Chapter 63: Flowers Have Ended He admitted that he liked Xia Huanming. ...
Xia Huanming didn't do it in the end. When the people in front had almost left, he stood up and reminded Chen Xing: "Get off the bus." Chen Xing followed him and got off slowly.
Dozens of them walked through the theater's staff passage and came to the waiting room. The program team arranged three practice rooms for the six teams, each accommodating two groups.
The contestants choose their own rooms, which means they may meet different team members every day.
Zhang Jin'an posted the final order on the whiteboard and the contestants came over to take a look.
The lunch box without lid, the ever-changing world, and Shen Miao were placed on a horizontal line for the "end of the performance".
Chen Xing's eyes lit up.
I didn’t expect that they were all old acquaintances.
Before the practice began, Zhang Jin'an reminded them seriously that this performance was not only important for the individual groups, but the overall performance was more important. He hoped that the selected groups could cooperate with each other and make progress together.
Gu Yirou then said that she would come to the practice room regularly to guide everyone, and only then did the contestants disperse.
Hefanmokai and Shunsuiwanbian chose the same practice room No. 2. The practice room was very spacious, with three standard walls and a dance pole.
As soon as Chen Xing walked into the practice room, he saw the kitten in Yaya's arms. He happily walked over and called out its name: "Our Tiaotiao——"
Tiaotiao had a collar hanging around his neck and was lying obediently in Yaya's arms. When he saw Chen wake up, he meowed.
YaYa handed the cat to Chen Xing. Chen Xing held Tiao Tiao in his arms and carefully touched its fur.
"We finally meet, you must be happy." Qi Yinrui said with a smile.
"Of course," Chen Xing nodded vigorously, unable to let go of Tiaotiao, "I haven't seen him for a few days, he's become cuter again!"
"I haven't been to a place like this since I graduated from college..." Xu Yuancai walked over slowly and found a cat in Chen Xing's arms. She looked at its owner Yaya in surprise, "Wow, what a cute cat, did you raise it? You raise it so well! Oh my God... look at the color of its fur."
Chen Xing weighed Tiaotiao and said, "Its name is Tiaotiao, and it's not afraid of people at all."
Yaya felt embarrassed by the compliment and whispered, "I hope I didn't cause any trouble to you guys."
"It's quite troublesome. Don't you want to rehearse? Go rehearse," Xu Yuancai touched the kitten's chin, "I can help you take care of it. I'm not afraid of trouble."
Yaya: “…”
Chen Xing: "...all the abacus beads fell on my face."
But what Xu Yuancai said made sense, they really needed to rehearse well, so YaYa handed the cat to Xu Yuancai, gave her a few words of advice and went to rehearse.
Xu Yuancai and others sat against the wall to watch and play with the cats, which was very enjoyable.
Chen Xing sat with everyone else, and the moment he opened the script, he focused and entered rehearsal mode.
This episode’s script is more concise, consisting mostly of dialogues, with not much action written, just a few words.
Is this the script for the play?
Chen Xing read the script of "Thunderstorm" when he was in school. It also used dialogues throughout the text, but it outlined a dramatic plot.
Just as the instructor said, a drama tests the director's scheduling and the actors' understanding abilities, and also places high demands on the script.
After reading the script, Wang Baiyue commented: "Although this episode is based on ancient times, it doesn't seem to be too literary. It seems to be a light comedy mixed with modern elements."
Xue Si Nian hugged Zheng Pei Ya and said, "I originally wrote a more serious drama, and this was also revised by Pei Ya for me."
The early part of the script is like a meeting of several wandering young heroes, who encounter many strange events. Some sentences are linked to modern online dramas. Before the end, it is all a light comedy.
For Xue Si Nian, who has always written serious dramas, this is a new attempt. After the script was completed, she liked it very much.
Xue Si Nian thought about it and hugged Zheng Peiya tighter.
She can't afford to lose this treasure!
Zheng Peiya was swayed from side to side as she explained to the group of people watching her: "Generally speaking, people who watch plays are those who can accept stream of consciousness, absurdism, and dramatic conflicts; but it's a little different here. Most of those who are willing to come here to watch are those who want to see us or come to relax. There may also be elderly people or teenage students coming to watch. So we can't be too literary, it will make people tired. Do you know the chicken in the movie?"
The actors except Chen Xing all nodded in sudden realization. "Ah, I see, I understand."
“That makes sense.”
Chen Xing was completely confused. He clutched the script tightly and asked with confused eyes, "What? Roast chicken?"
Everyone was silent for a few seconds and then laughed.
Xia Huanming's shoulder suddenly leaned forward, as if nudging him, and patiently explained, "In his book The Nature of Film, director Kracauer wrote about a famous director who shot a short film featuring tall buildings, busy traffic, and magnificent city scenery. He showed the film to African natives, and they kept talking about a chicken that had strayed into the camera."
Chen Xing listened carefully and concluded thoughtfully: "People only understand things within their own knowledge level, so there are many different film reviews with different opinions on a movie."
Xia Huanming's eyes curved slightly, and he stroked Chen Xing's hair, his voice gentle: "Yes, you are really smart."
