Huayu02 started by making films.

The two brothers seemed not to have heard the role assignment clearly, and both paused for a moment.

Jiang Wen stepped forward first and gently pressed Han Yi's shoulder: "Sit down first. If I heard correctly, you're asking me to play the fool, and my brother to play the older brother, right?"

Han Yi, who was pushed back onto the sofa, was a little confused. He nodded and said, "Yes, Mr. Jiang Wen, you heard me right."

"Interesting, very interesting." Jiang Wen stroked his chin, his eyes gleaming with contemplation. "How did you come up with this arrangement?"

"This role is really challenging," Jiang Wu muttered to himself. "I just became famous with 'Er Ming,' and the audience all thinks I can only play idiots."

He suddenly slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "What a pity! This isn't a feature film. If it could be released in theaters, it would definitely change the audience's impression of me!"

Jiang Wen slowly began, "I've never played a fool before, so it's quite a challenge. But the role of the older brother is also very interesting, with complex emotions that require nuance."

He turned to Jiang Wu, "How about we switch roles? You play the younger brother, and I'll play the older brother. After all, I'm the older brother in real life."

Jiang Wu shook his head: "One thing at a time, whoever the director chooses is whoever they choose. Right, Han Yi?" He threw the question back at him.

Han Yi quickly chimed in, "Professor Jiang Wen,"

"Don't call me teacher anymore. Just call me senior brother, like a soldier."

"Okay, senior brother. Don't you think this role is particularly challenging for you? It's a type of role you've never tried before, and so has senior brother Jiang Wu. That's what we call 'contrast'—breaking away from established images is the only way to truly showcase an actor's versatility."

As Han Yi spoke, he looked at Jiang Wu and added fuel to the fire, "Let's see who can outshine whom between the Best Actor winners from Beijing Film Academy and Central Academy of Drama."

"Okay!" Jiang Wen responded with a laugh. "Little soldier, don't let me overshadow you and make you cry."

"Give me a break," Jiang Wu scoffed, turning to Han Yi. "Han Yi, leave the script to us. I need to think about it carefully."

"Yes, I'll make a copy too."

Han Yi nodded: "No problem, I'll go out and make the copies and bring them back. There's one more thing," he said, glancing at the two of them, his tone tentative.

"Senior Brother Jiang Wu, you need to shave your head and clean-shaven to play the role of the elder brother. Are you okay with that?"

Jiang Wu gave an OK sign, "Nothing is more important than acting."

"Brother Jiang Wen, you'll have to stay up late these next few days. Don't shave your beard; keep up that weathered look."

"Okay," Jiang Wen readily agreed.

Once the cast was finalized, Han Yi got up to leave. He found a photocopying shop nearby and made several copies of the script. Just then, Jiang Wu went out to get a haircut, so Han Yi gave him the script to take home.

As evening approached, Jiang Wu invited him to stay for dinner, saying he would personally make him a bowl of authentic Zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste). Han Yi declined, citing dormitory checks that evening, and went straight back to school.

After a long day, Han Yi returned to the No. 2 canteen at Beijing Film Academy, intending to relive the taste of the canteen.

He skillfully prepared a meal with one meat dish and one vegetable dish, and also ladled out a bowl of seaweed and egg drop soup. He then found an empty seat and sat down with his tray.

"Mmm, mmm, that's right, that's the taste, authentic."

As Han Yi ate, he mentally recorded the sounds for himself. He hadn't eaten this for many years, and the sudden taste felt especially familiar.

At this moment, Du Zhe walked into the cafeteria with two people, one tall and one short, looking very proud. He spotted Han Yi at a glance, told the two to go get their food first, and then jogged over.

"Brother Yi, it's all taken care of." Du Zhe plopped down opposite Han Yi and said casually.

"Where did you rent it?" Han Yi asked without looking up, continuing to eat.

"I rented it for a week in Jimenli, right across from the school. Yi-ge, is that enough time?"

More than enough.

Du Zhe then reported, "All the props have been bought and placed inside, and the car has also been rented—a Chang'an Star—which is parked in the parking lot."

Han Yi thought to himself, "Sure enough, apart from the directing department, the other departments at Beijing Film Academy are full of talented people. Du Zhe is the same; he's efficient and decisive in his work."

He finished the last bite of rice, drank the soup in his bowl, wiped his mouth, and said, "Old Du, well done. I also have some good news for you: the cast is finalized—Jiang Wen and Jiang Wu."

After saying that, he made a "V" sign to emphasize that they were two brothers.

Du Zhe paused for a moment, then quickly asked, "Brother Yi, is it really them?"

Han Yi nodded: "That's right. Tomorrow we'll tidy up the house and then go to the department to get the equipment. Once everything is ready, we can start filming this Saturday."

"Wow, Yi-ge, that's awesome! Absolutely awesome!"

Du Zhe slammed his fist on the table in excitement, the loud bang drawing the attention of everyone else in the cafeteria. He yelled at the top of his lungs, "We're making a movie! Do you know who's in the lead role?"

The students who were eating started talking amongst themselves, their eyes all turning towards Han Yi, whispering among themselves:

"Who is this guy? Why did the security guard let an idiot in?"

"He's not stupid. He's from the photography department. I've seen him in acting class before."

"Why is he taking acting classes?"

"They said it's to prepare for casting actors in the future."

"Pah, is that how he picks actors? I wouldn't even bother saying that, ptooey."

The atmosphere was a little awkward when the two men, one tall and one short, walked over carrying trays. Du Zhe said to them, "Big Gao, Little Zhao, our leading men are Jiang Wen and Jiang Wu!"

He then turned to Han Yi and introduced him: "Brother Yi, the short one is called Gao Qiang, you can just call him Da Gao; the tall one is called Zhao Bin, you can call him Xiao Zhao."

Han Yi greeted the two of them and asked curiously, "Are your nicknames based on your height or your measurements?"

"Is there a difference, Brother Yi?" Gao Qiang asked, looking puzzled.

Han Yi waved his hand, revealing a meaningful smile: "You two think it over carefully tonight before bed. I'm leaving now."

……

Back in the dormitory, that familiar odor hit him again. Han Yi couldn't stand it any longer, so he picked up a thermos, found a mop in the public restroom, sprinkled laundry detergent all over the floor, and scrubbed it several times.

Then he went downstairs to the convenience store and bought a mosquito coil and a bottle of floral water. He lit the mosquito coil in the room and sprayed the floral water all over the place.

After working for most of the day, Han Yi slumped into a chair to catch his breath and couldn't help but complain loudly, "Damn it, I'm going to rent a place tomorrow. This dorm smells so bad... I really don't know how I survived those four years in my previous life."

Silent all night.

The next morning, Han Yi was startled awake by his 7 a.m. alarm. He hadn't slept well the night before. Those two guys from the directing department didn't get back until midnight, making a racket with all the noise—one snoring and the other grinding his teeth—so he barely got any sleep.

Han Yi sat up abruptly from the bed, got dressed, got out of bed, walked to Du Zhe's bedside, and patted him on the shoulder:

"Get up quickly, we need to get the set set up today."

After saying that, he went to brush his teeth and wash his face. After getting ready, he met up with Da Gao and Xiao Zhao in the cafeteria, quickly ate breakfast, and then the group set off in the Chang'an Star towards Jizhou.

Zhao Bin was the only one of the four with a driver's license, so he naturally drove. The van braked sharply and came to a smooth stop in front of the old house. The four of them got out of the van one after another, opened the door, and went inside.