Chapter 63: If Chi Ye Has Acting Skills, I’ll Eat Shit—fine, I’ll Eat It!
Everyone stared at Chi Ye in astonishment, momentarily unable to believe what they had heard.
He wrote it?
He has this skill too?
Chi Ye remained unfazed, just looking at Director Zhang: “Is that polite?”
Director Zhang rubbed his hands; he really wasn’t used to taking someone else’s work as his own—still that saying, Beijing men can’t lose face!
“Um… Xiao Chi.”
Teacher Liu’s expression was complex as he looked at him: “You can endure this much?”
Chi Ye: “?”
“This is a modern-day Goujian.”
Another uncle couldn’t help but look at him in surprise: “For leaving Yue Na, you’ve done anything.”
Chi Ye: “…”
“Teacher Chi has this perseverance; he can succeed at anything.”
Ran Qiao nodded.
At this moment, she also felt a bit impressed by Chi Ye.
Sure enough, hearing about someone is not as good as meeting them; meeting them is better than hearing about them.
Hmm…
“Not really; I just can’t solve advanced world math problems.”
Everyone: “…”
“Then… let’s go through them one by one.”
Teacher Liu straightened his attitude and began seriously sharing his insights on the role, occasionally exchanging a few words with Chi Ye, asking if it was the meaning and feeling he wanted to express, and discussing it.
What could Chi Ye say?
Your understanding is all correct; that’s exactly what I meant!
The first script reading session lasted nearly two hours, then everyone had a meal organized by Director Zhang.
The unfamiliar relationships gradually disappeared.
Chi Ye returned to his room to rest that day.
The next day.
《Circulation》 officially started shooting.
In the morning, the film crew, following tradition, set out three animal sacrifices （ chicken, fish, pork ）, fruits, pastries, and other offerings, along with incense and paper money. All film crew members, including the director, actors, staff, etc., would take turns to light incense and bow.
Then came the mirror unveiling ceremony, where the photographer removed the protective cover from the camera lens, symbolizing the opening of the “eyes” for creation, hoping to capture high-quality shots.
Finally, the classic firecrackers and red envelope distribution.
Chi Ye received a two-yuan red envelope and felt it was very bad luck.
And so, the 《Circulation》 film crew officially got on track, entering a shooting period of about three months.
Chi Ye’s personal studio was still recruiting a team; he currently had no makeup artist or assistant, but as the male lead, the film crew generously provided him with corresponding personnel.
Of course, temporary ones.
At this moment, he was sitting in the simple shed set up by the film crew, with a makeup and styling teacher applying makeup beside him.
Not far away, the camera was positioned sideways, and the noisy voices of the staff gradually faded; the first scene began.
This scene was the female protagonist Li Shiqing’s first time rushing to the police station to report the case.
There was a “police station” in the Jiangsu Zhejiang Film and Television City where they were; all 《Circulation》 scenes involving the bureau were shot here.
……
The bus turned into a sea of fire amid a violent explosion.
Li Shiqing suddenly woke from the nightmare and found herself back on the bus before the explosion.
This was already the countless time she had fallen into this terrifying time loop.
But this time, she decided to take the initiative.
In the police station’s interrogation room.
Facing the two officers, she tried to calm herself: “Police comrades, I want to report a case; Bus 45 will explode, today!”
Zhang Cheng and Xiao Zhao exchanged a glance, full of doubt in their eyes; Zhang Cheng looked serious and asked: “Young girl, why do you say that? Do you have any evidence?”
“Cut!”
“OK, change camera position; Teacher Liu, touch up your makeup. Ran Ran performed very well; everyone did great. Rest five minutes, continue the next take.”
Director Zhang called out, looking quite excited as if it was his first time truly directing.
This first scene wasn’t too difficult; with Ran Qiao and Teacher Liu’s acting skills, they could handle it easily.
But the next segment required Ran Qiao to show her strength.
Five minutes later.
Ran Qiao stood back in position; Teacher Liu looked serious, with just the right amount of surprise and suspicion in his eyes, and asked: “Young girl, why do you say that? Do you have any evidence?”
A look of urgency mixed with slight speechlessness appeared on Ran Qiao’s beautiful face, perfectly natural: “I know this sounds absurd…”
“But…but I’ve really experienced the explosion many times! Every time on this bus; I clearly remember every passenger’s appearance on the bus and the time of the explosion!”
The supporting actor nearby questioned: “You say you’ve experienced a loop; how is that possible? This isn’t filming a TV series.”
