Chapter 110: Grandpa
When Miao Qianye on the screen leaned over, resting her forehead against the young Empress’s folded hands, and the curtains fell, Director Pan thought that was the end of Ji Junxin’s improvisation.
Indeed, her performance in this scene, from the initial outburst of anger and vulnerability as she barged into the bedchamber, to the hesitant fear as she approached the truth, was far superior to her earlier takes. The same person, the same actions, but the feeling was entirely different, every movement, every glance, emotionally charged.
Was it because this scene was filmed so soon after Mi Hongdou’s suicide scene? Director Pan could almost feel the emotional continuity between the two scenes.
The sorrow deepened, the tragedy amplified… Miao Qianye’s arrival seemed to elevate the young Empress’s earlier despair and resignation. The Empress’s final act of drawing the curtains had been heartbreaking enough, but Miao Qianye’s panicked arrival made it even more poignant.
Then, Ji Junxin, deviating from the script, after confirming the Empress’s death, stood up, and then, in a sudden outburst of anger, pulled the Empress’s body up. Director Pan almost crushed his own hand.
Yes, that was it. Besides the sorrow, there was also anger, resentment! How could you decide this on your own, sacrificing your life for me!
The Empress’s suicide was a sacrifice, an act of giving up. She had given up on their shared struggle, their unspoken bond forged in adversity. She had chosen sacrifice, and Miao Qianye didn’t want it.
Director Pan watched as Ji Junxin grabbed Mi Hongdou’s clothes, pulling up the lifeless body, her eyes filled with not just grief, but also… a hint of hatred.
Yes, hatred was justified. We promised to face this together.
Director Pan was surprised by Ji Junxin’s performance, so different from her earlier takes, elevating the scene to a new level. And when Ji Junxin leaned over, resting her forehead against Mi Hongdou’s hand, he marveled at her portrayal of this deep friendship.
This scene was far superior to the previous ones, perfectly building on the emotional foundation laid by Mi Hongdou’s suicide scene. But he still felt… something was missing? Ji Junxin’s performance was brilliant, even better than her previous ones. He couldn’t quite pinpoint what was lacking.
He shook his head. Perhaps it wasn’t lacking anything, perhaps he was just being too critical…
Just then, from behind the curtains, a choked sob, a heart-wrenching cry, pierced through the fabric, stabbing at his heart. Director Pan froze. Yes, that was it, the final… emotional explosion.
The helplessness, the sorrow, the unspoken anger… all released in that one cry.
He instinctively looked at the screen. Fortunately, during the brief silence after the curtain fell, the camera had still been rolling.
This had to be included! It was perfect, so emotionally resonant, it would make this film unforgettable. Director Pan was so excited that he could barely contain himself, he wanted to release the film right then and there.
At his age, with his established career, this kind of excitement, this passion, this uncontrollable enthusiasm, was a rare feeling.
“Imperial Secrets” will be a hit! The friendship between Miao Qianye and the young Empress will move so many people, will make them envious! Director Pan thought confidently.
Unlike the elated Director Pan, Mi Hongdou, playing the corpse, wasn’t having a good time.
She had thought that after filming the suicide scene, she had overcome the biggest challenge of this film, and this last scene, Ji Junxin’s big moment, she just had to lie there quietly.
But this scene had become a hidden, post-game boss, its difficulty level skyrocketing.
Mi Hongdou hadn’t expected playing a corpse to be so difficult…
After the suicide scene, she had lingered on the bed, already detached from the role. She had approached this scene with a casual attitude, not intending to immerse herself.
Playing a corpse, the most important things were: don’t move, and breathe as shallowly as possible. This wasn’t difficult for Mi Hongdou.
Studies showed that humans relied heavily on their sight. When deprived of visual input, other senses became heightened.
Mi Hongdou, her eyes closed, experienced this firsthand.
Lying still, she could hear Ji Junxin entering the room, could feel her lifting the curtain.
And then, her peace was shattered.
Something approached, carried by a breeze, a coolness, stopping just before her. She clearly smelled… Ji Junxin’s hand cream, the scent lingering, not dissipating.
If her nose wasn’t malfunctioning, then… had Ji Junxin changed the scene? Was she testing her breathing?
Mi Hongdou’s mind reeled. Qiao Rubai’s earlier words, although she didn’t dare to dwell on them, were still fresh in her memory.
In her previous life… when she died… had Ji Junxin also done this, desperately searching for a sign of life? The two scenes overlapped in her mind, and her breathing quickened.
No… no… Mi Hongdou forced herself to calm down, to slow her breathing. She was filming, playing a corpse, she couldn’t ruin the take with her own emotions, she couldn’t waste Ji Junxin’s effort!
So, she struggled to maintain her composure in this supposedly easy scene.
She relaxed her body, cleared her mind, and focused on controlling her breathing, becoming acutely aware of the moment Ji Junxin’s hand retreated.
