Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 517 A Belated Postcard, Her "Artistic Life"

In 2009, CCTV underwent a major revamp, adopting full HD signal for the first time and adjusting its program structure accordingly.

This is because the rise of local television stations has caused a decline in viewership, while the news that Xinhua News Agency is preparing to establish a television station has also intensified competitive pressure.

In this revamp, older programs such as "Tell It Like It Is" and "Approaching Science" were phased out.

At the same time, well-received programs such as "Art Life" and "Happy Dictionary" were introduced from other channels to create a matrix of high-quality programs.

The production team originally planned to use the interview for this marketing campaign on their own travel channel, "A Date with Luyu," which is currently the second most-watched interview program in China after "Art Life."

Why did CCTV take the initiative to invite them this time? After all, there are many guests and production crews waiting in line to appear on the show.

The main reason is that a minor incident during this year's Spring Festival Gala caused some friction between Lao Zhao and the station, and both sides need to ease the tension.
In addition, the first course of a revamped premium program should at least have some "precious ingredients," right?

Otherwise, the host, Zhu Jun, would be in a situation where he has no rice to cook, even if he is a skilled cook.

The film crew had to reduce the intensity of promotional activities before the movie's release due to Xiao Liu's unexpected pregnancy. They only needed to use this kind of promotion after the movie was released to give it a boost.

At the same time, it is also possible to have a "friendly exchange" on some of the recent opinions in the commentary community.

After all, the right to criticize should still be given to Cheng Qingsong and others. Even Lu Kuan's films have never been a one-man show. Zhu Dake and others have been giving all sorts of bad reviews for a long time. In the end, the audience is discerning.

Netizens and movie fans generally approve of his approach of not crossing the line in public opinion, a point that even his haters can't argue with.

At 2:30 p.m. on the 21st, viewers who had been waiting in front of their televisions finally got to watch the program start.

Accompanied by the familiar yet slightly somber opening music of "Art Life," the scene then cuts back to the studio.

The host, Zhu Jun, dressed in a sharp suit, walked steadily to the interview area in the center of the stage.

"Exploring the true meaning of art and gaining insights into the wisdom of life. Hello everyone, this is CCTV's 'Art Life,' I'm Zhu Jun. Welcome."

After a brief pause, he turned his gaze to the large screen on the side of the stage and pointed to the poster image on the screen:

"Today, our guests on 'Art Life' are the creative team behind the film 'Under the Hawthorn Tree,' which just created a box office miracle for domestic art films! This film, hailed by audiences as 'the purest love story in history,' has brought us a heartwarming and touching experience in the chilly early spring."

"Let's give a warm round of applause to director Zhang Yimou of 'Under the Hawthorn Tree'!"

"Veteran actor Zhao Benshan perfectly portrays the honest and simple village chief, who also carries the weight of historical trauma, in the film!"

Zhu Jun's introduction was well-paced and rhythmic. Let's pause here and invite the two of you to come out and receive some applause.

Zhang Yimou and Zhao Benshan made a joint entrance, greeting the audience with steady steps, and then shaking hands with the host.

Zhang Yimou smiled warmly at Zhu Jun and the audience, saying, "Do we look a bit like we're going to a market dressed like this?"

Zhao Benshan, the straight man, said, "It will be even more convincing when that couple comes out."

The audience burst into laughter and applause, as if anyone could be perfectly matched with this king of comedy sketches and naturally acquire comedic talent.

Zhu Jun introduced with a smile: "The next two people's love story extends from the screen to reality, which also becomes a footnote to the unique charm of this film."

"Let's welcome director Lu Kuan, who plays the third brother in the film, and our beautiful leading lady, Ms. Liu Yifei, who plays Jingqiu!"

Under the fervent gazes and focused cameras of the audience, the couple appeared with smiles. Mr. Lu, dressed in a well-fitting casual outfit, gently and considerately supported his wife's back with natural and fluid movements.

Xiao Liu's clothes were loose, with a simple beige cardigan over them, which added a touch of elegance and composure, and also slightly concealed her pregnant belly.

He didn't put too much pressure on himself just because he was on the show; he remained relaxed.

Even during her pregnancy, she maintained a tall and slender figure, wearing understated low-heeled flat shoes. Her height after "second growth spurt" was nearly 175 centimeters, and she had a serene demeanor.

The audience applauded even louder, chanting "Third Brother" and "Jingqiu" repeatedly, clearly indicating that the film had deeply resonated with the audience.

