Chapter 26: Changing the Script (Please Favorite and Recommend)

Time drifted by, and in the blink of an eye, more than half a month had passed.

Before the camera, Mu Wanqiu, dressed in casual loungewear, stood side-by-side with Yu Zecheng in the bedroom, silently gazing at their wedding photo on the headboard.

"Cut." Jiang Dao shouted loudly: "Congratulations to Zhu Jie for wrapping up!"

Instantly, applause erupted on the set.

Zhu Jie pressed her palms together, smiling as she thanked everyone.

Having finally finished all her scenes for *Lurking*, she would next head to the *Snow Leopard* set to play Xiao Ya.

Compared to the perfect ending here in *Lurking*, her character in *Snow Leopard* was rather tragic.

After changing her clothes, Zhu Jie did not rush to leave the production; instead, she went to the other side of the set, where Qi Hui was filming.

A bathhouse.

Zu Feng, in a crisp pinstripe suit, sat opposite Qi Hui with his legs crossed.

Qi Hui sat on the bed, bare-chested with a bath towel draped over him, wearing only shorts.

Zhu Jie walked quietly onto the set and discovered that Yao Chen and Sun Honglei were also there.

They were all watching the scene between Qi Hui and Zu Feng.

Zhu Jie’s face flushed slightly, and she couldn't help but steal a few more glances at Qi Hui; his well-defined abdominal and pectoral muscles made it hard for her to look away.

She had an urge to reach out and touch them.

"Qi Hui has a good physique." Sun Honglei nodded slightly, unable to suppress a hint of envy in his heart.

"Isn't this just selling flesh?" Yao Chen said flatly, picking at her fingernails.

Before the words had even faded, a gaze landed on her.

Yao Chen turned her head in some dissatisfaction, only to find it was the director, Jiang Wei.

"Be quiet," Jiang Wei said expressionlessly.

Yao Chen quickly stood straight: "Yes... okay."

"3, 2, 1, action!" the executive director shouted.

The clapperboard operator struck the board at the same time.

"I think, we... will find it very difficult to cooperate again."

"Why?"

"The intelligence we obtained through our cooperation—who was it traded with? The Red Party. You certainly wouldn't be happy about that; you are anti-Red Party."

"Aren't you?" Li Ya, played by Zu Feng, remained expressionless.

"I don't... I don't oppose any faction." Xie Ruolin, played by Qi Hui, spoke his mind right in front of the secret agent chief.

If an ordinary person said this, it would be enough for Li Ya to shoot them on the spot, but he found himself unable to do anything about Xie Ruolin.

"You have no faith!" Li Ya said, still expressionless.

That was the only accusation he could level at Xie Ruolin.

"Faith?" Xie Ruolin dismissed it with disdain: "That’s something only elites like you can afford to play with; I... I am not worthy."

"Besides, Captain Li, don't you think your faith is ridiculous? Even Chiang Kai-shek doesn't believe in that stuff; he believes in... he believes in Christianity."

Li Ya’s face sank instinctively, but he was left speechless.

Behind the monitor, Jiang Wei watched the two perform, nodding in satisfaction.

Originally, after Li Ya said the line "You have no faith," Xie Ruolin was supposed to reply, "I do, survivalism."

But after Qi Hui chatted with him and changed the line, it seemed the effect was quite good.

Xie Ruolin and Li Ya were equals in status; neither could do anything to the other.

This changed line not only reflected Xie Ruolin’s money-first personality but was also full of irony; he liked it.

"These two have great chemistry; it’s very easy to film them," the executive director said.

Jiang Wei chuckled and said: "Zu Feng has given Qi Hui quite a few lessons, and Qi Hui’s comprehension is good; he’s improving rapidly."

It was normal for Zu Feng to teach well since he was a teacher, but what surprised him was Qi Hui’s progress—he learned very quickly.

How quickly... let’s put it this way, about the same as a high school student.

That is the stage in life with the highest learning efficiency and the most profound knowledge.

This kid Qi Hui has some real talent!

The next day, evening.

Qi Hui’s scene today was a night shoot, which was also his final scene; once finished, he would wrap up.

