Huayu: Reborn in 97, transferring to the Central Academy of Drama's star-studded class

Tigers have been imbued with many symbolic meanings since ancient times.

In folk tradition, tigers are considered auspicious beasts that ward off evil spirits and protect the home. Dressing little children in tiger-head hats and shoes is a way of wishing them peace and safety.

In the writings of scholars, the tiger is a symbol of might and power. The roar of a tiger in the mountains and forests is worshipped by all beasts, which brings forth terms like "tiger general" and "tiger minister" that sound like they have a sense of killing intent.

In the legends of the Western Regions, the ancients believed that there was a kind of tiger, pure white, that lived on the top of Kunlun Mountain, and that ordinary people would never see it in their entire lives.

The herdsmen say that it is the mount of God, the wildest and freest creature in the world.

Luo Xiaohu grew up listening to such legends.

So he is such a fierce tiger.

"Director, you make a lot of sense."

Jiang Lai nodded in agreement, but then rubbed his chin in confusion. "But, director, is it possible that what's in the Kunlun Mountains is a snow leopard, and the ancients couldn't tell the difference?"

Li An: "?"

Why is this child so stubborn?

He touched his forehead helplessly. "Xiao Jiang, I'm just telling you what kind of feeling you should act out. I'm not discussing what's actually on Kunlun Mountain. Just act out a scene from the script where Luo Xiaohu appears."

Li An has been busy for the past three months, and now is the perfect time to test how well the actors have portrayed their characters.

"Okay, director."

Jiang Lai took a deep breath. Over the past few months, he had watched many tiger documentaries and often imitated tiger movements in his room. Now was the perfect time to try acting it out.

He recalled the contents of the script, his eyes turning fierce, imagining himself striding forward on the sandstone of the desert, each step heavy and powerful.

Suddenly he raised his arm and opened his mouth wide: "Kill!!"

Li An was startled. After a few seconds of silence, he said, "Xiao Jiang, try acting it out again, to tone it down a bit."

Jiang Lai blinked. "Okay."

His gaze remained unchanged, still fierce, but his gait had become steady and powerful.

Li An frowned and waved his hand to interrupt, "Xiao Jiang, you're being too deliberate. A tiger's wildness is something in its bones. You have to find that feeling, not just imitate it."

Jiang Lai fell silent. He was still very afraid of the word "feeling." Lou Ye's feeling of love was about him and Zhou Xun getting along, Jiang Wen's feeling of absurdity was about him being serious, but what was the feeling of a tiger?

Li An walked over and patted him on the shoulder. "Think about what I told you. I believe you can do it. Keep going."

After saying that, he slowly walked away.

After training in the evening, Jiang Lai and Zhang Ziyi took a walk in the hotel garden.

The moonlight was beautiful, illuminating the bluestone path until it appeared white, and the chirping of insects rose and fell in waves.

The two walked side by side, chatting idly. When Jiang Lai brought up the events of the day, he said somewhat dejectedly, "Do you think I actually have no talent at all, and that I'm just relying on my looks?"

Zhang Ziyi turned around and looked at him blankly. "What you said makes me wonder if you lack confidence or are overconfident."

Jiang Lai chuckled, sat down on a bench by the roadside, looked up at the starry sky, and said, "I really can't find the feeling, and I really don't know how to act it out."

Zhang Ziyi sat down next to him and said, "I think acting requires imagination, and it's through imagination that we can create believable and compelling characters."

Jiang Lai shook his head. "That's still too vague."

Everyone has their own method for performing, and Zhang Ziyi didn't know how to explain it. She tilted her head and thought for a moment, then suddenly said, "Then let's go see a real tiger."

"what?"

"The zoo? There are tigers in the Beijing zoo, aren't there? Taking a day off will be a good chance to rest and maybe I'll get a feel for it then?"

Jiang Lai thought about it for a moment, then his eyes lit up. "That's right! Seeing it on TV is definitely different from seeing it in real life. Why didn't I think of that sooner?"

Zhang Ziyi smirked smugly: "That's because you're stupid."

"Okay, okay, I'm stupid."

Jiang Lai was too lazy to argue, so he excitedly cupped that little face and kissed it twice, wishing he could set off that very night.

The next morning, Jiang Lai went to Li An to ask for leave.

After hearing his reasons, Li An smiled and readily granted him leave, only adding, "When you come back after watching it, don't forget to perform it for me again."

Jiang Lai patted his chest and made a promise, then pulled Zhang Ziyi away.

Since it wasn't a holiday, the zoo wasn't crowded. The two bought tickets and headed straight for the lion and tiger enclosure.

The lion and tiger enclosure at the Beijing Zoo was built more than forty years ago. Although it is called a mountain, it is actually a large pit in the middle, filled with artificial mountains and dead trees.

Since it was already summer, there was a pool of water by the pit, where several tigers lay lazily, swishing their tails.

A few scattered tourists stood by the fence, mostly parents with their children. The kids were incredibly excited, squatting by the railing and pointing into the pit, repeatedly shouting, "Brain Tiger! Big Brain Tiger!"

Zhang Ziyi looked at the adorable children with a smile in his eyes, but Jiang Lai looked at the tigers in the pit with a worried expression.

The tigers below were completely different from what he had imagined. They were not fierce at all, and even looked a bit listless. They were too lazy to move and would only occasionally roll over to show their white bellies.

Jiang Lai was a little disappointed. "Why do I feel like watching a documentary would have been better?"

Zhang Ziyi also peered over the fence. "Maybe captive-bred ones are different from wild ones. Have they lost their wildness?"

Jiang Lai sighed, thinking that he should leave.

Just then, a huge tiger emerged from behind the mountain, immediately drawing Jiang Lai's attention.

The tiger's posture and gait were not fierce and powerful, but rather calm and domineering, composed and quite majestic.

It walked to a high rock, stretched its body, and then opened its mouth.

"roar--"

A deep, long tiger roar resounded through the arena, followed by the roars of other tigers, as if in response to their king.

In that instant, the tigers were no longer lazy, but instead became fierce and domineering, showing everyone what it means to be a mountain king.

Jiang Lai seemed to vaguely understand something.

It's not an action, not a posture.

It's that kind of kingly aura that comes from the very core of one's being, an aura that commands respect and is beyond question.

It is freedom, it is unbridled.

It is a wildness that, though imprisoned, cannot confine the soul.

Jiang Lai became excited; he understood!

He wasn't playing a tiger, but the character Luo Xiaohu, who is exactly that kind of person.

A fierce bandit from the Western Regions who grew up on horseback and fought his way through the sandstorms may be unkempt and disheveled, but there must be something in his bones that cannot be crushed.

Jiang Lai suddenly turned around and grabbed Zhang Ziyi's shoulder: "I understand!"

Zhang Ziyi was startled by him: "What do you know?"

"I know how to act now! Let's go back!"

"Huh? Now? We've only just arrived!"

"No time to explain! Let's go!"

Jiang Lai grabbed Zhang Ziyi and ran outside, laughing happily.

Zhang Ziyi stumbled as he pulled her along, but her eyes were still full of smiles.

She liked seeing him like this.

It looked like its whole body was glowing.