My girlfriend is from the future!

It's not finished yet...

A script?
Seeing everyone's keen interest, He Tianran looked at Yu Hui, who had inadvertently started the topic, and asked:
Do you remember when I last brought this up with you?

Yu Hui, however, remembered this vividly and jokingly replied:
"It was around October, I remember it clearly, on the rooftop of our company. I was laughing at you then, saying that I'd already graduated with my master's degree, and you'd become my junior. Now, some of my classmates are asking about you, and those old guys at school are saying that you have to be responsible for the quality of your graduation project, so you chose to extend your graduation. They have high expectations for you. If you don't produce a film of theatrical quality, you'll really have a hard time explaining yourself..."

But bro, did you even finish writing your script? It's been almost four or five months, practically half a year!

October?
Does this coincide with the time when the "boy" first woke up?

Is this a coincidence?
The lead singer had a vague, inexplicable feeling, and facing the curious gazes of everyone wanting to delve deeper into the matter, he thought for a moment and then said, without any apparent reason:

Do you think there is any necessary connection between creative work and schizophrenia?

Xue Yong was happily cutting off a piece of mutton and stuffing it into his mouth when he suddenly heard these words and almost choked.

"Cough cough cough... Uh, cough cough! No, you're jumping around in circles, what are you trying to say?"

He picked up the teapot on the table and poured himself a cup of tea to calm himself down.

This kind of question was undoubtedly like casting pearls before swine to Xue Yong. In fact, in the past, when He Tianran chatted with Xue Yong in private, they mostly talked about ordinary daily topics and trivial business matters, rarely touching on any artistic discussions. Fortunately, apart from him, everyone present today was a professional in the relevant field. Although they did not know what He Tianran was trying to express, they could still talk about classical Chinese topics just by looking at the surface of the question.

The group exchanged glances. Cai Jueming lit another cigarette and raised an eyebrow at Hu Yue across from him, clearly wanting the screenwriter to speak first.

Hu Yue didn't refuse. He put down his chopsticks, organized his thoughts, and then spoke in a somewhat professional, literary tone:

"To say there's a necessary connection would be a bit absolute, but to say there's a commonality, there definitely is. After all, 'no madness, no life.' Think about it, if we're going to write about a psychopathic killer, we have to put ourselves in his shoes and think about how he eats, sleeps, and kills. In the next scene, if I want to write about a saintly, innocent character, I have to strangle that psychopath and replace him with a compassionate one. To some extent, isn't that a kind of proactive and controllable mental split?"

At this point, he crossed his arms and began to speak eloquently:

"Moreover, many great artists, look at Van Gogh, look at Hemingway, their spiritual world is indeed quite different from that of ordinary people. That extreme sensitivity and vulnerability is the source of their creation, but also the knife that drives them crazy. So, Director He, are you asking this question to say that the protagonist of your script is a madman?"

"But... this is a rare opportunity, so I'd like to discuss it with everyone..."

The man remained noncommittal. Cai Jueming exhaled a few puffs of smoke, which swirled around He Tianran, making his gaze appear somewhat unfocused.

"If, and I mean if, there were a man, the pressures of the real world, the expectations of his family, and the entanglements of his emotions weighed him down like mountains, making it hard for him to breathe, and then one day, several other people 'grew' out of his body..."

The private room fell silent, with only the sizzling sound of the whole roasted lamb over the embers of the charcoal fire. Everyone put down their chopsticks, captivated by the story He Tianran was telling.

"Each of these people possesses a quality that they aspire to..."

He Tianran's voice was soft yet clear, as if he were telling someone else's story, or as if he were dissecting his own soul.

"There is one, his unfulfilled dream from his youth, a 'lead singer' who can shine brightly in life and love; there is another, a 'writer' who he had to evolve into to adapt to social rules, calm, rational, and even a bit cold; and there is yet another, the softest 'boy' in his heart who is least willing to grow up."

They took turns taking over this body, helping him deal with different troubles: the 'writer' helped him make money, build his career, and deal with backstabbing; the 'teenager' helped him retain his original aspirations, to love, and to feel; and the 'lead singer'...

He Tianran smiled and pointed to himself. Although he didn't say it explicitly, his carefree attitude was self-evident.

"Then... what about the original him?" Li Wang couldn't help but ask. As the director, he keenly grasped the core of the story. "If all these people come out to help him live, then where did the original main personality go?"

