novellhall Chapter 31 It's really weird
Chapter 31 It's really weird
It was already dark when the three of them left the office.
The lights of the film and television base cast a dim yellow glow on the bluestone path, and in the distance, a film crew was shooting night scenes.
On the way to the training shed, Wang Qianyuan's curiosity grew stronger.
He has been in the industry for over a decade and has seen far too many so-called "genius newcomers".
Some are genuinely talented, but many more are just mediocre products packaged by talent agencies.
Lu Yang said that Chen Nianbei performed well in the audition, and he believed him.
After all, Lu Yang's vision is evident.
But Director Zhao said that this newcomer's action scenes are better than those of veteran stuntmen? That's a bit outrageous.
"How old is the new recruit again?"
Wang Qianyuan asked again.
"Around twenty, a sophomore at Beijing Film Academy," Coach Zhao said.
"twenty……"
Wang Qianyuan clicked his tongue, "When I was twenty, I was still rehearsing plays at the Central Academy of Drama, and I didn't even know how the camera moved."
"Times have changed."
Lu Yang chimed in, his tone devoid of emotion, "Kids these days have a high starting point and many opportunities."
"A high starting point is a good thing."
Wang Qianyuan said, "But don't get carried away. I've seen too many stories of prodigies failing to live up to their potential in this industry."
He said this without any emotion, as if stating a fact.
The training shed was just ahead; you could hear the "crackling" sound of wooden swords clashing inside, so dense it was like raindrops, even through the door.
Coach Zhao pushed open the door, and the three of them went inside.
Inside the shed, Chen Nianbei and Wang Hao were practicing together.
This wasn't the kind of instruction that involved feeding you techniques, but real, hands-on sparring.
The sound of wooden swords clashing was fast and urgent, and the two figures moved quickly under the light.
Wang Qianyuan stood at the door, his gaze immediately locking onto Chen Nianbei.
He raised an eyebrow after only three seconds of looking.
A true expert's skill is immediately apparent.
Chen Nianbei's movements are not only standard, but more importantly, they have a unique "sense of rhythm".
Every slash, block, and turn is not a mechanical martial arts routine, but rather reflects the character's state of mind.
That state of being a tuberculosis patient who is powerless yet grits their teeth and perseveres.
What's even more remarkable is that he can maintain his aggressiveness even in this state.
The knife was sharp when it was drawn and trembled slightly when it was withdrawn. Her breathing was noticeably more rapid than Wang Hao's, but her eyes were more steady.
Wang Qianyuan has seen too many actors playing patients, most of whom either act too "sick," appearing weak and powerless;
He's either too "pretentious," as if afraid the audience won't realize he's playing a patient.
But Chen Nianbei's handling of this balance... is quite interesting.
After finishing a series of moves, Chen Nianbei suddenly stopped, touched the ground with the tip of his knife, and bent over to cough.
That cough wasn't a dry cough; it was a real cough that resonated in the chest.
Wang Hao also stopped, leaning on his knife and panting heavily, his back soaked with sweat.
The shed was quiet for a few seconds.
Then, Wang Qianyuan clicked his tongue softly.
He turned to look at Lu Yang, the suspicion in his eyes had faded, replaced by surprise and a hint of...admiration.
"Director Lu,"
He lowered his voice, "This kid... he's definitely got something."
Lu Yang didn't speak, but looked at Chen Nianbei in the arena, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly.
Chen Nianbei straightened up, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and then noticed the three people at the door.
He paused for a moment, then put down the knife and walked over.
"Director Lu, Instructor Zhao."
He nodded in acknowledgment, then looked at Wang Qianyuan and hesitated for a moment.
"This is actor Wang Qianyuan, who plays Lu Jianxing," Lu Yang introduced.
"Hello, Teacher Wang," Chen Nianbei said politely, his tone neither humble nor arrogant.
He knew Wang Qianyuan; he was a veteran actor, someone he had dealt with in his previous life, and he had a straightforward personality.
Wang Qianyuan sized him up.
The young man still had sweat on his face, his breathing hadn't fully calmed down, and his chest was rising and falling slightly.
But his gaze was steady, without the awkwardness of a newcomer in front of a senior.
"That set of movements just now..."
Wang Qianyuan spoke up, "Just learned that?"
"Zhao taught me this morning, and I practiced on my own this afternoon."
Chen Nianbei answered.
"What is the condition of patients with tuberculosis?"
"I figured it out myself."
Chen Nianbei said, "I read some medical materials and also observed patients in the respiratory department of the hospital."
Wang Qianyuan nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
He walked to the wall, picked up a wooden knife from the shelf, weighed it in his hand, and then turned to look at Chen Nianbei.
