I want to have a normal campus romance

"Okay, okay, I'll look somewhere else then."

"no!"

As I was about to turn my head and look away, she instinctively turned around and glared at me and said something coquettishly. For a moment, I was stunned by her words, and she seemed to realize her loss of composure, but she still pretended to be calm and slowly said to me:

"Ahem... Well... Then you better keep an eye on me."

"Uh...huh?"

After hearing Xia Xiaoyao's words with such a huge contrast, I was a little confused. I even couldn't figure out what was wrong with her today. I always felt that... Xia Xiaoyao was a little weird today.

"What's wrong with you today? I feel like... you seem a little weird."

I asked Xia Xiaoyao slowly. After hearing what I said, Xia Xiaoyao's face flushed a little, but then she slowly calmed down. She turned her head and looked around, as if she had thought of something, and then smiled mysteriously at me:

"secret."

"Huh? You're being too shameless, aren't you?"

After hearing what Xia Xiaoyao said, I immediately said something with a wry smile, and at the same time secretly sighed that I really couldn't guess what she was thinking. After she heard what I said, she looked at me meaningfully.

"It's not like I can't tell you."

"yeah?"

Can you still tell me? But her next words made me feel disappointed, but I also felt that this sentence was familiar, as if... I had mentioned it somewhere before.

"But...I'll tell you when I'm no longer a celebrity."

Chapter 131 Strange Inquiry

I just treated what Xia Xiaoyao said as a joke. After all, for a popular star like Xia Xiaoyao, now is her rising period. How could she just stop being a star?

At least... that's what I'm speculating now.

But anyway, because of the interruption just now, the originally somewhat charming atmosphere gradually eased a lot. Xia Xiaoyao and I walked towards the set while chatting with her about our recent lives. It was just like usual, but there were some differences.

I can't describe the feeling, but I can feel that subtle atmosphere still surrounding us, but it is much more natural than at the beginning, just like we are good friends who have known each other for a long time.

"You are here, what are you going to do?"

After seeing Xia Xiaoyao and I arrive on the set, Director Yang put the script aside, raised his eyebrows and began to ask questions about Xia Xiaoyao and me.

To be honest, this is my first time acting under so many people's eyes. It's impossible not to be nervous. But it's already come to this point. I can't back down at the last minute. So I forced myself to calm down and said in a deep voice:

"It's OK, but it's my first time shooting after all, so I might be a little inexperienced."

Although there was no big change in my tone or expression, Director Yang seemed to notice something. He waved his hand with a smile and then slowly said to the two of us:

"Don't be too restrained. Just act the same way as you normally do when filming. Don't try to act anything out. Just be natural."

I originally thought that he was trying to comfort me because he was afraid that I would be nervous, but I found that this was not the case, because before he said this to us, it was obvious that he had thought deeply about it, and it seemed like he was speaking from the bottom of his heart.

Although I still had many doubts in my mind, I saw that Director Yang had already started preparing for the filming, so Xia Xiaoyao and I came to the filming location under the guidance of the script supervisor.

To be honest, this was my first time filming a movie, but fortunately I got along well with Fatty and the others. I am considered a half-social phobic, so when facing various cameras, I didn’t act too restrained.

Compared to some of the intense scenes I saw in the script, Director Yang obviously knew how to proceed step by step. He did not choose to shoot some content linearly at the beginning, but chose some relatively ordinary and bland clips.

They are all scenes about two people being together, holding hands, and hugging. Although it is still a bit embarrassing, this is a movie after all, and there is no turning back. The moment the director shouts "start", I need to put myself into the role I am playing.

As the filming went on, I gradually became more adept at the filming process. Of course... it's not that I have a great talent for it, because the character I played... is so similar to me.

It can be said that it is a complete interpretation of the story between Xia Xiaoyao and I, but the difference is that in this story, when Xia Xiaoyao and I met, we were both ordinary students, and she was not yet the dazzling star.

I am the good friend who helps her pursue her dreams, and she is the me in the script, the one I have always been attached to and concerned about.

