Over the next week, Chen Feng comfortably played the role of an old gambler in prison as a guest star in the crew.
His performance was flawless.
Every take passed on the first try.
Mai Zijie gradually developed an appreciation for his talent.
No wonder Zhuang Chengwen wanted to sign Chen Feng.
Based on his performance in the crew, he was definitely worth signing.
A week later, filming wrapped up.
The night before leaving, Lin Zu treated him to dinner again.
This time, it was just him.
Because Song YaWen had something to do and couldn't make it.
So, Lin Zu and Chen Feng drank a lot of wine together, chatting about many things, including his current state of mind.
Chen Feng didn't comment much.
Everyone walks their own path; who else has the right to judge?
Anyway, let's see what the future holds.
If he achieves success and fame, the current sacrifices won't matter.
That night, Lin Zu got drunk.
...
The next day, Chen Feng and Liu Rui headed back home.
Upon returning to Yanjing, Liu Rui reluctantly bid farewell to Chen Feng and returned to her crew.
For the next few months, their crew would be leaving the capital to film on location elsewhere.
They might not return until after the New Year.
So, when she left, Liu Rui's eyes were red.
After a week of getting along, the two felt incredibly harmonious, both in and out of bed.
It was just a pity that neither of them broke through that barrier.
Neither could stay for the other.
Therefore, separation was inevitable.
Back in his rented apartment, Chen Feng rested for a few days.
There was still half a month until the live broadcast of the second round of elimination matches.
In the next round, the group Chen Feng was assigned to could be called a death group.
A large group of seven people.
They would be performing a segment from the classic play "rain sounds."
Seven distinct characters.
Each person's role was significant when taken individually, so Chen Feng felt pretty good no matter which role he was assigned.
...
Time passed day by day.
Soon, the broadcast time arrived.
As usual!
He received a call the night before, and the next morning, Chen Feng rushed to the live broadcast venue.
The daytime was still rehearsal time.
Contestants from various groups had basically arrived.
Including those three people with deep backgrounds.
Before entering the training room, Chen Feng followed the staff into the script room and finally got the role he needed to play in the play.
Bai Xiaonian.
Chen Feng: "..."
Is it always this distinct?
Addict, domestic abuser, prison gambler, arrogant villain.
Now a catamite?
Am I really being typecast as a villain specialist?
Chen Feng didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Forget it, although being a catamite is a bit awkward, Bai Xiaonian still has some abilities.
When he drew the script for the second round of elimination matches, Chen Feng had carefully researched the background of the movie "rain sounds" online.
And he had thoroughly studied each character.
Speaking of Bai Xiaonian, he wasn't a simple catamite.
In the original work, Bai Xiaonian graduated from the Beiping Academy of Arts.
In that era, a trained professional like him was obviously very eye-catching.
Bai Xiaonian was an out-and-out Kunqu opera master.
He once had dazzling glory.
And once, his heart was incomparably pure.
It's just a pity that in that era of war, the more beautiful something was, the more fragile it became.
The more sacred, the more easily it was defiled, and the more it needed protection.
Ultimately, Bai Xiaonian disregarded his reputation, flattered others, and became the puppet Commander Xiao's "aide-de-camp."
He was also everyone's unspoken "male favorite."
Bai Xiaonian's inner world was very difficult to grasp.
Throughout the play, he experienced three strongly contrasting stages.
In the first stage, when he still didn't know who the Old Ghost was, he naively looked down on everyone, relying on his identity as the 'aide-de-camp.'
He even spoke without restraint.
Then came the second stage.
He was framed and became the first person suspected.
Bai Xiaonian suffered terribly.
At this time, all his aloofness and purity were gone, leaving only a desperate struggle for survival.
However, deep down, he still naively held onto a glimmer of hope.
He fantasized about Commander Xiao's arrival, who could save him from his plight.
But the result was cruel.
This led to the third stage.
Complete despair.
The man he had longed for, after seeing him, did not bring him freedom and comfort, but instead brought a brutal whipping.
At that moment, Bai Xiaonian's belief completely collapsed.
He despaired.
A darkness emanated from his eyes.
These were Bai Xiaonian's three stages.
Chen Feng had meticulously studied this character, understanding all the background information.
The moment he picked up the character card and turned to leave, the system's prompt sounded in his mind as expected.
【Ding, detecting the target role 'Kunqu opera master' that the host is about to portray. Congratulations to the host for becoming a true Kunqu opera master.】
【Congratulations to the host, Kunqu skill MAX.】
...
In the training room, all seven contestants had arrived.
Five males and two females.
Everyone had confirmed their roles.
Among them, the four contestants who got the roles of Gu Xiaomeng, Li Ningyu, Wu Zhiguo, and Takeda were very excited.
Because those were definitely main characters.
As for the remaining three roles—Bai Xiaonian, Jin Shenghuo, and Wang Tianxiang—they were slightly less significant in terms of screentime, considered supporting roles.
More screentime naturally means an advantage.
You can show more.
Tonight's elimination match, the seven-person group, was a true death group.
Seven into one.
So everyone was a competitor.
Everyone wanted to be the final winner.
When Chen Feng walked into the training room, the other six people were already there.
They were gathered in twos and threes, whispering.
All discussing the content of their roles.
As soon as Chen Feng entered, everyone automatically quieted down and looked at him.
It felt like there was some exclusion.
Mainly because Chen Feng's methods of advancing in the last two rounds were too strange.
No one could tell whether he was acting or just showing his true self.
But this time?
He shouldn't be so lucky.
After all, Chen Feng was 'unlucky' enough to be chosen for the character of Bai Xiaonian.
This is a catamite.
He is the puppet Commander Xiao's male favorite.
This kind of role is really difficult to portray.
From a visual standpoint, Chen Feng met the requirements.
But in terms of temperament?
Chen Feng still had a bit of a sunny, big-boy feel about him.
Too different from Bai Xiaonian's three parts feminine softness and three parts arrogance.
Therefore, his chances of advancing were the lowest.
Not long after Chen Feng entered the rehearsal room, Liu Tianchi came in.
As usual, he gave a brief guidance.
First, he talked about the play.
At the same time, he pointed out the characteristics and labels of each character.
At this point, Liu Tianchi suddenly looked at Chen Feng and another girl named Li Xiaodan and said, "Among these seven roles, Bai Xiaonian and Gu Xiaomeng are the most difficult to interpret."
"One is a Kunqu opera master, Commander Xiao's male favorite."
"One is a true underground spy, who sacrificed herself heroically to protect her comrades."
"These two roles are very difficult."
"Since you two have chosen them, then carefully delve into the inner world of the characters."
"Although your group's competition is fierce and very cruel, it is also the group with the most significant roles, truly a grand drama."
"So, perform well."
"Among the seven of you, except for Chen Feng, all of you have some basic acting experience."
"Therefore, What is an Actor is not your arena, but your stage for display."
"Don't worry too much about winning or losing; as long as you interpret it well, one stage experience can make you shine. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Everyone nodded simultaneously.
Chen Feng and Li Xiaodan exchanged glances.
Unexpectedly, in the eyes of a professional instructor like Liu Tianchi, the most difficult roles to interpret were Bai Xiaonian and Gu Xiaomeng.
Perhaps their inner activities are more complex.
He was a bit excited about this grand drama.