Shi Guanghua once said that the show wasn't their first encounter, but Chu Yueyi couldn't recall the details. She later tried to pester him for the truth, but he remained tight-lipped like a clam, refusing to give her any clues.
Shi Guanghua didn't want to mention it for a simple reason: he felt he was in poor form during their first meeting. If she had already forgotten, he saw no need to bring it up specifically. Little did he know that she actually had a good impression of him.
Chu Yueyi stared at him in surprise, gazing into Shi Guanghua's dark eyes, desperately trying to connect him with the person in her memory. Her mind was now in chaos as she stammered, "You..."
Shi Guanghua said casually, "I wasn't in great shape then either. I thought you would have forgotten."
Chu Yueyi: "..." In fact, his assumption had been correct.
Chu Yueyi never expected that her casual remark would uncover the truth, bringing her memories back to that hot and frustrating summer.
The cicadas were chirping incessantly under a cloudless sky. The sun scorched the earth like a fiery umbrella in the sky. On campus, the number of students in the performance department's classroom was dwindling as they busied themselves seeking post-graduation opportunities.
Art schools didn't restrict senior students from gaining practical experience. Performance majors nearing graduation would often sign with talent agencies, sometimes with teachers helping to communicate and make connections. This was their first step into society.
By the sweltering sports field, Bai Yiyang crushed her empty soda can and tossed it into the trash bin in a perfect arc, muttering, "Look at those few in our class. They've just signed and their tails are already up in the air. I reckon even child stars aren't as cocky..."
Although they were all classmates, relationships varied in closeness, especially in the fickle entertainment industry. Even in school, people knew to network more with those who showed promise. Some classmates who signed with big agencies had a different starting point and couldn't help but show off a bit.
Chu Yueyi replied, "It's probably because the agency is impressive, and they did sign good deals."
Bai Yiyang clicked her tongue, "Just because the company is great doesn't mean they are. You're just taking your time choosing. Didn't that agency approach you too?"
Chu Yueyi, who had been lounging by the sports field, looked up at this. Seeing no one else around, she decided to be frank, "Actually, I just signed with one."
She didn't want to show off in front of others, but Bai Yiyang wasn't an outsider, so it was fine to tell her.
Bai Yiyang exclaimed, "Oh? Which one?"
After Chu Yueyi mentioned the agency's name, she added, "They said they could arrange a good drama for me, so I thought about it and agreed. Plus, their previous productions have been really good."
Bai Yiyang marveled, "That's really great! And they even have an international award-winning actress. You might even get overseas opportunities. Have you secured a role in the drama?"
"I've gone through several rounds of auditions. The contract isn't signed yet, but it should be fine..." Chu Yueyi hesitated.
She didn't like to speak about things that weren't certain, but they had already taken her costume photos, and they weren't auditioning anyone else for the role. She had even met with the chief director, so logically, there shouldn't be any more hiccups. Her agent, Li You, was negotiating the contract with the production team; she just needed to sign it at the end.
"Which drama is it? Isn't it produced by this agency?"
"No, actually it's 'Rolling Palace Curtains'. I think it's a joint investment by several companies."
"Wow, that one? Then your debut will be with big stars as the lead roles. Didn't they say hundreds of actors auditioned for it..."
"...But I'm just a supporting role," Chu Yueyi added. "Have you decided which agency to sign with?"
Bai Yiyang sighed deeply, "I'll see. First, I'll wait and see what my boyfriend can dig up. Otherwise, what's the point of talking to him? He just keeps bragging all day."
Chu Yueyi nodded understandingly. Bai Yiyang's boyfriends were usually either rich or powerful, and to be honest, Chu Yueyi couldn't remember their faces as they changed quite rapidly.
Sometimes she felt that Bai Yiyang lacked a sense of security, desperately needing to draw strength and love from others, which manifested in her intimate relationships. She couldn't judge whether this was right or wrong; their original family environments were different, and it would be presumptuous to comment casually.
Having spent four years of college life with Bai Yiyang, Chu Yueyi knew that Bai Yiyang's father had a severe tendency towards domestic violence, capable of beating his wife and daughter over trivial matters. This was a life Chu Yueyi could not imagine at all. Even though Chu Wenyue often argued with her, he never displayed such terrifying aggression.
