Ning Xi was walking on a narrow dirt road, looking at the simple house at the end of the road. If it weren't for the flagpole erected on the open space in front of the house with a red flag fluttering in the wind, she would not have believed that this was a school.
She flew to Fengyin City yesterday, then took a bus, traveled all night, and finally took a motorcycle at the risk of being abducted. Not to mention the hardships she went through, it took her quite a while to get here.
The dark sky hangs low
Bright stars follow
The insects are flying, the insects are flying
Who are you missing...
The children's singing accompanied by the accompaniment of accordion floated out from the simple school building and echoed among the mountains.
Ning Xi looked through the shabby lattice window and saw seven or eight children singing with their heads shaking. The serious expressions on their faces were particularly vivid. Su Ran was wearing a light yellow floral dress with long hair hanging down to her waist. Her fingers jumped lightly on the black and white keys, with a peaceful smile on her lips.
Somehow, Ning Xi suddenly felt that this scene was beautiful, peaceful and serene, yet full of life and vigor.
When the song ended, Su Ran looked up and saw Ning Xi outside the window. A smile spread across her lips, but she still insisted on finishing the last five minutes and only came out after class was over.
"You're here!" Su Ran looked at Ning Xi, who looked exhausted, with a smile.
Ning Xi rolled her eyes at her: "What? Don't you want to see me?"
"how could be?"
"I see you're having a great time here." Ning Xi snorted.
At first, Su Ran just said she came here to relax, but she ended up not leaving and stayed here for three years. No one knew where this once popular star had gone. In the first six months, her phone was bombarded with calls, with everyone asking about Su Ran, so she had to hide abroad for a while.
"I think it's nice here, it's quiet."
"But you can't stay here forever, you love acting the most, right?" Ning Xi looked at Su Ran's calm eyes and felt a little panicked, don't you stay here stupidly! You've seen through the world.
Su Ran raised her eyebrows, and her beautiful eyes suddenly became lively again, three parts proud and seven parts confident. Of course, she couldn't stay here forever, and she wouldn't give up her favorite career. She was just waiting for an opportunity, an opportunity to make a comeback. She didn't know if Ning Xi brought her the opportunity she wanted.
Su Ran pulled her into the dormitory.
"You...you live here?" Ning Xi widened her eyes as she entered the room, a look of disbelief on her face.
There were four earthen walls covered with old newspapers, a wooden bed, a broken table, and a broken cabinet. My God... Was this a place where people lived
"What else?" Su Ran poured Ning Xi a glass of water.
"I really admire you. If it were me, I wouldn't be able to stay here for a day." Ning Xi held the water cup and looked at the harsh environment, and couldn't help but shrink her neck.
"I'm sorry, you can't leave today. If you don't want to stay here, I'll recommend a good place for you."
"Come on, what good place can there be in this deserted place? Don't tell me that the so-called good place is to have close contact with nature." Ning Xi curled her lips. She would not fall for it.
Su Ran smiled and asked, "Where's the script?"
Ning Xi put down the water cup, took out the script from her backpack and gave it to Su Ran: "It's about drug trafficking. Director Chen called me and wants you to play the leading female role. You are the most suitable candidate for the leading female role in his mind. I have read the script. It is very difficult and hard. You are required to go to the army for a month of military training before filming begins."
Su Ran opened the script and read the outline.
"Actually, Director Chen wanted the film because of a limited budget, and he wants actors with good acting skills who can also be talked about. It's not easy to find actors who can drive the box office. Your acting skills are unquestionable. You are well-known for your good acting skills and hard work. With you joining us, the quality of the film is absolutely guaranteed. Moreover, as this film is your comeback, it will definitely be a hot topic." Ning Xi said.
"Don't say that. It's very kind of Director Chen to think of me and invite me. It's easy to add icing on the cake, but difficult to provide timely assistance." Su Ran smiled bitterly at herself.
Ning Xi nodded: "That's true."
After the incident broke out, not only did no one dare to invite Su Ran to film, but the actors in the dramas that were already half-filmed were replaced at the last minute. All the resources in her hands evaporated overnight. As long as she went online, she was flooded with abuses and shouted for Su Ran to get out of the entertainment industry. Those so-called righteous people hiding behind the computer screens, keyboard warriors, were led by others to seek justice without knowing the truth, and forced people to death.
She has seen many shameless people in the entertainment industry, but she has never seen anyone more despicable than Zhou Mingkai and the mastermind behind the scenes. Sooner or later, she will settle the account with them.
"Director Chen is taking a certain risk by inviting me to film. What if the audience boycotts it? Right?" Su Ran said.
"That's not the case. This film is supported by the government. I believe some people don't have the energy to launch a boycott." Ning Xi disagreed.
“Have the other roles been decided?”
"The leading male role is Shen Yifeng, and Director Chen's son Chen Tao will also play a role in the film. You may not be familiar with the other actors, as they are all newcomers who have only emerged in recent years. Oh! By the way, you have to be mentally prepared. Ye Dansha plays the second female role."
Su Ran paused as she flipped through the contract, then asked, "How much is the pay?"
When asked about the pay, Ning Xi was embarrassed and said weakly: "It's a little low, only 4 million. Things are different now. But if this film is successful, resources will flow in.
It keeps coming back to us, so let’s take a longer-term view.”
Su Ran closed the script, her eyes clear: "Sign the contract, as for the salary... I don't want it."
"No?" Ning Xi screamed.
She felt that four million was already a huge loss. Back then, Su Ran's pay was considered high among first-line actresses, but Su Ran still had to do voluntary labor.
Su Ran nodded seriously: "No, it's still four million, all donated to the families of those soldiers who died on the anti-drug front."
Ning Xi was stunned for a moment, then laughed: "Su Ran, I have to say, you are more courageous than me. Okay, it is a blessing to suffer a loss, and this loss is worth it."
Su Ran knew that Ning Xi was thinking in the wrong direction. She did not make this decision for fame, but because she really wanted to do something for those unsung heroes.
"Ning Xi, the school building you see now is actually just a temporary school building. The original school building was destroyed in a mudslide last summer and is still being rebuilt. At that time..." Su Ran turned her gaze to the window, looking at the mountains in the distance, her thoughts drifting back to that rainy night.
"At that time, I was also buried there. Several soldiers braved the heavy rain and the danger of being submerged by mudslides to dig me and my children out. I didn't even want to say a word.
They didn’t even have a chance to thank you, they left after the rescue was completed…”
She only remembered a pair of dark and deep eyes, a pair of strong arms, and a military uniform covered with mud.
Ning Xi was stunned and said, "Why haven't I heard you mention it before?"
Su Ran smiled: "I'm still alive, so you don't have to worry."
Are you kidding me? If Ning Xi knew about this, would she still be allowed to stay here? He would just tie her up and take her back.
"Okay, I believe that those who survive a great disaster will be blessed in the future. Since you agreed to take this role, we have to leave tomorrow and report to the army the day after tomorrow." Ning Xi picked up the SLR camera that Su Ran had placed on the table with a smile, turned it on and took a picture of Su Ran.
A Zi has published a new book, please collect it and recommend it~
A Zi has another request. If you think this book is not your cup of tea, we will meet again in the next book if we are lucky. If you think there is something wrong with A Zi's writing, I hope you can point it out so that I can improve. I only ask that you can be lenient when giving ratings and not give bad reviews maliciously. A bad review from you may ruin a book. It is not easy to write, so I hope you can be tolerant and understanding. A Zi thanks everyone in advance.