Chapter 38: If We Keep This Up

Soon, the set and camera positions were all arranged; Seeing Yan Li and Jiang Shan ran through their blocking once, then began filming directly.

Today's scene depicts a fragment of Li Li and Wu Tian's story, one of the reasons for Wu Tian's feud with Liu Huaqiang.

Both Wu and Li were employees at the television factory; later, Li Li lost her virtue during a business trip, but in doing so, she gained access to a channel for making money.

Because Li Li's status made it inconvenient, she chose Wu Tian—bold, decisive, and handsome—as her partner; one handled the channel, the other the sales, and gradually they became lovers.

But she met a bad man.

Wu Tian was young, rich, and handsome, with no shortage of groupies; and once he had capital, he looked down on the aging and faded Li Li.

So, after Wu Tian's behavior grew increasingly extreme, Li Li, unable to endure it, broke up with him.

The scene is a hotel king-size room; Jiang Shan stands by the window, coldly watching Seeing Yan Li saunter in, slouching.

Seeing Yan Li doesn't look at her; he casually tosses his bag onto the bed, sweeps his hand back through his pompadour, then collapses onto the sofa like a ragdoll, looking utterly exhausted and unwilling to speak.

Jiang Shan feels stifled, suppressing her anger as she demands: "Where the hell have you been for three days?"

Seeing Yan Li says nothing; only when pressed again does he mutter half-dead: "Went out drinking with friends."

Jiang Shan refuses to believe him; her original irritation grows worse because of his attitude, and she begins berating Seeing Yan Li—insulting him, mocking him, painting him as utterly worthless.

Under her denunciation, Seeing Yan Li's expression grows increasingly impatient, his eyes flickering with a hint of cruelty.

Until Jiang Shan, enraged beyond restraint, rushes forward to grab him and force him to stand and talk—finally pushing Seeing Yan Li over the edge; he hurls her onto the bed.

"Good. Cut."

The director calls stop, says the take works, then adjusts the camera positions, moving from the sofa beside the bed to beside the bed itself.

Seeing Yan Li takes this opportunity to discuss the next conflict scene with Jiang Shan.

The script for "Conquest" writes this segment very simply—only dialogue, mentioning that Wu Tian later humiliated and beat Li Li.

But how exactly to humiliate and beat her? The script doesn't say; it's left entirely to the actors' interpretation.

And this interpretation? It's full of implications!

Standing by the bed and yelling a few insults, giving a fake slap—that's also called humiliation and assault, but then the conflict lacks punch.

In the plot, Li Li later spends twenty thousand yuan to retaliate against Wu Tian, even willing to sleep with Liu Huaqiang.

The main reason is being abandoned by Wu Tian, love turning to hatred; and this Li Li is defined as narrow-minded and vengeful.

But Seeing Yan Li thinks it's a bit forced.

After all, Li Li is a woman, and one who still values emotion; even if she doesn't place high importance on chastity, she wouldn't just sleep with anyone—especially not a thug she barely respects.

So, being abandoned, spending money to hire someone to retaliate against Wu Tian? Fine. But throwing herself into it? That's too much.

Unless Wu Tian's humiliation was far worse—so brutal it drove Li Li mad with hatred, making her willing to pay any price for revenge.

This logic is accepted by both director Gao Qunshu and Jiang Shan.

But Jiang Shan is a big name on the crew and a woman; if Seeing Yan Li goes full force, he must secure her consent in advance—ideally, her willing cooperation—so Seeing Yan Li flatters and ingratiates himself with Jiang Shan.

Not to avoid her resentment entirely, but at least to prevent her from snapping and walking off set on the spot.

Otherwise, if a newcomer like Seeing Yan Li pushes a senior actress to the brink, the rumor will ruin his career.

Yet Seeing Yan Li underestimated her somewhat; Jiang Shan still has strong professional ethics.

It's just two slaps, right? Not even real violence. A minor thing!

Even if Seeing Yan Li hadn't tried to win her over, as long as his reasoning was sound, Jiang Shan would have cooperated; of course, now that he's won her over, it's even easier.

"Go ahead, sis, I'm fine."

"Then I'll be rude, sis—I'll count on your understanding."

Jiang Shan is generous: "Go."

After a quick rehearsal, Seeing Yan Li gives Gao Qunshu an OK sign, then the crew rolls camera.

First, Jiang Shan slams onto the bed, staring at Seeing Yan Li in shock and disbelief.

Then he steps forward, grabs her hair, yanks her face close, and sneers coldly.

"You've got a face but no sense. You're not my wife, not my girlfriend—what right do you have to control me? Look in a mirror."

"Wu Tian!"

Jiang Shan shouts angrily; Seeing Yan Li releases her hair and slaps her hard across the face.

"Let me tell you—I've tolerated you for way too long. Do you know what you look like now? A whore."

"You thought I'd marry you? Dream on."

He turns to take Li Li's bag, pulls out money; she forgets her pain and rushes to stop him, only to be slapped again and shoved to the floor.

Then Seeing Yan Li delivers Wu Tian's true thoughts.

In their partnership, Li Li slept with contacts to secure channels, Wu Tian ran errands and suffered greatly—he'd long resented it, so when the split came, he was utterly merciless.

Seeing Yan Li leaves, leaving Li Li clutching her face, silently weeping, her expression heartbroken and filled with hatred.

"Excellent."

Gao Qunshu is delighted; Seeing Yan Li gave him a pleasant surprise—thoughtful, bold, willing to go all out in performance, even inspiring Jiang Shan.

"Conquest" is a small crew, and Jiang Shan was helping out as a favor; her previous work ethic wasn't sloppy, but neither was it deeply committed.

But today's scene—perhaps spurred by Seeing Yan Li—Jiang Shan delivered an outstanding performance, especially that final shot: pitiful yet terrifying.

Wiping away tears, Jiang Shan approaches Gao Qunshu: "Want another take?"

Gao Qunshu waves it off: "No need. Perfect."

Seeing Yan Li, beside him, dramatically exhales, looking utterly relieved.

"That was terrifying—I was shaking just watching you slap Sister Jiang. I couldn't do it again."

Jiang Shan knows he's just livening the mood; she jokes: "Alright, kid—you played this heartless bastard so convincingly. Are you just acting, or is this your real self?"

Zhou Yi, standing nearby, quietly lowers his head; Seeing Yan Li's mental resilience is far superior to his.

"Sis, don't slander me—I'm famous for being gentle with women."

Seeing Yan Li spoke with complete conviction: the label of a faithless lover was debatable, but he had never hit a woman.

Of course, certain specific times and circumstances are excluded.

That's not hitting—that's foreplay!

Gao Qunshu chimed in with interest: "Seeing Yan Li's a real character; most newcomers wouldn't dare lay a hand on Jiang Shan."

They wouldn't just dare not hit her—they'd have to act carefully.

Actors care about their image too; such roles easily turn off audiences, and not all actors are willing to go that far.

"The show is bigger than heaven; if the effect's good, a few insults won't hurt me."

Seeing Yan Li talked big, but in truth, he'd given up caring.

He'd already lined up to lead the cast of "Heroes of the Sui and Tang Dynasties"—what's a couple of hits on a woman? Just act it well enough.

Still, Seeing Yan Li considered avoiding similar roles in future projects; if he kept acting like this, "Can't Talk to Strangers 2" would come knocking.

Whether he got criticized or not was secondary—Seeing Yan Li mainly feared being typecast…

(End of Chapter)