Jiang Ling walked over slowly, lowered her head slightly, and the desire in her eyes vanished without a trace, replaced by the shyness and alluring charm of a young woman.
The emperor, played by Ren Donglin, was struck as if by lightning the moment he saw her, his eyes fixed and dazed.
The throbbing of his Adam's apple silently conveyed his astonishment and fervor.
Jiang Ling watched him, saying nothing, her eyes filled with a captivating, soul-stirring allure.
Zhao Hede's most defining trait could be summarized in one word: charm.
Therefore, to bring this character to life, one had to fully unleash a woman's seductive power.
Unlike Western women, who were passionate, fiery, and bold, the beauty of Eastern women possessed a subtlety derived from traditional culture.
It wasn't about naked seduction, nor about directly undressing upon seeing a man, nor was it the kind of feeling that satisfied you once and then left you craving no more.
Instead, a single glance could steal your heart, a soft sigh could capture your soul, leaving you restless, constantly thinking of her.
This subtle, almost veiled allure, was more tempting and far more lethal than direct seduction.
Unless one were a stoic Liu Xiahui, no man could resist such a charm.
Ren Donglin's eyes were glued to her, his breathing quickened, and his heart pounded in his chest.
He wasn't acting; he was genuinely captivated by Jiang Ling.
Those eyes were truly irresistible.
When he had first read the script, he had found the emperor's eventual death from excessive indulgence, at Zhao Hede's behest, to be too outlandish.
Now, seeing Jiang Ling's mesmerizing and provocative gaze, he truly understood the saying, "To die under the peony is to be a romantic ghost."
Such a woman, beautiful to the extreme, charming to the bone, and radiating a fatal allure, was enough to make not just an emperor, but any man, willingly die for her.
Everyone present was also captivated by Jiang Ling, involuntarily holding their breath, staring at her in a trance.
Beside them, Ya Ya's eyes widened even further.
The entertainment industry was a battlefield without smoke, where the feuds and rivalries among actresses were far more intense than among male stars.
As the saying goes, know yourself and know your enemy, and you shall win a hundred battles. Female stars collected information about their counterparts with a meticulousness that surpassed male stars.
Although Ya Ya had never interacted with Jiang Ling before, she was well aware of her atrocious acting skills.
How had her performance abilities improved so much in such a short time?
In this scene, Jiang Ling didn't utter a single line; with just her eyes, she perfectly conveyed Zhao Hede's initial encounter with the emperor.
"Cut!"
Wang Jianzhong shouted loudly, and only then did everyone present snap out of their astonishment.
Ya Ya was the first to step forward and approach Jiang Ling, genuinely praising, "That was incredible eye acting. Forget the men, even I was almost half-entranced by you."
Jiang Ling chuckled, her smile blooming like a rose, "It's not that exaggerated."
"It absolutely is. Director Wang has excellent taste for choosing you to play Zhao Hede!"
Ya Ya could tell that with Jiang Ling's beauty and what was clearly god-tier acting, her future achievements were limitless. She was happy to forge a connection with Jiang Ling.
After all, in this circle, having more friends meant more paths open.
Jiang Ling also appreciated Ya Ya's dedication and seriousness towards acting.
The two chatted back and forth, quickly becoming acquainted.
Jiang Ling portrayed Zhao Hede's seductive charm with absolute perfection.
While Ya Ya's acting might not have been as polished or seasoned as Jiang Ling's, she possessed exquisite dancing skills, her movements light and graceful, like a flying swallow or a dancing phoenix.
A few extras set up a drum, and she gracefully stepped onto it, beginning her dance.