Marrying the Male Lead’s Disabled Uncle – Chapter 31

“We’ll start shooting tomorrow. Are you ready?” Director Jin had high expectations for Pei Lang. He was frustrated with the female lead’s performance, but seeing Pei Lang lifted his mood slightly.

“I’m ready.” Others were intimidated by Director Jin, but Pei Lang was different. He was open and composed—neither arrogant nor servile, always humble and polite. “I watched from the side for a while. Your filming technique is truly unique. The way you frame each scene perfectly conveys the story, and the martial arts choreography brings out the essence of chivalry. You are truly an artist.”

It was strange—praise from others often sounded like flattery, but when Pei Lang said it, it felt unexpectedly pleasant.

Director Jin’s expression softened. “When did this kid learn to talk like that?”

“I’m just speaking the truth.” Pei Lang stood beside him, exuding a presence unlike anyone else. His crisp white shirt was clean and fresh, and his poised demeanor made it impossible to look away.

He was tall and strong, with bright, determined eyes. Director Jin’s eyes gleamed. “Kid, do you know martial arts?”

“Yes.” Pei Lang was momentarily confused but nodded hesitantly.

“Liu Ran can’t get a few of these shots right. Her performance in this scene is fragmented. You step in and complete the difficult moves for her.” Director Jin’s gaze was firm, and despite his mature and experienced demeanor, a hint of excitement sparkled in his eyes.

The moment he said this, everyone around them collectively gasped.

Letting the second male lead be the female lead’s martial arts stunt double? That was unheard of. Normally, no actor in Pei Lang’s position would agree to this, even if the director requested it. Moreover, it was a blatant admission that the female lead was inadequate. Every actor in this production, even the older supporting cast members in their 40s and 50s, performed their own stunts—except for Liu Ran, who now needed a stand-in. If this news got out, it wouldn’t look good for either Liu Ran or Pei Lang.

Director Jin wasn’t willing to make this choice either, but the entire crew had gone without a meal, and the delay was dragging on. He was furious and had no alternative. If Pei Lang weren’t here, he might have called in a stunt double from the martial arts team. But Pei Lang was present—and he was the perfect candidate.

His lean, agile build made him a suitable stand-in for the female lead. Besides, Director Jin hadn’t been entirely satisfied with Pei Lang’s performance during the audition. He hadn’t seen enough of him yet, and now, he was eager to find out just how skilled this guy really was.

Director Jin held significant power, but even in the entertainment industry, this was unprecedented—having the second male lead serve as the female lead’s stunt double. Many expected Pei Lang to refuse outright.

Countless pairs of eyes fixated on him, eagerly awaiting his reaction. Even the lighting technician adjusted the brightness, ensuring that no subtle expression on Pei Lang’s face would be missed.

But Pei Lang showed no signs of resistance.

He wasn’t dissatisfied, nor did he hesitate. He was merely a bit surprised—before breaking into a smile. “Director, isn’t this beyond the scope of my contract?”

His tone was polite, subtly implying rejection.

Everyone was ready for a dramatic refusal, but Pei Lang unexpectedly shifted the conversation. “So, you’ll have to pay extra.”

Director Jin burst into laughter. “Of course! Consider it done.” Then, he shouted, “Stylist, makeup artist—get him ready!”

With that, he handed Pei Lang a copy of the script for the scene. Pei Lang only needed one read-through to memorize it. He had already familiarized himself with all the key characters’ scenes, knowing their lines and actions inside out, ensuring he could fully immerse himself in the role.

As he passed by Liu Ran, he noticed her burning resentment—her expression dark, as if she were ready to tear him apart. The male lead standing beside her didn’t look pleased either. Zhong Yixiao had the perfect face for an actor—handsome and expressive. But the thought of performing an intense fight scene opposite Pei Lang, dressed as a woman, clearly soured his mood.

It was evident that Director Jin had high hopes for Pei Lang. Even if others disapproved or looked down on him, they didn’t dare express it openly. Pei Lang made his way to the dressing room, where he was given an outfit identical to Liu Ran’s.

TV Drama: Swordsman in the World

• Male Lead: Fu Zhixing – played by Zhong Yixiao

• Female Lead: Qin Junru – played by Liu Ran

• Second Male Lead: Wen Yan – played by Pei Lang

This drama revolved around the conflict between a righteous martial arts sect and a sinister cult. The male lead, Fu Zhixing, was the son of a renowned female warrior. Due to past grudges and a coveted martial arts secret manual, his family was massacred by the cult, setting him on a path of vengeance.

Throughout his journey, he honed his martial arts skills while being relentlessly pursued by the cult. Along the way, he was rescued by the female lead, Qin Junru, whose family had also suffered at the hands of the cult. Bound by a shared hatred, they embarked on their journey together. With the cult’s masters constantly hunting them down, their road to revenge was treacherous.

The scene being filmed that night was one of their many chase sequences.

Pei Lang had some time to get ready, so the crew members used the break to grab a quick bite. Though Pei Lang was only a stand-in, the mere fact that he had to replace Liu Ran was a major embarrassment for her—one that made her resent him even more.

The dressing room was shared, so during her break, Liu Ran deliberately stopped by to see just how capable Pei Lang really was.

Zhong Yixiao was there as well. The two leads watched as Pei Lang got dressed. Since he was just a stunt double, his face wouldn’t be shown, so all that mattered was that his outfit and hairstyle matched Liu Ran’s. Pei Lang wasn’t fond of wearing makeup, so he opted out of it.

Pei Lang was 27 years old, while Zhong Yixiao was two years older. Zhong Yixiao had entered the industry early and achieved fame quickly. By this age, he was already regarded as an acting prodigy, having even won a Best Actor award. He was well-known for his gentle and courteous demeanor, with an impeccable reputation as a warm and friendly figure in the industry.

