sandbag position and picked up a grenade from the box to fiddle with it.

"Hello, Teacher Yu," Beside Qi Hui Hui greeted him; this was a specialist in war dramas, a graduate of the Central Academy of Drama who had appeared in various war plays.

'The Heroes of Lüliang', 'China's Brotherhood', and so on; just the ones Beside Qi Hui Hui knew numbered several.

"Ah, hello, hello," Yu Zhen nodded.

It was all work; act and leave; he had no intention of holding a grudge against anyone.

"Eh?" At that moment, Beside Qi Hui Hui's expression shifted slightly; the grenade in his hand seemed a bit off.

He instinctively hefted it; indeed, something was wrong.

Beside Qi Hui Hui immediately thought of the rumored explosion accidents; could this grenade really explode?

Involuntarily, his expression changed.

"Alright, non-essential personnel exit," Director Chen shouted: "Scene 37, Take 2..."

"Director Chen, wait a moment," Beside Qi Hui Hui interrupted his call.

But Wen Zhang, standing nearby, was not having it.

"What now?!" He suddenly leaped up from the ground, shouting.

We barely managed to cultivate some emotion, and you say wait?

Beside Qi Hui Hui frowned, his expression darkening slightly, and strode toward Wen Zhang.

The anger on Wen Zhang's face faltered; he felt a bit intimidated in his heart.

Beside Qi Hui Hui stood 1.8 meters tall, big and burly, far taller by half a head than Wen Zhang, who was just over 1.7 meters.

Add the uniform and Sam Browne belt, and his aura was majestic and valiant.

Standing before Wen Zhang like that, it was impossible for him not to feel fear.

What if he really started a fight?

"Little Qi, calm down, calm down..." From afar, the two directors ran and shouted, fearing the two would fight.

Once a fight broke out, things would become troublesome.

Though Wen Zhang felt intimidated in his heart, he stuck his neck out, refusing to yield.

I can't win, but I won't submit!

Beside Qi Hui Hui walked to his front and snatched the grenade from his hand.

He hefted it; the feel was exactly the same as the one he had touched earlier.

Immediately, Beside Qi Hui Hui unscrewed the safety cap, waved it before Wen Zhang, then yanked the pull cord.

Hiss, hiss, hiss~

Immediately, a string of sparks flickered at the wooden handle.

Wen Zhang's expression shifted slightly; this thing was a bit different from ordinary props!

Beside Qi Hui Hui raised his hand, flicked it, and tossed it behind the distant, unoccupied sandbags.

Boom!

The next moment, an explosion sounded; acrid gunpowder and billowing black smoke rose into the air.

"Gulp..." Wen Zhang swallowed hard; this thing can really explode?

Damn, isn't that a real bomb?!

"I'm sorry, my voice was a bit loud just now..." Sweat beaded on Emblem's forehead.

He had been holding this thing for quite a long time just now.

Beside Qi Hui Hui smiled faintly: "Teacher Emblem, I actually prefer your unyielding, defiant look from just now."