Chapter 47: A Tribute to the Most Beloved People

“Hey! Class monitor, what did that tall guy want with you? Was it... hmm~” Dini made a gesture, her lips curling upward. “Look at our class monitor, her pretty face blushing. I bet whatever just happened was sweet, right? Come on, confess—how far have you two gone? With your style, Huang Yi, I’d say at least second base, maybe third, or maybe, hehe, you’ve made it home?”

Zeng Hui’s questioning was still somewhat subtle.

The acting class hadn’t started yet. Zeng Hui and Dini seized the opportunity to interrogate Huang Yi, since they’d just witnessed someone pulling her into the grove.

“Oh, you two are impossible!” Even though Huang Yi’s demeanor was ‘tough,’ she couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. “What’s this about bases? There’s nothing like that at all!”

“Hehe, then what was it?” Dini asked, speaking for them both.

“It was the same old thing—he asked me to act in his film.” Huang Yi looked utterly reluctant.

“You refused again?” This time Zeng Hui chimed in, the two of them working together seamlessly.

“No, I agreed.” Huang Yi closed her eyes as if bracing herself for their scorn.

“Oh, that’s odd. Who was it yesterday who said, ‘I absolutely won’t act while I’m still in school’?” Both had clearly heard her say it.

“Who? I never said that!” Huang Yi adamantly denied it, though she quickly began making excuses for herself. “Today, he said a lot of things, um, cough, let me explain.”

Huang Yi began impersonating Wu Xiang, mimicking his tone: “The ending of my novel is a tragedy, and it’s precisely because of this tragic ending that it caused such a sensation. It can be said that, for a literary work to truly move people, the ending must be tragic, and I don’t want to change that for the film. But...”

The two friends were already laughing hard, and to be honest, Huang Yi’s impression was quite accurate.

Unfazed, Huang Yi continued: “But a tragic ending won’t be accepted by the general audience. For example, have you read Aunt Qiong Yao’s novels?”

“Mm, I’ve read a few.” At this point, Huang Yi reverted to herself, her voice gentle.

“Hahaha…” Zeng Hui and Dini laughed even harder, imagining that Huang Yi certainly hadn’t spoken so gently at the time.

Huang Yi switched back to Wu Xiang’s tone: “Aunt Qiong Yao’s novels mostly end in tragedy, but when they’re adapted into TV dramas, they almost always have happy endings, don’t they?”

“Yeah, that does seem to be the case.” Huang Yi softened her voice again.

Then her tone changed once more: “Why is that? Because the general audience can’t accept tragic endings—they’re too heartbreaking. Most people prefer a joyful conclusion. Since I don’t plan to change the ending of my film, I need comedic elements to balance it, and you, Huang Yi, you have those comedic elements. So you’re the guarantee of my film’s box office success! Come on, Huang Yi, our crew needs you!”

“Well… alright.” Her reluctant expression was spot-on.

“Hahahahaha…” Zeng Hui and Dini were laughing so hard they nearly toppled over, drawing the attention of several acting students. Fortunately, the classroom was a small theater, spacious enough.

“What are you laughing at?” Huang Yi protested.

“You were way too over-the-top. That tall guy would never say those last lines. I bet he barely got a few words out before you agreed. Honestly, you regretted refusing yesterday, didn’t you?” Dini mercilessly exposed her friend’s fib after her laughter.

“I figure the tall guy gave someone a passionate kiss, and she surrendered.” Zeng Hui was even more direct.

“No way!” Huang Yi protested loudly, just as Teacher Huang Sanshi arrived.

“Girls, pay attention—class is starting. If you want to chat, do it outside!”

Faced with Teacher Huang’s ‘kindly’ authority, the three chubby girls wisely fell silent. As for what really happened in the grove, whether it was as dramatic as Huang Yi’s ‘Oscar-worthy’ performance, those details no longer mattered. What mattered was that Wu Xiang’s new film, “First Intimate Encounter,” had finally assembled its cast and could begin shooting.