The live recording of "Art Life" had only about 150 viewers, consisting of fans of the guests who signed up through hotlines, the official website, magazines, and other channels, as well as social audiences, media representatives, and local university students from Beiping.

Judging from the light boards held up at the scene today, Xiao Liu has a huge number of fans. After all, not everyone has as much free time as college students.

"Welcome, Director Lu! Welcome, Consort Yi!" Zhu Jun smiled and stepped forward to shake hands, not forgetting to bring up Zhao Benshan's joke from earlier:

"These two are among the younger guests on 'Art Life,' and as Mr. Zhao just said, they seem to be from a different generation than us."

Artistic life, artistic life—without being in your forties, fifties, or sixties, how can you have the experience and insights to talk about life?
All I can say is that Boss Lu is a reincarnated old devil who, incidentally, hastened the maturation of a young witch in the present world.

Everyone sat down on the sofa, and Lu Kuan laughed and said, "That's one of Teacher Zhao's bad points; he doesn't praise people to their faces."

"Ha ha!"

Zhu Jun chose to start by advertising for the film crew: "The box office figures that just came out this morning are very encouraging. It's no big deal for 'Under the Hawthorn Tree' to win the Valentine's Day box office and become the top-grossing art film. Congratulations to everyone!"

"Director Yi Mou, tell us about how you came up with the idea of ​​making this film. What made you decide to make such a romantic art film?"

Zhang Yimou, sitting closest to the host, raised the microphone: "It must have been June, I think, right, Xiao Lu—"

"Yes, June. That day should have been after the closed rehearsal in Daxing." Lu Kuan remembered it clearly because he was already thinking about how to poach Zhang Weiping's girlfriend back then.

Zhang Yimou nodded: "Yes, for the film after the Olympics, Wei Ping and I originally discussed the Coen brothers' 'Blood Simple' and wanted to find Xu Zhengchao to be the screenwriter and collaborate with Mr. Benshan."

“But Xiao Lu told me that the tone of Blood Simple and comedy could not coexist, and the script was very difficult to work with. Later, he recommended the book Under the Hawthorn Tree to me. At that time, Wenjie had already bought the copyright.”

Zhang Yimou recalled: "I remember that day very clearly. Yi Fei came to deliver clothes to Xiao Lu. We went out for barbecue together during the Olympic rehearsal until the early hours of the morning."

"When I got home that night, I read this book. I stayed up all night to finish it. When I got to the part where Jingqiu was wearing a red dress and calling out to her lover, tears streamed down my face and I couldn't stop them."

"I immediately decided to make a film that is pure and without impurities; it seemed to happen in that instant."

At the right moment, a large screen displayed clips from the movie "Under the Hawthorn Tree," which were shown for several dozen seconds before applause broke out.

The interview was getting into the swing of things, and Zhu Jun took the opportunity to expand the depth and breadth of the topics.

After all, the core idea of ​​"Art Life" is "to illuminate life with art and warm people's hearts with emotion".

The goal is to delve into the real-life experiences of artists, portray celebrities as ordinary people, and evoke a sense of resonance among the audience regarding the essence of life.

Clearly, today's focus is on this "internet celebrity couple" in order to promote "Under the Hawthorn Tree".

"Yi Fei must have read this novel before Director Zhang, right?"

The camera then gave a close-up of Xiao Liu, which excited the fans watching on TV.

The female celebrity's pretty face became rounder and fuller, and her skin radiated a healthy and warm glow, revealing a unique and full beauty that embodies the nurturing of life.

However, her arms and calves still maintained clear lines, appearing well-proportioned, and her overall physique was extremely well-managed.

The changes during pregnancy are more reflected in the softness of the face and the warm glow of the body, without appearing bloated or clumsy.

"Yes, I read the book as soon as it was published, and I was very moved." Xiao Liu nodded: "At that time, I was working at the Beijing People's Art Theatre. Lu Kuan was busy with the Olympics and was never home, so I read books and watched TV series by myself."

"Did you actively want to play this role, or did Director Zhang and Director Lu suggest you take it, so you could continue to challenge yourself with unfamiliar characters?"

Liu Yifei smiled and said, "Both. I also want to challenge myself with roles from different eras, with different personalities and appearances to enrich my acting experience."

"But what attracted me the most was Director Zhang's suggestion to have Lu Kuan act opposite me. That's so interesting!"

The audience burst into laughter at the sight of the unabashedly lovestruck beauty.

People are used to her acting this way, or rather, this top celebrity in the Chinese entertainment industry has never hidden her feelings. From her birthday onwards, being bold in love and hate has been one of her defining characteristics.

