The Purple Rose of Cairo (Part Five) Although it was only a few short months, Li Ling attended several film festivals and visited many different places. She was delighted to see that her role and their film were liked by so many people around the world. However, what made Li Ling most anxious was the evaluation from her own people. Soon, "Dream Addiction" and "Atheism" were about to be released domestically one after another. On the eve of the release of "Dream Addiction," some negative voices appeared on social media. Some maliciously extracted parts of overseas media reviews and distorted the interpretation of the film. Others mocked Li Ling for over-marketing during this period, making people annoyed, and suggested she might have bought a fake award for Best Actress. However, this nonsense was easily debunked. After all, "Dream Addiction" received genuine acclaim overseas. What surprised Li Ling was that quite a few people actually stood up to support her. Even before "Dream Addiction" was released, many actors, directors, and even behind-the-scenes editors and photographers who had worked with her all paid out of their own pockets to book theaters in support. The film's pre-sales and first-day box office were impressive, and it continued to perform better than some professional software predictions. Everything was going well. Everything was smoother than Li Ling had imagined. It seemed like everyone was helping her, and she no longer encountered any obstacles. Even for Jin Jingyao himself, "Dream Addiction" was a breakthrough. Most of his previous films were critically acclaimed but not commercially successful, and this film completely broke his box office record. Some believed that Jin Jingyao used "Dream Addiction" to prove his ability to balance commercial storytelling with auteur filmmaking, and also demonstrated his greater potential as a director. In terms of genre, it wasn't an absolute commercial film. But it had enough rich emotions and expressive desires to evoke empathy from more people. Perhaps it was because he had always been making films for himself, walking a lonely path that would eventually lead to a creative bottleneck. But this time, he made a film for someone else. The person he loved. This was another door, another path. Of course, most ordinary viewers had a simple three-word reaction to "Dream Addiction." "Too painful." "I'm dead." "I've never felt this much pain in my life." "My mom asked why I went into the cinema standing and came out lying down." The first batch of viewers who saw the film almost all came out crying. Even the most enthusiastic fans of the film on social media suggested that viewers shouldn't bring tissues, but rather a respirator. Fortunately, at this time, the assistant director released a secretly filmed documentary of the crew, "Did the Director Fall in Love Today?" Its effect was even better than a respirator. Fans who were hurt by the film immediately revived on the spot, fully recharged. Because, as painful as the movie was, the documentary was just as sweet!!! On the surface, the documentary recorded how the male and female leads gradually went from strangers to being so in sync that they could understand each other with just a glance. But actually, the female lead went from stranger to familiar. And the director seemed to have been one-sidedly infatuated from the very beginning!!! Female lead's perspective: This scene wasn't acted well. Director: Don't cut her outtakes, not even a second. Female lead's perspective: Misread lines, tongue-tied NG. She felt very embarrassed, laughing while lying on the table. She didn't know that Jin Jingyao would secretly watch her every time and show the same expression. Director: Observing in secret.At first, she would laugh, while he pretended to be serious, pretending to have no expression. Later, he would laugh along with her. It was as if a clumsy robot had learned to make expressions. Whether they were acting or not, he was always secretly watching Li Ling. The scenes they filmed, their physical contact was so natural, it hardly seemed acted. The assistant director had just explained to the camera, "The director doesn't like physical contact." Then the director started changing the script in various ways, finding reasons to get close to the female lead. Before watching the documentary, Li Ling had no idea that he was changing the script all day long, appearing so dedicated on the surface. In reality, it was all to add those scenes!!!! Other staff members would also say in interviews that they were grateful to Li Ling for making their crew more relaxed and lively. But in fact, Jin Jingyao's previous crews were not like this. He was polite and composed in front of others, but it seemed lifeless, and not many people dared to approach him. Even the assistant director marveled, realizing after filming "Dream Addiction" that the director was just a young man. Li Ling seemed to change him bit by bit. You could also say she peeled him layer by layer, allowing him to finally become his more authentic self. Fans created a separate