The filming location was set up in a classroom on the third floor of the teaching building.
The extras had already arrived by 7:30 in the morning.
There were more than 30 students, most of whom were found locally, and a few were familiar faces transferred from the film studio by the production crew.
They sat in their classroom seats, ostensibly waiting for instructions, but their eyes were all fixed in the same direction.
Cheng Che hasn't arrived yet.
But news about him had already spread on set.
Someone saw the candid photos of his costume fitting in the work group last night, someone had heard about his appearance on a variety show in South Korea, and someone even dug up a video of his tennis match.
I heard she's prettier in person than in photos.
"How could that be? The photos are already exaggerated enough."
"Didn't you see the preview? I took thirty screenshots of the running scene."
Several high school girls sat in the back row, their phones hidden under their textbooks, secretly browsing Cheng Che supertopic.
Every time I see a new update, I let out a suppressed scream.
He's wearing his school uniform today!
When were the school uniform photos released? I didn't know.
"Just posted this from the studio, look, look--"
Then the classroom door was pushed open.
Cheng Che walked in.
He was wearing the school uniform from the TV series " The Youth Here ": a white short-sleeved shirt and dark blue trousers, with the shirt tucked into his waistband.
Her hair had been styled by a stylist; it was neither too long nor too short, with wispy strands just covering her eyebrows.
He held the script in his hand, looking down as if confirming something.
The classroom fell silent for a moment.
Then the girl's side exploded.
"It's him--"
"Oh my god, he looks so--"
"I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead..."
A girl sitting in the third row stood up instinctively, but was pulled back down by the classmate next to her.
Another girl covered her mouth, but her eyes were wide open, and she froze on the spot.
Several others huddled together, gripping each other's hands so tightly their nails were almost digging into their flesh.
Cheng Che heard the noise and looked up.
He smiled at them.
The screams started again, this time even louder.
Director Zhou stood up from behind the podium and clapped his hands.
"Quiet! Quiet down!" His voice carried a hint of helplessness. "We haven't even started filming yet, don't scare the actors away."
The extras tried to keep their voices down, but their eyes remained fixed on Cheng Che.
Cheng Che walked to the podium, placed the script on the table, then turned around and said to the extras in the classroom:
"Don't worry, everyone, I'll sign autographs for you after we're done taking pictures."
This sentence is like it's been muted.
The classroom fell silent instantly.
The girls immediately sat up straight, placed their hands on the table, and struck a pose that said, "I'm very well-behaved."
Some people even took out notebooks and pens, having prepared in advance.
Director Zhou, watching this scene from the side, shook his head and said to the assistant director beside him, "This popularity is top-tier."
The assistant director nodded. "He was even more outrageous when he was filming a variety show in South Korea. He was trending on Naver for two days."
Director Zhou didn't say anything more and turned back behind the monitor.
Scene 1, classroom, morning.
Scene: On the first day of senior year, Zhou Ye returned from training on the playground, covered in sweat, and walked into the classroom. Shen Nian was sitting by the window, distributing the new semester's textbooks. This was the first time the two had officially met.
Director Zhou shouted, "Ready!"
Cheng Che walked to the classroom door and took a deep breath.
Then he pushed open the door and went inside.
Sunlight streamed obliquely through the corridor windows, hitting him directly the moment he pushed open the door.
He had just finished "training," his forehead was sweaty, his shirt collar was slightly open, and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows.
His steps were not fast, but each step was steady, with a relaxed feeling after exercise.
[ Stars Surrounding the Moon ] Triggered.
All eyes in the classroom, including those of the extras, unconsciously turned to look.
Director Zhou, behind the camera, stared at the monitor, his eyes lighting up.
Cheng Che walked to his seat, threw his backpack on the table, and then pulled out a chair and sat down.
The movements were executed in one fluid motion, carrying a touch of nonchalant youthful energy.
Then he turned his head to look in Shen Nian's direction.