Zhu Jun laughed and said, "We often hear that it's best for couples not to work in the same company or in the same industry, otherwise they are likely to have disagreements and conflicts."

"During the filming of this movie, I'd like to know how you two felt about it?"

He turned to Zhang Yimou: "You two might try to downplay the situation. Let me ask the director and Teacher Zhao what they have to say first."

"Haha!" Applause erupted from the audience.

Zhang Yimou grinned and said, "To be honest, it's not that I'm underestimating Yi Fei, but Xiao Lu's professionalism in directing and acting made me think that their way of getting along on set was that the former talked and the latter listened."

"Actually, that's not the case."

Zhang Yimou has successfully whetted everyone's appetite. Has the former tyrant on set changed his ways?

Professionals at this level, whether directors or actors, should be required to have absolute control.

“Yifei often has her own opinions. Sometimes she is very stubborn and insists on them, and sometimes she is happy to hear criticism. In short, she is not the kind of well-behaved student I thought she was. This is very special.”

Zhang Yimou gave an example: "There was a scene where the two people were too shy to hold hands, so Lao San used a tree branch to lead Jingqiu across the river. Everyone should remember that."

"Actually, when it was designed, the third brother kept reaching his hand behind him, which eventually scared the timid Jingqiu so much that she let go. After the branch fell to the ground, the third brother grabbed her hand."

"But what you are seeing now is that the third brother keeps reaching back, and Jingqiu's hand keeps retreating, but she still holds on tightly to the end until her fingers turn white before she is caught."

Zhang Yimou laughed and said, "Xiao Lu and I thought the former was more suitable, but Yi Fei chose the latter, and the actual performance was indeed quite good."

Zhu Jun: "Let's interview Consort Yi to see what she thinks?"

Xiao Liu raised the microphone: "The reason why Jingqiu threw away the branch with a pale face is because the heavy pressure of the times made her feel cowardly. She could not make a mistake or she would not be able to stay in school. This is actually the same principle as other details such as Teacher Zhao being deprived of her right to speak."

"But actually, the third brother in this movie was already very proactive. Considering that Jingqiu rebelled for the first time after that by lying to her mother and taking leave to go to the hospital to accompany him, I think the character's rebellious mentality needs to be foreshadowed earlier."

"So where can we lay the groundwork to show the contradiction between the character's fear and desire? This scene of crossing the river with a tree branch is a great close-up window."

"Jingqiu's obedience and fear are the outer shell that the times gave her, but when she was so desperate that she had nowhere left to retreat, she still chose to give herself and Lao San a chance. This was her last hope after she believed that she had done everything right, and it was also a passive resistance to the times."

Liu Yifei's words resonated with the audience, both watching on television and at the scene, who nodded in agreement.

Zhu Jun exclaimed, "To be able to persuade these two, Consort Yi must have put in a lot of effort beforehand. That's quite remarkable!"

Xiao Liu smiled modestly and said, "They are both great directors with broad minds and perspectives. They naturally wouldn't understand the little crushes of a young girl, haha!"

What does Director Lu think?

The man took the microphone from his wife: "Actually, performing is a very private matter, or rather, it doesn't have a completely absolute standard of evaluation."

"For example, the details I just mentioned, from the perspective of professional performance theory, Xiao Liu's insistence on focusing on the details of the tree branch gave Jingqiu the power of choice, which is in line with the Stanislavski system's principle that 'the character's consistent action must be from the inside out.' This is her understanding as an actress that combines practice with theory."

"But every director has different working habits. For example, in commercial films, I am used to specifying the performance style for the actors and telling them directly what I need. I don't need the actors to have too much autonomy because I need to control the rhythm and texture of the whole film."

"But for art films like this, Director Zhang provides actors with more room for performance, detailed design, and vague guidance on the externalization of psychological activities."

"Let's go back to the previous clip. Xiao Liu's suggestion strengthens the character's passive resistance under the oppression of the times, and achieves the 'externalization of psychological activities' effect advocated by Director Zhang, that is, to let the emotional tension emerge naturally through subtle actions, rather than being stated directly."

Mr. Lu smiled and summarized, "If you ask for my evaluation, I can only say that this is a collision of viewpoints between an excellent director and an excellent actor. Perhaps this is the working method that every creator longs for, and it is very rare."

His insightful and easy-to-understand analysis gave the audience, both at the venue and watching on television, the feeling of attending a performance masterclass.

