Our Tender Harmony

Once shooting wrapped for the day, the cast dispersed. Actors and actresses returned to the hotel—some rushed off for promotional shoots—and the building fell quiet as the last of the crew members left.

Click. Click.

Lights went dark as the crew members locked the doors for the night. Yet, tonight, a guest accompanied them, a certain star-studded actress: Li Feiling. She waited beside them, watching their work with a polite smile. “Thanks for letting me watch you guys’ work.”

“Of course,” One of the crew members scratched the back of his head. “I feel like we should be thanking you instead, it’s not every day that we get recognition.”

“Well, I try to do this on every set I’m on at least once,” Li Feiling shrugged. “I’m just low-key about it so most of the time word doesn’t spread. Just treat me like anyone else, and speak freely, there’s no need to be star-struck.”

Silence.

Until one nineteen-year-old boy broke the silence. “What started this habit then?”

Li Feiling followed along as the closing crew checked each of the doors one by one. She leaned over a woman’s shoulder as she went down a checklist, as she watched, she explained. “It’s a habit I learned from my parents. They founded quite a large company, and growing up, they had a habit like this, but for their factories. ‘The people on the ground’ as they would say. I just brought it over to acting because I saw that it had a good effect.”

She paused for a moment.

“It may sound callous, and I don’t mean it so, but when people nearer to the top dedicate their time to recognize those nearer to the bottom of a hierarchical ladder, work goes more smoothly, and tensions are less likely to form…”

“Well, it’s true that we’re at the bottom of the hierarchy,” A different middle-aged man laughed, clutching his belly. “No need to feel bad about saying the truth.”

Li Feiling, in response, just raised her hands. One light shake of the head later, she flashed a resigned smile before turning back to the woman with the clipboard. “Walk me through this then, will you? What are all the things that you all check?”

“So, we start here with the basic things, interior lights shut off, then we check that the door was properly locked. Then…”

---

“After all these years, you really have kept up that habit… crazy to see,” Wang Tianmin sighed, cutting into his food. “Color me impressed.”

“It’s just a small thing,” Li Feiling shook her head. “Regardless though, I’m quite surprised you joined this production. Still willing to associate with the younger generation I see.”

“Well… willing is a strong word,” Wang Tianmin chuckled. “But it’s truly hard to say no with the prices that Chu Changfeng is willing to offer.”

“How much is he offering? If you don’t mind me asking?” Li Feiling sipped from her bowl of soup with a curious gleam in her eyes.

“About as much as a full movie and then some,” Wang Tianmin shook his head with an exasperated sigh. “Crazy right?”

Li Feiling whistled, leaning back into her chair. “… That’s wild. How many scenes do you have?”

“A couple more insignificant phone calls and one in-person scene,” Wang Tianmin shrugged. “Plus, a scene for the intro. So, I think this is all just so he can attach my name to the production.”

“Unsurprising.” Li Feiling surmised, staring down at her food. “Money’s power truly has few bounds.”

“Truly. Even a middle-aged man like me is weak to it,” Wang Tianmin reached out to grab a napkin. He dabbed his mouth to wipe away the juices staining his lips. “Tell me more about yourself though. You’ve made a good friend, haven’t you? Xia Ruyun, is it? It’s been a while since we’ve talked.”

---

Meanwhile, in another area of the hotel, the woman in question, Xia Ruyun, sat outside basking in the evening air. Lit by string lights hanging from trees, she sat in an open courtyard area. With the entire courtyard on the fifth floor, she couldn’t help but feel her shoulders relax as a sea of city lights spread out in front of her.

Deep breaths.

In…

And out…

Then, her phone buzzed.

[Wu Linjie: Wait… I totally didn’t think of that, you’re right. I really haven’t done anything but men’s product promotions recently]

[Wu Linjie: Do you think I should look into fashion?]

[Wu Linjie: That might be too similar though…]

Xia Ruyun paused for a moment before sending a quick reply:

[What about instant ramen (＾▽＾)]

Wu Linjie’s reply came in an instant:

[… Sister Ruyun, are you just trying to have a free ramen connection?]

Xia Ruyun laughed, sending off a quick thumbs-up before putting her phone down as she heard footsteps approaching.

“Senior Xia, I thought I saw you!” Han Jingyi jogged over with light steps. “What are you doing out here so late?”

“Just taking a break,” Xia Ruyun scooted over to the side, patting the area beside her. “Take a seat, take a seat. What are you doing here?”

Han Jingyi took a seat, and as she did, a sigh slipped through her lips. “Just wanted to clear my thoughts a little.”

