The second generation of stars' first experience on the silver screen
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, Lin Nian is already a junior high school student.
She had perfectly inherited her father, Shen Yu's genes, which were almost cheating, and she was a graceful and elegant lady. Her skin was fair and translucent, her face was small and delicate, her eyelashes were long and thick, and the corners of her eyes were slightly upturned. When she smiled, her eyes were full of movement, and she was a female replica of Shen Yu's eyes that "hid the stars and the sea." At school, she was the undisputed campus beauty, and her rate of turning heads when she walked on the street was 200%.
On an ordinary weekend afternoon, sunlight streamed into the living room through the French windows. Shen Yu was leisurely pruning the green plants on the balcony when his cell phone suddenly rang. He was slightly startled when he saw the name flashing on the screen - it was Director Chen Yan.
Director Chen Yan, the benefactor who cast him in "The Passing of Spring" against all odds when he was at his lowest point, pulling him out of the quagmire and sending him to the Avenue of Stars. Although Shen Yu later retired from the entertainment industry for love, he and Director Chen always maintained a precious friendship as both a teacher and a friend.
"Director Chen, long time no see." Shen Yu answered the phone, his tone filled with sincere respect and a hint of imperceptible nostalgia.
Chen Yan's cheerful and slightly anxious voice came from the other end of the phone: "Xiao Shen, I hope I didn't disturb you from taking care of your wife and children. I have something here that I have been holding back for several days, and I feel I have to tell you!"
Shen Yu chuckled: "You say."
"I have a script on hand, it's about two girls, tentatively titled 'Paper Crane.' It tells the story of two girls' deep emotions and fateful entanglements, spanning more than a decade, from school to society. I've been polishing the script for a long time, and I'm very confident. Now everything is ready. I've been searching for the role of one of the heroines as a teenager, but I haven't found the right young actress. Until a few days ago, I saw a clip of your Nian Nian acting as a host on the school's official video account!"
Shen Yu's heart tightened slightly, and he subconsciously looked at his daughter who was reading quietly at the desk in the living room.
Chen Yan continued to ramble, "That temperament is instantly the right fit! So I came to discuss it with you. It won't be a long scene, just a few shots and a few lines. The most important part is to show a key emotional outburst in the character's childhood—the pain and struggle of having to make a difficult choice between her two closest relatives due to her parents' divorce. I think Nian Nian's image and potential for expression are perfect for this role! I'd like to invite her to guest star!"
Shen Yu held the phone and was silent for a moment. There was joy and honor, and Chen Yan's recognition itself was a high praise. But more than that, there was a surge of worry.
"Director Chen, thank you very much for your appreciation of Nian Nian." Shen Yu spoke carefully, his tone hesitant, "But... you also know that Qingyue and I have always attached great importance to privacy protection. We don't want her life to be disturbed. Moreover, this subject matter..." He paused, but still said it, "After all, it is a film involving same-sex emotions. I am worried that it will make her, who is still young, have some... special ideas, or be exposed to complicated public opinion too early."
Chen Yan smiled on the other end of the phone. "I understand your concerns. First, Nian Nian only makes a cameo appearance in the childhood scene. Her role is very small and has nothing to do with the main plot. It's more like an independent character setting up the past. Secondly, regarding the subject matter, I believe art is inclusive. It showcases the true human emotions themselves, regardless of gender. It's not necessarily a bad thing for children to be exposed to and understand the diversity of the world early on. Of course, I respect your decision as a parent. You don't have to answer me right away. You can discuss it with your wife and Nian Nian herself first. I really think this child has spiritual energy, and it would be a shame not to experience it."
After hanging up the phone, Shen Yu looked at his daughter's focused profile with mixed feelings. Chen Yan had shown him kindness, and he always remembered this friendship in his heart. It was really hard to refuse. But his daughter's growth and mental health were the unshakable top priority in his heart.
He first looked for Lin Qingyue who was working in the study.
"Director Chen Yan's call?" After listening to Shen Yu's retelling, Lin Qingyue pondered for a moment.
