The production team rented a large garden-style mansion as the location for “Jian Ying Mountain Villa.”
The mansion was located in the suburbs, with mountains behind it. It even had a cliff area nearby, which was perfect for filming.
It was said that the mansion had been purchased by an old actor. His plan was to move there and retire once he could no longer act.
However, the actor was still very popular now, and leaving the mansion empty served no purpose. So whenever familiar directors needed a filming location, he would lend it to them. As long as the production crew was careful and treated the place well, it was fine.
Xu Tang felt that the environment here was truly excellent.
The greenery was natural, the air was fresh, and the mansion was built against the mountain. Everywhere he looked was filled with beautiful scenery.
If it weren’t for all the people bustling around and working, he would have thought this place was more like a vacation retreat.
“Do you like it?”
Zong Xuan held Xu Tang’s hand as they walked around the mansion.
The production staff had arrived a week earlier to arrange the sets, but the mansion was beautiful everywhere, and there were several more usable filming locations than originally planned.
So even now that the actors had arrived, there were still two rooms that hadn’t been completely arranged.
Since filming officially started tomorrow, there was still enough time.
They could use today to explore the mansion.
“Mm. It’s really nice. The scenery will definitely be even better in summer.”
Xu Tang looked at the koi swimming in the pond, already thinking about buying some fish food tomorrow to feed them.
There was a dedicated caretaker here, so even though nobody lived in the mansion, it never looked abandoned or messy.
“Then let’s buy a place like this in the future too.”
Zong Xuan smiled.
“We can come stay for a few days every year and treat it like a vacation.”
“Sure.”
Xu Tang’s eyes curved happily.
“We can hire someone to grow vegetables there. When autumn comes and everything is harvested, we can stay for a month and eat fresh vegetables and fruit.”
Originally, Zong Xuan had only thought that if Xu Tang liked it, he would buy it.
But after hearing this, he felt it was an even better idea.
If they hired someone to grow food, then Xu Tang’s diet could become much healthier.
Although many products nowadays claimed to be organic and green, somehow food grown by themselves still felt more reliable.
Following natural growth cycles.
Healthy and nutritious.
“Then I’ll call Wen Hui later and ask her to help keep an eye out.”
Zong Xuan smiled.
“Okay.”
Xu Tang nodded and continued walking while making requests.
“There also needs to be a pond. We can raise koi too.”
“There should be a small tea pavilion. Sitting there at night would definitely be wonderful.”
“Plant a few ginkgo trees or plum trees too. Autumn and winter would have their own scenery…”
Zong Xuan laughed.
“Sure. You can arrange it however you want.”
“When the time comes, make a list. We’ll do everything one by one.”
“Mm!”
After finishing their tour of the mansion, the two returned to the hotel.
There were no particularly good hotels near the suburbs.
Most places were small inns, and the best option was only a three-star hotel.
Since they were filming away from home, as professional actors, they naturally couldn’t complain about accommodations.
The production team had booked two floors of the three-star hotel.
The conditions were a little simple, but it was still much better than a small inn.
Xu Tang and Zong Xuan were assigned a double room with one large bed.
The room was somewhat narrow, but this wasn’t the time to be picky.
When they returned, Yuan Shang and Xie Shaoqian had already efficiently organized all their luggage.
“Thanks for your hard work. Get some early rest tonight.”
Zong Xuan said to the two of them.
They shared a double room, so it was convenient whenever Xu Tang and Zong Xuan needed them.
“Brother Xu, Brother Zong, what do you want for dinner? I’ll go buy it.”
Yuan Shang asked.
The hotel only provided breakfast.
However, there were many small restaurants nearby.
The production team also provided boxed meals every day, but eating them for one week was still acceptable.
Eating them for more than a month was something nobody could tolerate.
“I saw cold skewers over there. Let’s buy some.”
Xu Tang suggested.
Zong Xuan pinched his cheek.
“Eat less spicy food. What if you get acne tomorrow? It’ll make makeup more troublesome.”
Then he turned to Yuan Shang.
“There’s a small stir-fry restaurant over there. Buy two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes. Get rice as the staple.”
Xu Tang knew Zong Xuan was only thinking about him.
These past few days, he had been worried about whether he could act well, so he had been getting a little anxious.
It was better not to eat too much spicy food.
Zong Xuan paused before adding,
“Buy some cold skewers for Tangtang too. Don’t buy too much. About two handfuls is enough.”
Two handfuls meant around ten skewers.
Since each skewer only had a few bites, it was acceptable.
Xu Tang looked at him with a smile.
Zong Xuan wanted to lower his head and kiss him, but with Yuan Shang and Xie Shaoqian there, Xu Tang would definitely feel embarrassed.
So he gave up.
Yuan Shang lightly bumped Xie Shaoqian and asked,
“How about the two of us eat skewers and just bring Brother Xu a few? I’ll treat you.”
“Sure.”
Xie Shaoqian didn’t refuse.
It wasn’t because he wanted to take advantage of Yuan Shang.
