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Though Prince Chen was a master of warfare, skilled in planning decisive victories, he was by nature free-spirited and bold. He wouldn’t feel provoked by a Dancer’s frivolous movents; instead, he was sowhat fascinated by them, although his interest was laced with condescension.
Sheng Yan lifted his hand and picked up the cup in front of him on the table, while He Jinxia took the opportunity to pour him wine.
After pouring the wine, Sheng Yan drank it down in one clean gulp.
"Cut!" Director Li called out in ti, his brow furrowed. He instructed soone to quickly fetch the screenwriter to discuss possible changes to the scene.
The art director also identified a problem; the script described Prince Chen as carefree, yet alert and cautious. Therefore, He Jinxia’s character, the Dancer, needed to find a pretext to approach Prince Chen—she couldn’t simply fall into his arms without reason.
"Your previous dance scene was good, that’s a pass. Next, the dance extras will need to learn this dance, and you’ll teach them," Director Li said to He Jinxia after so thought.
He Jinxia nodded in agreent, showing no sign of impatience at being directed.
The screenwriter arrived promptly to discuss the modifications with Director Li, while He Jinxia turned to teach the dance to the extras.
This dance scene wasn’t ant to feature only her; she was the lead dancer, which ant simply that she had more screen ti and dancing.
The shoot was a trial to let Director Li assess the effect, and it seed the results were satisfactory.
Sheng Yan sat in place, a trace of contemplation crossing his eyes. He raised his hand to caress the cup and then poured himself another drink.
The plot was stuck here; the issue had to be resolved before they could continue shooting.
An hour later, Director Li and the screenwriter ca up with a solution, and He Jinxia had nearly finished teaching the dance to the extras—they were ready to be tested on cara anyti.
Director Li had chosen dancers from professional dance schools, all capable of performing highly difficult routines with ease, let alone this relatively simple one.
In less than half an hour, all the dancers had mastered the routine; the remaining ti was spent fine-tuning their synchronization.
As for the "complex issue of how He Jinxia would throw herself into Sheng Yan’s arms," the screenwriter and director solved it smoothly with a straightforward two-word answer—
Assassination!
In all sorts of martial arts dramas featuring competitions for power in the Central Plains or conspiracies and strife, the assassination subplot is tilessly popular. No matter how often it’s used, it never grows old—even if it’s cliché, audiences claim to want novelty but secretly love this formula.
The screenwriter explained the concept to He Jinxia, who thought for a mont and then nodded, "That works."
Just before shooting was about to start, the screenwriter, seemingly struck by a sudden thought, hurriedly called out a halt and explained to Sheng Yan, "After her attempt to assassinate you fails, she will bite down on a poison sachet and die. Then you’ll catch her in your arms and say a few lines..."
Listening, Sheng Yan looked up at He Jinxia, who was preparing and not looking at him.
A sense of irritation suddenly arose within him.
Perhaps it was because it was his first ti in love—he wanted He Jinxia’s gaze to be focused solely on him, to pay attention only to him. But that was impossible; they were still on the set.
To keep their romance undetected, they had to minimize their interactions on set.
Having to look without touching or embracing, Sheng Yan had beco sowhat restless after just a few hours.
He Jinxia felt the sa, instinctively wanting to look at Sheng Yan, to see what he was doing. Although he was so close, it felt as distant as if they were strangers.
Fearing that others might notice her frequent glances at Sheng Yan, she simply turned her back toward him, trying to keep him out of her field of vision to avoid the temptation.
She barely managed to restrain herself from looking, but it was harder for Sheng Yan. His gaze languidly followed He Jinxia, his feelings of boredom relieved only by drinking.
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"Sheng Yan, did you understand everything I just said?" After the screenwriter finished speaking, he asked a question.
However, he didn’t get a response from Sheng Yan.
"Sheng Yan, Sheng Yan?"
He Jinxia heard the voice, couldn’t help but turn her head to look over, and her gaze t Sheng Yan’s dark eyes.
It was then that Sheng Yan lightly "Hmm"ed, indicating he understood.
With one look, He Jinxia couldn’t help but keep her gaze on him, and Sheng Yan did the sa. The two of them were like the Cowherd and Weaver, forcibly separated, with only the lack of a Magpie Immortal Bridge needed for a tryst.
Just as He Jinxia was about to blush under Sheng Yan’s gaze, Director Li called out for preparations to shoot. She snapped back to reality, quickly turned around, and walked to her designated position, moving her wrists and ankles to mask her thoughts.
Soon, everyone took their places—"Action!"
On the set, the actor playing King Chu raised his cup to toast Prince Chen across from him, laughing, "Prince Chen is a true hero. Your presence at this feast truly graces my humble abode. Prince Chen, I toast to you!"
Sheng Yan’s lips curved into a careless, shallow smile. He didn’t say anything, just lifted the cup from the table and drained it, and after finishing, he tipped the cup upside down, not leaving a single drop.
"Ha ha, Prince Chen has such spirit! Truly worthy of the hero known for conquering Xionguan Mountain. I admire you, Lin. I will punish myself with three cups!" Another male actor said, lifting his cup and draining it as well.
After the three cups, Prince Chen clapped his hands. Bring in the music and dance!
He Jinxia, along with a group of dancers, slowly entered the scene. They were all dressed in celestial dance costus, with identical hairstyles, showing the gentleness of won in every move.
Only one person was an exception.
He Jinxia was wearing a white dance costu unlike the others. Hers was a blazing red dance costu, with heavy makeup, red lips, a fla-styled hairpin on her head, and a different hairstyle, instantly setting her apart from the other dancers.
Twirling, spiraling, leaping... she was surrounded by many dancers, becoming the most dazzling center.
He Jinxia smiled at the cara, her slightly upturned phoenix eyes were enchanting and hazy, yet her gaze was pure and clear. This combination of bizarre traits gathered in one person made it impossible for anyone to look away.
Unconsciously, she danced up to Sheng Yan’s side, bent over the table, and got very close to his head.
He Jinxia smiled at him, her red lips slightly moving as she gently blew a breath towards his face.
Truly a peerless demoness!
From the beginning of the shoot until now, everything was perfect. Director Li focused intently on the cara screen, not blinking an eye.
Gradually, the story reached the point where Prince Chen lifted the cup from the table, and He Jinxia, playing the Dancer, picked up the wine jug to pour him a drink.
A second passed, and there was no movent from the wine jug.
He Jinxia tilted the jug at a steeper angle.
Two seconds passed, and there was still no movent from the wine jug.
He Jinxia’s face changed slightly, sensing sothing amiss. It was then that Sheng Yan coughed lightly, breaking the perfect atmosphere, and said in a deep voice, "There’s no wine left; I drank it all."
Everyone: "..."
If walls could talk, they would speak of you!!!
Director Li shook his head with regret and called out, "Cut," followed by two words: "Again!"
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