Chapter 19: Dumplings, Dumplings Again

The press conference did not last long, ending in about an hour.

Director Jiang Wei, keeping his prior promise, also shared the video of the capture process.

The media returned to their respective homes to prepare more specific reports.

But the reporters at video websites were extremely excited; being one step ahead, they uploaded the video directly to their own sites.

There were many video websites at this time: Tudou, Youku, Sohu, Ku6, 56 Video, Kuaibo... ahem, not the last one.

As for the other two of the future "Ai-You-Teng" trio, they would not launch until the next one or two years, while Bilibili was still just an unremarkable ACG niche site.

The video's release boosted the fame of Qi Hui, Ling Xiaosu, and Zhang Ruoyun, pushing Ling Xiaosu's already good recognition to a new level.

As for Qi Hui and Zhang Ruoyun, they had not even released any works yet, but had already Left a mark in many people's minds.

"Awesome, that guy's bayonet charge move was so skilled, so cool!"

"Damn, watching this makes me want to grab a rifle and try it out!"

"I'll go first; my family runs a factory, getting some wood and steel pipes is no problem."

"The one above, our country has a complete Criminal Law and a full set of Death Laws."

"Not just that; besides the Criminal Law and Death Laws, there is also a skilled technique for scattering ashes."

True to form for sand-diao netizens, they accidentally derailed the thread again.

"Ahem, who is this guy? Haven't seen him before; is he in a war drama?"

"Checked it; Baidu search yields nothing, no works at all, but I found his Weibo."

"Weibo? What's that?"

"I'll go register one to play around."

"Don't bother; his Weibo has nothing on it."

"You don't get it; having nothing now doesn't mean there won't be anything later."

"That much trouble?"

"Then I won't go; too lazy."

"Isn't it better to spend that time playing a few games?"

"The one above, say 'a few' not 'a bunch'."

The thread derailed again... The executive director of "Lurk" was speechless; he had been assigned by Director Jiang Wei to surf the web and see what people thought of "Lurk".

At first, he thought this was an easy job, but he didn't expect sand-diao netizens to be either posting smut or engaging in keyboard justice.

Immediately, he couldn't hold back and spoke out personally: "Why look for works? Isn't he currently acting in 'Lurk'?"

"Oh, right; I'll mark this spot and watch the drama later."

"'Lurk' is amazing; one actor is a fugitive on the run, and another actor is the big shot who catches the fugitive."

"Putting aside everything else, just that point alone is worth watching."

"Brothers, I'm definitely following this drama!"

"Same here!"

"All these years have been full of queue dramas; disgusting!"

"Queue dramas are so bad even dogs won't watch them!"

The executive director nodded; although something still felt off, it was acceptable now.

Actually, there were some follow-ups that Qi Hui and the other two, along with Director Jiang Wei, had not mentioned.

For instance, the bonus money; for instance, after the victim officer learned of this matter, he said he wanted to send a banner to express gratitude.

However, these were follow-up matters requiring some time, so Qi Hui and the others did not reveal them, since nothing had even been started yet.

The commotion arrived with a bustling clamor, but filming had to continue; Jiang Wei directly rejected subsequent interview invitations.

He had a clear understanding of himself: a director must speak through works.

If the works are bad, no amount of noise is anything but a castle in the air.

One day after this incident, the "Lurk" film crew resumed normal filming work.

"Hello, Teacher Zhu." Qi Hui smiled and greeted a female actress who had just arrived at the set.

This girl had a gentle temperament and a pretty face; she looked very beautiful.

Actress Zhu Jie, playing Mu Wanqiu, who is also his wife in the drama.

Of course, Mu Wanqiu does not like Xie Ruolin, but likes Yu Zecheng, played by Sun Honglei.

Besides the role of Mu Wanqiu, Zhu Jie will also go to the set of "Snow Leopard" to play Xiao Ya.

Playing Xiao Ya, the white moonlight in many people's hearts.

"Hello, Teacher Qi." Zhu Jie, wearing a fitted indigo-blue cheongsam, said with a beaming smile:

"Calling me 'Teacher' is too formal; I'm not that old, just call me by my name, or even just 'Wanqiu' directly."

"In the drama, I am your wife."

Her first impression of Qi Hui was good: tall, sunny and handsome, and he smelled very nice.

It made people feel happy at first glance.

Moreover, she had seen that video and was deeply impressed by Qi Hui holding a rifle and capturing the fugitive.

