"Tomorrow, I'm going back to Beijing," Lin Yao said. "If there is too much work, just instruct the assistants. Even driving can be handed over to them. Try to reduce your workload; otherwise, I'm worried you will be extremely busy."

Xiao Yi realized that this was true, but he had only met the five assistants once yesterday, and he hadn't called them yet.

Lu Zhou said, "If there isn't any business, don't bother calling them over. It's annoying."

Xiao Yi found himself caught in the middle and had to play along, saying that he understood.

After arriving at the hotel, Lin Yao had to leave right away. The producer's assistant then called, inviting Lu Zhou to a celebration dinner. Xiao Yi immediately notified two assistants to come and help him pick out Lu Zhou's outfit from the wardrobe.

Lu Zhou finished dressing and stood in front of the mirror, allowing the two assistants to fix his sleeves. Xiao Yi informed them to order their own lunch and then return to their hotel. Tomorrow's filming would start, and he would call them.

That afternoon was filled with countless social interactions, gossip, laughter, and looking from one side to another. Originally, Xiao Yi didn't know how to react in such situations. He was afraid Lu Zhou would dislike him, so he had to play along and be compliant. When they returned to their hotel, he was so exhausted that he felt like he could collapse at any moment.

*

The next day, when Xiao Yi woke up, it was already 6:30 AM. He realized that they had to be in the makeup room by 7 AM, so he rushed to the adjacent room to squeeze toothpaste and prepare hot water. Lu Zhou was still in bed, sound asleep. Xiao Yi shook him awake, saying, "It's already 6:30! Get up!"

Lu Zhou, feeling irritated, lay on the bed in his underwear, with arms and legs fully extended. His’ thing’ was erect, and there was a stain on his underwear. His morning state made him look like he was in a bad mood.  

Xiao Yi placed a hot towel on his eyes to help wake him up. Lu Zhou eventually got up without getting angry. Xiao Yi wondered whether the fans would still be eager to approach Luzhou if they saw him in the morning right after waking up.

While finding clothes for Lu Zhou, Xiao Yi said, "I'm going to start the car!"

"Why the rush?" Lu Zhou, still half-asleep, responded, "It's only 6:30. We have time to leave by 8."

"It's the first day for makeup testing, and we have to take official makeup photos. I'm worried that we might be late! Being late would be a disaster!" Xiao Yi explained.

Xiao Yi multitasked, making phone calls to the assistants. He instructed Assistant A to buy lunchboxes, Assistant B to purchase groceries, Assistant C to bring an electric cooker to his room, and provided her with the room key to prepare the food. He told Assistants CD to accompany him to the shooting location.

When he returned, he found Lu Zhou sitting on the living room sofa in just his underwear, looking like a child who hadn't fully woken up.

Xiao Yi: “……….”

It’s 6:45 already!

Xiao Yi had no choice but to hurry. He pushed Lu Zhou into the bathroom to brush his teeth. Xiao Yi helped him get dressed, but it was already 6:55 AM. He really wanted to cry on the spot.

Finally, Lu Zhou got into the car, sprawled in his seat, and said, "Let's go."

Xiao Yi rushed to the makeup room and managed to arrive only ten minutes late. Most of the actors and actresses were already there. Makeup artists greeted everyone, and the majority of the work was handled by their apprentices. Xiao Yi exchanged a few words with the makeup artist he had met the previous day, but Lu Zhou remained silent as he sat in a swivel chair.

The hair stylist started by doing Lu Zhou's hair and putting on a wig cap. The production manager handed over a script page, while a few actors were still outside having breakfast. An assistant brought their meals, and Xiao Yi opened it for Lu Zhou. Lu Zhou ate a little bit and put it aside.

Next was the makeup session, followed by the wardrobe. An assistant held the costume, and Xiao Yi personally accompanied Lu Zhou into the changing area to help him put on the Liao Dynasty robe. The makeup and wardrobe artists were engaged in a hushed conversation.

"It's too small," Lu Zhou commented. "I won't be able to move properly during the fight scenes."

"We couldn't find a larger one," the wardrobe artist replied. "We rented this costume from a supplier that specifically cooperates with the Central Academy of Drama. It's the largest they had."

Although Lu Zhou wasn't entirely satisfied with the costume, he reluctantly accepted it. Then he turned to Xiao Yi and asked, "Do you think I look like a teenager?"

