Chapter 85 "This is what they mean by 'food is the most important thing for people!'"...
Chapter 85
Now that he no longer has to rush to the film set every few days, Yu Pan can finally calm down and focus on working on his graduation thesis.
The past six months spent with Professor Ji have not been in vain. Coupled with what he saw and heard on the film set recently, he has a general idea of what to write in his thesis.
However, just figuring out the ideas, researching materials, and writing out the first draft word by word took nearly three months.
During this time, he also took the time to visit Teacher Ji a few times. Originally, Yu Pan planned to temporarily avoid the film set, thinking she could avoid Ma Tao. But unexpectedly, a shocking revelation broke out—
A paparazzi dropped a bombshell, revealing that the supposedly "most talented" director, Ma Tao, was actually holding a "concubine selection" in his mansion, and that he was bisexual, even posting photos of it online.
This news caused an uproar throughout the industry. Several daring variety shows openly discussed the matter on air, subtly mocking Ma Tao.
Not long after, the film crew that Teacher Ji was working with quietly changed directors. The new director, although not as amazing as Ma Tao was touted to be, was a veteran in the industry, experienced, and steady.
Later, when Yu Pan visited the set again, the new director was quite enthusiastic and gave him a lot of pointers, which he learned a great deal from.
After submitting the first draft of her thesis, Yu Pan revised it three times, following Professor Fu's suggestions, and finally made it to the day of her defense.
Standing on the podium, looking at the professors sitting below, Yu Pan felt quite calm.
He has a good memory and knows everything he wrote, including the arguments, evidence, and subtle details. The entire defense went smoothly, and the professors didn't give him any trouble.
On the day of graduation, Yu Pan received his graduation certificate from the principal. His eyes swept around the audience and he immediately spotted Shen Yanzhou, who was holding a camera and staring at him.
At that moment, his heart felt filled with warmth and contentment.
After successfully obtaining their graduation certificates, Yu Pan and Shen Yanzhou moved to a new house. The new house was a small villa, somewhat similar to the one they lived in in Lanzhou, but much larger. The area of the front and back yards alone was equivalent to several houses in Lanzhou.
The main reason for moving was its proximity to Chen Yanzhou's company, making commuting convenient. Furthermore, Yu Pan had begun writing her first independent film script, and since she mostly worked from home, it didn't really matter where she lived; she might as well move to a more spacious and comfortable place.
-
That weekend, Yu Pan and Shen Yanzhou got up unusually early. The reason was simple: Tan Bai was getting married today.
Tan Bai didn't pursue postgraduate studies after graduating from university; instead, he stayed on as a teacher. Yu Pan was quite surprised when she heard this.
He still remembers the first time he met Tan Bai. Tan Bai had gotten into a fight at school and was sent home by the teacher. His face was covered in bruises. Who would have thought that he would become a teacher standing on the podium?
The invitation was received by Yu Pan when she graduated with her master's degree. Yu Pan had also met the bride a few times; she was a girl with a particularly gentle smile.
The wedding was held outdoors in the suburbs. It took quite a while to drive there from their house. Yu Pan leaned against the car window, watching the street scene rushing past, and couldn't help but sigh, "Time flies."
Shen Yanzhou gripped his hand tightly and hummed in agreement.
The wedding was a popular Western-style ceremony. Many people came to the event, creating a lively atmosphere. Everyone had a smile on their face, and the air seemed to be filled with a sweet fragrance.
There was a professional planning team managing the event, so Tan Ming, the older brother, wasn't too busy and even had time to sneak over and chat with the two of them for a bit.
Yu Pan and Shen Yanzhou sat in the guest section, watching Tan Bai on the stage solemnly take the bride's hand from her father, listen to them recite their wedding vows word by word, and then put rings on each other's fingers.
Yu Pan has always believed that the most important thing for two people to be together is to understand each other and to accompany each other in daily life.
He and Shen Yanzhou already possessed the most essential things; he had never previously considered those external rituals necessary.
After all, true love never needs to be performed for anyone or proven to anyone.
But when the wedding march played, and when the bride and groom embraced and kissed amidst falling ribbons and petals, and under the gaze and blessings of all the guests, Yu Pan was inevitably moved.
The feeling wasn't a strong desire, nor was it dissatisfaction with one's current situation. It was more like... when admiring a stunning view, one would naturally feel admiration, followed by a light, almost elusive sense of envy.
I envy this moment when you can openly and honestly put yourself in the sunlight and receive everyone's unreserved blessings.
Yu Pan subconsciously turned his head to look at Shen Yanzhou beside him, and found that Shen Yanzhou was also looking at him, his eyes still calm and gentle, as if he could always see through all the subtle fluctuations in his heart.
Yes, they've always known each other so well. Yu Pan smiled at him, shook her head to indicate she was alright, and then naturally reached out and clasped her hand tightly with Shen Yanzhou's, which was resting on his lap.
That evening, after showering, the two lay in bed embracing. Shen Yanzhou held the person in his arms tighter and whispered, "Were you thinking about something at the wedding today?"
