Chapter 47
At noon, Yuan Yi's submitted proposal was rejected by Gu Yubai.
Gu Yubai had arranged some radio drama scripts for the new voice actors he signed in Rongcheng last time, letting them start with small dramas. This time, he was responsible for creating the official posters for these scripts. However, Gu Yubai was not satisfied with the versions Yuan Yi submitted; the colors were too intense and did not fit the tone of the script, so they were rejected and reworked.
Yuan Yi also felt a headache coming on. The script that Gu Yubai found was basically for these newcomers to test the waters, so they signed some niche scripts without any dramatic plots, and the overall tone was rather bland.
However, Yuan Yi and the others are skilled in using more flamboyant and vibrant colors, just like Yu Xia, the kind that can grab your attention at a glance. They really can't paint this kind of fresh and delicate feeling.
It's like trying to force an open-minded person to be introverted by nature; she can't hide it. As she paints, that flamboyant edge unconsciously comes out again, almost like a watermark to prevent theft.
However, it wasn't particularly abrupt. It's just that Gu Yubai was very ruthless; he would pick out anything that didn't fit the overall tone. He only glanced at it before throwing the proposal back, and then, in a cold and emotionless tone, uttered a single word: "Change it."
Not a single unnecessary glance, just the word "change" was enough to intimidate.
Yuan Yi and the others all knew what this word meant: take it back and redo it until he was satisfied.
Therefore, Yuan Yi and his team always had a headache whenever they received a project from Gu Yubai, because it meant that they would have to spend several more sleepless nights.
Yuan Yi has revised this design several times, and without exception, they have all been rejected.
Holding the design plan, she touched her head, feeling that her already thinning hair was even more precarious.
Those evil capitalists!
Yuan Yi's expression was ferocious as she vigorously crumpled the document in her hand, as if Gu Yubai were kneading it in her hand, thus expressing the venting of the proletariat.
Yu Xia, who happened to be passing by, saw this scene: "Sister Xiaoyi, what are you doing?"
Yuan Yi stopped what she was doing, saw that it was Yu Xia, immediately put down the paper in her hand, hugged Yu Xia's waist, and cried to her about her miserable suffering.
"Xia, you have no idea what it feels like to revise a plan until 3 a.m. and then have it rejected. Gu Yubai is inhuman..." Yuan Yi recounted the heartbreaking story of the poor working class being exploited by capital.
Having heard the whole story, Yu Xia patted Yuan Yi, who was hugging her waist and sobbing. She glanced at the paper on Yuan Yi's desk, then tentatively whispered, "How about I give it a try?"
When Yuan Yi was complaining to her earlier, she revealed the design requirements for this project. Yu Xia listened, and although it didn't match her usual drawing style, she was quite interested in it based on Yuan Yi's description and wanted to try a new drawing method.
However, as a newcomer to the team, many projects were still handled by Yuan Yi and the others. She usually only took on some relatively simple peripheral tasks. She wondered if it would be too presumptuous to bring this up so abruptly.
After opening her mouth, she immediately realized it wasn't a good idea and quickly said, "If it's not possible, I—"
Before she could finish speaking, Yuan Yi, who was clinging to her waist, stopped wailing, suddenly raised her head, and stared straight at her with wide eyes.
Yu Xia thought she had crossed the line and was about to apologize when Yuan Yi suddenly let go of her and shoved the documents into her hand.
Yu Xia: ?
Yuan Yi treated the document like some kind of monstrous threat, holding it tightly in Yu Xia's arms. She looked at Yu Xia with a cautious gaze, afraid that she would change her mind and take it back. She quickly said, "What's said is said! You just said you would take it and do it. I heard it with my own ears. Once it's said, you can't go back on your word."
Yu Xia nodded, seemingly oblivious to the situation.
That's what they said.
Seeing her nod, Yuan Yi breathed a sigh of relief, then withdrew her hand from the documents in Yu Xia's arms, put on a relaxed smile, and said to Yu Xia with a beaming smile, "That's right, Xia, do a good job, we believe in you!"
Yu Xia: "Thank you."
Yuan Yi waved his hand, looking at her with the tragic gaze of a heroic warrior going to his execution. His eyes were filled with a kind of sorrow for the newcomer who was unaware of the hardships ahead and a piece of advice for her to take care of herself and pray for good fortune. He patted her shoulder and said in a heavy tone, "Keep going."
Moreover, it wasn't just Yuan Yi who gave her that look; everyone around her cast the same glance, watching her walk back to her workstation with solemn expressions, saying earnestly, "Keep it up."
Amidst these stares, Yu Xia took the documents and sat down at her workstation. She wasn't quite sure what everyone meant, but to avoid an awkward atmosphere, she endured their gazes and slowly said, "Okay...?"
Everyone turned their gaze away heavily.
—
This poster was indeed difficult to make.
Yu Xia read the original script and wanted to paint a picture that matched the tone of the story as closely as possible.
But... Yu Xia looked at the painting she had drawn.