Luzhou, wearing an ancient costume, exuded a different aura than usual. Standing beside him, Xiao Yi felt his heart skip a beat as he looked at Lu Zhou's appearance and demeanor. In that moment, he was willing to forgive all of Lu Zhou's previous rudeness and eccentricities.

"Truly... Truly fitting," Xiao Yi murmured, unable to contain his admiration. His words even made the stylist chuckle.

But Lu Zhou wasn't entirely satisfied and commented, "Abaoji from Liao is supposed to be a young man, not too serious in the beginning, lacking the image of a mature man."

The stylist nodded and said, "Mr. Lu is absolutely correct."

Although Lu Zhou still had some dissatisfaction, he didn't push further and simply said, "We'll have to make do for now. We'll see if the expressions and dialogue can compensate for the character's youthfulness. Let's go with this for now."

Lu Zhou went to greet the director and producer, and his presence was immediately praised by everyone. He briefly provided some feedback, showing restraint and tact. The director agreed with his suggestions: "Yes, we will negotiate with them to make the change,"

Lu Zhou went back to the makeup chair, where the makeup artist and wardrobe artist made minor adjustments. They changed his hat and touched up his eyes and lips. Lu Zhou showed his flexibility as he patiently cooperated with the stylists.

Xiao Yi was learning a lot from this experience, but more importantly, he was realizing that Lu Zhou was far from being a novice and had real talent.

Once the main actor's makeup was done, it took less than forty minutes, and Lu Zhou was already satisfied with his appearance. They took some official makeup photos, and the photographer gave his approval. Then, the props were brought in, and Lu Zhou was given a quiver, a bow, a long spear, and even demonstrated some martial arts postures.

Then, with both hands held behind his back, he stood tall like a mature jade tree that had weathered the winds, the female staff members on set, including those who were working with him for the first time, were completely mesmerized. They couldn't help but admire him, quietly calling out how handsome he looked.

Soft whispers emerged from the crowd, exclaiming, "Male god! So handsome!"

Xiao Yi, on the other hand, had become almost immune to Lu Zhou's charms and focused on his work, managing the photoshoot and ensuring everything went smoothly.

After the session, Lu Zhou came down from the stage and asked, "How was it?"

Xiao Yi immediately clapped, but Lu Zhou's expression changed, and he asked, "Do you mean to say it's not good? We need to post these online! Did you take any pictures? Let me see."

Xiao Yi hadn't taken any photos, and Lu Zhou grumbled, "Forget it. Do you think there's an issue?"

Xiao Yi pondered for a moment and said, "Well, if you really want to know…"

Lu Zhou paused, waiting for Xiao Yi's feedback.

Xiao Yi provided feedback, saying, "Tilt your head slightly higher... and the nostrils have a bit of an open feel."

Lu Zhou responded, "The post-production team can handle that. Anything else? Do these clothes make me look short or less impressive?"

Xiao Yi quickly shook his head and assured, "Not at all! It doesn't make you look short or less impressive. You look great!"

He understood Lu Zhou's concerns. In period dramas, some people could exude a majestic presence, while others might look like they had a pillow stuffed under their clothes. Lu Zhou was undoubtedly someone who could carry off the period costume look with style.

After the initial makeup and costume fitting, Lu Zhou went to check the makeup photos. They intended to use these photos for publicity materials and press releases after post-processing. The director said, "Lu Zhou, get acquainted with the script, and we'll discuss it later. I'll check on Ning Yaqing's transformation."

Lu Zhou was nonchalant and glanced at the photos before taking a seat and using his phone. Xiao Yi was curious to watch, but as he moved closer, the assistant responsible for editing on a notebook immediately stood up. This made Xiao Yi take a step back, thinking it was some kind of classified material. However, the assistant told him, "Please, have a seat."

Lu Zhou didn't seem to mind, and Xiao Yi sat down, watching the assistant fine-tune the images. When Lu Zhou glanced at him, Xiao Yi felt the pressure and said, "Well... should we maybe adjust the side profile and make the nostrils a little smaller?"

Lu Zhou gave him a look, but then gestured to Xiao Yi to make the edits. Xiao Yi then made more requests, such as not needing skin resurfacing on the face and making slight adjustments to the eye contour, and so on. As they viewed the images up close, Xiao Yi couldn't help but think about how incredibly handsome Lu Zhou looked. There wasn't a bad angle, and after all the post-production work, he still preferred the original look.

