Chapter 72: Gray Trajectory

From unconsciousness to waking up took only a few seconds.

Let’s finish this take.

Li Luo also wrapped up his scenes for the day.

“Cut! Wrap it up!”

After confirming the performance on the monitor was fine, he wiped the sweat off his face roughly and strode toward a few classmates sitting in the corner, asking with interest:

“First time eating the crew’s boxed meal, first time as an extra—how’s it feel?”

“Tired.”

“When you’re hungry, everything tastes good!”

“Lots of Shouhuo .”

“Feels really fulfilling.”

The group chattered excitedly, each with their own takeaways.

To help Li Luo avoid the earlier embarrassment, Jia Naiming immediately tossed him a bottle of water.

“Wait till I take off my makeup.”

After gulping down a bottle of mineral water, Li Luo let out a burp: “Tonight we’re doing grilled skewers and beer—haven’t had a proper meal with you guys in ages, then we’ll head to KTV afterward.”

Do a good deed to the end, see someone off properly.

It won’t cost much, but it’ll earn you a good reputation.

It’s a win-win.

“Perfect!”

“Bro Li wins!!”

Most people here clapped and cheered.

“No.”

Hu Xuan shook his head quickly and refused firmly: “You still have work tonight, and I have to take them back.”

He brought them out—he must bring them all back, none missing.

If six or seven kids stayed behind to eat and drink and something happened, he couldn’t answer for it.

A bucket of cold water doused them.

The group, just moments ago elated, instantly deflated.

“Teacher, don’t worry.”

Li Luo smiled, waved his hand, and tossed the empty bottle into the trash: “We’re just going to Huangtingzi Community for some old Northeastern grilled skewers—call everyone you can, I’ve been working all day, I’m free tonight.”

He understood the homeroom teacher’s concerns.

Don’t cause trouble for others.

The drive back is only an hour and change—consider it a little relaxation.

At these words, everyone’s mood brightened instantly.

Hu Xuan said nothing more.

Li Luo gave a few instructions and headed to the makeup room to remove his makeup. The mountain location was basic—this wasn’t the era where every actor got a trailer, so there was no showering; he just changed into his own clothes.

After wearing a wig all day, his hair was dusted with salt.

One bottle of water poured over his head.

Finally, he felt refreshed again.

“Let’s go!”

“See you tomorrow~”

He waved goodbye to the crew, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and strode out of the makeup room.

“Hey~”

“Watch out.”

He ran into Gao Yuanyuan head-on; they nearly collided.

Li Luo quickly stepped left.

She followed right after.

He shifted right again—her beautiful face appeared before him once more.

He stopped walking and looked at her helplessly.

Gao Yuanyuan stepped back two paces, saw him in the familiar costume, and instantly recalled the scene she’d witnessed—she instinctively crossed her arms over her chest and stamped her foot, pouting:

“Can you move out of the way?”

Good grief, she looked like she’d encountered a lecher.

“No.”

Li Luo got determined, stepped sideways with his right foot, and tilted his head to stare at the woman: “Comrade Gao Yuanyuan, what’s going on? Anyone watching would think I did something to you!”

Since their scene together today, this woman had been acting strangely.

They still had a lot of scenes together ahead.

He wanted to find out why.

But the moment he took that step, Gao Yuanyuan’s eyes grew even more panicked.

She stomped her foot hard again.

She spun around and dashed off like a bolt of lightning.

Only Li Luo remained, bewildered in the wind.

“Let me say.”

He spread his hands toward Jia Jing, who had peeked out from the side, looking utterly exasperated: “I really don’t know what’s wrong with her—do you believe me?”

“No way!”

Jia Jing shook her head like a rattle drum.

Her face wore a sly smile.

“Fine then.”

Li Luo waved his hand, annoyed: “Go ask her yourself—I can’t explain this anymore!”

Back in the tent rest area.

Hu Xuan had already seen off each student.

He’d barely managed to decline Lai Shuiqing’s dinner invitation; seeing Li Luo emerge dressed in his own clothes, he immediately urged him to leave the set.

After more than a month, he’d finally returned.

That night.

Over twenty students from Class 01 of North Film almost all showed up, cramming onto Siwu tables at Old Northeastern BBQ—grilled beef, lamb skewers, and grilled kidneys kept the owner sweating nonstop.

After gorging and drinking, they moved on to KTV.

Grabbing the mic, they howled like demons.

Of course.

That specifically meant Li Luo.

In vocal performance, he’d always been the bottom of the class.

His off-key, gray trajectories screamed out all the fatigue accumulated over the past weeks, making everyone else grimace and cover their ears; as soon as one song ended, the mic was snatched away.

Bian Xiaoxiao and Huang Sheng’s duet of “Not Quite Lovers” stood in sharp contrast.

The private room erupted in cheers.

Even with the flashing neon lights, Li Luo still felt their eyes—filled with affection—constantly drifting toward him. Bian Xiaoxiao he could understand; she’d already been his lover.

But what about Huang Sheng?!

Clinking glasses with Jia Naiming, Li Luo downed his beer in one gulp and suddenly remembered the words this Shanghai girl had whispered to him when he left campus:

“It’s a little sad not seeing your annoying face around campus anymore.”

He grinned, picked up a bottle of Budweiser, and poured himself another.

He lifted his eyelids.

He smiled toward the TV screen.

A woman looks best with a touch of innocence.

But if she’s seductive, it’s a whole different story!

Just then, a pink light swept through the room, landing directly on Huang Sheng, who wore a black strap mini dress, her delicate collarbones fully exposed.

Her normally pale shoulders glowed red under the light.

Her extremely pure face now radiated unmistakable allure.

Look closer—her figure was a bit lacking.

But if your face is stunning enough, some things can be overlooked.

“Come a little closer, and I’ll let you hold my hand.”

Noticing Li Luo’s gaze, Huang Sheng raised her pitch: “Be a little braver, and I’ll go with you.”

“What are you waiting for?”

“Time’s running out.”

“If you wait any longer, we’ll only be friends~~~”

“You sang well.”

Jia Naiyang, the warm-up prince, blew a whistle and, singing along with the chorus, pushed the atmosphere in the private room to a climax.

Facing the song with its implied meaning, Li Luo merely sipped his wine slowly.

Young people always love to mix drinks.

They’re all classmates.

Naturally, he accepted every offer.

More than an hour later, seeing the line forming outside the restroom, he patted his slightly dizzy head and staggered toward the exit, one step unsteady, the next heavier.

In the bustling private room, someone watched his every move.

The tall figure had just vanished outside the door.

Huang Shengyi hesitated for two seconds, then immediately grabbed her bag and followed.

And her action—

Was also noticed by others.

Bian Xiaoxiao clenched her teeth and gulped down the beer in her hand, its flavor unknown.