Chapter 20: Take You to the United States to Chase Foreign Girls (Vote & Follow!)

The crew disbanded, and staff returned to the hotel where the production was lodged—nothing fancy, just a standard double room at a budget hotel.

Going back to Beijing Film Academy was too far, and arranging pick-ups and drop-offs was a hassle!

At night, Yu Xian, seeing Liu Tianxian alone, gathered his courage and volunteered: "Liu… Miss Liu, let me see you back."

"No need, someone's coming to pick me up!" Liu Tianxian refused bluntly.

Over these past few days, Yu Xian had occasionally tried to court her, and Liu Tianxian had certainly sensed his intentions—she even regretted giving him those snacks.

Letting someone misunderstand you only invites trouble!

I should've given them to Fang Hong instead—he jokes around, knows his limits, and mostly doesn't even bother to look at her.

Fang Hong's as busy as a dog—how would he have time to look at her?

Watching Liu Tianxian get into the car under the escort of her bodyguard and assistant, Yu Xian felt a dull, cold disappointment.

Ever since he hinted at his feelings, Liu Tianxian had ignored him completely; they used to be like friends, now they were worse than strangers.

Looks like Fang Hong was right—this girl's impossible to chase!

The next morning, the crew carried on as usual, though some faces bore signs of fatigue.

They were still students, never having endured such intense work—but no one spoke of quitting.

After all, you sign on, you finish—and the Principal's a good guy!

"I'm giving up!"

Fang Hong was busy when Yu Xian sat beside him and suddenly blurted that out.

He blinked in confusion: "What are you giving up?"

"Giving up on chasing Liu Tianxian. You were right—this girl's hard to win over." What Yu Xian didn't say was: she gave him zero chance.

Fang Hong understood, and adopted an ancient tone: "There are countless women in the world. A true man fears only that his reputation remains unestablished—not that he finds no wife."

"Poverty of birth is no shame. To bend without breaking—that's what makes a man." Yu Xian spoke with grandeur.

"Yes! Perfectly said—you need this kind of spirit!" Fang Hong clapped him on the shoulder.

Yu Xian's mood had been soaring, but immediately slumped again—he'd been hit too hard.

"Don't lose heart. When we make money, I'll take you to the United States—we'll chase foreign girls." Fang Hong encouraged.

"What?! Chase foreign girls in the United States!" Yu Xian was stunned—he couldn't even handle Chinese girls, now he's chasing foreigners?

Was that even something he could dream of?

"Yes—chase foreign girls. T0 Version—you can't afford it!" Fang Hong patted his shoulder.

He remembered that in his past life, Yu Xian had been heartbroken, married and divorced multiple times, his fortune split and split again, making huge contributions to poverty relief.

Yu Xian scratched his head—he had no idea what Fang Hong meant, what was this "T0 Version"?

Idle chatter was just a distraction from the dull, tedious work.

From then on, Yu Xian let go of any thoughts of Liu Tianxian and focused entirely on filming, nothing else.

The other student crew members also grew much more skilled, and filming accelerated rapidly.

Previously, they'd shot at most sixty or seventy shots a day; now they could manage over a hundred. The students all deeply respected Fang Hong.

Because he was truly professional—his words, movements, and demeanor subtly shaped the emotions of everyone around him.

This was the legendary personal charm!

The high school storyline of Those Years was nearing its end. Though Liu Tianxian had won the bet, she tied her hair into a ponytail for Fang Hong—radiant, youthful!

She even played the bad student with him, talking back to the teacher in class and getting punished with him.

While standing in punishment, she cried like blossoms drenched in rain—but then, through her tears, she laughed.

Yet she failed the college entrance exam due to stomach pain, and this time, she truly wept.

After laughter, after tears, came love.

At this moment, a large Kongming lantern stood between them, obscuring each other's expressions—only their voices could be heard.

Fang Hong shouted loudly: "Liu Tianxian, I really like you—I really, really like you. One day, I will definitely chase you down. One thousand percent—I will chase you down!"

"Do you want to know the answer? I can tell you right now." Liu Tianxian's expression was moved.

"No—I didn't ask you, so you can't refuse me."

"..."

The Kongming lantern rose into the sky. Liu Tianxian looked up, her face glowing with happiness and romance—hoping both their wishes would come true!

At this moment, she had fallen in love with the childish boy before her.

The storyline entered the college phase, and the crew moved to outdoor locations—previous actors had already been paid in full.

For example, Zhang Songwen had left the crew after finishing his scenes.

We cut some of the behind-the-scenes budget, but actors and extras still had to be paid—they're working, they need to eat.

That day, as usual, the crew was busy—Wang Ran brought his girlfriend, Bao Jinjin, to set. Clearly, he'd used Fang Hong's advice and successfully won her back.

If you don't kiss a woman, she won't know you love her!

Bao Jinjin was a shy, glasses-wearing girl with a scholarly air—nicknamed the female Wang Shuo, highly praised by the literary world!

A literature department girl—though plain-looking, her aura was quite refined.

Seeing Wang Ran holding hands with his girlfriend, the student and alumni crew burst into laughter, staring at Bao Jinjin like they were watching a Panda, and exchanging suggestive chuckles at Wang Ran.

They were all hungry men—understandable.

This made Wang Ran and Bao Jinjin embarrassed, but inside, they felt sweet and happy.

"Let me take you to meet the Principal," Wang Ran whispered.

Bao Jinjin widened her eyes in surprise: "Principal?! There's a Principal here?"

"No, just the director—we gave him that nickname privately. He's a great guy," Wang Ran said.

At this moment, Fang Hong was debating acting techniques with Liu Tianxian.

The reason was that there was a crying scene in the rain, and Liu Tianxian's crying expression was too exaggerated, her features flying all over the place, so Fang Hong told her to rein it in a bit.

"You just need to do that kind of sobbing — that is, crying softly — and that'll be enough. Don't go 'ahhh ahhh' like that, it looks so ugly, so unladylike. Watch, I'll demonstrate for you."

Fang Hong began to cry, his body hitching with each sob, crying in broken fits, pear blossoms shedding rain.

This kind of crying only suits girls — it can make people feel pity. If a boy cries like that, it looks neither one thing nor the other!

Liu Tianxian watched and felt like laughing, saying: "All of yours is just technique."

She was of the Experiential Acting school, and wasn't skilled at technical things.

"Don't care whether it's technique or experiential, as long as it works." Fang Hong said.

"Fine, I'll give it a try!" Liu Tianxian nodded.

Just as the two were chatting, Wang Ran and Bao Jinjin finished dealing with their classmates and walked over.

Wang Ran greeted: "Director."

Hearing the voice, Fang Hong turned to look at the newcomers and immediately stood up, saying: "Just call me junior brother, no need to be so formal."

Having said that, he politely nodded toward the girl beside him — at this point he definitely had to pretend not to know her!

Liu Tianxian felt she couldn't keep sitting either, so she stood up too!

"This is my girlfriend."

After introducing her, Wang Ran pointed at Fang Hong and Liu Tianxian and said: "This is the director of our drama, also the Principal I mentioned to you. This one you should recognize."

"Hello Principal, hello Sister Yifei!" Bao Jinjin said politely.