1979: My fiancée is a goddess

Chapter 418 Script Reading
"Bang bang bang!"

"Stop playing around during the script reading and come to Cheng Kaiyan's room."

At seven o'clock, everyone had finished dinner and washed up, and was about to rest.

However, at this moment, Teacher Shuihua suddenly knocked on the door and called all the main actors in the crew to prepare for the first script reading of the "Love Letter" crew.

"What?! A reading session this late!"

"We've been in meetings all day, I'm exhausted. Teacher Shui, can we postpone the meeting until tomorrow?"

The actors, who were already lying on their soft beds watching novel Japanese variety shows or taking a comfortable bath in the bathtub, immediately complained and started grumbling upon hearing the news.

"Hurry up, everyone. You only have ten minutes. Anyone who's late will be fined a 500-word biography."

Faced with this situation, Teacher Shuihua would not offer gentle comfort, but instead sternly called everyone to their feet.

But as he was leaving, he added, "After it ends at nine o'clock, I'll have someone go out and buy some late-night snacks!"

"Night snack?"

"You can have this!"

Although many people were still reluctant, the promise of a big stick and the sweet treat of a late-night snack was enough to convince them.

The group quickly set off and followed Cheng Kaiyan into her room.

A script reading naturally involves the screenwriter and director.

Although she hadn't discussed it with Cheng Kaiyan, Cheng Kaiyan's plan for tonight was to go to bed early and go to Waseda University early tomorrow morning to scout out and inquire about Zhao Ruixue.

Therefore, the unexpected script reading was acceptable.

There were only seven or eight people at the script reading session.

Tang Guoqiang, who plays the supporting male role Ye Fansheng, is among them.

Liu Xiaoqing plays a female teacher who taught high school library in the script. She is the one who guides the female lead to gradually discover the mystery. In addition, she is also an alternative for the female lead.

And Lu Guilan, who plays the male lead's mother Liu Xiuhua, is also a famous actress from Beijing Film Studio. Twenty years ago, she was the leading lady of Changchun Film Studio. Now at forty years old, she still possesses a dignified and gentle beauty...

"Well, we can start."

Cheng Kaiyan looked everyone over and got a sense of what was going on.

"Ahem... Today is our first group task, so everyone needs to be serious, especially since the roles haven't been fully finalized yet. Everyone's understanding of the characters and the script is a crucial part of film casting..."

"Today we're mainly rehearsing two scenes: the male lead Yang Liu's three-year anniversary, and the interactions between the two female leads..."

Teacher Shuihua announced the plot for today's reading session, and as she spoke, she looked at Cheng Kaiyan.

"It's the male lead's death anniversary, so does that mean Cheng Kaiyan doesn't have any missions tonight?"

Tang Guoqiang immediately realized what was happening and said with some frustration.

"Comrade Kaiyan not only has no mission, but he also has very little screen time. After all, the male lead dies at the beginning, and such a story development is extremely rare internationally."

This film is actually a true female-led film, and it's a rare example of a film told from the perspective of two female leads.

Liu Xiaoqing glanced at him and immediately knew that this guy was jealous, so she started analyzing.

Cheng Kaiyan was speechless. Where did this pretty boy get these emotions? Could he still be thinking about the male lead?

Thinking of this, he chuckled softly and clapped his hands encouragingly at Tang Guoqiang:

"Comrade Liu Xiaoqing's understanding is quite good. Comrade Tang Guoqiang, you have a lot of scenes. Ye Fansheng is a very complex character. You need to pay more attention to him and let us see him in a while. Work hard and keep up the good work."

"Do I need to tell you?"

Tang Guoqiang snorted angrily. Although there was nothing wrong with what he said, it just felt so uncomfortable coming from Cheng Kaiyan's mouth.
"Alright, alright, stop bickering like kids."

Teacher Shuihua interrupted everyone with a smile, and then assigned Cheng Kaiyan a task: "How about this, have Kaiyan go outside to buy some late-night snacks later, is that alright? Let's get started."

"That's exactly what I've been wanting to do for a while now."

Cheng Kaiyan readily agreed.

McDonald's burgers, KFC ice cream, convenience store sushi bento boxes, and takoyaki from barbecue restaurants...

