Chapter 25

Chapter 25

"Cut!"

Sitting forward in his chair, Director Li Zhengzheng leaned in to watch the playback on the monitor. After carefully reviewing it, he nodded in satisfaction and said, "Pass!"

Sitting next to him, Yu Mingze jumped up from his chair and rushed onto the set. "Damn, Zhaozhao, do you even know how amazing that take was?!"

The veteran actor, whom Ye Mingzhao helped to his feet, gave him a thumbs-up and said, "That was an exceptional take."

The actors and crew members watching also looked at Ye Mingzhao differently now. If their previous respect for him stemmed from keeping their distance due to the influence of the Ye family and his ruthlessness in bringing in funding to replace Zhou Yueze, it now included genuine admiration for his acting skills.

In such a complex and emotionally heavy scene, Ye Mingzhao not only nailed it in one take but also delivered precise emotions and impeccable acting. Even his lines were noteworthy. The ruthless, venomous look in his eyes and his expression of utter disdain were so real that they appeared to have no trace of acting.

The actors and crew watching on the sidelines didn't say it out loud, but they all felt that Ye Mingzhao's performance was in no way inferior to the veteran actor playing his father. In fact, Ye Mingzhao seemed to overshadow the veteran in terms of presence.

Of course, this was what the script required. But for Ye Mingzhao, a complete novice with no acting experience, to accurately interpret the scene so well spoke volumes about his talent and potential.

Ever observant of the reactions of those around him, Ye Mingzhao keenly sensed the shift in everyone's emotions. He stood somewhat dazed in front of the monitor, watching the playback of the scene over and over again.

On screen, his expression was cold and venomous, clearly displaying Fu Shen's contempt and disdain for his biological father. Such intense negative emotions were something that would never appear on Ye Mingzhao's own face.

Because Ye Mingzhao had known from a young age that he had to appear perfectly excellent, intelligent, kind, harmless, and understanding... only then would he be liked and accepted by others.

Thus, Ye Mingzhao meticulously maintained the image of a perfect son, student, and brother, never allowing his darker emotions to surface. He couldn't risk being disliked.

But he was still human, and darker thoughts inevitably arose within him. Greed, jealousy, pride, anger, laziness, hatred... these emotions constantly welled up inside him. They were like invisible air, tightly wrapping around every cell of Ye Mingzhao's body, flowing with each heartbeat.

Yet Ye Mingzhao never allowed these negative emotions to surface. He kept them tightly suppressed deep within, hidden beneath his clean, delicate skin, concealed behind his harmless smile, imprisoned within his scheming mind. Only in the quiet of night did he allow himself to relive these emotions, his skin tingling with a mix of fear and exhilaration.

Ye Mingzhao had never imagined that he could expose these negative, dark, and ugly emotions to broad daylight, to the high-definition camera, and in front of so many people on set.

Instead of facing criticism and scorn, everyone praised his acting skills.

Ye Mingzhao noticed the shock and admiration in everyone's eyes. A feeling he had never experienced before surged up from his tailbone, a faint electric current numbing him slightly as it hit his pituitary gland. Ye Mingzhao discreetly clenched his fist, silently savoring the atmosphere.

What kind of feeling was this?

It felt like drinking an ice-cold bottle of carbonated water on a scorching summer day, the bubbles fizzing through his veins. Or like a sudden rainstorm in a boundless desert, the huge raindrops pouring down on him, yet he didn't feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. Instead, he felt an exhilarating sensation, as if layers of shackles were being peeled away. Or like floating on a stormy sea for too long and suddenly spotting an island. Ye Mingzhao couldn't be sure what was on that island, but he had to admit that its appearance gave him a sense of hope and peace.

It turned out that even villains could be popular.

Ye Mingzhao's eyes subtly scanned the faces of everyone on set, and a sense of accomplishment welled up inside him.

This feeling was unlike anything he had ever experienced, even in the high-stakes world of finance and mergers.

The feeling of being admired, accepted, and respected, even when revealing his darker side.

So, I can reveal my true self—even if only through acting.

News of Ye Mingzhao's remarkable performance quickly spread through the crew.

No one had expected that a complete novice with no acting experience could be so good.

Especially in his portrayal of the villain Fu Shen, Ye Mingzhao's presence and intensity were nothing short of astonishing. But his performance wasn't the typical explosive outburst seen in the industry. Instead, it was structured, logical, meticulous, and seamless. Like the rising tide, it was silent and gradual. You couldn't pinpoint when it began, but by the time you noticed, the waves had already built into a towering wall, sweeping over everything in their path, leaving nothing untouched.

Several veteran actors who frequently share scenes with Ye Mingzhao have commented that: "Ye Mingzhao's performance doesn't even feel like acting."

