Chapter 26: Changing the Scene (Please Collect and Recommend)

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

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

"Cut!" Director Jiang shouted loudly, "Congratulations to Zhu Jie on wrapping up!"

Immediately, applause erupted on the set.

Zhu Jie clasped her hands together and smiled, thanking everyone.

Finally, all the scenes for "Lurk" were filmed; next, she would go to "Snow Leopard" to play Xiao Ya.

Compared to the perfect ending of "Lurk," her role in "Snow Leopard" was rather tragic.

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

The bathhouse.

Teacher Zu Feng, in a sharp striped suit, sat with his legs crossed opposite Qi Hui.

Qi Hui, shirtless and draped in a bath towel, wearing shorts, sat on the bed.

Zhu Jie quietly entered the set and found Yao Chen and Sun Honglei there as well.

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

Zhu Jie's face turned slightly red; she couldn't help but glance at Qi Hui again, her eyes unable to tear away from his chiseled abs and pectoral muscles.

She felt an urge to reach out and touch them.

"Qi Hui has a great physique," Sun Honglei nodded slightly, unable to help but feel a touch of envy in his heart.

"Isn't this just selling flesh?" Yao Chen picked at her nails, speaking indifferently.

Before her words had fully faded, a gaze fell upon her.

Yao Chen turned her head, somewhat displeased, only to find it was Director Jiang Wei.

"Be quiet," Jiang Wei said expressionlessly.

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

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

The script supervisor simultaneously clapped the slate.

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

"Why?"

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

"Aren't you anti-Red?" Li Ya, played by Teacher Zu Feng, said expressionlessly.

"I... I do not oppose any faction," Xie Ruolin, played by Qi Hui, stated his piece right in front of the chief of the special agents.

If an ordinary person said such a thing, Li Ya would have been justified in shooting him on the spot, yet he could do nothing to Xie Ruolin.

"You have no faith!" Li Ya continued to say expressionlessly.

He could only level such an accusation at Xie Ruolin.

"Faith?" Xie Ruolin scoffed: "That is something only you elites can afford to play with; I... I am not worthy."

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

Li Ya instinctively frowned, yet had no words to retort.

Behind the monitor, Jiang Wei watched the scene between the two and nodded in satisfaction.

Originally, after Li Ya said the line "You have no faith," Xie Ruolin's response was "Yes, survivalism."

But after Qi Hui discussed it with him, he changed that line; now it seems, the effect is very good.

Xie Ruolin and Li Ya were originally of equal status; neither could harm the other.

This changed line not only reflects Xie Ruolin's money-first personality but is also full of satire; he likes it.

"These two act well; filming is very smooth," the assistant director said.

Jiang Wei chuckled and said, "Teacher Zu Feng gave Qi Hui quite a bit of tutoring, and Qi Hui grasped it well, improving rapidly."

Teacher Zu Feng was originally a teacher, so teaching well was normal, 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 talent!

The next day, evening.

Qi Hui's scene today was a night shoot, and it 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 the later supporting character Liao Sanmin.

The actor playing Liao Sanmin was Wang Xiaoyi; his name was not well-known, but he had debuted very early.

Moreover, he was Ning Jing's boyfriend.

And Ning Jing... she had a former boyfriend named Jiang Wen.

Looking at the script, Qi Hui frowned slightly; after pondering for a moment, he said to the director, "Director Jiang, isn't Xie Ruolin's death a bit too hasty?"

In this scene, Xie Ruolin was tricked by Yu Zecheng into lying that he was going to the suburbs for an intelligence trade, only to be ambushed from behind with a single shot and killed instantly.

It looked normal, but Xie Ruolin had previously set Yu Zecheng up, nearly causing Yu Zecheng to be exposed and die.

Xie Ruolin should not have been completely unprepared, simply believing Yu Zecheng's words and going to the suburbs alone in the dead of night.

Hearing Qi Hui's words, Jiang Wei tapped the script and asked, "Do you want to add scenes?"

"No adding, changing the scene."

"How to change it?" Jiang Wei asked.

Qi Hui has performed well recently and knows how to handle matters; he can accept changes to the script as long as the overall structure remains unaffected.

"Hmm... how about changing it to a fight scene?" Qi Hui said after thinking for a moment.

Since the overall story cannot be changed, Xie Ruolin's complete lack of defense will be changed to the boldness of a martial arts expert.

The reason he dared to go to the suburbs alone in the dead of night, and the reason he dared to ignore Yu Zecheng's possible frame-up, was that he was originally a fighting expert.

This way, the logic holds up.

"That's a great idea." Director Jiang Wei gave his approval, but then spread his hands and said:

"But our production team has no fight choreographer."

He had filmed fight scenes before, specifically the scene where Yu Zecheng fought against the Japanese and puppet forces before the Anti-Japanese War ended, and was shot, nearly dying.

However, that scene was just two people grappling, wrestling each other's arms to snatch a pistol.

Since then, Jiang Wei hadn't filmed any fight scenes, and the drama "Lurk" didn't have many fight scenes either.

"I'll do it," Qi Hui said; he had a skill as a fight choreographer.

"You?" Jiang Wei sized up Qi Hui: "You know fight choreography?"

This kid acting isn't bad enough, but he also understands these things?

"What's so strange about that?" Qi Hui said: "I also understand explosives and know how to film explosion scenes."

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

He was a master's student in the directing department of the Beijing Film Academy and had sat in on a few classes in the acting department, but he had never heard that the acting department taught these things.

"Hehe..." Qi Hui smiled without speaking.

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

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

"A style similar to 'Taken' and 'The Bourne Identity'."

"None of us are professional martial arts actors; we can't pull off the style of Hong Kong films, and besides, we are all agents and spies in the drama, so we certainly won't fight like Jet Li or Jackie Chan."

There's hope!

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

He had decided to let Qi Hui try.

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

And Liao Sanmin would also have a fight scene in the wrap-up scene for Li Ya.

In addition, the scene where Cuiping leaves the city and the grenade explodes is also a fight and explosion scene.

If Qi Hui does well, then there's no harm in handing it all over to him.

If he's useful, just use him... ahem, the capable one bears more burden; this kid will have a hard time.

After speaking, Jiang Wei hurried off to make arrangements and prepare to start.

Watching Jiang Wei leave, Qi Hui played with a ceramic teacup lid in his hand, a faint smile rising at the corner of his mouth.

He would be leaving the production team soon; some debts also needed to be collected...