Actor: Thank you.

Shanghai, East China University of Political Science and Law.

April in Shanghai marks the beginning of spring. However, unlike the north, the Jiangnan region experiences fluctuating temperatures during spring and autumn due to the influence of the ocean.

Within the same month, the temperature difference can reach more than 20 degrees Celsius.

Northerners who come here for the first time may find it unbearable.

Long underwear can be taken off and put on repeatedly, and down jackets and short sleeves can coexist in the same month.

So as soon as Zhang Yuan arrived at Shanghai Airport, he quickly changed into his thick autumn clothes.

The clothes were thick, so you couldn't see his figure. He was also wearing a fisherman's hat and sunglasses.

He said he was visiting the set of East China University of Political Science and Law, where the low-budget romantic comedy "Love Announcement" was being filmed.

The campuses in Shanghai are not at all resistant to filming.

"My Sunshine" was filmed at Shanghai Normal University.

"Tiny Times" was filmed at Shanghai University.

The drama that made Li Yapeng and Xu Jinglei famous, "Love Will Carry On," was filmed at Tongji University.

The sitcom "iPartment" was filmed at Jiaotong University.

Filming on campus is most convenient when it's on location, and finding extras is easy; college students can even be hired for free.

He came to visit the set because, after more than a year of silence, Sisi had finally returned to the film crew and started working again.

However, he arrived quietly without notifying anyone.

She deliberately dressed simply, like a staff member.

He even carried a machine on his shoulder.

Because there are too many people on campus, he would be easily recognized if he came directly.

It's like carrying a ladder and pretending to be a repairman, allowing you to enter any office building.

As long as you carry a camera, you can get into any film crew.

Zhang Yuan swaggered in without anyone stopping him.

Everyone subconsciously assumed he was a member of the film crew.

"The security on this film crew is terrible," Zhang Yuan complained through his mask.

Of course, not all film crews are like this. For example, the crew of "The Grandmaster" was very strict. They not only had barriers, but also checked work permits.

He managed to sneak into the film crew and watch them film.

According to Zhang Yuan's definition, this work is actually a large-scale "MV"!
Wang Leehom directed and starred in the film, assembling a whole crew.

The truth is, seeing Jay Chou's successful crossover, this guy also had his own ideas.

He participated in the filming of several movies, from "Lust, Caution" to "Little Big Soldier".

On the set of "Little Big Soldier", I chatted with Brother Chenlong about wanting to act.

Uncle Jackie Chan recommended Liu Qianqian, with whom he had worked on "The Forbidden Kingdom".

That's how the production team got the male and female leads.

Several of the main actors in this film, including Wang Leehom, Sissi, and Joan Chen, who plays the manager, are American citizens.

They also have a lot in common.

Moreover, these three people represent three typical examples of people who have acquired foreign citizenship.

Wang Leehom immigrated in the previous generation and was born in Lighthouse.

Sisi was brought there by her parents.

Cheng Chong moved overseas on his own after he came of age.

Wang Leehom is of American descent, but he loves and identifies with Chinese culture.

Judging from her appearance, speech, and values, Sisi is no different from an ordinary Chinese person, except that she has a stronger personality.

On the contrary, Cheng Chong, who went abroad as an adult, is the one who most agrees with the values ​​of the Lighthouse.

Because Leehom and Sissi's American citizenship was decided by their parents, while Cheng Chong chose it himself.

It was my own choice, so deep down I'm twisted and have a sense of "original sin" about being Chinese.

Zhang Yuan disliked people who tried to appease outsiders by denying their own identity.

What the hell is this...?

When he arrived, they were filming an indoor scene in an auditorium.

Pu Bajia, no.

Li Zhiting... is not either.

Chang Yuan, yes, little Chang Yuan, Wang Leehom, is playing freely at a piano.

Zhang Yuan rubbed his eyes; it was too easy to mistake someone else's mistake.

Li Zhiting and Wang Leehom are the most similar.

