Crossover Actors - Chapter 12

Lu Wen followed Qu Yanting all the way into the office and closed the door. He felt like a student who had messed up, first scolded by the homeroom teacher and now about to have a one-on-one talk with the head of discipline.

 

“Sit,” Qu Yanting said.

 

Lu Wen sat down, staring at the chipped corner of the desk. He still remembered that on the day of the opening ceremony, Qu Yanting had said, “Whether you regret it or not, you’ll only know after we start.”

 

He couldn’t hold back any longer and blurted out, “Teacher Qu, do you regret choosing me?”

 

Qu Yanting pulled out a chair from the other side of the desk. After a few meetings, this little actor, usually full of nonsense, playful, and prone to blunders, was finally being genuinely serious for once.

 

Instead of answering, Qu Yanting asked, “Feeling down?”

 

Lu Wen nodded. “Apart from my dad, this is the first time someone has criticized me so harshly.”

 

Qu Yanting crossed his legs. “Your dad did it for your own good, and so did the director.”

 

Lu Wen said, “I understand Director Ren’s good intentions, but did he really have to criticize me in front of everyone, with his face all red?”

 

Qu Yanting replied, “Directors who have won awards aren’t easy to deal with; each has their own strict standards. Director Ren is good at filming dramas that depict everyday life, so he pays more attention to natural acting.”

 

Lu Wen hadn’t expected that instead of scolding him, Qu Yanting would actually comfort him with kind words.

 

Now that he thought about it, when Ren Shu criticized him, it was Qu Yanting who spoke up to mediate; when he stood awkwardly in the classroom, it was Qu Yanting who called him out; now Qu Yanting didn’t even mention his acting skills, but rather, guided him.

 

Could it be that Qu Yanting acknowledged his acting?

 

Lu Wen suddenly felt a bit more confident and stopped staring at the desk corner, looking directly at Qu Yanting. “Teacher Qu, you wrote the script; you understand it best. How do you think I did?”

 

Qu Yanting answered, “You failed.”

 

Lu Wen’s face stiffened, and that bit of confidence vanished. He awkwardly stared back at the desk corner.

 

Qu Yanting asked, “Is it really that bad? First time being criticized?”

 

Lu Wen answered truthfully, “I used to play small roles, with few scenes, so I’d wrap up before the director even noticed me.”

 

“What was your last project?” Qu Yanting asked.

 

“A costume drama, *Eternal Autumn*.”

 

Qu Yanting said, “That’s not bad. It’s a well-produced historical drama. What role did you play?”

 

“The male lead’s,” Lu Wen took a deep breath, “… bodyguard.”

 

Qu Yanting glanced at his watch and continued asking unhurriedly, “Is this your first time as the male lead?”

 

“Not exactly,” Lu Wen answered. “Actually, I starred in a movie last year.”

 

He was too embarrassed to mention it— a low-budget, trashy horror film, crudely made. He played the male lead, responsible for protecting the female lead while professing his undying love for her.

 

The whole film seemed like a gathering of D-list actors; no one had ever heard of anyone else.

 

The nature of this kind of film was obvious. Qu Yanting hit the nail on the head: “Was it funded by your dad?”

 

“Of course not!” Lu Wen immediately clarified. “It was funded by the female lead’s dad. If my dad had funded it, it would’ve been her loving me with undying devotion.”

 

Qu Yanting went along with it. “Why didn’t your dad fund it for you?”

 

“My dad… my dad doesn’t have that much money,” Lu Wen said, half-lying and half-truthfully. The first half was a lie, the second half was true. “He doesn’t support me at all.”

 

Qu Yanting didn’t question the truth of it. “Why doesn’t he support you?”

 

Lu Wen replied, “He’s always looked down on me. Since I was a kid, he’s never supported anything I liked. No matter what I do, he always says I’m not cut out for it. I asked him what I *am* cut out for— do you know what he said?”

 

Qu Yanting guessed, “Worthless?”

 

“Damn,” Lu Wen blushed. “You didn’t have to guess so accurately.”

 

Qu Yanting pressed his lips together to stifle a laugh he almost couldn’t hold back and asked, “So you don’t listen to him?”

 

Lu Wen said, “Why should I listen to him? The more he looks down on me, the more I want to prove myself. So what if he doesn’t support me? I’m still the male lead now, aren’t I?”

 

This time, Qu Yanting smiled, the corners of his mouth curling up. “Does your dad know?”

