Chapter 257: A Lone Man and a Lone Woman

When Liu Yifei left the audition room, she felt her whole body had been hollowed out.

Only then did she understand why Chen Nuo wanted her to wear light makeup, or even nude makeup.

It turned out that the scene she needed to audition for required crying so many times.

If the makeup was slightly thicker, then she could only go and remove it. Because after crying, the face couldn't be looked at.

When going downstairs, Liu Yifei kept recalling the audition process in her mind, replaying it over and over again.

Laughing like that, is it okay?

Crying like that, is it... okay?

Crying like that, no, crying like that is definitely not okay.

In that last crying scene, Director Zhang asked her to cry out the feeling of tears falling like rain and being unable to speak, and even let a deputy director cry with her, but she still didn't do it well.

It seemed like she forced herself to cry for three or four seconds, and the tears were all gone.

Crying scenes, the thing she hated the most was crying scenes. But it happened that in this movie, it seemed the most important thing was crying.

"Ah~" Liu Yifei rubbed her hair annoyedly.

When she left, although Director Zhang didn't announce the result on the spot, just told her to go back and wait for news, but...

looking so serious, it probably wouldn't have any good results.

Li Jing on the side had been carefully observing her expression, and asked softly: "Feifei, what's wrong, feeling not so good?"

"Hmm, performed very badly." Liu Yifei's voice was muffled, "I didn't really get into the play from beginning to end. I couldn't cry when I was asked to cry. It's estimated that there's no chance."

Li Jing was surprised and said "Ah," but her voice became softer, asking: "Was it too nervous? It's okay, don't think too much, it's not certain yet."

Liu Yifei looked at the floor number that kept getting smaller above the elevator, explaining: "I was a little nervous, but I don't know, I... as soon as I went in, I felt something was wrong, and I forgot everything I had prepared. I clearly thought about a lot before, but at that time, I couldn't think of anything. When I came out, looking at Director Zhang and their expressions, I probably won't be chosen this time."

As she spoke, Liu Yifei's tears began to spin in her eyes, blurring her vision, and the red number on the elevator LED screen turned into a ball of red light.

However, the girl raised her head, trying hard not to let them fall.

These annoying tears, why didn't they come out before? Now they were quite active.

Li Jing's voice became even lighter, saying: "It's okay, Feifei, don't think too much. Now the result is still unknown, perhaps it's because you have too high requirements for yourself, Director Zhang and the others might not be thinking what you think."

"Hmm, do you want to call President Chen and talk about it..." As she spoke, Li Jing said softly again, "Actually, many things are not that difficult as long as he opens his mouth."

Liu Yifei didn't speak, just shook her head.

How could that be?

It was agreed beforehand, this time she relied entirely on herself.

At this time, the elevator went down to the underground parking lot, Li Jing walked out first, looked left and right, and only then let Liu Yifei walk out of the elevator room.

After getting in the car, Li Jing was just about to call the driver assigned by the company to drive to Liu Yifei's house, but Liu Yifei suddenly opened her mouth and said: "Wait, Sister Jing, I don't want to go home, wait for me to make a phone call."

When receiving Liu Yifei's phone call, Zhang Laoshi Songwen, who had returned from filming in Hengdian a few days ago, was closing the door of his small courtyard, preparing to go out to buy vegetables.

After finishing the call, he still went out to buy vegetables with his girlfriend.

The two walked and chatted on the road.

Zhang Laoshi finally got rid of being single at the end of last year, his new girlfriend was an outsider, a few years younger than him, graduated from USTC, and worked in a research institute in Beijing.

At this time, the woman laughed loudly, patted his back, and said a bit excitedly: "It's really Liu Yifei, Old Zhang, did you really teach Liu Yifei how to act?"

Zhang Songwen laughed lightly: "What's the big deal."

"Oh, you just pretend. I saw you when you were chatting on the phone just now. Your mouth couldn't close." The girlfriend giggled for a while, and then curiously asked: "Hey, I ask you, that, Chen Nuo, has he really been to this broken courtyard of yours?"

Zhang Songwen hehe-ed: "What broken courtyard, Chen Nuo didn't say it was broken, he sat on the stool you often sit on."

The woman's voice suddenly became louder, shouting, "Go, really or fake!"

"Would I lie to you?"

"Go, do you think Chen Nuo will come this time?"

"Didn't you watch the news yesterday, saying he was in Hong Kong?"

"That's not certain, hurry, hurry, let's walk faster. What about Hong Kong, it's not like he has to run back with his legs!"

After the two bought the vegetables and cooked the food, the doorbell of the courtyard rang.

Liu Yifei and the other two entered the courtyard.

Although they saw Chen Nuo wasn't there, the two hosts were still very enthusiastic.

Speaking of which, after *The Message*, although Liu Yifei and Zhang Songwen, this pair of master and apprentice, would occasionally send text messages, counting the time, it had been more than a year since they last met.

Zhang Songwen chatted about his experiences over the past year at the dinner table, and was also full of emotion, "Those who didn't know me before, now many know me. Many doors that couldn't be entered before, now can be entered. When I just graduated, I went to a crew to audition, a director said to the investor, someone like me, is like a dwarf, not worthy of acting at all. Not long ago when he saw me, he even called me to go to his crew to play a male number two."

