lcionline Chapter 58: The Crack
Chapter 58: The Crack
Since filming began for "The Man from Nowhere," entertainment news in China has been nonstop.
Every now and then, the media would publish an article titled "Liu Yu on the Hollywood set," accompanied by a few blurry photos from who-knows-where, with headlines that were more exaggerated than the last.
Liu Yu didn't read these news articles much when he was in China, but he started reading them after arriving in Los Angeles. It wasn't because he cared, but because he couldn't adjust to the time difference and was awake at three or four in the morning with nothing to do.
Yan Danchen's scenes were filmed in just over ten days.
Her role is a female police officer in the Los Angeles Police Department. She doesn't have many scenes, but she is the only person the male protagonist trusts in the police department.
Hong Jinbao didn't design many action scenes for her, and she insisted on not using a stunt double, doing several running and dodging scenes herself.
Liu Yu watched from behind the monitor; the way she ran didn't look like a policewoman, but more like an athlete.
On the night filming wrapped, Yan Danchen took Liu Yu to a Chinese restaurant hidden in an alley.
The owner is from Guangdong and immigrated here more than 20 years ago, but the dishes he makes still taste the same as they did back then.
Yan Danchen ordered a plate of stir-fried beef noodles, a plate of blanched bok choy, and a bowl of pork rib soup.
Liu Yu ordered a plate of Yangzhou fried rice. The two sat facing each other, with an old-fashioned incandescent light bulb overhead.
She ate a few bites, put down her chopsticks, picked up her soup bowl, took a sip, and looked at him, her expression suggesting she was thinking about something and how to bring it up.
"Liu Yu," she finally spoke, placing the soup bowl on the table, "my parents called a few days ago."
Liu Yu looked up at her but didn't reply. Her tone and rhythm were off; it wasn't casual, but rather like she had something on her mind.
"My mom said, 'Danchen, you're twenty-seven this year, when are you getting married?' My dad didn't say anything, but I heard him sigh."
She paused for a moment, then said, "Actually, I've been thinking about it too. It's not that they're pressuring me; it's just my own decision."
Liu Yu put down her chopsticks, the dim light illuminating her face softly.
"I'm not ready yet."
This isn't just a perfunctory answer; it's the truth. When a 25-year-old is asked about marriage, saying they're not ready is the reality for most people.
His lack of preparation was different from most people's; he was psychologically unprepared.
I got married three times and divorced three times in my past life. Each marriage started with the illusion that it would be different this time, but when it ended, I realized that the illusion was just that – an illusion.
Yan Danchen paused for a moment, then asked, "Wait a few years?"
Her tone was calm; she wasn't questioning, but confirming.
Liu Yu thought for a moment, "Three or four years, I guess."
"I'll be thirty in three years."
The two didn't talk much during the latter half of the meal. After finishing and paying the bill, the Los Angeles night wind blew in their faces as they walked out of the restaurant.
She walked ahead of him, her pace neither fast nor slow, her shadow stretched long by the streetlights. Liu Yu looked at that shadow, wanting to say something, but opened his mouth and then closed it again.
......
June arrived in the blink of an eye, and the sun in Los Angeles grew stronger, with daytime temperatures climbing above 30 degrees Celsius.
The crew moved between several locations, including abandoned warehouses in the city, motels in the suburbs, and narrow alleys in the back alleys of Chinatown.
Hong Jinbao's action choreography is becoming increasingly complex, which is taking a toll on Daniel Craig's stamina.
His condition improved more and more, and towards the end he no longer needed a stunt double; he did every punch and kick himself.
Yang Zi's scenes have been filmed for most of the time. The thirteen-year-old girl is more hardworking than Liu Yu imagined.
There was a scene that had to be filmed in an abandoned warehouse. The ground was covered in dust and gravel. She was wearing short sleeves and shorts and rolled around on the ground. Her knees were scraped, but she didn't utter a sound.
On June 12th, Liu Yu sat on a chair next to the film set.
Today's scene was a dialogue scene. Daniel and Yang Zi were talking in a motel room. There were no actions or special effects; they were just sitting face to face, taking turns speaking.
David walked in from outside the set, through a bunch of cables and equipment, and bent down next to Liu Yu.
"Boss, a mother and daughter have come to visit the set, and they brought quite a lot of things."
Liu Yu looked up. "Who is it?"
David's expression was somewhat subtle. "The leading lady in your last movie."
Liu Yu paused for a moment, put down his coffee cup, and stood up.
