Hengdian, Han Street City Gate. After the carriage accident, Huáng Jiànzhōng and Chén Bǎoguó had planned to cut that scene. But as filming neared its end, Chén Bǎoguó went back on his word.
He believed that as a professional actor, he shouldn't let his own issues affect the shoot. Even though the shots were somewhat dangerous, he still had to complete them. That was the job he was paid for.
After discussion, they decided to reshoot, relocating to Hengdian. Today was the day for the reshoot, and also the last scene before wrapping. On set, Fàn Lí and King Goujian of Yue were pulling a cart for Fūchāi.
Suddenly, a person jumped from the eaves of a nearby house. The soldier on horseback, seeing someone obstructing the King of Wu's carriage, swung his whip. The man grabbed the whip and with a powerful yank, pulled the soldier off his horse.
His eyes full of malice, he shouted, "A scholar can be killed, but not disgraced. State of Wu disgraces our King like this; retribution will come sooner or later." King Goujian looked at the man who had suddenly appeared, his face betraying undisguised panic.
Was he from the State of Yue, or a pawn sent by Wǔ Zǐxū? King Goujian couldn't be sure yet. Inside the carriage, Fūchāi heard the commotion.
He lifted the curtain and asked, "Who are you?" "A prisoner of war from the State of Yue!" the man roared.
"A prisoner of war from the State of Yue, you want to plead for your King, don't you." The man fixed his gaze on Fūchāi, eagerness in his eyes. "That's right.
The more State of Wu treats us like this, the more defiant we Yue people become." Fūchāi leaned back against the seat, glancing at King Goujian. "You can't represent the State of Yue.
You have to ask your King first what he says." As soon as Fūchāi finished speaking, the man eagerly interjected, "No need to ask. We Yue people know our King."
Lu Yuan watched from the side, shaking his head. These people from the State of Yue were depicted as too foolish, lacking any real strength, only good for empty boasts and causing trouble. King Goujian couldn't stand it anymore.
He felt that if this man who had suddenly appeared continued, he would soon face utter destruction, and Fūchāi would not let him off. He walked over to the man, his eyes sharp and fierce, and asked, "Who are you?" "I am Du Ye."
Du Ye looked at King Goujian with fervent adoration. In his heart, the King was still the King. King Goujian gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Du Ye, is it? Let me tell you, the State of Yue now belongs to the supreme King of Wu. Anyone who resists will surely die."
With that, he suddenly drew his sword from a nearby guard and thrust it at Du Ye. Du Ye's face was filled with shock. He never understood why the King of Yue would kill him, even in death.
"Cut!" "I announce the wrap for the King Goujian of Yue production!" Huáng Jiànzhōng shouted into the megaphone.
Everyone applauded, hugged, and jumped for joy. Some threw their hats, one of which accidentally landed on someone else's head. It wasn't easy.
After two months of filming, it was finally over. In the early stages, Huáng Jiànzhōng had lost a lot of hair worrying about various problems. Just when the actors' states were adjusted, they almost had a fatality.
Fortunately, they successfully wrapped. Of course, for Huáng Jiànzhōng, the work was far from over. He still had to edit, compose music, color grade, add subtitles, and submit for review.
Zhōu Yáng popped out from behind and excitedly patted Lu Yuan's shoulder, "Hooray, it's finally wrapped." This was the first time she had played a major role in a TV series, her first time as the female lead. Lu Yuan was equally happy, as this was his first time working on a full production team and his first time as a significant supporting character.
Huh, why was he different from Zhōu Yáng? There was a hint of melancholy. Indeed, comparison reveals the pain.
"Teacher Tan, it's wrapped!" "Teacher Bào, it's wrapped!" ...
Night. Hengdian Ablaze. After more than two months, Lu Yuan returned to this hot pot restaurant.
The place was still crowded, but the little girl with the flushed face was gone, probably back to school. "Lu Yuan, what's it like being in such a big production for the first time and collaborating with so many talented actors?" Old Chen's words were tinged with envy.
"It feels a bit hot." Lu Yuan bit into a beef ball, the hot soup inside scalding him, making him puff air. "Seriously, though."
