Chapter 7: Too Much Aftertaste

Li Xiaoran felt as if she had had a dream.

Cao Yang was a director with unrecognized talent who kept hitting walls; no one would invest in his films.

Helpless and driven by his dreams, Cao Yang found a divorced woman over a decade his senior. This woman was of average looks, the boss of a listed company, and possessed assets worth hundreds of millions.

Cao Yang finally secured investment for his film, shot a massive hit, and became famous overnight.

But he was not happy.

She did not love him, and he did not love her.

The woman was accustomed to being overbearing and bossy, always self-centered, ordering Cao Yang around, losing her temper at the slightest provocation, and even hurling insults, not treating Cao Yang like a human being.

Until one day, Cao Yang met Li Xiaoran.

Li Xiaoran was an actress; the two shared common hobbies, similar interests, and were like-minded, having endless topics to discuss when together.

Their love was like a seed in spring, taking root and sprouting, blooming into colorful flowers, brilliant and passionate.

In each other's eyes, they were filled with the shadow of the other, deep in affection and sentiment.

The two made solemn vows, deeply trapped in the sweetness of love and unable to extricate themselves.

Suddenly one day, like a bolt from the blue, it struck them back to reality—the two were secretly photographed by a tabloid and exposed.

That woman appeared and, using the power of money, blacklisted Cao Yang, forcing Li Xiaoran to flee abroad.

In a foreign land, Li Xiaoran was sorrowful alone; even meeting her friends there could not alleviate her longing for Cao Yang.

This was the place she and Cao Yang had agreed upon, having promised to watch the sea together, stroll the beach together, and grow old together.

She often went to the seaside alone, walked the beach alone, and imagined Cao Yang was right by her side.

How she longed for Cao Yang to break free from that woman's control and find his way here.

When Li Xiaoran woke up, her face was already covered in tears; she only felt an emptiness in her heart, as if she had lost something most precious.

She threw on a coat, pushed open the door, and walked barefoot on the beach just like that.

Gazing at the boundless sea, she was filled with sorrow.

The autumn sea breeze carried a hint of chill, blowing her long hair into a mess.

She squatted down, picked up a stone she found nearby, drew a portrait of Cao Yang on the beach, and stared at it in a daze.

"Do you miss me as much as I miss you?"

She smiled at the portrait, her sad smile mixed with bitterness and helplessness, whispering softly.

Cao Yang was very puzzled; he always felt Li Xiaoran was acting strange today, stealing glances at him from time to time.

It was truly bizarre; she wasn't like this yesterday. At the crew dinner last night, he could still feel her harboring quite a bit of resentment toward him.

Resentment was understandable; being "imprisoned" in one place for nearly two months, watching tragic romance movies or listening to sad songs every day without anyone to talk to—she had shown restraint by not slapping him twice upon meeting.

But what was the meaning of you stealing glances at me from time to time today?

He couldn't understand a woman's mind.

"Teacher Liu, are the foreign actors ready?"

The assistant director sent by the Qingying Studio was named Liu Shan. He had just finished rehearsing with the foreign guest actor when he heard Cao Yang's voice over the walkie-talkie.

"Ready, no problem."

"Camera?"

"Ready."

"Sound?" "Ready."

"Attention all units, begin."

The clapperboard clapped: Scene 1, Shot 1.

Except for the seaside scenes, most of this film was shot in chronological order.

Firstly, to keep the actors'—mainly the lead actress's—emotions consistent; secondly, the film was too simple, with very few locations and a large number of long takes, so there was really no need to shoot out of order.

What they were shooting now was the "abroad" scene.

The lead actress, forced abroad by public pressure, meets a friend; the two smoke, eat street food, drink coffee, and chat.

The opening was a minute-and-a-half long take. Cao Yang didn't deliberately choose a simple scene to start with; he just followed the order and shot the beginning first.

He had originally thought that with Li Xiaoran's previous state, plus the added immersive experience he gave her, it should be easy to pass, but a problem had arisen.

Li Xiaoran's state was wrong.

Cao Yang didn't lose his temper or call a cut; after all, it was the first take, and getting angry was bad luck—perhaps the actor hadn't entered the state yet.

!

After this take was finished, Cao Yang called out: "Actors, take five minutes to adjust, we'll do another one to be safe."

Five minutes later, they shot another take, and Cao Yang began to frown.

"Rest for another five minutes."

Cao Yang left the monitor and walked over to Old Tian, who was also looking over from behind the camera.

"Did you spot the problem?"

Old Tian pursed his lips and said softly: "I feel like she has some suppressed excitement? Maybe she's just thrilled to be filming on the first day?"

In the script, the lead actress shows sadness, grief, and anticipation in this scene, which is understandable—what is the meaning of you being happy?

Could it be that you saw that director of the extramarital affair arrive?

Cao Yang nodded; he had thought his own perception was wrong and had specifically come to consult the great director Tian, who was far more impressive than he had been in his past life.

It seemed he wasn't wrong.

So, Cao Yang returned behind the monitor and waved at Li Xiaoran, signaling her to come over.

For a moment, he seemed to see an excited expression flash across Li Xiaoran's face; it must have been his eyes playing tricks on him.

"You've been forced to hide abroad because you couldn't withstand the pressure at home. You two haven't broken up, so you should be sad, grieving, and lonely."

Li Xiaoran nodded; before seeing Cao Yang today, she was indeed very lonely and sad.

"This place you've hidden in is one you had planned to vacation in, to live in, to watch the sea together, to stroll the beach together. So, beyond the sadness, if you can convey a hint of anticipation, that would be best."

Li Xiaoran nodded again; before seeing Cao Yang today, she was indeed very expectant that he might come. But, wasn't he standing right there now?

So, she couldn't help but whisper, "He's here."

Afterward, it was as if the internal defenses had been torn open; she could no longer suppress her emotions, unable to distinguish reality from dreams, looking at Cao Yang with deep affection, her face full of happiness.

"You still remember this place... that you could come here, I'm really so excited and happy, woo..."

After saying this, she could no longer hold back. How much anticipation, how much longing, how much sorrow—the passing time knows, you and I know clearly. Lovers who cannot be together, hearts filled with melancholy, sending thoughts away every day—wasn't it all for this very moment!

Embracing Cao Yang, Li Xiaoran had no more reservations. To hell with it all; what dream or reality—it was all just the hallucination she had been thinking about day and night, all a hallucination!

In the days when I couldn't see you, I was on the verge of a split personality; I don't want to lie to myself anymore.

"Cao Yang, you finally came. I knew you couldn't let me go, I knew that when I was missing you, you were missing me too. I love you!"

Having said that, Li Xiaoran hugged Cao Yang and began to sob loudly.

Damn it!

Cao Yang was stunned; what the hell was this situation?

It was too awkward.

The crew was also stunned. What a melodramatic love story, but aren't we filming a movie right now? Why are you two doing this in public?

Showing off your love?

I said that having a twenty-something student as a director was unreliable, but what are you doing? If you have something to say, go back to your room tonight, solve it in bed—we are filming a movie right now!

Tian Zhuangzhuang was also stunned. If he hadn't seen Cao Yang almost every day these past few days, and if Li Xiaoran hadn't been someone he and Cao Yang had interviewed and selected together, he would have also thought Cao Yang was just playing around with filmmaking.

Who knew what kind of situation this actually was?

(End of chapter)