After going through a set of screenings and being handed his temporary badge, 'GU WEI - CSL INSTRUCTOR', Gu Wei was led by a staff to the 5th floor.
The surroundings were office-like and divided into compact squares.
He was sat on one of the chairs, and told to wait.
Gu Wei sat quietly clutching his bag and gazing around the foreign environment. Was this where he would be working in the foreseeable future?
A figure popped out from a corridor and made towards Gu Wei, he sat up and bowed even before he made out who it was.
"Are you Gu Wei?"
A thick voice said, stopping in front of the bowed figure.
Gu Wei straightened and nodded at the woman, "Yes."
She was almost taller than him, standing only a few centimetres short.
Her hair was dyed a light pink and was in simple office pants and a blouse, adding a sharpness to her striking face and piercing eyes.
Gu Wei felt like a doll on display as she swept her gaze over him and stopped short at his bag.
Her brows furrowed in dismay.
Gu Wei made a mental note to not bring tote bags in the future.
"Drop that. Follow me."
And she was walking, heading the way she'd come.
Gu Wei hurriedly retracted his phone and dropped his bag as ordered, following the bossy woman as she walked like hot coals were burning at her feet.
He struggled to catch up.
"My name is Li Fan, call me Miss Li. Right now we're heading to the conference room, where we'll conjure all our meetings, so watch the way. You're a Chinese Sign Language Instructor, correct?"
Gu Wei nodded, "Yes. I'm a private-"
"Good. I'll have a staff show you around the floor after the meeting, so relax for now."
Li Fan… Miss Li said, still walking at an inhuman pace. Gu Wei swallowed and nodded again.
They passed a few rooms and doors on their way, before stopping at a glass one. Miss Li swiped her card, the door pinged open.
"Make sure to bring your card with you at all times or you'll be locked out, and no one has time to differ to a forgetful newbie. Be vigilant, got it?"
Miss Li turned briefly to eye him.
Gu Wei swallowed again, "Yes Ma'am."
Satisfied with his answer, Miss Li continued her talking and sped even faster. Gu Wei's legs started to cramp.
If he'd known, he would've done a few stretches beforehand. Gu Wei made a note of that too.
"There are three authentication doors, and your badge is eligible for all three. If it doesn't go through after a few tries, contact me and we'll fix the problem. The chances of that happening are short, so worry less about it."
They passed through the second authentication door.
Gu Wei wondered how she expected him to not worry when she'd planted the seed in his mind. Was she doing it on purpose?
"I don't know what Fu Yuan saw in you to be chosen without a second thought, but we'll see. You might be average at what you do. There were a lot of fakers in the interview and half of them didn't know the difference between ASL and CSL. The nerve."
Gu Wei was proud and relieved he knew the difference well.
ASL (American Sign Language), was known for its unique grammar and intricate hand signs, while CSL (Chinese Sign Language) relied on body language and included written Chinese characters into its signs.
Not many people were aware of the distinct difference between the two.
"Oh, and…"
Miss Li stopped at the last door and turned her attention to Gu Wei.
He folded his hands in a polite gesture, his ears still ringing with the information she'd dumped on him.
Fu Yuan Jie had chosen him for the role? Specially?
Miss Li's frown stayed permanent.
"This isn't a campaign, but a special film for the hearing and speaking impaired. The campaign was just a ruse to cover up the true intentions as Fu Yuan wants it to be a secret surprise gift to her fans. So keep your mouth shut till we're done filming and you and I are good. Got it?"
Gu Wei blinked rapidly. A film? They were making a film. What in the world...
"What-I mean… Yes ma'am."
Miss Li eyed him again as if contemplating if he could genuinely keep a secret.
Gu Wei met her gaze head-on. He was here for Fu Yuan, and no matter the obstacles, he would break through them with all he had.
Miss Li humphed and swiped her card.
The third door opened and she led him through another glass door, this one requiring only a push and they were greeted by five people sitting around a long counsel table.
Gu Wei hadn't realized there were people in the room through the glass because the chairs had such high backs that a person's head barely peeked out.
Gu Wei took a seat next to a nice-looking man and introduced himself. The man's name was JJ - short for Jian Jian - and he was the Director.
The other four were the Producer, Screenwriter, Cinematographer, and Editor.