Xia Ruyun shifted her sitting position to face a little more towards Han Jingyi, and as she did, she motioned with her hand. Han Jingyi, seeing the hand motion, just let out another, longer sigh.

“I just… feel a little lost in this production.”

Han Jingyi stared upward, towards the tops of the skyscrapers in the distance. “I guess… maybe this is how it’s like in the real world? I felt like things were so much easier in acting school. I had friends, I had my teachers… there was structure?”

“There certainly is a much greater need for independence on a set like this,” Xia Ruyun nodded. “Do you have an assistant?”

“Of course not,” Han Jingyi let out a self-deprecating chuckle. “I’m not successful like that. My manager comes to visit every few days though… she’s really nice…”

“That’s… good?” Xia Ruyun slid her phone back into her pocket, ignoring the new message notifications with a mental apology to a certain golden retriever.

“Well, I guess she’s just very business oriented, which isn’t a bad thing,” Han Jingyi leaned forward. She rested her arms on her knees as she turned to stare at the ground. Her eyes traced a crack in the concrete. “I just… am having doubts if this is the path for me…”

Xia Ruyun frowned.

There’s something she’s not saying.

“Has something in particular been bothering you about this set?”

“I…” Han Jingyi opened her mouth, trailing off as her voice quieted to a whisper before disappearing all together.

Silence.

Together, they sat in silence for half a minute.

Over the course of half a minute, Xia Ruyun felt her eyebrows furrow as she watched the life seep out of Han Jingyi. Somehow, the pepped up young woman started looking… world weary.

“It’s just Chu Changfeng, I guess… It’s not particularly fun practicing scenes with him. Or just having these so-called welcome dinners where he gives tips,” Han Jingyi murmured. She raised her chin, staring back off into the city’s center. Her eyes reflected the dancing neon lights and the bustling night district. “He really doesn’t seem like all that he’s talked up to be. Every dinner just feels like an empty waste of two hours… and that’s not including the one and a half hours I spend dressing up for each of them…”

“One and a half hours?” Xia Ruyun frowned, reaching out and rubbing Han Jingyi on the back. Her voice softened. “Why spend so much time?”

“Because they’re formal dinners,” Han Jingyi murmured. “Chu Changfeng says it's… practice or something. But I think he just wants to see us dress sexy…”

Xia Ruyun felt her heart tremble as she watched the woman in front of her. She continued rubbing Han Jingyi on the back. “Have you considered not going?”

“I’m worried I’ll get targeted if I stop going,” Han Jingyi clenched her fist. After a second, she relaxed it with a sigh. “I really thought the entertainment industry wouldn’t be this… I don’t know. I thought it’d be fairer I guess, and maybe it was my bad for thinking it’d be like that.”

“It’s not your fault,” Xia Ruyun patted Han Jingyi on the back. A firmer tone edged into her voice. “It doesn’t have to be like this, Jingyi. You don’t have to force yourself to go. If you’re truly afraid of getting blacklisted, come to Li Feiling and me, how about that?”

“What do you mean?” Han Jingyi fidgeted with the end of her hair.

“Come practice with us, don’t practice with him anymore,” Xia Ruyun kept her voice gentle. She brushed a lock of hair behind her ear as she leaned down to meet Han Jingyi’s downturned gaze. “Li Feiling can protect you. She’s more than happy to protect you.”

“And you?” A smile began tugging at the edge of Han Jingyi’s lips.

Amused, Xia Ruyun answered in a half sing-song tone. “Well, I don’t have much influence anymore, so all I can do is brew you some tea and cover you in a blanket when you feel sad.”

“So, you’re my mom,” Han Jingyi laughed, reaching out to poke Xia Ruyun on the nose.

“I’m happy to be a mom friend.” Xia Ruyun dodged Han Jingyi’s hand before shrugging. “We all need someone to be there for us, don’t we?”

“… I guess so,” Han Jingyi sat back upright, light returning to her eyes. Her black hair cascaded down her shoulders, framing the smile returning to her face. “I… I might take you up on the offer... yeah…”

“Well, Li Feiling and I practice and hang out most nights, so just reach out whenever, okay?” Xia Ruyun spread her hands, shifting to keep eye contact with Han Jingyi. Cast under the warm lights, her brown hair seemed to melt like chocolate. Her voice, for a moment, filled with the richness of her old singing, plucking at heartstrings. “And, even if she and I aren’t, I’m happy to accompany you, alright?”

Han Jingyi trembled.

Frozen, as a wave of emotions came over her, she managed to muster a “Thank you” before reaching up to wipe away a stray tear.

“You’re… really too nice Sister Ruyun.”