Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 406 Teacher Liu, punish me!
Liu Yifei looked up, and the girl, after the wet kiss, had a blush creeping up her delicate earlobes and fair neck.

She gazed intently at the "lonely traveler" before her, her eyes meeting his gaze closely. Her nostrils flared slightly, and she slowed her breathing, as if afraid of missing any subtle change in his expression.

The question "I want to know" was like a pebble thrown into the lake of the time traveler's heart, creating ripples in circles.

Lu Kuan looked down and could clearly see his own silhouette reflected in Liu Yifei's clear pupils, like two pools of moonlight shimmering in the snow.

He understood his girlfriend's desire, just as she criticized his own controlling nature; people are naturally drawn to know everything about their loved ones.

When two souls truly draw near, they will irresistibly yearn for each other's spiritual territories.

It's like groping in the dark to trace the outline of the other person; every inch of the unknown is a sweet torment.

Lu Kuan understands Liu Yifei's past and present life, which has remained unchanged over the long years, but the latter's view of his past has always been shrouded in mystery.

However, this layer of mist is the last camouflage for time travelers, and it is very difficult to dispel.

"You know?" Boss Lu's face was somber, and his words carried a sense of desolation. "To tell you the truth."

Liu Yifei's almond-shaped eyes widened, and before she could judge whether his expression was genuine or not, the washing machine broke her defenses.

"I am Qin Shi Huang."

Liu Xiaolv: ? ? ?

My heart is so full of love, yet you are so careless and indifferent?
That bastard always manages to turn such a romantic and enchanting atmosphere into a complete mess.

I'll hammer you to death!

Suddenly, fists rained down on her, the young woman gritting her teeth as she beat her husband, like a ruffled rag doll cat.

Enjoying the pleasure of teasing his girlfriend, the washing machine reached out and grabbed her fair wrist: "There was a movie released last year called 'The Man from Earth'."

"The main character has lived for 14000 years and stopped aging due to a genetic mutation. He must change his identity and residence every 10 years."

"At the party, he came out to his friends that he was a member of a primitive tribe, a cave painter, a member of Columbus's crew, and finally admitted that he was Jesus."

Lu Kuan said in a serious tone: "This movie is a true reflection of me, so I am Qin Shi Huang! Believe it or not."

Xiao Liu glanced at the scoundrel Lu Kuan and said, "If you keep spouting nonsense to fool me, I'll send you back to your underground home in Xi'an."

Boss Lu laughed loudly: "We'll share the same bed in life, and the same grave in death."

"My beloved concubine, let us share a bed while we are still alive!"

He gently pinched and kneaded the soft flesh of Xiao Liu's nape with his fingertips, and deliberately curled his knuckles to scratch the girl's burning earlobe as his fingertips brushed against it.

Seeing the little girl suddenly shrink her neck but still glare at him, he chuckled and suddenly pushed her into the sofa.

The washing machine's knees parted her legs, wedging them into the cushions. One hand braced against the backrest beside her waist, while the other forcefully pushed her nightgown up.

The girlfriend blushed crimson at the sudden advances, her defenses crumbling. She bit her lip, dazed and confused, offering only silent resistance—

The waves are already crashing against the shore, churning up thousands of piles of snow.

The snow waves surged and trembled, captivating those who buried themselves in their pursuit.

Liu Yifei, with a charming yet passionate expression, gently tugged at his short hair, her alluring eyes shimmering with tears: "Shameless bastard, let's see how long you can keep up this trick..."

Before I could finish speaking, the light rail in Berlin was already roaring through the snow outside the window.

Before anyone knew it, their reflections had blurred on the frosty window, like a watercolor painting that hadn't yet dried.

The snow was still falling, and the world outside the Kempinski Hotel was covered in a blanket of white, enveloping the entire city of Berlin in a gentle cocoon.

It took a long time before it emerged from its cocoon.

Xiao Liu has an almost obsessive-compulsive obsession with hygiene before and after work. It's one thing to be "unable to resist" right after work, but naturally, she will patiently wash herself clean afterwards.

