I Became Famous in the Entertainment Industry with High Martial Arts Skills - Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Joining the Set and Filming

The first part of Diving Abyss primarily tells the story of the male lead, Song Yu—the future Emperor Jinqi, before his ascension to the throne. After enduring the hardships of the inner palace and the hidden schemes of the imperial court, the protagonist evolves from a wavering, deposed crown prince into a new emperor who overthrows patriarchal authority. Meanwhile, the female lead, Ming Miaowei, rises from a lowly palace maid to become the Empress, personally executing the late Emperor’s favorite concubine who had harmed her elder sister.

The production had been filming for two months, and most of the important plots in the first volume of the script were already completed. The scene Xie Ci was to film today was his most pivotal—disguising himself as a dancing girl to assassinate the Fifth Prince.

The actor playing the Fifth Prince was the second male lead, Lu Feichen, a top-tier star of the year. His character was deep and calculating, aided by his favored mother, the Imperial Noble Consort. Together, the mother and son relentlessly pressured the protagonist, serving as the greatest obstacle before Song Yu became Emperor Jinqi.

On Monday, Xie Ci arrived at the set an hour early. His current resources were limited, with only the deposit from his signed contract in hand. Fortunately, Director Zhang was sympathetic to his unique situation and provided him with a studio-owned commuter van. Along with Mo Li, who served as both his manager and assistant, he managed to look the part.

“Wow, Lu Feichen really lives up to his reputation as this year’s top idol. Look at that physique and those looks!” Mo Li, a self-proclaimed lover of beauty, exclaimed as he stared at Lu Feichen, who was dressed in an ink-blue brocade robe with golden embroidery, looking sharp with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes.

Xie Ci glanced at the man currently filming. With a full forehead and a nose bridge like a mountain peak, he indeed possessed a striking appearance.

Zhang Yunjiang finished filming the current shot. Moving his attention away from the director’s monitor, he spotted Xie Ci and Mo Li waiting in the corner of the set.

“Little Xie, how familiar are you with the script?” He waved Xie Ci over.

“I’ve memorized the lines. I watched the video sent by the martial arts director; the action scenes shouldn’t be a problem,” Xie Ci answered honestly. To him, the movements in the video were actually too simple.

Zhang Yunjiang was momentarily stunned. He remembered Old Li from the martial arts department telling him that Silver Thirteen’s action sequences were high-difficulty and hard for any artist without years of basic training to complete. Although Xie Ci’s audition was stunning, time was tight, and Xie Ci hadn’t practiced offline with the instructors. Zhang had already prepared himself to shoot this scene multiple times.

However, he didn’t want to dampen Xie Ci’s confidence. Young people—he understood.

“Fine. Your scene is at night. For now, get familiar with the atmosphere of the set, run through the scene with your co-stars, and the hair and makeup team will come to get you ready in the evening.” Zhang Yunjiang waved his hand, signaling the crew to prepare for the next shot.

The next scene being filmed depicted the female lead, Ming Miaowei, being bullied during her time as a palace maid. In these stories, the more the protagonist suffers early on, the more satisfying their eventual rise and “face-slapping” of enemies becomes.

Song Yunyin, playing Ming Miaowei, wore a pale green maid’s uniform and looked disheveled. Having offended the Head Maid, she was locked in a courtyard and forced to kneel as punishment.

Xie Ci watched the performance intently. Every movement of the leads provided important knowledge for him to learn. Ming Miaowei’s stubborn expression was tinged with grievance. At this stage, she was a sharp-edged maid being targeted by others because she had gained favor with a high-ranking concubine.

The production used real sets. The morning light was abundant, and as the light and shadows shifted, the actors adjusted their movements and expressions under the director’s coordination. It felt as if they were truly within the ancient red walls, becoming part of that cold palace.

“Song Yunyin’s acting is so immersive. I remember her award-winning movie had so many long, continuous shots of just her,” Mo Li whispered beside Xie Ci, expressing his admiration.

“Yes, Sister Song’s eye expression is very precise,” Xie Ci agreed. Back in the theatrical troupe, he had seen firsthand how famous performers worked tirelessly offstage. Though the world he was in now had changed greatly, successful art still relied on the performer’s dedication and study.

Xie Ci recalled the techniques the troupe leader’s daughter had taught him. After watching the filming for half a day, his mental notebook was nearly full. Mo Li, unable to stay quiet, chatted with the crew members after watching for a couple of hours.

“Xie Ci, right? Come to Room 3 for hair and makeup.” The woman in charge of his styling was named Wang Zhenzhen, a friendly person with a round face and eyes.

“Oh my, your nose is truly beautiful—straight and perfectly shaped.” Wang Zhenzhen’s brushes moved up and down as she applied makeup, praising him constantly. Although she wasn’t a top-tier artist, she had worked with many celebrities, yet she had never seen a nose so perfectly proportioned. On a face like his, it was the perfect finishing touch.

“Tsk tsk, your face works well for both male and female roles. You’ll definitely stand out in female makeup.”

Wang Zhenzhen’s movements were skilled. She had been worried about the “cross-dressing” look; if a male actor’s facial lines were too rugged, it would be difficult for the makeup artist. She hadn’t expected the actor the director found to be so beautiful, which saved her a lot of trouble.

