I really didn't intend to make a living based on my looks.

His hand was on the hilt of the knife, his knuckles slightly white, as if he had used a lot of strength to keep from turning around.

Tong Liya stood three steps behind him, her fingers twisting the tassel of the jade pendant, her lips pursed repeatedly.

She took a small step forward, lifted her foot, and then pulled it back.

"Fourteenth Prince..." she began.

Jiang Chen didn't move.

But his grip on the knife tightened, and the metal plates on his armor made a slight scraping sound.

Tong Liya took a step forward, reaching out to hand over the jade pendant, but then withdrew her hand halfway through.

She lowered her head and clutched the jade pendant in her hand.

"On your journey to the border," her eyes were already red, "I wish Fourteenth Prince a resounding victory."

The last four words were almost uttered through gritted teeth.

Jiang Chen's shoulders relaxed for a moment, then tensed up again.

He tilted his head slightly, and the lines of his profile were particularly distinct under the light.

His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he only uttered two words: "Take care."

Having said that, he strode across the threshold, the metal plates on his armor rattling as he disappeared into the light outside the hall.

"Stop!" Li Huizhu called out from behind the monitor, her expression satisfied. "Cut!"

The staff started moving things around, some moving props, others adjusting the lights.

Tong Liya wiped away her tears, pulled herself out of character, and turned to look at Jiang Chen: "You're pretty good, bro. You really captured the details of your hand holding the knife in that scene just now."

"Sister Ya Ya, the way you pulled your foot back was absolutely amazing," Jiang Chen said, taking off his helmet. "And that look in your eyes just now, the way you were about to cry, what do you call that in Northeast China? You've got it all figured out. If your performance didn't win you the Magnolia Award, I'd be the first to object."

Tong Liya laughed at his joke: "Come on, you've even managed to make a magnolia out of nothing."

"Seriously, although my acting is mediocre, I have good taste. With your skill level, winning an award is a piece of cake, isn't it?"

"Alright, alright," Tong Liya said with a smile, pushing him away. "Stop with the mutual flattery. Save those words for young girls. I'm not buying it."

Behind the monitor not far away, Yu Zheng leaned back in his chair, staring at the playback footage.

"Teacher Yu, where did you find this young man?" Li Huizhu pointed at Jiang Chen's face on the screen. "A newcomer? He's very experienced in acting."

Yu Zheng didn't speak, his eyes fixed on the monitor.

The camera on the screen just froze on Jiang Chen's profile, showing his sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, high nose bridge, and the armor that made him look heroic.

He dragged the progress bar forward a little and watched the scene of Jiang Chen holding the knife again.

The rhythm of the knuckles going from relaxed to turning white was perfectly timed, with great attention to detail.

"Introduced by a director from Shandong TV," Yu Zheng leaned back in his chair, "a freshman at Beijing Film Academy."

"A freshman?" Li Huizhu was a little surprised. "This acting experience doesn't seem like that of a freshman."

"It might be a talent."

Yu Zheng picked up the walkie-talkie: "Jiang Chen, come here for a moment."

Jiang Chen was returning the helmet to the props team when he heard the voice on the walkie-talkie. He handed the helmet over and quickly walked to the monitor.

"Teacher Yu, Director Li."

Yu Zheng looked him up and down, then pointed to the folding chair next to him: "Sit."

Jiang Chen didn't stand on ceremony and sat down.

What have you filmed before?

"No, this is the first one."

"The first one?" Yu Zheng was clearly skeptical. "The details you showed in the filming don't seem like something someone acting for the first time could grasp."

Jiang Chen smiled, his words revealing a hint of the truth.

"My dad worked at the Shandong Film and Television Production Center for many years and was quite familiar with Director Kong Sheng. I grew up on film sets, and after watching so many films, I started to figure things out on my own. Actions come before lines, and emotions come before actions; I figured these things out myself while watching Director Kong direct."

"Director Kong?"

"Yes, he was the one who invited me to participate in the dating show."

Yu Zheng didn't reply, but his eyes flickered slightly.

