The First Scene

Huaxia Imperial Entertainment would build schools and housing in villages and towns with poor educational resources and weak teaching staff, purchase books and teaching materials, construct football fields and gymnasiums, and set up multimedia classrooms and computer labs. It would even build roads at the call of the local government and support local businesses in finding more commercial opportunities...

"Because you were the first guest on Exchanging Lives and a little hero who stood up for justice, the company decided after discussion to have you serve as the charity foundation's public ambassador. In a few days, the company will hold a charity auction for the public, and you'll need to attend as well." Wei Linxuan gave him detailed instructions. Seeing that it was about time, he signaled for the planners to hand over today's footage, then got up and left.

Not long after Wei Linxuan left, a production assistant came to remind Lu Heng to head to the set.

That afternoon's scene was the first one filmed after Autumn Dew White began production. It was the part where the second male lead, Han Lusheng, was summoned to Wu Guowei's residence to perform opera for him.

Generally, to start production on a good note, a crew would not film anything too difficult for its first scene. Rong Xiu and Liu Jiawei were both experienced, award-winning actors, so there was even less chance of mistakes. As a result, the first scene went exceptionally smoothly and was almost completed in a single take.

Fang Kaizhi habitually shot two more takes, then waved his hand to signal the filming of the next scene. It was the part where the male lead, Cen Qiubai, infiltrated Wu Guowei's residence to gather intelligence.

Most film and television crews did not shoot according to the plot's chronological order. Instead, they extracted scenes set in the same location from the script and filmed them together. This was mainly to save money and trouble, since renting locations and setting up backdrops and props all took time and cost money.

Yue Sennan, who played the male lead, was not on set waiting for his scene. Fang Kaizhi frowned and waved for the assistant director to find him.

The assistant director acknowledged him and casually pointed at a production assistant to run the errand. More than ten minutes later, the assistant came running back, drenched in sweat. Hesitantly, he said, "Brother Yue isn't in the lounge or on set. I called his assistant, and his assistant said..."

At this point, the production assistant subconsciously glanced at Zhao Miao and Lu Heng before lowering his voice. "He said Brother Yue wasn't feeling well and went back to the hotel first."

He knew he had a scene that afternoon, yet he had returned to the hotel without saying a word?

Fang Kaizhi raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

First Scene

The day after Wei Linxuan visited the set, Star Entertainment also sent people over.

The visitors were Star Entertainment's talent director, Hu Yuexi, and vice president Cao Yan. They had likewise brought drinks and food to visit the set. Upon arrival, they apologized to Director Fang and the lead actors, stating plainly that Yue Sennan's health issues had delayed the production schedule and asking everyone to be understanding.

There was a saying: one did not slap a smiling face. Although Fang Kaizhi was somewhat dissatisfied with Yue Sennan's conduct, Yue Sennan had joined the production with his own funding. For the sake of Star Entertainment and the investors, Fang Kaizhi could only endure it. As for unrelated people like Rong Xiu, they naturally would not say much either. It was only one collaboration. Having spent so many years in the industry, what sort of people had they not encountered?

Afterward, Hu Yuexi and Cao Yan took the initiative to visit the "sick" Yue Sennan at the hotel. As an actor from the same company, Zhao Miao was called away as well.

The rest continued filming or waited for their scenes. Lu Heng only had one scene that afternoon: the scene where the young second male lead made his first appearance onstage and stunned everyone with a single performance.

This arrangement greatly surprised Lu Heng—he had thought he could first do a few minor scenes to find his footing. He had not expected Fang Kaizhi to open with such a major move.

Director Fang had a perfectly sound argument for his arrangement. He believed that Lu Heng was a newcomer, and the emotions he felt standing before the camera for the first time should have much in common with the young second male lead's emotions as he took the stage for the first time. He hoped Lu Heng would carefully consider his current state of mind and strive to "stun everyone with a single performance."

On second thought, Lu Heng realized it was true. He had acted for half his life, yet he had never played a Kunqu opera dan role before a camera. After Director Fang put it that way, he really did feel some pressure.

The main reason was that Rong Xiu's portrayal of Han Lusheng was simply too peerless and dazzling. Lu Heng knew his own performance could not surpass Rong Xiu's, but he was unwilling to fall too far behind—

They had both studied opera at Yanying Studio for three months. They had both endured so much hardship and suffering. Lu Heng could not let those three months of hardship go to waste. Even if this segment was destined to be cut during editing, he would still give it everything he had.

At two in the afternoon, the Yunji Troupe's opera stage had long since been fully dressed, with the lights and cameras all in place. The temporary extras had also changed into long gowns, mandarin jackets, Western suits, or short work clothes, their faces made up for the performance.

Lu Heng sat backstage at the Yunji Troupe. He had already changed into Du Liniang's Kunqu costume: a soft pink skirt and jacket embroidered with floral patterns, a goose-yellow cape, and a trembling kingfisher-feather headdress. The rich, ornate makeup of a Kunqu dan role made Lu Heng's already handsome features appear exquisitely refined.

The performers around him were in a flurry. Some were applying makeup, some were changing clothes, while martial performers carrying spears and staffs moved back and forth through the cramped space.

The Yunji Troupe's elderly leader stood behind the young Han Lusheng, two jade-smooth stone balls resting in his palm and making faint sounds as they rubbed together.

The old troupe leader studied the prized disciple he had painstakingly trained for so many years and said slowly, "Today's your time to take the stage. Whether you're a dragon or a worm, whether you can become a star, all depends on this performance. You'd better do me proud."

Lu Heng did not answer. His hand at his side quietly clenched into a fist. Only when someone in front announced the performers did he silently rise to his feet. Holding the edges of his cape together with both hands, he moved gracefully through the long, narrow backstage corridor. One camera ahead closely filmed his expression, another followed behind him and steadily pushed forward, while several cameras above filmed from different angles. The backstage lighting flickered on and off, falling over Lu Heng's face, painted with exquisite makeup.

The screen went dark, then brightened. The young Han Lusheng, dressed as Du Liniang, made his powdered entrance.

The haunting prelude of Kunqu's strings and wind instruments drifted forth. Amid the tender, lingering melody, the young Han Lusheng appeared slowly in the shot, his slender figure as graceful as a water lily brushed by the wind.

Long water sleeves were layered over his hands, revealing only the tips of his fingers. His delicate fingers were pale as scallion stalks. The young Han Lusheng raised his sleeve to lightly cover his face, exposing only a pair of clear black-and-white eyes, their outer corners drawn long and narrow. As his gaze shifted, endless charm and tenderness seemed to mist from the corners of his eyes.