The birth of an actor

Chapter 16 Sweetness

When Fan Bing woke up and saw An Xin coming out after washing her face, she couldn't help but compare her to the fleeting glimpse she had just caught when she woke up from her dream.

Yes, indeed, Anxin looks better now.

He looked a little unreal with makeup on.

"Let's go."

Just as she was pondering this, Fan Bing heard An Xin's words and quickly snapped back to reality, nodding in agreement.

"Okay. Sis, let's go then."

"Go ahead. Come back in three days to pick up the photos."

After the female boss finished responding, Fan Bing smiled and waved, then walked outside with a sense of relief.

As soon as she stepped outside, the girl felt a wave of heat.

She glanced at her watch and realized it was only two o'clock. She was a little troubled about where to go to cool off.

After all, this is the hottest time of day, and it's not cool anywhere.

At that moment, she heard Anxin's words:
"Let's go to your place."

"?"

Fan Bing was taken aback, then asked speechlessly:
Why would you come to my house?

"Put this away. If we don't go soon, the things inside will spoil."

Seeing the plastic bag in An Xin's hand, Fan Bing belatedly realized what was happening and quickly nodded:
"Oh right, let's go."

"I'll ride slowly this time, and you can give me directions."

"okay."

It seemed that the previous ride had given her a lot of psychological comfort, because this time she was less resistant. She even took the initiative to sit on the back of the motorcycle.

As soon as she sat down, she bounced up:

"Ah! So hot!"

An Xin was speechless for a moment, then looked at the girl clutching her bottom in pain and said with a wicked grin:
"It's alright, just bear with it, it will treat the cold."

What is "Hanyu"?

"Uh……"

Anxin opened her mouth and said with a smile:

"It's okay, a warm butt is good for your health anyway, just hang in there."

"That's way too hot! Wait a minute~"

She turned around and ran back into the photo studio. Not long after, she came back to the motorcycle with a wad of wet newspaper and started wiping the seat.

The water evaporated quickly on the cushion.

After wiping, the temperature did drop considerably.

The girl laughed heartily:
"Am I smart?"

"Ha, you're such a clever little devil."

The two got into the car, and Fan Bing once again put her hand around An Xin's waist.

"Hey, I can knit sweaters."

"……Then what?"

"Shall I knit you a seat cushion? I learned it from my mom. The sun is really strong where we live in Yantai. Before my car accident, in the summer, my bottom would get so hot when I rode on my dad's motorcycle. So my mom knitted a seat cushion for the motorcycle, and it wasn't so hot anymore. Shall I knit one for you?"

Is it troublesome?

“It’s no trouble at all, it’ll be quick. Besides, the landlord of the house I rent works in a textile factory, and he has lots of yarn left over. I can knit it for you if you want.”

"Okay."

Feeling the sweat starting to trickle down his crotch, Anxin responded with a sigh of relief.

The black seat cushions definitely absorb too much heat.

"Do you still take acting classes here? I saw a lot of descriptions in 'Six Lectures on Acting' by the author when commenting on students taking acting classes."

"I'm not going anymore. My school is in Shanghai, so I can only study by myself here... But I'm saving up to buy a VCR."

Anxin was taken aback:
"Video recorder?"

"Yes, our teacher said that when we don't have classes, we can find videotapes to watch and see how other actors perform. But those things are too expensive, even secondhand ones cost seven or eight hundred... I estimate it will take me several months to save up. But it's okay, in September, the Beijing Film Academy starts, I'll take you to audit a class... Oh right, you're starting school in September too, right? Hey, does your school have acting classes? Can you take me to audit one?"

Renmin University doesn't actually have any acting classes, but when Anxin was in school in her previous life, there was a drama troupe.

However, he hadn't participated in it at the time and didn't know how it worked.

but……

"My uncle's family has a video recorder."

"……what?"

Fan Bing, sitting in the back seat, was startled, then her eyes suddenly lit up:

"You have?"

During our casual conversation at dinner, she learned that Anxin was staying at her uncle's shop near Jishuitan Hospital.

It was a single-story house; the front yard sold local specialties, and the back yard was a warehouse.

"Yes, it seems to be Panasonic."

"Can I rent a videotape and watch it at your house?"

There was no difference between men and women. As soon as she heard that Anxin had a video recorder, she immediately had an idea.

He even asked on his own initiative:

Do you have a TV?

"Isn't that obvious? How could we not have a TV if we have a VCR?"