During holidays, Bai Yiyang was reluctant to go home and would stay at Chu Yueyi's place, talking about her chaotic childhood. She despised her father but had to take money from him due to the high tuition fees, trapped in an unresolvable cycle until things improved somewhat in college.
Of course, Bai Yiyang still bore many old scars. She had an innate distrust of men yet always sought wealthy boyfriends. There was also a hidden timidity in her heart; she would worry for a long time after breaking a bowl at Chu Yueyi's house, perhaps because the nightmares of the past still haunted her.
However, wounds do heal eventually. Chu Yueyi felt that her friend was becoming more confident, gradually moving away from those terrible memories. She didn't expect that one day, the hidden mines in the abyss would explode and hurt both of them.
In the east of the capital, several large buildings stood, the old base for the production team's preparations.
Later, with the encouragement of cultural and creative policies, more and more film and television companies took root here. The old buildings were renovated, becoming a cultural and creative park with a strong artistic atmosphere.
Of course, it was now a mixed bag, with gray, squat buildings everywhere.
Inside one of the buildings, Chu Yueyi listened to the news from the assistant director for actors. She felt a chill down her spine and repeated in disbelief, "What did you just say the new actor's name was?"
"I know you're upset too. After all, we've been in contact for so long. But the situation really changed suddenly. I've explained to Li You as well..." The assistant director, mistakenly thinking Chu Yueyi was a student unable to accept the situation, naturally spoke kindly, hoping to soothe her emotions.
"It's okay, I understand it's not easy for you either. I'm just curious about the new actor..." Chu Yueyi lowered her eyes. She forced herself to lie, probing, "I want to know where I still need to improve."
"Ah, I think that person is from your school too."
As expected.
It wasn't just a coincidence of having the same name.
In the corridor, Chu Yueyi couldn't describe her complex emotions at that moment. She directly called Bai Yiyang, but there was no answer. With people coming and going in the hallway, it wasn't a good place to linger.
Chu Yueyi looked around and spotted a room with its door slightly ajar. It seemed to be a rest area next to the recording studio. Since smoking wasn't allowed in the studio, staff often used this room for meals and breaks.
It was work hours now, so the rest room was empty, with only a black backpack in the corner.
Chu Yueyi stood in the room making calls. Finding that Bai Yiyang wasn't answering, she started sending WeChat voice messages, but still got no response.
Even though she knew her friend might be hiding as usual after making a mistake, facing this stone-cold silence, she still couldn't suppress the hurt in her heart. Tears were about to well up.
When calm, she could analyze her friend's personality thoroughly. She knew all of Bai Yiyang's flaws and issues, but she was also just an ordinary person, equally capable of being knocked down by adversity.
She wasn't omnipotent, but she hoped to present her best side, thus creating a perfect mask.
Meanwhile, Shi Guanghua excused himself from a boring meeting, claiming to feel unwell. He had just returned to the country and was suffering from culture shock. Now wearing a black mask and a hoodie pulled up, he still felt uncomfortable all over, not knowing the point of his return to China.
The soundtrack for the TV drama "Rolling Palace Curtains" was to be produced by Shi Guanghua's team. However, he found it extremely difficult to adapt to the domestic work environment and couldn't deal with the seasoned professionals.
He and others like Zou Qian had been marginalized overseas due to their nationality, but upon returning, they were still viewed through a filter by their domestic counterparts, becoming strange outsiders. They seemed to belong nowhere, accepted by neither side.
Domestic colleagues didn't care whether Shi Guanghua and his team were Chinese or not. In their view, this overseas team was encroaching on the existing market. Having film and TV drama soundtracks done by outsiders meant the pie was being divided, naturally leading to malicious distortions.
Shi Guanghua, already not adept at handling complex interpersonal relationships, really couldn't stand listening to these lengthy, meaningless speeches. He decided to grab his things and leave first, planning to discuss actual business matters later.
Plagued by a severe summer cold, he was feeling groggy. However, when he entered the rest room to get his bag, he was surprised to find someone there. Momentarily at a loss, he stared at the scene, not daring to retrieve his backpack from the corner.
