The news of the film’s production start was not the hottest topic; it was the fact that Rong Jin made an appearance at the opening ceremony!
The on-site reporters almost went crazy. If it weren’t for the security guards, they might have mobbed Rong Jin. After winning the Oscar for Best Actor, Rong Jin only gave a few interviews to major media outlets and then disappeared! The reporters had thought about staking out outside Tianyun Feiran, but reason prevailed. Considering the high-profile residents there, they didn’t dare, fearing they might lose their jobs if they got caught without catching a glimpse of Rong Jin.
But now, seeing him in person? They couldn’t help but go wild! They rushed to take photos and ask questions!
The film set turned more chaotic than a marketplace. Security guards and professional bodyguards struggled to maintain order, and it took a while to calm the situation. Once the reporters settled down and realized Rong Jin was there as a producer, they immediately started preparing their articles.
Producer Rong looked quite dignified, saying into the microphone, “Please focus on the movie.”
The reporters internally: No!!! We’re more interested in the producer!!!
The launch event turned into quite a spectacle. Rong Jin’s presence alone was dazzling, and the rest of the film’s creative team was also impressive. Plus, there were other intriguing figures like Chi Feiran, who had become a hot topic, and Qi Ming, who was rumored to be no longer single! Director Zheng herself was highly regarded! The reporters had endless questions!
Zheng Lin observed the reporters’ enthusiasm and felt satisfied. Initially, she planned for a low-key approach, but given the circumstances, she decided to ride the wave of publicity.
Yesterday, she had sternly told the main actors, “Show your best skills. The higher the hype now, the more embarrassing it will be if we fail later!”
This was not only to pressure the actors but also to remind herself.
Ultimately, the movie itself is the most important.
Despite the reporters’ endless questions, the press conference time was limited. The entertainment industry can be quite superstitious, especially film crews. The start time for the opening ceremony was carefully chosen, and they needed to stick to it to ensure the film’s good fortune.
Chi Feiran, who missed the opening of “Heroic Bones,” learned about these traditions this time. He participated in the incense ceremony, sincerely hoping the film would go smoothly.
He had joined the crew over half a month early, which was considered quite prompt. Qi Ming, the male lead, had arrived even earlier. It was evident that he had high hopes for this film, aiming to win Best Actor.
Rong Jin privately advised Chi Feiran during rehearsals, “He’s putting in a lot of effort. If you want to stand out, it won’t be easy.”
But precisely because it was challenging, it fueled Chi Feiran’s determination! He was eagerly looking forward to the official start of filming.
For good luck, the first scene of “Flavor House” was a simple one, showing the kitchen’s operation. Everyone was busy with their tasks, most without even facing the camera, so it was an easy scene to shoot.
The chosen actors were well-prepared, having practiced extensively. Their skills were impressive, and the camera lingered on only a few key individuals. The first scene concluded successfully.
After the director called “cut,” Chi Feiran’s attention shifted to Qi Ming. From his angle, he could see Qi Ming’s profile.
Due to the role, Qi Ming had undergone a significant transformation. His physique had become more robust, and the scholarly aura that Qi Ming originally possessed was no longer visible. He now embodied the stern and authoritative senior disciple, admired by all his juniors.
Chi Feiran noticed that even after the scene ended, Qi Ming didn’t relax. He carefully wiped the sauce off the edge of a dish with a clean cloth, then washed the cloth in the sink, scalded it with boiling water, and hung it up.
Such a simple action made Chi Feiran realize that Qi Ming had fully immersed himself in his role as a chef. Over time, these details had become second nature to him. His movements were swift and rhythmic, fitting seamlessly into the bustling kitchen, where everyone was always busy. He didn’t just perform; he did so efficiently.
“Customer dishes must be clean and presentable; that’s the face of the restaurant. The kitchen must be clean; that’s the core and conscience,” was a line from their master in the film, often said to the disciples. Qi Ming upheld this standard rigorously.
Because he was Ying Duyuan, the senior disciple.
Chi Feiran felt a surge of excitement. It was fantastic to work with such a talented peer!
Rong Jin, watching from the sidelines with his arms crossed, noticed Chi Feiran staring at Qi Ming without blinking, feeling a twinge of jealousy…
Chang Haoqing, standing beside him, had been worn out by the massive workload recently, evident from the dark circles under his eyes. Seeing Rong Jin staring intently at Chi Feiran, pretending to supervise but actually deep in thought, Chang Haoqing chuckled to himself.
He couldn’t resist teasing Rong Jin, whispering, “Oh, am I seeing things, or is the young prince’s eyes sparkling? Maybe my vision is just poor from lack of sleep…”
Rong Jin: “…”
Chang Haoqing, feigning innocence, continued, “I must be mistaken. How could the young prince be starry-eyed for anyone other than you, right?”
Rong Jin: “…Shut up.”
Chang Haoqing wasn’t about to stop, “This is only his second movie, after all…”
Years of friendship allowed Chang Haoqing to know exactly how to push Rong Jin’s buttons. Just a few words were enough to spark Rong Jin’s imagination.
Rong Jin indeed started to ponder. This was only Chi Feiran’s second film. There would be a third, a fourth… Chi Feiran wasn’t even twenty yet. Even if he retired at forty, which was early for a male actor, that meant at least twenty more years!
Would he, with more experience, think that his current boyfriend wasn’t so impressive anymore?
Lost in thought, Rong Jin resolved to maintain his brilliance. He couldn’t afford to slack off after winning an Oscar. He needed to continue shining, not just focusing on his romantic relationship!
Seeing Rong Jin’s increasingly serious expression, Chang Haoqing felt immensely satisfied.
