The actor said so
At the filming site at this time, Ni Chaofan's nanny car was parked on the shady side of an idle factory building. A large parasol was set up outside the car, and under the parasol there was a light coffee table and chairs.
Xiangyang had not yet said goodbye and was having a great chat with the movie star Ni Chaofan.
Some distance from the wall where they were talking, the place was still bustling with noise, the glare from the equipment blinding. Suddenly, a figure in the distance half-ran towards them, a goofy grin on his face. It was Jin Cang.
Xiangyang noticed that there was another person following Jin Cang not far behind him. His steps were a little hesitant, but he was still following closely.
That was Ophiopogon japonicus, but Jin Cang seemed unaware of it and only had eyes for them.
"You've finished filming already? How come it was so fast?" Xiangyang asked, looking at the sweat oozing from Jin Cang's forehead, sparkling in the afterglow of the setting sun.
Jin Cang grinned, his white teeth reflecting the light of sweat on his forehead, like diamonds: "The director said that the sky is still too bright and not tragic enough, and we should wait until the sun goes down a little before shooting." His tone rose slightly as he spoke, and his simple Hong Kong and Taiwan accent was vivid and flowing, like a bird that had just left the nest singing in the wind.
Ni Chaofan looked at Jin Cang with interest, then turned to look at Xiangyang, his eyes filled with inquiry: "You two knew each other before? One in Taipei and the other in Beijing, how did you meet?"
Xiangyang smiled faintly, "He is... Mr. Luo's younger brother."
Upon hearing this, Ni Chaofan's eyes flickered as he suddenly remembered something, his expression darkening. Surprise mingled with regret: "Is it yours...?" He stopped himself before sighing softly. Turning to Jin Cang, his tone became more serious, "Alas, God is jealous of talented people. You... accept my condolences."
The smile on Jin Cang's face faded, and he nodded obediently: "Thank you, teacher."
He lowered his eyes, and his thick eyelashes cast a small shadow under his eyes.
At this moment, Mai Dong, who had been following behind, finally came over with a carefully practiced smile on his face, eager to seize the opportunity: "A Cang, please introduce me." He turned to Ni Chaofan and bowed slightly, "Hello, Professor Ni, I am a classmate of Jin Cang's. My name is Mai..."
Before he could finish his words, the phone in Ni Chaofan's pocket made a soft "ding" sound, indicating a new message.
"Excuse me, wait a moment."
Ni Chaofan waved at Mai Dong apologetically, interrupting his self-introduction, and lowered his head to check his phone.
Maidong's smile froze on his face, and his outstretched hand hung awkwardly in the air.
Ni Chaofan slid open the screen and saw the page of the actor group. Someone replied to the behind-the-scenes photo he had posted earlier, which showed Jin Cang smiling brightly.
He raised his head, his eyes lingering on Jin Cang's face for a few seconds, with a hint of amusement: "Do you know Wu Kanglun?"
Jin Cang was stunned for a moment, then answered without thinking, "I know him. He's the movie star Wu Kanglun. I think everyone knows him."
"He knows you, too."
Ni Chaofan's tone was calm, but he had an obvious smile on his face.
"How is that possible?" Jin Cang's eyes widened instantly, his face full of disbelief, and even his voice became a few degrees higher.
Ni Chaofan handed over his phone: "I posted the close-up photo I just took of you in the group, and he replied to me below."
Xiang Yang also became curious: "What did Teacher Kang Lun say?"
Ni Chaofan stared at his phone screen, carefully reading Wu Kanglun's message word for word. "He said... 'I remember him, a pure boy, born to be an actor. Please take a good look at him.'"
"I..." Jin Cang was flattered and completely stunned. With his mouth slightly open, he looked at Ni Chaofan at a loss, and then subconsciously glanced at Xiangyang.
Ni Chaofan put away his phone. His eyes, which had seen through the world, were now filled with the most straightforward and unpretentious admiration as he looked at Jin Cang seriously.
He suddenly stretched out his hand and pulled Jin Cang, who was still standing there in a daze, to sit next to him. His movements were quick and decisive, leaving no room for refusal.
"If," Ni Chaofan raised his left hand flat in front of his chest, palm facing down, "this is the surface of the Arctic Ocean."
He then extended his right thumb and passed it through the gap between his left index and middle fingers, revealing only a short fingertip. "This is the iceberg emerging from the water. Look, only a tiny bit is exposed." He paused, looking at Jin Cang with a burning gaze. "But a truly good actor, even with just a small role, can make the audience feel..."
He gestured to the size of his right fist, his tone emphasizing, "There's something so vast and profound beneath the water. This character's personality, his past, his current emotions—it's all there."
Jin Cang listened intently, his eyes not blinking, and the naivety on his face was gradually replaced by a focused desire.
He nodded vigorously and continued, "Just like Ingrid Bergman in 'Murder on the Orient Express'. She only appeared for a little over three minutes, but she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress that year!"
Ni Chaofan smiled approvingly and nodded with satisfaction, "Right! That's exactly what I meant. So you were so fussy just now, mulling over how to say 'Huh Yi Si' over and over again. That attitude was right."
Being praised directly by the senior, Jin Cang's face turned red in an instant. He lowered his head in embarrassment, but couldn't help but grin and smile innocently. He looked at Xiangyang unconsciously and found that Xiangyang was also smiling at him.
Xiangyang watched quietly from the side, seeing the pure joy that Jin Cang exuded because of the affirmation, the strange warmth in his heart expanded a little bit, it was an indescribable comfort and tenderness.
