~Translated by Avis~

T/N: Also, just in case you haven't realised yet, italicised words in the main text are words I keep in pinyin (excluding names), and whenever I use the word ‘scram', I refer to the word 滾, which literally means ‘roll', as it is sometimes translated by others.

Also, sorry, I made a mistake regarding the name of the film that SJY/JLG and SY were in. Previously it was “Cricket”, but I've now changed it to “Dormancy”.

WRS Arc 2 – Chapter 8

Zheng Qi gave Su You a once-over, then refused him without hesitation: "There's no need for an interview, you do not fit the image of Gu Ji in my heart."

"Director Zheng, without even interviewing, how do you know if he fits or not?" Su You smiled without a care. He casually took off his hat and combed his fingers through his hair.

Opening his eyes again, Su You's temperament had changed entirely.

Surprisingly, his eyes suddenly came to life, containing an indescribable youthful energy. The light in his eyes glistened, seemingly filled with vision and unlimited reverie for the future. The corners of his lips rose slightly, and the most beautiful scene of youth was condensed in that smile of his, "Jinshu, shall we play basketball together?"

With one sentence, he pulled everyone into the world of He Jinshu and Gu Ji.

In one's days of youth, one should be like this, leading a fine life, behaving most wildly and arrogantly, even one's words are full of high spirit and enthusiasm.

("鮮衣怒馬", which means 'wear fresh clothes and ride spirited horses')

"Pa pa—" Applause abruptly sounded within the empty room. Director Zheng clapped his hands energetically while praising him: "Fairly good performance."

But just when Su You was prepared to recieve the next sentence, Director Zheng suddenly changed the direction of his speech: "But it's only a fairly good 'performance', do you understand? Since it was a performance, it means that you are still not truly Gu Ji. Hence, this role of mine still can't be given to you."

This was something Su You did not expect, "What does Director Zheng think I still lack?"

"It's not about what is lacking, but rather, what is excessive." Zheng Dao said in a manner like telling a riddle. "You have something more compared to Gu Ji, so you can't act out the Gu Ji I want."

Su You's brows rose, "What's excessive?"

Director Zheng shot a glance at Shen Jiayan and did not say anymore, but his meaning was already self-evident. Director Zheng's tone contained pity as he said, "If it's before you no longer have that something more, it would be more than enough for you to act as Gu Ji."

Su You was no longer confused after he finished listening to this sentence. Instead, he smiled until his whole face was as sweet as honey. His pair of slightly slender phoenix eyes were curved into bridges, his smile revealed neat white teeth: "I got it, then I shall not bother Director Zheng's audition for my Luoge."

After he finished saying this, Su You not only went out, but also very considerately closed the door from the outside.

Director Zheng: This kid clearly understood what he meant, but why did he still feel somewhat uncomfortable?

Director Zheng diligently put aside this feeling, reverting to the level that a professional director should have. He said to Shen Jiayan, "Try the part where He Jinshu sees the admission notice of Gu Ji's college entrance examination. No one will act with you; have a try at performing a one-man show by yourself."

"Okay," Shen Jiayan gladly agreed, sketching out all the scenes in his mind.

Shen Jiayan knocked on the door of Gu Ji's home. His slender index finger was slightly bent, and the rhythm of the knocking seem to have a kind of relaxed feel to it. From the detailed design of the scene, one could see that he was in a good mood at the moment.

From time to time, his pair of almond eyes would peer into the house through the peephole. It seemed as if he was wondering why there was still no one in the house coming to open the door. Meanwhile, his other hand would periodically touch the bag hanging on his waist, as if no matter how much he touches it, it still wasn't enough.

("貓眼", interestingly, the word used here is literally 'cat's eye')

Director Zheng only needed to think about it and understood, He Jinshu's admission notice was placed in this bag of his!

The person inside the house opened the door. Shen Jiayan walked in with a cheerful gait, and even specially included some climax: "Gu Ji, I have a piece of good news to tell you, why don't you guess what is it?"

