Forty-fourth, running errands

  May is the most beautiful time in the campus. From the local temperature, it can be considered as early summer. The tall trees in the campus are like a canopy, the green grass is like a shade, and the flowers such as peony, golden trumpet and daisy are blooming brightly in front of the clock tower. Meanwhile, the female college students who have just changed into their colorful flower dresses are also a breathtaking view in May.

  Young girls just follow the trend when it comes to dressing, they wear whatever is popular on the street without having their own style. For example, two years ago it was bell-bottom skirts, last year it was short skirts, and this year it's long skirts with a lapel, next year it might be pleated skirts again, anyway, that's how it changes. Moreover, in this era, once something becomes popular, it immediately becomes a street-wide phenomenon, with completely identical styles leaving no room for selection. Unlike later trends, which are truly just one style, with specific combinations that can have many choices.

  That's why Fang Hua became a person who basically doesn't follow the trend. She would choose classic elements from the available clothing on the market to match. She liked to wear a white, narrow-waisted, large circular skirt, randomly matching any color short-sleeved shirt or T-shirt, with the hem tucked into the skirt, and her hair tied up high in a ponytail, looking both spirited and neat. On her feet, she only wore light-colored flat leather shoes or sneakers, very comfortable.

  She rarely wears floral skirts, not that she doesn't like them, but just feels they don't suit her. Because everyone has their own unique style that suits themselves best. It's just that when you're young, you always see others looking great in certain clothes and try to follow, only to find out later it doesn't have the same effect on yourself. So, after failing a few times and paying a lot of "tuition fees", you finally discover your own style.

  It's not just hard to find clothes that fit, but also a job or career that fits, especially finding a life partner who fits is equally difficult.

  On a sunny afternoon, Fang Hua, who had no classes, carried her school bag to the lotus pond behind the bell tower to read.

  The Lotus Pond is a crescent-shaped artificial lake, with lotus leaves just beginning to show their elegant appearance. Along the edge of the pond is a long corridor, covered with grapevines and wisteria. The surrounding area is planted with dwarf bamboo and tall camphor trees, which are decades old and too big for one person to hug. No one can deny that the Lotus Pond is the most beautiful place in the medical school campus, and it has naturally become a favorite spot for students to read, rest, and fall in love. Probably every school has such a romantic corner, which is often the warmest and most lovely memory of the campus scenery for students.

  Fanghua loves the scenery here, and even more so the tranquility. Sitting on a long bench under the ginkgo tree to read is a very comfortable thing. When tired of reading, standing up and walking around, looking at the nearby lotus leaves and flowers, the distant clock tower and the lush bamboo forest all around, fatigue disappears instantly without a trace.

  Everyone who comes to Hehua Pond to read or relax will consciously maintain its serenity.

  But today, just as Fanghua was engrossed in reading, two or three minivans came from afar and stopped at the entrance of the bell tower. More than a dozen people got out of the cars, took out cameras, lighting equipment and other things, and started busy. Looking at this momentum, it seems to be filming a movie.

  Soon several people came over and struck up a conversation with the person sitting by the lake.

  It turned out that the provincial TV station was filming a TV series and chose to shoot several campus scenes at our school due to plot requirements. The staff hoped that everyone could cooperate with the shooting work for a while, just keep the posture and action as before, be natural, and become a backdrop.

  Everyone agreed happily. Fang Hua also thought it was quite fun, although she was just a "dead running dragon suit", without lines and couldn't even see her face clearly, but being able to watch the filming crew shoot TV on site was rare too.

  The staff's efficiency was still very fast, and they were almost ready in no time. A slightly chubby, bearded man who looked like the director said a few words to two actresses, probably discussing the play. Then the two actors walked through the scene once. When they approached, Fang Hua suddenly realized that both actors looked familiar, and they later became somewhat famous stars.

  Among them, the slightly shorter actress became famous all over the country for starring in a TV series adapted from Wang Shuo's work. In that TV series, she vividly portrayed the foolishness and petty-mindedness of women in love. Neither she nor the male lead were considered handsome or beautiful, but they used their acting skills and personal charm to create a classic couple image, becoming idols for a time. However, it seems that the TV series was shot two years later, and at present, she is still an unknown minor character. It seems like I heard that before her rise to fame, she also acted in another TV series directed by some celebrity director.