 

Thinking Qu Yanting was happy for him, Lu Wen shared everything without holding back. “Of course! As soon as I was selected, I told him right away, and I swore I’d prove my worth to him.”

 

Qu Yanting asked, “Anyone else?”

 

Lu Wen said, “I also told my childhood friends, classmates, relatives, neighbors— even the security guard in my community. When the casting news came out, I shared it in every group chat I’m in. Everyone who knows me knows I’m the male lead.”

 

Suddenly, Qu Yanting said, “Have you ever thought that maybe your dad was right?”

 

Lu Wen was stunned. “Huh?”

 

Qu Yanting said, “Parents raise their children out of love and responsibility, but it’s also like an investment. Your dad probably knows you better than anyone. If the return on investment is too low, why make a losing bet?”

 

Lu Wen was dumbfounded for a few seconds. “What do you mean…? Just because I’m not famous now doesn’t mean I never will be. Why assume I’ll never succeed? Why assume investing in me is a losing bet?”

 

Qu Yanting asked, “And what makes you think you’ll succeed? Because you needed six takes for two scenes? Because your acting is emotionally lacking?”

 

Lu Wen was suddenly at a loss for words. He’d almost forgotten the earlier conversation during the comforting and small talk, but Qu Yanting had brought it back full circle, cutting straight to the point.

 

Before he could think of an answer, Qu Yanting switched topics again: “There were a lot of girls outside today. Were any of them your fans?”

 

Damn, he’d rather continue with the last topic.

 

Lu Wen replied, “No.”

 

When a person feels embarrassed, their rationality tends to slip away, leading to even more tragic decisions. Lu Wen stubbornly added, “Most of my fans are overseas.”

 

Qu Yanting didn’t expose him. “What do they like about you? Your face? Your body?”

 

Lu Wen’s scalp tingled. “I think it’s my depth.”

 

“In what aspect?” Qu Yanting calmly analyzed. “There aren’t many scholars among actors. You didn’t even do your homework. Your grades probably weren’t that good in school.”

 

Acting skills, popularity, education— Lu Wen’s vulnerabilities were hit from all angles. But Qu Yanting’s words were also true. Instead of getting angry, a sense of shame that he couldn’t refute rose in Lu Wen’s heart.

 

He left his chair, thinking it best to escape. “Teacher Qu, I’ll be going now.”

 

Qu Yanting lifted his eyelids and said in a still-light tone, “Did I give you permission to leave?”

 

No actor would dare defy a top screenwriter, but Lu Wen was an exception.

 

All the frustration he’d bottled up exploded at once, and he snapped, “My legs are on my body. I’ll leave if I want to. Why do I need your permission? Yes, you’re impressive. I can’t mess with you, but I can stay far away. I admit my acting is bad, and I accept your criticism. But why should I take your insults? You want me to listen to everything you say? Fine, just add a hundred million to my pay!”

 

He blurted out everything in one go, bracing himself for Qu Yanting to lash out.

 

However, Qu Yanting remained seated, neither angry nor upset, as if he had just listened to a speech.

 

He skipped over the earlier part and answered the last sentence, “Are you worth it?”

 

Lu Wen threw off his coat and said, “I’m not worth it. I’m done with this!”

 

Qu Yanting picked up the school uniform and said, “You can resign; just pay the breach of contract penalty. If you act quickly, the crew can announce the change of roles tonight.”

 

Lu Wen didn’t want to stay for another moment: “Whatever!”

 

He turned to head for the door, but Qu Yanting spoke from behind him, “Once you leave my crew, everyone in the industry will know that you were replaced right after filming began. This will be the peak of your fame. You’ve offended me, and no director in the mainland will hire you in the future, nor will any screenwriter let you take on their script.”

 

In other words, being covertly blacklisted, he should watch out.

 

Lu Wen stood frozen by the door, gripping the handle tightly.

 

Qu Yanting got up and said, “But that’s a later matter. For now, it’s more important to share the news of the role change in every chat group so that your friends, classmates, relatives, neighbors… and who else?”

 

Lu Wen muttered, “The security guards.”

 

With a snap, he felt the string in his mind snap.

 

Losing his job right after starting, and even being blacklisted to the point of leaving the industry—how would he face the people back home, especially his father? Wouldn’t he be unable to hold his head up for the rest of his life?

 

Perhaps…

 

Instead of facing everyone with disgrace, it might be better to endure humiliation in front of one person.

