Chapter 260

"After listening to Uncle Zhang's story, how do you feel?"

"Very moved."

"Then do you know what love is now?"

"I know a little, but..."

"But what?"

"But, I still don't know if Jingqiu—no, I mean, I still don't know if I love you."

"It's okay, it's only been seven days, there are twenty-three days left, you still have time."

Chen Nuo's words seemed to still be in her ears, yet time had suddenly whistled past.

Liu Yifei really didn't feel like it had been twenty-three days.

It felt like it had only been twenty-three hours, twenty-three minutes, or...

Was it only twenty-three seconds?

Otherwise, why did it seem like she had only blinked, and she was already sitting in the dressing room, preparing to put on her costume after makeup to film the first scene of *Under the Hawthorn Tree*?

Was she ready?

Liu Yifei's unease didn't seem to have been conveyed to anyone else.

Her agent, Li Jing, was smiling on the side, looking very confident.

She said, "Feifei, you've changed so much."

Liu Yifei blinked.

Had she changed?

She looked at the girl in the mirror.

Her original long hair had been cut much shorter.

She remembered it was the day after Chen Nuo and she visited Uncle Zhang next door; he took her to that barbershop in town and told the barber to cut it for her.

Chen Nuo had stood by and instructed the slightly plump, kind-hearted female barber for a long time, finally getting it cut into this style.

When it was just finished, it was neither too long nor too short, just reaching her shoulders.

It had been over ten days now, and it had grown just a little bit.

However, when the stylist sister braided it into two pigtails for her, the length was just right.

"It really has the feel," the stylist praised toward the mirror just after braiding the two pigtails, before doing anything else.

Li Jing smiled, "I think so too."

The makeup artist also clicked her tongue in praise from the side, "Look at this skin, it's really good. Who wouldn't believe it if you said she was sixteen or seventeen?"

Seeing their amazed and exaggerated expressions, Liu Yifei felt a bit embarrassed, "No, I actually..."

She stopped halfway through her sentence because she remembered Chen Nuo wanted her to keep it a secret.

What she wanted to say was that her skin hadn't actually been this good before.

Although it looked supple with a little light makeup, after staying in Africa for so long, being exposed to the sun in Tanzania for so long, and blowing in the wind for so long—even though she was very careful to apply sunscreen and tried her best to avoid direct sunlight—her cuticles had been damaged to some extent, and her skin had turned a bit yellow.

She remembered Chen Nuo saying after checking her face that these traces of sun and rain might not be very visible on TV.

However, if you were magnified 10 or 100 times on the big screen in a movie theater without makeup, it would very likely be a flaw in her image.

Afterward, he gave her some kind of secret recipe for repair and beauty.

During those few days of traveling to the Three Gorges, he went to a gold shop in Yichang to get some gold powder, and went to the market to buy some river mussel pearls to grind into fine powder.

Then, he said he used some secret ingredients to concoct a strange white ointment.

Every night he would apply a layer to her, and then press and rub it on her face; the ointment made her face feel burning hot and very painful.

It really hurt; several times she cried from the pain and couldn't help but lose her temper, but...

He didn't get angry at all.

Still the same thing, Liu Yifei didn't know why she would turn into a child every time she saw him.

If it were in front of anyone else, no matter how much it hurt, she wouldn't be like this.

Of course, she wouldn't let anyone else touch her face either.

But why could Chen Nuo?

Liu Yifei didn't know.

Anyway, a long time ago, she felt he was different from other boys.

Later, after applying it like this for ten days or so, she found her skin looked much better, which was how it became what it was now.

However, Chen Nuo said this method was very damaging to the skin and couldn't be used again in the short term.

He told her not to go to Africa to sunbathe within a year.

Facing his serious gaze, she promised.

The makeup artist studied it in the mirror for a while and said, "The director said the makeup should look like bare skin, but now I think maybe we should just go with bare skin on camera. Feifei's skin is unparalleled; I feel there's absolutely no problem."

The stylist said, "Don't be so quick to conclude, wait a moment. Come, Feifei, let's put on the costume for today's scene. Then, we'll see if there's anything that needs adjusting."

The costume for today's scene was a white floral shirt and a pair of blue pants.

Today's scene could also be said to be the highlight of the entire film.

Without one.

It was the scene at the end of the movie where Jingqiu sees Lao San lying in a hospital bed, with a nasal tube inserted, about to die, and she is sobbing uncontrollably.

