At the gate of Flames Films, Wang Yang looked up at the sign that read “Flames Films” and the graphical sign of the company next to it. Smiling gently, he said, “Well, this is my company.”
Harry George, wearing a cap, was also looking at the signs. He said, “I know. I knew this would happen. That being said…” A serious look showed up on his chubby face. “Buddy, as a cameraman, I think that sign of your company really sucks. The flame would be enough. Why do you need that moth and butterfly? It is really making it too obscure!” Spreading his hands and frowning, he went on, “It’s like you have only ordered French fries, but a hamburger and a coke also come along with the fries on the tray! That is just too much!”
“Looks you really miss McDonald’s!” Wang Yang said crossly to Harry George. Shrugging his shoulders, he added, “Wouldn’t that be nice? You get the burger and the coke, while you have only paid for the French fries.”
Shaking his head disgustedly, Harry responded, “That is not good at all. It’s exactly those coupons that turned me into a fatty.” Wang Yang rolled his eyes at him. “You are a fatty, with or without those coupons. Well, forget about the sign. Come with me!” Then, he walked into the company.
Harry followed him. Looking around curiously, he never stopped speaking on the way. “Hey, why did you bring me here? Tell me…”
“Mr. Wang, good afternoon.” Miss Aulora Lally, the receptionist of the company, greeted Wang Yang with a smile as soon as she spotted him.
Wang Yang nodded and smiled at her. “Good afternoon, Aulora.”
Harry’s eyes lit up the moment he laid them on Aulora Lally. He walked up to her and put out a hand for her. “Hello, hello. My name is Harry George. May I know what your name is, young lady?”
Aulora Lally shook hands with him. She replied with a smile, “Nice to meet you, Mr. George. I’m Aulora Lally.”
“Hey, fatty!” Wang Yang called him from ahead.
Harry let go of Aulora Lally’s hand helplessly. He ran to catch up with Wang Yang, his face shaking like a slab of meat. He asked confusedly, “Where the hell are we going?”
Wang Yang led the fatty past the busy offices and down a corridor. In the end, they stopped before a storage room. Wang Yang opened the door with a key. It was as dark as pitch inside. He walked in. With a grin, he said to Harry George, who was still behind him, “Harry, check this out!” He switched on the light, and the storage room was illuminated instantly.
Harry opened his eyes wide immediately. Looking at the things in the room, he was totally struck dumb. He could not help but exclaim with a “Wow!”.
“Wow…” Wang Yang also exclaimed quietly, with satisfaction in his eyes.
The storage room was used to stock photography devices. The firm had leased all of the basic devices needed for the shooting of High School Musical. They were all being placed here, in an orderly manner. A black, 35mm film camera, recording microphones, dollies, softboxes, reflectors, and boxes of empty film strips piled in the corner, as if they were ready to be turned into movies at any time.
“You see?” Throwing Harry a glance, Wang Yang walked toward the film camera. He said while walking, “Everything is ready. We have got the cast, the crew, and the devices, and it will take us a few days to contact the location. The shooting of High School Musical will start after Thanksgiving.” He played with the film camera a little. Then, he looked into the viewfinder of the camera. He felt so thrilled that he exclaimed. “Harry, this won’t be a movie on DV. This will be a real film! And I will be a real director very soon. My dream will come true.”
Harry George nodded silently. A congratulating smile showed up on his fat face. He said, “Yang, good job.”
“Thanks.” Wang Yang laughed. He shouted at Harry, “Hey, man, come over here! Why are you just standing there? Come over.” Looking at the camera, Harry’s heart was beating fast. He walked there slowly. Patting the film camera in front of him, Wang Yang said to the fatty with a smile, “Don’t you want to touch it?”
“Can I touch it?!” Harry opened his eyes wide. Seeing Wang Yang nodding with a smile, he suddenly did not know where he should put his hands. He did not reach for the camera until he had wiped his right hand on the T-shirt a few times. His hand was shaking. As soon as he touched the camera, his hand recoiled, as if he had experienced an electric shock. Sucking air through his teeth, he said, “Oh, my God. My God…”
He reached for the camera again, his hand still shaking. Touching the lens hood, the take-up spool, and other parts of the camera, he flushed, as if what he was touching was his lover. He murmured to the camera, “Oh, my God. I am going crazy… My little baby, why are you so adorable? My God…”
“Yes. It is adorable, beautiful, and drives people crazy.” Wang Yang agreed. He could relate to Harry. Wang Yang made way for Harry George so that the latter could stand behind the camera. Holding the camera grip with one hand, the fatty put his other hand on the camera. He looked obsessed as if he was making a movie right at this moment, and he was the cameraman.
