Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 453 Waste and Romance, what do you think?
In early July in Paris, the midday sun was almost blindingly hot.

The stone-paved corridors of the School of Architecture gleamed with a faint white light.

In the small square between the main building of the college and the old auditorium, the crew of "Inception" is busy filming today's key scenes.

The point where dreams and reality intersect.

The characters in the play stroll through the academy corridors in the afternoon, their footsteps and the camera chasing each other.

In this deep spatial transition, Liu Yifei, who plays the "Dream Builder," has to complete a three-minute continuous sequence of actions and emotional fluctuations right in the center of the camera.

Long takes, live-action filming, and almost no stunt doubles.
This is a test of both mental and physical strength for any actor.

Liu Yifei wore a simple shirt with a trench coat draped over her shoulders, paired with slim-fitting navy blue trousers. Her hair was casually tied up, but her temples were slightly damp with sweat.

She stood beneath the archway, beads of sweat still clinging to her forehead from the recent photoshoot, yet her eyes, beneath her long eyelashes, remained clear and resolute.

The makeup artist rushed over, carefully blotting the sweat from her forehead with a powder puff, and then touched up her nose and cheeks with pink highlighter.

Liu Xiaoli stood under the shade of a tree not far away, holding a bottle of mineral water in her hand, her eyes filled with obvious heartache.

She knew that her daughter had been working at a high intensity almost every day for some time, with very little rest time.

Moreover, Inception is not an ordinary commercial film; its script is far more complex and its staging more challenging than usual.

Although Liu Yifei is the second female lead, her role is exceptionally significant.
“Crystal, why don’t you take a break?” Nolan, standing behind the monitor, couldn’t help but suggest. “We can shoot other shots first and take a short break.”

"Director, no need." Liu Yifei waved her hand gently, her voice soft yet firm. "The transition is just right; changing the angle would make it awkward."

She lowered her head and smoothed the slightly messy strands of hair on her forehead. Water droplets slid down her temples and into her collar. Instead of wiping them away, she raised her hand to ask the clothing assistant to tighten the cuffs, indicating that she could have another pair.

A sudden change of scene or camera angle is a loss for the film crew because many scenes need to be set up repeatedly.
Nolan raised an eyebrow, nodded, and didn't try to persuade him further.

While waiting on set, Leonardo DiCaprio glanced at Liu Yifei's profile, then turned to Marion Cotillard and remarked in a low voice, "She's really dedicated; she's like a 'workaholic.'"

Marion smiled and nodded, then sighed softly, "I need to work harder, or I'll really feel bad if I hold everyone back."

"."

The group exchanged smiles, and the slightly weary atmosphere on set was suddenly lifted.

Just then, Liu Xiaoli, who was standing under the shade of a tree, heard her phone vibrate in her pocket.

She took out her phone, instinctively thinking it was a call from Wu Chen, but then she realized it was already past midnight in Beijing, and Wu Chen wouldn't bother her at this hour.

Liu Xiaoli's brows furrowed slightly as she looked at the screen. The name displayed was one she hadn't contacted in a long time—Cai Yinong.
Liu Xiaoli paused for a moment, feeling slightly surprised. She didn't like this person and knew very well what he had been thinking. After hesitating for a while, she took a few steps outside before answering the phone.

"Mr. Cai?"

"Sister Liu, it's me."

On the other end of the phone, Cai Yinong's voice was polite yet warm and cheerful.

She wasn't surprised that Liu Xiaoli answered the phone; as long as she could achieve her goal in the end, that was fine.

She knew that Wu Chen had no connection with Tangren, and Liu Yifei and Liu Xiaoli were the only channels she could contact.

Paris is six hours behind Beijing time. Therefore, when it is midnight in Beijing, it is only 6 pm in Paris.

Wu Chen has not yet returned to the capital.

The matter with Shanda Culture is not as simple as just signing an agreement; such a thing only exists in dreams.

Back at the hotel, the first thing he saw was a message from Nolan, followed by a message from Liu Yifei. After carefully reading their messages, a smile appeared on his face. After thinking for a moment, he dialed back.

Liu Yifei, who was resting and preparing for dinner with the crew, was still hesitating whether to call Wu Chen. The afternoon's filming schedule had been very tight, with almost no rest time. Now that she could finally rest, she realized it was already late at night in Beijing.

She couldn't bear to disturb Wu Chen's rest.

"beep"

As Liu Yifei rested her chin on her hand, nibbling on a small piece of food and lost in thought, she muttered to herself.

Just then, the phone screen suddenly started flashing, followed by a familiar ringtone.

Liu Yifei looked down and saw the caller ID read "Junior Brother." She was immediately overjoyed, revealing two rows of tiny, glistening teeth.

"why are not you sleeping?"

She answered the phone, her voice carrying a light laugh.

I can't sleep without hearing your voice.

Upon hearing her boyfriend's words, her long, slender eyelashes immediately curled upwards, trembling like butterflies taking flight.

The glow of the Parisian sunset cast a fleeting blush on Liu Yifei's face.
"Hehe, you can go to sleep now."

"No, I'm not listening enough, and it's making me sleep poorly."

"loquacious!"

Liu Yifei couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle. Just then, Marion Cotillard, who had just finished work, passed by and winked at her with a smile.

Liu Yifei blushed deeply.

Sometimes romance doesn't have to be a bouquet of flowers; it's about being willing to "waste" time listening to each other.

Listening to the other person's voice and feeling their emotions conveyed through the microphone is beautiful in itself.

Just like when love is obvious, even without words, every second is a silent confession.
But good times are always short, especially when there's a time difference.

"You should go to sleep. I have to film a night scene later."

Liu Yifei's voice carried a hint of reluctance.

"Hmm." Wu Chen chuckled, then seemed to remember something, "Oh right, Nolan sent me a message today."

Liu Yifei paused for a moment, then asked curiously, "What did the director say to you?"

“He said you’re very serious and hardworking, and he admires that about you.” Wu Chen paused for a moment. “But I want to say don’t be so silly. You need to rest when you need to. I don’t want to go to the hospital in Paris to see you.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Yifei's smile deepened, and she nodded gently like a chick pecking at rice, obediently saying, "Yes."

Hearing the "Mmm," Wu Chen smiled. He knew that if he did it again, the girl would still forget what he had said. But that earnestness and stubbornness were precisely what made her so touching.
Isn't that another kind of beauty?

"Oh, right, Mom told me this afternoon that Mr. Cai from Tangren Media called about 'Scarlet Heart'."

Wu Chen was not surprised at all upon hearing this.

He just didn't expect Cai Yinong to act so quickly, and that she would contact Liu Yifei.

What do you think?

"what?"

(End of this chapter)