Chapter 323

A large amount of *Late Spring* plot, do not purchase if you don't like it.

Liu Bige had always been confident in front of Lu Yan He, full of confidence and anticipation for the film *Late Spring*.

He had never shown this worried side in front of Lu Yan He.

This surprised Lu Yan He; he hadn't expected it at all. Mainly, he really thought Liu Bige was an overly confident person who never doubted himself.

The way he usually presented himself didn't show any such misgivings or worries at all.

Liu Bige curled his lips bitterly, "Didn't expect it, right?"

"No," Lu Yan He shook his head honestly, "I always thought you were very confident, 100% believing that this film of yours would definitely succeed."

Liu Bige nodded and said: "I thought so too before; most of the time, that's what I thought."

"Then what made you become so anxious and worried?"

Liu Bige: "It's not what made me become anxious and worried, it's that I can't help but be anxious and worried at this time."

Lu Yan He looked at him with some surprise.

"I used to read many autobiographies written by directors, as well as some articles. They all said that filming is a very difficult process. No matter how great a director is, when on the film set, they feel like it's the end of the world," Liu Bige sighed, "I didn't understand before, but now I understand why they said that."

Lu Yan He hesitated for a moment and asked: "Why say that? I feel... our filming is going quite smoothly."

Liu Bige: "It's not that our filming isn't going smoothly, but the gap between the actual look of what's shot and the look I want to shoot in my mind makes me very frustrated. In my mind, there is actually a complete look for this film; it has already been constructed into a complete cinematic story in my mind, but it cannot be restored to reality."

Lu Yan He heard this and smiled in surprise.

"So that's how it is," he said.

Lu Yan He had thought Liu Bige was worried about the poor results the film might achieve later.

He was wondering, he felt Liu Bige wasn't the type to be anxious and worried about the results during the production process.

At least from previous contact, Lu Yan He didn't feel Liu Bige was that kind of person.

In the final analysis, Liu Bige was actually still worrying about the film shooting process.

"Do your best and leave the rest to fate," Lu Yan He said, "I have always felt that to accomplish something, besides one's own efforts, many times one also has to rely on fate. Fate can only be waited for; only effort is something one can do oneself. So, do 100% of what you can do, and for the rest, you can only wait for fate."

Liu Bige, on the contrary, looked at Lu Yan He with surprise.

"I thought you believed more in 'man can conquer nature'."

"I do believe 'man can conquer nature', but I also believe that there are always things beyond human reach," Lu Yan He said, "Do you know why I liked the script for *Late Spring* and agreed immediately to act in this film?"

"Isn't it because Miao Yue is your classmate?"

"That's part of the reason, but the most important reason is that no film has ever come to me to play a high school student, let alone such a complex high school student character," Lu Yan He said, "I like this story because it actually talks about the closeness and distance between people, meeting and separating. This change in interpersonal relationships makes me feel a sense of melancholy, making me remember when I was in high school, wanting to grow up quickly, end high school early, leave the state of being unable to control myself, and take control of my own life."

Liu Bige stared blankly at Lu Yan He.

"Up to now, I feel that every scene you shoot has always revolved around your initial creative intent, without changing," Lu Yan He said, "And I have always believed that although this is your first time directing a film, what you are missing is just this one film. When this film comes out, it will definitely become your representative work. I really haven't seen a film that focuses so intently on telling the story of people moving from closeness to distance, and exploring human psychology and youthful confusion for a very, very long time."

This is not a melodramatic youth romance story involving abortion or love triangles.

It tells the story of several young boys and girls meeting at a tutoring class, accidentally getting to know each other, slowly becoming familiar, but because of their respective growth shadows, their relationships become complex, heavy, and collapse.

It talks about the fragility of emotions, the fragility of people, and those moods of young people that come like wild fire, go like a light breeze, and end without a cure.

After the scene, He Qingqing came to ask Lu Yan He if he was free after work, as they wanted to go through the script with him again to smooth out the changes in character relationships and psychological states.

