Your Rival in Love Gets Prettier Every Day

Chapter 28: Shen Yitiao

The wind outside was blowing the curtains and lamps in the palace. The palace attendants rushed out to close the windows and doors. Li Xu stood with his hands clasped in the hall and said: "The people close the crown prince sent a message to ask for this slave to enter the East Palace to serve."

Zhou Jing acknowledged with a "Nn." but remained silent. He slowly walked over and stretch out his hands to lift Li Xu's face up.

Zhou Jing: "Li Xu, it depends on you whether I can climb up in the future." The beautiful face of Li Xu was outstanding. Don't bother mentioned the pile of eunuchs, even among concubines he could vie for the top spot.

Zhou Jing's hands were warm and soft. As he let him go, Li Xu anxiously grabbed his arm with both hands. Zhou Jing raised his head to look and saw Li Xu's dazzling eyes. Zhou Jing slightly lowered his eyes causing Li Xu to let go.

While Li Xu's posture was fearful, his eyes remained flickering as if he was holding onto words deep in his chest, hesitant to speak them out.

Zhou Jing turned around and said: "Go."

Li Xu lowered his head without saying a word. He knelt and silently gave the prince a gift. He would always be the prince's slave. He got up from the ground, bowed his waist, and retreated.

After Li Xu left, Zhou Jing turned his head and shouted: "Never forget whose slave you belong to!"

"Cut!" Director Guo yelled. He stood up from behind the monitor and said: "Qingquan, there's something wrong with your mood."

Bai Qingquan hurriedly walked over. Guo Rui said: "Li Xu was a playmate by your side when you guys were young. He's no longer just a simple slave to you. The feeling you should have when he enters the East Palace is both, eagerness for relying on him to take down the crown prince, and, apprehensiveness for fearing he will betray you. Along with that, there's also feelings of shame and resentment. After all, you were his friend and you're sending him to the Crown Prince knowing what's to come. So, when you say your lines, it must not be just from the viewpoint of a noble prince but must also carry affection of a dear friend. You must combine the feeling of kindness and coercion to bring out the right emotion. Do you understand?"

As he listened to Guo Rui guidance, a makeup artist was retouching his makeup. Bai Qingquan looked at the monitor and nodded solemnly.

When he touched Shen Jintai's face during the filming, he got distracted. His heavy makeup reminded him of those times when Shen Jintai had mercilessly bullied him. There was no affection in his eyes back then. Only hatred and resentment!

He knows can definitely act better in later scenes between Zhou Jing and Li Xu.

Guo Rui: "Come. All departments are ready. We'll do this scene again."

Shen Jintai walked to the entrance of the hall again and stood there. Li Meilan took the opportunity to blow a fan on him and patted him on the shoulder: "It's a good shot. Keep at it." She was a little surprised by Shen Jintai's work attitude. He was calm, diligent, and serious.

The second time, Shen Jintai performed even better. As a veteran actress, Song Wei knew that Shen Jintai had found his sense of rhythm.

An actor's sense of rhythm was very important. It's something that can't be learned and depended on talent and instinct. This sense of rhythm is not only when speaking lines, but also coordinating movements to match the lines being said. It's about when and how to say their lines. How long words should be spoke for. Pauses in between words and sentences that can range from a tenth of a second to tens of seconds. All this must be connected to their physical movements to form a smooth and tense performance.