The birth of an actor

Chapter 97 Centralized Invitation

It turns out that Fan Bingbing doesn't actually have much talent for cooking.

Aside from the oyster, dried shrimp, and winter melon soup that her mother taught her to make, her cooking skills were so poor that even a dog would feel like vomiting.

"Is it really that bad? Let me try it... Ugh! My god, it's so cloyingly sweet..."

This was the first time in her life she had made scrambled eggs with tomatoes. After tasting it, here's her evaluation of herself.

Of course, the "dog" in the phrase "even a dog would want to vomit" refers to peace of mind.

After quickly rinsing her mouth with water, she took the newly bought lunchbox.
"Don't eat it, it tastes awful."

"I wasn't planning on eating it anyway."

Anxin looked completely innocent:
"First, use less salt. Second, don't add soy sauce to the tomato and egg stir-fry. Third, even if you add soy sauce, please ask clearly whether it's dark soy sauce or regular soy sauce when you buy it, can't you?"

"How would I know... I cooked it in your room. I saw you always putting this stuff in, so I added a lot. Why is it so dark?"

Seeing that the girl showed no embarrassment but rather a thirst for knowledge, An Xin wanted to shake his head helplessly, but as soon as he moved, a pain shot through the back of his head, which made him quickly shut up.

"Alright, just leave me alone. I can go downstairs to eat by myself. You should go back now."

After just one night's sleep, I felt reassured when I woke up in the morning that I was fine. I then drank the rest of the oyster soup in one gulp, wiped my mouth, and picked up the script again.

Fan Bing knew that her dish wasn't very successful, and she wasn't influenced by later novels to develop a self-satisfied sentiment like "I made it so badly, but he still ate it."

He put the lunchbox on the table and said:
Where are you looking?

"I just saw my son meeting with a Dong girl."

“So slow?”

Fan Bing was somewhat surprised.

The script for "That Dog" actually contains very little content, because it has many long, unspoken sections.

This kind of blank space either means the script isn't finished, or the work is being done with the director.

The script they have is still very rudimentary.

"Take your time and see. The main thing is to establish the role of 'son' in your mind."

Upon hearing this, Fan Bing couldn't help but say:
"Why don't you give the main character a name? Even Li Da or Li Er would be fine, but the whole script... and even the book, only uses titles like Dad, Father, and Son. It feels really weird."

"Because its book reflects on the Chinese father-son relationship. With a name, it is the story of that person. But without a name, it can be the story in the hearts of everyone who reads the book or watches the movie and is moved by it."

"...Okay. Anyway, I don't have many scenes."

"Hmm? You've decided on me?"

"No, what I mean is, this story is about a father and son, so I'm just going for the Dong girl. She's pretty simple, I don't think there'll be any problems. It's harder to audition for the son... well, but I don't think it's that difficult. It's just about portraying a growth process, or rather... a process of becoming sensible. Through walking this path with her father, from initially not understanding him to understanding him. From instinctive resistance and estrangement to closeness..."

"Ah."

An Xin wasn't surprised that she understood the character so well.

However, he felt that the role of "son" had a lot of potential for development.

Defining the relationship between this father and son in such a narrow sense is too extreme.

He didn't really have many feelings about the Chinese father-son relationship...

After all, he lacked the most crucial element from a young age—he needed a living father.

These words may seem disrespectful at first glance, but before his rebirth, he was already over thirty and approaching forty, and he had a very clear understanding of many things.

At least, we can understand this feeling from another perspective.

The most intuitive summary is that all its softness is wrapped under a hard shell.

The outer shell may never dissolve, but the softness inside is also protected by the shell, like a pot of old wine, the longer it ages, the more flavorful it becomes.

That's why he really liked the story.

Like an outsider lodging in a happy family of three.

Seeing other people's happiness makes one yearn and desire it, and even though one knows that one is an outsider, one still can't help but want to fit in.