Because Aarif Rahman also grew up in North America.

The similarities between them are not only in their appearance, but also in their temperament.

There's a saying that besides the influence of the environment, language also plays a role.

Chinese has more closed-mouth sounds, while English has more open-mouth sounds, especially sounds like A and O.

In addition, North Americans have an outgoing personality, and their facial expressions, especially when they are extremely happy or sad, tend to be exaggerated.

Over time, this will alter the structure of facial muscles, especially the muscles around the mouth.

If you look at Gu Ailing's facial structure, you'll see that the upper part is very Chinese, but the lower part, especially her mouth, is very American.

Wang Leehom is the same; when he speaks, his mouth opens wider than that of a normal Chinese person.

"Luckily, Sisi's English isn't that great." Zhang Yuan glanced at the Little Dragon Girl performing not far away, who still had a small mouth.

Upon closer inspection, I noticed that she was wearing light makeup while filming the movie.

How faint is it?

If applying lip gloss counts as makeup, then it's light makeup, and... that's it.

No foundation, no eyeliner, not even eyebrows were trimmed.

He had a clean-cut face and wore a pair of non-prescription glasses to appear on camera.

Most female celebrities wouldn't dare to get plastic surgery like this, it's just her.

However, compared to the light makeup the crew usually gives her, the result of not wearing makeup is that her facial features are much less defined.

But what Wang Leehom wanted was that "first love feeling" of a pure female college student.

First love should be like someone with light makeup and delicate eyebrows.

He didn't even style his hair; it was just a side-parted, shoulder-length style.
Zhang Yuan quite liked this natural state; he got tired of seeing too many flashy and cheap women.

Just like plain noodles, you can eat them every day, and if that's not enough, you can add toppings or gravy.

However, you can't eat spicy braised pork intestine noodles every day.

A true beauty looks good even without makeup.

As he looked at it, Zhang Yuan frowned.

As soon as the camera started rolling, Sisi, who was in the audience, looked at Leehom playing the piano.

Meanwhile, several staff members off-camera were using a large showerhead to pour water over her head.

She also had to put on a surprised expression, as if to say, "Why is it raining?"

When it rains indoors, she gets soaked all by herself.

This kind of sketch comedy technique, when used in a movie, is really...

Anyway, it was Wang Leehom's idea.

The inspiration for this play comes from Yu Boya and Zhong Ziqi, also known as "Bo Ya Breaks His String".

Wang Leehom was over 30 years old when he first heard this story...

Chinese Americans still receive too little exposure to traditional culture.

The male and female protagonists were designed based on this story.

The male lead is a big star, and the female lead is a music academy student.

On his way home after a concert, the male protagonist knocked down the female protagonist, who was riding a bicycle and carrying a guzheng on her back.

The female protagonist's first concern wasn't whether she was injured, but rather to test the piano to see if it was broken.

Wang Leehom has an art background, so his thought process is different from that of ordinary people.

A normal person would definitely think this kind of plot is brainless, but it might be everyday life for them.

No matter what happens, first check if there's anything wrong with your tools of the trade.

Then, when the female lead, Song Xiaoqing, tried playing the piano, the male lead, Du Minghan, could see butterflies fluttering in her melodies.

Art students have this kind of imagination.

Then he disguised himself and went to school to find his "true love".

Ultimately, the disguise was exposed. After a series of choices between career and love, the protagonist pretended not to recognize the female lead, then regretted it and pursued her again—a cliché scenario—they all ended up making dumplings together.

Recently, I've been working with Zhang Yuan on scripts like "No Man's Land," "Let the Bullets Fly," and "The Founding of a Republic." When recalling the plot of these films, I feel like I need to gouge my brain out and put it aside.

Well, I can barely understand the scripts and production teams that art students produce.

This is my first time directing, and part of the reason I made this film is actually to match the album "Eighteen Martial Arts".

I made dumplings just for this dish of vinegar.

