Huayu 2004: Starting with The Return of the Condor Heroes

Chapter 10 Genius Psychopath

Liu Yifei nodded, her eyes filled with the earnestness and stubbornness unique to a seventeen-year-old girl.

"I want to know."

Lin Hao took a deep breath.

Okay, then I'll tell you.

Anyway, he had been getting scolded for ten years in his previous life, so he was already immune to it.

"Do you remember what I told you about experiential learning and methodological approaches?"

Liu Yifei nodded, "I remember."

"So, how do you portray Little Dragon Girl now?"

"I used the experiential learning approach. I put myself in Xiaolongnu's shoes, feeling her aloofness, her loneliness, and her feelings for Yang Guo..."

"That's the problem," Lin Hao interrupted her. "You're projecting your own understanding of Xiaolongnü onto the story, but that might not be the real Xiaolongnü from the original novel."

As soon as he said this, several staff members who had been listening intently gathered around.

Huang Xiaoming was drinking water when he heard this and stopped what he was doing, looking over curiously.

Liu Xiaoli instantly became more alert, like a hunting dog that had smelled something strange.

Lin Hao ignored all of that and continued speaking.

"What kind of person do you think Xiaolongnu is?"

"Aloof, kind, and deeply in love with Yang Guo..."

"wrong."

"what?"

"At least, not entirely correct." Lin Hao pulled out the well-worn copy of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" from his bag. "Think carefully, how old was Yang Guo when he first went to the Ancient Tomb?"

"Thirteen or fourteen years old, I guess."

"Yes. A boy of thirteen or fourteen was taken to a secluded underground tomb by an adult woman. She wouldn't let him go out or have any contact with people outside. The two of them stayed together day and night."

Lin Hao turned to a page and pointed to a passage.

"Look here. What was Xiaolongnu's reaction when Yang Guo wanted to leave the Ancient Tomb?"

Liu Yifei leaned over to take a look. "She won't let him leave."

"Yes. An adult preventing a minor from leaving a confined environment—don't you think that behavior itself is problematic?"

"But she did it for Yang Guo's own good..."

"Who told you? Did Little Dragon Girl tell you?" Lin Hao's tone was calm and unhurried, but every word was forceful. "A thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy, imprisoned underground, whose only contact with Little Dragon Girl was that over time, developed a dependence on her. Do you think that's love?"

"That is..."

"That's called control."

The entire room fell silent.

Lin Hao looked around and found that everyone was looking at him, including Yu Min.

The director also came over at some point, standing at the back of the crowd with his arms crossed and a half-smile on his face.

Since the matter has come to this point, Lin Hao decided to be frank.

"Xiaolongnu grew up in the Ancient Tomb, knowing nothing about the outside world or normal emotional relationships between people. Her decision to keep Yang Guo around might not have been out of love, but rather out of... possessiveness. Or perhaps, an instinctive need for companionship."

"She needed someone by her side, and Yang Guo just happened to appear."

"From this perspective, Xiaolongnu's feelings for Yang Guo were never equal from the beginning. She was the controller, and Yang Guo was the controlled. She taught him martial arts, provided him with food and lodging, and decided everything for him. Yang Guo's initial dependence on and obedience to her was not because of love, but because he had no other choice."

Lin Hao closed the book and looked at Liu Yifei.

"So the reason the director kept yelling 'cut' was because in that scene, you were acting out 'two people in love spending a tender time together in a quiet ancient tomb.' But what the director wanted was 'a relationship between a controller and a controlled, seemingly calm but actually turbulent.'"

"Your Little Dragon Girl is too gentle and too kind. But the Little Dragon Girl in the original story might be a... psychopath at heart."

The moment the last two words were uttered, the entire audience erupted in cheers.

"Holy crap..."

"You can tell from that?"

"How come I didn't notice these things even after reading them so many times?"

"Is this kid treating 'The Return of the Condor Heroes' like a thesis?"

