Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 240, Section 238: A Fluttering Heart

August 13th, evening.

On the outskirts of Beijing, at the middle school that held all the summer memories of "A Little Thing Called First Love," Zhang Yang's slightly hoarse but incredibly clear "Filming wrapped!" broke the silence on set, followed by enthusiastic cheers and applause.

After nearly a month of filming, this movie, which focuses on unrequited love and transformation in youth, has finally completed all its shots.

Sweat, tears, the agony of countless takes, the joy of finding the right feeling, and the subtle emotions that permeated both on and off camera... all of it came to an end at this moment.

A complex emotion, a mixture of exhaustion, relief, and a sense of accomplishment, filled the air.

The staff began packing up the equipment quickly and efficiently, while the actors hugged each other, took photos, exchanged contact information, and promised to "keep in touch."

Gao Yuanyuan stood at the edge of the crowd, watching Wang Sheng talking with Zhang Yang and the production manager not far away.

The golden glow of the setting sun outlined the contours of his profile. Compared to a month ago, he seemed a little thinner, but his eyes remained calm, carrying a sense of composure as if he were in control of the situation.

This past month felt like a long and real dream to her.

She is not only the actress who strives to portray "Xiao Shui," but also the girl behind the scenes who silently intertwines "Xiao Shui's" emotions with her own hidden feelings.

Wang Sheng's reminder, "It's okay to find the feeling, but don't choose the wrong object," made her feel ashamed, but it also made her work harder in the subsequent filming to transform that emotion into the driving force of her performance, using body language and more restrained eyes to shape the character.

She succeeded and gained the approval of the production team.

But the emotions that initially made her "get too immersed in the role" did not dissipate with the end of filming; instead, they became clearer and more intense as they were about to part ways.

……

At 7 p.m., the wrap party was held at a well-known Cantonese restaurant in Beijing.

They booked the largest banquet hall and set up more than a dozen tables.

The main creative team, main actors, heads of various departments, and staff who had worked hard for more than a month gathered together in a lively atmosphere.

As the chief director and the key figure in the project, Wang Sheng was naturally the focus of the entire event.

He carried a wine glass, moving between tables to express his gratitude to every staff member for their hard work.

He could call everyone by name, from the executive director Zhang Yang to the lowest stagehand, offering a word or two of encouragement or a joke that brought laughter and created a harmonious atmosphere.

"Director Zhang, thank you for your hard work this past month. I'll need your help with the post-production work later on." Wang Sheng clinked glasses with Zhang Yang, his tone sincere.

"Don't worry, Mr. Wang, I've got all the materials sorted out, just waiting to get them into the server room." Zhang Yang's face showed relaxation and satisfaction after completing a major task.

Wang Sheng then went to the table where the main actors were seated.

"Xiaoming, you captured A-Liang's sunny and handsome charm very well. Let's work together again next time." He patted Huang Xiaoming on the shoulder.

"Thank you, Director Wang, for giving me this opportunity. I've learned a lot from working with you!" Huang Xiaoming quickly stood up, his tone respectful.

"Chen Kun, Wang Zi's inner monologue is very nuanced, not bad." Wang Sheng nodded to the slightly shy Chen Kun.

Chen Kun raised his glass, somewhat flattered.

Now it's the actresses' turn.

"Bingbing, Teacher Xiaoyin's performance was gentle yet firm, very convincing," Wang Sheng said to Li Bingbing.

"Thank you, Director Wang. It's because you wrote such a good script and directed so well," Li Bingbing replied with a smile, her manners impeccable.

"Xiaoran, the senior student who made a cameo appearance was very goddess-like, thanks." Wang Sheng raised his glass to Li Xiaoran. Li Xiaoran seemed to have dressed up deliberately tonight, looking radiant and beautiful. She smiled sweetly, her eyes sparkling: "Why are you being so polite with me?"

Finally, his gaze fell on Fan Xiaopang and Gao Yuanyuan, who were sitting side by side.

Fan Xiaopang was riding high on the success of "The Legendary Twins" and the box office hit of "Flying Colors" in its opening weekend. His face was flushed and his eyes were sparkling.

"Little Fatty, Tie Xinlan and Wang Xiaojia both acted very well, and they're very popular. Keep it up." Wang Sheng's tone was full of praise.

"Thank you, Mr. Wang! I will work even harder!" Fan Xiaopang's voice was clear and crisp, filled with undisguised joy. He also secretly glanced at Gao Yuanyuan next to him, with a hint of smugness.

Wang Sheng finally looked at Gao Yuanyuan.

The girl wore a simple white dress tonight, washing away the naivety and rusticity of her role in the play and restoring her natural beauty. However, her eyes seemed more misty than usual, carrying an indescribable complex emotion.

