Starting from Taohuawu, kilometers away

Li Cheng's figure appeared in the quaint garden, the stone bridge was silent, the alley was deep, and the mist and rain were hazy.

He walked lightly through pavilions, winding corridors, and lush flowers and trees, and his eyes revealed a barely perceptible expectation.

The crew members arrived one after another and greeted Li Cheng enthusiastically, as if he was a beautiful scenery in this water garden.

Despite being the first actor to arrive, Li Cheng did not slack off at all.

He came to a bluestone path, picked up the script, and immersed himself in the world described by the words.

The words on the script seem to dance in the air, complementing the surrounding ancient stage, black-sailed boats, and oil-paper umbrellas to form a moving picture.

While waiting for the heroine Meng Ziyi, Li Cheng's eyes kept looking towards the door, which was the only passage leading to the filming site.

He knew that Sister Meng's arrival would add endless vitality and brilliance to the play.

Their cooperation is like the winding paths in the Jiangnan water town, with a unique and secluded world.

The sunlight gradually penetrates through the clouds, casting mottled light and shadows.

Li Cheng could feel that at this moment, the entire crew was waiting, waiting for his acting skills, as delicate and subtle as flowing water under a small bridge, to bloom with him in the play.

He took a deep breath, adjusted his state, and prepared to walk along this poetic path with Sister Meng, and savor the scenes that were about to unfold.

The sun shone on Li Cheng's shoulders as he leisurely flipped through the script on the grass.

A light breeze blew by, and the tips of the grass swayed gently, as if whispering.

His eyes were sometimes focused, sometimes blurred, as if wandering between the script and reality.

Suddenly, a feeling of being watched passed through his heart. He raised his head from the script and looked around, but there was no one in sight.

His eyes stretched out into the distance and he saw a blurry figure on the distant hilltop facing him from afar, with the camera in his hand flashing.

Li Cheng felt a warm feeling in his heart, he knew that it was the fangirl who supported him and accompanied him silently.

A smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he waved his hand, as if he was greeting her across the distance of space.

At that moment, the quiet nature seemed to cheer for this silent communication.

On the other side of the hill, the girl taking the photo captured this scene through the camera: Li Cheng’s smile was as warm as the spring breeze, and his waving gesture was simple and sincere.

There was a flash of surprise in her eyes, because her camera not only recorded this moment, but also felt Li Cheng's gratitude.

The corners of her mouth curled up unconsciously, and her heart was filled with satisfaction and happiness.
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Li Cheng's eyes were quick, carefully reading every turn and every line of dialogue in the script.

Suddenly, a quick and clear call came to his ears, as if echoing in the valley.

He looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. It was the director's assistant.

The assistant had a professional smile on his face and his gestures were quick and clear - he was asking him to come over.

He gently put down the script in his hand. It was a play about the water town in the south of the Yangtze River, depicting the quaint and unique stone bridges, the tranquility deep in the alleys, and the black-sailed boats that were looming in the mist and rain.

He secretly wondered in his heart, how could he bring out the simplicity and poetry in this scene?

Following the assistant's footsteps, Li Cheng passed through the sets and saw the figure of director Zeng.

There was a subtle expectation in the director's eyes, and he told him lightly that there was a change in today's shooting plan. The first scene would focus on him instead of the originally arranged collaboration with Sister Meng.

Li Cheng was slightly stunned, then adjusted his mindset. He knew that this was the director's trust in him, as well as a test.

Director Zeng's gaze is like a sharp blade, able to see through the actors' hearts at a glance.

He signaled Li Cheng to come back in front of the camera in ten minutes, so that he could use this time to calm down and get ready.

Li Cheng stood there, took a deep breath, and felt the texture of the surrounding props and the weight of the costumes.

He closed his eyes, imagining himself as the general walking on the bluestone slabs, savoring the moment that was about to be captured.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment, everything around him became slow and heavy, only his heartbeat echoed in his ears, foreshadowing the upcoming performance.

Li Cheng was wearing heavy armor, the armor was as white as a mountain covered with fresh snow, and it was flashing with cold light.

He rode a black-maned warhorse, and the white hair hidden under his cloak fluttered in the wind, like the first ray of light at dawn, mysterious and vicissitudes.

His left hand held the spear steadily, with the tip pointing to the sky, as if challenging the majesty of heaven and earth; his right hand lightly held the reins, and the silent understanding between him and the warhorse was like a line of poetry on the battlefield.