Not far away, two other actors were changing costumes.

One was an extra, and the other was a later supporting character, Liao Sanmin.

The actor playing Liao Sanmin was Wang Xiaoyi, who was not well-known but had debuted very early.

Moreover, he was Ning Jing’s boyfriend.

And Ning Jing... she had an ex-boyfriend named Jiang Wen.

Looking at the script, Qi Hui frowned slightly. After pondering for a moment, he said to the director: "Director Jiang, does Xie Ruolin die a bit too hastily?"

In this scene, Xie Ruolin is set up by Yu Zecheng, who lies about an intelligence trade to lure him to the outskirts, then ambushes him from behind with a gunshot, killing him instantly.

It looked normal, but Xie Ruolin had previously sabotaged Yu Zecheng, nearly exposing him and getting him killed.

Xie Ruolin shouldn't have been completely unguarded, believing Yu Zecheng’s words and going to the outskirts alone in the middle of the night.

Listening to Qi Hui, Jiang Wei tapped the script and asked: "You want to add a scene?"

"Not add, change the scene."

"How to change it?" Jiang Wei asked.

Qi Hui had performed well during this time and was very proactive; he could accept changing a scene as long as it didn't affect the overall picture.

"Hmm... how about changing it into a fight scene?" Qi Hui thought for a moment and said.

The overall story couldn't be changed, so he would change Xie Ruolin’s lack of preparation into the unbothered confidence of a martial arts expert.

The reason he dared to go to the outskirts alone in the middle of the night, and the reason he dared to ignore a potential trap by Yu Zecheng, was because he was a master of combat.

This way, it would make logical sense.

"That’s a good idea." Director Jiang Wei gave his affirmation, but spread his hands and said:

"But our crew doesn't have a martial arts choreographer."

He had filmed a fight scene before—the one where the War of Resistance hadn't ended, and Yu Zecheng fought the Japanese collaborators, eventually getting shot and nearly dying.

However, that scene was just two people struggling, twisting each other’s arms to grab a pistol.

Since then, Jiang Wei hadn't filmed any fight scenes, and *Lurking* didn't have many either.

"I can do it," Qi Hui said; one of his skills was martial arts choreography.

"You?" Jiang Wei looked Qi Hui up and down: "You also know martial arts choreography?"

It was one thing for this kid to be a good actor, but he understood these things too?

"What’s the big deal?" Qi Hui said: "I even understand gunpowder; I know how to film explosion scenes."

Jiang Wei was a bit stunned: "Does the Beijing Film Academy acting department teach these things?"

He was a master’s graduate from the Beijing Film Academy directing department and had sat in on a few acting classes, but he had never heard of the acting department teaching these.

"Hehe..." Qi Hui smiled without answering.

A talent indeed... Jiang Wei became interested and quickly said: "Then tell me, how should this night scene be fought?"

Qi Hui thought for a moment and said: "Hmm... it needs to be sharp, dangerous, and every move must be lethal."

"Similar to the style of *Taken* and *The Bourne Identity*."

"We aren't professional martial arts actors; we can't pull off that Hong Kong movie style. Besides, in the story, we are secret agents and spies; we certainly won't fight like Jet Li or Jackie Chan."

This could work!

Jiang Wei’s eyes lit up: "Little Qi, then you direct this scene; I’ll be your assistant."

He decided to let Qi Hui try.

Besides Qi Hui, this scene also involved Liao Sanmin, played by Wang Xiaoyi.

And Liao Sanmin would also have a fight scene in the scene where Li Ya wraps up.

Furthermore, there was the scene where Cui Ping leaves the city and the grenade explodes—that was also a fight and explosion scene.

If Qi Hui did a good job, he might as well hand it all over to him.

If someone is useful, use them... ahem, those who are capable should do more; he would let this kid work hard.

After saying this, Jiang Wei hurried off to set things up, ready to get started.

Watching Jiang Wei leave, Qi Hui toyed with a ceramic cup lid, a faint smile playing on his lips.

He would soon be leaving the production, and it was time to collect on some debts...