Chapter 40: How Much Do You Think I Look Like the Past?

Cao Yang was rubbing his hands together and eager to get started early this morning.

On the way to the set, he boasted to Tian Zhuangzhuang that yesterday was just because filming had only just begun, and both Liu Ye and Yu Feihong hadn't found their rhythm yet; today, there would definitely be a transformative change.

Old Tian asked, "Why are you so sure?"

Cao Yang replied with a smile: "I've been coaching them on their scenes almost every day; even a block of wood would have caught on by now, let alone people."

Old Tian scoffed, thinking Cao Yang was joking.

If coaching actors every day could make them catch on, there wouldn't be so many mediocre actors filling the ranks.

Upon arriving at the set, they continued with the filming that hadn't been finished yesterday.

Cao Yang wasn't worried about the half-day delay yesterday; as long as Liu Ye and Yu Feihong performed above their usual level, the progress would only be faster.

When Cao Yang and Tian Zhuangzhuang arrived, Liu Ye had already been there for a while and took the initiative to greet them: "Director Cao, Director Tian, you're here? Everyone is in good form today, the filming will surely go smoothly, please accept my blessings."

Cao Yang froze for over ten seconds, truly not knowing how to describe his current mood; there were too many points of contention and doubts.

Today's Liu Ye seemed like a different person; there was not a hint of awkwardness, the shyness could no longer be seen on his face, and he had gained confidence and a sunny disposition, as if he had walked out of "Lan Yu" overnight.

Also, are you serious? What do you mean by "please accept my blessings"?

With Liu Ye's current state, could he still portray the feeling of the male lead? At least on the surface, everything Cao Yang wanted had vanished without a trace from Liu Ye.

As for Yu Feihong, nothing could be seen yet; had she found her rhythm?

Cao Yang had a vague, ominous premonition.

Action, action!

As soon as the camera started rolling, Yu Feihong seemed like a different person; she shoved the plate away violently, staring at Wu Qihua, her expression filled with irrepressible anger.

"Cut!"

Cao Yang frowned, his ominous premonition growing heavier; this wasn't right.

"Sister Hong, don't stare at Mr. Wu, you need to look at the lens. Also, the emotion is wrong; you have 'come alive,' the male lead you've been longing for has returned, he is right behind your husband, you need to show some irrepressible joy and excitement, not anger."

"All departments take note, let's do another take."

"Cut!"

Cao Yang couldn't hold back anymore, his voice louder than before: "Sister Hong, look at the lens, look at the lens! Don't be angry, be gentle and happy, be joyful and excited, don't stare at Wu Qihua. Ten-minute break, adjust yourself."

During the break, Wu Qihua couldn't help but come to Yu Feihong's side and ask in a low voice: "Miss Yu, did I accidentally offend you while filming? Your gaze just now was too terrifying, as if I had done something to wrong you."

Yu Feihong quickly waved her hands: "No, that's not it, nothing like that, I don't know what's wrong with me today, as soon as we start filming, I just feel... feel that your domestic violence is wrong, I just get a bit carried away, I'm sorry, my fault, my fault."

"It's fine, it's fine, you might just be a bit too immersed in the role, I understand, I understand." Wu Qihua felt baffled himself; even if you are immersed in the role, you don't have to target me like that.

Old Tian came over to Cao Yang's side and gave him a thumbs up; he truly felt Cao Yang was quite impressive. He knew a bit about Yu Feihong's acting skills, and could only say they were on par with the initial Li Xiaoran.

Although today's Yu Feihong kept NG-ing, in Old Tian's view, that wasn't an issue; didn't one see the obvious improvement in Yu Feihong's acting?

The previously hollow and lifeless eyes were now full of emotional shifts, and that was what mattered most.

"Don't be impatient, filming is just like this, not everyone is as talented as Li Xiaoran, you have to learn to adapt. A situation like Yu Feihong's is normal; she is already improving, her eyes have life in them now."

Old Tian knew how to comfort people.

Cao Yang didn't think so; he always felt Old Tian was mocking him.