Chen Xing instantly gained confidence after being praised, and was full of energy during rehearsal.
He plays Xia Huanming's younger brother in this episode. Neither of them is a major character and they appear only a few times. They are standard supporting roles that allow the plot to progress.
When it was the director's turn to instruct the two of them on their movements, the others sat aside and watched.
Chen Xing followed the script, like a little master who knew nothing, following his "brother", walking and stopping, looking at wild flowers and grasses, and being curious about everything.
Xia Huanming, who was walking in front, raised his chin slightly, stretched his shoulders naturally, and subconsciously adjusted his cuffs from time to time. His every move revealed the reserve and restraint of an ancient person.
The crowd watching: "..."
...I always feel that these two people don’t seem to have changed much after their ages have been reversed.
Zhao Xingyu scratched his hair and said, "Why does it feel the same as usual?"
Xue Si Nian: "Maybe Xia Huanming is too old." Especially his height.
Chen Xing followed behind him, just like a parrot following a human.
"Brother, wait for me for a moment!" Chen Xing called him brother very smoothly and ran to Xia Huanming in a few steps.
Xia Huanming tilted his head slightly and met Chen Xing's big round eyes.
He really liked Chen Xing looking at him like this, as if he was the only one in his eyes, and he had forgotten all the noise.
Xia Huanming grabbed Chen Xing's hand and held it tightly in his arms: "Be careful not to lose it, or it will be useless to call me brother."
Chen Xing stared at the hand that was being held in shock.
This action was not written in the script, but it seems quite reasonable. The on-the-spot performance was great!
When they turned their backs to the others, Chen Xing whispered, "If you really had a brother, you would definitely be a good brother."
Xia Huanming remained silent, just staring at him, his hands changed from simply clasping each other's fingers to tightly clasping each other.
"Are you cold?" Xia Huanming blew on Chen Xing's hand, as if it was really deep winter and he was the older brother who doted on his younger brother.
But he knew that only with this identity could he look at Chen Xing with such a tender and doting gaze as he was doing now.
He knew that Chen Xing wouldn't notice.
But in fact, no one else noticed it.
Director Yu pointed at the two men and told the others happily, "I said before that dramas must have big movements to let the audience see the relationship between the characters. Xia Huanming's movement is very good, and it can show that the brothers have a good relationship."
Everyone nodded: You are worthy of being the captain, you have some ideas.
When Chen Xing and Xia Huanming finished their performance, Zhang Jinan happened to come over. The people who were originally sitting stood up.
Zhang Jinan was wearing a smart shirt and trousers suit, looking like a group manager who was here for a trip.
He glanced at the group of anxious contestants and smiled calmly: "Don't be nervous, everyone. I just came to see you. Many of you are performing in a drama for the first time, so it's normal that you don't know how to perform. Now it's practice time, just relax."
Zhang Jin'an asked them to perform another short scene in front of him, and the part they chose was the rivalry between Zhao Xingyu and Wang Baiyue.
The two of them rehearsed according to the mode of performing on stage, so the sound was naturally much louder. The crew of the rapidly changing drama next door stopped rehearsing and came over to watch together.
Li Mu sat next to Chen Xing, watching the two performers and said, "Wow, I didn't expect Zhao Xingyu's lines to improve so much."
"Thanks to Ah Huan, who rehearses with us every day and catches our mistakes," Chen Xing hugged his knees and turned to look at Xia Huanming beside him, "You see, your corrections are very effective."
Xia Huanming stared into Chen Xing's bright eyes, tapped the back of his hand with the script, and smiled: "I thought you were praising me."
Time passed little by little, the rehearsal went on in full swing, and two different groups of voices merged in the same practice room. Sometimes the two groups would "visit" each other to ask questions.
The rehearsal finally came to an end at four o'clock in the afternoon, and everyone dispersed to rest.
Chen Xing collapsed directly to the floor, gasping for breath. His bangs were already soaked with sweat and stuck to his skin.
Xia Huanming had helped him wipe the sweat off once before, but not long after, a layer of fine sweat beads appeared again - although he did not have many scenes, his character was lively and active, and he needed to run all over the stage. After a few rounds, he became the most tired one.
Does he need to increase his endurance training? How should he train? I'll ask Xia Huanming when the time comes...
Chen Xing was staring at the ceiling in a daze, when suddenly Xu Yuancai's face appeared upside down in his sight.
Xu Yuancai held Tiaotiao in her arms, squatted beside him and said, "Thank you for your hard work."
Chen Xing stood up with his elbows on the ground. He bent his left leg and stretched his right leg forward casually. He stretched out his hand and gently scratched Tiao Tiao's chin. Tiao Tiao tilted his head back comfortably and meowed, causing the two of them to laugh out loud at the same time.
Chen Xing's knuckles rested in the soft fur, and he looked up and asked Xu Yuancai, "I thought you would leave halfway like the others, but I didn't expect you to stay here until now."
During these four hours, everyone was still there for the first two hours, but everyone was a little impatient for the last two hours. Eighty percent of the guests went outside with the program crew to do publicity preparations, leaving only a few people to continue watching them rehearse.
