[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starting-from-stealing-the-role-in-1995-huayu":3,"chapter-starting-from-stealing-the-role-in-1995-huayu-starting-from-stealing-the-role-in-1995-huayu-chapter-310":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Starting from Stealing the Role in 1995 Huayu",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2321299,4540,"Chapter 310","starting-from-stealing-the-role-in-1995-huayu-chapter-310",310,"\u003Cp>Jiang Qin was extremely happy, holding the script Wu Yuchen gave her and reading it over and over without letting go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although this film, “The Mortician,” is not a female-led movie, it’s clearly an awards contender, and she is unquestionably the female lead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen smiled and said, “Alright, no one’s going to steal your script—take your time reading it~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Qin put down the script, stood up, and kissed Wu Yuchen’s cheek: “Husband, you’re so good~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen chuckled: “If I didn’t bring back a script, wouldn’t you have made that trip for nothing last time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Qin pouted playfully: “Oh, last time I really just came to see you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen nodded: “Mm-hmm, sure sure, you came to see me, and while you were at it, you blew a little pillow wind and asked me for a role, right~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Qin pouted again, wrapped her arms around Wu Yuchen’s neck, and blew softly into his ear: “I’ll blow! I’ll blow!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen wasn’t annoyed; he pulled her close, covered her lips with his, gave a loud kiss, then grinned: “Don’t just blow above—blow below too~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Qin immediately pinched him: “Hey! You’re such a rascal!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After laughing and playing for a while, Jiang Qin linked her arm through Wu Yuchen’s and asked: “Husband, who are you planning to cast as the male lead?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen shook his head: “Can’t say yet—let’s see how the auditions go. Whoever fits best gets the part.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, Wang Zhonglei’s message to Feng Xiaogang differed from what Wu Yuchen said; his true public requirement was a male actor over thirty, with a refined demeanor and a dignified appearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After learning this, Liu Dehua immediately contacted Wu Yuchen, asking if he still had a chance despite being over forty. Wu Yuchen smiled and told Hua Zai, “You look younger than thirty—come audition and see how it goes.” That’s how he explained it to Wang Zhonglei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Mortician” is a 2008 Japanese film that won the 2009 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, helping Japanese cinema win the award again after a 53-year gap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, during the 1950s, Japanese cinema had a golden era; after the classic “Rashomon” emerged, Japanese films won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film three times within five years and collected numerous international awards, a period known as the heyday of Japanese samurai films. But afterward, Japanese cinema gradually declined and has now sunk into a low point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast, Chinese cinema has recently seen Wu Yuchen and Li An consistently winning awards at the Oscars, while actors like Cheng Long and Li Lianjie have gained international fame, leading the world to believe Chinese cinema is entering a golden age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Mortician” tells the story of a mortician’s life, seen through the eyes of a novice mortician observing various forms of death and the loving people surrounding the deceased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the adaptation rights to the original novel of “The Mortician,” Wu Yuchen had already secured them five years ago. The novel, published in 1993, is titled “The Diary of a Coffin Maker,” documenting in diary form twenty years of his life as a coffin maker—that is, a mortician.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both Japan and China are Eastern cultures with many similarities, so “The Mortician” is well-suited for Wu Yuchen to direct. Of course, many uniquely Japanese cultural elements will need to be localized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since localization is necessary, on-site investigation is unavoidable. Wu Yuchen pinched Jiang Qin’s nose: “Stop laughing—come with me these next two days to observe morticians at work. See if you can still smile then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the funeral hall, a man dressed in full gear was applying makeup to a corpse, skillfully handling tools to paint the face, change the clothes, and restore the deceased’s appearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire process flowed smoothly, exuding an eerie beauty. But in the funeral hall, there were few people around, and in this setting, Jiang Qin felt deeply unsettling—her hair stood on end, and she never let go of Wu Yuchen’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the entire procedure ended and they stepped out, Jiang Qin finally exhaled deeply; she had felt creeped out the whole time inside…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later, the mortician, Zuo Dawei, washed up and approached, seeing Jiang Qin’s reaction, apologetically told Wu Yuchen: “Did we scare you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen quickly waved his hands: “No, no, we’re the ones disturbing you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then tapped Jiang Qin, who immediately apologized to Zuo Dawei: “Sorry, I couldn’t control myself—I’m truly sorry!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zuo Dawei shook his head and smiled: “It’s normal, normal—I’m used to it. Because of this job, my friends avoid me, think I’m unlucky. Even my parents worry about my marriage; every girl they introduce runs away when they hear what I do. I’ve already made peace with staying single for life…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Zuo Dawei lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, then asked Wu Yuchen: “Will you be following us again tomorrow?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen nodded: “If the family agrees, we’d still like to observe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zuo Dawei said: “The family knows it’s you—they don’t object. But tomorrow’s case is unusual… the deceased didn’t die naturally—it was a car accident. I’m worried about you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zuo Dawei didn’t finish, but Wu Yuchen understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the death was natural, the work might be manageable, but with accidental deaths, the mortician’s workload doubles—bodies are often mangled, bloody, and psychologically grueling; just imagining it makes most people’s hair stand on end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only did Wu Yuchen realize this, Jiang Qin did too—her face paled slightly. But Wu Yuchen asked her: “Still willing to come tomorrow?