Zhang Yuan took a breath. Although they were indoors, the temperature was still below ten degrees Celsius and not warm at all.

Sisi, on the other hand, was soaked through in her thin shirt.

Because the male and female protagonists are supposed to be facing each other, the male protagonist can see butterflies fluttering in the sound of the female protagonist's guzheng music.

The female protagonist can sense the male protagonist's sadness through the sound of his piano playing and hallucinates herself being caught in the rain.

Art students, huh...

The two can see each other through visions, symbolizing the friendship between Yu Boya and Zhong Ziqi, who are considered "soulmates".

According to Leehom's concept, what should I be hallucinating when I listen to "Secondhand Rose"?
Funeral service or a grand funeral procession?
I heard Tengger has to ride a horse around for a bit.

So if I want to listen to Brother Qian sing, I have to go to a hair salon...

Anyway, he felt that the movie was not suitable to be paired with Wang Leehom's song.

It would be perfect with Pang Long's "Two Butterflies".

As soon as the take was finished, the assistant immediately came forward to drape a towel and coat over him, and also handed him a hot water bottle.

Everyone talks about hand warmers, but they're not as good as hot water bottles, unless it's extremely cold, like places where the temperature is tens of degrees below zero.

"Can you do it again in a bit?" the assistant director asked.

"No problem, come on over."

Zhang Yuan nodded. The young woman's professional skills were still quite good; they hadn't changed at all.

Given the arduous journey of "The Return of the Condor Heroes," involving both traversing heaven and water, which young heartthrob from later generations could withstand it?

And my aunt even wanted to use bottled water to film underwater scenes...

She also trained him to have a big beard, so that he felt the intensity of any role he played was average.

While she was resting, Zhang Yuan took the machine and went up to her face.

When Sisi saw the camera approaching her, she didn't pay attention at first, thinking it was the crew filming behind-the-scenes footage.

But after getting too close, she turned her head to take a look.

"How can you even focus when you're this close?"

She said softly with a smile.

He definitely doesn't like being so close, but he speaks with great tact.

Zhang Yuan didn't answer, but moved closer and around her until he squatted down directly in front of her.

“Stay a little further away, or the water from my hair will drip onto your machine,” she “warned” again.

"It's okay, you can get a clearer shot if you get closer," Zhang Yuan replied in a low voice.

Ok?
Little Dragon Girl raised one eyebrow, sensing something was wrong.

She turned her head to look at him.

Masks, sunglasses, hats—they were completely covered up.

They were so close that I couldn't see their figures.

But as she looked at it, one corner of her mouth couldn't help but turn up.

At that moment, it seemed as if butterflies were fluttering before her eyes. She was an art student, after all.

"Wow, you're so professional."

"I've never seen a cameraman with an assistant and bodyguards before."

She didn't recognize him immediately, but the voice sounded familiar.

She glanced again and saw Brother Long and Zhao Dandan standing not far away, and she understood.

She smiled with her lips pursed and eyes narrowed, giving off an air of "I'm very smart, you can't fool me."

"Damn it!" Zhang Yuan turned around and glanced back.

My lifelong reputation has been ruined by the two of you!
“Friend, could you please keep a little distance and let us adjust before you take the picture?” At this moment, Liu Xiaoli also stepped forward to help her daughter stop them.

Ever since the incident with the "The Return of the Condor Heroes" crew, she has become even more cautious.

"Mom, don't pay attention to him."

"Let him pretend. I'll call security to drag him out in a bit."

"It's not that bad, they're just doing their job," Aunt Liu reassured them.

"Didn't you notice?" Little Dragon Girl reached out and yanked off his sunglasses.

"Hello Aunt Liu, I'm here on business and just happened to stop by."

"Oh..." Liu Xiaoli recognized it at a glance, thinking to herself that young people really have a lot of tricks up their sleeves.

"I'll go get you a bottle of water." With that, she left temporarily.

What are you doing sneaking around like that? Are you trying to scare me?

"I didn't come here to see you, you stay-at-home mama's girl."