Fortunately, Zhang Laoshi never drank alcohol, otherwise, speaking of this, he would definitely have had a big drink. After eating, in the warm room, several people sat or stood together, and Liu Yifei brought up the purpose of coming this time.

She wanted Zhang Laoshi to give her a trick, or point out a direction. At this time when she was particularly confused and particularly frustrated, besides that person in Hong Kong, she could only think of Zhang Laoshi.

Liu Yifei said, although Director Yimou didn't say it clearly today, it was almost the same as saying it clearly, the disappointed look she saw with her own eyes, she probably wouldn't have a chance for this play.

So, in the eyes of Zhang Laoshi who understood her, what should she do? Could her acting career, which could be said to be finished, still be saved?

Zhang Songwen listened, pondered for a while, and then asked: "Yifei, if I remember correctly, you should be participating in an audition for the first time, right?"

Liu Yifei felt like a stone was blocking her heart, when she said it just now, if she hadn't tried hard to hold back, tears would have come down again.

Hearing Zhang Laoshi's words, she nodded gloomily: "Yes."

Zhang Songwen looked at her appearance of the end of the world, really didn't know whether to cry or laugh, and finally chose to squeeze out a smile.

He hehe-ed: "Actually, Yifei, failing an audition is a very normal thing. When I was at my most, I was rejected by crews more than 300 times a year. I never thought about whether I should change careers."

"So, if you really failed this time, what does it matter? There is no need to care at all."

"Besides, the one you went to audition for, is this movie."

"Yifei, I actually just came back from Hengdian, many actresses there have been talking about this movie during this period, I don't know how many people are thinking about acting opposite Chen Nuo, being Director Zhang Yimou's female lead."

"But is it possible for them? Impossible."

"Let alone the female lead, they can't even walk in front of Director Zhang Yimou to let him see their acting."

"Because they graduated. And Director Zhang Yimou, this time only wants to find newcomers in major colleges."

"And you?"

"Logically speaking, you are not a student anymore, you graduated a year or two ago, right?"

"Actually, reasonably speaking, you are not in Director Zhang's casting range either."

"However, you can make a phone call directly to Director Zhang Yimou's mobile phone. Two days later, you can stand in front of him, let him and the producer, deputy directors look at your acting together, and seriously consider whether you can play the female lead in his new movie..."

Zhang Songwen sighed deeply, "Yifei, have you ever thought about why this is?"

Very coincidentally, at this time in the conference room of the New Picture company, someone also mentioned the same question.

And this person was none other than New Picture President Zhang Weiping.

"I know, Liu Yifei's acting is indeed not good. But today a group of us flew back from all over the country solemnly to watch her act, and even discussed until now, why is this?"

Zhang Weiping looked around, didn't wait for anyone to answer, and continued to say: "Just like last week when I talked on the phone with China Film Chairman Han Sanping. Originally we were chatting about *The Founding of a Republic*, but he changed the subject and suddenly talked about this movie of ours, wanting to take a share, I said good things and said bad things, and even moved IDG President Xiong out, before I dispelled his idea."

"President Han is so optimistic about this movie of ours, besides Director Yimou, are there any other reasons? "I think the several hours we discussed back and forth just now were all from the perspective of appearance and acting."

"These two girls, Zhou Dongyu and Liu Yifei, to be fair, each has their own good points. Zhou Dongyu's acting is indeed much better than Liu Yifei's, while Liu Yifei's appearance is something Zhou Dongyu can't compare to."

"As for dancing, both have a foundation, both are very good."

"However, this movie of ours is ultimately going to face the market. The combination of Chen Nuo and Liu Yifei is definitely many times stronger than Chen Nuo and Zhou Dongyu, just the fans of *The Return of the Condor Heroes* from back then are a big guarantee for our box office."

"I've said this much, I won't speak anymore afterward. Director, in the end, you decide."

"However, the answers to the two questions I raised before, although we have never said them out loud, it doesn't mean they don't exist. Right?"

"Okay, I'm done speaking."

Zhang Weiping sat on the bench, crossed his arms, looking like he really didn't intend to speak anymore.

For a time, no one spoke in the conference room.

A strange atmosphere flowed in the conference room, from the inadvertent eye contact of everyone to the expressions of wanting to speak but stopping, with undercurrents surging.

And this was a situation that rarely appeared in Director Zhang Yimou's crew.

Because Director Zhang always advocated speaking freely.

But the matter of whether to "give someone face" seemed really a bit hard to speak of.

Speaking of which, after selecting roles in major colleges for several months, finally when the time came, they chose a relationship-based person, wouldn't it be a bit of a tiger head and snake tail?

It would be fine if the final film effect made people have nothing to say.

If Liu Yifei's performance was not good, then the subsequent controversy would be truly too big.

Even if Director Zhang was awesome again, and his status in the country was high again, I'm afraid he would also have to be gray-faced.

Therefore, on this matter, including President Zhang Weiping, actually no one could make the decision for Zhang Yimou.

