The scene being filmed now was about the male protagonist’s listless state, meandering through life in his capsule before meeting the female protagonist.

The living space in this capsule was very small. Since Lu Zhiyao was relatively tall, when sitting on the bed, his head was only about ten centimeters from the ceiling.

The entire interior decoration of the capsule featured a very simple technological style, without any unnecessary ornamentation.

Where there should have been a television screen was a large green screen. Television programs would be composited in post-production.

Nearby, some props were prepared for filming, such as instant relief meals, potato chips, and beer.

Of course, these props were all customized. Taking the beer as an example, they used existing tall can beers with special stickers attached to both hide the original trademark and highlight the world-building of this setting.

Besides having a fictional beer trademark printed on the beer can, there were also various colorful advertisements. According to the script, in this future world, advertisements were ubiquitous, and even beer cans couldn’t escape them.

Then, Lu Zhiyao lay down in the capsule, and filming began.

First were several scenes of him idling in the capsule watching television advertisements.

These scenes were relatively easy to shoot and didn’t require much acting skill, so they quickly passed after shooting a few takes.

Next came the scene of eating the relief meal.

In the residential capsule, there was a special dining area opposite the bed, with a small single-person table. On the wall next to the table was a small screen and a food dispensing outlet.

The small screen was also a green screen, with post-production effects to be added for the ordering menu. When not ordering, this small screen would continuously play various food advertisements.

This scene’s content was also very simple: at mealtime, the male protagonist would receive his daily relief meal here, watching advertisements for various delicious foods cycling on the small ordering screen while eating his relief meal, emphasizing his miserable situation.

Lu Zhiyao sat down at the small dining table, staring blankly at the food dispensing outlet.

Since watching advertisements or receiving relief meals were daily routines at fixed times, there was no anticipation. Lu Zhiyao needed to portray this feeling of complete lack of expectation.

With a “click,” the food dispensing outlet opened, and a tray-like object that looked decent in both packaging and appearance fell out from the dispensing outlet onto the dining table.

Lu Zhiyao expressionlessly tore off the tin foil-like seal, revealing the black and white powdery substance inside.

Pei Qian asked quietly, “What’s in there?”

Zhu Xiaocai answered softly, “Milk powder and chocolate powder.”

Pei Qian nodded, “That’s fine.”

At least this stuff was edible, so it seemed he wouldn’t need to pay Lu Zhiyao extra.

Lu Zhiyao took the tray and extended it to the water outlet on the side to get warm water, then stirred it evenly with the small spoon that came with the tray.

Of course, throughout the entire process, he remained listless and without any expectation.

Then, he picked up the spoon and began feeding himself one spoonful after another.

While eating, Lu Zhiyao kept staring at the small screen beside him.

Although it was a green screen now, post-production effects would add various amazing food advertisements.

Looking at the green screen, Lu Zhiyao’s eyes needed to show some change, expressing his longing and anticipation for these delicious foods, along with some unconscious small actions like swallowing saliva or licking his lips.

“Cut!”

“That expression just now was a bit too much. According to the plot, you should be watching these advertisements every day, so there’s no need for such a big reaction. Just show some instinctive responses to delicious food.”

“Overall, it’s great. OK, let’s do another take!”

Director Zhu Xiaocai pointed out anything unsuitable promptly, and Lu Zhiyao tried his best to cooperate.

After shooting several takes, this scene also passed.

Pei Qian quietly sighed on the side, thinking that Lu Zhiyao’s acting skills were not bad.

It seemed that for this role in “Beautiful Tomorrow,” he was giving it his all.

Previously, Lu Zhiyao had always been labeled as “box office poison.” Although his acting was decent, he couldn’t escape criticism from the audience.

The most common criticisms were that he was too handsome, not down-to-earth, his acting was overdone, and that he broke viewers’ immersion.

But this time, Lu Zhiyao was genuinely serious about portraying a decadent person.

Although he was very handsome and his decadent state wasn’t that miserable, he had indeed conveyed that feeling of decadence.

The crew began to busy themselves preparing for the next scene.

Zhu Xiaocai said to Pei Qian, “Mr. Pei, the highlight is coming up next.”

Pei Qian: “Hm?”

Zhu Xiaocai pointed to several canned beers over there: “Next is a close-up of drinking beer.”

“According to the plot, the male protagonist won quite a few betting coins by participating in a television program’s quiz, so he rewards himself with a can of beer.”

“To perform this scene well, Lu Zhiyao hasn’t drunk any beer since coming to Jingzhou.”

“He even drinks very little water normally, only consuming some very unpalatable beverages like Sarsaparilla, Red Flower Snake Grass Water, Western Tree Root…”

“All this just to deliver that memorable performance when he finally gets to taste this beer.”

Pei Qian: “…There’s no need to be so intense, right? Are those beverages even meant for humans? It’s just filming a movie, no need to risk your life…”

Director Zhu Xiaocai smiled: “This is what makes a qualified actor’s self-cultivation. Even Mr. Zhang Zuting couldn’t stop praising Lu Zhiyao’s attitude toward acting.”

