Male Sing and His Pet Owner: Chapter 89

After joining the cast of “Sharp Sword”, everyone’s schedule became noticeably more grueling than before, because the director Ren Jiayuan was someone who really liked to grind. Not the kind of grinding that wastes time, but the kind of slow, meticulous work that produces fine quality pieces.

Zhao Kaile could sense that this script had encountered a good director, though occasionally some young male actors would break down from too many NG takes and throw tantrums. Ren Jiayuan was polite and pleasant when inviting people to join, but once the actors were on set, he would no longer patiently coddle them. He would simply lay out the situation and let them choose for themselves. Whenever this happened, Yu Wenrong would step in to help the director comfort these broken-down youngsters, reinforcing his image as the elder brother of the crew.

By the middle of filming, almost everyone was in a state of tension and exhaustion. They had to rush the production schedule while also getting scolded by the director every day. Ren Jiayuan really did not give actors face when working, and even Zhan Hang, whom he had personally invited, received the same treatment.

On this day they were filming a rain scene. The actors needed to march through the mountains with heavy packs. Several of the younger male actors had naively thought the director would definitely use artificial rain, but Ren Jiayuan simply waited until the day it actually rained to start filming.

The mountain roads were rugged, large vehicles couldn’t get in at all, and small vehicles were all used to carry equipment and props. Zhao Kaile hiked up the mountain with the crew staff, practically exhausted to death. When they reached the filming location Ren Jiayuan had personally scouted and designated, the rain had intensified somewhat. He nodded with satisfaction and began directing various tasks.

The filming area was a dense forest. Early spring was when buds were sprouting thickly, lush and verdant green. Inside was a faint trail trampled out by human feet, which they would soon march along. Ren Jiayuan also said their faces couldn’t be too clean, they needed to smear on some mud and broken leaves to achieve a realistic effect.

Zhao Kaile looked down at the mud stuck to his own soles, then looked worriedly at Zhan Hang. Taking advantage of the gap while helping him adjust his costume, he whispered: “This place is too dangerous. I originally thought the director was quite reliable, but this completely disregards your personal safety.”

Zhan Hang said indifferently: “It’s nothing. There’s no cliff face right beside us, so even if you slip, you won’t fall far.”

Zhao Kaile sighed, and the two squatted down together, looking at the ground.

Zhan Hang pointed at his own face, expressionless, and said: “Come.”

“Then I’ll start.” Zhao Kaile reached out to scoop up some mud from a wet spot, and with an expression of reluctance, smeared it across his face a few times.

Zhan Hang said: “Write the character ‘no’ on me.”

Zhao Kaile couldn’t help laughing, and as requested, wrote the character “no” on his face, then drew a horizontal stroke on his forehead.

Zhan Hang moved his eyebrows, his gaze stopping on Zhao Kaile’s face.

Raindrops pattered against the umbrella surface, sliding off the edges one by one. Under the umbrella was a safe little world belonging only to the two of them, while outside was the clamor of rain and human voices.

Zhao Kaile withdrew his hand and said: “Done.”

Zhan Hang suddenly grinned mischievously, one hand cupping the back of Zhao Kaile’s head, leaning forward on his own and rubbing foreheads with him.

“Hey!” Zhao Kaile couldn’t react in time, getting smeared with a forehead full of mud. He was both annoyed and amused: “You’re too childish!”

Zhan Hang handed him the umbrella, stepped back into the rain himself, and made a handsome farewell gesture: “I’m off.”

After saying this, he backed up a few steps, turned and ran toward the filming area, really looking somewhat like a handsome soldier returning to his unit.

Zhao Kaile wiped his hands and forehead clean with a wet wipe, his face still a little hot. He didn’t know if Zhan Hang played around like this because he felt they were already very close, or because of something else.

Just now, he had almost thought Zhan Hang was leaning in so close to kiss him.

On set, filming officially began.

Yu Wenrong walked at the very front of the group, carrying an enormous marching pack on his back, struggling to walk upward step by step. Each step onto the muddy road would leave a small pit, clearly showing that the pack he carried was not just for show. The other male actors walked in the middle, while Zhan Hang walked at the rear, his expression resolute and enduring, seemingly also struggling somewhat with the weight of the marching pack.

The rain grew heavier. The male actor walking in the middle began to show an expression of defeat, saying a line about breaking down. Yu Wenrong shouted at him harshly, then raised his voice to call out a slogan, making the group of new recruits behind him respond in unison. Except for the defeated one, everyone else was shouting the slogan.

The spring chill was biting. Raindrops mixed with mud flowed into the actors’ collars, both cold and filthy. Several people furrowed their brows, all enduring silently.

Yu Wenrong did not hear the number of voices he expected, turned back and cursed that defeated person with foul language, who immediately roared in anger, took off his marching pack, and heavily threw it at Yu Wenrong’s feet!

“I just can’t take this hardship anymore!” His eyes were red, rainwater mixing with tears streaming down his face, and he roared in breakdown: “Whoever the hell wants to eat it, eat it! I’m throwing in the towel today, I’m done!”

Yu Wenrong also flew into a rage upon hearing this. The marching pack smashed into a deep pit in the ground, and he turned back to deliver a heavy slap to that person’s temple, a red mark immediately appearing.

“Is this the time to throw tantrums?” He shouted harshly: “Why didn’t you know to go home to your mother when you came here?! Now you want to nurse?!”

That person was so agitated his whole body shook, looking at Yu Wenrong with full hatred in his eyes, as if the next second he would scream and pounce forward to smash his fist into Yu Wenrong’s face.

Someone behind him saw this and hurriedly went up to hook his arms, looking up while enduring the rain pouring from the sky and shouting: “Calm down! Calm down!”