He noticed that Fan Bingbing wasn't idle either.

After helping Anxin pack her change of clothes and tidy up her lunchbox, she continued:

"Then I'll ask for leave for you and come over to keep you company tonight."

"Okay, thank you."

"You're welcome."

The girl waved her hand dismissively, and as soon as she stepped out carrying two large bags, she saw Xu Qing.

She paused, glanced at the lunchbox in the other person's hand, then looked away and turned to call out to Anxin in the ward:

"Don't worry, Teacher Xu is here."

After saying that, he nodded to Xu Qing and left on his own.

Xu Qing walked straight into the room and immediately saw An Xin leaning against the bed reading a script.

"Hello, Teacher Xu."

Anxin smiled and greeted him.

Xu Qing was taken aback.

The boy, who seemed to have regained all his energy after just one night, was momentarily dazed.

I always felt that this boy's smile was a little too innocent...

However, she was only in a daze for a moment before quickly regaining her senses:

"Don't worry, how are you feeling today?"

"It's fine. After a nap, I'm not so dizzy anymore. I just can't turn my head quickly. When the doctor came this morning, he said I'm recovering quite fast. As long as I'm not dizzy anymore, it's just a superficial injury. Professor Xu, you don't need to worry."

Xu Qing immediately felt relieved.

"Huh...that's good."

"Worrying you."

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing quickly shook his head:

"Don't be so polite, after all, it was my fault..."

"Teacher Xu, I'm not just being polite. It was an accident after all. If we could do it all over again, no one would want these things to happen, right? And now that it has happened, and the situation isn't serious, wouldn't it be better if everyone could be more at ease?"

"..."

Xu Qing was taken aback.

His eyes were full of surprise.

He... is quite open-minded.

They are even more open-minded than the average person.

Without realizing it, she thought of what the boy had said last night...

I couldn't help but say:
"You're so open-minded, it makes me feel embarrassed."

"Ha, that's true. What's past is past, why dwell on it?"

"..."

Xu Qing remained silent.

He seemed to have thought of something, and his eyes showed a strange sadness.

However, he quickly realized what was happening and handed over his lunchbox:
"I stir-fried some chicken slices for you, have some chicken, and I also made some rice and a meatball soup."

"Uh...thank you."

Anxin, who was still hungry, quickly thanked him and took the lunchbox.

Upon opening it, a fragrant aroma filled the air. After taking a bite, he genuinely exclaimed in delight:
"Teacher Xu, your cooking skills are really good."

A slight smile appeared on Xu Qing's lips:
"Then eat more, I'll cook for you again tonight."

"No need, going to the cafeteria is just as good..."

"It's alright, it's only right that I take care of you. Eat up."

So, Anxin stopped talking and focused on eating.

Xu Qing watched him eat for a while, and then his gaze fell on the book "That Dog" on the table.

"Is this the script?"

"Correct."

"Let me see?"

"This……"

Seeing An Xin's troubled expression, Xu Qing was taken aback, then realized that he had been a bit presumptuous.

Then he laughed and said:

"Never mind... how long have you been an actor?"

"This year has just begun."

"How many movies or TV shows have you acted in this year?"

"There's only one so far, adapted from Aunt Qiong Yao's 'Princess Pearl,' which was just finished filming at the end of last year."

"Oh~ you're from the class of '96? Do you know Teacher Cui Xinqin? Did she teach you?"

Anxin immediately realized that she had misunderstood her, so she said:
"I'm not a performing arts major."

"Huh? You're not?... Oh right, you're only 16, in high school?"

Anxin thought to herself, "Why is everyone like this?"

Said directly:

"No, I'm a freshman. I study at Renmin University."

"……what?"

Seeing Xu Qing's surprised expression, An Xin remained completely calm.

There was nothing he could do; everyone seemed just as surprised, and he was used to it.

He ate the food while explaining how he skipped a grade and how he got into Renmin University.