Pei Qian: “…”

There’s no need to be that dedicated!

What if he creates a classic scene that trends on social media? Wouldn’t that be a disaster!

However, Pei Qian didn’t know exactly how Lu Zhiyao was going to act, so he could only watch quietly from the side, remaining highly vigilant.

At the beginning of this scene, Lu Zhiyao first performed the entire winning process in front of the green screen.

The anxiety while waiting for the television program’s results, the private celebration in the capsule after learning he made a small profit, and then the anticipation as he approached the food dispensing outlet to buy a can of beer.

After shooting two or three takes, it was time to film the beer-drinking scene.

Lu Zhiyao came to the small screen next to the food dispensing outlet, pretended to operate something in front of the green screen, and didn’t forget to continue adding to his performance: the joyful smile from winning the bet still lingering on his face, mixed with a hint of anticipation for the upcoming beer, plus some unconscious small actions like licking his lips…

Standing next to Zhu Xiaocai, Pei Qian saw Lu Zhiyao’s series of micro-expressions. At this moment, he somewhat missed the days when young idols would simply count “1234567” while filming movies.

With a “thud,” a can of beer dropped from the food dispensing outlet.

Lu Zhiyao immediately grabbed it excitedly. You could see several drops of water on the chilled beer. He popped it open with a “bang,” then threw his head back, and glugged it down…

After drinking nearly the whole can, Lu Zhiyao finally stopped, let out a very happy and satisfied breath, and looked at the canned beer in his hand with complete contentment.

Wiping the foam from the corner of his mouth, Lu Zhiyao somewhat reluctantly threw his head back again, finishing the remaining half can of beer in one gulp, continuing to pour into his mouth even when the can was empty, as if unwilling to miss a single drop.

Finally, Lu Zhiyao somewhat reluctantly tossed the empty beer can into the garbage chute, wiped his mouth, let out a satisfied beer burp, and then returned to bed to lie there lifelessly.

This burp came very naturally and probably wasn’t planned. It was entirely because Lu Zhiyao drank too vigorously and let it out at just the right moment.

“Stop!”

Theoretically, the director should call “Cut,” but this “Stop” came from Mr. Pei, so Director Zhu Xiaocai quickly added a “Cut,” and then looked very seriously at Pei Qian.

“Mr. Pei, is there a problem with the acting?”

Zhu Xiaocai knew very well that Mr. Pei was not only the investor of this film but also the original author of the script.

If Mr. Pei had opinions about some scenes in this movie, it must mean that the scene had deviated from Mr. Pei’s original intentions, and they would certainly need to respect the original author’s opinion and make changes.

Pei Qian felt a bit helpless.

Brother, you’re trying too hard!

It’s just drinking a can of beer, but your expression is even more exaggerated than “The True Cooking Master Boy”!

It’s just missing the “Great Wall of China” BGM, then adding golden light special effects everywhere, plus some ocean and sky backgrounds…

Pei Qian could already envision the trending topic #LuZhiyaoDrinkingBeer# appearing on Weibo on the day of the film’s release.

Pei Qian coughed lightly: “There’s no need for this. Just act normally…”

“The male protagonist is just a slacker. It’s best if you act like a slacker.”

Lu Zhiyao looked confused: “Huh?”

He was very confident in his acting skills and thought that the scene just now should have been one worthy of going down in film history, yet it didn’t move the original author of the script.

This…

He could only look toward Director Zhu Xiaocai.

Director Zhu Xiaocai pondered for a moment: “I didn’t notice it before, but now that Mr. Pei mentions it… I also feel like it might be a bit overdone. What do you think, Mr. Zhang?”

Zhang Zuting nodded: “Mr. Pei truly lives up to being the original author, with a very precise grasp of this story and character.”

“Although Mr. Pei’s words might seem very plain, I understand what he’s trying to express.”

Pei Qian: “?”

The development of the situation seemed a bit unexpected…

Zhang Zuting looked at Lu Zhiyao and said earnestly, “Let’s assume we change the background for this scene.”

“You’re portraying a laborer who works eighteen hours a day, working hard for a month just to afford one can of beer, with no other entertainment activities around. Beer is the ultimate enjoyment…”

“Then your performance would be qualified and very impactful.”

“But the character you’re portraying now is an ordinary person drifting through life in a future world.”

“Does he only get to drink one can of beer a month? Obviously not.”

“Is there no higher enjoyment around him? Not that either.”

“The small screen nearby continuously plays advertisements for other delicious foods and fine wines. Compared to those advertisements, the enjoyment brought by this can of beer is insignificant.”

“The male protagonist played the TV quiz, earned some money, and rewarded himself with a can of beer, which means as long as he wants to buy it, he can get it anytime by spending his savings.”

“So, this can of beer isn’t precious.”