Chapter 38: If He Keeps Acting Like This

Soon, the set and camera positions were ready; Yu Yanli and Jiang Shan ran through their blocking once, then began filming immediately.

Today’s scene depicts a fragment of the story between Li Li and Wu Tian, 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 this incident opened a channel for her to make money.

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

But she picked a bad man.

Wu Tian was young, rich, and handsome, with plenty of admirers; once he had capital, he looked down on the aging and faded Li Li.

So, after Wu Tian’s behavior grew increasingly outrageous, Li Li, unable to bear it any longer, broke up with him.

The scene is a hotel suite; Jiang Shan stands by the window, coldly watching Yu Yanli saunter in, slouching.

Yu Yanli doesn’t look at her; he casually throws his bag on the bed, sweeps his hand back through his hair, then collapses onto the sofa like a rag, looking utterly exhausted and unwilling to speak.

Jiang Shan, stifling her anger, demands: “Where have you been for three days?”

Yu Yanli says nothing; only when pressed again does he mutter half-dead: “Went out drinking with friends.”

Jiang Shan doesn’t believe him; her irritation grows with his attitude, and she erupts, berating Yu Yanli—insulting him, mocking him, painting him as utterly worthless.

Under her condemnation, Yu Yanli’s expression grows increasingly impatient, his eyes flickering with a hint of cruelty.

Until Jiang Shan, enraged, advances and grabs him, demanding he stand up and talk—finally pushing Yu Yanli over the edge; he shoves her hard onto the bed.

“Good. Cut.”

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

Yu Yanli uses this chance to discuss the next conflict scene with Jiang Shan.

The script for “Conquest” writes this section 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 up to the actors’ interpretation.

And this interpretation? There’s a lot to say.

Standing by the bed and yelling a few insults, giving a fake slap—that’s called humiliation and assault, but it lacks intensity.

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

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

But Yu Yanli thinks it’s a bit forced.

After all, Li Li is a woman, and relatively emotionally invested; even if she doesn’t value chastity highly, she wouldn’t sleep with someone just like that, especially not a thug she barely respects.

So, being abandoned, spending money to hire someone to retaliate against Wu Tian? Fine. But sacrificing herself? 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 director Gao Qunshu and Jiang Shan.

But Jiang Shan is a big name on the crew, and a woman; if Yu Yanli goes full force, he must win her consent first—ideally, her willing cooperation—so he flatters and ingratiates himself with her.

Not to avoid her resentment entirely, but at least to prevent her from walking off set in a rage.

Otherwise, if a newcomer like Yu Yanli pushes a senior actress to the brink, word will spread—and he’ll never work in this industry again.

Yet Yu Yanli underestimated her; Jiang Shan still has strong professional ethics.

So what? A couple of slaps? Not even real violence. It’s a minor thing!

Even if Yu Yanli hadn’t flattered her, as long as his reasoning was sound, Jiang Shan would have cooperated; now that he’s won her over, it’s even easier.

“Go ahead, sis, I’m fine.”

“Then I apologize, sis—I’ll need your tolerance.”

Jiang Shan is generous: “Do it.”

After a quick run-through, Yu Yanli gives Gao Qunshu an OK sign, then the crew rolls camera.

First, Jiang Shan slams onto the bed, staring at Yu Yanli in shock and disbelief.

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

“You want respect? You’re not my wife, not my girlfriend—what right do you have to control me? Look in the mirror.”

“Wu Tian!”

Jiang Shan shouts angrily; Yu Yanli releases her hair and slaps her hard across the face.

“Let me tell you—I’ve tolerated you for far 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 cash; she forgets her pain and rushes to stop him, only to get another slap and be shoved to the floor.

Then Yu Yanli delivers Wu Tian’s true thoughts.

In their partnership, Li Li slept with clients for the channel, Wu Tian ran errands, suffered hardships—he’d long resented it; so when the split came, he was utterly merciless.

Yu Yanli leaves, leaving Li Li clutching her face, silently weeping, her expression bitter and filled with hatred.

“Excellent.”

Gao Qunshu is delighted; Yu Yanli gave him a pleasant surprise—he thinks about his scenes, dares to perform boldly and fully, and even Jiang Shan was energized by him.

“Conquest” is a small crew; Jiang Shan was only helping out as a favor; her previous work attitude wasn’t sloppy, but neither was it deeply committed.

But today’s scene—perhaps spurred by Yu Yanli—she performed exceptionally well, especially that final shot: pitiful yet terrifying.

Wiping her tears, Jiang Shan approaches Gao Qunshu: “Want another take?”

Gao Qunshu waves it off: “No need. Perfect.”

Yu Yanli dramatically exhales, looking utterly relieved.

“That was terrifying—I was trembling just watching you hit Sister Shan. 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 vividly. Are you just acting like yourself?”

Nearby, Zhou Yiwei quietly lowers his head; Yu Yanli’s mental toughness is far superior to his.

“Sis, don’t smear me—I’m famous for being gentle with women.”

Yu Yanli says this with complete conviction; whether he’s a heartless bastard is debatable, but he’s never hit a woman.

Of course, certain times and specific situations don’t count.

That’s not hitting—it’s foreplay!

Gao Qunshu also speaks with interest: “Yu Yanli’s a real character—most newcomers wouldn’t dare lay a hand on Jiang Shan.”

They wouldn’t even dare to hit—let alone perform it fully.

Actors care about their image; such scenes easily turn audiences against them—not all actors are willing to go that far.

“The drama is bigger than heaven. If the effect is good, I don’t mind being hated.”

Yu Yanli talks big, but in truth, he’s given up caring.

He’s already led the queue for “Heroes of Sui and Tang”—what’s hitting a woman? Just act it right.

Still, Yu Yanli considers avoiding similar roles next time; if he keeps acting like this, “Can’t Talk to Strangers 2” will come knocking.

Whether he gets criticized or not—that’s secondary. Yu Yanli mainly fears being typecast…

(End of Chapter)