Huang Xiaoming's hand holding the water glass froze, his face showing an expression that said, "I understand, but it seems like I don't fully understand."

Yu Min, standing at the back of the crowd, finally couldn't help but laugh.

He could tell from day one that this kid was no ordinary person, but he didn't expect him to be this extraordinary.

Things that I kept to myself and couldn't say were publicly "explained" by a seventeen-year-old on set.

To be honest, I'm a little scared now.

If this interpretation gets out, Jin Yong fans will blow up the entire production team.

But as a director who strives for perfection, he had to admit that every word Lin Hao said hit the nail on the head.

This is exactly the kind of Little Dragon Girl he wanted.

It's not evil, it's gray.

Not a bad person, but someone who grew up in a distorted environment and unconsciously passed on that distortion to others.

To be honest, Yu Min herself was shocked for quite a while when she read this part of the original work.

He discussed this issue with the screenwriter, whose attitude was, "What you said makes sense, but we can't actually film it like that; it's too subversive."

So what was ultimately presented in the script was a traditional, beautiful love story.

But Yu Min was not willing to give up.

He wanted to add subtle, nuanced elements to the actors' performances that only a discerning audience could perceive.

No need to change the lines or the plot; just make some minor adjustments to the eyes and tone of voice.

Those who understand this will naturally understand, while those who don't will only see a traditional martial arts drama.

The best of both worlds.

But to his utter surprise, a seventeen-year-old boy actually explained to him on set what he had been pondering for half a year.

Just who is this kid?

"Alright, alright." Yu Min stepped out of the crowd, clapped her hands, and said, "Did you all hear that? Go back and think about it carefully."

Then he looked at Lin Hao and remained silent for two seconds.

"1500 per episode is too low. Raise it to 2500."

Lin Hao: "!"

It's gone up again?!

The system panel flashed through my mind.

At 2500 per episode, it has already surpassed the highest level of 2000, which corresponds to "Heavenly Rank Fighting Skill, Possessed by a Ghost".

In other words, the extra 500 yuan is pure profit!

The dream of middlemen making a profit from the price difference has finally taken its first step!

Although it's only 500 yuan.

But even a fly's leg is still meat!

Lin Hao was so excited he almost jumped up, but he managed to maintain a "flattered" expression in front of everyone.

"Thank you, director!"

Huang Xiaoming watched this scene from the side, his eyes lighting up.

He'd been in the industry for several years and had seen many talented young actors, but he'd never seen anyone like Lin Hao before. Not only was his acting superb, but his understanding of the original work was so profound that the director would immediately ask for more money.

Huang Xiaoming then strode over and grabbed Lin Hao's hand.

"Hey bro! You're something else! Are you free tonight? Let's grab dinner and have a good chat!"

Before Lin Hao could answer, he felt a gaze from Liu Xiaoli that could freeze a person into an ice pop.

At this moment, Liu Xiaoli's heart is going through a violent storm.

That little bastard! Is he trying to make my daughter act like a psychopath?!

But everyone around him was praising him, and the director even gave him extra money.

This means he was right.

She clenched her fists and then relaxed them, relaxed them and then clenched them again.

Finally, all he could manage to say was, "Liu Yifei, come here! Don't talk to him!"

As Liu Yifei was being dragged away, she glanced back at Lin Hao, her eyes conveying, "I still have so many questions for you."

Lin Hao shrugged helplessly.

Sister Xiaoli, please calm down. I was really discussing academic matters.

However, to be fair, he did get a little cocky today.

While publicly offering this subversive interpretation on set earned the director's approval, it also offended Liu Xiaoli and solidified his "wolf in sheep's clothing" label.

From now on, I'll probably have to live with the title of "genius freak" in this film crew.

It's pretty absurd to think about.

In my previous life, after ten years, I was at most a "decent supporting character".

In this life, he became a "genius freak" in less than a week after joining the group.

This direction of progress seems a bit off.