CHAPTER 19

The movie took two months to film, and Xiang Xiaoyuan lost a significant amount of weight. The pay was just a little over ten thousand, not enough to cover her expenses during that time.

The movie title was eventually decided, and it was shockingly cheesy—"Hey! My Brother, My Bear."

Cai Juan's mouth twitched. Was this name really okay? It was too cheesy, wasn't it?

"There's no choice, we have to have a catchy title if we want to be on online platforms. It has to make people curious at least." the director was quite satisfied and smug, "This name is great!"

Xiang Xiaoyuan thought helplessly, well, having confidence is a good thing too!

The entire crew had a particularly good impression of her. Despite being the youngest, everyone respected her, calling her "Sister Xiaoyuan" and "Sister Yuan" with great familiarity.

At the wrap party, held at a local eatery due to lack of funds, the director along with Xiaoyuan, Cai Juan, and a total of ten people ordered wontons, steamed dumplings, fried pancakes, noodles, and drank Zhujiang beer (brought by themselves).

The director (and screenwriter) got drunk, his eyes red and his wishes fulfilled. "I have to thank our Sister Xiaoyuan, without her, there wouldn't be this film. Let me toast you with another drink."

The producer (and male lead) stood up, "Another toast!"

Xiang Xiaoyuan had already had a few drinks, her alcohol tolerance wasn't great, so Cai Juan drank on her behalf.

"You will definitely become famous in the future. From now on, we are your fans!"

"Die-hard fans!"

"Loyal fans!"

"...Here's to you again!"

"Hey, cameraman, you join us too! Toast to our Sister Yuan!"

"Cheers, cheers!"

This Shaxian Snacks was located on a small street in Yangcheng, and the shop wasn't very big, ten people basically filled it up.

Summer had arrived in Yangcheng, and the nights were hot and stuffy. Under the purplish-blue sky, the atmosphere was lively, with the smell of barbecue drifting over from the adjacent shop, followed by a cool tea shop and a noodle soup joint. Many people were out for late-night snacks, creating a bustling and lively atmosphere full of vitality.

Xiang Xiaoyuan felt a bit fulfilled, experiencing the down-to-earth joy of the moment, and she smiled gently.

Two weeks after the wrap party, the director introduced her to another role, "Sister Xiaoyuan, an old friend of mine has a project, the role is very interesting. Here's his business card. If you're interested, you can add him on WeChat and chat a bit."

She thought for a moment, it wouldn't hurt, so she added him on WeChat to chat.

After exchanging a few messages, Xiang Xiaoyuan casually opened her computer.

"Choice" has officially been set for release, and it had a preview screening last night. Although Douban hasn't rated it yet, the scattered reviews are very positive. Sina and several media outlets conducted interviews with the crew, including Wei Jiabao, Chen Yunxiu, Zou Yirui, and He Chenying, all of whom attended dressed to the nines.

"Yes, this is the second film I have directed. Honestly, I am very nervous, but with Director Chen and so many talented actors involved, especially Sister Ying, I feel very lucky. My current wish is for this film to be liked by more people, to have more appreciation." Wei Jiabao, dressed in a black suit with a small rose in the pocket of his lapel, tall and well-proportioned, with handsome features more eye-catching than the male lead beside him, spoke eloquently.

Chen Yunxiu, on the other hand, was much more low-key, playing a supporting role as a commentator.

Zou Yirui had a rosy complexion and lovely red lips, looking innocent and charming. Originally a popular young actress, this was her first film as the lead. Many fans were present to support her, and every time she answered a question, the fans would scream for a long time.

"Thank you, thank you. I am still a newcomer and have many shortcomings." she bowed, full of confidence, smiling brightly. "I will continue to work hard in the future."

Under this Weibo post, there were many fans sharing her high-definition photos, various promotional posters, engaging in both positive and negative comments and promotions.