During the filming process, what I didn't expect was that Xia Xiaoyao was much more cooperative or into the role than I thought. I thought that when we looked at each other closely in public, she would be extremely embarrassed and even look away in panic.

But I don't know why, this time when she looked at me, she didn't look away. When I slowly approached her fair face, I found that her eyes were very clear at this moment, like a clear lake, which made me stop in my tracks.

At this moment, her eyes were not filled with many other emotions as usual. There was only... a look as if she was staring at her beloved lover. This made my heart beat wildly and even made me feel a little dizzy.

This may be the first time that I can easily understand the thoughts in her eyes. Maybe her acting skills are so superb that even though I know that all this is acting, the look in her eyes gives me the feeling that it is real.

So much so that looking at that clear gaze, a slight bitterness actually arose in my heart. Perhaps... this was the first time I was so jealous of the role I played. Of course, I knew... it was more of envy.

I envy myself in the story for having a happy ending. When Xia Xiaoyao became successful, she was still able to give up a lot and continue to be reluctant to part with herself in the story.

But in reality, will I be so lucky? Will I have a good ending? I don't know, because I didn't get my own script, and I don't know whether the final ending will be good or bad for me.

Obviously at this moment, I should have shown some joy on my face, but I couldn't show it at all. All I could feel was the bitterness in my heart. It was not until Director Yang shouted "Cut" that I slowly came back to my senses.

Xia Xiaoyao, who was standing opposite me, came to her senses at the same time as I did. We both turned our heads away as if we had just woken up from a dream. Director Yang frowned as he looked at the sample film in front of him, as if he was thinking about something.

So when people around him were reminding him whether to shoot the next scene, he actually asked the crew to stop filming and take a break, and then called me and Xia Xiaoyao over to talk to us, which made me feel a little embarrassed.

After all, it was very likely that Director Yang called me over because of the mistake I made in my performance just now. Xia Xiaoyao was a little worried when she saw this, and wanted to go with me, but Zhou Ling called her away because of something.

And it looked like something important. Even Director Yang nodded in agreement. It seemed like he knew something. Although I was a little curious, the matter at hand was obviously more important.

Looking at Director Yang, who was frowning and repeatedly watching the film he had shot before, I suddenly felt a little embarrassed.

"I'm sorry, Director Yang... I didn't control myself well during the filming just now-"

"Eh - that's not important. I just watched the previous few videos. Can I ask you...what do you think of the role you played?"

After hearing what Director Yang said, I was immediately confused. I didn’t quite understand why Director Yang asked me this. After all, I am just an ordinary college student.

Just like he went to Xia Xiaoyao to ask about the issue of character understanding, I can understand it. After all, not to mention that Xia Xiaoyao has received professional training, even if she hasn't... as the MV of her new song, her understanding of the script is much deeper than that of an outsider like me.

There was no reason for him to ask a college student who knew nothing about acting and drama what I thought about a character.

But just when I was at a loss and wanted to ask something, I heard a strange voice in my ear.

Chapter 132 Truth

"Director Yang, I didn't mean to say anything, but he is just a college student majoring in marketing. He has not received any systematic training or basic understanding. What he said at this time would not only be unprofessional, but it might also affect the progress of the filming."

At this moment, the assistant director sitting next to Director Yang frowned after hearing his words, as if he could not sit still.

As he spoke, there was no hostility in his eyes as he looked at me, but there was a strong sense of contempt, or perhaps it was the arrogance of a teacher, as if he did not approve of me, a temporary worker who was hired to fill the gap.

Anyone would feel very uncomfortable being looked down upon, but being arrogant also requires so-called capital. However, it is obvious that I do not have that so-called capital. I am neither a professional actor nor do I have much filming experience.

It can even be said that if it weren't for the accident, I might never have had the opportunity or experience of acting in front of the camera in my entire life.