Zhu Jun smiled and concluded, "We've all seen many of Director Lu's speeches and interviews, but seeing him in person today makes us realize how truly quick-witted he is."

"These words affirmed Yi Fei's independent thinking as an actress while also upholding Yi Mou's authority as director, thus balancing both aspects!"

Xiao Liu covered his mouth and laughed, "If he weren't a director, he could be a male escort, he'd be quite good at it, haha."

Zhang Yimou and the others laughed and applauded. Zhu Jun turned to Zhao Benshan: "Teacher Zhao, you also have scenes with Consort Yi this time. Do you have any feelings about it?"

Zhao Benshan laughed and said, "To be honest, I originally thought she was a gentle and kind girl, but now I find her quite interesting. She has a ruthless streak and a stubborn streak!"

"It wasn't until I chatted with Xiao Liu's mother that I learned that Xiao Liu's maternal grandmother was also from Northeast China, so it's no wonder she had this kind of enthusiasm."

Old Zhao quickly dropped the bombshell: "Later I finally understood how Xiao Lu fell for him. That girl is something else!"

Liu Yifei retorted, "Teacher Zhao, you can't talk nonsense! It was Lu Kuan who pursued me, not me who pursued him. That really didn't happen!"

"Yes, yes, yes, what I said could easily be misunderstood." Zhao Benshan looked at the cameramen below the stage, "How about we cut that part out?"

Boss Lu coughed twice: "This is a good idea! This episode is sponsored by Wenjie, and it will be valuable historical material in the future."

Laughter and applause erupted from the audience. It felt like these people were performing a skit while sitting on the sofa, and any topic that touched on Grandpa Benshan always seemed particularly funny.

Zhu Jun turned to Lu Kuan: "Director Zhang and Teacher Zhao have just expressed their opinions on Yi Fei. Mr. Lu, would you like to share your thoughts with us as well?"

Liu Yifei smiled and joked as she looked at her husband, "Some people should think carefully about what they say. Your child is in my hands right now."

The audience chuckled again.

"I was just about to praise you, but this makes it seem a bit exaggerated," Boss Lu joked, then relaxed and said:
“Our program is called Art Life. Actually, I’ve watched Xiao Liu get to where she is today step by step.”

"Of course, since we are talking about an artistic life, let's set aside all the market value assessment standards such as salary, endorsement, appearance fee, etc., and just look at her 'artistic life' as an actress, which has actually gone through different stages."

Today's interview has gradually entered deeper waters. What the audience of this program wants to hear and see is this kind of mutual analysis and examination from professionals, looking at their joys and sorrows in their artistic careers from their perspectives.

Liu Yifei looked at the man in front of her with a gentle expression; he was her soulmate.

"In 2002, fourteen-and-a-half-year-old Liu joined the cast of 'The Story of a Noble Family' and continued until the filming of 'A Home in Another World' in 2004. During this period, apart from Bai Xiuzhu, who was a newcomer to the industry, the roles she played were all pure and ethereal youth idol roles such as Wang Yuyan, Lu Xueqi, Zhao Ling'er, and Xiaolongnu. In movies, she was either a waitress in 'Whiplash' or a kung fu actress in 'A Home in Another World'."

"This period was a time for her to solidify her acting foundation and master basic acting skills, transforming her from an amateur into a qualified actress in terms of professional skills."

The audience in the theater and in front of the television were in an uproar.

China's three major traditional performing arts schools do have restrictions on students debuting early. The Central Academy of Drama even had a scandal involving Huang Dingyu using his signing power to seek sexual bribes.

However, in the past two years, with the frenzied injection of capital and the rise of the star era, the entertainment industry is like a pot of glamorous soup that has been repeatedly boiled over a raging fire.

The boiling bubbles, simmering with fame, fortune, and desire, have caused many actors to succumb to the loneliness of artistic creation, and even the Beijing People's Art Theatre is suffering a massive loss of personnel.

However, when everyone looks back, it turns out that Liu Yifei, who was basically considered the top actress in the Chinese entertainment industry in 2004, was only considered to have passed the professional skills test and had initially become a qualified actress in the eyes of this great director.

Comparing the two, it's easy to see how unreliable these self-taught students with formal training are.

“After 2004, her path became wider. With the increase of life experience, she was able to try many different roles. In fact, the role of Iris Chang was a bit of a shortcut, after all, there was a real person as a reference. She spent a year preparing and finally achieved great success.”

“After that, I think it was the right decision for her to go to the Beijing People’s Art Theatre to further her studies and reflect on herself. She needed to slowly digest and process the process of winning her first Best Actress award during this stage, and explore the question of ‘how to transform individual life experiences into universal artistic images’.”

