Ji Xiaokang rushed into the other room of the earthen house and saw a disheveled woman with white hair, wearing old clothes, holding a pillow. There were broken pieces of a mirror on the floor. Seeing that she was okay, Ji Xiaokang breathed a sigh of relief.
The room had very few furnishings, and sharp objects were all put away. In families like theirs, there was no concept of covering sharp corners. They didn’t have the time or energy for such things. It was most convenient to just clear out an empty room.
As Ji Xiaokang picked up the pieces of the mirror, he asked, “What happened again?”
The woman replied seriously, “My son is missing.”
Ji Xiaokang said, “I am your son.”
His mother accused him, “You’re lying to me. You’re either a scammer or a human trafficker who kidnapped my son.”
With that, Ji Xiaokang’s mother jumped off the bed and started throwing other things from the bedroom at him. Although there were no sharp objects in the room, there were still chairs and stools, and there was a small pig ornament on the table, all of which hit Ji Xiaokang.
Some comedies tell stories that should make people cry in a humorous way, so it is reasonable to say that the core of comedy is tragedy.
The first comedic moment in “Bright Future” was Ji Xiaokang getting beaten up. The director added a humorous style of music to accompany this scene. Ji Xiaokang rhythmically took the hits while picking up the things his mother had thrown, and finally escaped from the room. His mother chased after him, even grabbing a chopper from the corner of the yard.
Comedic moments could be created through editing and music. This scene indeed elicited laughter from many viewers, but there were also some who thought too much and couldn’t find it funny.
Such as Qin Chunxiao.
Even though Lu Xuandong never talked about his past hardships with his soulmate, Qin Chunxiao knew that Lu Xuandong had a difficult past. In the movie, Ji Xiaokang was thin and weak, with a natural expression and tone, even with a slight accent, making it feel incredibly real. If it weren’t for Lu Xuandong’s amazing acting skills, being able to portray such authenticity in his first acting role, it must be because he had experienced these things himself.
Director Jiang also didn’t laugh because this scene was based on Lu Xuandong’s real experiences, which she incorporated into the film after obtaining his consent. She murmured, “Damn human traffickers.”
After a chaotic scene, the camera shifted, and Ji Xiaokang went to the health center to see a doctor for his mother’s injury. The doctor was not surprised and said, “Your mother has Alzheimer’s disease, there’s no cure.”
The doctor looked at him and said, “Xiaokang, with only nine years of compulsory education, it’s tough to get by in this society, and having a mother like yours will make it even harder for you in the future.”
After a moment of silence, Ji Xiaokang shaked his head and said, “When Uncle Li’s mother was diagnosed with this disease, he left for work in another city, and then a few days later, his mother starved to death at home. I can’t just abandon her. She’s my mother. I can’t let her end up like that.”
In a very impoverished mountain village, when an elderly person got an incurable disease, and their children go to work in other places, leaving the elderly alone at home, it was often seen as giving up on them. The doctor’s implication to Ji Xiaokang was the same, but he firmly shaked his head.
He sai, “I’ll go work, but I’ll take my mother with me. The world is vast, and we’ll find our place.”
The story unfolded from there, and the audience saw this thin young man carrying his mother on his back, with his belongings hanging around his neck, embarking on a journey to find work in the city.
He took his mother to catch a bus, but she almost got lost when going to the forest on the side of the road to use the bathroom. At the bus station, they almost lose their luggage, and later, they almost miss the bus. A young boy in his teens couldn’t take care of everything, but he tried his best to change their circumstances, evoking a sense of heartache in the viewers.
However, the comedic situation of the protagonist’s mother running around led to another humorous scene, where Ji Xiaokang encountered a group of rock-style college students. After helping them out, the rockers helped Ji Xiaokang carry his luggage onto the bus and bid him farewell with a wave.
Accompanied by cheerful music, the sunlight shined inside the bus. Ji Xiaokang held his mother’s hand tightly, gazing outside the window, full of hope for the future.
