The Best Director

Chapter 223: The World is So Big

The Champs-Élysées is considered by the French to be the most beautiful street in Paris, with the Place de l’Étoile marking its boundary. The eastern section is a tree-shaded boulevard, quiet and refined; the western section, a bustling commercial district, with stone-paved roads flanked by classic old buildings, a myriad of shops, and a constant stream of tourists, either shopping, entertaining themselves, or admiring the beauty of the plane trees. And at this moment, a film crew is busy shooting on the eastern section.

After the shooting started and 1 and a half months had passed, all the scenes of “The Devil Wears Prada” in New York had been completed. Meryl Streep was very satisfied with her performance, laughingly saying, “This is a breakthrough for me on the screen,” because she had discovered that scolding someone meanly could feel so good. Emily Blunt, whom she praised as “the best young actress I’ve ever worked with,” was very reluctant to end her first film performance.

Streep’s eldest daughter, Mamie Gummer, had also gotten the small role she had wished for, and Wang Yang had discovered that acting really varies from person to person. Although Mamie Gummer studied theater at Northwestern University and had a mother with 13 Oscar nominations, she didn’t show any startling talent. Mamie told Wang Yang that at home, Meryl rarely talked about movies and acting. She planned to first pursue a career in theater.

Indoor scenes for the Fashion Week press conference, red carpet events, cameo appearances by fashion big names like Valentino… After completing the New York segment of the shoot, the crew quickly hopped on a plane to Paris for location shooting. After two hectic days of filming, only a few scenes were left on the schedule, and after they were done, the movie would be officially wrapped.

The secluded pathway was dotted with leisurely strollers as the film camera pointed down the path. Valery Fister slowly adjusted the focus while Wang Yang kept an eye on the monitor, where Jessica, dressed in a fashionable spring and summer dress with a Prada handbag in tow, was slowly approaching. Her expression was calm as she looked at the surrounding scenery, yet she seemed a bit lost and irritable.

In the wide shot, she suddenly covered her face and looked down, without warning, flung her handbag down hard on the ground and then stepped forward to kick it, sending the bag flying afar. Several passersby in the distance looked toward her. Jessica tidied up the hair hanging at her forehead, bent down to pick up the handbag, and walked quickly ahead, her face tense.

“CUT!” Wang Yang shouted with satisfaction, lifting the white megaphone in his hand and looking around at everyone, laughing and saying, “It’s over! It’s all over! We’ve done it!”

As he announced completion, everyone on the film crew broke into smiles. Valery Fister turned off his camera and, leading the applause, laughed; a short distance away, next to the crew’s van, the costume designer Patricia Field, set designer Lydia Marcos, and others also high-fived in celebration; in the distance, Jessica, now without a trace of Andrea’s sullenness, ran towards them with a beaming smile, swinging her handbag.

“Watch your step, beautiful lady up ahead, don’t fall!” Wang Yang called out through the megaphone with a laugh. Jessica, apparently wanting to add some comedic effect from some ten meters away, pretended to stumble forward a few steps, but then steadied herself in sandals that weren’t too high-heeled and triumphantly raised her grey handbag. Wang Yang laughed again, “Haha! It’s fine to fall, it’s just a fashion faux pas!” Valery and the others all smiled in amusement.

Jessica continued running with a smile. Suddenly, she lost her footing, and with a startled “Ah!” she seemed about to fall!

“Oh NO!” Wang Yang couldn’t help shouting spontaneously, reflexively dashing towards her, even though there were many meters between them. The crew members also opened their mouths in surprise, wondering if she was really going to fall flat on the street. But such a face-down fall would be painful and likely result in injury…

“Hey!” Just as everyone tensed up, Jessica steadied herself again. She spread her arms with a smile, spun around gracefully as if to say “Just kidding,” and stuck out her tongue. Everyone sighed with relief, a few women like Lydia Marcos laughing loudly; Wang Yang, still laughing, dashed to her side and grabbed her arm without slowing down.

“Thank you all for your hard work these days! Thank you, and see you at Christmas this year! Enjoy your trip to Paris!” After calling out a few words into the microphone with a smile, Wang Yang pulled Jessica along and they rushed ahead on the shady path, her light laughter trailing far behind.

During their two days in Paris, the crew was shooting, day and night, so they hadn’t had a chance to leisurely experience the romantic ambiance of Paris. They were originally supposed to take the return flight right after wrapping, but as a reward or maybe because they were ahead of schedule, in addition to their original return tickets, the crew covered an extra day’s food and accommodations, allowing them a one-day tour of Paris.

Wang Yang and Jessica were inseparable, and with just one day’s time too short, the two strolled and played around the area where they were staying on the Champs-Élysées.

If it weren’t for the abundance of work awaiting back in America, such as finalizing the review copy of “MIT-21-TEAM,” participating in pre-release promotions, and looking at the floating white clouds in the azure sky, the rippling waters of the Seine River, and Jessica beside him with her hair being gently blown by the breeze, listening to her laugh about something, Wang Yang really wanted to stay a few more days, for a long while.