Meanwhile, Chi Feiran had no idea that his extra glance at the new senior brother had triggered such a cascade of thoughts in his boyfriend. Since the scene didn’t require a set change, he had to continue shooting the second scene, directed personally by Zheng Lin.
At this moment, you could really see the difference in directing styles between different directors. Director Jin, for instance, often resorted to a stream-of-consciousness approach when guiding actors. His most frequent remark was “the feeling isn’t right,” but “feeling” is such an abstract concept that it often drove actors and writers to the brink of frustration.
Of course, he could also give detailed instructions like how to move their bodies or intensify their gazes, but he quickly became impatient when he had to explain too much.
Zheng Lin, on the other hand, was completely different. She meticulously dissected scenes and explained them thoroughly to the actors, even performing the scenes herself to demonstrate. Her expressive performances astonished Chi Feiran.
However, Zheng Lin wasn’t the type to demand actors mimic her exactly. She said, “What I’m showing you is the basic essence of the character. Reaching my standard is just passing; to make the role shine, you need to add your own touch. I’m making a film to capture beauty. If you can give me a more ‘beautiful’ performance, you can act however you want.”
It’s often said that good directors can bring out the best in actors, so some otherwise mediocre actors deliver surprising performances under certain directors, only to disappoint when working with others. The reason is simple: those surprising moments were spoon-fed to them by the director; they lacked their own interpretation.
Zheng Lin’s words undoubtedly put a lot of pressure on the actors. Chi Feiran heard those around him taking deep, nervous breaths and felt it wasn’t a big deal. If they had made it into the crew, it meant Director Zheng already approved of their performances.
But directors are always the most demanding. Zheng Lin only wanted better, never just good enough.
Rong Jin once told him that confidence is a crucial quality for an actor. If you can’t portray a character with conviction, how can you make others believe in its authenticity?
Acting is essentially a form of deception. Simply put, actors are liars, but their deceit is an art. They express the emotions of their characters in their own way, using falsehoods to evoke genuine emotions in the audience.
Chi Feiran flexed his wrist holding the knife. He needed to make Ji Yunsheng’s lie come true—he had to become Ji Yunsheng.
Once everything was ready, Zheng Lin retreated behind the monitor. The clapperboard assistant got into position: “Scene Two, Take One, action!”
The clapperboard clapped, and the once-still kitchen burst into activity. Ji Yunsheng reluctantly chopped vegetables, his movements half-hearted and producing visibly subpar results.
A senior beside him was chopping loudly, causing Ji Yunsheng to move away in disgust, not wanting any vegetable bits to splatter on him.
Everyone was busy with their tasks, and there was no idle chatter. Ji Yunsheng frowned, suddenly having a mischievous idea. With a bit of hidden pride, he cleared his throat and said, “Hey, have you heard? Bai Fengxian is coming here!”
Who was Bai Fengxian? The most popular opera performer of the time! Her performance in “Moon Chase” was said to rival the beauty of the real Chang’e!
This kitchen was full of men, and upon hearing Bai Fengxian’s name, their ears perked up. While they didn’t stop working entirely, their actions slowed down, afraid they’d miss what Ji Yunsheng was saying.
Someone couldn’t help but ask, “Really?”
Ji Yunsheng, encouraged by the response, became even more smug, his eyebrows raising in excitement. “Of course, it’s true! At my Ji family restaurant, the stage is already set up. How could it be fake?”
After saying this, he glanced around, feeling superior. Hmph, what’s so great about Dewei House? A place like this probably can’t even set up a decent stage!
With someone starting the conversation, the others couldn’t resist and wanted to know more. “Little Junior Brother, have you seen Bai Fengxian?”
“Yeah, have you seen her? Is she really that beautiful?”
Ji Yunsheng, displeased by being called Junior Brother, perked up at the question. “Of course, I’ve seen her.”
He paused deliberately, making the kitchen noisy with anticipation, urging him to describe Bai Fengxian.
With a smile, Ji Yunsheng raised his voice, “Four words.”
Everyone fell silent, waiting for him to speak. The young man’s expression was arrogant, and he enunciated, “National beauty and heavenly fragrance!”
His voice was naturally softer than others, and at this moment, his tone added a special charm to those four words, making the bachelors in the kitchen blush.
Is there really such a stunning beauty in this world?
For a moment, the kitchen was abuzz, until a cold voice from outside interrupted, “What’s all this noise?”
It was Ying Duyuan!
As soon as the senior brother arrived, everyone fell silent, fearing they’d be punished. But Ji Yunsheng, still smiling, said, “We’re talking about Bai Fengxian.”
Ying Duyuan glanced at him, and Ji Yunsheng, instead of feeling intimidated, seemed to provoke him with a “dare you to scold me” look.
But Ying Duyuan simply scanned the room and said, “Get back to work.”
This deflated Ji Yunsheng’s bravado, making him furious!
Ying Duyuan knew Ji Yunsheng wanted to cause a scene, but it wasn’t going to happen.
He went to his station, took his ingredients, and started working, clearly ignoring Ji Yunsheng’s antics.
Unwilling to let it go, Ji Yunsheng persisted, “Senior Brother, aren’t you curious about Bai Fengxian? Don’t you want to know what she’s like?”
Ying Duyuan, without pausing, replied, “Not curious, don’t want to know.”
Ji Yunsheng didn’t believe him. Hmph! What man wouldn’t be interested in a beautiful woman like Bai Fengxian?
Despite his efforts to provoke, Ying Duyuan remained silent, and with him there, no one else dared respond to Ji Yunsheng.
Fine, then! A solo performance it is!
Looking at the unmoved Ying Duyuan, Ji Yunsheng muttered in frustration, “Hypocrite!”
Author’s Note:
Producer Rong raises his hand: I don’t care about women!
