Qian Lingling naturally settled beside Tao Wei, while Director Dai Su’s eyes ignited with interest as soon as he saw Yun Feiwu. Without hesitation, he quickly took a seat next to her.
“Xiao Yun, engrossed in the script, I see. Excellent, excellent. How about we discuss this section?” Director Dai Su suggested, shifting Yun Feiwu’s attention to deal with his enthusiastic presence.
Thankfully, after a few exchanges, Bian Xin arrived.
Bian Xin entered alone, and upon pushing the door open and spotting the gathering, she hesitated momentarily before adjusting her expression into a refined smile. “My apologies, everyone, for my tardiness.”
After a few pleasantries, Bian Xin’s gaze turned towards the remaining available seats.
There were vacant spots beside Qian Lingling and Director Dai Su. Almost without hesitation, Bian Xin settled beside Dai Su, her smile gracious. “Director Dai, I see you and Miss Yun are engrossed in the script?”
Dai Su didn’t lift his head. “Indeed, Xiao Bian, join us in taking a look.”
“Of course,” Bian Xin leaned in, nearly resting her shoulder against Director Dai Su’s.
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“Waydjzu, R eyal dsv prlde vbl ldvkal eyu clpkel Valpkeldv Dky. Xb xu, fwpv y pkdtzl tygl qasx bla, yde R’e tlv tssplcwxrp yzz shla.” Mys Elk lmyttlayvle, ryvvkdt bla yax qsa lxrbypkp.
Ckyd Nkdtzkdt pxkzle tldvzu yde pbssj bla blye.
Ebld Zwd Wlkow pvszl y tzydnl, pbl nywtbv pktbv sq Ckyd Nkdtzkdt’p pxkzl.
Gzvbswtb pbl jdlo kv oyp bktbzu wdzkjlzu vbyv Ckyd Nkdtzkdt pbyale y asxydvkn alzyvksdpbkr okvb Dky Fbwvsdt, flyzswpu pvkzz pvkaale okvbkd bla.
Rd vbl rypv, Zwd Wlkow bye blyae Dky Fbwvsdt xldvksd Ckyd Nkdtzkdt.
Back when Qian Lingling’s family faced difficulties and she was desperate, Xia Shutong had come to her rescue and kept her close ever since.
Even now, Qian Lingling’s demeanor and mannerisms bore a resemblance to Xia Shutong, a clear result of her influence.
What kind of affinity did Xia Shutong possess? Being fond of rescuing people was one thing, but why did she also enjoy nurturing them?
Wasn’t one enough? Did there have to be another?
Yun Feiwu’s worries resurfaced. The former Xia Shutong wouldn’t have liked Qian Lingling. But what about the version of her after the memory loss?
And what if Qian Lingling had feelings for Xia Shutong? She was practically by Xia Shutong’s side at all times. If there were any inappropriate intentions, it would be far too convenient.
…
After returning home alone, Xia Shutong had Aunt Wang prepare some food, then immersed herself in work once again.
Starting by addressing matters with Tianjun, she continued working until almost done. Since Qian Lingling had not yet returned, Xia Shutong decided to review the actor profiles selected from today’s auditions, examining them closely.
Upon finishing her perusal of Bian Xin and Yun Feiwu’s profiles, Xia Shutong’s sharp eyes caught an intriguing detail, they had both debuted in the same acting troupe.
Ten years ago, the film “Dark” directed by Japanese director Yoshimi, was also the first film shot by Yun Feiwu.
In other words, Bian Xin and Yun Feiwu actually knew each other.
Xia Shutong pondered for a moment and looked up “Dark” on the browser.
“Dark” is a film that tells the story of campus bullying. All the students who appear in the movie are inexperienced amateur middle school students selected by Yoshimi. This film won awards internationally and was also popular domestically at the time. However, among that group of student actors, only Yun Feiwu and Bian Xin made their debuts and entered the entertainment industry.
However, Yun Feiwu played the role of a bullied female protagonist, while Bian Xin was one of the bullies with almost no significant scenes.
