Chapter 130: I Speak for Myself
“I will love you for ten thousand years.” These were the words Su Tong spoke to Sister Yaya.
Yang Feifei, jealous in an instant, was furious and quickly shook off his piggish hands.
Yet, “I will love you for ten thousand years” truly had a certain charm. This guy was definitely a man of culture.
Sister Yaya’s heart wavered; she felt that behind those words must lie a tragic love story.
...
On the morning of the 8th, Su Tong sought out the counselor, met with Principal Song, worked on advertising planning at noon, and after Yang Feifei agreed to invite some students, he immediately sprang into action that afternoon, rushing to the school to request support.
Yang Feifei’s influence was considerable; with just one call, over twenty students from the Beijing Film Academy’s directing, cinematography, and acting departments showed up in a grand procession—essentially forming a small production team.
“Feifei.”
“Sister Fei.”
A large group gathered at Min University, all delighted to see Yang Feifei.
“Why did so many come? This afternoon is all voluntary labor and performances,” Yang Feifei smiled.
“Haha, everyone’s eager to volunteer for Feifei. If you paid us, we wouldn’t even come.”
“Sister Fei, you’re too kind. Thank you for giving us this opportunity to practice.”
“Sis, today we’re all working for free under your orders.”
“...”
Laughter broke out among the group.
“Thanks to everyone in advance. Later, I’ll treat you all to a big meal,” Yang Feifei said, adjusting her baseball cap and masking her face. Judging by her figure alone, she looked like a rising star—tall and striking.
Those trained in physical acting carry a different aura from ordinary people.
After the group arrived, Su Tong also hurried over from the campus. He had been negotiating with the school to borrow the auditorium’s makeup room and props.
“The reason I invited everyone today is to help Su Tong film a video. He’s preparing to participate in ‘The Great Qin Voice,’” Yang Feifei explained to the crowd, pointing at Su Tong.
“A future singing star?”
“Hello, hello.”
“You made it through the selection? To be able to attend the blind auditions on site is amazing.”
“...”
Students from the Beijing Film Academy already held Yang Feifei in high regard, and hearing that Su Tong was going to participate in The Great Qin Voice’s blind auditions, with a video shoot underway, they all understood the significance but kept their thoughts unspoken.
Most students at Min University now recognized Su Tong as a rising star. Even without Principal Song’s approval, he could leverage certain privileges.
Moreover, this filming would prominently feature Min University’s background, promoting the school. How could the school not support it?
When setting up the scene, the school even proactively sent members from the student union and youth league branches to assist with construction.
It’s a great advantage to have students help; hiring temporary workers outside would cost a hundred or eighty yuan per person for just one afternoon.
At first, however, the Beijing Film Academy students felt Su Tong was quite reckless—a non-professional giving orders to everyone.
If Yang Feifei hadn’t insisted on following Su Tong’s lead, they might have given up and left.
Yang Feifei said little; she wanted to see how Su Tong would handle setbacks.
“Although it’s a bit embarrassing, I hope you’ll look at me with more envy and admiration later,” Su Tong said from the podium in a classroom, addressing the Beijing Film Academy students gathered below.
After speaking, he turned to a few students from the cinematography and directing departments. “Gang, I think I’m pretty good at acting myself, but for lighting, filming, and other technical work, I’ll rely on you to oversee the performances.”
They were currently filming the scene for the first line of dialogue. A Beijing Film Academy girl played the female teacher, while the rest, including Su Tong, were students.
Su Tong had excelled in his first-year and second-semester final exams, receiving a scholarship and stepping onto the stage to accept it. His classmates cast envious and admiring glances his way.
However, the entire scene had no spoken lines, only expressions and body language.
“You only smell my perfume.”
It took multiple takes to successfully film the first line scene.
Su Tong’s performance was spot-on—his expressions and movements surprised many students from the acting department. Was this guy trained professionally? He seemed even better than them.
Those takes that were cut were mostly because some Beijing Film Academy students couldn’t quite get their expressions right.
“I’ll show you the full script so everyone can get a feel for it and understand what they need to perform,” Su Tong said, handing out the full lines.
Everyone was confused about the performance today. To portray it clearly and fully, they needed the script to know how to act.
“Alright, Su Tong, your lines pack a punch. Watching them got me a bit fired up.”
“Yeah, me too. Once it’s produced and set to background music, it’s going to be amazing.”
“Haha, Sister Feifei isn’t just having us volunteer; she wants us to bask in a little reflected glory.”
“For a dream, this is exactly what we should do. Our youth, our choice.”
“...”
Over twenty people listened with genuine interest, no longer feeling listless or indifferent.
“I’ve watched The Voice too; the contestants’ performances are all the same, nothing special. Haha, Su Tong, even if you don’t get a mentor’s backing, just getting this clip out there will make you famous,” said Wang Chao, a student from the acting department.
“Hehe, Director Su, start filming quickly. I can’t wait to see it,” called out a student named Cheng Kun.
The second scene couldn’t be filmed yet due to lack of set—it required a late-night study scene, but it was still broad daylight. They had to film the later scenes first.
“You have your rules; I have my choices.” Third and fourth lines.
This scene was also shot in a classroom.
...
“You deny my present; I decide my future.”
This line was filmed on the campus lawn. Su Tong held a guitar, singing, while passersby pointed and sneered mockingly.
...
With over twenty Beijing Film Academy students, plus about twenty members from Min University’s student union and youth league branches helping with set construction and filming, they worked continuously for four and a half hours, wrapping up at seven-thirty in the evening.
The props were all provided by the school. Su Tong only spent a few dozen yuan buying several cases of bottled water that afternoon.
“Senior Ning, there are so many students. Today I mainly hosted the Beijing Film Academy students, so I couldn’t take care of ours. Take these two thousand yuan and treat everyone to a meal on my behalf to thank them,” Su Tong said after finishing, pulling the student union vice president Ning Zetao aside and handing him the money.
Ning Zetao could hardly decline with so many students involved. Everyone had worked hard today, so he accepted the fee and took the students to a restaurant outside campus to reward them.
Su Tong and the Beijing Film Academy students sought other places to eat and drink.
Actually, the student union and youth league members helping Su Tong were technically doing student work. For example, during school sports meets, these students volunteer as recorders and other roles, and the school doesn’t provide meals—they just eat in the cafeteria on their own.
Still, Su Tong didn’t want to seem stingy; just providing water felt a bit shabby.
The Beijing Film Academy students didn’t do much heavy lifting but were skilled technicians. Being from an outside school, it was only natural for Su Tong to look out for them.
After half a day of observation, and with Yang Feifei’s confirmation, Su Tong identified several promising acting students—some sophomores, some juniors.
Even the directors and cinematographers were outstanding.
Was this not heaven-sent?
Haha, Su Tong felt this group was Yang Feifei preparing a future team for him. He had to work hard to win them over.
(To be continued...)