He suddenly heard Wang Yang’s voice, “I need someone doing chores in the crew, and maybe doing some assistant work too. Do you want to come?”
Harry trembled at what he had heard. He turned his head to look at Wang Yang. Pointing at himself with an unbelieving face, he said, “Good heavens. Did I hear you correctly? You want me to join your crew?!”
Shrugging and smiling, Wang Yang said, “I think you heard me perfectly.”
Harry breathed faster. Flushing, he said, “Man, you think I can do it?”
“Harry, never say never to yourself,” Wang Yang said very seriously. Looking at Harry, completely dumbfounded, he spread his hands and laughed. “Come on! James Cameron became a widely known director from being a truck driver. Ask yourself, ‘Why can’t I become a best-cameraman winner from being a McDonald’s waiter?’ You remember what your card says? Cameraman Harry George! You are a cameraman. That was already a big step. And you will be a movie cameraman. Have some faith in yourself!”
Harry breathed harder and harder. The light in his eyes became brighter and brighter. Smiling, Wang Yang said, “Harry, Wally Pfister will be the cameraman of High School Musical. He told me you have the potential. He has agreed to hire you as his assistant, but he said you need to lose some weight.”
“I will lose some weight!” Harry jumped for joy. Hugging Wang Yang, his eyes turned red. He said incoherently, “Yang, I love you so much. You are fantastic. You are my best friend. You are great…”
Wang Yang was compelled to hug his fat body, too. The fatty’s excited exclaims reminded him of a bitter voice. “You will absolutely fail! Because that is who we are—losers. We will fail, fail, fail!” He smiled to himself. Harry, do you understand? That is the meaning of the sign. We are not butterflies that are naturally beautiful. We might have even been losers once, but after transformation and being tempered by fire, we will turn out to be even more beautiful than butterflies!
“Harry, you have done a good job, too!” Patting Harry on the shoulder, Wang Yang was beaming.
After signing the contract, Wally Pfister officially became the cameraman of High School Musical, and Harry George got an assistant job in the camera crew. When the cameraman had been decided, the crew had almost taken shape. Everything was ready. A few days later, the firm settled the location of the shooting as well. The movie would be shot at Salt Lake City East High, located in Salt Lake City, Utah.
That was where the original movie would have been shot. The crew made the choice because it was easier to design and control the storyboard. In addition, the geographical location of that school was great. With the mountains around it, they could get some wonderful shots for the movie.
Flames Films had arranged the consignment of the photographic devices, sets, props, and other stuff, but the crew would not travel for the moment because Thanksgiving was coming. The crew would not head for Salt Lake City for the shooting until this big holiday was over.
Thanksgiving Day was the day for reunion. The entire family would stay together to celebrate the holiday. A great dinner and a delicious turkey would be indispensable.
In her bright room, Jessica was lying on her stomach on the bed, humming some melody and flipping through a cooking magazine. She was speaking to herself while reading the introduction of Thanksgiving food. “What should I cook? Turkey is a must. Pumpkin pie, bread…” She suddenly paused. She thought to herself, “I wonder what Yang likes to eat.” She spent a few moments pondering on that. Then, she smiled and turned to the next page.
“Ahem. Ahem. Jessica, I have something to tell you!” Joshua suddenly popped up in the corridor outside of the room. Jessica did not know how long he had been standing there. He knocked on the half-open door with a serious face. Jessica looked up at him. She said, “Just say it. I am going to prepare for the Thanksgiving dinner.” Pulling a long face, Joshua walked in. He pulled a chair closer and sat down on it. He said in a deep voice, “Thinking it over, I think Yang could be… gay.”
Staring at him, Jessica sat up, holding the magazine. She said, “Don’t make such a senseless joke, Joshua. It is not funny at all!”
“It’s not a joke. I mean it.” Scratching his head, Joshua said with an odd look, “Think about it. Michael Pitt was wearing a T-shirt with the star pattern on Rachel’s birthday. Then, I recalled it was Yang’s T-shirt…” He went on enumerating his reasons, “Besides, I could feel the two of them were always exchanging looks while we were playing cards. That was why they always won!”
Jessica curled her lip. So that was why. This guy was always losing when they were playing cards, and he was still feeling frustrated about that. At the moment, he felt Yang was gay. Would he feel better if Yang was gay? She did not look away from the magazine. Waving her hand, she said, “Enough. Let it go. Anyways, I am sure Yang is not gay at all. I can feel it.” She said in a low voice after a pause, “Besides, Yang dated girls.”