"Ah, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb your work..." Chu Yueyi hurriedly wiped away her tears, having been caught crying. She forced an awkward smile and said, "I'll just..."
Her words trailed off as large, glistening tears rolled down her cheeks uncontrollably. Trying to hold them back only made it worse. Though her lips were curved in a smile, her eyes kept streaming.
Facing her complex expression, Shi Guanghua pondered for a few seconds before saying softly, "If you don't want to smile, then don't."
She probably felt embarrassed to cry in front of others and wanted to quickly control her emotions, using a smile to cover up. However, it had the opposite effect.
Shi Guanghua didn't know how to comfort people. He simply thought it looked exhausting, and now he felt a bit flustered himself.
Perhaps people are like this - able to adjust when alone, but unable to hold back tears when others are present. Caught in a terrible state, Chu Yueyi let out a muffled sob and, for the first time, burst into tears.
She wanted to present her best side, but now everything was a mess. So she gave up and cried uncontrollably.
Shi Guanghua had seen brothers cry before, but never a girl. This situation was completely beyond his limited social experience - it was like hell-level difficulty.
He had wanted to avoid social interactions at the meeting, but now he found himself in an even more challenging situation, frozen in place and at a loss.
Standing by the door, Shi Guanghua noticed some crew members approaching. He went into the break room to grab his black backpack, then awkwardly suggested, "Why don't you..."
"...move to the next room to cry?"
Shi Guanghua thought the girl wouldn't want more people to see her in this state. He racked his brains but couldn't find the right words to comfort her, so he could only offer this clumsy suggestion - a prime example of low emotional intelligence.
Fortunately, Chu Yueyi's mind was also in a haze. She followed the man in black to the recording studio.
Shi Guanghua took out his keys to open the door, turned on the lights in the dim studio, and pulled out a pack of tissues from his backpack to give her. He thought this environment was suitable for crying out loud, as the soundproof walls would block all noise from inside.
Chu Yueyi was still sobbing unconsciously, but she took the tissues and said in a muffled voice, "...Thank you."
The man in black seemed to be a crew member. He wore a mask and had a heavy nasal voice, wrapped up like a dark mummy, appearing to be suffering from a bad cold. This kind of attire was common among the crew and didn't attract much attention.
Chu Yueyi didn't want to trouble this stranger any further. She pulled out a tissue to wipe her tears and began to calm her surging emotions. Suddenly, she heard a series of soft, melodious piano notes.
Shi Guanghua had noticed the electronic keyboard in the corner. He tentatively played a light tune, then saw her look up with red-rimmed eyes and hesitantly stopped.
Shi Guanghua felt his scalp tingle. Unsure if he had done something wrong, he said quietly, "...Or should I play sad background music?"
He wasn't good at talking to people and wanted to use music to comfort her, but maybe she just wanted to cry, in which case he should play a tearjerker.
Chu Yueyi stared at him blankly. She caught his panic and, despite the tear stains on her face, broke into a smile.
She had comforted many people with words before, but she found his awkwardness and embarrassment amusing. Suddenly, this scene made her laugh, and she no longer felt like crying.
Seeing her sudden laughter, Shi Guanghua relaxed and glanced at her, saying softly, "This smile looks nice."
She had forced a smile earlier, but it was clearly fake, nothing like the radiant one now. Although he didn't understand why she was smiling, her gloomy mood seemed to have been interrupted.
"Thank you," Chu Yueyi said, increasingly amused by his straightforward comments. She asked, "What's sad background music?"
Shi Guanghua might not be good at small talk, but playing the piano was no problem for him. He casually played a sorrowful, heart-wrenching piece that threatened to bring tears to one's eyes.
Chu Yueyi quickly said, "Then what about not-sad music?"
The electronic keyboard began to play a lively tune, like a babbling brook with dancing ripples.
After listening to his performance, Chu Yueyi's eyes lit up. She responded, "Thank you, it's indeed not sad anymore."
She had roughly guessed that he was trying to comfort her but didn't know how, which naturally made him appear awkward and uneasy. She appreciated this stranger's kindness and felt she should give some response.
Shi Guanghua carefully observed her expression. Unsure if her mood had truly improved, he cautiously asked, "Did something happen to you?"
