The actors and props for the first scene were all ready. After getting into character, Zhang Jingchu, who played Fei Niang, gave director Zhang Shu an OK sign. Zhang Shu nodded, looked at the script supervisor, and indicated that they could begin.

"Alright, everyone to your positions, get set!" The script supervisor brought out the clapperboard, looked at the set that had already been set up, and shouted.

As the clapperboard clicked, everyone on set focused their attention on Zhang Jingchu.

"Qianlang, Qianlang, it's me, Feiniang! Why are you pretending not to recognize me?"

This scene depicts Fei Niang waiting anxiously for the scholar to return and marry her, but after several years, her old lover does not return. So she goes to the capital to search for Qian Lang, who used to keep her company. However, when she finds him, he already has a wife and children and not only refuses to acknowledge her, but also orders her to be driven away.

"The Legend of the Heavenly Fox" was filmed in five locations across the country. This scene was filmed first because it could be filmed at the Z City Film and Television Base. In fact, in the TV series, this scene is used as a flashback at the end.

Bi Xie carefully observed Zhang Jingchu's every expression and movement, inwardly admiring her.

From the initial surprise of meeting the scholar to the shock of hearing that he was already married and had children, to the final grief and disbelief of being driven away and pushed to the ground, Zhang Jingchu handled every change in Fei Niang's expression very well.

It was as if she were the one who had suffered injustice and been betrayed by a heartless man.

Various voices of discussion arose from the surrounding crowd, all saying that Fei Niang was trying to extort money from them.

The actor playing the scholar also perfectly portrayed the image of a heartless and ruthless man, coldly glancing at Fei Niang with eyes full of unfamiliarity, while showing great care and tenderness towards his wife and children, whispering to them gently.

This powerful impact felt like a deep gash had been torn open in Fei Niang's heart, from which blood was slowly seeping out.

"Qian... Lang, you're saying... you don't recognize me? You really don't recognize me? We've been together day and night for years. You studied, and I mended your clothes; you wrote, and I ground ink for you; you wrote clumsy poems and sold them for a few coins, which I never used, but instead supported your journey to the capital for the imperial examinations..."

"You said you would come back to marry me when you passed the imperial examination with flying colors, but now you are someone else's husband and father, yet you don't even dare to acknowledge me—"

Fei Niang's voice was like a sob, moving many onlookers. Qian Lang's expression changed, and he shouted, "Nonsense! When did I ever know you?"

The scholar's expression was stern, and his official authority was evident, which quieted down the murmurs of the common people.

Fei Niang was stunned for a moment, then chuckled softly as she watched the scholar lead his wife and children into the grand mansion. Her chuckle, tinged with tears, grew louder and louder. "All men in the world are heartless, fickle, and treacherous. Their vows of eternal love are like child's play. I, Fei Niang, swear never to love again!"

Boom—

Everyone on set was caught up in Zhang Jingchu's emotions, and when they suddenly heard the thunderous roar, they were all stunned.

Originally, the scene was planned to have thunder effects added in post-production, but unexpectedly, the weather cooperated and there was real thunder.

Several cameras captured Fei Niang's facial expressions clearly. Zhang Shu didn't yell "cut" the whole time. Only after the first scene ended did Zhang Shu stand up with satisfaction, unscrew the soda water, take a few sips, and say to Zhang Jingchu who was walking over, "Not bad, your performance exceeded my expectations."

Zhang Jingchu smiled and said, "If it weren't for Director Zhang giving me that opportunity, I wouldn't have the resources I have now. I'm especially grateful to Director Zhang."

This doesn't sound like flattery; it's stating the facts.

Director Zhang's eyes flickered slightly, and his smile became more genuine. In the entertainment industry, there are very few celebrities who know how to repay kindness.

Zhang Jingchu has spent over a decade playing minor roles, accumulating far more acting experience than many popular young actors in the entertainment industry. This is why he chose her to play the female lead in "Tian Sheng Hu Ge".

I thought Zhang Jingchu would be dissatisfied with the salary he offered, since her popularity was soaring and her salary was naturally going to increase as well. But to my surprise, she agreed very quickly.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Director Zhang, Zhang Jingchu's makeup artist and stylist rushed over to touch up her makeup and tidy her clothes.

The next scene is that Fei Niang kills the scholar and is captured by the Shuntian Prefecture soldiers in her distraught state.

Bi Xie plays "Hong Ou," a beggar girl found by Fei Niang. Fei Niang discovers that Hong Ou is a fox-human, the offspring of a fox and a human, so she takes Hong Ou with her. Hong Ou, in order to investigate her mother's whereabouts, willingly follows Fei Niang.

She wasn't originally scheduled to have any scenes, but Bi Xie thought that she would be acting alongside Xiao Jing in the future, so she decided to observe and learn from the actors' performances up close.

After watching Zhang Jingchu's performance today, she knows her trip was worthwhile.

After Zhang Jingchu finished touching up her makeup, she filmed a short scene, and the morning was over. The director made a gesture, and the crew called for a stop. Everyone on set breathed a sigh of relief and went to eat.

After filming at the film and television base for dozens of days, the storyline here has temporarily come to an end. Bi Xie received a notice that he would be heading to another filming location the next day.

Ru Hua glanced at Bi Xie, who was flipping through the script and rehearsing his lines against the wall, and sighed softly, "Host, I don't understand why you're working so hard? That director has such a gentle temper, he's always smiling at everyone, and he won't yell at you even if you do a hundred takes. You're working so hard, I almost don't recognize you anymore."

Bi Xie continued reading the lines, memorizing any lines he forgot, and trying to imagine himself as Hong Ou to experience the character's emotional changes.

Generally speaking, some actors do not have all the lines in the script, but in order to understand the entire plot, Bi Xie still asked screenwriter Lu Ming through Director Zhang for the complete script.

Sure enough, after reading it, she gained new insights and discoveries.

To be precise, Hongou should call Fei Niang "Seventh Aunt".

Hong Ou's mother and Fei Niang are cousins. However, Hong Ou's mother disappeared during a fox clan trip a long time ago, so Fei Niang didn't know about Hong Ou's relationship with her at first. She only found out about their kinship by chance.

Although Fei Niang turned evil later on, she always regarded Hong Ou as her only confidante, otherwise she would not have sent Hong Ou to get close to the Grand Preceptor's Tomb.

Despite being well-prepared, Bi Xie was still nervous when filming the first scene.

He wasn't nervous because of the large number of people, but because he saw Xiao Jingyi next to Director Zhang.

This time, there was no anger in his eyes, only a calm one. However, his unfathomable eyes were fixed on Bi Xie, making her back stiffen and causing her to forget all the lines she had prepared.

The first scene was unsurprisingly retaken.

The extras acting opposite her looked somewhat impatient. It's normal for a bit player like Bi Xie, who doesn't even have a representative work, to receive cold treatment and disdain on set, but Bi Xie has received an unusually large amount of criticism.

The reason is simple: everyone knows she's the woman who had a rumored affair with Actor Xiao.

These past few days, Bi Xie has remained silent in the face of subtle probing questions from his fellow actors, which has naturally angered them.