Top Dupe CH 054 The Beauty Of Living Towards Death Part 2

"I think Liang Shengqiu was really good, showing the confrontation between the two characters. And he dared to face the dark side of Lu Pingfeng..." the assistant director started.

Xia Tan frowned, "Dark side? I still haven’t figured out what the real dark side of Lu Pingfeng is."

The producer advised, "Teacher Xia, you’re being too fixated. Some things don’t need to be so clear-cut. Even after the audience sees the film, they may not notice the issues you're concerned about."

Director Sheng Yunlan's brows furrowed, and the sound of him putting down his thermos was somewhat heavy.

"Do you really think the dark side of Lu Pingfeng is something that shouldn’t be focused on?"

The assistant director was taken aback, sensing Sheng Yunlan’s anger, and fell silent.

But the producer, oblivious to the tension, continued, "Lu Pingfeng’s dark side... isn’t it just antisocial personality disorder? As long as someone accepts and warms him, like the 'little rabbit' played by He Mu... or someone like Liang Shengqiu who reminds and guards him not to cross boundaries! Isn’t that it?"

Sheng Yunlan exhaled deeply and looked at Gu Xiaowei again. "Xiao Gu, what do you think? What is the dark side of Lu Pingfeng?"

Gu Xiaowei's gaze was fixed on the door, as if waiting for someone.

He slowly spoke, "Everyone thinks he harbors a beast in his heart, which is why they are drawn to his paintings. But is he really a beast?"

The latter part of Gu Xiaowei's sentence was said softly, but it made the room feel eerily quiet.

Xia Tan’s fingers lightly tapped, as if she finally understood the real issue with Lu Pingfeng, grasping the exam question but still lacking the answer.

Sheng Yunlan sighed, "Next."

Perhaps it was not just Xia Tan searching for answers; Gu Xiaowei was also seeking answers while contemplating the character Lu Pingfeng.

The door creaked open, and a man dressed in a light-colored casual shirt and khaki pants walked in.

His eyes were bright, but his gaze was gentle, with a faint smile. "Director Sheng, Director Qian, Mr. Huang, and Screenwriter Xia, hello. I am Luo Yu from Yinchuan Culture."

Such a clear and gentle voice invigorated everyone’s weary spirits.

Xia Tan couldn’t help but keep her eyes on Luo Yu. She remembered often seeing online comparisons between Luo Yu and He Mu, but when Luo Yu appeared, Xia Tan felt a spark of brilliance. This man had a refined quality that He Mu lacked. In a single glance, Xia Tan felt as if the cool moonlight was illuminating the deep night.

…This was the Wen Yuchi she had in mind.

The producer, Huang Yun, had seen many handsome men, but upon seeing Luo Yu for the first time, he couldn’t help but exclaim—as expected of the first actor signed by Jiang Yinchuan.

And Gu Xiaowei, from the moment Luo Yu entered, kept his gaze fixed on him.

Director Sheng Yunlan nodded subtly. "If you’re ready, begin your performance."

Luo Yu walked to the side of the sofa, casually lay down, legs slightly bent, one hand resting on his abdomen, the other near his cheek. He did not deliberately turn his face towards the back of the chair but faced Gu Xiaowei's direction without any defense.

In just two or three seconds, Luo Yu created a state of sleep due to exhaustion.

Just like in countless previous auditions, Gu Xiaowei stood by the sofa, eyes lowered as he watched Luo Yu.

It was as if a nocturnal beast was observing its prey, listening to the unguarded breathing, seeing the flowing blood and fragile life through the shell of the body.

No one spoke around them; even the staff nearby were subconsciously breathing cautiously.

Suddenly, Luo Yu’s eyelids twitched, as if lightning had illuminated the dark apartment.

His eyelashes fluttered, and he opened his eyes. Upon meeting Gu Xiaowei’s gaze, he tensed his core to sit up.

But Gu Xiaowei acted first, gripping his neck with one hand, pressing his abdomen with a single knee, easily pushing him back onto the sofa.

As Gu Xiaowei's handsome face came closer, the crisp fragrance of plum blossoms mixed with the scent of rain spread out. It wasn't the smell of cologne but perhaps the plum blossoms he passed in the garden after the light rain this morning. The scent was delicate and solitary, evoking a sense of tenderness.

