Chapter 40

This past Sunday, Ye Wei felt it was the most perfect Sunday of his life. He first completed his meeting with Willis, then drafted a short film script, and even had a wonderful date with Lily.

Their relationship had stabilized, and it felt great. They had started holding hands, an intimate gesture, and there was no longer a sudden silence that would prevent them from meeting again.

However, to be honest, holding hands was something Ye Wei had done in kindergarten when he dated girls. He never thought that by the time he reached ninth grade in middle school, he wouldn't even get a goodbye kiss after a date, and he would have to start all over again from kindergarten. It was truly interesting.

He didn't know what Lily thought, but taking it step by step wasn't bad. When would he have his first real kiss? He was looking forward to it.

As the new Monday arrived, Thanksgiving was drawing closer. Harvard-Westlake would be on break from Thursday to Sunday, so this week they only needed to attend school for three days.

Naturally, Ye Wei brought all his script files to school. Whether in class or during X time, he was always revising the script, which piqued the curiosity of the teachers and students around him.

At lunch in the cafeteria, he announced his grand plan to Lev and the others, asking for their help in making the short film.

"No problem, no problem!" Lev, Bade, and the others excitedly patted their chests in agreement. Chen Nuo seemed to have become Confucius: "When brothers are of one heart, their combined strength can cut through metal." Corwin, as always, was blunt: "Still shooting at an amateur level?"

"No, that's why I need your help with non-technical tasks, like extras and miscellaneous jobs."

Ye Wei explained clearly. Lev's acting, Corwin's cinematography, and Chen Nuo's lighting were all good for middle school students, but they wouldn't work this time. He needed to find professionals for the production team; the same went for the actors. Lev couldn't play Annie or her parents.

"Guys, everything has to be professional."

"Wow, Brother Wei, why are your words always so cool!" Lev was not disappointed but even more excited: "Working on a professional set? Awesome!"

"Great, I want to eat the professional crew meals." Bade was also excited.

"Where do we find professionals? Will it cost money?" Corwin asked.

"My goal is to make it free, except for providing lunch." Ye Wei's eyes flashed with a cunning look. He already had a specific idea: to use the resources at USC!

There were so many resources to utilize there: free rental of professional equipment, a database of professional actors, machines for post-production, and of course, professional student production teams! From cinematography, lighting, sound, art direction, to production assistants, everything needed could be found.

Although only students of the university could use these resources, he was familiar with the long-standing rules due to that dream, and he could take advantage of the loopholes.

The key was to get USC students to help. He didn't know anyone yet, but he knew he could find them. The seniors were too busy to care, but the freshmen, sophomores, and juniors would be interested, as long as their names were listed in the credits.

When it came time to form the production team, he would visit USC, but first, he needed to finish revising the script.

On Monday and Tuesday, Ye Wei spent his days frantically revising the script. It gradually refined to 22 scenes, and the dialogue was polished. "Dance of the Angels" was basically complete!

In the evenings, to rest his brain, he edited the three-minute public service short film titled "Good Deeds Bring Good Returns." It wasn't much work, as there weren't many shots in the footage, mostly amateur "long takes" that needed to be pieced together.

Then, he copied the final cut to a DVD and brought it to school on Wednesday. During the morning activity time, he played it for everyone at the Dream Chasers' base.

To the cheerful music of Mozart's D Major Haffner Serenade, the TV screen showed Ye Wei and Lev in a dress walking together on the street, laughing and walking away from the camera—

"Genius! Genius! I acted so well, this year's Oscar for Best Actress is mine, ha-ha!"

"Brother Wei acted well too, those expressions... I can't learn them at all."

On the sofa, Lev and Bade shouted excitedly. Chen Nuo chuckled and pushed his glasses up, and even Corwin, who rarely smiled, was proud of the short film.

The girls on the sofa also smiled, though they weren't listed in the credits, they were happy for their friends. Trist smiled and said, "It's really great, it will be popular at next year's film festival." Connie was even more admiring: "Very creative! Wei, did you come up with all of it? So cool."

Only Lily didn't say much and even frowned slightly. If judged by the standards of a school film festival, it was good; but for a film director? This level wouldn't do!

She looked at Ye Wei by the TV, who was modestly bowing and saying "Thank you, thank you." When he looked at her, she nodded: "Not bad."

"Wei, I also want to make something, but I don't know how to write a script. Can you help me write one? Anything will do!" Connie asked enthusiastically.

"Sure, no problem." He was even more motivated and laughed at Connie: "After Thanksgiving, I'll give you a story like 'The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,' how about that?"

