Silver Linings

Chapter Nine - Eat A Walnut

[3 JUNE 2020]

⁂ ZHANG ZHE HAN ⁂

"Are you ready to tell your fans?"

Zhang Zhe Han saw the gray mini-van drive off ahead of them and he guessed that Gong Jun was about to do the same thing on his end.

"Absolutely!" He smiled and unlocked the screen. Yu Xiang had already prepared the post for him,

"#TV Drama Tian Ya Ke# Even if fate doesn't have the free will, the heart should always be free. Nice to meet you, I am Zhou Zi Shu." (1)

One click later, it was posted. His fans were now officially notified that he had accepted the role of Zhou Zi Shu and that the production of Shan He Ling had started. He couldn't help but click on the hashtag and he saw that right below his post, his co-star had beaten him by a minute,

"#TV Drama Tian Ya Ke# Born as a demon, yearning for the world. Nice to meet you, I am Wen Ke Xing."

His fingers itched to check out the comments, but before he could click on any of the other of the posts, the van pulled up in front of the studio. He prioritized changing into more comfortable clothes to wear under the robes. Plus, they were on a tight schedule with today's scenes.

Once the hair stylist had clipped the extensions at the back and popped his fake ponytail in place, he wrangled his phone out of the pocket in his shorts. He briefly scrolled through the comments without really reading them. He didn't want to get distracted and would read them later, maybe during lunch or after work? Besides, Xiao Yu or Jing Hua—and by extension his studio—would be monitoring comments and reactions. He did, however, click on his co-stars post and then on Gong Jun's profile. Within seconds, he followed the account. He did notice that his co-star had beaten him to the punch on that too.

One hour later, he was back in his van and looking like a beggar—Zhou Zi Shu's disguise for the first part of the drama. Though, if he had been in charge, he would definitely be looking a lot more ragged. But he wasn't and they wouldn't let him. Director Sing was too scared that if he appeared too ugly, the audience would turn off the TV. He needed to be an attractive beggar. Like that even made sense? This was also part of the reason for Wen Ke Xing's colorful appearance. They needed his co-star to be extravagant and alluring because he, and he alone, needed to draw the audience in during the first few episodes. That is, before Zhou Zi Shu was in his normal attire. And looking delicate and beautiful.

This meant that he would have to try and look relaxed and dismissive towards his stalker soulmate yet captivating to keep the audience. It was challenging, but he could do it. Besides, the beggar outfit was way more comfortable than the normal tight fitted hanfu robes, which often included a snug belt or wide sash. At least he could breathe a bit more in these beggar clothes. And anything was a welcome addition to the assaulting humidity and looming heat that he would face throughout the days ahead.

⁂

Today, it was just the three of them filming. The three of them being himself, Gong Jun and Sun Xi Lun. No, get used to the characters! It's not you, it's Zhou Zi Shu, Wen Ke Xing and Zhang Chengling. He was a method actor and he needed to start thinking like Zhou Zi Shu. This was the first day of filming and he was in the process of transforming himself into his character, and viewing them as their characters was part of it.

On this first day, the trio was working through the stunt scenes from episode three and four. More specifically, where the protagonists encounter a beggar gang outside the inn where they were staying. The gang was trying to kidnap Zhang Chengling, which meant that Zhou Zi Shu would fight to protect him but, in the end, Wen Ke Xing would come to his rescue whilst he fled with his disciple.