It was hard for her to develop any dislike for someone like that.

Qi Hui's smile remained unchanged: "Okay, um... Wanqiu, you can just call me by my name directly too."

After a brief introduction, the two were called away by the executive director.

Today's filming was about to begin.

Unlike Qi Hui, Zhu Jie had already filmed several scenes in "Lurk"; she had just had some matters come up and had to leave the set temporarily, only returning today.

Actually, even if she hadn't left back then, the shoot couldn't have continued, because the actor for Xie Ruolin hadn't been cast properly.

Or rather, he had been cast — it was just Ling Xiaosu — but at the time, wasn't Ling Xiaosu refusing to take the role?

On set, director Jiang Wei was directing the setup while the props crew bustled about.

Flour, dumpling wrappers, stir-fried meat filling, and so on.

Today's scene was the very first proper scene between Xie Ruolin and the protagonist Yu Zecheng.

"Alright, props team clear the set, actors in." Director Jiang Wei called out: "Scene 77 of 'Lurk', shot 1, action!"

The clapperboard came down with a sharp "clack."

Sun Honglei, Yao Chen, and Zhu Jie were busy at the table, wrapping dumplings.

This wasn't yet the era when pretty-boy idols and trash films ran rampant; when it came to filming, both directors and actors took it very seriously.

The dumpling wrapping was real dumpling wrapping — all three of them could actually do it.

Zhu Jie, being a southerner, had never wrapped dumplings before, but she earnestly learned how.

Director Jiang Wei watched the three actors on set, nodded in satisfaction — it looked like they might get it in one take.

Suddenly, sensing something off beside him, he turned his head and found Feng Enhe, Wu Gang, Teacher Zu Feng, and a few other actors had gathered around.

"What are you doing?" the director was a bit baffled.

Wu Gang laughed heartily: "Nothing, nothing, just watching."

That kid Qi Hui had made such a big commotion, so of course they were curious how his actual skills measured up.

"Director Jiang, we're not disturbing you, are we?" Teacher Zu Feng chuckled.

Feng Enhe smiled faintly and tossed out a line: "Don't worry, in a bit I'll curse them as fat pigs afraid of the slaughter."

"... Suit yourselves, watch if you want." The director was a bit helpless.

"Cut!" the first assistant director shouted: "Xie Ruolin, get ready."

Qi Hui nodded and waved a hand to signal he was ready.

"Scene 177, shot 13, action!"

The clapperboard snapped, and filming officially began.

On set, a knock sounded at the door; Mu Wanqiu restrained the smile on her face: "He's here."

Though the Mu Wanqiu she played was Xie Ruolin's wife, she found Xie Ruolin deeply repulsive.

Saying so, she walked slowly to the door and opened it, and Qi Hui's Xie Ruolin made his formal entrance.

"Oh, Mr. Yu." Qi Hui, in an off-white suit with both hands in his pockets, gave a slight nod in greeting.

The moment he opened his mouth, Feng Enhe and the others off set were momentarily stunned.

Teacher Zu Feng frowned slightly: "He's practiced that voice."

"Teacher Wu, what do you think?" Feng Enhe asked — Wu Gang had trained in professional voice acting.

The Lu Qiaoshan he played used vocal fry throughout, a magnetic, deep voice that left a deep impression.

"He has indeed practiced, and quite well," Wu Gang said. "The low end is deep, the midrange has power — very good."

Feng Enhe said: "More than that, it's also very clear, no noise."

When ordinary people speak, it's hard to avoid noise — lip smacks, nasality, saliva sounds, even phlegm in the throat.

But Qi Hui's voice was crystal clear, like a singer's.

Teacher Zu Feng looked at Qi Hui and said nothing further.

On set, the acting continued.

"Hello, Mr. Xie." Sun Honglei's Yu Zecheng greeted him with a smile: "What a busy man."

"Not busy, not busy, just busy with nothing." Qi Hui's Xie Ruolin wore a smile as he walked slowly forward.

Then, seeing the dumplings the three at the table had wrapped, his smile faded slightly, his voice dropped, his tone heavy and solemn:

"Dumplings. Dumplings again."

"The last meal before parting from my parents forever was dumplings... damn those devils!"

At that moment, the director suddenly called a halt: "Cut!"

Feng Enhe and Wu Gang were briefly stunned — there was nothing wrong with it, so why call cut?

Teacher Zu Feng, however, raised an eyebrow, looking like he was in for a good show.