"Your boyfriend is really sweet to you," whispered Wu Yuan as Roy quietly pushed the cart outside. He playfully nudged Laila with his elbow. "I used to think Western men were all chauvinistic, but I guess not."
He was just talking about eating a few dumplings, but it felt like he had been fed a heap of dog food. Is it a crime to harm single people? The way he was feeding her bite by bite made him almost want to find a girlfriend and show off some affection.
Laila accepted his admiration with a smile. "Well, he's alright, just managing."
Although she said that, in reality, she was the one most surprised. Roy had always presented himself as either someone who didn't attract trouble automatically or a stubborn and immature child, always being a headache. When did he learn to show a gentle side to people other than Abel? There was no denying that this version of him was much more charming.
Wu Yuan was unaware of her surprise, he only knew that he had accidentally been fed dog food. He promptly changed the subject, saying, "I'll revise the script later. If everything is okay, we can start rehearsing tomorrow. Ten days should be enough, right?"
"I'm fine, it mainly depends on you," Laila replied. Looking at the script, she and Roy had very few lines, and the occasional sentences were in English. The main changes were in Wu Yuan and his partner's dialogues. As long as they were okay, everything here would be fine.
So, for the next few days, Laila and Roy rushed through rehearsals and practiced songs. After the final approval ten days later, Wu Yuan was excited as he jumped up because their performance had made it to the final show list. It was not a surprising result, but it was still exhilarating.
New Year's Eve is a day that most Eastern people like to gather in front of the television. Even if someone complains every year that the Spring Festival Gala isn't entertaining, it remains the highest-rated program. It has become a symbol of the New Year, more than just a program.
Just reading the annual critique reveals that the majority of the viewers are still the mainstream.
This was Laila's first time performing at the Spring Festival Gala, and their performance was scheduled for a very good time, around 8:30 PM. Their segment was less than twenty minutes, and she had requested two VIP seats for herself and Roy during their free time, so they could sit as the audience. The production team would also arrange more camera shots for them to leave a lasting impression on the audience.
Laila may not have made her living from her looks, but Roy did. He just needed to appear on screen a few more times to ensure that the audience would find his charm.
By this era's standards of aesthetics, people appreciated Western looks more. A handsome man or beautiful woman in Western eyes usually looked good to Easterners as well. However, an Eastern beauty in Western eyes would often raise eyebrows among the Eastern audience. There was even a saying that Westerners preferred Eastern ugly women, which was just a difference in aesthetics.
Roy's looks should fit Eastern aesthetic standards well. Laila's confidence came from her attraction to him; otherwise, she wouldn't have put in so much effort to bring him from the streets to Hollywood.
This was also Laila's first time performing at the Spring Festival Gala, but also Roy's first experience. He couldn't understand what the hosts said at the beginning of the program, but music knows no boundaries. The opening act, full of exotic flavors and joy, was a sight to behold, showing him a different kind of beauty.
"Don't be nervous; pretend that everyone in the audience is fake," Wu Yuan repeatedly reminded his three partners backstage.
Laila, looking at him with a smile, said, "Come on, it's you who's the most nervous, right?" This stage wasn't a big deal for her, and even larger stages were no problem. When she appeared on a talk show in the past, she engaged in a lively exchange with the host, providing great entertainment for the audience.
This time, they were just performing a segment, and there was no need to engage with the audience. There was no need for improvisation. So, what was there to be nervous about? As for Roy, there was no need to mention him; his thick skin would even survive the guillotine.
Other than the two of them, Wu Yuan was also partnered with a man dressed as a rural businessman. He looked to be about the same age as Wu Yuan, wearing an ill-fitting gray suit with a festive red embroidered tie. His pants were rolled up at the cuffs, and he had a travel bag on his back. He even wore a pair of Li Ning sneakers. His entire getup exuded a strong countryside vibe. Originally, he appeared rather handsome, but the way he was dressed gave him a comic twist.
Wu Yuan mentioned that he and He Bao were childhood friends, playing together in the mud since they were young. When they grew up, they both strived for excellence in comedy. Wu Yuan once proudly boasted that he had twisted his childhood friend's ideals into a comedy career. There was even a time when He Bao's parents went to Wu Yuan's house to protest.
They were chatting when someone came to inform them that they were about to go on stage.
Wu Yuan's expression instantly tightened, and anyone who didn't know him would probably think he was about to play the heroic character in a death row scene.
This was not a good sign. How could someone so nervous perform well in the show? Laila and Roy exchanged a few words, and then Roy gave Wu Yuan some strange looks.
These glances made Wu Yuan feel like he was being looked down upon. He immediately exclaimed, "Laila, what's your boyfriend doing?" He wasn't proficient in English, and all his communication with Roy had been through Laila, so he was directing his question to her.
Laila looked at him, shrugged regretfully, and said, "Nothing much. He just thought that Easterners were supposed to be fearless, but it seems like he might have been mistaken."
When this was said, not only did Wu Yuan feel furious, but even his childhood friend wasn't pleased.
"What? With your timid personality, you want to be a comedian? I think you should just go home and sleep."
"Nonsense! When have I been nervous?" Wu Yuan didn't want to bring down the image of all Easterners in the eyes of foreigners. At that moment, he put aside his nervousness, straightened his chest, and marched to the side of the stage, waiting for his cue to go on.
Behind him, Laila and Roy exchanged a knowing look and quietly high-fived each other to celebrate the success of their little motivational tactic.