novellhall Chapter 57 Enough with the nonsense! Let's get straight to the point!
Chapter 57 Enough with the nonsense! Let's get straight to the point!
Mr. Hopkins, that was truly a textbook performance.
He didn't need to shout or yell; a subtle change in his eyes and a light tap of his finger on his scepter were enough to perfectly convey the god-king's majesty, weariness, and deep-seated paternal love.
Chen Xun watched intently, and saw a deep purple attribute orb [Intimidating Gaze +6] slowly fall as the old man reprimanded Thor.
Purple!
Chen Xun exclaimed inwardly and immediately absorbed it with his mind.
A vast stream of information about how to convey complex and authoritative emotions using minimal eye muscle control flooded his mind, instantly elevating his understanding of eye acting to a new level.
Then his attention was drawn to Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston.
Tom is portraying Loki's complex state of being outwardly obedient but inwardly calculating.
As he lowered his head slightly, a barely perceptible, enigmatic smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, and a blue attribute orb [Cunning Expression +3] fell down.
absorb!
Chen Xun felt that his control over his facial muscles seemed to have become more refined.
Over there, Chris Hemsworth was expressing his dissatisfaction and impulsiveness.
His waving arms, puffed-out chest, and even the rhythm of his breathing were full of power and a slightly reckless vitality.
As he loudly refuted Odin, a green attribute orb, "Leadership Aura +2," dropped.
Although his rank wasn't high, this sunny, leadership aura was something Chen Xun had previously lacked.
Absorb it immediately!
He doesn't just look at the lead actors.
The actors who played the ministers of Asgard were all highly skilled in delivering lines; they were captivating just by standing there.
One of the veteran actors, while presenting political affairs, spoke clearly and rhythmically, earning him a blue "classical rhythmic dialogue +3" award.
The other one was using subtle body language to express distrust of Loki, which earned a green "+2 for subtle body language expression".
Chen Xun quickly picked up and absorbed every glittering attribute orb he saw.
Gray, green, blue, and occasionally purple!
This quality, this density, is more than a hundred times better than what he did in Santa Monica before!
As expected of a Marvel production, the average quality of the actors is too high!
Under such high-quality observation and learning, Chen Xun felt that his understanding of performance was being refreshed every day.
The absorbed attribute orbs not only improved his stats, but more importantly, broadened his performance scope and skill repertoire.
A few days later, one afternoon, they filmed a scene where Vandall and Vostagg chatted during a break after training.
This scene is lighthearted and mainly showcases the camaraderie among the three warriors of Asgard.
Chen Xun and Ray Stevenson, who plays Vostagg, sit facing each other, drinking prop mead.
The dialogue was simple; it was just about teasing each other about today's training and bragging a bit.
Before filming began, Chen Xun habitually adjusted his state of mind.
He recalled the attributes he had absorbed over the past few days regarding "micro-expressions," "secret cunning," and "classical rhythm," and combined them with his identity as a noble warrior of the Vandal clan, and some ideas began to form in his mind.
"Action!"
Ray Stevenson spoke first, complaining about the intensity of the training in Vostagg's rough and boisterous tone.
As Chen Xun listened, a signature smile of Vandal's, with a touch of elegant roguishness, appeared on his face, but there was something more in his eyes.
It wasn't just simple agreement or teasing, but rather an acceptance of a comrade's clumsy yet endearing nature and a subtle sense of superiority.
He picked up the mead and took a sip, his movements natural and reserved. Then, in a tone that carried a hint of Asgardian nobility yet was perfectly natural, he continued his lines, teasing Volstagg about his drinking capacity.
As he completed this series of actions, he felt as if two slight barriers within his body were being breached simultaneously.
[Physical attributes upgraded to level 2]
[Eye Attribute Upgraded to Level 2]
It's been upgraded!
And it's a double upgrade!
Instantly, a massive flow of information and a sense of control over the body surged forth.
His control over every muscle in his body reached an unprecedented level of precision, as if he could feel the subtle tremors of the muscle fibers.
And the control over one's gaze has entered a whole new realm.
Not only can it convey complex emotions more accurately, but it can also give you a preliminary feel for how to use your eyes to guide the attention of your fellow actors.
