Chapter 72

"Alright, everyone, pay attention. This is the last shot, let's get it right the first time." Xia Hou Zhongying shouted to the people on the set, then turned to look at the six girls, Jin Taeyeon, Lin Yoonah, Park Gyuri, and the others, and said, "In a moment, you six need to listen to the command. The line 'Welcome back' needs to be said simultaneously. Got it?"

"Got it." The six girls replied.

"Alright, makeup artist, is Sooyoung's makeup done yet?" Xia Hou Zhongying turned to ask the makeup artist who was still working on Jeong Sooyoung.

"Director, almost done." The makeup artist replied.

After a while, Jeong Sooyoung returned to the center of the frame and nodded at Xia Hou Zhongying.

"OK, everything is ready." Xia Hou Zhongying tightly clenched his fist, "Action."

Jin Taeyeon stood up from the desk, glanced at Lin Yoonah, Park Gyuri, and the other five girls, then smiled and walked towards Jeong Sooyoung standing at the classroom door, gently extending her right hand, palm down.

Following her, Lin Yoonah's hand also placed on top, then Park Gyuri's, Han Seungyeon's, Kim Sunghee's, and Lee Soojin's, the six hands stacked together.

"Welcome back." The six girls looked at Jeong Sooyoung and said with a smile.

Jeong Sooyoung, with tears in her eyes, took a step forward.

"Close-up on Sooyoung's face." Xia Hou Zhongying said softly.

Jeong Sooyoung also extended her right hand, trembling slightly, and placed it on top.

"Close-up on the hands." Xia Hou Zhongying said softly again.

The camera zoomed in, and the seven hands stacked together filled the screen.

"Props."

The staff member, who had been waiting above the seven girls' hands, quickly held a test tube and gently squeezed it, a drop of water slowly falling and then accelerating in free fall.

The water drop landed on the back of Jeong Sooyoung's hand, which was on top, splashing in all directions.

"OK, very good." Xia Hou Zhongying, who had been closely monitoring the shooting screen connected to the computer, let out a sigh of relief and stood up with a smile after the final shot was completed without any errors.

"Phew..." Everyone on the set immediately cheered and hugged the people closest to them in celebration.

After nearly three months, the filming of the movie was finally completed at this moment.

The moment Xia Hou Zhongying announced the end, the seven girls were so happy that they laughed, cried, and jumped, hugging each other tightly. Then, Jeong Sooyoung also rushed into the group, followed by Kwon Yuri, Sulli, Hwang Miyoung, and Lee Leesoo, who had also come to the classroom set today, joining the celebration. This was their first movie and their first appearance in front of the camera, which might also be a turning point in their lives.

"It's not easy, finally over." Kwon Sangkyung walked to Xia Hou Zhongying and watched the girls jumping and hugging, smiling. This was also his first movie as an assistant director, and he felt a great sense of accomplishment.

"Indeed." Gao Yunhao also walked over and smiled.

"Ha ha." Xia Hou Zhongying didn't know what to say, just gave a couple of chuckles.

"Zhongying, what are your plans next?" Gao Yunhao asked.

"Next? It's still early, I haven't thought about it yet." Xia Hou Zhongying smiled and said, "Besides, the movie isn't finished yet, there's still post-production to do."

"Ha ha, that's true, it's too early to say now." Kwon Sangkyung laughed and said, "But working with you was really comfortable, I hope we have the chance to work together again in the future."

"We will." Xia Hou Zhongying smiled and nodded.

"Director, thank you for taking care of us during this time." The two boys from DSP Media, Kim Hyunjoong and Kim Kuijung, came over to thank Xia Hou Zhongying. Although their participation in the movie was the result of a deal between Xia Hou Zhongying and DSP Media, without Xia Hou Zhongying's preparation, they wouldn't have had this opportunity, so they were very grateful to him.

"Brothers, no need to be so formal." Xia Hou Zhongying smiled.

"Brother Zhongying, thank you."

"Director, thank you for taking care of us during this time."