Casually, Xia Shutong clicked on a few photos. The main color tone of the photos was gray, but the smiles on the faces of the junior high students were exceptionally innocent and lively, forming a sharp contrast with the dark background.
After finishing, a sudden sense of irritation surged within Xia Shutong.
She had a faint feeling that she had been to the filming location before, but she couldn’t remember it no matter how hard she tried.
Her head started to ache again.
Xia Shutong stood up, took a sip of water, then stared at the photos for a while. Finally, she turned on the projector and found “Dark” to play.
Before a minute had passed in the movie, Qian Lingling returned.
“Oh… President Xia, you’re watching ‘Dark’?” Qian Lingling changed her shoes and sat down beside Xia Shutong, casually saying, “Miss Yun and Miss Bian had good acting skills when they were young. It’s no wonder that even after so many years, there are still fans shipping them online.”
Xia Shutong was engrossed in the movie. “Hmm.”
A few seconds later, Xia Shutong suddenly turned her head. “Huh?”
“Shipping?”
“You don’t know?” Qian Lingling took out her phone and casually found a few videos on a website, saying, “Look, fans have made shipping videos for them.”
At a glance, Xia Shutong saw the video title: [Yun Feiwu] x [Bian Xin] I Only Like You
Seeing the kissing photo cover made by fans, her expression became quite conflicted.
“Fans are always imaginative in this aspect, and both of them have decent popularity without much controversy. The company is also happy to leverage the popularity of their ship. When ‘Chasing the Light’ starts filming, we can use this for promotion too.”
Qian Lingling explained a few more things, then yawned and said, “But today during dinner, they didn’t talk much. They don’t seem very familiar.”
“I see…” Xia Shutong inexplicably relaxed. She suddenly caught a faint whiff of alcohol from Qian Lingling and furrowed her brow. “Xiao Qian, did you all have alcohol?”
“Yes.” Qian Lingling nodded. “We had a bit, oh wait, Miss Yun didn’t drink. She said she’s allergic to alcohol.”
After a brief chat, Qian Lingling grew tired and headed back to her room to take a shower and rest, leaving Xia Shutong alone to continue watching the movie.
As the title suggests, the overall tone of “Dark” was very somber. Many details in the movie conveyed a sense of suffocating despair.
A group of thirteen or fourteen-year-old middle school students would show innocent and kind smiles in front of teachers, as if they knew nothing. When the scene shifted to the dark corners where no one was present, they still wore the same innocent smiles while bullying their classmates.
At this point, those smiles appeared cruel and terrifying.
Back then, Yun Feiwu was only thirteen, still quite young, but her presence in front of the camera was already compelling. When the movie ended, her look of desperate darkness at the camera had become an indelible shadow for countless people.
Yet, Xia Shutong didn’t find it oppressive. On the contrary, she even felt a sense of familiarity.
When the camera focused on the bullies, a naive smile unconsciously appeared on her lips, mimicking their expressions of ignorance.
As the camera switched to Yun Feiwu, who was being bullied, Xia Shutong’s facial expression turned timid, and she instinctively mimicked Yun Feiwu’s gestures, even anticipating her lines several times before she spoke them in the movie.
As if… she had watched this movie countless times before, to the point where every action, every line, had been etched into her bones.
…
That night, Xia Shutong had a dream.
She dreamed of Yun Feiwu in her middle school uniform, standing in front of her and calling her “sister” with a tilted head.
The young Yun Feiwu of around ten or eleven hadn’t fully grown, looking delicate and cute, her slightly turned head exuding a childishness that made people want to pat her head.
As if enchanted, Xia Shutong extended her hand toward Yun Feiwu.
But then, in an instant, the small Yun Feiwu grew up.
The grown-up Yun Feiwu was slightly taller than her. She effortlessly held Xia Shu Tong’s hand, pulled her close, and lowered her head as if about to…
The surroundings swiftly changed scenes, shifting to the restroom they had visited together on the day Yun Feiwu signed her contract.
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