After some commotion, the reading session finally began.

Seven or eight people moved small stools, took their scripts, and sat in a circle around the bed. The script reading actually revolved around the word "reading." The first step was for each member to recite according to their role, or to directly act out the scene.

"Act One: A Cemetery in the Snow."

"At three o'clock in the afternoon, the sky was getting darker."

"Fine snow, like grains of salt, drifted down the northern mountain. The dry, biting wind cut like a knife across the stiff faces of the two women in front of the tombstone, but they paid no attention, staring at the color photograph on the tombstone."

"That was Yang Liu. Three years ago, he was killed in an avalanche during a mountaineering activity organized by a geological team. His body was buried deep in the snow in that unknown mountain."

"The geological team organized several excavations but failed to find the remains. This seemingly solemn tomb was just a cenotaph."

"Today is the third anniversary of Yang Liu's death. His mother, Liu Huaye, and his former lover, Amber, have come here to pay their respects to him. This should be the last time they pay their respects."

"There is a folk custom that if a young person dies too young, his or her parents will only offer sacrifices for three years so that his or her soul will not linger in the mortal world and can be reincarnated as soon as possible."

Cheng Kaiyan sat by the balcony, holding a pillow and a script in her arms, reading the narration in a low voice.

He was responsible for reading the narration.

"Woooooooo..."

Liang Xiaosheng sat beside him, puffing out his cheeks and making a "whoosh whoosh" sound to imitate the howling of the north wind.

It made everyone laugh.

"How beautiful... the dim sky, the pure white snow, was this the last thing he saw?"

Liu Xiaoqing quickly got into character, her face calm as she looked up at the ceiling, as if she could really see the howling north wind, the dim sky, and the pure white snow.

As she spoke, she closed her eyes and held her breath.

Cheng Kaiyan interjected with a voiceover: "Even after three years, she was always like this, as if she were experiencing Yang Liu's feelings before his death, and alleviating his pain."

"If that's the case, then it really was that child who brought the snow, haha!"

The mother, played by Sister Lu Guilan, chuckled, her face a mixture of relief and sorrow.

"Maybe it's true, he likes these kinds of pranks..."

Liu Xiaoqing lowered her head and stared at the white bed sheet, probably looking at the photo on the tombstone. Her tone was low and melancholy, but suddenly the incense stick in front of her went out, causing her pupils to shrink.

……

The script reading went very smoothly, and it must be said that these people are all veteran actors.

Even Tang Guoqiang delivered a performance full of emotion, with his lines flowing naturally and smoothly.

"awesome."

Looking at everyone's improvisations without any props or scenes, Cheng Kaiyan couldn't help but feel hesitant and worried.

Even though I don't have many scenes, I still need to have a certain level of acting skills. If I don't film well and have to do too many takes, I will definitely be criticized.

So he read the narration while keeping an eye on everyone, trying to secretly learn some acting skills from them.

Sitting opposite him, Tang Guoqiang had been watching Cheng Kaiyan closely. Seeing him looking around and observing everyone's performance intently, Tang guessed that Cheng Kaiyan was worried about his acting skills and was taking the opportunity to learn from him.

"So what if you're a big writer? When it comes to acting and making movies, do you think you're better than me? Last-minute cramming won't work."

Tang Guoqiang couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle to himself. As he thought about it, his confidence and pride returned. He was a nationally famous superstar. Even if he wasn't as good as Cheng Kaiyan in other fields, he was no less than anyone else when it came to acting!
They read together until eight o'clock, then took a break.

Teacher Shuihua handed Cheng Kaiyan a wallet, saying, "Go buy some late-night snacks, and remember to bring back some wine and hearty dishes."

"Tsk! You're paying for this yourself?"

Cheng Kaiyan readily agreed. He was tired of sitting for a long time and decided to go out for a walk. He took the wallet and counted the money. Good heavens, there were 100,000 yen inside.

"Knowing that I'm paying out of my own pocket, you should be careful with your money. One serving each is enough."

Teacher Shui leaned over and whispered, "This little bit of living expenses can't withstand any hardship."

"Go, go, go."

Cheng Kaiyan chuckled, turned around, went to the bathroom to wash her face, and then left.

(End of this chapter)