Chapter 26: Returning Still a Youth

Chapter 26: Returning Still a Youth

"Sister Wu Yu, my filming has wrapped up."

"So soon?"

"The character Chao Xiaoshu doesn't have many scenes, and there's nothing left for me to do."

"Alright, come back first."

Although Chao Xiaoshu made a striking impression in *Ever Night*, his screen time was very limited. After his character was defeated by the Sword Saint Liu Bai, there were no more scenes for him. While in his past life he recalled Chao Xiaoshu appearing in a few shots in *Ever Night 2*, who could say for sure in this world? Whether *Ever Night 2* would even be filmed remained an unknown.

There was no grand send-off, nor was there a wrap party. Chen Ping didn't mind; he packed his luggage alone and prepared to head back to the company. Chen Ping had always maintained a grounded mindset. Even though his portrayal of Chao Xiaoshu had brought him a bit of fame, he was still just a character actor. Besides, since the series wasn't finished yet, there was no need to puff himself up as some big star. Even if he were to become a superstar, he believed in keeping a level head.

"Director Zhang, I've finished packing my bags. I'm heading back to the company tonight."

"Did you buy your ticket?"

"Yes, I did."

"That’s good."

Before leaving, Chen Ping called Assistant Director Zhang Jiu. Zhang gave him a few parting words of advice, then added, "Chen Ping, Director Yang actually wanted to treat you to dinner tonight. But as you know, there are many actors on set; if he made an exception for you, he couldn't very well do the same for everyone else. So, he didn't ask you to stay."

"Director Zhang, Director Yang and you have already taken such good care of me these past few days. I have no reason to feel unbalanced."

"I knew you had a good head on your shoulders. You’re destined for great things. Alright, I won't keep you; I have to get back to the set."

"Yes, Director Zhang, you go ahead."

After hanging up, Chen Ping checked out of the hotel lobby.

"Chen Ping, you're leaving already?" A voice called out from the lobby.

"The filming is done, so I'm heading back to the company."

It was Yuan Bingyan, who played Mo Shanshan. "Honestly, do you not consider us friends anymore? Leaving without even saying a word."

"Exactly," another voice chimed in. It was Tong Yao, who had worked on several scenes with him.

"You two..." Chen Ping was surprised. "Aren't you both at the set?"

"We don't have scenes today, and we don't have to be on set every single day. Let's go, we'll see you off."

The two of them moved in perfect sync. Chen Ping opened his mouth to decline, but in the end, he nodded.

"What are your plans once you get back?" Tong Yao asked on the way to the high-speed rail station.

"I don't know, I'll follow the company's arrangements," Chen Ping replied, shaking his head. "They signed me, so they'll have to put me to work sooner or later."

"You're quite open-minded about it," Yuan Bingyan said with a sweet smile. "But you've become quite a bit more popular recently; your company will probably have to re-evaluate your potential."

Chen Ping took it in stride. "What popularity? It's just because of those few early episodes. Once the rest of the series airs, people will probably forget all about Chao Xiaoshu. Besides, your performances these past few days have been excellent as well."

"Oh, stop it. You didn't hold back at all during our scenes together," Tong Yao said with a glare.

Chen Ping shrugged. "I didn't do anything."

That left Tong Yao speechless. During their previous scenes, whether on-camera or off, it had always been Tong Yao pushing the pace, yet Chen Ping had deflected it all with effortless grace. When he said he hadn't done anything, it was technically true.

"You're making me want to act opposite you again," Yuan Bingyan added. Unfortunately, her character, Mo Shanshan, didn't share any scenes with Chao Xiaoshu.

Chen Ping nodded readily. "When you're the lead in the future, I'll be your sidekick."

"No way, your acting is so good, you'd steal all the spotlight from me!"

The three young actors, sharing common ground, chatted away happily. The train station was only half an hour away from the Xiangyang film studio, and before long, they arrived.

"Alright, we can't go inside, so we'll stop here," the two said as they reached the entrance.

Just then, a gust of wind blew, tangling Yuan Bingyan's hair. "Ugh, this hair tie is such poor quality," she complained, as the elastic had snapped. "Sister Tong Yao, do you have a spare?"

"I don't think so," Tong Yao said after checking her bag.

For some reason, Chen Ping felt a string in his pocket. He pulled it out and asked, "I have this string here, do you want to use it to tie your hair?"

Tong Yao took one look and laughed. "Chen Ping, this is just a piece of twine for tying up luggage, isn't it?"

"I suppose it is," Chen Ping said, feeling a bit embarrassed. He couldn't quite remember where he got the string, but it felt strangely familiar, though he had no memory of ever acquiring it.

Yuan Bingyan took it anyway. "It's fine. It might look a bit ugly, but it's better than nothing." She quickly used it to pull her hair back.

"Alright, thank you both for seeing me off," Chen Ping said, waving goodbye.

Tong Yao pointed a finger at him. "Tsk tsk, I thought you were honest, but it turns out you're quite the smooth talker."

"Then thank you, ladies," Chen Ping said, feeling helpless. This Tong Yao really loved to tease.

Yuan Bingyan chimed in, "If you call us 'young ladies,' what should we call you?"

"A handsome young man?" Tong Yao teased.

Chen Ping felt a bit deflated. In front of such beauties, his looks really felt inadequate. Despite his internal grumbling, he remained composed and said with confidence, "Me? Don't call me a handsome young man. You should call me... a youth."

"A youth?" Yuan Bingyan looked at him with a playful smile. "A youth who remains a youth even after all he's been through?"

"Uh..." Chen Ping was stunned.

"Isn't that right?" Yuan Bingyan blinked. "What are you waiting for, youth? Go catch your train."

Without letting him say anything else, she waved. Chen Ping didn't press the matter and said his final goodbyes.

"Bingyan, 'a youth who remains a youth'—that's such a beautiful phrase," Tong Yao mused as they walked back to the set. "Where did you hear that?"

"Yes, the first time I heard it, I thought it was very powerful and full of positive energy."

"Didn't you come up with it?"

"I couldn't come up with something that poetic."

"Then who said it?"

"Chen Ping."

As she spoke of him, the string tied in Yuan Bingyan’s hair seemed to shimmer faintly, causing her to smile unconsciously. Even though he had just left, she already felt a desire to see him again. She recalled the time Director Yang had spoken to her about the role. That phrase, "a youth who remains a youth," was exactly what the director had said to her. It was because of those words that she had started paying attention to Chen Ping. She never expected that his portrayal of Chao Xiaoshu would bring her such a surprise, or that he would offer her so much help in defining her own role as Mo Shanshan.

That was why, when Chen Ping had called himself a "youth," she had blurted out the line without thinking. She truly looked forward to the next time they would meet.