"You're the mama's boy!" Sisi retorted, glaring at her.

So you admit it just because you're staying home... Zhang Yuan used to think that Liu Xiaoli couldn't live without her daughter.

But now he thinks about it from another perspective: how could his daughter be separated from her mother?

The mothers of teenagers follow their children around all day because they are afraid that their children will be bullied or offend people because they are not sensible.

If my mom is still following me around all the time even though I'm over twenty, then it's not just my mom's problem.

Upon hearing her words, Zhang Yuan deliberately darkened his expression.

"I'm not a mama's boy, I haven't had a mother for a long time?"

"Oh, I'm sorry..." she quickly apologized, startled.

"I didn't mean to, don't take it to heart."

Seeing her frown and look so aggrieved, Zhang Yuan thought he should try to cheer her up.

“Actually, there are advantages to not having a mother.” He raised his head.

"At least there won't be any conflicts between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law."

At most, there will be conflicts between wives and daughters-in-law.

"Don't joke about something like this." Sisi tapped his nose.

"Cough cough!" Just then, Liu Xiaoli returned and handed him a bottle of mineral water.

Zhang Yuan took it and looked at it, then laughed heartily.

He glanced at Wang Leehom not far away out of the corner of his eye.

Hey.

Well, to be honest, my brother is still nostalgic.

When they first entered the mainland market, the first endorsement they accepted was for Wahaha purified water.

The endorsement fee is 50 yuan per year, and it has never increased.

Wahaha and him are like Zhong Ziqi and Yu Boya.

Wang Leehom needs Wahaha to use its channels to bring his image to every corner of China.

Wahaha also needs Wang Leehom's image to enhance its brand awareness.

A harmonious and interdependent relationship, where each element is present in the other, represents true cooperation and mutual success.

Moreover, ever since he took on the endorsement, Brother Wang has only drunk Wahaha water in any situation, and the film crew does the same.

Until a certain "leading lady" appeared...

The saying "The martial world is not about fighting and killing, but about human relationships and social interactions" is something that cannot be understood and practiced; otherwise, one cannot achieve anything.

Those female protagonists should uninstall Xiaohongshu from their phones as soon as possible.

Zhang Yuan unscrewed the cap and drank.

As the saying goes, what is said without intention may be taken to heart by the listener!

Liu Xiaoli overheard Zhang Yuan's words about "mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflicts".

Don't say it, don't say it!
Liu Xiaoli thought about it and realized it made sense!

Only those who have been through it know how painful family discord can be.

She had many conflicts with Lao An's family, especially his mother, back then.

Ordinary people, especially young people, don't really understand what this means.

But she acknowledged that it was an advantage.

At least my daughter won't be mistreated.

Otherwise, why would some women in later generations require their husbands to earn a million a year and be orphans...?

For working-class families, the advantage of the man having parents is that they can help take care of the children.

But at their social class, they can hire eight nannies to serve them, so they don't have this problem at all.

"Thank you for the pearl necklace and the rug," Aunt Liu said with a smile, mentioning the gifts.

"As long as you like it."

"It's too expensive."

"It's alright. The value of an item lies in the user. As long as it's not wasted, that's fine."

"Since you've already seen through me, I won't bother you any longer."

"Let's have a meal together when you're all done with your work."

Zhang Yuan put on his sunglasses again and ran to greet the others.

First, there's Wang Leehom; he's the boss of the film crew.

"Nice to meet you!"

Leehom listened with enthusiasm because he had heard of him before.

Uncle Jackie Chan mentioned this on the set of "Little Big Soldier".

He said Zhang Yuan was the most talented and hardworking young man he had ever met.

Jay Chou had also mentioned him, so he had heard a lot about him.

The second male lead is Qiao Zhenyu. They have hardly seen each other since "The Story of a Noble Family".

It's not easy now; back then, the crew only managed to gather three people.

“You haven’t changed at all.” Zhang Yuan looked at the man’s appearance; many years had passed, but he didn’t look old.

