Huayu: Starting from retirement, sweeping across the domestic entertainment industry

September 29th, evening.

Filming proceeded smoothly, and the daytime scenes were completed successfully in the evening. The crew hurriedly ate a few bites of boxed lunch and began preparing for the evening's main scenes.

Tonight's night scene is one of the most important turning points in the entire film.

The script describes the male and female leads confessing their feelings for each other on the beach, with fireworks rising in the background.

That scene was called the "fireworks first kiss" by the director, and it was marked with a prominent red circle on the filming schedule, with the words "of utmost importance" written next to it.

The lighting team started setting up the lights three hours in advance, the photographer repeatedly checked the camera positions and lens paths, and the props team laid out tracks on the beach...

When Li Ran finished changing into his costume and walked to the beach, the last glimmer of twilight on the horizon was being swallowed up by the deep blue night.

The sea breeze was strong, carrying a salty and damp smell that blew against him, making the corners of his shirt flutter.

The distant horizon had blurred into a gray-blue line, merging with the heavy sky, making it impossible to distinguish where the sea ended and the sky began.

His gaze swept across the beach and found Zhang Ruonan.

She stood by the railing, her back to the film set, facing the sea.

Tonight's costume is a white dress that clung to my body in the sea breeze, highlighting my slender waist and delicate shoulder blades.

She didn't tie her hair up; her long hair was a little messy from the wind, and a few stray strands clung to her cheeks, but she didn't bother with them.

She's been acting strange these past few days.

Li Ran couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong, but he could sense a subtle, almost imperceptible sense of alienation.

The sea breeze lifted her skirt, and she reached out to press it down, her movements very gentle, as if afraid of disturbing something.

The studio lights shone from behind her, outlining her silhouette with a silvery edge.

Li Ran watched for a while, then shook his head with an embarrassed smile.

He didn't call out to her, but simply walked over slowly and quietly.

He stopped, standing shoulder to shoulder with her, holding onto the railing, gazing at the same sea.

The two people were separated by half a step, neither far nor close.

The film set in the distance was still bustling with activity; someone was shouting, "Move the track a little more to the left," and someone was adjusting the ignition device for the fireworks.

Li Ran glanced at her sideways.

Zhang Ruonan didn't turn her head; her gaze remained fixed on the distant sea. But her eyelashes fluttered, and her breath caught in her throat for a moment…

She knew he was coming.

He didn't speak.

The sea breeze passed between them, blowing her hair onto his arm, fine and ticklish.

She reached up and tucked her hair behind her ear, the movement slow, as if she was hesitating about something.

Li Ran withdrew his gaze and looked at the distant sea.

Zhang Ruonan suddenly turned to look at him, her tone a mix of annoyance and a hint of panic she couldn't quite explain: "What are you doing?"

Li Ran did not answer.

He reached out and tucked the stray strands of hair that had been blown by the sea breeze behind her ear, his fingertips lightly touching her earlobe.

Zhang Ruonan was slightly taken aback, and the tips of her ears turned red instantly.

"What are you going to do!" Her voice rose a little.

Li Ran withdrew his hand and smiled.

"It's okay, we're going to film a kissing scene soon, and I'm a little nervous."

Zhang Ruonan pursed her lips, trying to keep her heart beating normally.

"I don't believe you for a second. Haven't you filmed enough kissing scenes already?"

"I've never filmed a kissing scene with anyone other than my girlfriend," Li Ran said matter-of-factly.

Zhang Ruonan was stunned for a moment. She suddenly realized that what he said seemed to be true.

There are no kissing scenes in "The Young Dragon" and "A Little Red Flower for You".

The female lead in "So Cute Us" is Tian Xiwei, while the character he kissed in "Lighter and Princess Dress" was Zhang Jingyi.

In "Snowy Mountain", he only has one kissing scene with Wang Chudong, played by Zhang Jingyi.

No ginger paste...

"What, you're feeling guilty now?" Zhang Ruonan sneered. "I haven't even said anything yet."

Li Ran shook his head, then suddenly asked, "You didn't eat garlic, did you?"

Zhang Ruonan glared at him, almost laughing in anger.

"Thanks for reminding me, I'm going to eat a bag of spicy strips right now, I'll make you sick of it."

"Just kidding." Li Ran chuckled awkwardly, shifting his gaze from her face to the distant sea.

Li Ran was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly spoke, his voice softening: "Zhang Ruonan, have you fallen for me?"

Zhang Ruonan suddenly turned her head. She stared at him, her eyes wide and her mouth slightly open, as if she had choked on something.

"Li Ran, what kind of pipe dream are you having?" Her voice suddenly rose, tinged with a panicked realization that her secret had been exposed. "How could I possibly like a scumbag like you?"

Li Ran was not intimidated by her tone.

He turned around to face her. "But I've realized I've fallen for you."

Zhang Ruonan was stunned...

Her heart skipped a beat, then began to race, thumping louder and louder, like someone was drumming in her chest.

A long silence...

"I wonder if Sister Ruonan has any feelings for this scumbag?" Li Ran's voice rang out again, with a hint of amusement and a touch of seriousness.

"Do you want me to be your scumbag?"

Zhang Ruonan bit her lip; her heart was beating so fast that she thought she might have misheard something.

"Li Ran, what are you saying?" Her voice trembled slightly. "Jingyi and I are good friends..."

"What if I told you Zhang Jingyi knew?" Li Ran interrupted her.

Zhang Ruonan looked into his eyes, which shone brightly under the light. They lacked their usual playfulness; he simply gazed at her quietly, as if waiting for an answer he had been waiting for a long time.

She suddenly remembered what a netizen had said... Li Ran's eyes, even when looking at a dog, were full of affection.

She believes it now.

"So you like me, right?" Li Ran took half a step forward.

Zhang Ruonan wanted to refute, to say "no," and to take a step back.

But she couldn't move.

My feet felt like they were nailed to the sand, my hands felt like they were entangled by the sea breeze, and even my breathing became very light.

"Li Ran, we can't let Jingyi down..." She heard her own voice, very softly.

Li Ran didn't say anything more.

He slowly raised his left hand, placed it on the back of her head, and gently pulled her face closer to him.

The distance between the two people instantly shrank, their noses almost touching.

She could smell the faint scent of sandalwood on him, mixed with the saltiness of the sea breeze, and a hint of something else that was hard to describe but belonged to him.

He slowly lowered his head.

Zhang Ruonan closed her eyes...

She felt his lips cover hers, light and soft, like a seashell washed ashore by the waves, warmed by the sun.

Her mind went blank; all thoughts of Jingyi, that scumbag, and what she shouldn't have been—they were all blown away by the sea breeze.

She could only feel his hand supporting the back of her head, his lips pressed against hers, and his breath brushing against her cheek.

She slowly raised her hand, hooked it around his neck, and tightened her grip, as if afraid he would run away.

The sea breeze swept past them, the sound of the waves grew louder and louder, and the lamplight cast their shadows on the beach, overlapping each other like a painting blurred by water.

After a long while, the two finally separated.

Zhang Ruonan's face was already bright red, like a ripe strawberry, juicy and fresh.