Seeing her rush into the bathroom, Lu Kuan picked up a copy of the film review in "Sight and Sound" and skimmed through it, roughly understanding where his girlfriend's unusual behavior came from today.

Her latest attempt has already alerted the time traveler.

After discovering that he and Liu Yifei had become one in body and soul, the latter seemed to have inadvertently revealed too much information.

For example, he recounted someone else's past and present life without knowing that his girlfriend knew about Zeng Wenxiu and that tombstone.

Humans are not machines; lonely people always need a safe haven that will never betray them, and Liu Yifei's pure eyes perfectly constitute the most ideal spiritual vessel.

Lu Kuan, a soul that has traversed two lifetimes, lowered his guard in her gentleness and loyalty, and unconsciously began his self-redemption in the arms of his lover.

He smiled silently, seemingly unconcerned about having a part of his secret exposed, and then went into the bathroom.

After the two finished changing, Liu Yifei gritted her teeth and looked at the satisfied washing machine: "How am I supposed to eat like this?"

"Oh? What's wrong with you? You look radiant, that's wonderful!"

The girl's face and neck were not marked with red, but her pretty face still had a romantic blush after the peach blossom season, so delicate and beautiful that it looked like you could squeeze water out of it.

Liu Yifei said coquettishly, "Do you think everyone else is stupid? What if my mom finds out?"

Boss Lu, of course, had a thicker skin than a city wall: "It's alright, she's your own mother, so let her be the joke."

Xiao Liu tried taking a few steps; clearly, the "unexplained passion" he had just experienced was somewhat intense.

The light rail's reckless driving through the tunnel was too much for even the seasoned young woman to handle, so she sounded the horn in its place.

Liu Yifei was still quite thin-skinned when it came to certain things, so she reluctantly took out her phone and lied to her elderly mother.

It was probably about losing weight, and she was invited to eat at the restaurant downstairs, telling them not to worry about the two of them.

Liu Xiaoli was surfing the internet in her room, wearing glasses and using an ID similar to "Wealthy Flower Blossom" to appear on various online platforms of Tianxian. She had no interest in paying attention to the eldest daughter.

He hung up impatiently after only a couple of sentences, acting exactly like an internet-addicted old man.

Whether it was due to the strike leaving no one to clear the snow, or the snowfall in Berlin being too heavy, Lu Kuan and Liu Yifei, bundled up tightly, found it difficult to move as they went out.

Liu Yifei's eyes lit up, and she glanced at her boyfriend, about to speak, but he accurately predicted her words:

"Sisi, you just drained me dry, and now my legs are weak. Why don't you carry me on your back?"

Xiao Liu covered her mouth and giggled, already used to his shamelessness: "Let's not go to that restaurant you mentioned, let's go see a movie first."

Mr. Lu readily agreed. The two of them had come out to eat and drink, and then watch an extra screening at the cinema to pass the time.

Michelin-starred restaurants are far away, but the Palais des Festivals is just a few minutes' walk away; it's just a matter of moving the process forward.

"Take a look at this." Lu Kuan shook the movie ticket in his hand.

"Carefree?" Liu Yifei nodded: "Sure, I've seen Sally Hawkins' poster."

"Hmm, an academically trained actress." Boss Lu put his arm around her and led her along the footprints left by others. "Remember Tang Wei from before?"

"Jiang Zhiqiang originally wanted her to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in the UK. This academy is well-known for its Shakespearean teaching. Sally Hawkins is a Shakespearean actress with excellent stage presence."

"Judging from the movies that have already been released, she is a strong contender for Best Actress. Let's go and spy on her."

In the previous life, in Berlin in 2008, Sally Hawkins won the Silver Bear for Best Actress for a comedic role, making her arguably Liu Yifei's strongest rival now.

Knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory in every battle. We have done our best in all the public relations and publicity for Xiao Liu. Now we just have to wait for the results.

No one dares to say how confident they are; winning an award is, in a sense, a contest of various factors and forces.

