Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei finds a Freylian

"Hmm, her appearance is indeed quite good. Miss Frilian has a very unique temperament, with an ethereal quality. She doesn't seem like an ordinary person." Director Wang stroked his chin and said to the makeup artist next to him, "Try giving her the makeup and styling of a female official from the Shu Kingdom. We need to emphasize the feeling of being aloof and mysterious. Maybe we can add some scenes for her later, such as giving her the identity of a reclusive master."

Then he looked at Lu Mingfei: "The young man looks quite spirited, but he's a bit, well, ordinary. But he'd be perfect for playing a servant. Take them to get their makeup done, and bring them to me when they're done."

Lu Mingfei's inner monologue: I'm so sorry, Director! I also want to exude the domineering aura of an S-class hybrid, but unfortunately, this thing just doesn't show up.

The makeup process was torture for Lu Mingfei. He was forced into a chair, his face was covered with thick foundation, his eyebrows were shaped and drawn on, his hair was tightly bound with a wig, and finally, he was put on a servant-style hat and dressed in a gray ancient costume. Looking at his unrecognizable and somewhat comical self in the mirror, Lu Mingfei felt like crying.

Frillie's case went much more smoothly. The makeup artist looked at her face, almost at a loss for what to do, and finally just lightly applied some blush, deepened the eye contour, and focused on the hairstyle and clothing. After changing into that elegant and exquisite blouse, with her hair styled in a classic updo and adorned with a simple jade hairpin, the entire dressing room fell silent for a moment. Frillie herself possessed a serene beauty that transcended time, and the period costume amplified this quality, making her seem like a classical beauty who had truly stepped out of a historical painting. However, her overly calm eyes made her look less like an ordinary woman and more like a wise mountain spirit or a banished immortal.

Director Wang, upon seeing the two after their makeup was done, nodded repeatedly in satisfaction with Frillie: "Good, very good! That's the feeling, keep it!"

As for Lu Mingfei, Director Wang simply waved his hand: "Hmm, not bad, just a background character. Be on set at five o'clock sharp tomorrow morning, you have scenes to film. Have you all read the script? There are only two lines, memorize them!"

Chapter 214 Chatting with Extras

After leaving the director's office, with some time before the official filming, Lu Mingfei and Frilline were directed by the production assistant to an area specifically for extras to rest. It was more like a temporary open-air waiting area, with several benches and dozens of men and women dressed in various ancient costumes, including young students and experienced "veteran extras."

The appearance of Lu Mingfei and Frilian, especially Frilian's stunning appearance, immediately attracted a lot of attention. Several young extras gathered around.

"Hey buddy, new here? Bringed your own money to join?" a tall, thin young man in a soldier's uniform with makeup on asked Lu Mingfei curiously, while his eyes kept glancing at Frillie.

Lu Mingfei scratched his head, almost knocking his hat off, and laughed awkwardly: "I guess so, it was a social practice arranged by the school."

He wasn't entirely lying; although it was a holiday, the academy had arranged for him to come to the film and television base to study.

"Wow, your 'social practice' conditions are really good, you even get to mentor such a beautiful classmate? Hehehe," another chubby actor playing a eunuch said enviously, "We'd fight tooth and nail to get a role with lines."

These extras, who usually play background roles, don't have such a good opportunity.

Lu Mingfei quickly changed the subject: "Brother, how long have you been filming? What do you think of this production?"

The tall, thin man lowered his voice: "Hey, don't even mention it. Director Wang is demanding and has a terrible temper. If you do too many takes, you'll get yelled at to death. And this script, you've seen it, haven't you? It's really weird! We call it 'Dark Three Kingdoms' in private."

The fat eunuch chimed in, "Exactly! Yesterday, when we were filming the scene where Liu Bei was entrusted with the care of his son, the veteran actor playing Liu Bei and the teacher playing Zhuge Liang almost burst out laughing at the drastically altered lines! They had to force themselves to portray that undercurrent of tension, it was really tough on them."

