Early the next morning, Zhang Yuan received a call from the chief director Wu Jingyuan.

"Help!"

What's going on?
Director Wu called because there was a problem with the crew's props.

Zhang Yuan had learned about the properties of props, but he had never shown that he could make props, and no one else knew about it.

Then why would they look for him when there is a problem with the props?

Because the prop that had problems this time was a painting.

The stories of the play "New Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio" all come from the original work by Mr. Pu Songling.

But the screenwriters made a lot of changes.

In Zhang Yuan's eyes, the changes are actually quite good.

For example, "A Bao" which Liu Shishi is currently filming.

In the original novel, the hero, Sun Zichu, is a fool.

His fellow countrymen kept tricking him into doing stupid things, but each time these stupid things would, by chance, lead him to success.

For example, a smart person deceived Sun Zichu, who was about to take an exam, by selling him last year's exam questions as today's exam questions.

It happened that the examiner this year was a weirdo. He actually used last year's exam questions, which allowed him to pass the exam in one fell swoop.

While retaining some of the original content, the script also gave the heroine, Abao, a very fashionable setting.

When you wake up every day, your memory will be reset!

This clearly borrows the setting and plot from the American film "50 First Dates".

The story of "Painted Skin" is more familiar to ordinary audiences, so the screenwriter simply made drastic adaptations.

There are only a few main characters in the original novel: the scholar, his wife, the painted skin, and the Taoist priest.

The content is the same old routine of Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio. A scholar picks up a beautiful woman and takes her home. The Taoist discovers that there is an evil spirit and warns the other party. The Taoist discovers that the Painted Skin is real and the scholar's heart is dug out.

The most special point in the original work is that in order to save her husband, the wife, according to the Taoist priest, swallowed the spit of the old monk in the street after being humiliated. After returning home, she spat it out and found a heart for her husband.

In fact, this story is praising the wife's loyalty.

However, "Painted Skin" in "New Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio" completely turned this story upside down.

The male protagonist Wang Anxu is a scumbag.

When he was a scholar, he hooked up with Mei Sanniang, who spent all her family wealth to support him to go to Beijing for the examination, and also gave birth to a child for him and took care of his mother.

But in order to improve his own future, Wang Anxu hooked up with the daughter of a Hanlin scholar and even burned his wife and children to death.

Mei Sanniang disguised herself as a painted skin to seduce him and seek revenge, but was stopped by the Taoist priest and Hanlin's daughter.

However, Wang Anxu wanted to become a royal consort for the sake of his future, so he ignored his second wife when she had difficulties in childbirth, resulting in two deaths.

The ending was a happy one. Mei Sanniang and her second wife Chen Chuhui both turned into evil spirits and came to take his life.

This time no one came to save Wang Anxu.

Because according to the plot, after Mei Sanniang failed last time, she was put into a gourd by the Taoist priest.

Mei Sanniang's reappearance at the end shows that even the Taoist priest could not bear to see Wang Anxu kill his wife twice, so he released the wronged soul from the gourd.

They say that what is scary is not the story, but the human heart.

Because this adapted version of the story is very weird and the ending is very satisfying.

But is this story really just a story?
In real life, there are many people who kill their wives and husbands for wealth, fame and fortune.

Just take the example of the pregnant woman who was pushed off a cliff by her husband while traveling to Siam. Isn’t this even more horrifying than the story?

But in reality, there is no ghost that can avenge itself.

This version of "Painted Skin" also adds a very strange setting for the female ghost.

At first, she possessed a scroll made of human skin that was brought from the Western Regions.

The male protagonist Wang Anxu painted a picture of a beautiful woman on a human skin scroll, and the person in the painting jumped out in the middle of the night.

The problem now is with this painting.

The crew had someone custom-make pictures of beautiful women earlier.

Yes, it’s not a mass-produced product, it’s custom-made.

Because the beauty in this picture was drawn based on the appearance of the heroine Zeng Li.

I drew three pictures in total, thinking that if they were splashed with water or stained during the filming process, I could still make up for them later.

Then I found out that it was in the warehouse and was eaten by rats...

And I ate all three of them together.

Director Wu Jingyuan picked it up and saw that a piece of the beautiful woman's face was missing.

This guy's face was originally long and thin, and now he looks like Zhao Benshan.

"Aren't you on good terms with Xu Jingjiang?" Director Wu called Zhang Yuan over.

"I remember when you were working on The Legend of Sword and Fairy, you and him would paint together in your spare time."

"Yes..."

When filming "The Legend of Sword and Fairy", Zhang Yuan played with Mr. Xu, who was wearing a wig and playing the role of the Moon Worshiper, and learned some attributes by the way.

Teacher Xu is a real master and a versatile person.

Ink painting, watercolor, oil painting, sculpture, printmaking, there is nothing he doesn't know, and his attainments are quite high.

