Breaking up, No Joke

195. Extra Chapter 5 The Newbie

Translator: Lena

Bo Yu hastily thrusts Little Candy into Yan’s arms. He rushes out as the housekeeper holds the boy tightly.

The kid widens his eyes dumbfoundedly. He pretended to sob until Bo Yu is out of his sight. Little Candy bursts into a rage of tears. However, the man doesn’t stay.

He slams the door of his car violently.

Sitting on the backseat, Bo Yu takes over a cup of coffee provided by his assistant. He asks after taking a sip, “When will we start shooting?”

The assistant replies, “You’ll do the makeup and get dressed after we arrive at the filming site. Then a cameraman will take photos of you. If everything’s okay, the first scene will be shot in the afternoon.”

This short TV play, named Lover, has big budget. It is invested and produced by Bo Yu’s old firm, so Bo Yu thinks the play won’t be adulterated. Besides, a high subscription won’t lead to additional episodes grinded out by scriptwriters. Bo Yu’s old firm, Tingfeng Company, is facing a temporary shortage of entertainers. Even performers who are greatly promoted aren’t successful. Although TV shows produced by the company were highly subscribed, ratings were low.

Tingfeng Company now needs new stimulus and an outstanding play. In recent years, the company’s reputation derogates because of its terrible works. Therefore, it should win audience over by releasing a masterpiece.

Valuing that, Bo Yu selected Lover’s script, otherwise he would have chosen another play on the basis of his qualifications and popularity. He doesn’t have to randomly take on jobs because the he is partly “banished” in the entertainment industry.

Bo Yu has lost opportunities to show himself and various interesting scripts because of his love life in these two years. However, he’s not reduced to star a play with sensitive topic and small budget.

Lover is a TV show narrating a gay couple’s life in our society. In the script, two heroes just graduated from colleges. They live together. People consider they are friends and roommates in the daytime when they go out. However, they are lovers who have been together for years when they return home at night.

The play has three climaxes. The first peak comes in the early stage. Their parents frequently require them to have blind dates. Friends don’t understand why they don’t have girlfriends. In addition, the two heroes lack money. This phase shows the toughness a gay couple suffer before they come out in front of their parents and friends.

The second culmination is reached in the interim. The two respectively have blind dates set by their parents in secret, but acquaintances happen to see that. The friends tease at a party that how were their blind dates. The two men finally realize that both of them have deceived each other. This culmination highlights the couple’s confusion about their future. In addition, their love towards each other starts to stagger.

The final climax happens in the later part of the play. One of the main characters engages in drunken coitus with a woman. What occurs later indicates the human nature and the bitterness of reality.

In fact, Bo Yu doesn’t think the play will attract a large number of audience. At least, it won’t be as popular as those soap operas or history plays starred by him before. However, people will start to contemplate after watching the show because it reflects homosexuals’ real life and their secret love in the dark. In addition, the play requires sophisticated acting skills.

Bo Yu hasn’t taken part in such a challenging play since he finished shooting Dead End, a TV drama brought him the Actor of that Year. He looks forward to playing the role in Lover. Besides, the man expects to again expand his limits in the show.

After all, he hasn’t been on trending for a long time.

A grip leads Bo Yu to the backstage when the actor arrives at the filming site. Bo Yu meets Zeng Xun, the director who commands cameramen when they take photos of a newbie. He asks, “Why haven’t you started?”

Zeng Xun has cooperated with Bo Yu in Dead End.

The director glances at Bo Yu, “You’re finally here. I’ve been waiting for you. Let’s go. I’ll take you to meet your new partner. Honestly, I didn’t expect that you would take this job. When your old firm found me, I told them to ask you. Amazingly, you’re really here.”

Bo Yu is dashing and tall. Standing under the spotlight, he is an enchanting international model. When the actor stands next to the middle-aged director, others can see a jarring contrast.