Xiang Xiaoyuan pursed her lips, realizing that this interview had not mentioned her at all. Logically, she played the role of the third sister, a crucial character in the plot's development, yet from start to finish, no one mentioned her, as if this character didn't exist at all.

Presumably, the questions asked by the reporters were selected by the main creative team of the crew, and various publicity efforts intentionally made her transparent.

This is the terrifying aspect of being suppressed.

Xiang Xiaoyuan was lost in thought when her phone vibrated, snapping her back to reality. She glanced at it, the director had sent her a document on WeChat. "This is the script, Miss Xiang, please take a look when you have some time."

Instead of immediately opening it, she continued to search for news about "Choice."

There were no cohesive interview videos online. Xiang Xiaoyuan backed out and scrolled through the film's official Weibo account.

She paused when she saw a solo interview with He Chenying and clicked on it.

"This is a rare role, close yet distant from me because in reality, I am also a mother, and my child is not in the best health, so I have a deep sense of empathy." He Chenying's voice was soft and round, "However, she (her character) is a bit different, quite frustrating at times. I hope the audience won't dislike me after watching it."

He Chenying has had two short marriages, with a son from her second marriage who is only ten years old and born with congenital heart disease. Due to caring for her child, He Chenying does not have many works, but each one is a masterpiece. She is a pillar among the middle-aged actresses in China and holds the record for the most "Best Actress" awards in the film category among middle-aged actresses.

Zou Yirui having the opportunity to collaborate with her is something fans will boast about for years.

The media reporters laughed, "How could that be? Just now, there were quite a few people in the audience who were moved to tears! We all love you!" As soon as the reporter finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted from the audience, along with cheers. Her credentials and reputation were solid, and the applause was genuine.

The reporter continued to ask, "I'll ask on behalf of the audience, Teacher He, you have worked with many young actors in this movie, can you share your impressions of them?"

The interviewees were all sitting together, and the camera panned to Wei Jiabao, Zou Yirui, and the male lead.

He Chenying smiled. She wore a light yellow dress with a V-neck and orchid embroidery on the skirt. In contrast to Zou Yirui's youthful and vibrant aura, she had a more mature and charming presence, every move exuding grace.

"Are you trying to get me to spill the beans?" He Chenying glanced at the reporter with a playful lift of her lips. "I know my nickname too."

The reporter chuckled, feigning ignorance. "What? Teacher He has a nickname? Really?"

Laughter erupted from the audience, with some saying yes and others saying no.

"Three Golden He!" a male voice shouted from the audience.

Because He Chenying had won three film awards, there were fans who called her that.

He Chenying scanned the audience area, the corner of her eye lifting, "Hmm? Is it this one? I thought you all called me 'Smiling Tiger'?"

The stage and audience erupted in laughter.

Xiang Xiaoyuan unconsciously curved her lips into a smile.

"You're all very cute. Lao Chen is an old friend of mine, so there's not much to say. If I have to mention someone who left a deep impression on me, it would be the girl playing the sister role, Xiang Xiaoyuan. She has a lot of spirit."

Xiang Xiaoyuan was stunned.

The reporter was also a bit surprised. "...This girl?" Then he looked at his notes.

The expressions of the people on stage were also somewhat unexpectedly surprised, the camera passed over Chen Yunxiu, he smiled slightly, looking at He Chenying.

There were murmurs from the audience, the video couldn't clearly capture or convey them.

The video ended there.

Xiang Xiaoyuan sat quietly for a while, her lips curving up, her dark eyes sparkling with joy.

A WeChat message from the director came through, a 60-second voice message.

After not opening it, the director sent another text message.

[In short, this is a comedy horror absurd movie where you not only play one role, but two.]

Xiaoyuan looked below, [—zombies, and also a Taoist priest.]

"..."

A zombie and a Taoist priest? Do I have to play two roles alone? Do I have to kill myself?

What kind of movie is this?

In the end, she still accepted the role.

During the filming, "Choice" was released in theaters. Xiaoyuan completely shut herself off, not going online, not discussing, cutting off all information about the movie.