That same glimmer in Qin Chunxiao’s eyes, which he had never seen in Lu Xuandong before they met for the first tme, was present in the movie’s character Ji Xiaokang. Compared to the present-day Lu Xuandong, the demeanor of the character Ji Xiaokang was much more innocent and happier than the previous Lu Xuandong.
During meals, he would make some sounds. His clothes were neat and clean, but old-fashioned, exuding a strong rural flavor. At first glance, one could tell he was a child of the land, vibrant, resilient, and simple.
Qin Chunxiao reminisced about the past life of Lu Xuandong, recalling the first time they met. At that time, Lu Xuandong’s eyes were already dim, though he was only three and a half years older than Qin Chunxiao, a promising young man under twenty-six. Yet, he lacked the exuberance and vitality typical of someone his age, and instead carried an aura of imminent collapse.
So, this was Lu Xuandong’s original appearance. When he initially escaped from that village, he must have wanted to go somewhere else to live a better life.
However, good days don’t come so easily, do they? In the movie, Ji Xiaokang took his mother to seek shelter from his uncle, but he found out that his uncle’s family was also struggling. It wasn’t easy to settle down in the big city. The uncle earned a monthly salary of four thousand, and his aunt was disabled. He was the sole breadwinner, so they could only afford to rent a small one-bedroom apartment. They worried about the children’s school fees and the elderly’s medical expenses every day.
Sometimes people didn’t lack the will to do good deeds; it’s just that they don’t have money. Without money, they can’t afford to do good deeds.
Ji Xiaokang and his mother stayed on the balcony at his uncle’s house for a few days. One night, his uncle’s wife pushed him in front of Ji Xiaokang, wearing a wooden expression, and handed him two hundred yuan.
“Xiaokang… you’ve seen our situation. We really can’t live here anymore, really can’t.”
Ji Xiaokang looked up quietly at his uncle, understanding and imploring in his eyes. The uncle kept repeating “can’t live here,” squatting in front of Ji Xiaokang, smiling awkwardly. As he laughed, tears streamed down his face. Ji Xiaokang stood up, packed his bags, and led his mother away.
This time, his mother looked obedient.
Qin Chunxiao thought that when he heard that Lu Xuandong had left the village with his stepmother and younger sister, the first place he went was also his uncle’s house.
Compared to the conscientious uncle in the movie, the one in reality who sold his demented sister to Meijia Village was originally a trafficker and knew about Lu Xuandong’s background.
What did the human trafficker think when he saw Lu Xuandong carrying his demented sister? Was he afraid? Did he feel guilty? These were things that outsiders wouldn’t know. When Lu Xuandong talked about his uncle’s family at the age of 18, he simply said, “I found out that my uncle didn’t want us, so I took my mother and sister and ran away.”
He used the word “ran away,” which suggested that he might have experienced some dangerous situations.
Qin Chunxiao believed that if he was placed as Lu Xuandong in the environment he was in as a child, he wouldn’t be the way he was now. Perhaps he would have been swallowed up by that village.
But Lu Xuandong survived and eventually broke free from his fate. In the movie, Ji Xiaokang’s uncle could still give two hundred yuan to his nephew. After Ji Xiaokang and his mother roamed the streets for two days, some rock-loving university students provided them with cheap accommodations, and Ji Xiaokang was able to practice drums and pursue vocal training while working. He could also find a sanatorium for his mother.
All these things were something that the real-life Lu Xuandong didn’t have.
“The Bright Future” was initially positioned as a New Year’s film, so even if there was human suffering, in the end, the protagonist would turn things around. Through various coincidences, he would find his way to success.
In reality, Lu Xuandong had endured so much suffering that only he could truly understand it. Thankfully, from the moment he was driven out by his uncle, the movie began to take the route of “a poor kid stumbling upon good luck and pursuing dreams in the entertainment industry.” The bitter undertone was buried under numerous comedic elements, and the audience kept laughing. Judging from their reactions, the film was at least passable.
