The New Year at the beginning of 2018 was the least memorable New Year in Shang Yechu's life.
The filming of "Half a Day" was much slower than originally planned. Although Xu Hanwen did not say it explicitly, the main characters, Shang Yechu, Shi Shan, and Qi Ming, were all vaguely aware of it.
On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, the crew gave the staff a holiday, and everyone either left or went their separate ways. Shang Yechu, being a bachelor with no family and no need to go back home for the New Year with his family, volunteered to stay with the crew.
Shang Yechu didn't leave, so Shi Shan didn't leave either. Zheng Bohan's wife is a university teacher, and she's extremely busy guiding students' papers during the Spring Festival. She doesn't care where Zheng Bohan spends the holiday, as long as he doesn't bother her. As for Xu Hanwen, he's already with the production team leader.
The four main figures of the production team stayed, and many staff members also remained. Therefore, although the production team was in disarray during the New Year period, it at least didn't fall apart.
On New Year's Eve, Xu Hanwen spent ten hours in the editing room, and his furious outbursts could be heard from time to time.
Zheng Bohan had a fight with his son, and his old face was extremely gloomy, like a walking rain cloud.
Shi Shan had just returned to the film set from the hospital and wasn't fully recovered. His assistant, Lao Zhang, was taking good care of him. While drinking water, Shi Shan asked where Shang Ye Chu had gone.
Meanwhile, Shang Yechu, who was being questioned by Shi Shan, stood in the editing room, watching several hours of daily work footage with Xu Hanwen, the cinematographer, the editor, and others. He repeatedly reviewed his own performance and had to endure Xu Hanwen's unpredictable outbursts of anger.
Shang Yechu's performance is crucial to the entire drama; there can be no mistakes. She is under immense mental and physical pressure. Currently, aside from forced hibernation, she is basically unable to sleep normally.
They were busy until after 11 p.m., and the photographer and editor each went home with a face full of drool.
Shang Yechu didn't leave. She was so engrossed in watching the film that her eyes were blurry, her mind was numb, and her reactions were sluggish. She wanted to stand by the window and gaze into the distance to rest her overworked brain, but when she looked up, she realized that the editing room had no windows, so she could only stand there stiffly staring at the window.
Xu Hanwen's old arms and legs were on the verge of collapse. He stood up and kept moving the back of his neck. His old bones creaked and cracked.
Shang Yechu closed her eyes to rest for a while, when she suddenly heard a few crackling sounds outside. The editing room was well soundproofed, so the sounds sounded muffled.
Shang Yechu's brain, numb with exhaustion, processed what she had to say and asked curiously, "Director, is there a gunfight scene today?"
"No," Xu Hanwen said, equally surprised. "The demolition specialists have all gone home for the Chinese New Year."
The two looked at each other for a while, then Xu Hanwen suddenly remembered something, raised his wrist to take a look, and breathed a sigh of relief.
“If it’s not noon now,” Xu Hanwen rubbed his temples, “then it’s New Year’s Eve. Happy New Year, Ye Chu.”
And so, Shang Yechu received her first "Happy New Year" of 2018. It wasn't Ji Juntao who said it to her, nor was it Grandma Hu who said it to her, but rather it was Director Xu Hanwen who had just finished scolding someone, and he said it to her casually.
That tone was exactly like "NG".
Xu Hanwen and Shang Yechu left the editing room and headed straight for the cafeteria. Of course, the cafeteria wouldn't be open on New Year's Eve, but Xu Hanwen mainly wanted to use the cafeteria's hot water to make some instant noodles.
Upon entering the canteen, Shang Yechu and Xu Hanwen were taken aback. The entire film crew was deserted, with only a few remaining staff members chatting and laughing as they ate. Upon asking, they learned that Shi Shan had ordered takeout for everyone—it was truly rare to find a restaurant still open on New Year's Eve.
The festive atmosphere lessened everyone's fear of Xu Hanwen. As soon as the two came out, the staff cheered, "Director, come and eat with the big spender! Brother Shi is treating today!"
Xu Hanwen didn't put on airs. He picked the biggest pizza box, put on gloves without washing his hands, and started tearing and chewing.
Shi Shan resolutely refused to eat junk food and was standing by the window watching fireworks while drinking health tea. Seeing Shang Yechu come out, he rummaged around and found a carton of sugar-free yogurt, then walked over to Shang Yechu and handed it to her: "Are you hungry? Have something to eat first."
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