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If given a choice between “stable but meaningless” and “spectacular but risky,” Shen He would choose the latter.
His appearance was one of his advantages, yet it was also a constraint he couldn’t shed quickly. He didn’t want to be excluded from casting calls for projects he felt strongly about, and he also worried about being lectured into losing himself by an agent with differing opinions, wasting time for nothing.
Unlike Shen Zhi, Shen He often had an extraordinary sense of crisis in most matters.
He was more prone to worry and anxiety than her, and also more daring and decisive.
Shen He said, “It’s a reliable suggestion, after all. The next resource might not be as stable, right? You’re acting so hard; don’t you want to get as big a piece of the pie as possible?”
Shen He said, “Our popularity isn’t at that level yet. Marriage would just attract attention, and our gains would definitely outweigh our losses. You might as well consider it.”
Shen He said, “Precisely because there’s no emotion, it’s suitable for us to each take what we need and then go our separate ways when the time comes.”
He said these words expressionlessly, leaving her too astonished to speak.
When Shen He once again brought up, “Let’s get married,” Shen Zhi finally couldn’t help but spray all the pizza in her mouth onto him.
She didn’t do it on purpose, but the result, by a strange twist of fate, perfectly suited her intentions.
He was truly incomprehensible.
However, Shen He didn’t feel humiliated at all. He unhurriedly found a tissue, handed it to Shen Zhi first, and then cleaned himself.
She said, “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
He said, “No need to pretend you didn’t hear.”
She was enraged by his nonchalant attitude: “We’ve known each other for so many years—”
He continued, “We’ve even been to bed together—”
If Shen Zhi was just a little angry a moment ago, now she was infuriated and embarrassed. She rarely lost her composure to this extent, and it was almost always related to him. “Shut up! Don’t say another word!” Shen Zhi snapped, gripping the handle and looking straight ahead, “Drive!”
Why didn’t she get out of the car?
Later, Shen Zhi recalled this evening countless times. She was so resistant, so unwilling, yet in the end, she didn’t get out of the car.
Perhaps it was because the road was too difficult to walk at night, or perhaps because she was tired.
Perhaps it was because she trusted him, in a way. Even if they didn’t like each other.
Regardless, Shen He must have seen through this.
________________________________________
To highlight the narrow-mindedness of the second female lead and showcase the female lead’s courage in love, one scene required Shen Zhi to slap the female lead, and then be slapped back.
To make matters worse, for editing purposes, they needed to film several close-up takes.
Compared to the one being slapped, Shen Zhi, the one doing the slapping, was so nervous her palms were sweating.
Especially with the investor of this drama watching from behind the camera.
Shen Zhi apologized beforehand.
The other party didn’t mince words with her and directly said, “Don’t touch my face.”
Shen Zhi had already adopted the cold expression fitting her role.
She did as told.
Then it was her turn to be slapped.
Evidently, acting out such content with the camera extremely close had uncontrollable factors.
When the slap landed, fortunately, Shen Zhi instinctively stepped back, which prevented her face from swelling up immediately.
Filming stopped immediately, and staff promptly brought ice packs. The female lead stood aside, rubbing her slightly twisted hand, and her agent immediately came over to apologize.
Shen Zhi knew this could only be called an accident.
She had no intention of blaming anyone.
It’s just that there were more people gathered to comfort the female lead than those who came to ask about her.
That day also had a night shoot. After finishing, she returned, exhausted to the point of not wanting to think about anything extra. However, a feeling of frustration still permeated her body like an electric shock.
Ouyang Sheng sent a message saying she would visit the set.
Shen Zhi didn’t reply.
Unexpectedly, she actually came a few days later.
And she didn’t come alone.
Ouyang Sheng had also appeared in Revisiting the Old Place during university, but now she was slacking off. This time, she brought someone Shen Zhi hadn’t expected.
Zhang Qingyue was Zhang Jiangnan’s daughter, now a highly nationally recognized actress. Her most recently reported work was an American commercial film.
Entering Hollywood was a dream for a large portion of actors in China.
However, for them, Zhang Qingyue was more than just that.
When Shen Zhi and her cohort were undergraduates, Zhang Qingyue happened to be applying for her master’s degree. Plus, due to her father, she was like a goddess in the eyes of the students at school.
Especially the boys.
Many people secretly had a crush on Zhang Qingyue.
Why was she here?
Shen Zhi had no friendship with Zhang Qingyue.
This question was answered when she saw Zhang Qingyue run towards Shen He.
Shen Zhi and Ouyang Sheng were on the balcony, smoking and talking, when suddenly, they saw two figures, a man and a woman, in the verdant garden downstairs.
Shen He and Zhang Qingyue were sitting on opposite sides of a table, talking.
“Qinghe Chenyue” (a poetic name implying clear river and sinking moon, often used to describe a pair), a talented man and a beautiful woman, looking very intimate.
Ouyang Sheng said, “So it wasn’t just Shen He’s unrequited love.”
Shen Zhi watched quietly.
Ouyang Sheng continued, “Didn’t many people in our class like Zhang Qingyue? Shen He was the most likely one. She specifically came to see him at the graduation play and even gave him flowers. But in the end, the two of them didn’t become a couple.”
“Why was that?” Her indifference finally broke, and she couldn’t help but ask.
“I don’t know,” Ouyang Sheng said truthfully. “No one knows except the people involved.”
What were the man and woman in the distance chatting about? Zhang Qingyue occasionally showed her fair profile, like a bright moon, but Shen He never shifted his body, making it impossible to see his expression.
