novelraw Chapter 102: Zhao Yingfei’s Stunning Dance
Chapter 102: Zhao Yingfei’s Stunning Dance
The date arrived at January 28th.
The production team's first formal script reading session was held in a spacious conference room at Huaxing Pictures.
Film Emperor Qin Feng was absent due to "personal matters," but this did nothing to alleviate the oppressive atmosphere in the room.
At the long conference table, several highly respected veteran actors sat upright and proper, scripts in hand, occasionally exchanging a few low words, their conversation focused solely on discussing the script.
But the corners of their eyes would always drift, almost imperceptibly, towards a young girl sitting in the corner.
Zhao Yingfei.
The female lead of this 600-million-yuan epic production, the actress playing Yu Ji.
She was dressed very plainly today: a simple white shirt, jeans, and no makeup on her face.
She just sat there quietly, head bowed, diligently making notes on her own script, seemingly unaware of those scrutinizing gazes.
Jiang Ci sat diagonally across from her, also silent.He was also looking at his script, but his mind wasn't on it.
He was observing the subtle expressions on the faces of these veteran actors, the slightly tense profile of Director Wei Song, and the barely concealed smugness on the face of the producer from Evergreen Entertainment.
Everything was pretty much as he had anticipated.
In the eyes of others, a female lead forced in by capital, regardless of her own merits, was destined to endure all of this.
"Alright, everyone's here, let's begin."
Wei Song cleared his throat, breaking the silence.
"We won't do the full script today. Let's try a section of dialogue first, everyone get a feel for it."
He chose a scene from the early part of the drama, after Xiang Yu's great victory at Pengcheng, celebrating with Yu Ji in his tent.
This was a very conventional scene, mainly showcasing the Conqueror's high spirits and Yu Ji's gentle adoration. It wasn't particularly difficult, but it was the ultimate test of the most basic chemistry between the actors.
The reading began.
The veteran actor playing Xiang Liang started off, his voice steady, instantly pulling everyone into the situation.
Soon, it was Zhao Yingfei's turn.
"Your Majesty's divine might is unmatched. This humble concubine... offers her congratulations to Your Majesty."
Her voice was clear and bright, her enunciation precise and flawless. There was nothing to criticize about her line delivery.
Her emotional handling was also adequate. That sense of worship and joy could be heard.
But that was all.
Safe, conventional, flat as water.
Jiang Ci didn't read his own lines. He just listened quietly.
This was a completely different person from the fierce girl he had seen in that blurry video, dancing "Sword Dance."
She had hidden her soul away.
The scene was quickly read through.
Wei Song called a stop without changing his expression.
He looked at Zhao Yingfei, lightly tapped his fingers on the table, and asked a routine question that every production team would ask.
"Yingfei, talk about your understanding of the character Yu Ji."
Hearing this, Jiang Ci raised his head.
Zhao Yingfei stood up, gave a slight bow, and began to answer.
Her answer was perfect.
From Yu Ji's love for Xiang Yu, to the loyalty and constancy in her character, to the tragedy of her final sacrifice for love, citing classics and sources, logical and orderly.
Impeccably delivered.
But also hollow and bland.
In the conference room, the expressions of the several veteran actors didn't change much, but the hint of disdain deep in their eyes grew a little heavier.
Just as everyone thought this segment was about to end in a bland and unremarkable fashion.
A light, clear voice suddenly rang out.
"Teacher Zhao."
Jiang Ci, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke.
He wasn't looking at anyone, just calmly gazing at Zhao Yingfei.
"Historical records state that Yu Ji was skilled in dance."
"What do you think, when surrounded by the songs of Chu on all sides, ambushed from every direction, what was the last dance she performed for Xiang Yu, a dance of what?"
The entire conference room instantly fell silent.
All eyes focused on Jiang Ci.
This question was too tricky.
The script only wrote "danced with a sword under the tent." Who would delve into what the dance was? A sorrowful dance? A farewell dance? Was that so important?
Zhao Yingfei was stunned by the question.