Ran Qiao’s emotions surged; she wanted to speak but felt dizzy, holding her temple, shaking her head weakly: “I’m not lying; the first explosion was at 1:45 pm; the bus had just reached East Jiang Road when it suddenly exploded; no one survived. Then I kept waking up before that time point; I’ve tried many times but still couldn’t stop the explosion…”
“Believe me; I really didn’t lie…”
That urgent desire to be understood, yet knowing they wouldn’t believe, brought a sense of despair naturally.
“…Truly a talented player.”
Chi Ye watched from off-set in admiration.
—He liked geniuses; bring more, give him a dozen!
“…” Director Zhang gave him a sideways glance: “Teacher Chi, you’re up soon.”
“You and Ran Qiao are the main event; you two are the protagonists. You get what I mean?”
“Got it; I’ll definitely flop.”
Director Zhang: “?”
“Alright, not joking.”
Since drawing various acting skills, Chi Ye really hadn’t had a chance to act.
He couldn’t go all out acting with Yang Zi in 《Jian Ni》, right?
So, this was also “his” first time.
Eager to try.
“…Don’t mess around; my filming equipment is expensive. If we shoot multiple takes, the whole crew has to work overtime.”
Director Zhang was a million percent uneasy about Chi Ye, but things had come to this; if it really didn’t work, he’d have to “grind the scene.”
But that would torment everyone.
So, when they saw Chi Ye appear in “pure college boy” clothes, everyone was stunned.
Xiao Heyun’s character in the drama was a game architect, but fresh out of school, he had the seek good fortune and avoid bad luck + innocent student vibe of entering society.
At this moment, he wore clothes fitting the character, and his hairstyle became the classic “corporate slave” fresh look.
But it had to be said… his face was very camera-friendly; Director Zhang wondered behind the lens: “Is he a bit too good-looking? Tone down his appearance later…”
……
Li Shiqing woke again from the bus explosion loop; this time, she pulled Xiao Heyun from the same bus off, and the two went straight to the police station.
In the interrogation room.
Zhang Cheng and Xiao Zhao looked at the two in front of them with grave expressions.
Li Shiqing spoke first: “Police comrades, we want to report a case; Bus 45 is about to explode; everyone on board will die!”
Zhang Cheng frowned, his gaze sharp: “Why do you say that? Do you have evidence?”
At this point, the next line was Chi Ye’s.
Ran Qiao showed emotion—the feeling of being about to urgently explain but interrupted—waiting for Chi Ye to take the scene.
Chi Ye took it.
Effortlessly natural, beyond everyone’s expectations.
His tone was anxious, with a bit of inexplicable annoyance and frustration from being dragged into a mysterious incident: “We know it’s hard to believe, but we’re really trapped in a time loop, experiencing the explosion over and over!”
“Huh…?”
Director Zhang and the “terrified” crew members who were ready to curse Chi Ye’s ancestors all raised their eyebrows.
Wait, no, he didn’t follow the “script.”
This Chi Ye… his emotional expression and line delivery skill…
He really is a modern-day Goujian?!
In fact, Chi Ye’s current acting wasn’t that “good”; his acting was still Chu Luan Yu’s beginner basics. For a regular idol drama, it wouldn’t be awkward, but that was it.
Mainly, his line delivery was strong; the Empress Dowager’s intermediate lines could handle regular serious dramas, ensuring no breaking immersion, let alone now.
Of course, more importantly, the eye acting he drew from Zhang Guowen.
This was the only advanced skill in his acting, so at this moment, what the crowd didn’t notice was that his indignant and confused gaze was the standout.
In performance terms, this is called “emotional layering,” with eye acting being the most brilliant, instantly infecting the audience on screen.
Teacher Zhang Guowen delivered; his eye acting scored too many points!
At this moment, Teacher Liu, who was acting opposite Chi Ye, noticed his eyes, his heart stirring, but as a veteran actor, he didn’t miss a beat and smoothly continued the shoot.
“…Could Jin Xia really have spotted talent?!”
Director Zhang was confused.
……
On the other side.
A certain veteran actor off-set smacked his lips, took out his mobile phone, opened WeChat with a Yue Na senior executive, and sent: 【How did you let Chi Ye go? His acting isn’t as bad as rumored.】
A quick reply came.
【?】
【Drank Jiang Mou’s fake wine?】
Veteran actor: 【…】
【Acting is indeed quite green, but not that bad; mainly his lines are impressive; sounds pretty good live.】
【Not April Fool’s; Chi Ye has acting skills? If he does, I’ll eat shit.】
Veteran actor: 【Trying to scam food and drink?】
Their exchange ended, and so did the scene.