In the mirror, the delicate face became even softer. The arch of his long, dark eyebrows was deliberately blurred, and his lips, originally pale from physical weakness, became rosy and full.

“…Goodness.”

As Wang Zhenzhen finished the final bit of eyeliner, the jade-like face before her stunned even her, a makeup artist who had seen countless beauties.

Xie Ci looked in the mirror and blushed slightly. It was his first time seeing himself in female makeup. While it was still his face, his eyes held an indescribable allure. His naturally ambiguous features were suddenly imbued with a delicate, graceful charm that perfectly suited the role of the dancing girl.

Liu Rong from the costume department, who was also in Room 3, had noticed the commotion. “Makeup done? Come here to change into your costume.” Looking at Xie Ci on the chair, a flash of amazement crossed Liu Rong’s eyes as well. There were male actors with feminine features in the industry, but many were too feminine to the point of being cloying. However, even in dancing girl makeup, Xie Ci’s gaze remained clear and upright.

Room 3 was quite large, responsible for most supporting characters. By now, most of the day’s styling was complete. A simple white door was pushed open, and a figure emerged wearing a pomegranate-red pleated skirt that trailed on the floor, cinched at the waist with a golden-orange light veil.

“How is it? Does this look like a dancing girl?” The wig made Xie Ci feel a bit awkward, and he immediately asked Mo Li.

“I’m straight, I’m straight…” Mo Li’s eyes were wide as he repeatedly affirmed his sexual orientation to himself while circling Xie Ci to inspect him.

Liu Rong was also very proud of his design. He had envisioned Silver Thirteen’s dancer outfit as being very vibrant. He had worried the actor might not carry such intense colors well, but it looked unexpectedly harmonious on Xie Ci. A beauty, after all, looks good in both light and heavy makeup.

Zhang Yunjiang was very particular about filming, generally following the chronological time of the story. This allowed him to maximize the use of natural light and enhance the actors’ sense of immersion. Therefore, he had specifically reserved ample time tonight for Silver Thirteen’s most brilliant scene. The banquet tent where the Fifth Prince and his aides would be celebrating was already set up.

Lu Feichen had many scenes today. In the morning, he filmed the conspiracy scenes with his aides; in the afternoon, he acted with the female lead; and at night, he had the action scene with Xie Ci. Although his own action requirements were minimal, it was still an exhausting day.

“What’s the deal with this Xie Ci?” Lu Feichen, in his prince attire, was resting in his van, scrolling through fan comments.

His assistant, Xiao Lin, handed him an opened bottle of water. “I heard Director Zhang took a liking to him a few days ago. He helped him terminate his old contract and signed him to his own studio.”

“Oh? Is he trying to build a second Gu Shifang?” Lu Feichen raised an eyebrow.

“Who knows? I heard someone in makeup say this Xie Ci’s looks perfectly fit the description of Silver Thirteen.” Xiao Lin was well-informed about set gossip.

“Just as long as he isn’t a ‘vase’. I don’t want to waste my time tonight.” Lu Feichen tossed the script aside and leaned back into the soft seat.

By now, the plot of the first volume of Diving Abyss had reached the point where the protagonist is deposed. He is about to break through the darkness during a palace coup, finally deciding to defy his father and establish a new dynasty.

Xie Ci had three main scenes with the protagonist: their first meeting, protecting him at a banquet, and finally rescuing him during the coup. However, Ji Xiuheng had no filming scheduled for today, so Zhang Yunjiang decided to film the scene between Xie Ci and Lu Feichen first.

Inside the tent, candlelight flickered. Golden cups and jade vessels on low wooden tables were filled with fine food and wine. The sounds of string and wind instruments intertwined.

The handsome young prince sat in the seat of honor, wearing a golden crown and a python-patterned robe. He raised his cup from time to time to toast his aides on either side; the banquet was a picture of harmony.

“Congratulations to Your Highness, Prince Jing. Now that the Crown Prince has been deposed, he is no longer a threat.” A middle-aged man with a goatee stood to offer his congratulations, prompting a chorus of agreement from those around him.

To bring down the power of the Queen’s clan behind the Crown Prince, this group had spent three years plotting. By playing on the old Emperor’s jealousy and suspicion, they had finally achieved their goal. Prince Jing was now one obstacle closer to the supreme throne.

Laughter echoed through the tent. An old eunuch in dark palace robes knelt beside Prince Jing, whispering obsequiously: “Your Highness, the Imperial Music Bureau has meticulously prepared a new piece, ‘Red Peony.’ Among the dancers is a girl of peerless beauty, here specifically to heighten Your Highness’s spirits.”

Hearing this, the somewhat bored Prince Jing’s eyebrows twitched slightly. He stopped swirling his wine cup, and a playful, intrigued curve slowly formed at the corners of his mouth.

Zhang Yunjiang looked at the monitor, very satisfied. If the balance wasn’t handled well, a character’s “romantic” nature could easily turn “crude.” Lu Feichen’s ability to maintain his A-list status over the years was partly due to his acting skills.

“Summon them. Let this Prince see just what kind of peerless beauty she is.” The man’s tone carried a trace of condescending contempt.

The old eunuch bowed respectfully and rose to call the dancers from outside the tent.

The music shifted subtly. The closed tent doors were slowly opened by palace attendants on both sides. Every eye inside the tent focused on the entrance, waiting for the peerless beauty to take the stage.

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