Crossover Actors - Chapter 46

In the Lijing residential area, the nanny van slowly slid into the underground parking lot, its tires screeching against the polished surface, a sharp sound that made Lu Wen immediately put on his headphones.

 

Today was the final day of filming. As the engine turned off, Lu Wen slung his bag over one shoulder and got out of the van, humming a tune as he walked out.

 

It was the end of the year, and many residents had gone back to their hometowns for the holidays, leaving large sections of the parking lot vacant. Sun Xiaojian glanced around and pointed to a corner: “Hey, that’s Director Ren’s Porsche.”

 

Lu Wen glanced at it briefly and said, “It needs a wash.”

 

“It’s filthy,” Sun Xiaojian laughed. “Feels like yesterday when you made a fool of yourself on the first day of shooting, and now here we are at the last.”

 

Lu Wen chuckled too. “It wasn’t a bad deal though—I got a free embroidered pillow from Director Ren.”

 

“Courtesy of Screenwriter Qu!” Sun Xiaojian added.

 

Lu Wen pulled the brim of his hat lower. Today was the wrap-up day, and he had hoped Qu Yanting would come. They had met because of this project, and on this special day, Lu Wen wanted to celebrate with him.

 

But unfortunately, Qu Yanting had said he was busy and probably wouldn’t make it.

 

Sun Xiaojian, always knowing just how to poke the bear, asked, “Hey, do you think Screenwriter Qu will come today?”

 

“Probably not,” Lu Wen shrugged, adjusting the bag on his back. “I’m just a nobody wrapping up, and he’s so busy—what would he come for?”

 

Sun Xiaojian replied, “What does that have to do with you? Wouldn’t Screenwriter Qu come for Director Ren?”

 

“…” Lu Wen rolled his eyes. “Don’t talk to me!”

 

The sky was gray with a hint of blue. The weather forecast predicted snow in the next couple of days. In the studio’s living room, the fireplace was lit, and everyone was sitting cross-legged on cushions. Qu Yanting sat in a chair, legs crossed, surveying the group.

 

This was always the busiest time of year, wrapping up the old projects and setting the stage for the new ones. Qu Yanting had stayed up until past three the night before, sifting through proposals and hadn’t even gone home.

 

In a year, there were only so many scripts he could create, adapt, or work on. Considering market demand, policies, and other factors, he had to carefully plan the themes, a process known as “setting the tone.”

 

Everyone was exhausted. Qu Yanting urged, “Let’s make this quick. Once everything is decided, we can go home.”

 

Each person was reviewing materials on their tablets. Yao Baiqing remarked, “Screenwriter Qu, you’ve done a trend analysis for every genre. That’s quite the undertaking.”

 

Qu Yanting had more connections and access to inside information, so he personally handled the general planning. While the others were still going through the materials, he fiddled with his watch, rubbing the cold sapphire crystal until it warmed up.

 

Yu Nan, sitting nearby, noticed and said, “Boss, it’s not late yet.”

 

“Huh?” Qu Yanting didn’t quite catch on.

 

Yu Nan reminded him, “Aren’t you meeting with Lawyer Chen?”

 

Qu Yanting didn’t respond. What he was really thinking about wasn’t the lawyer. Today was the final day of filming for *The First Night*. If everything went smoothly, they would finish before dark, and this was on his mind.

 

Pulling down his sleeve to cover the watch face, Qu Yanting put the thought aside for now.

 

Once all the projects were decided, everyone left to rest. Qu Yanting went to the reception room to wait for the lawyer. The script title matter was already settled, and now he needed to go over contract details.

 

Lu Wen had changed into his costume: a black leather jacket, narrow sleeves over broad shoulders, and his tall figure gave him a sharp, tough look. His short hair was slightly tousled, making him appear like someone about to win a brawl.

 

Tao Meifan had also finished her makeup. She looked aged and worn, with much of her hair now gray. Lu Wen, without any sense of propriety, said, “Oh my god, Mom, how did you end up like this?”

 

“What do you mean like this?” Tao Meifan, sitting on the sofa under a blanket, responded, “A son never finds his mother ugly, don’t you know that?”

 

Lu Wen snuggled up next to her. Whether playing Ye Shan or Ye Xiaowu, he cherished every scene with Tao Meifan. He had so many fantasies about a mother from his childhood, and this film gave him a real experience of that.

 

Qu Yanting had once said he was grateful that Lu Wen had brought his own fantasies to life, but the feeling was mutual.

 

Lu Wen adjusted the blanket and sweetly said, “Teacher Tao, even with makeup like this, you still look beautiful.”