That is, the crying scene that was the biggest failure when Liu Yifei was auditioning, where she couldn't cry at all, being presented in the film.

Liu Yifei knew that this was arranged specifically by Chen Nuo after calling Director Zhang Yimou to discuss it, intentionally scheduling this most difficult scene as the first one.

He told her this scene was very important.

So important that whether this movie would end up at Cannes or the Asian Film Awards almost depended on how well she performed this scene.

She needed to show her agonizing pain over her lover's impending death in this scene.

It was actually very simple to do; it was just one word: cry.

If she could cry until the audience watching the movie couldn't help but cry with her, then she would have passed.

Why film this first? Chen Nuo's intention was for her to use this scene to prove to Director Zhang Yimou that she was ready.

Likewise, it could be considered a signal to the people in the crew.

Telling them that she, Liu Yifei, was chosen based on her own strength. All those film critics and media people on the internet were all fucking farting.

When Chen Nuo said this, she was very close to him, right on the roof where they usually chatted.

He was lying on the old lounge chair, and she was lying on the new one.

For this month, it was mostly sunny, so even though the weather was very cold, they would go up and lie down every afternoon.

To make it easier to talk, the two chairs were placed very close together, so she could clearly see the twitching muscles on his face and his thick, slightly curled eyelashes.

She had seen *Twilight* in the movie theater.

But she felt that Edward, with his heavy makeup, was far inferior to this plain and bland Chen Nuo.

He was someone you could look at for a long time without feeling bored.

"I'm talking to you, did you hear me at all?"

When she was a bit lost in thought, he suddenly frowned and said a bit fiercely.

Liu Yifei remembered she had glared back at him then.

But her heart rate had accelerated, and her cheeks had turned a bit red.

"Changed? Wow... Hahahahaha, looks like it, really looks like it."

Liu Yifei followed the stylist into the dressing room, and with the other's help, changed into that outfit. When she walked out, the makeup artist sister looked at her gait and laughed out loud.

Li Jing also laughed, "This is really right, she really looks like someone from that era."

At their request, Liu Yifei walked back and forth in the room twice, and finally, she walked to the mirror, looking at the girl in the mirror wearing a loose white shirt and large, wide blue pants.

At this moment, a clear voice seemed to echo in her ears again: "The biggest difference between the clothes of the 70s and now is that they consciously covered up the feminine characteristics of the girls. So when wearing this kind of clothes, don't think of yourself as a girl, got it?"

"Forget all those cute, obedient, kawaii, feminine things you learned in LA, New York, Tokyo, or Beijing. Do you know how men walk? Now follow me and learn."

From the second day after they returned from the Three Gorges, which was the 13th day after they started living together.

Those afternoons, she had to learn to walk from him in the room. Over and over again, for two hours, almost without interruption.

Besides that, he wanted her to wear the clothes bought from the mall and walk like that in daily life.

Those outfits he picked were very similar to this costume.

So, after she changed into it just now, she subconsciously started walking like that.

"Swing your arms, stride out, yes, just like that, like a heroic female warrior."

When saying this, Chen Nuo smiled until his eyes narrowed.

She felt both shy and angry, rushed over, and gave him two punches. Because he promised not to laugh, but he laughed again!

Thinking of this, Liu Yifei couldn't help but smile.

The girl in the mirror also had curved brows and upturned corners of her mouth, revealing two rows of white teeth.

"Really beautiful, Feifei."

Li Jing had already lost count of how many times she had praised her today.

The makeup artist and stylist also said at this time, "It has such a feel, heavens. I think there's no problem, let's just go with this, there's absolutely no need for makeup."

"Mm, I think so too. It's already perfect. Hey, it's even making me tempted."

"Then I'll go tell the director now that we're ready? Ask him to come over and take a look?"

"Okay, then you go."

Someone went to call the director, so Liu Yifei sat in the chair and started waiting.

Li Jing smiled and said, "Feifei, are you thirsty? Do you want me to pour you a glass of water?"

Liu Yifei shook her head, "No need, Sister Jing."

Then she hesitated for a moment and asked, "Sister Jing... those people on the internet, are they still talking?"

Li Jing was stunned for a moment and smiled, "No. Feifei, you know, our company's internet water army is very powerful; they already suppressed those public opinions."

Liu Yifei bit her lip and said, "But, they still... still think I can't do it, right?"

"Not at all."

As long as she wasn't with Chen Nuo, Liu Yifei felt her ability to read people was very strong. Just like now, she saw through Li Jing's insincerity at a glance.