Lu Yan He said okay.

They went to Kong Fan's room.

Yan Lingyu said: "I actually never figured out why Yin Yue would look at Meng Bai differently after seeing him get slapped by his dad."

Lu Yan He said: "Meng Bai was slapped by his dad because he discovered his dad was cheating, so he was struggling against his dad—never mind, let's just say it's me. I was struggling against my dad, and he slapped me because my attitude was bad. It just so happened that this scene was seen by Yin Yue. I didn't expect to run into this girl again at the tutoring class, because I was seen by her being slapped by my dad before, so facing you—"

He looked at Yan Lingyu and continued, "I actually felt a bit embarrassed inside, so I deliberately acted cold towards you, using that as an excuse not to talk to you, not to deal with you, and thus not have to bring up such an awkward thing."

Yan Lingyu nodded, "I looked at you differently, was it because you were slapped by your dad, or because you look very handsome?"

"Then why not combine them? You looked at me differently because you saw a very handsome boy get slapped and still have a rebellious, sarcastic smile on his face," Lu Yan He said, "Because this reaction of mine made you somewhat surprised."

Yan Lingyu pondered for a moment, "That's good, otherwise I couldn't give myself a reasonable motivation. Actually, that's when I started to be a little curious about you."

He Qingqing said: "I'll stick to what I understood before. I know Yin Yue is a quite arrogant girl; she was quite famous at school, a goddess in the hearts of many boys. I actually envied her a bit, didn't expect to become her desk mate at the tutoring class, so I wanted to get to know her better."

She looked at Yan Lingyu: "When I knew she became curious about Meng Bai, I couldn't help but start guessing if she liked Meng Bai. Because I've always had a good relationship with Yu Lang, so when he asked me if Yin Yue liked anyone, I said maybe."

Kong Fan held the script, which he had covered in dense pen marks, and said: "When I knew Meng Bai might be the person Yin Yue liked, I felt a bit of jealousy towards Meng Bai. It just so happened that I ran into Meng Bai acting sneakily and suspiciously, so I followed him, didn't expect to see Meng Bai secretly filming a couple."

"I secretly like Meng Bai," Wang Jing said, "But I am a very ordinary and insecure girl. I never dared to reveal my heart to him. In fact, he might not even know me at all. However, I discovered that he often appeared near my house. I started to have a thought—I know this thought is basically unrealistic, but I still couldn't help but think so—maybe he likes me a little bit too, and he's secretly following me."

Yan Lingyu continued: "I didn't fall for Meng Bai; I was just puzzled why he could face his father so calmly and fearlessly, even after being slapped, he could face him without fear. I am a good student in the eyes of others, but I have a father who has been very strict with me since I was a child. He controlled me to a pathological degree, not allowing me to say a word to boys, requiring me to be home on time, strictly controlling my actions outside the house, and requiring me to explain clearly what I did at what time. If I defied or resisted even slightly, he would hit me. I hate my father; I have always dreamed of finding my mother one day, letting her come to pick me up, and leaving this terrifying home."

He Qingqing said: "That day when Yin Yue suddenly fell down the stairs, I was startled, and Zuo Lanlan was also pale. I didn't expect that after Yin Yue fell down the stairs, not many people were willing to help send her to the hospital. Fortunately, Meng Bai and Yu Lang came at this time. With their help, we sent Yin Yue to a nearby hospital. Fortunately, Yin Yue only sprained her ankle and didn't cause more serious consequences. At this time, the tutoring school teacher and Yin Yue's father rushed over. Her father looked serious and thanked us. I always felt her father's eyes were a bit fierce, especially when looking at Meng Bai and Yu Lang. He even said to Meng Bai and Yu Lang, 'Stay away from Yin Yue'."