For the first time, a crack appeared on her face, which had maintained a proper smile all along.
She stood there dumbly, her lips moved, but no words came out.
Yes, a dance of what?
The atmosphere in the conference room became awkward.
Wei Song looked at Jiang Ci, deep in thought.
He knew Jiang Ci. This kid wasn't someone who would shoot without aiming.
Zhao Yingfei lowered her head, falling into a long silence.
A full half minute passed.
Just as everyone thought she couldn't answer and this farce was about to conclude.
Slowly, she raised her head.
She didn't look at Jiang Ci, nor at anyone else present.
Her voice carried an uncontrollable tremor.
"Can you give me a little space?"
She didn't answer with words.
She would answer with her body.
Under the astonished gazes of everyone, she walked to the open space in the center of the conference room.
Then she bent down, took off her high heels, and stood barefoot on the cold floor.
No music, no props.
No gorgeous dance costume.
Only dozens of pairs of eyes and the cold light from above.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath.
When she opened them again, her entire aura had changed.
She began to dance.
At first, her dance was graceful and gentle.
Water sleeves lightly unfurled, lotus steps subtly shifting.
Carrying the unique charm of classical dance, every movement was exquisite to the extreme.
It was as if she had stepped right out of the history books, that Yu the Beauty who would softly sing and dance for her monarch at banquets, to enhance the joy and dispel worries.
Everyone present understood.
This was a dance of farewell, a song of sorrow.
Beautiful, and also fitting everyone's imagination of "The Farewell My Concubine."
The producer from Evergreen even nodded in satisfaction.
However, the next second.
One of Zhao Yingfei's movements made everyone's breath catch.
Her eyes changed.
There was no longer a trace of tenderness or sorrow within them.
Her dance style suddenly turned fierce and sharp!
A clean, sharp spin, her arm slashing down with a decisive force that could sever everything.
Her movements were no longer to showcase feminine grace, but were imitations.
Imitating the swing of a sword!
Imitating a parry!
Imitating riding on the Black Steed, following her king, charging into enemy formations again and again!
The twist of her waist was dodging incoming arrows.
Her leaps were stepping over mountains of enemy corpses and seas of blood!
This was not a sorrowful song of farewell.
This was a woman who had followed the Conqueror in campaigns north and south, never fearing the glint of swords and shadows, using her body to recreate the glory and bloody battles they had once shared!
Her dance contained the burning of bridges at the Battle of Julu!
The disdain for the world after the great victory at Pengcheng!
There were bronze spears and armored horses, there were unfulfilled ambitions!
Even more, there was the unwavering loyalty unto death, and the supreme, unyielding fierceness of going to the battlefield with her lord!
The room was deathly silent.
Everyone was utterly stunned by this dance filled with a terrifying sense of narrative and explosive power.
What they saw was no longer a delicate beauty.
But a fierce goddess of war, holding a sharp sword, who could stand shoulder to shoulder with the Conqueror of Western Chu and gaze upon the rivers and mountains together!
This was the "soul" of Yu Ji!
This was the woman who could make that peerless, unrivaled man, at the end of his road, still softly sing, "Yu, oh Yu, what is to be done with you?"
Jiang Ci watched her.
Watched that girl dancing with her soul in the empty conference room.
His eyes held the appreciation and understanding of meeting a worthy opponent.
While everyone else was still immersed in immense shock, unable to extricate themselves.
He was the first to stand up from his chair.
Then, slowly, forcefully.
He began to clap.
Clap.
The applause was exceptionally clear in the silent conference room.
Zhao Yingfei's final pose was one of stretching her neck.
The dance ended.
She stood in place, her chest heaving violently, sweat soaking the stray hairs on her forehead, trickling down her cheeks.
Zhao Yingfei's gaze passed over everyone, directly meeting Jiang Ci's.
She looked at the young man clapping for her.
And gave him a slight nod.
In that moment, she completely understood.
Jiang Ci's question was not a deliberate provocation.
It was an invitation for her to break free from all shackles and jointly create a legend.