thefictionvixens Chapter 38: My Mother Comes to Beijing
Chapter 38: My Mother Comes to Beijing
In early July, filming for "Hearing Girl" came to an end.
The last shot that day was taken at 7 p.m.
The lights inside the shed made the entire space as bright as day, while it was already dark outside.
This scene depicts Liu Lu receiving her music academy acceptance letter at home, surrounded by her parents and brother, with the family celebrating using sign language.
There were no lines, only sign language, facial expressions, hugs, and tears.
Liu Yifei sat in the middle, holding the fake admission notice in her hand. Tears welled up in her eyes and finally fell.
Liu Yu stared at the monitor, not calling "cut." He waited, waited for his tears to stop, waited for his emotions to settle, waited for the scene to quiet down on its own.
"Click."
Liu Yu then stood up, clapped his hands, and said, "That's a wrap. We're done."
A weary cheer erupted from the crowd.
The staff began packing up the equipment, the lighting technician turned off the lights, one after another, and the studio slowly darkened.
Liu Yu sat in front of the monitor, watched the last playback, confirmed there were no technical problems, closed his laptop, and prepared to leave.
"Director Liu, someone is looking for us outside."
Wang Chaowen ran over from the shed entrance with a strange expression.
"Tell me I'm not here." Liu Yu didn't even look up.
"You have to be here even if you're not here."
Wang Chaowen stepped aside, revealing two people standing behind him.
One was wearing a dark blue dress, her hair neatly styled in a bun. The other, younger, wore a white shirt, jeans, and a ponytail, pulling a small suitcase, and was smiling at him.
"Mom!" Liu Yu was stunned for a moment, then grinned like a fool, "Sis! What brings you here?"
Zhang Yan walked over and looked him up and down.
After looking at it, she nodded. "He's gotten stronger and darker."
"It's filming, so it's normal. I've been in the sun in Weihai for over a month, how could I not get tanned?" Liu Yu chuckled twice and scratched his head.
In front of Zhang Yan, he would unconsciously revert to his son-like behavior, his tone of voice, posture, and expression all being different from usual.
Liu Min stood to the side, dragging her suitcase, watching him make a fool of himself with a smile.
"Mom said she hasn't seen you in a long time. She happened to be in Beijing on business and thought she'd drop by." She paused, then lowered her voice, "Actually, it wasn't just passing by; I came specifically for this. Don't find out."
Liu Yu glanced at Zhang Yan, but Zhang Yan pretended not to hear him, her eyes already darting around the shed.
"Mom, sister, let me introduce you." Liu Yu turned around.
Li Xuejian was packing his things when Liu Yu walked over, followed by Zhang Yan and Liu Min.
"Teacher Li, this is my mother, Zhang Yan, and this is my sister, Liu Min. Mom, this is Teacher Li Xuejian."
Li Xuejian put down his bag, turned around, looked at Zhang Yan, and nodded slightly.
"Hello there."
Zhang Yan smiled and took his hand, "Teacher Li, I've seen your play, 'Jiao Yulu,' and I cried several times while watching it. Liu Yu is a young man, so please forgive him if he does anything wrong."
Li Xuejian smiled and said, "Director Liu is very good, young and promising. The son you raised can't be bad."
Song Dandan is removing her makeup, wiping the foundation off her face with a wet wipe.
Liu Yu led Zhang Yan over, "Teacher Dandan, this is my mother. Mom, this is Teacher Song Dandan."
Zhang Yan's eyes lit up when she saw Song Dandan.
"Dandan! Don't you recognize me?"
Song Dandan's wet wipe froze in mid-air. She stared at Zhang Yan for a few seconds, then slapped her thigh. "Oh my god! It's Zhang Yan from Hunan TV!"
"Do you remember me?"
"How could I not remember! We were in the same dressing room for the 1998 Spring Festival Gala! You came with the station director, and I was saying how beautiful all the girls at Hunan TV are."
Song Dandan stood up, and the two held hands, like long-lost sisters reunited.
Liu Yu stood to the side, watching the scene, and thought to himself: Just how extensive are my mother's connections? She knows half of Hunan TV in Changsha, and even Song Dandan is an old acquaintance in Beijing.
He mentally gave his mother a thumbs up, but didn't dare to say it aloud.
Luo Jing walked over and greeted her respectfully, "Hello, Auntie."
Zhang Yan glanced at him and said, "This child is really handsome."
Luo Jing smiled sheepishly.
Finally, there's Liu Yifei and her mother, Liu Xiaoli.
Liu Yifei finished work early today and had already changed back into her own clothes. She was talking to Liu Xiaoli. Liu Yu walked over with Zhang Yan and Liu Min. Liu Yifei turned around and gave a slight bow.
Hello, Auntie.
Zhang Yan stared at Liu Yifei, momentarily stunned.
An expression Liu Yu had never seen before appeared on her face—a genuine and undisguised amazement.
"This child is so good-looking."
Liu Yu watched from the side, thinking: "Mom, you're the epitome of the 'looks-obsessed' club." He knew from his past life that his mother was obsessed with appearances; she only watched TV for good-looking actors, only bought clothes based on style, and even picked tomatoes that looked perfectly proportioned when buying vegetables. He never expected this quirk to be so obvious in person.
"Thank you, Auntie." Liu Yifei smiled, a little shyly.