On the night of the 18th day they lived together, under Chen Nuo's lead, she walked into an internet cafe for the first time in her life.

In the smoky space of the internet cafe in Maoping Town, Chen Nuo was playing an online game called *World of Warcraft* next to her, and having nothing to do, she opened the news website and saw many equally smoky comments.

Right in the comment section of the news about her upcoming role as Jingqiu.

The news itself should have been a press release sent to the media by Director Zhang Yimou and the others.

In the news, there were many praises and compliments for her, which made her feel a bit embarrassed.

But in the comment section, it was a completely different scene.

She regretted clicking to look at it at the time.

"What kind of movie can Liu Yifei act in? It's absolutely because Director Zhang Yimou is looking at Chen Nuo's face. I have to say, Chen Nuo went a bit too far this time. Pushing his own company's vase actress up, hehe, it's really disgusting."

"Starting from this movie, there are two people in the Chinese film and television circle about to step down from the altar: one is Zhang Yimou, and the other is Chen Nuo. Because this rat dropping will ruin the whole pot of soup."

"From acting in idol dramas, to Japanese idol movies, and then to Director Zhang Yimou's movie. Every step of Liu Yifei's career development is arranged perfectly, but she simply doesn't have the ability. Just wait and see, Huanxin Company will definitely lift a rock only to drop it on their own feet this time."

"In *The Message*, there were so many big stars acting with her, and Liu Yifei still acted like that. This time, letting her act opposite Chen Nuo alone, isn't it too cruel? Before going through the back door, didn't Chen Nuo confirm if the other party had that strength? As a fan of *The Return of the Condor Heroes*, I don't even dare to walk into the movie theater; I'm afraid I'll want to cry."

"Liu Yifei, a big vase, she doesn't deserve it. Zhang Yimou is really disgusting, Chen Nuo is even more disgusting. Didn't they say they were choosing people at school before? As a result, hehe, it was still choosing a connected person. Just wait and see, if Liu Yifei can perform anything worth watching this time, I'll eat shit while doing a handstand."

She was reading intently when the screen suddenly went black.

It turned out that a hand had reached over from the side and slapped her computer to restart it.

"Why look at this trash? Come, I'll teach you how to play the game."

That night, she and he played games in the internet cafe until past one in the morning.

Someone in the internet cafe was smoking, the smell was very unpleasant, and they were wearing masks, feeling a bit stifled.

He created an ugly-as-hell green-skinned female orc for her and even named her "I Am Truly a Fairy," which made her so angry she punched him several more times.

Of course, the game was still very fun.

The female orc warrior, who didn't live up to her name, felt very satisfying to her when she was hacking at wild boars.

Just like hacking at those people on the internet who were spouting nonsense.

The key was that when she was hacking at wild boars, he was protecting her very majestically on the side.

He was a Tauren, and his mount was a particularly tall monster.

It was said that it took a lot, a lot of money to buy it; in short, that mount called a Kodo beast looked very powerful at a glance and gave her quite a bit of security.

That night was so interesting; Liu Yifei made up her mind right then that she would download this game on her computer when she got back.

If she couldn't go to Africa in the short term and couldn't see the grasslands and red soil of Tanzania,

then the Barrens of the Kalimdor continent seemed to have the same charm as the Serengeti.

And Chen Nuo also told her that when her level was higher, she could take a boat to the other side of the ocean, to the vibrant Eastern Kingdoms and the ruined Northrend. There were more interesting and wonderful adventures there.

Liu Yifei was lost in thought and was startled by Director Zhang Yimou walking into the dressing room.

She stood up tremblingly.

Zhang Yimou's expression was originally dark and scary, but after seeing her appearance, his face softened a little.

After telling her to walk two steps and turn around, his expression became even gentler, and he asked softly, "Yifei, are you ready?"

Liu Yifei nodded subconsciously, "Mm, Director, I'm ready."

Zhang Yimou smiled and said, "Okay, Chen Nuo is ready on his side too. Let's go over and start now."

Liu Yifei became a bit nervous upon hearing this, hesitated for a while, but after walking out of the dressing room, she still asked, "Director... um, do you have any requirements for this scene?"

Zhang Yimou was stunned for a moment and asked, "Yifei, do you remember the script?"

"Mm. I remember."

"Then how do you think you should act?"

Liu Yifei thought for a moment, recalled what Chen Nuo told her, and said, "I think Jingqiu should be very sad at this time."

