Crying While Filling the Pit I Dug - Chapter 86

Upon receiving the script, Song Miaomiao was ecstatic, meticulously memorizing her and Xu Nanfang’s lines.

Finally, the day of the opening arrived. To ensure a promising start and foster tranquility, nearly all crew members participated in the ceremony, offering incense sticks and prayers.

Song Miaomiao opted for a modest presence, positioning herself in the back row. From a distance, she observed Xu Nanfang, her gaze fixed upon him.

He had a slightly curly hairstyle, angular face, tall and straight figure…

Could he see her?

Would he feel familiar with her if he saw her?

Did he dream of her?

Song Miaomiao has mixed emotions. As the ceremony progressed, following the rituals of offering incense and tributes, she seized an opportunity to approach Xu Nanfang alone.

Location: Men’s restroom door.

Xu Nanfang retrieved a piece of paper, dabbing away the water on his hands. Raising his gaze, he caught sight of a captivating figure reflected in the mirror, her eyes fixed on him with intensity. Having traversed the entertainment industry for numerous years, Xu Nanfang remained composed, though uncertain of the woman’s intentions.

He curled his lips into a polite smile at her reflection in the mirror.

Meanwhile, Song Miaomiao was overwhelmed with all kinds of emotions, and she didn’t know what to say in a daze.

Disposing of the paper into the trash can, Xu Nanfang turned to leave the restroom, heading towards the corridor. Yet, Song Miaomiao persisted in blocking the door, prompting him to address her, “Miss.”

“Do you know me?” Song Miaomiao asked.

Xu Nanfang smiled and shook his head.

Though a pang of disappointment stirred within her, Song Miaomiao swiftly regained her composure. It was understandable that he didn’t recognize her. It marked a new chapter in her life. Furthermore, even under her new guise as Fang Zhenxin, her sole acting credit was in the relatively obscure ancient costume web drama “XXXX of Time Traveling”, which lacked popularity. How could he possibly be familiar with her?

“Miss,” Xu Nanfang said again.

Overcome with panic, Song Miaomiao couldn’t suppress the impulse and blurted out, “Then have you ever dreamed about me?”

Xu Nanfang’s expression suddenly froze at an awkward angle, caught off guard by her question…

Song Miaomiao also realized that her words were too straightforward; her face flushed red as she stumbled over her words, “I…I mean…uh…the reason I asked is because I had a dream about you…”

She scolded herself inwardly, feeling increasingly embarrassed with every word spoken.

“What did you dream about?” Xu Nanfang inquired.

Thinking quickly, Song Miaomiao responded, “I dreamt you were an Imperial Guard…”

Xu Nanfang nodded, “You’re referring to ‘The Imperial City’, right? I portrayed the guard.”

Song Miaomiao reminisced, “I dreamt you were a cultivator…”

Xu Nanfang recalled, “‘A Floating Life’? I played the role of Wan Qun.”

Feeling a twinge of disappointment, Song Miaomiao murmured, “If you dream of me in the future, please let me know.”

Xu Nanfang smiled but remained silent.

“Mr. Xu, Director Liu is looking for you,” a female assistant interjected.

“Okay,” Xu Nanfang acknowledged.

Without casting another glance at Song Miaomiao, he sidestepped past her.

Chang Zhu shot Song Miaomiao a puzzled glance before hurrying away.

Unaware of Chang Zhu’s subtle movements, Song Miaomiao took a deep breath, composed herself, and followed suit.

The following day, filming commenced officially.

With the first scene, the first shot, and the call for ACTION, the journey began.

The first close-up shot started.

Outside the prison, the first snow of the season gently descended. Inside, Wu Le, portrayed by Song Miaomiao, sat by the window sill of the meeting room, gazing at the snowflakes through the glass.

“Cut, let’s start over,” the director called out. “Wu Le’s expression should convey a bit more emptiness.”

With no lines to deliver, the scene relied solely on the character’s state of mind. Song Miaomiao adjusted her demeanor, allowing her thoughts to drift.

For the second attempt at the first scene, the first shot commenced with the command, “ACTION.”

“It’s too sluggish,” Director Liu critiqued. “Emptiness doesn’t mean a lack of thought. You should channel Wu Le’s emotions, displaying a detached indifference. Let’s try it again.”

…

After four attempts, Song Miaomiao finally managed to meet the director’s expectations.

For the sixth take of the first scene, the first shot commenced with the familiar command, “ACTION.”

As a prison guard swung open the door, he announced, “Reporter Yu, this is Wu Le.”

Wu Le glanced at Xu Le outside the window, her expression unreadable, indifferent to the unfolding events.

Reporter Yu, played by Xu Nanfang, dutifully completed some paperwork as requested by the guard and expressed his gratitude.

Seated across from Wu Le, Reporter Yu picked up the intercom and began, “Wu Le, hello. My name is Yu Ang, and I’m an intern reporter from Zhaoming Evening News. Thank you for agreeing to my interview invitation.”

He was an intern reporter, accustomed to conducting small interviews during his school days, but tackling such a serious news topic was a first for him. Consequently, he felt a mix of nerves, excitement, and unease. He feared the interview might not go smoothly, and he also worried about confronting the woman who had committed the heinous act of killing her newborn child.

Despite his apprehensions, Wu Le continued to ignore him.

Opting for a casual approach, Yu Ang didn’t dive straight into the topic. Instead, he remarked casually, “Today, it’s snowing heavily.”

Perhaps his tone was too relaxed, almost as if engaging in casual conversation. For a fleeting moment, Wu Le seemed intrigued, grinning faintly. She opened her mouth as if to respond but then abruptly pursed her lips.

“Cut, well done, Yu Ang,” the director praised before turning serious. “Now, it’s Wu Le’s turn.”

“Your grin is too wide, Wu Le,” the director critiqued. “Your current expression suggests to the audience that you’re worried they won’t understand what you want to convey. Try to add more subtlety to your performance.”

“Understood, director,” Song Miaomiao replied earnestly.

“Let’s take it from the top,” Director Liu commanded, prompting all departments to prepare.