Speaking of Chen Yi-rong, don't let her relatively low profile fool you; back in 2004, she was incredibly popular! Her leading roles in idol dramas like "Lavender" and "Stars in the Snow" broke numerous records. Some of you might remember those female classmates in school who always loved buying glass bottles of lavender—that was the impact of those idol dramas. However, Niu Yichen was never a fan of idol dramas, so his only impression of Chen Yi-rong was as Princess Yunluo.
Even so, if Niu Yichen were to get involved in a scandal with Chen Yirong now, his popularity would definitely skyrocket... However, there are many ways to become famous, so why should he become famous through a scandal?
As Niu Yichen massaged Chen Yirong's head, Gao Yuanyuan, who was ignored, nearly spat at him in anger. Niu Yichen's behavior was truly the greatest insult to her.
Faced with such a beauty, he only exchanged a few words with her before ignoring her and leaving. Meanwhile, Chen Yirong, whose looks were even less attractive than hers, was sitting there chatting quietly and even massaging her head like a loyal follower?
"Does this mean my charm is completely inadequate! So I deserve to have my boyfriend stolen from me?" Gao Yuanyuan was filled with anger and disappointment, which even overshadowed her sadness over the breakup, and she imprinted herself on Niu Yichen's memory.
...
"Hey!" Just as Niu Yichen was massaging Chen Yirong, a Mandarin voice with a Cantonese accent rang out. He turned around and saw Guo Jinan, who played Shifei, walking past with a tired expression. He must have finished his work and called it a day.
Niu Yichen quickly waved his hand at him, "You have to speak Cantonese! Even though I can't speak Cantonese, I can understand it!"
Guo Jinan nodded to him, "Thank you!"
He should have understood, but whether because he was too tired from acting or because all comedians don't like to talk after being off camera, after just saying hello, Roger Kwok lay back in his rattan chair and didn't say a word.
Hearing the voice, Chen Yirong suddenly sat up straight, opened her eyes, and exclaimed in surprise to Niu Yichen, "Wow! I feel so energetic now! You're really amazing, I feel like I just woke up from a nap!"
Niu Yichen glanced at his watch and said, "You've been resting for fifteen minutes!"
"What?" Chen Yirong said in surprise, "But it feels like only a moment has passed!"
Just then, a production assistant came over and said to Chen Yi-rong, "Miss Chen, it's your turn to act now!"
"Okay!" Chen Yirong quickly pulled Niu Yichen to stand under the light and asked him, "Is my face okay? Is my makeup smudged? What about my hairstyle? Is it messy?"
Niu Yichen laughed and said, "It's okay! It's exactly the same as before!"
"That's great!" Chen Yirong said happily, "My dear brother! From now on I will definitely visit you often!"
"Haha!" Niu Yichen laughed, "Then you better hurry up, I've only been here for seven days, and one day has already passed!"
"must!"
Chen Yi-rong patted his shoulder and walked over to begin her performance.
If she were still in such a state of exhaustion, it would have taken her a long time to regain her focus. But after Niu Yichen's massage, she was full of energy, just like the first scene of the day. Her mind was incredibly clear, and in no time, she completed all her scenes, allowing the rest of the staff to go home and rest early.
Nothing happened that night.
The next day, Niu Yichen's scene continued to be shot.
This time, it was even more impressive. Director Lau Tze-fu borrowed Lau Chung-yan, but only for one day. After that, Lau Chung-yan had to go elsewhere to film, so everything had to be completed in one day.
Liu Zifu looked very serious, and Niu Yichen also took it seriously.
Lau Chung-yan, a veteran Hong Kong actor, is in no way inferior to Lee Kin-yee, and because of his greater fame, he exudes a domineering aura that is difficult to describe.
Moreover, Lau Chung-yan adapted even faster. After discovering Niu Yichen's talent, he didn't quietly improve his coordination like Li Jianyi. Instead, he decisively stopped filming, communicated with Niu Yichen for a very short time, and then resumed filming. Furthermore, his performance was no less impressive than Niu Yichen's!
The photo taking process this time will be much faster than the previous one!
Veteran actor Damian Lau has the ability to adjust his emotions at any time, while Niu Yichen, with his badge, can slip into character at any time. Both have balanced abilities, allowing the filming schedule to move along quickly.
In less than a day, the power struggle between the Zhengde Emperor and the Iron-Blooded Marquis, who outwardly maintained a respectful 'uncle-nephew' relationship but was secretly full of turmoil and hidden intrigues, came to a complete end.