By the time she wrapped up filming, it was already autumn.

Xiang Zhishi wasn't home, and Cai Juan had gone to find friends. Perhaps they were looking for connections and resources for her.

After filming two movies in a row, she stayed home to rest for a while, and naturally started hearing a lot of information.

Xiang Zhishi told her that the movie turned out well, better than many of Chen Yunxiu's previous films, and the the release timing was also clever, aiming for the upcoming major film festivals' awards season next year.

Then he said, "You acted very well. I'm so proud of you."

Cai Juan said luckily, most of her scenes weren't cut, there were about three scenes in total.

Cai Juan added, "Xiaoyuan, I timed it. You have 15 minutes of screen time, and just in those 15 minutes you outshine the female lead."

They were her family, always seeing her through a filter, and Xiaoyuan didn't dare to fully believe it. The events of the past year had somewhat impacted her confidence. When she started filming this movie, she was fearless, proud, and excited.

But now, she felt a bit lost, a little timid.

That night, neither Xiang Zhishi nor Cai Juan returned. She had planned to sleep early, but she felt restless as if small animal claws were scratching at her heart, unable to settle. She covered herself with a blanket but still couldn't calm the restless little creature within her.

Eventually, she got up, put on some clothes, and went out, hailing a cab.

"Take me to the nearest Tonghua Square."

The car window was covered with a layer of mist, and the sound of raindrops gradually increased as the rain began to pour harder.

Xiang Xiaoyuan finally opened her phone. On Weibo, some real-time comments praised the film, with many saying they felt both angry and heartbroken, crying throughout. There were also fans praising Zou Yirui and the male lead, as well as comments admiring Wei Jiabao's looks.

It turned out that Wei Jiabao was quite popular on Weibo.

She couldn't discern much from Weibo. She then opened Douban and saw that "Choice" had a rating of 8.5. Scrolling through the short reviews, the top few were:

"Wow, He Chenying is amazing! Amazing! Amazing! (Roaring loudly!)"

"With Tonghua leading the way, this is probably Chen Yunxiu's highest-grossing film!"

"For the first time, a young actor wasn't overshadowed by He Yinghou! Who is this divine being?" Was that referring to her?

As Xiang Xiaoyuan scrolled down, she quickly skimmed through the overwhelmingly positive reviews of He Chenying.

There were quite a few long reviews, but she hurried past them:

"The entire film revolves around female characters, touching on themes of family and choices, winding around in a way that leaves one breathless. Whether as a daughter or a mother, one will feel something... a heavy, oppressive, suffocating tragedy!"

"I wonder if the absence of male characters was a deliberate choice by the screenwriter..."

She opened Weibo and searched for the keywords "Choice, sister." Finally, there was some content:

"Waaah, am I the only one who feels sorry for the sister in 'Choice'?"

"Oh my god, who is the actress playing the sister in 'Choice'? So beautiful and such a great performance! Is she a newcomer?"

"She looks familiar, where have I seen her before? With such acting skills, why isn't she famous?"

She hopped between Weibo and Douban, realizing belatedly that the restless feeling in her chest had subsided somewhat, like... checking the answers after a big exam before the results are out, finding reassurance in knowing some of the answers are correct.

She had bought a seat in the middle. She arrived early, sat down, wearing a baseball cap, revealing a bit of her snowy earlobes and black hair.

As the surrounding audience gradually took their seats, the theater filled up, the lights dimmed, a few trailers played, and her heart raced.

When the dragon insignia for the public screening appeared on the big screen, her nervousness reached a critical point. Her hands and feet trembled slightly, and her heart felt like it might leap out of her chest.

Xiang Xiaoyuan suddenly realized that this was her first film with a high number of screenings in theaters, as well as her first film with such a high attendance rate.

After the dragon insignia, the opening credits of Tonghua Film and Television appeared. The scroll unfolded to reveal a vast canvas of blank space, gradually coming to life with ink wash colors. Ink-dark branches twisted gracefully, and red flowers bloomed in succession, vibrant and upright, a tree of brilliant crimson swaying in the wind, full of life.