Lu Mingfei deeply agreed: "Yes, I was also shocked when I first read the script. This is completely different from the Three Kingdoms I know."

“You’ll get used to it,” an actor who looked experienced and played the role of a veteran official interjected. “These days, if you’re making a historical drama, the audience won’t like it if you don’t include some conspiracy theories and power struggles. We’re just like bricks, we’re moved wherever we’re needed, and we just act however the director tells us to.”

That makes sense. We should act according to what the audience wants to see and do what the director tells us to do.

Frillie stood quietly to the side, listening to the extras' idle chatter and observing their expressions and tones. She found it amusing that humans could adapt to and even satirize artistic creations, even those that were drastically altered, under the pressures of reality, such as the authority of a director or the need to make a living.

"By the way, buddy," the tall, thin guy asked Lu Mingfei again, "what roles do you two play? Do you have a lot of lines?"

Lu Mingfei honestly replied, "I played a servant at Cao Cao's banquet, and my only line was announcing the names of the dishes. She played a female official from Shu, and her only line was announcing the news."

"Oh, that's alright, not too much pressure. Remember, in this kind of film crew, talk less and do more. Don't move until the director yells 'cut,' even if mosquitoes bite your face, you have to endure it!" the fat eunuch enthusiastically shared his experience.

Lu Mingfei nodded repeatedly, but his heart pounded even harder. He looked at his peers who were busy on set for their dreams or livelihoods, and then at the ancient elf next to him who seemed detached and was observing everything with an academic eye. An extremely absurd sense of dislocation arose spontaneously.

He, the only S-rank student at Kassel College, and an elf who has lived for over a thousand years, are actually mingling in a group of extras filming a heavily modified Three Kingdoms drama, discussing how to avoid being scolded by the director.

Life is more magical than any script.

Back at the hostel, Lu Mingfei and Frilian laid out the script again.

After talking with the extras, Lu Mingfei calmed down a bit, at least realizing he wasn't the only victim. He began to try to analyze the script with a more professional, or perhaps more resigned, attitude.

“Frilian, look,” Lu Mingfei pointed to Frilian’s line, “'Report—the envoy of Lord Wu has arrived outside the gate.' According to the tone of this dark script, what do you think this envoy is here for? Is he really here to negotiate, or to issue a challenge? Or is he here to assassinate? When you report this, what should your tone be? Calm? Tense? Or with some hints?”

Frillie looked at the script and thought for a moment: "According to the context, this scene takes place during the time when Zhuge Liang was in charge of the military and political affairs of Shu, and the Eastern Wu sent an envoy. According to the logic of the modified version, the Eastern Wu may have ill intentions. But as a female official who is reporting, she may not know the full extent of the conspiracy of the higher-ups. Therefore, she should maintain a professional calm, but her eyes can reveal a little bit of scrutiny of the unknown."

Lu Mingfei looked at Frilian in surprise: "Wow, Frilian, you get into character very quickly. You're already analyzing the character's psychology."

Frillie said calmly, "If I want to act, I should immerse myself in the character's psychology and state of mind at the time."

Lu Mingfei looked at his lines again: "'Prime Minister, the specialty wine of Jingzhou, 'Drunken Immortal Drink,' has arrived!' My role is simpler; I'm just a tool. But the key is this wine. In this kind of script, there's a 99% chance this wine is poisoned. When I served it, did I already know it was poisoned? Am I an innocent victim being used, or an accomplice? Should my expression be obsequious? Numb? Or a hint of fear?"

He made faces at the mirror, trying to portray several different feelings, but they all looked like facial twitches.

A long, long time ago, at a primary school talent show, he played the role of a tree in the background, literally a tree.

Frillie watched him struggle and calmly suggested, "Perhaps you can imagine how you would feel if you were in the cafeteria of Kassel College, and you served the vice principal a plate of roasted pork knuckle that he specifically requested, but you knew that Fingel had already taken a bite out of it."