The rustling of the falling curtain brought a slight relief.
But before she could relax completely, she felt a gust of wind, her clothes being clutched tightly, her upper body lifted.
What the hell! Mi Hongdou desperately tried to remain still, to suppress her panic and not break character.
Ji Junxin is just acting… acting… acting… she told herself.
Fortunately, this uncomfortable position didn’t last long. She felt herself being gently lowered, and as her back touched the bed, her racing heart calmed down slightly.
Ji Junxin’s hand brushed against her chest, her neck, a tingling sensation that made her skin crawl. Mi Hongdou hated her heightened senses…
She didn’t dare to imagine what Ji Junxin looked like now, focusing on controlling her own body, which only made it worse.
Then, as Ji Junxin leaned over, Mi Hongdou felt the warmth and dampness on the back of her hand, and she realized how difficult it was to play a corpse.
Although it was just acting, she desperately wanted to wipe away Ji Junxin’s tears, to hold her tightly… to tell her it was all fake, not to cry!
The dampness on her hand spread, but Director Pan still hadn’t called cut. Mi Hongdou was about to break.
She didn’t have to wait for Director Pan’s “cut.” Ji Junxin’s choked cry made her break character.
That cry was like a knife, piercing her heart.
Forgetting everything, Mi Hongdou opened her eyes, her vision blurring from the sudden light, and reached out, her hand cupping Ji Junxin’s face.
“…” She wanted to ask what was wrong, but as Ji Junxin, following her touch, lifted her face and met her gaze, the words died in her throat.
What kind of gaze was that? … Mi Hongdou couldn’t describe it, but she felt that… perhaps this was how Ji Junxin had looked after her death in her previous life. Like a whirlpool of sorrow, drawing in everyone who looked at her, crushing them with its intensity.
Mi Hongdou had been wrong, her heart wasn’t just pierced, it was shattered into a million pieces.
“The… filming… is over…” Mi Hongdou didn’t know what to say, she wasn’t even sure if they were finished, but these words seemed like the only possible comfort. Yes, comfort, she didn’t know how to comfort Ji Junxin. She clumsily wiped the tears from Ji Junxin’s face, but it was useless… Ji Junxin continued crying.
Something was wrong! Mi Hongdou couldn’t wipe away her tears, her own heart aching with worry and helplessness.
Ji Junxin’s gaze, slightly unfocused, then she pulled back slightly, away from Mi Hongdou’s touch.
Mi Hongdou froze.
Ji Junxin suddenly stood up, roughly wiped her face with her sleeve, and without a word, left the bed.
Ji Junxin’s tears, cold against her palm, Mi Hongdou, like a startled bird, was stunned by her sudden departure.
Something was definitely wrong. She quickly followed Ji Junxin, who was walking towards Director Pan.
Director Pan, still immersed in the scene, hadn’t noticed Ji Junxin’s approach, her expression resolute.
“Let’s film the next scene,” Ji Junxin said as she reached him. “The next scene should be the poisoning scene, I’m ready, let’s begin.”
It was common for directors to urge actors, but actors asking to start the next scene immediately was rare. However, Director Pan, having experienced the actors’ eagerness during the escape scenes, was relatively calm.
“It’s almost lunch time, let’s wrap up for the morning and film that scene in the afternoon,” he said, still thinking about how to edit the two scenes together for maximum impact, not wanting to rush into the next one.
“…” Ji Junxin seemed unwilling to accept his refusal and insisted, “The next scene was originally scheduled for the morning. I know I wasted some time earlier, but I promise I won’t delay the next scene, we’ll finish before lunch.”
Ji Junxin’s eagerness, practically guaranteeing a one-take pass, made Director Pan pause.
Why so eager?
Facing her sincerity, he almost couldn’t refuse, but then he noticed her red eyes.
“Well… it’s not about the previous scene. It’s just that for the next scene, you’ll need to reapply your makeup, to look older, which will take time. And your eyes… you need to rest, to recover.” He tried to be gentle. “And even if you don’t NG, it won’t matter. The next scene is with Jiang Duo… it will definitely take a long time. Let’s have lunch first, rest, and then focus on that scene this afternoon. You also need to rest.”
His words were reasonable and well-intentioned. Ji Junxin knew this and silently retreated.
Mi Hongdou arrived just in time to hear their conversation.
But it was too late to intervene, the matter was settled.
As Ji Junxin walked away, Mi Hongdou followed. She caught up, and then, hesitantly, asked, “Are you… okay?”
Ji Junxin stopped abruptly, and Mi Hongdou, not reacting in time, took a few more steps before turning back awkwardly.
“What is it?” Ji Junxin’s eyes were still slightly red, but there were no tears. Her gaze towards Mi Hongdou was just… questioning.
It was as if the earlier emotions had been an illusion.