But in terms of strength and performance alone, even if Lu Kuan were to look at it from an objective perspective, he wouldn't think that any actress or role in this year's Berlin Film Festival could be said to be superior to Liu Yifei.

The character of Iris Chang was truly crafted with her own heart and soul, and even Cahiers du Cinéma, which harshly criticized The Sky of History, did not hold back its praise.

The couple embraced as they walked through the wind and snow. Liu Yifei, still in his arms, hadn't forgotten the question that had just been interrupted by their intimate moments.

"washing machine."

"Ok?"

"You used to play dumb when you were just giving me the runaround, but now you're using force when you're just giving me the runaround."

Xiao Liu's eyes lingered on his sharply defined profile: "You seem to think you've got one trick up your sleeve and can get away with anything! Aren't you feeling particularly smug?"

Boss Lu said innocently, "It's not that the brother is inhuman, it's just that the sister is too charming."

"Tell me, after a busy afternoon, I came back to my room completely exhausted."

"I saw you curled up lazily on the sofa, your silk nightgown slipping off your shoulders, revealing your crescent-shaped collarbone, so fragrant and soft, waiting for me to caress you."

Who can resist?

The washing machine confidently flattered, "Quitting smoking is easy and effortless, but quitting you is as difficult as climbing to heaven!"

Liu Yifei was overjoyed. Now she just loves listening to outsiders talk about washing machines, and then listening to the washing machine talk about her.

However, she was intelligent, and after growing up, she lost the stubbornness of her early teenage years, and tacitly let go of the topic of his loneliness and certain secrets.

Liu Yifei knew perfectly well that this stubborn rock, which was both smelly and hard, was unyielding despite all the trials and tribulations.

We'll just have to wait for him to speak up.

The previous questioning was not merely driven by curiosity, but rather by the gentlest form of aggression in love.

She wanted to dismantle the washing machine's loneliness, not to intrude into anyone's psychological boundaries, but simply to light a lamp of her own in its coldest territory.

Just like the neon lights in front of the cinema palace that the two could see in the twilight and snow of Berlin.

There was an extra screening of "Carefree" in Hall 3, and Lu Kuan and Liu Yifei chose a suitable seat and patiently waited for the movie to start.

Mr. Lu was flipping through a film festival magazine he had picked up in the lobby, and he had specifically chosen some special issues that evaluated the actors' performances.

"Lots of people praise you!"

“International Screen said—” he read it aloud with the precision of reading a certificate to a kindergarten child:

"With an almost sacrificial dedication, Liu Yifei 'resurrected' Iris Chang from historical documents. The scholar she portrayed possessed both fragility and resilience."

"The close-up of her trembling fingers while researching in the library is strikingly similar to Nicole Kidman's portrayal of Virginia Woolf in 'The Hours'; while the oppressive presence of her staring directly at the camera during the television debate scene evokes the divine radiance of Jane Darwell in 'The Grapes of Wrath'."

"Her face, captured by a shallow focus lens, with every tremor of her facial muscles, condenses the sense of mission of a 'truth seeker' into a visual monument."

Lu Kuan said in an exaggerated tone, "Look at that! They've even linked you to Nicole Kidman's Virginia Woolf."

"Hehe!" The movie was about to start, and the theater was dimly lit. Liu Yifei hugged her boyfriend's arm and rubbed it against her chest, leaning on his shoulder with a peaceful mood.

"You should learn from them and see how others praise me. I spent the whole afternoon reading reviews that rave about your films!"

Boss Lu laughed and said, "I have already repaid your kindness with a drop of water, so we are even."

Xiao Liu grabbed his arm, playfully slipped her hand inside her sleeve, and pinched him hard.

The kind that spins faster makes the washing machine wince in pain.

Joking aside, the comments from "Screen International" do reflect, to a considerable extent, Liu Yifei's current image in mainstream media.

Screen International is a core publication in the European film industry, focusing on actor performance analysis compared to other film reviews.

