Chapter 91 – The Crew Is Decided
Xiao Fang hurriedly changed his clothes. Before he left, Fei Xiangnan gave him a reassuring look. “Don’t worry, just go with your gut. No matter what you choose, I’m the main investor, so I won’t let you get the short end of the stick.”
See? That’s the confidence of a Gold-daddy Sponsor.
But now the two of them were tied together, so it didn’t matter who was spending the money. Xiao Fang felt the sting either way. Before leaving, he shot a glare at his spendthrift old man and then rushed to the elevator.
Once he was in the car, Xiao Fang finally started to frantically flip through the scripts while a makeup artist gave him a simple touch-up.
Sister He comforted him from the side, “We trust your judgment, Xiao Fang. Just follow your instincts.”
Amidst the rush, Xiao Fang managed a smile. He looked calm, but deep down, he had no confidence.
Ma Rui, on the other hand, was looking at Xiao Fang with the eyes of a devoted fan. As Xiao Fang’s most reliable assistant, he had never once doubted Brother Xiao’s professional abilities. In a word, outstanding!
And so, filled with insecurity and under immense pressure, Xiao Fang arrived at the audition hall.
“The two crews are auditioning in this building. Which one are you going to, Xiao Fang?” Sister He asked as she led him into the lobby.
Xiao Fang hadn’t been able to make much sense of the scripts in the car, only managing a quick glance at the directors’ names. The director for the drama Struggle was a relatively famous mid-generation director named Qiu Jin, while the other was some unknown person. With the intention of getting the more difficult one out of the way first, Xiao Fang headed to the audition for Struggle.
There were slightly fewer people auditioning this time compared to the Sour, Sweet, Bitter, Spicy crew, as they didn’t need as many actors as Ruan Tan. Most of the actors were people Xiao Fang could recognize. To his surprise, he saw Xiao Qi emerging with a look of relief.
Xiao Qi was slightly more restrained in front of outsiders, merely letting out a cold snort. “I didn’t expect you to come audition for this role. Interesting.” He then walked back with an air of aloofness, receiving polite greetings from many actors along the way.
Xiao Fang exchanged a look with Sister He, indicating that he wasn’t bothered in the slightest. He walked in on his own, found an empty chair, and began to read the script.
After reading the brief summary, Xiao Fang understood why Xiao Qi had said what he did.
The story was about an illegitimate child. In this version, the matriarch of the main family was an infertile woman with a vicious streak. The protagonist’s mother died in a car accident while protecting him when he was young, leaving him to live with the main family. His father was a weak-willed man, and he had to find his own way, enduring all sorts of suffering and slowly learning to be strong and powerful until all those who looked down on him were forced to submit.
Xiao Fang read through the detailed plot, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper. Just as Sister He was about to go sign the papers, Xiao Fang stopped her.
“Sister He, I’m not taking this role.”
Sister He looked at Xiao Fang, puzzled. “Xiao Fang, this is a drama directed by Qiu Jin. Although CEO Wen over there also thinks it’s good, from my perspective, the promotional power of this drama will definitely be greater than Finding Home next door.”
Xiao Fang usually only spoke up after he had made a firm decision. “It’s not about the director. It’s the script. I don’t really want to act in this kind of consumerist film.”
Xiao Fang’s words made Sister He understand instantly. The company was currently positioning Xiao Fang as a serious actor. What he needed wasn’t popularity, but the reputation of the film itself. After a moment of thought, Sister He nodded. She immediately had Ma Rui pack up their things, ready to head to the other crew upstairs.
Just then, Xiao Qi came out and saw this scene unfold.
Knowing that Xiao Qi disliked Xiao Fang, his assistant immediately started showering him with flattery. The compliments instantly dispelled the resentment in Xiao Qi’s heart. He just assumed Xiao Fang was fleeing at the last minute.
The “fleeing” Xiao Fang took the elevator up to the other crew’s floor. Compared to downstairs, this place was practically deserted. There were only a few scattered people, and he could faintly hear the sound of an argument.
Xiao Fang’s group paused for a moment before entering. No wonder there were so few people outside; the dozen or so people who came to audition were all gathered here, watching the spectacle.