Zhang Yimou smiled, "Right, that's the meaning. Just perform the feeling of sadness, the sadder the better. This scene is very simple; it's just Jingqiu sitting in front of Lao San's bed crying. Because the person she loves most in her life is about to die."

"Relax, it's okay, we're using a digital camera this time, we can film many times."

After Director Zhang Yimou finished speaking easily, he went to get busy.

Liu Yifei continued to wait on standby.

However, being able to film many times couldn't bring her peace; instead, a panic surged in her heart.

Director Zhang Yimou's words just now were like bullets hitting her chest, passing through her heart.

She, in this life, the person she loves most, is about to, die?

Wait, she hadn't even figured out if she loved him yet?

What to do?

She was about to go over and start filming the first shot of the first scene of *Under the Hawthorn Tree*.

She definitely couldn't cry. One hundred percent.

It's over!

Liu Yifei started trembling slightly all over.

Love? What is love?

The person you love most is about to die, what does that feel like?

Her brain started spinning hard, remembering that day.

Chen Nuo accompanied her to Uncle Zhang's house to look at photos; that was already the day before they were about to leave.

Uncle Zhang clearly didn't expect that after so long, they would really come to see the old photos of the old, old, old Zhang.

Finally, he searched for a while and finally brought out a yellowed, mottled black-and-white photo.

The man and woman in the photo looked very ordinary, and the clothes they wore were almost the same—a white shirt and a pair of loose pants.

Exactly the same as what she was wearing now.

The man's face had a smile, but the woman's expression was very serious; you couldn't tell at all that this was the most important day of her life.

So, many years later, on the night the man died, what would the woman feel?

"Yifei, ready, let's go."

Liu Yifei hadn't figured it out at all when she followed the field director into a room that looked like a hospital ward with the set already laid out.

Someone was already lying on the hospital bed.

Liu Yifei walked over blankly, her body almost stiff.

Because she really didn't know how to act this scene now, or rather, could she really act this scene?

She sat blankly on the chair. The camera was right in front of her.

And her gaze slowly fell on the man's face on the hospital bed.

"*Under the Hawthorn Tree*, Scene 1, Take 1."

"Action!"

The camera was very close to her because this scene was a close-up of her.

At the start, Liu Yifei didn't cry.

That was because her attention wasn't on the scene at all.

She was still thinking about what it was like to fall in love with someone, and if that person were about to die, what would she be like? Was it the same as losing a close relative?

When Uncle Zhang's grandmother saw his grandfather die, how did she cry?

Then, after a crisp clapperboard sound, she detached from her fantasy world.

The images in her eyes gradually condensed into real footage.

She saw Chen Nuo.

He had completely changed his appearance.

His cheeks were sunken, and his eyes were half-open, looking upward. Two tubes were connected into his nostrils, his mouth was slightly open, as if he no longer had the strength to close it, and his teeth were exposed.

He wasn't handsome at all anymore; he had become very scary, even a bit ferocious.

This was what a person looked like before death.

In Liu Yifei's eyes, all vitality seemed to have disappeared from his body; in the next second, he was about to become a piece of unconscious flesh.

Liu Yifei's gaze rubbed against his face inch by inch as if it were tangible.

Suddenly, a needle pricked her heart.

Starting from that point of bone-deep stinging pain, an electric wave instantly spread from the tip of her heart to her whole body.

Her whole body started trembling.

That wasn't a simple tremor, but a manifestation of a breakdown.

Because Chen Nuo's appearance was too scary and too real, especially appearing at the moment she dizzily returned to reality, filling her vision.

Thus, Liu Yifei really forgot that she was filming.

An incredibly real realization deceived her brain: Chen Nuo is about to die.

This realization caused her to break down instantly.

These 30 days,

no,

it was the bits and pieces between him and her over these three years flashing through her mind scene by scene.

From the very beginning when they met in the conference room of Zhang Jizhong's company, when she hid behind her mother and greeted him,

to now when she sat in front of his sickbed, watching him take his last breath.

Every single moment was like a dagger, cutting through her soul.

Liu Yifei understood the feelings of Old Zhang's grandmother.

So, this is what it feels like when the person you love dies in front of you.

It was as if her soul had been torn into pieces, withering in the wind, never to heal again.

It was a death deeper than death, a darkness darker than darkness.

At this moment, Liu Yifei's tears fell like rain, sobbing uncontrollably.

So this is love.

So that feeling all along wasn't friendship,

but,

she had always loved him.

(End of this chapter)