Lu Mingfei was taken aback, then suddenly realized: "That's right! It's that awkward and guilty feeling of knowing there's a problem but not being able to say it, while having to pretend to be calm. Frilian, you're a genius!"

Frilian tilted her head slightly: "This is just based on my observation of what you and Fingel do on a daily basis."

"Oh, this." Lu Mingfei felt that he and Fingel were usually quite normal, just eating, drinking and strolling around, without corrupting the atmosphere of the academy.

The two of them actually found themselves quite interested in discussing this heavily modified script. Lu Mingfei discovered that, setting aside their resentment at the alteration of the original work and putting aside their own thoughts, simply viewing the script as a story full of dramatic conflict had a different flavor.

As night deepened, the lights of the film studio burned brightly outside the hostel window. Tomorrow, they would officially join the cast of the drastically altered version of the Three Kingdoms drama.

"Frilian, do you think the director is being too harsh on the two of us?"

"No, the academy members brought their own funding to the project, so Director Wang will give us some preferential treatment out of consideration for the academy."

Chapter 215 The Atmosphere of Everyday Life

At 5:30 a.m., before the sky had fully brightened, the town where the film studio was located was already awake, filled with a damp morning mist and the faint scent of cooking smoke. Lu Mingfei struggled to get out of bed, feeling his eyelids as heavy as lead. In contrast, Frilian had already finished washing up and was sitting quietly by the window, watching the streets outside gradually come alive.

"Ah, I'm so sleepy, but you're so energetic," Lu Mingfei yawned. "I feel like I just fell asleep."

“Sleep needs vary greatly from person to person,” Frillie stated calmly. “Moreover, sufficient sleep is important for maintaining bodily vitality. Mingfei, you need to improve your sleep quality.”

Lu Mingfei was powerless to refute, and could only mutter, "After filming this scene, I'm sure I'll be able to sleep for three days and three nights."

After getting ready, the two went to a bustling morning market street near the hotel, as they had inquired about the previous night. Although it was still early, the street was already crowded with people, and various breakfast stalls were set up, emitting tempting aromas.

“Let’s grab something to eat before heading to the film set,” Lu Mingfei said, rubbing his rumbling stomach. “I heard the local specialty breakfasts are tofu pudding and scallion pancakes; we have to try them.”

They stopped in front of a stall that looked very popular. The stall owners were a middle-aged couple, working quickly and in perfect harmony. The husband was in charge of making the pancakes, and the wife was in charge of serving the tofu pudding.

Lu Mingfei watched the pancake-making process with curiosity. The vendor pinched a lump of soft dough from a large basin, quickly rolled it out on an oiled work surface, sprinkled it with chopped green onions and a pinch of salt, then deftly rolled it up, coiled it into a ball, and rolled it out again into a round pancake. The pancake was neatly tossed into a huge flat-bottomed iron pan, where hot oil sizzled. The vendor used a small spatula to constantly turn the pancake, ensuring it heated evenly. Soon, the pancake began to puff up, turning golden brown and crispy, releasing a rich aroma of scallion oil.

On the other side, the proprietress opened a huge wooden bucket filled with smooth, white tofu pudding. Using a flat copper ladle, she artfully scooped up thin, even slices of tofu pudding, placing them into a large blue-rimmed bowl. Then she drizzled it with a light brown soy sauce gravy, sprinkled it with dried shrimp, seaweed, pickled mustard greens, and a few drops of sesame oil. A steaming bowl of smooth, savory tofu pudding was ready.

"Boss, two servings of tofu pudding and two scallion pancakes!" Lu Mingfei called out.

"Okay! Salty or sweet?" the shopkeeper asked without looking up.

Lu Mingfei paused for a moment before remembering the debate over whether tofu pudding should be sweet or savory, and quickly said, "Savory! They're all savory!"

He couldn't imagine how Frilian would react to eating sweet tofu pudding, though she probably wouldn't care at all.

