novelraw Chapter 83: The Invitation to "The Han-Chu Legend"
Chapter 83: The Invitation to "The Han-Chu Legend"
Wei Song.
the capital.
Those two keywords instantly split the fog in Jiang Ci's head.
He immediately chose to tune out the suffocating conversation in the living room and focused all his attention on the phone receiver.
He lowered his voice and spoke into the phone as steadily as he could, "Director Wei, hello, this is Jiang Ci."
The voice on the other end was direct, getting straight to the point.
"Where are you now? Still at school? I want to meet you in person as soon as possible to talk about my new script, The Han-Chu Legend."
The Han-Chu Legend!
Those four words were like celestial music pouring into Jiang Ci's ears.
The Han-Chu Legend!The name alone sounded full of power struggles, betrayal, lovers torn apart, and fallen heroes!
The Chu-Han contention! Farewell My Concubine!
Even playing a supporting key role — even if not the lead Xiang Yu, perhaps a strategist who gets betrayed to death, or a general who dies on the battlefield — would earn Heartbreak Value!
It might not reach the extreme tragic beauty of Chu Wuchen, something that rips your guts out at a glance.
But such sweeping historical tragedy, if acted well, would let female viewers project themselves onto the helpless relatives of those doomed characters, and still harvest a huge wave of heartbreak!
He forcibly suppressed the ecstatic joy that nearly burst from his chest, and tried to keep his voice calm.
"Director Wei, I'm very sorry. I'm not in the capital right now. I'm back in my hometown dealing with some personal matters."
"But I can leave as soon as possible and come to the capital to meet you."
On the other end, Wei Song seemed to appreciate his eagerness.
"There's no need to rush this moment."
There was a convincingly gentle tone in Wei Song's voice.
"Family matters are important. Take care of them first. Contact me again when you arrive in the capital."
"Okay, thank you, Director Wei. I'll come as soon as I'm done."
After hanging up, Jiang Ci felt like the whole world had brightened.
The awkward matchmaking atmosphere in the living room and his mother's eager expectations suddenly seemed like the background of another time and place.
He opened the door and stepped out.
In the living room, his mother, Chu Hong, was holding a cup of tea and offering it to the girl opposite her, her smile warm and conventional.
"Qingyi, drink some more, don't be shy."
Chen Qingyi took it with both hands, keeping her head lowered as she sipped in small, dainty nips.
The atmosphere remained awkward enough to scoop out a three-bedroom apartment.
Seeing Jiang Ci come out, Ms. Chu immediately shot him a look that clearly said, "What are you doing? Go and show them a good side of yourself."
Jiang Ci received the signal but chose to ignore it.
He decided to cut the Gordian knot.
He walked to the center of the living room and stood there under the puzzled gazes of his mother and Chen Qingyi.
He glanced at his mother first, then shifted his eyes to the shy-looking girl.
Finally, he calmly dropped a bombshell.
"Mom."
"Director Wei Song just called me. He wants me to go to the capital to talk to him about the script."
"I might not be staying long this time."
Those few short sentences left both Chu Hong and Chen Qingyi completely unsteady.
"Wei Song?!"
Chu Hong's exclamation burst out.
She was stunned.
Wei Song!
Although she didn't understand all the twists and turns of the film industry, lately she had been clinging to her phone every day to catch up on entertainment knowledge so she could better understand her son's Weibo and his world.
She knew enough about the name "Wei Song" to recognize its weight in the director world.
He was a top director who had made several films that won international awards!
On the other side, Chen Qingyi was even more shocked and covered her mouth with her hand.
She knew better than Ms. Chu what Wei Song's work meant.
It was a guarantee of both artistry and box office, the kind of big ship dozens of actors fought tooth and nail to get on board!
She looked at Jiang Ci; the curious, shy appraisal she had held moments ago instantly shifted into admiration.
To her, the Jiang Ci who had just been a somewhat handsome, up-and-coming "celebrity" dating prospect on TV, had now, after receiving Director Wei's call, stepped completely out of the "blind date" category and become someone she had to look up to, someone out of reach.
Seeing the two of them so stunned, Jiang Ci decided to play it straight and finish this farce today.
He gave Chen Qingyi a slight bow, polite but coolly distant.
"Teacher Qingyi, I'm very sorry to have you come for nothing."
"At this stage in my life, I really don't have the intention to date. I want to focus on my career."
He spoke plainly and directly.
Chen Qingyi froze for a moment, then the flush on her face slowly faded, replaced by a smile of relief.
She understood.
She had finally found her place in this awkward, elder-arranged meeting.
She shook her head with a laugh.
"It's nothing, really."
"Let's just say I met a big star today — I'm the lucky one."
She stood up, took her small bag, graceful and composed.
"Then I won't keep you, Aunt Chu, Jiang Ci, I'm going now."
Before she left, she changed her shoes at the door and turned to look at Jiang Ci, her eyes shining with sincerity.
"Jiang Ci, I'll be your number-one fan from now on. I'll definitely go to the cinema to support your films!"
She left, and the door clicked shut.
Only the mother and son remained in the living room.
A faint trace of awkwardness lingered in the air.
Chu Hong looked at her son's face — tired yet carrying a resolute light — and sighed deeply.
She seemed to realize she had been a little overbearing.
Her son was no longer the child she needed to worry over at every turn.
He had his own path and his own pursuits.
That path led to a distant place she didn't understand, but she could sense its weight.
"Alright then."
Ms. Chu waved a hand, "Do as you like from now on."
She walked over and quietly began clearing the cups from the coffee table, no longer bringing up matchmaking or finding someone to date.
Chu Hong had finally conceded.
A huge weight lifted from Jiang Ci's chest. Seeing that, he changed the subject immediately.
He went to his mother's side and looked around the familiar little home.
"Mom."
"When Old Jiang was alive, the unit gave us this apartment. It's too old."
"The wall plaster is falling off, and the bathroom is small."
"I've made a bit of money now. Later... I'll buy you a new place around here — something bigger, with an elevator."
This was something Jiang Ci had already planned on his way back.
Ms. Chu paused in her cup-cleaning without turning back.
"No."
Her refusal was curt and decisive.
"The house is too big; I'd be lonely living alone and cleaning it would be a hassle."
"Besides..."
She hesitated and her voice softened.
"This old house still holds traces of your father. I'm used to living here."
After she said that, both she and Jiang Ci's gazes, without planning to, fell upon the slightly yellowed black-and-white photo hanging on the living room wall.
In the photo, a young Jiang Yanjun wore a crisp police uniform, smiling brightly, radiating heroic vigor.
Silence filled the living room.
After a long while, Jiang Ci broke the quiet.
"Mom, I want to go see Dad alone tomorrow."