Lu Changchun and Lin Qingying's words reminded Tang Xiaoyu of a saying:
Not only is he ugly, but also poor. What a sad story.
Thinking of this sad story, Tang Xiaoyu lowered his head even more as he looked around.
[Although I've always told myself that I'm just an ant who can bring them happiness, an ant that can be stomped to death for profit at any time.]
[But I forgot to tell myself, we're not in the same circle, so there's no need to force myself to integrate.]
Seeing Tang Xiaoyu like this, others thought he was just being silly again. Only Lin Qingying came up and smiled, "Xiaoyu, are you disappointed?"
Tang Xiaoyu looked at her, and happened to glance at Chu Yanran. He understood in his heart.
"Alas! The world is in decline, people's hearts are not what they used to be! How can you bear to damage my fragile heart like this?" As he spoke, he clutched his chest.
"Tsk! What fragile heart?"
The group continued on their way, chatting and laughing.
Was Tang Xiaoyu ugly? No, he was quite handsome. It's just that compared to these young masters of the sects, he still fell a little short.
After all, they had gone through spiritual cleansing, so their skin and temperament were beyond what ordinary people could compare to.
Through what just happened, Tang Xiaoyu sobered up a lot. When he saw Chu Yanran, he knew it was impossible between him and Lin Qingying anymore.
Although Tang Xiaoyu was still the same as before during the journey, he was very careful when speaking to Lin Qingying now.
The emotionally ignorant Lin Qingying didn't notice anything wrong.
When they arrived at the riverbank, Tang Xiaoyu looked at the environment and felt it was suitable for shooting a scene here.
"Duan Fei, Liu Yu, you two shoot first. Liu Yu, run barefoot along the riverbank, with Duan Fei chasing behind you."
The two then started acting as Tang Xiaoyu instructed.
"No, don't be expressionless. Your face should show a sweet smile."
"Duan Fei, are you chasing the woman you love or your enemy?"
After a while: "Stop, watch me demonstrate. I'll demonstrate Liu Yu's part first."
Then they saw Tang Xiaoyu with a smile on his face, shouting "Come chase me!" from time to time, while twirling around, vividly demonstrating a woman's reactions when being chased by her lover.
Then he demonstrated Duan Fei's part.
"Is this too difficult for you guys? Just act naturally!"
Wang Ziyan admired, "Brother Tang, you acted so well."
"It's nothing."
"Alright, again. Let go a bit more. Liu Yu, is the one chasing behind not your most beloved? Duan Fei, is the one in front not your most beloved?"
The two looked at each other, embarrassed, and nodded.
This time, the two performed very well.
"Good, that's enough. You two go sit on that rock over there, dip your feet in the water and sway them back and forth. When I tell you to hug each other, then hug."
"Uncle, when they hug, you should film their reflection in the river."
"Got it."
Duan Fei and Liu Yu asked embarrassedly, "Xiaoyu, do we really have to hug? Can't we not?"
"You can kiss too, I don't mind."
"Let's just hug then!"
After finishing shooting these two, he had Xiao Chenfeng and a few others shoot a scene as well.
"I'm done shooting pairs, now to shoot individuals."
"Duan Fei, slowly walk alone by the riverside, sit on the rock from earlier, your expression and gaze must show sadness and recollection."
"Liu Yu, be more natural when holding the umbrella."
"Ziyan, pour more water onto the umbrella, let's hurry and finish shooting before the sun gets covered by clouds."
After over two hours of hassle, they finally completed the riverside shoot.
"Alright, let's stop here today! I'll treat everyone to a big meal when we get back."
"Okay."
On the way back, Tang Xiaoyu told everyone the plans for tomorrow.
"Tomorrow will mainly involve Uncle and Old Zhou. We need to go into the mountains to find scenery, and also shoot some more of Chenfeng and the others."
Old Zhou said, "I don't need to do it right?"
"Think about the song you sang. If not you, I don't mind someone else substituting."
When Tang Xiaoyu heard Zhou sing this song for the first time, he could tell Zhou also had stories to tell.
Sure enough, when Old Zhou heard Tang Xiaoyu's words, he immediately said, "I can do it, no need to replace me."
"Then it's settled."
"No need to say more about my uncle, he has no problems."
Tang Xiaoyu suddenly thought of something and jokingly said, "Uncle, do you need me to invite Sister Lan over?"
Lu Changchun panicked, "No need, no need, I can do it alone."
[He's having an affair, I knew Sister Lan was looking at you strangely. My senses were right.]
"Alright then!"
With banter and laughter, the group arrived at a restaurant and booked a private room. They ordered food, and Tang Xiaoyu looked to Wang Ziyan.
"Ziyan, after we eat, we'll shoot your scene here."
Upon hearing this, Wang Ziyan was unhappy, "Why do I have to shoot here? They all shot in scenic places."
Tang Xiaoyu smiled sinisterly, "Because the song you sang is suitable to shoot here."
During the meal, Tang Xiaoyu kept pouring wine for Wang Ziyan, "Ziyan, drink more."
"What are you doing! Do we have to drink alcohol just to eat a meal?!"
"This is to prepare for the shoot later! Just make this sacrifice."
"Humph!"
When Wang Ziyan's face became flushed, Tang Xiaoyu felt it was about right.
He placed a bottle of wine in her hand, "Hold this wine bottle, and make an expression of unsatisfied desires."
"Just sit there, don't be so stiff. You can take a sip of the wine."
After a while, Tang Xiaoyu had to personally demonstrate.
His gaze, movements, bearing, vividly demonstrated the image of a resentful woman.
As he acted he also sang, amusing everyone to laughter.
"Act like this, understand?"
After much coaching, they finally got Wang Ziyan's scene done.
"Alright, we'll talk about the rest tomorrow. Let's stop here for today!"
On the way home at night, Tang Xiaoyu walked home with Qingying as usual.
Only, Tang Xiaoyu's pace was much faster than usual.
Saying the usual words, chatting about the same things, just lacking that intimacy.
The dream shattered before it even began. It was also a huge blow to Tang Xiaoyu.
What he had to do now was slowly bring their relationship back to normal.
Tang Xiaoyu had also fantasized about being the overpowered protagonist, then waking up to find himself unable to bear the responsibilities that identity carried.
He returned to his room crestfallen, lying in bed reflecting on his actions during this time.
"Tang Xiaoyu, you're just an ordinary person. You must recognize your own position, and be careful when you speak. Some things are not for you to wish for."
"New day, new beginning. You must work hard tomorrow, you can do it."
After self-reminding and self-encouragement, Tang Xiaoyu gradually fell asleep.
It took 3 days to prepare the materials. Then Tang Xiaoyu started guiding Lu Changchun on producing the scenes, subtitles, and music for each song.
It took a whole day before reaching Tang Xiaoyu's satisfactory level, and they had to invite many musicians to cooperate during the process.
With 3 days left until the convention, Tang Xiaoyu started preparing the script, costumes, and banners.
At this time, he told Old Zhou and the others to go back and prepare over there, especially rehearsing with the disciples.
Only Wang Ziyan stayed behind to practice the script with him.
The day before the convention, Tang Xiaoyu and the others arrived at Qingyun Sword Sect's gate under Old Zhou's lead.
Lin Qingying said she had business to attend to and left. Chu Yanran stayed behind with Tang Xiaoyu's group.