Reborn in the Chinese Entertainment Industry: My Childhood Sweetheart is Boss Yang

In late September, the autumn colors were gradually deepening in Beijing.

The warmth of their birthday celebrations hadn't completely faded from their memories when a phone call from the "The Return of the Condor Heroes" crew brought Gu Heng and Yang Mi back to reality.

The call was from Zhang Dahuzi, the assistant director.

"Xiao Gu, Xiao Yang, just letting you know that your scenes have been scheduled. Filming is expected to begin in mid-November in Xiangshan."

"So you all need to report to the film crew by early November at the latest to familiarize yourselves with the environment, get your costumes checked, and start training. Don't just sit idle at home for the next month or so; make sure you're well-prepared."

"Okay, thank you, director, we understand."

After hanging up the phone, Yang Mi excitedly put down the receiver.

"It's coming! It's coming!"

Seeing her excited expression, Gu Heng helplessly handed her a glass of water from the side.

"Look at you, so incompetent, you've barely scratched the surface."

"How is this considered unambitious?" Yang Mi took the water glass, pouting in dissatisfaction. "This is called respect for our profession. We need to get ready quickly, so we don't mess things up and get looked down upon."

She started calculating on her fingers.

"Yelü Qi has quite a few action scenes, and your movements were spot on. Guo Xiang's martial arts skills are average, but she has a lot of horseback riding scenes. Yes, you still have your studies to do; you can't fall behind."

Seeing her looking as if she were facing a formidable enemy, Gu Heng smiled.

He gently scratched Yang Mi's nose.

"Alright, my little housekeeper, I've already thought all this through."

He knows it perfectly well.

The character Yelü Qi does have a lot of real fight scenes, but those are filmed for the audience.

They're not pursuing real combat skills, but rather how they look in front of the camera.

The movements should be fluid and graceful, the posture should be elegant, and every move should carry a sense of dignified, reliable, and dependable character.

As for Guo Xiang, the nickname "Little Eastern Heretic" wasn't given for nothing.

That unrestrained spirit in his personality is even more evident on horseback.

Therefore, Yang Mi's riding skills must be up to standard.

"In that case, I'll find a professional martial arts instructor to train you in sword techniques and routines. As for you, you'll learn to ride a horse."

"That's what we'll do!"

Yang Mi nodded vigorously, her eyes blazing with fighting spirit.

Gu Heng took out his phone and dialed his father Gu Jianjun's number.

There are some things that are far less convenient and efficient for me, a high school student, to handle myself than for an elder to do.

The next day, a phone call came to Gu Heng's cell phone.

"Are you Xiao Gu? I'm Coach Wang from the Beijing Wushu Team. Your father told me you want to learn some swordsmanship for a movie role?"

The voice on the other end of the phone sounded very strong.

Gu Heng readily agreed and arranged a time and place to meet.

The meeting place was an old stadium next to Shichahai Lake.

Coach Wang is in his fifties, with a lean build and slightly bulging temples, clearly a seasoned martial artist.

He made Gu Heng walk a few steps, and then had him assume a few basic stances that he had practiced since he was a child.

"Hmm, good foundation."

Coach Wang nodded in satisfaction.

"Coach Wang, I don't need to become a master, I just need to look good in front of the camera," Gu Heng stated directly, explaining his needs. "I need to have that chivalrous feel."

Coach Wang smiled.

"I understand. In film and television martial arts, it's 70% about the stance and 30% about the skill."

He took an unsharpened practice sword from the weapon rack and handed it to Gu Heng.

"Yelü Qi uses the Quanzhen School's swordsmanship, which is upright, peaceful, and composed. I'll show you a basic set first, and you can learn from it."

In the days that followed, Gu Heng's life became more regular.

In the morning, I went to the gymnasium to practice swordplay with Coach Wang. In the afternoon, I went home to study and do exercises.

Coach Wang taught very professionally. He didn't teach Gu Heng any exquisite sword techniques, but instead started with the most basic "spirit, energy, and mind".

Gu Heng studied very diligently.

He knows that while talent is important for an actor, attitude is even more crucial.

That afternoon, Yang Mi sneaked over.

When she arrived, Gu Heng was practicing a set of combination moves that Coach Wang had just taught him.

He stood tall and straight, long sword in hand, sometimes moving like a nimble snake emerging from its hole, pointing forward; other times he moved with wide, sweeping strokes, the sword flashing.

Although it was just a set of moves, his composure, far beyond his years, actually gave him a dashing air of a young swordsman.

Yang Mi hid by the door, her eyes wide, covering her slightly open mouth.

After completing the set of movements, Gu Heng sheathed his sword and stood up, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

"How is it?" He had already noticed the little tail at the door.

"handsome!"

Yang Mi generously gave a thumbs up, then playfully leaned closer.

"Great Hero Yelü, are you preparing to save Xiangyang, or are you going home to peel apples?"

She smiled and tilted her little face up.

