"I think I've evolved into Rick 2.0."
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This self-proclaimed title is full of mockery.
It left Xia Wen momentarily speechless, not knowing where to begin criticizing.
However, this guy, Rick, really threw himself wholeheartedly into his passion for drama.
And he didn't have the slightest psychological burden about it.
In his eyes, if miHoYo's Honkai: Star Rail drama series became a global sensation, then no matter how absurd their filming methods seemed, they must be right.
Results are the only true measure of success.
So the moment Rick joined in, no matter how unconventional or absurd the methods appeared, he never once thought, "This way of filming is problematic" or "This is different from the traditional approach."
Instead, he immediately adopted the posture of a learner, trying to understand and absorb everything in front of him.
As for his previous experience, he simply threw it all out the window.
Because with that experience, he couldn't possibly create something like Honkai: Star Rail.
Since he couldn't, then he'd take the mindset of an apprentice, earnestly learning the most advanced filming concepts.
So, Rick accepted it willingly and joyfully.
That attitude, even Xia Wen didn't know what to say about it.
He really wanted to tell Rick, "This isn't something you can learn."
First of all, because it's all improvised. And the chosen characters are the people themselves.
Under such conditions, trying to imitate is completely meaningless.
But even so, having someone like Rick isn't necessarily a bad thing.
After finishing his scenes, Rick's professional knowledge would definitely be enough to qualify him as an assistant director.
When that time comes, the IPC's filming progress will definitely speed up even more.
The only question is, when will this "Rick Mark II" evolve into "Rick Mark V"?
...
On the other side, while miHoYo was enthusiastically reshooting scenes, the Okhema Theatre was also bustling with energy.
Those troupe members who had been away returned to the theater and began rehearsing two new plays.
And the ticket giveaway event, thanks to the tireless efforts of Mydeimos and Phainon, the two nuclear-powered workhorses, was progressing very smoothly.
Three fully-booked performances had already been arranged, scheduled for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
As for why not on the weekend, because on weekends, everyone gathers to watch Honkai: Star Rail.
...
Inside the theater, Phainon and Mydeimos sat on their chairs, with Phainon speaking joyfully from the heart: "It's wonderful, the stage is lively again."
They watched the rehearsal on stage.
Aglaea and Anaxagoras were performing a confrontation scene.
That's right, Aglaea was playing the role of the Titankin, and Anaxagoras was playing Paris.
This casting had been debated for a long time, especially by Anaxagoras, who strongly protested being cast as Paris.
Although stage plays differ greatly from film and television, often requiring arias and exaggerated classical performances,
Anaxagoras still didn't want the part.
In the end, only after much persuasion did he reluctantly agree to perform.
And he emphasized that it wasn't persuasion that convinced him, but rather that despicable Aglaea had threatened to cut off his funding using her authority.
Because Anaxagoras often studied vast amounts of classical art literature, working to modernize such works, his research had always been somewhat controversial.
And he also needed some connections.
As a professor, although Anaxagoras received a university stipend, this part-time work at Okhema, especially Aglaea's funding and inherited network, helped him quite a lot.
Besides, deep down, he really did like it here.
So he agreed in the end.
After the first round of rehearsal ended, Hyacine immediately went on stage to touch up their makeup.
While that was happening, Aglaea said gracefully, "The cunning of Paris, wrapped in hypocritical selfishness, you really interpret it perfectly, Anaxa."
"Firstly, call me Anaxagoras."
"And secondly, don't think I can't hear the sarcasm in your voice."
Anaxagoras shot back, "If it weren't for the funding, do you think a dignified university professor like me would stoop to working here? Oh, right, I forgot, your family's fallen on hard times now."
"Oh, heavens."
Aglaea raised her brows calmly and said, "That's exactly the tone I wanted, your Paris is absolutely perfect."
"Heh." Anaxagoras sneered coldly.
Nearby, Phainon and Mydeimos exchanged helpless glances and shrugged.