Undeniably, the atmosphere created by that particular format does have a unique appeal. However, the love between him and Shen Yanzhou had long since transcended any stage that required external proof.
It exists in every morning they wake up together and every night they say goodnight to each other; they have each other, and that's enough.
Yu Pan shook her head in his arms, wrapped her arms around Shen Yanzhou's waist and hugged him tighter, her voice muffled, "It's nothing, I just felt that scene was quite beautiful. They are very happy, and we are very happy too."
Shen Yanzhou kissed his forehead. "Yes, I know. We are very happy."
-
Compared to directors and screenwriters with formal training, Yu Pan knows that her greatest advantage is her freedom.
They have more freedom in terms of time and finances. They don't have to worry about the whims of coal bosses or investors to attract investment, nor do they have to cater to their preferences.
When he decided to take this path, Shen Yanzhou said, "Just do what you want to do, I'll take care of the rest."
This wasn't just a casual remark; it truly allowed him to dedicate himself wholeheartedly to his creative work.
Six months after graduating with a master's degree, Yu Pan's first independent film script, along with a detailed storyboard, was finally completed.
A thick stack of manuscript paper bore witness to his countless days and nights of hard work. In that same year, he officially registered his own studio, becoming a boss himself.
The script is still rooted in the everyday life he knows and loves, telling the story of a group of ordinary people's joys and sorrows amidst the changing times.
From location scouting and team building to casting, Yu Pan personally oversaw the entire process.
He doesn't look at fame when casting actors; he only looks at whether they are pleasing to the eye and fit the role. He even used several newcomers who hadn't even graduated from drama school yet.
There was a young girl named Bai Chu who was so nervous during the audition that she couldn't even speak her lines properly. But Yu Pan was drawn to the tenacity in her eyes, which was just like the indomitable female protagonist in his script.
He patiently explained the play to her, going over the lines with her again and again, until she gradually relaxed and found her footing.
“Don’t be afraid, just pretend you are her and tell her story,” Yu Pan told her.
This complete dedication resulted in Yu Pan being even busier than Shen Yanzhou, who was in charge of a huge company.
After the New Year, filming officially began, and he started working day and night in a completely reversed schedule. He often left before dawn and might not be able to return home at night.
Shen Yanzhou saw it all, but never stopped her; his Panpan was working hard toward her dream.
The housekeeper at home made all sorts of soups, and Shen Yanzhou became his full-time driver and deliveryman. As long as he wasn't working overtime, she would always pick him up from the film set in the evening.
When Shen Yanzhou first visited the set, the scene was quite interesting. Everyone guessed that Director Yu's family must be well-off—his studio was in a prime location in Beijing, and the equipment was top-notch, but no one had ever heard him mention what his family did specifically.
When the understated yet expensive luxury car pulled up outside the film set, and Shen Yanzhou got out carrying a thermos and a bag of hot drinks and snacks, many staff members exchanged glances.
"Director Yu, someone's looking for you!" the stagehand shouted.
Yu Pan was watching the playback on the monitor when she heard the sound. She looked up and saw that it was Shen Yanzhou. Her face immediately lit up with a smile, and her previously furrowed brows relaxed instantly.
He jogged over and took the things from Shen Yanzhou's hands. "Brother, what brings you here? Didn't you say there was a meeting today?"
“It’s over, so I came to see you.” Shen Yanzhou raised his hand and brushed away a speck of dust that was stuck to his collar. “I brought you some soup and snacks. Share them with everyone while they’re still hot.”
Yu Pan smiled and nodded, then turned to greet everyone: "Come on, come on, take a break. My brother brought some food and drinks, help yourselves!"
The crowd thanked them and gathered around, their gazes subtly shifting between Yu Pan and Shen Yanzhou.
These two, one handsome and gentle, the other calm and dignified, give off an indescribable feeling when they stand together.
Some sharp-eyed people noticed the wristwatch on Shen Yanzhou's wrist and were secretly amazed, but it was just a guess in their minds. No one would be so tactless as to ask about it.
After everyone had left to eat, Shen Yanzhou asked Yu Pan in a low voice, "Are you tired?"
Yu Pan held the thermos, took a sip of chicken soup, and squinted her eyes contentedly. "It's alright, quite fulfilling."
He pulled Shen Yanzhou to the monitor and showed him the footage they had just filmed. "Look at this one, Bai Chu's emotions are perfect, we nailed it in one take!"
Shen Yanzhou was an outsider to filmmaking, but he could see the light in Yu Pan's eyes. He looked intently at the screen, then nodded, "Hmm, very good."
He praised not only the visuals, but also Yu Pan's condition.
There were several more such set visits later on. Sometimes when Shen Yanzhou came, Yu Pan was explaining the scenes to the actors, looking focused, and already had the aura of a director who could handle things on his own.
At this time, Shen Yanzhou would stand quietly not far away and wait, his eyes always following him, with a subtle smile on his lips.
Although the filming process was tough, it was also full of fun. Yu Pan enjoyed the process of brainstorming ideas and solving problems with her team members.
The three-month filming period passed in the blink of an eye. When the last shot was captured, Yu Pan looked at the screen on the monitor, breathed a long sigh of relief, and felt a sense of satisfaction at the completion of her work.
