Chapter 3: 203. The Scent Of Life

Ya Ting looked at Wei Changfeng, her eyes sparkling. Then, she smiled, “I knew they were on good terms when I worked with Changfeng and Le’an. It seems that Director Guan’s work has facilitated this couple.”

Wei Changfeng also smiled and said, “That’s true.”

The two of them said a few words on the stage, but Qi Le’an was a little light-headed and couldn’t hear anything.

After Wei Changfeng came down from the stage, he put the trophy in Qi Le’an’s hands, not caring about the cameras at all.

The staff member who was accompanying Li Zheyu to the hospital dropped his mobile phone to the face. He sat up from the bed and said to the sleepy Li Zheyu, “Sir! Your friend has got the award!”

Li Zheyu fell into a slight concussion. Now he felt dizzy and nauseated. He was frightened by the staff member and started retching.

“No, it’s not your friend who got the award… It’s Wei Changfeng! Yet, Wei Changfeng said that the award was for two people!”

The staff member was still shouting with staring eyes, “Oh, he is Qi Le’an!”

Li Zheyu couldn’t hear this name the most. He was furious and said, “Don’t mention him! Get lost!”

The staff member was startled and a little unhappy, “Fine! I’m leaving now…”

After saying that, he went out of the ward and posted a tweet on Weibo, leaving Li Zheyu to lie there alone.

Li Zheyu clenched his fists. Unfortunately, no matter how angry he was, there was nothing he could do.

In the venue, the award ceremony finally ended and the movie ‘Someone Likes Blue’ became the biggest winner of the Golden Film Awards. The whole crew were asking Director Guan to spring for the dinner. Guan Kai was generous enough, who said that he had booked a private room in the best restaurant in Hongkong.

Everyone exclaimed in joys. Guan Kai turned around and wanted to find Qi Le’an and Wei Changfeng but he only found that they had disappeared.

Qi Le’an and Wei Changfeng had gone to eat noodles with fish balls.

At the back door of the great theater, there was an empty dark alley. Wei Changfeng went to say goodbye to Sheng Chang’an while Qi Le’an was holding the trophy and waited alone.

If it weren’t for Wei Changfeng, Qi Le’an really wouldn’t have known that there was such an alley behind the gorgeous and magnificent theater. There was no one here, let alone reporters.

There was some noise from afar. Qi Le’an thought that Wei Sama had come out so he stood straight with a smile and looked at the door.

However, it wasn’t Wei Changfeng who came out.

“Elder Ge?” Qi Le’an was holding the trophy and said, “Hello.”

Elder Ge was alone. He was surprised to see Qi Le’an too, saying, “There are too many people at the front door. I can go home earlier from here.”

Qi Le’an nodded in a daze. Elder Ge’s granddaughter married a rich man in the city. When he got here, he would live with his granddaughter.

“I’ll help you get a taxi?” Qi Le’an asked again.

Elder Ge pointed at the bicycle in the small alley and said, “I will ride this back home.”

Qi Le’an could not help but think that Elder Ge was in his eighties but he was still quite fit.

They were not very close to each other, so they only said hello. Unexpectedly, Elder Ge stopped after taking two steps forward.

“Originally, the organizing committee was going to grant two men the Best Actor Award,” Elder Ge suddenly said.

Qi Le’an was stunned.

“However, it was not approved in the end.”

Qi Le’an was not that stupid to ask why.

Elder Ge looked at Qi Le’an and said, “You are very good. There aren’t many young people who can concentrate so much on acting as you. However, you are not good enough.”

As a veteran in the industry, Elder Ge must have his reasons for saying this, so Qi Le’an was listening quietly.

“You’re very good at acting, and you’ve learned a lot in the US these two years. You’ve done a good job. But you’re just acting. There’s no scent of life in your movie.”

Elder Ge’s words were a little harsh. Qi Le’an wondered what it meant by the scent of life in the movie.

“Excuse me…” Qi Le’an ventured to ask Elder Ge.

Unexpectedly, Elder Ge waved his hand and took out a pen from his pocket, saying, “Do you have any paper?”

Qi Le’an was wearing a suit and a tie. How could he have any paper with him? After searching for a while, he finally found a sheet of tissue from the toilet and then asked with embarrassment, “Is this okay?”

With a nod, Elder Ge took the tissue and wrote down a number.

“This is my young disciple’s contact number. Maybe you can find something from him.”

Qi Le’an was instigated by Elder Ge and said gratefully, “Thank you, Elder Ge!”

Elder Ge waved his hand again and said, “Young man, your future is promising. Stay true to your original aspiration.”

Qi Le’an didn’t know what Elder Ge meant, so he could only say, “Yes, I will.”

Elder Ge walked to his bike and rode it away.

Qi Le’an looked at the tissue in his hand and wondered who the young disciple of Elder Ge was.

Wei Changfeng came out from the back door and saw that Qi Le’an was holding a sheet of toilet paper in contemplation. He laughed, “What’s wrong?”

Qi Le’an shook the paper and said, “I met Elder Ge just now and he wrote me a phone number. He said it was his young disciple… Wei Sama, who’s Elder Ge’s young disciple?”

Wei Changfeng really didn’t know that and said in confusion, “Supposedly, Elder Ge hasn’t taught students for many years…”

The two of them looked at each other and Qi Le’an held the paper in his pocket, “Forget it! Let’s go and eat the noodles with fish balls!”

Wei Changfeng said with a smile. The two of them took off the shirts and then went to find a stall by the roadside to eat noodles with fish balls.