Some trainees in overseas companies were under a lot of pressure. They might seem fine on the surface but harbor extreme thoughts in private. Shi Guanghua was afraid she might be pretending and have dangerous impulses once she left, so he tentatively inquired.
Chu Yueyi was taken aback. She didn't usually like to open up to people, but this man in black was a chance encounter, and they probably wouldn't meet again. So she felt it was okay to tell him and recounted her experience.
Expressing herself was also a process of emotional release. After describing everything, she actually felt calmer.
Seeing that she could calmly narrate her story, Shi Guanghua finally relaxed completely. He desperately searched for comforting words: "People have specific friends at each stage of life..."
"...You'll have new friends when the time comes." He was clearly not used to saying such things, pausing for a long time in the middle before squeezing out this dry statement.
Chu Yueyi saw through his awkwardness and discomfort. She couldn't help but smile as she swallowed this bit of chicken soup for the soul, responding, "Mm, you're right. You must have many friends."
Shi Guanghua was silent for a moment. He seemed to want to say something but hesitated, finally admitting, "...Not really."
"How can that be?"
"It's true."
He really found complex interpersonal relationships frustrating, but everyone said he had to face them. That's just life.
When he worked overseas before, he could understand being an outsider as a foreigner. But he didn't understand why he still felt out of place after returning home, and the hostility he received only increased, becoming more and more off-putting.
After listening to the man in black's account, Chu Yueyi easily grasped his predicament. He was a technically skilled professional, but the industry wasn't solely based on talent - there were many messy dealings involved.
Even in the entertainment industry, the most famous weren't necessarily the best actors. Similar situations occurred in all fields.
Strong newcomers would face opposition - either accept the rules or break them.
"But you don't have to be like them," Chu Yueyi suddenly felt a kinship with him and said, looking down, "If you become like them, when you reach their age, you'll still be sitting at the same table."
If she used others' methods to get ahead, she could already see her future - utterly predictable and without surprise.
"Just be yourself, and have a clear conscience," she said. That's what she believed.
Shi Guanghua was stunned. Even his closest friends had advised him that his personality would eventually cause him trouble, but no one had ever told him to persist.
Shi Guanghua's lips moved slightly. He was about to ask for her name when he suddenly saw her look down at her phone.
Chu Yueyi received a call from Li You. She hurriedly apologized, "Sorry, my manager is here. Thank you for today, I need to go meet her now..."
Shi Guanghua: "...Oh, okay."
Chu Yueyi's figure quickly disappeared from the recording studio.
It took Shi Guanghua a while to come to his senses. Remembering the term "manager," he deduced that she must be an artist. He couldn't help but ask around the crew and learned that she was a student named Chu Yueyi.
He searched for "Chu Yueyi" online and found very little information, mostly school awards. Later, he would occasionally check up on her, witnessing firsthand how her news became more and more frequent, with new dramas coming one after another, and a growing fanbase.
She wasn't particularly famous, but her works had good reviews. She truly lived up to what she had said that day, different from other artists. She hadn't just been casually reassuring him; she really did as she said.
Outside the building, Li You had prepared a whole speech to comfort the dejected Chu Yueyi, but was surprised to see her come out with a bright expression, showing no signs of depression.
"Why are you smiling so happily?" Li You was bewildered and asked in confusion, "You recovered so quickly?"
"Am I smiling?" Chu Yueyi couldn't see her own expression and didn't realize how radiant she looked. Lost in thought, she said, "I just met a kind person who's a bit silly."
He seemed unskilled at interacting with people, appearing constrained throughout, yet this gave off a sense of genuine warmth. Even though he wasn't in the best state himself, he still wanted to take care of others.
Inside the car, with Shi Guanghua's help, Chu Yueyi recalled the past. Faced with his bright-eyed, deeply affectionate expression, she was momentarily at a loss for words.
Although she had been deliberately teasing him and accidentally praised him, how could he believe it!?
Shi Guanghua said with surprise, "I didn't expect you to have a better impression of me from back then."
Chu Yueyi, both shocked and numb at this point, said softly, "Well, compared to your mute attitude on the show, at least your vocal system hadn't degenerated back then."
Shi Guanghua: "?"!