Huayu Chunqiu, starting from being adopted by a fairy mother

Chapter 337 What’s wrong?
Two weeks ago, Liu Jing attended Xiao Bai's graduation party.

He didn't make a big fuss; he disguised himself and quietly took his seat.

This is different from the galas on TV. The program is very monotonous, mostly consisting of singing and dancing, with no skits, crosstalk, or acrobatics.

"The Crossroads Where Phoenix Flowers Bloom," "My Future Is Not a Dream," "Friends," "Tomorrow Will Be Better," "My Deskmate," "Goodbye"...

This was Liu Jing's first time attending a graduation party. Before coming, she had a song list in mind, and almost all of them were on the list.

The typhoon wasn't so serious; it was full of youth and joy, as well as off-key singing, forgetting lyrics, being out of tune, and stage mishaps.

At first, Liu Jing wasn't used to it, but she gradually relaxed and started singing and shouting along. Beyond the enthusiasm, she realized she was also a student.

Bai Bing is undoubtedly the brightest star, even without her status as the most promising agent.

Her rendition of "Can't Help Falling In Love" was so moving that it brought tears to her eyes and also moved many couples on the verge of breaking up.

Liu Jing also felt the same way. Another sensible young girl had fallen into my hands. It was a good thing it was me, otherwise it would have been a pity.

After the party ended, many people started a second round: bars, restaurants, woods, cinemas, nightclubs, hotels...

Liu Jing accompanied his assistant on a walk around the school, listening to her chatter on and on about stories from back then.

As the conversation went on, the assistant gradually fell silent. She had spent most of her four years of university away from home. Even when she returned to school, she was either rushing to finish classes or running errands, and didn't have many pleasant memories.

Liu Jing also fell silent; he spent even less time at school than Xiao Bai. Aside from a few stimulating encounters with Yang Mi, his memories were practically nonexistent.

There was nothing to watch at the movie, and the bar was boring. The two exchanged a glance and headed towards the hotel in unison.

The battle raged on, and Yang Mi kept calling.

Liu Jing put the call on speakerphone, and Yang Mi only listened for a dozen seconds before she not only knew what the situation was, but also who was with him.

"Tch! You're really busy, it's only a little past eight and you're still busy with the opening ceremony. I'll send you a link on QQ, open it and see, there's a surprise." Yang Mi said sarcastically, then quickly hung up the phone, almost getting angry.

Her anger wasn't stirred, but Liu Jing's curiosity was.

I quickly finished up and turned on my computer. It turned out to be an interview video with Liu Yifei.

The questions were about Sisi herself; she answered them methodically, calmly, and normally. Her answers seemed sincere and detailed, but upon closer examination, they contained little useful information.

As they talked, the topic turned to Liu Jing.

Host: Sisi, some of your charitable acts this time are all in the name of the Fengjing Charitable Foundation. What is the meaning behind this name?

Sisi: There's no special meaning to it. My original name was Anfeng. Fengjing is a combination of one character from my name and Liu Jing's name.

Host: I see. You've received a lot of praise this time, but you've remained calm and composed; few young people have your magnanimity. There's something I'm curious about: many people who become famous overnight get carried away. Have you ever been arrogant?

Sisi: Liu Jing became famous at what age? I've never seen him get arrogant. Having a younger brother like that always keeps me in check. I might want to get arrogant, but I can't.

Host: Haha, Liu Jing is indeed outstanding. He won the Cannes Grand Prize this time, bringing glory to the country. You must be very happy.

Sisi: Of course I'm happy, since I won an award.

Host: He seems to have just turned twenty. To achieve such outstanding results at such a young age, your family must be very proud of him.

Sisi: This achievement doesn't belong to him alone; it's inseparable from the hard work of all the creators and everyone's support. This award doesn't belong to him alone. The fact that "Under the City Walls" won this award shows that the whole world is facing this history squarely.

Host: In some parts of the world, there are dissenting voices regarding this film. In one country, some have claimed they will call for a nationwide boycott if the film is shown. Some have even said they will take action against Liu Jing. What's your opinion on this?
Sisi: If he cared, he wouldn't have filmed this movie.

Host: Haha, as everyone knows, Liu Jing is very individualistic. Having a younger brother like that must be quite stressful for you.

Sisi: Of course there's pressure, but it's also my motivation. However, I think the pressure is on him. Some time ago, someone said I had connections—a mother who owns a film company and a brother who's a director. On the surface, that seems true. But if you really label me a "resource-backed" person, I think I'm the most tragic one. You know *Painted Skin*, right? I wanted the role of Xiaowei, but Liu Jing wasn't happy about it, unfortunately, he wasn't the director. Liu Jing is currently preparing a film…

Host: Liu Jing is preparing for a new play. What kind of subject matter is it?