As the scroll merged, a stamp appeared at the center, inscribed in clerical script—Tonghua Media—the sole investor.

Producer: Wei Zhuang.

Xiang Xiaoyuan slowly exhaled, squeezing her sweaty palms.

When the first scene appeared, she calmed down and became fully immersed.

"If I were given another chance, perhaps..." In an all-white environment, only a light, weightless voice. The camera panned down to He Chenying's face.

Xiaoyuan's heart trembled.

It was an extremely haggard face, hair tangled, bare-faced. She was still young, but wrinkles covered her forehead, the corners of her eyes, and lips.

This was a face that had endured immense suffering.

"Perhaps, I would choose for the two of us to die together, not to donate, not to undergo treatment."

"Do you know you have more than one daughter?" Another person with their back to the camera, wearing a white coat, gently asked her.

"..." He Chenying fell silent, her eyes, expressions, and body language all frozen, as if she had lost consciousness, her soul sucked away.

"Do you remember that you have two daughters? Not just one."

He Chenying remained seated, appearing unresponsive, but when she heard "not just one," the corners of her eyes twitched slightly.

At this point, the audience understood that this was the background voice of a doctor, and that the mother character played by He Chenying had suffered a major blow, leading to her mental instability.

"Can you tell me about your daughters?" The staff in the white coat, with only background audio, heard her reluctance to answer the question and rephrased it.

"My daughter, she's so well-behaved, she's my treasure, my angel..."

He Chenying's expression instantly softened. A good actor can create a vivid character relationship using just their eyebrows and eyes.

The story of "Choice" isn't complicated, through the narration of the mother character portrayed by He Chenying, the entire story unfolds.

"Before I met her father, I never knew what love felt like. Every day with him was so joyful!" He Chenying's acting skills are extremely profound. Unlike most female actors, she has several years of experience as a stage actress, making her dialogue delivery full of storytelling charm. When she talks about love and happiness, her expressions gradually change, her features brighten up, and she comes to life like a withered tree in spring.

This spark of vitality and softness particularly resonated with the female audience.

What kind of love was it, really?

The film didn't show any romantic scenes between the couple, but that didn't matter, He Chenying's powerful delivery allowed each viewer to fill in the gaps with their imagination.

"But he left too soon. Heaven was too cruel."

The camera focused on He Chenying's eyes. She was wearing aged makeup, with deep lines and spots around her eyes, revealing her old age. Yet the light in her eyes shattered when she said "cruel."

"Fortunately, I still have my daughter. She's the precious gift he left me, the most cherished, most beloved treasure..."

The shattered light disperses, turning into teardrops.

The scene shifted to a younger, elegantly dressed He Chenying, whose demeanor exuded grace. It was clear her daughter had been unwell since childhood, with many carefully nurtured scenes. Gradually, the baby grew up, transforming into a lovely little girl and then into a graceful young woman.

It was evident that the mother-daughter bond was exceptionally strong. The camera captured many beautifully framed pictures, each carefully arranged, showing the mother and daughter embracing and smiling. Unfortunately, this happy scene was short-lived, the daughter fell ill and needed a kidney transplant, but He Chenying can't find a match.

"I tried everything, but couldn't find a suitable match. Then... I remembered, I still have..."

"What do you still have?"

"A piece of the past."

"What past?"

..." He Chenying's awareness seems to be taken away once again.

The person in the white coat isn't in a rush either. After a short pause, they softly ask her, "Can you tell me about it?"

He Chenying tightened her lips and lowered her eyes.

She didn't speak, the camera spoke for her.

It shows a younger He Chenying, more delicate and innocent, being persuaded by classmates to go to a bar.

In the dimly lit, noisy bar, she wore a white dress, her hair adorned with a pearl hairpin, resembling a pure white flower that had fallen into a murky water.

