Chapter 1174: Chapter 1171
The scene seemed frozen in time, both inside and outside the play. Everyone stared blankly at the young man lying in the middle of the artificial snow. They knew it was all fake, yet their hearts felt tightly gripped by an invisible hand, making it hard to breathe.
Sometimes, that’s how it is. People think that sadness must be expressed through tears and that a tragic plot is only successful if it makes the audience cry. But in reality, it’s not like that.
What does it mean when tears flow before words are spoken? Such a scene makes one marvel at how deep the sorrow and longing must be to reach that point. But at this moment, no one feels like crying, although they are in immense discomfort.
Tears? There’s no need for tears; they should be glad.
The boy’s life was too turbulent. Death was a relief for him. A carefree, serene existence unbothered by worldly concerns was more suited to him. In his quest for revenge, the boy was no longer a boy but became a heartless puppet that killed without mercy. Despite the Little Emperor’s protection, he distanced himself from everyone, unwilling to trust anyone again, which filled people with dread and heartache.
Yet they still felt troubled. Clearly, it wasn’t the boy’s fault, nor the Little Emperor’s. The Old Emperor and the officials who wrongfully accused the boy’s family were to blame. Why then did the story end tragically for the two of them?
Is the world unjust? Clearly, they tried so hard, so why is the world still unjust?
In the final moments, the Little Emperor who was killed by the boy was still smiling, telling him, "I do not regret."
The boy became a cunning minister, yet after avenging his brother’s death, he committed suicide with a smile. In his final moments, he was filled with doubt—why was there no place in time that was purely white? Why did the Little Emperor not regret until the end? Why had he become like this? Unsure... did he really not regret becoming this way...?
Tears welled up in his eyes. Director Zhang silently called "cut." Compared to the usual chaotic scenes at the end of filming, it was quiet as a chicken here.
Director Zhang understood everyone’s reaction. He prided himself on being tough-minded, not moved by emotions even when others cried at his films. Yet, he had to admit, he felt extremely uncomfortable now.
For the story, for the actors, for the truths being told.
One must admit, although Xu Renfei’s proposed scenes seemed unreliable, the story he envisioned was indeed thought-provoking.
Thinking of this, Director Zhang appreciatively patted Xu Renfei on the shoulder, "Once we’re done filming, let’s chat about how you came up with this thought-provoking story. It’s meaningful, and I’m looking forward to what’s next."
Xu Renfei was bewildered, "What meaning?"
He turned with a puzzled look towards Bi Xia, who was lazily getting up from the ground.
He had modeled the character after Bi Xia and adapted the story from a popular novel. As for the scene’s aesthetics, it was all about pursuing beauty. Simply put, he had no specific meaning. The whole setup was purely for the sake of elegance, poignance, and human beauty...
