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In 2007, outside a funeral home in Shenzhen, a group of people waited silently in the drizzle. Their black umbrella became the only color in the scene.
There will be a special funeral here, a funeral belonging to Chen Xiaoxu, the actor of "Sister Lin" in the once smash hit TV series "Dream of Red Mansions".
Chen Xiaoxu died of breast cancer, and before she died, she said five words to her father, which made her father grief-stricken, what did she say?
In 1983, a newspaper obtained by chance became a turning point in Chen Xiaoxu's fate. It was an advertisement for the crew of "Dream of Red Mansions" to find suitable actors across the country, especially for the affectionate and sickly role of Lin Daiyu. Chen Xiaoxu has her own unique understanding and feelings about this role, and she did not hesitate and decided to express her desire and confidence by writing a letter to director Wang Fulin.
In her cover letter, Ms. Chen detailed her understanding of Ms. Lin's role and how she thought she could interpret the complex character.
She mentions Lin Daiyu's vulnerability, wit, and the strength and affection hidden behind the quiet exterior. Chen Xiaoxu included a few photos of herself in the letter, which she deliberately imitated Lin Daiyu's makeup and expressions, hoping to prove that she was indeed capable of the role through these details.
Wang Fulin received Chen Xiaoxu's letter. Among the many applicants, Chen Xiaoxu's letter stood out in particular. Not only because of the fluency of her writing, but also because her understanding of Lin Daiyu reveals a depth that is different from others. The director arranged an interview and audition to observe Chen Xiaoxu's acting skills more directly.
On the day of the interview, Chen Xiaoxu was dressed simply, but her carefully prepared performance was not simple at all. She chose a section of Lin Daiyu's burning manuscript in "Dream of Red Mansions" to perform, which is a scene of Lin Daiyu's complex emotions, and she needs to show her intelligence, sensitivity and self-contradiction at the same time.
Chen Xiaoxu's performance not only shows Lin Daiyu's inner world, but also shows her elegance and sorrow vividly.
After the audition, the other members of the crew were also very satisfied with Chen Xiaoxu's performance. Wang Fulin finally decided that Chen Xiaoxu was the most suitable actor to play Lin Daiyu.
This decision was soon informed to Chen Xiaoxu, who officially joined the crew of "Dream of Red Mansions" and began months of intensive rehearsals and filming.
Chen Xiaoxu's performance in the play quickly won the love of the audience and the respect of his peers. Her Lin Daiyu is not only a sick and weak girl, but also a character with rich emotions and complex psychology.
Chen Xiaoxu's interpretation brings the characters to life, and her delicate expression management and control of lines make every scene seem very real and touching.
After the broadcast of "Dream of Red Mansions", Chen Xiaoxu's name began to be closely linked to Lin Daiyu's image. But because of this, Chen Xiaoxu felt the constraints that this role brought to his career.
After several attempts to step out of this role and try to take on other roles, she found that the audience and the industry still saw her as one with Lin Daiyu, which made her decide that she had to take a more radical approach to further her career.
Chen Xiaoxu used the funds she had accumulated through her acting career to start an advertising agency, which marked her transition from a front-stage business to a behind-the-scenes business.
She has carefully selected partners and employees, built a team of professionals, and positioned the company to provide high-end creative and execution services.
Chen's company quickly gained recognition in the industry, and she used her connections and influence in the entertainment industry to win the company several large-scale advertising projects.
At the beginning of the establishment of the advertising agency, Chen Xiaoxu personally participated in the creative and planning work of many projects. She uses her deep understanding of film, television and theatre to infuse her commercials with drama and storytelling, which makes her advertising work visually and emotionally appealing. The company's business gradually expanded into TV advertising, print advertising, and later online advertising.
Despite Chen's success in the business world, it is still difficult for the public to completely detach herself from the image of Lin Daiyu she portrayed.
Whether it's her professional performance at business conferences or her brilliant presentations at industry forums, people have always habitually associated her with that fragile and affectionate Lin Daiyu.
Although this permanence of public impression has brought a certain brand value to her advertising business, it has also invisibly limited her possibilities in other fields.
After several years in the advertising industry, Chen's company has grown to become one of the leading advertising agencies in the industry. Her team continues to innovate and launch a series of iconic advertising projects that have not only won market recognition, but also won the company several national and international awards. Chen Xiaoxu himself has been recognized as an outstanding entrepreneur by several business magazines and industry organizations.
In 2006, Chen Xiaoxu was examined by a doctor during a routine physical examination, and the results showed that she had breast cancer, and the condition had reached a more serious stage.
In the face of the sudden health crisis, Chen Xiaoxu actively underwent treatment, including surgery and chemotherapy, which was a huge test of her physical strength and energy. After months of medical procedures, Chen Xiaoxu felt a great deal of physical and emotional stress.
