Huayu: I am the manager of Xiaohua (a popular Chinese entertainment company).

Chapter 98 It wasn't me who ruined you, it was this world that ruined you!

Looking at the bag, Meng Ziyi couldn't help but chuckle.

"Bao Bao, you really look like a beauty in ancient costume. You are really suited for ancient costumes. You can talk to Li Han later and ask him to help you develop in this direction."

Bao Shang'en didn't say anything, but just smiled with his eyes narrowed.

Li Han arrived at this moment, and after looking at the scene in front of him, he chatted with the instructor for a few words.

The first scene to be filmed was the scene of young Dou Zhao in the mourning hall. Liu Jiaxi, who played young Dou Zhao in the previous life, delivered a perfect "look back" in this scene.

I just don't know how Bao Bao's performance will be later.

Before the official start of filming, Li Han sat in front of the monitor and had someone call Bao Shang'en over.

Bao Shangen, dressed in a white ancient-style long dress, came over.

"President Li————"

"Bao Bao, this is the film crew," Li Han corrected.

"Call me Director Li."

"Oh, Director Li." Bao Shangen nodded, pursing her lips.

Li Han smiled as he looked at the pretty girl in front of him. "But of course, it's fine for you to call me brother."

"Really?" Bao Shangen opened her mouth in surprise.

"Of course." Li Han smiled, then said seriously.

"Bao Bao, this is your first time acting. I don't know how you feel right now, whether you're nervous or not."

"Brother, I'm not nervous." Bao Shangen smiled with narrowed eyes, and casually changed his form of address, since you told me to call him that anyway.

"Oh? I didn't realize you were so thick-skinned, Bao Bao." Li Han smiled.

When Zi first acted, her voice and hands were trembling.

"Okay, don't be nervous. When we start filming, pay attention to the camera and don't have too many micro-expressions. Just keep a blank expression," Li Han said.

Since it was Bao Shang'en's first time acting, Li Han wasn't particularly strict with her. He figured as long as she did well, it would be fine. Besides, this was an idol period drama, not a movie.

"Mmm." Bao Shangen nodded and smiled.

Bao Shangen's Douyin account already has quite a few followers. Her Douyin profile also notes that she is an artist under Li Han's studio, so some of Li Han's fans have also followed her.

At yesterday's opening ceremony, when taking a group photo, Li Han asked Bao Shang'en to stand between her and Meng Ziyi, and then the group photo was posted on Weibo.

Bao Shangen, with her charming and adorable appearance, naturally attracted the attention of many fans. While following her on Weibo, they also followed her on Douyin.

It just so happens that Bao Shang'en is filming on set during this period, so Li Han plans to have her wear ancient costume and dance whenever she has free time, and then post the videos on Douyin.

It's a pity that Meng Ziyi and Zhou can't dance, otherwise, the visual experience of two beautiful women and one pretty girl dancing together would be simply amazing.

Soon, the first scene of "Nine Layers of Purple" began filming.

Bao Shang'en and the other actors were already preparing in the ancestral hall.

"Attention, all departments," Li Han said, sitting behind the monitor and holding a walkie-talkie.

"Lights, camera—okay, scene one, shot one, Ninefold Purple, action!"

At Li Han's command, Bao Shang'en began her performance—she knelt in the ancestral hall, in front of her mother's coffin. A cold wind blew, scattering paper money and flickering candlelight. Bao Shang'en knelt, staring expressionlessly at the dark coffin before her.

"Shou Gu." A voice came from behind.

Upon hearing this, Bao Shang'en gripped the hem of her skirt with her hands resting on her knees, then turned her head to look at her expressionlessly.

"Tsk." Li Han clicked his tongue.

"Click."

Upon hearing this, Bao Shang'en blinked her big eyes and looked at Li Han.

"Bao Bao, here you go." Li Han gestured to the bag.

Seeing this, Bao Shang'en quickly got up and walked over to Li Han's side, pursing her lips as she looked at Li Han's serious expression.

"—Director Li."

"Bao Bao, do you know where the problem lies? Take a look for yourself." Li Han said with a serious expression and pointed to the monitor.

Upon hearing this, Bao Shang'en glanced at the monitor, but she couldn't see anything wrong with it.

Seeing this, Meng Ziyi and Zhou Jian also came over.

"Your expression is too bland," Li Han said helplessly, looking at the bag.

"Ah————" Bao Shang En opened her small mouth and blinked her eyes.

"Your character just lost her mother, and she was murdered. Your expression shows absolutely no sadness—it's like your mom came home from get off work, bought you a chicken leg, called your name, and you turned around to look at the chicken leg," Li Han said seriously.