"Oh! That's great!... Can I go?"

The girl sitting on the back seat had lost her fear of motorcycles; instead, she felt a longing for them.

"I can make videotapes... and I can even teach you acting. We can do video analysis, which means understanding the director's intentions and the actors' interpretations of the performances while watching the videotapes..."

She began to speak at length, and finally concluded with:
"Is it okay? Is it alright?"

"Ha, sure."

Anxin readily agreed.

He definitely needs a way to "improve" right now.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have been so completely unsure of myself when I was called into the Beijing Film Studio that morning.

"It's settled then! ...Shall we go now?"

"……Now?"

Anxin was somewhat speechless:

"Wasn't I going to your house to drop off some things?"

“You have a refrigerator too, you can have it there for now. I only have an electric wok, which is shared. And it was bought by my roommate. If I use it, she'll charge me for the electricity. She's so stingy. I already give her a five-yuan discount on the rent every month, and she still haggles over these things. I even let her use my kettle for free…”

Listening to her somewhat complaining rambling, Anxin thought for a moment and said:
"Okay. Then come straight to my place."

"Hmm... Hey, video store, let's stop here. Let's rent two videotapes and go there."

They happened to pass by a video rental store, and Fan Bing quickly stopped An Xin, got out of the car, and ran inside in a frenzy.

As soon as they entered, An Xin and her friend saw posters of Li Ming and Zhang Manyu standing in front of a row of televisions. The movie title listed three songs that almost everyone in mainland China could hum a few lines of – "Tian Mi Mi" (Sweet Honey).

"Is this a new movie? Is it good?"

Upon hearing Fan Bing's words, the shop owner, who was sitting at the counter reading a magazine, glanced at the girl and, upon realizing she was a pretty young woman, smiled slightly.
"It's definitely going to be good. Li Ming is in it. Li Ming and Zhang Manyu."

"Okay... I'll rent this one, and then I'll rent the next one..."

After deciding on her first target, the girl looked at the posters posted everywhere and chose a copy of "Days of Being Wild".

"Just these two books, how much?"

"50 cents per time, 10 yuan deposit."

"Give."

Fan Bing handed over the money directly, and walked out with An Xin, who had barely said a word and was just looking at everything in the store with a sentimental expression.

After she came out, she said:

“Zhang Manyu is in *Comrades: Almost a Love Story*, and I’ve always really liked her. This *Days of Being Wild* is for you. Our teacher highly praised this movie, saying that Zhang Guorong, a method actor, delivered his best performance in it. You two are similar, so I can help you analyze the film.” “…Am I sure you’re a method actor?”

Anxin couldn't help but ask.

"Sure."

Fan Bing looked completely at ease:

"You only acted so convincingly after you put yourself in that wolf's shoes. You're definitely an experiential actor; you wouldn't do the method acting either. For example, could you act like Chow Yun-fat?"

"Is Chow Yun-fat a method actor?"

"Uh...right."

The girl herself didn't know what kind of martial arts sect Chow Yun-fat belonged to, but at this moment, her professional knowledge was more than enough to deal with a newbie.

Anxin was completely unaware that she had boarded a pirate ship.

Actually, he was just asking casually, since he didn't know Chow Yun-fat.

In short, since they have experience, we should just listen to them.

In her past life, she was able to walk the red carpet at major film festivals. Although An Xin didn't have a deep impression of her work, she guessed it was because she was in a completely different field.

Just treat it like watching a movie.

So, they rode the scooter all the way to the back door of the Northeast specialty store. After entering the courtyard, Fan Bing observed the surroundings and said:

"It's much more spacious than mine. Mine was a wooden partitioned-off room in an old courtyard house, cold in winter and hot in summer. Tsk tsk..."

Anxin didn't say anything like "Then you can stay here."

He led her directly into his room.

When Fan Bing saw the video recorder and the peony-themed TV, her eyes lit up instantly. She quickly walked over and started fiddling with them.

Anxin didn't pay any attention and instead took out the things from the bag she had given her.

"Here, this is ginseng root, and this is deer antler slice. This is pre-packaged chicken. You only need two or three pieces of chicken each time. Put them in a bowl with half a piece of deer antler and a section of ginseng root, add some salt and cooking wine to remove the fishy smell, and then start simmering... Adding more water is fine, or if you have an enamel mug like this, you can just put it in to simmer..."

"Uh-huh."

Fan Bing didn't seem to care; she just glanced at it and then went back to fiddling with the video recorder.