"Come on, let's exchange a few moves."
Everyone in the shed was stunned by these words.
Several stuntmen also stopped what they were doing and looked over here.
Coach Zhao looked at Lu Yang, who shook his head slightly, indicating to leave it alone.
Several thoughts raced through Chen Nianbei's mind.
Is Wang Qianyuan testing the waters?
It wasn't malicious; it was just the natural scrutiny that veteran actors have for newcomers.
You've joined this group and are acting opposite me, so I need to see what you're really capable of.
He took a deep breath, gripped the knife again, and walked to the center of the mat.
"Please," he said.
Wang Qianyuan also stopped, his eyes becoming serious.
He didn't act immediately, but first adjusted his grip on the knife, then looked at Chen Nianbei:
"Don't hold back, let me see your skills."
Chen Nianbei nodded.
The next second, Wang Qianyuan moved.
His movements are completely different from Coach Zhao's.
Coach Zhao is a martial arts instructor; his movements are standard but tend to be "routine".
Wang Qianyuan is an actor, and his movements are imbued with the feel of his characters.
Lu Jianxing is the eldest brother; his movements must be steady, ruthless, and imbued with the seasoned experience of someone who has spent years licking blood off the edge of a knife.
The first slash came at a tricky angle and at an extremely fast speed.
Chen Nianbei was having some difficulty blocking.
This isn't a matter of skill; it's a matter of physical condition.
Wang Qianyuan's strength was greater than he had expected; the moment the wooden swords collided, his hand was numb from the shock.
But he didn't back down.
Instead, he used this force to turn around and slash the knife upwards.
This is a risky move, but it's also a move that tuberculosis patients might use when they're driven to the brink.
Trading injury for injury, it's all about pride.
Wang Qianyuan's eyes lit up, he stepped back to avoid the attack, and then swung his knife again.
The two moved quickly on the mat, the sound of their wooden swords clashing together as dense as drumming.
Chen Nianbei gradually fell behind, not because of inferior skills, but because he couldn't keep up with the physical demands.
This twenty-year-old body lacked exercise; after just a few minutes of intense fighting, his breathing became erratic.
But he gritted his teeth and persevered.
Every block, every dodge, every counterattack, all carried the spirit that Jin Yichuan should have.
Despite feeling powerless, I refuse to give up, even in the face of death.
The more Wang Qianyuan hit, the more alarmed he became.
He originally just wanted to test the newcomer's abilities.
But as the fight went on, they discovered that this kid... was really weird.
Those seemingly clumsy parries and dodges, upon closer inspection, are actually the optimal solutions.
The angles and timing of those counterattacks were all extremely precise.
Moreover, the state of a tuberculosis patient was not acted out; it was truly integrated into every movement.
The rhythm of breathing, the trembling of the arms, the occasional pauses and coughs...
This cannot be explained by talent alone.
This requires a lot of hard work.
Two minutes later, Wang Qianyuan suddenly sheathed his sword and took two steps back.
"That's enough," he said, his voice slightly breathless.
Chen Nianbei also stopped, leaning on his knife, his chest heaving violently, sweat dripping down his face.
The shed was quiet.
Everyone was watching the two of them.
Wang Qianyuan stared at Chen Nianbei for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled: "Not bad."
He turned to look at Lu Yang: "Director Lu, this kid's good."
Lu Yang smiled and said, "What? You don't suspect anything anymore?"
"What else is there to doubt?"
Wang Qianyuan put the wooden sword back on the shelf. "Zhao Zhi was right, this kid is a real talent."
He walked back to Chen Nianbei and patted him on the shoulder: "Those moves you just made were really impressive!"
"I figured it out myself," Chen Nianbei said honestly.
"Good for you," Wang Qianyuan said. "You can play the role of Jin Yichuan well."
He spoke very seriously; it wasn't just polite talk.
Chen Nianbei breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank you, Teacher Wang."
"Don't thank me," Wang Qianyuan waved his hand. "You earned it yourself through your own abilities."
He paused, then said, "We're filming your scene with Ding Xiu tomorrow, so act well."
"That guy on Monday is a great actor. Stay calm, don't let him overshadow you."
These words carry the air of advice from a senior to a junior.
Chen Nianbei nodded: "Understood."
Hearing this, Lu Yang's smile widened. He looked at Chen Nianbei and said, "Get a good rest tonight and get yourself in shape. Tomorrow's scene is emotionally demanding, so do your best."
"Okay, Director Lu," Chen Nianbei said.
Lu Yang nodded and left the shed with Wang Qianyuan.