On its own, this painting is a beautiful and refreshing piece, bright, soothing, and original.
But I always feel like something's missing, it's stuck in a limbo.
Yu Xia frowned.
What's missing?
That's right, what's missing is the core of the script.
Although this script is a story about campus youth, its refreshing green color scheme, which seems to fit general thinking, immediately evokes images of summer and teenagers, which are almost subconscious images for people.
But the core of this script isn't about campus youth; it's about regret. The entire story is filled with regrets—regrets in love, regrets in friendship, regrets in family. These imperfect regrets are wrapped in the author's gentle prose, nestled within the summer of adolescence. The conflicts and contradictions aren't sharp; they're hidden beneath details where the author substitutes hope.
So at first glance, it seems like a teenage school story, where even with a difficult journey, there's hope for a bright future. Especially with the author's writing style, it's easy to be enveloped in a pure, bright, forever filtered youth. But upon rereading, one feels even more strongly that beneath those seemingly gentle and hopeful strokes lies an irretrievable past, a loss. The author simply doesn't write about loss; he writes about hope—a hope of self-comfort amidst sorrow.
But upon closer examination, one can sense the pessimism beneath those gentle strokes of the pen, resulting in an overall atmosphere permeated with a subtle blues-tinged sadness.
Blues.
Yes, the blues are the dominant color of this script.
Suddenly, an idea popped into Yu Xia's head.
When inspiration strikes, there's no stopping it.
Without even a second thought, Yu Xia decisively abandoned the painting she had almost finished after putting in a lot of effort, and started a completely new one.
Quickly sketch, draw lines, lay down the base...
Yu Xia was completely focused.
When she finally finished, Yu Xia shook her sore hands and then had time to pay attention to the time displayed on the other iPads, only to find that it was already 2:40.
It's so late.
Indeed, when people are engrossed in something, they don't feel the passage of time.
Yu Xia, who had been sitting for five or six hours, finally stood up and stretched her arms.
She rubbed her shoulders, picked up her phone, which was lit up with unread messages displayed in the notification bar.
After replying to the message, Yu Xia plugged in her phone, took a shower, and went to bed.
I have to get up early to go to work tomorrow.
—
The next day, Yu Xia handed Yuan Yi her revised design.
Yuan Yi took the new version from her, quite surprised: "You, you finished it so quickly?"
Good heavens! That design took her, Yu Jing, and two other people in the group three days to complete, and it was rejected by Gu Yubai like garbage. Yu Xia took it back and finished it in one night?! Are you kidding me?!
Yu Xia nodded vaguely, then said with some concern, "I just don't know if it will turn out well."
Time was running out, and she wasn't sure if the blues she was referring to was Gu Yubai's version.
Yuan Yi opened the book, and when she saw the picture, she paused.
The entire image has been completely altered, its tone entirely different from before. It now uses Klein blue as the main color, complemented by indigo. Vast expanses of clouds and sea are separated by a small window; through that single window, the scenery inside and outside is drastically different. The interior space is cramped, filled with a few pieces of wooden furniture. The deep blue color scheme is somber and oppressive, with only a bright white screen on the windowpane as a bright spot. Hidden within the screen, a Cypriot butterfly flutters its wings, pressed against the windowpane, trying to fly through the small triangular gap between the window and the wall to the bright, surging sea outside.
When Yuan Yi saw this painting, she understood why Gu Yubai had recruited Yu Xia.
The precise color representation is astonishing.
She had a feeling that she might win this round.
"Xia, take this upstairs and show it to President Gu," Yuan Yi said.
She intended to give Yu Xia a chance; it would be a shame not to promote such a good newcomer.
"Huh?" Yu Xia was clearly surprised by this decision.
“Okay, let’s add your name to this project as well,” Yuan Yi said.
Although it was Yu Xia who suggested doing it, it was just a favor, and she could have remained anonymous. Frankly, she wouldn't have minded working for free. However, Yuan Yi is the kind of person who is straightforward and honest. Yu Xia did a crucial part, and she knew very well how much work it involved. She doesn't like to take advantage of others or use her position to steal credit from others. She doesn't care about that; she'll just honestly share the credit with whoever did what.
But Yu Xia smiled and said to her, "Sister Xiaoyi, there's no need for a signature. This was originally your project, and you came up with the design. I just happened to help out, but I didn't do anything, so there's no need to sign my name."
Yuan Yi smiled after hearing this.
They're quite good at handling things.
"Okay, let's leave it at that for now."
Yu Xia smiled and nodded.
Yuan Yi took the design report and went upstairs to hand it in.
Yu Xia continued working on the computer.
Actually, she hadn't thought too much about it. She knew her limits. If someone was willing to let her get involved in their project, she should already be grateful for the opportunity. Why would she want to take a slice of the pie?
She understands this basic principle.
But she didn't expect that this sense of propriety would bring her an even greater opportunity.
A short while later, she saw Yuan Yi return to her workstation, smiling and patting it. Her eyes were full of signs of good things to come. She pointed and said to her, "Xia, President Gu wants to see you."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
