Chapter 240: Chi Ye Of The Gutter
October 1st, 00:00.
Capital City Wuyue Cinema IMAX lobby, 《Girl》 premiere ceremony.
The cinema was quiet, packed to capacity. As midnight arrived, the host on stage stepped down. Chi Ye and Sister Shang, 《Girl》’s main creators, and guests from all walks, were already seated in the second row, quietly staring at the big screen.
“A bit nervous.”
Sister Shang, sitting to Chi Ye’s left, quietly asked: “Xiao Chi, are you nervous?”
Chi Ye’s eyelids twitched, he paused, then replied: “Tight.”
Sister Shang was stunned, glanced at him, then suddenly spat: “Don’t be a hooligan.”
Chi Ye: “?”
“Xia Xia is still here, don’t have any improper thoughts about me.”
Chi Ye suddenly moved a bit farther from her, bent down and walked to the Empress Dowager’s side, and said to the director: “Switch seats.”
The director was taken aback but didn’t ask more, stood up and switched seats with Chi Ye.
The Empress Dowager was surprised: “Why’d you come over?”
“Sister Shang wants to ship CP.”
Jin Xia was stunned, then raised a finger at Sister Shang: “No shipping no shipping, Sister Shang is a good older sister.”
On the other side, Sister Shang opened her mouth, showing a bitter smile: “Wish you happiness.”
The distance was a bit far, so Jin Xia didn’t hear, but Sister Qianzi right next to Sister Shang glanced at them sideways, a cold smile curling at her lips.
Sheng Ning, farthest from them, kept her gaze straight ahead, pretending not to see.
Deng deng deng deng deng deng~
Just as the few people below were interacting, the familiar Dragon Seal sound rang out, followed by the classic logo of “Chi Ye Studio” familiar to audiences who had seen 《Big Shot》.
Wind blew through the elm trees outside the hotel lobby, petals bloomed, raindrops poured down, the vibrant filter faded, shifting to a cold white tone.
Only the bride’s bouquet and red carpet pierced the oppressive feeling.
The shot suddenly shook, followed by the lively clamor of the wedding hotel.
A real documentary feel, like a mobile phone shooting perspective, hit head-on.
Everyone in the theater was stunned, clearly not expecting 《Girl》, a youth film, to open with this style of filming.
An inexplicable sense of oppression rose in everyone’s hearts, which was also the point of “anxiety” and roasting after 《Sunny Day》 exploded—all wondered if, no matter how good the texture, it could still avoid dog blood?
The picture switched, a pair of muddy leather shoes stepped onto the hotel’s marble floor, rainwater stains from the soles spreading into reflections, mirroring the ceiling chandeliers, shattering into spots of light.
He weaved through the suited guests, the camera focus always locked on the distant white gauze skirt hem of （Shen Jiayi）’s back, with blurred background sounds of congratulations and clinking glasses.
The picture vanished.
Zhou Ye adjusted his tie in front of the washroom mirror. At this point, he was already a salesman at a securities company, no longer the green student of his school days, now steady and poised, yet with a hint of trying to fake being a successful person.
A smile hung on his face, but it gave a forced, bitter feeling.
—Damn, a completely different feeling from Zhao Tai!
In the theater, at Chi Ye’s first appearance shot, Liu Xiaoxiao, who had successfully snagged a premiere ticket this time, excitedly slapped her boyfriend’s leg.
The boyfriend grimaced in pain, but… felt the same.
Chi Ye’s face on the big screen was undeniably authoritative in its perfection—his bone structure and features were flawless, as if he was born lucky to eat this bowl of rice.
What surprised the audience and fans was that, though also suited up, through facial expressions and demeanor, this adult Zhou Ye as an “ordinary person” created a starkly different visual sensation from Zhao Tai in the former 《Big Shot》.
Clearly the same face, clearly just as handsome, yet instantly forming a strong contrast.
This is acting skill?
Liu Xiaoxiao’s boyfriend subconsciously thought this.
Then… then he wanted to curse the director and screenwriter—namely Chi Ye—for being too damn sly!
On the big screen, Zhou Ye straightened his tie in the mirror, making it impossible to guess if he was really the “male lead” today.
The formerly “imposing” adult Zhou Ye in the mirror visibly turned green, bewildered, brimming with youth.
Cicada chirp in the background grew louder, mixing with old radio static, transitioning to Chi Ye’s 《Those Years》 tune—
“Back to the original starting point…”
The surroundings changed to a high school teacher’s office.