A black SUV was parked outside the film set, its trunk open and filled with snacks, drinks, and fruit.
Liu Yifei stood next to the car, wearing a white T-shirt and denim shorts. Liu Xiaoli stood next to her, carrying two bags. When she saw Liu Yu come out, she smiled.
"Director Liu, it's been a long time." Liu Yifei's voice was clear and crisp.
Liu Yu walked over and asked, "What brings you all here? Weren't you supposed to be learning to sing?"
"I brought Yifei here to discuss a collaboration, and we also came to Los Angeles for a few days. We heard you were filming here, so we came to see you." Liu Xiaoli added from the side, "Yifei said she hasn't seen you in a long time and wanted to see you filming."
Liu Yifei turned her head and glanced at her mother, her eyes conveying the message, "Mom, what are you saying?"
Liu Xiaoli pretended not to see it and walked into the film set carrying the bag.
......
The next day, news of Liu Yifei and her daughter visiting Liu Yu on set reached China.
Portal websites, entertainment forums, and gossip microblogs are all flooded with this story.
The next morning, Zhong Lifang sent a long message with several links attached.
The titles are all increasingly ambiguous.
"Liu Yifei traveled to Los Angeles to visit Liu Yu on set, and the two have a very close relationship."
"After 'Hearing Girl,' Liu Yu and Liu Yifei reunite on set, interacting intimately."
"Liu Yifei visits Liu Yu's new film set, smiling sweetly and in a good mood."
The news report included a photo of Liu Yifei standing on the sidelines of the film set, with someone handing her water.
The two people were neither too close nor too far apart, and their expressions were normal. Reporters could always capture meaningful shots from this angle.
Liu Yu saw the news after finishing work in the evening. He frowned when he saw the headlines but didn't click on them.
He doesn't care about these gossips, but he knows there's someone who does.
.....
During a break after work in the afternoon, Liu Yu sat on a folding chair in the corner of the set, holding a box of salad that he hadn't finished eating.
The phone screen lit up briefly; it wasn't Yan Danchen, it was Wang Chaowen.
"Brother, you saw those news reports back home, right? Is your wife alright?"
Liu Yu thought for a moment, typed a few words, then deleted them. In the end, he only replied with, "It's okay, keep an eye on things, don't let the rumors spread."
Wang Chaowen sent a "received" emoji, then added: "Brother, I think you still need to call your wife. Women, you know, they say they're fine, but they're always thinking about something."
Liu Yu stared at the message for a few seconds, then put his phone face down on the table, forked a piece of lettuce, and stuffed it into his mouth.
After finishing work in the afternoon, Liu Yu returned to the hotel, took a shower, lay on the bed, found Yan Danchen's number, and dialed it.
It rang several times before I answered.
"Feed." Her voice sounded normal, as if she was busy with something else and just happened to answer the phone.
Liu Yu heard the sound of a television on the other end of the phone, but it was very quiet, as if it had been deliberately turned down.
"Finished work?"
"Hmm. And you?"
"No shows today, I'll stay home and rest."
The two were silent for a few seconds, and the sound of the television came through the receiver, intermittently.
"Dan Chen, those news reports..."
"I haven't seen those news reports," she interrupted him, speaking a little faster than usual. "I've been busy reading scripts these past few days and haven't had time to use the computer."
Liu Yu held his phone, unsure how to answer.
"Let's not talk about the news then," Liu Yu changed the subject. "When does your new movie start filming?"
"Next month. In Hengdian." Her voice softened slightly. "Filming for three months."
"Then I'll visit the set after you finish filming."
"Okay." She agreed readily, but her willingness seemed somewhat deliberate, as if she had been waiting there just for him to say that.
There was a few seconds of silence on the phone. This time, Yan Danchen spoke first.
"Liu Yu, I have a question for you."
"you say."
What do you think of Liu Yifei as a person?
This question is like a knife, cutting right into the most sensitive spot. He can't say she's bad, because she really isn't bad; nor can he say she's too good, because saying she's too good would confirm those unfounded accusations.
"She's a good actress. She's serious about acting, doesn't act like a diva, and respects the crew." Liu Yu carefully chose each word. "That's all. She's my actress, nothing more."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.
"You have no feelings for her?"
"no."
"How does she treat you?"
"I don't know." Liu Yu paused, his voice lowering. "And I don't want to know."
"Alright, I'm not going to argue with you anymore." Yan Danchen's tone relaxed a bit, though the tension was still there, only slightly eased. "I'm hungry, I'm going to cook some noodles. You should get some rest."
"it is good."