Soulful Guest Appearance
The car was moving. Yu Sheng, half-asleep in the back seat, glanced at her phone; it was nine in the morning. There was also an unread message from Wu Luoyu, the director of "Shattered Light": Hurry up and come! Chenyang and I are waiting for you to rehearse our scenes. We won't start filming until you come.
Yesterday, Bai Hua tormented him until 7 or 8 pm, and then Lan Zhong dragged him to a friend's club for drinks. They drank noisily until the early hours of the morning, and he doesn't even remember how he got back to the hotel.
If Wu Luoyu hadn't traveled across half of Beijing to the club to find him late last night, appealing to his emotions and even tempting him by offering to act opposite Lu Chenyang, Yu Sheng wouldn't have readily agreed to play a cameo role to save the day while drunk.
Now, with a hangover in his head, all he wants to do is sleep.
There's a reason why Wu Luoyu, as a top-tier young director in the film and television industry, went to great lengths to get Yu Sheng to make a cameo appearance.
In terms of background, Yu Sheng is a true second-generation star, as his mother was a three-time Golden Horse Award-winning actress. He perfectly inherited his mother's good looks and acting talent, and is also a professionally trained actor.
Unlike ordinary actors, Yu Sheng switched careers after graduation to become a film and television investor, occasionally making cameo appearances. However, the style of his cameo roles is always consistent: a fleeting moment of brilliance, requiring only "one second." He always plays the kind of character whose appearance is brief, yet leaves the audience in awe for eternity.
Especially director Wu Luoyu's debut film, "Whale Fall".
The filming took place underwater. In the shot, Yu Sheng gracefully swam in the deep blue sea, the water caressing his undulating waistline, as soft as a true deep-sea creature. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and a string of crystalline bubbles rose to the surface, like a pearl crown adorning him.
He suddenly turned his head, and those affectionate eyes looked at him through the rippling water. The corners of his eyes were slightly upturned, and his eyes reflected both the glittering starlight and boundless charm. The water gently wrapped around his body, unwilling to let him go, as if the entire ocean was intoxicated by this silent enchantment, willingly becoming the prisoner of this beautiful mermaid.
Therefore, netizens gave him a fitting nickname: a natural-born guest star.
Even more importantly, Yu Sheng has an unwritten rule: whenever he makes a cameo appearance, he considers the film as his own, focusing solely on its quality and reputation, and he's always generous with his spending.
Therefore, in order for the subsequent additional investments to arrive smoothly, Wu Luoyu had no choice but to accept Yu Sheng.
At that moment, Yu Sheng, who was dreaming of "winning the heart of a handsome man," was woken up by someone in the front row, "Young Master Yu, we've arrived."
He groggily opened his eyes, tidied his hair in front of the mirror in the back seat before getting out of the car. Even with a hangover, he always maintained a refined and presentable image.
As soon as he got out of the car, before he could even stand properly, Wu Luoyu, who was waiting outside, grabbed his arm and pulled him in front of her, instructing her assistant behind her, "Ajiang, quick, take President Yu to get her makeup and hair done."
Is there really such a rush? Are you afraid he'll run away?
The filming location was a high school in Beijing. As they passed the basketball court, Yu Sheng finally opened her sleepy eyes a crack.
In our view, Lu Chenyang was a far cry from his usual serious demeanor in front of the camera. His light blue basketball jersey accentuated his tall and straight figure, and the basketball spinning and bouncing in his hands gave him a youthful and carefree air. A running start, a jump, a dunk, and a steady landing—sunlight streamed down from behind him, bathing him in a fuzzy golden glow.
Before Yu Sheng could even get a good look, A Jiang practically pushed him into the dressing room. Sitting in front of the makeup mirror, Yu Sheng couldn't shake the scene from just now. He'd never seen Lu Chenyang so youthful and vibrant before. It was so novel; even the hangover felt much lighter.
"Ah Jiang. Where's my script?" Yu Sheng asked. It was his first time acting alongside Lu Chenyang, and he didn't want to look intimidated.
"Ah..." Ajiang responded awkwardly, "Well... Director Wu said he'll come over to explain the scene to you in person later. The script should also be with Director Wu. I'll go ask him for you." After saying that, he ran off in a flash.
Is he scary? A-Jiang is a recent college graduate, and he's the kind of person who can't keep a secret. Wu Luoyu's urgent request for him to fill in for a cameo role, coupled with the assistant's flustered state, made Yu Sheng feel that things weren't so simple.
Sure enough, when the makeup artist woke Yu Sheng up from her sleep again and told her that the styling was finished, Yu Sheng wanted to strangle this 'dog mouth that can't produce anything decent' Director Wu.