Named consecutively, Hai Bao (HB), Su Bing (SB), Jun Cheng (JC), and Guo Peng (GP).
The film was a romance story between a young woman who was non-verbal and communicated through sign language and an energetic boyish love interest.
The story was going to focus on the struggles of the female lead, cast as Fu Yuan, as she battled with societal views, family pressure, misunderstandings, and relationships.
Gu Wei couldn't help but think of Zhai Mei.
Miss Li explained the storyline and passed the script to Gu Wei. He was still trying to process the fact that he was working on a film instead of a campaign.
Gu Wei's brain struggled to catch up with Miss Li's fact-dropping words and role assignments as she spoke, and he wished he had his notebook with him.
Would it be rude to type it on his phone?
Gu Wei opened the script, stopping at the front page, and smiled at the name, Fu Yuan, bolded in a big font as the main character.
"Mr. Gu, are you listening?"
Gu Wei snapped out of his haze and affirmed that he was indeed listening.
He was listening, but the words were exiting his other ear as soon as they entered.
He omitted this however, no one needed to know he had trouble with words and memory.
Miss Li eyed him in that way of hers again. Gu Wei resisted squirming in his seat. She looked away and the conversation continued.
A conversation where Gu Wei didn't utter so much as a single word, just sitting and taking mental notes of hundreds as they planned and shuffled ideas around.
Mental notes that were crumbling as soon as they existed.
"That's it then. Director JJ will communicate with HB for the script and Mr. Gu will offer his expertise on twitching the contents of the film to fit the theme. Mr. Gu, will it be alright to assume you'll be done with the editing by the end of the week?"
Miss Li's heavy stare landed on him, and Gu Wei swallowed thickly. What editing?
"Yes, of course." Gu Wei replied. Relief washed over him as Miss Li concluded the meeting and they all shuffled out of the room.
Gu Wei latched onto director JJ in the hopes that the man would be willing to help a fellow co-worker.
However, the director muttered something about food and hurried away.
Gu Wei stood confusedly by the door as everyone left without a second glance.
He was wondering how, why, and where he was when Miss Li called out to him.
"Mr. Gu? What're you doing? Aren't you eating with us?" Gu Wei blinked, "Huh?"
Eating with those lunatics-uhh, people? Gu Wei's smile was shaky, "Of course."
Miss Li left before his words were complete.
Gu Wei stood there and breathed for a few seconds before following. This was not how he had imagined this would go.
Luckily, Miss Li hadn't gone far by the time Gu Wei caught up.
They took the elevator and met the director and the others on the 3rd floor.
Miss Li told him to never leave the building for trivial things such as lunch, dinner, or even breakfast.
The building had a flourishing cafeteria and their food was more healthy and clean than any restaurant.
Gu Wei agreed, internally thinking of how the building he was in was starting to feel like a prison.
The cafeteria was ladled with couches and plastic chairs in different sizes.
Miss Li ordered a set of buns, sandwiches, and coffee like the other four.
Gu Wei stared longingly at the buns before remembering his account balance.
He opted for a single soft drink instead, settling in with the calm group of people as they ate in silence.
Gu Wei also sipped in silence.
Miss Li broke the quietness. "Fu Yuan was supposed to join us in today's meeting but was busy. I hope Director JJ doesn't mind?"
Said Director JJ shook his head and continued devouring his food. Gu Wei watched them out of the corner of his eye.
This group was so different from Gu Wei's loud manic friends. It was eerie how opposite they were.
Gu Wei thanked the heavens for bestowing him with such loud friends as his skin crawled with discomfort.
He wished someone would say something.
Once again, Miss Li spoke, "Fu Yuan says she's in the building. You guys are in luck, I guess you'll get to see her after all."
Gu Wei's head whipped around. Miss Li had her phone in her hand and seemed to be texting someone.
Texting Fu Yuan.
Gu Wei's already scrambled brain short-circuited further at the words Miss Li had dropped undramatically.
JJ, SB, HB, JC, and GP also continued their lunch as if the most normal thing had happened.
Before Gu Wei could unclog his throat and inquire further, a familiar cheery voice greeted them and Gu Wei's head whipped around again.
He would know that tempo anywhere, even in his sleep, even if his memory was wiped clean, Gu Wei would always recognize his Jie Jie's voice.