Boss Lu glanced at Liu Yifei with a smile: "Up to the role of Jingqiu today, how should I evaluate it from my perspective? I suddenly thought of Mr. Mei Lanfang's expectations for the younger generation of traditional performing arts—"

Xiao Liu looked at him curiously, wondering what this mentor on his acting journey would say.

Still waters run deep; form and spirit are in harmony.

Zhu Jun, the straight man, said, "Director Lu, please explain it to us, elaborate on it."

"Still waters run deep" is just an appearance; it is the restrained outward performance that bears the wounds of a turbulent era. This is the skill of adding by subtraction.

"The essence of 'form and soul in harmony' refers to the actor's complete integration of the character's soul with their own appearance and temperament. At least in the case of Jingqiu, whose background was changed to suit her characteristics, I think she has achieved that."

The audience erupted in applause, and fans watching on television reminisced about Liu Yifei's many classic roles throughout her career as he narrated his story.

People of different ages, professions, and interests have entered the fandom in different roles. People have become accustomed to seeing her charming smile under the spotlight, and only today have they suddenly realized—

Since 2002, Xiao Liu has been in the entertainment industry for eight years.

In this process, she is like a winding stream, gradually deepening from its initial crystal-clear state. The proud and willful Bai Xiuzhu, the ethereal Wang Yuyan, and the lively and innocent Zhao Ling'er;
The aloof and elegant Little Dragon Girl and Lu Xueqi, and the heroic Blue Moon;

Then came Iris Chang, who was destined to leave her mark on film history after her transformation, and Jingqiu, who was as pure as jade.

Both Zhang Yimou and Zhao Benshan applauded, and some of the more enthusiastic fans in the audience had tears in their eyes.

This was her youth, and it was their youth too.

Zhu Jun, a very experienced host, turned to Liu Yifei, who was gazing sweetly at her husband, and timely posed a question to her:
"Yifei, it's like watching a movie in our minds as we've gone through your acting career over the years. Thank you for bringing so many positive, beautiful and kind characters to the audience."

"The three of you have just given their evaluations and expectations of you. We would also like to hear your own feelings and thoughts on the past, present, and future."

Here it comes, the usual tear-jerking routine of "Art Life" is here, and the target is obviously Xiao Liu, the main promotional figure for this film.

Zhu Jun is also a master at evoking tears, often guiding guests to recall their own difficult experiences to bring them to tears.

Feng Xiaogang talked about his mother's death, Song Dandan recalled the difficulties of raising her son as a single parent, and the most famous one in recent years was Wang Jiawei, who came to "Art Life" to promote "2046".

No one expected him to cry.

It wasn't until Zhu Jun showed him a carefully edited collection of films, including a scene from "Days of Being Wild" where Leslie Cheung was dancing...

Wang Jiawei, who was wearing sunglasses, also broke down in tears.

Xiao Liu was clearly already emotionally affected by her husband's words, or perhaps it was due to pregnancy hormones; she had been quite emotional for the past few months.

She composed herself and gave a gentle smile: "When talking about my career, there is one undeniable fact."

"If I am able to achieve these small successes today, it is not because I have any great talent or extraordinary ability. A large part of the reason is the support of my family and the help of my relatives and friends, which provided me with the opportunity to develop my interests and realize my dreams."

"All I have to do is keep going in the right direction."

The soon-to-be mother turned to the man beside her: "Especially the help and guidance Lu Kuan gave me in this process, which I will never deny, was crucial."

"Sometimes I wonder, what would I be like now if it weren't for him? I think I could make a living in this industry, but what kind of actor would I be, in terms of skill level and intellectual level?"

"But I nipped that thought in the bud every time it arose."

Xiao Liu smiled, revealing two dimples: "It's not that I can't imagine myself without him in my career, it's that I'm afraid of not having him in my life—"

"That's absolutely terrible."

The entire audience erupted in cheers, and viewers watching on television were also thoroughly annoyed.

This girl seems to have never changed from eight years ago until now.

Just moments ago they were joking about who was pursuing whom, but now, filled with love and tenderness, they blurted it out without the slightest hesitation.

She was as pure as a mountain stream, flowing freely in the direction she believed in, and even hitting rocks did not diminish her true self.

"Today's program is called 'Art Life.' My qualifications and level are not yet good enough to call it art, but I can talk about my thoughts on life."

The people on stage and the audience all laughed.