“Gao Yuanyuan,” Wang Sheng said calmly, “you did a great job playing the role of Xiao Shui. You captured her clumsiness in the early stages and her transformation later on, especially her unrequited love. You did a great job.”

His evaluation was professional and objective, without any extraneous emotions.

Gao Yuanyuan's heart felt as if it had been gently bumped by something, leaving her with a bittersweet feeling.

She raised her head, bravely meeting Wang Sheng's gaze, her voice trembling almost imperceptibly: "Thank you, Director Wang... I should be thanking you for giving me this opportunity." Wang Sheng nodded, said nothing more, raised his glass in a gesture of acknowledgment, and then turned to the next table.

The atmosphere at the banquet grew increasingly lively, fueled by alcohol and delicious food.

Some people started going from table to table toasting, while others chatted and laughed loudly, reminiscing about funny and embarrassing things that happened during filming.

The box office success of "Flying Colors" at 6.37 million in its opening weekend, and the continued rise in viewership of "The Legendary Twins," became the hottest topics at the banquet, adding a touch of joy and anticipation to the wrap party.

Gao Yuanyuan sat in her seat, seemingly somewhat absent-minded.

The juice in front of her was barely touched, and she only picked up a few bites of food with her chopsticks.

Her hand remained inside her small white handbag, clutching something tightly, her fingertips turning slightly white from the force.

Her gaze mostly followed that tall, upright figure, watching him handle social situations with ease, watching him chat and laugh with others, watching him occasionally furrow his brow in thought, watching the moment his Adam's apple bobbed as he raised his glass...

Every detail, like a carving knife, leaves a deeper imprint on her heart.

Fan Xiaopang and Li Bingbing were discussing the future plot of "The Legendary Twins" in a cheerful voice.

Li Xiaoran chatted with the others at the table about the latest gossip in the entertainment industry, laughing and talking happily.

No one paid much attention to the quiet Gao Yuanyuan, assuming it was just her personality or that she was a little tired after filming wrapped.

……

Time slips away amidst the noise.

Around 9 p.m., the banquet was drawing to a close.

Many people who had enjoyed themselves began to say goodbye and leave one after another.

Wang Sheng, Zhang Yang, the production manager, and other core members stood at the door to see off the guests.

Gao Yuanyuan looked in that direction, took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind.

She stood up and whispered to the others at the table, "I'm going to the restroom."

Then, with his head down, he quickly walked towards the exit of the banquet hall—not the restroom, but near the main entrance where Wang Sheng and the others were standing.

She stopped beside an inconspicuous pillar, her heart pounding like a drum, almost bursting out of her chest.

She could clearly feel her cheeks burning, her palms sweating, and the letter she was clutching tightly seemed to be damp as well.

She watched as Wang Sheng calmly shook hands and said goodbye to each departing person, saying "Thank you for your hard work" and "Let's keep in touch."

Her courage, like the tide, gradually waned as the number of people decreased.

Finally, most people had left.

Zhang Yang and the production manager patted Wang Sheng on the shoulder and said, "Mr. Wang, we'll be going now. Thank you for your hard work," before leaving together.

Wang Sheng was the only one left at the door. He loosened his collar slightly, seemingly relieved, and a hint of fatigue appeared on his face, but his eyes remained sharp. He was about to turn around and go back to the banquet hall to see if there were any unfinished matters.

It's now!

Gao Yuanyuan, almost on a last impulse, quickly walked out from behind the pillar and went straight to Wang Sheng.

Wang Sheng was clearly surprised. Looking at the girl who had returned, her cheeks flushed, her eyes darting around yet filled with determination, he raised an eyebrow slightly: "Gao Yuanyuan? Is there something else?"

“Director Wang…” Gao Yuanyuan’s voice was barely audible, with a noticeable tremor.

She didn't dare look Wang Sheng in the eye, and quickly took out the slightly crumpled, light blue envelope with dark patterns from her small handbag and stuffed it into Wang Sheng's hand.

It felt slightly cool to the touch, and was damp from the girl's palm.

Wang Sheng caught it instinctively, and when he touched it, he was stunned for a moment because it felt like paper.

Just as he looked down at the letter in his hand, Gao Yuan mustered the greatest courage of her life, raised her head, and spoke rapidly yet with unparalleled clarity:
Wang Sheng! I like you!

After saying those five words, she seemed to have used up all her strength. She didn't dare to look at Wang Sheng's reaction at all. She turned around abruptly and almost fled. Her white skirt drew a hurried arc in the air and quickly disappeared around the corner of the corridor.

The whole process took only a few seconds.

Wang Sheng held the letter, still warm from the girl's body and faintly fragrant, standing there, staring at the empty corner of the corridor, momentarily speechless...

(End of this chapter)