Huayu: This director specializes in promoting young actresses.

Chapter 81 Tian Xiwei and Liu Haochun's Art Exam

In the evening, Lin Feng led Tian Xiwei and Liu Haochun into a restaurant with a wooden sign that read "Old Huzhou Cuisine." As soon as they sat down, Tian Xiwei grabbed the menu and exclaimed, "I want sweet and sour fish! And braised pork with dried bamboo shoots!"

"Slow down, no one's going to take it from you." Lin Feng smiled and pushed the teacup in front of her. "Drink some water first. Your voice is hoarse from running all the way here."

Liu Haochun quietly flipped through the menu, her finger pausing on the page for "Silver Fish Soup." She remembered Lin Feng saying that the silver fish from Huzhou were the freshest.

"What does Hao Chun want to eat?" Lin Feng asked.

"Silver fish soup will do," she said softly.

"Add another poached chicken." Lin Feng closed the menu and handed it to the waiter, then turned to Xiao Tian, ​​"You just said you wanted to go to university?"

"Yeah!" Xiaotian said, picking at her chopsticks, her eyes sparkling. "There's so much homework in high school. I'm writing until 10 p.m. every day, and my mom is always making me memorize vocabulary. I think Haochun and the other art students have it so good; they don't have to do so many problems."

"You think being an art student is easy?" Lin Feng tapped her on the head. "Hao Chun gets up at five every morning to practice his early morning exercises, and he also has to study performance theory at night. He works much harder than you."

Liu Haochun smiled sheepishly, "It's not too hard, you get used to it." She looked at Xiaotian, "We've been preparing for our professional courses at the Beijing Film Academy recently, and the teacher said that both lines and physical expression are very important."

"I'm preparing too!" Xiaotian immediately puffed out her chest. "I practice my self-introduction in front of the mirror every day, and I even have my mom as my audience to give me feedback."

"That's good." Lin Feng picked up a piece of braised pork for her. "These next few days, spend more time on set and observe how the senior actors move and deliver their lines. There's a lot to learn."

"Okay, Brother Feng!" Xiao Tian said, his mouth stuffed full.

The next day at lunchtime, Tian Xiwei took out sliced ​​sausages from the thermos and put a few pieces into Lin Feng and Liu Haochun's bowls: "Try it quickly, it's Sichuan-style sausages made by my mom. She specially brought them for Brother Feng, saying that you can't taste the flavor of your hometown when you're away from home."

Lin Feng took a bite, and the spicy and savory flavor exploded on his tongue, instantly evoking a sense of homesickness. "Auntie's cooking is still so good," he said with a smile. "The last time I ate it was during Chinese New Year last year; your mom packed a whole bag full for me."

"My mom told you to eat more, she's worried you'll lose weight." Xiaotian added some more to his bowl. "Haochun, you eat too, this isn't very spicy, it's only mildly spicy."

Liu Haochun took a bite and his eyes lit up: "Delicious, much more fragrant than what you buy in the supermarket."

"Of course, my mom uses Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers from our hometown," Xiaotian said proudly.

When there was no filming in the afternoon, Tian Xiwei moved a small stool and sat next to the monitor, holding a small notebook in her hand, jotting down notes every now and then.

When watching the scene where Wang Ou plays Su Mengdie being surrounded by reporters, she quietly told Liu Haochun, "Sister Ou's eyes are so sharp. Even though she didn't say anything, I felt that she was very wronged."

Liu Haochun nodded, gesturing lightly with his finger on his knee: "When she turned around, her shoulder slumped slightly; that detail is so realistic."

Lin Feng overheard this from the side, and thankfully the two girls weren't just focused on playing.

On the third day, Liu Haochun's scenes were filmed. A magnificent stage was set up in the studio, with a spotlight shining in the center. Liu Haochun, wearing a white dance dress, stood there like a magnolia bud about to bloom.

"Are you ready?" Lin Feng asked, looking at her through the monitor.

Liu Haochun took a deep breath and nodded.

The clapperboard fell, and she slowly raised her head, the spotlight instantly illuminating her face. No lines, no movements; she simply stood there, her eyes, initially timid, slowly softening with a hazy light, as if concealing a thousand unspoken thoughts.

As the camera zoomed in, her eyelashes trembled slightly, a tear slid down her cheek, but a faint smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

"Cut! Perfect!" The moment Lin Feng called "cut," the set was silent for a few seconds, then applause erupted.

Wang Ou walked over and patted Liu Haochun on the shoulder: "Little girl, you acted well. Your eyes are expressive."

Liu Haochun blushed and whispered, "Thank you, Sister Ou."

Tian Xiwei ran over, grabbed her arm, and stared wide-eyed: "Haochun! You were amazing just now! How could you just suddenly produce that tear? And that smile, it really made my heart ache!"

"I...I don't know either." Liu Haochun was a little confused. "I just thought of the nightingale standing on the stage, feeling scared but also wanting to shine, and the tears just fell down on their own."