Everyone was already used to Aglaea and Anaxagoras's mutual snark.
Though they seemed to get along poorly, they'd never once dropped the ball on anything important.
After makeup touch-ups, rehearsals continued.
Besides the two leads, everyone else in the troupe also had their own roles.
For instance, in the opening scenes, the shopkeepers in front of their stores, were cameo roles played by Hyacine and Mydeimos.
And the many passersby encountered along the way were all performed by troupe members under different makeup and costumes.
This wasn't crude; in a small theater, role reuse among actors was perfectly normal.
When rehearsal ended, everyone started multitasking as stagehands, categorizing props, arranging costumes in order, and preparing everything in the dressing room.
Arcadia was a grand production, and it was also the first play marking the Okhema Theatre Troupe's revival.
Even though there was so much to prepare, everyone was full of enthusiasm, doing their best.
Meanwhile, outside the theater, Furina was walking alongside a short red-haired loli.
Furina's face was full of astonishment.
Because the "little one" beside her, who had just recently returned, had a backstory that left Furina completely dazed.
What do you mean by "looks young but is actually an adult"?
Good grief, an actual Loli!
Tribios's eyes squinted with amusement as she smiled, clearly enjoying Furina's shocked expression: "Amazing, isn't it, little Furina?"
"Y-Yes, very… very amazing…" Furina's mind felt dizzy. "You, you look so small, so cute, who would have thought…"
Tribios giggled and continued, "Who would have thought I'm actually everyone's teacher and one of Okhema Theatre's managers, right?"
"Anyway, that's how it is. I may not grow anymore, and I look tiny, but don't underestimate me."
"You have to treat me like an adult."
That reminder made Furina cough awkwardly: "Ahem, of course, I, I'm a worldly person, you know. I wouldn't be that easily surprised. Tribios-sensei, surely you don't think I'm so easily startled, right?"
"Heehee."
"No, of course not."
Tribios waved her hand adorably.
Only then did Furina relax.
"But little Furina, you don't seem like an ordinary person at all."
"You feel super important!"
That last sentence made Furina freeze for a moment.
Then she realized, right, she was the patron here. In everyone's eyes, she really wasn't an ordinary person.
Just as Furina was about to speak, Tribios continued speaking with a cheerful smile: "Not an ordinary sponsor. Tribios thinks you must have participated in some really amazing drama or movie, right? You must be someone working in the film and television industry."
Furina: z(⊙▽Oa!
"Eh."
"No, no, how could that be?"
"I'm just… my family, my family is very rich, that's all."
She hurriedly waved her hands to explain.
When she was on the phone with Xia Wen, it was clear that Xia Wen wanted the theater to continue training and didn't want to intervene too early in theater-related matters.
So Furina never mentioned her true background.
Could it be… could it already be exposed? When did that happen?
"Mhm! Tribios believes in Furina!"
Tribios suddenly said in a cute voice, "Tribios was just casually mentioning it."
"R-really?" Furina let out a long sigh of relief.
Seeing Furina's obvious reaction, Tribios laughed even more happily.
But suddenly, Tribios remembered something interesting that Furina had told her earlier during a casual chat (a character setting given to Furina by Xia Wen for her role in the play, just a setting, with no name mentioned).
When they talked about that setting on the way, the excited Tribios couldn't help but create two alternate versions of herself, Tian and Ting.
Then she imitated their tones while speaking to Furina.
"Yes, Furina. No matter what, I think we will be… good friends."
Tribios's voice suddenly became flat, as if devoid of emotion.
"This is…" Furina blinked and asked, "Trianne?"
"Furina's so smart~" Tribios's voice warmed up again.
"Tribbie?"
Furina guessed right again.
Tribios returned to her lively tone: "Hehe! Furina's amazing! This game is so much fun! When we get back to the theater, we should all play together with everyone else!"
Furina's eyes lit up: "Oh, that sounds so fun."
"Right, right!"
"Tribios thinks so too!"
They chatted as they walked.