"Wu Luoyu! You surnamed Wu, get the hell out here!" Yu Sheng shouted menacingly as he stormed onto the filming location.
Lu Chenyang, who was checking the monitor with the director, looked up when he heard the sound.
"Pfft..."
Lu Chenyang burst out laughing. He could never help but laugh, but Yu Sheng's outfit at this moment was truly a rare sight.
He couldn't help but glance at her a few more times. Her originally beautiful black curly hair had been spray-dyed into a cheap, straw-yellow color, and she was wearing a worn-out cowboy baseball cap backwards. Her fair face was painted a shade darker with foundation, making it appear waxy yellow, and her dark circles were deliberately intensified. Even her bluish stubble was meticulously depicted.
Moving the gaze downwards, the always impeccably dressed casual suit has been replaced by a white polyester vest worn by an elderly man, revealing a cluster of flower-shaped tattoos on his left shoulder. He is wearing baggy ripped jeans and flip-flops.
He perfectly embodies the image of a decadent street thug.
"Oh my, oh my~" Director Wu Luoyu clapped while bending down and circling around Yu Sheng, looking him up and down. "As expected of our little CEO Yu, his ability to create characters is really strong. Just standing here, you would think the character has come to life."
"Stop talking nonsense." Yu Sheng was too lazy to listen to his flattery. She plopped down on the table, pointed at Wu Luoyu's nose, and spoke without any politeness, "What did you say to me last night? You said this role was so important, so outstanding, and that the audience would definitely remember me at first glance. Yes, they did remember me. Once this role comes out, all my amazing images from before are gone. The audience can only remember me as a hooligan."
He wasn't a contracted actor, so naturally he wouldn't consider the depth of the roles he played, let alone challenge the diversity of the characters.
His cameo role was simply to satisfy his acting itch, and also to make the most of the good genes his mother gave him. That's why Yu Sheng would never have touched this kind of ugly and roguish street thug role before.
How could someone as proud and concerned with his image as him allow others to dress him up in such an "unseemly" way and have it recorded by a camera for people to "admire"?
Yu Sheng's pout was so wide it could hang two pounds of pork, and Lu Chenyang found it strangely amusing. This was different from the Yu Sheng he had seen before; it was more...real. So when Wu Luoyu was about to speak up to persuade him, he preemptively said with a smile, "I think this image is great, very unique."
Yu Sheng turned around abruptly, staring intently at Lu Chenyang, "Really?"
This was the first time in so long that Lu Chenyang had praised him and smiled at him, which surprised him somewhat. He leaned forward with a smile and said, "In Officer Lu's heart, am I the most special and the most handsome no matter what?"
"..."
Lu Chenyang turned his head away to avoid eye contact with Yu Sheng. Why couldn't he learn his lesson? He knew perfectly well what kind of person this was, so why did he still bother with her?
But as soon as he looked away, Yu Sheng's face followed him, and they remained face to face.
Looking at the face in front of him, deliberately darkened with makeup and accentuated with dark circles, Lu Chenyang had to admit that even so, Yu Sheng's beauty wasn't diminished much. Yes, that's right, he wanted to use "beautiful" to describe her, rather than the commonly used word "handsome."
He stared blankly, so close that he forgot to move away, when suddenly he felt his collar being tugged.
Lu Chenyang was still wearing that light blue jersey, the neckline of which was quite low. With a gentle tug, his entire collarbone and well-defined, muscular chest were exposed. A thin layer of sweat remained after his workout, shimmering softly in the sunlight.
"Slap!" Lu Chenyang frowned and slapped Yu Sheng's hand away.
It's happening again!
Every time he lowered his guard, the other party would seize the opportunity to deliver a devastating blow to his alarm. Never trust this person again; this was his repeated advice to himself.
Yu Sheng had only intended to draw people closer, but it had such an effect. He showed no sign of blushing, turning his head and smiling slyly, "After the makeup was done, I didn't want to act, but Officer Lu said it was very special, so if you ask, I'd be happy to stay and play this role."
Isn't this putting him on the hot seat? Lu Chenyang mentally slapped Yu Sheng again.
The actor originally cast for this role broke his leg in a car accident yesterday. Although the role has very few scenes, Director Wu is a very demanding person when it comes to actors, so he must have had no other choice but to ask Yu Sheng for help.
If he didn't speak up and Yu Sheng really left, not only would he offend the director, but the filming schedule would also be affected, which was something he didn't want to see. However, he was really reluctant to ask her to stay.
