Since Bai Yunxi hadn't arrived yet, the family portrait couldn't be taken for the time being.
Chen Liangke then arranged for interviews with the family members first. Yao Chunmei wore heavy makeup and even had a handmade French - imported sofa brought from home.
She sat upright in the middle of the sofa and forced Bai Wenxi and Jiang Beihuai to sit in the corners as her foils. The backdrop was the painting her husband had drawn for her.
Bai Wenxi was extremely dissatisfied, but she still told herself: If you can't endure the small things, you'll make a mess of the big ones. She coldly watched Yao Chunmei putting on airs.
Yao Chunmei was in high spirits. She had already agreed with Chen Liangke that after the documentary was completed, she would take it abroad for promotion.
This chance to show off eased the imbalance in her heart a bit. She had always been brooding over the fact that her husband had never forgotten his ex - wife, Su Xingfei.
Now that this troublesome woman was dead and could even pave the way for her, Yao Chunmei's resentment towards her husband had also decreased a lot.
Chen Liangke asked a sharp question first: "Mrs. Bai, how did you feel on the night your husband passed away? What do you want to say about the death of such a well - known painter?"
Yao Chunmei pretended to cry. She covered her face in front of the camera and sobbed a few times. You could hear the sound but couldn't see any tears.
Bai Wenxi simply turned her head and stared into the distance. Out of sight, out of mind.
"Actually, I was very panicked that night because my husband and I always had a good relationship. At that time, he was still painting my portrait at home, saying that he wanted to record my beautiful appearance."
At this point, there was even a hint of shyness on Yao Chunmei's face. "Then he received a phone call saying that he had to go out for a business dinner."
"If only I hadn't let him go out!"
There was a lot of hidden meaning in this sentence. Bai Wenxi didn't care at first, but the more she listened, the more something seemed off.
Dad had clearly discovered her true nature. With his straightforward personality, how could he still paint a portrait for this woman?
Moreover, Bai Wenxi had now confirmed that some of the so - called debts were actually Yao Chunmei shifting the blame onto him. Then there was no way that Dad went out late at night for a loan, nor would he socialize with so - called creditors and get drunk while driving.
She thought of her mother's mysterious death and seriously doubted the authenticity of Yao Chunmei's words.
Thinking of this, Bai Wenxi was involuntarily attracted to the portrait hanging on the wall in the hall. Could it be that Yao Chunmei was lying? Maybe this wasn't painted by Dad at all? Was it just an excuse to cover her tracks?
What exactly had happened to Dad at home that night? How did he end up driving drunk and losing his life?
Bai Wenxi stared at the painting for a long time but couldn't figure it out. It was indeed in Dad's painting style, and even the color combination was his unique one. There was no doubt that it was Dad's genuine work.
Jiang Beihuai secretly nudged his dazed wife with his elbow. Chen Liangke had asked several times, but she didn't answer.
Bai Wenxi suddenly came back to her senses and found that everyone was looking at her. She explained awkwardly: "I didn't sleep well last night, so I just got distracted. Director Chen, could you repeat your question?"
Chen Liangke didn't mind at all and repeated the question: "Do you think that a happy family life gave Mr. Bai inspiration for his paintings? What's your evaluation of your step - mother's role in the Bai family?"
This guy was doing it on purpose!
Just by intuition, one could guess the malice hidden behind that polite smile.
Bai Wenxi told the truth: "Ms. Yao took good care of my father's daily life. She arranged everything from food and clothing to housing and transportation. But I don't think she was my father's muse. However, she did a good job in logistics."
This statement praised her on the surface but belittled her in essence. In fact, it meant that Yao Chunmei and Bai's father had nothing in common. Yao Chunmei didn't mind at all. Who cared about being a muse? As long as it showed her side as a virtuous wife and good mother.
Since Jiang Beihuai had been sticking closely to Bai Wenxi and hardly left her side, Chen Liangke never got a chance to get close. He just asked a few harmless questions later and then gave up.
On the contrary, Yao Chunmei kept chattering with him, wishing that he would edit most of the interview footage to focus on her.
Bai Yunxi showed up late as expected. Sure enough, Zhang Fuwen didn't show up again.
But at least he knew that today was for taking the family portrait for the documentary, so he didn't beat her. But if you got close, you could still see the terrifying bruises under her thin gauze dress.
Bai Wenxi really couldn't stand it, but Yao Chunmei was only focused on showing off in front of the camera and didn't pay attention to her daughter's situation.
She didn't want to be a troublemaker. She was afraid that Bai Yunxi would misunderstand and think she was being sarcastic, so she simply kept her mouth shut.
Jiang Beihuai noticed her suddenly low mood and comforted her softly: "It's not your fault that she was beaten. Why bother yourself with these things? I see your step - mother acting more arrogantly than anyone else. Are you sure the documentary edited by the person she found will be watchable?"
Bai Wenxi had investigated Chen Liangke's resume later and found that he was really good at making films. She wasn't worried that he would make mistakes in his professional field.
Alas! I just can't stand it as a woman." Bai Wenxi wasn't a saint who would even sympathize with her half - sister who had plotted against her. "To be fair, no matter what mistakes Bai Yunxi made, she shouldn't be treated violently by her husband. I just feel sorry for myself as a woman."
Although Jiang Beihuai was a bit self - centered at ordinary times, he could understand Bai Wenxi's thoughts on this kind of thing.
He patted the back of his wife's hand and affectionately stood behind her: "Don't worry. I'm not like Zhang Fuwen. I can't do such a thing as beating my wife. You don't have to feel sorry for yourself because of her."
Bai Yunxi was unhappy in her own marriage and couldn't stand to see a loving couple.
She deliberately said something vulgar to Jiang Beihuai when taking the family portrait: "What, are you unhappy in your marriage? Does my sister not let you eat? I feel like your hip circumference is smaller than when you were dating me."
Although she whispered this teasing, the volume was just right for Bai Wenxi to hear.
This sister didn't dare to resist in front of Zhang Fuwen but was quite aggressive towards her.
Bai Wenxi curled her lips coldly, thinking that this kind of behavior was really cheap. Jiang Beihuai couldn't help but be sarcastic towards Bai Yunxi.
"Do you dare to say these words to your husband? You only know how to play dirty tricks. I think he didn't beat you enough."
As soon as he said this, it completely hurt Bai Yunxi's sensitive self - esteem.
"Ah!" A shrill scream echoed through the main hall. Bai Yunxi kicked the sofa hard. "How dare you say that about me?"
Yao Chunmei was furious. She grabbed her daughter and pinned her hands behind her back: "What are you going crazy for? Don't you know that today is a big day for your father? You didn't show up on time and now you're causing trouble!"
Bai Yunxi spoke without restraint: "Mom, can you stop pretending that you care so much about Dad?"