As the movie was about to end, Lu Xuandong greeted Director Jiang and quietly left, returning to his own car.
He didn’t regret making “The Bright Future” because he was still in debt when he took on this film. He needed money, and it was only natural for him to enter the film circle to earn more.
But looking back on everything in this movie, he seemed to see himself from many years ago. Of course, the real him at fourteen or fifteen was not as fortunate and happy as the one in the movie. At that time, he was always uncertain about where to find his next meal, where to sing on the streets tomorrow, and where to spend the night. He also had to take care of his stepmother and sister.
He dedicated his past self to this movie. It was not a beautiful, shriveled, weak, and rustic self, someone slightly intimidated by the city.
Suddenly, Lu Xuandong became curious about how Qin Chunxiao would feel after seeing him in this movie. Would Little Qin despise him? Lu Xuandong shook his head, feeling that Little Qin was not that kind of person.
But when they first met, Lu Xuandong had already been transformed into a glamorous and beautiful star in the entertainment industry. Many fans considered the photos of him from his early debut as “black history.” The version of him in the movie was even less attractive than when he debuted. Would Qin Chunxiao tease him, saying, “You’ve become much more handsome over the years”?
Leaning against the car, Lu Xuandong let his mind go blank, suppressing the complex emotions within him skillfully.
After a while, the passenger door was opened, and Qin Chunxiao sat in. Lu Xuandong noticed that his eyes were somewhat red. His blue eyes were still bright, but today, they looked like they had been washed with water, making them especially clear.
They looked at each other, and Qin Chunxiao embraced Lu Xuandong, tilting his head slightly to rest it against Lu Xuandong’s cheek, patting his back gently, like an elder brother comforting a child who had suffered many grievances.
Qin Chunxiao felt a lot of pity for the fourteen or fifteen-year-old Lu Xuandong. So he wanted to console him, and that was why he gave him this hug.
Lu Xuandong was taken aback, and his eyes started to feel sour. His vision began to blur, and tears accumulated in his eyes much faster than he had anticipated.
Many children could endure when they feel wronged, but when their parents comfort them, they suddenly can’t hold back their tears. Lu Xuandong had never experienced the care of parents before, and since he was young, he could only rely on himself. Now, for the first time in his life, he had found a place where he could shed tears.
Lu Xuandonga always had a child in his heart. In these twenty years, that child had been fearful and lonely in a world full of malice. Now, someone had finally come to comfort him and made him feel safe.
He closed his eyes and buried himself in Qin Chunxiao’s neck, silently sobbing. Hot tears streamed down, slowly dissolving the pent-up frustrations that have weighed on his heart for many years.
Lu Xuandong thought, Chunxiao, I‘ve been so tired all these years. The burden on my shoulders was so heavy, and there were so many people who looked down on me. There were several times when I almost collapsed. But luckily, I held on until I met you. The heavens have been kind to me, and you are the proof of that kindness.
Qin Chunxiao caressed Lu Xuandong’s trembling back, feeling the warmth and moisture on his shoulders. If he could speak, he would definitely curse those villains with Lu Xuandong because, based on Qin Chunxiao’s experience, the best way to comfort a friend when they encounter villains was to curse them together and, if necessary, roll up their sleeves and fight the villains together.
After a while, Lu Xuandong’s emotions finally calmed down, and Qin Chunxiao sat up straight, raising his phone.
[Xuan Dong, you’re amazing.]
To be able to endure so much suffering and make it to this point, you’re truly incredible.
Lu Xuandong sniffed and embarrassingly lowered his head to wipe his eyes. But Qin Chunxiao reached out and pressed the back of his head, touching their forehead to forehead and smiling at Lu Xuandong from such a close distance, his gem-like eyes curving with joy.
Lu Xuandong also smiled, nodding vigorously, revealing a genuine and childlike expression for the first time.
600:15:30.
585:33:21.
