In just two short hours, Rui Xiaodan found herself immersed in the gentle and picturesque scenery of Jiangnan. Hangzhou, with its soft and alluring charm, stood in stark contrast to the rough and hearty atmosphere of the North.
As soon as she stepped out of the airport, she spotted someone holding a sign with her name on it. She quickly approached, and the person, equally quick to meet her, greeted her, "Miss, are you Rui Xiaodan? Director Rui is currently shooting on location and couldn't come himself, so he sent me to pick you up."
Puzzled, Rui Xiaodan asked, "How are you so sure it's me when I haven't even said anything?"
The person chuckled and said, "Your father said the most beautiful and elegant one among the twenty-somethings would surely be you, especially if you're walking towards me."
Rui Xiaodan smiled faintly and followed the person to the parking lot, where they got into a Cherokee Jeep with a "Jianghu" film crew sign displayed on the front windshield. The car then left the airport.
The crew was shooting a scene by West Lake. Probably due to synchronized recording, the crowd watching was silent. Only an actor and an actress in ancient costumes were speaking their lines, while the cameraman, sound technician, and other crew members busied themselves quietly. Rui Xiaodan saw her father sitting under a sunshade, with one foot resting on a prop box and a cup in his hand, intently watching the monitor. The scene was much like the ones she had seen on TV depicting directors at work. Not wanting to disturb him, she waited quietly from a distance.
Throughout her life, Rui Xiaodan only knew her father as a film director and had seen his movies, but this was the first time she had seen him working on set. Observing her father, she noticed he had aged considerably, with many white hairs, loose skin, and a slightly overweight body. Yet, he still seemed spirited, wearing a red T-shirt and jeans, looking younger than his actual age of over fifty.
Once the scene was finished and the crew began preparing for the next shot, Rui Xiaodan approached her father, awkwardly and hesitantly calling out, "Dad."
Rui Weifeng, equally moved but hiding it well, looked his daughter over and said, "Have a seat. Your old man has been waiting for this day. There's a restaurant in Hangzhou that makes a fantastic West Lake vinegar fish. I'll take you there tonight."
Just this one sentence almost brought tears to Rui Xiaodan's eyes. She suddenly felt that her years of coldness towards her father were too harsh, and a wave of guilt washed over her.
The crew members, aware that Rui Weifeng was talking to his daughter, tactfully kept their distance.
Rui Weifeng said regretfully, "You were born to be an actress. If you had applied to the film academy, you'd be a star by now. An actor can redo a scene if it goes wrong, but a cop doesn't get a second chance."
"Dad, why bring this up as soon as we meet?" Rui Xiaodan replied.
Rui Weifeng handed her a bottle of drink, opened it, and waited for her to take a sip before saying, "It's not easy worrying about you all the time. Why didn't you listen to me back then?"
Rui Xiaodan said, "I thought about it at the time. You're a director, and I would have been seen as riding on your coattails, never truly myself. Now, I earn my own living and feel secure."
Rui Weifeng asked, "Is your job good? Can you and Ouyang make some money with your hotel?"
"Everything is fine," Rui Xiaodan said. "This money issue was unexpected. It just came up suddenly." She then briefly explained the background of her request.
After listening, Rui Weifeng thought for a moment and said, "You're in love. That's good, but..."
Rui Xiaodan interrupted, "But whether the other person loves me is still uncertain. This isn't love; it's a one-sided effort."
Rui Weifeng said, "You're not an ordinary girl. The person who catches your eye must be extraordinary. I'm not worried about that. I'm worried whether you can handle such a man."
"Handle?" Rui Xiaodan said. "I haven't thought about it that way. I just want to care for him."
Rui Weifeng nodded, paused for a moment, and said, "This really makes me uncomfortable. You've ignored me since you were six. Where did you get such a temper?"
Rui Xiaodan said, "If you preferred to remain single rather than be with my mom, was she really so unbearable? If you stayed single just to have more women, what kind of behavior is that? Dad, I came here this time to ask for money, and even if I had flattering words to say, don't make me say them now."
Rui Weifeng was about to speak when a crew member called out from a distance, "Director, we're ready." Rui Weifeng stood up and shouted back, "Everyone to your positions, ready for the next shot!" Then, turning to Rui Xiaodan, he said, "I'll have someone take you back to the hotel. Your room is booked. We'll talk more tonight."
Rui Xiaodan watched her father hurry towards the actors.