The two found a small stool and sat down. Lu Mingfei couldn't wait to take a bite of the freshly made scallion pancake. The outer layer crackled, while the inside was soft and layered, the aroma of scallions and flour blending perfectly. It was so hot that he had to breathe on it, but he didn't want to stop. Then he scooped up a spoonful of tofu pudding. The smooth tofu melted in his mouth, and the savory sauce and rich toppings created a simple yet warm flavor on his tongue.

"Delicious! This is the taste of home!" Lu Mingfei exclaimed with satisfaction.

Frillie ate the tofu pudding in small bites with a spoon, her eating manners as elegant as ever, but her speed was not slow.

She savored it carefully, then commented, "The transformation of the beans is very thorough, resulting in a unique texture. This juice, a blend of fermented soy sauce, seafood, and pickled vegetables, has a rich and complex flavor profile. It's much better than what's served in the Kassel College cafeteria."

Lu Mingfei almost choked on the tofu pudding: "Frilian, don't make things too difficult for the cafeteria auntie, but if you like it, that's fine."

He saw that Frilian quickly finished a bowl of tofu pudding and even the pancake, and thought to himself: I'll take Frilian to eat tofu pudding more often next time.

After enjoying the steaming hot scallion pancakes and tofu pudding, Lu Mingfei and Frilian felt warm and cozy. With a little time before their seven o'clock check-in, the two strolled slowly back along the morning market street to digest their food and soak up the town's morning energy.

As they approached the street corner, a muffled sob caught their attention. A little boy, about five or six years old, carrying a small schoolbag, stood at the entrance of an alley, wiping away tears, his face flushed red. An elderly woman, who appeared to be his grandmother, anxiously circled the child, comforting him while gesturing and asking passersby for directions.

Lu Mingfei was naturally a bit warm-hearted, or rather, a bit of a busybody. Seeing this, he pulled Frillie over.

"Auntie, what's wrong? Did your child lose something?" Lu Mingfei asked.

Seeing someone showing concern, the old woman quickly said, "Oh dear, it's my little darling! This morning he insisted on taking his puppy 'DouDou,' whom we just bought not long ago, out for a walk. But in a moment of carelessness, the leash slipped from his hand, and DouDou disappeared into this alley! It's almost time for school, and since we can't find the dog, he refuses to go to school. What are we going to do?!"

The old woman looked worried.

Hearing his grandmother's words, the little boy cried even harder: "DouDou, I want DouDou. What if bad people take it away? Waaah!"

Lu Mingfei looked at the narrow and complicated alley, which was filled with a lot of clutter and had many forks in the road. Searching by manpower would indeed be like looking for a needle in a haystack. He was about to suggest asking around the neighborhood or posting a lost dog notice when he noticed that Frilian beside him had slightly squatted down.

Frillie looked calmly at the little boy, her voice softening slightly: "Little one, don't cry. Tell me, what does your puppy 'DouDou' look like? What did you feed it this morning?"

The little boy sobbed, saying haltingly, "DouDou is a small brown mongrel with big ears. I... I secretly shared half of my milk biscuit with it this morning."

Frillie nodded, extending her pale hand to gently brush against the edge of the little boy's sleeve, where a faint trace of his scent might have lingered from petting the puppy. A soft, almost imperceptible glow emanated from her fingertips—a subtle fluctuation of magical energy used to detect and track specific life signs and scent molecules. In this world of sparse magic, this level of magic could only be maintained for a very short time and within a very limited range, but it was sufficient for finding a puppy that had just run away.

“It’s a little tracking trick,” Frillian stood up and explained briefly to Lu Mingfei and the old woman before walking into the alley. “Follow me, it shouldn’t have gone far.”

Lu Mingfei quickly followed, while the old woman, still somewhat doubtful, pulled the little boy along behind. Frillie's steps were light, but her direction was clear. She seemed completely unaffected by the complex forks in the road, occasionally pausing for a moment, her fingertips flashing faintly, as if confirming her direction.