Despite his good character, when facing Pei Lang, his normally warm expression was tinged with indifference.

In his eyes, Pei Lang was nowhere near his level. His reputation was terrible, and the negative rumors surrounding him made Zhong Yixiao instinctively dislike him. The thought of having to fight alongside a cross-dressing Pei Lang in an upcoming action scene made him feel nauseous.

But since the director had made the call, he had no choice but to go along with it.

To ensure the continuity of movements, Pei Lang wouldn’t just perform the difficult stunts—he would reenact the entire battle sequence.

Pei Lang was fine with it. But for Zhong Yixiao, it was an absolute nightmare.

Unexpectedly, after Pei Lang finished dressing up, he looked even more stunning than the actual female lead. Holding the heroine’s weapon—a slender and elegant sword—he radiated the aura of a true martial heroine.

When he stepped out of the dressing room, the entire crew was left in shock.

Pei Lang was already exceptionally good-looking in men’s clothing, but once he changed into a woman’s outfit, his features became even more androgynous. The red mole at the corner of his eye added a hint of charm, yet his natural uprightness gave him the aura of a noble and righteous female knight.

The flood of praise made Liu Ran extremely uncomfortable, and she glared at Pei Lang with eyes full of hostility. Zhong Yixiao, though momentarily stunned, quickly returned to his usual gentle but detached demeanor.

The martial arts instructor demonstrated the movements and explained each action in detail. After just one explanation, Pei Lang said he had memorized everything and signaled to the director that he was ready to start.

With everything in place, the cameras started rolling.

The moment the director called for action, Pei Lang seamlessly stepped into character. He gripped the sword and stood beside Fu Zhixing, his expression alert as he scanned the surroundings. The presence of expert assassins would bring only the faintest disturbances, but after fleeing for so long, they had become all too familiar with this suffocating sense of impending danger.

Qin Junru: “Brother Fu, they’ve caught up to us again. We have no choice but to fight.”

Fu Zhixing stepped forward, shielding Qin Junru behind him. “Junru, if we have to fight, use the opportunity to escape. Go to Linxi Inn, the southernmost part of the city. If I don’t arrive before dawn—”

“Brother Fu, don’t say that! I won’t leave—”

“Junru, listen to me—”

Before he could finish, a cold voice interrupted.

“No one is escaping tonight.”

Emerging from the shadows were the Four Guardians of the Demon Cult, relentless pursuers who had hunted them across the land.

Assassins closed in from all directions, their blades glinting under the moonlight—each one stained with the blood of countless victims. Death loomed over them like an inescapable shroud. But neither of them faltered. They had run long enough. Either they would die tonight, or they would continue to survive.

With each encounter, the fear of facing the cult’s assassins had faded, replaced by an ever-growing resolve.

“Kill them!” The order was given, and a wave of killers surged forward.

Fu Zhixing and Qin Junru exchanged a brief glance, then simultaneously unsheathed their swords.

Steel clashed violently, filling the night with the sharp sound of battle. The fight scene played out like an epic drama before Director Jin’s eyes, and the cameras captured every breathtaking moment.

Pei Lang moved so fluidly that the wires attached to his waist felt unnecessary. His movements were graceful yet powerful, even surpassing those of the martial arts instructor. Every move was precise, beautifully executed, and entirely natural—as if he weren’t an actor but a true martial artist. He was light when he needed to be light, forceful when he needed to be forceful. If not for the wire keeping him grounded, it seemed as if he could have leaped into the treetops on his own.

Even the sword in his hand felt alive. His swordplay was first-class, and he instinctively added new techniques that hadn’t been choreographed, making the scene even more visually stunning.

And in the midst of it all, he didn’t forget to deliver his lines flawlessly.

Qin Junru was not as skilled in combat as Fu Zhixing. Throughout the battle, Fu Zhixing kept an eye on her, shielding her whenever necessary. The Four Guardians of the Demon Cult noticed this weakness and launched a fierce attack against Qin Junru.

She was already overwhelmed by the sheer number of assassins and failed to react in time. Fu Zhixing rushed to her aid but was struck in the process—a deep wound that left him bleeding heavily.

Despite the pain, he gritted his teeth and quickly released a smoke bomb, using the cover to grab Qin Junru and escape.

Ahead of them loomed a cliff.

Rather than be slaughtered by the cult’s killers, their only chance of survival was to take the leap.

The assassins were closing in, and with no other choice, they jumped.

Cut. Scene complete.

The “cliff” was nothing more than a constructed platform, with a cushioned safety area below. All Pei Lang and Zhong Yixiao had to do was perform the motion of leaping off.

After climbing back up, Pei Lang casually tossed his sword into the air. Without even looking, he reached out, and the blade landed smoothly back into its scabbard—his sense of distance and precision impeccable.

As soon as the scene wrapped, Director Jin broke into applause, followed by the rest of the crew.

Who would have thought that he would nail the entire sequence in just one take?

Most of the cast had gone through numerous retakes for their scenes. Even after repeated attempts, they still struggled to perfect their movements. But Pei Lang? He had just arrived, learned the choreography in a single explanation, and delivered a flawless performance on the first try.

Director Jin laughed heartily. “Kid, you really surprised me! Hahaha!”

The crew members chimed in with their own praises, their admiration evident.

Zhong Yixiao turned his head slightly to glance at Pei Lang, remaining silent for a moment. But then, a faint smile curved his lips.

Performing alongside Pei Lang had been unexpectedly satisfying.

When acting opposite Liu Ran, their scenes were decent, but something always felt lacking.

But now, performing alongside Pei Lang—someone who was truly immersed in his craft—everything fell perfectly into place.

This was an actor who could act.