At the beginning of 2007, Chen Xiaoxu made a major decision, which was to become a monk and seek a more spiritual and spiritual peace.
She chose Xinglong Temple in Changchun as the site for her ordination. Xinglongji Temple is a Buddhist temple with a long history, known for its solemnity and deep religious atmosphere.
With the help of the temple, Chen Xiaoxu began her ordination ceremony, in which she cut off her long hair, changed into monk's robes, and performed a series of religious ceremonies, marking her official renunciation of her worldly status and fame.
During the ceremony, Chen Xiaoxu's relatives and friends and some former colleagues came to Xinglong Temple to witness her transformation.
Although it was a sad moment, it was also a solemn and sacred one, with the muffled chanting echoing through the temple and sandalwood in the air. The monks recited scriptures for her, praying that she would find inner peace and spiritual liberation.
A few days after Chen Xiaoxu became a monk, her husband Hao Tong also decided to become a monk. This is a joint decision between the two of them, hoping to receive more support and comfort on a spiritual level.
Hao Tong's ordination ceremony was also held at Xinglong Temple, and similar to Chen Xiaoxu's ceremony, he was also guided by a monk, after a series of religious ceremonies, shaved his hair and put on a gray monk's robe.
Soon after Chen Xiaoxu became a monk, her physical condition began to deteriorate rapidly. The progression of her breast cancer caused her mobility to deteriorate dramatically, and soon after, she was unable to sit up on her own and needed help to move.
Due to the invasion of the disease, Chen Xiaoxu soon became completely dependent on a wheelchair for daily mobility, however, as time passed, even the wheelchair could not meet her needs, and she was confined to bed most of the time.
At this stage, it is mainly Chen Xiaoxu's father who is responsible for taking care of her. He waited by his daughter's bedside day and night, trying his best to provide her with the utmost comfort and support.
The father is responsible for feeding, medication management and day-to-day care, as well as dealing with communication with doctors, monks and visitors.
Although necessary medical adjustments have been made to ensure that she can receive appropriate treatment and care at home, the physical limitations and inconveniences caused by the illness continue to increase.
As her condition deteriorated, Ms. Chen's life was almost entirely confined to her bedroom. The room is quiet and tidy, and the sound of Buddhist scriptures often flows from the stereo, adding a touch of peace to her environment.
Doctors and nurses visit regularly to monitor her health and do their best to alleviate her pain.
On such days, although Chen Xiaoxu's body is getting weaker and weaker, she still maintains a rare strength and calmness.
She accepts her fate and is silently reconciled with the gradual loss of illness and life.
In the final stages of her life, her state of mind seemed to have reached a state of detachment, and she appeared relatively calm despite the frequent attacks of illness.
Until the last moment of his life, Chen Xiaoxu was still taken care of by his father. When her life was about to end, she said to her father, who was guarding her bedside, "Dad, I want to die" in a weak but firm voice in an early morning.
On May 13, 2007, Chen Xiaoxu died of breast cancer, ending her 41-year life journey. Her passing has attracted widespread attention and mourning both inside and outside the entertainment industry.
Chen Xiaoxu's funeral is scheduled to be held at the Shenzhen funeral home on May 18, and the news has attracted the attention of many fans and media as soon as it was announced.
On the day of the funeral, a large number of fans and media gathered outside the Shenzhen funeral home to see them off. Wreaths and souvenirs were placed spontaneously, and there was an atmosphere of grief and remembrance.
At 11 o'clock in the morning, Deng Jie, the actor of the role of Wang Xifeng in the Dream of Red Mansions TV series, as one of Chen Xiaoxu's colleagues and friends before his death, arrived at the scene first. Deng Jie's arrival immediately attracted the attention of many cameras and reporters.
Deng Jie was dressed in a black dress, and her face looked very dignified. In an interview with the media, she expressed her sorrow and shock at Chen Xiaoxu's death.
Deng Jie recalled: "I was already very shocked when she became a monk, and now that she left us so suddenly, my mood is even more difficult to calm down. Her voice was choked, and her eyes glistened with tears from time to time.
At the funeral site, Chen Xiaoxu's portrait was placed in the center, surrounded by white garlands and flowers, expressing people's condolences and respect for her.
Chen Xiaoxu's family stood quietly on the sidelines, facing the crowd of mourners, nodding their heads to the guests from time to time to thank them.
At the beginning of the funeral ceremony, a monk stepped forward to recite Buddhist scriptures and pray for Chen Xiaoxu's soul. Subsequently, Deng Jie and several other actors from the crew of "Dream of Red Mansions" stepped forward and bowed to Chen Xiaoxu's portrait.
Chen Xiaoxu has been dead for 17 years, but the "Lin Daiyu" she created will always live in people's hearts.
References:[1]Rich Sister Lin Sister - Chen Xiaoxu's Little-known Life[J].International Business and Accounting,2007(6):58-59