Liu Xiaoli stood to the side, wearing a simple shirt, looking gentle and quiet.
She nodded to Zhang Yan. "Hello, Sister Yan. I'm Yifei's mother, Liu Xiaoli."
Zhang Yan turned to look at Liu Xiaoli, "You must be Yifei's mother? You're so beautiful. I've heard Liu Yu mention you before, saying you cook for the crew every day, you must be working so hard."
"It's not hard work, I'm just idling around anyway," Liu Xiaoli said casually.
...
Zhang Yan looked around at the film crew who were wrapping up work, and suddenly said something that Liu Yu didn't expect.
"Everyone has worked hard today, so I'll treat you all to dinner. I've already made a reservation at that restaurant outside the Beijing Film Studio."
Liu Yu was stunned. "Mom, when did you order it?"
"When you were filming," Zhang Yan said casually, "when you were shooting the last take, there were ten tables, enough to seat everyone."
Liu Yu opened his mouth, but Zhang Yan never needed to consult him before doing things; that was her consistent style.
"Thank you, Auntie!" Wang Chaowen was the first to respond, his voice so loud it sounded like he was shouting a slogan.
The others also said thank you, and the atmosphere suddenly became lively.
The equipment packing up sped up considerably, and some people started discussing what to eat later. Some said, "Auntie's treating, it's bound to be a big meal," while others remarked, "Director Liu's mother looks so young."
Liu Yu's lips twitched as he listened to these comments.
A large group of people walked out, a grand procession, like a small army.
Zhang Yan walked ahead, her pace neither too fast nor too slow.
When she reached the door, she suddenly stopped, turned around, and looked at Liu Yifei and Liu Xiaoli walking behind her.
"Xiaoli and Yifei haven't eaten yet, have they? Let's eat together."
Liu Xiaoli smiled, but there was a hint of hesitation in her smile.
"Sister Yan, this isn't appropriate. My daughter and I will eat at home; we won't bother you any longer."
"What's inappropriate about it?" Zhang Yan's tone left no room for refusal, her smile warm. "It's not like I'm treating just the two of you; we're all eating together, it'll be more lively. Besides, your Yifei is playing the female lead in Liu Yu's film, isn't it only right that I treat her to a meal?"
Liu Xiaoli glanced at Liu Yifei, who remained silent, a hint of expectation in her eyes.
Liu Xiaoli hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Alright then. Thank you, Sister Yan."
.....
Liu Yu noticed that his mother seemed to pay extra attention to Liu Yifei and her daughter.
It wasn't the kind of deliberate attention, but rather a subtle, unassuming observation.
When she picks up food, she'll casually pick up a piece for Liu Yifei with her chopsticks; when she pours tea, she'll pour it for Liu Xiaoli first.
During their conversation, she would deliberately steer the conversation toward Liu Yifei, asking her questions such as "Are you tired from filming?", "What do you usually like to do?", and "How are your studies at school?"
Liu Yifei answered each question with composure and humility, looking the other person in the eye as she spoke, her voice soft and gentle, with a touch of childlike sweetness.
Liu Xiaoli sat next to Zhang Yan, and the two chatted very congenially.
They talked about their children, cooking, and their own youth.
"Xiaoli, it must be tough for you to take care of Yifei all by yourself in Beijing, right?" Zhang Yan picked up a piece of fish and put it in Liu Xiaoli's bowl.
"It's alright, I'm used to it." Liu Xiaoli smiled. "Yifei is obedient and doesn't cause me much trouble."
"She's so beautiful, she's bound to be a big star in the future." Zhang Yan glanced at Liu Yifei, her eyes filled with the admiration one would show for a future daughter-in-law.
Liu Yu was drinking soup when he almost choked. He put down his bowl, wiped his mouth, and glanced at Zhang Yan.
Zhang Yan didn't look at him and continued chatting with Liu Xiaoli, her expression as natural as if nothing had happened.
Liu Min sat next to Liu Yu and poked his arm with her chopsticks.
He turned his head, and Liu Min leaned in and whispered something.
"Mom saw the rumors about you and Liu Yifei."
"What scandal?"
"Someone said you're dating Liu Yifei." Liu Min lowered her voice even further, so low that only the two of them could hear. "After Mom saw it, she didn't sleep well for several days."
"Did Mom think I broke up with Yan Danchen?"
"She didn't say, but I guess so." Liu Min picked up a piece of pork rib, took a bite, and said, "She probably came this time to see what's going on with you."
Liu Yu glanced at Zhang Yan, then at Liu Yifei, and something suddenly clicked in his mind.
The reason why Mom is so enthusiastic towards Liu Yifei is not because... impossible, impossible, impossible.
He dismissed the thought. No matter how gossipy his mother was, she wouldn't pick out a partner for her son at the dinner table. Besides, she hadn't even figured out Yan Danchen's situation, so how could she possibly jump to Liu Yifei?
But Zhang Yan's subsequent actions made Liu Yu increasingly uneasy.
"Yifei, what do you usually like to eat? Auntie will bring you some next time I come." Zhang Yan's tone was so warm that it didn't seem like she was meeting an elder for the first time.
"Auntie, I'm not a picky eater, I eat everything," Liu Yifei replied politely.
"It's good that they don't pick at their food; they're easier to raise." After saying this, Zhang Yan glanced at Liu Yu.
Liu Yu pretended not to see it and lowered his head to eat his rice.