She is even good at being a "nude model", after all, everyone has seen it.

"what do you mean?"

"Can you draw on the spot? We'll start shooting soon." Director Wu pushed him to the table with a playful smile.

Next, when Zeng Li arrived on the set, she saw Zhang Yuan greeting her.

"We were just talking about him yesterday, and he said he couldn't see him in different groups."

"Why did you suddenly come to our group?"

"Hello." Zeng Li also stepped forward and shook hands, quite generously.

After Director Wu and the heroine explained, Zeng Li covered her mouth with her hands and looked surprised.

"Can you still draw?"

"Yes, I learned it from Teacher Xu Jingjiang."

"Ah, he can also draw." Zeng Li glared: "He doesn't shoot that kind of..."

Zhang Yuan thought to himself, you are a woman who looks serious and steady, but you have seen that thing a lot.

Soon after, Sister Zeng stood in front of a desk.

Things like pens, ink, paper and inkstones are quite complete, and all the props used in filming are real.

And it didn’t matter if it was used, as the original purpose was to film the male lead, Wang Anxu, painting.

"Please turn sideways a little."

"Show some of your shoulders."

"Put your hands in front of your belly."

"Take another half step forward with your right leg, and relax your waist and hips..."

Zhang Yuan gave instructions while picking up a rabbit hair brush and lightly applying ink.

The cyan ink spreads on the tip of the snow-white nose, and also paints the painting with lines of varying thicknesses.

Zhang Yuan is very cautious and observes for a long time before putting pen to paper.

Ms. Zeng's makeup in this film is a classic.

It is a rare outfit that perfectly suits this lady's temperament.

A pure black long dress with wide shoulders, loose sleeves and wide bottoms.

This dress has some opera style, which is very suitable for Dalizi who has a solid foundation in Qingyi.

The hairstyle is also very charming.

It was gathered behind her and spread to her waist, leaving only a long strand on the side of her face, adding a sense of mystery, as if she was holding a lute and half covering her face.

The dark purple eyeliner, dark clothing, bright black wig, and her already bright black eyes, make her exude a solemn and repressed temperament.

But the makeup artist gave her a very red and bright lip makeup!

And that’s where the beauty lies.

The whole outfit was in black, but suddenly a hint of bright red appeared, and the mysterious and weird feeling was immediately highlighted.

This female ghost is so beautiful!
Add to that a pair of crystal earrings hanging on the even more crystal earlobes, and this makeup style matches her unique temperament, showing a contrast of both purity and desire.

There was even a time when Zeng Li's Painted Skin was called the most beautiful female ghost.

Zhang Yuan thought to himself, if all female ghosts looked like this, many people would probably have bold ideas.

After all, as long as you are brave enough, the female ghost will take maternity leave...

Dip in cinnabar and paint red lips.

Zeng Li looked at Zhang Yuan who was painting. He had a calm temperament and a leisurely talent.

I thought back to how he played the role of a woman yesterday, and thought he was really talented.

She enjoys making friends with talented people.

Because they have been performing operas for many years, neither she nor Yuan Quan are particularly outgoing girls.

Compared with their classmates Zhang Ziyi, Hu Jing and Qin Hailu, the two of them are considered quiet and introverted.

Raise your hands slowly and close your eyes slowly.

That's it.

Zhang Yuan threw down his pen, feeling that he had lost out.

I took the actors' money and even did the work of assistant director with props.

As soon as he withdrew his hand, everyone gathered around him.

"Wow, they really look like him."

"so beautiful."

"I didn't expect you to have this skill."

"I knew you could do it, but I didn't expect you to draw so well." Director Wu Jingyuan was also amazed.

Zeng Li also came forward to take a closer look and was shocked.

The self in the painting has a charming look and a face like a peach blossom.

Although the painting is freehand, it fully captures the artist's spirit and energy.

Especially a pair of bright eyes, even brighter than my own.

"You draw so well." Zeng Li picked up the scroll and admired it.

[Received thanks from Zeng Li, opera basics +1! ]

"I talked about you with Yuan Quan yesterday, and she said you were pretty good."

Zhang Yuan's heart trembled when he heard this.

I don’t think Teacher Yuan will tell the truth.

The story of the golden hoop and the water curtain cave is not something that should be spread outside!

"So you are good at painting." She smiled, obviously very satisfied with the painting.

"Yeah." Zhang Yuan thought with a smile, as long as Yuan Quan didn't tell me about his other strengths, it would be fine.

"This is a prop, you can't move it. If you like, I can draw a separate one for you." Zhang Yuan gestured: "You are Sister Yuan Quan's friend, it's free."

"Really?"

"of course."

Jiang Hua stood aside and glanced at the handsome man and beautiful woman next to Wei Zai's scroll.