As for the role of Woolf mentioned in its brief review—

Like Liu Yifei, Nicole Kidman also spent half a year preparing for her role in "The Hours".

She wore a custom-made prosthetic nose to recreate Woolf's iconic aquiline nose and used weight loss and physical training to portray the writer's vulnerability.

During filming, he deliberately remained aloof and avoided interacting with other actors in order to immerse himself in Woolf's spiritual world and force himself into the role.

Despite the presence of Oscar winners Moore and Meryl Streep in the film, Nicole Kidman won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role.
Following this, the three Oscar-winning actresses shared the Silver Bear for Best Actress in Berlin that year, a unique occurrence in Berlin's history.

Liu Yifei's acting skills are certainly not comparable to those of Nicole Kidman, Moore, and others.

However, in terms of the portrayal of the character Iris Chang, even with the convenience of having a real-life counterpart, it can be considered a shortcut.

However, the objective effect is not much inferior to those two classic roles.

Soon, the movie "Carefree" started playing. Since it wasn't the premiere, there were naturally no promotional interviews or events; it just went straight to the screen.

Directed by British director Mike Leigh, this film tells the story of Bobby, an optimistic elementary school teacher who infects others with her almost obsessive cheerfulness in the mundane aspects of life, while also seeking self-identity amidst the undercurrents of loneliness.

In another timeline, Sally Hawkins, an Oscar-winning actress, plays Bobby.

"Pay attention to the scene where she skips and jumps to buy shoes when she first appears."

Lu Kuan tapped the screen lightly with his fingertips, turned his head and whispered a reminder: "Shoulders leaning forward and arms swinging wildly are typical childish body designs."

"But her toes were always taut. The film used close-up shots to expose this 'deliberate' action, the purpose of which was to express that joy was her armor, while the taut muscles were her true self."

Liu Yifei nodded thoughtfully, her fingertips unconsciously mimicking Bobby's pose.

The movie was ticking away, and the young director, who had seen the film in his previous life, kept giving Liu Yifei pointers on the actress's performance on screen.

Different viewers have different purposes for watching movies, and their reading and viewing methods will naturally differ.

Ordinary viewers go to the movies for emotional experience and entertainment; they focus on the smoothness of the plot, the empathy of the characters, and the pleasure brought by the audiovisual stimulation.

The director tends to focus on the use of cinematic language, including composition, lighting, staging, and editing, in order to analyze the film's narrative strategies and stylistic expressions.

Professional actors like Liu Yifei, as long as they have some professional foundation, will focus on analyzing the acting methodology when watching movies, including body language, dialogue handling, and emotional layers, in order to improve their ability to portray characters.

After watching "Carefree", the two went to see "There Will Be Blood" starring Oscar-winning actor Lewis.

There Will Be Blood is not only a strong competitor to Sky in Berlin, but also a strong competitor to No Country for Old Men at the Oscars. The three films are fiercely competing for the Oscars, which are considered a bellwether.

Instead of enjoying the romance of watching a love story, the male director and actress couple wandered between screening rooms at the Berlin Film Festival like hooligans, tirelessly discussing professional knowledge for two entire sessions.

Xiao Liu's understanding of directing is still relatively shallow; he has only learned some things intentionally or unintentionally over the years while interacting with Boss Lu.

However, she had prepared for a long time on acting theory before going to the Beijing People's Art Theatre for the exam in December. With her own practice and exploration over the past six or seven years, she could still have a fair and square conversation with Xi Cheng on acting theory.

“Sally Hawkins’ performance was quite interesting!” she said quickly. “The character of Bobby, on the surface, is a ‘Stanny-style’ immersive experience, as if she is completely living in the character’s emotions, and her laughter and body language are all natural expressions.”

"But if you look closely, you can see a Brechtian sense of alienation in her eyes, as if she's telling the audience: 'I'm playing a happy person, but the happiness is fake.'"

The snow hadn't stopped by night. When Lu Kuan and Liu Yifei walked out of the cinema, the entire city was already wrapped in a layer of fluffy silver snowflakes.