"As Lu Kuan said, my own introspective transformation began with the role of Iris Chang. But he only talked about the improvement in acting skills and depth. For me personally, 'The Sky of History' is a turning point in my acting career and also a turning point in my life."

"This movie brought me and Lu Kuan, whose relationship with me was not very pleasant at the time, into a close bond. Then came many ups and downs until the movie was completed in 07, and we finally got together."

"Then came the 08 earthquake and the Olympics. In just two years, I had a lover, a family and children."

Xiao Liu did not have tears in her eyes as Zhu Jun had expected; instead, her eyes became even clearer: "The huge changes in my life have made me slowly realize that true acting is not about creating a character, but about letting the character grow naturally from the soil of one's own life."

"Therefore, I didn't find the role of Jingqiu too difficult this time. I just treated it as falling in love with Lu Kuan again in the movie. Although the character's ending was sad, I ended up becoming a mother-to-be—"

Liu Yifei smiled and said, "In a sense, I am continuing the life of the character Jingqiu in the movie. She is me in the movie, and I am also me in real life."

"That's wonderful!" Zhu Jun suppressed her disappointment at not being able to evoke tears and came up with another "cunning plan": "Director Lu, Consort Yi, the atmosphere is just right, please give each other a gentle hug!"

Boss Lu was delighted. He leaned forward slightly, his left hand gently protecting Liu Yifei's waist, and his right hand lightly resting on her shoulder.
Liu Yifei leaned to the side, her slightly protruding belly creating a gentle curve between them.

Zhu Jun said excitedly, "That's right. Real life experiences and the tempering of multiple social roles allow artistic expression to go beyond the precision of technique, and instead be sublimated into a more thorough insight and empathy for human nature."

"We can see that after 'The Sky of History,' the roles that Yi Fei presents to the audience are both the innocence of a young girl and the resilience and tolerance of a mature woman."

"It can both interpret the individual struggles in the torrent of history and show the poetry of daily life with ease."

He turned to Zhang Yimou and Lu Kuan: "Both of you are very good at directing actors. Director Zhang's leading ladies are all standing on the international stage, and Director Lu is also an internationally renowned director. Please talk about where Yifei's future direction is after she has reached this point?"

Zhang Yimou smiled and said, "Yi Fei's future focus is of course on standing on the world stage. Our country does not yet have an actress who is as famous as Nicole Kidman or Meryl Streep. Gong Li and Ziyi are still working hard."

"She possesses both the delicacy and restraint of an Eastern actor and the international potential of a Western actor. Of course, this is not something that an actor can achieve through his own efforts alone—it requires an excellent script, an international production team, as well as a bit of luck and the opportunities of the times."

"However, I believe that as long as she maintains her current focus and breakthroughs, she will eventually become an important representative of Chinese films on the world stage."

"Thank you, Director Zhang," Xiao Liu said with a smile, then looked at Lu Kuan.

"I'll mention two points, which may sound grandiose and empty, but they are my true thoughts," Boss Lu said thoughtfully. "Director Xie Jin once said—"

“Every country and every era must shape its own image. If 20th-century Chinese cinema has not left behind a positive image that is accepted by the whole world, then our generation of filmmakers has not fulfilled its responsibility.”

"Director Zhang, so many of my colleagues in China, and actresses like Xiao Liu are all filmmakers. I think we all share the same responsibility."

"So firstly, I expect her to become a successor of Eastern aesthetics, transforming her classical temperament into the highlights of each character, and into an emotional language that can be understood by audiences worldwide."

"Secondly, I expect that this actress, who has lived in the United States and whose roots are deeply rooted in China, can serve as a bridge for Chinese culture and allow overseas audiences to see a real and three-dimensional contemporary China through her vivid and relatable characters."

Liu Yifei smiled and said, "Teacher Lu has assigned a very heavy task!"

"It's not a mission," Lu Kuan said with a smile. "Everyone needs some goals, even if they are difficult. Just do good deeds and don't worry about the future!"

The audience members and viewers in the live stream were both moved by these words.

On the stage of "Art Life", people often see accomplished artists of Zhao Benshan and Zhang Yimou, who are around the same age.

But the ideas and depth displayed by this young couple today are truly worthy of the show's theme.

Art is not only a display of skill, but also a sedimentation of thought. A true artistic life is one that resonates with the times.

"Alright, viewers, our program is coming to an end soon." Zhu Jun skillfully announced, "Thank you to our four guests for joining us today. I have many thoughts to share with you."

