Ye Zhenzhen's mind was in a daze. Only now did she finally understand why Director Zheng, despite holding such a high position, valued Jiang Shu so much.
"If you're alone, don't go wandering into the mountains and forests. You said at the cinema yourself that the world was about to undergo a great change. How come, now that it concerns you, you're not paying attention to your own safety?"
"How did you know? Wait, you're the son of the auntie who was with me?"
Staring intently at Jiang Shu's profile, Ye Zhenzhen finally remembered. Her eyes widened, and she cried out in surprise.
The cinema had been dim, and she'd been wearing sunglasses, so she hadn't paid much attention to Jiang Shu.
Now that she thought about it, Jiang Shu had been training in martial arts for half a year and knew Director Zheng. He probably knew more secrets than she did.
And all the things she'd said in front of the auntie...
Ye Zhenzhen's face flushed red.
It felt just like an ordinary student trying to teach a poor student in front of the top student in class.
"Your voice and build gave you away." Jiang Shu gazed into the distance and, for once, bothered to explain.
Looking down from halfway up the mountain at one corner of Ji City, where cars streamed by like flowing water and pedestrians scurried like ants, he said, "I don't know what you're thinking. I only know that when the world really does undergo a great change, the only person you can rely on is yourself."
"Right now, maybe you think getting started with Horse Stance is just a preliminary task for filming a martial arts promotional video. But you'll never truly experience martial arts just by getting started. Only when you've reached minor mastery in Horse Stance and sensed the flow of qi and blood within yourself will you understand just how captivating martial arts can be."
"If you had strength today, why would you fear a mere little pit viper?"
"Let's go back."
"Mm..."
Ye Zhenzhen lowered her head, her voice barely audible.
The moment Jiang Shu began speaking, she felt as though she'd returned to her elementary school classroom.
She was a student sitting below.
And Jiang Shu was the lofty teacher standing at the lectern.
The image of Jiang Shu throwing a punch and stomping down had left an indelible impression on her mind.
"Rustle, rustle."
Jiang Shu stepped on the fallen leaves as he slowly made his way down the mountain.
Ye Zhenzhen followed close behind. The carefree boldness she'd shown on the way up was gone from her face.
In the days that followed, Ye Zhenzhen, unusually, stopped slacking off. With her already decent talent, she got started with Horse Stance in about ten days.
Filming for the martial arts promotional video also officially began.
She'd held back for ten days.
At last, they were in her field of expertise!
"Jiang Shu, yes, yes, that's the angle. Don't move. Relax. Just act like you normally do. Why does your whole face suddenly get stiff the moment you're in front of the camera? How's the photographer supposed to shoot you like that?"
"Just standing in a stance is too dull. Can you do any kind of boxing? Show us a set. Something flashy, so we can edit it in later."
"Actually, Jiang Shu, why don't you get a buzz cut? A buzz cut is the only true test of whether a guy's handsome! Trust your big sister's eye. I've been around the entertainment industry for years, and I've never misjudged anyone! With a buzz cut, you'll have that cool, aloof kind of handsome look. You'll drive a whole bunch of young girls crazy."
"Your hair's in this awkward in-between stage—not long, not short. It'd be great if it were longer, though. A handsome man in ancient costume! Put on a mask, then take it off! Perfect! Listen, I know martial arts is your thing, but promotional videos are my thing. Stances and boxing—all of it is there to make you look good!"
"Looking good is what draws people in. Trust me, grow your hair out next time. This time, get a buzz cut! You'll be unstoppable!"
Ye Zhenzhen bounced around Jiang Shu as he stood in Horse Stance, her little mouth rattling off criticism like a machine gun. "My eye never misses. If you don't believe me, ask my team!"
She pointed.
A few meters away.
The makeup artist, lighting technician, and photographer stood at a distance, nodding furiously.
They didn't dare say a word.
They didn't dare ask a thing.
Ye Zhenzhen was in charge of the whole shoot, free to do as she pleased.
After all, the little tyrant in front of them was the one paying their wages.
"I'm not cutting my hair. How about this—I'll wear a wig and try on an ancient-style look?" Jiang Shu was starting to get a headache. If he hadn't already promised Director Zheng, he truly wouldn't have wanted to keep going through such a troublesome shoot.
With that time, he could grind away for a while longer.
Wouldn't it be better to raise his proficiency?
"Really? You can't cut it? But buzz cuts are so handsome."
"I can't."
Jiang Shu's tone was flat and firm.
It had taken him half a year to finally grow his hair down to his neck.
If he cut it now, he might look handsome in the martial arts promotional video.
But what about in the Great Jing Dynasty?
He couldn't go around wearing a wig forever.
"Fine, then give this a try!"
Disappointment showed on Ye Zhenzhen's face. She sighed and waved over the makeup artist, who hurried over and led Jiang Shu to the makeshift tent to change and get his makeup done.
"Can you get us a small boat? We'll shoot by the lake. My idea is that I take one of the boats out to the middle of the lake. One photographer can follow me in another boat, while the other films from the shore."
Before long, Jiang Shu emerged from the tent in a long gown.
He decided to shoot the martial arts promotional video at his own pace.
If they kept dawdling like this, they might not finish filming for another half a month.
By then, the college entrance exams would have started.
"What are we filming?"
"Don't worry about it. Just do as he says."
"Oh."
Ye Zhenzhen made a phone call. Half an hour later, everything was ready.
Jiang Shu sat in the small boat and rowed out to the middle of the lake alone.
The boat rocked gently on the water.
But he seemed not to care at all. He stood up and settled into Horse Stance.
Sunlight fell directly across his handsome face. Jiang Shu turned his head slightly, letting the breeze lift his long hair.
A boat on the lake. A person on the boat.
At that moment, they blended together perfectly, like a scene in a painting.
On another small boat, the photographer crouched low and filmed the wide shot.
Through his lens, Jiang Shu and the boat drifted slowly toward the shore with the current.
"The lake is rippling, and even on a boat that won't sit still, he can hold Horse Stance steady. It shows his level in the stance and his harmony with nature—a feeling of becoming one with the heavens and earth."
"Tsk, I didn't think that blockhead could come up with a shot like this. Too bad it's still a little dull. Pair it with some gentle music, and people might get lost in it for a few seconds. A few seconds, though. People are so restless these days. Who's going to watch without a big hook?"
"If he were closer, we could at least get a face shot. His looks might make him marketable. But Jiang Shu's so far from shore now that there's no way the photographer can get a clear shot of his face."
"It's such a good scene, and all we can do is edit a few seconds out of it. Still, that's better than nothing."
On the shore, Ye Zhenzhen watched the little boat gradually drifting over from the middle of the lake.
She murmured under her breath.
But just as the words left her mouth—
Jiang Shu suddenly let out a long, ringing shout from the boat.
She looked up.
She saw Jiang Shu, who had been standing in Horse Stance on the boat the whole time, suddenly kick the bow.
The boat shot forward, sending water spraying in every direction.
Jiang Shu leaped off the boat.
One foot landed on the surface of the water.
With more than ten meters still separating him from the shore,
he charged toward Ye Zhenzhen and the others,
his body surging forward like a galloping horse, racing across the water!
Across the gently rippling surface of the lake,
the small boat sped onward.
Before you continue