Chapter 96 (096) - A relatively flat transitional chapter.
Chapter Ninety-Six
The set was quiet. Liu Xiaoguang didn't say a word, just watched Lin Yuan perform intently.
The budget for "Ghost Arts" is quite large, and Liu Xiaoguang has enough time to hone the actors. If Lin Yuan's performance in this scene is not good, the director can simply pause for a moment until he gives the best performance.
The key to this shot is Lin Yuan.
Zhu Sheng cannot be called a bad person. However, after the heart transplant, he possessed the greed, anger, and ignorance of an ordinary person. Originally, he did not want a beautiful wife, but now he does.
Liu Xiaoguang arranged to film this scene now in the hope that Lin Yuan and Yu Ying could get to know each other as soon as possible. For actors, acting together is obviously a way to accelerate their relationship.
Liu Xiaoguang frowned in front of the monitor.
Did Lin Yuan perform well enough?
From the perspective of a film director, it's absolutely good enough; this shot could easily be used directly.
From Mei Niang's perspective, Zhu Sheng's ulterior motives remain unseen, but from an observer's point of view, his thoughts are crystal clear.
Despite his cruelty, Zhu Sheng's expression also contained a hint of tenderness.
He didn't want to harm his wife; he just wanted her to change her appearance.
He used to lack wisdom; they were a perfect match in the eyes of others—one was foolish, the other ugly. But now, he has become greedy and understands human nature, and can no longer bear the past.
This tenderness is a lament for his past with Mei Niang, which has ended.
But warmth will not change Zhu Sheng's will.
This is what Lin Yuan was trying to express in this performance.
Liu Xiaoguang frowned not because he was dissatisfied with Lin Yuan's performance, but because of the makeup and styling... Lin Yuan's look was a bit too elaborate.
This exquisite style doesn't feel out of place in the series, but what Liu Xiaoguang hopes the audience will see is the hidden true nature of the character Zhu Sheng.
His overly youthful face, overly pale makeup, and Lin Yuan's restrained and less ferocious expressions made his presence seem somewhat weak.
Liu Xiaoguang called a halt in time.
Yu Ying was unaware of what had happened. Lin Yuan's expression was outside her field of vision; she only noticed that Liu Xiaoguang's face looked more serious than during their last collaboration.
Yu Ying's gaze involuntarily turned to Lin Yuan.
She didn't dare to be too blatant. Her agent had previously instructed her that if her co-star was being scolded or about to be scolded, her openly looking over would be a clear provocation.
The best approach is to simply keep your eyes closed and your mind focused, pretending nothing has happened.
"Lin Yuan." Liu Xiaoguang called out to Lin Yuan as expected, "Come here for a moment."
"Yu Ying, you come too."
Liu Xiaoguang unexpectedly called out to Yu Ying as well.
Since Lin Yuan's makeup and styling weren't quite right for the camera, Liu Xiaoguang decided to change Yu Ying's as well. After all, the two had many scenes together, and the more harmonious the effect, the better.
Yu Ying: "..."
She hates having to reapply makeup after removing it.
Well, she glanced up and saw Lin Yuan's constipated expression, and immediately understood what he was thinking.
At that moment, she and Lin Yuan's thoughts actually resonated with each other.
That's exactly right!
Removing makeup equals finishing work; this is an age-old truth.
Lin Yuan thought that he only needed to adjust his makeup slightly, but unexpectedly, Liu Xiaoguang followed him into the dressing room and stared at the two of them menacingly.
Although Liu Xiaoguang didn't talk much, he would still explain what needed to be explained, and even used easy-to-understand theories to help Lin Yuan understand.
“You did a good job just now,” Liu Xiaoguang comforted Lin Yuan, “but from the camera’s perspective, this look makes you appear too sharp.”
Lin Yuan looked at him.
"Too sharp and it looks too delicate; too delicate and it looks... like a eunuch."
Lin Yuan: "?"
Before he could even express his thoughts, Yu Ying couldn't help but burst out laughing: "Hahahaha."
Lin Yuan: "Can you stop laughing? It's hurting me."
Yu Ying stopped smiling, but it was clear that Liu Xiaoguang's words had made her very happy.
Yu Ying's makeup was finished first, but she didn't leave immediately. Instead, she stood there, watching the makeup artist make changes with a deep expression to realize the director's vision.
Lin Yuan had a helpless expression when he first sat down, but he had gradually calmed down by now.
Yu Ying felt that the director was right.
In the script of "Ghost Arts", Zhu Sheng is a character with a complicated mind, which clashes with Lin Yuan's sunny temperament.
Therefore, it was natural that Lin Yuan's appearance had to downplay his own temperament.
Yu Ying had read "Thousand Mountains" and at that time there was no need to downplay it, because Gu Yilou was a character with very obvious personal characteristics, crazy in a frank and open way, and Lin Yuan had room to express his emotions.
As for "Major Cases," this kind of crime-solving drama doesn't focus on the characters' emotions.
Yu Ying watched "Major Cases" purely out of interest in the cases; the actors didn't have much room to showcase their talents in the show.
Although Lin Yuan is widely recognized for his outstanding acting skills, Yu Ying believes that the popularity of "Major Cases" has nothing to do with Lin Yuan's acting skills.
In "The Ghost Art", Lin Yuan's temperament had to be toned down. In the script, he is an ordinary person who only changed his nature after coming into contact with strange events. What Liu Xiaoguang wanted to highlight was probably not his madness, but the fickleness of human nature.