"That's talent." Raymond Lam walked over and handed her a bottle of water. "Your understanding of the character is spot on. You've improved so much since you played her best friend last time."

He looked at Liu Haochun and suddenly remembered the first time he saw her. This girl was dancing in the dance studio, her eyes full of pure joy.

Now there's something more to it: a deeper understanding of acting, an empathy for the character, like a rough gem being polished to reveal its first gleam.

"Did you secretly sign up for classes behind my back?" Tian Xiwei persisted, pinching and shaking her cheek. "Tell me, what's your secret?"

"Really not." Liu Haochun laughed and dodged the question. "It was Brother Feng who taught me to 'carry the character with you,' so I tried to imagine myself as the Nightingale."

"See?" Lin Feng tapped Xiao Tian on the head. "He's putting his heart into it, and what are you doing? All you do is look at handsome actors all day."

"I didn't!" Tian Xi stiffened her neck slightly, but felt a little uncomfortable inside. She remembered when they filmed "Take My Brother Away," Liu Haochun played her best friend, and although it was natural, it wasn't quite this good.

But in those few short minutes, she seemed like a completely different person; the light in her eyes was impossible to hide.

In the following days, Tian Xiwei seemed like a different person. She stopped asking Lin Feng for snacks and instead sat on the set every day with a small stool, watching others film with wide eyes, her notebook filled with densely packed words.

"When Teacher Zhang delivers his lines, he gently shakes his head, making it sound more natural." "When Sister Ou cries, she doesn't move her shoulders and only uses her eyes to express herself." "When Brother Feng acts in an angry scene, he secretly clenches his fingers into a fist."

Lin Feng watched this unfold, secretly amused. This girl was just too competitive; a little provocation and she'd charge ahead.

That day, work ended early, and Tian Xiwei approached Lin Feng with her notebook: "Brother Feng, do you think these notes I wrote down are correct?"

Lin Feng flipped through the document, noting how carefully it was written. He pointed to one of the entries: "This observation is quite good. Wang Ou's crying scenes do have a trick. She doesn't rely on screaming, but rather uses details to make the audience empathize."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Actually, you also have advantages. You have a lot of natural talent and you are very immersive when playing young girls. As long as you lay a solid foundation, you will definitely shine."

Tian Xiwei's eyes lit up: "Really?"

"Of course." Lin Feng ruffled her hair. "You're just too quick-witted. If you calm down, you'll definitely be fine."

When Xiaotian ran away with her laptop in her arms, her steps were noticeably lighter.

In early February, Tian Xiwei and Liu Haochun stood at the entrance of the film crew with their suitcases, their noses red from the cold.

"Brother Feng, we're leaving now." Xiao Tian sniffed, her eyes red. "Don't overwork yourself while filming, and remember to eat on time."

"Okay." Lin Feng straightened her scarf. "Message me when you get home. Don't stay up late studying for your exams."

Liu Haochun shoved a plush rabbit into his hand: "Here, take this. Look at it when you're tired from filming." There was a small tag on the rabbit's ear that read "Keep it up."

"Thank you." Lin Feng pinched the rabbit's ears. "Do your best in the retest, I'll be waiting for your good news."

Watching their car disappear into the snow, Lin Feng suddenly felt the set was much emptier. These past few days, Xiao Tian's chatter and Hao Chun's quiet companionship had added a bit of flavor to the otherwise monotonous filming. Wen Muye walked over and patted his shoulder: "What are you thinking about? It's your turn for the next scene."

"It's nothing." Lin Feng stuffed the rabbit into his down jacket pocket. "Let's get started."

The last few days of filming went exceptionally smoothly. Upon learning they would have a holiday on New Year's Eve, the actors were incredibly motivated, reducing the number of takes by half. When Wang Ou filmed his final crying scene, he nailed it in one take, smiling at the camera and saying, "Rushing home to eat dumplings, my performance was completely different."

On the evening of February 6th, after filming the last shot, Raymond Lam announced, "That's a wrap! Everyone go home for the Lunar New Year, see you on the fifth day!" The set erupted in cheers, and some people were already running towards the parking lot with their suitcases.

On the morning of the 7th, Lin Feng finally embarked on his journey back to Shancheng. As soon as the car stopped downstairs, Tian Xiwei, wearing a red down jacket, hugged him tightly: "Brother Feng! You're finally back! I've been waiting for you all morning!"

"How old is he? Why are you still holding him?" Tian's mother said with a smile. "Hurry up and let your brother Feng wash his hands and eat. Your aunt has made some cured pork rib soup."

"No, Feng-ge is warm." Xiao Tian buried her face in his down jacket and said in a muffled voice, "He must not have been eating properly on set, he's lost weight."

Lin Feng laughed and pried her hands away: "If you keep hugging, the soup will get cold. My mom and your mom have been busy all morning."