It was unknown what that person said, Shen Jiayan mouthed slightly, but in the next second, he couldn't help but laugh: "Alright then, I'll tell you, it's-"

Shen Jiayan spoke halfway, and unexpectedly stopped, as if his throat had been blocked by something. It was only after a while that he slowly turned around to look in the direction of that person: "Gu Ji, your admission notice has arrived? It's N City's T University?"

That person probably uttered a sound of "yes." Shen Jiayan's head was lowered, his eyes became slightly red. He blinked his eyes furiously, but the more his blinked, the more his eyes seemed to mist with water. He stiffened his face and squeezed out a smile that was even uglier than crying: "Since it's like this, then congratulations to you. Gu Ji, I suddenly remembered that I still have some business to do today, so I'll leave first."

But the moment he went out the door, the tears in the corners of his eyes finally streamed down his cheeks. A stagger, and finally, in a place where that person could not see, he cried in loud sobs.

"That's enough." Director Zheng found it hard to describe his feelings at that moment. He felt as if he had just witnessed with his own eyes a piece of jade being polished. At the same time, he felt like he suddenly had a lot more ambition—not only did he want to win an award with this movie, but also to shoot this film in such a way that will make it a cla.s.sic, a cla.s.sic that will be circulated and pa.s.sed down!

Director Zheng immediately clapped the clapperboard: "Good! The role of He Jinshu is now yours."

However, at this time, an a.s.sistant suddenly pulled Director Zheng to a corner and whispered quietly, "Director Zheng, Yang Xu came over just now, and happened to see Ji Luoge auditioning. He just said… said that if Ji Luoge were to be matched with him, then he won't be acting."

Yang Xu was a currently popular little fresh meat. His five features were handsome, and when he laughed, there was a mischievous flavour to it, a favourite of a group of loli fans. In addition, his acting skills were also remarkable, and could be said to be a part of the leading figures of the new generation.

("小鮮肉", a slang for a specific kind of idol, where little = young, fresh = pure and innocent, meat = good-looking guy.)

Before Zheng Qi decided to shoot this film, he also had his own considerations. His film had always been well-praised but had a small audience. So, he thought that this time, if he were to use Yang Xu, it might be possible to raise the popularity of the work.

What's more, Yang Xu's appearance and character was similar to Gu Ji's by nine points, it could almost be said to be a natural performance.

However, Yang Xu was now telling him that if Ji Luoge were to join them, he would refuse to perform! Zheng Qi was so angry, his face turned red: "What else did he say?"

"He blew up really badly, saying that he originally did not want to accept this kind of subject matter, and it was only after he considered your—Director Zheng's—face that he came. Who knew, you still found someone with such a rotten reputation for him to act with…"

("發了好大一通的火", literally something like 'ignited a really big fire')

The a.s.sistant's voice gradually lowered in volume, "Director Zheng, shall we just have Ji Luoge replaced?"

Speaking of Ji Luoge, the a.s.sistant was also a bit worried in his heart. Currently, Ji Luoge and Su You's matters have been boiling over. She didn't want this movie to gain a bad name before it even aired, just because of Ji Luoge alone.

Zheng Qi gave a sneer and overturned a chair next to him with one kick: "Tell Yang Xu, let him scram!"

"Director Zheng, what did you say?" The a.s.sistant almost suspected that there was something wrong with his ears. What did Director Zheng just say, let Yang Xu scram?

Zheng Qi did not even turn his head to say: "Tell Yang Xu, this drama does not need him to act anymore. Also, call Su You over for me!" Yang Xu, such a good opportunity, yet you let it go in vain. I hope that when you think about it in the future, you won't ever regret it.

After the actors were settled, on Director Zheng's side, he began to get busy with providing closed-door training for the both of them. Su You and Shen Jiayan had different trainings, so they were completely unable to see each other before the official filming.

