The immense success of "Dawn of the Mountains and Rivers" propelled Ling Yichen and Jun Moran to the pinnacle of their status in the ancient entertainment industry. Numerous opera troupes, theaters, and wealthy merchants extended offers to them, with new invitations pouring in like snowflakes. Faced with a dazzling array of scripts, the two understood the importance of making the right choice, as it would not only affect their future acting careers but also their ability to maintain their reputation and influence.

One day, they were organizing the scripts for the opera troupe, a thick stack piled up on the table. Ling Yichen picked up one at random, flipped through it, shook his head and said, "Brother Jun, look at this one. The plot is old-fashioned, the characters are unoriginal, and this kind of script can hardly showcase our abilities."

Jun Mo Ran took a look and agreed: "That's true. Now that we have more choices, we should naturally choose scripts that are profound and challenging."

They continued reading other scripts. Some had dramatic plots but lacked well-developed characters; others focused on grand scenes but neglected the story's depth. Just as they were becoming somewhat disappointed, a script titled "The Legend of Stars and Moon" caught their attention.

Ling Yichen carefully read the script outline, his eyes gradually gleaming with excitement: "Brother Jun, this script is excellent. It tells the story of two male protagonists, one a cold and mysterious leader of the Star Shadow Guard, and the other a gentle and kind divine physician. They meet because of a palace conspiracy, and then join hands to uncover the truth and save the country. It contains both thrilling suspense and delicate and moving emotional entanglements. The characters are distinct and there is a lot of room for development."

Jun Mo Ran also read it carefully. After a moment, he nodded slightly: "The script has a novel theme, combining elements of the imperial court, martial arts, and suspense. If it can be performed well, it will surely cause a sensation again. However, some of the plots still need to be discussed and improved by us."

So they decided to meet with the scriptwriter to discuss the details of the script in depth. The author was a young and talented man named Lin Yuxuan. After meeting Ling Yichen and Jun Moran, he said with a little nervousness, "Gentlemen, I have long admired your names. When I was writing this script, I thought that if you two could star in it, you would definitely be able to bring out its essence to the fullest."

Ling Yichen smiled and said, "Young Master Lin, your script has great potential, but we also have some ideas. For example, in the scene where the leader of the Star Shadow Guard and the Divine Doctor first meet, I think we can add some action scenes to more directly show their different personalities and identities through their fight."

Jun Mo Ran continued, "Also, the part where their feelings gradually warm up shouldn't be too abrupt. It needs some plot development, such as when they face danger together and help each other, thus developing a deeper trust and dependence."

Lin Yuxuan listened attentively to their suggestions, taking notes from time to time. He said, "The two gentlemen have insightful views. I will revise the script according to your opinions. I believe that with our joint efforts, this 'Legend of Stars and Moon' will definitely become a classic."

After finalizing the script for "The Legend of Stars and Moon," Ling Yichen and Jun Mo Ran began preparations. They first conducted in-depth analysis and research on the characters. Ling Yichen plays the leader of the Star Shadow Guards, needing to portray the character's coldness, decisiveness, and loyalty, while also gradually revealing his inner tenderness and emotions through his interactions with the divine physician. Jun Mo Ran plays the divine physician, tasked with portraying his kindness, intelligence, and the helplessness and resilience he faces amidst court intrigue.

To better portray his character, Ling Yichen began learning ancient martial arts and hidden weapon techniques. Every morning, he would practice swordsmanship and throwing darts in the courtyard, striving for precision and fluidity in action scenes. Jun Mo Ran, on the other hand, delved into ancient medical texts, understanding the theories and treatments of traditional Chinese medicine, so as to more realistically showcase the medical skills of the divine physician in the drama.

They also made their own requests regarding costumes and props. Ling Yichen's Star Shadow Guard leader's attire was primarily black, paired with silver accessories to highlight his mystery and majesty; Jun Mo Ran's Divine Physician's attire was mainly white and light blue, creating a fresh and refined feel. As for props, the Star Shadow Guard's weapons were meticulously crafted, such as sharp swords and unique throwing darts, as well as the Divine Physician's medicine chest and silver needles.

As preparations progressed, they began intensive rehearsals. During the rehearsals, they constantly refined their techniques, meticulously refining every movement and every line of dialogue.

Once, during a rehearsal of a scene where the two were solving a puzzle in a locked room, Ling Yichen and Jun Mozhan disagreed on how to trigger and solve the puzzle.

Ling Yichen believes: "The mechanisms here should be designed to be more complex and ingenious to increase the tension. For example, multiple interlocking mechanisms could be set up, requiring us to solve them one by one."

Jun Mo Ran said, "But if the mechanisms are too complicated, the audience may be confused. We need to ensure that the audience can understand them while maintaining the tension and excitement."

The two argued back and forth, each expressing their own opinions. Finally, they decided to consult a master craftsman skilled in mechanical arts. Based on the master's advice, they designed a complex yet logical mechanism that made the scene even more exciting.

They also encountered challenges when rehearsing emotional scenes. Because the emotional development between the characters was quite complex, they needed to show the changes in emotions in subtle ways.

In a scene where Ling Yichen was supposed to express concern for the character played by Jun Mo Ran, he initially struggled to strike the right balance, sometimes appearing too cold and sometimes too enthusiastic. Jun Mo Ran patiently told him, "Yichen, although the leader of the Star Shadow Guard appears cold on the outside, his heart is warm. You can work on your eyes and some small gestures. For example, glance at me casually, or slightly clench your fist when I'm in danger."

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