Xu Yuancai is one of them.
"It's really interesting to watch you guys rehearse," Xu Yuancai rolled her eyes and whispered mysteriously into Chen Xing's ear, "I don't know if it's my illusion, but I felt like he was staring at you while you were rehearsing."
Chen Xing followed Xu Yuancai's line of sight - Xia Huanming was leaning forward slightly to listen to Director Yu's words, holding a rolled-up script in his left hand and gesticulating gracefully with his right hand as he followed the conversation.
His tall and sturdy figure makes him a unique sight in the noisy rehearsal room.
Xu Yuancai also discovered this by accident.
She paid attention to Chen Xing the whole time, but it just happened that Xia Huanming was the one who had the most scenes with Chen Xing. So she found that even when Xia Huanming was drinking water, his eyes followed Chen Xing; wherever Chen Xing went, Xia Huanming's head would turn.
Whenever Chen Xing came to him to ask questions, Xia Huanming would answer him immediately as if he had been waiting for a long time, and the corners of his mouth would raise a gentle arc before reason. After Chen Xing left, Xia Huanming seemed to be concentrating on listening to the director's instructions, but his neck would unconsciously turn in that direction.
And more than once.
So Xu Yuancai thought of a possibility and came to ask Chen Xing after the rehearsal.
She pulled Chen Xing's clothes and asked cautiously, "Do you... owe him money?"
Chen Xing: “?”
Xu Yuancai: "You're not going to ask him to borrow money for medical expenses?!"
Chen Xing: “???”
What's going on?
"It must be your brother who is bothering you again. You don't have money so you have to borrow from others, right?" Xu Yuancai frowned angrily. "If you need money, you can borrow from me. You know I..."
"No, I scolded my brother back a long time ago." Chen Xing quickly shook his head before the misunderstanding got any bigger.
Xu Yuancai's frown relaxed a little: "Then why is he..."
Chen Xing explained with a smile: "He thinks I'm normal. I'm the worst actor here, and he's always been very considerate of me, otherwise our group would easily lose points."
Is that true? Xu Yuancai was skeptical, but as long as he didn't owe her money, it would be fine: "But your acting skills have improved a lot compared to the first episode. I watched the rehearsal video of the first episode, and you looked like a human-machine."
Chen Xing raised his chin proudly: "Yeah, everyone says I've made great progress."
Xu Yuancai laughed at him for being too complacent, and said, "I really have to come and see it offline. Before I came, I thought your abstraction was an act, and it turned out to be true."
Xu Yuancai found it abstract because Zheng Qi told them two jokes during the break.
They didn't react to what they were used to hearing, and the guest Mathis didn't understand, so only Xu Yuancai felt really cold and hugged Jumping to keep warm.
Chen Xing nodded: "Everyone is fine."
Xu Yuancai then sighed, "And the relationship between you and Xia Huanming, people on the Internet say that you two have a bad relationship and it's rather cold."
Chen Xing was stunned for a moment, then asked with wide eyes: "Who said the relationship is bad?"
Xu Yuancai thought about the comments online and replied, "Netizens, maybe because he looked so cold at first glance?"
"That was just the first glance," Chen Xing was a little restless. Hearing that someone misunderstood Xia Huanming, he became inexplicably anxious. "In fact, he has a very good personality. He is kind, gentle, and very responsible." He also has a good figure.
Xu Yuancai listened carefully and smiled meaningfully: "If he is such a person in his eyes, then he is definitely your ideal type, right?"
Chen Xing paused and nodded honestly: "But it's impossible for him and I to be together. He is a straight man."
Xu Yuancai chuckled: "If you hadn't said he was a straight man, I would have misunderstood that he liked you."
"He likes me?" Chen Xing looked confused. "Why do you think so?"
"Because..." Xu Yuancai told him what happened in the morning.
Chen Xing fainted later so she didn't know what happened, but she saw it clearly.
After everyone left, only Xia Huanming stood by silently, even taking off his coat and covering Chen Xing with it, not worrying at all that Chen Xing would wake up again and vomit on his clothes.
The biting sea breeze made her shiver, but Xia Huanming, wearing thin clothes, sat motionless in front of Chen Xing's head, like a silent guardian angel.
Xu Yuancai originally thought that Xia Huanming cared about Chen Xing out of his sense of responsibility as captain.
But at that moment, Xu Yuancai came up with a new idea... But what if?
After all, the sea was surging at that moment, and golden light filled every corner, making Xia Huanming's gaze at Chen Xing appear gentle - as if he was looking at the person he loved deeply.
"This is all my guess..." Xu Yuancai looked at Chen Xing and said, "Since you said he is straight, let's not take the risk."
Chen Xing was stunned. If it wasn't for Xu Yuancai, he would have no idea that Xia Huanming had done this.
He clenched his hands unconsciously, pinching his palms until they turned red.
Chen Xing's feelings for Xia Huanming are actually very straightforward.
Putting aside other factors, he admitted that he liked Xia Huanming very much.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