"You've changed a lot," Brother Qiao replied after looking him over.

Her appearance has changed a bit, but the biggest change is in her temperament.

She's much more poised and confident than she was a few years ago.

Qiao Zhenyu plays a "traitor" in the film; the female lead likes him, but eventually falls for the male lead.

I gave Cheng Chong a brief greeting; it was polite to maintain appearances, especially since we had met before on the Golden Horse Awards red carpet.

"Hi boss!"

He was chatting with Chen Handian, a famous Taiwanese comedian who rose to fame on the talk show "Kangxi Lai Le," when suddenly someone jumped out from behind him.

Turning my head, I saw Xie Na, who was making a guest appearance on the set.

“Boss…” Zhang Yuan thought for a moment.

Oh, I've become a shareholder of Yuehua Entertainment, and she has a nominal contract with Yuehua.

That’s right.

"No need, just call me by my name." Zhang Yuan waved his hand.

"It's been a long time."

"Yes, you didn't come to see me, did you? Hahahaha..." he said, then burst into his signature loud laughter.

Seeing Zhang Yuan give her a cold look, she stopped smiling.

"Don't do that, I'm a quiet person," Zhang Yuan said softly.

"Are you annoyed by my noise?"

Seeing Zhang Yuan giving him a cold look again, Xie Na was certain that Zhang Yuan thought he was just annoyed by Xie Na's noise...

"You've been doing really well lately. You've been acting in TV dramas and movies, and you've been on quite a few shows."

"Hahaha." He was about to laugh, but when he saw Zhang Yuan frown, he quickly shut up.

"Yes, it's alright."

Then they crept closer furtively.

"Are you with Big White now?"

"Shh!" Zhang Yuan quickly gestured.

Did you borrow that mouth from Foxconn?

It keeps going like an assembly line, never stopping.

Can we bring this up?
Liu Xiaoli is still here. There won't be any conflicts between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in a little while, but conflicts between the father-in-law and son-in-law will arise.

"I know she's in a relationship. I wish her all the best, that's all."

"You should also wish her well in your heart."

"Remember, keep it in your heart, don't say it out loud."

I want to sew your mouth shut.

After greeting everyone, I learned that the film crew wasn't working too hard and left on time, before dark.

Zhang Yuan went out to eat with the rest of the crew to build rapport.

We were very happy to welcome him. After dinner, we even suggested going to karaoke together.

He went along with it.

Liu Xiaoli didn't like making a fuss, so she went home, while most of the young artists went.

Sisi loves to sing, and she started with Wang Fei's new song "Legend".

Of course, I can't compare to Lao Wang. In fact, because I don't train, I sing worse than I did a few years ago when I just returned from releasing an album in Japan.

Wang Leehom then sang songs by Jay Chou, David Tao, and Mayday.

Which respectable singer comes to a karaoke bar to sing their own songs...? Actually, there are some!

"You are a Leo at the end of July."

"The prelude to August, you are a Leo..."

Zeng Ge, who plays Xixi's roommate in the same film crew, sang his own hit song.

In comparison, Zhang Yuan felt that Wang Leehom's pop songs, which were considered "bubblegum pop," were far too sophisticated!

Zeng Ge's singing wasn't just heavenly music; it was deafening.

Clap clap clap... Zhang Yuan didn't know what else to do besides clapping.

"How about we sing a duet?" Zhang Yuan suggested, looking at Xixi.

I requested "Today You're Going to Marry Me," one of the most popular songs in recent years, sung by David Tao and Jolin Tsai.

"Why did you play this song..." Sisi complained a little embarrassedly.

“The song has to come first before there can be conflicts between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law,” Zhang Yuan replied, reaching out to take the microphone.

But at that moment, an arm snatched the microphone away with lightning speed.

At the same time, he pulled up Xixi who was next to him.

"Sisi, let's sing a duet!"

Zhang Yuan: ... (End of Chapter)