Ren Jiayuan sat beside the monitor watching with a frown, and called cut into the walkie-talkie.

Hearing this, everyone stopped, and collectively wiped the rainwater from their faces.

Ren Jiayuan pointed at the male actor who had been holding the other person back, and asked: “Song Yiming, why are you always closing your eyes? Eight out of ten shots you can’t open your eyes. Can you lift your eyelids?”

“Director, the rain is too heavy, I can’t open my eyes.” Song Yiming said irritably.

Ren Jiayuan seemed to find this utterly unbelievable, pointing one by one at the artists beside him, and said bluntly: “They’re all keeping their eyes open. Put in a little more effort. If we need special effects for this kind of shot, then there’s really nothing worth filming in this drama.”

Song Yiming seemed to want to lose his temper very much, but several people beside him tacitly patted his shoulder. Yu Wenrong even showed a slight smile, encouraging him: “Keep it up Yiming, you can definitely do it!”

“…” Song Yiming cursed “idiot” in his heart, but on the surface could only swallow his anger and nod.

They filmed back and forth four or five times, and Ren Jiayuan was still not very satisfied. But everyone had been standing in the rain for too long, and he felt for them, so he had to announce a break.

The assistants outside were already voicing their complaints, swarming forward to receive their respective artists, busily helping them back to the rest tents. Zhao Kaile was squeezed to the very back, holding up an umbrella to receive Zhan Hang.

By now the rain had lightened somewhat. Zhan Hang entered the rest tent and sneezed.

Zhao Kaile quickly closed the umbrella, took a dry towel and wiped his hair and neck. Fortunately, Zhan Hang’s current hairstyle was clean and neat, so a quick rub and it was dry. It was just that wearing this outfit was a bit of suffering.

“Are you catching a cold?” Zhao Kaile asked: “Cold?”

Zhan Hang reached his hand out to him, indicating he should feel for himself.

Zhao Kaile did as told and found his worry was somewhat unnecessary. Zhan Hang’s constitution was too good. After soaking in the rain for several dozen minutes, his hand was even warmer than his own.

“If we keep messing around like this, even iron will rust.” Zhao Kaile said with no small amount of worry: “Better drink some cold medicine first, just in case.”

Zhan Hang was caught between tears and laughter: “It’s just a sneeze, don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.”

Zhao Kaile pretended not to hear, went with his bag to get him hot water, and returned holding a cup of prepared cold medicine, forcing him to drink it down.

Ren Jiayuan walked through the various rest tents one by one, staying at Song Yiming’s for quite a long time. However, the latter maintained an uncooperative, unwelcoming attitude the whole time. Even Ren Jiayuan’s good temper was worn away by him, so he had to leave with a stern face.

Zhan Hang’s attitude among these people was actually comparatively good. Seeing the director arrive, he nodded politely.

“Our drama, it’s tough, yes, but what we film will look proper.” Ren Jiayuan patted his shoulder and said: “Young man, you should endure hardship when you need to. Don’t learn from that little Song.”

Zhan Hang smiled and said: “Of course. I will definitely actively cooperate with your requirements.”

“Among these young actors, I see that your mental outlook is the one that somewhat aligns with the characters in our drama.” Ren Jiayuan said warmly: “You must grasp this, Xiao Hang. After this drama is finished filming, I’m planning to send it in for awards.”

Zhan Hang put on a surprised expression upon hearing this: “So that’s how it is.”

Ren Jiayuan said cheerfully: “I just don’t fear actors hating me or resenting me, nor do I fear their fans coming to scold me, because when the finished product comes out, they’ll all have to turn around and thank me. Don’t you think so?”

Zhan Hang said: “Yes, Director Ren is still formidable.”

After venting his emotions, Ren Jiayuan pointed out some areas where Zhan Hang’s performance was not quite perfect, and Zhan Hang listened attentively, indicating he would continue to refine this character based on the suggestions given in post-production.

After their chat, Ren Jiayuan went to find the next person. Zhao Kaile watched his departing figure blankly, then turned back to look at Zhan Hang, and asked: “What? What does that mean? This drama is going for awards, meaning Brother Hang, you could win an award too?”

Zhan Hang shushed him, looked left and right to see that no one nearby was paying attention to them, then said in a low voice: “Listen to him boast. We’re only filming up to this point, and with Yu Wenrong here overshadowing everything, even if I get a nomination, I’ll probably just be there to make up the numbers.”

Zhao Kaile said with a hint of excitement: “I feel like he really does want to promote you a bit! Brother Hang, you’ve finally encountered your mentor!”

Zhan Hang: “Shh shh shh.”

Zhao Kaile quickly reined in his expression, and nodded seriously.

The second half of filming continued. Song Yiming rested for a while, but his complexion still hadn’t improved much. Ren Jiayuan did not make things difficult for him, and directly started filming from the next scene.

The character played by Yu Wenrong had been overexerting himself for too long, and collapsed from exhaustion. The soldier who had argued with him deliberately did not help him up. Everyone else surrounded him asking what was wrong, their expressions anxious.

Song Yiming looked up and called that person’s name, his face showing disappointment at someone failing to meet expectations. The two began arguing in the heavy rain, then started pushing and shoving. That person cursed national treasures in his mouth, and with one shove sent Song Yiming falling into a pile of mud mixed with dead branches and rotten leaves. Everyone present was stunned, because this was not originally in the script, that person had used excessive force.

But even more unexpectedly, Ren Jiayuan did not call cut. He waited calmly for Song Yiming to continue the scene.

However, Song Yiming could no longer endure this humiliation. He immediately roared in anger, threw the prop feet several meters away and walked off the set!