It must be admitted that this actress's cooking skills are truly remarkable.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it stunning.

Just after this meal, which fostered understanding, Wang Jinghua arrived, carrying a lunchbox.

Seeing An Xin and Xu Qing chatting and laughing together, he was somewhat taken aback.

I thought to myself, "You two have already made up after just one night?"

When Xu Qing saw that Wang Jinghua had arrived and that An Xin had finished eating, he got up to say goodbye.

After seeing Wang Jinghua off politely, An Xin looked at the lunchbox in her hand and smiled:
"Sister Hua, I really can't eat anymore."

"..."

Wang Jinghua was somewhat speechless, but seeing him regain his normal smile, her worries disappeared.

"You really need to be more careful next time, you know? What if you really hurt yourself? How am I supposed to explain that to your family?"

"...Okay, I understand."

Following Anxin's words, Wang Jinghua nodded:
"Oh, by the way, I just wanted to tell you that the public auditions start on the 13th of this month. But don't worry, it's okay if you miss it. Our main focus is on getting you well, okay?"

"know."

"Drip drip..."

Before Anxin could finish speaking, the pager went off.

He twisted his somewhat stiff neck, took it from the bedside table, and then suddenly paused.

It was a message from Liu Zhizi:
"Don't worry, come to my office at the Beijing Film Academy's Acting Department before 9 a.m. on the 12th. Don't be late."

After reading the message, Wang Jinghua said:

"This Mr. Liu is probably going to introduce you to some film and television resources. The teachers at Beijing Film Academy have a very wide network in this area, even the Central Academy of Drama can't compare to them. It seems that he values ​​you a lot."

"Hmm... but this won't affect Number 13's audition, right?"

"It won't affect anything, it's just an audition, it doesn't mean you're guaranteed a role. Just go for it... I'm only looking for resources in this area for you right now because you're still in school, and finishing your studies should be your priority. If you want to earn more money, just tell me, and I'll find you advertising opportunities..."

"Uh-huh."

Anxin nodded and agreed.

After spending a while longer with him, Wang Jinghua picked up her lunchbox and got up to say goodbye.

She had barely left when Anxin's pager went off again.

When he saw the person on the other end of the phone, his expression turned somewhat strange.

It turned out to be Brother Wang from "Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon". Ask him to call back.

Left with no other choice, he got out of bed and carefully walked out of the ward, supporting himself against the wall.

A moment later, at a public phone booth in the hospital, after dialing Brother Wang's number, the other party immediately asked as soon as the call connected:

"Safe?"

"Yes, Brother Wang, it's me. It's been a long time. Although the New Year has passed, I'd still like to wish you a belated Happy New Year."

"Haha, you little rascal, you've got a sweet tongue."

Brother Wang was laughing quite happily on the other end, saying as he laughed:
"It's no wonder that my brother remembers you when something good happens."

"Ha, what good news is it?"

"You don't have any acting roles right now, do you?"

"Hmm, no, it's only the beginning of the year, there's no work yet."

"That's fine. Come to the Beijing Film Studio on the afternoon of the 13th. I have a film crew that's starting auditions, so come and try out for the male lead."

"what?!"

Anxin was stunned, thinking to herself, "Are those two Yuxi Rivers really that effective?"
"No, remember, it's the afternoon of the 13th, around 3 or 4 pm. Contact me when you arrive. Got it?"

"...I'll remember that, thank you, Brother Wang."

"Haha, that's only right. Okay, that's settled then, bye."

Doodle.

The phone hangs up.

Anxin rubbed her chin, thinking to herself, "How come this is also number 13?"
Could they be from the same production crew?

However, these days it's just a thought, and he quickly puts it out of his mind.

Low probability event, that's ridiculous.

Just as I was about to leave, my pager suddenly went off again.

"Don't worry, call back, sister-in-law, Xu."

?

What does Xu Fan want from me?

(End of this chapter)