“I really want to know,” Ouyang Sheng flicked off the cigarette ash.
Shen Zhi stared intently at the back of Shen He’s head.
________________________________________
That afternoon, they were filming the scene where the male protagonist and the second female lead go to the valley to commit suicide together.
Shen Zhi had changed her clothes and was pacing around the set, breathing deeply, building up her emotions.
She accidentally saw Shen He emerge after communicating with the director. They exchanged glances but weren’t in a hurry to speak. It wasn’t warm spring or summer weather; they were about to go into the water. Shen Zhi couldn’t help but ask, “The one who came to see you today was Teacher Zhang’s daughter?”
Shen He replied without concealment, “Yes.”
“How do you feel?” She turned her head to look at him.
It was said that every man had a Notting Hill complex. With a female celebrity of that caliber coming specifically for him, in plain sight, it must be a very honorable thing.
He was silent for a moment.
Shen He’s expression didn’t change; he said bluntly and ordinarily, “I feel like she’s an idiot.”
She knew his thoughts were unusual, but she hadn’t expected them to be this extreme.
Shen Zhi felt uncontrollably confused.
“She wants to be Snow White, likes everyone to revolve around her like dwarfs. Having what’s in her bowl, but still looking at what’s in the pot. Now she’s going to Hollywood, and she’s still being emotional here, saying silly things like ‘I actually have feelings for you.’ To put it plainly, she’s telling me not to leave her fish pond.” Shen He’s words weren’t overtly aggressive, yet because they were too real, they seemed so sharp. “Why does this woman always think everyone else is an idiot?”
Shen Zhi was speechless for a moment.
She glimpsed his unfeeling side.
Heartless people don’t make mistakes so easily. However, Shen He in his twenties was precisely an adventurer. He embodied such contradictions, full of vitality, fragile, and unshakable, reminding Shen Zhi of the sensation of a beating heart.
“But if she gets smarter, I might change my mind,” he said, his gaze shedding the previous sarcasm.
She looked at his profile and, caught off guard, suddenly smiled.
He smiled back at her.
The two held hands and walked into the river water together.
It had rained for the past few days.
The original filming plan was to postpone, but unfortunately, everyone had other schedules later, and equipment had been paid for, so they couldn’t afford to delay and had to continue.
The scene was chosen next to a small waterfall in the mountains. Silver-like streams of water fell from the cliff, and Shen He and Shen Zhi stood within it. The water, which should have been waist-deep, now reached their chests. Although more suitable for performance, it was difficult for the two actors entering the water.
Their emotions were just right. After “action” came the clapboard. The slender waterfall cascaded ceaselessly, and the river trembled.
“‘I love you,’” Shen Zhi said.
“‘I hate you,’” Shen He said.
“‘I hate you too,’” Shen Zhi said.
In the shot, their faces were filled with despair and exhaustion. They didn’t look at each other but firmly held each other’s hands.
Before the next line, Shen Zhi burst into sorrowful sobs, while Shen He’s face was numb before liberation. Just then, the crew suddenly became chaotic.
Due to the humidity, the equipment wouldn’t turn on.
Their performance had to be stopped.
The assistant wanted to pull them to the shallows but was told it should be ready soon. She vaguely heard a script supervisor complaining that there had been no problems yesterday. But yesterday was an important scene for the female lead, different from theirs today.
In this industry, it’s survival of the fittest.
If you’re not famous, you’ll only be oppressed until old age, until death, until you leave the industry, or until you become famous.
Shen He and Shen Zhi waited in the water.
It was getting dark. If they didn’t finish filming, they would have to continue another day. She had only slept a few hours and was currently on a diet for the camera. The promised “soon” turned into “almost.” The water wasn’t shallow; the riverbed was hard and cold stones. Shen Zhi was on her tiptoes. Shen He pulled her hand, placing it on his shoulder, allowing her to put her weight on him.
Cold, hungry, tired, and sleepy.
Shen Zhi wrapped her arms around Shen He’s neck, leaning on him, and he supported her.
She wasn’t sure if she wanted to move forward or if she wanted something to lean on.
Or perhaps both.
The water rustled down, like shooting stars dying in broad daylight, hitting the valley without desire. He held her, both of them stiff and resolute, gazing into the unknown.
“Let’s get married,” Shen Zhi said.
Sometimes, she would also regret it.
But even this only made one exclaim—”It feels just like a real marriage.”
Even though it relied entirely on acting.
Shen He said, “With the greatest pleasure.”
________________________________________
In a glittering studio six years later, the host tossed a question from the teleprompter to the guests: “It’s well-known that Shen He is one of the top powerhouse actors in the current entertainment industry, and Shen Zhi is an irreplaceable powerhouse actress. These two, who were university classmates, also got married six years ago. You truly are a talented young couple, a match made in heaven. Could you tell us about your proposal?” The director silently signaled, the audience applauded, and the camera cut to the seats on the other side.
The shot showed a man and a woman.
Just by looking at the man’s appearance, one could develop an incredible fondness; it was that kind of impeccably refined look.
The woman was also radiant and captivating. Not exactly approachable, but when she slightly narrowed her eyes, there was always a sense of aloof mystery.
Perhaps it was the widely rumored “couple’s resemblance” at play. Their features, when viewed separately, didn’t look alike; one could only say they were simply beautiful people. But when put together, they oddly resembled each other for some unknown reason.
“At a very good time, in a very good place—” Shen Zhi clapped her hands and smiled.
Shen He continued, “It was very romantic.”