Rong Jin saw that he agreed, so he didn’t want to dismiss it as just a joke, fearing that it might undermine the child’s confidence.
He thought for a moment, “Well, let’s remove the makeup first.”
Both of them were still in costume, and singing modern songs in this attire would create an odd feeling.
So, after agreeing to meet at Chi Feiran’s tent, they both went to remove their makeup.
Singing live outdoors with a piano is quite challenging. Although Chi Feiran currently didn’t have a piano, he had something else.
Entering the tent, Rong Jin casually hung the curtain at the tent door, then turned to see the miniature instrument in Chi Feiran’s hand and raised an eyebrow, asking, “Mini guitar?”
Chi Feiran lowered his head and strummed the strings, testing the sound, before looking up with a smile, “Ukulele, a small Hawaiian guitar.”
It was something Chen Mengyang packed for him when they sorted out his luggage. Despite its small size, it had excellent sound quality, as it was a carefully selected item by Chi Jun.
The small guitar had a warm yellowish glow characteristic of natural wood, and it complemented Chi Feiran’s fingertips, which seemed to radiate light.
Rong Jin sat down opposite him, his hands naturally resting on the chair’s armrest, a seemingly casual movement that looked better than others.
Chi Feiran asked, “Shall I sing the remaining songs from my album?”
Rong Jin nodded, “Sure.”
Chi Feiran slightly lowered his eyelids, plucked the strings, and softly said, “This one is called ‘Silly.'”
True to its name, it was a silly love song, written after Rong Jin’s first movie, capturing the feelings of unrequited love.
The boy’s singing voice was gentle, and the melodic tune brought a slight sourness to the depths of the heart.
Rong Jin was sincerely listening, but Chi Feiran suddenly stopped halfway through.
Rong Jin looked at him, expressing his confusion with his eyes.
Chi Feiran said, “…”
Chi Feiran had initially sung with great involvement, even recalling the movie’s plot to evoke emotions.
However, as he sang, he realized that the lyrics of this song somehow seemed to resemble Chu Bai…
Chi Feiran swallowed, feeling his thoughts going astray.
Under Rong Jin’s gaze, Chi Feiran cleared his throat and said, “Let’s change to another one.”
Then, he quickly adjusted his mood, preventing his thoughts from wandering further.
Rong Jin had no objection to changing the song, but after Chi Feiran completed the second song, his expression became somewhat subtle.
Rong Jin asked, “How many songs do you have for this session?”
Chi Feiran said, “Five.”
Rong Jin recalled – two about unrequited love, one about being dumped…
This…
Rong Jin said, “Can you play the remaining ones for me too?”
Chi Feiran had no objection. In fact, he was curious whether Rong Jin could tell that all these songs were related to his movies.
Thinking this, the remaining two songs were also played.
Rong Jin said, “…”
Very well, three in total. The spare tires are all here.
Rong Jin first gave a genuine compliment, “All very nice.”
Chi Feiran was praised, feeling happy. Then Rong Jin said, “Just that…”
Chi Feiran looked at Rong Jin, waiting for his continuation.
Rong Jin sincerely suggested, “You’re still young; it would be better to write more positive and uplifting songs in the future.”
Chi Feiran instantly felt a bit awkward; he didn’t know how to respond.
Directly saying that his songs are not positive and uplifting because he watched Rong Jin’s three movies in a row?
Seems… not appropriate…
Rong Jin, who didn’t make positive and uplifting movies in his youth, said, “Well… early love is not a good idea.”
Chi Feiran wanted to cry but had no tears, “I’m not… I haven’t… I watched movies…”
Rong Jin seemed to relax a bit and said, “Then don’t watch these kinds in the future.”
Chi Feiran really wanted to ask him if he remembered what movies he made in the past.
Rong Jin apparently didn’t expect that these melancholic songs were somehow related to him. He glanced at the tent door that was wide open, and the crew members who were intentionally or unintentionally looking over, stood up directly, saying, “The songs are done, I’m leaving?”
Chi Feiran put down the ukulele in his hand and was about to stand up to send him off.
But Rong Jin reached over and rubbed his head, stopping him from standing up, and said, “No need to send me off, I know the way.”
Chi Feiran: “…Safe journey, senior.”
Senior left, and junior Chi Feiran couldn’t figure out where the root of these melancholic songs came from.
Junior sang four heart-wrenching songs for Senior. Meanwhile, the main director was thinking about tomorrow’s shoot. The day quietly passed.
As a result, the shooting on the second day started to go downhill. Director Jin was on the verge of losing it.
More than ten shots for a single scene, and Chi Feiran couldn’t get it right.
Director Jin finally couldn’t hold back and angrily shouted, “Wasn’t it going well just now? Why is the close-up shot not working now?”
This was the first time Chi Feiran received Director Jin’s roaring. Due to the accumulated pressure from not getting it right continuously, he was in a moment of panic. Almost reflexively, he looked at Rong Jin.