The two families sat around the dining table, the aroma of cured pork ribs filling the room. Lin's mother placed a piece of rib on Xiaotian's plate: "Eat more, look at you, your face has gotten so thin from the cold."

"Auntie's ribs are the best!" Xiao Tian exclaimed, his mouth bulging. "Brother Feng, you can't get this in Huzhou, can you?"

"I can't get any better than the boxed lunches on set." Lin Feng took a sip of soup, the warmth spreading from his stomach to his whole body. This was the taste of Chinese New Year.

After lunch, Tian Xiwei went home with her parents. As she left, she clung to the doorframe and shouted, "Brother Feng, remember to check out the big glutinous rice ball I posted tomorrow, it's New Year's Eve!"

On New Year's Eve, just as Raymond Lam was about to have breakfast, Xiao Tian posted a photo in the group chat. In her bowl lay a glutinous rice ball bigger than a fist, plump and white like a little ball. "Brother Lam, look! My mom made these glutinous rice balls; she says they symbolize family reunion!"

Lin Feng smiled and sent a picture of his own glutinous rice balls, which were indeed the same size. "A local specialty of Chongqing, we have to have these."

Liu Haochun sent a surprised emoji: "So big? Can you finish it?"

"We can't possibly finish it all!" Xiaotian replied instantly. "My mom said we have to finish it all, otherwise it'll be bad luck. We have to eat until we're stuffed every year."

On the afternoon of the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, Raymond Lam returned to the film crew in Huzhou. When filming resumed on the fifth day, the actors still had the festive spirit of the New Year on their faces.

In mid-February, the day for the preliminary auditions for the Beijing Film Academy arrived. Raymond Lam sent a large red envelope in the group chat: "Good luck! Looking forward to your good news."

"Got it!" Xiao Tian replied instantly. "Don't worry, Brother Feng, I'll definitely pass!"

Liu Haochun sent a "striving" emoji: "We will work hard."

A few days later, the two sent messages one after the other.

"Feng-ge! I passed!" Xiao Tian's voice was filled with excitement. "The examiner even praised me for being talented!"

"Brother Feng, I passed too." Liu Haochun's voice was steady, but a hint of excitement could be heard. "Next, I need to prepare for the second round of interviews."

Raymond Lam replied with a smile, "Well done! Relax during the second round of the exam and just perform normally."

On February 26th, filming wrapped up for "Rise to Fame and Fortune". The moment Raymond Lam shouted "Wrapped!", the actors tossed confetti, and Wen Muye hugged him, yelling, "Junior brother, we did it!"

"We've made it." Raymond Lam patted his back, his eyes a little hot. From preparation to filming wrap-up, more than two months of working day and night had finally come to an end.

The day after returning to Beijing, Lin Feng entered the apartment and saw Xiao Tian and Liu Haochun sitting on the sofa with a pile of review materials spread out in front of them.

"Brother Feng!" Xiao Tian jumped up, "We passed the second round of interviews too!"

"Congratulations." Lin Feng put down his luggage. "Don't be nervous about the third exam. Just treat it like chatting with your teacher."

"But won't the teacher ask some really hard questions?" Liu Haochun asked, a little worried. "I heard there's also an improvisation test."

"Don't be afraid," Lin Feng poured them a glass of water. "Improvisation is all about instinct. You two are very observant of life, so you'll definitely be fine." He looked at Xiao Tian. "Especially you, you're full of clever ideas, which will come in handy now."

"That's right!" Oda proudly raised his chin. "I prepared several short jokes."

In early March, the third round of exams ended. As soon as Xiao Tian stepped out of the exam hall, she called Lin Feng, her voice trembling with excitement: "Brother Feng! The exams are over!"

Liu Haochun also called, sounding very confident: "I feel it went well. My partner and I worked together quite well on the last skit."

That evening, Lin Feng took the two of them and Li Yitong to a private restaurant. Xiao Tian chattered excitedly about the funny things that happened during the exam: "There was a boy who played a thief, and he got so nervous that he stole the teacher's pen, and then he turned pale with fright!"

"There was also an impromptu commentary segment, where we were asked to talk about 'youth,' and I said that youth is like Brother Feng, doing whatever you want to do, even if others say it's not okay." She looked at Raymond Lam, her eyes sparkling.

Liu Haochun listened quietly, occasionally adding a sentence or two: "The teachers in the third audition were very gentle. They asked me why I gave up dance. I said that dance is my passion, and acting is my dream. They don't conflict."

"Well said." Li Yitong put a piece of fish on her plate. "With this kind of dedication, you'll definitely succeed."

Looking at the three girls in front of him, Lin Feng suddenly felt that time had flown by.

"No matter the outcome," Raymond Lam raised his glass, "you're all the best. Come on, cheers to our dreams!"

"Cheers!" the three girls shouted in unison, their glasses clinking together with a crisp sound. Their story continues.