Chapter 65
Note: Hey guys! We've got 15 more chapters till the end of this book. I've decided to end this one ahead of schedule so I can focus on Applaud For Happiness and The Whole Empire Raises Me. I'll publish the chapters I've saved up and do 4-5 releases a day ~ you'll probably get the final chapter by Tuesday or Wednesday... Thank you so much for waiting. Enjoy reading!
Ever since learning that Cheng Xuyuan would play the second male lead, An Ye placed great importance on this film. He even turned down numerous variety shows and advertisements just to spend more time observing Cheng Xuyuan on set.
However, Cheng Xuyuan’s attitude toward An Ye remained lukewarm. Although he smiled when talking to others, it was evident that he hadn’t truly integrated into the atmosphere.
To be fair, Cheng Xuyuan’s aloofness wasn’t entirely his fault. For him, finding the system was an arduous task. On top of that, he had to portray an unfamiliar celebrity role, leaving him exhausted every day.
Su Linrui had warned him that even if he took the path of becoming a popular but controversial figure, he couldn’t leave any loose ends. He had to greet every staff member with a smile.
For someone who used to be a recluse programmer, this was akin to torture. So, after each day of shooting, Cheng Xuyuan longed to collapse onto his hotel bed.
During filming, Cheng Xuyuan dreaded scenes with An Ye the most.
In the movie “Aurora,” the main plot revolved around a bittersweet love story between the male and female leads. The subplot featured the second male lead silently guarding the male protagonist. Cheng Xuyuan had to convey admiration for An Ye’s character while maintaining subtlety.
It was a near-impossible task.
“Cut, Cheng Xuyuan, soften your gaze a bit more.”
“Cut, Cheng Xuyuan, don’t stand too close to An Ye; it looks forced.”
“Cut, Cheng Xuyuan, remember your positioning. Show your silent concern for An Ye!”
Director Chen was patient and gentle, but the more gentle he was, the more uncomfortable Cheng Xuyuan felt. Whenever the scene involved just the two of them, the entire crew fell silent, watching Cheng Xuyuan get called for retakes.
An Ye, however, was patient. He repeated scenes with Cheng Xuyuan, often offering guidance.
“Don’t focus too much on unrequited love,” An Ye advised Cheng Xuyuan during a break. “When you truly love someone impossible, every second feels like an eternity. You need to detach yourself from those feelings.”
“Uh…” Cheng Xuyuan nodded slightly, sighing. His head was spinning.
“Don’t rush,” An Ye gently reassured him. “Nobody is born an actor. Your dialogue skills are already decent. Don’t get hung up on details; let the performance flow naturally.”
Cheng Xuyuan closed his eyes, digesting An Ye’s words. Although he didn’t intend to defeat the male lead through acting in this world, he didn’t want to be a burden to the crew. At the very least, he wanted to fulfill his role competently.
“Let’s redo that last scene,” Director Chen called out. All eyes were on Cheng Xuyuan and An Ye once again. Many pitied Cheng Xuyuan — such a handsome face, yet lacking in acting skills.
As the camera focused on Cheng Xuyuan, he seemed different from before.
Under the banyan tree in the park, Cheng Xuyuan sat on a bench, obsidian eyes fixed on the ground, seemingly counting ants. When An Ye approached, Cheng Xuyuan slowly looked up, surprise flickering in his eyes, quickly replaced by nervousness as he lowered his head.
Director Chen furrowed his brow. According to the script, this shot needed a few more seconds, but Cheng Xuyuan’s head movement was too fast. Yet, this awkward performance somehow made the unrequited love more intriguing.
Director Chen refrained from calling “Cut.”
“Yu Feng,” An Ye called Cheng Xuyuan’s character name from the movie, “I want to ride bikes by the seaside. Will you join me?”
An Ye’s gaze was tender, filled with an affectionate indulgence that made hearts race. Yet, he maintained the perfect distance, convincing you that his feelings for Yu Feng were akin to those for a younger brother.
“Never mind,” Yu Feng lowered his head, lips slightly pursed. “You can go with Le Le.”
Le Le was the female lead in “Aurora.” Yu Feng admired and envied her, yet the three of them were good friends. He had no choice but to silently wish them well.
“But it used to be just the two of us.”
Yu Feng’s brow furrowed into small hills. Suddenly, he looked up at the other person and muttered, “Mo Xiaofei, you’re acting like an idiot.”
Baffled, Mo Xiaofei asked, “What did I do to upset you?”
Yu Feng stood up from the bench, staring directly at Mo Xiaofei. “I’m not upset. Just go.”
With that, he turned and walked away. Yet, before leaving, he couldn’t help stealing one last glance at Mo Xiaofei. Seeing that the other showed no intention of coaxing him, Yu Feng clenched his teeth and left, looking utterly frustrated.
Mo Xiaofei watched his retreating figure, raising an eyebrow. He murmured, “Why is this kid getting stranger and stranger…”
This scene clarified the relationships among the three characters and effectively conveyed their emotional dynamics.
Cheng Xuyuan had clearly improved during the performance. He no longer agonized over every expression, and his overall portrayal was commendable. Although An Ye still outshone him in acting, the balance and beauty of the entire scene remained intact.
Finally, Director Chen praised, “Cheng Xuyuan, you’ve made significant progress!”
Cheng Xuyuan breathed a sigh of relief; another second of acting, and he might have collapsed. He walked over to An Ye, hugged him openly, and said, “Thank you, Ye Ge.”
Caught off guard by the hug, An Ye hesitated for a moment, a hint of embarrassment in his eyes. After a pause, he composed himself and said, “No problem. Keep practicing; you’ll get even better.”