Director Guan tried to find the two people at the hotel that night but they didn’t go back to the hotel. Sheng Chang’an had properties all over the world. Wouldn’t it be nice to find a private place for fun without disturbance for the lovebirds?

The next day, Qi Le’an woke up and saw the countless messages from Chen Shan on WeChat. The messages were all about the Golden Film Awards. In the end, Brother Chen also mentioned, “There are a few scripts for you to choose from. Read them and pick one before going back to the mainland when you are free.”

Wei Changfeng was lying beside Qi Le’an. He cuddled with his beloved with a kiss, saying, “It is so early and you have to discuss work…”

Qi Le’an put away the phone and nestled against Wei Sama’s chest, saying, “I’m spending all my worktime with you…”

Wei Changfeng chuckled.

The two of them got up and had breakfast in Sheng Chang’an’s mansion. While reading the messages, Qi Le’an said, “Director Guan must be angry!”

“He has got the Best Director Award. I guess he can’t be angry,” Wei Changfeng served Qi Le’an a spoon of porridge and said.

Qi Le’an ate the porridge and found Wei Sama’s words were quite reasonable.

“As to what Chen Shan told you in the morning… Although I don’t want you to be so tired, it’s right to dash for the clout and publicize it.”

Qi Le’an blinked and said, “When will Wei Sama direct your own movie? I’ll act in Wei Sama’s movie!”

Wei Changfeng frowned and smiled, “I’m afraid it will still be a while.”

Qi Le’an knew that Wei Sama wanted to direct his own movie, but Wei Sama was so busy. He wouldn’t even have a script now, so Qi Le’an couldn’t act in his movie for sure. Hence, he could only contact Chen Shan and ask him to send over the scripts.

After spending a whole afternoon in reading the scripts, Qi Le’an still felt unsatisfied.

The scripts were very good, including romantic movies, thrillers, and war movies. Yet, Elder Ge’s comment was still lingering in Qi Le’an’s mind.

“You’re good but you don’t have the scent of life in your movie.”

Life was like TV dramas, but movies were often far from life. Wasn’t Elder Ge raising a problem for him?…

Qi Le’an sighed.

Wei Changfeng was clear about Qi Le’an’s condition and suggested, “Didn’t he give you a phone number? Why don’t you make the call?”

Qi Le’an was a bit hesitant.

Wei Changfeng smiled and said, “What are you afraid of?”

Qi Le’an thought about it and agreed with Wei Sama. His resume was not bad at all. Hence, he took the phone and made the call.

When he called for the first time, no one answered.

When he did for the second time, the phone number he dialled was not in the service area.

Qi Le’an was speechless.

Even Wei Changfeng was confused by the situation, so he asked, “How about sending a text? Maybe the phone is not at his hands?”

Qi Le’an didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He wrote a text message and sent it, while he said, “Fine! After all, I don’t need to rush!”

Wei Changfeng agreed, “Yes, do you still want to eat noodles with fish balls for lunch? I’ve got the recipe from the chef. I can cook it for you.”

Qi Le’an was shocked and asked, “When did you do that yesterday?”

Wei Changfeng smiled and said, “When I paid the bill.”

Qi Le’an thought to himself that he had been together with Wei Sama last night, except the three minutes when Wei Sama went to pay the bill. How did Wei Sama successfully get the recipe?

Even though it was a roadside stall, it was a recipe handed down from ancestors to males but not females descendants!

Wei Changfeng was so impressive indeed.

Wei Changfeng made noodles with fish balls for Qi Le’an with intrigue. Qi Le’an was glad to eat another meal and said that the noodles with fish balls cooked by the Best Actor were even more delicious than the noodles served by the stall!

After Wei Changfeng won the Best Actor Award, many people invited him. And there were some people who he couldn’t reject. Wei Changfeng was busy for two or three days. Chen Shan dissed Qi Le’an about his having grandiose aims but puny abilities, but he still brought Qi Le’an to meet a few friends and tried to pave a better path for Qi Le’an.

As they got so busy, both of them forgot the message.

It wasn’t until late at night after a week that Qi Le’an’s phone suddenly rang wildly, waking up the two sleeping people.

Qi Le’an looked at the screen in a daze and found that it was from an unknown caller, so he was ready to neglect the call.

Wei Changfeng also opened his eyes and took a look, saying, “Who is that…”

“I don’t know…” Qi Le’an put his fingers on the screen and suddenly thought of something. Then, he moved away his fingers.

“It seems to be the number given by Elder Ge!” Qi Le’an suddenly sat up.

Wei Changfeng was sober and reminded Qi Le’an, “Pick it up.”

Qi Le’an picked up the call, and there was a shrill sound from the other side of the phone. Hearing that noise in the middle of the night, he felt his blood froze.

Gosh! Did Elder Ge introduce a horror movie director to him?

Fortunately, the voice returned to normal after five seconds. Qi Le’an heard a voice shouting, “Hey! Hello! Can you hear me?”

“Yes,” Qi Le’an said sleeplessly, “Hello, I’m Qi Le’an.”

“I saw your text! The signal is bad here! The call may be cut off at any time. Listen to me first!”

Qi Le’an shut his mouth.

“My name is He Guang! I’m Elder Ge’s student indeed but I am in the mountain now. I will go to Hai City in a week!”

“No rush first! When I go back to Hai City, I willl…”

The call was cut off again.

Qi Le’an was stunned for three seconds and then he tried to call back.

“Sorry, the number you dialed is not in the service area…”