Chapter 213 - 180: Warm Yet Still Cold, Crying Endlessly, Learning to Reconcile with the World (2)

She was particularly skilled at guiding actors’ emotions. Before every take, she would walk them through the scene.

She explained things in detail, her pacing drawing you in. Even less-skilled actors could deliver a brilliant performance under her guidance. If the actor was already good, the effect was extraordinary.

Perhaps that was one of the reasons this television series, despite its very niche subject matter, was so powerfully empathetic.

To give you an idea, most of the homeowners in their residential complex who had left last week to visit their grandchildren still hadn’t returned!

"Do you understand the feeling I’m looking for?"

Seeing the director looking at her, Ni Bingyan nodded, signaling that she was ready.

She was already well-prepared, and with the director expressing her ideas so clearly, it was like a top student who had already studied hard for an exam meeting a teacher who loved to point out the key material. Everything became easier.

"Final checks on makeup and props! All departments, get ready! We’ll do a quick blocking rehearsal first!"

Every department was already prepared, but upon hearing the call, they all did another quick check.

The blocking rehearsal finished without a hitch, and the departments all signaled they were ready to begin.

Only then did Li Yiru look to the camera and give the signal. "Positions, everyone! Stand by! Action!"

The slate clapped. The morgue attendants wheeled the deceased into the preparation room.

Han Su, just off the night shift, yawned as she entered, putting on her mask.

"You’re in so early today?"

"Car accident last night. They tried to save him all night, but he passed away in the early hours. The family insisted they couldn’t miss the auspicious time, calling me one after another, rushing me. Sigh... I heard he was an only son. So pitiful. The family was crying so much, I had no choice but to come and pick him up early."

Han Su finished putting on her mask and rubber gloves and was tying her apron when her junior arrived.

"Senior, you just got off the night shift. You should go home and rest. Why don’t you let me handle this!"

"He died in a car accident. I’ll do it with you."

Their master wasn’t in, and she was afraid her junior couldn’t handle it alone.

The morgue attendants had other tasks, so after delivering the deceased, they left.

The two of them finished their preparations and approached the preparation table.

Her junior unzipped the waterproof body bag. Han Su glanced over casually, but when she saw the deceased’s face, the cosmetic kit in her hand fell to the floor.

Hearing the noise, her junior looked up and stared at her in surprise. "Senior? What’s wrong?"

’In her memory, her senior was always deft and had excellent emotional control. When she had first started, she couldn’t help but cry when she encountered someone who had died horribly. Her senior, who had only been there a year longer than her, was always perfectly composed.’

’What was wrong today?’

Han Su’s eyes reddened, and her hands trembled uncontrollably.

The moment she looked up at the ceiling, two streams of tears flowed from the corners of her eyes, instantly soaking a patch of her brand-new blue mask.

The tears were for her brother, but also for the morgue attendant’s words: "an only son."

SOB... SOB... SOB...

A moment later, she lowered her head, covered her face with her hands, and let out a suppressed, heart-wrenching sob.

When she saw her junior approaching, like a small, wounded animal that didn’t want to be seen, she turned away, her back to the camera.

Her slender back trembled slightly, the sound of her crying filling the room. Her junior walked anxiously in front of her. "Senior, what on earth is wrong?"

After a moment, it dawned on the slow-to-react junior. "This person... you know him?"

"He’s my... brother."

Han Su took a deep breath, only managing to get the words out after a long moment.

Her sobbing made it hard to breathe, and she quickly walked out of the preparation room.

Her junior, forgetting everything else, hurried after her.

’You’re not supposed to let tears fall on the body during the encoffinment. She couldn’t handle a car crash victim by herself, and their master hadn’t arrived yet. She had to calm her senior down, and fast!’

"Good!"

Li Yiru rarely had to scold Ni Bingyan these days.

She was quite fond of actors like her who could precisely grasp her intentions and work so efficiently.

"Take a break. We’ll adjust the camera angles and go for another take."

When she saw the extra playing the brother try to sit up, Li Yiru instantly turned back into the set tyrant and barked, "Don’t move! We’re not finished shooting!"

The extra, lying on the table with half his body still in the body bag, rolled his eyes and sighed. "Man, lying here is seriously creepy!"

"It’s all props, and this is just a storage room. What are you afraid of? Don’t worry, you’ll get a hefty red envelope for your trouble!"

Standing under the eaves, Ni Bingyan could still hear the people inside trying to stifle their laughter.

But she couldn’t bring herself to laugh.

It’s not easy to get into character, and it can be just as hard to get out.

Her mind was completely filled with the thought that her only brother was dead, and she couldn’t stop the tears from flowing.

Duanmu Li brought her a glass of water and had her sit down to drink some lemonade.

After the cool lemonade went down, she finally started to feel a little better.