Director Branagh sat up slightly straighter behind the monitor.
He keenly sensed that the feeling in Chen Xun's shot just now was different from that of a few days ago.
It's not just about Fandral's dashing style; it adds a layer of depth, especially the profound look in his eyes, which is very expressive.
"Cut! Great!"
Director Branagh couldn't help but ask, "Chen, what was that look you were giving me just now?"
Chen Xun put down his cup, smiled, and said, half-jokingly:
"I just feel like Vandall watching Vostagg's antics is a bit like watching your own big pet dog—you're both disgusted and a little fond of it!"
This down-to-earth analogy made everyone laugh, even Ray Stevenson jokingly punched him.
Director Branagh smiled and nodded, not asking any further questions, but his eyes showed even more appreciation.
This young Chinese-American actor seems to bring a surprise every time he appears.
After finishing work, Chen Xun was in a great mood.
He happily packed his things, preparing to drive back to Beverly Hills. He even hummed an off-key tune on the way.
These days spent squatting on the film set collecting attributes were so much fun!
When Chen Xun drove his Porsche, which still made him a little proud, back to the garage in Beverly Hills, he found Christine's car parked next to him.
He raised an eyebrow; she finished work quite early today too.
Pushing open the door, it was very quiet inside, with only faint sounds coming from the open kitchen in the distance.
He changed his shoes and walked over, only to see Christine with her back to him, rummaging through the refrigerator for something.
She was wearing a loose-fitting loungewear T-shirt and athletic shorts, her blonde hair casually tied in a bun, with a few stray strands hanging down her neck.
Hearing footsteps, she turned around, her face showing some fatigue, but her eyes lit up when she saw Chen Xun:
"Hey, you're back!"
"Finished work early today!"
Chen Xun walked over and naturally leaned against the edge of the central island counter, looking at her:
"Is your end too?"
"I just got back, and I'm exhausted."
Christine took out a bottle of water, unscrewed it, took a sip, and glanced at his face:
"You look quite energetic! Have you achieved some success in your cultivation in the Celestial Palace?"
Chen Xun smiled but didn't respond to that question. Instead, he asked, "What are we having for dinner?"
"I don't know, I have no appetite, maybe I ate too much on the plane."
Christine pursed her lips, placed the water bottle on the table, turned around to face him, and looked him up and down:
"You look great, haven't seen you for a few days!"
Her eyes held a peculiar meaning, and her tone was slightly drawn out.
Chen Xun met her gaze and instantly understood.
The two hadn't seen each other for several days, each busy with their own filming, exchanging only text messages at most.
Something in the air seemed to have subtly changed.
The casual conversation about dinner was quickly replaced by an ambiguous atmosphere.
Christine took a step forward, closer to him, her fingers unconsciously tracing the smooth edge of the island counter. Her grey-green eyes stared straight at him, her voice lowered:
"So, Mr. Chen, have you missed me these past few days?"
Chen Xun looked at her face so close to his own and could smell the faint, fresh scent of her body, mixed with a hint of her usual cool perfume.
His Adam's apple bobbed, but he didn't speak. He simply reached out and gently took her hand that was resting on the table.
The moment fingertips touch is like a silent switch.
Christine grabbed his fingers with her other hand, quite firmly.
Without another word, she grabbed him and headed towards the master bedroom, her steps a little hurried.
Chen Xun was pulled along by her, but he didn't resist. He just felt his heart beating a little fast.
The longing that had been building up over the past few days, which was hard to explain, seemed to be ignited all at once.
Click!
I entered the bedroom, and the door closed gently behind me.
Christine pushed him against the door, then stood on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him.
Chen Xun was stunned for a moment, then realized what he meant and immediately responded.
He wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her close to him, and with the other hand, he ran his fingers through the stray hairs at the back of her head, supporting her chin and deepening the kiss.
The awkwardness of not seeing each other for several days quickly melted away in this intense, almost fierce kiss, leaving only the familiar warmth and longing.
They were both a little out of breath when they parted.
Christine pressed her forehead against his, her breathing rapid, her eyes wet and filled with a distinct aggression.
"Stop talking nonsense! Get to the point!"
Chen Xun was so enraged by her words that his blood rushed to his head. He chuckled softly, "As you wish!"
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