Ji Xiaokang rushed into the other room of the earthen house and saw a disheveled woman with white hair, wearing old clothes, holding a pillow. There were broken pieces of a mirror on the floor. Seeing that she was okay, Ji Xiaokang breathed a sigh of relief.
The room had very few furnishings, and sharp objects were all put away. In families like theirs, there was no concept of covering sharp corners. They didn’t have the time or energy for such things. It was most convenient to just clear out an empty room.
As Ji Xiaokang picked up the pieces of the mirror, he asked, “What happened again?”
The woman replied seriously, “My son is missing.”
Ji Xiaokang said, “I am your son.”
His mother accused him, “You’re lying to me. You’re either a scammer or a human trafficker who kidnapped my son.”
With that, Ji Xiaokang’s mother jumped off the bed and started throwing other things from the bedroom at him. Although there were no sharp objects in the room, there were still chairs and stools, and there was a small pig ornament on the table, all of which hit Ji Xiaokang.
Some comedies tell stories that should make people cry in a humorous way, so it is reasonable to say that the core of comedy is tragedy.
The first comedic moment in “Bright Future” was Ji Xiaokang getting beaten up. The director added a humorous style of music to accompany this scene. Ji Xiaokang rhythmically took the hits while picking up the things his mother had thrown, and finally escaped from the room. His mother chased after him, even grabbing a chopper from the corner of the yard.
Comedic moments could be created through editing and music. This scene indeed elicited laughter from many viewers, but there were also some who thought too much and couldn’t find it funny.
Such as Qin Chunxiao.
Even though Lu Xuandong never talked about his past hardships with his soulmate, Qin Chunxiao knew that Lu Xuandong had a difficult past. In the movie, Ji Xiaokang was thin and weak, with a natural expression and tone, even with a slight accent, making it feel incredibly real. If it weren’t for Lu Xuandong’s amazing acting skills, being able to portray such authenticity in his first acting role, it must be because he had experienced these things himself.
Director Jiang also didn’t laugh because this scene was based on Lu Xuandong’s real experiences, which she incorporated into the film after obtaining his consent. She murmured, “Damn human traffickers.”
After a chaotic scene, the camera shifted, and Ji Xiaokang went to the health center to see a doctor for his mother’s injury. The doctor was not surprised and said, “Your mother has Alzheimer’s disease, there’s no cure.”
The doctor looked at him and said, “Xiaokang, with only nine years of compulsory education, it’s tough to get by in this society, and having a mother like yours will make it even harder for you in the future.”
After a moment of silence, Ji Xiaokang shaked his head and said, “When Uncle Li’s mother was diagnosed with this disease, he left for work in another city, and then a few days later, his mother starved to death at home. I can’t just abandon her. She’s my mother. I can’t let her end up like that.”
In a very impoverished mountain village, when an elderly person got an incurable disease, and their children go to work in other places, leaving the elderly alone at home, it was often seen as giving up on them. The doctor’s implication to Ji Xiaokang was the same, but he firmly shaked his head.
He sai, “I’ll go work, but I’ll take my mother with me. The world is vast, and we’ll find our place.”
The story unfolded from there, and the audience saw this thin young man carrying his mother on his back, with his belongings hanging around his neck, embarking on a journey to find work in the city.
He took his mother to catch a bus, but she almost got lost when going to the forest on the side of the road to use the bathroom. At the bus station, they almost lose their luggage, and later, they almost miss the bus. A young boy in his teens couldn’t take care of everything, but he tried his best to change their circumstances, evoking a sense of heartache in the viewers.
However, the comedic situation of the protagonist’s mother running around led to another humorous scene, where Ji Xiaokang encountered a group of rock-style college students. After helping them out, the rockers helped Ji Xiaokang carry his luggage onto the bus and bid him farewell with a wave.
Accompanied by cheerful music, the sunlight shined inside the bus. Ji Xiaokang held his mother’s hand tightly, gazing outside the window, full of hope for the future.