Sisi: Um, that's not the point. I wanted a role in the show, but he wouldn't give it to me. We argued for over ten minutes, and he wouldn't give in to me at all.

Host: With your fame, others would have trouble getting you to come, so why would he turn you down? Is it to avoid suspicion?

Sisi: He simply thought my acting wasn't good enough and was worried that I would ruin the role.

Host: Your acting skills are still very good. Li Lianjie said a while ago that you were very dedicated in "The Forbidden Kingdom", your action scenes were great, and your dramatic scenes were also good.

Sisi: Sigh! In Liu Jing's eyes, my voice is too soft, lacks power, and my expressions are monotonous, so he's content to be just a pretty face. Sometimes I wonder if he's partly responsible for all the criticism online.

Host: Hahahaha...

Sisi: So those who say I'm a "resource-backed" actress should really think twice. My bratty younger brother has been relentlessly trying to put me down. From the beginning, he's called me an ugly girl, a stupid girl, and now he complains about my acting. In his eyes, I'm completely worthless.

Host: So, in your eyes, what kind of person is he?

Sisi: You brat, you stinky brat! If I could beat him, I would definitely beat him up to vent my anger.

"Haha, both cowardly and arrogant." Bai Bing burst out laughing when she saw this.

"Sigh..." Liu Jing sighed.

Because of Zhang Min's situation, Liu Jing felt indebted and tolerated her in every way.

He felt he couldn't spoil her anymore. In the past, when he made a decision, even if Xixi was unhappy, she could only accept it in the end.

Now that you've started arguing with him, it seems your desire for the role hasn't died.

"Sisi's acting skills are quite good. What kind of role does she want?" Bai Bing asked curiously. She had been busy with school matters lately and hadn't paid much attention to this aspect.

"Her first choice was Li Ningyu, and her second choice was Gu Xiaomeng."

"Uh! It seems like there are only these two main female characters."

"This film cannot afford to fail. Some people said that with 'The Sacred Flame Order,' I benefited from the fame of Fatty Wang, Sister Min, and 'The Cult Leader.' Others said that with 'Under the City Wall,' I benefited from historical events and the international situation. They are right; those factors certainly played a significant role in the success of those two films. With this third film, I don't want to rely on any of those factors. I just want to make a good film in my own way." Liu Jing spoke frankly, saying that there were many things he couldn't say to Xixi, but he could say to his assistant.

"You already have someone in mind, don't you?" Bai Bing guessed.

"I learned a lot from Chen Jiashang's casting of 'Painted Skin.' In the past, when we cast actors, we relied on connections to get them into the production team, on gut feeling to decide roles, and on fame to determine success or failure. This kind of casting is too subjective; it's either a great success or a complete failure. So recently, I've been thinking about whether we can combine computer modeling, data matching, digital pre-visualization, and other technologies, as well as comprehensive abilities such as acting ability, costume suitability, and character traits matching, and market behaviors such as box office appeal, fan base, scheduling, salary budget, and public opinion risk, to establish a scientific and standardized casting process," Liu Jing explained.

"This... is quite complicated, but very meaningful. What do you need me to do?" Bai Bing's eyes were bright; she liked watching her boss think.

"You've passed Sister Min's test. Once you get your graduation certificate, the artist management department will be yours. The first thing you'll do is build an artist database—not just for Chunqiu's artists, but for all the artists in the entertainment industry. This database needs to be updated in real time. I've commissioned Kingsoft to customize a casting system. Version 1.0 is relatively simple; we'll gradually improve it later. It should be completed by September," Liu Jing instructed.

"I will handle this personally," Bai Bing said solemnly.

"The workload is considerable, you just need to keep an eye on it. Once you're in charge of a department, your mindset and way of doing things will also need to change."

Bai Bing nodded gently. The man beside her was not only her boss, but also her man, and a good teacher and friend.

"Based on my observations over the past two years, I believe that the revenue share of artist management business will continue to decline in the company's main business, and new management models may emerge," Liu Jing analyzed.

"What kind of model?" Bai Bing asked quickly.

"I'm not entirely sure, but I have a vague feeling. Xu Jing, Fan Bingbing, Zhang Ziyi, and Zhao Yanzi have all gone independent, some opening their own studios, others forming joint ventures. They control their own talent management business, without having to share with outsiders, and they have a lot of autonomy. Even when they conduct business, it's done under the name of their studio or company. In the future, artists will follow suit, and agents will no longer hold a dominant position," Liu Jing explained.

"I'll ask Huo Wenxi tomorrow. She's been in the industry for so many years; her experience and insight are far superior to mine." Bai Bing said sternly, this was a matter that needed to be taken seriously.