 

Releasing the door handle, Lu Wen turned around with a sense of tragic resignation.

 

Qu Yanting patted the dust off the school uniform and said, “Come here and put your coat on.”

 

Lu Wen walked back, realizing that Qu Yanting wasn’t really trying to have a heart-to-heart talk with him. From testing to setting up, it was all calculated to leave him with no way out, then to humiliate him thoroughly.

 

He unwillingly asked, “If you look down on me so much, why did you still choose me as the lead?”

 

Qu Yanting replied nonchalantly, “Because you’re cheap.”

 

Lu Wen’s pride was completely shattered: “Just because… I’m cheap?”

 

“You know,” Qu Yanting said, “your salary is less than a third of Ruan Feng’s.”

 

Lu Wen was paralyzed with shock. For the first time, he felt the embarrassment of being undervalued financially, his emotions churning with no outlet, his chest tight.

 

Qu Yanting glanced at his watch and said, “Anyway, it’s up to you whether you stay or go.”

 

The crew had already taken their positions, and Qu Yanting went back to the classroom and sat down in front of the monitor.

 

Ren Shu asked, “I didn’t see you with Xiao Lu earlier. Did you give him special instructions?”

 

Qu Yanting said, “As long as you don’t blame me for giving instructions.”

 

Ren Shu said, “We brought you in to save me some trouble. How did it go? Xiao Lu didn’t get into character enough, so you need to help him find the feel of Ye Shan.”

 

Qu Yanting said, “Let’s try another take.”

 

Two minutes later, the script supervisor called for the next take, the seventh.

 

Lu Wen returned to the set, and the change in his performance was noticeable. When the close-up shot was done, Ren Shu was immediately satisfied and praised, “He’s in character.”

 

Lu Wen felt completely wronged, helpless in the face of humiliation, struggling between his pride and reality, and could only submit. He couldn’t distinguish whether he was playing Ye Shan or just himself in a daze.

 

The first two scenes went smoothly. In the third scene, Ye Shan was forced to request to move to the last row of seats.

 

The casting matched Ye Xiaowu, who was unnaturally performed and likely to irritate people. The introverted Ye Shan was hard to play, and every newcomer needed the director’s hands-on guidance.

 

The results were remarkable in a short time. Ren Shu asked, “How did you explain it to him?”

 

Qu Yanting replied, “It wasn’t really an explanation, just a chat.”

 

Ren Shu, being experienced, said, “Considering Xiao Lu’s genuine emotions, the chat must have been quite intense, right?”

 

Qu Yanting said, “Remember this feeling, and he’ll be able to play Ye Shan well.”

 

He understood Lu Wen’s problem. A rich kid who had never faced financial hardship wouldn’t understand the pain of a twenty-yuan book; someone with the capital to act out wouldn’t know the expression of enduring humiliation; a carefree person who had never had their pride trampled wouldn’t understand the power of that feeling of helplessness.

 

What he lacked was empathy.

 

When the take was over, Lu Wen didn’t get up and stayed hunched over his seat, like a frostbitten eggplant.

 

Ren Shu laughed, “The blow seems quite severe. Does he know you’re helping him find the feeling?”

 

Qu Yanting said, “He doesn’t need to know.”

 

Unknowingly, dusk was approaching. With only two scenes left, there were unlikely to be any issues. Qu Yanting had spent the afternoon among the crowd and felt uncomfortable, so he wanted to return to the hotel early to rest.

 

He quietly left through the back door and saw Sun Xiaojian pacing with a water bottle and snacks in the corridor, looking like a grandmother waiting for her grandchild to finish school.

 

As he turned at the stairs and went down, the production assistant met him coming up from the first floor.

 

Xiao Zhang asked, “Director Qu, are you leaving? Have you called the driver?”

 

Qu Yanting nodded, brushed past him, and then suddenly stopped after going down two steps.

 

He called out to the assistant, and Xiao Zhang hurriedly asked, “Director Qu, do you have any instructions?”

 

Qu Yanting asked, “Does Lu Wen only have his agent with him?”

 

Xiao Zhang replied, “Yes, he prefers to keep it simple.”

 

Qu Yanting thought for a moment, recalling the comment “It must be great to sit next to you,” the steaming bowl of millet porridge, and Lu Wen’s silhouette overlapping with Ye Shan’s.

 

He instructed, “Assign an assistant from the crew to him until the end of filming.”