283: Chapter 283 Slapping

"Fengshen" had finally wrapped up filming.

This news was told to Lin Chuyan by Li Mujian.

Lin Chuyan asked his teacher, "When will it be released?" His teacher indicated that the director was already working on the special effects, and as for when the dish would be served, it would depend on the intentions of the investors behind the scenes.

However, it was certain to be released during the Spring Festival Movie Season, if not this year, then next; no other slot could accommodate a film of this scale.

This film had too much money invested in it; it was a project that could only succeed and could not fail. The director was under a lot of pressure right now, and as an actor, all he could do was offer his well wishes.

Lin Chuyan didn't say anything else. To be honest, so much time had passed that he had long since become indifferent to this so-called "Fengshen."

In the past, he might have had some thoughts, feeling like he wanted to compete with them. But now, he was moving too fast, and many of the people and things from back then could no longer keep up with his pace.

Even if he were allowed to play Ji Fa now and happened to become popular, so what? He wouldn't be as famous as he was now...

Once the gap became large enough, some things naturally ceased to matter.

Of course, not caring was one thing, but he would likely be a regular at the Spring Festival Movie Season in the future. If he accidentally bumped into them and caused collateral damage, he couldn't be blamed.

Lin Chuyan didn't talk about Fengshen anymore. He only told his teacher that he had met his girlfriend's parents, that Ruan Shan liked him very much, and asked him to convey his thanks. He also mentioned that he would bring his girlfriend to visit him once he returned to Beijing.

Qiao Wei also sent him a message.

Because the film hadn't been released yet, Qiao Wei's resources remained the same.

This kid had spent a lot of time building muscle during the "Fengshen Training Camp" and had certainly gotten into shape, but in the end, he didn't land a very good role.

Ji Fa, Yin Jiao, Yang Jian, Bo Yikao, Chong Yingbiao... none of them were for him. In the end, he only played Jiang Wenhuan—the son of the East Earl Jiang Huanchu.

In the original work, he was Queen Jiang's younger brother and Yin Jiao's uncle. However, it was said that in "Fengshen," Jiang Wenhuan and Yin Jiao were about the same age, so he was changed to Yin Jiao's cousin.

What was rare was that Jiang Wenhuan didn't die in the first film and might appear again in the third—Qiao Wei had told him this in secret.

He also gossiped about others behind their backs. While at the training camp, he complained to Lin Chuyan about the other young idols there. His exact words were: "I feel like they are indeed working hard at Acting, but their character is truly lacking, really lacking. Brother, I'm so nervous. Do you think they'll all have their reputations ruined soon? Wouldn't that mean I acted for nothing?"

Qiao Wei still had a strong sense of crisis. He felt that although he had learned a lot in the training camp, if "Fengshen" flopped, it would be as if he had wasted a year of his life.

To say he wasn't envious of Lin Chuyan's development would definitely be a lie.

What else could Lin Chuyan say? He could only try his best to comfort him: "Don't worry, at the very least, it will make it to release. Who knows who they are before the release anyway..."

This was the truth.

The media always followed the scent of popularity; no one knew these people right now, so who would report on them?

He couldn't help but gossip: "In what way is their character lacking?"

"Does cheating on multiple partners count? Does being bisexual count?"

Lin Chuyan was startled by the second half: "Damn, you know about something that explosive?"

"It's hard not to know when you spend every day together in the training camp. Switching phones to make calls, changing how they address people, and hitting on the staff... anyway, it's pretty impressive. But in the end, it's just that stuff between men and women; there's nothing else."

"That's how it is when you're handsome. If you don't keep yourself clean, it's too easy to fall into corruption. After all, it's not difficult to hit on girls... As for other things, you have to wait until they become famous to have the opportunity to get involved; otherwise, right now, they can only sell their looks."

Qiao Wei gave him a thumbs-up: "You're still the best, brother. By the way, when will I be able to drink to your wedding?"

Little Potatoes still steered the conversation toward his relationship with Ruan Xingyu.

"...Once it's set, I'll send you an invitation."

"Got it."

The two chatted for a few more minutes, and it ended with a meme from Qiao Wei—Zhang Fei cupping his hands: ddddddddd help out your younger brother who is fighting alone.jpg

Lin Chuyan thought about it, logged into Weibo, and retweeted the wrap-up post for "Fengshen."

He edited the caption and posted: "Congratulations to my teacher on wrapping up! Congratulations to the "Fengshen" crew on wrapping up!"

His train of thought was very clear. First, his teacher was the lead actor, so there was no need to make things ugly; respecting one's teacher was definitely necessary. Second, by being magnanimous, even if they met during the Spring Festival Movie Season, the outcome would look good regardless of who won, keeping him in an invincible position.

Lin Chuyan had been working quite hard on filming these past few days. His idea was simple: he had to ask for leave in a few days, so he would try hard to catch up on progress and do his job as well as possible while he was at it.

