Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 239 This is what love should look like

Huairou, the post-production base of China Film Group.

The building is not yet fully completed; workers are still standing on scaffolding in the construction area on the east side, while the new building on the west side has already been powered on and put into use.

The hallway features modern carpets and glass partitions, with silent signs hanging on the walls.

At this moment, Wu Chen was standing in a 5.1 channel mixing studio, checking the post-production parts of "Black Peony" that had been completed.

The screen displays a stage dream scene from the fourth act of "Black Peony," with flashing lights and shadows, showing the female lead Xu Wei waking up in the dim light, frame by frame.

"This heartbeat needs to be positioned a little further forward; it's too far back right now."

Wu Chen looked at the sound designer beside him, his tone gentle yet clear: "Start with the sound in the first five frames and fade it out. Then lower the background ambient noise by five decibels, but don't muffle the character's breathing."

"Understood, Director Wu."

The colorist on the other side was also preparing the lighting studio. A previously prepared mid-tone version was being displayed on the big screen. Wu Chen, sitting in the back row, frowned slightly.
"The color temperature in this section is too cold. Although it's a dream sequence, this is when Du Liniang first enters Xu Wei's consciousness, so the lighting needs to be softer."

The colorist nodded, noted down the description, and then adjusted the new parameters.

After finishing these matters, Wu Chen arrived at the dubbing studio.

Inside the dubbing studio, Liu Yifei was looking at her lines. She was wearing a beige sweater with loose sleeves, paired with a snow-white long skirt with the hem slightly drooping. Her profile looked exceptionally serene and beautiful in the soft light.

As soon as Wu Chen stepped in, she seemed to notice him immediately, turned her head to look at him, and smiled, like ripples spreading quietly on spring water.

"Junior brother!"

Wu Chen glanced at the table beside the counter, his gaze landing on the small, clear bottle of lemonade: "Is this yours?"

"Hmm!" Liu Yifei had just finished answering when she saw him walk over, unceremoniously unscrew the bottle cap, and gulp it down.

"I just finished talking to someone, and my mouth is so dry that I forgot to drink water."

"I haven't even had a few sips yet," Liu Yifei muttered softly, her face showing a hint of grievance, yet unable to hide her smile.

Wu Chen put down the bottle and casually asked, "How much longer?"

Liu Yifei glanced at the playback screen, then looked at him again, her tone light and cheerful: "This part will be over after we finish dubbing. We did a few takes earlier, but they were always just a little off. This time should be fine."

Seeing that Wu Chen was sitting to the side and no longer disturbing her, she felt a sense of peace for no reason, and then she began to prepare seriously.

Inside the dubbing studio, the video began to play, and the lights were dim.

As soon as Liu Yifei stood in front of the microphone and put on her headphones, she quickly got into the zone.

It was already late when I came out of the dubbing studio.

The streetlights in front of the base stood alone, their dim yellow light casting long, thin shadows on the concrete ground.

Occasionally, a truck carrying equipment would drive by in the distance, its tires making a low creak as they rolled over the gravel.

The two walked out of the building one after the other. The wind, carrying the chill of the mountains, swept by gently, and the night air carried a trace of lingering spring cold.

After getting into the car, Wu Chen skillfully fastened her seatbelt.

"What are you doing?" Liu Yifei gently pushed him and said in a low voice, "It's not like I can't tie it myself."

Wu Chen shrugged and teased, "Didn't you teach me last time? I'm just reviewing the moves again."

Mentioning "last time," Liu Yifei's cheeks immediately flushed red. She patted his shoulder lightly and muttered, "You naughty boy."

With a low hum of the engine, the car drove out of the base gate.

The streets of Huairou were deserted at night. Heading south, after passing the ramp of the Badaling Expressway, the outline of the city gradually began to appear.

"What do you want to eat?" Wu Chen asked casually as he drove.

Liu Yifei leaned back in her seat, looking up at the streaks of light flashing by outside the window, and suddenly turned her head: "How about we have hot pot? It's been so long since we've had it."

Her tone carried a long-lost sense of anticipation, and her eyes sparkled.

“Okay.” Wu Chen nodded. “Let’s find a more authentic one in the city.”