Unbeknownst to them, from acting tips to their current embrace, the crew had captured everything. They planned to include it in the behind-the-scenes footage, titling it “An Ye and Cheng Xuyuan’s Heartfelt Embrace.” It was sure to attract attention.
Since Cheng Xuyuan’s acting had improved, the filming of “Aurora” progressed smoothly. The actress playing Le Le, Ma Xiao, was also talented. With An Ye frequently on set, they wrapped up the movie in just over a month.
The post-production for an art film wasn’t as challenging as a sci-fi film. The technical team worked tirelessly, and soon the film’s sample was ready for the investors.
From start to finish, it took only two and a half months.
The investors were pleased and immediately began promotion, scheduling the release for the National Day holiday.
As the promotional trailer went online, An Ye and Cheng Xuyuan’s partnership became the talk of the town. When watching the movie preview, almost everyone focused on their scenes, completely ignoring the female lead.
Coincidentally, “Aurora” had a subplot catering to fans, making An Ye and Cheng Xuyuan’s interactions subtly ambiguous, much to everyone’s shock.
[Damn, this pair is too good to ship! On the surface, they’re enemies, but are they secretly in love?]
[Mo Xiaofei x Yu Feng, what should we call this couple?]
[Let’s call them ‘Moyu.’] (Note: 魔芋 [Móyù] = Konjac, aka elephant yam, devil's tongue, snake palm, or voodoo lily.)
[I’ll proudly carry the Moyu flag!!!]
These comments came from fans of the boys’ love genre, and even some bystanders have joined in. Some expressed that the female lead seems somewhat unnecessary in the trailer, hoping the production team isn’t deliberately pandering to fans.
Meanwhile, An Ye’s fans continued their relentless attacks on Cheng Xuyuan’s Weibo.
[Are you planning to leech off An Ye forever?]
[Reject this manipulation! The ‘Aurora’ crew shouldn’t help this newbie gain fame!]
[We won’t contribute a single movie ticket if ‘Aurora’ keeps pandering.]
Despite immense pressure, the official “Aurora” Weibo account continued to release promotional materials daily, unapologetically embracing the “boys’ love” theme.
An Ye’s fans are no pushovers either; they diligently counter-commented, leaving the social media manager trembling.
During this promotional period, Cheng Xuyuan’s fan base grew rapidly once again. Of course, An Ye deserves credit for this. Whenever An Ye promotes “Aurora,” Cheng Xuyuan is inevitably featured, showcasing the senior’s caring attitude toward his junior.
However, this behavior also stirred controversy. Besides An Ye’s fans relentlessly tearing into him, many bystanders commented: “Based on the trailer, Cheng Xuyuan’s acting is passable but not outstanding, especially compared to the male and female leads.”
In response, Cheng Xuyuan’s fans were consistent: “He’s still honing his acting skills. Look at that face—shouldn’t it be reason enough to become fans?”
As the saying goes, “When you’re a fan of looks, you’re always happy.” Every frame of Cheng Xuyuan’s related videos is wallpaper-worthy, with no angles left unappreciated.
Thus, amidst extreme evaluations of acting and attractiveness, Cheng Xuyuan was labeled a “flower vase.”
But he remained unfazed.
The debate and online battles surrounding Cheng Xuyuan continued until the release of “Aurora.”
Initial box office presales weren't optimistic, given that it’s not a commercial blockbuster. However, thanks to An Ye’s star power, ticket sales surged shortly after the film’s release.
Simultaneously, film reviews for “Aurora” emerged — some sponsored, others independent.
Many viewers were torn the romantic relationship between the male and female leads. Yet, after reading reviews, they discovered that the true love story lies between the male leads!
This twist shocked everyone, and discussions about the subtle plot in “Aurora” trend online.
The hashtag #DidYouReallyUnderstandAurora attracts countless curious eyes.
Even An Ye’s fans, who once despised Cheng Xuyuan, can’t help but click on this topic. They read various analyses of An Ye and Cheng Xuyuan’s scenes.
[Whenever Mo Xiaofei appears on screen, Yu Feng’s attitude becomes incredibly haughty. It’s practically textbook tsundere behavior.]
[People might be fooled by the female lead, thinking Yu Feng’s heartache is for her. But every time he looks sad, his gaze never leaves Mo Xiaofei, often with close-ups.]
[Towards the end of the film, Yu Feng chooses to bless the couple, but his gaze at Le Le is unmistakably filled with envy.]
Various analyses instantly propelled discussions about the movie to new heights.
On the second day of the film’s release, An Ye personally invited Cheng Xuyuan to watch it together and took a photo in the cinema. Both of them posted on Weibo, mentioning each other, adding an ambiguous touch to the film.
After the movie, heavy rain poured down. An Ye personally escorted Cheng Xuyuan home.
Back at his place, Cheng Xuyuan took a shower. Outside, the rain intensified. Just then, he received a call from Xiang Boyan.
“Hello…” Xiang Boyan’s voice sounded weary. “Did you finish watching the movie?”
Cheng Xuyuan was puzzled. “Yes, what’s up?”
“I need to talk to you.”
“What’s the matter?”
“I… I…” Xiang Boyan hesitated for a long time, finally saying calmly, “I’m downstairs at your place.”
Cheng Xuyuan rushed to the window and saw Xiang Boyan standing straight at the entrance of the residential complex, drenched from head to toe by the pouring rain.
His voice came through the phone.
“Can I come to your place?”
Previous Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter
No comments:
Post a Comment