Taking a sip of iced beer and smacking his lips, Lu Yuan sighed, "The pressure was immense, but I also learned a lot. We often only see their brilliance on stage, overlooking the dedication and effort they put in behind the scenes. There's a reason these talented actors make it."
"Exactly, that's spot on. The sun has to go through darkness before it can rise," Sūn Péng chimed in. "That's called Earth's rotation.
Can you read a bit more?" Old Chen frowned, unable to resist retorting. "Ahem, who cares how it rotates, as long as the meaning is conveyed."
Sūn Péng was initially smug, thinking he still had some knowledge, only to be immediately proven wrong. Couples were common among the customers in the hot pot restaurant. Young couples fed each other, giggled, and acted all lovey-dovey.
When their eyes met, the lingering gazes, the entanglement, the pulling, seemed to make the air turn sour. Sūn Péng watched these young couples, feeling a bit nauseous. He thought of his own girlfriend at home, shook his head, and sighed.
Seeing him like this, Lu Yuan curiously asked, "What's wrong, Brother Peng? Sighing like that, is your back still not better?" Sūn Péng gave an awkward smile, his face etched with bitterness.
"Alas, I'm worried. Your sister-in-law's birthday is coming up, and I don't know what to get her. It's not like before.
When we first started dating, she was easy to fool; a hot pot meal would solve it. Look at them." He gestured to his front left.
At that table were two people, a man and a woman. The man was laughing, the woman was playfully scolding. Ugh!
He continued, "Now, if I buy something expensive, she thinks I'm wasteful. If I buy something cheap, she says I don't care about her. If I take her out to eat, she says she needs to lose weight."
"It's tough. When important dates arrive, my head already starts to ache. What should I get her?
Why are women so troublesome?" Lu Yuan had nothing to say, just continued eating and drinking. As a single man, all this was still too early for him.
However, he agreed on one point: women were indeed troublesome creatures. "Why not give her ten months of pregnancy!" Old Chen said leisurely from the side.
"Ahem, cough, cough, cough." How could this hot pot be so choking? Old Chen, as expected!
Lu Yuan praised him inwardly. "As the threads of memory entwine the fragmented past, it's panic that fills the heart. With flowers accompanied by butterflies, solitary swallows can fly in pairs."
The three of them chatted and drank, eating slowly. The restaurant was no longer crowded. Old Chen suddenly felt inspired and started singing.
Lu Yuan, slightly tipsy, found Old Chen's singing unbearable. "Old Chen, stop humming. Even dogs would shake their heads hearing that."
Old Chen ignored him and continued singing. Sūn Péng swayed his head to the rhythm. Sometimes, singing is about the atmosphere; no one cares if it's good or bad.
Unless it disturbs others. When Old Chen finally quieted down, Sūn Péng perked up and asked, "Lu Yuan, do you know Tangren?" Lu Yuan stared intently at the steam rising from the hot pot, gathering, dispersing, and then slowly ascending until it completely vanished.
Watching the steam rise and fall, he felt himself becoming confused. "Tangren? Chinatown?
My family was poor, I never went." Sūn Péng chuckled. "What Chinatown?
I'm talking about Tangren Film and Television Company, the one that made Chinese Paladin. ""Oh, oh, I know. Starring Liú Yìfēi, right?
I know, what's up?" Old Chen, leaning on the table, suddenly looked up and interjected, "This kid is in the same class as that girl. Look how famous she is.
What a disgrace!" He then slumped back down. Lu Yuan ignored him; he wasn't one to hold grudges.
He wondered how long he'd be jailed for getting caught eating fast food somewhere and decided to look it up later. Sūn Péng continued, "Tangren is currently casting in Hengdian for a drama about the Generals of the Yang Family. Do you want to audition?"
"But I heard that company tends to favor actors from Hong Kong and Taiwan." "Isn't that how the market is now? You're not aiming for the lead role, so it shouldn't be a big problem.
You won't know until you try. Go for it." Lu Yuan raised his glass.
"Alright, I got it. Thanks, Brother." "Dear readers, is the recent plot okay?
The backend data is a bit concerning, haha. Please collect and follow. Thank you!"