10 A Demon in Human Form

"Haha! Are you still thinking about ghosts and demons?"

"No, not really. I was just thinking that you can dance ballet, play piano, compose and sing, write stories and scripts, do filming and editing, operate so many complicated instruments and equipment, and excel in both artistic disciplines and scientific ones. All of these skills you achieve at a professional level, and any one of which is enough to build a lifelong career for an ordinary person. The most annoying thing is that none of these is your main occupation! You have a double degree in acting and directing from two of the most prestigious film academies in the UK and the US. Surely, even in a so-called slash life, people can't possibly juggle so many different things, can they?"

"It's not as exaggerated as you make it sound. I've been working hard since I was a kid no doubt, but I've never found anything particularly difficult. I seem to enjoy it all."

"Come on- if any writer writes his main character as what you actually are, I don't think readers would believe it and would absolutely resent it for being a super Mary Sue. What's even more annoying is the way you talk. 'It's not hard, it's nothing' - that kind of understated bragging can be really irritating!"

Yuan Ge sighs helplessly, "Okay, okay, I know too much and I have nowhere to put my talent, so I've chosen the most well-rounded career - directing, okay?"

Amélie's eyes widens, "So that's why you became a director?"

Yuan Ge thinks for a moment, "I guess so. You know my eccentric parents; one likes art and the other prefers science. They have been arguing about my career choice for as long as I can remember. My mother wanted me to study the literature and arts, but my father wanted me to follow in his footsteps and pursue a technical career. As a result, I remained undecided about studying art or science until my final year of high school. Can you believe it? I was worried that they would interfere with my choice, so I deliberately chose Fudan University in Shanghai."

"We've known each other for a year now, but you haven't told me much about your past. I'd love to hear more."

Yuan Ge looks at Amélie in the candlelight, her eyes shining and looking at him with an inquisitive eagerness, so he continues.

"Have you ever wondered why so many people nowadays like to start their own business and become their own bosses? It's because in times of peace, it's impossible to realise one's ambition and achieve greatness on the battlefield like in times of war, so they use this disguised way to compete on the commercial battlefield, using the level of wealth to determine one's position in the world. By the same token, film directing is also a profession that can fulfil a man's ambition, and being in charge of a large crew can be quite exhilarating. Plus, it requires a combination of technical and artistic talent to successfully lead a crew and create worthwhile works of art."

"So, to sum it up, you just like to suffer. Your chosen career has to be difficult and challenging enough to keep you interested."

"At least this career will allow me to use everything I know. It's also technically demanding, so my father's research into all that highly sophisticated technology will come in handy, saving him from nagging me that art is all airy fairy."

Amélie can't help but laugh at his words, "You must have been a rebellious child at heart. Instead of going to Beijing University or Qinghua University, you escaped to Shanghai, studied for a year and then went to England to study film making. Did two professors emigrate to Europe just to keep an eye on you?"

Yuan Ge laughs as well, "How did you know? It seems that you understand my parents very well. So, when they both moved to Europe, I immediately escaped to America."

Amélie sighs, "It's not easy raising a genius child. I'm starting to feel sorry for your parents. I wonder when I'll be able to meet them."

"You want to meet them? Usually, they will come back to China for the New Year during the winter holidays. We will certainly go abroad again to make films. But video calls nowadays are so convenient that you can see them anytime you want with just the push of a button."

"I'm just wondering how you are going to introduce me to them? A partner? A colleague?"