That same glimmer in Qin Chunxiao’s eyes, which he had never seen in Lu Xuandong before they met for the first tme, was present in the movie’s character Ji Xiaokang. Compared to the present-day Lu Xuandong, the demeanor of the character Ji Xiaokang was much more innocent and happier than the previous Lu Xuandong.
During meals, he would make some sounds. His clothes were neat and clean, but old-fashioned, exuding a strong rural flavor. At first glance, one could tell he was a child of the land, vibrant, resilient, and simple.
Qin Chunxiao reminisced about the past life of Lu Xuandong, recalling the first time they met. At that time, Lu Xuandong’s eyes were already dim, though he was only three and a half years older than Qin Chunxiao, a promising young man under twenty-six. Yet, he lacked the exuberance and vitality typical of someone his age, and instead carried an aura of imminent collapse.
So, this was Lu Xuandong’s original appearance. When he initially escaped from that village, he must have wanted to go somewhere else to live a better life.
However, good days don’t come so easily, do they? In the movie, Ji Xiaokang took his mother to seek shelter from his uncle, but he found out that his uncle’s family was also struggling. It wasn’t easy to settle down in the big city. The uncle earned a monthly salary of four thousand, and his aunt was disabled. He was the sole breadwinner, so they could only afford to rent a small one-bedroom apartment. They worried about the children’s school fees and the elderly’s medical expenses every day.
Sometimes people didn’t lack the will to do good deeds; it’s just that they don’t have money. Without money, they can’t afford to do good deeds.
Ji Xiaokang and his mother stayed on the balcony at his uncle’s house for a few days. One night, his uncle’s wife pushed him in front of Ji Xiaokang, wearing a wooden expression, and handed him two hundred yuan.
“Xiaokang… you’ve seen our situation. We really can’t live here anymore, really can’t.”
Ji Xiaokang looked up quietly at his uncle, understanding and imploring in his eyes. The uncle kept repeating “can’t live here,” squatting in front of Ji Xiaokang, smiling awkwardly. As he laughed, tears streamed down his face. Ji Xiaokang stood up, packed his bags, and led his mother away.
This time, his mother looked obedient.
Qin Chunxiao thought that when he heard that Lu Xuandong had left the village with his stepmother and younger sister, the first place he went was also his uncle’s house.
Compared to the conscientious uncle in the movie, the one in reality who sold his demented sister to Meijia Village was originally a trafficker and knew about Lu Xuandong’s background.
What did the human trafficker think when he saw Lu Xuandong carrying his demented sister? Was he afraid? Did he feel guilty? These were things that outsiders wouldn’t know. When Lu Xuandong talked about his uncle’s family at the age of 18, he simply said, “I found out that my uncle didn’t want us, so I took my mother and sister and ran away.”
He used the word “ran away,” which suggested that he might have experienced some dangerous situations.
Qin Chunxiao believed that if he was placed as Lu Xuandong in the environment he was in as a child, he wouldn’t be the way he was now. Perhaps he would have been swallowed up by that village.
But Lu Xuandong survived and eventually broke free from his fate. In the movie, Ji Xiaokang’s uncle could still give two hundred yuan to his nephew. After Ji Xiaokang and his mother roamed the streets for two days, some rock-loving university students provided them with cheap accommodations, and Ji Xiaokang was able to practice drums and pursue vocal training while working. He could also find a sanatorium for his mother.
All these things were something that the real-life Lu Xuandong didn’t have.
“The Bright Future” was initially positioned as a New Year’s film, so even if there was human suffering, in the end, the protagonist would turn things around. Through various coincidences, he would find his way to success.
In reality, Lu Xuandong had endured so much suffering that only he could truly understand it. Thankfully, from the moment he was driven out by his uncle, the movie began to take the route of “a poor kid stumbling upon good luck and pursuing dreams in the entertainment industry.” The bitter undertone was buried under numerous comedic elements, and the audience kept laughing. Judging from their reactions, the film was at least passable.
