If he keeps acting like this, he should be cast in "Don't Talk to Strangers."

Soon, the set and camera positions were prepared. Yan Li and Jiang Shan walked through the blocking, and shooting began immediately.

Today’s scene depicted a fragment of the story between Li Li and Wu Tian, which was also one of the reasons for the feud between Wu Tian and Liu Huaqiang. Both Wu and Li were employees at a television factory. Later, while on a business trip, Li Li lost her virginity, but in doing so, she secured a distribution channel that could be used to make money. Because of Li Li’s inconvenient status, she set her sights on the daring and handsome Wu Tian. They became partners—one handling the channel, the other the sales—and eventually, they became romantically involved.

However, she had chosen the wrong man. Wu Tian was young, wealthy, and handsome, with no shortage of admirers. Once he had capital, he no longer held the aging and fading Li Li in high regard. Consequently, as Wu Tian’s behavior became increasingly outrageous, Li Li, unable to tolerate it any longer, finally turned against him.

The scene was set in a hotel suite. Jiang Shan stood by the window, watching coldly as Yan Li swaggered in. Yan Li didn’t even look at her; he tossed his handbag onto the bed, ran his right hand through his hair, and then collapsed onto the sofa like a man without bones, looking as if he were too tired to speak.

Jiang Shan felt a surge of frustration. Suppressing her anger, she questioned him, "It’s been three days. Where have you been?"

Yan Li didn’t answer. Only after being pressed did he reply listlessly, "Out drinking with friends."

Jiang Shan, refusing to believe him, felt her initial annoyance grow into fury because of his attitude. She began to scold him, demeaning and mocking him until he seemed worthless. Under her barrage of criticism, Yan Li’s expression grew increasingly impatient, a flash of ruthlessness even crossing his eyes. When Jiang Shan, growing more incensed, stepped forward to grab him and demand he get up and talk, she finally pushed Yan Li to the breaking point. He shoved her onto the bed.

"Good, cut."

The director called for a stop, indicating the take was successful. The crew then adjusted the cameras, shifting the focus from the sofa to the bedside. Yan Li took this opportunity to discuss the upcoming conflict with Jiang Shan.

The script for "Conquest" was very simple regarding this sequence; it provided only the dialogue and a note that Wu Tian would later humiliate and strike Li Li. However, it didn't specify *how* he would humiliate or hit her—that was left to the actors' discretion. And that made all the difference. Standing by the bed and shouting a few insults followed by a fake slap would technically count as humiliation and violence, but it would lack the necessary intensity.

In the plot, Li Li would later spend twenty thousand yuan and even go so far as to sleep with Liu Huaqiang to exact revenge on Wu Tian. While the primary reason was being abandoned—turning love into hatred—and the character was established as narrow-minded and vengeful, Yan Li felt the motivation was still a bit forced. After all, Li Li was a woman who, while perhaps not obsessed with chastity, was still someone who valued relationships. She wouldn't just sleep with anyone, especially a hoodlum she didn't particularly respect.

Unless Wu Tian humiliated her so severely that she became blinded by hatred, she wouldn't go to such lengths for revenge. Director Gao Qunshu and Jiang Shan agreed with this logic. However, Jiang Shan was a big name in the industry and a woman; if Yan Li were to go all out, he needed to secure her consent beforehand. It was best if she were willing to cooperate, which was why Yan Li had been flattering and building rapport with her. At the very least, he wanted to avoid any lingering resentment that might lead to him being targeted on set—or worse, her walking off the shoot in a fit of rage. If a newcomer like him were to upset a senior actress, his career in the industry would be over.

Yet, Yan Li had underestimated her slightly; Jiang Shan possessed genuine professional integrity. It was just a few slaps, not a real assault—a minor matter! Even if Yan Li hadn't buttered her up, as long as his reasoning was sound, Jiang Shan would have cooperated. Of course, having smoothed things over made it even easier.

"Go ahead, I'm fine."

"Then I apologize in advance, Sister. Please bear with me."

Jiang Shan was bold. "Come on."

After a brief rehearsal, Yan Li gave Director Gao Qunshu an "OK" signal, and filming resumed. It began with Jiang Shan being thrown onto the bed, looking at Yan Li with panic and disbelief. Then, Yan Li stepped forward, grabbed her hair, pulled her toward him, and sneered with utter disdain.

"You don't know your place. You’re neither my wife nor my girlfriend. What right do you have to manage me? Take a look in the mirror."

"Wu Tian!" Jiang Shan screamed in rage. Yan Li let go of her hair and slapped her across the face.

"Let me tell you, I've been putting up with you for a long time. Do you know what you look like right now? Like a tramp."

"And you thought I’d marry you? Keep dreaming."

With that, he turned to grab Li Li’s bag and started taking money from it. Li Li, ignoring her own humiliation, rushed to grab it back, only to be slapped again and shoved to the ground. Afterward, Yan Li delivered "Wu Tian's" true feelings. Their partnership had been built on Li Li sleeping her way to distribution channels while he did all the hard work. He had harbored resentment for a long time, which was why this fallout was so exceptionally heartless. Yan Li walked out, leaving Li Li clutching her face, weeping silently, her expression a mix of misery and hatred.

"Excellent."

Gao Qunshu was very pleased. Yan Li had given him a small surprise; he thought through his scenes, dared to act, dared to perform, and dared to commit to the physicality of the role. Even Jiang Shan was spurred on by his performance. "Conquest" was a small production, and Jiang Shan was doing it as a favor; her previous work attitude wasn't exactly lazy, but it hadn't been particularly invested either. Today, however, perhaps spurred by Yan Li, she delivered a great performance, especially in that final shot—pitiful and formidable all at once.

Wiping away her tears, Jiang Shan took the initiative to ask Gao Qunshu, "Should we do another take for safety?"

Gao Qunshu waved his hand. "No need, it was perfect."

Yan Li let out an exaggerated sigh of relief nearby, looking thoroughly unburdened. "That was terrifying. My heart was pounding when I hit you, Sister Shan. I really didn't dare do it again."

Jiang Shan knew he was intentionally lightening the mood and joked, "Not bad, kid. You played that heartless scum so vividly—don't tell me that's your true nature?"

Zhou Yiwei, who was watching from the sidelines, lowered his head silently; Yan Li’s mental fortitude was far greater than his own.

"Sister, don't slander me. I'm famous for being gentle with women." Yan Li said this with a straight face. Whether he was a heartless man was debatable, but he truly had never hit a woman before. Of course, certain specific times and occasions were excluded. That wasn't hitting; that was foreplay.

Gao Qunshu also chimed in with interest, "This kid Yan Li is a character. Most newcomers wouldn't dare lay a hand on Jiang Shan." Not only would they not dare, but they would also hold back their performance. Actors care about their personal image; roles like this are easy to make audiences hate, and not every actor is willing to risk that.

"The play is greater than the heavens. As long as the result is good, it doesn't matter if I get cursed at." Yan Li spoke nicely, but in reality, he was just resigned to his fate. He had already been the one leading the pack in "The Heroes of Sui and Tang Dynasties," so what were a few slaps? As long as he played the part well, it was fine.

However, Yan Li decided that next time he accepted a role, he would try to avoid similar characters. If he kept acting like this, he’d soon have the producers of "Don't Speak to Strangers 2" knocking on his door. Whether or not he was cursed at was one thing, but Yan Li was mainly worried about being typecast.