Seeing this, Anxin didn't say anything more, but took the two enamel teacups next to the electric cooker and went out.

After washing it clean with the tap, I went back inside and started boiling water to make soup.

He himself hadn't drunk any for several days.

Nourishing medicinal diets are essentially a long-term habit. You can skip them for a few days occasionally, but as long as you persist, they will definitely be good for your health. He had experienced this in his previous life.

As soon as I put the two teacups into the electric cooker and started boiling them over water, the TV screen already showed a picture.

In the black and white image, the blurry silhouette of a train passing by flickers incessantly.

Anxin was taken aback:
"Is the TV broken? Why is it only black and white?"

"I do not know."

Fan Bing shook her head as she sat down next to the tin stove piled with various odds and ends.

There's only one stool in this room.

Anxin hadn't seen "Comrades: Almost a Love Story" either, but she vaguely remembered a scene in "Zhang Manyu" where she was crying and laughing, which was very popular on short video platforms. She was sure the film wasn't in black and white.

While wondering whether he should find someone to repair the TV, he sat on the bed and looked at Li Ming, who was fast asleep against the wall in the carriage, in the black and white lens.

Gee...

So handsome.

Finally, the scene shifts from the startled Li Ming carrying a net bag onto the elevator to the opening credits.

At this moment, An Xin asked:

"You've started analyzing the films?"

"No, I haven't seen this movie yet. I'll see if I like it first. The first time I watch it, I'll focus on the story, and the second time I'll analyze the acting... But I probably won't have time today, I have to go to the Beijing Film Studio later. Hey, can I come watch it tonight?"

"...Stay here?"

Facing the girl's bright, sparkling eyes, Anxin asked in surprise.

"No, I ride a bicycle."

Fan Bing didn't feel at ease thinking anything inappropriate.

In some respects, these two people actually share similar values.

Discuss the matter at hand, without mixing in anything else.

"You rode a bicycle here, and then rode it back?"

"Yes, but I need to fix my bike first. The wheels on my bicycle are broken; someone must have been drunk and kicked them. Several metal bars are bent... Hey, let me tell you, the people around here have no manners..."

As she spoke, she kept her eyes glued to the screen on television.

It wasn't until the footage restarted and returned to color that the two realized the director had deliberately filmed it that way.

As for whether she comes in the evening or not, An Xin doesn't really care. Anyway, according to Sui Xi, there's no one here after she gets off work in the evening.

If you want to watch a movie, then go ahead. The nights these days are, frankly, a bit too boring.

As for the movie "Comrades: Almost a Love Story"...

To be honest, I didn't see it in my previous life, but from an outsider's perspective, it seems pretty good in this life.

Watching Li Ming and Zhang Manyu experience various unrequited loves, one can't help but feel a unique sense of emotion.

Then, as the story unfolds, Li Qiao, played by Zhang Manyu, finally sees the corpse of Brother Leopard, played by Zeng Zhiwei.

She delivered a textbook-perfect performance of "smiling through sadness."

An Xin watched with admiration, marveling at how amazing this woman was. But Fan Bing suddenly stopped recording after this scene flashed by.

After thinking about it, I went back to it.

As the screen jerked, the two foreigners removed the shroud again, and when Zhang Manyu saw the Mickey Mouse tattoo on Leopard Brother's back, she began to laugh as sadness overwhelmed her.

Then... pour it again.

Even more sadness...

After Zhang Manyu's river flowed upstream seven or eight times, the scene was paused by Fan Bingbing.

The girl turned her head, looked at Anxin, and said:

"Let me try."

"Uh……"

Anxin understood immediately and asked:
"Should I lie down?"

Fan Bingbing's lips twitched:
"Who are you putting on this show for while you're lying on your stomach?"

As she spoke, she looked around, then stood up and walked to Anxin's bedside. She looked down at the bed covered with a checkered sheet, her mouth twitching and twitching...

moment.

"How's it going?"

The girl looked expectant after her performance.

Then I saw An Xin's strange expression.

"?"

Amidst her doubts, the reassuring and concise summary of the comments was as follows:

"Zhang Manyu's sorrow is like a river flowing backwards."

"Mmm! What about me?"

"You? At most, you're just laughing and crying."

"..."

Fan Bing was speechless for a moment, and rolled her eyes at the boy's "I'm serious" expression.

"I'm speechless? Pshaw! Then you do it! Let me see how you put on this performance!"