On this sunny spring afternoon, Mr. Bi Yanjun sat alone in a comfortable living room, holding a yellowed black-and-white photo, and staring affectionately at one of the young people.
The boy could not hide his heroic appearance despite the years that had left its mark on his face, while the girl wore a long dress with an extraordinary temperament, as if she was intently observing something.
This precious photo was taken in 1983, when Bi Yanjun had just stepped into the acting workshop of the Shanghai Theater Academy, and the beautiful woman was the love of his heart, his late ex-wife Chen Xiaoxu.
The two figures in the photograph are frozen in the backstage of the repertory theatre, where their acquaintance and love begin.
Mr. Bi Yanjun carefully examined the photos in his hand and recalled the good times he spent with Chen Xiaoxu. It turned out that as early as 17 years ago, they were both members of the repertory troupe.
Chen Xiaoxu, who was only 17 years old at the time, showed her talent at the beginning and showed a unique bookish atmosphere on the stage, and Bi Yanjun was deeply attracted by her delicate and lovely appearance and elegant and generous temperament.
One day three years later, after careful consideration, Bi Yanjun finally mustered up the courage to propose to Chen Xiaoxu. Knowing the affection of his sweetheart, Chen Xiaoxu was both surprised and moved.
She was full of admiration for this "big brother" who took care of herself, so the two began a sweet relationship.
Soon after, the TV series "Dream of Red Mansions" launched auditions nationwide, which undoubtedly brought an important turning point in Chen Xiaoxu's life.
Bi Yanjun seized this rare opportunity and did not hesitate to highly recommend Chen Xiaoxu to the chief director Wang Fulin, and encouraged her to bravely participate in the interview.
With her excellent acting skills and charming appearance, Chen Xiaoxu became famous in "Dream of Red Mansions" and instantly became a household name Sister Lin. However, just as this brilliant achievement came, a puzzling turn of events followed.
With her excellent acting skills and fresh and refined appearance, Chen Xiaoxu's wonderful performance in the TV series "Dream of Red Mansions" made her instantly among the national-level female artists, and became the widely praised image of Lin Daiyu in one fell swoop.
At that time, she was full of great honor that she was able to play the classic role in this immortal masterpiece, and the whole person was full of fresh joy, constantly sharing the details of the crew's life with Bi Yanjun.
However, just as the audience was cheering for her superb acting skills, a sudden change quietly came. As time passed, Chen Xiaoxu began to be deeply attracted by Lin Daiyu's melancholy and introverted personality, she was no longer the once sunny and cheerful girl, but became more and more deep and melancholy like Lin Daiyu.
Sometimes, Chen Xiaoxu falls into a long period of contemplation, oblivious to everything around him. What's worse is that she will even confuse fantasy with reality, and blame her husband Bi Yanjun for no reason.
Watching his beloved wife gradually move away from him, Bi Yanjun felt helpless, and could only watch the relationship between the two gradually fade.
As time passed, the contradictions between them intensified, and the love gradually extinguished like a candle in the wind. Quarrels, silences, cold wars, these commonplace conflicts between couples are frequently staged in their families, and each time they add a heavy burden to their hearts.
Under such a predicament, an even more cruel blow came one after another - Chen Xiaoxu was diagnosed with breast cancer and had only a few months left to live.
After learning the bad news, Bi Yanjun was shocked and had mixed feelings in his heart.
Accompanied by actor Hao Tong, Chen Xiaoxu chose to become a monk and spent the last days of his life peacefully. When Bi Yanjun saw her again, she had become a kind Buddhist disciple, and the two finally had the opportunity to sit down and dissolve the mustard that had been buried in their hearts for many years.
However, soon after, Chen Xiaoxu died of illness, leaving Bi Yanjun alone to face the cruel reality of the impermanence of the world.
Although the relationship with Chen Xiaoxu has brought endless pain to Bi Yanjun, the veteran actor has not given up his beloved acting career because of this.
In the past 40 years, he has always adhered to this industry and participated in many important film and television works that have led the trend of Chinese culture.
