The people thought that Gu Xi’s words were well-founded. They also thought that giving this rookie a chance was the right thing to do.
“Gu Xi, you may not be clear about his situation,” The assistant director recalled the incident that happened a few years ago. “Every year, teachers and students from the Film Academy prepare a performance to showcase their talents. Everyone attaches importance to this presentation. It’s one of the opportunities that their university gets to be able to make connections within the industry. I was invited then by the University head to check these people. I came across this kid, who was chosen as a male lead for his class, and guess what happened?”
The staff looked at him and listened, waiting for his next words, “He stood trembling on stage for ten minutes, unable to say a single line. While everyone else was working seriously, he stood there like a pole, and blew the whole show. The entire class suffered because of him, and it was only in later years that the story faded into oblivion. Whatever his reasons for acting that way that day, that doesn’t change the fact that he screwed up half a year of other people’s hard work and disrespected the profession.”
The assistant director actually didn’t want to talk more about this matter as he didn’t want to spend too much energy on this person. The entertainment industry is ever-changing. Every year, a new face comes, so simply having ‘the good face’ was not enough to stay. Real talent was needed. Even those people who have trained overseas are never given the special treatment, no matter how good they are. They all have to go through the harsh process.
Director Liu Yu had never heard of this small fry but the words that the assistant director said also made him frown.
Gu Xi thought of the information he read on the university forum before. He knew that Rong Jing was afraid of the camera. It was an anxiety disorder. It would be hard to say whether it can be cured or not. If he pushes more, it would make people feel that he is being biased.
Gu Xi said, “We have enough time. This audition has three days. There’s no need to rush. Since he has decided to audition, I want to see if he has made any improvement. Let’s see if he’s gonna be able to change your mind and impress you.”
The investor likes him. That would mean that support behind this person was big. However, Gu Xi had also invested in this movie. Though it isn’t large, he’s still going to be one of the leading actors. But if he didn’t agree, it would undoubtedly offend the investors.
“But of course, I’m not pushing you to pick him. I wouldn’t want to ruin my own movie as well. In the worst case scenario, we simply have to save money,” Director Liu comforted Gu Xi when he saw that he had turned silent.
Back when the movie ‘Lou Ta’s 365 Days’ was being filmed, no one was really feeling optimistic about its success. Their funds were not enough to wrap up the movie. In order to wrap it up properly, Gu Xi no longer asked for his acting fee and instead asked to take 1 percent of the film’s box office dividend. After that, Gu Xi stated that he would invest all the money that would get into a new film that they would make, and that is where they are now.
Of course, in the end, it turned out that Gu Xi’s vision was good because they were all doing good now.
Liu Yu turned to inform a staff member to prepare to call for the auditioness outside. The first few people who auditioned thought that they wouldn’t be able to see Gu Xi today. So when they saw him, they all acted starstruck, bombing their performances.
Director Liu teased, “How would they be able to act with you if they can’t even look at your face?”
Gu Xi’s eyelashes fluttered, feeling a little unconcerned. He glanced at his watch every now and then, as if he was waiting for something… or someone.
+
Rong Jing and Wu Hanqi parted at the entrance of the hotel. The driver of the car glanced at the man in the back seat who had his eyes closed.
“I remember that several ladies and gentlemen from the Ji family also wanted to get your business card, but you didn’t give them any.”
Wu Hanqi opened his eyes, his slender legs folded, his fingers resting on the seat. “Are you wondering why I gave one to that child?”
The driver has worked in the Wu family for many years now and has a close relationship with his employer’s family compared to any other average employee.
The driver admitted sheepishly, “A bit.”
Wu Hanqi thought that when they were eating, the child was also observing him. After the waiter gave them their coffee refill, he only took a sip. The child knew that and took the initiative to brew beans of the original brand for him.
Wu Hanqi didn’t mind for his OCD to be discovered. He appreciated the child’s meticulous observation and unobtrusiveness. So much better than his stinky son. Even if the Xie family didn’t have Xie Ling, they would still have that child to support them.
He smiled lightly, feeling nostalgic, “He kind of reminds me of my younger self.”
He was careful, bold, yet still had that potential dangerous vibe. The quiet ones are always the most dangerous.
+
Rong Jing looked at the business card in his hand, the design looked very complicated in a techy kind of way. He heard from the people at the banquet yesterday that the gold dust in this card was made of pure gold. There weren’t many who could get this card.
It wouldn’t be good to throw this away. Rong Jing was just about to put it away when he noticed that the card seemed a little thicker than usual business cards.