Niu Yichen even imagined that when viewers started watching the series, they might find Emperor Zhengde elusive, wondering why he always targeted his own people, and only realizing the truth when the series ended.
Some things that weren't clear at the time only became clear after watching the film a second time. It turns out that the relationship between Emperor Zhengde and the Iron-Blooded Marquis had been hinted at in the early episodes.
Such performances, which can be watched over and over again, are also an important element of classic film and television works.
In the face of the different attitudes of the Iron-Blooded Marquis and Cao Zhengchun, Niu Yichen also revealed Emperor Zhengde's skill in managing people!
When facing the Iron-Blooded Marquis, I was very gentle, showing that I trusted him deeply. However, Cao Zhengchun wouldn't listen to me at all, and I couldn't control him. He wanted to oppose me, and even though I wanted to stop him, I was powerless to do so.
There are two reasons for this attitude.
Firstly, because the Iron-Blooded Marquis outwardly represented the 'Dragon Guards' Mansion,' which meant he was nominally one of the emperor's confidants, and if he were to publicly sever ties with him, it would undoubtedly invite criticism. Secondly, the Iron-Blooded Marquis's power was too great; currently, he was no match for the emperor, so he did not dare to turn against him.
When dealing with Cao Zhengchun, Emperor Zhengde's attitude was a mixture of appeasement and punishment. On the one hand, he showed Cao Zhengchun his trust, and on the other, he slapped him several times to remind him not to overreact. When praise was deserved, he would bestow heavenly fragrances and cardamom on Cao Zhengchun; when reprimand was due, he would slap him. This alternating approach left Cao Zhengchun flustered and he did not dare to act rashly.
Indeed, Niu Yichen had convinced the directors to change the setting to "Emperor Zhengde has always known the whereabouts of the other two Heavenly Fragrant Cardamoms." This change made sense, as the Iron-Blooded Marquis possessed the most advanced intelligence system in the world. Only in the imperial palace, a place long cultivated by Emperor Zhengde and heavily guarded, could the Iron-Blooded Marquis's spies remain in the dark.
Overall, in the entire series of "The World's Finest," there are only two chess players: the Iron-Blooded Marquis and Emperor Zhengde. As for Cao Zhengchun, Niu Yichen's performance clearly shows his identity as a mere pawn in a chess game, who considers himself a player.
You say a eunuch wants to become emperor? Is that even possible? From the start, Cao Zhengchun had no chance of winning! Moreover, he was childless and no longer young. Even if he became emperor, how long could he remain on the throne?
The reason why Emperor Zhengde bestowed Tianxiang Doukou upon Cao Zhengchun was to give him influence over the Iron-Blooded Marquis, thus balancing the two powers.
Unexpectedly, the Iron-Blooded Marquis had such deep feelings for Su Xin. For this Heavenly Fragrant Cardamom, he risked his life and killed Cao Zhengchun in an instant!
The Zhengde Emperor repeatedly warned Cao Zhengchun, both openly and secretly, against taking down the Iron-Blooded Marquis, as he was no match for him. However, in the end, the Iron-Blooded Marquis proved to be one step ahead, calculating Cao Zhengchun's intentions and gradually trapping him.
After Cao Zhengchun's fall, the last Heavenly Fragrant Cardamom hidden within the Mermaid Pearl was only discovered when Emperor Zhengde personally reminded Shangguan Haitang about it.
The reason was simple: Emperor Zhengde knew that Su Xin must not die at this time, because Su Xin was the Iron-Blooded Marquis's only weakness. Once Su Xin died, the Iron-Blooded Marquis would become invincible when he went mad.
As for Su Xin's suicide, which ultimately drove Tie Dan Shen Hou insane, that also made sense. After all, dying of illness and committing suicide were completely different concepts.
...
The shooting schedule was still very tight, but director Liu Zifu was ready and immediately summoned Princess Yunluo and the Empress Dowager to start filming the next scenes.
After filming the scene where he faced Cao Zhengchun and Tie Dan Shenhou, Niu Yichen immediately felt much more relaxed. The group scenes with Princess Yunluo, Duan Tianya, Cheng Shifei, and the others were even easier!
Acting also requires a balance between tension and relaxation!
While Li Jianyi and Liu Songren were performing, Niu Yichen appeared relaxed, but was actually extremely nervous. This was both a requirement of the plot and a state he was in when facing actors with excellent acting skills.