“I’m telling you, I’m not short on money. Don’t you make movies for money? Why make things difficult for it?”
“I am short on money, but I’m not an idiot. Did I spend two years writing this script just for you to ruin it?” The voice that spoke was younger. Xiao Fang followed the sound and saw a man with a full beard sitting in the director’s chair, arguing fiercely with the arrogant young man before him without backing down an inch.
“Hmph, with your trash reputation, you’re lucky anyone showed up at all. If it weren’t for my investment, do you think you could make a comeback?” the young man yelled, emboldened by his father’s backing.
The bearded man was no pushover. He slammed the director’s nameplate from the table down at the young man’s feet. “Even if this movie never gets made, I wouldn’t cast you!”
The young man was furious, especially with so many people watching. He cursed viciously a few times and stormed out.
The bearded man remained calmly seated. “Continue the auditions. What number are we on? Oh, number five. Everyone except number five, get out!” He was truly a man who did things his own way.
Before leaving, Xiao Fang picked up the nameplate from the floor and placed it back on the table. Then, without a word, he obediently went outside. The bearded man’s gaze lingered on Xiao Fang for a moment before quickly shifting away.
After signing in, Sister He received a call about a problem on Zhang Hang’s end. She hastily said goodbye to Xiao Fang and left. Xiao Fang nodded in understanding, reminding her to be careful on the road. Since she managed three artists, Sister He was relatively busy. Plus, she was very meticulous in her work because she cared about her artists.
Xiao Fang found a spot and began to study the script.
Finding Home told the story of a child’s life of displacement after being abducted and sold. Unlike the usual narrative style, the camera was almost entirely focused on the protagonist, making it feel like watching an ordeal from beginning to end. Xiao Fang had only intended to take a quick look, but once he started reading, he couldn’t stop.
Gradually, Xiao Fang’s eyes began to shine. To an outsider, it looked a bit creepy. This was well-verified by Xiao Ma, who currently felt that Brother Xiao’s expression was no different from that of a pure, innocent young man watching porn.
It had been a long time since Xiao Fang had seen such a challenging script. The protagonist in the story experienced breakdown, numbness, and struggle, finally returning to a state of peace. Each stage was an excellent test for an actor. For a moment, Xiao Fang felt his blood boil with excitement, his eyes burning with the determination to pass the audition.
***
“Is that so? Xiao Fang still chose Finding Home.” In his office, Wen Qianshi’s tone held a hint of expectation. He had anticipated this. In truth, Struggle had never even been on his list of choices; he was simply testing Xiao Fang’s sharp instincts.
“Not bad. He’s a good actor, my choice,” Wen Qianshi said with considerable pride. The promotional power of Finding Home wasn’t great, but the company would make up for that gap.
Two hours later, it was finally Xiao Fang’s turn to audition. The bearded director’s request was as demanding as Xiao Fang had imagined. He actually wanted Xiao Fang to act out the miserable state of having his leg cut off.
Fortunately, Xiao Fang was mentally prepared. He sat on the floor, folding his calf against his thigh, and instantly contorted his face into an expression of extreme agony. Even the bearded director was taken aback. One moment, this fine young man was smiling at him with a fresh face; the next, he was in unbearable pain.
Finally, the bearded man slammed his hand down and decided, “It’s you!”
Even Xiao Fang, who hadn’t even used his full strength, was startled. “Are you sure you don’t need to think it over?”
The bearded director snorted. “I’ve only got a few decades to live. If I spend any more time thinking, when will I have time to enjoy myself?”
With that, he picked up his nameplate and walked out ahead of Xiao Fang, looking extremely satisfied. Before leaving the room, Xiao Fang could faintly hear arguing outside.
“Director, we haven’t even started yet!”
“Started what? It’s decided. Move, move, I’m going for hot pot.”
“…”
“Damn it!”
Xiao Fang stood inside, breaking out in a cold sweat. Would he attract a lot of hate if he went out now? The guys outside seemed extremely agitated!
In the end, under Ma Rui’s protection, Xiao Fang made his way to the elevator through a gauntlet of red-eyed stares and congratulations dripping with sourness.