  As she thought of this, Fang Hua hurriedly looked at the male director again. Alas, that elegant and refined young noble from that ancient costume TV series had become so rugged and rough. No wonder she hadn't recognized him at first glance. However, this person was really admirable. He knew he could no longer break through his classic image as an actor and it would be difficult to change careers, so he resolutely gave up acting and became a director, achieving brilliant results. Such a person who had a clear understanding of their abilities, strengths, and weaknesses, and wasn't bound by the glory and fame of being a star, was truly a wise person.

  Before long, the formal shooting began. The two actors walked and talked slowly, with a staff member holding a microphone beside them. It was probably simultaneous recording, and Fanghua looked at him and felt tired for him to hold it all the time. And what seemed like a simple scene of walking and talking was shot several times before it was completed. Mainly because the camera changed several positions, probably to shoot the characters' expressions from different angles when they spoke. Fanghua was on this side of the lake, far away, and didn't know what they were doing with all the commotion.

  Finally, the director was satisfied, and the crew members began to pack up. Someone came over to thank these few "extras" who had served as background boards and shook hands with each of them one by one.

  Fang Hua shrugged her shoulders, it turns out that filming TV dramas is also boring. But to be precise, being an extra is quite boring.

  She looked at the time and thought it was about time to go swimming. As a result, she walked out and saw that the restricted traffic tape set up by the film crew at both intersections had not been removed yet, and some students who had just finished class were gathering here to watch.

  Fang Hua was just about to slip out unnoticed when someone grabbed her: "Fang Hua, were you just playing an extra in there?" It turned out to be Lu Manli, who must have also just finished class.

  Fang Hua laughed: "What's the crowd actor! It's just a running dragon suit. We're no different from the silver ginkgo trees and benches by the pool!"

  "So you're also in the shot! By the way, what kind of movie are we filming?"

  "It's a TV series, called Love in What Sky, or Love in What Season."

  "Hey, you don't even know your own name? Don't you want to see yourself when the video is released?"

  "This is really unexpected, because we were far away from that camera, and it was just a background!"

  Luoman Li lightly pinched Fanghua's arm and said with a tone of frustration, "Why are you always so indifferent to everything?! By the way, have you seen any famous actors in this crew?"

  Fang Hua thought for a moment, and indeed there was one, but it wasn't well-known yet. The director, however, was quite famous. So she told Roman Li the director's name.

  Manli's eyes widened suddenly: "No, he actually became a director! After he became famous, he never acted in any other films again, and I wondered where he went, and it turned out that he changed careers! Ah, what a pity not to have seen it!"

  "It's better that you haven't seen him, so you can keep your good impression of him. The difference between his real self and his on-screen image is just too great!"

  "What kind of image does he have?"

  "Whiskers drooping, a face full of scars, rough and unrefined, without any finesse..." Fanghua was being a bit exaggerated.

  "What? Such a big difference? I really want to see it then!"

  "What's going on? You still want to see me?"

  "Yes, he can play a role that is completely different from himself well, this shows that his acting skills are very high!"

  Fang Hua patted Man Li's shoulder, making a relieved expression and said: "Okay, under my guidance, you've made great progress! It seems that actors finally know to look at acting skills, not just looks!"

  "Get out! You're one year younger than me, but you always act so mature!"

  Fang Hua smiled: "That's because her mental age is older than yours! By the way, next week is your birthday, May 27th, right?"

  Marilyn nodded: "That's right, I'll treat you to dinner then!"

  "Alright! By the way, I'm going swimming, are you coming?"

  "I still have a student council meeting to attend! You go yourself! Bye!" The two of them waved goodbye.

  This semester, neither of them had the same class schedule. Fang Hua was busy with dissection and going to the affiliated hospital, while Lu Manli was also busy as the head of the propaganda department of the pharmacy college. They rarely studied together in the evening, so they could only meet briefly on campus for a short conversation.