As the movie was about to end, Lu Xuandong greeted Director Jiang and quietly left, returning to his own car.
He didn’t regret making “The Bright Future” because he was still in debt when he took on this film. He needed money, and it was only natural for him to enter the film circle to earn more.
But looking back on everything in this movie, he seemed to see himself from many years ago. Of course, the real him at fourteen or fifteen was not as fortunate and happy as the one in the movie. At that time, he was always uncertain about where to find his next meal, where to sing on the streets tomorrow, and where to spend the night. He also had to take care of his stepmother and sister.
He dedicated his past self to this movie. It was not a beautiful, shriveled, weak, and rustic self, someone slightly intimidated by the city.
Suddenly, Lu Xuandong became curious about how Qin Chunxiao would feel after seeing him in this movie. Would Little Qin despise him? Lu Xuandong shook his head, feeling that Little Qin was not that kind of person.
But when they first met, Lu Xuandong had already been transformed into a glamorous and beautiful star in the entertainment industry. Many fans considered the photos of him from his early debut as “black history.” The version of him in the movie was even less attractive than when he debuted. Would Qin Chunxiao tease him, saying, “You’ve become much more handsome over the years”?
Leaning against the car, Lu Xuandong let his mind go blank, suppressing the complex emotions within him skillfully.
After a while, the passenger door was opened, and Qin Chunxiao sat in. Lu Xuandong noticed that his eyes were somewhat red. His blue eyes were still bright, but today, they looked like they had been washed with water, making them especially clear.
They looked at each other, and Qin Chunxiao embraced Lu Xuandong, tilting his head slightly to rest it against Lu Xuandong’s cheek, patting his back gently, like an elder brother comforting a child who had suffered many grievances.
Qin Chunxiao felt a lot of pity for the fourteen or fifteen-year-old Lu Xuandong. So he wanted to console him, and that was why he gave him this hug.
Lu Xuandong was taken aback, and his eyes started to feel sour. His vision began to blur, and tears accumulated in his eyes much faster than he had anticipated.
Many children could endure when they feel wronged, but when their parents comfort them, they suddenly can’t hold back their tears. Lu Xuandong had never experienced the care of parents before, and since he was young, he could only rely on himself. Now, for the first time in his life, he had found a place where he could shed tears.
Lu Xuandonga always had a child in his heart. In these twenty years, that child had been fearful and lonely in a world full of malice. Now, someone had finally come to comfort him and made him feel safe.
He closed his eyes and buried himself in Qin Chunxiao’s neck, silently sobbing. Hot tears streamed down, slowly dissolving the pent-up frustrations that have weighed on his heart for many years.
Lu Xuandong thought, Chunxiao, I‘ve been so tired all these years. The burden on my shoulders was so heavy, and there were so many people who looked down on me. There were several times when I almost collapsed. But luckily, I held on until I met you. The heavens have been kind to me, and you are the proof of that kindness.
Qin Chunxiao caressed Lu Xuandong’s trembling back, feeling the warmth and moisture on his shoulders. If he could speak, he would definitely curse those villains with Lu Xuandong because, based on Qin Chunxiao’s experience, the best way to comfort a friend when they encounter villains was to curse them together and, if necessary, roll up their sleeves and fight the villains together.
After a while, Lu Xuandong’s emotions finally calmed down, and Qin Chunxiao sat up straight, raising his phone.
[Xuan Dong, you’re amazing.]
To be able to endure so much suffering and make it to this point, you’re truly incredible.
Lu Xuandong sniffed and embarrassingly lowered his head to wipe his eyes. But Qin Chunxiao reached out and pressed the back of his head, touching their forehead to forehead and smiling at Lu Xuandong from such a close distance, his gem-like eyes curving with joy.
Lu Xuandong also smiled, nodding vigorously, revealing a genuine and childlike expression for the first time.
600:15:30.
585:33:21.
