novellhall Chapter 289 I have to do it for him!
Chapter 289 I have to do it for him!
Chapter 288 I have to do it for him! (Happy New Year, please vote!)
The Los Angeles sun was still scorching.
The sunlight streamed through the window of the private jet onto Chen Xun.
He had the final shooting schedule for "Crosscurrent" in his bag.
I spent three days in the capital, the contract was signed, and the funds were in place.
Yang Chao has already started arranging for the crew to go to Wusongkou in Shanghai. Xin Zhilei has also sent word that she is urgently familiarizing herself with the poetry collection, waiting to join them when filming begins.
The car drove into the set of "La La Land".
The sound of a piano drifted from afar; it was the melody of "City of Stars," soothing yet tinged with melancholy, floating in the afternoon breeze.
Chen Xun pushed open the car door.
Emma Stone, dressed in a costume, smiled and waved at him.
Mia's light blue dress accentuated her bright eyes and delicate features. She still had some light makeup on her face, and the sunlight fell on the ends of her hair, giving it a gentle golden edge.
"Welcome back, Chen!"
Emma walked over quickly and casually handed him an ice-cold Coke, her fingertips brushing against the back of his hand unintentionally. "Are you done with your work over there?"
"Everything's set up, just waiting to power it on."
Chen Xun unscrewed the can of cola, took a sip, and the icy liquid slid down his throat, dispelling the fatigue of the journey: "How's the filming progress here? Is it on track?"
"Director Chazelle talks about you every day, saying that Sebastian's soul wouldn't exist without you."
Emma joked, turning to point to the observation deck not far away. Chazelle was frowning at the monitor, while a staff member next to him was quietly reporting something: "Filming is nearing its end. There are only a few key scenes left, as well as reshoots of your piano solo and our final scene together."
Chen Xun nodded, his gaze sweeping across the film set.
The familiar set design, the busy staff, and a few passersby secretly taking photos in the distance.
It's obvious without even thinking that they were paparazzi and fans lying in wait.
Since he and Emma Watson collaborated on "La La Land," they have been constantly photographed together on the street.
At first, there were only a few scattered photos taken on set.
Later, they gradually increased in number.
During breaks, they would chat and share snacks, and after work, they would walk out of the film set together. Occasionally, Chen Xun would even drive Emma back to her hotel.
Every photo was captured by fans and posted on social media, sparking heated discussions.
He glanced at the favorability rating above Emma's head.
It has become 92!
very stable.
Even though I haven't been here for the past few days, the number hasn't decreased.
Over the past few months, he and Emma have indeed become as familiar as old friends. There's no formality between Hollywood stars, but rather a tacit understanding based on mutual appreciation.
Emma would complain to him about the difficulties of filming and ask him for advice on how to better portray Mia's struggles and perseverance.
Sometimes, when filming went on late into the night, the two would sit on the steps of the set, looking at the lights of Los Angeles, chatting casually, and not feeling awkward in silence.
"By the way, the internet has been buzzing while you were gone."
Emma straightened Chen Xun's slightly wrinkled hoodie collar as she lowered her voice and said with a hint of teasing, "You and Christine haven't been seen together for almost half a year, and there hasn't been any interaction between you. Fans are all guessing whether you two broke up."
Chen Xun paused, a subtle, complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
Since the photo scandal, their relationship has hit a rough patch.
You said you broke up, but neither of you made it official.
Moreover, Chen Xun confirmed that Christine's affection level for him remained at 99 points and did not change at all!
This is very strange!
But Chen Xun was too busy to find the time to investigate the reason.
He wasn't unaware of his fans' speculations; he was just too lazy to explain.
There's no need to report matters of the heart to everyone.
Let them guess.
2
Chen Xun smiled and changed the subject: "But you, Andrew's fans have been talking about it quite a bit too."
Emma's smile faded slightly, and she shrugged gently, her tone resigned: "We broke up peacefully a long time ago, and we're still friends. There's no need to bring it up."
She paused, then looked at Chen Xun with a hint of a smile in her eyes: "But right now, the fans aren't paying attention to him and me. Everyone's shipping us, saying that your Hollywood star-collecting machine is about to start up again."
"A female celebrity magnet?"
Chen Xun raised an eyebrow and smiled helplessly: "Who started this nickname?"
"Who else? Of course, it's your fans and the gossip media."
Emma took out her phone, opened Twitter, and handed it to him: "See for yourself!"
Chen Xun clicked to take a look.
as predicted!
#Chen Xun and Emma suspected of being in a relationship#
#ChenXunandChristineBreakupConfirmed#
#Chen Xun, the Hollywood starlet magnet#
These terms have been trending on social media for several days.
The screen was filled with photos of him and Emma.