By noon, the makeup and costume fittings for several characters were finally complete. Everyone headed to the shooting location. The director was set to handle the makeup for the second batch of characters the next morning. As for this afternoon, they had to film their scenes and work on the set, which was already fully prepared. However, after the four-day shoot, the set would be dismantled and repurposed into something else.

"What about lunch?" Lu Zhou asked.

Xiao Yi: “……….”

 

Xiao Yi hadn't realized it was already lunchtime. He quickly called the assistants but realized that it was too late to have an individual meal prepared just for Lu Zhou. He thought that this time they were really in trouble. However, Lu Zhou didn't lose his temper. He simply said, "Never mind, let's just have the boxed meals."

Xiao Yi offered to go get them, but Lu Zhou seemed resigned, saying, "It's okay, let's just eat the boxed meals."

Xiao Yi said, "Wait for ten minutes, just ten minutes! I'll go pick it up!"

Lu Zhou: "......"

Xiao Yi: "......"

While everyone was eating lunch, the female coordinator was nowhere to be found. Xiao Yi and Lu Zhou were hungry, having only taken a few bites of their breakfast. All the cameras were prepared, and Xiao Yi prayed thousands and millions of times that the assistant would not appear at the same time as filming began, or everyone would have to wait for Lu Zhou to finish eating.

Xiao Yi rushed out, almost in tears, thinking, "Lu Zhou didn't say anything, tonight I'll certainly be in trouble."

Fortunately, the lunchbox arrived in time. Xiao Yi opened the lunchbox, and it contained minced eggplant, braised fish, fried chicken mixed with cucumber, egg fried with tomatoes, and soup. There wasn't anything different compared to the crew's lunchbox; only the amount was larger.

Lu Zhou asked, "Where's yours?"

Xiao Yi: "………."

However, by the time Xiao Yi got up to fetch the meal, the person who had distributed the boxed meals had left, and there were no more meals available.

Lu Zhou then generously gave Xiao Yi a portion of his lunch. Xiao Yi laughed embarrassingly, and he felt fortunate that Lu Zhou had helped him out.

"Other assistants bring lunch for their idols, and I have to give you my lunch," Lu Zhou remarked.

Lu Zhou selected the foods he wanted and set the rest aside. While doing so, he spoke, and Xiao Yi smiled in appreciation. Xiao Yi then held his portion of lunch and sat down on the side to eat.

The producer smiled and said, "Oh, Lu is enjoying his packed lunch again?"

Lu Zhou smiled at the producer and said, "Mr. Wang."

Without any prompting from Lu Zhou, Xiao Yi already knew that this middle-aged man, in his fifties, held a high position on the set. Everyone referred to him as "Mr Lu." However, he referred to Lu Zhou as "Little Lu" and insisted on being addressed as "Teacher."

Following the principles of the entertainment industry, where it was common to flatter those higher up and show subservience, it was time for Xiao Yi to bow and be deferential. He smiled and greeted the producer. Lu Zhou introduced Xiao Yi, saying, "This is my personal assistant, Xiao Yi, and he's from Hubei too."

The producer shook hands with Xiao Yi, and Lu Zhou added, "He didn't prepare the food today, but I'll ask him to make some Hubei dishes for us tomorrow."

Lu Zhou continued with the introductions, saying, "This is our producer, Mr. Wang. He's from Wuhan."

Xiao Yi smiled and responded, "Certainly, I'll make sure of it!"

Xiao Yi had heard from Lin Yao that the most significant figure on the set was the producer, even more so than the director. In most cases, producers were brought in to keep directors in check. They were known for their harsh and demanding attitudes, so it was crucial not to offend them.

The status of the director, producer, and screenwriter was determined by their level of fame. This, in turn, influenced how people should interact with them—whether they should be subservient or have regular communication. The best approach was to observe how the people on the set treated them.

After lunch, Lu Zhou checked his appearance in the mirror, touched up his makeup, and prepared for the upcoming scene discussion with the director.

The director explained, "This scene involves Abaoji's confrontation with his niece, Shulu Ping He's extremely angry about her family's interference, and he accuses her. Eventually, they reconcile and share an emotional moment."

"I don't need to say much about the emotional connection between the characters. Finally, Lu Zhou, you need to hold Shulu Ping in your arms and exchange eye contact..."

Lu Zhou listened to the instructions with an indifferent expression. The director added, "Feel free to rehearse Yaqing's lines as well. We might need a few extra takes to get it right. Once you get the emotional buildup from earlier scenes, we should be good."

