Over the next two weeks, Lu Xiaoxiao devoted almost all her attention to studying the script for "Graceful" and preparing for her role.
She seemed possessed. Apart from eating, sleeping, and talking with her family enough to maintain a semblance of harmony, she spent most of her time shut away in her room or tucked into a quiet corner of the study.
Her tablet was filled with digital copies of the script and dense notes. Printed copies of key scenes lay spread across her desk, marked with different-colored pens to highlight emotional shifts, inner thoughts, and acting cues.
She repeatedly explored Wen Yao's inner world: the detachment and obsession born of a thousand years of solitude, the caution of regaining someone she had lost and the ocean-deep love she felt when facing her reincarnated lover, the hurt and restraint when misunderstood, and the resolute madness when she finally erupted... Every emotional layer demanded precision.
To better embody the "cat demon" character, she even consulted extensive material on feline behavior and watched cat videos online, considering how to incorporate their elegance, agility, wariness, occasional haughtiness, and air of mystery into her body language and gaze.
She also contacted Jiang Ci to ask for acting tips and advice on quickly immersing herself in a role. Although Jiang Ci was busy, she patiently offered plenty of practical suggestions.
While Lu Xiaoxiao immersed herself in her preparations, the outside world was anything but calm. Several major events unfolded in succession, making considerable waves in both the entertainment and business worlds.
First, about a week after Lu Xiaoxiao began preparing with the script, a much-anticipated signing press conference took place. Jiang Ci officially announced that she had terminated her contract with her former agency and signed with Starlight Media.
At the press conference, Jiang Ci