Two weeks later, on the set of "Dragon Sparrow."
After finishing her makeup, Selina remained in her designated makeup room, accompanied by her personal makeup artist and two assistants, who were all idly browsing the web.
In the future, internet access has become more humanized. Everyone wears a wristband from birth, containing personal information and identification codes. This wristband not only provides internet access but also functions as a communication device.
However, the wristband's screen is small, so most people prefer using mobile light screens for browsing the internet. These screens are more functional and user-friendly, capable of displaying three-dimensional images with complete and clear visuals.
Selina checked the real-time entertainment news but found no sensational headlines. She then opened her main page on the social networking site FW and had her assistant take a photo of her. She uploaded it with a caption: "First scene on set, hoping everything goes smoothly today! [Nervous] [Nervous]"
A few seconds after posting, Selina refreshed the page and saw numerous replies, mostly from fans cheering her on. Some, however, noticed the details and asked: "Why the nervous emoji? Is our goddess acting opposite the male god today?! First scene already?!"
Selina smiled with satisfaction at this reply. She was quite strategic, knowing how to subtly pique the audience's interest. Although she didn't land Zhang Kai's program last time, she now had a movie with Arnold, where she was the leading actress.
Selina cherished this opportunity, aiming to leverage this film with Arnold to reignite her career and reach new heights.
After the comment about Arnold, the response was enthusiastic. Many fans began screaming for the male god, eagerly hoping Selina would later post a photo of Arnold for them to admire. The comments, shares, and flower counts skyrocketed.
Selina had brought her makeup artist today, who, seeing the post, enviously remarked, "You must earn quite a bit from those flower counts, right?" On FW, flowers are paid likes, essentially equating to real money, which is why many artists are keen to open accounts there.
Selina casually shrugged, not confirming or denying it, though her expression betrayed her excitement. Even though she hadn't seen Arnold yet, she could already imagine the film's reception once it aired—she was the lead actress, and she was sure to become a sensation again.
Selina stood up to stretch, uninterested in replying to the makeup artist's comment. The makeup artist, feeling slighted, sulkily took out her mobile light screen to read the news.
A superstar wandering in the exclusive makeup room naturally prompted the two assistants to stand up and wait for instructions. Selina was quite demanding in private, except when dealing with her agent. Feeling bored, she suddenly asked, "Why is it so quiet outside?"
Although the makeup room was exclusive, its soundproofing wasn't great. The unusual silence made the assistants realize something was off. One of them moved towards the door to check, while the makeup artist, previously ignored, lazily remarked, "It's nothing, just an Asian newcomer."
Asian newcomer? The two assistants exchanged glances, but Selina, who had attended the exchange meeting, knew exactly what "Asian newcomer" meant.
The news had spread like wildfire within the circle—a pure-blood, beautiful Asian with a perfect Eastern face, stunning promotional photos, and backed by the veteran agent Jane Anning.
Hearing "Asian newcomer," Selina immediately pictured the newcomer's face but found it hard to believe. That newcomer hadn't officially debuted yet, so how could they land a role in a film as prestigious as "Dragon Sparrow"?
Selina instinctively wanted to deny it, thinking it impossible. But considering the newcomer's backing, she felt it wasn't entirely out of the question. She decided to go see for herself.
Opening the door, she found the hallway empty, except for two staff members passing by.
Selina, stepping out in full makeup, startled them: "Where is everyone?"
One of the men pointed ahead, "Oh, Arnold is here."
Selina smiled brightly, nodding as she closed the door. She knew it—it couldn't be the newcomer.
In the dressing room, Xize was practically surrounded, and Jane Anning was on the brink of losing her mind!
"Step back! Don't cross this line! We still need to do makeup!" Jane Anning, like a fierce mother hen protecting her chick, sternly pointed at several people, "No posting photos online! It's confidential! Got it?"
But no one paid attention to the protective mother hen because all eyes were on Xize, who was already in costume and getting his makeup done in front of the mirror.
"Dragon Sparrow" is set in the Space Age, against the backdrop of the famous "Gene War," telling the story of a mercenary protecting the "Dragon Sparrow" gene. In this story, Xize plays "Ayer," the son of the old employer who entrusts the gene to the mercenary. The old employer once saved the mercenary, and when handing over "Dragon Sparrow," he also entrusted his son to the mercenary leader, Jo.
In this story, "Ayer" is a physically weak but emotionally rich and infectious sunny boy. So, after taking on this role, Xize embarked on a grueling weight-loss regime.
To present himself afresh at the exchange meeting, Xize had spent hours daily in the gym. Now, to portray the "physically weak" boy, he had to starve himself, consuming only vegetables in the morning and fasting the rest of the day, occasionally drinking water, enduring this for two weeks until the filming began.