On the other side, the operation of boycotting Su You and Ji Luoge online and on Weibo became increasingly intense. There were more and more people partic.i.p.ating in it, threatening that as long as it was a work that the two of them were acting in, they would refuse to watch it.

This activity had been going on until today. Looking at more and more directors and companies posting news of their refusal to cooperate with the two of them, they had a strange sense of satisfaction in their hearts. So much so that later on, there were some people who did not remember why they had originally decided to oppose, they were just opposing for the sake of opposing.

However, among the fruits of the victory, the notice of "Absolutely Won't Change Any Actors" issued on Xie Yun's Weibo was particularly dazzling.

It's just that Xie Yun was an internationally renowned director, so they had no way to attack him directly. Then they would just refuse to watch, this should generally be good enough?

The first half season of Xie Yun's "Dormancy" had already been filmed and could be broadcasted. However, after the official broadcast on the major TV stations, the ratings were very bleak compared to his previous achievements—the total ratings could not reach 1, and it was ranked eleventh amongst all the TV shows.

This kind of achievement could be said to be obviously humiliating for Xie Yun. But Xie Yun was just like a person with no problems, continuously cutting film all day, or leisurely strolling around, not one bit worried about the results of "Dormancy".

Even if the ratings were lower still, there would still be people watching it regardless.

It was uncertain when it started, the topic regarding "Dormancy" began to appear on Weibo, and a small group of peculiar fans also quietly emerged.

("畫風清奇", could also be translated as 'picturesque', often used online to describe something that is strange in a wonderful, beautiful and novel way.)

Their daily condition changed with the content of the film being aired.

"The adorable interaction between Shen Yu and Zhu Fu is really killing me! Isn't it an arrogant, cold and cruel shou and a sunny, loyal dog gong? Ao ao ao, Shen Yu said what not wanting a blind dog, obviously it's him who can't bear his own gong gouging out his eyes."

"f.u.c.k, why do I always feel that Zhu Fu is a little weird? I'm really scared, he won't be betraying my Beauty Shen, right? Absolutely cannot, I'll cry my eyes out."

"Zhu Fu, you're such a sc.u.m gong, my Beauty Shen is not only really good-looking, but also really good-looking, and also really good-looking, how could you be hard-hearted enough to go undercover? Beauty Shen absolutely shouldn't be deceived by this sc.u.m gong, quickly come into my arms."

"The part where Beauty Shen licks blood is simply enchanting, I am precisely that finger. Beauty Shen quickly kick away that sc.u.m gong, stay with me instead! Finally, I still have one sentence to say, my Beauty Shen expectedly has a harsh mouth but a soft heart. The things he says are poisonous, yet isn't he secretly setting him free?"

"I have already gone through the first ten episodes countless of times, so to speak, when can the second half of the season be seen? Everyone, quickly brush up the ratings, in order to see our Beauty Shen, ganbatte."

("乾巴爹", p.r.o.nounced as 'ganbaye', the Chinese transliteration of the j.a.panese word for jiayou.)

Just like this, the ratings climbed up all the way from the eleventh place, finally climbing to first place. Among them, there were countless people who were unable to restrain their curiosity after all. Just one look, and since then, they fell into enemy hands.

Shen Yu and Zhu Fu's CP tower had already been built up high, countless great hands began to write fanfiction and draw cute little comic series, extremely marvellous without exception. There were some people who went from liking the character in the drama to liking the real person, and more people had the large gates to a new world opened for them, never to be able to go back out again.

Just a glimpse of FuYu and a lifelong mistake is made, from then on, bg becomes a pa.s.ser-by.

("復鈺", the CP/pairing/s.h.i.+p name of the two characters. And 'bg', written that way by the author, refers to boy x girl relations.h.i.+ps)

T/N: By the way, I know I've asked this a few times before, but, is the current format for my notes on certain words/phrases okay?

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