Whether it's the innocent, kind, and both intelligent and powerful male lead Gu Mingchao, or the dark, cunning, and calculating villain Fu Shen, Ye Mingzhao's interpretation is always precise. When he plays the male lead, everyone feels that Ye Mingzhao is Gu Mingchao. It's no wonder the screenwriter personally acknowledged him as the prototype. He truly is a gentle and refined gentleman. Even in the scenes where the character loses his memory and falls into distress, his inherent elegance, nobility, wisdom, and kindness still shine through. However, when Ye Mingzhao plays the villain, everyone has to admit that he truly brings out the selfishness, greed, and ruthlessness in Fu Shen.

How can someone's acting be this good?

Even the most talented actors show some rawness in their first performances. Yet, this kind of flaw is completely absent in Ye Mingzhao. It's as if he was born to act. As soon as he steps in front of the camera, he effortlessly brings a thousand different characters to life.

Even more terrifying is that Ye Mingzhao's acting is not static. As the filming progressed, he gradually became more familiar with the shooting atmosphere and various techniques, and his expressiveness increased exponentially. Several times, the veteran actors playing his elders nearly struggled to keep up with Ye Mingzhao's intensity.

As Ye Mingzhao's performances in the crew became increasingly extraordinary, it led to actors and staff without scenes coming over to watch whenever he was filming. Eventually, actors and directors from neighboring crews also came to visit after hearing about it.

"Ye, you're amazing!" During a filming break, Jiang Shangyun approached Ye Mingzhao with a design book in hand. "Your first performance is so good."

Ye Mingzhao smiled and handed Jiang Shangyun a chilled drink from the mini-fridge. "How's your design draft coming along?"

Jiang Shangyun grinned and handed his design book to Ye Mingzhao. "The initial draft is finalized. Now I just need to win the championship in the finals, and my design will appear in the drama under the female lead's name."

Jiang Shangyun blinked, full of anticipation.

Ye Mingzhao slowly flipped through Jiang Shangyun's design book.

Jiang Shangyun squatted next to Ye Mingzhao, scratched his head, and randomly started a conversation. "Watching you guys film over the past few days, I feel like the screenwriter is really harsh on the second male lead!"

Ye Mingzhao looked up at Jiang Shangyun. "Why do you say that?"

Jiang Shangyun said, "He wrote the second male lead's parents and family to be so terrible. I think that growing up in such an environment, it's understandable why he became the way he did."

"Is that so?" Ye Mingzhao smiled slightly and closed Jiang Shangyun's design book. "I think the opposite."

"Eh?" Jiang Shangyun blinked his dark, puppy-like eyes and looked at Ye Mingzhao with pure curiosity.

Ye Mingzhao looked at Jiang Shangyun calmly, his eyes deep and dark, like two unfathomable cold pools. "Precisely because the second male lead's biological father is an alcoholic gambler who treats him poorly, and his biological mother is weak and timid, unable to protect him, and his younger siblings would sell him out for their own benefit, the audience can understand the second male lead's desire to leave that family desperately. Even if they don't agree with his methods and actions, they will still sympathize with his desire to break free from the mud, and may even applaud his actions against his biological father."

Jiang Shangyun scratched his cheek, looking confused. "Is there something wrong with that?"

"Of course not." Ye Mingzhao's expression softened as he spoke slowly. "But the audience's empathy for the second male lead is built upon his tragic experiences. In other words, if the second male lead didn't have such a tragic background, if he had a normal family, would the audience still applaud his revenge?"

Jiang Shangyun choked up.

Ye Mingzhao suddenly smiled. "So you see, the true cruelty isn't giving a villain a terrible family and an unhealable childhood. On the contrary, it's the appearance of this plot that allows the audience to empathize with the villain. It's the screenwriter's mercy and compassion toward the character. At the very least, it lets people know that the second male lead's malice and ambitions have reasons behind them."

Jiang Shangyun looked even more confused. "Is that so? Then what kind of plot do you think is truly cruel?"

Ye Mingzhao looked at Jiang Shangyun deeply, his tone calm. "A truly cruel arrangement would be to make the villain's biological parents ordinary good people. They can be beautiful, kind, loving, wealthy, family-oriented, and possess every virtue imaginable. Of course, they would love their own child. But only if that child fits their expectations and interests."

Jiang Shangyun became even more confused. "Ah?"

Ye Mingzhao's smile was tender, his tone gentle. "The greatest irony is that parents can be good people, they can love their own child, and of course, they can give everything for their child. But only if that child fits their expectations and interests."

As for the child who loses value and isn't expected, they can be treated like a piece of rotten meat and ruthlessly thrown into the trash.

And the one who is abandoned, even if they manage to survive by cutting away the rot, hiding their scars, and presenting themselves as perfect, will still be labeled as defective and thrown back into the trash.

Of course, they won’t get the chance for a satisfying revenge like the villain in the show.

Because in the eyes of the world, their biological parents haven't committed any unforgivable wrongs.

They just don't love them.

And as soon as their past is exposed, they will proudly announce that they never loved the child because they didn't deserve it.