As the film entered the post-production editing stage, Yu Pan spent all her time in the editing room. Once the final cut was released, she immediately asked Teacher Ji to review it.
After watching the film, Teacher Ji suggested that he send it to a well-known film festival in Italy to test the waters.
After the film's post-production was completed and it was successfully submitted to the film festival, Yu Pan, who had been on edge for almost half a year, was finally able to relax completely and begin a leisurely period of eating and sleeping to her heart's content.
One Friday evening, Shen Yanzhou came home from get off work and saw Yu Pan lounging lazily on the sofa, idly flipping through TV channels with the remote. He went over, took the remote from Yu Pan's hand, and ruffled his hair: "Tomorrow is the weekend. I'll take you somewhere to relax."
"Where to?" Yu Pan asked, looking up.
"There's a nice fishing spot on the outskirts of Beijing. It's quiet and peaceful, and you can go there to breathe in the fresh mountain air."
-
The next day, the weather was clear, and Shen Yanzhou drove himself, arriving at his destination in less than two hours.
The fishing spot is nestled in a mountain valley, with a wide expanse of water and lush greenery all around, making it much quieter than the city center.
When they were children in Xishan Village, they often followed the adults to catch fish and shrimp, so they were no strangers to activities by the water.
Shen Yanzhou had clearly made preparations, with fishing gear, bait, a folding deck chair, and a sun umbrella all readily available.
Yu Pan followed beside him, watching Shen Yanzhou adjust the fishing rod, bait the hook, and prepare the fishing spot. She found it quite novel and asked, "Brother, when did you learn this?"
“I came here a few times for business purposes a couple of years ago and found it quite calming,” Shen Yanzhou said, handing him a well-adjusted fishing rod. “Try it? It’s very simple. Just lift the rod when you see the float move.”
Yu Pan sat down in his manner, initially impatient, craning her neck to look around.
Shen Yanzhou didn't say anything to him. After a while, Yu Pan's float suddenly sank. He subconsciously lifted the rod and felt the force from underwater. He immediately shouted excitedly, "Brother! Brother! There's a fish! There's a fish!"
Shen Yanzhou half-wrapped around him from behind, covering Yu Pan's hand holding the fishing rod, helping him steady his grip, "Don't rush, take it slow, let it slide with its momentum..."
Under Shen Yanzhou's guidance, Yu Pan finally managed to pull a carp that was thrashing about energetically out of the water.
"Wow! It's so big!" Yu Pan looked at his prize, his face beaming with undisguised excitement. Shen Yanzhou looked at his bright eyes and helped him remove the fishing hook. "Hmm, a great start, Panpan is awesome."
They ate lunch at a farmhouse attached to the fishing spot, naturally eating the fish that Yu Pan had caught.
The fish was prepared in two ways: the head was used to make soup, and the body was steamed. Yu Pan ate it with great relish.
Shen Yanzhou served him a bowl of fish soup, saying, "If you like it, come often in the future."
In the afternoon, Yu Pan lost his initial excitement and his determination to catch a fish. He put down his fishing rod, sat in a folding deck chair, and stared blankly at the shimmering water.
“Brother, I feel like this place is somewhere,” Yu Pan suddenly said.
Shen Yanzhou sat down next to him. "Baixi Town?"
“Yes!” Yu Pan looked at the distant mountains and forests. “It would be even better if there were an old man growing cucumbers nearby.”
All I can think about is food.
"This is what they mean by 'food is the most important thing for people'!"
…
On the way back, Yu Pan fell asleep in the car as usual. Shen Yanzhou adjusted the air conditioning and covered him with a light blanket.
Looking at Yu Pan's face, Shen Yanzhou thought that next time he could plan to go to a place further away and stay for a couple more days.
After all, for Shen Yanzhou, his greatest achievement is being able to provide a safe haven for the person beside him, allowing him to pursue his dreams with peace of mind while also being able to stop and enjoy such leisurely time at any time.
When Yu Pan got home that evening, she excitedly told her aunt how big the carp she had caught was, while Shen Yanzhou listened and occasionally added a few words.
Before going to sleep, Yu Pan rolled into Chen Yanzhou's arms, found a comfortable spot, and snuggled against his chest.
"Brother, today is really nice." Yu Pan's voice was a little hoarse. He looked up and looked into Shen Yanzhou's eyes.
Shen Yanzhou's eyes darkened, and his hand on Yu Pan's back moved up until their noses touched and their breaths mingled. "As long as you're happy."
"Next time..." Yu Pan's voice was even lower, almost a whisper, carrying a hint of dependence, yet also like an invitation, "I want to go again."
"Okay, I'll take you there." Shen Yanzhou didn't make any further moves, but simply maintained the close embrace.
Surrounded by his reassuring aura, Yu Pan closed her eyes contentedly and drifted into a dream.
Shen Yanzhou listened to Yu Pan's breathing for a long time before placing a kiss on his lips and closing his eyes.
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Author's Note: Panpan [Cat Head]: A fishing pro! [Okay]
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