The name Chen Yan is not unfamiliar to her. Not only did she pay attention to him because Shen Yu starred in his film "Spring Passes", but also because she would occasionally hear the industry's evaluation of this director who gradually entered the mainstream vision but still maintained his original artistic intention in later commercial activities. His films often dare to touch on some sensitive or profound social and human issues, including poetic depictions of marginal emotions. With the excellent quality of his works, he has won more and more recognition and multiple authoritative awards. Today, he is recognized in China as a well-known art film director with both artistic standards and market appeal. Letting her daughter participate in the works of such a director, even if it is just a cameo, the experience and exposure to the working atmosphere and artistic influence will be very helpful in broadening the child's cognition and empathy.
"I trust Director Chen and his expectations for his work," Lin Qingyue said slowly, her voice calm and rational. "As for the subject matter, I don't think it needs to be over-interpreted. Artistic creation originates from life but transcends it. What's important is guiding children to understand it. I believe our daughter has sufficient judgment and can understand the deep emotional connections between people from a positive perspective, no matter what form they take. I have no objection; it depends on whether Nian Nian wants to try it."
Shen Yu called his brother-in-law Lin Jinxuan again, wanting to hear the great artist's opinion. Now Lin Jinxuan's studio has long been established in the industry, with a unique style, and his understanding of art and the market has become more mature.
"Wow! Director Chen has a keen eye! Our Nian Nian has that aura, she's definitely photogenic!" Lin Jinxuan said excitedly on the other end of the phone. "Brother-in-law, I think this is a good thing! Letting Nian Nian see it for herself doesn't mean she'll be in the industry in the future. And with Director Chen overseeing the process, the quality of the work is guaranteed. It's a great opportunity to experience it! As for the subject matter...what era is this? Brother-in-law, you're too old-fashioned, aren't you? Art has no boundaries! And it's just a cameo as a child, so what's the big deal? I think it's fine! I agree!"
The family unanimously tended to agree, which reduced most of Shen Yu's concerns. The last and most crucial step was to seek the opinion of his daughter.
After dinner, Shen Yu and Lin Qingyue called Lin Nian to their side, told her about Director Chen Yan's invitation, and briefly described the background story of the movie and the general content she needed to play.
As Lin Nian listened to his parents' stories, a hint of surprise first flashed across his brown eyes, which looked very similar to Lin Qingyue's, and then revealed a strong interest and curiosity.
"Sounds fun. Besides, it's only for a few days, so it won't interfere with my studies, right?"
"Well, Director Chen promised that the shooting period will be short." Shen Yu confirmed.
"Then I want to give it a try." Lin Nian raised his head, his eyes clear and confident, with the calmness of a newborn calf who is not afraid of a tiger. "I think it will be an interesting experience."
Looking at the anticipation and pure interest in his daughter's eyes, Shen Yu's last bit of worry vanished. Yes, perhaps he was overprotective. This was a major event that required serious preparation for him, but for his daughter, it might just be a novel and interesting experience.
He patted his daughter's head and smiled gently, "Okay, then Dad will reply to Uncle Chen that our Nian Nian is willing to give it a try."
After the filming started, Shen Yu accompanied Lin Nian to the crew. Director Chen Yan was indeed a discerning person. Although Lin Nian had no acting experience, under the director's patient and meticulous guidance, he showed amazing comprehension and natural sense of the camera.
That crucial crying scene required her to express the silent and immense sorrow and struggle when she was forced to choose between living with her father or her mother. All the staff were worried that the little girl would not be able to handle such complex emotions.
However, when the camera focused on Lin Nian, she stood quietly, listening to the quarrel between the actors playing her parents, tears streaming down her face. She didn't burst into tears, but her tear-filled eyes were filled with helplessness, pain, and a wisdom beyond her years that gripped everyone's heart. She even added a subtle gesture of taking a half step back and unconsciously clutching the corner of her clothes, perfectly embodying the character's inner struggle.
"Cut!" Director Chen Yan's voice was filled with uncontrollable excitement. "Perfect! Great! Nian Nian, you are truly a little acting genius!"