"You were doing so well during the audition, how come you messed up when the real guns and cannons were pointed at you?" Bao Shang'en couldn't help but laugh out loud when she heard this, but as soon as she laughed, she timidly raised her eyebrows and looked at Li Han.

"Laugh?" Li Han asked expressionlessly.

"Laughter can make for a good performance."

Bao Shang En pouted, her eyes and expression showing some grievance—"You're really fierce, I knew I shouldn't have called you brother."

Seeing this, Zeng Qingjie, the assistant director sitting to the side, decided to act as a peacemaker and say a few words. The two of them tacitly agreed to play the good cop and the bad cop.

Bao Shang'en is Li Han's artist, so only he can play the black face.

Meng Ziyi and Zhou also came over at this time. Seeing Li Han talking about the bag, Meng Ziyi crossed his arms.

"Hey, stop bullying Bao Bao."

"————" Li Han raised an eyebrow and looked up at Meng Ziyi.

"Feed her." Seeing this, Zhou quickly reached out and tugged at Meng Ziyi's arm, reminding her in a low voice.

Meng Ziyi turned to look at Zhou, but before she could say anything, she was pulled away.

"Let's go, let's go—"

Li Han looked at the two of them helplessly, then looked at Bao Shang'en in front of him. Bao Shang'en was also looking at Li Han. The two looked at each other, and upon seeing this, Bao Shang'en quickly lowered her head.

"Um, let me say something—" said assistant director Zeng Qingjie.

"In terms of talent, I think you have no problem, but you need to control the details. However, it doesn't have to be about micro-expressions. Right now, you mainly need to focus on conveying your eyes—"

5

Hearing Zeng Qingjie's words, Li Han nodded in agreement.

He looked up at the bag and then stood up to gesture.

"Walk."

Seeing this, Bao Shang'en followed Li Han into the ancestral hall.

Meng Ziyi was pulled aside by Zhou. Meng Ziyi looked at Zhou with confusion, "What are you doing, Xiao?"

"My dear sister." Zhou looked at Meng Ziyi with a wry smile, revealing a rather helpless expression.

"Li Han and Bao Bao weren't speaking too harshly just now, so why did you go over and confront him? The assistant director was there, and there were other people in the crew watching. He's the director and the male lead, so he has to maintain his authority on set."

Li Han had to maintain his authority on set, otherwise even extras would laugh at him behind his back. So it's conceivable that if Zhou hadn't pulled Meng Ziyi away, Li Han would likely have scolded Meng Ziyi. He had no choice but to maintain his authority as the director.

Li Han: Sister Meng, it's not that I've ruined you, it's that this world has ruined you.

Upon entering the ancestral hall, Li Han turned to look at Bao Shang'en. Upon seeing this, Bao Shang'en lowered her head and placed her hands on her lower abdomen, fiddling with her fingers.

"Bao Bao, you should be able to make big facial expressions, right? Or rather, make big facial expressions without your face looking messed up?"

"Huh?" Bao Shangen looked up at Li Han with a cute, blank expression.

"Grinning," Li Han said.

"Grin, grin?" En paused for a moment.

"Yes." Li Han nodded.

Bao Shang En blinked, then started baring her teeth. Her fair little face contorted, her mouth gaping open, revealing her white teeth. She looked quite cute.

"Spit it out again—" Li Han said.

"Ooh—" Bao Shangen bared her teeth and made a sound like a small animal. Although she didn't know why Li Han wanted her to do this, she did whatever Li Han told her to do.

"Even when making big facial expressions, his face doesn't break down." Li Han nodded.

"Okay, Bao Bao, I'll show you how, and you can watch."

"Mmm." Upon hearing this, Bao Shangen quickly withdrew her bared teeth expression and nodded her little head.

Then, Li Han knelt there and gave a killer look back.

At this moment, Meng Ziyi and Zhou Ye also entered. They were both somewhat surprised by Li Han's killer glance over his shoulder.

Is it just my imagination? It seems like Li Han's acting skills have improved quite a bit.

"Bao Bao, remember this: keep your expression blank and your eyes cold. Don't be dazed; those are two different things," Li Han said, standing up.

"Mmm." Bao Shan gently bit her lip.

"Okay, all departments, take one more shot." Li Han picked up the walkie-talkie and said, glancing at Meng and Zhou before walking towards the monitor.

Meng Ziyi and Zhou stepped forward to Bao Shang'en and comforted her.

Starting with the second take, the result was noticeably better than the first, but it still didn't capture the feeling Li Han wanted. Therefore, after Li Han gave it some more guidance, they filmed another take.

Finally, Li Han felt it was about time, so he moved on.

"Okay, that's enough," Li Han said.

Upon hearing Li Han's voice, Bao Shang'en immediately breathed a sigh of relief. They had finally passed; it really hadn't been easy.