"Brother..."

After the girls calmed down, they also came to Xia Hou Zhongying one by one to thank him.

Especially Jin Taeyeon, Lin Yoonah, and the other girls from S.M. Entertainment and Lee Leesoo, who were particularly grateful. This was a movie that Xia Hou Zhongying had specifically prepared for them, and he had gone through a lot of hardship for them, while they had hardly helped at all. Although four of the girls didn't get the main roles and only got supporting roles, they were already very satisfied.

At this moment, Lee Hyori and Park Minyoung walked over, then picked up a megaphone and shouted to everyone, "Everyone, our sponsor, E-Land Group's Park Minyoung, just told me that to celebrate the completion of the movie, they have decided to treat the entire crew to dinner tonight."

"Yay..." Everyone cheered again and thanked Park Minyoung.

For the "Green Apple Paradise" crew, whether they were the main actors or supporting actors, they all came to the set to witness the birth of their first movie. With the crew staff, there were quite a few people, so Kent School specially arranged two buses to take the crew to the restaurant, and the school also sent two leaders to attend the celebration dinner.

At the celebration dinner, everyone except Xia Hou Zhongying was laughing and chatting happily.

"Director, I'll toast you again, thank you for your guidance during this time." Kim Hyunjoong walked to Xia Hou Zhongying again, holding a glass of wine.

"Again..." Xia Hou Zhongying let out a cry of anguish, "I won't drink anymore, either give me a different drink, or I won't drink juice at all."

The crew burst into laughter at Xia Hou Zhongying's anguished expression.

In the entire crew, Xia Hou Zhongying was the only one who wasn't old enough to drink, so he wasn't allowed to drink. With the school leaders also at the celebration dinner, he didn't dare to be so bold, so he and the girls from S.M. Entertainment and DSP Media could only drink beverages.

Drinking beverages was fine, but the key was that he was the chief director, so both the actors and the crew members took turns toasting him with drinks and beverages. Some of those who had been scolded by him during filming were even more diligent in toasting him, with all sorts of bizarre reasons, taking the opportunity to get back at him, making him run to the restroom several times to relieve himself.

"Director, you can't refuse this one. Once, you scolded me so badly that I couldn't sleep for two days, and I thought a lot and learned a lot. Because of that scolding, I improved a lot, and that's why I was selected for a boy group the company is preparing to launch. You have done me a great favor." Kim Hyunjoong laughed, clearly just to get back at him, but he made the reason sound very convincing.

"Drink, drink, drink..." Those who had been scolded by Xia Hou Zhongying also joined in, pounding the table.

"I won't drink, either give me a different drink." Xia Hou Zhongying firmly shook his head.

"Brothers and sisters of 'Green Apple Paradise,' what should we do if the director doesn't drink?" Lee Hyori stood up and shouted to everyone, joining in the teasing.

"Force him, force him, force him..." Everyone laughed.

"You can't do this." Xia Hou Zhongying cried out in anguish.

"Zhongying, Hyunjoong has said so much, you can't refuse this one." Lee Hyori laughed, "Are you going to drink it yourself, or should we force you to drink it?"

"Big sister, you're too much." Xia Hou Zhongying, on the verge of tears, picked up the drink in front of him and swallowed it bit by bit with difficulty.

"Director..." As soon as Xia Hou Zhongying put down his glass, Han Seungyeon, who had been waiting, came forward with her drink.

"Wait, I need to go to the restroom." Xia Hou Zhongying's face turned pale, and before Han Seungyeon could finish speaking, he moved his chair back and fled.

"Director, I'll wait for you to come back, you have to come back quickly, or I'll be very sad." Han Seungyeon giggled, shouting after Xia Hou Zhongying.

Xia Hou Zhongying's legs went weak, and he accidentally knocked over an unoccupied table, causing the bowls and chopsticks on it to fall and make a clattering sound. Xia Hou Zhongying didn't care and ran even faster.

Everyone watching Xia Hou Zhongying's狼狈模样 burst into laughter again.