Distance Formula - Chapter 11

Chapter 11

The movie Three Times tells the story of Jiang Yin and Bai Yunyan, the meeting and romance between a photographer and a painter. When Director Liu mentioned the film, he only pointed out the two actresses to introduce their characters, saying little more.

“Yanshi plays Bai Yunyan, and Liyang is Jiang Yin. The ending of the script hasn’t been finalized yet, we’ll decide later,” Director Liu sighed, smiling at Bai Biqing. “When you get old, you just like to film these passionate romances. Anything else is too mentally exhausting, and I can’t handle it anymore.”

Bai Biqing smiled faintly. “Isn’t this the best way? They are, after all, in their prime.”

The two were ready. The first scene was their meeting. Bai Biqing sat in front of the monitor, watching quietly. She didn’t speak, nor did she show much emotion, just gazing from a distance.

The first scene began.

Jiang Yin and her friends had agreed to go on a photo expedition to a famous spot in the new city. Wanting to capture the sunrise, they woke up early to climb the mountain.

Jiang Yin usually exercised, so it was much easier for her than the others. Slightly panting, she looked up, turned around, and teased, “My friends, you are all too weak! Just keep going a little longer. It’s fast, only three minutes left.”

Someone, holding their knees, objected, “Do you think we Omegas are the same as you? Oh my god, I’m exhausted.”

“Exactly, exactly! Come and pull me up!”

Jiang Yin pouted. She shook her head and proudly said, “No way, climb yourselves!”

“I’ll go ahead. Good luck, Omegas.”

She took large steps upward. Sunlight was already showing through the clouds. Jiang Yin took out her camera, ready, muttering, “This is truly beautiful.”

She slowly stepped onto the last stair, raised her camera, and began adjusting the focus. She first aimed at the not-yet-fully-risen sun, then slowly adjusted the lens, intending to photograph the only building on the mountain top. She was in a cheerful mood, turning the lens. Just as she focused, she saw the person standing at the entrance through the viewfinder.

Dressed in plain clothes, with a bright red cloth string in her hand, the person noticed her, looked over curiously, and smiled kindly at her. At that moment, in Jiang Yin’s frame, the sunrise gradually filled the view, finally landing upon the other person. An eternal glance.

Jiang Yin failed to press the shutter. Instead, she stared at Bai Yunyan through the lens.

Rich and simple colors. A very brief shot, marking a beginning.

It was a clichéd case of love at first sight, a worn-out opening, yet Director Liu was very satisfied. He smiled, “One take! A good start. Biqing, do you find it very ordinary? But I think it’s great. Jiang Yin couldn’t capture the sunrise, nor could she capture Bai Yunyan. Love is just that cheesy.”

Bai Biqing smiled without speaking. She watched silently. Su Yanshi only had one shot, presented entirely through Jiang Yin’s perspective, but she acted well. Their time together was short, and she had never seen the Alpha subtly hide such a distant gaze.

It was strange.

Director Liu spoke into the walkie-talkie: “One take, great. The two actors take a break. The next scene will start soon.”

Bai Biqing remembered the next scene was the kiss. She asked, “The kiss, at what stage of their relationship?”

Director Liu: “The first stage of their developing feelings. Jiang Yin’s persona is bold and passionate; she pursues what she likes. But Bai Yunyan is different; she’s conflicted, afraid to reciprocate, so this scene is completely led by Hu Liyang.”

Suddenly, he remembered something. “Do you mind Su Yanshi doing a kiss scene?”

Bai Biqing looked puzzled. “Why would I mind? They are actors. This is the art they are creating. I have no right to interfere, nor should I. I appreciate it just the same.”

“That’s true.”

Director Liu smiled, masking a sense of loss. “You see things clearly.”

Bai Biqing glanced sideways, saying nothing.

“Shot 72, Scene 12, Take One.”

Bai Yunyan sat at the doorway, lost in thought. She lowered her head and quickly sensed someone sitting down beside her.

“Yunyan.”

Jiang Yin leaned in. “What are you thinking about?”

The Omega was always playful and lively. She brought only happiness to Bai Yunyan, but she couldn’t hide her feelings. Jiang Yin’s eyes were full of the Alpha, openly declaring her love.

But Bai Yunyan dared not accept. She started to evade, attempting to create distance between them—a cowardly move.

She lowered her head and spoke coldly, “Nothing. Just spacing out.”

Bai Yunyan’s change was rapid. Jiang Yin wasn’t stupid; she had noticed it long ago. She looked at the retreating Alpha, sneered softly, and her voice was low. “Are you avoiding me? Just because I like you?”

“Why?”

The Omega’s questioning was utterly honest, like a sharp blade trying to tear her apart. Bai Yunyan’s breathing quickened. She still wouldn’t look at Jiang Yin. “We’re not suitable, and I can’t reciprocate your feelings.”

“Just… stop liking me.”

Jiang Yin wasn’t surprised by the answer. She calmly asked, “Do you not like me? Didn’t you feel anything, even a little bit?”

Bai Yunyan was speechless. “I…”

“Look at me. Look at me and answer.”

Jiang Yin forcefully turned Bai Yunyan’s head. Her eyes were rimmed with red. She said softly, “They all left. Only I stayed.”

Bai Yunyan’s eyes darted away. “I know. You should have gone back with them.”

“But I want to be with you.”

“We’re not—”

Jiang Yin untied the red cloth string from her wrist and slowly covered Bai Yunyan’s eyes with it. She choked up, “You clearly like me. Why won’t you just admit it?”

