Chapter 7

Li Xiaoran felt like she had a dream.

Cao Yang was a director whose talent went unrecognized, hitting walls repeatedly, with no one investing in his films.

Helplessly, for the sake of his dream, Cao Yang found a divorced woman more than ten years older than him. This woman was average in appearance, the boss of a listed company, with assets of hundreds of millions.

Cao Yang's film finally had investment, and he made a hit movie, becoming famous overnight.

But he was not happy.

She didn't love him, and he didn't love her.

The woman was used to being strong and overbearing, always self-centered, bossing Cao Yang around, getting angry at every turn, and even cursing at him, not treating Cao Yang as a human being.

Until one day, Cao Yang met Li Xiaoran.

Li Xiaoran was an actress, and the two had common hobbies, similar interests, and shared the same goals, having endless topics to talk about when together.

Their love was like seeds in spring, taking root and sprouting, blooming into colorful flowers, gorgeous and passionate.

In each other's eyes, there were full shadows of the other, deep and affectionate.

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

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

That woman appeared, used the power of money to ban Cao Yang, and forced Li Xiaoran to go far away abroad.

In a foreign land, Li Xiaoran was lonely and sad alone; even though she met her friend here, it couldn't 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 on the beach together, and grow old together slowly.

She often went to the seaside alone, strolled on the beach alone, imagining that Cao Yang was by her side.

How she longed for Cao Yang to break free from that woman's control and find this place.

When Li Xiaoran woke up, her face was already covered in tears. She only felt empty in her heart, as if she had lost the most precious thing.

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

Looking at the boundless sea, she felt sad and dejected.

The autumn sea breeze carried a hint of coolness, messing up her long hair.

She squatted down, picked up a stone she had picked up at random, drew Cao Yang's portrait on the beach, and was lost in thought.

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

She looked at the portrait with a smile, the sad smile mixed with bitterness and helplessness, whispering softly.

Cao Yang was very confused, always feeling that Li Xiaoran was strange today, stealing glances at him from time to time.

It's really strange; it wasn't like this yesterday. Last night at the crew dinner, he could still feel that she had quite a bit of resentment towards him.

It's understandable to have resentment towards him. Being "imprisoned" in one place for nearly two months, watching tragic romance movies or listening to sad songs every day, and not finding anyone to talk to—not giving him two big slaps after meeting was already quite restrained.

But what do you mean by stealing glances at me from time to time today?

Can't understand women's thoughts.

"Teacher Liu, are the foreign actors ready?"

The assistant director sent by the Youth Film Studio is named Liu Shan. He had just finished rehearsing with the foreigner making a guest appearance when he heard Cao Yang's voice coming from the walkie-talkie.

"Ready, no problem."

"Camera?"

"Ready."

"Sound?" "Ready."

"All units pay attention, start."

The script supervisor clapped the board, Scene 1, Take 1.

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

One is to ensure that the actors, mainly the female lead, can have consistent emotions, and the other is that this film is too simple, with very few scenes and a large number of long takes, so there is really no need to break it up for shooting.

What is being filmed now is a scene "abroad."

The female lead, forced by public opinion, runs abroad and meets a friend. The two smoke, eat street food, drink coffee, and chat.

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

He originally thought that with Li Xiaoran's previous state, plus the Acting Experience he stacked on her, it should be easy to pass, but a problem arose.

Li Xiaoran's state is wrong.

Cao Yang didn't get angry, nor did he call a halt. After all, it was the first take, and getting angry is unlucky; it might be that the actor hasn't entered the state yet.

!

After this take was finished, Cao Yang shouted: "Actors, adjust for five minutes; let's do another take to be safe."

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

"Rest for another five minutes."

Cao Yang left the monitor and walked to Old Tian's side. Old Tian also looked over from behind the camera.

"Did you find the problem?"

Old Tian pursed his lips and said softly: "I feel like she has some suppressed excitement? Maybe she's excited about filming a movie on the first day?"

In the script, the female lead shows sadness, sorrow, and anticipation in this scene, which is understandable. What do you mean by being happy?

Did you see that philandering director coming?

Cao Yang nodded, thinking he had felt wrong, and specifically came to consult the director Tian, who was much more awesome than him in his previous life.

It seems he wasn't wrong.

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

At one moment, he seemed to see the excited expression on Li Xiaoran's face flash by—it must have been his eyes playing tricks on him.

"You were forced to hide abroad because you couldn't bear the pressure at home. You didn't say you broke up, so you should be sad, heartbroken, and lonely."

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

"This place you hid in, you had planned to vacation here, to live here, to watch the sea together, to stroll on the beach together, so besides sadness, if you can show a hint of anticipation, that would be the best."

Li Xiaoran nodded again. Before seeing Cao Yang today, she was indeed looking forward to that person coming. But, isn't the person here now?

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

Afterwards, as if the defense line in her heart had been torn open, she could no longer suppress her emotions, unable to distinguish between reality and dreams, looking at Cao Yang with affection, her face full of happiness.

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

After speaking, she couldn't hold it back anymore. How much anticipation, how much longing, how much desolation—the passing time knows, you and I know clearly. Lovers cannot be together, the heart is full of melancholy, sending longing every day—isn't it just waiting for this moment!

Hugging Cao Yang tightly, Li Xiaoran had no more scruples. To hell with it all, where are there any dreams or reality? They are all just hallucinations she misses day and night, all hallucinations!

In the days when I couldn't see you, I was about to have a split personality; I don't want to deceive myself anymore.

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

After speaking, Li Xiaoran hugged Cao Yang and cried loudly.

My god!

Cao Yang was stunned. What the hell is this situation?

Too awkward.

The crew members were also stunned. What a bloody love story, but we are filming a movie now! Why do you want to do this in public?

Showing off your love?

I said that a twenty-something student being a director is unreliable. What are you doing? If you have anything to say, go back to your room at night, go back to bed to solve it. We are filming a movie now!

Tian Zhuangzhuang was also stunned. If he hadn't seen Cao Yang almost every day these days, and if Li Xiaoran hadn't been interviewed and selected by him and Cao Yang together, he would also have thought that Cao Yang was playing around with filming a movie.

Who knows, what the hell is this situation?

(End of chapter)