Luo Yu saw a pair of deep and emotionless eyes. As the other moved closer, the superior, unforgettable features became more detailed and clear. 

"Mr... Mr. Lu?" Luo Yu furrowed his brow and then exhaled, "How did you get in?"

He didn't cower in fear like He Mu, nor did he confront Gu Xiaowei like Liang Shengqiu. Instead, seeing clearly who it was, he relaxed, showing no resistance or confrontation.

Xia Tan realized that this was the best reaction for Wen Yuchi facing Lu Pingfeng—believing that he had no ill intentions, so he neither feared nor resisted, but rather showed a sense of tolerance and reassurance.

"You didn’t close the door properly," Gu Xiaowei’s response was as cold as before, but now it carried a hint of relaxed warmth.

Luo Yu raised his hand to cover his eyes, still in a lazy, tired state, as if contemplating whether he had really left the door ajar.

Then he smiled and gently tapped the hand still clutching his neck. "You can take your hand away now. If the power hadn't gone out, I could have offered you some hot... instant coffee."

The words "instant coffee" carried a teasing tone when spoken by Luo Yu.

"I’m here to kill you, just like I killed that girl," Gu Xiaowei said.

His features were gloomy and profound, with an elusive yet deadly beauty against the backlight.

Luo Yu looked into his eyes, the smile on his lips fading slightly, and answered earnestly, "I’m a forensic scientist. I talk to corpses, and I only believe in the facts they tell me."

Gu Xiaowei moved closer, as if trying to see through Luo Yu’s mind with his eyes. Are you saying you’re not afraid of death because you talk to corpses... or are you not afraid of me because the corpses told you I’m not the killer?

"I’m a painter. I talk to death, and I only believe in the certainty of death's beauty."

Gu Xiaowei let go of Luo Yu but kept his hand pressed to the couch by his ear, gazing at him for a long time.

Throughout the encounter, Luo Yu remained relaxed, his ease allowing him to handle Gu Xiaowei's presence with poise. The mutual probing and back-and-forth between them intrigued the onlookers.

But just then, their performance came to an end.

Gu Xiaowei stepped back, and Luo Yu got up and walked over to the judges. "My performance is complete. Please give me your feedback on any shortcomings."

The assistant director and producer exchanged glances, both realizing that his Wen Yuchi and Gu Xiaowei's Lu Pingfeng were a perfect match.

"If I were to point out any shortcomings..." Sheng Yunlan looked up, and everyone turned to him. "In such a short time, I can’t pinpoint any flaws. Instead, your acting is layered like an experienced actor."

Everyone was stunned. Sheng Yunlan’s temper was known to be unpredictable, ranging from gentle to sharp-tongued. He never praised anyone out of politeness, courtesy, or sympathy. After seeing nearly twenty actors, even Liang Shengqiu, who performed the best, hadn't received praise from Sheng Yunlan. But for Luo Yu, he generously said "the acting is layered."

"Thank you, Director Sheng. But getting this role won’t be so easy. Perhaps it's time to announce the additional question," Luo Yu said with a smile.

Actors who came for the audition were generally in awe of Sheng Yunlan, but only Luo Yu dared to speak candidly in front of him, and no one felt it was offensive.

Sheng Yunlan smiled faintly, "The additional question isn’t from me; it’s from the screenwriter, Teacher Xia."

He then looked at Xia Tan and nodded, signaling her to ask if she had any questions.

Xia Tan felt a surge of anticipation. After seeing Luo Yu and Gu Xiaowei's performance, she was eager to burst forth with her inspiration. She hoped to capture this spark of inspiration, which felt elusive, and maybe Luo Yu could provide a definitive answer.

"Thank you, Director Sheng, for giving me the chance to ask questions." Xia Tan looked at Luo Yu. "Luo Yu, how do you think Wen Yuchi views the beast within Lu Pingfeng?"

"If you feel the atmosphere isn’t enough, you can address Lu Pingfeng directly," Sheng Yunlan pointed to Gu Xiaowei, who was sitting silently on the side.

