Dad, Please Try a Little Harder

Chapter 39 It’s Impossible for Someone to Reach This Level in Three Months

“Aquan, you’re a good person, but I no longer feel that passionate love from you. We’re not even married yet, but I already feel like you’re family to me. This makes me feel anxious and scared, and I’m truly sorry…”

Tang Bingbing looked apologetically at Qian Quan on the stage and delivered this line.

“Well, isn’t love turning into familiarity in the end? Are you breaking up with me because of this reason?” Qian Quan’s first time on stage showed a hint of youthful naivety.

“I’m sorry, that’s not the kind of love I want. But I also don’t want to hurt you, and I certainly don’t want you to hate me.”

(Silence)

“Alright then, I’ll let go. I’ll give you your freedom. After all, when we got together in the first place, I promised you that I would do anything to make you happy, even if that thing is breaking up with you.”

(The leading actress looked at the supporting actor with gratitude and a deep gaze.)

“Let’s hug one last time as a farewell hug.”

(The leading actress and the supporting actor embraced, his hands gently caressing her back, his nose inhaling the scent of her hair, filled with attachment and reluctance.)

In the audience, Ding Linlang watched the performance on stage with an expressionless face, hearing two girls next to her chatting in hushed tones.

“I realized that having Qian Quan play this role is really lacking in convincing power. Which girl would be willing to let go of such a first-love boyfriend? If she doesn’t want him, she can give him to me!”

“That’s why Bingbing added this hugging scene.”

“Well. But Qian Quan is really acting well. It’s so interesting. It’s somewhere between awkward and genuine. A little more, and he’d be a professional actor; a little less, and it’d be too artificial.”

“Haha, I agree. After I retire from acting, I’ll get him to play the male lead.”

“And then add passionate scenes?”

“You’re so wild. At most, just add some hugging and kissing scenes like that…”

After a while, Qian Quan’s performance ended, and he quietly came down from the stage, finding Ding Linlang and asking, “How was it? How did I do in the performance?”

“Don’t bother me.” Ding Linlang continued watching the stage performance and didn’t acknowledge Qian Quan.

Not until the rehearsal was over and they left the auditorium did Ding Linlang finally break the silence and start speaking. It seemed she had been lost in thought.

“Why didn’t you give me some feedback?” Qian Quan asked curiously.

“I’m a bit annoyed right now.”

“What’s wrong?” Qian Quan inquired, then realized, “Oh.”

“What ‘oh’?”

“Are you on your period?”

Ding Linlang stopped and looked at Qian Quan, saying, “Qian Quan, sometimes I find your emotional intelligence really lacking!”

“What’s bothering you then? Tell me, I’ll help you feel better.”

Ding Linlang sighed helplessly, walked a little ahead, and said, “It’s about the new novel.”

“Stuck with the writing?”

“Yeah.”

“Is there a specific plot point that’s causing the block? Tell me, maybe I can analyze it for you.”

Ding Linlang didn’t answer right away. After a while, she asked, “Hey, Qian Quan, why did you agree to play such a humble role?”

“It’s just a cameo for a newcomer. Mainly to get familiar with the stage. The role itself doesn’t matter. At least I have lines to say. In film and television, they would call it a ‘guest actor.'”

“I think you’re overthinking.”

“It’s alright. Didn’t you see? I have a hugging scene with the female lead.”

Ding Linlang chuckled coldly and said, “To be honest, I don’t really like this play. It feels like it has a common problem with those trendy urban romance films and shows-too fixated on the ‘coriander theory,’ unrealistic, not grounded.”

“What’s the ‘coriander theory’?”

“It’s like when a guy and a girl have a difference in preference, such as one liking coriander while the other doesn’t. In films and shows, it symbolizes their incompatibility. Many screenwriters these days use this theory to set up character relationships. It’s just being lazy.” Ding Linlang criticized.

Qian Quan nodded and said, “Listening to you, it does make sense. People who can eat together and have fun together are usually friends. For relationships between men and women…”

Ding Linlang glanced at him and said, “Firstly, they have to be able to sleep together. Then comes alignment of values and all that.”

“So profound!”

“Stop flattering me.”

“Well, I can’t help it. What if your novel becomes a hit and gets adapted into a TV show? I might just have to ask you for a role.”

“Getting a role in my novel isn’t that easy.”

“I’m different from other actors, you know? I’m willing to follow the unwritten rules of the original author, like late-night script guidance, pretending to be a couple on Valentine’s Day, accompanying for meals, drinks, and singing. I have no issues with any of that. In the entertainment industry, I understand that I have to give to receive!”

Ding Linlang finally showed a slight smile and said, “With so many fresh faces to choose, why would I choose you?”

“Oh, I thought you’d choose those pretty girls.”

“It’s a possibility.”

As they chatted, they left the campus. Qian Quan accompanied Ding Linlang to the subway station before heading back.

Before parting, Ding Linlang asked Qian Quan, “In that play, you had a line: ‘Love will eventually turn into familial affection.’ Do you agree with that?”

Qian Quan shook his head with a smile, “Not really. Love and familial affection can never be equated. Love is intense, while familial affection is enduring. Love is possessive, whereas familial affection can be shared. Many people mistake love that has lost its passion for familial affection.”

“Right,” Ding Linlang nodded in agreement.

…

“Are you saying that Qian Quan has joined not only the Chinese chess club, basketball club, and drama club but also the martial arts club?”

Li Zihe, who had just returned from school to the martial arts center, was on the phone with someone.

“Okay, I’ll check online.”

Li Zihe hung up the call, opened a short video app, and searched for “Qian Quan.” Numerous results popped up, all related to that popular video.

He quickly found the original video posted by Bai Yuanzhi. He clicked to watch it.

Ever since his father had confirmed that the “setup” was just a misunderstanding, he had stopped suspecting Qian Quan. However, considering that his sister might occasionally interact with him in the future, he still wanted to know more about him.

But contrary to Qian Quan’s claim, he didn’t tap into the family’s network to thoroughly investigate him. He simply asked a friend from Seacoast Normal University to inquire casually.

Then he discovered that Qian Quan was clearly an active participant in various student clubs, either being good at socializing or truly excelling in a wide range of areas.

This video seemed quite ordinary at first glance, with Qian Quan playing the role of a supporting character.

It aligned with the information Zhao Baiyu had revealed about him having recently started learning Wing Chun.

It wasn’t until he saw the scene where Qian Quan was thrown and landed after flipping in the air that his expression suddenly turned serious.

That move…

Being able to execute such a move seamlessly could be attributed to three possibilities.

First, Qian Quan was an expert who could effortlessly perform such a move.

Second, Bai Yuanzhi’s Tai Chi skills had reached a level where she could execute such fluid movements.

Third, it was a special effect, enhanced through post-production.

He watched the video again, trying to find some clues, but couldn’t discern anything conclusive.

After contemplating for a moment, he shared the video in a martial arts enthusiasts’ chat group, tagging a few Wing Chun experts, and asked, “Could you please help evaluate the skill level of this young man’s Wing Chun?”

Soon, there was a reply from someone named “Jinmen’s Number One,” saying, “I’ve seen this video, and if no special effects were added, this young man’s ‘Seeking Bridge’ move is definitely well-practiced.”

Li Zihe asked, “Is it possible for someone to reach this level in three months?”

Jinmen’s Number One responded, “Impossible! Absolutely impossible! If someone can achieve this level in three months, then all my years of practice would be like a joke.”