He simply wanted to use eating together as an opportunity to get closer.
After all, they would definitely interact often in the future, and there would always be chances to return the favor.
After the two left, Xu Tang took out the script and started reading.
The script already had countless notes and markings, but Xu Tang still felt that whenever he had free time, he needed to read it and understand it.
Otherwise, he couldn’t feel at ease.
Zong Xuan didn’t disturb him.
He felt Xu Tang’s current condition was quite good.
When filming started, the director would explain things again, so there was no need to worry too much.
However, if Xu Tang developed an interest in acting after this project, Zong Xuan planned to suggest that he attend proper acting classes.
It wasn’t that professional actors always acted well, nor that non-professional actors couldn’t act.
Sometimes these things really depended on talent.
What Zong Xuan wanted Xu Tang to learn was confidence.
That would benefit his future performances as well.
The next morning, the two were woken up by their alarms.
They got up early, ate breakfast, and went to the set.
Ancient costume dramas required more makeup time, so actors needed to wake up earlier.
After eating cold skewers the previous night, Xu Tang had been extremely satisfied.
But this morning, although he didn’t get acne, he developed mouth ulcers…
Fortunately, breakfast was light, so he wasn’t suffering too badly.
After the opening ceremony, “Jun Gui” officially began filming.
The first shot of a production was usually the simplest.
So the first scene was decided to be only Xu Tang’s back view.
This back view needed to show loneliness and responsibility.
A young family head.
The fate of the entire clan rested on Ye Shao’s shoulders.
He could not lose his temper.
He could not become annoyed.
Everything had to be handled calmly.
And whenever necessary, he had to find solutions.
His parents had died.
He had no siblings.
He had no friends.
His life was lonely and colorless.
But all he needed to do was fulfill his responsibilities.
Director Xin carefully explained the scene to Xu Tang.
“How is it? Not difficult, right?”
Director Xin had none of his usual joking expression.
This was what he looked like when working.
Xu Tang nodded.
“I’ll try.”
“Good.”
Director Xin turned to everyone.
“All departments ready!”
Xu Tang walked into the pavilion in the middle of the lake.
At this time, the lotus flowers had already formed buds, and lotus leaves covered the pond.
“Action!”
Xu Tang wore white robes.
With his hands behind his back, he looked into the distance.
The camera started behind him and slowly moved closer.
The wind gently blew.
It moved his tied-up hair and slightly swayed the corners of his clothes.
Ye Shao stood there, seemingly incompatible with the scenery around him.
He couldn’t appreciate the beauty of spring.
He wouldn’t sigh at the pleasant breeze.
Those things were meaningless to him.
Or rather, everything around him was not something he wanted.
A lonely yet not pitiful figure.
Detached yet still completely within the scene.
That back view appeared before the camera.
This thirty-second opening shot silently told the audience about Ye Shao.
And about his life.
“Cut!”
Director Xin shouted.
“Passed!”
The first shot was completed easily.
Xu Tang immediately gained a little more confidence.
Zong Xuan watched him happily run over, completely different from the cold and lonely figure he had just portrayed.
He smiled and pinched Xu Tang’s ear.
“Go watch the replay.”
“Okay.”
Xu Tang happily went over.
After watching it, he was also quite satisfied.
“Prepare for the next scene.”
Director Xin said.
The next scene was about a servant asking Ye Shao to inspect newly arrived ore in the back mountain.
The storage warehouse of Jian Ying Mountain Villa was built there.
Before storing the ore, Ye Shao needed to personally inspect it.
Xu Tang returned to his previous position and maintained the same posture.
When Director Xin shouted “Action,” the servant hurried into the scene.
Running behind Ye Shao, he performed a formal greeting.
“Young Master, the newly arrived ore has been delivered to the back mountain. Please inspect it.”
Ye Shao did not immediately turn around.
He stood there for several seconds before slowly turning.
His expression was neither cold nor warm.
It seemed as though he had no interest in the matter.
But as the family head, he couldn’t show impatience.
So he simply remained calm.
Ye Shao slowly blinked before saying,
“Let’s go.”
After speaking, he walked out of the pavilion.
His pace was neither hurried nor slow.
To others, this looked like composure.
But only Ye Shao himself understood.
He simply didn’t care, so there was no need to hurry.
“Cut!”
Director Xin watched the replay.
“Passed!”
He was very satisfied with Xu Tang’s unhurried performance.
The slow turn.
The slow blink.
All showed that Ye Shao had little interest in Jian Ying Mountain Villa’s affairs.
But despite his inner reluctance, he still had to fulfill his responsibilities.
Through his slow movements, Xu Tang created a feeling of delay.
Yet by ultimately going, he showed that Ye Shao had never neglected his duties.
“Fifteen-minute break. Change locations.”
Director Xin’s expression softened slightly.
It was obvious he was satisfied with Xu Tang’s performance.
Xu Tang was pulled aside by Yuan Shang to drink vegetable juice.
Zong Xuan walked toward the new filming location together with Director Xin.