Soon, they returned to the theater.
Everyone who was finishing up preparations came over to greet them when they saw the two.
"Teacher Tribios is back!"
"Takeoff!"
"With that, we can fully relax about the logistics during the performance!"
"As expected, Teacher Tribios is truly the pillar of the theater!"
Aglaea then came over to Furina and asked kindly, "Furina, it's your first time meeting Teacher Tribios today, right? Was everything okay?"
"It was fine."
Furinana waved her hand, saying, "Teacher Tribios is really cute, and she's not actually a child, so our conversation went really smoothly!"
"Is that so? That's good."
Aglaea smiled. "Teacher Tribios is very capable, but because her body never grew up, she still retains some lively, childlike traits. But that's also her most charming quality."
"Mhm!"
Furina nodded in full agreement, then looked at the nearly ready stage and asked, "The performance is tonight, anything else I can help with?"
"No, your help has already been more than enough."
Speaking of this, Aglaea grew serious and sincerely thanked her: "If not for your financial support, our progress would never have been this smooth."
Furina couldn't handle such serious praise. She waved her hands in embarrassment: "It's fine, really! As long as tonight's performance goes well, it's all worth it."
"It will."
"I swear it on the name of Okhema."
Aglaea turned her head to look at the rows of empty seats in the theater.
In just a few hours, they would all be filled.
It had been so long since she last stood on stage.
Aglaea took a deep breath, her heart filled with long-lost motivation and excitement.
Fate had finally stood on their side.
And all they had to do was present this gift beautifully to everyone watching.
I Once Was in Arcadia.
This would surely be a "romantic" story unlike any traditional classical drama.
One that would make people rethink the meaning of romance.
As time passed, the atmosphere in the theater grew tenser.
Under Tribios's direction, all backstage preparations were in place.
The main actors had begun applying makeup and getting ready.
A stage play could never achieve the intricate special effects of a drama series.
The audience didn't mind such details anyway.
What mattered was the essence.
As night fell, at the ticket booth, the theater staff were checking tickets.
People of all kinds entered through various doors and found their seats.
Furina, sitting in a small private box, felt her heart pounding with tension.
So much effort,
Finally, it was time to see the results.
"It will go well!"
"Everyone is amazing!"
"May the gods bless us!"
Furina silently cheered for everyone in her heart.
As more and more people arrived, the chatter grew louder.
"What a coincidence, you came too?"
"Yeah, nothing to do tonight anyway, and the tickets are free."
"Didn't think this long-closed theater would ever reopen."
"I thought it had gone bankrupt ages ago."
"Still, it's been so long since I've seen a play here."
"Yeah, I remember when I was a kid, before it got run-down, my parents used to bring me to see the classics here."
"Got too busy as I got older, but if there's a chance like this, I'll come for sure."
"Same here."
"Doesn't look like they're performing any of the classics we know."
"Free tickets, but no classics? What are they thinking?"
"No wonder this theater went under."
"Hope it's not too boring."
"Well, even if it is, I'll just take a nap. At least the atmosphere is nice."
Those voices carried backstage.
"Whew…"
"Since I joined this theater, I don't think I've ever seen it this lively."
Phainon took a deep breath.
"Don't get nervous on stage later, don't forget your lines," Mydeimos encouraged.
"Don't worry, I won't." Phainon nodded earnestly.
Everyone else felt the same way.
Now that the theater was alive and bustling again, an indescribable feeling welled up inside them all.
They were nervous, but not afraid.
"Are you ready, everyone?" Aglaea made the final confirmation.
"Ready!" they all shouted in unison.
"The logistics and lighting are in your hands, Teacher."
Aglaea also took a deep breath.
Before her, the massive curtain stood, about to rise again after so many years.
"Let's do this!" Teacher Tribios's voice came through the earpieces.
Bang! A heavy sound echoed and the stage lights went out.
It was beginning.
The premiere of the modern classical romantic drama, I Once Was in Arcadia!