Huayu: Starting with Hextech

At the end of September, the film crew

In the evening, as director Chen Mingzhang announced in a slightly hoarse but exceptionally loud voice, "Cut! Filming for 'Du Lala's Promotion' is now complete!", the entire crew erupted in enthusiastic cheers.

The final scene is a hopeful and open-ended ending shot of Wang Wei and Du Lala downstairs at the company after experiencing workplace and emotional ups and downs.

The setting sun once again played a key role, stretching the shadows of the two people standing side by side into long shadows, foreshadowing their journey together toward an unknown yet full of possibilities.

When the words "filming wrapped" were uttered, the tension that had been building for nearly three months finally eased.

The actors hugged each other, the staff high-fived in celebration, the prop master carefully packed away the last prop, and the lighting technician turned off the glaring main light.

A faint sense of melancholy and longing filled the air.

The wrap party was held at a local Shanghainese restaurant not far from the crew's residence.

The table was laden with exquisite dishes and drinks, and a red banner on the wall read "Celebrating the successful completion of filming of 'Go Lala Go!'"

Producer Xu Xiaogou, director Chen Mingzhang, screenwriters, and all the main creators, actors, and heads of various departments gathered together in a warm and nostalgic atmosphere.

As the male lead, Lin Xiao is naturally one of the focal points of everyone's attention.

He changed out of the various suits he had worn for three months and put on a simple gray knit sweater and casual pants. His hair was hanging down casually, free from the constraints of hair gel. He looked much younger and more relaxed than Wang Wei in the drama.

During the meal, glasses clinked and laughter filled the air.

Everyone reminisced about the fun and embarrassing moments during filming, complained about the sweltering heat of Shanghai in August and the hardships of working late into the night, and also remarked on how quickly time flew by and how enjoyable the collaboration was.

Xu Xiaogou and Chen Mingzhang delivered speeches, thanking everyone for their efforts and expressing full confidence in the quality of the final product.

Lin Xiao was toasted repeatedly. He could hold his liquor, but he couldn't resist the enthusiasm of the crowd. After several rounds, a faint blush appeared on his face, but his eyes remained clear.

He thoughtfully toasted and thanked the director, screenwriter, production manager, and other co-stars one by one, his demeanor humble and sincere.

After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became even more relaxed.

Wang Luodan, holding a glass of juice, squeezed next to Lin Xiao and nudged him with her elbow: "Hey, Lao Lin, you're free now, how does it feel?"

Lin Xiao looked at her; three months of "comradeship" had made them extremely familiar with each other.

Wang Luodan was dressed casually today, wearing a white sweatshirt and jeans, with a bare face, short and neat hair, and bright eyes. She didn't look like the capable Du Lala in the play at all; she was just a lively and cheerful young girl.

"I feel like... I can finally sleep in." Lin Xiao said honestly, which made Wang Luodan burst into laughter.

"Promising!"

She chuckled and scolded him, then took out an exquisitely packaged square box from her canvas bag and handed it to Lin Xiao, "Here, a wrap-up gift."

Lin Xiao was somewhat surprised: "There's a gift too?"

"Of course, we've been revolutionary friends for a while now." Wang Luodan shoved the box into his hand. "Open it and take a look."

Lin Xiao opened the packaging, inside was a black matte metallic headphone case. Inside was a pair of sleek, exquisitely crafted over-ear monitor headphones. The brand was a well-regarded model in the professional industry, and the price was not cheap.

"I know you like to listen to music and think about your characters when you have free time. These headphones have good noise isolation and accurate sound quality, so they're perfect for you."

Wang Luodan spoke casually, but her eyes revealed seriousness, "When I become famous in the future, I might be able to use it for concerts or recording songs. Even if I don't, just hearing it will be nice."

This gift is thoughtful; it's not so expensive as to be a burden, yet it's practical enough to show your care and consideration, perfectly matching Wang Luodan's "buddy-like" way of getting along.

A warm feeling welled up in Lin Xiao's heart. He picked up the earphones and looked at them carefully, then looked up at Wang Luodan and sincerely thanked her, "Thank you, Sister Dan, I really like the gift."

"If you like it, that's fine."

Wang Luodan waved her hand, then picked up her juice and clinked it against his. "When you become famous and a big star, don't forget your buddy from the roadside stall who shared skewers with you and helped you fend off unwanted attention!"