Bo Yu speaks idly, “Few outstanding scripts find me. Of course I will join you for your excellent script and crew.”

Zeng Xun hears that Bo Yu has done well for himself, so he considers Bo Yu is joking. The director nudges Bo Yu’s shoulder, “Don’t fool me. How come you can’t get a job? Tsk, does Mr. Song lead an idle life? Are you kidding?”

Bo Yu feels helpless. Song Shilin indeed considered to build a crew and writ a special script for Bo Yu when he saw Bo Yu was in such a miserable situation. However, Bo Yu seriously rejected him.

Bo Yu’s self-esteem allowed no help from Song Shilin. He didn’t think he would be stuck in the dilemma after undergoing various challenges in the industry. ‘I have made some achievements and reaped an international award, so I’m not in a hurry.’ The man stayed at home while waiting for an opportunity.

After a long time, Bo Yu immediately took actions when he noticed the prominent crew, script and producer.

Bo Yu replies, “Even if he wants to help me, he has nothing to do.”

Zeng Xun thinks Bo Yu is fooling around, “Has Little Watermelon gone to primary school? I haven’t seen him for a long time.”

“He’s in the second grade.” Bo Yu fumbles for a pack of gum from his pocket. Chewing a stick of it, he asks, “Do you want some?”

Zeng Xun throws a stick of gum into his mouth, “Bring him when we hang out next time. I haven’t seen him for a long time. I remember that the little fellow visited you every day when you were shooting Dead End. He sat on a chair in silence. What a good boy! My stupid son is mischievous.”

Bo Yu is complacent, ‘Not every kid can behave themselves like Little Watermelon.’

The director leads Bo Yu into a green room in the backstage. After they open the door, a young man wearing makeup turns around. As he saw Bo Yu and Zeng Xun who stands before the door, he is astonished. After a while, the man finally gathers his wits together and strides over, “Nice to meet you, Director Zeng and Mr. Bo.”

Bo Yu is about twenty-seven. Although he is not a senior actor in the industry, he is elder than the man who hasn’t graduated from college. Glancing at the young man, Bo Yu nods.

Bo Yu speculates inwardly, “He must be one of the male leads who will act with me.’

‘After all, the green room doesn’t open for everyone. He can stay here and doesn’t dress like an assistant, so he must be one of the main characters.’

Not surprisingly, Zeng Xun introduces the young man to Bo Yu, “He’s Shan Yangxun, your partner.” The director is busy. As he finishes his words, the door is pushed open by an assistant director. “Mr. Zeng, it’s time for shooting the setting. Come and check it.” Whispers the assistant director.

Zeng Xun pats Bo Yu’s shoulder, “A grip will later inform you to do makeup. After that, our cameramen will take photos of you and Shan Yangxun. Later, you can have a break. We’ll start shooting your first scene in the afternoon. You have a short time to get to know each other now.”

After finishing his words, Zeng Xun glimpses at Shan Yangxun and leaves.

There’s no one in the green room except for Bo Yu and Shan Yangxun.

The latter is prim. He scratches his hair sheepishly like a boy, “I really like your plays, Mr. Bo. It’s my pleasure to work with you.”

Bo Yu considers Shan Yangxun is fawning him, so he doesn’t take the man’s words to heart. “Are you a junior or senior in college?”

Shan Yangxun feels relieved inwardly, “I, I’m a junior. I’ll be a senior in the next semester.”

‘Well…’

An awkward silence falls in the room.

Shan Yangxun suddenly realizes that he put his foot in his mouth. He hastily adds, “I mean I’m already a junior and can go out to be an intern. The school stuff won’t delay the shooting. I’ll be a senior in the next semester. At that time, our school will ask us to do an internship. I just prepare in advance…” He hardly utters a word.

Bo Yu doesn’t hold back his laughter, so he chuckles.

Noticing that, Shan Yangxun flames.

Bo Yu figures out that his new partner is a little dumb man with great personality in their first meeting.