However, he doesn't need to do that when facing other people. Whether it's their roles in TV dramas or their acting skills in real life, none of them give him that feeling of being evenly matched. If he relaxes, everything will fall into place naturally. If he puts on a show of force, the other actors might feel uncomfortable.
Whether it's Li Yapeng playing Duan Tianya or Huo Jianhua playing Gui Haiyi, neither of them has any advantage over Niu Yichen, whether in appearance or acting skills.
It was with Princess Yunluo that Niu Yichen added a new persona to himself—a sister-complex!
If Emperor Zhengde wasn't a sister-obsessed emperor, how could Princess Yunluo have been so lawless in the palace? How could she have so many silver notes so easily? How could she have left the palace whenever she wanted?
You must understand! Emperor Zhengde was not as simple as he appeared. Did he not know what Princess Yunluo was doing inside and outside the palace? He simply never blamed her because of his favor towards her.
This small change also made Emperor Zhengde more humane, no longer the scheming and ruthless emperor he once was.
However, the relationship between Niu Yichen and Chen Yirong was a bit strange during the performance! Throughout the day, in order to portray the so-called 'brother-sister relationship,' their scenes together were very intimate and heartwarming.
Every time Chen Yirong caused trouble, Niu Yichen would scold her, but his protectiveness was obvious, and his gaze towards her was always full of undisguised affection.
When Cao Zhengchun, played by Li Jianyi, was about to deal with Princess Yunluo, he was even slapped in the face by Emperor Zhengde, played by Niu Yichen.
Then, Cao Zhengchun fully understood Emperor Zhengde's attitude. After secretly dealing with Princess Yunluo once, he never dared to act recklessly again.
After this back and forth, Chen Yirong's feelings for Niu Yichen changed, and her gaze towards him always carried a mysterious gleam.
Why do many talented actors easily develop feelings for their co-stars? Because they become so deeply immersed in the emotions they embody on set.
...
During filming, Niu Yichen was completely focused, even neglecting Gao Yuanyuan's role. Because the two barely interacted, he didn't even see her once in a whole day.
Gao Yuanyuan's character, Liu Sheng Piaoxu, barely even meets the emperor in the story, and naturally, the same applies when she's at work! Chen Yirong, on the other hand... is a pleasant surprise!
After Niu Yichen gave Chen Yirong a massage last night, Chen Yirong had a very good impression of him. When they were filming together in the afternoon, they were filming intimate scenes, so they quickly became close.
Even though there was no task at all, the two of them were chatting and it just felt really nice.
In this atmosphere, we filmed the last scene of the day.
When Princess Yunluo was angered by Cao Zhengchun and demanded that Emperor Zhengde kill that eunuch, Emperor Zhengde unusually explained things to her.
"Dogs come in many varieties, but broadly speaking, they fall into two categories: guard dogs, which are used for watching over the house, and pet dogs, which are used for cuddling and playing! Whether you're a man or a woman, you'll definitely prefer pet dogs because they can make you happy and play with you. But, guard dogs are also indispensable! Only when we have guard dogs at home will thieves not dare to enter our house!"
After saying that, he added meaningfully, "Some people! They're guarding your door with swords and knives, pretending to protect you, but actually they want your things!"
Princess Yunluo nodded as if she understood, without giving it much thought.
"Cut!" Director Liu Zifu shouted, "That's a wrap!"
The crew cheered joyfully. This was the first time in so many days that they had finished work by 9 p.m.
...
Inside the room, Niu Yichen took a shower and was about to go to bed for a nap when he heard a knock at the door.
When I opened the door, I saw Chen Yi-rong standing outside wearing a baseball cap and a mask.
Upon seeing Niu Yichen, Chen Yirong said, "It's rare that we finished work early today, let's go out for a walk together!"
"Okay!" Niu Yichen nodded immediately.
Actually, he originally wanted to go out that night to have some fun with Huo Siyan, but since a new woman has taken the initiative to come to his door, well... that's what men do!
The two went to a slightly old-fashioned restaurant, ordered some cold dishes, and each drank a little wine.
There are fine restaurants around the film studio, but they are too easy for cowboys to lurk there, so Chen Yi-rong doesn't want to go. On the contrary, the chances of getting to know them are much lower in these small restaurants.
As for why I chose this slightly outdated one... well, the food around the film studio is something you have to experience to know. Choosing this 'old brand' might actually be better.
Coincidentally, as they sat down to eat and chat, they unexpectedly ran into an acquaintance.
Gao Yuanyuan!
"What a coincidence!" Gao Yuanyuan was also wearing a baseball cap and a mask, looking completely covered up. After seeing them, she casually sat down diagonally opposite Niu Yichen, next to Chen Yirong.