The most exciting part was the scenes with Zhang Wentang. The two disciples acted against each other, and they even communicated and studied together before filming, making it even more intense.

For example, the slapping scene. In "the knockout," Gao Qisheng was hit by his brother three times in total. The question was: how should it be done? They were all slaps, so how could they convey different feelings?

The two discussed it for a while and decided that the tone should follow the plot and have a progressive relationship. As for how to progress, they could adjust based on the opponent's feedback during filming to give a real-time reaction; nothing was set in stone, as long as they both understood the intent.

For scenes with a partner, many things are created through collision, not by design.

Later, when they filmed it, they indeed executed it well.

The first time he was hit was when Gao Qiqiang discovered that Gao Qisheng had made a gun and slapped him directly.

By the second scene, Gao Qiqiang had his hands pressed on the mahjong table, scrutinizing Gao Qisheng, who was sitting with his head lowered: "Xiao Sheng, what I just said—that Captain Yang said—those colorful little pills in Jinghai, that drug, you aren't selling those too, are you?"

Gao Qisheng's lips trembled, he slowly raised his head, his eyes flickering with evasion: "I..."

Gao Qiqiang slapped him immediately.

This was where it depended on how Lin Chuyan acted out the progression.

He immediately grabbed a handful of mahjong tiles and threw them, suddenly snapping: "You love hitting people that much, right!"

Then he frantically slapped his own face, speaking while slapping: "Hit! I sold them, I sold them, I sold them, are you satisfied now!"

Director Chen, sitting in front of the monitor, was startled. He could see clearly that he was really using force; he had slapped himself eight times in total...

Although they hadn't communicated this beforehand, fortunately, Zhang Wentang was still in character.

Gao Qiqiang knocked Gao Qisheng's glasses off and gripped his throat: "Are you f*cking tired of living?"

Gao Qisheng, with his glasses knocked off, stared at him fixedly, his eyes slightly red. He, who had just been frantically slapping himself, suddenly calmed down and began to explain that all the Xiaolingtong phones he had hoarded were stuck in his hands.

Gao Qiqiang continued to emphasize that he shouldn't have gone down this path and that he could have discussed anything with him.

Gao Qisheng, who had just been calm, suddenly went crazy again.

He looked at the other person with red eyes and sneered: "You're questioning me like this now? Gao Qiqiang, didn't I tell you I wanted to join Jian Gong Group?"

Gao Qiqiang stated that two brothers couldn't work in the same company; you can't put all your eggs in one basket. His voice grew louder as he spoke: "Do you understand Jian Gong Group? Do you know how deep the water is in there? I can't even get out now even if I want to!"

The two started arguing.

Gao Qisheng's voice was even louder: "So don't question me now! I didn't ask you for anything!"

"Fine! Then keep selling! If something happens to you, I'll send you to the guillotine! Are you tired of living!"

However, at this moment, Gao Qisheng suddenly calmed down again, as if the person who had been screaming at the top of his lungs wasn't him. He grabbed Gao Qiqiang's arm: "Listen to me, listen to me, brother, sit down first."

He began to explain why he wanted to sell this stuff—to make money, it was f*cking lucrative.

Gao Qiqiang felt something was wrong as he listened and couldn't help but pull up his sleeve to check for needle marks.

Gao Qisheng suddenly smiled: "I didn't use it, brother, don't worry."

He took the initiative to pull up the other sleeve.

Gao Qiqiang placed his palm on his younger brother's cheek, his voice trembling slightly: "Xiao Sheng, promise me—I only have you as a brother. No matter what you touch, never touch drugs."

Gao Qisheng looked up at his brother, his eyes not only red but filled with tears; he seemed to feel his brother's concern for him: "I never did before, and I never will in the future."

"Cut!"

Honestly, Director Chen was quite satisfied; watching these two disciples act was truly a treat. Just in this take, the two of them shifted their emotions back and forth—arguing one moment, then starting to talk properly, then arguing again after only a few sentences, and finally, they seemed to reconcile.

It was normal for Zhang Wentang to be a good actor, but Lin Chuyan was unexpectedly just as good. That little look at the end, how did it have such a sense of vulnerability and brokenness... it was amazing.

"Let's do another take, you two."

Zhang Wentang felt bad for his junior and raised his hand: "Director, do you see anything that needs improvement? Xiao Sheng is slapping himself too hard. Can we finish within three takes? Otherwise, his face will definitely swell up."

Director Chen nodded in understanding.

They said three takes, so three takes it was. But after three takes, Lin Chuyan couldn't help but feel nauseous and found a restroom to dry heave.

Damn, he was being a bit too intense, especially those times he slapped himself.

He had certainly enjoyed filming it, but his emotions were so intense that he actually triggered a physiological stress response?!