Just Do What They Say!
The large courtyard instantly becomes pin drop silent. Everyone is petrified on the spot.
"Guan … Master Guan, sor … sorry sorry - we - Yuan Ge didn't mean it!"
Chow Mingrun was the first to wake up from his petrification, taking a packet of tissues out of his pocket and rushing forward to wipe the water off Arthur Guan, but Liu Sang pushes him aside, pulls out a snow-white custom-made handkerchief and hands it to Arthur. He looks around as if he wanted to reprimand the crowd, but didn't know what to say -
Gosh! What the hell is wrong with our second master! I asked him to come to the second courtyard to see if we had missed any potential candidates. Who'd have thought he'd be so taken by some little kid that he'd actually gotten himself personally involved! Taking someone else's place, holding up someone else's chin, and ending up getting sprayed in water from head to toe...he really had it coming … and deserved it … But how could the King make a mistake! Who dares to say that King Guan deserved it! Where did that nobody called Yuan Ge come from? He's dead as a doornail for sure this time!
Yuan Ge feels a murderous chill in the eyes of the tall, strange man in front of him, as if a sadistic desire is hidden beneath that elegant exterior. He stands up silently, his face stony, and refused to accept the handkerchiefs and tissues handed to him by Liu Sang and Chow Mingrun. With his face and hair still wet, he waves his hand and abruptly turns around, walking straight back inside of the hall. Eight bodyguard-like men swarms up and grabs the dumbfounded Yuan Ge like grabbing a little chicken and follows him inside without a word.
Chow Mingrun scrambles after them in a panic, but he is blocked at the entrance and is not allowed to go in. He watches helplessly as Yuan Ge is escorted in by the bodyguards, not wanting to give up, he gestures frantically and shouts, "Yuan Ge, the man you just spat on is the second master King Guan! Remember to keep Dragon Dreams alive! Do whatever they ask you to do! Please be obedient! Just do what they say!"
* * *
Yuan Ge is taken to the Great Hall of the third courtyard, which from the outside looks like an old and majestic classical building, but its interior is furnished as a modern conference hall. In front of him in the middle of the interview panel sits Arthur Guan, who has already changed into a new suit, even his water-stained shoes have been replaced with brand new ones, and his hair has been re-styled, not a trace of the embarrassing mess he has just been in.
Sitting next to him are two rows of industry veterans, and Yuan Ge instantly recognises some of the big-name directors who arebthe mainstay of the original Guan's Pictures and the benchmark of the industry.
What does it all mean? An audition for a director? Well, it looks like he's going to do it for real this time! Well well well, bring it on then!
"I'm going to tell you the backstory of a scene. I never say anything twice, so listen carefully before you act."
Arthur Guan says in a matter-of-fact way. His tone is cold, without the slightest rise in emotion, but judging from his indignant expression, he is still holding a grudge against Yuan Ge for that "water bath".
"Shanhai Pass[1] has fallen to the enemy. You were the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guards of the Great Ming. You infiltrated the city to rescue someone, but you were outnumbered and captured by the enemy. You were hung from the city tower and tortured in public, and thrown from the walls several times until your bones were broken. And your lover, the one you were going to save, is in the crowd under the city walls at this very moment."
In a low voice, Arthur Guan describes a difficult scene for Yuan Ge to act.
"That's it?"
"That's it."
Both his voice and his presence feel powerful yet oppressive, like a giant lion, domineering yet arrogant.
"And take off your jacket."
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[1] Shanhai Pass, aka Shanhaiguan, is one of the major passes in the Great Wall of China, being the easternmost stronghold along the Ming Great Wall, and commands the narrowest choke point in the Liaoxi Corridor. Throughout Chinese history, the pass served as a frontline defensive outpost against ethnic groups from Northeast China (Manchuria), including the Khitan, Jurchen and the Manchus. Shanhai Pass is the starting point of the eastern end of the Great Wall, and is the first barrier for guarding the frontier, therefore it is called the "First Pass Under Heaven".