“Then, you tell me, why is he so nice to Michael Pitt? They are not biological brothers!” Frowning, Joshua said, as if he was very serious, “Jessica, I read a book, and it says many gay people didn’t know they are gay at first, but as time goes by, they will eventually know, and they will show it… maybe Yang broke up with his ex because he is gay!”
“You are gay!” Rolling her eyes at him, Jessica explained, “Yang told me once that he saw himself in Michael Pitt, and he thinks Michael Pitt’s temperament is perfect for a role in his movie. That is why!” Looking at Joshua, she said resolutely, “Let it go. I know he is not gay. All right?!”
Joshua shrugged his shoulders. Wrapping his arms around the back of the chair, he said, “All right, so Yang is not gay. Then why doesn’t he… you know?” He laughed. Then, he said gloatingly, “Even blind people can see you have a thing for Yang. It’s impossible that Yang has no idea about it, but he hadn’t made any moves!” Jessica stared at him and gnashed her teeth. Joshua went on complacently, “Jessica, I am very experienced in relationships. Yang’s reaction is not normal. There are only two reasons that can explain it. First, he doesn’t like you. Second, he is gay.”
Jessica burst out laughing. Closing the cooking magazine, she said to Joshua in a sarcastic tone, “Oh, you are so experienced. You had only one relationship, and you were dumped!”
Joshua said embarrassedly, “Two relationships! Anyway, I am not a rookie like you.”
Raising her eyebrow, Jessica did not take offense. She said, “It is only because I don’t want to start a relationship yet. There are way too many people who want to be my boyfriend.”
Joshua murmured, “Not including Yang?”
Jessica picked up a pillow. Pretending she was going to throw it at him, she said, “I don’t want to talk about this, and I especially don’t want to talk with you about this, kiddo. Get out of my room.”
Someone was annoyed… Joshua got to his feet and walked out of the door. At the mention of the word boyfriend, Jessica suddenly thought of something. She stopped him. “Come back! Let me ask you one thing. What is that Jack thing all about?”
Turning around, Joshua was struck dumb. He asked confusedly, “Jack? Jack who?”
Frowning, Jessica looked confused, too. She said, “Jack Frank? I have no idea. One day, Yang asked me out of the blue, ‘How has Jack been?’. That is really weird.”
“Jack Frank? Jack?” Joshua kept repeating the name. He seemed to find some clue. He finally remembered it after a good while. Looking at Jessica embarrassedly, he said, “Hmm… maybe it is because before, you know? Because I was trying to protect you, and I told Yang that Jack was your boyfriend.”
“What?!” Jessica screamed. She fell off the bed. Her pretty eyes were full of shock. She said, “Jack Frank? My boyfriend?! My boyfriend?! Since when I have a boyfriend? What the hell!” She recalled that day how Yang had held his tongue. Had he misunderstood her? Jessica walked back and forth anxiously. Looking back and giving Joshua a stare, she said in anger, “I really want to give you a beating! Why are you so annoying?!”
Joshua pretended he threw up his hands. He said, “I didn’t do that deliberately. I thought Yang was a bad guy back then…” Seeing Jessica gnashing her teeth and looking for something that she could use as a weapon, he hurried to say, “Okay. Okay. I get it. I know what you are worrying about. But I don’t think Yang will misunderstand anything. He came to your birthday party. I remember Jack Frank was also at the party that day! Yang could see how you treated Jack. He is not a moron or something.”
Frowning, Jessica put the pillow down. Joshua was right. Yang should know that…”So, he doesn’t like me?” Jessica thought. She shook her head immediately to get the idea out of her head. She could feel there was something different between them, but had she felt it wrongly?
Seeing her worrying, Joshua could not put up with it anymore. Spreading his hands, he said, “Come on, Jessica. Just tell him you like him! I said it first in both of my relationships, and then it worked.” He looked serious. Closing his fist, he said, “Don’t you know? Chinese are usually very shy. We should make the first step!”
“Moron!” Jessica denied his suggestion right away. What would it be like if she was rejected by Yang? The mere thought of it could make her shudder. A long time ago, she’d thought she had been rejected when she could not receive Yang’s letters. She did not want to experience that frustration and pain once again. Besides, the shooting of High School Musical would start very soon. If she was rejected, she might not be able to do a good acting job at all… thinking of this, she shook her head. “No!”