This sounds like casual conversation, but the implication is clear: I'm not an unskilled person; I have connections.

He was silent for a moment before asking, "Would you be interested in signing with my studio?"

So they haven't given up yet?

I mentioned this issue briefly on the phone last time, but he brushed it off vaguely.

"Teacher Yu, I don't plan to sign a contract right now," Jiang Chen said directly. "I want to finish my studies first. I've just entered Beijing Film Academy and haven't learned anything yet. Signing a contract would be irresponsible to you."

Yu Zheng stared at him for a few seconds: "You're really honest. Others are eager to sign, but you're pushing them away."

"It's not that I'm pushing you," Jiang Chen said, "it's that I feel I'm not qualified yet. We'll talk about it again when I've finished my studies and Teacher Yu still thinks highly of me."

Yu Zheng waved his hand and didn't say anything more: "Okay, go ahead. If you want to sign a contract in the future, you can come to me."

"Thank you, Teacher Yu."

Jiang Chen turned and left.

Li Huizhu watched his retreating figure, then turned to look at Yu Zheng and said meaningfully, "This kid has guts."

Yu Zheng didn't speak, leaned back in his chair, and tapped his fingers on the armrest.

At lunchtime, Jiang Chen took his lunchbox and squatted in a shady spot.

The sun in Hengdian is scorching. The temperature under the eaves is several degrees lower than outside, but the heat still rises from the ground.

Tong Liya walked over with a boxed lunch, squatted down next to him, put her elbow on his shoulder, and leaned in close.

"Hey, why did Lao Yu call you over? Is he going to sign you?"

Jiang Chen moved aside slightly: "Ya Ya, mind your image. You're in your costume; what would it look like if someone took pictures of you like that?"

Tong Liya rolled her eyes at him and tightened her grip on his arm: "You're not calling me 'sister' anymore, are you? Just calling me 'Yaya' now? You've grown wings, haven't you?"

"Sister Ya Ya," Jiang Chen said helplessly, "is that alright?"

"That's more like it," Tong Liya said, pulling her arm back, picking up a piece of food and stuffing it into her mouth. She mumbled, "Is Lao Yu going to sign you?"

"Um."

"So you agreed?"

"no."

Tong Liya nodded, didn't say anything more, and continued eating.

After a while, she spoke up: "You really need to think this through. Teacher Yu's studio has good resources, but the contracts are for several years at a time. You've just started school, so there's no rush."

Jiang Chen glanced at her and joked, "Then, sis, if I ever go hungry, I'll come looking for you. Don't deny it."

Tong Liya put down her chopsticks, reached out and pinched his cheek, twisting it left and right: "What are you saying? Is your sister that kind of person?"

Jiang Chen winced as she pinched him, pleading, "Heroine, please have mercy!"

"You're so cheeky," Tong Liya released her grip and said seriously, "I'll definitely recommend any resources I have to you in the future. But..."

"My sister isn't doing well either, sigh."

She lowered her head, took a bite of rice, and said with a hint of self-deprecation, "You know what kind of roles I played before I came to 'Palace'? A supporting role in 'The Wife' and a minor character in 'Rain and Sunset'. If it weren't for the role of Zhao Feiyan that made people remember me, I might still be playing bit parts."

Jiang Chen looked at her without saying anything.

You may not have the resources, but your future husband, who will only be nominally your spouse, will...

If I remember correctly, she will soon be filming "Beijing Love Story".

Chen Sicheng wrote, directed, and starred in that film, and after that film, her career took off.

As they were chatting, a little girl ran over, panting, and said, "Teacher Jiang, Sister Mi is looking for you. She wants you to come over."

Tong Liya's chopsticks paused in mid-air, and she hesitated for a moment: "Weren't you looking for me?"

She turned to look at Jiang Chen, "What else happened between you two yesterday?"

Jiang Chen stood up and patted his pants. "Ya Ya, don't pry into adults' affairs."

Tong Liya: "..."

Jiang Chen had already turned and left without looking back.

……