Although Xu Ke had called for a break,
The whole “Jiang Nian shattering a sword with a dagger” incident was only just beginning to make the rounds.
After all, a film set is only so big.
And there’s only so much that happens on it.
When someone pulls off something as jaw-dropping as Jiang Nian did, people are bound to talk about it for a while.
And when they talk, they can’t help but get curious about the person who did it.
Fan Xiaoxuan was the perfect example.
Looking at this woman, now thirty years old, who exuded a mature charm from head to toe,
Jiang Nian, still fully in character as Yu Huatian, felt nothing but calm.
He gave a cold, detached nod. “Yes.”
Then he picked up his tea and took a small sip. “Why does Noble Consort Su ask?”
Meeting his sharp gaze, even though Fan Xiaoxuan knew they weren’t filming, she couldn’t help but shiver, feeling the pressure mount inside her.
She quickly looked away, unable to hold his stare.
Her voice a little nervous, she said, “N-no reason, just curious.”
“And have you satisfied your curiosity now?”
“Y-yes, Factory Lord.”
Fan Xiaoxuan replied without thinking.
As soon as the words left her mouth, she froze for a second, realizing she’d made a mistake, and wanted to take it back.
But Jiang Nian, unconcerned, set down his teacup. “Since you have, you may leave. Don’t disturb my rest any further.”
“Yes.”
Fan Xiaoxuan nodded, then lowered her head and hurried away.
On her way back, she kept thinking about her slip of the tongue.
The more she thought about it, the more awkward she felt.
But even more awkward was what happened when she sat back down, courtesy of Gui Meilun’s finishing blow.
“Sister Xuanxuan, did you just slip into character and call Teacher Jiang ‘Factory Lord’?”
Gui Meilun had been watching the whole exchange with Jiang Nian, so of course she’d heard Fan Xiaoxuan’s unintentional address.
It made her really curious.
Hearing this, Fan Xiaoxuan felt so embarrassed she could curl her toes. But quickly, she came up with an explanation. “It’s because Teacher Jiang’s acting is just that good. His immersion is so strong, I was unconsciously influenced, slipped into my character, and that’s what came out.”
“Really?”
Gui Meilun’s eyebrows rose in surprise, a hint of disbelief in her voice.
It wasn’t unheard of for someone to get into character on the very first day of shooting.
But most of those people were seasoned veterans.
And pulling others into that state along with you?
That required an incredibly high level of acting skill.
Even for a veteran, it was a matter of luck and being in the right zone.
Jiang Nian was only twenty. Gui Meilun found it hard to believe he could do that.
“I’m going to go see for myself.”
She stood up and walked over toward Jiang Nian.
Seeing this, Fan Xiaoxuan didn’t try to stop her.
After all, no amount of explanation was as good as experiencing it firsthand.
Five minutes later.
Looking at Gui Meilun, who had left full of skepticism and returned full of embarrassment, Fan Xiaoxuan wasn’t surprised at all. “Believe me now?”
Gui Meilun scratched her head. “Okay, I believe you!”
In all her life, she had never seen anyone act to that level.
Just sitting there, just a single look, and she felt like she had come face to face with the real Yu Huatian. She didn’t even dare to speak loudly.
“Sister Xuan, do you think… he might actually be a eunuch or something?”
Gui Meilun couldn’t help asking.
She felt like everyone else just played their roles poorly, but Jiang Nian seemed like he wasn’t acting at all.
Hearing that, Fan Xiaoxuan rolled her eyes. “Oh, stop it. Don’t make things up just because he’s not looking this way.”
“Okay!” Gui Meilun said, then lowered her voice and whispered, “But sis, just between us, doesn’t he look the part?”
“…”
Fan Xiaoxuan paused, thought for a moment, then lowered her own voice. “Don’t tell anyone I said this, but I think he really is one. He’s too cold, too ruthless. What normal man acts like that? And let me tell you…”
Listening to Fan Xiaoxuan seriously analyzing Jiang Nian,
Gui Meilun’s mouth twitched.
She felt both speechless and like laughing.
Wait a minute.
So you’re telling me to stop making wild guesses, but you just went ahead and declared what he is without a second thought?
You said not to make things up because you wanted to make things up yourself?!
If that’s how you’re playing it…
“Sis, I think your analysis is a little too narrow. Listen to me, I feel like…”
The two women lowered their voices and started whispering back and forth.
Jiang Nian, unaware of all this, just felt his nose tickle and sneezed, wondering if he’d caught a chill with the changing seasons.
Ten minutes later.
Xu Ke called out, and break time was over.
Although the last take had ended with the sword-breaking issue,
Everything before that was usable.
So they didn’t have to start over from the beginning.
“Teacher Li, you’ll use this broken sword for the next part.”
“Teacher Jiang, when you strike this time, just go through the motions. Don’t use any real force.”
“Finally, prop master, the moment Teacher Jiang’s dagger connects with Teacher Li’s sword, pull the line immediately and yank the blade away.”
“Got it?”
With the previous disaster fresh in his mind, Xu Ke was being very cautious this time, explaining every detail to Jiang Nian and the others.
Hearing this, Jiang Nian and the others nodded in understanding.
Then, Xu Ke yelled “Action!”
Jiang Nian immediately thrust his dagger forward.
Except this time, the speed of his strike was noticeably slower than before.
Clearly, after the last take, Jiang Nian had realized that Li Lianjie couldn’t keep up with his rhythm.
Seeing this, Li Lianjie breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
If Jiang Nian had attacked as fiercely as he did the first time,
They’d probably have to call “cut” again.
He raised his sword to block Jiang Nian’s strike.
Clang!
The clash of metal rang out sharply.
Seeing this, the prop master quickly pulled the thin string tied to the blade.
The sword broke apart on cue and flew toward Jiang Nian.
Jiang Nian just tilted his head slightly and dodged it with ease.
He was about to continue his attack,
But Li Lianjie, gripping the hilt, flicked his wrist and deflected the dagger right out of Jiang Nian’s hand!
Seeing this, Jiang Nian frowned slightly.
Then, pushing off with his feet, he curled his hand into a claw instead of a fist, lunging at Li Lianjie like a fierce tiger.
Li Lianjie had no choice but to parry desperately.
And in that instant of defense, Jiang Nian used his body as a stepping stone, vaulted over him, and landed directly on the wooden platform.
Everyone froze.
Li Lianjie was the first to snap out of it, realizing they were still filming, and quickly followed.
Xu Ke was next.
Seeing Jiang Nian’s agile form weaving through the wooden platform, climbing upward, he quickly grabbed his megaphone. “Good! Cut! That’s a wrap on this section. Teacher Jiang, you can come down now.”
Watching Jiang Nian climb so high, even Xu Ke felt a twinge of panic.
Dude, you’re just making a movie. Is this level of dedication really necessary?
You scrambled up there in two seconds flat.
That thing is just for show! The base is fine, but the higher you go, the shoddier the workmanship gets.
And the key point was that Jiang Nian wasn’t even wearing a wire.
If he slipped and fell from up there, that would be a disaster.
“Living ancestor. He’s a goddamn living ancestor on set!”