The light became rough and aggressive, rustling sounds filling the air, the girl's struggling cries, "I'm drunk, I'm dizzy, please take me home..."

"Please... please! Where are my classmates? Where did they go?"

The camera shook more violently, the scene darkening further. In the storm, a small flower in the corner trembled, bending and falling into the muddy water.

The camera showed nothing, yet everything was made clear.

The movie theater fell completely silent, as if everyone's breath was held.

Then a slightly older woman's voice said, "You can't have this child. If you do, you need to get out of my house. We don't want a daughter like you!"

He Chenying, looking haggard, trembled all over, despair, grievance, unease, and fear, as well as confusion, her eyes swollen and wide open, as if she couldn't understand why her world was suddenly collapsing, "...but, this is a life, she..."

Her hands pressed tightly against her belly, she broke down in tears, suddenly pounding her fists: "I hit her! I bump into her! She won't come out! She's still in my belly... I don't want her, but she's moving..."

"She's too big! If I get rid of her, I'll die!"

"Mom, help me! Help me!"

"..."

"Are you going to raise her? We won't raise this unknown bastard, she's a cursed child!"

"I... can't afford... I don't want to..." She slid off the chair, crying so hard she couldn't stand up straight, collapsed on the ground, her voice hoarse.

"Then give birth to her, and send her away."

"...Okay, okay..." She lay there, her visibly pregnant belly separating her face from the ground, trembling, lying on the ground for a long time without getting up, unable to get up.

The audience emitted sounds of "Ah," "Wow," and "sigh."

Xiang Xiaoyuan let out a barely visible sigh, relaxing her body.

The script she had seen before was not complete, and she had always wondered why her mother favored her little sister so much and didn't care at all about her. Now, with this storyline, it all made sense.

In the earlier draft of the script, Zou Yirui was the first female lead, and He Chenying was the second. It seemed that Wei Jiabao had asked Cheng Yi to create the role specifically for Zou Yirui. However, upon realizing that Zou Yirui's acting couldn't support the script, they revised it. With Xiang Xiaoyuan stepping in, she became the third female lead.

Later on, Wei Jiabao had a falling out with Zou Yirui. Wei Jiabao tried to "play by the rules" with her, but she rejected him, so they cut down her scenes.

So this version became the final one, making He Chenying the female lead. However, regardless of the changes, the character of the older sister had to be retained, and it was now her turn to appear.

Sure enough, the car slowly approached a villa, the gate opened, the car drove in, bypassed the flowerbed, passed by lush greenery, and stopped. The car door opened, revealing a pair of round-toed shoes, the leather on the front of the shoes worn and tattered, paused, stepped out, stood still.

There was an off-screen voice, probably a butler or a maid, "Miss, we have arrived."

The leather shoes took a step forward and stopped.

The camera moved up, capturing the slender figure draped in a loose black skirt, the tips of grayish-yellow hair, panning out to show the clear blue sky and the towering magnificent three-story villa.

A contrast of the tiny and the immense, the shabby and the splendid.

"Miss, we have arrived." the off-screen voice repeated.

The figure in the black dress still didn't move, as a gentle breeze brushed against her skirt and hair.

The audience understood she was gazing at the house, processing a multitude of information in their minds—this must be the child who was sent away. A girl, her daughter's sister, her eldest daughter, who had been living poorly. Where had she been sent? Was she brought back for a reason...?

And... what did she look like?

As if the camera heard the audience's thoughts, it switched to show the front view of the figure in the black dress.

A slender figure, fair skin, a face... very cold, with bangs that were too long covering half of her face, a complexion lacking vitality, eyes very dark, like beautiful obsidian, extremely deep, yet devoid of any emotion. A sense of being isolated and detached hit the viewers.

This appearance carried no emotional weight yet was strikingly intense.

Xiang Xiaoyuan's breath hitched, suddenly becoming extremely tense, as if at this moment the entire audience would turn their heads, recognize her, and carefully observe her reactions.

