Uneasy daily life

"I want to conduct some interviews with Bai, and the interview content should cover all aspects of Bai's life, including his various experiences and feelings to date. I will also shoot some snippets of his life to create a personal documentary-like video work."

"I have extensive experience in filming personal documentaries of some people in the entertainment industry. My previous works have passed the TV station's review. Although the word-of-mouth and ratings were not excellent, they were not enough to lower the reputation of the interviewees."

Jiuchongyun said with exceptional enthusiasm, "Of course, we can discuss the topics to be filmed beforehand to avoid me unintentionally asking Bai some questions that he doesn't want to answer..."

Mai Sakurajima crossed her legs and asked casually, "It's like having connections but not becoming a director, yet you still enjoy making films?"

"Ahem..." Jiu Chongyun coughed and pondered for a moment, "It's not that I don't want to answer this question—I think the work of a film or television director is ultimately a depiction of a script. Scripts often have to choose a theme, whether it's lyricism, action, power struggles, or youth, to highlight one aspect and make it distinctive, but they lack some genuine emotion. I believe that everyone is a story, and everyone has a past worth talking about. Life is the best script. Since there is such a thing to film, why bother to seek it in the creative process?"

Bai Ying asked with interest, "Is there anything I can find online?"

Jiuchongyun mentioned a few program names, and Baiying took out her phone to search and watch them. Angelina and Sakurajima Mai leaned over to watch together.

Hiratsuka Shizuka wasn't particularly interested. She went to the window to smoke, temporarily acting as the guardian of the few minors, including Shirakage, to prevent them from being deceived by unscrupulous social scum.

Although there's absolutely nothing to worry about with that kid and Sakurajima.

Using fast-forward mode, a program was broadcast from beginning to end very quickly, and the three audience members couldn't help but fall silent.

Jiuchongyun asked in a low voice, "How are you all feeling?"

"Huh? I don't feel anything..." Angelina stammered for a moment, then decisively pushed him away. "I'm not a professional, you should ask them."

Mai Sakurajima said tactfully, "Mr. Kokonoe still has a lot of room for improvement."

"Of course I know that." Jiu Chongyun didn't seem to care much. He looked at the pensive Bai Ying and asked, "How are you feeling, Bai?"

Bai Ying slowly said, "Life is indeed a script, a script without personification, metaphor, objectification, contrast, or other rhetorical devices. If life is 'I think she is beautiful,' then art is 'I saw her in the crowd at a glance.' That's why there's the saying that art originates from life but transcends it. To film the script of life in a more exciting way requires a great deal of skill..."

Jiu Chongyun's eyes lit up: "That's right! That's why when I was filming, I paid great attention to digging into the stories of the interviewees, striving to find the shining points of each person..."

"What? You actually tried?"

Bai Ying was shocked: "Your work clearly has no room for decline. The interview segment was extremely rigid and full of formula, making it easy to guess what would happen next after just a few glances; the tracking shots added to make the visuals richer were very stiff, trying to force a sense of life on camera; the entire piece described the characters with phrases like 'seven feet tall, ambitious and talented, working hard day and night, living up to his youthful potential,' using very few words, as if you were writing a history book or a biography, afraid that using too many words would make it difficult to preserve; the narration was poorly done, lacking emotion, and the sound and visuals were not coordinated, with the audio and visuals dragging each other down, making the viewing experience extremely boring and terrible!"

Puff puff puff puff——!

Jiu Chongyun trembled all over, her cheeks twitching uncontrollably. She tried to speak several times, but couldn't get a word in edgewise amidst Bai Ying's seamless pointing and gesturing.

Angelina quickly waved her hands: "Hey! Sir, calm down! Stop talking! If you keep talking, people will get angry!"

"I'm about to explode! You actually wasted my life!" Bai Ying shook her head and sighed, her face full of anger at his lack of ambition. "Life is a script! I thought that someone who could express such profound insights must be a kindred spirit, but I didn't expect your writing to be so superficial!"

"Where is it superficial?" Jiu Chongyun's eyes twitched, but she forced herself to remain calm and immediately defended herself, "The questions in the interviews are precise and accurate, people-oriented, starting from the person, connecting the other person's life into a coherent thread, and filming those segments to present the other person's life up to this point. Isn't that the most wonderful script?"

