Just then, a knock came on the door. Filming was about to start.
Yu Shiqing picked up the script and went out.
He ran lines twice with Du Han, memorized his blocking, and waited for the slate to clap.
Yu Rong stood below the stage. He still felt Du Han looked more professional and experienced. Yu Shiqing, being a has-been, couldn’t compare.
He respected Yu Shiqing’s acting, but who said you couldn’t find someone better?
But as the cameras rolled, he realized—he was wrong again.
As soon as the scene began, Yu Shiqing’s whole aura changed.
Yu Rong had seen him get into character instantly before, but this time was different.
In this scene, Yu Shiqing played a young man just starting his mission. When the slate clapped, he took a long step, grabbed Du Han’s shoulder, and leapt up with a laugh, snatching back a photo pendant.
“Give that back!”
Du Han laughed and punched his chest. “Hey, what’s so precious—your girlfriend gave it to you?”
Yu Shiqing shook the pendant proudly in his face. “It’s a lucky charm from my little brother.”
Du Han said flatly, “Tch, what’s so special about something from your brother?”
Yu Shiqing beamed. “What do you know!”
Yu Rong was stunned.
Was this really Yu Shiqing?
This performance was worlds apart from his earlier role as a cold-blooded officer.
As he questioned reality, the two actors on screen reached the emotional climax.
While carrying out a rescue mission, Ji Ming received a letter—his father had died in the line of duty.
Yu Shiqing’s smile froze. His expression changed from confusion to disbelief, and then to grief-stricken silence.
Yu Rong, watching through the monitor, saw the subtle shift in Yu Shiqing’s face and was completely awed by his performance.
The emotions were layered and rich. Even he was drawn into the story, feeling heartache for Ji Ming.
Everything suddenly fell quiet.
Yu Rong turned to look and realized everyone around him was silently watching the performance—no exceptions.
Du Han said, “Ming, calm down. We can’t leave now.”
Yu Shiqing didn’t speak. He marched toward the door, full of rage and pain.
Du Han tried to stop him twice but failed. On the third try—
Yu Shiqing shook him off violently.
He suddenly turned, and the bright youthful smile was replaced by explosive, unbearable pain.
He shouted, “That was my dad!”
The words hit like a bomb, making everyone flinch slightly.
Yu Rong held his breath.
Through the monitor, he saw a single tear fall from Yu Shiqing’s right eye—at the perfect moment. It added a touch of vulnerability to the character and deeply moved the audience.
Facing those teary red eyes, Du Han froze.
“I know…”
Yu Shiqing grabbed his collar, teeth clenched, lips trembling. Another tear fell.
His voice cracked with sorrow. “Yangzi.”
His hand shook as it clutched Du Han’s collar. Through gritted teeth, he cried, “That was my dad!”
The set was dead silent.
His control over the emotion was so precise, the outburst so flawless.
Du Han’s eyes turned red too. “I know, Ming. But those people out there—they need us more!”
Yu Shiqing paused.
He looked at the extras’ uneasy faces, and the pain in his eyes shifted to inner struggle.
After a long moment, he staggered back and knelt in the direction of home. His back hunched, shoulders trembling. His short gasps were the only sounds betraying the young soldier’s unbearable grief.
Yu Shiqing’s eyes told the whole story.
Standing behind the monitor, Jiang Yu watched Yu Shiqing’s face intensely.
The emotions were so raw they didn’t need lines—just his gaze told everything.
It felt real.
Suddenly, Ren Bai beside him let out a quiet sigh.
At that moment, Du Han finished his final line.
The camera cut. Applause erupted from the set, snapping Du Han out of it.
Only now did he realize that throughout the entire scene, he had been completely led by Yu Shiqing’s emotions like a puppet.
The more he thought about it, the darker his face became.
Yan Hongyun and Shi Zhifeng came over, applause still ringing.
The scene had been done in one take.
Yan Hongyun clapped and exclaimed, “Amazing. Teacher Yu, you never disappoint!”
Shi Zhifeng added, “I couldn’t find a single flaw in that shot. Shiqing, remember me for your next schedule.”
Then he turned to Du Han and said, “Xiao Du, you did well. Very steady.”
Very steady.
Du Han took a deep breath.
It was always like this.
He was always “steady,” and Yu Shiqing was always “flawless.”
It felt like all his effort meant nothing as long as Yu Shiqing was there.
Three years had passed—and it was still the same!
Why?
How was that fair?
Then he heard the crew whispering nearby.
“Was that Du Han in the scene with Teacher Yu? Weird, I didn’t even notice what he was doing.”
“That was Du Han? Eh, Yu Shiqing is way better—I almost cried!”
“No wonder. Teacher Yu has five film awards. Du Han’s just a commercial actor. Teacher Yu’s a true master, hahaha…”
Du Han heard every word clearly. His limbs went cold, and he could feel his teeth chattering.
Yu Rong walked over. Du Han forced a smile.
He knew who Yu Rong was—an up-and-coming star being promoted by Qingyuan, someone worth befriending.
Yu Rong said, “You acted so well just now.”
Du Han’s anger slightly eased. He modestly said, “Still not as good as Shiqing.”
Yu Rong agreed, “True. But that’s only because senior is amazing—not because you’re not good.”
He smiled, recalling earlier. “When you were getting into character, senior was still chatting, but the moment the camera rolled, he completely transformed. So impressive! Let’s learn from him together.”
Hearing that, Du Han nearly burst a blood vessel.
He couldn’t take it anymore. Saying he didn’t feel well, he turned and left in a hurry.
Yu Rong had hoped to network more, but seeing that, he returned to Yu Shiqing.
“Senior, your friend doesn’t seem to be feeling well.”
Yu Shiqing glanced toward the door but said nothing.
Yu Rong asked, “Should we go check on him?”
Jiang Yu answered for Yu Shiqing, “No.”
Yu Rong was stunned.
Ren Bai handed Yu Shiqing some water.
That earlier scene had been satisfying to watch.
It was obvious why Du Han had agreed to cameo. But now that he’d been humiliated and had to leave embarrassed, Ren Bai felt even better.
He echoed, “No need to check. He deserved it.”