“Nice one, Teacher Chi.”
Director Zhang realistically came over: “You really took classes? You’re a real man; listen to advice!”
Chi Ye: “?”
Ran Qiao also walked over, fiddling with a string of beads in her hand; Chi Ye suddenly felt it looked familiar: “Hey, is this Yang Zi’s heavenly beads?”
“Ah?!”
Ran Qiao, about to “praise” Chi Ye, was startled and quickly threw them on the ground, scared: “What… heavenly beads? I don’t like that stuff…”
“Oh, no, my mistake.”
Ran Qiao: “…”
You’re not a good person.
The 19-year-old young girl silently turned away, ignoring Chi Ye.
“You really guard your chastity.” Director Zhang sighed in admiration: “Others live off a woman’s earnings; I wouldn’t yield to a million of them, but you… my brother, I can only say you should live off this!”
Chi Ye gave a sideways glance: “Don’t get chummy; don’t you know not to mess with a son-in-law? Say more, and believe me, I’ll twist your mouth?”
Director Zhang: “…”
……
The first day of shooting went exceptionally smoothly due to Chi Ye’s “explosive” performance—originally, the first day avoided high-intensity scenes for good luck.
After the first day’s shooting ended, the director generously treated the main creators to a meal.
Chi Ye ate a little and returned to his room; just as he was about to ask Keke about studio recruitment, his mobile phone rang with an unknown number.
“Hm?”
Chi Ye was puzzled and answered the phone call: “Hello?”
“Hello? Is this Captain?”
A low, hoarse voice came from the other end, vaguely familiar.
—Shen Qing Yu?!
Chi Ye remembered the owner of this voice and was stunned.
Why was this beast suddenly calling him?
Not busy being “chased and killed” by creditors?
“Captain, save me; I was wrong; please save me, okay?”
On the other end, Shen Qing Yu, bruised and swollen-faced, held his mobile phone; no one knew what he’d been through these days; his eyes were full of red veins: “I really have no choice, Captain…”
“Are you stupid? No choice and you call me?”
Chi Ye was speechless and was about to hang up.
“You, don’t hang up…”
Shen Qing Yu hurriedly stopped him: “I… I have Yue Na’s black material; don’t hang up.”
“Fuck, fishing?”
Chi Ye didn’t believe Shen Qing Yu at all because this guy was very cowardly, and he didn’t think the other had reached that situation.
Based on past deeds, probably scamming money.
Beep beep beep.
On the other end of the phone.
Shen Qing Yu stared blankly at his mobile phone, then reacted, jumping in rage: “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!”
“Everyone bullies me! Everyone bullies me!”
“Yue Na, fuck your mother! Chi Ye, drop dead!”
As he spoke, he started crying.
—No one knew what he’d been through this time.
Since being reported by Jiang fake wine last time and sent to the police station, after release, creditors’ phone calls came one after another; he had no choice but to go to Yue Na executives, hoping to use connections to get Yue Na to pay his debts.
But how beastly was Yue Na?
Worthless, just roadside trash.
In desperation, Shen Qing Yu directly said if they didn’t pay his debts, he’d report Yue Na’s internal unknown black material.
This pissed off Yue Na; three days, full three days—while Chi Ye was happily preparing the studio with the Empress Dowager—he got beaten at least five or six times!
Home, body, mobile phone—all rummaged through until confirming he was bluffing, then Yue Na’s hired men left.
And Shen Qing Yu, who had some mental issues already, after this hellish torment, had completely lost his head.
He actually called Chi Ye.
“You forced me; this is all you forcing me…”
Shen Qing Yu muttered crazily, but thinking of Yue Na’s vast power, his just-risen courage vanished—he wasn’t Chi Ye; he really didn’t dare do anything to Yue Na.
“Forget it… forget it, just like this.”
He wandered the streets despondently; his Weibo account was taken back… the “treatment” Chi Ye once had fell on him so quickly, and even if not taken back… he wouldn’t dare speak out online like Chi Ye.
He suddenly felt it was better to die… but he didn’t dare really die.
As good as dead.
……
《Circulation》 shooting proceeded steadily.
Until three days later, the entire film crew suddenly perked up; everyone’s faces showed shock and surprise—word was Jin Xia was visiting the set.
Visiting whose set?
Need to ask?
Xiao Chi’s mouth corners were harder to suppress than an AK!