"It's too fragmented, too disjointed, too results-oriented!" Bai Ying said, her tone rising with each sentence. "Take this program I watched as an example: a young man from a remote area comes to the city with the dream of becoming a star, then works hard and achieves some success... What did you film? A synopsis?"

Jiuchongyun's momentum was in no way weak: "I specially went to his hometown to film the scenery and memories of his remote hometown; I specially went with him to revisit the old places when a chance came in; the opportunity and beginning of his dream were also answered in the interview, without any omissions, and his story was recorded completely and truthfully."

Bai Ying hit the nail on the head: "But stopping here is meaningless. Chaplin said that if you look at life in close-up, life is a tragedy; if you look at life in long take, life is a comedy. What do you think of that statement?"

Jiuchongyun pondered, “That statement is somewhat biased. In all the interviews I’ve filmed so far, none of them have been purely tragic or comedic. What the audience sees is their business; I’m only responsible for recording and reproducing it—what do you think of that statement?”

"The only value of this statement belongs to Chaplin," Bai Ying emphasized, slamming his hand on the table. He then loudly and sharply commented, "Life without rhetoric is just life. Only through rhetoric can we gain a measure of life."

Jiuchongyun slapped back immediately, displeased, "Rhetoric? A life embellished with rhetoric, is it still a true story?!"

"Isn't human memory a kind of rhetoric? If today is uneventful, yesterday's glory will be all the more glaring! If today brings achievement, yesterday's despondency can be laughed off! If not for unrequited love, how could there be such deep longing?! If not for the estrangement of close friends, how could relatives and friends turn into enemies?!" Bai Ying sneered. "Memory is a kind of rhetoric, and so is your filming. It's a pity you didn't develop it in a positive direction, failed to extract its essence, and retained its original dross, causing the work to be born from life but fall below it, plunging into the abyss of boredom!"

"When you chase after reality, you've already strayed far from the reality you truly desire!"

The white figure slammed his hand on the table again, his imposing stance commanding the viewer.

Jiuchongyun leaned back, slightly speechless: "This..."

“Your camera control and shooting skills are superb, but your shooting concept and narrative style are so thin and rudimentary.” Bai Ying stood up and put his hands behind his back, saying regretfully, “I thought you were a reclusive Lü Bu who had long lived under the tutelage of others, but I didn’t expect you to be just a Gongsun Zan who went into rebellion too late.”

puff--!

Jiu Chongyun's lips twitched, and he used the special skill of a socialite—enduring—to take a deep breath: "Since Bai Tongxue has no interest, then I'll take my leave..."

"When did I say I wasn't interested?" Bai Ying asked in surprise. "You interviewed me, so I accepted. Let's talk about the contract."

Jiuchongyun said with a stern face, "I am of limited talent and knowledge..."

"It's alright," Bai Ying said confidently. "I'm incredibly talented, and my extraordinary life doesn't need your embellishment. I'm currently organizing the student council election, and the rebellious director can film our school's student council election. By documenting this event, I can highlight my own charisma and image, do some interviews, edit it up, and we can put together a program..."

"?" Jiuchongyun asked blankly, "Then what should I do?"

"Filming, editing, Q&A machine," Bai Ying gestured to the phone. "Just like what the rebellious director usually does."

Jiu Chongyun frowned and asked, "What do you mean by 'rebellious director'?"

Bai Ying asked curiously, "Your dad told you to use chopsticks to eat, but you refused and insisted on eating with your hands. What else is that if not rebellion?"

Jiuchongyun: "?"

How could a real man endure such humiliation?! I'm not interviewing this person anymore!

Without making a sound, Jiu Chongyun prepared to get off the sofa and then took his leave at lightning speed.

"Too small-minded! Real rebellion isn't about petty squabbles!" Bai Ying said gently. "A rebellious director, how can you challenge your father if you don't create a work you're confident in? I'm willing to lend you a hand and make sure your father grits his teeth and can only repeat the cliché of 'movie and TV directors are superior,' unable to utter a single word!"

Jiuchongyun sat back down, frowning, and said, "Are you that confident?"

Bai Ying: "It's better than you lacking confidence altogether. After all, you know you haven't achieved much, you don't have a gun, you can't launch any attacks, and all you can do is throw tantrums."