The next scene would be Heng Xiao waking up.
On the way there, Director Xin smiled.
“Looks like your guidance was very effective.”
Neither of the previous two scenes was difficult, but precisely because they were simple, controlling the rhythm became extremely important.
Zong Xuan smiled.
“He understands things quickly, and he has his own method of getting into character.”
At this moment, Xu Tang was already much more confident than he had been that morning.
Zong Xuan believed he would only continue improving.
“What method?”
Director Xin asked curiously.
Zong Xuan shook his head.
“That’s a secret.”
“I think it only works for him.”
When they arrived at the location, the makeup artist came over to give Zong Xuan a sickly makeup look.
Director Xin called Xu Tang over to explain the scene.
After everything was prepared, the first shot began.
Ye Shao entered the room with a servant.
The maid inside immediately bowed to him.
Ye Shao looked at the person lying on the bed and lowered his voice.
“How is he?”
The maid answered,
“His fever has already gone down. The doctor came this morning and checked him as well. Since the fever has broken, he only needs to slowly recover after waking up.”
Ye Shao nodded.
He walked to the bedside.
After hesitating for a moment, he finally sat down.
“Cut!”
Director Xin watched the replay.
On the bed, Zong Xuan, who had been pretending to be unconscious, opened his eyes and smiled as he grabbed Xu Tang’s hand.
Xu Tang leaned closer and touched his lips.
Even though he knew the sick appearance was fake, he still couldn’t help feeling worried.
He had to personally touch him and confirm it was fake before he could relax.
Zong Xuan understood what he was thinking.
He laughed.
“Idiot.”
“You’re the idiot.”
Xu Tang copied Zong Xuan and pinched his ear.
After Director Xin watched the replay, he requested another take.
The problem wasn’t Xu Tang.
It was the maid.
The maid spoke too quickly.
Although the dialogue could be re-recorded later, the rhythm was wrong and would affect the scene.
As for Xu Tang’s hesitation before sitting down, it was actually very well performed.
Because Heng Xiao was not someone familiar to him.
Whether he should sit or not was a decision.
Xu Tang considered it before sitting.
On one hand, he was the master of this household, so he had the authority to sit beside the bed.
On the other hand, although this person was a stranger, since he had saved him, Xu Tang didn’t want to appear too distant.
Otherwise, the servants might judge people based on status and fail to treat Heng Xiao properly.
After reshooting, Director Xin was satisfied.
They prepared for the next scene.
Ye Shao sat beside the bed and listened to the maid explain the situation regarding the medicine.
At that moment, a faint sound came from the person lying on the bed.
Heng Xiao slowly opened his eyes.
At first, his gaze was cloudy and unfocused.
Slowly, his eyes became clearer.
Only then did he realize that the person sitting beside him was Ye Shao.
Xu Tang was shocked.
Watching Zong Xuan’s eyes transition from confusion to clarity with his own eyes, he knew he could never achieve something like that.
He didn’t know whether this kind of skill could be learned later.
But natural talent was definitely necessary.
“You’re awake?”
Xu Tang spoke at the right moment.
He controlled the timing well enough that the silence didn’t last too long.
Otherwise, the scene would definitely have failed.
Heng Xiao looked at Ye Shao.
After a long pause, he spoke hoarsely.
“Where is this…”
“This is my residence.”
“You can stay here and recover from your injuries.”
Ye Shao’s voice was very calm.
To him, Heng Xiao was a stranger.
When a life was placed before him, he chose to save it.
But his concern for strangers still had limits.
“Thank you, Young Master.”
Heng Xiao’s eyes were clear.
It was as if he truly had no idea where he was.
Ye Shao looked at him.
After a moment, he stood.
“If you need anything, tell them.”
“There is no need to be polite.”
“Thank you.”
Heng Xiao thanked him again.
Ye Shao said nothing else.
He stood and left the room.
“Cut!”
Director Xin called.
Xu Tang immediately walked back.
“Your eyes just now were amazing!”
Xu Tang praised him without hesitation.
“Really?”
Zong Xuan held Xu Tang’s hand.
His grip was slightly tighter than before.
Actually, when he had just seen Xu Tang’s indifferent expression, he had felt a little uneasy.
And also a little fortunate.
Fortunately, Xu Tang was not someone like Ye Shao.
Otherwise, the things he had done in the past would never have been forgiven.
If that had happened, he might still be chasing after Tangtang now, not knowing where their future would lead.
Holding Xu Tang’s hand, Zong Xuan lowered his head and kissed it.
In a voice only the two of them could hear, he said:
“Thank you, Tangtang.”
Xu Tang was confused.
“Thank you for what?”
“For many things.”
“The most important thing…”
“Thank you for being by my side.”
Zong Xuan smiled.
Xu Tang’s face immediately became hot from his overly sweet voice.
He quickly used the excuse of going to watch the replay and escaped over to Director Xin.
Watching him leave, Zong Xuan quietly laughed.
His heart was filled with endless satisfaction.