"Yin Yue was picked up by her father, and we breathed a sigh of relief, discussing eating lunch nearby together before returning to the tutoring school," Kong Fan said, "As a result, at the entrance of the restaurant, Meng Bai's face suddenly changed, saying he had something to do and wouldn't eat with us. After saying that, he left, his face looking very bad. We were all very strange, but we weren't familiar with Meng Bai, so we didn't care much and went by ourselves. Instead, Wang Jing looked at Meng Bai's departing back, her eyes making people easily overthink. We entered the restaurant, and I discovered that the couple Meng Bai had secretly followed were actually also in the restaurant. I was stunned for a moment."

Wang Jing pursed her lips and took a deep breath, "I didn't expect to run into my mother eating alone with another strange man here. Actually, this doesn't explain anything, but when my mother looked up and saw me, her face, which had been laughing and talking, suddenly seemed to stiffen. I immediately realized the worst possibility. At that moment, I was completely stunned, panicked, and said I still had homework to finish and had to go back to write it, fleeing in a panic."

He Qingqing: "I had no idea what was happening, completely at a loss."

Kong Fan said: "My mind was a mess, I didn't know why Meng Bai would follow Zuo Lanlan's mother, and who that man was?"

It seemed that everyone had entered the psychological state of their characters. When they were telling their character plot lines and motivations, they all slowly substituted themselves into the characters.

Shock, confusion, doubt...

Lu Yan He couldn't help but stand from an outsider's perspective at this moment, watching them. The expressions on their faces had all changed—focused, concentrated, immersed in their own plot lines and perspectives.

He thought to himself, everyone says he has high talent and is a genius, but who here isn't?

The state of everyone getting into character made Lu Yan He feel incredible.

Kong Fan took a deep breath, his tone carrying a bit of regret: "I did the thing I regret most in my life. Because of that secret jealousy towards Meng Bai, I told Zuo Lanlan about Meng Bai secretly following and filming Zuo Lanlan's mother. I knew that if Zuo Lanlan knew about this, Meng Bai would definitely be in trouble."

Zuo Lanlan's eyes were slightly red, and tears welled up.

"I went to question my mother if she was cheating with a man surnamed Meng, and she tacitly admitted it," Zuo Lanlan's chin trembled slightly, "I didn't dare to face Meng Bai anymore, and I finally understood why I always ran into Meng Bai near my house. My guesses were all illusions and misunderstandings. What's even more terrible is that after this happened, I could never interact with him normally again. However, at this time, Meng Bai came to find me."

Lu Yan He said: "I hoped Zuo Lanlan could join me to nip the extramarital affair between my father and her mother in the bud."

Wang Jing said: "I never thought he would still be willing to talk to me. This opportunity to have close contact with him made me impulsively agree immediately. At this time, I realized that it seemed that compared to the anger towards my mother, what made me feel worse before was that I thought there was no possibility for me and Meng Bai anymore."

Kong Fan bit his lip: "Meng Bai and Zuo Lanlan not only didn't break up, but often spent time talking after class, which made me suspicious and uneasy. I have always been condemned by my heart for my petty behavior, but I am also worried that Zuo Lanlan will tell Meng Bai that I told Zuo Lanlan about this privately."

He Qingqing said: "I also discovered the change in the relationship between Meng Bai and Zuo Lanlan. In fact, many students in the tutoring class were discussing in private whether the two of them were together. Didn't expect Teacher Han to suddenly come to the classroom at this time, call Yin Yue out, with a very bad face."

"'I miss you very much' was written on a note tucked into Yin Yue's notebook," He Qingqing said, "Teacher Han asked Yin Yue which boy this was intended for. Yin Yue's face changed, saying it wasn't written for anyone else, but Teacher Han called her father over. Her father rushed into our class like an angry lion, questioning which boy dared to have designs on his daughter, and then, he saw Meng Bai and Yu Lang. Her father rushed in front of them as if he had lost control, asking if it was them."

Kong Fan: "I was completely at a loss, not knowing what had happened."

Lu Yan He: "I saw Yin Yue standing in the corridor outside the classroom, tears streaming down her face, experiencing the most intense emotions. She rushed into the classroom and told everyone that she wrote it for her mother!"