Lu Zhou acknowledged the director's instructions with a casual nod and approached the set.

Curious, Xiao Yi finished his meal in three quick bites and hurried to watch.

The scene was set in a grand interior, and with the clapboard's snap, the camera was pushed into position. Lu Zhou suddenly swept all the decorations off the table with a crash.

Xiao Yi was taken aback, "!!!"

"I've tolerated you for too long," Lu Zhou roared with a commanding voice. "Your father and brothers have gone too far, and I've held back. But look at you! You don't resemble an empress consort at all!"

Everyone on the set was momentarily stunned. The director gave a thumbs-up, indicating that Lu Zhou's performance was excellent.

"Khan–!" Ning Yaqing knelt before Lu Zhou, her cries loud but without any tears. "I've known Khan since I was thirteen..." Xiao Yi: "……."

Ning Yaqing dramatically dropped to her knees and crawled over to Lu Zhou. Her hairpins and accessories were swaying wildly, and Xiao Yi barely contained his laughter.

Ning Yaqing continued her passionate speech, "Is your heart made of stone? Why are you so unyielding? Even if it's a stubborn stone, I'm confident I can soften it. You haven't visited your concubine's palace for a full three years..."

Xiao Yi almost dropped the script in his hand and had a hard time holding back his laughter.

"Cut," the director said.

Lu Zhou immediately twitched his face, trying not to laugh. He bent down to pick up the items he had knocked over and the props team rushed to set them back up. The director advised Ning Yaqing, "When you crawl over, do it more slowly. Just a symbolic gesture..."

"Lu Zhou is really good at acting," the script supervisor and Xiao Yi whispered to each other.

Xiao Yi nodded and refrained from making any other comments. The script supervisor added, "This script is ridiculously melodramatic; it's both absurd and entertaining. The only worry is whether it's absurd in a bad way."

The production coordinator chimed in, "As long as it's entertaining and captures the audience's attention, that's what matters. We just hope it doesn't end up being absurd in a bad way."

Xiao Yi didn't want to make any rash comments that could potentially reach the ears of the screenwriter. After a brief pause, the director resumed the scene.
Luzhou then walked over and said with a bitter expression, " I've tolerated you for far too long!".

This time, Lu Zhou delivered the lines even better, and it was evident that he was a natural actor who could dominate the stage.

Ning Yaqing threw herself over and began crying loudly without any tears, repeatedly shouting, "Khan, Khan." As a result, the Shulu Ping of Liao was first harmed by the screenwriter and then later stabbed by the female lead.

"Your servant believes in Khan, you [crying in mid-sentence]..."

Lu Zhou approached slowly, his eyes filled with anger as he gazed at Ning Yaqing. Ning Yaqing then hid her face behind her sleeve, let out a painful cough, and then sat on the floor.

Lu Zhou declared, "Do you know, Yaqing, that Anduan and I were the best of brothers? Despite his treason, it was his wife who informed on him. Since I was a child, I promised him that, no matter what he did, I would never hold him accountable!"

"But..." Ning Yaqing continued, "Do you know what people say about the Khan? They talk about the illicit relationship between you and your sister. This is precisely why your brother's wife exposed him. I can't... I can't... Ah, I can't continue any further. If you, Khan, feel..."

Xiao Yi thought to himself, With that kind of acting and no one calling NG? (NT: No Good, the take is not usable) The director's endurance is truly amazing.'

The director finally said, "Cut, retake it."

Lu Zhou waved at Xiao Yi, who quickly approached. Lu Zhou shouted, "Eye drops!"

Ning Yaqing was startled, and she watched Lu Zhou with a hint of fear. Xiao Yi hurriedly took out some eye drops and had Lu Zhou sit down. After administering the eye drops, Lu Zhou rubbed his eyes. He patted Lu Zhou on the shoulder as the director discussed the scene. Xiao Yi exited the shot and waited for the next take.

*

Thirty minutes later.

Lu Zhou once again angrily swept everything off the table.

"I've tolerated you for far too long," Lu Zhou declared slowly and firmly.

Xiao Yi was really amazed by the repeated takes of the same scene. He turned to the production coordinator and asked, "Isn't this taking too much time?"

The coordinator replied, "It's normal at the beginning, as the lead actors need time to get used to each other. Once they find their rhythm, it'll be fine."

"What if we run out of time?" Xiao Yi inquired.

"In that case, we might have to rush the shooting," the coordinator said nonchalantly. "We're not the ones who get criticized for a bad performance, it's the audience."