However, Xiao Fang didn’t have much time to dwell on such minor matters. His schedule was becoming truly packed. First, he informed his agent that he had passed the audition. Sister He had wanted to throw a small party at the company to celebrate, but Xiao Fang politely declined. Rather than feasting on lavish meals outside, he’d rather squeeze in some time to tend to his chrysanthemums at home.
After passing the audition, there was still a week before the movie officially started filming. During this time, Xiao Fang had to shoot a three-day variety show. The orphanage they were going to this time was very close; it was one of the orphanages in the city that Xiao Fang sponsored. It wasn’t the largest one in the city, which was a thoughtful arrangement by Director Liang. He wanted to find and promote orphanages that were more authentic and more in need of help.
Before setting off, Xiao Fang noticed that Fei Xiangnan was dressing himself with particular care today. He even wore a shirt that he was very fond of, along with a very playful brooch. Most importantly, he had put on cologne. He was even more meticulously dressed than when he himself went out to work.
“Do you have an important engagement today?” Xiao Fang asked sourly.
Unexpectedly, there was no trace of panic on President Fei’s face. He said, “I have a very important meeting. Senior executives from abroad will also be attending.”
It sounded perfectly reasonable, and Xiao Fang was gullibly convinced. It wasn’t until he was in the car that he remembered to retort with a question. Do you need to wear cologne for a meeting?!
Holding in a bellyful of resentment, a disgruntled Xiao Fang got out of the car. In the waiting lounge, he also saw his partners for the upcoming season.
The format of this variety show was to first have a simple introduction indoors, as well as a meeting with the non-celebrities, to get the show started in a relatively relaxed atmosphere. Then, they would team up and head to the outdoor location together.
There was a famous duo, myu. The two of them were technically Xiao Fang’s seniors. They wore matching team uniforms and smiled with great energy. Since this was already part of the filming, they naturally had to show their best side.
Facing the crowd of cameras, Xiao Fang bowed humbly and greeted them, “Hello, seniors.”
Mo Ze and Yu Zhong immediately returned the gesture. They were still marketed as “little fresh meat,” so how could they let a senior who had already won awards greet them first?
“Just call us by our names, Xiao Fang. You’re so talented, we should be learning from you. If you call us seniors, how can we ask you for advice?” Mo Ze was the mood-maker of the group. His words were diplomatic and pleasant to hear.
Xiao Fang smiled, understanding their intention. Following the director’s instructions, he sat down on the sofa to wait for the other members to join.
“Have you participated in any charity events before, Xiao Fang?” Mo Ze naturally tossed out a topic to keep the atmosphere from getting cold. Xiao Fang wasn’t very good at this sort of thing, but he was very cooperative.
“Does going to a nursing home organized by my middle school count?” Xiao Fang’s profile wasn’t filled with flashy, fake experiences. He spoke with humor that wasn’t awkward, and sure enough, it drew a round of laughter from everyone. So far, things were going well.
Soon after, the other celebrities arrived. There was a currently famous young actress, Chu Xiaozhen, whose baby face made her seem very approachable.
Then there was someone Xiao Fang was more familiar with, Guo Mengyun. Her presence surprised Xiao Fang. With Guo Mengyun’s fame, she really didn’t need to participate in variety shows.
However, Ma Rui had filled him in on this. Guo Mengyun was an orphan herself, so she had always wanted to participate in Director Liang’s show. This fact made Xiao Fang feel even more favorably toward Guo Mengyun.
The last to arrive was a connection hire, Feng Dang. His attributes were even more over-the-top than the original owner of this body. The original owner at most acted in some minor dramas, but this guy, banking on his wealth, would snatch roles in major IP dramas. His acting was terrible, and on top of that, he couldn’t stand criticism. It was common for him to use money to control online comments, completely ruining his public image. Now he was on this kind of show to clean up his reputation, but whether it would be effective was another matter. As soon as he entered, Xiao Fang clearly felt Director Liang’s expression sour.
In this day and age, who wasn’t pushed around by a few connection hires? It was all for the sake of making a living.
“Next up is the meeting with the non-celebrities. You will draw lots to decide who you’ll be paired with.”
At that moment, Xiao Fang’s eyelid couldn’t help but twitch.