entry on Douban for "Did the Director Fall in Love Today?" A five-star review read: "This documentary is like 'Behind the Dream,' and together with 'Dream Addiction,' it forms the most complete work. It turns out the behind-the-scenes story of a movie can be as exciting as the movie itself. The movie is great, and making the movie is also great; they both feel like a dream." After the release of "Dream Addiction," Li Ling became completely famous. She can no longer casually go out to eat or take the subway; she would be surrounded by people. A better solution is to go out with Jin Jingyao. At such times, people are less likely to interrupt her; they would just blush and watch them, secretly taking photos and silently offering their blessings. Li Ling would randomly make heart gestures to the camera. Jin Jingyao would still often get jealous unless Li Ling made the gesture to him as well. Many actors develop feelings because of a movie. They did not. Their feelings went from reality into the movie, and then from the movie back to reality. The audience will always bless them. Because the ending of "Dream Addiction" is just too sad. If reality could rewrite the movie's ending, wouldn't that be a good thing? But what if they knew that these sad plots were actually born from an even sadder reality? Li Ling thought it was better not to know everything. In both reality and drama, there are many regrets, pains, and imperfections. Now she just wants to share more happy things with those who like her. And in "Dream Addiction," there will always be a part that belongs only to her and the director. It's enough that they know. - "Dream Addiction" soon had a global release. One rainy afternoon, Mrs. He also walked into a suburban cinema to watch the film. Ten years ago, Li Ling had been her deceased husband's muse in "Yesterday's Sun." And ten years later, this actress had become the muse of another genius director. Every shot of that young director was so passionate, filled with love for the female lead. Mrs. He couldn't bear to finish the movie. She hated this film, hated the deceased He Wei, hated herself. Gazing at the flashing big screen, she felt as if she were being overwhelmed by a massive illusion.She remembered when she was newly married, she had many fantasies about He Wei. She would repeatedly hold his neck and ask him, "Which is more important, the movies or me?" For many years, she regarded movies as her imaginary enemy, the culprit that took her husband away. She thought all directors would be equally selfish, indifferent, and hypocritical. Why, why could someone be favored, and that person was not her? She walked out of the cinema in a daze, only to be stopped by the local media. They seemed to be doing some program, randomly interviewing the audience about their impressions of the movie. Rationally, Mrs. He knew she shouldn't stop. She had been harassed by unscrupulous media for a long time, moved several times, and had only recently found some peace. But emotionally, she was completely out of control, babbling into the microphone, "I don't understand, why is she so lucky? Why does everyone love her? What's so great about her? Why..." The host looked surprised, "Lucky? Are you talking about the heroine, Li Ling? As far as I know, her past was quite rough—" The cameraman beside him suddenly nudged him with his elbow. The blonde, blue-eyed host paused, then suddenly changed his expression, looking Mrs. He up and down. "By the way, ma'am, I haven't asked your name yet." He smiled, using a professional tone to cover his sudden excitement. Mrs. He felt a chill all over, sensing the probing gaze like a fly. These people recognized her. She nervously pinched her mask, turned, and walked away quickly. The host still reluctantly followed, asking more unpleasant and piercing questions, attacking her, hurting her. She was drenched in cold sweat, stumbling back home. As soon as she entered, she heard some unusual sounds. ...It was the low moans of a man and a woman. She stiffened, all the blood rushing to her head. She heard her husband, how he was working hard to please another woman, complaining to her about how his wife's past had made their whole family restless. "I thought you loved her," the woman giggled. "Love? If it weren't for that old woman having money..." her husband sneered, "The money isn't even hers; she inherited it from that dead old man. By the way, when she was with me, she was still Mrs. He." "Wow, that's so exciting," the woman said, "Isn't that just like me and you now?" "Yeah, baby..." her husband growled lowly. Mrs. He stood at the door, listening blankly, her face gradually turning paler than a corpse. The door was still open, and the cold wind blew in, the pouring rain instantly soaking her from head to toe. Unwilling to hear those disgusting sounds in the house, she had to step back a few steps and gently close the door. As if by doing so, nothing had ever happened. She still had a happy family, a husband who had never betrayed her. The November rain had a bone-chilling cold. Mrs. He stood miserably