But seeing Wu Luoyu clasping her hands together and nodding frantically at him, he had no choice but to say helplessly, "I've seen many of the cameo roles that Mr. Yu has played before. With your acting skills, you have no problem handling this small role. Besides, Mr. Yu, wouldn't you like to take this opportunity to broaden your acting range? This is a brand new challenge, and I believe you will gain something from it."
His words were formal and proper, like an official statement given to a reporter. He listed a whole bunch of advantages from the other party's perspective but didn't say his own thoughts. Yu Sheng wasn't buying it and bluntly said, "I only want you to say, do you want me to stay?"
Lu Chenyang was speechless for a moment. He hadn't expected Yu Sheng to keep pressing him even after he had said so much. He was about to say "whatever" when he saw that Director Wu's face was almost turning liver-colored with anxiety. He sighed inwardly and resignedly squeezed out a few words, "I... want you to stay."
"Okay." Yu Sheng smiled like a flower, both smug and annoying. She agreed without the slightest hesitation, her slightly upturned eyes still glowing with a beautiful light red even with makeup. "I knew you couldn't bear to part with me."
With their goal achieved, the happiest person was director Wu Luoyu. He plopped down between the two of them, smiling broadly. "Here, Asheng, this is your script. Almost every scene is with Chenyang. There aren't many, but they are all very important." As he spoke, he handed Yu Sheng a stack of bound A4 papers.
Yu Sheng had already read the script carefully many times before filming began. After all, the investment was not a small amount, and he had to ensure the quality of the script. He remembered most of the plot and had the impression that there was indeed a small-time hoodlum character, but Wu Luoyu's claim that the role was very important was pure nonsense.
"Shattered Light" is a crime thriller told from the perspective of the male protagonist's growth. The protagonist, Qi Luo, is a high school senior with exceptional basketball skills. He has received offers from several universities, but his younger sister, Qi Jia, disappears on her way home from school. When she is found, she has been murdered and dismembered, but the killer has vanished without a trace. Despite a thorough search, Qi Luo abandons his basketball dream and enters a police academy. He spends ten years tracking down the killer and finally brings him to justice.
Overall, the story isn't particularly innovative; it's just an ordinary time-traveling manhunt. However, with Lu Chenyang, the "entertainment industry police chief," as a golden brand, coupled with realistic and visceral fight scenes and a significant investment in post-production, box office success is assured.
As Yu Sheng listened to the director's boastful talk about the film's prospects, she flipped through the thin script in her hand to familiarize herself with the character.
The petty thug, named Gao Qiu (nicknamed "Flower Boy"), was an unemployed young man loitering near the school. His first contact with the protagonist was when he stopped the female lead, Qi Jia, after school to "borrow money," resulting in him being reprimanded by the male lead, Qi Luo. Later, Qi Jia died, and Qi Luo began to suspect Gao Qiu. However, Gao Qiu was not the murderer. After Qi Luo became a policeman, he became his informant and ultimately died while helping Qi Luo track down the killer.
A minor character with a tragic undertone.
“Perfect timing, Wu Tong has finished his styling. Come on, the three of you, rehearse your lines, and we’ll try out a scene in a bit.” Wu Luoyu called out to a little girl in a blue and white school uniform.
Yu Sheng vaguely remembered this young girl. She was one of his artists, and it seemed that Lan Zhong had personally signed her to Xinghua Media before.
She was good-looking and had a bright personality. I heard she had just started university and was a little nervous meeting Yu Sheng, the major shareholder of the group. She bowed slightly and greeted him, "Young President Yu."
"Tongtong, right? It's not like we're at the company, don't be so reserved. You can call me Brother Yu Sheng, that's fine too." Yu Sheng smiled brightly and gentlemanly, and even handed the little girl a fishing stool. "Sit down."
Lu Chenyang sneered inwardly. The big-tailed fox was quite the actor; he really knew how to put on an act.
"...This scene takes place during lunch break. Qi Jia, feeling unwell, is heading home to rest. As she walks through an alley, a thug named Gao Qiu appears, robbing her under the pretense of 'borrowing money.' Just as Gao Qiu reaches into Qi Jia's pocket, Qi Luo appears, knocks Gao Qiu to the ground without a word, and then Gao Qiu utters a few threats before fleeing..."
After finishing his speech, Wu Luoyu went to discuss camera positions and lighting arrangements with the photographer. Of the three actors present, one was a popular male star, and the other was a classically trained actor; their acting skills were beyond question and required little guidance from him.