Niu Yichen asked, "What are you doing here?"
Gao Yuanyuan squeezed Chen Yirong's hand and said to Niu Yichen, "What? Can't you even greet an acquaintance?"
Niu Yichen felt a bit of a headache and said to her, "Okay, go ahead and say hello... Do you want me to give you an extra pair of chopsticks?"
Gao Yuanyuan smiled familiarly and said, "Okay! Thank you! I haven't eaten yet!"
If it were just Niu Yichen alone, he would be thrilled if Gao Yuanyuan came over, but unfortunately, he was on a date with Chen Yirong when Gao Yuanyuan bumped into him.
It seems that Gao Yuanyuan's mission cannot be accomplished through a purely romantic approach!
Although another person was added, the atmosphere of the chat actually became more lively. Gao Yuanyuan has good emotional intelligence, at least higher than Niu Yichen's, and she has met Chen Yirong more often. When they really started chatting, they almost forgot about Niu Yichen.
Niu Yichen was a little upset at first, but as he ate, he found it was not bad.
Gao Yuanyuan's looks are stunning; even just sitting there, she's a pleasure to behold. Chen Yirong speaks with a slight Taiwanese accent, soft and gentle, which is much more pleasant to listen to than the dubbing on TV.
Niu Yichen simply became a spectator, watching the two of them chat, only occasionally interjecting a word so that they wouldn't completely forget about him.
And so, a little over an hour passed, and the film studio was about to close before we finally walked back together.
All three of them had drunk a little alcohol; the two women were slightly tipsy, while Niu Yichen was completely oblivious.
Their accommodation was also a hotel booked by the film crew, but it was more upscale than the Seven Fairies film crew's hotel, with the exterior designed to resemble an ancient pavilion, so it didn't look out of place at all in the film studio.
Niu Yichen originally wanted to take Gao Yuanyuan back to her room first, but the passage Gao Yuanyuan chose was closer to Chen Yirong's room, so he had no choice but to take Chen Yirong back first.
After seeing Chen Yirong off, they remained silent the rest of the way. As Gao Yuanyuan returned to her room, she suddenly turned to Niu Yichen and asked, "Have you taken a liking to that Chen Yirong?"
Niu Yichen was taken aback. "What's it to you?"
"Hmph!" Gao Yuanyuan snorted coldly and slammed the door shut, narrowly avoiding hitting Niu Yichen's nose.
"What's going on?" Niu Yichen took a step back, touched his lucky nose in bewilderment, and walked towards his room.
Before he could take more than a few steps, Gao Yuanyuan opened the door again and yelled at his retreating back, "You're an idiot! A moron!"
As soon as Niu Yichen turned around, Gao Yuanyuan closed the door again.
"I really don't understand what these women are thinking. Aren't they afraid of retaliation if they insult me like that?" Niu Yichen wondered. "We've only met twice. We're not close enough to joke around and insult each other like that! I could barely accept it if it were Chen Yirong..."
Thinking of Chen Yirong, Niu Yichen felt a surge of excitement, and he couldn't help but turn a corner and run towards her room.
Niu Yichen doesn't know what other people like about celebrities, but what Niu Yichen likes is the characters they portray.
In "The World's Finest," he had a huge crush on Princess Yunluo. So, although Chen Yirong, who played Princess Yunluo, wasn't the most beautiful among all the girls in the cast, she held a higher place in his heart than the others.
But... can his relationship with Chen Yi-rong reach the point where they can chat together at night?
What if I knock on the door and come in, but Chen Yi-rong doesn't mean anything?
I still have some scenes to film tomorrow, will that affect my performance?
After standing for a long time in front of Chen Yirong's door, Niu Yichen licked his lips and knocked gently on the door.
He knocked twice, very softly, and he was even ready to leave if Chen Yirong didn't open the door.
However, less than a second after he knocked, the door opened.
Chen Yirong peeked out from behind the door and said with a smile, "You're here!"
He acted as if a good friend came to visit, looking very natural.
"Hmm!" Niu Yichen nodded, but when he opened his mouth, he didn't know what to say.
Chen Yirong removed the security device in front of the door, stepped aside to let Niu Yichen in, and said, "I've prepared drinks on the table, you can take some if you want!"
"Thank you!" Niu Yichen took his glass of water and looked at her. Chen Yirong said, "I drank alcohol earlier, it smells like that. I'm going to take a shower first!"
After saying that, he went to the bathroom.