Liu Yifei laughed and said, "I'm sorry, Teacher Zhu, I didn't manage to make you cry today! I was holding back the whole time!"

The audience burst into laughter again, recalling countless classic tear-jerking scenes from the past. Clearly, today's leading lady was more resistant to such laughter.

Zhu Jun looked helpless: "Did Consort Yi come prepared?"

Xiao Liu was overjoyed: "Sister Xun called me before I came and told me to be careful and not to cry so much that snot bubbles were coming out of my nose."

She said that Chen Kun cried from beginning to end during his first appearance on a TV show and was dubbed the "Chief Crying Star".

Zhu Jun was both amused and exasperated, while Zhang Yimou and Zhao Benshan looked at him curiously.

Chen Kun's childhood family trauma left him with too many wounds:

His classmates don't play with him because only his mother is divorced.

My biggest dream when I was a child was to have a big house where my parents would live and never get divorced...

During his conversation with Zhu Jun, Chen Kun cried repeatedly on the show.

In reality, how much better is Zhou Xun?

The production team somehow found several calendars featuring her from her teenage years.

Seeing these gaudy calendars, Zhou Xun tearfully recalled: back then, she would wear heavy makeup and pose provocatively, but she would only receive 20 yuan for a single photo.

Most people who are involved in art and literature are emotional; who hasn't had their share of hardships and tears?

To Liu Yifei's slight surprise, the host, who was about to finish her program, suddenly changed the subject: "Yifei, actually, I've prepared a little program especially for you today."

"This is both to congratulate you on playing such a classic role and to wish you, the expectant mother, a safe, happy, and smooth delivery of your baby."

"Huh?" Xiao Liu seemed quite pleased with the surprise: "There's a third purpose, isn't there? Are you really going to make me cry in front of the whole nation? Was it a video recorded by my mom?"

She looked at Liu Xiaoli in the first row below the stage, who smiled and waved at the camera.

Liu Yifei's name is probably just like Chen Kun, Zhou Xun, and Lu Yi, used to create a family atmosphere, such as reminiscing about her childhood with her mother.

Zhu Jun did not answer, but smiled and took two envelopes from the staff below the stage, then smiled at the audience and said:
"Let me introduce you to two postcards I have here, which were given to me by Ms. Liu, Yifei's mother."

"We have learned that this was a gift exchanged between Director Lu and Ivy during their honeymoon earlier this year at the 'Post Office at the End of the World' in Ushuaia." (Chapter 476)
"Ah! Really!" Liu Yifei was genuinely excited this time.

She smiled sweetly at her elderly mother below the stage, her beautiful eyes glanced at her smiling husband, and then fixed her gaze on the envelope in Zhu Jun's hand.

It's been half a year! A full six months!
You corrupt capitalist messengers, you almost ruined my romance!
Zhu Jun laughed and said, "Okay, let's create a little atmosphere too. Lighting technicians, please prepare two spotlights on the stage later."

"Then, would you two please read each other's postcards aloud, okay?"

Xiao Liu laughed and said, "You guys really went all out to get me to shed tears on 'Art Life'!"

She covered her mouth and laughed, "But you might be disappointed. Lu Kuan is probably just writing something funny. He doesn't have a single romantic thought in him!"

Mr. Lu smiled but didn't say anything, simply cooperating with the program team's requirements.

Tonight's interview and the script were clearly designed to revolve around the real lives of Jingqiu and Xiaoliu from the movie "Under the Hawthorn Tree".

Her career, her life—everything about her—was showcased in a multifaceted way because her lack of engagement led to a "hunger marketing" effect on her fans, all of which served the purpose of promoting the film.

Zhang Yimou and Zhao Benshan, both elderly figures, stood to one side with "simple smiles." The stage lights gradually dimmed, and two soft spotlights slowly descended, enveloping Lu Kuan and Liu Yifei in a hazy glow.

They stood facing each other, with just the right distance between them, preserving the aesthetic appeal of the shot while revealing the tacit understanding unique to their close relationship.

Liu Yifei lowered her head slightly, her fingertips lightly tracing the edge of the postcard, a faint smile playing on her lips, but her gaze remained fixed on him.

Lu Kuan stood ramrod straight, the silhouette of his suit outlined in the spotlight, and first took out Xiao Liu's postcard from the envelope.

Suddenly, a familiar piano melody flowed out from the scene. It was an adaptation of "Seven Mile Fragrance," with notes as light as a summer night breeze.

Xiao Liu's eyelashes trembled slightly. This melody had accompanied her through countless important moments. Was it going to become the accompaniment for the last unforgettable scene before she became a mother?