"This is an unstoppable trend." Liu Jing patted his assistant's beautiful back. Huo Wenxi was almost driven crazy; her blood pressure would spike whenever she saw Bai Bing's phone call.

“Yes, I understand. You haven’t mentioned your preferred actress for either Li Ningyu or Gu Xiaomeng.” Bai Bing didn’t forget her question.

“Gu Xiaomeng, I have five candidates. I’ll choose one from Zhang Ziyi, Tang Wei, Hao Lei, Qin Lan, and Zhang Jingchu. When the casting begins, we’ll use a standardized audition process, and the winner will get the role. There are some issues with Tang Wei; the commercial risks are considerable.” Liu Jing pondered.

He wasn't considering any romantic connections this time; getting a role through those connections would be great, of course. But if he didn't get a role, it wouldn't bother him. He's the director; he's already maximized the entertainment value.

Jing Tian, ​​Liu Shishi, Yang Mi, and Shu Chang, who have special bond skills, are not only too famous, but also too young, so they are not yet able to take on the role of the female lead.

For the casting of the TV series "The Message," these actresses will definitely be the first choice. He thinks Jing Tian is quite suitable for Li Ningyu, Yang Mi is suitable for Gu Xiaomeng, and Bai Xiaonian, if changed to a female role, could be given to Liu Shishi.

Establishing a standardized casting process is the top priority when filming the movie version of "The Message".

The box office and market feedback after the film's release will validate the feasibility of this standard.

“They’ll just bring her in to make up the numbers and generate some buzz, but the casting team won’t give her a high score.”

"What a pity," Liu Jing sighed. "Many people are suggesting banning female actors, but male actors are completely unaffected."

“I read the character traits you wrote. Gu Xiaomeng has three traits: a flamboyant socialite, a calm intelligence agent, and an awakened idealist. She’s outwardly warm but inwardly cold, wears a cheongsam, and has the air of a socialite—quite suitable for Fan Bingbing.” Bai Bing was puzzled that Fan Bingbing wasn’t among the five candidates. Men certainly wouldn’t avoid suspicion as the TV host said; there must be other reasons.

“Xiao Fan is indeed very good at playing socialites and other high-society women. But if she’s too good at it, it will seem exaggerated. After all, Gu Xiaomeng isn’t really exaggerated,” Liu Jing explained, then added, “Besides, Xiao Fan doesn’t have the time. Her schedule has been very full these past two years. Let her focus on filming other dramas.”

Even if Xiao Fan joins the production team, Liu Jingde will still have a share of the entertainment industry's influence, so it's better for him to earn money for Xiao Fan elsewhere.

Aside from those few with special bond skills, Liu Jing intentionally separated everyone, trying to keep them from being in the same production crew.

"Painted Skin" is a good example. The three of them were in the same production team, but in the end, they only gained a sense of entertainment. This is a waste of personnel.

“What about Li Ningyu? I think Zeng Li is the most suitable, even more suitable than Yuan Yuan. Yuan Yuan doesn’t have much acting skills, she doesn’t even understand herself, so she probably won’t be able to portray the role of Li Ningyu well.” Bai Bing never forgot her own artists.

"As for Li Ningyu, I'd like to choose one from Yuan Quan, Chen Shu, Yu Nan, Li Bingbing, Zeng Li, and Yuan Yuan. Yuan Yuan isn't as bad as you say. She doesn't need to know how to act; she can just act like that. Her acting depends more on her state of mind, so she needs to hone her skills, otherwise it's easy for her performance to become superficial."

"With so many options, there's really no Qianqian. If she knew, she'd definitely cause you trouble." Bai Bing's expression was strange. I don't have the guts, otherwise I would have caused you trouble too.

“Acting skills are only one aspect; she’s not suitable for these two roles. Besides, I’m the director; we know each other too well, and we can’t achieve the desired dynamic.” Liu Jing shook his head. He was already prepared to start a fuss before Qianqian could even react—that’s called preemptive strike.

The junior assistant, unaware of her boss's ulterior motives, eagerly inquired, "What about the four characters: Wu Zhiguo, Wang Tianxiang, Wu Tian, ​​and Bai Xiaonian? Do you also have someone you like?"

“For each role, I have five choices. For Wu Zhiguo, the five are Sun Honglei, Liao Fan, Hu Jun, Zhang Hanyu, and Duan Yihong; for Bai Xiaonian, the five are Qiao Zhenyu, Feng Yuanzheng, Chen Kun, and Yu Shaoqun…”

"Chen Kun is one of your potential targets. It seems you've been quite fair this time," Bai Bing remarked after hearing this. She was aware of the feud between her boss and Chen Kun.