Because this was his movie, this was the casting he led, and the final success or failure was also borne by him alone.

Perhaps precisely because of this, he had always wanted to choose that little girl from Shijiazhuang.

Then, after this heart-to-heart talk by President Zhang Weiping that almost put the words on the table, what kind of decision would Director Zhang make?

Everyone in the conference room cast their eyes on Zhang Yimou's expressionless face.

Finally, this Shaanxi-born director who was currently the most famous in China slowly opened his mouth.

Liu Yifei walked out of Zhang Laoshi Songwen's courtyard and sat on the spacious and comfortable seat of the Toyota Alphard assigned to her by the company, it was already the night time with stars and moon.

The million-level nanny car that the Huanxin company added 200,000 to pick up in June this year was equipped with foot pedals and electric leg rests on the seats, claiming that passengers had a comfortable experience comparable to the first class of an airplane.

But Liu Yifei felt a bit like sitting on pins and needles at this time.

The conversation of more than 2 hours just now made her fully realize how lucky she was.

This wasn't even brought to her by her appearance, nor was it her nationality or any other relationship.

It was really just pure luck.

If the actor who played Yang Guo in the *The Return of the Condor Heroes* she acted in wasn't a person named Chen Nuo, regardless of whether his surname was Huang or something else.

No matter how popular *The Return of the Condor Heroes* was, no matter how national *Chinese Paladin* was, in 2008 today, it was impossible for her to stand in front of Zhang Yimou and audition for the female lead of his world-renowned movie just because she said so.

Even if her manager was still the original one, even if she didn't go to Japan to release any records, it was impossible.

In the narrative told by Zhang Songwen, she suddenly woke up like a dream.

It turned out that this play had attracted so much attention before it even started filming.

It turned out that the female lead in it, I don't know how many people were willing to pour out everything.

Including the Huanxin company she signed with as a joke in a friend's mindset, now many people want to sign in but can't find the way.

However, Liu Yifei had a slightly different opinion on this point.

At least she knew the company signed two actresses, those two girls waited for a full two years, before Qi Dazai said, they could slowly give them some resources early next year.

For example, the *Lost in Beijing* that both she and Sister Bingbing took a fancy to, the company was preparing to recommend one of them to act. Those two girls waited for a full two years.

But thinking about it this way, Liu Yifei felt even more lucky.

So, what did this little setback today count for?

Truly too pretentious.

She sat in the car, watching the village under the night slowly disappear from her eyes, and transitioned back into the lights of the city.

Liu Yifei suddenly felt that she should really make a phone call to thank him.

With the relationship between her and Chen Nuo now, naturally there was no need to worry about anything, she took out her phone and dialed out.

Dawdling, the other side answered after a long while, just like yesterday.

Liu Yifei suddenly forgot the mindset of gratitude, a bit dissatisfied: "What are you doing?"

The man on the opposite side of the phone seemed to say subconsciously: "I am doing..." then paused, "I am exercising. What's wrong?"

"Why do you exercise every night?" Liu Yifei asked curiously, "Is it taught by the private trainer you found in Japan before?"

"... Hmm, Japan's... taught me a lot of things in this regard. What's the matter with you, can you hurry up and say it?"

Liu Yifei was a bit angry: "Why are you urging me? I was preparing to call to thank you. But your attitude now makes me a bit unwilling to thank you."

The voice on the phone sounded a bit hurried, continuously saying "Hmm hmm... don't want to thank, then no need to thank. Nothing else? Then I'm hanging up. Call at another time in the future, if it's like this again, I suspect you installed a monitor, okay."

Liu Yifei shouted: "Wait!!"

But she said it too late, there was no sound on the mobile phone, looked at the screen, the other party had already hung up the phone.

Liu Yifei was almost angry to death, without saying a word, immediately dialed another one.

Originally Liu Yifei was prepared to wait for Chen Nuo to answer the phone and criticize his attitude well.

As a result, she didn't expect that Chen Nuo's opinion was even bigger than hers.

As soon as he answered, he was panting, saying intermittently: "It's not that, Xixi... what exactly is the matter? You honestly say, did you learn some bad habits from that Sister Bingbing of yours? You did it on purpose, right? Ouch, hiss, pain!"

Liu Yifei immediately forgot about settling the score, concerned: "What on purpose, what's wrong with you? Are you on the treadmill? Twisted your foot?"

The voice on the phone was very helpless: "... No, hurry up and say it, what exactly is the matter."

Liu Yifei didn't know what it meant to hurry up and say it.

She had never been slow or fast when speaking.

First spent two minutes talking about the process and result of her audition today,

then spent five minutes talking about the stories she heard at Zhang Laoshi Songwen's place and related insights.

Finally, she said with great emotion: "Thank you, Chen Nuo, I had never thought about these before. Now I know, actually it is you who have been helping me."

The words were finished, but for a full few seconds, there was no sound on that side.

Liu Yifei couldn't help but say hello several times, before Chen Nuo's voice came over again, "Hmm, it's like this. Very good, I know."

Liu Yifei was stunned, "You know? What do you know?"

"Know, know everything, it's all very good, then okay, I'm hanging up."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 258 =====

(End of this chapter)