NOVEL WEB Chapter 160: Teaching Drama
The two of them discussed at the café for a long time. Under Yang Xiaoxiu's patient explanation, Li Jing learned a lot about acting, which gradually helped him understand the true techniques and methods of acting from a rookie's perspective.
There's no denying that Yang Xiaoxiu's professional skills are indeed strong, with especially solid fundamentals.
It was through this exchange that Li Jing learned Yang Xiaoxiu was the top student in their class, which made him see her in a new light.
After they left the café, Yang Xiaoxiu continued to explain the plot and analyze the characters for Li Jing.
As evening approached, Li Jing simply booked a private room at a decent restaurant so they could continue their discussion, and also try to practice some scenes.
In order to help Li Jing meet the standards as soon as possible, Yang Xiaoxiu even specifically studied the female character who had the most scenes with Jiangnan and took on that role herself to help Li Jing perform.
Holding the script, Yang Xiaoxiu read: "Let's imagine now, the sunlight shines through the somewhat outdated windows of the state-owned factory and falls on rows of machines, with the smell of oil and metal permeating the air."
With that, she looked at Li Jing: "In a corner of the workshop, you, as Jiangnan, are looking at me busy at the lathe, holding an apple."
Seeing Yang Xiaoxiu put down the script, Li Jing knew it had started. After taking a deep breath, his expression changed, and he smiled slightly with a bit of teasing: "Why are you like this machine, once you get busy, you can't stop? Are you trying to see who is more dedicated, you or it?"
Yang Xiaoxiu rolled her eyes at him, her hands acting out imaginary movements non-stop: "Hmph, if I weren't busy, this work would pile up like a mountain. Unlike you, wandering around all day."
Li Jing walked over, leaned against the imagined lathe: "I'm just balancing work and rest. Be careful not to turn yourself into a robot. Otherwise, I'll only be able to oil you."
Yang Xiaoxiu stopped her work, picked up a wrench as if to hit him: "All you do is make snide remarks. Instead of wasting time, why not help me?"
Li Jing pretended to dodge: "No, no, no, I wouldn't dare provoke you, the tireless warrior. But are you working so hard to be our factory's model worker?"
"It's still not right here."
Before Li Jing finished his sentence, Yang Xiaoxiu suddenly dropped her character and snapped back to her normal self.
She furrowed her brow, looking at Li Jing: "Brother Jing, you've got the lines down, but your expressions are too forced, very unnatural. Is it because you're still not immersed in the character of Uncle Liu?"
Li Jing also felt that his actions and expressions were a bit contrived. After pondering a moment, he nodded, "Indeed, I found that at first, I could immerse myself, but now I lose my focus as I act."
"Maybe it's also related to the environment since this is your first performance, and it's a non-physical setting, so the immersion might be lacking."
Yang Xiaoxiu first comforted Li Jing, then suggested, "Why don't you forget about these actions for now, and just focus on considering it as a conversation. You're chatting with me as this character, trying to approach it in Uncle Liu's way. You know, Jiangnan, like Uncle Liu, is very skilled at engaging with women; both his speech and demeanor are very natural..."
"Uncle Liu and Jiangnan are alike..."
Hearing this, Li Jing felt a sense of familiarity, suddenly remembering that Wen Lan also once said he resembled Jiangnan.
The similarities between himself and Jiangnan can be summed up in two ways: one is the scholarly aura of a college student, with gentle speech and a high overall quality. The second is being adept at dealing with various women.
To converse with a female role, it might be more effective to immerse himself with Uncle Liu's mindset rather than substituting it with Uncle Liu's way of speaking.
Thinking of this, Li Jing gradually had a direction. He said to Yang Xiaoxiu: "Xiaoxiu, let's try again, but I'll focus on communication expression, leaving out the actions and positions for now."
"Sure."
Yang Xiaoxiu nodded, and with her eyes closed, when she reopened them, she had completely entered the character she was playing.
Li Jing observed Yang Xiaoxiu's demeanor, secretly admiring her. Imagining himself as Jiangnan, his gaze gradually changed, as if he was truly in a 1990s state-owned factory, facing a young female colleague he had some affection for.