The two walked and talked, their breath revealing the enthusiasm of their conversation.

“Sally isn’t a Grotowski, otherwise this performance would be much easier for her,” Boss Lu analyzed. “You’ve also gained some experience in controlling your facial expressions now, and you should know that not all smiles are the same.”

"Just like her fake, heartbroken laugh just now, if it were an actor with a strong ability to create facial expressions, they could even control the slightest twitching of the orbicularis oculi muscle."

"What will the effect be? It will be that her smile is uglier than her tears, like using her smile as a brake to forcefully suppress her overwhelming sense of collapse."

To put it simply, Grotowski is like the taijutsu in Naruto, emphasizing the actor's deep development of their own body.

Xiao Liu looked at him with sparkling eyes, savoring the analysis from the world-class director.

This is a rare learning process—

Watch the film, reflect on it, and think about how you would act if you were in the role, or how you would act if a world-class director were to guide you.
As the two rounded a bend, the spire of the city hall in the distance was covered with icicles, reflecting the neon signs that read "Glückliches Neujahr (Happy New Year)" on the billboards.

The Berlin Film Festival, which has a long history with Chinese-language films, put in a lot of effort.

The two turned into the building next to the cinema palace, where the lights suddenly became dazzling. This was the Sony Center, a super cinema complex that integrates movies, food, and shopping.

Although German audiences still love the Berlin Film Festival and its films, even queuing overnight to snag a ticket, the Sony Center is filled with trailers and posters for new Hollywood movies.

Even the very existence of this movie theater itself is an indication of the expansion of capital.

This is ironic for Berlin, which despises Cannes and Venice for surrendering to Hollywood.

Despite Koslick's continued refusal to compromise on film selection and awards, commercially, Hollywood, which has been dumping films all over the world, has already reached his doorstep.

Hey fellow villager, open the door.

"Are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?"

"I'm not hungry, but I'm a little thirsty. Shall I get two hot coffees?"

Lu Kuan asked curiously, "What's wrong? You want to work overtime tonight? Then you'll have to buy another set of work clothes."

"Get lost! What's with all the overtime? I want to talk to you about acting..."

Liu Yifei was chatting enthusiastically: "Actually, when I went to the Beijing People's Art Theatre for the audition last year, I talked a lot with several senior teachers, including Lao Feng, Pu Cunxin, Yang Lixin, and Chen Xiaoyi."

"They were amazed by my muscle control, facial expression control, smooth breathing, and stable breath. I didn't look like a student from Beijing Film Academy at all."

“I studied Stanislavski at the Beijing Film Academy, and Grotowski with you, but I’ve also worked with so many people like Moore and Leonardo, so I’m somewhat familiar with Brecht’s method school.”

Xiao Liu asked疑惑地, "Plus, after watching Su Chang and Jing Tian's previous performance training, I have a feeling now—"

"The acting teaching at Beijing Film Academy and Central Academy of Drama seems to always favor some dogmatic procedures that promote the liberation of natural instincts, and are too attached to the teaching procedures of the Stanislavski system."

Generally speaking, the three major recognized performing styles in the world are Mei Lanfang's dramatic system, Stanislavski's Method acting, and Brecht's Expressionism.

As mentioned earlier, the school of thought that Lu Kuan suggested Tang Wei study in the United States is called the Method School, which is derived from Stanislavski.

His teachers, including Grotowski, who was a student of Melsin and whom Liu Yifei studied, were critical inheritors of Stanislavski. The two had some commonalities, but also many differences.

If we absolutely have to categorize them using the martial arts sects from Jin Yong's world...

Stanislavski is the Shaolin of "all martial arts under heaven originated from Shaolin", from which many schools of thought, large and small, have emerged;

Brecht, though perhaps a bit like Wudang, managed to forge a path different from Stanislavski's.
Mei Lanfang's theatrical system was confined to a small corner of the world. After all, Peking Opera's influence in the world was not very great, but it was still one of the three major schools, and could be considered a secluded sect like Peach Blossom Island.

