historical

On the screen, a young man who appeared to be just around 16 or 17 years old was standing in front of a camera. He didn't directly look at the lens as he opened his mouth and words continued to pour out of it. His eyes were slightly closed, but there was an undeniable intensity and sadness in them as if he was trying to control the despair and sorrow deep inside his soul.

The next second, the youth moved out of the camera's sight and a loud thud could be heard. If not for the noises coming from the video, Ran Xueyi would have thought that the youth fainted and gave up.

According to the words attached to the video file, the scene that Yao Chuan was re-enacting was the scene from < Shattered > a movie created two years ago and took several awards during the Double Film Awards and Spring Film Festival. It was about a young high school boy who was abused by his step father to the point that he was shrouded in the trauma that he received from the continuous abuse. The trauma had followed him until he was an adult and finally, because of his fears and nightmare that his step father would end his life, it drove the young protagonist to a point of no return and killed his stepfather.

It was a controversial movie, but it gripped the audience's hearts and sympathy. Who hasn't witnessed someone being abused? Who hasn't been abused at some point and circumstances? Everyone knew how much pain one would feel after being kicked and punched, much less several years of abuse like that.

Because the topic was slightly a bit too risky to be shown to the public, the movie had to stay in the dark for a whole three years before it was finally picked up by a famous actor who appreciated the plot and moral of the story.

The famous actor was named Xue Lifen and he was around the age of twenty four and was at the peak of his career. The moment he accepted the role, it became quite a big deal since a lot of rival companies used this to throw dirty waters on him in order to suppress and make him disappear from the entertainment industry.

But who knew that Xue Lifen didn't stop even after being cursed and swear at by his fans and some anti-fans. He continued to play in the movie and fought virtuously for a slot in the film arrangement.

The moment the movie was released, most audiences who came to watch were there to mock and laugh as well as destroy the reputation of the movie and Xue Lifen. However, what they thought was a crappy movie and intended to step on was actually a movie that was too perfect and magnificent that the audience gasped and cried for a whole day after watching it.

The following success of the movie was already expected after the first day of its release and no one ever mentioned it being crappy or controversial, and Xue Lifen's reputation and popularity skyrocketed to the top in just a few days after the movie release.

Ran Xueyi watched the movie < Shattered > and confirmed the high-level performance the actors had acted in the movie. The plot was also too gripping and outstanding that she clapped the moment she finished it.

But surprisingly, Yao Chuan's acting in the assessment video had left an impression on her. Xue Lifen's acting skill and understanding of the character was truly commendable, but maybe because at that time, the abuse he got from the fans and anti-fans affected his mental stability, there was a cognitive errors that couldn't stop showing on his eyes, affecting the role he was playing.

However, Yao Chuan's re-enactment was different from Xue Lifen's portrayal of the character. It was free and unrestrained, completely showcasing what his character's story was telling to everyone.

When Yao Chuan fell, he didn't prepare himself from the oncoming pain. A person's instinct would surely fear feeling pain and would avoid it, but Yao Chuan ignored it and readily accepted the emotions and pain that he was going to receive.

After watching the assessment video, Ran Xueyi tapped her fingers against the desk's wooden surface, producing a distinct 'tok' sound.

After watching Yao Chuan act, she now understood why he never reached a point where his company wanted him to debut. First, Yao Chuan was being bullied inside the training dormitory and his fellow trainees. Second, the company never intended to make him debut at all. And third, his talent in acting was too overpowering and unrestricted.

ABC Media wanted an obedient artist who would bend and agree to every arrangement they would hand over to their artist. Yao Chuan certainly didn't meet that requirement and would never agree to them either.

So, this kind of situation where neither of them surrendered ended up with Yao Chuan being covered and suppressed.

Ran Xueyi stared once more at the youth on the screen of the computer and finally, she called Wu Qi up to her office.

Wu Qi entered the office and heard the other speak first.

"Proceed with the actor contract and sign Yao Chuan. All three of them will work under the company and will have to agree to our conditions." Ran Xueyi looked at the files on top of the desk with bright eyes. "Arrange all the necessary things to be done and start preparing them for their journey to stardom."

Wu Qi was startled when he heard her before sighing in relief. He was optimistic about Deng Zhenzhen and Zhang Yiqing, but not so sure with Yao Chuan thus, he made her carefully check things out. It turned out that the youth stirred the interest of Ran Xueyi and made her final decision.

"Alright."

...

The next day, back at home.

Ran Xueyi looked at the folded clothes on the bed and sighed. The time to join the crew of the TV drama < A Thousand Lotus > has finally arrived. Initially, there should still be a few more days before she would go over to the crew side, but Director Zheng called her to inform her that the schedule time for the filming was moved a bit earlier due to an unforeseen event.

The actor that would be playing opposite her and would become the love interest of the character Ran Xueyi would be playing in the drama had to attend a program at the end of the month until the middle of the next month. Hence, he couldn't join the crew until he was done with the program.

Director Zheng was at first upset due to the sudden changes, but since Wen Lai was picked by him and also has the big Wen family behind him, there really is nothing he could do. Moreover, the other actors had already agreed to the change of schedule and it was only Ran Xueyi who didn't give an answer yet.

Ran Xueyi naturally didn't raise any objections to the sudden changes in their filming schedule. If she objected to the changes and raised an issue about it while other actors had already agreed, she would become an unreasonable person to other people's eyes.

Even so, she was slightly doubtful of Wen Lai's behavior.

"Is that everything you're going to bring with you?" Song Yu Han walked to stand beside her and also looked at the opened suitcase filled with some clothes. "The weather's getting colder, you should bring thick clothes and coats with you."

Ran Xueyi shook her head and didn't want to. "During the filming, I would be wearing the costume the crew will give to us. The layers of clothes should be very thick and bringing these are already enough."

Song Yu Han also heard about the drama she chose to go with from the two scripts he gave to her. It was a historical drama and the actors will really wear thick clothes and extravagant designs to showcase a historical setting.

But still, he couldn't help but worry about her since Silver City was a cold place and the temperature would even go lower in the next few days.

At her husband's demands, Ran Xueyi packed two more thicker coats and a blanket before he was satisfied.

Hooking her arms around the other's neck, Ran Xueyi rubbed the tip of her nose to his own and deeply looked into his eyes.

She said, "The filming will take me two month to finish. Wait for me to come home and we will go out for another date."

The date last time was too short and quick, they couldn't even enjoy it. Ran Xueyi promised that she would do and get a better and longer date next time.

Song Yu Han stared back at her and hooked his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to his chest. They shared each other's warmth and stayed like that for a while.

Leaning closely, he pecked her lips and said, "I should be the one who will say that. Don't steal my line, Miss Heroine."

Ran Xueyi giggled and kissed him back.

"I will miss you, My Hero."

Finally, the time to depart for the filming site has come.