Fake it till you make it

Renly remained immersed in his own world. At first glance, his performance seemed effortless, as if he effortlessly lifted the weight of the scene. However, the reality was not so simple.

"Like Crazy" was an exceptionally unique script. It directed all attention to the theme of love, and while it didn't delve deeply into the characters Jacob and Anna, it played to the strength of emphasizing the theme of love. This created resonance with the audience, allowing each person to find shades of themselves within this love story.

Therefore, Jacob was a character lacking distinct edges. Renly originally thought that employing a performance-based acting approach would suffice. He saw the project as a sort of graduation test, a showcase of his capabilities. Yet, upon joining the production, his perspective shifted.

Jacob truly lacked well-defined traits, but within his core, Renly could see shades of Drake Dormeus. In essence, Drake always believed his marriage with his ex-wife had fallen apart due to his inability to persevere. Although he always claimed there were no right or wrong answers in love, a central theme of "Like Crazy", the script's nuances revealed a deeper sense of self-blame and guilt within Drake.

This also indicated that Jacob wasn't a generic embodiment of man. He was Jacob, a somewhat introverted, somewhat insecure, somewhat idealistic young man. He was someone who placed love above all else in life, yet hesitated to move forward despite wanting to bring happiness to Anna.

He was a homebody who enjoyed working with his hands. When he dedicated himself to crafting furniture, he did so with unwavering focus because it brought him joy. He was a reserved individual who enjoyed music, poetry, and handicrafts, often finding solace in these activities. He was a warm-hearted man. Perhaps his interest was initially sparked by Anna's bold confession, but he truly fell for this playful, confident, and straightforward girl. His gaze couldn't even stray from her.

He was a person, a living, breathing individual, not merely a representative embodiment of the overarching theme of love.

Renly was attempting to merge his understanding, his interpretation, and his reading of the character into his performance. He didn't want to deliberately refine the habitual details of his character's actions. He simply wanted them to come naturally, and then, employing his performance-based acting method, he would accurately and effectively convey the emotions.

To be honest, the acting complexity of "Like Crazy" paled in comparison to "Buried", but it granted Renly more space for contemplation, more room for exploration. Within his sphere of control, he meticulously experienced the various facets of the performance.

In that fleeting moment just now, he truly became Jacob. Isn't acting truly an intriguing pursuit?

"Renly, are you ready?" Drake looked at Renly, who seemed momentarily dazed, and called out. Renly made an "OK" gesture with his hand, then lifted his head to regulate his breath. He once again stepped into the role of Jacob, looking at the presence of Felicity before him, gradually seeing her transform into Anna.

Felicity quickly glanced at Renly, whispering softly, "Sorry." Then she saw Renly's lips curl into a warm smile. He gently shook his head, a slight movement that almost went unnoticed, yet the hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth brushed over like a gentle spring breeze. It carried a childlike innocence, and Felicity's own smile couldn't help but lift in response.

She liked this version of Jacob.

"I thought I understood it, that I could grasp it. But I didn't, not really. Only the "smudgeness" of it. The pink-slippered, all-containered, semi-precious eagerness of it...," Anna whispered, her voice tremulous and nervous, yet tinged with inexplicable anticipation. She cautiously unveiled her most intimate depths to a stranger, yet she could feel that warm and gentle gaze enveloping her like expansive, lush wings.

She couldn't help but lift her head, colliding with his concentrated eyes. She could see Jacob's soft cherry lips slightly curl, forming a tender and indulgent curve. Her heart skipped a beat, and the impulse to kiss him welled up within her. She awkwardly cast her eyes downward, yet the smile at the corner of her mouth betrayed her truest emotions.

"...I didn't realize it would sometimes be more than whole. That the wholeness

was a rather luxurious idea because it's the halves that halve you in half. Didn't know. Don't know about the in-between bits. The gory bits of you and gory bits of me."

Jacob carefully observed the slightest shifts in Anna's gaze—shyness interwoven with excitement, reticence intertwined with confidence, tenderness mingled with strength, and nervousness paired with anticipation. Her beautiful eyes appeared to be filled with countless stars, and the twinkling light softened her entire visage.

