The Royal Publishing House was very efficient; the questionnaires were distributed in just half a day. Officials from Westminster Palace, the Whitehall, and 10 Downing Street were well aware of its significance, sparking discussions. The Conservatives felt as if facing a formidable enemy, while the Liberals cheered. For a moment, topics like Lu Shi, the questionnaire survey, and London's political and economic landscape became the focus of discussion among those in power.
However, the Queen's prediction was not wrong. No matter how tumultuous the whirlpool was, the citizens of London did not see anything particularly remarkable about this new survey method. They remained calm, accepting the premise set forth by the questionnaire: that women's suffrage was an urgent issue. The entire process exemplified the lines from the ancient poem:
"With the wind, it stealthily enters the night, Moistening things silently."
Due to this subtle influence, citizens did not engage in widespread discussions about the questionnaire. Solomon and Nicolitch were not very satisfied with this outcome. They had expected the questionnaire to have a seismic impact on London, causing significant waves and disturbances. But now, it seemed that it wasn't the case at all. Both of them were deeply disappointed.
Lu Shi consoled them, "There is a saying in China, 'The adept in battle does not flaunt his prowess.' Do you know why?" This ancient proverb was not difficult for foreigners to understand. Solomon and Nicolitch glanced at each other, hesitated for a moment, then Solomon asked, "So, Professor Lu, what do we do next?"
Lu Shi replied, "I've taught you before. Distributing the questionnaire is just the first step. There's still the retrieval, screening, and processing of data. Through these data, we can draw conclusions and then produce a written report."
As Lu Shi spoke, he felt more and more like a supervisor to graduate students. But Solomon and Nicolitch were more than willing. They nodded repeatedly, saying, "Professor Lu, rest assured, we will not disappoint you."
Seeing their determination, Lu Shi smiled with relief and said, "Very well, I knew entrusting the opinion survey to you was the right choice. In that case, I can leave with peace of mind."
The two students bid him farewell. Lu Shi first went to find Shaw, informing him that the script for "Roman Holiday" was completed. Then, they met up with Owen and proceeded to the Royal Opera House.
In the carriage, Shaw patiently went through the script, praising, "Lu, your progress is remarkable. Although the previous 'Yes, Prime Minister' was exciting in content, it lacked structure. But now, 'Roman Holiday' is almost flawless."
Lu Shi asked, "What do you think is the key?"
Shaw pondered for a long time before saying, "It's hard to say, really hard to say. I've never seen a script written like this before."
Turning to Owen, Shaw asked, "What about you?"
Owen shook his head, "This is also the first time for me."
Both of their gazes fell on the same passage of the script. Following their gaze, Lu Shi asked, "Are you talking about the segment at the Mouth of Truth?"
In Rome, there is a church called Santa Maria in Cosmedin, where there is a famous "Mouth of Truth" at the entrance.
The Mouth of Truth is a circular stone carving with the image of Triton, the son of Poseidon, with a nose, eyes, and an open mouth. Legend has it that if one tells a lie, it will bite the person's hand. Therefore, tourists who visit here often stretch out their hands into its mouth to see if their hands will be bitten, like an ancient lie detector.
In the classic scene of the movie "Roman Holiday," when filming at the Mouth of Truth, Gregory Peck, who played the reporter Joe, wanted a more exciting idea. So, he created a "accident" where Audrey Hepburn, who played Princess Anne, would have her hand "accidentally" bitten by the mouth.
Since it was an impromptu addition, Audrey Hepburn was unaware of the truth and reacted instinctively, which satisfied the director, resulting in the birth of a classic scene in film history.
Lu Shi's script also aimed to recreate this beautiful accident.
Shaw muttered, "Can we really not tell the actress during rehearsals... Is it really feasible?"
He felt it was unreliable.
Owen thought for a moment before laughing, "Well, Professor Lu, I previously said you were an experiential playwright, and it seems I was not wrong. Using this method to stimulate the potential performance of the actress might be feasible. Even I am tempted to try it myself."
Shaw couldn't be bothered to respond to his mischievous friend. Instead, he turned to Lu Shi and said, "Lu, you think this could work?"
Lu Shi felt a bit embarrassed but couldn't explain that he was a single man, as it would seem too deliberate. He redirected the conversation, "Mr. Shaw's summary is not wrong. With the experience of the Mouth of Truth, the relationship between the reporter and the princess becomes closer, providing a reasonable explanation for the rapid warming of their feelings, making the logic of the script more smooth."
Shaw and Owen didn't gossip about Lu Shi's romantic life anymore. The three of them refocused their attention on the script.