However, as director, screenwriter, and producer, Wu Xiang still had to attend an event—the Capital University Student Film Festival!

The opening ceremony of the festival was held at Yanqing Normal University’s School of Arts and Communication, while the closing ceremony, the awards night, took place at the broadcasting theater near Fuxing Gate. This was the sixth festival, and conditions were modest—nothing like the grand venues such as Olympic Stadiums that would host future ceremonies. Still, the theater was packed, filled with college students.

Wu Xiang wasn’t picky—he just cared about winning.

“…The Sixth Yanqing Film Festival, Best Debut Award, Wu Xiang, ‘The Great Flood’!”

Wu Xiang had already been told by the committee, mainly so the winner wouldn’t miss the ceremony and to avoid mishaps with unprepared speeches.

He didn’t go up alone; he purposefully brought along all his friends and classmates who acted in the film. They all went on stage together.

“Wow, that’s lively—are all of you Wu Xiang?” The host joked, seeing the large group.

They had rehearsed earlier, but now it was time to show this attitude.

Wu Xiang naturally took the microphone and addressed the audience: “I am Wu Xiang. As for the others, they are the cast and crew of our film. Since this is a Best Debut Award, everyone here is making their debut—we’re all first-timers!”

“Haha…” Applause followed. Wu Xiang’s clever phrasing won over the college crowd.

He turned to his friends, “How about each of us says a few words?”

“Forget it, just you!” The group of ‘debutants’ quickly refused.

“Hahahahaha…” The students in the audience laughed as one.

Wu Xiang’s improv had instantly made the atmosphere much more relaxed—after all, they were all young, and there was no need for formality.

But then Wu Xiang became more serious: “Since you’ve all let me speak, and since this award is thanks to the support of my fellow students, I want to thank everyone, thank those who helped us finish the film—thank you!” Wu Xiang bowed deeply. “But, I’d like to say something more.”

“Oh…” The students perked up, intrigued by this unusual winner—Wu Xiang, just like them, was a college student.

Wu Xiang took a sheet of paper from his pocket and handed it to the host. “I’m afraid the students can’t see this clearly—please read it for me, thank you.”

The host glanced at it—a donation receipt. “This is… a donation receipt. It says the ‘Great Flood’ crew donated eight million yuan to the disaster area!…” The host’s voice quavered at the end; eight million was a huge sum in those days.

“Whoa!” Thunderous applause erupted, with many students rising to their feet.

At that moment, the entire crew joined hands, as if the glory of this moment far surpassed the eight million!

The applause lasted for some time. Wu Xiang spoke again, reclaiming the receipt, and took out a newspaper—crew members with sharp eyes recognized it as the paper from the film’s final scene.

“Just now, I wanted to show that we keep our word. Now, I want to explain why I chose to make this film.” Wu Xiang unfolded the newspaper. “The soldiers in this picture used their bodies to block the flood. Please look. I remember, as a child, seeing a photo in a history book—a U.S. military propaganda image from the Korean War. It showed a waterfall-like flood and our soldiers, and at the top was written, ‘Can human bodies hold back surging floodwaters?’ in big Chinese characters, so we could read it. Their meaning was to discourage us from resisting their invasion.”

At this point, the hall was silent as death. One could hear a pin drop.

Wu Xiang looked around, then spoke loudly: “I believe we can proudly answer them now, ‘Yes! As long as the people need it!’”

A thunderous roar, like muffled thunder, swept through the theater—applause, cheers, cries of support. Wu Xiang’s words seemed to ignite the room; in an instant, the whole place boiled over.

Not only students, but many film industry veterans were in attendance—General Huang was there, his August First Studio’s “Triumphant Advance to the Three Rivers” won a special committee award, and so were Feng Xiaogang and Xu Fan.

General Huang applauded without reservation, and Feng Xiaogang and Xu Fan whispered to each other.

“This kid is pretty interesting.”

“Haha, that stubborn streak is a bit like you…”

Wu Xiang ended with, “Salute to the most lovable people!” bowing deeply, as did all members of the crew.