Chapter 145: A Difficult Scene to Film

The story in this segment is simple: Yan Xu, playing the scholar Ning Caichen, hears the sound of a zither and follows it to the lakeside. There, in a pavilion, he encounters Xiaoqian, played by Joey Wong. It is the first meeting between the human and the ghost. Xiaoqian attempts to break the protective talisman on Ning Caichen's back and employs various seductive techniques, all of which the naive scholar obliviously misses. At the critical moment, the encounter is cut short by the interruption of Yan Chixia.

Though the scene itself is simple, filming it proved difficult. Joey Wong had to embody a sense of profound allure while executing subtle movements intended to entice a man. For an eighteen-year-old—the same age as Vivian Chow—whose only two rumored romances since her debut had been proven baseless, this was no easy feat.

For Yan Xu, this scene was a blend of bliss and agony. The bliss lay in the opportunity to film intimate sequences with Joey Wong, which would make any man’s heart race. The agony, however, came from having to fall into the water twice. Although Hong Kong is in the south, it was already nearly December. The lake water wasn't quite bone-chilling, but it was freezing. Furthermore, the story takes place in the spring and summer, meaning the characters’ costumes were quite thin.

Following director Tang Jili's cue, Yan Xu quickly immersed himself in the role. The initial meeting at the pavilion was not particularly challenging for either of them, and it was successfully filmed after only two takes.

However, Yan Xu’s first water-entry scene proved problematic. Even though he was prepared to jump, he couldn't help but feel a lingering hesitation, which led to repeated retakes. He had to jump over a dozen times before the director was satisfied. Although he had wrapped plastic sheets under his clothes to stave off the chill, they were useless against the icy lake water compared to artificial rain, leaving Yan Xu shivering uncontrollably. Many only see the glamour of an actor's life, but few understand the hardship and pain behind the scenes.

The biting cold of the water was so intense that even when Joey Wong extended her fair, delicate feet for Yan Xu to grab her calves and pull her ashore—a moment filled with intimacy and tension—his mind remained entirely blank. He didn't experience a single stray thought, nor did he even register the sensation of holding her small feet.

"Cut!" After the shot, several assistants rushed over. Some stripped off his wet clothing, others dried him, and some draped him in a thick cotton coat and offered ginger soup. In weather like this, one could easily fall ill from such exposure.

Wrapped in the coat, Yan Xu drank two bowls of ginger soup before his body finally began to warm up. The Hong Kong film industry of this era could be described by one word: professional. Regardless of how big a star one was, most were willing to do everything themselves. For dialogue scenes, they would even help their co-stars by reading lines off-camera, unlike later years where even minor third-rate celebrities would demand excessive accommodations and use body doubles for everything except close-ups.

As Yan Xu’s pale complexion began to return to normal, it was time to continue filming. The water-soaked costume had to be replaced; the new one was identical, though only the surface was dampened to look as if he had just climbed out of the water, while the inner lining remained dry. For realism, the makeup artist sprayed extra water droplets onto his face.

If the previous scene was a physical ordeal, the next was a test of Yan Xu’s mental fortitude. At Tang Jili's command, the crew sprang back into action.

As soon as Yan Xu sat on the wooden bridge, Joey Wong leaned her entire body against him, her small hands resting on his chest. Having just finished the ginger soup, Yan Xu felt as though a flame were burning within him. Joey’s proximity made him feel her soft, feverish warmth. Her body was supple and carried a unique, clean fragrance. This intoxicating scent made his heart race, especially because Joey was pressing firmly against his side. He could clearly feel, through the thin white gauze of her dress, her soft, rounded curves pressed against his arm. This caused him to fidget slightly, his arm brushing against her softness as if by accident.

"Why are your hands colder than mine?" Though Yan Xu felt the warmth of her body and experienced a flutter in his heart, he knew he was working. As both director and actor, he had to set an example. He firmly grabbed Joey’s small hands to rub them, delivering his lines.

"Because you are warmer than I am." Joey, unaware of Yan Xu's internal struggle, pressed her entire body even closer to his. Her lovely face was only inches from his, and the fragrant heat of her breath washed over his skin. Her voice, carrying the scent of herbs, felt like the arrival of spring in the middle of a cold winter.

"Miss, you look so pale. You must be ill; you should see a doctor." Yan Xu turned to meet her gaze. The distance between them closed further; he could feel her breath and see every pore on her skin. Her mesmerizing eyes and parted, alluring lips were so close he felt a sudden urge to lean in and kiss her. Inhaling her youthful scent, his body grew even hotter, and he felt a stir of arousal in his lower body.

"Just give me a little warmth, and I will be fine." Unaware of Yan Xu’s reaction, Joey placed her hand on his chest and began to stroke it lightly.

"Achoo!" Under the touch of her hand, his heart hammered against his ribs. Thankfully, the script called for Ning Caichen to sneeze and push Xiaoqian away; otherwise, Yan Xu wasn't sure if he would have made a scene in front of the crew.

The separation was brief. After the sneeze, Yan Xu helped her back up, pulling her into his arms. As they spoke their lines, Joey slightly shifted her white gauze dress, revealing her delicate, fair shoulders.

While this was required by the plot, perhaps her movements were a bit too vigorous. Not only was her shoulder exposed, but the neckline of her dress slipped, yet she remained focused on cradling Yan Xu’s face, entirely unaware of the accidental exposure.

Yan Xu reached out to rub her shoulders, but his gaze was drawn to the gap in her collar. Beneath the loose costume, he caught a glimpse of flawless, pale skin; a portion of her soft, rounded curves was exposed, looking as delicate as freshly set tofu. With her movements, they swayed slightly, and the deep cleavage was already beginning to show promise of what was to come in her future career. It was immediately apparent that she was not wearing any undergarments.

Previously, Yan Xu had only known Joey Wong for the grace and length of her legs; he had not realized that beneath her loose attire, she had developed into such a perfectly formed young woman.

As he caressed her shoulders and held her soft frame, feeling the sweet fragrance from her lips and nose, and occasionally catching glimpses of her pale, exposed skin, Yan Xu found his natural physical reaction becoming difficult to control.

The temptation did not end there. Because Yan Xu had pulled back, Joey leaned onto the wooden bridge, but the scene continued. She shifted her body, pressing into his embrace once more. Her delicate arms wrapped around his neck, and her face brushed against his, her soft lips grazing his cheek. It felt like a powerful electric current shot through his body, turning his bones to jelly. The faint, powdery scent of her skin lingered, driving him to the brink of losing control.

The next part of the scene required Ning Caichen to attempt to lift Xiaoqian, only to be forced to put her down because he lacked the strength. Although it was a short lift, the physical contact was more comprehensive.

Yan Xu tried his best to shift his weight to keep his lower body back, but as he lifted her, he could only pray that Joey, entirely immersed in her role, would not notice his reaction.

But things often go awry. As Joey leaned into his arms, she sat down, and the moment she did, she felt something hard pressing against her. Thinking it was an object Yan Xu was carrying, she shifted her hips slightly to adjust.

These small movements were torture for Yan Xu; already burning with passion, the intense friction left him in a state of painful ecstasy. Because her shifting did not move the object but rather pressed it directly into her, Joey reached down to move it, thinking only of how uncomfortable it was.