All around were artificial snowflakes, floating lightly in the air. They were like white butterflies dancing in the air, and like a veil brushing across Li Cheng's face.

The snowflakes swirl and tumble in the wind, creating a snowy scene that is both unreal and realistic.

The crew's cameras captured this shocking scene from different angles. Li Cheng in the camera looked heroic and dignified, his eyes were firm and deep, full of the weight of the story.

Director Zeng stood behind the monitor, watching the playback intently. There was an expression of satisfaction on his face, and the corners of his mouth rose unconsciously.

He knew that this scene would become a classic in the film, and Li Cheng's performance aptly interpreted the character's inner world.

Director Zeng's heart was filled with admiration for Li Cheng. He recalled Li Cheng's previous role as Xiangliu, which was a successful interpretation. Now, Li Cheng stood in front of him again with a brand new image. He proved with his strength that he was not only capable of handling a role like Xiangliu, but even a warrior in armor could be presented to the fullest.

Director Zeng secretly rejoiced in his heart that the casting decision was undoubtedly correct. Li Cheng was, in his mind, the well-deserved leading actor.

Meng Ziyi walked through the hustle and bustle of the set, and her eyes suddenly lit up.

In the sunlight, Li Cheng's figure was like a general walking out of a historical scroll, his white hair fluttering in the wind under his cloak, his eyes determined, his mount lightly stepping on the grass, the sound of its hooves tapping the ground.

The spear flashed coldly under the sunlight, as if it could penetrate nothingness.

His handsomeness is not only about his appearance, but also an aura that radiates from the inside out, which makes people hold their breath and stare at him involuntarily.

Meng Ziyi's heartbeat quickened, and the scene before her seemed to become dreamy and distant. She seemed to have traveled through time and space and arrived at that era of iron, blood, and war.

At that moment, Meng Ziyi completely forgot that she was just an actor. She was immersed in the role, the heroine's emotions were surging in her heart, and the only thing in her eyes was the heroic "general".

Her eyes were blurred, as if she was trying to confirm whether this was the hero in her script, whether this was the other half she had imagined in her mind. Everything around her became blurry, and only Li Cheng's figure was clearly visible in her vision.

The sun shone on his silver hair, his cloak fluttered in the wind, and his spear pointed to the sky. The momentum made Meng Ziyi unable to recover for a long time. She seemed to be waiting for a signal, waiting for the general's call, waiting to gallop on the battlefield with him and create a legend together.

Director Zeng's "click" was like untying a shackle, and all the actors were instantly pulled out of the play.

Li Cheng slowly got off the horse, as if he had taken off a heavy armor. He walked quickly towards Director Zeng, with a barely perceptible expectation in his eagerness.

His eyes were fixed on Director Zeng's face, capturing every subtle change in his expression.

Director Zeng’s nod was his best comfort, as if his efforts were recognized through silent encouragement.

At this moment, Li Cheng's gaze inadvertently swept across Sister Meng. Her gaze was infatuated and she stared at him straight, her eyes full of confusion and admiration.

This sudden attention made him frown slightly, and a trace of confusion arose in his heart.

He didn't understand the emotions behind this gaze, nor did he understand why he was deeply attracted to Sister Meng at this moment.

But this confusion was soon replaced by praise from Director Zeng, who praised his performance generously. It was an authoritative recognition that made Li Cheng feel that his aura and acting skills were perfectly captured.

The staff around also began to whisper, and their words were full of admiration for Li Cheng's performance, which made Li Cheng feel a warm current surging in his chest.

He turned around and cast grateful looks around, and everyone responded to him with a smile.

At that moment, his position in the crew seemed more stable, and his every performance became the focus of everyone's expectations.

Although Sister Meng's gaze puzzled him, it also became a small mystery after the performance, a mystery worth savoring carefully.

In a quiet corner, at Director Zeng's command, Li Cheng and Sister Meng began their performance.

After a half-hour rest, they came to a deserted place.

Sister Meng's eyes were sparkling with excitement, and her gaze was fixed on Li Cheng's unique white hair, as if she wanted to feel that unique charm through her fingers.

She stretched out her cautious fingers, trying to touch the frosty and snowy hair.

And Li Cheng, at the moment when her fingers were about to touch his white hair, keenly sensed the tiny attack, and his body instinctively shrank back to avoid the hand.