Rong Jin was right beside Director Jin, and he lightly said, “Newcomer, this is normal.”
Li Yuan, who was nervously standing beside them, quickly added, “Feiran is still young. Director Jin, teach him slowly. Don’t be angry, don’t be angry!”
Director Jin knew this was normal, but the smooth shooting yesterday and the good performance just now increased his expectations, and then problems occurred.
Chi Feiran was not a professional actor. He had never experienced the feeling of the camera almost being slapped on his face.
If Rong Jin leading him could get into the emotions, it was fine. But facing the dark camera lens, it was really hard for him to get into the scene!
Director Jin was still angry and summoned Chi Feiran over, asking angrily, “Speak up! What’s the problem!”
Chi Feiran could only truthfully answer, “I think this camera is distracting.”
Director Jin: “So, you’re not distracted when you look at Rong Jin?!”
Chi Feiran instantly turned his head to glance at Rong Jin, then turned his face back to Director Jin, hesitating and affirming, “Well…”
Director Jin: “…”
The old man looked at Chi Feiran, then at Rong Jin.
Director Jin: “Rong Jin! Stand behind the camera for me!”
The crew members, who were busy around and originally quiet, couldn’t help but stretch their necks to see if Rong Jin could really stand behind the camera.
And then Rong Jin actually did.
Chi Feiran was a bit stunned, what kind of operation was this?
Director Jin shouted at him again, “What are you staring at! Go back to your position!”
Chi Feiran quickly returned to his position, facing the camera.
In front of the camera, the cameraman hesitated whether to give the position to Rong Jin.
Meanwhile, Rong Jin was providing psychological counseling to Chi Feiran on the side, “Look at me, don’t think about the camera.” Then he pushed the cameraman aside.
The cameraman lost his job and could only squat aside.
Director Jin gave the command, and the script supervisor quickly clapped the slate for a retreat.
In front of Chi Feiran was still the dark camera lens, and Rong Jin was standing behind the camera.
Chi Feiran was frantically hypnotizing himself in his mind, “You are Chu Bai, and your senior is watching you.”
Then, the almost invisible camera that covered Rong Jin’s face seemed to disappear.
The face of Chu Heng, his expressions, his gaze, all imprinted in his heart.
The emotions in Chu Bai’s eyes gradually accumulated, like clouds gathering in the sky, as if rain was about to fall at any moment.
Director Jin’s voice sounded again, but this time he said, “Cut! It’s good!”
Chi Feiran suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. He blinked, feeling a bit moist in his eye sockets.
Rong Jin walked out from behind the camera, and his eyes met Chi Feiran’s.
The crew members around were coming and going, and Rong Jin smiled, asking him, “Can’t do it without your senior?”
Chi Feiran wished he could dig a hole and bury himself. How could he respond to such a statement? He could only whisper, “Thank you, Brother Rong.”
Rong Jin waved at him, turned around, and went back to check the monitor with Director Jin.
Director Jin was still looking at the close-up shot. When Rong Jin came over, he played it again.
The result was Rong Jin saying, “Looks like I’m more effective than you. See, the effect is so much better.”
Director Jin: “…”
Director Jin erupted, “Get out! Get out! Get out!”
Rong Jin happily prepared for the next scene, and Chi Feiran watched him, feeling that Rong Jin’s mental endurance was really good.
So, they stumbled through more than a week of filming, and the progress turned out to be faster than expected.
Scenes that needed wirework and horseback riding were also on the schedule.
Chi Feiran didn’t need wirework, and Rong Jin was also experienced. As long as the props team checked and approved it, it would be fine.
But horseback riding required both of them. The crew specially spent a lot of money to rent a very beautiful racehorse just for the sake of shooting aesthetically pleasing horseback riding scenes.
So, Chi Feiran had to learn horseback riding. In addition, after a week of hesitation, Director Jin finally added two scenes of sword fighting between Chu Bai and Chu Heng, which were previously deleted from the plot.
Then, Chi Feiran said, “I already know how to ride a horse.”
He had horses at home, and he knew how to ride.
Director Jin thought he was just the kind of person who paid a few dozen bucks to ride a horse in a zoo and didn’t think much of it. He said somewhat disdainfully, “Then show me how you ride.”
Chi Feiran walked to the side of the horse, skillfully mounted it with elegant movements. His posture was extremely beautiful.
Director Jin: “…”
He really knew how!
Director Jin felt that he couldn’t lose face in front of the younger generation. Without any expression on his face, he nodded calmly, “Okay, then you and the martial arts instructor go practice swordsmanship.”
This time, Chi Feiran didn’t say anything. But after a while, the martial arts instructor came to find Director Jin.
The martial arts instructor asked, “Has the kid practiced before?”
Director Jin: “Huh?”
Rong Jin was also asking Chi Feiran at this time, “Have you practiced before?”
Chi Feiran was playing with the sword in his hand, “I’ve practiced fencing, not this.”