She didn’t wait for an answer, forcefully pushing the Alpha back, and then gently pressed in, as if using all her strength, tremblingly kissing the future she was chasing.

Bai Yunyan didn’t respond. Only Jiang Yin’s tears mixed together.

“Cut.”

Director Liu frowned. “I feel like something is missing. Su Yanshi’s emotion seems off.”

Bai Biqing asked, “It’s not what you wanted?”

“It is, but sometimes what you want and what’s real don’t align. You should understand that deeply.”

The Beta propped her chin on her hand. “Their emotions are both good.”

She teased, “Could it be because it’s still morning?”

Director Liu shook his head. “This scene would be the same all day. Their emotional peak is irrelevant to the time. There’s no specific setting for that.”

He pondered for a moment, then announced loudly, “One more take.”

The scene repeated: “Cut.”

“Again.”

“Tsk, cut!”

“Cut!”

Director Liu was troubled. “That’s strange. In all my years of filmmaking, this is the first time I’ve encountered such an odd feeling that even I can’t explain.”

“Take a break and adjust for a bit. Your emotions are both good, but something is still missing.”

Su Yanshi and Hu Liyang’s lips were sore from kissing. The Omega wiped the tears from her face. She snapped out of character quickly and patted the Alpha’s shoulder. “I can’t find the reason. I feel my emotion is fine. Should I cry harder?”

Su Yanshi pondered for a moment. She stood up and whispered, “I don’t think it’s your problem; it’s mine. I’m going to adjust. Sorry.”

She quickly walked back to her resting room, picking up the script to study it.

Bai Biqing watched this. She stood up and pulled out her chair. “I’ll go check on her.”

Director Liu waved his hand. “Go ahead.”

The Beta quickly found the Alpha’s resting room. Su Yanshi was looking down at the script. She looked up, her face full of frustration. “I’ve already had several NGs on the first day of filming.”

Bai Biqing walked over and sat opposite her. Her voice was soft. “But your first scene was very well shot.”

Su Yanshi shook her head. “It’s not difficult. The morning isn’t even over, and I’m already stuck.”

She faced Bai Biqing. “I don’t know what the problem is. I’ve studied the character Bai Yunyan for a long time. I actually thought it would be easy to get through.”

“I know.” Bai Biqing could tell that the moment Su Yanshi put on those clothes, she was already different, as if she was completely distinct from Su Yanshi herself.

Su Yanshi said with a hint of grievance, “I feel a little frustrated. I watched the footage, and it’s true: my performance is too empty, missing a huge chunk.”

Bai Biqing noticed the scent of strong alcohol thickening in the air. She inhaled softly and tentatively reached out her hand. “How about you blindfold me? Maybe because I share the same profession as Bai Yunyan, if you tell me how you feel, I might be able to give you a slight sense of it.”

Su Yanshi hesitated. “Is… Is that really okay? Will it trouble you?”

“No. If anything, I’m the one causing trouble. I’m presumptuously intruding on your time, and I’m the one actively trying to get involved in your work. It’s best if you don’t mind.”

The Alpha gripped the red cloth string. After a moment of hesitation, she boldly leaned in to tie the blindfold on Bai Biqing.

The Beta could clearly smell the strong alcohol scent intensify. Su Yanshi was very close to her.

“Bai Yunyan appears gentle and strong, but she’s actually timid and weak, afraid to reciprocate Jiang Yin’s feelings, afraid of mishandling them, afraid of disrupting her life. So, when Jiang Yin kissed her, my mind first went blank, and then I slowly started to imagine Jiang Yin’s expression, like a thief.”

Su Yanshi finished tying the knot and also finished speaking. Just as she was about to step back, Bai Biqing firmly grasped her wrist. She said, “I often want to paint everything but end up painting nothing. I become resistant to picking up the brush, but I’ll stay in the studio without leaving.”

The Beta suddenly raised her head. Su Yanshi was startled. Her wrist jerked, and a vibrant splash of color appeared on Bai Biqing’s face, somehow alluring.

“But I was also thinking about what you looked like.”

Su Yanshi was confused. “Hmm?”

Bai Biqing expressed her feeling as best as she could. “I think I don’t need to try to understand Bai Yunyan’s psychology anymore, because you don’t love me. When you look at me, there is no love in your eyes, so I can look directly at you and dare to imagine your appearance in my mind. I don’t know if my understanding is accurate.”

She let go of Su Yanshi’s hand and heard the sound of someone sitting down. She looked precisely in that direction. Su Yanshi was sitting on the chair, deep in thought. “Bai Yunyan is afraid of Jiang Yin’s feelings, so she also doesn’t dare to imagine what Jiang Yin looks like. She is resistant.”

She smiled, gently hooking the red cloth from Bai Biqing’s eyes with her finger. Her eyes lit up. “You’re right. I’ve been substituting the wrong emotion. I always thought she didn’t respond, but actually, she was moved, and it’s because she was moved that she was afraid and avoided it.”

Su Yanshi held Bai Biqing’s hand. “Thank you.”

“I didn’t do anything. You figured it out quickly. Look, it’s only been five minutes.”

The Alpha’s smile widened. “I’m going to find Director Liu!”

Bai Biqing nodded.

Click.

The door to the resting room locked, leaving her alone.

Bai Biqing sat quietly in the chair, head bowed, her expression unreadable. Her fingertip rubbed the spot where Su Yanshi’s scent lingered. She murmured:

“Why is she so obedient?”

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