What about Xiao Liu, who practiced morning exercises for four years and studied Grotowski's style for six or seven years?
It's like the Ancient Tomb Sect.

There are no large-scale teaching institutions or fixed teaching materials. It is basically a master-apprentice system, and the training conditions are very strict, emphasizing the development of the human body itself.

Melsin visited China three times for exchanges. She sought out many Peking Opera masters to learn and absorb Peking Opera performance techniques, and also went to Japan to study Noh. In the end, she only took a liking to Feng Yuanzheng in the whole of Asia.

To be honest, unless one comes from a privileged family like Liu Yifei and has a diet rich in protein such as milk and beef, it would be impossible to withstand the rigorous training of basic skills.

Even in the distorted aesthetics of later generations in the Chinese entertainment industry that glorify "snake-like" faces and skinny figures, she still managed to exude a beauty full of vitality.

This is the same principle as not being able to train in sports if you don't have the money; you won't get enough nutrition.

Lu Kuan listened as Liu Yifei recounted her firsthand observations and experiences regarding her doubts about certain teaching processes at the Beijing Film Academy and the Central Academy of Drama.

It is only after knowing that she has truly mastered and thoroughly studied various performance styles that she has come up with such thoughts.

The two carried their hot coffees as they walked back to the hotel.

"It's not entirely wrong for Beijing Film Academy and Central Academy of Drama to be so obsessed with Stanislavski, after all, he is the universally recognized originator of a school of acting."

"But they are not willing to change on many issues and have fallen behind the times."

A gust of cold wind blew by, and Liu Yifei shivered slightly as she snuggled into her boyfriend's arms, who held her tightly as they walked.
"This issue dates back to the 50s, when domestic performing arts education was just starting out. In addition to politics and economics, we also had to learn from the older generation in the arts."

"Stani was a former Soviet citizen, as were Kurinev and Lesli, who came to China for exchanges at the time. They were all Stanislavsky-style performing artists who were preparing for the establishment of the Beijing Film Academy and the Central Academy of Drama."

Mr. Lu used a vivid analogy: "If you've ever filmed a Jin Yong drama, you should know that the Sword Sect and Qi Sect of Mount Hua are locked in a life-or-death struggle. The same applies to the field of performance teaching in China."

"The struggle over the line is a struggle over status, a struggle for life and death."

“Overseas, Stanislavski has spawned branches like the Trusberg Method, while our domestic Stanislavski is still sticking to the old formula. How can that be good?”

"Just like you said, liberating one's nature, these outdated customs and practices that professors at Beijing Film Academy and Central Academy of Drama often bring up, such as making male students touch female students' breasts to liberate the latter's nature, or making students abandon their sense of shame and pretend to be dogs crawling on the ground, are all absurd."

"But there's one thing," Xiao Liu's acting teacher nodded vaguely, "Different teachers produce different students."

"Although they can't openly compete for these acting teaching methods, the Beijing Film Academy has a class teacher responsibility system, and younger teachers like Wang Jingsong and Cui Xinqin will have their own ideas."

In his previous life, Lu Kuan studied under Thomas Richards at the University of Southern California, who was Grotowski's key collaborator and theoretical successor in his later years.
Domestic acting theorists, like the parasites who control the film criticism system such as Zhu Dake, are accustomed to bringing back foreign ideas to fool their own people.

Just like Stanislavski's liberation of nature, it is actually a trivial process in Western acting instruction.

But why are they so persistent?
First, it becomes a habit. Some feudal teachers under the Confucian system needed this kind of authoritative teaching method to demonstrate their authority.

If I tell you to be a dog, you'll be a dog; if I tell you to be a pig, you'll be a pig.

Secondly, due to their living environment, children in China are indeed more reserved in the classroom and may not easily develop the conviction of an actor.

This is actually just a simple introductory game meant to help students relax, but it has been demonized into an indispensable, rigid procedure.

Liu Yifei nodded, seemingly showing unusual interest in the topic: "Actually, I've talked to them about it and I'm also puzzled."