A metal fan buzzed atop stacks of yellowed lesson plans, two goldfish swam leisurely in the tank.
Zhou Ye, caught by the dean for skipping class to fight, circled to the small office mirror while the teacher dealt with his urinary issue, fixing his “hairstyle”.
“Zhou Ye, you’ve never checked the mirror after fights before…”
On screen, his buddy Liu Jie winked: “You planning to switch to cutting hair or what?”
Zhou Ye adjusted the “dragon whisker bangs” on his forehead in the mirror, casually saying: “You know shit, this is strategic resource reserve.”
His peripheral vision caught something, he paused, lowered his voice, poking toward the playground outside with the comb tip—Shen Jiayi was hugging her workbook, passing through the wisteria trellis, ponytail swinging golden arcs in the sunlight.
“See that? She passes the second-floor office at this time every day.” He said confidently: “By the three-point line principle, the handsomeness reflected from my angle perfectly pierces her 35-degree left-front visual blind spot.”
Liu Jie burst out laughing: “You treating chasing girls like a sniper battle?”
“Wrong, information war.”
Zhou Ye pocketed half the wooden comb, flicked his finger at Shen Jiayi’s blurry reflection in the mirror: “Know why I kicked the ball into the girls’ toilet last week on purpose? Now the whole school but her knows—I fixed the clogged water valve in the utility room while picking it up!”
……
“Haha.”
Laughter spread in the theater, Liu Xiaoxiao’s boyfriend whispered: “I did this stuff in school too, haha.”
Liu Xiaoxiao patted him, smiling.
—She also thought of those naughty troublemakers in her class back in school… yeah, one was her “first love”.
Unfortunately, they lost contact after graduation.
If her “first love” had grown up like Zhou Ye… how great that would be.
Thinking this, on the big screen, the door was “bang” slammed open.
The dean rushed in hitching up his belt, half a piece of toilet paper stuck to the buckle…
This look triggered another wave of laughter in the theater.
Zhou Ye had already slid into his seat on his knees, “seriously” writing his self-criticism.
“Zhou Ye!”
The dean’s roar rippled the fish tank: “Fighting, skipping class, and damaging public property! Tomorrow your guardian… hey wait!”
He squinted close to Zhou Ye’s “self-criticism”, suddenly sneering: “Fine, like studying human anatomy? Frequent urination, huh? Next Monday under the national flag, you recite 《Detailed Functions of the Urinary System》 for me!”
Liu Jie stifled laughs into pig squeals, but Zhou Ye looked to the doorway—Shen Jiayi stood there at some unknown time, homework clutched to cover half her face, her visible eyes curved into crescents.
Hmm… couldn’t quite make out this strange girl’s features.
He suddenly kicked the desk leg, startling the goldfish to splash water, perfectly soaking the dean’s crotch.
“Dean!” Zhou Ye stood, all sincerity: “Abnormal urine discharge might signal prostatitis…”
“Scram! Get out now!!”
Zhou Ye grabbed his bag and bolted out the door, instinctively glancing back at Shen Jiayi as he passed.
The girl obediently hugged her books, as if she hadn’t looked at him once from start to finish.
Sunset stretched their shadows down the corridor, distant came Liu Jie’s wail and the dean’s roar:
“Still laughing? Copy the 《Middle School Code of Conduct》 thirty times!”
“…”
Zhou Ye and Shen Jiayi’s story began thus.
They officially spoke their first words at the entrance ceremony. In the class mutual aid study group, they didn’t “sit together” but became front and back desk mates. Responsible Shen Jiayi habitually poked his back with her pen tip; he always acted annoyed, but felt inexplicable joy inside.
He habitually tried all sorts of ways to catch her attention—ways that seemed childish to the precocious Shen Jiayi, yet oddly endearingly silly.
—Just like how she often called him “dumbass” once they got familiar.
Stealing ink dips, lending her his textbook while standing as punishment… the earthquake day’s boyish kindness and the light in the girl’s eyes, and on the rooftop, the pre-graduation confession… earphones with 《Sunny Day》.
《Girl》 runs a style blending realism and youth throughout.
Its realism avoids the contrived dog blood events, conflicts like cancer, disfigurement, car accidents, abortions in other market youth films just for eyeballs—none of that.
But because it’s “youthful” enough, it nearly perfectly depicts the youth every ordinary person experiences, creating natural, fluid conflicts and hooks without dog blood, flowing like water to channels.
