Huayu97: Starting with Wu Song Fighting the Tiger

This girl... seems to actually have a thing for me?

He shook his head, quickly banishing the thought.

What am I thinking! She's a big star! Maybe it's just novelty!

When Liu Xiang returned to his dormitory, the sky was already beginning to lighten. He lay down on the hard bed, and his bones were creaking all over. It wasn't from being tired, but from the lingering effects of the force he had used when beating the tomb raiders.

His mind was racing, one moment Lin Xinru's flushed cheeks, the next Fan Binbin grabbing his arm and calling him a hero, and then Sun Shupei patting his shoulder and calling him a "treasure boy".

Just as things were getting chaotic, the pager next to my pillow suddenly beeped twice. It was a message from the script supervisor: "Take a break today. The Kunning Palace scenes will be reshot at 5 a.m. tomorrow. Everyone, please bring your costumes."

Liu Xiang rubbed her eyes, a smile playing on her lips. It seemed she was about to officially begin playing the role of Saiwei.

In the script of "My Fair Princess," Saiwei was not just a background character. He was a capable and loyal member of the imperial guards, and his role was quite substantial.

However, in the original setting, the character arc was not prominent enough, and they were more like tools to highlight the protagonist.

When Liu Xiang agreed to the role, Sun Shuping patted him on the shoulder and said confidingly, "Kid, I have high hopes for you in this role. Perform well, and if you have any outstanding moments, I'll add more scenes for you!"

This wasn't just polite talk. In the film and television industry of the 1990s, directors wielded immense power, and Sun Shuping was known for valuing talent. As long as an actor could bring a character to life, adding or revising scenes was not difficult.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, the film set at Kunning Palace was already bustling with activity, the script supervisor calling out names with his notebook. Liu Xiang changed into her guard uniform, stood in front of the mirror, and wow, she really did have a bit of the imposing air of an imperial guard.

Today we're filming the scene where Ziwei is harassed by Rong Momo, and Saiwei is ordered to guard her but secretly gives her food. According to the original script, this scene is just a simple delivery of water and the scene ends without much drama. Sun Shuping sat in the director's chair, a cigarette dangling from his lips, squinting at Liu Xiang: "I added a line for you in today's scene. Think about how to act it."

As he spoke, Sun Shupei handed him the revised script. Liu Xiang took it and saw an extra line: "Miss, have something to eat. I'll keep it a secret from the Empress."

Liu Xiang knew perfectly well that adding this line was the key to giving the character of Saiwei his soul.

As soon as the clapperboard sounded, Liu Xiang entered the side hall carrying a food box. The hall was dimly lit, and Lin Xinru, who played Ziwei, was kneeling on the ground, her hair disheveled and her face still bearing traces of tears. Rong Momo had just been summoned away by the Empress, leaving her alone in the hall, looking so lonely and pitiful that it broke one's heart.

Liu Xiang didn't rush forward. She paused for a moment, her eyes sweeping over the wounds on Ziwei's body, her brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.

It was an expression that mixed reluctance and helplessness. Although he belonged to Kunning Palace, he was also an imperial guard.

At this moment, he bent down and gently placed the food box in front of Ziwei, worried that moving too quickly would startle her.

"Miss, have something to eat." Liu Xiang's voice was low and slightly hoarse, deliberately befitting her identity as a guard who was often away on duty and exposed to the elements. "I'll keep it a secret from Her Majesty the Empress for you."

Upon hearing this, not only was Ruby Lin stunned, but Sun Shuping, who was behind the monitor, also sat up straight.

Before Ziwei could finish speaking, Liu Xiang raised her hand and made a shushing gesture.

Then he straightened up, turned his back to the camera, his shoulders slightly tense, and walked out quietly. Throughout the entire process, not a single word was superfluous, yet the sense of helplessness and struggle was perfectly conveyed.

"Cut!" Sun Shupei slapped his thigh and stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray. "Good! Great! Liu Xiang, you've got guts!"

The commotion startled the screenwriter next to him, who leaned over to look at the playback and immediately frowned: "Director Sun, these added scenes have deviated a bit from the original framework, haven't they? Saiwei's character is positioned as a supporting role, there's no need to add so many details."

Sun Shupei waved his hand and pointed to the monitor: "Look! Look closely! With Liu Xiang's performance, Saiwei is no longer a flat symbol! He has his own stance and his own conscience. Only such a character can stand the test of time! That's why the audience loves watching him!"

The screenwriter watched the playback several more times, observing Liu Xiang's perfectly timed micro-expressions and the tension in his shoulders as he left the stage. His gaze slowly changed. Yes, this change instantly fleshed out the character of Saiwei. Far from overshadowing the protagonist, it better highlighted Ziwei's predicament, adding more tension to the plot.

The screenwriter nodded, completely convinced: "Okay, Director Sun, you're right, this addition was worthwhile! I'll think about Saiwei's scenes later and add a few more lines for him."

Sun Shupei laughed heartily and patted Liu Xiang on the shoulder: "Did you hear that? Kid, even the screenwriter approves of you! Keep up the good work, you'll have your chance to shine in the future!"

In the following days, Saiwei's scenes became increasingly brilliant under the polishing of Sun Shuping and the screenwriter.

When the camera panned across him during the filming of Tan Shufangzhai, the moonlight shone on his angular face, and the shadowy aura almost overflowed the screen.

During the filming of the scene where they sneaked into Cining Palace at night, Saiwei was in charge of keeping watch. When he saw the patrolling guards, he didn't attack them directly as written in the script. Instead, he quietly circled behind them and used acupressure points to strike their pressure points. His movements were clean, swift, and fluid, prompting the action director on set to exclaim, "Liu Xiang, you're so agile!"

Liu Xiang smiled without saying a word, thinking to himself: My skills were honed by hiring mercenaries; my real combat experience is far superior to your fancy martial arts choreographers.

Gradually, the production team began to value Liu Xiang even more!

In the past, when people mentioned Sai Wei, they would only say "the bodyguard next to the Queen." Now, when people mention Sai Wei, they all say, "The kid who played Sai Wei is really good."

Su Youpeng and Zhou Jie saw all of this.

When Su Youpeng wasn't filming, he would always hang around Liu Xiang, calling her "Brother Liu Xiang" repeatedly. He was full of admiration for Liu Xiang for making such an unremarkable role so outstanding.

Zhou Jie, on the other hand, is cold on the outside but warm on the inside; he may not say it, but his actions speak louder than words. Whenever everyone is filming late, he quietly saves them a late-night snack; if anyone tries to cause trouble for Liu Xiang, he's the first to step forward and protect her. Seeing that Liu Xiang doesn't rely on connections or hype, but instead wins over the director and screenwriter with her genuine acting skills, his respect for her grows even stronger.

Seeing their serious expressions, Liu Xiang couldn't help but laugh and say, "From now on, the three of us will be an inseparable trio."