Tokyo: The evil god doesn't want to be the top star

Xia Fan said coldly with a dignified look.

"Sorry, everyone. I just forgot the lyrics. Let me start over."

Only then did Shirakawa Rika come to her senses. She retreated away from Xia Fan's arms in panic and bowed to apologize to everyone around her.

"It's all this guy's fault for not following the flow. He got so close to me all of a sudden and hurt me."

Her little face felt like it was on fire and her chest was heaving due to her panting. It was obvious that she had not yet recovered from the impact Xia Fan had just given her.

"I forgot the lyrics... It's okay. The part before I forgot the lyrics was very good. I passed it all!"

"You two performed really well. You must remember your current state in the subsequent filming!"

Director Nakano clapped excitedly and trotted over to Xia Fan.

"Especially Xia Jun, from his eyes, his posture, his tone and his pronunciation, he is exactly like Kazama Manye Honye. I was shocked!"

He rolled up the script and wanted to slap Xia Fan like he did before, but when he met his sharp eyes like a knife, he withdrew his hand in dismay.

"Super good? Tsk..."

Xia Fan spat disdainfully, leaned forward, and lowered his head towards Shirakawa Rika: "Woman, is this the best of your acting skills?"

"No, don't get so close..."

Shirakawa Rika subconsciously wanted to step back, but found herself at the wall.

"What? After you performed well once, you want to take advantage of the opportunity to guide your seniors..."

Faced with this "wall-dong" situation, she could only protect her chest with her hands and turn her face away in dissatisfaction.

The oppressive feeling released from Xia Fan, the indifference and possessiveness in his eyes, are obviously still in the "Kazama Manyo state" during the acting.

No wonder director Nakano said this guy is the type who gets “into the role”. He clearly shouted “cut”, but he hasn’t gotten out of the role yet?

"You obviously know it better than me..."

"This kind of blind cooperation, not stealing the limelight from others, this kind of mediocre and lukewarm acting, this kind of pale and weak acting, cannot portray the real Chiyo."

But Xia Fan had no intention of letting her go and continued speaking aggressively.

"Low-key acting skills... How dare you say that? A newbie like you who joined the crew halfway through, what do you know?!"

Her body seemed to be stung. Shirakawa Rika froze for a moment and raised her head angrily.

"I'll be clear in advance, there are very few female college students who can perform at my level!"

"Don't underestimate me because I debuted as a child star in an advertisement. I have been working hard on my acting skills for many years. However, due to the lack of resources from my management company, I have auditioned countless times over the years, but I have only played supporting roles!"

"This time, I finally got the role of the heroine. I spent half a year preparing..."

She trembled and protested like a cat with its fur standing on end.

"Oh? If you take it so seriously, why did it end up like this?"

Xia Fan smiled evilly and asked in a deep voice.

"The biggest selling point of The Chrysanthemum and the Knife is the male characters with rich personalities. But in the end, I was forced to play against a bunch of expressionless and helpless 'vases'!"

"This is a female-oriented drama, and the audience wants to see male characters... If I act too well and steal the show, and make those wooden characters look like 'rotten wood', wouldn't that be even more inconsistent with the theme of the drama? Who would dare to ask me to play the leading female role in the future?"

"Who doesn't want to happily show off their acting skills? Do you know how hard it has been for me to restrain myself until now?!"

"Besides, there are too many factors that affect a drama. No matter how superb the acting is, it's impossible to save the current reputation, right?"

Shirakawa Rika was furious and met Xia Fan's gaze head-on, blurting out everything that she had been holding back in her heart.

"Very good, this is the state."

Xia Fan straightened his back, distanced himself, and nodded in approval.

"You don't have to restrain yourself in front of me. Just give it your all."

"I don't care about word of mouth or anything like that. After all, it's the final episode, just like now, let 'Man' Kazama,' let the audience, understand 'Chiyo's' true feelings."

The black military robe brought up a breeze, and he turned and left neatly.

"The real feeling... is this what he meant..."

Looking at Xia Fan's elegant back, Shirakawa Rika seemed to understand something.

"Director, I want to change the lines for the next part of the filming."

She took out her notebook and went to Director Nakano, who looked stunned.

"What, change the lyrics on the spot?"

"I feel that the parts that were 'omitted' before editing cannot express the character's emotions. I hope to be closer to the original. I have the lines ready in my notebook..."

"Is that so? Let me see..."

……

Half an hour later, the entire crew was in place again, ready to start filming.

"Senior Shirakawa, I'm sorry, those words I said before were not actually mine..."

Standing in the middle of the venue, Xia Fan looked melancholy.

During the acting, he did notice that Shirakawa Rika did not show any complicated emotions. She just cooperated with him and played the role of the "gentle and lovely" Chiyo.

Although this monotonous state fits the character's functionality of being a "background board", it ignores Chiyo's true thoughts and feelings as a companion who witnessed the Shinsengumi's demise.

But under the interference of "Manyo Kazama"'s personality, he unknowingly pointed out the problem to the other party in such a "middle school" tone.

What a domineering president at the end of the shogunate. Once the "Noh mask" is taken off, all that is left is the embarrassment of carving out countless sea view villas on the spot and saving the real estate market in District 11.