“Look at the actors of the past, Li Xuejian, Chen Daoming, Feng Yuanzheng and Jiang Wen all had their own characteristics and personalities, but the young actors in the crew now seem to be cut from the same mold.”

Lu Kuan laughed and said, "Isn't this the result of their 'liberating their nature'? In the end, it has led to the homogenization of young actors, who have been worn down and have lost all their edges."

“An actor without distinctive characteristics is irreplaceable and will not be remembered by the audience.”

"It's just like dating. Do you prefer a beautiful appearance that's one in a hundred, or an interesting soul that's one in ten thousand?"

When the topic of dating came up, Liu Yifei veered off-topic: "Can't I have both?"

"No, you choose one."

Xiao Liu pursed his lips: "Forget it, I'll just look in the mirror when I want to see my appearance."

"I'd rather choose an interesting soul, just like you."

The washing machine seems to have been subtly criticized.

"You seem quite interested in the theories of Stanislavski and Brecht?"

The two entered the elevator, and Xiao Liu nodded repeatedly like a chick pecking at rice: "Because I'm interested in acting."

"Over the years, I've seen different people perform on different film sets and worked with different directors. I have some ideas, but they're scattered in my mind and I can't quite put them into practice."

"That's good. You can only do things you're interested in for a long time."

"After you return to China, you will be working at the Beijing People's Art Theatre. If you are interested, you can study it in depth."

Lu Kuan sat in front of the computer, routinely handling official business and Olympic affairs: "To be honest, my research on performance theory is only superficial. What I'm teaching you is just the basics."

"At most, in the practice of filmmaking, I will guide the actors on how to perform based on my own creative ideas."

"If you can truly integrate all these performance theories you've encountered with your own practical experience, then I'll have to call you Teacher Liu."

Liu Yifei suddenly became excited upon hearing this: "Hello, Teacher Liu!"

Lu Kuan also became excited: "Hello, Teacher Liu!"

Suddenly, the washing machine, as if struck on a certain point in its brain, turned around and its gaze fell on its girlfriend, who was curled up on the sofa.

The imaginative artist constructed the alluring character of "Teacher Liu" in his mind—

Her slightly messy long hair was pulled up and loosely coiled into an intellectual low ponytail with a fountain pen.

Gold-rimmed glasses were perched on his nose at some point, and behind the lenses, his almond-shaped eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny.

The top two buttons of her silk shirt were undone at some point, and as she leaned forward, her snow-white skin rippled, revealing glimpses of her collarbone.

Ms. Liu gently pushed up her glasses with her fingertips, a half-smile curving her red lips: "This student, being distracted in class will be punished."

. . .

"Hey!" Unaware that she'd been instantly transformed by the washing machine, Ms. Liu plopped down on her friend's lap, pinching his cheeks and huffing angrily.
"You're daydreaming while I'm talking? Don't tell me you're thinking about another woman!"

The washing machine grabbed her wrist tightly: "Teacher Liu, how do you want to punish me?"

"What the hell?"

Xiao Liu couldn't understand his unconventional thought process, but the sensation under his soft, delicate buttocks was unmistakable.

Why did this happen when we were having a normal conversation?
You beast!
Liu Yifei was afraid of him and dared not sit intimately on his lap anymore, so she quickly jumped off Boss Lu's lap.

"I'm talking to you about serious matters! Stop being so lewd all the time, okay?"

"Huh? Oh." Lu Kuan turned back to his computer, secretly planning when and how to persuade Qianqian to agree to play the role of a strict female teacher.

That's right, when she feels a little horny, Xiao Liu automatically transforms into Xixi.

And coincidentally, his training of the latter's acting skills ultimately received feedback through role-playing in this situation.

It's a closed loop, everything's closed.

However, Liu Yifei, who had already been unexpectedly bathed that afternoon, didn't have time to play with him for the time being.

The little girl pouted and protested: "This damn Director Liu, just like you said, will hand it over to someone else after the transition is over."