Wen Zhiyi sat by the window, holding a textbook and writing something with her head down.
Her profile was serene in the light, her hair was tied in a ponytail, and she wore her school uniform neatly.
Cheng Che looked at her and spoke.
"Hey student, do you have any extra new textbooks?"
His voice was soft, but it was clearly audible in the quiet classroom.
His tone was casual, as if it were just a casual question. But the concern in his eyes was unmistakable.
Wen Zhiyi raised her head.
According to the script, she should say, "No, you can get it from the registrar's office," and then continue doing her homework.
But the moment she looked up, she saw Cheng Che's face.
Sunlight streamed in from the window behind him, casting a thin layer of gold on his shoulders.
He tilted his head slightly, looking at her, a faint smile playing on his lips.
That expression held both youthful nonchalance and a certain indescribable seriousness.
Wen Zhiyi was stunned.
Her lines caught in her throat, and her mind went blank for half a second.
She had heard from her agent that Cheng Che was very popular.
It's said that pairing her with this actor is a case of 1+1 being greater than 2, and it also helps boost her popularity.
She didn't feel anything special at the time. She had seen too many handsome male actors and was immune to the word "good-looking."
But then she realized that her agent had made a mistake.
Her ears started to burn.
She lowered her head, pretending to flip through her textbook, and took two seconds to recall her lines.
"No more," she said. "Go to the registrar's office to get them."
The voice was a little lower than usual, and the ending notes were a bit unsteady. But Director Zhou didn't yell "cut" from behind the monitor.
Cheng Che nodded, stood up, and walked towards the classroom door. He paused when he reached her side.
This pause wasn't in the script.
Director Zhou's brow twitched slightly, but he didn't call for a stop.
Cheng Che turned his head and glanced at the textbook in Wen Zhiyi's hand. From that angle, he could just see the red tips of her ears.
He smiled.
Very lightly, very quickly, the corners of her mouth curved upwards and then disappeared.
Then he lifted his foot and continued walking, leaving the classroom.
"Card."
Director Zhou's voice came from behind the monitor.
The classroom fell silent for a moment. Then Director Zhou stood up, his expression somewhat agitated.
"Okay! This one's approved!"
He walked up to Cheng Che and patted him on the shoulder. "Was that pause you added on the spot?"
Cheng Che nodded. "I think with Zhou Ye's personality, he'd take a second look at someone he likes."
Director Zhou stared at him for two seconds, then smiled, "Well done. Just that one look, and Zhou Ye is a perfect fit."
He turned to the assistant director next to the monitor and said, "Keep this footage; we'll include it in the final cut."
Then he looked at Wen Zhiyi.
Wen Zhiyi was looking down at the script, as if nothing had happened.
But her ears were still red.
Director Zhou didn't say anything, he just smiled.
The atmosphere was completely different on the extras' side.
Several girls huddled together, lowering their voices but unable to contain their excitement.
Did you see that laugh just now?
"I saw it, I saw it, that smile he gave Wen Zhiyi-- "
"I also want to be looked at like that."
You're dreaming.
Why does she get to sit there? I want to sit in the last row.
"Go tell the director to change your seat."
"You think I don't want to?--"
Zhao Yiming, who was sitting in front of them, turned around, glanced at them, and looked helpless.
He munched on the Apple Cheng Che had offered him and said to Li Siyuan beside him, "Did you hear that?"
Li Siyuan adjusted his glasses and nodded. "I heard it very clearly."
Zhao Yiming took a bite of the Apple, watching Cheng Che's figure disappear through the door.
"This is only the first day," he said. "There are still two months to go."
Li Siyuan didn't reply, but just glanced down at the script in his hand.
He plays Shen Nian's deskmate, a boy who secretly loves Shen Nian but has never confessed his feelings.
He had just watched Cheng Che's scene and felt that his role was somewhat superfluous.
They just stood there and did nothing; they had already won.