At this moment, the assistant director Huang led director Song Ye and walked towards them quickly.
"Teacher Ni, you can shoot these two scenes first. We'll go this way, please." Assistant Director Huang said politely.
Ni Chaofan smiled and patted Jin Cang's shoulder. The force was not strong, but it was full of encouragement and expectation.
Before leaving, he called out to Xiangyang: "Xiangyang, wait for me to finish work and take my car with you."
"Okay, Teacher Ni." Xiangyang responded.
Director Song Ye wore a slick, adaptable smile. He reached out and enthusiastically patted Jin Cang's arm. His tone suddenly became familiar, a stark difference from before. "You're really lucky, kid! But if you want to officially debut, the 'Jin' in your name is too unfamiliar. Who in Taipei can pronounce it? I'll help you pick a memorable and easy-to-pronounce stage name someday!"
Upon hearing this, Ni Chaofan took a step forward and turned back, his eyebrows raised, a smile playing on his lips. "Director Song, you must have seen one or two dramas like Nirvana in Fire, Ode to Joy, and The Disguiser, right? Jin Dong, that's the last name Jin. You're just uninformed and surprised by what you've seen."
After being rebuked by Ni Chaofan in a neither soft nor hard way, Song Ye laughed awkwardly twice, "Yes, yes, Teacher Ni is right. I was scolded by you again. Let's...get to work..."
Ni Chaofan smiled noncommittally, then turned and walked towards the shooting area with Assistant Director Huang and Song Ye.
Under the parasol by the wall, only Xiangyang and Jin Cang were left.
Jin Cang looked at Xiangyang, his bright eyes filled with smiles, and the corners of his mouth were uncontrollably curved upwards, looking very happy.
"You..." Jin Cang looked at Xiang Yang, such a carefree man, and didn't bother to hide the reluctance in his tone, "Didn't you say... that you were going back to Beijing?"
Xiang Yang was amused by his appearance, and felt relieved: "I have something urgent to do, so I can stay a few more days."
He paused deliberately and asked jokingly, "Why? Are you so happy that I didn't leave?"
"happy!"
Jin Cang nodded without hesitation, his smile widened, his eyes shining like stars in a midsummer night, "Brother Xiang, what Wu Kanglun said to me just now, is it... a good thing or a bad thing?" He was still a little unsure and asked anxiously.
Xiang Yang saw his serious expression and couldn't help but want to tease him: "How can I, a mere mortal, understand what those movie stars are saying to each other?"
Jin Cang frowned and muttered softly, "Oh... pure... then what exactly are you saying about me?"
Xiangyang finally couldn't help but burst out laughing, and reached out to rub Jin Cang's soft, slightly curly short hair, as if he was comforting a large dog: "Ha, silly! Of course I'm complimenting you, what's so hard to understand?" The Hong Kong and Taiwan accent is here again!
"Huh? Really?"
Jin Cang raised his head suddenly, his eyes brightening up again, and he grinned broadly, feeling relieved. "Ha! That's good! That's good!"
Xiangyang saw Ah Cang's hair sticking out here and there, and reached out his hand very naturally, carefully helping him straighten the hair that he had just messed up. His movements were so familiar and casual, as if it was supposed to be that way.
Then he stood up, stood behind Jin Cang, and put his hands on his shoulders.
"You've only grown in height, but not in brains," he was referring to the time Ah Cang bent his neck at a right angle and acted like a dead body for half an hour, something the camera couldn't see. Xiang Yang's voice was unconsciously doting, "Sit tight, I'll massage your neck."
Jin Cang tilted his head slightly in confusion, wanting to look back: "Huh? Brother Xiang, how do you know about my neck...?"
But the pain from being stuck in the wheel for half an hour made him scream in pain.
"Shh, don't move." Xiangyang's fingertips pressed down with just the right amount of force. "Answer me honestly, do you really like acting that much?"
The warm fingertips, with wonderful strength, slowly massaged away the stiffness and soreness in the cervical spine, and a comfortable warmth spread from the back of the neck.
Jin Cang hummed softly, his body unconsciously relaxing. He tilted his head back slightly, his voice filled with a clear, youthful feeling: "I like it very much! It's like... it's like every time I think about acting, there will be a heat in the soles of my feet, rushing up, numb, very comfortable!"
Xiang Yang paused, then laughed, "Sit still, sit still, you sound like Zhang Wuji is practicing the Great Shift of the Universe..."
Jin Cang sat up straight as he was told, but couldn't help but secretly turn his head, his eyes falling on the mottled window glass of an old building not far away.
Two overlapping figures were vaguely reflected on the glass: one was sitting with his head slightly tilted back, the other was standing, leaning slightly forward, with his hands gently pressed on his neck.
Looking at Xiangyang's focused profile and feeling the warmth from his fingertips, Jin Cang felt a strange throbbing in his heart for the first time in his life, like a feather gently scratching his heart, itchy, warm, and a little sweet that was hard to describe.
Not far away, Maidong had a panoramic view of it all.
He looked at Ni Chaofan's favor for Jin Cang, looked at Wu Kanglun's evaluation of "no impurities", and then looked at Xiang Yang's unconcealed closeness and care for Jin Cang at this moment. A complex emotion mixed with jealousy, confusion and humiliation overturned a palette in his heart.
He boasts that his appearance, talent, academic performance and even popularity are all better than Jin Cang's. He always appears by Jin Cang's side as a "caregiver", enjoying the sense of self-superiority that he cannot tell others.
However, everything that happened today was like a series of hot slaps in Maidong's face, shattering his pitiful pride into pieces.
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