After walking for about two or three minutes and turning a few corners, they heard a faint "woofing" sound in a corner piled with discarded cardboard boxes. Lu Mingfei opened the cardboard box and sure enough, he saw a small brown mongrel curled up there. It was a little shy, but when it saw its little owner, it immediately wagged its tail and ran over, affectionately rubbing against the boy's leg.

"DouDou!" The little boy burst into laughter through his tears, hugging the puppy tightly. Tears still clung to his face, but he was laughing with immense joy.

The old woman repeatedly expressed her gratitude: "That's wonderful! That's wonderful! Thank you so much! Thank you so much! Young lady, how did you know it was here? That's amazing!"

Frillie said calmly, "It was just good luck; I guessed the right direction."

She naturally wouldn't explain the principles of magic.

Lu Mingfei tried to smooth things over, saying, "Auntie, it's alright, it's good that they found it. Little friend, next time you bring your dog out, you must keep it on a leash. Look how dangerous that was! The dog will be scared if it runs away, and you'll be sad too, right?"

The little boy nodded vigorously and hugged Dou Dou tightly: "Yes! I will definitely hold the leash properly from now on! Thank you, brother! Thank you, sister!"

Watching the grandmother and granddaughter leave happily with the puppy, Lu Mingfei breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at Frilian, "Not bad, your tracking technique is perfect for finding cats and dogs."

Frillie watched the small figure disappear into the distance and said calmly, "I'm glad I could help."

Chapter 216 Filming Set

At 7:00 a.m. sharp, they arrived at the designated film studio area. Compared to the hustle and bustle of yesterday afternoon, the set now resembled a military camp about to go into battle, with a tense yet orderly atmosphere everywhere.

The huge studio was brightly lit, as if it were daytime. Various tall sets had been erected. Today's scene was "Cao Cao's Banquet," so the studio was decorated in a magnificent style, with carved beams and painted rafters, and tables and mats were all available. Although upon closer inspection, it could be seen that many of the materials were made of foam and wood, they were enough to fool people under the lights.

Director Wang sat behind the monitor, wearing a baseball cap, holding a walkie-talkie and a thick storyboard. His brow was furrowed as he engaged in a heated discussion with the assistant director and cinematographer about shooting angles and lighting effects. His voice was hoarse but authoritative, occasionally bursting out with urging and instructions.

"Lights! Soften the main light! I want a candlelight dinner feel, not spotlights! Props! Arrange the wine bottles on the table neatly! That fruit platter, yes, put it in the center! Assistant director! Are the extras in position? Have them wait over there, keep quiet!"

The main actors, already made up and dressed in magnificent costumes, gathered to one side. The veteran actor playing Cao Cao sat in a chair, eyes closed, muttering to himself, preparing for his final scene. Several actors playing strategists and generals were exchanging hushed conversations, adjusting their swords and costumes.

Producer Mr. Wang also arrived, but he did not get involved in the actual filming. Instead, he stood in a corner with several people who looked like investors, talking in hushed tones. He would occasionally look at the set and then at his watch, wearing a businesslike smile, but his eyes revealed his concern for the progress and budget.

Makeup artists and costume designers were among the busiest people. They flitted among the actors like butterflies, performing final touch-ups and adjustments. One makeup artist carefully used a powder puff to blot away the fine sweat from "Cao Cao's" forehead, while another costume designer helped a "general" adjust his slightly crooked belt. In a corner, several extras were also queuing up for simple makeup touch-ups.

The set design and props team was incredibly busy. They meticulously checked the position of every prop, adjusted the folds of the backdrop curtains, and tested the brightness of the light bulbs used to create the "candlelight" effect. Some carried ladders around adjusting the overhead lights, while others lay on the floor wiping away footprints from the props.

The crew members, like worker ants, were responsible for maintaining order, guiding people, and distributing bottled water and simple breakfasts for staff who hadn't had time to eat. Although the set was crowded, it was orderly despite the chaos, with everyone working like a cog in a precision machine, operating at high speed around the core task of filming.