Whether it is the epic large-scale historical drama "Breaking through the Guandong" carefully created by Shandong Film and Television Media Group, or the touching and touching emotional commercial inspirational blockbuster "Struggle" produced by Huayi Brothers, or the revolutionary historical film "The Great Cause of the Founding of the People's Republic" with great historical significance jointly planned by various forces under the leadership of the State Administration of Radio and Television Mr. Bi Yanjun has devoted himself to it, and has won wide acclaim and high praise in the entertainment industry with his superb acting skills and unwavering perseverance.
Even in 2021, when he successfully created an "old stubborn" image of Gu Hongming in the high-profile TV series masterpiece "The Awakening Age", that unforgettable face made many young audiences quickly remember this veteran actor who has gone through decades of ups and downs.
After the tragic death of Ms. Chen Xiaoxu, Mr. Bi Yanjun had a challenging and painful time. The friends around him saw it in their eyes and hurt in their hearts, and they all matched this lonely person with kindness and looked for a new partner.
After careful consideration, Mr. Bi Yanjun finally decided to regain the courage of love and bravely welcome a new life. He met an outsider, and finally entered the marriage hall and ushered in their little life.
With a new family, Mr. Bi Yanjun's life is full of vitality again.
In the photo, Mr. Bi Yanjun gazed affectionately at Chen Xiaoxu in his youth, as if he had traveled through time and space and returned to that distant time. The two who have been in love for many years have finally drifted apart due to differences in concepts.
At first, Mr. Bi Yanjun fully supported Chen Xiaoxu to shine in his career. As a man of integrity, optimism and a desire for excellence, he expects his lover to shine in the midst of flowers and applause.
However, just as Chen Xiaoxu's reputation was in full swing, an unexpected change quietly came.
As Chen Xiaoxu was deeply immersed in the role of Lin Daiyu, her personality gradually changed subtly. She began to doubt many things, became confused, became depressed and dull, and even turned a blind eye to Mr. Bi Yanjun's love and care.
Sometimes, Chen Xiaoxu will fall into deep thought for a long time, indifferent to everything in the outside world. What's more, she sometimes falls into the confusion of reality and illusion, and makes trouble with Mr. Bi Yanjun.
When his beloved wife gradually left, Bi Yanjun could only helplessly watch the light and heat of love between them gradually fade, like fine sand in an hourglass, slowly passing away.
Chen Xiaoxu devotes most of his time to busy work, leaving less and less time for each other. Quarrels, silence, and cold wars are common problems between couples, but they frequently appear in their lives, and each time they cause a deeper level of exhaustion and boredom in the hearts of both parties.
That once passionate love disappeared silently like smoke blown away by the wind. In order to avoid causing more harm to each other, when their love came to an end, Bi Yanjun and Chen Xiaoxu decided to end the relationship in an elegant and peaceful way.
The two people who once relied on each other have since embarked on their own life journeys.
Chen Xiaoxu's death undoubtedly brought a heavy blow to Bi Yanjun. Having lost his closest partner in life, he not only needs to face the impermanence and cruelty of life alone, but also endure the painful torture of losing his loved ones.
In the early days, Bi Yanjun's life was particularly difficult. He was once a positive, optimistic and cheerful man who pursued excellence, but now he can only face this cold world alone.
Chen Xiaoxu's breath permeated his home, reminding them of the good times they had spent together, which made him unable to shake off the painful memories.
Fortunately, his family and friends did not stop caring and supporting him because of his predicament. Seeing that the veteran actor was getting haggard day by day, friends reached out one after another, enthusiastically introducing him to a new partner, hoping that he could find a happy home again.
After careful consideration, Bi Yanjun finally mustered up the courage to accept a friend's kind suggestion and began to try a blind date. In this way, he met an outsider, and the two quickly sparked, and finally entered the palace of marriage.
With a new family, Bi Yanjun's life is full of vitality again.
From Chen Xiaoxu's death to Bi Yanjun's restarting his life, he has experienced a long and painful process. However, as he later said, letting go of the past does not mean forgetting, but choosing to live bravely in the present and embrace a new chapter in life.
Under the loving care of his wife and children, Bi Yanjun gradually got rid of the shadow of his soul that had been troubled for a long time. He began to re-examine his long and rich life journey and explore the true meaning of life.
Although he has achieved remarkable achievements in his career, he is not satisfied, and has always had a humble, quiet and indifferent attitude, and does not pursue too much worldly fame and fortune.
He would be glad to have the opportunity to contribute to a great work of art.