 

“Cut it out,” Tao Meifan laughed. Having spent months together, she knew him well enough. She reached out and touched his face. “Your mother must be a beauty to have given birth to such a handsome son.”

 

They hadn’t even started filming yet, and the “mother and son” were already getting sentimental. Ren Shu, dressed in a down jacket, shouted across the room, “Non-essential personnel, clear the set! Positions, everyone!”

 

In the living room, the TV volume was turned down low. Ye’s mother had caught a cold, nothing serious, but she had been coughing persistently. Ye Xiaowu had come to take care of her, cooking a bowl of congee.

 

Ye’s mother, her sense of taste dulled, stared blankly at her son.

 

At first, she thought Ye Shan was pretending to be Ye Xiaowu to comfort her. But as Ye Shan spent less and less time with her, and as she spent more time with the “Ye Xiaowu” by her side, she gradually began to notice something was off about Ye Shan.

 

“Xiaowu…” Ye’s mother hesitantly asked, “What have you been up to lately?”

 

Ye Xiaowu replied, “I’m singing at a place in the evenings. Not every night, we take turns.”

 

“Is it a legitimate place?” she asked.

 

“Of course it is.” Ye Xiaowu stirred the congee. “Mom, don’t worry. I can take care of myself.”

 

Her gaze wandered, and she said softly, “Just don’t work too hard.”

 

“It’s not hard. I enjoy singing,” Ye Xiaowu joked. “High school was much tougher for me, being crushed every day.”

 

Tao Meifan’s expression tightened as she carefully grabbed Lu Wen’s arm and said, “That incident with the exam admission ticket… it was my fault you suffered.”

 

Lu Wen paused slightly, then continued stirring the overcooked rice. Smiling, he said, “Mom, you’re being funny. I got into a good school, didn’t I? What’s there to feel bad about?”

 

Ye’s mother instantly deflated, like a wilting flower. As the years passed and Ye Shan distanced himself more and more from her, she finally realized that it was her own hand that had destroyed their relationship.

 

Every time Ye Shan appeared as Ye Xiaowu, she couldn’t help but recall those days when she doted on Ye Xiaowu, wondering what kind of feelings Ye Shan had as he hid in the shadows, watching.

 

“I…” Ye’s mother said with difficulty, “I wronged your brother.”

 

Ye Xiaowu set down the bowl and stared at the TV screen. “Mom, you’re overthinking it. My brother’s fine. He went to a top university, has a good job, sends money every month, and pays for a nice place like this.”

 

Ye’s mother trembled and said, “But he won’t see me!”

 

After the loud outburst, there was a moment of silence. Lu Wen rested his elbows on his splayed knees, head bowed, and spoke the next line in a low voice, “Anyway, you don’t like him.”

 

Lu Wen stood up, stomped his feet to flatten the wrinkles in his pants, grabbed his phone and keys, and left. As he walked, he said, “Mom, there’s still porridge in the pot. Call me if you want something else, and I’ll order it for you. It’s been snowing these past few days, try to stay indoors, and we’ll talk when you’re better.”

 

At the doorway, he grabbed the doorknob.

 

Ye’s Mother half-lay on the sofa, screaming hysterically, “—Ye Shan!”

 

The years of self-deception were shattered by a single shout. Ye Shan froze in place, not turning around, not looking back. He had long lost the ability to face his mother with his true self.

 

Admitting it, coming clean, accounting for Xiao Wu’s death, digging up the past to reconnect broken emotions… it all seemed meaningless.

 

Lu Wen turned the doorknob and strode out.

 

Behind him, the director called cut, and cheers erupted—Tao Meifan had wrapped her shoot.

 

There was still one more scene to film. The camera crew carried their equipment to the elevator, but Lu Wen, finding it too crowded, took the emergency stairs. Each floor had a small window, letting in a cold, biting winter wind.

 

Just a few steps left. Lu Wen stopped, pulled out his phone, and opened WeChat.

 

He still held onto a faint hope as he messaged Qu Yanting: *Mr. Qu, are you finished yet?*

 

“Take care.” Qu Yanting had just sent Lawyer Chen off. It was almost 5 PM, and he still had to meet the accountant later to sign off on year-end settlements.

 

Returning to the reception room, Qu Yanting retrieved his phone from under the scattered documents and replied truthfully to Lu Wen’s message: *Still a bit more to do.*

 

*Lu Wen*: *Hmm, I was just asking casually.*

 

Qu Yanting didn’t want to make any empty promises, so he said nothing further and ended the conversation.

 

Lu Wen descended the last few steps and walked out of the apartment building, shivering from the cold. The final scene would be shot downstairs—Ye Shan leaving home and quietly breaking down on the roadside.