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just thinking about it made Jiang Qin feel terrified—she really didn’t want to go. But when she met Wu Yuchen’s gaze, she remembered this lead role was specially prepared for her—if she couldn’t even observe, how could she possibly act it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking this through, Jiang Qin nodded: “I’ll come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, on the way back, Jiang Qin’s face was pale, weak, and curled up in Wu Yuchen’s arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Wu Yuchen showed no sign of disgust. Even he nearly couldn’t finish watching—the corpse’s face was unrecognizable… impossible to describe. Jiang Qin ran out and vomited three times, then returned to watch again, utterly drained. Afterwards, she kept apologizing to the family with Wu Yuchen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snuggled in Wu Yuchen’s arms, Jiang Qin whispered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When I read the script, I just thought, ‘What’s so bad about such a good man? It’s just unlucky, right?’ But now, experiencing it firsthand, I understand—being a mortician’s wife requires extraordinary mental strength. I finally get why the female lead opposed her husband’s job—just imagining the process makes my heart ache…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen tightened his arm around her shoulders and comforted her: “See? That’s exactly the point. If you hadn’t experienced this, could you ever understand the female lead’s feelings? Actors need real-life experience to portray roles authentically!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Qin nodded, then asked: “Will I come again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen thought for a moment: “You decide—if you feel you’ve grasped it, you don’t have to come. Honestly, whether you come or not isn’t crucial; once I choose the male lead, he’ll have to follow morticians for months.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the third day, Wu Yuchen didn’t bother with Jiang Qin—he had arranged to meet a female mortician.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She spoke calmly: “Wu Dao, for people in our line, relatives and friends not inviting you to weddings is completely normal. To be honest, I don’t even go home for the New Year anymore—my parents think I’m unlucky.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In my hometown, we offer sacrifices on the first and fifteenth of every lunar month. About three years ago, I went home for the New Year and saw an apple fall from the altar. I picked it up and put it back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But when I returned to the room, I found my mother had replaced the entire offering. My heart sank—how ‘dirty’ did they think I was?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen listened in silence, unable to offer comfort—he knew words were useless. But he remembered this, planning to weave it into the film, expressing it through the male lead’s colleague.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he met the next, slightly more cheerful male mortician, the man grinned at Wu Yuchen: “When I go back to my hometown and people ask what I do, I tell them I work for civil affairs! Otherwise, no one dares come near me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me tell you a scary story. The first step in our makeup routine is applying foundation. Not long after I started, I was brushing across a corpse’s eye socket—and suddenly, the corpse opened its eyes! I nearly fainted, scrambled out screaming, and swore I’d never do this job again!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What happened? Was the person not really dead? Did they come back to life?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Impossible! The senior mortician and doctor had to coax me back. They explained that after death, muscles stiffen, and sometimes the eyes stay wide open—it’s a normal muscular reaction. When I brushed near the eye socket, I triggered it. Just close the eyes again—it’s fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen thought of the scene—it was terrifying. But if turned into a comedy, it would probably make audiences laugh out loud. He then asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you swore you’d quit—how did you come back?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t do anything else. This job pays well enough. As long as my hometown folks don’t know, it’s fine. I’ll marry someone there, have a kid, raise them, and once it’s done, they’ll accept it. Hehe~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen smiled and shook his head, but didn’t judge him—everyone has their own way of living.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After returning from these trips, Wu Yuchen rested for a few days, then plunged into preparations for “The Mortician,” focusing on on-site visits and interviews.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t plan to shoot immediately, but groundwork had to begin—especially the crucial male lead role, which he needed to cast before leaving, so the actor could follow morticians for months to experience life. If he understood music, even better—he should be able to practice cello.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the script, the male lead was originally a cellist who lost his job and accidentally entered the funeral industry, creating a stark contrast for the audience. This traditional ritual of mortuary preparation contrasts sharply with a male lead raised in Western culture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cello was chosen because its tone is rich, full, deep, and lingering—it expresses complex, profound emotions and carries a calming, soothing, comforting power, like returning to a mother’s embrace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mortician’s role exists between life and death, helping the deceased depart peacefully without regrets, and bringing comfort to the living. The cello is truly the perfect instrument.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, because the cello isn’t suited for solo performances, unlike violin or piano, and has low social demand, it’s considered a niche instrument—so it’s entirely plausible for the male lead to be unemployed as a cellist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a week of busy work, Wu Yuchen reached the day of the male lead auditions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s less than a week until Spring Festival—why did Wu Dao schedule auditions now?” muttered a fat man under his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the car, the refined, elegant, noble-looking Leon Lai immediately said: “Shut up. Wu Dao’s films are coveted by many—don’t say that kind of thing on set!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Leon, don’t worry—I’m just venting. I really hope you land this role! Your profile fits Wu Dao’s requirements perfectly—you’ve got a real shot!” his agent quickly added with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon had been seeking a career shift since his peak years, never wanting to be labeled an idol. On the acting front, while Liu Dehua kept churning out commercial and even bad films annually, Leon had already focused on art-house cinema—like “Comrades: Almost a Love Story,” “A Time to Love,” and “City of Glass”—always trying to prove himself. Last year, he finally achieved his goal, winning the Golden Horse Award for Best Actor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon learning Wu Yuchen’s new project was holding auditions for the male lead, he immediately felt he was perfect for the role and rushed over without delay. Whether it was Spring Festival or not—every year had one—it didn’t matter compared to Wu Dao’s new film.\u003C\u002Fp>",2008,"2026-06-20T16:09:30.828Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c10b4d2ecab0eea5d78c5da1ab890892c48b2b2c4ef0d844e218fc7fc21707dd","starting-from-stealing-the-role-in-1995-huayu-chapter-311","starting-from-stealing-the-role-in-1995-huayu-chapter-309",335,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarting-from-stealing-the-role-in-1995-huayu-cover.jpg"]