"Hmph, no need to apologize... You're right, I was overthinking and became hesitant. The previous episodes have such bad reputations, what else is there for me to worry about..."

Rika Shirakawa on the opposite side put her hands on her hips and turned around with high spirits.

"Xia Fan, since you have taken the initiative to stir up trouble with me..."

"Next, you have to take over my acting responsibly."

She smiled playfully and pointed at Xia Fan with one finger, her eyes burning with unprecedented fighting spirit.

"So, Kazama vs. Chiyo, Act 3, Scene 1, Ninth Test Shot!"

The script supervisor clapped the clapboard and the entire crew started filming again.

Chapter 105 The "Heroine" Who Survived

2024-07-13

Hearing the sound of the board hitting, Xia Fan hurriedly covered his face with one hand.

When he raised his head, he changed his face and once again revealed the cold, arrogant and domineering expression of "Kazama Manye".

"If you go alone, you will only die hastily. It is extremely foolish."

"I want to take you away without your consent."

He took a step closer to Shirakawa Rika, with the half-unsheathed blade in his hand, and pressed it against her snow-white neck again.

"..."

Shirakawa Rika said nothing, but boldly met his aggressive gaze.

She held her head high and chest out, and her fair neck actively met the secretly painted blade, leaving a trace of blood.

"What's wrong with this look, woman? Are you dissatisfied?"

Xia Fan's eyes froze, and he bit the corner of his mouth lightly, his fangs almost rubbing against each other to produce sparks.

"Some hatred towards humans will probably remain in my heart. However, compared to that feeling, there is more endless sadness..."

Rika Shirakawa drew her sword and held it against his blade without fear.

"sad?"

Xia Fan had an indifferent expression and shook the hilt of the sword lightly, causing Shirakawa Rika to almost lose her grip on the sword.

"Be it humans or the Rakshasa..."

"Why are we born to fight each other?!"

"Why can't we live without smiling at each other?!"

"Why do you have to take someone else's life?!"

Shirakawa Rika tried hard to steady her petite body, bit her lower lip unyieldingly, and slashed with the sword with a crying voice.

"I told you, in the final analysis, they are just greedy and power-hungry desperadoes."

Xia Fan lowered his sword towards the ground, easily dodging the opponent's desperate sword move. He quietly stared at the woman who was pointing her weapon at him, with no intention of fighting back.

"When I was in the Shinsengumi, I saw many things. Respecting the emperor, supporting the shogunate, expelling the barbarians, overthrowing the shogunate, fighting because neither side would give in..."

“But we all live to protect this country. Of course, our goals are the same.

"No matter what, I want to reunite with everyone. Where the Shinsengumi is, that's where I am!"

Shirakawa Rika had a determined look in her eyes, with crystal tears falling from her eyes. She roared angrily and drew her sword repeatedly.

Unlike the pitiful appearance of "Chiyo" on the screen in the past, at this moment she looks like an angry little tiger.

But rather than drawing the sword, it was more like venting his emotions, swinging the sword around wildly.

"Oh my, Ms. Shirakawa, your 'light' has become quite dazzling!"

Director Nakano, who was standing in front of the monitor, stood up excitedly.

"Enough of this mess of swords."

Xia Fan frowned slightly, raised his hand and swung the sword, knocking the sword out of her hand.

"I don't mean that I can't understand your anxiety about your Shinsengumi companions."

Then, he took a step closer, pinched the other person's small chin with one hand, and quietly admired the beautiful face in his palm.

"Eh?"

Shirakawa Rika's face turned red, her movements stopped, and her whole aura dropped.

It seemed like it was the first time that I saw something suspiciously gentle in the eyes of "Manye Kazama" played by Xia Fan.

Her expression suddenly looked a little aggrieved, and pearly tears began to flow in the corners of her eyes.

"But the more you want to meet those guys, the more you have to stay calm. If you rush into the center of the war, you will only die in vain, and you won't be able to meet them."

"This is something your deceased parents and clan members don't want to see."

Xia Fan said coldly, catching her falling tears with his fingertips with pity.

"Yeah... Just like what Mr. Kazama said, I'm always anxious and can't keep calm."

"No matter what, I will survive and reunite with the Shinsengumi."

As if sensing the other party's concern, Shirakawa Rika nodded frankly.

"So, I'll take you there."

"what?"

"I will take you to Hijikata Toshizo. By the way, I will take you to the 'duel' that he and I have arranged."

After saying something that shocked the other person, Xia Fan let go of the woman in front of him, sheathed his sword, put his hands into his wide sleeves, and turned around gracefully.

"...Thank you for your concern, Mr. Kazama. I am very grateful."

Looking down, she saw the military robe that had been draped over her shoulders without her noticing, and Shirakawa Rika thanked her sincerely.

"Tsk... Rather than saying I care, it's more like you're just being too stupid to pay too much attention."

Xia Fan didn't look back, but walked out of the camera's range slowly with steady steps.

"..."

“Ka…Ka! Ka! Ka!”

The entire shooting location was quiet for a while before Director Nakano shouted “Cut” several times in a trembling voice.

"Great! Perfect! Absolutely amazing!"

"Whether it's the facial expressions, body language, or the moves, they're all spot on!"