Xiao Yi was taken aback. "You're joking, right?"

The coordinator chuckled, "Just kidding. We usually finish on time. Otherwise, I'd be in big trouble."

Xiao Yi couldn't help but feel that the work was quite demanding. Lu Zhou had mentioned how exhausting it was to be part of this production. Repeatedly shooting the same scene was tedious and tiring. Midway through, the director called for a ten-minute break. Lu Zhou came over and said, "What if we split this major scene into two?"

The director nodded and agreed, saying, "That's what I was thinking."

As a result, the big scene was divided into two parts. In the first half, Lu Zhou released the might of the dragon (NT: demonstrated his dominance) over Ning Yaqing, and in the second half, he embraced her.

Lu Zhou leaned against the table, holding Ning Yaqing in his arms. She appeared pitiful and helpless, nestled against his shoulder.

In that moment, Xiao Yi could almost hear the inner cries of every worker on set, "Release our idol!"

It wasn't until dusk that the first part was finally completed. The director wasn't entirely satisfied with Ning Yaqing's performance. The coordinator checked her watch and said, "We still have three more scenes to shoot this afternoon, and we might not finish two of them. We have a night scene scheduled too."

"The second scene is doable," the director said. "Let's aim to finish it in forty minutes. The last scene is Lu Zhou's, so we'll strive for a one-take success. We'll leave for the Ming and Qing Palaces at 6 p.m. Get into position!"

With traces of eye drops on his face, Lu Zhou began the next scene. He solemnly said, "Over these years, I... cough."

The director called, "Cut."

Lu Zhou couldn't help but burst into laughter. He said, "If you keep looking at me like that, I'll start laughing."

Ning Yaqing quickly apologized, but Lu Zhou waved it off and apologized to the others as well before continuing.

"Over these years, I have examined my conscience and have never treated them unjustly in the slightest. The bond between our brothers is like the wings of an eagle."

"We know," Ning Yaqing shook her head slowly with teary eyes, "But, Khan, things are different now. Your servant must act on your behalf, even if you were to cut me to pieces, I would..."

"I would..."

She forgot her lines.

"Cut!"

Lu Zhou released Ning Yaqing and looked exhausted. Ning Yaqing quickly apologized, “I’m sorry Mr. Lu.”

Lu Zhou gestured that it was fine, saying, "You did really well; keep it up."

Ning Yaqing was deeply moved, and Xiao Yi could almost sense that Lu Zhou was internally crying and thinking, "If it wasn't for the 450,000 yuan per episode, who would be willing to accompany you in this?"

*

Thirty minutes later:

Lu Zhou used his index finger to lift Ning Yaqing's hair. Her hair was sticking to her face, and despite three attempts, he couldn't lift it properly. The scene coordinator and the production team were almost laughing. Finally, Lu Zhou successfully lifted her hair. Xiao Yi curiously whispered, "Aren't we doing another take?"

The coordinator waved his hand and whispered, "We'll handle it in post-production."

Lu Zhou gently lifted Ning Yaqing's chin and softly said, "My beloved."

In that moment, Xiao Yi was once again astonished.

Lu Zhou's expression truly conveyed deep affection and remorse, even though he had only spoken two words. His actions and expressions nearly conveyed the unspoken words in his heart.

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."

"Right now, I just want to stay peacefully with you. I only wish to be with you..."

Everyone was incredibly nervous, fearing that Ning Yaqing would burst into laughter or forget her lines. Ning Yaqing looked at Lu Zhou and murmured, "Khan, your servant will forever be with you, no matter where you are…”

Xiao Yi felt relieved. He suddenly had a good impression of Ning Yaqing, realizing that she was truly dedicated and could get into character quickly.

"Cut!" the director said. "Next scene."

Everyone seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Ning Yaqing rubbed her feet, and her body had been held at a tilted angle for a long time. Lu Zhou assisted her in sitting back properly.

Ning Yaqing, still uneasy, said, "I'm sorry, I was too nervous at the beginning."

Lu Zhou didn't say anything, he just smiled and gave her a thumbs-up, then turned and left.

The props were rearranged on the set, and the supporting actors who had been waiting the entire afternoon finally had their turn. One of them, though referred to as a supporting actor, was a popular and good-looking actor, a rising star who had gained much fame lately. He was of a minority ethnicity and went by the name Wu Henggu.

 

Translator : DarNan