Kong Fan: "He actually rushed over and slapped Yin Yue in front of so many people! I was furious. Why should Yin Yue be treated cruelly by such a father! I rushed up and punched him in the face."

Lu Yan He: "The moment Yin Yue's father hit Yin Yue, I thought of my father. I couldn't control my anger either, rushed up, and punched Yin Yue's father!"

"Meng Bai and I were both severely scolded and punished by being made to run laps on the playground."

He Qingqing was very angry: "Zuo Lanlan and I both said Yin Yue's father deserved it for hitting Yin Yue, but we were punished too. Yin Yue's father was punched twice by them and persuaded by Teacher Han. He told Yin Yue to go back with him, but Teacher Han said there were important knowledge points to be arranged later, and let Yin Yue finish the class before leaving. Only then did he leave angrily by himself."

Kong Fan said: "What we didn't expect was that Yin Yue also followed and ran laps with us."

Lu Yan He raised his head and looked at them.

They also raised their heads and looked at each other.

They looked at each other and smiled in unison.

"'Running was very tiring, sweating profusely, we lay on the playground, no one spoke, but at this moment felt an inexplicable, incredible closeness,'" He Qingqing said, "'Under our questioning, Yin Yue talked about her parents' affairs, and said she envied Meng Bai's courage and fearlessness in facing his father.'"

Lu Yan He said: "I hesitated for a moment, told them about my father's affair, and told them that the atmosphere between my father and me was tense, which was why he slapped me."

Kong Fan: "I immediately reacted, realizing that Meng Bai's father and Zuo Lanlan's mother were having an affair."

Wang Jing said: "I saw Yu Lang's sudden realization expression, and knew Yu Lang had already guessed it, so I admitted it."

The exchange of secrets covered the feeling of closeness they had just started to have with a layer of indescribable heaviness.

Yin Yue suddenly said: "Let's help, let them end it."

However, the next day, Yin Yue didn't appear at the tutoring school; she asked for leave.

Kong Fan said: "We were all very worried about Yin Yue's situation, called her, sent her messages, but there was no news. We wanted to find her, but none of us knew where Yin Yue lived, so we could only worry in vain."

Lu Yan He said: "My father suddenly had a showdown with my mother, saying he wanted a divorce, and the house was smashed to pieces by my mother."

Wang Jing said: "My mother told me I was about to have a father. I cried and refused. She was annoyed and locked me in the room, cursing me loudly for not understanding her."

⊙￠o

Lu Yan He said: "I left home late at night, wandering the streets in a daze, feeling confused and heavy about the future, when I suddenly saw Yin Yue. She was covered in injuries, and there were some on her face too."

"'After going home that night, I was severely beaten by my father. I said I wanted to find my mother, and he got even angrier, locking me in the room,'" Yan Lingyu said, "'I climbed out of the window in the middle of the night and ran into Meng Bai.'"

Lu Yan He said: "I decided to take Yin Yue to find her mother. Her mother had sent her things several times, and she had the address she had secretly obtained from her father."

Yan Lingyu said: "We waited at the station for the earliest bus."

Lu Yan He said: "Yu Lang suddenly called me, asking if Yin Yue's father had looked for me. I said no. He said Yin Yue's father had just found his house, looking for Yin Yue. I hesitated for a moment, told him Yin Yue was right beside me, told him we were preparing to find Yin Yue's mother, and told him not to worry."

Kong Fan said: "Before, when I saw Yin Yue's father, he was like a fierce lion, but when he came to find Yin Yue, he was panicked, full of panic, humbly asking me if I knew where Yin Yue was, asking me if I could contact Yin Yue, his eyes red with anxiety. After finishing the call with Meng Bai, I hurriedly prepared to go out, but my parents stopped me, asking where I was going. I said I was going to the station. They asked what I was going to the station for, and I said my friends were there and I was going to see them. But they wouldn't let me go out, and what I didn't expect even more was that my dad actually contacted Yin Yue's father and told him about the station."

