novellhall 69, an unfortunate character
69, an unfortunate character
As the first light of dawn broke through the pale white of the night sky, the thin rays of sunlight streamed into the spacious living room through the French windows, dispelling the lingering chill of the night and creating a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.
At this time of day, Li Jingcheng would usually be fast asleep, but today he was very lightly asleep and felt refreshed, without the slightest bit of drowsiness.
The phone rang shrilly, breaking the morning's tranquility. The caller ID showed Luo Yonghao.
He answered the phone, and Luo Yonghao's energetic, even somewhat excited voice came through, "Jingcheng! Are you up? It's your first day on set. I'll pick you up at your door in fifteen minutes!"
He still wasn't used to Luo Yonghao's phone calls every morning when he had a schedule. Being woken up early by urgent calls used to make him grumpy and irritable, but today he answered the phone calmly and casually, his voice clear and steady, without a trace of displeasure at being disturbed.
"Okay, Yong-ho." Li Jingcheng rubbed his temples and stretched.
He knew perfectly well that today was the official day he joined the cast of "The Moon Embracing the Sun," and he was quite looking forward to it. In his past life, he had criticized many popular celebrities for their lack of acting skills, only to be retorted by their brainless fans who told him to go ahead and act himself. Today, he could finally go live on screen.
However, he only found out by reading comments on Huayu.
Lee Kyung-sung got up and washed up. The scenes from last night were still vividly imprinted in his mind: the barbecue restaurant in Hannam-dong, Lee Hye-ri waiting gently under the warm yellow streetlights, the admiration in the girl's eyes, and the lingering ambiguous atmosphere between the two of them.
The two spent a pleasant time alone together last night; the atmosphere was just right.
However, Li Jingcheng did not completely subdue Li Huili, leaving some lingering tension and uncertainty.
But when Lee Kyung-sung got home, he discovered that Bae Joo-hyun hadn't come back the night before, leaving him confused. Normally, after their first sexual experience, they should be inseparable and filled with affection. What went wrong?
He called and pressed Bae Joo-hyun until she finally revealed the truth, mainly due to the obvious external changes. Becoming a woman and undergoing dual cultivation had drastically altered her appearance.
He didn't think anything of it because they were often together and he had seen Bae Joo-hyun's stunning beauty in her later years, but others didn't think so.
She used to be a typical aloof and icy girl, with a detached temperament and eyes that conveyed a sense of unapproachability. She was youthful and delicate, still somewhat immature, and possessed a refined beauty that carried a hint of aloofness and dullness.
But now, all the naivety and immaturity of the past have faded away. Having been nurtured by tenderness and love, she possesses a refined and aloof air. Her eyes naturally exude a distant and detached quality, yet her gaze is subtly captivating. She retains the vivacity and gentleness of a young girl, blended with a mature and graceful aura—a harmonious blend of coolness and allure that every trainee around her has noticed.
It's obvious they're dating. Kang Seulgi is driving her crazy, especially curious about her boyfriend's name. Lee So-rim even specifically reminded her to keep a low profile and avoid getting caught doing anything.
After all, Bae Joo-hyun still had the idea of debuting, especially since Lee Soo-man had made a promise. In addition, she was not willing to rely on Lee Kyung-sung completely, so even if she was reluctant, she still planned to practice diligently until the storm had passed.
Although Lee Kyung-sung had considered asking Bae Joo-hyun not to debut, and that he could simply open a studio to support her later, Bae Joo-hyun was unwilling, and he was unwilling to force her. Moreover, without Bae Joo-hyun, Red Velvet would face criticism from many people, which would cause trouble.
After thinking about it, forget it.
When I called to coordinate work this morning, I realized that there weren't enough breakfasts at Lee Kyung-sung's place, so I immediately knew that Bae Joo-hyun wasn't there last night.
Luo Yonghao looked at Li Jingcheng, who seemed to be in good spirits, and nodded in satisfaction. Although Li Jingcheng had always seemed to be in good spirits, prejudice was something that couldn't be helped.
In the car, Luo Yonghao explained the entire process of joining the crew today. It was just the usual on-set reading and filming, nothing major, the process was simple and routine.
He quickly introduced the main cast and crew of the production to Li Jingcheng. Most of them were middle-aged, talented actors in the industry with considerable fame and solid acting skills.
Li Jingcheng was completely unfamiliar with this list of names; he had never heard of any of them before. Of the entire cast, only Han Jiaren was mentioned.
Luo Yonghao then finalized the detailed schedule for the day: "The entire crew will gather at 7:00 AM, the script reading will be at 7:40 AM, and filming will officially begin at 8:30 AM. Don't worry about anything else; I'll be on set the whole time to handle your crew matters. If there are any problems, I'll take care of them."