This is what sets 《Those Years》 apart—the film seems harmonious, yet pokes at heartstrings everywhere, always touching that wild, green, immature “self” from a decade ago in unexpected moments.
And that “her”.
A shy little gesture, a look, a ponytail glowing in the sunset…
Federico Fellini once said: Cinema is the art form closest to our dreams, weaving human collective subconscious with light and shadow.
《Girl》 is such a film—small investment, modest cast, yet achieving full resonance, letting every viewer find that familiar yet strange “self” in it.
If such a film isn’t success, perhaps no film is.
This was the subconscious thought rising naturally in most hearts during viewing.
……
Meanwhile.
Next door, 《Rock》 premiere ceremony.
Stars gathered, big shots from the film circle and drama circle packed the theater.
They looked up at the greenish screen and the scenes of Movie Emperor Yu and the trash specialist son.
Hmm…
How to put it, the movie was somewhat boring, nowhere near the “bold” hype in promotion—not even compared to 《Big Shot》, and even against other crime action films, it felt a bit “chaotic”.
Yeah, why does the plot and picture always feel disjointed? Editing issue?
Many realized Lao Mouzi’s old habit flared again—story not clearly told… plus, they seemed “tricked”.
Of course, the “they” here meant true fans and audiences.
Premiere ended, fans’ expectations dashed, while front-row big shots began mindless praise.
“Shocking!”
“Brilliant.”
“Director Zhang did amazing, this picture, this plot scale—rare to see.”
“…”
Guoshi, Movie Emperor Yu, and other main creators turned, seeing reactions, felt very satisfied inside.
“Not bad, this attempt succeeded, box office should be fine.”
Guoshi thought.
……
1:40 AM.
《Climbing Number One》’s premiere ceremony was nearing its end.
In the cast lineup no weaker than 《Rock》’s, many stared blankly at the big screen where Wu Jing and Teacher Zhang suddenly “fell in love”, mouths agape, greatly shocked.
“Straight to romance? No buildup? No summit?”
Someone couldn’t help muttering softly.
“Keep it down.” A friend beside reminded: “Wu Jing and Teacher Zhang’s movie, box office won’t flop much.”
“…Seeing these two B male and female leads hike then suddenly romance… wanna beat ’em.”
Back row, a Beijing Circle-close film critic couldn’t help roasting: “This topic too? What were director and screenwriter thinking?”
“Acting’s good, just the romance feels abrupt… let’s see more…”
Saying “see more”, but soon the movie ended, leaving the critic dazed, glancing at the recent 《Kunlun Mountains》 sneak preview he’d attended…
Same illogical plot, same abrupt end…
Wait, National Day slot blockbusters at this level now?
He frowned puzzled, muttering inside, maybe his issue—he’d seen both films.
Truth be told, 《Kunlun Mountains》’s effects and spectacle were solid… but the film felt severely disjointed, front and back not like same director.
《Climbing Number One》 was better here, clear the film producer had money and effort, acting fine, but its B-plot romance and logic had big rifts too.
This…
If his feelings were right, both films’ box office should be decent, but sweeping National Day slot impossible.
Looks like biggest winners still prolific-as-pig Guoshi and 《Rock》.
The critic thought, as warm applause rang from front—《Climbing Number One》 premiere ended, main creators and big shots at screen for “acceptance speeches”.
“Good enough, anyway the money to be made will be.”
The critic nodded.
……
Other side.
Fifteen minutes earlier.
《Girl》 ended earlier than 《Climbing Number One》 due to length and topic.
At the premiere site, Chi Ye’s clear voice rose—another OST after 《Sunny Day》: 《Those Years》.
Lyrics poked heartstrings one by one, like the site’s melancholic yet satisfied atmosphere.
Liu Xiaoxiao wiped tears, shaking head muttering: “Is the final ending real or fake? Is the groom really Zhou Ye?”
Boyfriend gnashed teeth beside: “Main creator team and Chi Ye too hateful! Leaving this ending… but leads were Zhou Ye anyway, so I think they went from school uniforms to wedding dress, together.”
“I think so too.”
A front-row female viewer turned, blowing snot: “《Girl》 promo said pure love ending, can’t be wrong.”
“Don’t kid yourself, true pure love wouldn’t have open ending?”
Another joined discussion.
The once-strange theater grew lively—many total strangers now hotly debating the plot ending.
Chi Ye, Sister Shang, and other main creators turned, seeing this scene, finally breathed easy.
This audience reaction… should be resonance.
