Chapter 113 Motivated

Chapter 113 Motivated

In the character Yin Pei, Feng Rui could not see any trace of Lu Xu's previous characters.

It was as if through Lu Xu's portrayal, the character of Yin Pei had become brilliant.

"Great, that was shot really well!"

Not only Lu Xu, but Guo Yingyu and Hu Yan also performed without any slip-ups, very naturally, and exuding youthful energy, just like college students currently studying—when "Feather of Youth" first started filming, Feng Rui felt their performances were somewhat awkward, but as they spent more time on set, their acting gradually improved.

Whenever they had free time, Guo Yingyu and Hu Yan would pore over the script in silence.

The university campus where the crew borrowed had many vibrant and attractive students. To enrich their characters, Guo Yingyu and Hu Yan would occasionally take note of the mannerisms of normal college students.

Both of them were acting school graduates, so their campus life was somewhat different from that of ordinary college students.

When communicating with Feng Rui, Guo Yingyu and Hu Yan both mentioned: "Our performances can't be lagging behind Lu Xu's, the audience will notice."

In the face of Lu Xu's powerful character portrayal, even if they slacked off just a little, the audience could easily tell.

Moreover—Lu Xu himself is that kind of captivating actor.

Standing next to such an actor, even with just a glance, you can feel his brilliance. The contrast is already strong, and if Lu Xu is fully immersed in portraying a character while you are just going through the motions, the disparity would be even more glaring.

"I can't look too shabby," Guo Yingyu whispered to her friend. "A sporty college guy already has an appearance advantage, and think about it, Lu Xu's face with an added bonus..."

"I get it, when's the movie hitting the screens?"

"...So you don't care about me, just when the movie is coming out? Where's the love?"

"When is your movie hitting the screens?"

"Haha."

...

In the eyes of Guo Yingyu and Hu Yan, acting opposite Lu Xu effortlessly evoked their emotions. The feelings of those off-set were so profound, let alone for them who were face-to-face with Lu Xu and knew the script inside out.

Yin Pei's pain, Yin Pei's joy, Lu Xu brought them to life vividly.

Even the badminton swing, Lu Xu practiced to make it look good, even forming calluses on his palms.

Because the Yin Pei Lu Xu portrayed was so lifelike, his personality so sharply defined, they occasionally wondered if there really was a person like Yin Pei in reality.

In short—Lu Xu truly animated the character.

"Here's how I see this part," Hu Yan was thinking about Lu Xu when the man squeezed next to him, sitting on the ground without a care for his handsome image. "The low moments gradually decrease later, so when we have our dialogue..."

As Lu Xu spoke, Hu Yan nodded gently.

Guo Yingyu ran over and gave each of them a pack of snacks—all bought from the school convenience store.

Generally, the task of buying things was only done by her and Hu Yan. Lu Xu couldn't show his face; once he did, the school's playground and the small store would definitely be overrun.

There were even students from other schools climbing the walls to see Lu Xu, and the security guards nabbed several in a single day!

Absolutely... unbelievable.

Hu Yan thought the rumors were completely unreliable.

Who ever said Lu Xu is hard to get along with?

Lu Xu's temper is way better than some of the senior actors he's worked with!

When he got the role of Wang Zixiang, some in the company mocked him. Ningshi Entertainment is a big company, and even though it's new, the internal politics are fierce. With so many young actors, Hu Yan isn't the top pick, but he still gets decent roles.

When he joined the 'Feather of Youth' crew, some were waiting to see Lu Xu tear him apart.

But now, Hu Yan himself can't help but laugh.

What would he even argue with Lu Xu about? There's no reason for it. Would he really be dumb enough to act like a diva in front of Lu Xu? He's not that stupid.

Lu Xu is a straightforward guy. If left alone, he keeps to himself and avoids drama.

Hu Yan can see that Lu Xu hates drama. Being a diva or causing a scene is just trouble, and the 'Feather of Youth' crew avoids all that. They didn't shut down the sports field, and filming doesn't interfere with campus life.

But Lu Xu usually signs autographs and takes photos with fans—unless it's just not possible.

Hu Yan's never heard of Lu Xu being mobbed at the airport, likely because Lu Xu hates that kind of attention and doesn't need to flaunt his fanbase. But on campus, Hu Yan saw how popular Lu Xu really is.

It's... insane.

He and Guo Yingyu are both young actors. They're just a few years younger than Lu Xu. On set, they saw Lu Xu's acting skills blow everyone else away and felt his massive popularity. They're inspired, but they also can't help but dream big.

They want to reach Lu Xu's level and see what it's like at the top. The person they want to beat is right there. How could they not push themselves harder!

After going over the script, they knew exactly how to shoot the next day. Lu Xu stayed behind to practice, while Guo Yingyu showed Hu Yan the latest trends.

"I already saw that."

The 'Song of Tears' crew used marketing to claim Lu Xu was cast, tricking investors and boosting their profile. Now that they're filming, they've started quietly comparing themselves to 'Feather of Youth.'

But the 'Song of Tears' crew didn't dare to go too far with their marketing, only doing it subtly, after all, Qi Di, the lead actor, could explode at any moment.