"Why do I feel that Zeng Li is a female ghost, but this boy looks more like Wang Anxu."

After all, Mei Sanniang in the film was attracted by the painter Wang Anxu and resolutely devoted herself to him.

Jiang Hua shook his head slightly and didn't say anything more.

Because he himself was no pushover when he was young.

His scandal with Sheren Tang once caused a sensation in Hong Kong.

Jiang Hua started an extramarital affair with Sheren Tang on the set of "My Date with Spring" even though he was married and his wife was pregnant.

The key is that Sheren Tang still truly loves him and is still unmarried.

After Jiang Hua’s wife found out, she not only defended her husband, but also publicly cursed Sheren Tang, acting as if she wanted to discredit her.

Why should women make things difficult for other women?

In fact, Jiang Hua hesitated when he received the script of "Painted Skin".

Because the male lead Wang Anxu abandoned his wife and children, it was so much like his real self. Every time he filmed, he felt a strange sense of awkwardness in his heart, as if he was not acting, but himself.

So when he saw Zeng Li's cheerful look, he didn't know what to say.

"That young girl from yesterday seemed quite interested in him as well."

"You can tell from the look in his eyes."

"Now this person is smiling so happily... Forget it, forget it, I have no right to interfere in the affairs of mainlanders." Jiang Hua turned around and looked at the script.

After finishing this, he returned to his own "A Chinese Odyssey" crew.

He had just finished painting a picture over there, and when he came over here, Yang Mi pulled him over and asked him to help read the script and do a demonstration.

"Do it for me again like you did yesterday."

"is it okay……"

At first, Zhang Yuan was not happy.

But the other person hugged his arm tightly and acted coquettishly, shaking her body while doing so.

As he moved his body, the two big lumps on his chest hit his arms.

"Okay, okay..."

Zhang Yuan is such a pure person, who is detached from high-level interests and who is incompatible with gambling and drugs.

After a while, director Huang Weimin pulled him aside to discuss how to deal with the next shot.

He deserves to be the leading actor...

"Sooner or later I'll have to ask Cai Yinong to give me some of the Sugar Man's shares!"

After the filming was over, Zeng Li came to the crew to find him.

"Didn't you say you would draw me another one?"

Zhang Yuan thought that this girl was quite enthusiastic.

It should be Yuan Quan who spoke well of me.

Teacher Yuan is not a serious person. When he met Zeng Li, he couldn't figure out the meaning of her words.

"Okay, but where can I paint?"

"Come to my place. My suite has a small living room." Zeng Li was not shy at all.

Yang Mi on the side rolled his eyes and quickly raised his hand.

"I want to draw too!"

Zhang Yuan rolled his eyes at her and asked, "Why are you joining in the fun?"

I've communicated with people from the Central Academy of Drama, what business does a person like you having to take the entrance exam for the Beijing Film Academy have?

"Okay, let's play together. I just bought a lot of snacks. Let's eat together."

Zeng Li is quite caring towards Yang Mi, a junior in the same company.

Zhang Yuan: …

what?

What a painting!

Zhang Yuan patted the back of his head. After spending too long with Gao Yuanyuan, he wondered if he had become a little impure.

Two girls, one big and one small, chatted and laughed and went into the room with him.

Jiang Hua just got off work and saw three people enter the hotel room.

This person's eyes were wide open.

"Damn, it's more expensive than when I was younger!"

"And you said you mainlanders are conservative!"

Zeng Li's living conditions are good, which were all arranged by her agency.

Yang Mi looked at it with some envy, as she was staying in a standard room.

I always thought that one day I would be able to live in a suite.

This girl is a competitive person, so she is more utilitarian.

"I borrowed a costume from the crew. Wait a moment, I'll go change." Zeng Li walked into the bathroom with a package in her hand.

"Then I'll paint you first. The sooner I finish, the sooner I'll be done." Zhang Yuan thought to himself, what's the point of painting? Of course, he wanted to finish the work as soon as possible.

Yang Mi has changed into her own costume and tied her hair into a ponytail, which highlights her youthful beauty.

In fact, her eyes are very bright and beautiful in shape. Among the students, she is definitely the most outstanding one.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to get so many acting jobs since he was a child.

However, after she grew up, two problems arose that troubled her.

First, the breasts develop too quickly.

This causes shoulder pain, an unstraight back, and the whole person tends to lean forward habitually.

Liu Qianqian and Liu Shishi both had straight backs and excellent postures.

But look at their chests...there is basically no burden.

Not only does Yang Mi have a bad posture, she also cannot do strenuous exercise, especially running. She swings her body from side to side and is often stared at and laughed at by boys.

In fact, she is still young and doesn’t know that this is not only not a disadvantage, but a great advantage.

And it is the type with thin branches and large fruits, that is, the base is small and the fruit is large, so when it moves, it shakes and the visual effect is excellent.