This young girl, a complete novice yet to be fully trained, possessed remarkable talent, and hadn't given him any trouble during the previous filming. Lu Chenyang completely took on the "mentorship of the new actress," bringing out the girl's emotions very naturally. Even someone as perfectionist as him couldn't find any flaws.
“Tongtong, you acted very well in the earlier parts, so don’t be nervous. In this scene, your emotions first turn to physical discomfort, then tension and fear upon seeing Gao Qiu, and finally, your emotions reach a climax as Gao Qiu reaches out his hand to you—fear, helplessness, and collapse. But the moment your brother Qi Luo appears, you feel at ease. Then, after Gao Qiu is chased away, your emotions shift to lingering fear…”
Sure enough, as soon as Wu Luoyu left, Lu Chenyang began his "newbie teaching" mode. Yu Sheng felt a little jealous, for no other reason than that Lu Chenyang's eyes and tone were too gentle, completely lacking the tense atmosphere he had shown when dealing with her. He was just like a loving older brother guiding his younger sister—gentlemanly, patient, polite, and gentle.
Yu Sheng smacked her lips, her eyes tracing the outline of Lu Chenyang's body, then mentally added a halo above his head, chuckled, "He can cosplay as a holy archangel now."
Lighting, set design, and camera setup complete; actors in position; the stagehand snaps the black and white clapperboard shut; "Scene 27 of 'Shattered Light,' take one, action!"
As filming began, "Qi Jia" was in fairly good condition. She hunched her shoulders slightly, moved forward step by step, her legs trembling a little. She would occasionally frown and look ahead, as if complaining that the road was too long and making her too tired.
"Hoo--!" With a scoundrel's whistle, Gao Qiu swaggered over from a side alley, hands in his pockets, head down, his flip-flops clattering on the ground. As he approached Qi Jia, he slowly raised his head, his dark circles under his eyes scrutinizing the girl from head to toe several times. He deliberately squinted, raised his eyebrows, grinned, and clicked his tongue—a standard "street youth" act, his movements smooth and fluid.
Standing to the side, Lu Chenyang watched intently. The hooligan whistle and the snapping tongue were not in the script; they were added by Yu Sheng to create the character. He hadn't expected this noble young master to be so realistic in his role, completely shedding his rich and handsome demeanor and behaving like a street rogue. If someone didn't know him, they would really think he was a real hooligan.
However… something seemed off, but Lu Chenyang couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He looked at the director behind the monitor and saw that the director was also frowning. The two looked at each other, understanding each other’s meaning without saying a word.
"Cut!" Wu Luoyu shouted.
"Chenyang, don't you also feel that something is wrong?" Wu Luoyu asked.
"Hmm." Lu Chenyang nodded, his gaze fixed on Yu Sheng. Something was off. The words "arrogant young master" and "thug" kept echoing in his mind.
"Director Wu!" Lu Chenyang's eyes suddenly lit up. "I know where the problem lies."
He strode over, pulled Yu Sheng in front of the monitor, and said, "Yu Sheng's performance is very professional, there's nothing wrong with it, so the reason we feel it's unnatural is not in the performance itself, but in the makeup!"
"Makeup?!" Yu Sheng was so surprised he wanted to curse. Wasn't he already humiliated enough? Did they have to smear soot on his face to be satisfied?
“Yes, it’s the makeup and styling.” Lu Chenyang was completely oblivious to the dissatisfaction in Yu Sheng’s tone, as he was fully absorbed in controlling the quality of his work.
“In the script, Gao Qiu is portrayed as an orphan with no education, no income, and no relatives. Sometimes he even has trouble getting food and can only scrape by with the so-called ‘big brother’ every day. So…” Lu Chenyang lifted one of Yu Sheng’s arms, “Would Gao Qiu, living under such conditions, have such smooth and beautiful muscle lines and a great figure?”
Upon hearing this, Yu Sheng looked down at his polyester fiber vest, which he wore with a somewhat fitted look. His two lean arms were exposed, his well-defined pectoral muscles, narrow waistline, and faintly visible abdominal muscles were all on full display.
Hmm... she really is beautiful, he silently repeated Lu Chenyang's description of him in his mind.
He blurted out what he was thinking, his arm still being held by Lu Chenyang. He tilted his head and whispered in Lu Chenyang's ear, "I'm very happy that you said I'm pretty."
His lips curved into a beautiful smile, and his eyes and brows shone brightly with a cheerful expression.
Every time Yu Sheng showed this expression, Lu Chenyang would have the urge to slap her, but this time he didn't. He felt that Yu Sheng was genuinely happy now, and he was happy because of his praise.
Like a haughty little cat with its head held high, waiting to be petted and praised by its owner?
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