However, as the director of the MV, Director Yang undoubtedly has a lot of say in the filming, and although the assistant director is also a director, he still has the title of "assistant". Logically speaking, even if he has a problem with me, he shouldn't be so strong in front of so many people. This is obviously a bit of a distraction!

But no matter what, the person who asked me was Director Yang, not the assistant director, so after a brief thought, I spoke to Director Yang bluntly and slowly:

"I think the design of this character is too idealistic, or a little out of touch with reality. To put it simply... well, it's too fake."

When I said this, I clearly felt the assistant director's pupils shrink slightly, as if he was stimulated by something. After I finished speaking, he laughed and said to me with a bit of sarcasm in his words:

“Haha, it seems that Mr. Lin has great ideas about this.”

It can be seen that he seems to have a big opinion about me, and this sentence seems to be a very ordinary word, but his tone also clearly expresses his attitude. But I am a little puzzled, after all, we don’t know each other, how can he have such a big opinion about me?

Have I offended him before? There is no reason... I didn't even know him before, let alone offend him. We had never even met before today.

The assistant director seemed to be disdainful of talking to me. After expressing his attitude, he stopped looking at me, looked at the incident, and said anxiously to Director Yang:

"Director Yang, we have to quickly continue with today's filming schedule. We have an important dinner this afternoon."

After hearing his words, Director Yang acted very leisurely and did not rush to answer his question. He just took a sip of the hot tea in the cup, then turned his head and slowly looked at me.

"Boy, what do you think this character should be like?"

After hearing what Director Yang said, I was a little stumped, because I just felt that it was a little weird, or a little unreal. If I really wanted to say what kind of person the character I was playing should be, I really couldn't put it into words for a moment.

When the assistant director saw that he was being ignored, his face suddenly fell and became very ugly. But when he saw that I was stunned, he snorted twice and said to me slowly with a look of watching a good show:

"Haha, Mr. Lin, feel free to speak freely. Tell us what you think of this character and what needs to be changed?"

At that moment, I just felt my scalp tingling, because I didn't expect that Director Yang was not just mentioning it casually, but really wanted to know my opinion. This was a completely out-of-scope question for me who was completely unprepared.

Although I could have just gotten away with it, but feeling the assistant director's aggressive gaze, I didn't want to give in so easily. But when I wanted to refute something, I felt powerless.

But it seemed that it was this feeling of powerlessness that gave me a fleeting sense of déjà vu. The familiar feeling suddenly made a flash of inspiration in my mind, and then I was stunned.

I didn't know if this inspiration was correct, but I knew that saying something at this time was better than saying nothing, so I took a deep breath, organized my words, and then said in a deep voice:

"I mean this character needs a whole overhaul."

After hearing what I said, Director Yang stopped holding the cup that was about to reach his mouth for a moment, and looked at me with interest, as if he had heard something interesting.

The assistant director was stunned for a moment, but soon came back to his senses. After hearing what I said, he snorted and said:

"You mean to say that the characters designed by us professionals are not as good as the random thoughts of a college student like you?"

There was anger in his tone, and I could tell... He was almost about to point his finger at me and say "shame on you", but he was interrupted by Director Yang who was sitting next to me before he could finish his words.

"Hey, Old Hu...it's good to listen to the ideas of young people. It won't be a bad thing for us old antiques...boy, keep talking."

After hearing what Director Yang said, I didn’t know if the thoughts in my mind were suitable for the role I played. I only knew that if I were that person in the story, I might not be so free and easy.

"Maybe this is what I feel as an ordinary person. When I am just an ordinary person, watching my lover go further and further on the road of pursuing his dream, I am afraid that compared with the happy blessings, there is more fear and anxiety about the future."

When I said this, Xia Xiaoyao's figure appeared in my mind. It seemed that I could touch her just by stretching out my hand, but I found that the distance between us was always just that little bit short. No matter how close we got, it was always just that little bit short, just like catching the moon in the water, within reach yet out of reach.

"When your lover is getting on the right track step by step, but you are standing still, watching the distance between you getting farther and farther, I believe... no one can be as carefree as in the script, right?"

