Huayu: This top star doesn't play by the rules.

"Cut! Perfect!" As director Irao Shih's voice fell, Chen Chao and Zhang Ruonan quickly let go of each other and put on the down jackets handed to them by the staff.

Zhang Ruonan pulled her down jacket tighter around herself and rhythmically regulated her breathing. She had been so immersed in the reunion scene that her heart was pounding.

Of course, only she herself knew whether it was because she was too engrossed in the moment or because of Chen Chao's affectionate embrace.

"You acted very well." Just then, Chen Chao's voice suddenly rang out. Zhang Ruonan subconsciously looked in the direction of the voice and saw him walking over with two cups of ginger tea.

Handing one of the ginger tea cups to Zhang Ruonan, Chen Chao smiled and commented, "Your last look was spot on."

"Thank you, Professor Chen Chao." As Zhang Ruonan took the ginger tea from Chen Chao, her fingers accidentally touched his fingertips, and she felt her heart rate, which had almost returned to normal, quicken again.

"If it weren't for Mr. Chen Chao, who spent last night practicing with me, I probably wouldn't be able to portray this feeling now."

To prepare for today's reunion scene, Zhang Ruonan sought advice from Chen Chao after work last night. Chen Chao, who happened to be free, accompanied her to rehearse the scene, meticulously guiding her on details, from eye contact to movements.

"It's because you have a high aptitude for learning, otherwise I wouldn't be able to teach you." With a smile, Chen Chao reached out and gently patted her head, his movements gentle and natural, just like he was treating a younger sister at home. "To have this level of skill in your first MV shoot, you will definitely become a good actress in the future."

Tian Xiwei, who was standing not far away with a cup of hot cocoa, secretly pursed her lips as she watched this scene. Then she skipped over and grabbed Zhang Ruonan's arm. "Sister Ruonan, you were amazing just now!"

She shook Zhang Ruonan's arm vigorously, her eyes sparkling, "But Teacher Chen Chao, you can't be biased! Tomorrow we're filming 'Never-Lost Love,' you have to come with me to rehearse our lines!"

"You'll get your share." Chen Chao shook his head with a smile and a hint of helplessness. He wasn't fooled by Tian Xiwei's sweet appearance. This girl was a straightforward and feisty Sichuan-Chongqing girl. "But you'd better be prepared. Your role is much more difficult than Ruonan's."

The female lead in the music video "Love That Never Loses Contact" is supposed to be a girl suffering from severe depression. She has a withdrawn and sensitive personality, which is the complete opposite of Tian Xiwei's usual self. So, it was indeed very difficult for her to achieve a real performance.

"I know, I know!" Tian Xiwei nodded vigorously, a serious expression on her face. "I've been researching information about people with depression lately, and I've even watched some films. I'll definitely do my best to act well and not let you down, Teacher Chen Chao."

Seeing her very serious expression, Chen Chao couldn't help but smile and shake his head. "Alright, then I'll wait and see."

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The next morning, the crew moved to an abandoned factory to film "Love That Never Loses Contact". The style of this music video is completely different from the previous two. The overall tone is dark and tells the story of a band's lead singer and a girl with depression healing each other.

The first scene filmed was of the female lead sitting alone by the window, lost in thought.

Today, Tian Xiwei was wearing an oversized sweater, her hair was messy and draped over her shoulders, and Su Wan had given her a pale and haggard look.

Sitting by the window, Tian Xiwei lowered her head, her eyes vacant, and she did look somewhat melancholy. However, Yi Laoshi was not satisfied with her performance and called for her to stop several times.

"Cut!" Irausch shouted, frowning. "Tian Xiwei, your performance is wrong! Depression isn't about spacing out or being expressionless. The female lead is in a lot of pain, that feeling of helplessness being swallowed by darkness. You need to show that."

Upon hearing Yi Laoshi's words, Tian Xiwei quickly nodded, "I'm sorry, director, I'll do it again."

Taking a deep breath, Tian Xiwei tried several more times, but she still couldn't find the feeling, and she was so anxious that she almost cried.

After the director announced a break from filming, she ran to a corner, hugged her knees, squatted on the ground, and her shoulders trembled slightly.

After greeting Irao Shi, Chen Chao walked over to Tian Xiwei and squatted down beside her without saying a word, simply keeping her company quietly.

After a long while, Tian Xiwei finally raised her head, her eyes slightly red. "Teacher Chen Chao, am I really useless? It was such a simple shot, but I had to do so many takes."

"How could that be?" Chen Chao gently ruffled her hair and said softly, "The reason you can't act well is mainly because this character is so different from your usual personality, you just can't get into character."

"Think back, have you ever been particularly sad? Did you feel like the whole world had abandoned you, that no one understood you, and that no one cared about you?"

Lowering her head, Tian Xiwei remained silent for a while before whispering, "Yes, when I first went to university, it was the first time I had been so far from home, and I lived in the dormitory."

"I didn't get along well with my roommates, and I missed home every day. I could only keep many things to myself. At that time, I felt like I was the only person in the world, and I was very lonely."

"Yes, that's the feeling." Nodding, Chen Chao continued, "The female lead is even more lonely and desperate than you. She feels that her life has no meaning."

"But after she met the male lead, he was like a ray of light shining into the bottomless darkness in her heart. Do you understand that feeling?"

Sniffing, Tian Xiwei nodded seriously. "I think I understand. Thank you, Professor Chen Chao."

Tian Xiwei closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to feel the loneliness and despair as Chen Chao had instructed.

..........

When she sat by the window again, her eyes were no longer simply empty, but filled with pain and despair.

"That's it! That feels right!" Looking at Tian Xiwei's performance, Yi Laoshi nodded in satisfaction, and at the same time, he gained a new understanding of Chen's ability to train actors.

Upon hearing Yi Laoshi's words, Tian Xiwei breathed a sigh of relief, and a happy smile returned to her face. She looked at Chen Chao, and when she saw him give her a thumbs up, her cheeks involuntarily flushed.

With this success, the subsequent filming went much more smoothly. Tian Xiwei seemed to have suddenly figured it out and successfully portrayed the sensitivity and vulnerability of the girl with depression.