Reborn in the Entertainment Industry: This Top Star Has Real Achievements

What exactly Zhang Weiping talked about with the mother and daughter of the little yellow duck remains unknown to anyone on set.

But after he left, Little Yellow Duck returned to the diligent state he had when he first joined the crew, filming quietly without causing any further trouble.

Everyone in the crew saw this and knew what was going on; the final outcome of this behind-the-scenes power struggle was self-evident.

Some actors even keenly sensed that the relationship between Zhang Yimou and Zhang Weiping was not as harmonious as it appeared on the surface.

However, no one dared to say these words; everyone pretended not to know and focused on their own scenes.

Li Xiang did indeed have two days of leisurely fun outside. After packing up and sending home a bunch of local specialties he had bought, he returned to the film crew on time.

Upon entering the film set, he immediately sensed that the atmosphere was somewhat unusual, and the staff members who greeted him looked at him with a hint of something indescribable.

He knew what was going on, but he didn't care. After all, to put it bluntly, he and the little yellow duck were just two pawns in this game.

After greeting acquaintances, Li Xiang went straight to Zhang Yimou to report for duty.

"You're here?" Zhang Yimou was focused on the footage on the monitor. Seeing him enter, he casually picked up a script from the corner of the table and handed it to him.

"This is the revised version of the notebook. You have a good memory, so hurry up and familiarize yourself with it." Li Xiang took it and opened it, where densely packed revision marks were immediately visible.

"Starting tomorrow, your role will be significantly expanded."

Zhang Yimou looked up at him, his tone more serious than usual, "You better not mess up."

"Don't worry, Director Zhang, I'm sure everything will be fine on my end." Li Xiang nodded in agreement, and then obediently withdrew.

Zhang Yimou watched Li Xiang's departing figure without saying anything more.

It made no mention of Zhang Weiping's visit, nor of Zhang Weiping's desire to take charge of the Little Yellow Duck, nor of the silent contest between the two Zhangs.

In his mind, Li Xiang was just a young man who was focused on filming, obedient and talented, and there was no need for him to get involved in their power struggle.

Moreover, this film, "Under the Hawthorn Tree," is ultimately just a reflection on his emotions during his time as a sent-down youth, carrying his personal sentiments.

Although he was willing to put in the effort to refine it, he did not intend to exhaust all his energy on it.

What truly motivated him to give his all was the long-awaited film, "The Flowers of War".

That was Zhang Yimou's ambitious work.

He read this book over and over again, dozens of times. Every word exuded a heavy power. It was the most heart-stirring story he had encountered in the past ten years.

He was willing to spend three to five years on this film, to negotiate repeatedly with investors, and to pour all his passion and expectations for the movie into it.

Therefore, in his view, the current "Under the Hawthorn Tree" is more like an advance warm-up.

The dispute with Zhang Weiping over the role of the little yellow duck and the filming process, seemingly for the sake of the current film, was actually laying the foundation for "The Flowers of War."

He wanted Zhang Weiping to understand that he wouldn't back down an inch when it came to works he truly valued. And that particular film was the one he truly wanted to defend.

That's why he lowered his standards for this film.

I'm no longer fixated on the ambiguous chemistry between the male and female leads, nor am I demanding that the little yellow duck suddenly have a breakthrough and his acting skills skyrocket.

As long as the two actors can perform well, he can present the story perfectly through camera work and post-production editing, and that will satisfy him.

............................................

Time flies by amidst the hustle and bustle on set.

The sounds of clapperboards, the director's shouts, and the hum of the machines mingled together as filming continued day after day, from the first light of dawn to the deepest twilight.

In the revised script, the female lead's role remains the most important part of the main structure.

Even though Li Xiang had many more highlight moments added, his total screen time was still relatively less.

Finally, fifteen days before filming wrapped, Li Xiang finished shooting his last scene.

"Okay! Passed!" Behind the monitor, Zhang Yimou's voice sounded relieved, as if he had unloaded something.

Li Xiang also breathed a sigh of relief, having just detached himself from the emotions of the play, when he was overwhelmed by everyone's applause.

Senior Sister Fu smiled broadly and handed over a bouquet of simply packaged sunflowers, saying, "Congratulations on wrapping up filming, Li Xiang, the future is bright!"

"Thank you for your kind words, Senior Sister." He smiled and bowed his head. Even indoors, the golden color of the sunflower was still bright and warm, dazzling the eyes.

The crew members also gathered around to congratulate him. Some gave him a small bag of local walnuts, while others enthusiastically invited him to take photos with them.

He smiled and agreed to each one, finally coming to stand in front of Zhang Yimou.

"Director Zhang, I've finished filming."

Zhang Yimou looked the young man up and down, his eyes almost overflowing with satisfaction.

This kid has been a worry-free member of the crew since joining; he's steady, quick-witted, and capable of handling things when it matters most.

In a way, it saved him the last bit of face.

He suddenly raised his hand and patted Li Xiang's shoulder heavily, with more force than before.

"After returning to school, I will focus on my studies. I will gain practical experience, but I can't neglect my theoretical knowledge. If a suitable role comes along in the future, I will look for you again."

He paused slightly, a smile flashing in his eyes. "But in my opinion, you're no ordinary person. Don't pretend you don't know this old man when the time comes."

Li Xiang quickly straightened his back and said sincerely, "Director Zhang, what are you talking about! I'll be there whenever you call, no questions asked!"

Senior Sister Fu, who was standing next to her, chimed in with a smile, "Is it settled then? By the way, Li Xiang, when are you planning to leave?"

"The tickets have already been bought for tomorrow morning."

Senior Sister Fu turned to Zhang Yimou and said, "Then we must get together tonight and have a wrap dinner."

Zhang Yimou nodded in agreement, saying, "We should definitely get together. Let's invite everyone and send Li Xiang off in a lively and festive way."

As the news spread, the crowd, who had just rested, gathered again, clamoring to take a group photo.

This time, without anyone notifying them, everyone naturally dispersed to both sides, leaving the middle seat empty.

Li Xiang was surrounded by the crowd and stood over there, still holding the bouquet of sunflowers that symbolized a bright future in his arms. The golden petals made his eyes and brows shine even brighter.

Standing beside him, Zhang Yimou rarely showed a relaxed and carefree smile. The moment the shutter clicked, Li Xiang grinned, his face radiant with sunshine.

This photo was later carefully framed by Li Xiang and hung in the most prominent place in his home.

The backdrop in the photo is somewhat faded, and the people around him are all smiling in their own ways, while he stands in the middle holding a sunflower, his eyes shining brighter than the sunlight that day.

When Li Xiang left the hotel, he was dragging a half-full suitcase containing odds and ends that he hadn't had time to send home, as well as the costume he had worn for almost two months.

He did not book a train ticket back to school.

He now prefers to lie on his old bed at home rather than in the school dormitory, smelling the sunshine in the bedding and listening to his parents bickering downstairs.

The train rumbled away from the platform. Li Xiang leaned against the window, watching the scenery rushing past outside. Suddenly, he felt a sense of emptiness mixed with a feeling of peace.

These days felt like a chaotic dream, filled with arguments, pressure, late-night staring blankly at the script, and the ecstatic joy of finishing a take.

Now that he's waking up from his dream, he should go home to rest and rethink how to move forward.

As for the future? He gently touched the photo of himself and Zhang Yimou in his pocket, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up slightly.

But he believes his future will be incredibly bright.