After two weeks of starvation, Xize was weak and had lost all his muscle mass. Entering the set with Jane Anning, he felt light-headed, as if a gust of wind could blow him away, making him extremely uncomfortable.
But who would have thought that his current state made him even more endearing and lovable?
If Xize initially gave the impression of a spirited and sensible young man, he had now transformed into a frail, pitiable boy. His skin was pale, his chin sharp, and his slender frame was accentuated by his white shirt. Yet, he had a rare pure Eastern face, with large, bright eyes that blinked innocently.
How could his dark eyes be so captivating? Were they naturally lined and enhanced? Oh, the swooning!
Xize had no idea how he appeared to others at the moment. He was genuinely starving, with his stomach growling, having only consumed a bit of nutrient solution in the morning. Looking in the mirror before leaving, he thought he looked like a weakling. But to others, he appeared as a delicate, adorable bunny with natural eyeliner and black contacts!
The set was in an uproar! Oh my, is this the legendary Asian newcomer? Why does he look so fragile? Come to big sister, let me pamper you!
Pure-blood Asians were rare in the industry. Generally, anyone with Asian heritage would get preferential treatment, let alone someone like Xize, whose face screamed "pure blood."
The set hadn't officially started filming, but the dressing room was already crowded. When Xize emerged in his costume, he was nearly blinded by the flashlights. His first scene required a camouflage outfit, the dark green contrasting sharply with his fair skin, perfectly highlighting his delicate aura. As soon as he stepped out, he was surrounded by screams.
Honestly, Xize enjoyed the preferential treatment Asians received now. In his previous life, being Asian in Hollywood was tough. Now, with such favorable conditions, he felt like crying, though he lacked the energy. He could only muster a smile for everyone.
Jane Anning, protecting him, barely managed to clear a path but couldn't get out of the dressing room. She finally shouted, "We need to get to makeup! We're running out of time!"
The front rows, holding mobile light screens, yelled back, "Makeup artist?! Makeup artist!? Get the makeup artist here!"
One woman suddenly put down her screen, shouting, "Damn! I'm the makeup artist!" drawing envious glances from all around.
Xize was indeed weak. He didn't need to starve himself this much, but Tom, knowing he was dieting for the film, scheduled all of Ayer's weakest scenes for today to ensure authenticity, asking him to come in his most fragile state.
Xize wanted to say he could act weak, but seeing Tom's dedication, he couldn't refuse. He wanted to act professionally, relying on his skills rather than just his looks.
With too many people in the room, they had to do his makeup there. Fortunately, today's costume was simple, and other actors' outfits had already been delivered.
The makeup artist, feeling sorry for Xize, applied some powder, remarking, "You shouldn't starve yourself like this, even for a role."
A bunch of fans behind nodded in agreement, and Xize reassured them, "After today's scenes, I won't need to do this anymore."
Someone behind, clutching their chest in sympathy, offered, "You should eat more. I have some nutrient solution. You can have some after your scenes."
Jane Anning was stunned, not knowing how to react. How did Xize manage to evoke such sympathy from the crew? This face-obsessed world was unbelievable!
Jane Anning, inwardly bleeding, matched Xize's weak demeanor, "Our Xize starved for ten days to play Ayer, depleting all his muscle protein. He only had some nutrient solution this morning to avoid fainting during the shoot."
The women, united in their concern, scolded Xize for not taking care of himself, "You should eat something, at least a little. You can't neglect yourself like this."
Xize, amused and touched, found the future world more open and straightforward in behavior. Though a bit embarrassed, he appreciated the care. However, he was puzzled by the number of men among his admirers.
The crew, spurred by Jane Anning's words, grew increasingly sympathetic. Knowing he was a nineteen-year-old newcomer, they felt even more protective. The makeup artist, unwilling to leave, meticulously worked on Xize, making him look even more delicate and handsome under the makeup lights, winning over everyone's hearts.
When Tom arrived, the crew had to return to normal, and the assistant director called Xize over for his first scene, which had been changed to his death scene.
Xize, ready, asked, "Which scene?"
The assistant director replied, "Ayer's death scene."
Xize, "......" He hadn't expected his first scene after rebirth to be so ominous...
In the future, filming methods varied greatly. Advanced technology allowed small drones to capture many shots, especially for large scenes, though close-ups still required traditional methods familiar to Xize.
The indoor set, a room in an abandoned building, was ready. In the film, Ayer dies here, the dark, dirty room contrasting sharply with his sunny personality.
Entering the set, Xize sensed a heavy atmosphere, guessing Arnold had arrived. Sure enough, Tom was talking to a tall man in camouflage, likely Arnold.
Xize, already a sensation in the crew, was greeted warmly. Someone even held up nutrient solution, indicating they were ready.
Feeling touched, Xize smiled gratefully at everyone. Tom, noticing the commotion, spotted him.