This was her first time sitting in a movie theater watching a film she acted in.

Her debut film "Xiao Wen" didn't count, she watched it at the media premiere with the creators, sitting in the front row, unable to know the audience's reactions immediately.

And now, she was a member of the audience, experiencing a completely different feeling.

During filming, scenes are arranged according to the schedule set by the production team and the on-set arrangements. It is also directed by the director and producer. The plot does not necessarily have coherence, and the final edited footage may differ. Therefore, actors, just like the audience, have the most direct reactions to the story.

However, because the actors were involved, watching their own scenes brought a strange feeling.

Looking at it now, her performance wasn't too perfect either. When acting with Zou Yirui, it was undoubtedly overpowering, mainly because Zou Yirui was too weak. Maybe she went a bit too far, she could have shown a bit more restraint. She hadn't been on set for too long at that time, which could have raised some suspicions of showing off a bit. Her emotion could have been toned down a bit more.

When acting with He Chenying, she was well guided. It felt like sparring with a master, a feeling of being taken care of, so...

She lowered her head in contemplation, sensing she had gained some insight.

"Sob, sob, sob..."

Sitting one seat away from Xiang Xiaoyuan was a couple. The girl was wiping tears gently, sniffling softly.

The screen was showing the scene where she acted with He Chenying.

"Hey, why are you crying?" her boyfriend asked her softly, with a hint of amusement.

"Uh, I don't know, I just feel... so sad!" The girl leaned towards her boyfriend, pouting.

"Silly."

"Indeed, the sister is so pitiful!" the girl sniffed, "That's what they said in the reviews on Douban..."

"... Her mother is indeed biased!"

"That's true... but she's also so pitiful..."

"It's so hard!"

Xiaoyuan was a bit stunned, glancing around, noticing that many audience members had similar expressions to that girl.

Her gaze returned to the screen, the light from it falling on her face, dancing in her eyes, gradually spilling out from her eye sockets.

"Huh? Dead, just like that?"

"Huh?"

"Yeah, she died. Didn't you see the spoilers?"

"I did, but still, dying so suddenly..."

"Maybe there's some other purpose?"

"Sometimes fate can be particularly cruel!"

In the film, when the character of the elder sister died due to complications arising from a kidney transplant, the theater erupted in the largest commotion to date.

Her scenes were abruptly cut, and the elder sister was effectively "killed off."

After that, it was entirely Zou Yirui and He Chenying's scenes. Zou Yirui couldn't accept that her sister died because of her, feeling an overwhelming psychological burden. The transplanted kidney began to show signs of rejection, and her physical condition deteriorated, along with her mental state.

Zou Yirui's acting was quite mediocre. Despite being supported by He Chenying, it still felt off. In the end, the younger sister's character jumped off a building, causing He Chenying's mother character to go insane.

The scene returned to He Chenying at the beginning. This woman had faced many misfortunes throughout her life, evoking sympathy. She had made several crucial decisions at the crossroads of life, ultimately ending up alone, in a crazy state, which was truly lamentable.

The camera zoomed in closely, ruthlessly exposing her aging and despair. Although she was alive, she was merely a shell, with only her breath remaining, her soul had long since died.

"Why don't I just die? I should be dead. I want to go and be with my daughter..."

Her facial muscles twitched as if dead, "What's the point of living alone?"

"Are you afraid they'll be lonely?"

"They?"

"..."

"Yes, I want to go be with my husband and daughter."

"What about your eldest daughter?"

"I want to go be with my husband and daughter." She numbly repeated, almost as if in a trance.

"..." The doctor in the white coat paused, then sighed softly, choosing not to continue the conversation.

In the end, she never acknowledged that she had another daughter.

"I want to go be with them, be with her..."

The camera pulled back, the image blurred, turned black, and ended with He Chenying's fragmented words.

The screen didn't light up again. Instead, the doctor's voice was heard discussing the case with a colleague.

"She refuses to acknowledge it, so there's been no progress."