Yan Lingyu said: "Didn't sleep all night. After Meng Bai and I got on the bus, waiting for it to depart, we were both too sleepy, but neither of us dared to close our eyes. It wasn't until after the bus departed that we breathed a sigh of relief, but just as we closed our eyes, preparing to sleep for a while, the bus suddenly stopped. I saw my father blocking the road in front. At this moment, I was completely hopeless."

He Qingqing sighed and said: "Meng Bai, Yin Yue, and Yu Lang never came to the tutoring school again; they disappeared. Many messages about them slowly spread in the school. Some said Meng Bai was caught eloping with Yin Yue, some said Meng Bai was sent to the police station by Yin Yue's father, some said Yin Yue was beaten all over by her father, and her mother heard about it and rushed over to fight for her custody, some said Meng Bai's mother collapsed and cried at the police station..."

Wang Jing: "I was suddenly very afraid of seeing Meng Bai again. He didn't appear, which made me breathe a sigh of relief. For a moment, I hoped he would never come to the tutoring school again. Meng Bai's mother came to my house to find Meng Bai's father, saying Meng Bai had an accident, but my mother wouldn't let him leave. I felt very ashamed, however, I couldn't do anything."

"'By May, the last class of the tutoring class. After this class, our spring tutoring class will end, and the summer advanced class will take over,'" He Qingqing said, "'If you want to enter the advanced class, you must pass an exam. On the day of the exam, it was a beautiful, sunny day. I sat in my seat, bored, waiting for the exam to start, and saw Zuo Lanlan come in. I actually really wanted to ask her why she could accept Meng Bai's father becoming her stepfather, but after that incident happened, I never spoke to her again. She looked at me, didn't say anything, and went straight to her seat.'"

Wang Jing said: "When I saw Meng Bai walk in, I didn't even dare to look him in the eye and immediately lowered my head."

"'Everyone was looking at me, only she lowered her head,'" Lu Yan He said, "'In this month of absence, I experienced the most agonizing period of my seventeen years of life. Now, I need to get back on track, return to the tutoring class, pass the college entrance exam in the future, get into a good university, and take my mother away from this city.'"

Yan Lingyu said: "My mother accompanied me to the outside of the classroom. She said after I finished this exam, she would take me away. She didn't understand why I wanted to take this exam. She had already handled the transfer procedures for me, and I was about to go to another city. I didn't know how to tell her that I needed to take this exam to complete my farewell. Maybe no one knows how happy I was when I saw Meng Bai appear in the classroom. They just looked at the injuries on my face with surprised eyes."

Kong Fan: "I hesitated for a long time whether I should take this exam. I was afraid of seeing them, and afraid of not seeing them. If it weren't for me, maybe they wouldn't have had to experience so much pain and suffering, maybe Yin Yue would have seen her mother long ago and wouldn't have had to be beaten by her father again. I gathered my courage, walked into the classroom, wanted to look up to see if they were there, but didn't dare to look up. I have never been so cowardly in my life. When I saw them out of the corner of my eye, I almost choked, and I don't know why."

There was silence among the five for a long time.

Finally, Lu Yan He looked into everyone's eyes and said: "'The moment the exam bell rang, I saw the sunlight spilling into the classroom from outside the window as always, spilling onto everyone. I looked at Yin Yue. She was shrouded in golden sunlight, the scars on her face exposed to the sunlight, hiding all traces. At this moment, I looked at her, remembering that night running in the spring breeze holding her hand. Was I running with her to the station to find her mother, or did I hope to ride this wind to escape that night of anger, sadness, and despair? I don't know, I just sincerely hope her future can be bright.'"

I know this is another thankless chapter, but as a novel written to this point, I must write this chapter. It's another four or five hours of extremely low-efficiency writing. I'm going to sleep, I'm very tired, there might not be two updates tomorrow, let's talk after I wake up.