Having said that, I paused and glanced at Director Yang who was sitting opposite me. After hearing what I said, he seemed to be thinking about something, and he looked at me with interest and nodded.

"continue."

"I believe that as one of the ordinary people, watching your lover drifting away from you in the pursuit of your dreams, you probably won't sincerely bless him/her as in the script? Being free and easy is just a mask, and the entanglement and bitterness are the real thoughts in your heart."

As I spoke, I slowly turned sideways and looked at where Xia Xiaoyao was standing. I saw that she had said something to Zhou Ling, but I could tell that she was very anxious. After saying something to her agent, she left her and turned towards me.

Even though we were far apart, I could still feel that she noticed I was looking at her. We smiled at each other in tacit understanding, and Xia Xiaoyao even raised her hand and waved to me.

“Perhaps as the male lead of this MV, he should not show his carefree and detached side, but should show his contradictory side, happy but painful, promises and lies, wanting to touch but having to stay away.”

Having said this, I glanced at the people around me and found that they were all looking at me with a special look. Seeing this, I didn't continue speaking, but just smiled, then stretched out my hand and waved to Xia Xiaoyao in the distance.

"Perhaps... this is the true meaning of youth and love."

Chapter 133 Reply

Having said that, I chose not to continue speaking, because after hearing what I said, Director Yang had already fallen into deep thought and remained silent.

Although he didn't say anything, I could tell that he was very satisfied with what I said. In this case... I can feel more or less relieved.

To be honest, what I just said actually has no basis in any facts. I am just talking about my feelings from an ordinary person's perspective.

Xia Xiaoyao trotted to my side. I silently moved to the side, leaving her a place to stand. She seemed to feel that the atmosphere around her was a little strange, and she couldn't help but move towards me slowly.

However, Director Yang didn't seem to care about this little action. Instead, Assistant Director Hu, who was sitting next to him, narrowed his eyes slightly after seeing this scene, and his gaze towards me became increasingly sharp, as if expressing his dissatisfaction with me.

"Haha, Mr. Lin, are you feeling a little inferior? But this is normal... You are already in this industry, so it is normal for you to lack experience and confidence."

Xia Xiaoyao couldn't help but frowned when she heard what Director Hu said. I could feel her anger. Seeing me and Director Hu staring at each other, she actually walked straight up and said to Director Hu in dissatisfaction:

"Director Hu, although I don't know what happened, isn't it a bit too much for you to say that?"

After hearing what Xia Xiaoyao said, Director Hu's eyes twitched but he did not show any fear. He just laughed, then spread his hands and said:

"I didn't say that. Mr. Lin said that. If you don't believe me, you can ask him."

At this moment, I could feel Xia Xiaoyao's anxious and concerned gaze, and I could also feel Director Yang's vague gaze. It seemed that even the surrounding noises were quieter because of the atmosphere here.

I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. Under normal circumstances, I would have denied it. But at the same time, I began to hesitate because in some sense I felt that he was right.

Is it really okay to just say that?

Should I choose to deny it against my will, or accept it with my heart? But no matter which option it is...I don't seem to want to choose it.

But seeing the various looks from the people around me, I knew that I would never regret it after I said it. Thinking of this, I smiled self-deprecatingly and said slowly:

"I do have some pessimistic views on many things, but is the so-called carefree and confident in the script really what most people think? I don't think so. The so-called carefree is just given a bright and beautiful coat. It may look beautiful to others, but it is not real, just like a fairy tale whose ending is known at the beginning."

As I spoke, I slowly placed the script in my hand on the table beside me under everyone's gaze. The spotlight above my head shone light on the table, and I was standing in the darkness. The moment when light and shadow intertwined, the people I met and the things I encountered during this period of time suddenly emerged in my mind.

"In the real world, no one knows the script in their hands. They need to feel entangled and worried about every choice they make, accompanied by regret...but they still have to move forward, sometimes they don't even know whether they are facing a single-choice question or a multiple-choice question."