This Wasn't in the Script

It was Yin Zhengchuan's first time wearing a wig and period costume, and he found the whole process utterly fascinating.

He put on the gleaming armor and white battle robes, then hoisted the broadsword onto his shoulder!

He looked imposing and full of spirit!

Director Zhang clapped in satisfaction at the sight, then said regretfully, "Xiao Yin, if we'd met earlier, would I have needed to find anyone else for this role?"

Yin Zhengchuan gave his cape a cocky flick and said, "It's not too late now."

"True, it's not too late," Director Zhang said. "When I have a suitable role in the future, I'll definitely come to you! With your build, your height, and that face, do you know how many roles you'd suit? I'm really not exaggerating. Look, even Zisu can't take his eyes off you."

Yin Zhengchuan turned toward Wei Zisu and found that he really was staring at him in a daze. A surge of happiness and excitement filled him.

Hearing his name, Wei Zisu came back to his senses and belatedly realized that despite his many years in the entertainment industry and the countless handsome men and beautiful women he had seen, Yin Zhengchuan's appearance had still managed to stun him.

He had to admit that Yin Zhengchuan looked good in modern clothes too, though he usually dressed rather casually. Now, clad in armor, he looked even taller and straighter, standing among everyone in the makeup room like a pine or cypress. His black hair was tied up, and his sharp brows and bright eyes looked stern. With no expression on his face, he radiated authority.

Except... whenever their eyes met, those eyes always reminded Wei Zisu of puppy eyes.

Fine, even if he was a dog, Yin Zhengchuan was an imposing German shepherd right now.

Wei Zisu smiled and nodded at them both, then looked away to continue having his makeup done.

In this scene, where he attempted to assassinate the emperor, the young lord had entered the palace at night, dressed in black stealth clothes.

Only a short segment needed reshooting, but it required many extras, most of whom played imperial guards surrounding the two of them with weapons in hand.

Yin Zhengchuan stood opposite Wei Zisu, watching the makeup artist spray fake blood onto his face.

Even though he knew it was fake, his heart still clenched at the sight of Wei Zisu looking "gravely wounded."

Wei Zisu told him, "The camera won't catch your face. In a moment, we just need to exchange a few moves, then you thrust your sword at my abdomen and stop there. They'll handle the shot of it piercing my abdomen in postproduction. Once I've finished my expressions and closed my eyes, pull the sword out. Got it?"

Yin Zhengchuan nodded thoughtfully.

Before filming officially began, they rehearsed the scene several times. The fight choreography was simple for Yin Zhengchuan; after all, he had done plenty of training in the military. Even real guns and blades were no problem for him, let alone these flashy moves.

The director guided him from the sidelines, and Yin Zhengchuan listened carefully, but he wasn't particularly immersed in the scene. He kept stealing glances at Wei Zisu, delighted to be acting with him for the first time.

But when filming officially began and the director called "Action!"

Wei Zisu's gaze changed instantly.

His face was covered in wounds, his veil had been knocked off, and his eyes held hatred, pain, and despair. The look he directed at Yin Zhengchuan was even more indescribably complex.

Yin Zhengchuan froze in surprise, as though he had been forcibly dragged into the scene in an instant!

He raised his sword and fought Wei Zisu, his movements clean and crisp, without the slightest hesitation.

The young lord's strength failed him, and the commander pierced him with his sword!

At that moment, the world seemed to stand still.

The imperial guards around them all stopped moving and advanced no farther.

Wei Zisu knew the camera would move in next for a close-up of his face.

The longsword fell from his hand, and a glimmer of light gradually appeared in his dim, despairing eyes, as though he had finally found release.

Finally, he looked at the commander he had loved for years, pulled his bloodstained lips into a faint smile, closed his eyes, and fell backward.

Yet instead of the expected pain of hitting the ground, he landed in a somewhat firm but warm embrace.

A faint mint scent lingered beneath his nose. Wei Zisu was certain that Yin Zhengchuan had caught him before he fell.

This... wasn't in the script!

He was supposed to pull out his sword and bend down to look at his corpse. How could he take it upon himself to catch him instead?

But the director hadn't called cut, which meant they were supposed to keep filming.

As an actor, he had that much professionalism.

As long as the director didn't call cut, he had to grit his teeth and keep acting.

Ten seconds later, the director finally spoke. "OK!"

Wei Zisu opened his eyes to the sight of Yin Zhengchuan's handsome face, concern written all over it.

He paused for a moment, then couldn't help saying, "Zhengchuan, I'm fine."

Yin Zhengchuan finally seemed to wake from a dream. His expression returned to normal, and he helped Wei Zisu up before asking like a child who had done something wrong, "Did I mess up just now?"

Wei Zisu reassured him, "Let's hear what the director says first. Even if this take doesn't pass, it's fine. It's normal for actors to need a dozen or more takes."

Yin Zhengchuan nodded a little awkwardly.

They both looked toward the director, who was waving them over with some excitement.

"Xiao Yin, what made you think of catching Zisu?" the director asked.

Yin Zhengchuan stammered, unable to give an answer.

He couldn't very well say he had instinctively done it because his heart ached for Wei Zisu.

But the director had no intention of pressing him. Instead, he pointed at the footage on the monitor and said, "What an unexpected delight! The young lord and the commander ending up as a tragic couple was always meant to leave people aching for what might have been, to keep the audience wanting more. That move of yours took that feeling to a whole new level."

"That single gesture was enough to convey feelings that were never spoken aloud! I refuse to believe the audience won't be crying and cursing when they see this shot!"

Neither Wei Zisu nor Yin Zhengchuan had expected such high praise from the director. They exchanged a glance and raised their eyebrows, unable to hide their delight.

The director struck his left palm with his right fist and sighed in regret. "What a shame. Xiao Yin's expression was absolutely perfect just then. Ah, it's just a shame we can't use it in the final cut."

As a stand-in, Yin Zhengchuan absolutely could not show his face in the final cut.

But they could edit it into the behind-the-scenes footage, the director thought privately.

Wei Zisu asked, "Director, can I watch the playback?"

"Let's not!" Yin Zhengchuan hurriedly said.

He felt a little embarrassed.

But the director started the playback as he said, "With acting this wonderful, why wouldn't we watch it?"

Wei Zisu watched Yin Zhengchuan on the monitor swiftly catch him before he fell and gather him into his arms. The change in his expression was slight, yet the heartache and conflicted pain were plain to see.

The more the director watched the segment, the more he liked it, and he kept praising it. "It's hard to imagine a newcomer pulling this off. That expression, that look in his eyes-that's the commander's undisguised love for the young lord!"