vstars Chapter 39: Zhang Ziyi starred in "Stars and Lights"?
Chapter 39: Zhang Ziyi starred in "Stars and Lights"?
The next few days passed uneventfully, like plain water.
Studying, minding the shop, eating, sleeping – that's pretty much their daily routine. Zhang Ziyi and Hu Jing come to the shop during the day to do practice questions, and in the afternoon they change into clothes and model them, helping Li Si'an sell a lot of women's clothing.
Hu Jing kept her word and brought two classmates to shop. Each of them bought several T-shirts, and when they left, they said, "The clothes are nice. I'll bring more people next time."
Li Si'an leaned against the counter, doing the accounting, and felt that this deal was worthwhile.
Tutoring was just a side job, but in return, three pretty girls were standing in the store. Not only were they pleasing to the eye, but they also sold several more pieces of clothing.
One afternoon, Zhang Ziyi pushed open the door and came in.
Li Si'an was flipping through a book called "Contemporary Music Scene" when she heard the door open and looked up. Wow, this girl is acting strange today. She's walking slowly, her eyes are glazed over, like she's lost her soul.
He came in without saying a word, plopped down in a chair, and stared blankly at the table, as if someone had ripped his brain out.
Li Si'an closed the magazine and waved it in front of her eyes: "Happy Zhang, what's wrong with you? Did you forget your brain at home when you went out?"
Zhang Ziyi didn't respond, still looking dazed. Several seconds later, she slowly spoke, her voice weak and unsteady, like she was talking in her sleep:
"Li Si'an... My school teacher told me that a film director wanted me to act in a movie and asked me to audition... He said the director saw me dancing on TV and thought I was perfect for his role... We've scheduled the audition for the day after tomorrow..."
Li Si'an leaned back in his chair and looked at her.
Zhang Ziyi suddenly leaned forward, lowered her voice, but still spoke slowly, as if she was thinking as she said, "Do you think this is true... or is it a scam?"
"What's the director's name? What's the movie called?"
"The director's surname is Sun... I forgot his given name..." Zhang Ziyi scratched her head. "The movie is called 'Stars and Lights'."
Li Si'an chuckled: "Isn't this a song? Zheng Zhihua's. Are you perhaps being asked to film a music video for 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'?"
"No, no, Teacher Wu said it's about making a movie. The movie is called 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,' which is why I remember it so clearly."
After Zhang Ziyi finished speaking, she returned to her absent-minded state, her fingers unconsciously drawing circles on the table.
Li Si'an thought for a moment: "Since they contacted you through your school teacher, they shouldn't be a scammer. If you're still worried, you can have your dad go with you to the audition the day after tomorrow."
Zhang Ziyi nodded, then shook her head, pondering for a while before suddenly laughing, her eyes crinkling into crescents: "Li Si'an, do you think I'm about to become famous?"
"You haven't even had the audition yet, it's still far from certain, so don't worry about the future."
Zhang Ziyi glared at him, but she couldn't suppress the smile on her face.
Li Si'an looked at her, her mind racing.
In his previous life, the first movie he knew of Zhang Ziyi was Zhang Yimou's "The Road Home," and he had never heard of "Stars and Lights."
But that was in her past life. In her previous life, Zhang Ziyi never danced to "Puppet Show" on Beijing Cable TV, nor did she model his clothes in a record store.
This girl's life trajectory has changed. His memories from his past life may not be useful at this crossroads.
"Stars and Lights" - He had no recollection of this movie, didn't know if it would be made, or what it would be like.
But after thinking about it, he decided it didn't matter. The fact that a director could find her through the school at least showed that he was genuinely looking for someone to act in a film, not some street scammer. As for whether it would work out or not, that was Zhang Ziyi's own fate.
He picked up his teacup, took a sip, leaned back in his chair, and squinted as he watched Zhang Ziyi amuse herself.
"Alright," he put down his teacup, "if you're really so happy you can't sit still, why don't you go out for a run and come back?"
Zhang Ziyi ignored him and laughed to herself for a long time before finally calming down. She took out the test paper from her bag, spread it on the table, and picked up her pen.
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Time flies, and it's already the end of May; the weather is starting to get hot.
People on the street had already changed into short sleeves, and the cicadas chirping in the trees were quite annoying. Li Si'an sat behind the counter writing music, the fan whirring and making the pages on the table rustle.