"Why are you like this machine, once you get busy, you can't stop? Are you trying to see who is more dedicated, you or it?"
This time, Li Jing no longer thought about playing a character but spoke with his original mindset, only slightly altering his words and demeanor, which made it feel much more natural and smooth.
Yang Xiaoxiu could also feel that he seemed to have found his state, surprised, she rolled her eyes at him and continued along the storyline: "Hmph, if I weren't busy, this work would pile up like a mountain. Unlike you, wandering around all day."
"I'm just balancing work and rest..." Мy Virtuаl Librаry Еmpirе (М-VLЕМРYR)
With their coordination, this attempt went very smoothly.
Especially for Li Jing, once he integrated his mindset into the role, and combined it with his observations of Uncle Liu's demeanor, he seemed to truly become Jiangnan at this moment, with a bit of teasing flirtation towards the clean and youthful woman in front of him.
Continuing along with the storyline, Li Jing reached out to stop Yang Xiaoxiu's busy hands, pushing her against the wall: "Don't push yourself so hard, you're not a tireless warrior."
Yang Xiaoxiu noticed Li Jing was fully immersed and felt happy for him, then continued acting with him, coldly snorting: "If I don't work hard, you'll take care of me?"
"Sure, it depends on whether you want me to take care of you..."
"Hmph, don't I know you? Besides me, that young girl from the office is also your old flame, right..."
"Outstanding men are always liked by many women, that's normal. You should be happy that such an outstanding man fell for you."
"You like me?"
"You don't believe it?"
"I don't believe... hmm?"
Before she finished speaking, Li Jing directly kissed her.
Originally, the scene was supposed to cut here, and although the subsequent plot implied the two indeed had a relationship, it was not supposed to be filmed. The two actors would also stop acting here.
But Li Jing seemed genuinely engrossed in the scene, as he not only truly kissed Yang Xiaoxiu's lips but also embraced her.
Yang Xiaoxiu was slightly startled but, being deep in the role, didn't dare refuse Li Jing, only allowing herself to be embraced.
Their moist lips tightly pressed together.
Initially, Yang Xiaoxiu's lips were sealed shut, but under his hands' roaming, she couldn't help but moan softly, slightly parting her lips, her tongue instinctively entwining with his.
Li Jing now only felt his body heat up, as if he were really in that state-owned factory on that afternoon, finally embracing the female colleague he liked and unwilling to let go, passionately kissing.
In fact, Yang Xiaoxiu was even prettier than the girl described in the book.
In addition, Yang Xiaoxiu's apparent inexperience and unfamiliarity in such matters only made Li Jing feel even more intense.
"Open your mouth..."
Li Jing seemed to command, or was it guiding, Yang Xiaoxiu instinctively followed his lead, engaging in a lingering, heated kiss.
Just as Li Jing's hand moved upward to that small peak, there was a sudden knock at the door.
Initially, Li Jing didn't hear it until the female attendant who opened the door exclaimed in surprise and quickly apologized, bringing him back to his senses and prompting him to release Yang Xiaoxiu.
Yang Xiaoxiu immediately pushed Li Jing away, tidying her clothes, her face flushed red.
Looking at the flustered and apologetic female attendant, and the modern luxurious private room around him, Li Jing exhaled deeply, finally coming out of the role.
Being used to it, Li Jing, as an old hand, naturally didn't feel embarrassed because they were caught, unlike Yang Xiaoxiu. Instead, he calmly told the attendant: "Bring the dishes up, and knock next time. Wait for me to approve before coming in."
"S-sorry."
The female attendant bowed her head in apology and quickly left after saying sorry a few more times.
Li Jing then turned to look at Yang Xiaoxiu, noticing her head hung low, face flushed, seemingly still not recovered from what had just happened. He couldn't help but apologize: "I'm sorry, I got too into the role just now."
Seeing that she didn't speak, still wearing a bashful and embarrassed look, Li Jing raised an eyebrow, then seemed to think of something and asked in surprise: "Was that your first time?"
Hearing this, Yang Xiaoxiu blushed even more, nodded slightly, and whispered in a voice akin to a mosquito: "Mm..."