Jiuchongyun: "?"

Endure it!

Having largely finalized the filming and interview arrangements, the middle-aged man hurried off to prepare, as if afraid that a few more words of conversation would shorten his lifespan.

"see you later."

Bai Ying waved her hand, satisfied, and said, "Just when you're sleepy, you get a pillow. Good, good, this will definitely make the student council election more vibrant..."

“Hmm…” Mai Sakurajima pondered for a moment, “Mr. Kokonoe’s filming skills and camera presence… seem to be quite good. But when watching the show, all the attention is focused on the content, but being able to make the camera only show the content that attracts the audience is a very good filming technique—but, shouldn’t the hater explain what a ‘high school senior old woman’ means?”

The white figure said solemnly, "I am merely a transmitter of the heroes' quotes."

"Oh." Mai Sakurajima nodded. "Then I'll go find Yukinoshita to argue with. You can come with me."

A battleground of carnage?

Angelina blinked and quickly advised, "Hey! Bai Ying is probably just talking nonsense. Senior, why don't you just confront him directly!"

"How am I talking nonsense?" Bai Ying said confidently. "When my niece and the hero were discussing the student council president election, I specially presented them with a plate of green plums and two glasses of orange juice. My niece asked about the hero's plus-level election performance, and the hero said, 'I'm a senior in high school preparing to graduate, so I can't participate in the student council election.' Isn't that the same thing?"

Angelina gave a deadpan look: "Is this what you call the same thing?"

"Hate fans really know how to use rhetoric to get to the point." Sakurajima Mai chuckled and reached out to pinch the white shadow's cheek. "Yukino's statement isn't quite right either. According to the rules, senior high school students are allowed to run for student council, but seniors are busy with college entrance exams and don't serve for long, so no one runs..."

Bai Ying raised an eyebrow and exclaimed, "What?! You're planning to repeat your senior year of high school just so you can go to the same university as me?!"

Sakurajima Mai was taken aback; the hater was truly perceptive in every sense of the word…

Hiratsuka Shizuka, who was smoking by the window and gazing at the campus, turned around blankly and saw Sakurajima Mai pinching the white shadow. Her brows furrowed subconsciously: "Huh? What are you talking about?!"

Sakurajima Mai's expression froze. The white figure seized the opportunity to get rid of the two-finger Zen, and with a leap, she flipped over the sofa and slipped out of the office in the blink of an eye.

"Sakurajima, stop right there!"

The enthusiastic teacher was clearly triggered into a "meddling" mode: "Let's talk about this in detail..."

"Uh... I'll be going now."

Angelina muttered something under her breath, gave Sakurajima Mai a "good luck" look, and quickly ran away.

"Teacher, that was just the hater talking nonsense..."

"I'll reserve my opinion on that for now."

Hiratsuka Shizuka hesitated for a moment, then said earnestly, "Sakurajima, that kid always likes to joke around. It's fine if he's joking, but don't take it seriously..."

"?" Sakurajima Mai was puzzled and asked, "What does the teacher want to say? Just say it directly."

"Well..." Hiratsuka Shizuka hesitated for a moment, but upholding her sense of responsibility as a teacher, she said directly, "Yukinoshita and that boy are probably a couple. Be careful not to act impulsively and end up hurting yourself..."

Mai Sakurajima laughed, "Teacher, you mean the time the hater confessed his love over the radio? He..."

Hiratsuka Shizuka stated frankly, "I caught them kissing in the activity room."

Mai Sakurajima: "?"

……

When the time came, Bai Ying placed the table, set up the gavel, and, holding a folding fan, told the story of the first chapter of "The Legend of the Generals" again. This time, there were more onlookers. Some had come to join in the fun after hearing the news, while others had heard it once and wanted to hear it a second time: "Snow Under the Blade's Sharp Commentary on the Heroes of the Generals".

This time, there was also a director carrying a camera, moving around quietly and filming diligently.

Looking at the footage being filmed, Jiu Chongyun had to admit that although this guy was sharp-tongued and sarcastic, his acting skills were undeniable… Was this guy really acting? It was almost as if he *was* the play itself. He even wondered if he had accidentally wandered onto a film set, and that all the students around him were extras hired by the other guy.