Of course, apart from the main cast, the supporting cast of 'Song of Tears' is stronger than that of 'Feather of Youth,' since 'Feather of Youth' is "as simple as a blank sheet," "as bland as a glass of plain water," and "lacks depth" (marketers' original words), naturally not attracting top-tier actors.

In other words, it's not Lu Xu who's being criticized, but the two unknown supporting actors.

Guo Yingyu: "Ah, right, right, their script is printed on black paper."

"They even use colorful paper to wipe their butts!"

"May they never drink plain water in their lives!!"

Hu Yan: "..."

He thought Guo Yingyu would say something more threatening.

Both signed under the same big director's studio, but Guo Yingyu and Qi Di are completely different styles.

On the 'Feather of Youth' crew, Guo Yingyu calls herself a rookie, and her daily routine is to work hard. Hu Yan feels he's already putting in a lot of effort, but compared to her, Guo Yingyu is not far behind.

That's why he feels so much pressure in the crew, surrounded by people who are all more capable than him.

But to some extent, Hu Yan also found a path to success without relying on hype—by delivering quality work in every project, the results might be better than he imagined.

Ningshi Entertainment is a big company, so his chances of landing quality scripts are higher than others.

The main issue is that Xu Qingtian and Di Yiyun from *The Empress* failed to make a significant impact. Ningshi invested heavily in them, but the returns didn’t yield the expected results. Gradually, their careers hit a rough patch.

After all, the competition within Ningshi is cutthroat and fierce. If one person can’t be promoted, the company will redirect its resources to someone else.

…

The filming of *Feather of Youth* continues.

The first match after his comeback marked a pivotal moment in Yin Pei’s life. This match brought him joy and reignited his self-belief.

Enduring the injury, he became more composed than before, honed his skills to an even higher level, and mastered his physicality.

This match proved to him that he could continue playing.

To keep standing on the court and pursue his love for the game—he had no regrets.

*Feather of Youth* focuses solely on the bright side, even to the point of being somewhat detached from reality. In the real sports world, very few athletes can make a comeback after a major injury, especially in a physically demanding sport like badminton. Even the top athletes retire when their physical strength declines.

But… reality is already harsh enough, so there’s no need to mirror it in the movie.

Yin Pei, who returned to the court, achieved the impossible. So, why not let that miracle last a little longer?

Lu Xu thoroughly enjoyed filming *Feather of Youth*. The script was free of graphic violence, so he didn’t have to deal with props drenched in fake blood or see rats and various fake corpses.

It was so wholesome that his enthusiasm grew, wanting to portray the happiest and most passionate version of Yin Pei to the audience.

In the later parts of the story, Yin Pei competed in multiple matches, his condition improving steadily, and he finally stood on the court he had dreamed of before his injury.

Wang Zixiang and Qin Jinwei were no longer uncertain about their paths. Both had found what they wanted to do and solidified their goals.

They helped Yin Pei achieve the impossible—encouraging him not to give up when he himself had already lost hope.

The miracle Yin Pei didn’t believe in seemed inevitable to them.

Because Yin Pei had already given so much to badminton and had sacrificed so much.

When the miracle truly happened, it was also a huge encouragement for the two who were feeling lost.

Yin Pei had almost given up on badminton, but he pushed through. For the two of them, what were the challenges they were facing compared to that?

Yin Pei’s efforts not only inspired himself but also encouraged his friends.

Qin Jinwei focused on her research, pursued a master’s degree, and made herself indispensable in her field.

She was unique, and everyone would know that her efforts were valuable and meaningful.

Wang Zixiang was also striving toward his own goals.

The shadow over Yin Pei wasn’t just his own—it was shared by the three of them. As friends, they didn’t want to see the usually cheerful Yin Pei succumb to despair.

And when the shadow over Yin Pei lifted, the shadow over their hearts was also lifted.

Just like the title *Feather of Youth*, feathers are light and soft, yet they can easily land on everyone.

The final scene of *Feather of Youth* depicts Yin Pei facing his old rival—a mountain he couldn’t overcome even before his injury.

But now, he has become more calm, and he returned to the court purely out of love for the sport. In the face of the option of not being able to play badminton, everything else seems insignificant. Thus, for him now, all that matters is focusing on playing well.

This is what he thinks, and this is what he does.

The match was intensely close, yet Yin Pei's spirits were incredibly high. His enthusiasm even influenced his opponent's mood, and together they presented an exceptionally thrilling match.

The score kept changing, and the atmosphere on the court was extremely heated.

When the score finally settled, Yin Pei had defeated an opponent he had never beaten before.

At the moment of conclusion, his opponent wasn’t angry or upset but held up his racket, his gaze firmly fixed on Yin Pei: "Welcome back!"

Yin Pei clenched both fists, grinned widely, and waved vigorously at his opponent.

As marketers criticized "Feather of Youth," it’s a straightforward story, uncomplicated. The protagonist doesn’t have a dark past, no superpowers, no deaths, no explosions or shootings, no eternal tragic love. But "Feather of Youth" is about the everyday, about life, about someone relentlessly chasing their dream.

Some people like the spectacular, naturally, some prefer the plain.

As the actor for Yin Pei, Lu Xu himself is even inspired by this character.

Who wouldn’t like a little sun? Who wouldn’t like a puppy warmed by the sun?

Anyone who doesn’t like it has no taste—but he does.