Caught in Affairs with Superstar

Chapter 266: Chapter 228: Rising Phase: 64

”Director, I have an idea for the upcoming shoot,” Zhou Yun took the initiative to speak up and offered her opinion, ”Since Zhang Hua and Wan Yu are rivals, their clash should be more intense. The script has them somewhat subdued, but the scene we are about to shoot involves no one else, just the two of them. I think we can make their confrontation fiercer and sharper. What do you think?”

She handed two sheets of paper over to Director Cong.

”These are some lines I’ve modified myself, please have a look. If it’s not suitable, we’ll forget it,” Zhou Yun said. ”Just a sudden brainstorm, I wanted to consult with you.”

After reading the two pages, Director Cong’s gaze towards Zhou Yun changed slightly.

It seemed to have become more complex.

”The changes are good, did you make these changes yourself?”

It sounded like Director Cong didn’t quite believe Zhou Yun could have made these changes on her own.

Zhou Yun replied, ”I revised them myself.”

Director Cong handed the two pages to the assistant director next to him and said, ”Make a few copies and send one over to Xu Siyao.”

Before long, Xu Siyao hadn’t shown up yet when her agent, Yuh Jiangping, came rushing over.

”Director Cong, I just received a new script, why has the shooting for the upcoming scene suddenly changed?” Yuh Jiangping said. ”Siyao has memorized all her lines already.”

Zhou Yun smiled and curled the corner of her lips, asking, ”Mr. Yuh, as a professional actress, can Xu Siyao not perform just because the script has been slightly altered?”

Yuh Jiangxing was really irked by Zhou Yun at the moment.

Half an hour ago, Xu Siyao was raging in the resting room; it took a great deal to calm her down, only to receive a revised script shortly afterward.

Yuh Jiangxing said, ”Although Siyao is a professional actress, she doesn’t have as much experience in acting as you do. As a senior, why don’t you be more accommodating?”

”I’m not in the mood to accommodate someone who has come to me to say she would trample over me someday,” Zhou Yun retorted bluntly, ”Mr. Yuh cares so much for Xu Siyao, why not find her a therapist?”

Yuh Jiangxing wanted to say more.

”Mr. Yuh, why hasn’t Xu Siyao come out yet? Does she expect all of us to wait for her alone?” Zhou Yun asked directly.

Yuh Jiangxing’s anger flared up due to Zhou Yun’s sarcastic remarks, and he sternly said, ”I do not accept the revised script. Let’s shoot according to the original script.”

Zhou Yun let out a cold laugh and said, ”I don’t know what point of the revision is not to Mr. Yuh’s liking. Is it because Xu Siyao has fewer lines or less screen time? The director approves of this revised version and thinks it’s better, yet you disagree. On the set, do we listen to you or the director?”

Yuh Jiangxing was so rebutted by Zhou Yun that he was at a loss for words.

There was a standoff between the two.

”I’ll shoot it,” Xu Siyao’s voice suddenly rang out from the side.

Both Zhou Yun and Yuh Jiangxing turned to look at her.

Xu Siyao’s face was as frosty as if the chill was seeping out of her bones.

”The script personally revised by Sister Xiao Yun, of course, I will shoot it,” she spoke, her voice carrying a chill, ”Otherwise, people would accuse me of not respecting my seniors, not respecting the director.”

-

-

”Three, two, one, action!”

Director Cong shouted.

The fire escape.

Zhou Yun and Xu Siyao stood facing each other.

Both had serious and solemn expressions on their faces.

”Where did you get the Sanyuan River article from?” Zhou Yun asked Xu Siyao with a stern face.

Xu Siyao looked down and laughed coldly, ”What’s it to you?”

”You’re stealing someone else’s work, that’s a question of morality!” Zhou Yun held back the fury in her throat, clenched her fists, and accused.

A flicker of surprise passed over Xu Siyao’s face, but was quickly contained.

”Who stole whose work? Do you have evidence to just slander people like this?!” Xu Siyao’s demeanor intensified, her eyes fiercely glaring at Zhou Yun, ”Tell me, Zhang Hua, are you just jealous? Jealous that I won against you this time, that I overshadowed you. Usually, the editor praises you, but this time the attention was on me. You’re jealous, aren’t you?”

Zhou Yun bit down on her teeth.

...

The backstory of this scene is that Wan Yu, played by Xu Siyao, presented an article about the Sanyuan River murder which received unanimous praise during the review meeting. The article was set to be the headline for the next issue and opened the door for further reports.

In reality, however, the article was written by Zhang Hua and somehow got stolen. When Zhang Hua found out that Wan Yu had presented this article and received unanimous praise, she was furiously livid, leading to the above scene.

But the article was not actually stolen by Wan Yu.

Regardless, Wan Yu is the second female lead in this drama, not the villain. Xu Siyao wouldn’t play a role with a bad image. The article was deliberately stolen and sent to Wan Yu anonymously, claiming it was their own work, willing to let Wan Yu publish it under her name, just to expose more details of the Sanyuan River murder case, intending to frame Wan Yu.

Zhou Yun was unaware of all this, and naturally, Xu Siyao would not admit that the article wasn’t her own work.

...

”Zhang Hua, I’ve been annoyed with you for a long time. You’re always frowning as if the whole world owes you money, acting as high and mighty as if you’re the illegitimate daughter of the Jade Emperor. Do you have evidence that I stole this article? Let me tell you, don’t think for a second that only you can write articles!” Wan Yu was naturally a girl prone to intense emotions.

Zhang Hua’s eyes gradually reddened, and her body shook with anger, unable to say a single word.

At this moment, Xu Siyao was suddenly taken aback.

Yes, it was Xu Siyao, not Wan Yu.

At this moment, Zhou Yun exhibited a kind of powerful tension with her grievances, rage, and restraint, completely stealing the scene for herself.

Indeed, after the script modification, Xu Siyao’s lines did not decrease but rather increased, making it seem like Xu Siyao had more scenes in the text.

But in this moment, Xu Siyao finally understood what Zhou Yun was planning.

Although Zhou Yun had reduced Zhang Hua’s lines, she had given her bigger room for performance.

Television dramas are not just about reciting lines to attract the audience.

If that were the case, people might as well listen to radio dramas.

Acting is about voice, stage, form, and expression.

In this scene, Zhou Yun had created a larger space for herself to perform, turning her lines into silence, speaking with her face and eyes.

-

-

”Ah—” Xu Siyao, returning to the resting room, threw her water bottle on the floor in a fit of anger. The plastic bottle shattered, and Xu Siyao’s cheeks turned red with rage, ”Go to hell!”

Yuh Jiangxing was dumbfounded.

”Keep your voice down, if someone hears this, you’ll be scandalized on the trending searches again!” He gestured with his eyes for the assistant to guard the door.

The assistant left.

Xu Siyao glared at Yuh Jiangxing furiously and said, ”Zhou Yun, that bitch, is bullying me now!”