Chapter 3: Smoke

"I gave you a chance, but you didn't take it!"

"Cut!" Director Gao Qunshu shouted. "That's a wrap, pack it up!"

They worked until the sky began to pale in the east before the crew finally called it a night.

The actors wearily thanked the crew members, and Sun Honglei specifically mentioned Zhang Yuan.

"We really owe it to Zhang Yuan for helping Director Gao rewrite the scenes today."

"Yeah, otherwise we wouldn't have finished for another two hours."

"Small guy, big talent. Our crew has gained another gem."

These people didn't just say it with their mouths; they also provided Zhang Yuan with quite a few skill points. The gains from this evening were even more impressive than those from the daytime.

Everyone was exhausted to the point of collapse, walking in groups toward the hotel where they were staying.

Director Gao Qunshu pulled Zhang Yuan aside.

"Kid, starting tomorrow, I'll arrange a double room for you at the hotel. Our budget is limited, so you'll be sharing with the actors arriving later."

"Thank you, Director Gao!" Zhang Yuan was exceptionally happy. If the director was arranging his accommodation, it meant he had become a resident actor for the production, completely leaving the category of background extras behind.

"For tonight, just make do with me for now. I happen to have some questions about the script and want to hear your opinion."

Zhang Yuan hadn't expected that he would receive the "privilege of discussing the script in the director's room" so soon after arriving on set.

Too bad it wasn't a female director...

Even though they worked overtime until 3 or 4 in the morning, they still had to be on set at 9:00 AM sharp.

Even on days when he didn't have scenes, Zhang Yuan still arrived at the set on time like everyone else. This professional image earned him praise from many of his colleagues.

During the lunch break, Zhang Yuan heard someone calling his name. He turned around to see his roommate, Zhao Jin.

The guy was still working as a background extra today and was just about to start eating his boxed lunch.

"Yuan, you must have made a lot last night," he said, his tone sour.

"It was alright."

When they wrapped up last night, Director Gao had told him to stay with the crew and offered him 100 yuan a day.

That was much more than the 30 yuan a day for extras, and far more stable.

"Forget it. I saw you wandering around all morning with nothing to do. Do you really think those directors and actors look up to us small-time extras?" Zhao Jin's old habit flared up again.

"We're just destined to be extras. With our abilities, even if a director gave us a chance, we wouldn't be able to handle it."

"Here, abandon your fantasies and eat your lunch with me." With that, he handed over two boxes of food.

Zhang Yuan felt a bit helpless. Zhao Jin wasn't a bad person, just sharp-tongued and petty.

"Zhang Yuan, what are you doing here?" Just as he was about to take the lunch, Director Gao Qunshu called out to him.

"I was just about to eat."

"Why eat this piece of junk?" Director Gao waved his hand. "Come on, we've got a private room at a restaurant."

"Jiang Shan is joining the crew this afternoon, so we're throwing a welcome dinner for her. You should come along."

"Thank you, Director Gao!" Hearing this, Zhang Yuan quickly accepted and jogged toward the hotel.

Nearby, Zhao Jin stood holding his boxed lunch, his eyes glazed over.

"Eating with Jiang Shan..."

In those days, Jiang Shan was an A-list star in the television industry with a stellar reputation.

Forget eating with her; Zhao Jin would be thrilled for days just to get her autograph.

Thinking that Zhang Yuan, who had been eating the same boxed lunch as him just a few days ago, was now going to eat with his idol, Zhao Jin felt more bitter than if he’d swallowed vinegar-soaked lemons!

With a look of disbelief, having lost all appetite, he hid in a corner, once again regretting that he hadn't followed Zhang Yuan's lead in building connections by bringing water to the crew.

On the other side, Zhang Yuan arrived at the restaurant's private room. Sun Honglei and Jiang Shan were seated on either side of the head seat.

As a newcomer, Zhang Yuan naturally had to sit near the door.

Besides Jiang Shan, others joining the crew that afternoon included Ma Xiaoming, who played Song Laohu, and Li Jingxiang, who played Jinbao.

As they ate, drank, and chatted, Zhang Yuan learned that the man playing Song Laohu was actually a "street-smart" guy. The director had sought him out because he knew the real-life mob boss "Ma Laodun" (Ma Zhenqi) and had even eaten with him.

And as for Li Jingxiang, it went without saying. Although he didn't look like much, Zhang Yuan knew that next year he would star alongside Wang Shuangbao—one of the "post-grad duo"—in *Blind Shaft*, the film that changed the life of grassroots Best Actor Wang Baoqiang.

Not only that, but in a few years, this man would also have a long-term relationship with Zeng Li, one of the "Four Golden Flowers" of the Class of '96. Truly, you can't judge a book by its cover.

Taking advantage of everyone being there, Zhang Yuan went around pouring drinks and offering toasts, harvesting another round of skill points.

However, this time half of them were "Alcohol Tolerance +1." Especially the guy playing Song Laohu—Zhang Yuan harvested "Alcohol Tolerance +2" from him; he was clearly a heavy drinker.