in the rain, looking at the tightly closed door, her lips trembling. Passersby occasionally cast strange glances at her. She suddenly felt fear. She recalled many years ago, the young girl who had once collapsed at her door in the heavy rain. At that time, she had no sympathy for Li Ling. She stood at the second-floor window, looking down at her, feeling a complete, vengeful joy. Unfortunately, she lived too long. After the satisfying ending, there would be a longer life. The same knife still cut into her own flesh. Ten years later, Li Ling's face still appeared on the big screen, adored by countless people. The girl who wanted to make movies and become an actress had achieved all she desired. Meanwhile, Mrs. He wanted a complete family, a husband who loved her wholeheartedly. At this moment, she could only stand in the pouring rain, continuing to guard her precarious and false happiness. They each got what they wanted, walked their chosen paths, and reached their desired endings. - On New Year's Eve, Li Ling spent the day with the film crew. "Dream Addiction" was still in theaters, and Jin Jingyao had already prepared a new film project. In the new movie, Li Ling was still the leading actress, but Jin himself would no longer act, focusing entirely on directing. Although he appeared calm on the surface, Li Ling knew that the Best Actress trophy from the Dongcheng Film Festival had deeply affected Director Jin. So he vowed to win an even bigger trophy for Li Ling in the new year. On the first day of the new year, they had planned to stay up together, but before midnight, Li Ling had already fallen asleep in Jin Jingyao's arms from exhaustion. The faint sound of firecrackers came from outside the window. He muted the TV, carried Li Ling from the sofa to the bed. He helped her put on her pajamas, carefully buttoning each button, trying not to look where he shouldn't. She slept peacefully, evoking a sense of tenderness. Midnight passed, marking their second year together. He lowered his head and gently kissed her brow. Silently, he made a wish in his heart to be together every year from now on. Suddenly, the screen of the phone beside them lit up. Jin Jingyao picked up her phone, saw the familiar number, frowned slightly, and hung up. The caller was persistent, dialing several more times. Jin Jingyao, growing impatient, finally answered. From the other end came a suppressed yet excited panting. "Sister, Happy New Year," Luo Mingqing said in a strange tone. He paused and continued, "Don't worry, no one will ever disturb you again. I won't disturb you either." For some reason, it was eerily quiet on Luo Mingqing's end, like a deathly silence, causing an inexplicable sense of fear and unease. There was a rustling sound, and then a faint, hoarse moan came through the receiver. An old voice said, "Help, help me..." The voice quickly faded, as if someone had stomped on him hard, blood choking his throat. On the other end, Luo Mingqing stood in a pool of blood. A bizarre, almost maniacal smile hung on his face. The glaring headlights of the car cast a white light, making his figure appear even more sinister. Chen Fei lay under the car wheels, his crushed body barely alive, gasping heavily, his old face distorted by pain. Luo Mingqing, even more excited, bent down and squatted on the ground. He repeatedly brought the phone to the man's lips, letting Li Ling hear his dying moans. The old mouth opened and closed, but could no longer utter filthy words, only spitting out dirty blood over and over, like an outdated phonograph, emitting a hoarse, metallic death rattle, rough and grating. "Sister, did you hear that?" Luo Mingqing said excitedly, "He's dying. I avenged you." There was no response from the other end. He continued to plead, "Sister, say something, please? Let me hear your voice, one last time... I turned myself in..." Luo Mingqing heard a busy signal. The call was disconnected. Jin Jingyao sat in the dark, expressionless, turned off the phone, and locked it in the drawer. He knew that before the movie was released, the baseless attacks on "Dream Addiction" in the media were almost all orchestrated by Chen Fei. Those words were utterly indefensible, just the antics of a clown. He also knew that the encryption key for "Dream Addiction" had just expired a couple of days ago, and it had been pulled from theaters. Luo Mingqing had deliberately timed it this way, not wanting to affect the film. But it seemed that this was all the trash could do for her. There were many ways to seek revenge, and he chose the most foolish and extreme one. Some people play madmen in movies, while others destroy themselves in reality. None of this had anything to do with them anymore. Li Ling lay on Jin Jingyao's lap. The moonlight faintly illuminated her peaceful sleeping face, and he gently kissed the warm top of her head. She did not wake up. Everything was over. She would completely say goodbye to her past. On the first day of the new year, she would no longer be disturbed by nightmares. From now on, every day for her would be a beautiful dream.