“Yes, it’s beautiful…” Wang Yang responded to her words, looking at the sightseeing ferry slowly cruising down the River Seine and suddenly understanding. It wasn’t so much that he was enamored with the scenic beauty here; Los Angeles had beautiful and leisurely spots too. But here, far from the hustle and bustle, was a distance from all that noisy clamor that sometimes made it hard to breathe. This probably struck a chord with his yearning for a utopia.

Then Wang Yang suddenly felt very tired, especially thinking about the relentless schedule in the second half of the year; he felt a desire to jump into the Seine River, as though the last straw that broke the camel’s back had just been added, or perhaps an answer to his long-pondered question had emerged. The world was so vast; life shouldn’t be confined to Los Angeles alone, that wasn’t his choice; and as Meryl Streep correctly said, “My family needs me.”

Apart from his family, he needed himself. Next year he wouldn’t take on so much work anymore, he would dedicate all his energy and thoughts to “Firefly,” and also…

Perhaps influenced by the romantic air of Paris, the thought that had existed in his heart since the beginning of the year and had solidified after the fake breakup incident suddenly erupted uncontrollably, he wanted to get married! He wanted to move from having a girlfriend to having a wife, and to make her happy… He just wanted to get married!

“Jessica!” Wang Yang couldn’t help but shout, and Jessica, who was taking a hair tie out of her purse to put up her ponytail, didn’t smell the proposal coming, replied, “Hmm, what?” Wang Yang’s eyes were filled with excitement and nerves, and although he knew she would definitely say yes, his heart still beat faster, watching her turn her face toward him, he smiled and said, “I think you…”

There was no ring, he didn’t have a ring!! Realizing this, Wang Yang abruptly hit the brakes, stopping himself. It shouldn’t be like this, this wasn’t a proposal! He laughed and said, “This place is really beautiful!” Even though she would still happily agree, could it really be this simple? Everyone, especially girls, considers a proposal one of the most important and memorable moments of their lives, which she had long dreamed of.

He couldn’t just indulge his own impulses and use up this moment, he had to give her a proposal filled with surprises, romance, and memorable uniqueness…

“Yeah!” Jessica smiled and nodded, then remembered he seemed to say something at the beginning, she asked curiously, “What were you saying just now?” Wang Yang quickly thought, he couldn’t let her feel that something was off, and just then, an answer came to him, he smiled and said, “Jessie, actually it’s about you knowing I’m filming ‘Firefly’, I want you to play a role called River, considered a female lead, no audition needed, you’re absolutely suitable and can handle it.”

That day in the coffee shop, when he first saw the script, Wang Yang had already made up his mind, River was simply tailored for her, be it the actor’s performance or the filming of scenes, all playing to her strengths and avoiding weaknesses. The majority of the dramatic scenes are dark and expressionless, with outbreaks of insanity; the main action scenes involve Kung Fu fighting…

“Wow! Wow… really suited for me?” Jessica first jumped up in surprise, then calmed herself down, trying to contain her excitement. She only knew “Firefly” was a sci-fi movie, not very clear about the content and roles, but… looking into his eyes, Jessica said earnestly, “Yang, if it’s about love, I don’t want to act.” Her smile was tender and firm, “I already have a perfect love, I don’t want to play anyone else, I don’t want to feel those sad emotions.”

She leaned on his arm, cheerfully self-deprecating, “And I wouldn’t be good at it; even if you are the director, I couldn’t convince myself.” Wang Yang smiled as he stroked her hair, and Jessica continued with enthusiasm, “I think I’m suited for those wacky comedies; horror films, or action movies…”

“Trust me, you can’t act in a horror film,” Wang Yang helplessly raised an eyebrow, wacky comedies were too far from the script, and B-grade action films were the only ones with a little room for her to shine, but with her difficulty in immersing into the role, non-realistic themes were actually easier for her to connect with. He thought and smiled, “Sci-fi and ‘Firefly’ suit you, in it you’re a child, no love but there is sadness.”

“A child?” Jessica laughed out loud, thinking he was joking, looking at him with rolling eyes, “I’m 22 years old, I am a child, but I don’t look like one.” Wang Yang pulled his arm away to hug her, walking forward along the Seine River bank, he said, “A big child, with very strong Kung Fu skills! Ah Chai, understand? It’s time for us, master and apprentice, to make a comeback!”

Kung Fu! Jessica felt thrilled, walking and asking, “Really? Master, does that mean I can hit people?”

“Yes, you can hit! We’re going to show those people what sci-fi Kung Fu is!” Wang Yang looked up at the clouds in the sky, which seemed to morph into the shapes of playing cards, he smiled and said, “But first… let’s tell them what ‘counting cards’ is.”

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PS: Wishing everyone a Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!