After three rounds of drinks and plenty of food, Director Gao Qunshu’s cheeks were slightly flushed.

"Zhang Yuan, you have scenes this afternoon. Give it your best." He turned his head toward Jiang Shan and said, "Shan, this is a new guy who just joined our crew. If you have a chance, give him some pointers."

"Don't let his age fool you; he's got real talent."

"Not only can he act, but he can also rewrite scenes..."

Director Gao, fueled by the alcohol, began to brag, embellishing the story of what happened the previous night.

The veteran actors all nodded with smiles, but the newcomers didn't quite believe it. After all, he was too young; he didn't look even 20 years old.

They had to keep filming later, so they couldn't drink too much, and the dinner soon ended.

As it happened, Zhang Yuan had scenes that afternoon.

The content involved his character, Gao Erlin, being arrested and interrogated by the police, where he would confess the past and entanglements between the two mob bosses, Feng Biao and Liu Huaqiang.

The actor playing the police chief was Shi Zhaoqi, who would be acting opposite Zhang Yuan.

In his previous life, when watching the show, Zhang Yuan had once misunderstood, thinking there would be a shocking twist at the end where the police chief was the real mastermind.

The reason? The chief played by Shi Zhaoqi was just too fierce!

His level of ferocity was no less than Liu Huaqiang's. Zhang Yuan even felt that if Shi Zhaoqi and Sun Honglei swapped roles, it wouldn't feel out of place at all.

"*Conquest*, Scene 23, Take 1, Action!"

The clapperboard snapped, and filming officially began.

Shi Zhaoqi, playing Xu Guoqing, slowly entered from outside the interrogation room. His sharp eyes were locked onto Zhang Yuan in the interrogation chair, as if he wanted to see right through him.

He didn't even need to act; most new actors would be sweating buckets just from one look from him.

But Zhang Yuan met his gaze.

The two stared at each other...

At first, Zhang Yuan’s eyes were firm, putting on a "dead pig isn't afraid of boiling water" expression.

But as time passed, his breathing gradually quickened, his throat bobbed, and he kept swallowing.

The muscles in his cheeks trembled slightly, perfectly portraying a mental state collapsing under extreme pressure.

After more than ten seconds, Zhang Yuan’s eyes flickered, and he subconsciously turned his head, avoiding Shi Zhaoqi’s sharp gaze.

At the same time, a bead of cold sweat rolled down his cheek.

"Cut!" Gao Qunshu called out. "Very good, one take."

Jiang Shan, standing to the side, raised the corners of her mouth. "Not bad, Old Gao. You've really found a treasure."

"To be able to act like this at his age is quite impressive."

"Not only is his reaction correct, but it's not superficial, and there's real depth in his eyes."

"He's no worse than students from professional academies."

"To not be overshadowed while acting opposite Old Shi... I believe half of what you said now."

"What do you mean, half?" Gao Qunshu asked, puzzled.

"You said his acting is good and he can rewrite scenes. I believe the acting part, but I'm very skeptical about the other half."

Just as they were talking, Zhang Yuan came over to the director, rubbing his chin.

"Director Gao, I have a small idea."

"Speak." Both Gao Qunshu and Jiang Shan looked at him.

"I noticed that in the crew, whether it's the police or the mob bosses, everyone is constantly smoking on camera."

"What's the problem with that?" the director asked, confused.

In those days, unlike later years, there weren't so many restrictions on smoking in TV shows and movies.

Almost every male actor in *Conquest* smoked from beginning to end, and half the close-ups were shrouded in smoke.

This show was burning through cigarettes!

"Smoking is fine, but everyone is smoking the same brand."

The cigarettes were provided by the crew, a brand called "New Shijiazhuang," costing 25 yuan a carton.

There were a few reasons for choosing this brand.

First, the story of *Conquest* took place in "International Village" (Shijiazhuang), and it was filmed there, so it was locally sourced and had local flavor.

Second... well, it was because they were poor; these cigarettes were cheap.

"The police don't have high incomes, so smoking 2.5-yuan cigarettes is normal. But for those mob-affiliated entrepreneurs and bosses to smoke such cheap cigarettes, doesn't it seem a bit out of character?"

Gao Qunshu was stunned. "Hey, you've got a point there..."

The director finally realized that although this detail was small, it was indeed a flaw.

"I think those mob-affiliated entrepreneurs should smoke high-end cigarettes like Soft Zhonghua."

"And mob bosses like Liu Huaqiang or his underlings should smoke mid-range cigarettes like 555 or Hongtashan."

"Why those two brands?" the director asked.

"They're strong and harsh, which fits the fierce and combative nature of outlaws like Liu Huaqiang."

Using different brands of cigarettes to reflect the personalities of different characters... Jiang Shan, standing nearby, was stunned. But after a moment of thought, she found this detail extremely interesting.

How did this kid think of that?

This kind of observational skill was clearly far beyond the average person.

"Old Gao, I believe everything you said now."

After Jiang Shan finished speaking, she looked at the young man in front of her from head to toe once more.