Mi Hongdou wanted to say something, but the words caught in her throat.
Ji Junxin waited patiently.
“I’m… fine…” Mi Hongdou mumbled.
Ji Junxin smiled faintly and continued walking.
Mi Hongdou didn’t follow. Her mind was a mess, even more so now, after seeing Ji Junxin. She needed to be alone.
So, she missed the coldness in Ji Junxin’s eyes, the hardness in her gaze.
After dismissing Ji Junxin, Director Pan, seeing that the crew meals had arrived, announced a lunch break.
Pan Xiang, who had been working on her graduation thesis at the hotel, arrived on set for lunch at her grandfather’s urging. She couldn’t understand why, during the estate scenes, when there were no other options, he had insisted on her eating the crew meals with him. But now, back in Shudian, with plenty of restaurants nearby, he still insisted. It was… inhumane!
Regardless of her complaints, as long as they were in Shudian, she would usually obey and eat the crew meals.
When she arrived, she saw Director Pan eating his boxed lunch while watching something on the monitor.
As expected, without her supervision, he was being bad again. Pan Xiang sighed and walked over to him, blocking the screen. “Focus on your food, Grandpa. Grandma told you not to watch TV while eating. Next time you have a stomachache, I won’t cover for you.”
Having such an unreliable grandfather, she always had to nag him like a mother.
And this grandfather was even less obedient than a child.
Director Pan, annoyed by the sudden obstruction, waved his chopsticks. “Hey, move! I’m thinking about the editing!”
“You’re in charge of editing too?” Pan Xiang complained, reluctantly stepping aside. It wasn’t that she wanted to, but Director Pan’s waving chopsticks, with the greasy red-braised pork from his lunchbox, were threatening.
“Hmph.” He snorted, then his excitement returned, and he forgot his annoyance. “You missed two great scenes this morning! Come, take a look!” Like a child showing off a new toy, he pulled Pan Xiang over and replayed the two scenes they had just filmed.
I haven’t even eaten yet! My lunch is getting cold! How can I eat that greasy, cold red-braised pork! Your granddaughter is going to starve, do you even care! Are you even my grandpa! Pan Xiang, dragged over by Director Pan, was filled with complaints, which vanished the moment she saw the screen.
The first scene was the Empress’s suicide. As she watched, Pan Xiang felt that something was… off. Not that it deviated from the script, on the contrary, the performance was even more emotionally resonant than what she had written.
After watching Mi Hongdou’s performance, Pan Xiang felt it was brilliant, she herself, the screenwriter, was almost moved to tears, but something still felt… wrong!
Director Pan seamlessly transitioned to the next scene, Miao Qianye’s arrival.
Pan Xiang watched, her jaw dropping slightly, her eyes wide with surprise.
After the two scenes, her jaw still hadn’t returned to its normal position. Had her worst fear come true! She had written a normal script! Why did it always end up with homoerotic undertones!
“How is it? Isn’t it great! I have two ideas for editing. One, just play them sequentially. Two, intercut them, showing a bit of the Empress’s scene, then Miao Qianye’s, then back to the Empress’s, following the parallel timelines. Or, even bolder, split the screen, showing Miao Qianye rushing to the palace on one side, and the young Empress looking at the door on the other, a contrast between her urgency and the Empress’s waiting, only to miss each other in the end, how heartbreaking! And then Miao Qianye’s final, despairing cry, it would be incredibly moving!” Director Pan said excitedly, not noticing his granddaughter’s stunned silence. “So, which editing method do you think is more effective?”
Pan Xiang stared at the excited Director Pan, then rubbed her face, which had stiffened from shock, finally closing her mouth. She couldn’t imagine his expression after the film was released… He’s so clueless… she thought, then suddenly remembered, he was her grandfather, after the release, he would definitely hold her responsible! Am I going to be executed for this?!
“My script… wasn’t like this…” Pan Xiang looked at the excited Director Pan, her expression complex.
“Hmph,” Director Pan snorted. “It’s just a minor change. As the director, can’t I make a few changes? Don’t you think the result is great?”
Great… so great that even a blind person could sense the yuri undertones… and you’re even thinking about split-screen, parallel timelines, are you trying to shove it in the audience’s faces, Grandpa?! Facing the incredibly enthusiastic Director Pan, Pan Xiang weakly raised her hand. “I just want to say, those two scenes weren’t filmed according to my script.”
“Hmph!” Director Pan felt like his enthusiasm had been met with a bucket of cold water. He ignored Pan Xiang, picked up his lunchbox, and walked away.
Pan Xiang was stunned, then quickly chased after him, shouting, “Grandpa… remember! Those two scenes weren’t according to my script! Remember that when you edit the film! Grandpa… Grandpa, Grandpa!”
Grandpa, don’t go! Grandpa, listen to me! It wasn’t me! Grandpa up ahead, is this your lost granddaughter?
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