Compared to the desolate wilderness of Huairou, hot pot restaurants in the city center are much easier to find. However, looking at the bubbling hot pot in the private room, Wu Chen glanced at the condiments in Liu Yifei's bowl and secretly clicked his tongue in amazement. There were so many chili peppers.

"How about I share some with you?" Liu Yifei dipped her chopsticks in the sauce, tasted it, and found it to be quite good. She asked with a grin.

"No need, I'm fine as I am," Wu Chen refused.

"Try it," Liu Yifei continued to urge. "You'll like it."

Wu Chen thought for a moment and hesitated before asking, "Then give me some?"

"I'll give you some." Liu Yifei picked up the bowl and scooped a big mouthful of food onto it. "This is the soul of hot pot." "You're amazing, you've already gotten a Cantonese person to eat spicy food." Wu Chen teased with a smile, the first bite was fiery hot.

"I also prefer milder flavors, but when it comes to hot pot, a little spice is fine," Liu Yifei said with a smile, adding some meat to the pot. "And you'll be just like me in the future."

"Oh, why?" Wu Chen looked up, his lips, red from the spiciness, pursed.

"When two people are together, their tastes will gradually change and eventually become similar."

However, on the way back, Liu Yifei smiled the whole way as she looked at Wu Chen's red lips.

"Your lips are so strange."

"Because it's spicy!" Wu Chen gestured with his lip. "You have to take responsibility."

"Ah, how do I take responsibility?"

"Help me cool down from the spiciness, I need something sweet."

"Where can I find anything sweet?" Liu Yifei was taken aback and looked around the car, but there was no candy there either.

The car slowly came to a stop. She saw Wu Chen staring directly at her, her ears turned slightly red, and she spat out, "Pervert!"

However, she still leaned closer, but first touched Wu Chen's bright red lips with her finger, made a mocking remark, and then pressed her lips against his.

Their movements were very gentle, like the soft, lingering touch of a spring drizzle, slowly caressing each other.

"Is it still spicy?" A hint of moisture flickered in Liu Yifei's beautiful eyes.

Wu Chen held on tightly, saying, "There's still a little bit left."

I have to say, this stuff works better than sugar.

Then she saw the water she had just drunk from and whispered something in its ear.

"You have so many tricks up your sleeve."

Liu Yifei gave a reproachful look, gently pinched Wu Chen, but still reached for the water next to her, took a sip, and then leaned down to touch it again.

"Um"

It worked perfectly! The spiciness was completely gone, and the mineral water was indeed a little sweet, just like the advertisement said.

After a long while, the car restarted, but stopped again halfway through the journey and then turned into the new area.

Liu Yifei tucked a few stray strands of hair behind her ear. This place looked familiar, like...
He then looked at Wu Chen with a puzzled expression.

"Come on, let me show you my villa."

Liu Yifei happily followed behind, but in the blink of an eye she punched Wu Chen in the chest, "Didn't you say you'd take me to see a villa? Does your villa only have a bedroom?"

“You’ll be the lady of the house from now on, so how about I show you the master bedroom?” Wu Chen smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ll still be very proper.”

"I don't believe you!" Liu Yifei blushed and spat, looking down at Wu Chen's hand, holding it tightly to prevent him from moving, but still snuggling closer into Wu Chen's arms to find a comfortable position.

"Don't move!"

Upon hearing this rather unwise warning, Wu Chen smiled, but also felt a strange sense of relief.

The most wonderful thing is probably having the person you love right beside you.

Liu Yifei suddenly looked up at Wu Chen and asked, "Junior brother, which is better, liking someone or being liked by someone?"

"The best thing is when the person you like likes you back." Wu Chen smiled calmly.

"Mmm! Hold me tighter!" Liu Yifei felt a sweet warmth in her heart. "So, what do you like most about me? I want to keep it that way. I think I can become even better and make you like me even more."

“You don’t need to change. Just be yourself,” Wu Chen said solemnly, looking into Liu Yifei’s eyes.

He was afraid of the day when Liu Yifei would become so cautious.

"I want the person I like to be happy. I won't force her to do things she doesn't want to do, or make her become someone she doesn't want to be. The person I like is that person, not my fantasy."

So just be yourself, nothing else matters.

"Mmm!" Liu Yifei responded softly, then suddenly smiled broadly, "Me too!"

You should say, "Me too!"

"Huh? Hahaha, that's awful, I don't want to hear that."

(End of this chapter)