In 2003, the TV series "Dream Valley" was well received after being broadcast on CCTV, as an investor and actor actor, Zhu Shimao received many blessings from friends, although his heart was very touched and happy, he still always felt a little empty.
Not because of anything else, but because he was missing someone, and at this moment, how much he wished to hear that person's phone call, needless to say praise, or to say a word of criticism, he would feel happy and fulfilled.
But, he knew, it could be hard to wait until the call.
One spring two years later, Zhu Shimao went to the Kangxi Grassland on the outskirts of Beijing to play, while walking on the path after the rain, while looking at the blue sky, white clouds, and rainbows, his heart moved, and his thoughts flew back to the days when he filmed "Wrangler" more than twenty years ago, and flew back to the good time when he and that person were shooting movies together.
As if enlightened, all the knots in his heart before were suddenly unraveled, in this world, there is nothing more precious than pure friendship, as a man, why can't I take the initiative?
So he immediately pulled out the phone and dialed the man, and said affectionately: "I need you as a good friend, are you still willing to be my friend?" ”
The man on the other end of the phone seemed to be stunned, and then replied with a hard throat and emotion: "We will always be friends." ”
At this end, Zhu Shimao was also excited and could not help himself, put down the phone, and his heart suddenly became unusually open.
Who is that person? What happened between them?
It all started in the 1980s.
In 1981, the famous director Xie Jin adapted Zhang Xianliang's novel "Spirit and Flesh" into the movie "Wrangler", with thousands of male and female protagonists, and finally decided to be played by Zhu Shimao and Cong Shan respectively.
At that time, Cong Shan was still a 19-year-old freshman, and Zhu Shimao, who was 10 years older than her, had already starred in many works, had rich acting experience, and belonged to young and old actors.
Cong Shan saw him for the first time, in addition to being touched by his handsomeness, she was also disturbed by his seniority, and she was worried about whether she could cooperate with such an old actor when she was just starting out.
And Zhu Shimao was also very surprised, did not expect that the role of his wife was actually a small hairy child, although very beautiful, but also very green, the two can play a good emotional drama.
The next thing is to experience life according to Xie Jin's requirements, the two first rehearsed sketches together to run into each other, Cong Shan was inexperienced, often performed in place, Zhu Shimao showed enough patience at this time, not only did not have a little dislike, but also tirelessly explained to her over and over again, accompanied her rehearsal.
Cong Shan's role in the film is named Li Xiuzhi, a female figure who can both endure hardships and work hard, in order to be highly compatible with the role, Xie Jin arranged for Cong Shan to go to a lime kiln factory alone to experience life.
In this way, a thin and delicate city maid, a freshman who had just entered the university, had to live with the workers in the factory for a week, and when he came back, his hands were polished with bubbles, and he also lost more than 10 pounds.
Zhu Shimao was shocked and asked her what was wrong. Cong Shan seemed to see her relatives, "wow" a cry out, Zhu Shimao hurriedly said kind words of comfort: "To be an actor, you must have the mental preparation to endure hardships, some actors wear large cotton jackets in three days, jump the glacier in three or nine days, for the sake of art, you must have dedication." Otherwise, how can you become a good actor?"
A remark made Cong Shan feel a great relief in her heart, Zhu Shimao went out to buy delicious things to coax her, and also bought ointment to apply to her, Cong Shan showed a childlike smile and said happily: "Thank you, now, I have really found a little feeling of love." ”
In this way, the friendship between the two was established, and little by little, they became more familiar and close to each other, no longer as rigid as at the beginning.
In the subsequent contacts, Cong Shan felt more and more that Zhu Shimao, a Shandong man, was steady and sincere, like a kind big brother; and Zhu Shimao also felt more and more that Cong Shan, a Beijing girl, was innocent and kind, and regarded her as a cute little sister.
Slowly, the two became good friends who said nothing and were as close as brothers and sisters.
Seeing that the two cooperated so tacitly, and were so close, and still cared about each other in life, some people in the crew had thought of putting them together as a couple, but at that time, Zhu Shimao already had a fiancée, and the relationship between the two was still very good.
Since you can't build love, let's be the best friend, both of them think so.
There is no unbroken feast in the world, after the film is finished, the crew disbands, and everyone begins to break up.
Facing Zhu Shimao, Cong Shan cried reluctantly, and Zhu Shimao's eyes were also wet.
When the two meet, they will definitely contact more in the future, find opportunities to cooperate again, and be good friends for a lifetime.
In this way, Cong Shan returned to the Central Academy of Drama to continue her studies, and Zhu Shimao was transferred to the Bayi Film Studio to continue to work as an actor.
In 1982, "Wrangler" was officially released, and won the Best Feature Film Award of the Sixth Hundred Flowers Film Awards and the 1982 Excellent Film Award of the Ministry of Culture, and Cong Shan won the "Golden Rooster Award" Best Actress Award, becoming the film queen of that year.