Although it was over, Li Han felt that Bao Bao's performance was still a bit inferior to that of Liu Jiaxi, the young actress from his previous life. This showed that the young Dou Zhao from his previous life was really amazing in terms of acting skills. She must have been even younger than Bao Bao when she acted in this scene.

In the afternoon, the crew's scenes were for Song Mo, played by Li Han, and Dou Zhao, played by Meng Ziyi. The crew was adjusting the equipment, and Li Han and Meng Ziyi were rehearsing their lines with the script in hand, while Zhou stood by and watched the two of them.

Bao Shangen then went to rest.

Meng Ziyi, holding the script, looked at Li Han and said, "You were too harsh on Bao Bao this morning. I thought she acted quite well."

Li Han raised his eyebrows and looked at Meng Ziyi, his expression helpless.

"Please, I'm the director, I have to be responsible for this show. Even though she's one of my people, I have to point out her bad acting. Her first take didn't have the feeling I wanted."

"It's her first time acting, and you're being so strict. Be careful she won't dare to talk to you in the future," Meng Ziyi teased.

"It's not that bad—and what about you? What were you doing talking back to me in front of others this morning? Are you the director and am I the director?" Li Han looked at Meng Ziyi with a helpless expression.

"You need to let me maintain my authority on set, otherwise I won't be able to manage the actors, and how will I be able to carry out the work?"

"Alright, alright," Meng Ziyi pouted.

"I know I was wrong, Xiao also scolded me."

Upon hearing this, Li Han turned to look at Zhou beside him. Zhou, seeing this, squinted and smiled at Li Han, revealing his teeth. His expression seemed to say, "Praise me."

"Look at other people's children," Li Han said to Meng Ziyi.

"I originally thought Zi was a bit simple-minded, but I didn't expect you to be even simpler than her."

Zhou looked at Li Han with a bewildered expression, pouting and punching Li Han's shoulder in dissatisfaction.

"I spoke up for you, and you called me a fool?"

"Hanhan means cute." Li Han turned to look at Zhou and smiled.

"Speaking of coconuts, would you be interested in acting in a movie about fighting Japanese invaders?"

"Anti-Japanese War drama." Zhou's expression froze upon hearing this, and he hesitated for a moment.

"We'll see—we'll arrange it. If it's suitable, I'm not against it."

Li Han looked at Zhou, recalling those famous abstract memes from Zhou's past life, and shook his head.

"Never mind, we'll talk about it later."

In the afternoon, Li Han and Meng Ziyi began their scenes together.

The film crew doesn't shoot in the order of the plot; they adjust the scenes according to the actors. For example, the scene that Li Han and Meng Ziyi are going to shoot this afternoon is quite intimate—it's a kissing scene.

"In the script, I'm the one who kisses you first. How about you kiss me first?" Li Han teased Meng Ziyi.

Upon hearing this, Meng Ziyi glanced at Li Han with an amused expression on his face.

"Are you sick? Are you crazy? What nonsense are you spouting?"

"If you're not happy, fine, but why are you yelling at me?" Li Han said, feigning displeasure.

"Tch, what kind of production has the first scene for the male and female leads when they join the crew being a kissing scene? You've arranged it pretty well." Meng Ziyi held the script in her hand, crossed her arms, raised her chin, and looked at him with a mocking expression.

"We're an old married couple, what's this?" Li Han muttered, looking down at the script.

Upon hearing this, Meng Ziyi glared at Li Han.

Then filming officially began.

"—Besides, I'm your strategist now, so naturally I should help you share your burdens."

"So you're still calling me strategist, huh?" Li Hanchao's voice was incredibly husky.

Upon hearing Li Han's bubbly voice, Meng Ziyi's expression twitched.

Li Han leaned in and kissed Meng Ziyi on the corner of her mouth.

"Call me husband—"

"Hahahaha—" Meng Ziyi couldn't help but lower her head and laugh, covering her mouth with one hand.

"What are you doing?" Li Han looked at her with a bewildered expression.

"Ziyi?" Assistant director Zeng Qingjie looked at Meng Ziyi with a puzzled expression.

"No, your 'bubble voice' is too much—you don't have 'bubble voice,' so don't try to imitate it." Meng Ziyi covered her mouth with one hand and laughed, then raised her other hand to pat Li Han's arm, giving him a smiling glare.

"You really are something." Li Han smiled helplessly at Meng Ziyi, then got up to go find the assistant director.

Since that's the case, then the only option is to adjust the filming script. If he remembers correctly, there's another kissing scene in this location, and that kissing scene is much more intense than this one.

Meng Ziyi sat there, and her assistant came forward to touch up her makeup, while another assistant held a small fan to cool her down.

Li Han walked over and looked at Meng Ziyi. "Ziyi, let's not film this part for now."