"'The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants'? Is that a movie? I haven't seen it..." Connie looked puzzled, and so did Trist. Lev nodded knowingly: "That's a great movie, the Ciders, it's good, classic, and perfect for you."

"I'm not sure about that." Ye Wei shrugged and told the story of "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," which wasn't about friendship but about the brutal and dark struggles of high school girls.

Connie and Trist laughed and scolded, "We're not the Ciders, write about friendship instead?"

"Like 'The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants'?" Ye Wei asked. Connie exclaimed, "No way, you've seen 'The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants'! That's a girls' novel!" Ye Wei laughed heartily: "Yes, I read all kinds of books. I think you'd be perfect as Tibby, and Trist... Lena!"

At the same time, Lev rubbed his big nose, and Bade and the others gaped in amazement. Brother Wei was Brother Wei, even able to chat about girls' topics. If he had been at the Sweetie Café that day, he wouldn't have come back empty-handed...

"Also..." Ye Wei looked at Lily, intending to say the soccer player Bridget, but Lily laughed: "I'm Carmen."

Her words cooled the atmosphere. Carmen, whose parents divorced when she was young, went to visit her father during the summer, only to find out he was getting remarried, leaving her feeling awkward and angry.

"Still Bridget." Ye Wei's tone was serious. She seemed a bit unhappy, perhaps because she had to spend time with her father's family tomorrow?

Lily's mind was a mess. Jerk... he could chat happily with any girl... his level wasn't enough to be a film director, please grow up... Okay, this holiday she would definitely be Carmen... Was he going to date Connie because she didn't praise the short film loudly? The short film was good, but not enough!

But she didn't want to dampen everyone's spirits, so she suppressed her thoughts and smiled brightly: "That's better, Captain."

"Girl, I'm not your captain!" Ye Wei laughed, thinking it was fine. Trist and the others didn't notice much. He continued: "I'll write a story about girls' friendship. But I'm busy with my new short film, so for production, you can get help from these guys." He pointed to Lev and the others.

"My honor!" Lev immediately knelt on one knee. Brother Wei was creating opportunities for them, he said urgently: "Lev Popple will serve you!"

"Me too!" "I can help too..."

Seeing their enthusiastic and strange behavior, Connie and Trist exchanged glances and shrugged, OK.

As the school bell rang at the end of the day, the Thanksgiving holiday began.

The wealthy families at Harvard-Westlake, of course, had plans, mostly for travel.

Lily was flying to the UK tonight. Europe didn't celebrate Thanksgiving, so she was just going to her father's house for a holiday. Trist and Connie were also traveling with their families, to Hawaii and San Diego, respectively.

The Lev family was going to Las Vegas; Bade's family restaurant was busy with Thanksgiving dinner, so only Bade was going with Lev; the Chen family was returning to Sacramento to visit relatives; the Li Ming family was going to New York; the Bab family was going to the Bahamas... Corwin, who initially wanted to stay home, was ordered by Ye Wei to go skiing in Salt Lake City with his family.

In the end, among the Dream Chasers, only Ye Wei was staying in Los Angeles.

In previous years, the Ye family wouldn't stay in Los Angeles either, but they would travel to places like San Francisco. But not now, after the failure of "The Wedding Date" left them heavily in debt.

This year, their plan was to visit Disneyland on Thanksgiving Day and then return to their normal routine the next day.

Maybe not, because Ye Wei's mother planned to go shopping on "Black Friday." She had been preparing for a long time, collecting many coupons and planning to queue up overnight on Thanksgiving evening for her first crazy shopping spree.

Ye Wei tried to dissuade her but couldn't change her mind. His father also wanted to join, despite his high blood pressure. Ye Wei, helpless, had to prepare to go with his parents.

On the eve of Thanksgiving, Ye Wei continued to revise the short film script in his room. Just after 7:00 PM, his phone suddenly rang. It was an unknown number.

"Hello." He answered politely, knowing that it could be a big shot.

To his surprise, a steady, middle-aged man's voice came through: "Hello, young man, this is Bruce Willis."

Oh, oh!! Willis, this voice... Willis!!

Ye Wei held his breath, suddenly standing up from his computer chair. His heart rate soared. He smoothed his hair, suppressed his emotions, and smiled warmly: "Hi, Mr. Willis! Wow, I'm so happy to hear from you. Please forgive me, I'm a bit nervous, ha-ha."

"Ha-ha, I didn't disturb you, did I?" Willis's voice was warm and friendly.

"No, no, sir, Happy Thanksgiving." Ye Wei quickly calmed himself. Willis calling so soon and personally must mean something good was happening...