“Good question.” He Tianran took a sip of wine, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes. “But the script has never been finished, and since there are some things I haven’t figured out, I can’t start writing it.”

“Well… Director He, why don’t you think about the ending first? Aren’t many creative works like this: you first think about the ending, set the goal, and then start by heading in one direction? For example…” Wei Xing pondered, then offered his suggestion, “He was cured of his illness, but his other personalities disappeared, or he completely went insane, or something like that…”

"From a creative point of view, this is indeed correct..."

He Tianran shrugged and continued:
"But what if we step outside the realm of creation? For example, there is a real person right now. He is not a word on paper, nor an image on a screen, but a person living next to you, a friend. You know, life is a bad play without a script. Even if you have a direction to strive for, the ending is still unknown."

"Then I would suggest that my friend be hospitalized for observation for a period of time."

Xue Yong then blurted out a remark that instantly broke the somewhat quiet philosophical atmosphere in the private room, causing a burst of laughter.

"I think..."

Cai Jueming, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up. He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, and his charlatan-like expression suddenly became unusually serious.

Why treat it as a 'disease'?

Everyone looked at him.

Cai Jueming looked up at the ceiling, then looked down and pointed to his heart:
Taoism speaks of the "Three Corpses," while Buddhism speaks of "attachment to self."

But in my opinion, aren't these so-called multiple personalities just different facets of each of our inner selves? Who doesn't have a child inside them who wants to throw a tantrum? Who doesn't have a wanderer inside them who wants to quit their job and go on the streets? It's just that most people chicken out and suppress these thoughts, while the protagonist in your story, Director He, simply lived out these thoughts.

What's more...

"A cookie-cutter 'normal person' can't be the protagonist, Director."

As soon as Cai Jueming finished speaking, Hu Yue, who was standing to the side, seemed to have been touched on a nerve and chimed in:

"Old Cai's words may be rough, but they make sense. We creators know best what audiences want to see: the extreme, the conflict, the kind of 'madness' that ordinary people want to do but dare not. A 'normal person' who works a 9-to-5 job, is emotionally stable, and never oversteps the bounds can only serve as a background character in the script, or be the extra watching the protagonist go crazy..."

People enjoy watching the main character dance on the edge of a cliff because it's thrilling and exciting.

But here's the contradiction: people crave to see that 'extreme,' yet they are also terrified of losing the sense of security of being 'normal.' So the protagonist in your script is actually acting on behalf of those who dare not act crazy, living on behalf of those who dare not live.

"Living for someone else..."

He Tianran pondered these words. Although the topic had circled back to the issue of "creation," he had not forgotten the "essence" of the topic.

"But what's the price?"

He raised his head, and this time, it wasn't just the "lead singer" who was asking the question; it was more like the "true self" that had been dormant deep within his heart was asking it.

"If those personalities live their lives to the extreme and become the protagonists, what about the 'him' who originally wanted a peaceful life? When the 'lead singer' shines in life, when the 'writer' fights ruthlessly at the negotiating table for profit, will the life of the 'ordinary person' who just wants three meals a day, a wife and children, and a warm bed be ruined? Will he be destined to lose that so-called 'sense of security'?"

Silence fell over the private room once again.

This problem is too real and too heavy, so heavy that even alcohol cannot numb it for a while.

This is a profound question that exists outside the "script" but within "life".

"That depends on... what kind of people are around him."

Li Wang, who hadn't had much of a chance to speak, suddenly spoke up. This director, who was usually quiet but always thoughtful, was now slowly refilling the empty glass in front of He Tianran with a bottle of wine.

"Let me start by saying a few words from the perspective of the script."

Director He, it's true that there are many successful one-man shows in the world, whether in film, literature, or throughout history. However, in most successful cases, the protagonist is rarely alone. If a mad protagonist wants to survive to the end, he needs a few supporting characters who can support him, tolerate him, and even go mad with him to make the story interesting. So, regarding the predictable ending, Director He, do you think we should increase the weight of the supporting characters so that you can better control the plot's direction?

Li Wang raised his head, his gaze clear:

"Then there's the perspective of life."