The second is that she inherited her father's square cheeks.

I was fine when I was a child, with a small round face and a cute smile.

After development, when the baby fat fades away, the jaw angle begins to become gradually obvious.

So when Zhang Yuan was painting her, he deliberately made her cheeks slightly rounder to hide her facial flaws.

"Wow!" After finishing the painting, Yang Mi's eyes lit up.

I wish I looked like this picture.

She was quick-witted and noticed the adjustments Zhang Yuan made to her facial lines.

He touched his chin and looked at the painting again.

I was thinking I might as well adjust it based on this painting...

Zhang Yuan didn't know that he had inadvertently given her an idea.

Yang Mi carefully blew the scroll dry, rolled it up and put it away, treating it very carefully.

"It's really beautiful. Please draw it for me again in the future."

"Okay, but you've seen Titanic, right?"

"I've seen it..." Yang Mi nodded, then immediately reacted, squinted his eyes, hugged the scroll, and took a half step back.

In "Titanic", the heroine was naked when she was modeling for the hero.

"Cough cough..."

Just as he finished speaking, a light cough was heard behind him.

Sister Zeng Li changed into a white long dress with flowers sewn on it, which was her oiran costume in the film.

She also heard the topic of "Titanic" and her cheeks immediately turned red.

"I was just joking with her." Zhang Yuan quickly explained.

"Oh...or forget it, I won't paint anymore." Zeng Li said hesitantly.

"Okay, I don't care." Seeing the other party's attitude change at this time, Zhang Yuan knew that the other party had no other thoughts and just simply appreciated his painting skills.

"Not quite the same as Yuan Quan."

"Teacher Yuan has a cold face and seems distant, but once he gets enthusiastic... he's like a flower flowing with water."

"This person looks enthusiastic and kind, but in fact he seems distant."

Yang Mi also said hello and followed him out.

With a smug expression on his face, he touched the scroll in his arms.

"Hey, I'm the only one who has it, she doesn't."

He returned to his room excitedly.

Zhang Yuan did the same. After returning to his room and taking a shower, he sat on the sofa, reading the script while waiting for Chang Chang to knock on the door.

We agreed last night that she will come to stay at my place every day from now on.

drop by drop...

But the arrival of a phone call interrupted his happy wait.

"I'm sorry, Brother Yuan."

"The director came to see me last night, but when he found out I wasn't there, he gave me a lecture."

"I can't come live with you anymore."

Shu Chang said aggrievedly.

Zhang Yuan was shocked when he heard this.

The director is looking for an actress in the middle of the night?

Only after Shu Chang explained it did he understand.

The crew of "The Lotus Lantern" had very strict requirements. After get off work in the evening, the director and producer would call a group of leading actors to meet to discuss the script.

In addition to her, Jiao Enjun, Cao Jun and even Yan Danchen, who has a smaller role, are also there.

With so many people around, Zhang Yuan wasn't worried anymore.

After all, the most handsome one among them is Jiao Enjun, but he is a good person and would not take advantage of his status to target girls.

Even Teacher Jiao was cheated on by his wife.

He is green with this appearance...

It can be seen that not only men, but also women can do anything when they are lonely.

Look, in the room not far away, there is a lonely woman who just broke up.

"Did I go too far just now?"

"It was just a joke, and it was directed at me."

"I just turned my face away."

"And he's Quan's friend..."

After the two of them left, Zeng Li sat in the room, feeling empty inside.

"He wouldn't think that I was playing a trick on him because of what happened in the dressing room before."

"No, I have to find time to explain it to someone."

"But how can I put it?"

Zeng Li is the kind of person who is slow to react but has a lot on her mind.

I'm the type of person who can't utter a word after arguing with someone for a long time, but can spend the whole night reviewing the argument when I get home.

Zeng Li spent the remaining few days worrying about this matter.

Let me tell you, it’s a bit difficult to start.

If I don't tell you, I'm afraid people will misunderstand me.

You see, with this kind of personality, no wonder Zhang Yimou chose Zhang Ziyi instead of her.

She doesn’t have the ruthlessness of Zhang Ziyi!
He is too dull, hesitant and cowardly.

Zhang Yuan didn't take her seriously.

Make friends if you can, pursue a casual romance if you can, and don’t force it if you don’t have one.

She is beautiful, even more beautiful in person than in front of the camera.

But it’s not so beautiful that you have to buy it, or you’ll regret it for the rest of your life if you miss it.

And this person is quite "serious" about relationships.

Serious people get hurt easily.

Zhang Yuan only plays with the body, not the feelings.

It's not okay to hurt people's feelings.

He continued filming, and the days passed one by one.

That day, he received a call from Fan Xiaopang.

"Zhang Yuan, I got some news about the Wang brothers..." (End of this chapter)