"Perhaps she knows deep down but doesn't want to face it, so she simply denies the existence of her eldest daughter."

"... Sigh, how pitiful."

"...Her savings are enough to spend the rest of her life here. All we can do is our best..."

The footsteps faded away. For the doctors, it was perhaps just another case.

As it ended, a sigh swept through the audience once again.

When the lights came on, Xiang Xiaoyuan lowered her hat, propped her face with one hand, and sat waiting for the rest of the audience to leave the theater.

"Ah, that really made me feel so down."

"I only came because of you. Otherwise, I'd be watching the sci-fi movie next door."

"He Chenying acted so well! But I don't think I can watch it a second time."

"Hey, I think the actress who played the sister is so beautiful, and such good acting. Who is she again?"

......

Men and women passed by Xiang Xiaoyuan.

Once outside the cinema, the rain not only hadn't stopped, but had actually intensified.

Xiang Xiaoyuan raised her hand to adjust her hat, took out her phone, walked to the bus stop, the rain was too heavy, and it wasn't easy to wait for a bus. Even if one came quickly, it would still take several minutes.

She looked around, and just as a bus on her route arrived at the station, she quickly hopped on.

Amid the downpour, she leaned against the bus window, watching the streetlights blur past, their glow hazy in the rain.

"Why did you only come at this time? Didn't the teacher tell you not to be late?"

"Teacher, I...," the six-year-old girl didn't know how to explain.

"Hurry and change your clothes. I'll have the makeup teacher come over." The homeroom teacher anxiously paced around. "You're going on stage soon."

"Hey, Xiang, what happened to your face?"

"I, I accidentally fell."

"You can't be so careless! Put more powder on her. By the way, do you remember all the lyrics and lines?"

"I remember, don't worry, teacher."

Xiang Xiaoyuan remembered that dress was especially beautiful—a red and white cake dress with a lace hem, paired with little red shoes and a red hooded cape draped over her shoulders.

She held a small basket, nervously peeking out from the side of the stage. The set was ready, and there were so many parents sitting in the audience, all students' families.

"Go on, good luck!" The teacher gave her a gentle push.

She had no choice but to move forward, her entire body bouncing onto the stage.

As the spotlight hit, a beam of light followed her, and all attention focused on her.

It was magical, suddenly she wasn't scared at all anymore. She began to sing, "I walk alone on the little path in the countryside, bringing pastries for Grandma to taste. She lives in a place that is far and secluded, and I must be careful of any big bad wolves nearby..."

The teacher had adapted the fairy tale of "Little Red Riding Hood" into a small musical, to sing, to act, to tell the whole story well.

She performed even better than during rehearsals.

During the final monologue, the whole room fell silent, listening attentively.

The parents watched with delight, smiling widely. At the end, she and her friends, reminded by the teacher, shook hands and bowed together, thanking the audience in a proper manner. The parents applauded warmly, standing up to cheer.

The little friends on stage burst into laughter, hugging each other happily.

In the midst of the rain, Xiang Xiaoyuan nostalgically relived that moment from years ago.

A smile crept onto her lips, but her eyes gradually filled with tears.

"So beautiful, and such good acting! Who is she again?"

"If I have to mention someone who left a deep impression on me, it would be the girl playing the sister role, Xiang Xiaoyuan. She has a lot of spirit."

......

For some reason, her nose felt increasingly sore, and her cheeks were cool and damp. She raised her hand to wipe her face, but the tears only seemed to increase.

She would never forget how she fell in love with acting, nor would she feel discouraged or retreat.

As long as someone believed in her, she would continue to perform.

As night fell, there were not many people on the bus. The window was fogged up with a thin layer of moisture, and the rain enveloped the night. Xiang Xiaoyuan released the pent-up grievances, the frustrations, the confusion of many inexplicable things she had been holding back during this period, and cried heartily.

That sense of affirmation was the eternal flame in her heart, she would hold onto it and keep moving forward.

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