If I really had a friend like that, and if he ever recovered, I would ask him a question first: "Do you think your life got better or worse during the time you were in a daze?"
It's not wrong to prepare for the worst, and I'm one of those people. But when it comes to profound life issues, Director He, you're still a bit too pessimistic. Didn't you say that the ending of life is unpredictable? It's like making a movie; once the film is exposed, there's no going back. Every frame you've experienced, whether it's crazy or mundane, is etched onto the negative. You compared your script to a person's life because you're afraid that if the movie is a flop, someone's life will be ruined too. I understand your concerns, but you've forgotten one thing..."

"what?"

"Whether it's life or a movie, we always have an audience."

"The audience?" He Tianran was taken aback.

"Yes. If you compare your life to a movie, you're the protagonist who's often blinded by the experience, frequently experiencing blackouts, confusion, and feeling fragmented, but..."

Li Wang stretched out his finger and pointed at everyone present—

He pointed to Yu Hui, who was pouring wine for Wei Xing, Hu Yue, who was arguing with Cai Jueming about the "three corpses" theory, Xue Yong, who was constantly checking the time because he was afraid of his wife, and finally pointed to himself.

"But in the eyes of us 'supporting actors,' or rather 'viewers,' your storyline is coherent."

Whether you're the lead singer shining on stage, the ruthless writer in the business world, or the brother we eat mutton and drink with... in our eyes, you're all you, you're all He Tianran.

He Tianran was shaken to his core, his ears turning red as he raised a glass of wine to cover it up, saying:

"Hey, what are you talking about? I never said I was the main character in the script."

He swallowed his drink, and Hu Yue across from him laughed:
"Hey Director He, stop pretending. We've all been there. Even when I write a fantasy novel, I have to put myself in the character's shoes. You've asked such profound questions about the ending of life. Do you dare say that the protagonist in your script doesn't have your shadow in him?"

Yu Hui chimed in from the sidelines:

"Yeah, Brother He, in my script, I also..."

"Hey, shut up."

He Tianran was embarrassed, and his younger brother wisely kept quiet with a smile. Li Wang paused for a moment, then said something that moved everyone present:

"Director, didn't a line of copywriting go viral online a while ago? It said that youthful spirit is a non-renewable thing, but we, your old friends, are the collectors of your spiritedness."

Even if one day, the 'protagonist' in your story really 'recovers' and becomes an ordinary, even somewhat boring, middle-aged person again, as long as we sit together, as long as we still remember you... then you will never be lost.

So, there's no need to worry about how to handle things after the change..."

Li Wang raised his glass, a warm smile on his lips:
We will remember your past; we will witness your present.

This is the significance of our existence as friends; we are the most important 'negative' in the script of our lives.

The youthful spirit is irreplaceable, but old friends are the collectors of your youthful vigor.

He Tianran stared blankly at the group of people in front of him.

He saw Hu Yue and Cai Jueming stop arguing and look at him with approval; he saw Xue Yong stop looking at his watch and grin at him; he saw Yu Hui and Wei Xing put down their phones and raise their glasses to him.

Yes.

He was constantly agonizing over the ending of what was called a "script," but was actually "life," and he was always worried that he would wake up to find himself on a deserted island.

But the script is not finished, and life continues. In this "long shot" of reality, he is never acting alone. Every aspect of him is being truthfully recorded and witnessed by this group of people.

With this "witness testimony," the originally mediocre "him" suddenly gained the confidence to face all changes.

He Tianran's eyes suddenly felt hot, but he didn't let the tears fall. Instead, he tilted his head back and let out a long, hearty laugh.

He raised his glass, his voice slightly choked, yet incredibly firm:

"Come, let's toast to our youthful arrogance that will eventually fade away! And to you bunch of... stupid brothers who remind me who I am!"

"Hahaha, go to hell."

May our friendship last forever!

May we all achieve great things in the future!

"May we all go to the same nursing home from now on!"

"Hahahaha, damn it! Drink up!"

The seven wine glasses collided heavily in mid-air, splashing wine and making a crisp, pleasant sound.

At this moment, there were no big directors or small business owners in the private room, only a group of old boys who were being pushed along by the years, but still clinging to the tail end of their youth.

After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere was in full swing.

He Tianran took out his phone, opened the camera, and pointed it at the group of brothers who were staggering and blushing.

"Come on, look at the camera!!"

"Three, two, one——"

"Brilliant!!"

There was a click.

The picture freezes.

In the photo, the seven faces may no longer be youthful, perhaps wrinkles have appeared around their eyes, perhaps their gazes have been tinged with worldliness, but in this moment, their smiles still burn with that irreplaceable flame. (End of Chapter)