Gradually, Jacob began to grow bolder. He ceased hiding, unwaveringly gazing at Anna. He even greedily fixated on the halo within her eyes. This way, he descended bit by bit, like plummeting from great heights into a deep pool. The bone-chilling cold and the friction-induced warmth made his body fluctuate between warmth and coldness. However, the exhilaration and thrill of free fall rendered everything else unimportant.

Anna was about to lift her head, but caught Jacob's unwavering gaze. He hadn't shifted his focus even for a moment, not even blinking. Flustered, she lowered her eyes. Then, she heard Jacob's voice, faintly amused, say, "I like "the halves that halve you in half".'"

The same words emerged from Jacob's deep voice. "Half" sounded tinged with innuendo, and even carried a hint of playful mockery. Before her mind could fully react, Anna laughed softly, finding it amusing herself. "It's a bit childish," she remarked.

Jacob's smile paused briefly, then he indulgently shook his head. "No." His magnetic voice gently slid through Anna's heart, creating ripples that spread outward. "No." Jacob repeated once again, allowing his voice to linger with an extended resonance, like an airplane's contrail gradually dissipating into the air.

Anna raised her head and met Jacob's profound and lively eyes once more. They illuminated the entire world, calming the frantic rhythm of her heart. Yet, they ignited a sense of excitement and fluttering. She had to bite her lower lip to prevent her smile from growing too wide. Wanting to say something, but uncertain how to express it, Jacob's unwavering gaze left her with no escape and no space for contemplation.

Anna pursed her lips, seemingly annoyed at her own discomposure. Then she lowered her head and began to write on her notebook. "I find your smile very adorable."

Passing the notebook to Jacob, Anna observed him as he read her words. He could only helplessly chuckle, then took the pen from her and began writing beneath her lines.

Unable to restrain herself, Anna gazed at Jacob, taking in his profile—the slight curl of his golden-brown hair, the trace of a smile at the corner of his mouth, the long and dense lashes framing his eyes... She attempted to use her gaze to outline the contours of his face, but she always ended up focusing on his eyes, imagining the surging emotions hidden deep within them. Her cheeks inevitably grew warm.

Jacob lifted the notebook, extending it to Anna. She hesitated for a moment, then took it from him and glanced down. Staring at what was written, she froze, hardly believing her eyes. She lifted her head to meet Jacob's gaze and saw a tinge of youthfulness and bashfulness on his now-pinkened cheeks. Before Anna could let her smile break free, she lowered her gaze once more to the notebook. The words on it read:

"I thought you might just kiss me. Or are you waiting for me to make the move?"

It was somewhat clumsy, somewhat adorable, somewhat hesitant, and somewhat mischievous.

"Hehe." Unable to contain herself, Anna's laughter, like tinkling bells, lightly spilled forth. She turned to Jacob, who wore an expression of annoyance and regret. This sight only deepened Anna's amusement, causing her to laugh even more heartily until her laughter echoed through the air. She liked this man—liked him so much, to the point of madness.

Turning her head, Felicity could see through her own eyes the man with the shy smile. His gaze seemed a bit clearer due to the faint pinkish glow that adorned his pupils. She couldn't distinguish whether it was Jacob or Renly. Just like she didn't know if she was Felicity or Anna. Because the rhythm and intensity of her heartbeat were so vivid, fierce and vigorous, pounding within her chest with an almost forceful dominance.

She genuinely, truly liked this man.

"Cut!"

Drake's voice rang out once more. Felicity heard it, but her eyes didn't want to move, unwilling to leave. She continued to smile radiantly, earnestly watching the man before her.

After the scene ended, the man seemed embarrassed by the words hastily written in the notebook. Completely improvised on the spot, he lifted his right hand and rubbed his disheveled hair. Under the lights, his distinctly defined, long, and powerful fingers gleamed with a soft glow, captivating all of Felicity's attention.

She truly couldn't tear her gaze away.

A sense of panic stirred within Felicity's heart, but what was worse was her inability to discern whether this unease stemmed from the throes of romantic affection or from the fear of blending reality and illusion.

The man lifted his head, their gazes meeting in the air once more. Then, in those eyes, Felicity caught a glimmer—a sparkle that caused her heart to beat faster than ever before. He felt the same! He, just like her, experienced the same feeling! The gentle eyes drew her in, and she couldn't help but descend slowly, her happiness-laden smile inching upward.

In that fleeting moment, the world was illuminated!

So, was this reality or acting? Was it genuine or false?