After graduating from university, Cong Shan was assigned to the China Youth Art Theater, and in 1985, she starred in "Good Family Woman", playing the heroine Yu Xingxian, which once again attracted attention.
However, Cong Shan was not happy in the days of the Youth Art Theater, and on the first day of the report, the dean gave her a dismount: "You, the little star, can't play the main role as soon as you are assigned to our theater, first come to a dragon set, you can't let people say that you are proud." ”
After that, although she acted in many drama works in the Youth Art Theater, she basically played a small role in the dragon set.
Not only that, the unit also did not allow the actors to go out to shoot the scene, huang Jianzhong filmed "Good Family Women" in order to let Cong Shan to act, personally ran to the dean's home soft and hard bubbles did not get their wishes, in the end, or Cong Shan her own heart, without the permission of the unit ran out.
The consequence is to come back and write inspections and fines.
In 1987, Cong Shan received a scholarship from the French government, so she decided to leave the unit and study at the École Supérieure des Dramatés.
The first time she went abroad to a strange country, Cong Shan was somewhat nervous and uneasy in her heart. Zhu Shimao then invited Cong Shan to his home for dinner and comforted her: "I believe that you have the perseverance and ability to face all difficulties, and I look forward to your early return from school, and I will cooperate with you again." ”
Cong Shan suddenly felt that she had a bottom in her heart and smiled happily.
In the days of studying in France, Cong Shan put a lot of effort into it, and also acted in many stage plays, and her performances were also highly praised by French directors.
During this time, she also achieved a cross-border marriage and gave birth to a son, however, the two eventually broke up.
In 1996, Cong Shan returned to China with her son alone.
In 1999, "Wrangler" was ready to make a sequel, the crew found Zhu Shimao and Cong Shan again, 18 years, finally waiting for the opportunity to cooperate, both of them were very happy, pushed off all other film appointments and activities, ready to cooperate again.
Therefore, they seriously discussed the plot and character positioning together, but this time there was no tacit understanding of 18 years ago, and the two had differences in the handling of some plots and characters, and then quarreled, red-faced each other, and made a very unpleasant scene.
In fact, it is no wonder that after all, everyone has experienced too many ups and downs, the worldview and outlook on life have undergone great changes, and the understanding of things will naturally not be exactly the same.
Due to their own opinions, no one will give in, the relationship between the two began to become tense, Zhu Shimao decided to abandon the performance and withdraw the investment in a fit of anger, they broke up unhappily, and the sequel project of "Wrangler" was also miscarried.
After this fight, they did not communicate with each other for many years, and they did not even call each other on the phone.
And during this time, Cong Shan's feelings have a home, she married the director Xiao Feng.
At the wedding, Cong Shan was looking for a figure among the high-ranking friends, and subconsciously she felt that only that person also came to congratulate her, and her happiness was perfect enough, but he did not appear.
Because I didn't invite him, I didn't tell him, even if I did, who can guarantee that he will come?
Once the hurt friendship is recalled, it will be very painful, and Cong Shan is often tormented internally.
Therefore, there is the opening scene, when Zhu Shimao's voice rings on the phone, Cong Shan is so excited that she can't help herself and shed tears.
On the other end of the phone, Zhu Shimao asked softly: "We still have to cooperate, okay?" ”
Cong Shan replied, "Well, we agreed." ”
In early 2007, Zhu Shimao took the initiative to find Cong Shan and said to her: "We are all middle-aged now, how about making a movie that reflects the love of middle-aged people?" ”
Cong Shan was very happy to hear it, and decided to invest with Zhu Shimao, and in this way, at the end of that year, a movie that reflected the love of middle-aged people, "Two People's Room", was launched in Beijing.
After experiencing the hurt, both learned to be humble and cherished, and this time the film was made very smoothly, and the two even felt that they had a tacit understanding than when they cooperated in "Wrangler" 26 years ago, and the friendship between them was more innocent and firm.
Since then, the two have been in regular contact, and in 2009, Zhu Shimao's younger brother Zhu Shichun directed the TV series "Military Flag Flying", and Zhu Shimao and Cong Shan once again starred as a couple.
In 2011, Zhu Shimao filmed "Quit Smoking and Not Quit Drinking", Cong Shan took time out of her busy schedule to make a cameo, and on the day at the end of the year, the two also got together happily with a group of friends.
On the first day of 2020, Zhu Shimao posted a video on his social media, in which Zhu Shimao wore a red Tang costume and Cong Shan wore a red scarf, and the two jointly sent New Year wishes to the audience.
Someone left a message asking: "Lao Xu and Xiuzhi, everyone is asking why you are not together in real life?" ”
Zhu Shimao replied: "Although we did not enter the door of the family, we felt that this relationship was closer than that of relatives. ”
Cong Shan added: "We have actually played husband and wife three times on the screen, and it can be said that it is not a family that is better than a family. ”
Yes, Zhu Shimao and Cong Shan have worked together on the screen a total of four times, three times they are playing husband and wife, and the other time, although not husband and wife, is the first love.
No wonder Cong Shan said that!