Tang Yun was studying upstairs. Zhang Ziyi hadn't come for seven or eight days, and no one knew where she had gone.
As Li Si'an was pondering this matter, the door was pushed open with a "bang".
Zhang Ziyi stood at the door, a small bag slung across her shoulder, wearing a white T-shirt and denim shorts, her hair tied in a ponytail, her face flushed, and she walked in briskly.
"Li Si'an, I'm leaving."
Upon hearing this, Li Si'an quickly put down her pen, stood up straight, and said with a pained expression, "Oh? You're leaving? When's the banquet? Should we give you a small gift?"
Zhang Ziyi paused for a moment, then slammed her hand on the counter: "You're the one who's dead! I'm off to film a movie! I passed the audition!"
"You startled me." Li Si'an chuckled, sitting back down. "Well done, Zhang, you're quite something. Is it that movie, 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'?"
"Mmm." Zhang Ziyi took out a preserved plum from her handbag, unwrapped it, put it in her mouth, and responded with a muffled sound.
"What's this movie about? And why is it called that?"
Zhang Ziyi chewed on a preserved plum without saying a word.
"I'm asking you." Li Si'an poked her arm with his pen.
"It's... a story about a dancer." Zhang Ziyi's voice was much softer, her eyes fixed on the table.
"A dancer? Isn't that perfect for you?" Li Si'an became interested. "What kind of roles do you play?"
Zhang Ziyi lowered her head, spat out the plum pit, wiped her mouth, and squeezed out a few words through her teeth: "Female lead."
"Wow, your first role is the female lead, that's impressive." Li Si'an sat up straight in surprise. "So what's it about? Tell me."
Zhang Ziyi lingered there for a long time, rummaging through her handbag, taking out tissues and then stuffing them back in. After a while, she finally whispered:
"It's about a young dancer who got bone cancer... and later had to have her leg amputated."
Li Si'an was stunned for a second.
Then he couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha... Your first film, playing a dancer whose leg was sawed off?" He laughed so hard he leaned on the counter, his shoulders shaking. "Zhang Ziyi, don't you... find this unlucky?"
"What are you laughing at!" Zhang Ziyi reached out and slapped him on the shoulder, but she couldn't help but laugh herself.
"The director said that this is based on a true story. It is about a girl named Chen Wei in the Kunming Song and Dance Troupe who was a very good dancer, but later she got bone cancer and had her leg amputated."
"Then how are you going to act? Tie your legs up?"
"The director said that most of the acting would be done sitting down or with crutches. There were a few scenes that required special effects makeup."
When Zhang Ziyi said this, her tone became a little more serious, and her fingers twirled around the strap of her handbag. "I'm actually a little nervous. I've never acted before, so I don't know how to act."
She looked at Li Si'an, and asked hesitantly, "What should I do? Won't I mess this up?"
Li Si'an leaned back in her chair and slowly began, "You said you've never acted before and don't know how to act?"
Zhang Ziyi nodded.
"Then tell me, does the director know you've never acted before?"
"Of course I know," Zhang Ziyi rolled her eyes at him. "I knew when they contacted me."
"That settles it then." Li Si'an shrugged.
"What do you have to worry about? The director should be worried. If you mess up your performance, you'll just lose face. If he messes up, he'll not only lose face, but he'll also have to pay compensation. He's not afraid, so why are you?"
Zhang Ziyi opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything.
"When you get there, do whatever the director says. Act the way he tells you to, cry when he tells you to cry, laugh when he tells you to laugh, and even if he tells you to saw off your leg—"
Li Si'an paused for a moment, then smiled, "You can't really saw off the leg..."
"Get out." Zhang Ziyi slapped him, but her smile had already softened.
Li Si'an stopped laughing and said in a slightly serious tone:
"You just take yourself too seriously. When it comes to acting, if you act well, people will recognize you; if you act badly, who will recognize you? You're not some big star, so what are you afraid of embarrassing yourself with?"
Zhang Ziyi stared at him for two seconds, then suddenly laughed: "Why do you talk like that?"
"Because I'm telling the truth." Li Si'an picked up her teacup and took a sip. "Go ahead, don't be a coward. You're a carefree guy!"
Zhang Ziyi chuckled, stood up, and slung her handbag over her shoulder: "Okay, I'm off then."
"Let's go. Give me a call when you get to Yunnan, don't let me think you've been trafficked."