Candid photos of him helping Emma adjust her costume, the two laughing side-by-side during a break, and photos of him shielding Emma from crowds as they walked off set after work —
Each one seems exceptionally intimate.
The comments section exploded.
The fans are divided into several factions!
Many people are swooning over the couple's good looks and chemistry, saying they're a perfect match and should announce it officially.
Many expressed sympathy for Kristen, leaving comments hoping it was just a misunderstanding and eagerly awaiting a photo of the two together to dispel the rumors.
Another group was simply watching the drama unfold, joking that Chen Xun had a natural flirting buff, having been linked to every female celebrity he'd worked with, from Kristen Stewart to Jennifer Lawrence, and now Emma Watson.
"And there are even more outrageous claims, like that I deliberately approached you in an attempt to capitalize on your popularity to enter the Chinese-language market."
Emma laughed as she scrolled through the comments, her tone full of helplessness: "These media outlets will make up anything for the sake of traffic."
Chen Xun looked at the relief in her eyes and understood.
Emma is no longer the naive young actress she once was. Having experienced the ups and downs of relationships and witnessed the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, she has long since learned to take these rumors and gossip in stride.
Just like himself, from being told that his Asian face was not worthy of playing Hollywood roles when he first transmigrated, to being slandered by haters and misinterpreted by the media, he has long since mastered the ability to let things go in one ear and out the other.
Only a work of art can silence all rumors.
"Ignore them!"
Chen Xun handed the phone back to Emma: "Once 'La La Land' is released and everyone sees your portrayal of Mia and our scenes together, these rumors will naturally fall apart."
Emma nodded, a glint of light in her eyes: "You're right, the work itself is the most important thing!"
"Director Chazelle said that this afternoon we'll be filming a reshoot of the scene between the two of us at Griffith Observatory, which is the eye contact between Mia and Sebastian before their final farewell."
"You'd better perform well, don't let me outshine you!"
"Then let's give it a try."
Chen Xun's tone carried a hint of defiance.
The two looked at each other and smiled.
That ambiguous atmosphere quietly permeated the sunlight.
The afternoon shoot went smoothly.
Inside the studio, against a green screen, Chen Xun donned Sebastian's suit, his hair neatly combed, his eyes filled with a hint of melancholy and reluctance, instantly immersing himself in the role.
Emma stood opposite him, while Mia's eyes were filled with tears, yet she forced herself to be strong.
The moment their eyes met.
Without lines or actions, it perfectly conveyed the regret of unrequited love.
"Cut! Perfect!"
Chazelle's voice, brimming with barely concealed excitement, came through the loudspeaker: "That's the feeling! Chen, Emma, you guys are amazing!"
Both of them breathed a sigh of relief. Emma wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and Chen Xun handed her a tissue, saying with a smile, "Not bad, you almost made me cry."
"Same to you."
Emma took the tissue.
Filming continued the next day.
The ending of La La Land was also the most grueling scene.
Mia, who had been famous for many years, walked into the jazz bar called "Seb's" with her husband's arm in arm.
Under the spotlight, Sebastian, dressed in a black suit, sat at the piano. The moment he looked up, his eyes met hers in the crowd.
There were no lines, no hugs, not even a single greeting.
They only exchanged glances for a few dozen seconds.
Before filming began, Chazelle spent two whole hours talking to the two of them, repeatedly emphasizing, "What I want is not regret, not sadness."
"If we had been braver back then, would the outcome have been different?"
"Look into each other's eyes, see each other's entire lives, see all the unspoken love and all the missed moments."
Emma joked at the time that the requirements were too high and that it would probably take dozens of takes.
But when she actually stood in front of the camera, when the spotlight fell on Chen Xun, and when he looked up at her, Emma's eyes instantly welled up with tears.
She saw not Chen Xun, but Sebastian.
He was the man who danced with her under the streetlights late at night, twirled with her in the starry sky of the observatory, and told her when she was at her lowest point, "Go act in the script you wrote yourself."
He was the one she loved, missed, but who will always hold a place in her heart.
Chen Xun, looking at her, forgot that he was filming a movie.
He saw Mia, not Emma.
She is that girl with a light in her eyes, who never gives up, who struggled in the mire of Hollywood, but never gave up on her dreams.
She was the person he couldn't keep, the one he was supposed to spend his life with.
There was no deliberate acting, no calculated glances.
His fingertips landed on the piano keys, playing the melody that belonged only to them, his gaze fixed on her.
From initial astonishment in his eyes, to gradual tenderness, then to barely concealed melancholy, and finally to a relieved smile at the corner of his mouth.
Emma stood in the crowd, tears falling silently, yet she also smiled.
In the video, separated by the crowd in the bar, five years have passed, and each person's life has unfolded, culminating in a silent confession.
"Cut!"