“The more I think about it, the more interesting it is to study acting theory. You see, I studied Grotowski, I studied Stanislavski at the Beijing Film Academy, and I have also worked with Brecht.”

"Including teachers Li Xuejian and Feng Yuanzheng, as well as excellent actors like Moore and Hanks, I have actually absorbed a lot of nourishment from different acting styles."

Liu Yifei became more and more excited as she spoke: "Hey, what if I finish my studies and can go back to the Beijing Film Academy to become a teacher or something?"

"You lead the industrialization of Chinese cinema, and I improve the traditional acting education system. Wouldn't that be a perfect couple? It sounds wonderful!"

Good, good, good. As expected of a couple, they both know how to "daydream".

One person fantasizes about Teacher Liu, and the other person also fantasizes about Teacher Liu.

The key is that no matter how wildly imaginative she is, there will always be people who support her.

"It's a bit difficult to improve the domestic performance education system, but at least you can take responsibility for your own teaching like Wang Jingsong and Cui Xinqin."

"But at your age... maybe act for another ten years! You can consider it when you're thirty if you still want to..."

"Shut up! I'll be twenty in ten years!" The washing machine was interrupted before it could finish its sentence.

His girlfriend was furious upon hearing this. Her almond-shaped eyes widened, and her pink cheeks instantly puffed up like a white dumpling.

The long legs that were originally crossed suddenly kicked over, and the white toes that peeked out pressed against his waist, like a ragdoll cat showing off its paw pads in a show of defiance.

Yet, the corners of her eyes still held a feigned, flushed red, making her even more vibrant than the sunset over the Rhine River a few hours earlier.

The washing machine succumbed to her tyranny, its tone somewhat embarrassed: "Luckily, I haven't regressed to before I was eighteen, otherwise you would have sent me to jail."

He then raised his eyebrows and said, "As for becoming a teacher at the Beijing Film Academy? Even an incompetent like Xu Jinglei can do it, so why can't you?"

Xiao Liu chuckled, seemingly quite pleased, before turning serious and saying, "I wasn't joking with you."

"I know."

"I really enjoy acting, and it's great to keep acting."

Liu Yifei said seriously, "You always have your own career to take care of, and I also want to have my own career."

"Once I step down as Director Liu, I'll dedicate myself to studying acting and acting theory. If there's an opportunity in the future, how about becoming Teacher Liu? Do you support me?"

Boss Lu didn't care: "Sure, whatever makes you happy. We're not worried about food or clothing."

"Moreover, established directors and actors, at a certain stage, as long as they have some pursuit in their professional path, will naturally settle down and reflect."

"Martin is now a professor in the film department at New York University, and Al Pacino is now basically retired from acting and teaches method acting at the Lee Strasberg School of Drama in Los Angeles."

"By the way, Tang Wei went to see him."

Xiao Liu nodded, her mind filled with anticipation for the future. Boss Lu turned back to continue his official duties, and the playful banter between the couple came to an end.

The night sky over Berlin spread out like ink, and outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Kempinski Hotel, the entire city was covered in snow, like a traditional Chinese ink painting edged with silver by moonlight, leaving only black and white.

The tranquil environment always inexplicably evokes memories of the past; the radiator emits a faint hum, yet it cannot dissolve the frost patterns that have formed on the glass.

Liu Yifei sat on the sofa, hugging a cushion, watching her boyfriend type on the keyboard, deep in thought.

The one who was once sternly questioned by the latter about why he wanted to be an actor, and then solemnly reminded—

The only reason I wanted to become an actress was because of the girl I loved.

Before I knew it, I had reached the eighth year of my professional career.

Lu Kuan was still working, the blue light from the screen reflecting on his focused profile, outlining a deep contour.

Liu Yifei sat quietly beside him, holding a warm teacup in both hands, her gaze lingering on his slightly furrowed brows.

Her heart surged like the night outside the window, filled with anticipation for the future and longing for shared years.

What will we be like in the next decade?
(End of this chapter)