"I can't forget it." Lin Xiao smiled and clinked glasses with her. "You're my 'gossip filter' and 'security advisor'."

"Absolutely!" Wang Luodan proudly raised her chin.

Lin Xiao was also prepared. He took out a similarly packaged rectangular gift box from his backpack and handed it to Wang Luodan: "I was prepared too, Sister Dan, happy wrap-up."

"Oh? There's a return gift too?" Wang Luodan's eyes lit up, and she took it without any hesitation and opened it.

Inside were several hardcover books, including Stanislavski's "An Actor Prepares," the original English version of "Respect for the Performing Arts," and a collection of essays by senior Chinese performing artists on the methodological approach to stage and in front of the camera.

These are all classic or pioneering works in the field of performance theory.

Lin Xiao looked at her earnestly and said, "Sister Dan, you are one of the most sincere actors I've ever met. I hope these books can accompany you further. Keep this sincerity and don't let the superficiality of the industry overwhelm you."

This gift is "heavier" than the headphones.

It is not a material gift, but a spiritual resonance and expectation.

Wang Luodan flipped through the pages, her fingers tracing the gilded titles. The playful smile on her face gradually faded, and her eyes became serious.

She looked up at Lin Xiao, and after a long while, nodded heavily, her voice lower than usual: "Okay, I'll accept the gift. Thanks, Lao Lin."

She closed the book, then suddenly opened her arms: "Come on, buddy, give me a hug! Happy wrap-up!"

Lin Xiao also smiled and opened his arms.

The two gave each other a big hug and patted each other's backs forcefully.

The embrace was brief yet powerful, filled with pure camaraderie and blessings for those who had fought side by side.

As they parted, Wang Luodan leaned close to Lin Xiao's ear and whispered something quickly, in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"Take good care of yourself and your girlfriend. It's not easy to find someone you truly love in the entertainment industry, so hold on to that."

Her tone carried an unusual seriousness and a hint of the wisdom of someone who had been through it all.

Lin Xiao was slightly taken aback, then understood and replied softly, "Thank you, Sister Dan, I will."

Wang Luodan took a step back, reverting to her usual carefree demeanor, and waved her hand: "Alright, I won't argue with you anymore. I'm going to find Director Chen to discuss the script again. There are a few parts I still have some ideas about..."

Holding her book, she turned and disappeared into the bustling crowd.

Lin Xiao watched her energetic back view, a smile playing on his lips.

This "buddy" was a very worthwhile friend to befriend.

At this moment, Xu Xiao'ou walked over with a wine glass in her hand.

She hadn't drunk much tonight; her face had a faint blush, but her eyes remained clear and sharp.

"Lin Xiao," she clinked glasses with him, "congratulations again on wrapping up filming. These past few months have been tough."

"Producer Xu worked even harder." Lin Xiao raised his glass.

"It was a pleasure working with you."

Xu Xiao'ou took a sip of her drink and looked at him. "I've seen the rough cut of a few episodes, and the result is even better than expected. Your performance is one of the cornerstones of this show. I'm so glad I insisted on casting you."

This is extremely high praise.

Lin Xiao humbly said, "It was Producer Xu and Director Xu who gave me this opportunity, and it also wouldn't have been possible without the support of the entire team."

"Opportunity favors the prepared mind." Xu Xiao'ou smiled, her tone casual yet earnest. "What I've said always holds true. Let's stay in touch and look forward to our next collaboration."

"Definitely." Lin Xiao nodded solemnly.

The wrap party lasted until late at night before gradually ending.

They said their goodbyes and agreed to meet again in the future.

Stepping out of the restaurant, the cool autumn night breeze dissipated most of the effects of the alcohol, but the faint melancholy born of parting lingered in my heart.

In these three months, he gained the deeply moving character of Wang Wei, won the appreciation and personal invitation from the veteran producer Xu Xiaogou, and also forged a refreshing and open "brotherly" friendship with Wang Luodan.

There was no ambiguous entanglement, no calculation of interests, only a shared pursuit of performance and mutual recognition of each other's character.

This feeling is great.

He carefully packed the earphones into his suitcase and then double-checked that Xu Xiao'ou's personal business card was properly placed.

Standing by the window, looking at the quiet night of Shanghai, Lin Xiao knew that a fulfilling and rewarding journey had come to an end.

And the next, even more magnificent journey awaits him in the not-too-distant future.