Yu Ying glanced at Lin Yuan again.
She understands Liu Xiaoguang and knows that beneath his usual kindness lies a very discerning heart when it comes to acting.
Since Liu Xiaoguang only requested a change in makeup and costume, he must be quite satisfied with Lin Yuan's performance.
This was enough to surprise Yu Ying.
Liu Xiaoguang has never been so lenient with young actors; he always finds fault with them.
This suggests that the director was not just slightly satisfied, but rather extremely satisfied.
Unfortunately, she can't see it for now.
...
After the makeup and styling were changed, Liu Xiaoguang seemed much more satisfied, and the photoshoot continued.
The director did not give Lin Yuan any guidance on his performance, so Lin Yuan performed it again in the same way as before.
As Mei Niang dressed in front of the mirror, the camera reflected her shy face, but it did not show Zhu Sheng's face.
Only when he left the room did Zhu Sheng's face appear in the mirror.
The warmth of the moment before was gone; it was merely a pretext to sever the bonds of the past. Now, Zhu Sheng in the mirror was ambitious, his former naivety and honesty gone, leaving only a heart full of scheming.
He believed he had been reborn and that opportunities lay before him, little did he know that it was just a road of no return.
He had a choice, but he didn't choose it.
Director Liu Xiaoguang gave this performance high praise: "He looks at least five years more mature."
Lin Yuan: "...Is this some good news?"
On the other end, Yu Ying was grinning broadly, clearly having heard the comment as well.
Lin Yuan: "..."
After all the makeup and styling work, and being ridiculed by both the director and the female lead, the only benefit Lin Yuan gained was that he and Yu Ying were no longer as awkward as when they first met, and they began to get to know each other better.
However, Yu Ying was still occasionally wary.
“It’s not targeting you, I guess he’s suffered too many losses before.” Feng Zeng whispered to Lin Yuan the gossip he had heard, “Before, there was someone… you know, that person, who clung to her for publicity, and then turned around and accused her of using her for sexual favors.”
Lin Yuan: "Is it really that shameless?"
“People in this circle will do anything to climb the ladder,” Feng Zeng said calmly. “They only need to pay a small price to reap huge rewards.”
"Not everyone is lucky, and not everyone is on the right path."
Lin Yuan fell silent.
He was one of the lucky ones who followed the right path.
But out of the hundreds of contestants on "The Road to Stardom," he was the only one who didn't make it into the finals and still had this kind of good fortune.
In fact, although the entire Wink group has a mediocre reputation, their development has been quite good. After all, they were once famous. As for those who were not famous, they can make a living by doing live streaming or becoming bloggers. Several of them have gone down the same path and gotten caught up in scandals.
Even if they have scandals, the marketing accounts don't bother to report on them.
Because obscure celebrities aren't even worth reporting on.
Feng patted Lin Yuan on the shoulder: "Just work well together. Good actors can definitely resonate with each other."
Lin Yuan nodded.
Feng also informed Lin Yuan of some new information—his former agent, the one who switched to DA Entertainment, had been fired and was currently unemployed.
Lin Yuan jumped up from the sofa with a thud: "Tell me more about it."
Feng gave a disgusted look: "Can you stop being so gossipy?"
"Isn't the point of living to gossip?" Lin Yuan said without a hint of shame. "Can't I be happy to see my enemy suffer?"
Feng Zeng: "..."
That's far too self-righteous.
Well, actually he had the same idea, but he needed to put on an act in front of his own artists.
"There's no inside story. It's just that Xie Yu's career isn't going well, not as DA Entertainment expected. DA Entertainment downgraded the resources they gave him. If Xie Yu isn't doing well, his manager can't be either."
"He... probably has ambitions. He wants to get rid of Xie Yu and contact other artists in DA, but Xie Yu, you know, he's experienced too."
After all, this former agent dumped Lin Yuan without any remorse and went to Xie Yu's side, while also taking away the resources that originally belonged to Lin Yuan.
Once there's a first time, there will inevitably be a second.
Even if he himself didn't have such thoughts, Xie Yu would still be wary of him to some extent.
As it turned out... he actually had that idea.
“He’s not having an easy time right now,” Feng Zeng said. “His resume is full of failures, and he even let you, a big fish, get away.”
Lin Yuan sighed: "I guess so."
Compared to Lin Yuan, Feng Zeng felt even more deeply moved.
Their positions had been reversed.
Previously at DA Entertainment, the other party was the high-ranking manager of Wink members, a big shot among managers. I had a lot of failure experience and was always having my resources snatched away.
And now... even though he's out of the spotlight, Feng Zeng can still feel the difference in their status.
These are all changes brought about by Lin Yuan.
Feng didn't feel that he had suddenly become outstanding overnight.
He enjoys good treatment only because his artist is Lin Yuan.
The two chatted for a while about the gossip Feng had heard about DA Entertainment. Lin Yuan listened intently; if he didn't have to memorize his lines for tomorrow, he would have loved to keep listening.
However, Lin Yuan didn't let his own agent off the hook either.
He asked Feng to send the gossip to his phone on a set time so he could see it first thing the next morning.
Feng refused without hesitation: "I'm an agent, not a spy."
"They're about the same."
Feng Zeng: "...I absolutely refuse to do it."
If Lin Yuan were to pay, he wouldn't necessarily rule it out.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Update! [kiss][kiss]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com