As dusk approached, the white figure finished speaking, and the gavel struck again, loudly concluding the story.

"The rise and fall of dynasties are history, victory and defeat are decided today. We, the younger generation, study hard to keep up with the times, and ride the waves of the great river to compete for glory!"

Just then, several adults in suits walked by in the teaching building. It was impossible not to notice the sound and the commotion.

"Who's making such a racket... It's the white figure."

The head of student affairs was unsurprised: "What kind of trick is that kid up to now?"

"Isn't the student council election coming up soon?" Class A's homeroom teacher casually remarked. "He seems to have gotten involved... Wow, the student council elections never had this kind of commotion before."

The principal chuckled and commented, "It's good to make it lively—we, the younger generation, study hard to keep up with the times, and strive to be like the waves of the great river..."

"That's well said. You truly deserve to be an outstanding student of our school. This is the kind of spirit we should all have."

The head of teaching and the homeroom teacher exchanged a glance, and the same thought inexplicably popped into their heads.

Is this kid colluding with the principal?

What? You were also involved with this kid?

Chapter Ten: We're Practicing Acting

"Interviews? Character interviews? We can do that after the rebellious director finishes filming enough material and I've completed the student council elections. We can just do the interviews then, maybe even a live broadcast. There's no need to prepare a script. Ask me anything, I'm easygoing. As for the filming plan, I've already thought it through. Tomorrow I'll take you to film the various warlords..."

Jiuchongyun chatted for a bit, then prepared to go back and review the footage. She felt it was already quite good during filming, and after careful editing and noise reduction, it would be ready to be used directly as program content.

However, why does it feel like the other party has seized the initiative?

I'm the one who gets paid!

Forget it, these are minor matters compared to opening the old man's eyes!

Nine Clouds departed with great confidence.

"Frostmourne is craving blood..."

At the school gate, Bai Ying looked at the other person's back with a gratified expression. She thought her judgment of people was still good. The rebellious director was indeed capable of serving three masters. He had accurately stirred up the other person's ambition and determination, helped him find his own Fangtian Halberd, and gradually developed the heart to dedicate his life to his father!

Bai Ying turned around happily, pondering how to write the second chapter of "The Legend of the Generals" for tomorrow...

A graceful figure appeared lightly to the side, her little leather shoes naturally stepping on her toes and grinding them twice slowly.

Mai Sakurajima turned her head and smiled, revealing her teeth, "Black Fan, let's go home together since we're going the same way."

The visitor is not good.

Bai Ying shuddered: "I understand! It's about holding hands on the way home from school..."

“Holding hands is unnecessary, to avoid rumors spreading around school.” Mai Sakurajima said meaningfully as she walked forward, “After all, in everyone’s eyes, Hater-kun and Yukino are a couple, and I’m just a lovesick bad girl trying to steal someone else’s…”

Bai Ying stepped forward and followed, asking in surprise, "Huh? Aren't we supposed to be discussing me, this scumbag?"

"Anyway, it's just idle gossip from uninformed outsiders, and it's all just passing by, so I didn't pay much attention to it," Mai Sakurajima said with a sidelong glance. "But it just doesn't make sense that someone would so readily abandon me to receive the earnest teachings of a well-meaning teacher."

Bai Ying whistled: "How did you manage to dodge the violent teacher's interrogation?"

"Of course, I will tell the truth."

Mai Sakurajima chuckled leisurely, "I guess the enthusiastic teacher will have a talk with you tomorrow, right?"

"Let her come at us. We can even call on 9528 to give the violent teacher a little ethical shock..."

The two chatted casually, occasionally talking about things at school and sometimes about work.

The leisurely twilight bathed the uniforms of the students at Soubu High School. Mai Sakurajima reached up and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, casually tilting her head to the side, her eyes glancing out of the corner of her eye at her boyfriend, who was currently clamoring about "how to write the second chapter of the Soubu Chronicles." The boy, a part-time storyteller, wore a wide-sleeved white shirt he'd somehow found, with a single-shoulder backpack slung over his shoulder, further emphasizing his carefree and unrestrained air. Even the setting sun, gazing into his eyes, couldn't help but blush.

Why are you spying on me?

The white figure keenly sensed it.

"nice."