Frowning, Joshua was trying to come up with another idea. Looking around, he suddenly saw a sentence printed on the cover of the cooking magazine, “What to Eat on Thanksgiving?”. His eyes lit up. He said excitedly, “I have a good idea! What about this? You invite Yang to our Thanksgiving dinner, the family dinner. You tell him he is the only guest invited! I don’t think he won’t get such an obvious implication.”
“Isn’t that the same as telling him I like him?” Jessica asked, looking at him.
Joshua said confidently, “No, they are not the same thing. You could invite him just because he is a good friend! But why only him? Figure it out yourself!”
Frowning, Jessica was pondering what he had said. Waving her hand, she said, “Go out. Stop bothering me.”
Shrugging his shoulders, Joshua walked out. As soon as he had left, Jessica shut the door of her room. Sitting on the edge of the bed with her cellphone for a long time, her heart beat faster and faster. She breathed out after a long while. She called Wang Yang. Smiling, she said, “Hi, Yang. Good evening!”
“Hi, Jessica.” Wang Yang smiled at the cellphone. He was sitting by the desk in his bedroom, reading about how to be a director. He closed the book as soon as he got Jessica’s call.
They started to talk. Then, he heard Jessica ask him, smiling, “You know, it will be Thanksgiving in two days. Will you go back to San Francisco?”
Shaking his head, Wang Yang said, “No, I won’t.” He would not go back until New Year’s Eve, but he certainly would call home on Thanksgiving Day.
Jessica tried to calm down. She said, “Well, I am preparing a big Thanksgiving dinner. I want to invite you to have Thanksgiving dinner with my family. Would you like to come?”
“Wow, sure!” Wang Yang agreed immediately, smiling. He said happily into the phone, “That is really exciting.”
She took a deep breath, but her heartbeat did not slow down. All of a sudden, Jessica said in a loud voice, “Yang! Well…” Her voice was almost shaking. She said, “You come alone, okay? I am sorry, but it’s just that my turkey is not big enough…”
“Sure!” Wang Yang’s heart skipped a beat. He realized what she was implying. His heartbeat accelerated too. Listening to Jessica’s breathing, although she was trying to keep it down, he said, “I see. Thank you for inviting me.”
“So, good night!” Jessica hung up as soon as he agreed as if she was afraid that he would change his mind somehow. She breathed out. She lay down on the bed, exhausted. Staring at the ceiling, a hopeful, sweet smile slowly showed up on her face.
Wang Yang put the cellphone down when he heard that Jessica had hung up. Then, he said quietly, “Good night.” Would the Thanksgiving dinner be big? He let out a sigh. He picked up Little Women from the desk and opened it to a page. He took out a photo from there.
Gazing at the blond girl in the photo, Wang Yang became serious. He recalled many things. And a vague, crying voice was echoing in his ears. “Yang, you are a jerk! I hate you! Go to hell!” This was the first time and the only time he saw her vulnerable side. She was always so tough. She was a woman of her own and would never lose her manners like that… looking at the girl in the photo, he murmured, “How have you been?”
He thought he had forgotten about those happy days, but it turned out he had not. Why had they fought? They’d been so in love that they had not even needed any disguise. That was how they had naturally shown who they were and had stopped caring for the other person’s feelings. They’d started to demand the other one with their own standards, which they’d thought was good. Then, the terrible thing had happened. It was not that they hated each other. Instead, it was that they cared about each other too much…
One and another scene showed up before his eyes. Wang Yang held the photo in his hand tighter involuntarily.
“I will go to the University of Southern California, I tell you. I will be a director.”
“What do I care if you want to be a director?!”
“Why don’t you want me to be a director? Why?!”
“It’s not that I don’t want you to be a director, but you know that I will go to the business school of Stanford. You should go to Stanford with me. That will lead you to a better future!”
“Go to hell, Stanford! What can I do at Stanford? Go to the business school with you?! Will I be admitted? Putting that aside, that is not what I want! I want to be a director. I want to make movies. Why can’t you just support me on that?!”
“Yang, please. For my sake, go to Stanford! Just go to Stanford for my sake! Don’t you understand? That is the only way we can stay together…”
“I will be expecting you at Stanford…”
“No. I will be expecting you in Los Angeles!”
Then, he went to the University of Southern California. And he got that call from her and saw her vulnerable side.
Looking at the girl in the photo, Wang Yang suddenly gnashed his teeth. He tore the photo into halves, and then into four pieces. He threw them onto the ground. In a hoarse voice, he swore, “Go to hell, Stanford! F*ck!”