The immersion experience added to Yu Feihong seemed like throwing a stone into a pond, creating a tiny splash, and then sinking to the bottom.

So what about Liu Ye?

With Liu Ye's massive change, was it counterproductive?

Yu Feihong pushed the plate, her face full of hatred...

"Cut, cut, cut!"

Cao Yang took a deep breath, suppressing his anger: "Yu Feihong, go adjust yourself, we'll film Liu Ye's scenes next."

He didn't even call her Sister Hong anymore, using her full name directly.

"Director Cao, Sister Feihong didn't perform well, don't get angry, you have to be patient with women," Liu Ye said with a smile, trying to persuade him from the side.

Cao Yang glanced at Liu Ye; this guy wasn't right. Given his previous personality, how could he dare to interrupt at a time like this? Also, as a newcomer actor, you dare to interrupt when the director is angry?

It's over, both the male and female leads are acting strange.

In this villa, Liu Ye still had two major scenes: one was hitting the domestic abuser with a golf club, and the other was the famous scene where the abuser and the female lead embrace, while the male lead appears behind the abuser and kisses the female lead.

The clapperboard clapped.

In an instant, Liu Ye's face was full of gloom, his strike decisive and merciless; with a "thwack," he swung the club, his posture standard and graceful.

"Cut!"

"Very good, one more take, second swing."

Cao Yang's eyes lit up; Liu Ye's performance was unexpectedly good.

They needed to film three swings here, then film three shots of Wu Qihua being hit and screaming, and edit them together so that every swing resulted in Wu Qihua screaming and falling to the ground.

Liu Ye's second swing, same expression, strike decisive.

!

"Cut!"

"Very good, that's a wrap, next is the third swing."

Liu Ye swung again; this time, besides the gloomy face and decisive strike, after finishing the swing, he slightly curled the corner of his mouth, and combined with the contempt in his eyes, his demeanor was handled extremely naturally.

"Cut! That's a wrap, very good!"

Cao Yang let out a sigh of relief; this was what he wanted, Liu Ye at least didn't cause any trouble.

For the last shot of the villa scene, Cao Yang thought for a moment and decided to adjust the camera position slightly, filming from behind and to the side of Yu Feihong, which would avoid filming her expression and focus on Liu Ye instead.

Wu Qihua walked over in his pajamas and asked: "What are you doing?"

Yu Feihong turned around, her expression still carrying disgust, but because the camera was filming from the side-rear, her expression couldn't be captured.

Yu Feihong said the only line she had in the entire movie: "I love you."

Wu Qihua was stunned for a moment, turned to look behind him, then turned back, his expression changing from surprise to joy, and he embraced Yu Feihong: "My dear..."

Yu Feihong extended her left hand; Liu Ye walked over from behind Wu Qihua, took Yu Feihong's hand, his eyes looking as if they could speak, gazing at Yu Feihong, his face full of pity and love.

He gently kissed Yu Feihong's forehead, stroked her hair with his other hand, tilted his head to look at her, like an old father finally seeing his child grow up, his eyes full of doting love.

"Cut!"

Cao Yang fell into deep thought; Liu Ye didn't act according to the script. This was supposed to be a famous scene of cuckoldry in front of the husband, but Liu Ye acted it out as a plot of "my daughter has finally grown up."

But without a doubt, Liu Ye's acting at this moment was absolutely textbook-level; there were no words, but his eyes were full of drama, and one could easily feel what he wanted to convey.

Regardless of which version was better, there was no doubt that Old Monster Jin was indeed more perverse and twisted.

If interpreted according to this segment that Liu Ye improvised, it also fit the plot well.

If interpreted as the male lead being the female lead's imaginary character, the female lead has already changed and dares to resist the domestic abuser, and her own imaginary character is gratified to see her change; this fits perfectly.

If interpreted as the male lead actually having died in prison, then everything that appears later is the female lead's hallucination; the female lead has become strong, and she imagines that if the male lead saw her like this, he would definitely be very gratified; this also makes sense.

If interpreted as the male lead being the female lead's guardian deity, seeing the female lead's change, he should also be very gratified.

"Very good, that's a wrap!"

(End of chapter)