Chazelle's voice trembled as it boomed through the loudspeaker across the set.
Everyone fell silent, even their breathing became soft.
The director, wiping his face in front of the monitor, shouted excitedly, "Perfect! One take! God, this is exactly what I wanted! You two weren't acting at all!"
After the call to stop, neither of them moved.
Chen Xun was still sitting at the piano, his fingertips resting on the keys, his gaze still fixed on her.
Emma was still standing there, tears still on her cheeks, just looking at him.
Everyone on set wisely refrained from approaching, leaving them a quiet space.
Half a minute later, Chen Xun finally came to his senses, got up, and walked towards her.
He took a tissue out of his pocket and gently wiped her cheek with his fingertips, wiping away her tears.
The moment their fingertips touched her warm skin, they both froze.
The studio lights shone on his face; his eyelashes were long, and when he looked down at her, the emotions in his eyes were intense and unspoken.
Emma could clearly smell the faint scent of cedar on him, mixed with a hint of coffee from the film set. Her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively held her breath.
"You're too immersed in the role!"
Chen Xun spoke first, his voice very low.
His fingers didn't immediately retract; they remained by her cheek, as if reluctant to move away.
"You were the one who started it."
Emma looked up at him, a smile playing on her lips, but her eyes were still red, and her tone carried a hint of coquettishness that she herself didn't realize.
"Chen Xun, the way you looked at me just now was not the way Sebastian should look."
"Whose is that?"
He followed her question and took a half-step forward, so close that they could feel each other's breath.
Emma Stone's favorability +1, current favorability: 93
The staff around them pretended to be busy with their work, but they couldn't help but glance this way out of the corner of their eyes.
No one dared to interrupt; everyone could see that something was different in the scene just now.
The emotions from the play overflowed and clung to the two of them, making it impossible to distinguish which part belonged to Sebastian and Mia, and which part belonged to Chen Xun and Emma.
He looked at Emma's reddened eyes and her slightly trembling eyelashes, his mind filled with the moment they had just locked eyes.
It wasn't until the production assistant came over and reminded them that they needed to prepare for the next reshoot that the two of them suddenly came to their senses.
They each took a half step back, avoiding each other's gaze, but their cheeks both felt hot.
The reshoots went smoothly, but the atmosphere between the two completely changed.
During breaks, they would sit side by side on the steps of the film set.
:
They read the script head to head, shoulders close together, their fingertips occasionally touching, pausing in unison before laughing and moving away, only to bump into each other again the next second.
Emma would naturally hand him her half-finished iced coffee, watching him drink from the bottle she had just used, her eyes brimming with undisguised joy.
After she finished filming a crying scene, Chen Xun would immediately hand her warm water and tissues, sit beside her, and gently tell her funny stories to help her detach herself from the character's emotions.
It was as if all the emotions that had been building up during the filming of "La La Land" had exploded at this moment.
It was as if the two were possessed by Sebastian and Mia, and were about to rewrite the regrets of the two in the script.
This time, it's no longer Sebastian's montage fantasy, but has permeated reality.
Everyone in the crew saw it, but no one said anything, though they all tacitly understood.
Even Chazelle joked with his assistant in private that he hadn't found two actors, but a real couple who had fallen in love.
By the time we finished work, it was already dark.
Chen Xun drove Emma back to her hotel. As the car drove through the streets of Los Angeles, streetlights flashed by, their reflections shimmering on the car windows.
The light flickered.
Emma leaned back in the passenger seat, looking at the night view outside the window.
Just then, the soothing piano prelude to "City of Stars" started playing on the car radio.
The car slowly came to a stop in the shade of the trees in front of the hotel. The song "City of Stars" on the radio was coming to an end. As the last piano note faded, the car fell silent once again.
The night in Los Angeles was still lively, with people coming and going in front of the hotel, and a few paparazzi with cameras were squatting across the street, their lenses fixed on the hotel entrance, waiting to capture some sensational footage.
Emma turned to look at Chen Xun, the streetlights casting flickering light on her face through the car window.
Her lips moved, and after hesitating for a long time, she finally spoke, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible nervousness: "Chen, when 'La La Land' is released, will you go to the premiere?"
'
"Of course I'll go!"
Chen Xun did not hesitate at all.
"real?"
Emma immediately looked at Chen Xun, somewhat surprised.
"I thought you had already flown to China to film at that time, after all, you said before that the start of filming was right around the time of the premiere."
"The premiere is only one day, it won't delay the start of filming."
Chen Xun smiled, his tone casual yet his words earnest: "I can't let my Mia stand on the stage at the premiere, receiving applause from the entire audience, when there isn't a single person in the audience who understands how difficult her journey has been."
"What Sebastian couldn't do, I must do for him!"