After he got into the taxi and said the address of the audition venue, he began to think that this movie in the novel was popular all through the summer, but without Gu Xi’s participation. At that time, Gu Xi would be caught in the stampede scandal in the mall. Though after attempting to commit su*cide, he would still join the production crew. However, after the victim’s family got into trouble with the crew, he would choose to leave and then soon he would fall into prison.
Rong Jing thought about it halfway. He had always felt as if he had forgotten something important, even before he fell asleep yesterday.
Just then, he saw the yellow light in the traffic light turn red. He said to the driver, “Sir, the light’s turned red.”
Driver: “I know, otherwise I wouldn’t have stopped.”
Rong Jing nodded. He recalled what happened last night. Why did he see the lights changing colors when it did not change? Was it really just a hallucination?
On the crosswalk ahead of them, a lot of people were holding up placards. Rong Jing couldn’t help but read the cards they were holding.
#We Deserve To Live Too#
#Beta’s Lives Matter#
“What are they doing?” Rong Jing didn’t know much about the problems and current news in this world yet.
“Oh you, young man. Don’t you watch the news? An Alpha husband killed his Beta wife, but because they still have a daughter, he was only sentenced to 15 years. And now, his sentence is suspended,” the driver said with righteous indignation.
Even Rong Jing felt angry when he heard what happened.
Thinking that an Alpha like Rong Jing wouldn’t understand such an injustice, the driver explained more, “If the wife was an Omega, even if they still have a daughter, that husband wouldn’t be able to get away!”
Rong Jing nodded, “He deserves a heavier sentence.”
He vaguely remembered that Xie Ling also supported the amendment of the equal rights act, donating to many primary schools in remote areas to provide for Betas who could not afford to go to school. He also provided assistance to unemployed Betas. However, after Xie Jisheng took office, all of these things were removed. It was even reported by the media. Rong Jing didn’t finish reading the novel to know what happened after that.
The novel was about the emotions of the protagonists so of course it wouldn’t focus on these issues.
The driver rarely met an Alpha who was open to discussion of gender equality and was able to look at the issue from their point of view. He continued, “Last night, a group of second generation rich kids gathered for illegal drag racing. They got arrested after being reported, but you know what? That didn’t stop them at all. One of them even stabbed a Beta police officer. But since they have an influential background, it seems like it would become an unsettled case once again.”
Drag racing. That sounds familiar. That shouldn’t be…
Rong Jing opened his mobile phone to search for today’s news. Luckily he found the news that the driver was talking about. He saw a human face mosaic in the corner of the photo. Judging by the fact that the media did not dare reveal who the persons involved were, Rong Jing guessed that it was Xie Jisheng’s group. The one who stabbed an officer should be one of his companions. As expected of one of the protagonists, he’s always going to be involved in something. If nothing bad happens, then soon something will.
Rong Jing worried that Xie Ling would remain soft-hearted towards him. In the original owner’s memory, no matter how big of a problem Xie Jisheng makes, as long as Xie Jisheng asks for forgiveness and acts spoiled, Xie Ling will still forgive him and wouldn’t treat it as a big deal.
Rong Jing sent a message to Zhou Xiang, asking if his eldest brother had gone to fix up Xie Jisheng’s mess.
Zhou Xiang quickly replied: Some things are just impossible to fix.
Followed by the sentence: Those words came straight from the Boss this morning.
Rong Jing’s mood brightened up. It was good that he was no longer indulgent.
Rong Jing: nc
Zhou Xiang: ?
Rong Jing: nice1Rong Jing actually used a chinese slang GDPL which means 干得漂亮(good job), but let’s just keep things easy to understand
Zhou Xiang suddenly froze as he looked up at the working Xie Ling who had come to the office very early today, as if staying up all night last night had no effect on him.
Xie Ling noticed his gaze and looked back at him.
Zhou Xiang said, “Boss Xie, I finally found the reason why you can’t talk well with the young master!”
Xie Ling: “?”
Zhou Xiang: “It’s because you’re old so there’s a generation gap!” Why did I only think of that now?
Faced with Xie Ling’s death stare, Zhou Xiang immediately did a zipping motion near his mouth and left his boss’ office.
He actually felt relieved seeing his Boss Xie was doing quite okay today despite being out of sorts last night. It was a good thing that he could still joke around with him. Fortunately, the estrangement between him and the young master was no more. He was able to go to work full of energy.
When Zhou Xiang left the room, Xie Ling finally stopped working and thought to himself, Am I really that old now?
He silently took out a mirror from his drawer and stared at his reflection. No fine lines. No wrinkles. What he saw was a man in his twenties wearing usual work clothes. Next, he took his phone and searched:
‘How to get along with your brother with a large age gap’