Upon hearing this, Li Jingcheng raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of doubt arising in his mind. He casually asked, "The reading session is only fifty minutes long? And then we're starting filming right away?"
Shouldn't script readings by the production team take longer to refine details, analyze characters' emotions, and clarify the plot's logic?
Na Yong-ho smiled and explained, "MBC and the production team specially adjusted the pace for you. The pre-production hype for 'The Moon Embracing the Sun' has been incredibly popular, with viewers' expectations at their peak. MBC has high hopes for this drama, making it a key historical drama they're promoting this year."
Their higher-ups want to expedite filming your scenes as the adult Lee Hwon. This is partly to release the highlights quickly to boost viewership, and partly to allow for flexible adjustments to the plot, including adding or removing scenes, based on audience feedback and reception.
"This drama is also a typical example of filming and broadcasting simultaneously," Luo Yonghao added.
Lee Kyung-sung nodded, and casually produced the script materials that Na Yong-ho had prepared for him when he signed the contract. This material wasn't the complete version; it only outlined the core scenes for his role as Lee Hwon.
After all, the scriptwriters need to make flexible adjustments to the second half based on the subsequent broadcast response and audience feedback.
He calmed himself down and carefully read through the script, word by word. But the more he read, the more his brows furrowed, and the expectation in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a look of utter astonishment.
At its core, this script is a classic Korean melodramatic trope of political intrigue and tragic romance. The entire story is filled with endless palace intrigue, power struggles by imperial relatives, and court battles, with intricate and oppressive power struggles.
The most frustrating thing is that the male protagonist, Li Xuan, lives a very stifled life as a monarch. He is like a mascot who is controlled and manipulated by various forces. He has the title of monarch but no real power in the early stages and is controlled by others at every turn.
Moreover, there are only two women in the harem: a supporting female character and the female lead, Han Ga-in.
But the thought that the female lead was Han Ga-in, and the fact that there wasn't any disgusting or upsetting cuckoldry plot at the end of my script, instantly eased the disappointment in my heart and barely piqued my interest.
The prerequisite for empathetic role-playing is that one can accept the character and immerse oneself in the role. If one contradicts the character's personality or rejects the plot, it is impossible to truly embody the character.
He patiently read through the script, immersing himself in a deep understanding of Li Xuan's character, meticulously analyzing his growth trajectory, emotional changes, and psychological logic. He continued reading until he had read most of the script...
His tense brows finally relaxed slightly, and he finally saw a glimmer of hope.
Seeing the change in his expression, Luo Yonghao didn't dare to disturb him until he put down the script and asked, "What's wrong? Is there a problem with the script?"
Li Jingcheng smiled and rubbed his temples. "It's nothing. I just finished watching the whole plot. It's a classic Korean drama cliché. The beginning is full of frustration and repression, which completely builds up the audience's emotions. In the end, the protagonist fully awakens, seizes power, and makes a comeback, releasing all the repressed emotions at once. The most exciting part is concentrated in the second half."
Luo Yonghao nodded slightly upon hearing this, then belatedly realized something was amiss, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: Something's not right, Li Jingcheng's appearance clearly indicates that this is the first time he has seriously read the script for this role.
He shook his head inwardly with a sigh, but didn't say anything more. Anyway, they were about to join the script reading and practice on set. If problems arose during the reading, Li Jingcheng would probably familiarize himself with the script and do his homework beforehand.
Indeed, Lee Kyung-sung really didn't have any time to read the script beforehand. During this period, he was out dating Kim Ji-soo, trying to improve his relationship with Lee Hyeri, and at home he was spending time with Bae Joo-hyun. He didn't have any spare energy to calmly study the script and work on the character.
At this moment, what Li Jingcheng was most worried about was not his acting skills or the frustrating plot, but the potential problems with his character's personality.
Li Xuan's imperial persona is alright, but he's portrayed as a deeply affectionate and devoted emperor who only loves one person.
This character is too clean-cut, too affectionate, and too easy to appeal to women's preferences. They will identify with him and automatically label Lee Kyung-sung, who plays Lee Hwon, as a "devoted, affectionate, and perfect male god".
Li Jingcheng grew increasingly panicked; he had been careless! He hadn't flashed.
He is devoted, but in the world of K-pop, it's impossible to be devoted to only one person. He's involved with Bae Joo-hyun, Im Yoon-ah, Kim Ji-soo, and Lee Hyeri.
Once he becomes a huge star thanks to this drama and solidifies his image as a devoted and loyal emperor, any subsequent exposure of even the slightest personal scandal could have a significant impact.
No, we absolutely cannot let this persona become entrenched!
Li Jingcheng's eyes suddenly narrowed, and he made a decision in an instant.
The roguish and charming bad boy persona of Bosco Wong must be laid out in advance and established as soon as possible!