 

It was winter, and it got dark early. The sky was overcast, and the lighting was poor. Director Kang recalled the rain-soaked car crash scene: “Say what you will, but Qu’s lighting work is really something.”

 

Duan Meng agreed: “Yeah, everything was set up perfectly. Once the effect came through, it was stunning.”

 

Ren Shu came down and overheard them: “I’m jealous now!”

 

Leaning dumbly against a utility pole, Lu Wen couldn’t blame himself for constantly thinking about Qu Yanting. None of them had forgotten him, and hearing others praise Qu, Lu Wen couldn’t help but feel pleased.

 

But his happiness lasted only two seconds before Ren Shu shouted at him: “Get into position! What are you grinning at out here?”

 

The final scene of the drama was filmed under a sky heavy with dark clouds. Ye Shan emerged from the apartment building, walking alone against the wind, his steps dragging slowly.

 

He stopped by the roadside, a streetlight above him casting shadows of the bare tree branches on the ground, shivering in the cold. With one foot resting on the step, he crouched down and pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket.

 

Ye Shan bit down on a cigarette, lit it, and took a slow drag, cheeks tightening.

 

Faint snowflakes drifted down, swirling around the orange-red ember, both freezing and searing. Ye Shan exhaled a cloud of smoke, and as the haze dissipated, tears had already fallen on his face.

 

Lu Wen’s scenes were now completely wrapped up.

 

Applause broke out all around him as Lu Wen stood up, immediately swarmed by people hugging him and pulling him into photos. He had watched his colleagues finish and leave the set with envy, and now that it was his turn, he found himself more at a loss than overjoyed.

 

Sun Xiaojian held Li Dapeng’s hand reverently: “Peng-ge, thank you for all your help along the way! If you ever feel like leaving the crew, come work at our company!”

 

Xiao Zhang pushed them: “Are you trying to poach him? Go, go, go! Let’s pack up and head to the wrap party!”

 

Ren Shu immediately asked, “Where’s the cake we got for Lu Wen?!”

 

“It’s upstairs!” someone yelled. “Let’s head up first!”

 

The group bustled into the building, while Lu Wen lagged behind, pacing alone under the streetlamp once everyone was gone.

 

Still holding that cigarette, nearly burned out now, its ember dim, Lu Wen thought of Qu Yanting’s lonely figure smoking outside the market in Chongqing.

 

Nightfall blanketed the ground, which quickly froze into a thin layer of ice and snow. Lu Wen crouched by the curb, pulled out his phone, and dialed Qu Yanting’s number.

 

It rang three or five times before it was answered—sooner than he had expected.

 

“Mr. Qu,” Lu Wen’s breath steamed in the cold air, “I’ve wrapped.”

 

Qu Yanting said, “Congratulations.”

 

Lu Wen replied, “Thank you.”

 

“I just finished up and was about to leave the office,” Qu Yanting’s voice was tired. “I won’t be able to congratulate you in person.”

 

Lu Wen laughed: “It’s alright, it’s snowing. I wouldn’t want you to drive so far anyway.”

 

Qu Yanting said, “Well… that’s that, then.”

 

“Mm,” Lu Wen said, “Drive safely.”

 

After hanging up, the last trace of hope within Lu Wen faded completely. He stood, brushed the snow off his shoulders, and headed toward the building’s entrance. He resembled a child on their first day of kindergarten, waiting in vain to be picked up after school.

 

His shoes scraped the ground as Lu Wen trudged to the middle of the road.

 

Suddenly, a pair of blinding headlights beamed directly at him.

 

Lu Wen turned, squinting from the glaring light, unable to make out anything. In a blur, he heard the sharp screech of tires skidding to a stop two meters away on the icy road.

 

The car lights flicked off with a snap, revealing a black Bentley gleaming coldly.

 

Through the snow and mist-covered windows, the face of the driver was unclear. Then, with a click, the door opened, and Lu Wen’s heart skipped a beat.

 

Qu Yanting stepped out from the passenger side, cradling a large bouquet of lemon-colored lilies in one arm.

 

Lu Wen was stunned, his mind going blank. On the phone, Qu Yanting had clearly said… So, this was a surprise?

 

As always, his body moved faster than his brain. Before he could think it through, he was already sprinting toward Qu Yanting.

 

“Mr. Qu!” Lu Wen panted, “…Why did you come?”

 

“What do you think?”

 

Suddenly, Lu Wen’s arms were full of flowers, heavy and fragrant.

 

Qu Yanting smiled at him: “Lead actor, happy wrap.”