Shen Yu watched from behind the monitor, his heart filled with indescribable pride and a hint of heartache. He knew that his daughter had put herself into that fictional situation and understood the profound sadness with her pure heart.
After intense post-production, the film "Paper Crane" finally released its first trailer. When eagle-eyed netizens discovered that the child actress who played one of the female protagonists in her childhood was actually the daughter of Shen Yu, who had retired from the entertainment industry for many years, the internet went wild. Shen Yu's long-dormant Weibo super topic and fan group were also revived as if they had been dropped with a depth charge:
"Grandma! The idol you follow has a daughter who debuted! (No)"
"Director Chen is so good at selecting people! This is simply the youth version of Shen Yu 2.0!"
"In my lifetime series! I can actually still see Yuzai's meal replacement! Even though she's my biological daughter!"
"The genetic lottery is incredible! This father and daughter are the perfect Nuwa graduation project!"
"Whose DNA was moved? It was me! Tears are streaming!"
"My sister is so beautiful! Woohoo! I'm dreaming of when Yuzai was performing 'The Passing of Spring'!"
"Oh my god! Are all the second-generation celebrities so good-looking and have such great acting skills?!"
…
As more behind-the-scenes footage was released, online discussion intensified. A clip of Lin Nian interacting with Shen Yu on set even topped the trending search list. In the video, Shen Yu patiently explained the character's psychology to her daughter, and Lin Nian nodded earnestly, finally getting the shot across in one take when filming officially began. This professional yet heartwarming interaction earned netizens' praise as "so endearing."
On the day the movie was officially released, Shen Yu and Lin Qingyue booked a small theater and invited family and friends to watch "Paper Crane" together.
When Lin Nian appeared on screen, everyone held their breath. Her pure and innocent performance, especially her deeply moving crying scene, brought tears to many in the audience's eyes. Although her scene was only a few minutes long, it became one of the most moving highlights of the film's first half.
The lights came on and the credits rolled. Everyone praised Lin Nian's performance. Wang Jing smiled and hugged Lin Nian, saying, "Our Nian Nian is truly a natural-born actor, just as good as your father was!" Lin Jinxuan and Xia Xiaoran echoed the praise, making Lin Nian smile a little sheepishly.
The group then went to their usual restaurant for dinner. The atmosphere was harmonious, and the topic naturally revolved around the movie just now. Shen Yu looked at his daughter beside him, his heart filled with pride and emotion. He thought of all the times he stood in the spotlight, and couldn't help but ask with a bit of a joke and a bit of a tentative tone: "Niannian, how do you feel about filming this time? Is it interesting? In the future... have you ever thought about becoming a star?"
Everyone looked at Lin Nian with a smile, wanting to hear what this young person thought.
Lin Nian put down her juice cup. Facing her father's question, she seemed calm, not showing any excessive excitement or anticipation. She thought for a moment, then said clearly and calmly, "Well, it's fun. It's like a unique adventure. Experiencing other people's lives and emotions is quite novel."
She paused, her eyes swept over the elders who were looking at her expectantly, the corners of her mouth raised slightly, and she changed the subject:
"But..." she dragged out her words, "Compared to pretending to be someone else in front of the camera, I still prefer to be in school and learn real things. Solving a difficult math problem, or working together with classmates to complete a group project, that sense of accomplishment is more solid. Being a star... it's enough to experience it once!"
These clear-headed and opinionated words stunned the adults present for a moment, and then they all burst into laughter.
Lin Qingyue picked up the teacup, a very faint but real arc appeared at the corner of her mouth, and she glanced at Shen Yu.
Shen Yu looked at his daughter's pure and serious face, and the worry in his heart that his daughter would be interested in the vanity and fame disappeared instantly. He laughed and reached out to rub his daughter's hair: "Okay, if you like going to school, let's go to school well. If you don't want to be a star, then don't be one."
A huge weight had finally fallen from his heart. His little girl was clear-headed and independent-minded beyond her years, just like her mother.
The moonlight outside the window was just right, and the room was warm and bright. Shen Yu thought that such ordinary happiness was far more worth cherishing than any starry future.
As for the future? Well, let it take its time.
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