He gently pushed Sister Meng's hand away and asked with a hint of doubt: "What are you doing?"

Sister Meng was not embarrassed by this. Instead, she showed a silly smile and expressed her admiration without hiding her words: "You are so handsome with white hair. How did you grow up? You are so handsome. Oh my God, why didn't I think you were so handsome before?"

That smile was full of admiration and fascination, as if at that moment, all she had in her eyes was Li Cheng's eye-catching white hair, and everything else no longer existed.

There was a subtle atmosphere in the air. Li Cheng's white hair became the focus at this moment. A complex emotion flashed in his eyes, with a hint of pride and a little confusion.

Sister Meng's silly smile seemed particularly abrupt in the silence, but it also added an indescribable liveliness to this deserted corner.

Li Cheng looked around and saw Sister Meng looking at him with burning eyes and admiration. He couldn't help but frown.

He understood that such a gaze might bring unnecessary trouble, especially in this era of information explosion.

He sighed softly and patted Sister Meng's shoulder gently, signaling her to pay attention to the impact and not let anyone with ulterior motives capture this scene, so as to avoid it being magnified and interpreted with ulterior motives.

However, Sister Meng didn't seem to care. With determination and calmness in her eyes, she responded softly, "It's okay. I'm used to being hacked."

There was a fearlessness in her tone, as if she had long since become indifferent to worldly views.

Then, she couldn't help but add, "But you are so handsome today, so handsome that it touches my heart. I never felt this way before."

After hearing this, Li Cheng shook his head helplessly. He could feel Sister Meng's mood at the moment, but he also knew clearly that this was just a momentary intoxication.

He tried to sober up Sister Meng and said calmly, "You may be a little too into the play, don't let your imagination run wild."

Sister Meng seemed to be completely immersed in the role. There was only Li Cheng's figure in her eyes, and everything else seemed to have disappeared.

She was immersed in her own world and didn't want to get out of the show at all. A satisfied smile hung on her lips, as if in her imagination, Li Cheng was the omnipotent hero.

On the quaint stone bridge, Sister Meng and Li Cheng are performing a sentimental drama.

There was an indescribable tenderness in Sister Meng's eyes, as if it could drown a person. She stared at Li Cheng infatuatedly, and that look seemed to travel through time in the play and reach deep into her heart.

Although Li Cheng is her love interest in the play, he knows that this is just acting, so he concentrates and throws himself into the role, but he is not shaken by Sister Meng's eyes.

Outside of each shot, Sister Meng seemed to be still immersed in the afterglow of the role. She would inadvertently hold Li Cheng's arm, and the movement was so natural that it was difficult to tell whether she was a character in the play or a suitor in reality.

Li Cheng tried to dodge, but Sister Meng always found a way to put her arm around his arm again. That posture and expression seemed to tell the world that they were not just screen lovers, but also partners in life.

At this time, the surrounding water gardens became the background of their intertwined emotions.

The sound of ancient opera floats in the air, the mist and rain are hazy, the bluestone road reflects the figures of two people, the black-sailed boat floats quietly in the creek beside it, and the oil-paper umbrella sways gently in their hands.

All of this, coupled with Sister Meng's unyielding tenderness and Li Cheng's slightly awkward yet unable to completely refuse attitude, weaves together a series of pictures that are both real and illusory.

Li Cheng's day in front of the camera finally came to an end. Like a warrior taking off his heavy armor and all his makeup and hair, he walked briskly through the sparsely populated set.

The afterglow of the setting sun fell on the old props, casting mottled shadows, and his mood fluctuated accordingly.

Sister Meng's entanglement was like a ghost that would not go away. Whenever he thought of it, he felt a chill crawling down his spine.

Today, he was determined not to let Sister Meng bother him again, and as soon as the filming was over, he fled the scene at lightning speed.

The director stood next to the camera with a deep look in his eyes. He looked at Li Cheng's hurriedly leaving back and understood everything in his heart.

The director witnessed Sister Meng's entanglement that followed him throughout the afternoon. Even he had experienced the kind of distress that was difficult to get rid of.

He understood Li Cheng's choice. If it were him, he would probably choose the same escape.

The lights on the set gradually went out, and the last ray of light disappeared at the end of the horizon. The director sighed softly, turned and left.

He knew that tonight, Li Cheng could finally enjoy a moment of peace, and tomorrow, they would fight side by side and face new challenges. (End of this chapter)