Before and After Divorce - Chapter 2

Translator’s Note (please read)

Little red relies on support, big red relies on fate.

Xia Tingwan was the perfect example of this sentence. 

After him, no one in the circle could copy this legendary path.

Xu Zhe, a national treasure level director, auditioned for the lead actor in H City before filming “Jing Yu”. Xia Tingwan accompanied Xing Le, a professional, to join the fun.

Compared with Xu Zhe’s fame, the audition set can be called primitive and abandoned In a small room, there was a table with only a boxed lunch and a few bottles of mineral water. The director, producer, and assistant were crowded around the table. In the open space in front of the table, there was thin little garden dog lying on the ground.

“When you were 16 years old, your mother ran away from home. Your father drank too much and often punched you. Your dog is your only partner. Imagine how you interact with it and perform when only the dog is with you after you have just been beaten.” 

This is the title of Director Xu’s performance.

Xing Le only thought for a few minutes and quickly entered the play.

When walking, the lifelike limp shows where the injury is. When holding the dog, his eyes look at Director Xu’s direction and show pity; “in this world, I only have you Qiuqiu…” Even when talking, the corners of his mouth didn’t forget to tremble a few times.

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We Itf qjgaljiis rdelcafv jcv revvfcis lcafggeqafv, “Qtja vb sbe atlcx bo atf qfgobgwjcmf?” Lf aegcfv tlr tfjv jcv rjlv atlr lc atf rtjvbk bo atf mbega.

Xia Tingwan was still holding half a cigarette between his fingers. He was stunned for a while, and then casually replied, “It was a good performance.”

Xu Zhe stood up and walked forward for two steps, then sat on the table and looked at Xia Tingwan: “Why don’t you try?”

Xing Le, who was hung aside, was a little embarrassed. He looked at Xu Zhe and Xia Tingwan. He gently put down the dog in his arms but didn’t speak rashly. 

Xia Tingwan shook his head: “I can’t act.”

After hearing this, Xu Zhe stroked the beard residue on his chin and leaned forward: “If you can’t act, just talk about how you would perform.”

Xia Tingwan showed an impatient expression. He was an outsider and didn’t have much respect for Xu Zhe.

But after all, he came with Xing Le, and it’s hard to refuse. 

“If it’s me, I’ll kick the dog away if it comes near. If it cries in pain, I’ll pick it up and coax it.”

Xia Tingwan said, taking a cigarette, then slowly exhaled with his head up, his eyes blurred in the curling smoke: “if you have been beaten hard, you will know—you can’t treat the puppy well because it’s cute; you’re not so generous. You’ll only love it because it hurts.”

Xu Zhe listened and finally smiled for the first time.

He lowered his head, took out a cigarette from his shirt pocket, lit it, and then directly said to Xia Tingwan, “Why don’t you try it?” 

Later, Xu Zhe said in an interview that he felt that something was missing from the book of Jing Yu until it was approved. He finally filled that soul when he found Xia Tingwan during the audition.

The fate of people is paradoxical.

Two years later, “Jing Yu” entered Cannes and was shortlisted for numerous awards. Although it failed to win the best picture project, Xia Tingwan became the youngest film emperor in 30 years.

His light covered up all the male actors of the same year. 

The editor-in-chief of “VOGUE” commented on Xia Tingwan with great foresight:

“The map is flat, the history is long, and the aesthetics are round.

When the Wei and Jin Dynasties are gone, the prosperous Tang Dynasty will come. After the prosperous Tang Dynasty is gone, the direction of aesthetics depends on where the tide of the times flows.

Under the tide of economic recession, the beauty of high spirited and orthodox masculinity has hit the rocks. 

Decadent, gloomy, fragile and arrogant.

Xia Tingwan is a beautiful color from the deep sea. He is the symbol of aesthetics in the next era, when he himself had not noticed. “

In the same year, Xing Le finally appeared in his first idol drama, and then took part in a slow variety reality show with a small reputation.

Xing Le revealed the process of auditioning for Jing Yu in the program. He smiled and said: 

“Some people are born to eat this bowl of rice. I can’t compare it. I can only envy it, but Xia Tingwan and I have always been friends.”

Author’s Note:

The map is flat, the history is long, and the art is sharp. Quoted from (mr.) Mu Xin’s “Sù lǚ yǐwǎng”

And the author talking about the site. (Gongzcip) 

Additional Notes:

I was so used to translating in Wednesday so I decided to upload this. And sporadic = Wednesday, sometimes I upload at that day. Fixed updating schedule on Saturday! Also, next month is Back to School and it’s going to be a bit hectic, I’ll try my best to update in time.