Tom, used to it, had seen his female screenwriter revise the script dozens of times for Xize, determined to make Ayer's character perfect. Tom suspected there might still be changes.
Talking to Arnold, Tom turned to see Xize, and Arnold followed suit, momentarily stunned.
Tom nearly dropped his megaphone, "Doesn't anyone know this is a death scene? Who did the makeup? Are we going to a beauty pageant or a funeral?"
The on-set makeup artist, hearing the commotion, rushed over, thinking Tom was overreacting. But seeing Xize's makeup, she realized it was just powder, no eyeliner. The director couldn't help it if the actor was naturally handsome!
The makeup artist lightly brushed Xize's face, whispering, "Don't be mad. Tom's like this. You'll get used to it."
Tom, realizing it wasn't the makeup but Xize's natural handsomeness, fell silent and motioned for Xize to come over, "Come here, let me explain."
Xize nodded at Arnold in greeting as he passed, but Arnold, maintaining his aloof demeanor, remained silent.
Tom positioned Xize, signaling the lights, and had him lie down. Xize, already weak, felt dizzy but nodded.
Tom added, "Just get through this scene, and you won't need to starve anymore."
Xize nodded, closing his eyes to find his state.
Arnold was surprised to see Xize. He had first seen him at the exchange meeting, recognizing the Asian newcomer could dominate the entertainment industry with his looks alone. Xize's "Olay" audition for "Player" had left a deep impression, securing the final Eastern role.
Though it was Arnold's decision, as Zhang Kai had hesitated, preferring Zhou Yang for his comedic value in a reality show. But Arnold, personally appreciating Xize, had made the final call.
Arnold hadn't remembered Xize's name, typical of his aloof nature, until two weeks ago when Sam informed him that Tom had cast Xize as Ayer, prompting Arnold to take notice.
Learning that Tom and the writers had rewritten the script for Xize, Arnold couldn't ignore him any longer. Discovering Xize was the same Asian newcomer was a shock.
This newcomer had surprised many, including Arnold, like a refreshing rain after a drought, capturing hearts with his Eastern face and perfect acting.
Now, Xize appeared, weak but perfect. Rumor had it he starved for two weeks to lose muscle, fitting Tom's needs for this scene. Arnold's impression of Xize improved, feeling a slight fondness.
Tom, moving to the camera, had Arnold crouch beside Xize. The set lights dimmed, leaving only a dim yellow light.
Clapboard, action!
The dirty floor, dusty corners, and musty smell filled the air. In the dark room, a dim lantern cast a weak light, illuminating the dust and filth beyond its glow, while inside the circle of light lay Ayer's peaceful face and Jo's masked half-face.
Ayer, in clean camouflage, lay pale on the floor, his weak frame beneath the uniform. Yet, his face was serene, reflecting his clean, sunny nature, as if even death couldn't pull him into darkness.
Jo knelt on one knee, looking down at him, his mask hiding half his face, his lowered gaze obscuring all emotion. He seemed calm, but his rigid spine betrayed his feelings.
Ayer slowly opened his eyes, his black lashes fluttering like butterfly wings. He didn't look like a dying man; his dark eyes sparkled. Seeing Jo, he spoke, "I think this is good. I can reunite with my father."
Jo finally looked up, his icy blue eyes heavy, relaxing his tense back. He bent down, his gaze fixed, as if afraid Ayer would disappear if he blinked. He remained silent.
Ayer smiled, showing no fear or sadness of death, as if he had long expected this end. In this dirty room, his smile was pure and simple.
It seemed like a final burst of energy. No one knew what Ayer saw, but his gaze turned to the dark ceiling, as if seeing a joyful vision. His dark eyes were clear, his beautiful face blooming like a flower.
Ayer's gaze returned to Jo, finally saying, "I always wanted to see your face behind the mask."
Jo's hand slowly lifted, touching the hidden clasp, but Ayer shook his head, "Better not. Curiosity killed the cat. If you're too ugly, I might die unhappy."
Jo didn't respond, lowering his hand to rest gently on Ayer's shoulder.
Ayer's smile was bright, like a lively note, as if not facing death. He chattered about his childhood, sneaking into his father's lab, almost getting beaten; his initial dislike of Jo for being too cold; his wish for a quiet life, now finding adventure exciting.
Jo listened silently, as always.
But Ayer's smile faded, his eyes like deep pools, black and serene.
After a while, the room fell silent. The dim light circled the two figures. Ayer closed his eyes, smiling, "Jo, goodbye."
The "goodbye" was like a final note, ending a young life.
Jo remained still, his hand tightening on the dead boy's shoulder.
"Cut!"
Tom's "cut" had barely landed when bags of nutrient solution were thrown like sandbags, one hitting Arnold's chest and landing on Xize's stomach.
Xize opened his eyes to see a bag of nutrient solution on his stomach, grabbed it, and started guzzling it, feeling utterly weak.