Music can often instantly pull people back to the depths of their memories, as if opening a door to a different time and space.

Clearly, Liu Yifei, whose eyes were already red, was looking at the man. Oxytocin was quietly rising and raging in the expectant mother's body, closely linking her auditory nerves with tender moments deep in her memory.

Witnessed by tens of millions of viewers both in the audience and in front of their televisions, Mr. Lu's steady baritone voice resonated throughout the venue.

Flamingos bow their heads to drink water in the shallows, and in their rose-colored reflections, an ancient legend of rebirth for love slumbers.
As the albatross glides through a Category 12 storm, its taut wing bones measure a lonely vigil deeper than the ocean.

All fidelity is, in essence, a romantic escape from time and death.

The road is wide; today, at the ends of the earth, I write these words for you to express my true feelings.

Flamingos and albatrosses, two creatures that inhabit the Antarctic Circle, served as symbols of faithful love and became the biggest source of inspiration for the young woman, Xiao Liu, during her honeymoon.

The man's voice sounded exceptionally clear against the piano melody of "Seven Mile Fragrance," each word like a raindrop falling on her heart.

The high notes of the piano suddenly soared, like the splash of water as an albatross skims over the crest of a wave.

Listening to the words she had written at the ends of the earth six months ago, the girl let out a barely audible sob, and warm tears streamed down her rounded cheeks, a symptom of pregnancy.

He finished reading and smiled at his wife.

The latter adjusted her mood and opened the postcard; at that moment, a glimmer of hope rose in her heart—

The washing machine should "grow up" by now, shouldn't it? Don't make me embarrass myself on stage!

The flamingo's red color fades to grayish-white, which is actually a physiological reaction as it ages and reduces its intake of astaxanthin.

The albatross's long journey home is also a genetic instinct for birds to navigate using geomagnetic navigation...

???

Liu Yifei's earlier emotions vanished instantly!

Are you trying to talk to me about "Approaching Science" or "Animal World"?
And it just so happens to be on CCTV?

A burst of laughter came from the audience, and Zhang Yimou and Zhao Benshan were especially amused, as the contrast between their behavior before and after was too striking.

One is romantic, the other is realistic; a perfect match.

Xiao Liu rolled her eyes at the washing machine and continued reading. The words that caught her eye made her hump twitch slightly, and her reproachful look gradually softened.

Immediately, a clear and gentle female voice rang out to the music of "Seven Mile Fragrance":

"However, science can deconstruct the laws governing everything, but it cannot explain you."

"When albatrosses spend twenty years measuring the Earth's magnetic field lines, when flamingos lose their plumage with metabolism, only your existence remains—"

"Let my biological clock stay forever in that winter when we first met."

……

Liu Yifei ultimately couldn't escape being moved to tears. She stepped forward, gently wrapped her arms around her husband's neck, and buried her face in his shoulder.

Lu Kuan gently stroked her back, which trembled slightly from sobbing, and whispered something comforting in her ear.

Under the spotlight, the teardrops hanging on the girl's eyelashes reflected a delicate halo of light, like the morning dew that had not yet fallen from a hawthorn tree.

The melody of "Seven Mile Fragrance" still echoes in my ears, each note like a time capsule, stringing together the fragments scattered throughout the long river of time.

The nervousness of the first audition, the dizziness upon receiving the Best Actress award, the thrill of embracing each other upon learning of the pregnancy...

The dreams of girlhood and the anticipation of becoming a mother were exchanged on this special stage.

Zhu Jun stood at the front of the stage with satisfaction and skillfully recited the program's standard script: "Art Life, using art to illuminate life and using emotion to warm people's hearts."

He looked at the two embracing, his gaze deep: "Just like Jingqiu and Lao San's unwavering love across generations, just like the hawthorn tree that will eventually bloom red flowers, the purest emotions will never be buried by time."

"It will take root in the soil of memory, settle in the long river of time, and eventually become an indelible mark in life."

The audience erupted in applause and cheers. The host, watching Liu Yifei wipe away tears as she stood on stage with the other three guests, officially brought the day's program to a close.
"Thank you to the four artist friends from 'Under the Hawthorn Tree' for being guests on the program, and thank you to Yi Fei for sharing her 'artistic life' with us."

"I hope that in eight years, I can invite Director Lu and Yi Fei to participate in the program with their grown-up children. At that time, the two of them will surely have more insights about art and life to share with everyone."

"Okay, that's all for today's program. Goodbye, friends!"

(End of this chapter)