"Ah, continuing to act with Teacher Gu would be great," Luo Yu smiled.

He sat back on the sofa, hands on his knees, leaning slightly forward to look at Gu Xiaowei.

Gu Xiaowei’s expression was cold, like a statue standing too long in the dark. Even sunlight and warmth couldn't truly warm him.

Everyone expected Luo Yu to take a long time to prepare, but he spoke directly.

"Lu Pingfeng, I reviewed the case file of your mother at the police station."

Luo Yu’s speech was measured and unhurried.

Gu Xiaowei, sitting five or six meters away, looked at him.

"The file contains many photos... In those photos, you were very small, with eyes full of attachment to your mother. You loved her very much, didn’t you?"

Luo Yu’s tone was gentle, not deliberately soft, but to make Lu Pingfeng believe that someone in this world cared about his emotions.

"You hoped she would love you too... You wished she would always be by your side, maybe pat your head, or give you a smile. However, the longest and kindest companionship she gave you was lying beside you—passing away in her sleep."

Gu Xiaowei’s expression was no longer gloomy but suppressed, as if there were a quietly burning flame beneath layers of ice.

Luo Yu’s gaze was deep, his understanding of Lu Pingfeng beyond worldly definitions.

"Lu Pingfeng, I don’t think you have an antisocial personality. You just received a different kind of love from us. Just as my mother held me and took me to the hospital in the pouring rain—that’s the love I understand. The love you understand is the companionship gained from your mother’s death. It’s just a slight difference."

Gu Xiaowei’s eyes shone, reflecting the light above him. He looked at Luo Yu with focused devotion.

"Lu Pingfeng—if someone loves you sincerely and passionately, like Icarus reaching for you with wings made of wax, or like a persistent summer cicada seeking to witness winter’s ice... you will also fall in love with the beauty of living towards death."

In Wen Yuchi’s eyes, Lu Pingfeng had no dark side.

So there were no boundaries, no so-called limits.

Lu Pingfeng was not a beast but a young man with a heart full of roses unknown to others.

This was the true redemption.

Xia Tan finally realized, and she looked at Luo Yu, unsure how to express her gratitude. This script had filled her with passion and torment at the same time, but now she could finally move forward.

"Clap—clap—clap—"

Three claps echoed.

Everyone looked toward the sound and found it was Sheng Yunlan.

Heavens, Sheng Yunlan was actually applauding? Although his expression still bore the look of someone who felt he was owed money.

The assistant director, producer, and Xia Tan exchanged glances, realizing Sheng Yunlan was indeed very satisfied with Luo Yu.

"Your understanding of the role is very interesting and offers us a new perspective," Sheng Yunlan said.

"Director, you flatter me. It was because of Teacher Gu’s performance that I had these ideas," Luo Yu turned to look at Gu Xiaowei.

He noticed Gu Xiaowei’s eyelashes had a slight wetness, indicating he was still immersed in the role.

Only someone with delicate emotions could empathize with their characters.

So, Gu Xiaowei was someone who appeared cold but was actually soft-hearted.

"Alright, Luo Yu, it was a pleasure to see your performance," the producer said with a smile. "Please pay attention to your email and phone after you go home. We will notify all auditioners of the results."

"Okay, thank you," Luo Yu said with a smile and left.

Hearing the producer’s words "pay attention to your email and phone," Luo Yu knew he had likely secured the role, as the producer clearly feared he might miss the call with the audition results and wanted to ensure he was aware.

What he didn’t know was the atmosphere in the audition room after the door was closed.

The producer looked at Sheng Yunlan with a smile, "Old Sheng, it’s rare to find an actor whose image and temperament fit the role so well. Don’t let this opportunity slip away."

The assistant director had been worried that Sheng Yunlan might be too stubborn and reject suitable candidates. But with Luo Yu’s arrival, the assistant director breathed a sigh of relief. "Old Sheng, Luo Yu is from Yinchuan Culture. You know better than us about Jiang Yinchuan. The first actor he signed certainly isn’t an embroidered pillow."

Meanwhile, Xia Tan’s mind was already at her computer back home, eager to start writing. The scene between Luo Yu and Gu Xiaowei was truly exhilarating.