Gu Heng, annoyed, reached out and lightly flicked her forehead with his finger.

"You're so cheeky. How's it going on your end? Is the horse behaving well?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Mi's face immediately fell.

With her father's help, she did indeed register at a pretty good equestrian club in the suburbs of Beijing.

The coach is very professional, and the horses are all trained warmbloods.

However, theory and practice are ultimately two different things.

"Don't even mention it." She plopped down on the cushion next to her, her voice full of grievance. "That horse is more arrogant than me. I told it to go east, but it insisted on going west. Yesterday it almost threw me off."

She rolled up her sleeve, and sure enough, there was a small bruise on her fair arm.

Gu Heng frowned slightly.

"What did the coach say?"

"The coach said I was too nervous and my body was stiff, which the horse could sense, so it wasn't cooperating," Yang Mi sighed. "But as soon as I sat on it, I couldn't help getting nervous whenever it moved."

"Let's go take a look."

Gu Heng changed out of his training clothes and pulled Yang Mi outside.

At the equestrian club, Yang Mi's personal mount, a beautiful brown mare, was leisurely snorting in the stable.

But now, Yang Mi gets a little scared whenever she sees it.

"That's it."

Gu Heng stepped forward and, imitating what he saw on TV, reached out and gently stroked the horse's neck.

The horse was very docile; it merely flicked its tail and did not resist.

"Treat it as a partner, not a tool," Gu Heng said, turning to Yang Mi. "The more you try to control it, the more it will rebel against you."

He had Yang Mi lead the horse and walk slowly around the field.

"Talk to it, get to know its smell and rhythm."

"Power should originate from the ground, originate from the waist, and flow through the limbs. Your center of gravity should sink down, and you should use your waist, abdomen, and legs to feel the horse's rhythm, rather than gripping the reins tightly with your hands."

Yang Mi did as instructed with some skepticism.

She led the horse around and around, muttering to herself, seemingly talking to the horse about something.

Strangely enough, after a few laps, she seemed to be less nervous.

When she mounted the horse again, she tried to relax her body and lower her center of gravity.

"Yes, that's it." Gu Heng instructed from the sidelines, "Imagine it as an extension of your body."

The horse trotted along, and although Yang Mi was still a little jolted, she was no longer as flustered as before.

She felt the wind blowing past her ears, and watched Gu Heng smiling at her from the sidelines, a strange feeling welling up inside her.

Perhaps, being a female knight-errant isn't so difficult.

More than a month passed quickly amidst such fulfilling training.

Gu Heng's swordsmanship became increasingly proficient, and each move was quite disciplined.

Yang Mi's riding skills have also improved significantly. She can now perform some simple movements on horseback, and at least in front of the camera, she definitely doesn't look like a novice.

When they weren't training, the two of them would often huddle together in Gu Heng's yard, reading the script together.

The autumn sun shone warmly through the gaps in the grapevines.

"Look here, when Guo Xiang first met Yang Guo, why did she blush?" Yang Mi pointed to a line in the script, somewhat puzzled. "She was only sixteen years old then, did she even know what liking someone meant?"

Gu Heng put down his math workbook and leaned over to take a look.

"This isn't the blushing of love," he explained. "It's the excitement and adoration of a fan meeting their idol. Imagine, a legendary hero suddenly appears in front of you and stands up for you—how would you feel?"

Yang Mi tilted her head and thought for a moment, then her eyes lit up.

"I get it! It's that 'Ahhh, a living idol' feeling!"

"That's it." Gu Heng laughed. "So your reaction here shouldn't be the shyness of a young girl in love, but rather a slightly bewildered admiration, with a light in your eyes."

"What about Yelü Qi? Why would he like a spoiled young lady like Guo Fu?" Yang Mi asked another question. "He seems like such a steady person."

Gu Heng pondered for a moment.

"You'd have to ask Mr. Jin Yong himself. But as I understand it, maybe that's what they call a contrast."

"Contrast?" Yang Mi asked, looking puzzled.

"For someone like Guo Fu, who is prickly and highly aggressive, once her defenses are breached and she reveals even a tiny bit of softness, it becomes a fatal attraction for a steady and composed person like Yelü Qi."

Yang Mi nodded as if she understood, and then started scribbling on the script.

"It feels so complicated, the entertainment industry is really messy."

Gu Heng looked at her serious profile and said.

"Stop focusing on the script, can you solve this problem?"

Gu Heng pointed to an analytical geometry problem on the open workbook.

"Also, don't forget our promise to go to the Beijing Film Academy together."

Yang Mi frowned as she looked at the complex graphs and formulas.

"Okay, okay."

She muttered to herself, reluctantly pushing the script aside and picking up a pen.

The courtyard was very quiet.

The only sounds were the rustling of writing and the occasional rustling of leaves in the autumn wind.

Gu Heng looked at the dates circled in red on the calendar; they were getting closer and closer.