Chapter 3: Admiration

Wu Yuchen smiled and said slowly:

“Does it matter if it’s true or false?

What’s more important is the reflection this story brings after you’ve heard it.”

It’s only 1995 now—if Wu Yuchen said it was real, how would he answer when asked where it happened?

Better to be ambiguous.

Hearing Wu Yuchen say this, many in the audience wore thoughtful expressions and slowly nodded.

Yet many in the room still had questions, especially since they’d formed the habit of discussing every film they watched together.

A male student raised his hand; after Wu Yuchen nodded, he said:

“Although everyone on the bus was cold and selfish, indifferent, I don’t think they deserved to die.

Revenge should target the guilty—the robbers. The robbers escaped; why punish the passengers?”

Before Wu Yuchen could speak, a female student directly rebutted:

“Why? The female driver wanted to die—why should she care about your ‘why’?

You felt it was unjust, but when she was humiliated just now, why didn’t you act?

The female driver was defending her dignity with her life!

Cleansing the sin of everyone on that bus!”

Another male student chimed in support:

“Silence is the greatest accomplice!

If everyone turns a blind eye, then when one day you face such a thing, no one will lift a hand to help you!”

“Exactly!

During the massacre, five Japanese soldiers dared to kill two thousand people—and not a single person dared resist!

How absurd is that!

If you stay silent, weak, and tolerate crime and brutality, you’ll perish alongside them!”

“Bravery is a moral choice, not an obligation!

The robbers held knives; yes, the passengers were despicable, but they didn’t deserve to die.

From this angle, the female driver dragging them to their deaths was just venting—she was selfish too!”

“So what if she sought revenge? She’s human, not a saint!”

Wu Yuchen didn’t even need to speak—the audience had already begun voicing their views, launching into heated debate.

The members of this film group were all students of film-related majors, each deeply passionate about cinema and full of insight.

So many questions didn’t require Wu Yuchen to explain—after their own discussion, they’d already pieced together most of the meaning.

Yet one question still troubled many.

Lao Jia asked:

“Wu Yuchen, in your ending you wrote that the young man looked at the wreckage of the crash and smiled.

What does that smile mean?

Was it deliberately placed by you?”

Wu Yuchen had anticipated this question; in his past life, at least half the reviews of “Bus 44” focused on that strange smile—but he felt most missed the point.

Because those reviews all viewed it from the audience’s perspective, never considering why the director and screenwriter had set it that way.

Wu Yuchen scanned the audience, then asked in return:

“Let me ask you—if I changed the ending, and the young man, upon learning the female driver and all passengers had perished, buried his face in his hands and wept, wouldn’t that fit your expectations perfectly?

You’d understand it immediately, and raise no questions at all.

But would you still think about it the way you do now?”

Wu Yuchen pointed to his own head and asked the audience.

Jia Zhangke wore a thoughtful expression.

Everyone silently questioned themselves: if the young man had wept, it would’ve been perfectly expected—grieving for the female driver and the passengers’ deaths was something anyone could grasp instantly.

But Wu Yuchen deliberately set the ending as an unexpected smile—an O. Henry twist.

Wu Yuchen continued:

“Now, you’re asking what that smile means.

Is it gratitude toward the female driver, relief and understanding that she refused him a ride?

Relief that he survived?

Laughter at their deserved fate?

Satisfaction at seeing a group die?

Joy that good people are rewarded?

Or is it the sneer of the ‘noble’ toward the ‘base’?

That smile is a mirror—it reflects each person’s own inner thoughts. You ask yourself: if you were him, why would you smile?

By leaving more space for the audience to reflect, by forcing them to dig deeper into human nature, I’ve achieved my goal!

Friends, we’re not just viewers—we’re creators of cinema. So in the future, try thinking from a higher perspective.”

Wu Yuchen’s words struck the students like a thunderclap!

They’d heard similar ideas in class before, but those were abstract theories—none had the vivid, living impact of Wu Yuchen’s lesson on “Bus 44.”

Clap. Clap. Clap…

One person began clapping, then the entire room erupted in even louder applause than before.

“Awesome!”

“Bro, you’re incredible!”

Even Lao Jia, watching Wu Yuchen on stage, felt a deep sense of awe.

He’d assumed this freshman was just curious, here to pass the time—but he’d delivered a script this stunning!

And worse—he could explain it brilliantly, giving everyone a living lesson!

Jia Zhangke now held immense admiration for Wu Yuchen: this freshman wasn’t just handsome, his talent was undeniable!

Wu Yuchen nodded slightly to the audience: “My script ends here. Please, the next student, take the stage.”

With that, Wu Yuchen stepped down from the podium.

Back at his seat, Chen Er—who rarely spoke—slapped him on the shoulder: “Wu Yuchen, I had no idea you were this good!”

“Heh, brother’s got looks and talent flying together!” Wu Yuchen joked.

This time, neither roommate objected.

Wu Shixian gave him a thumbs-up: “Brilliant story! You’ve truly impressed me!”

Talented people earn admiration wherever they go—undoubtedly, “Bus 44” left both roommates with a deep impression of Wu Yuchen’s talent.

Wu Yuchen smiled at Wu Shixian: “Thanks!”

He’d essentially plagiarized the guy’s debut script right to his face—it felt like a husband cheating on his wife.

Wu Yuchen did feel a twinge of guilt toward the fat guy.

Wu Shixian thought Wu Yuchen was thanking him for the praise, and just smiled back, saying it was nothing.

After Wu Yuchen stepped down, a male student stood up and said:

“I actually wrote a script too, but honestly, after hearing ‘Bus 44,’ I realize the difference is astronomical—I won’t embarrass myself by reading mine!”

Others nodded in understanding; after all, “Bus 44” was so stunning, it was on a completely different level from everything before it!

“Since no one else will read, let’s begin the evaluation!”