"When have I ever deviated from my course?"

"By the way, it seems Qin Lan is dating Lu Chuan."

"Oh, then exclude her."

"whispering sound……"

This is Sisi's story. She didn't say much, just complained about her younger brother and expressed some resentment towards Liu Jing.

After hearing Xu Qing's description, Lao Han laughed heartily and stopped worrying about the role. Liu Jing didn't even give Liu Yifei any face; he didn't think he had more influence than Liu Yifei in Liu Jing's eyes.

Liu Jing was also laughing. He's such a grown man, yet he still has the temper of a little girl.

He was laughing for a couple of seconds, then he continued laughing.

Bai Bing arrived in a minivan, which was very spacious. The middle seat could be rotated 180 degrees, and the armrests could be pulled out to reveal four seats and a small table.

Liu Jing and Bai Bing sat in one row, while Lao Han and Xu Qing sat in the opposite row.

Liu Jing and Xu Qing were sitting facing each other. Just now, Xu Qing's foot bumped into Liu Jing. He glanced at Xu Qing, who seemed unfazed, and wondered if he was just imagining things.

Ok?
One touch is a coincidence, two touches are accidental, but three touches? What if you keep touching each other?

Liu Jing pulled his foot back a little. "Uncle Han, I have something I'd like to ask you for help with. Are there any movie screenings in November?"

"November? That's still a long way off," Old Han murmured, then pondered for a moment. "When are you planning to release 'Painted Skin'?"

"Probably during the National Day holiday." Liu Jing wasn't entirely sure; "Painted Skin" had already finished production but hadn't passed censorship yet.

"Hmm! October and November are usually reserved for patriotic films, as well as imported Hollywood blockbusters. 'Mei Lanfang,' 'The Equation of Love and Death,' and 'Ip Man' will all be released during that period, but the specific release dates haven't been set yet," Lao Han replied.

"We're planning to release 'Under the City Walls' on November 9th. Could we perhaps move the release of the Hollywood blockbuster forward or backward, or schedule a film that isn't too competitive?" Liu Jing also made a request.

Old Han's expression was quite complicated. Liu Jing, as the director, was not the first person to speak up for this film, and he wasn't even in the top three.

Xu Qing thought Lao Han was in a difficult position, so she quickly came to his rescue, "Why is it scheduled for November 9th? Is it your birthday?"

Liu Jing was taken aback. When he set the date, he hadn't really thought about his birthday.

For him, birthdays meant nothing; in fact, they were a real headache, given how many women he had.

“That day was the anniversary of Iris Chang’s death. Our boss greatly admires her spirit.” Bai Bing didn’t let the words fall to the ground.

"Zhang Chunru?" Xu Qing murmured. The name sounded familiar. She racked her brains for a moment before she remembered who this person was.

She smiled slightly. No matter how talented Liu Jing was, he was still just a big boy, and his actions were somewhat naive. Those little seductive tricks she'd used earlier wouldn't be very effective against a boy like him.

"Liu Jing, you also have to promise me a favor. All of you are making patriotic films, and China Film Group can't fall behind. I just had someone adapt a script, and we expect to start filming sometime before or after the New Year. We're preparing an all-star cast, so could you spare a few days to come and have a cameo role?" Old Han said with a smile.

"No problem," Liu Jing readily agreed.

"There was no pay, no one was paid. The film is titled 'The Founding of a Republic'," Lao Han added.

"For the sake of the film's title and for Uncle Han's sake, I can't accept the payment even if you offer me a fee." Liu Jing smiled; the fee was only a few dollars.

"President Han, our company has quite a few artists, and they don't want any payment." Bai Bing's eyes lit up. Filming "The Founding of a Republic" with an all-star cast—isn't this a great opportunity to make her face known?

“Bring Zhang Min over here, and I’ll give you five spots.” Old Han held up five fingers.

Bai Bing was dumbfounded. Boss Min was breastfeeding her child and had declared that "The Sacred Flame Order" would be her last film.

"Hahaha, Liu Jing, I forgot to tell you, the Beijing Film Academy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have already spoken. 'Under the City Wall' is scheduled for release on November 9th." Old Han laughed loudly, and his laughter grew even louder as he looked at Liu Jing and Bai Bing's expressions.

He had been getting frustrated ever since he got on the bus, but this time he finally got a chance to vent his anger.

Liu Jing and Bai Bing exchanged glances, watching Lao Han get off the car with a big laugh.

As Xu Qing was leaving, she looked at Liu Jing meaningfully and said, "Liu Jing, I like talented young people. Let's talk sometime."

boom……

As the car door closed, Liu Jing wondered, "What's wrong with him? What's gotten into him?"

"What else could it be? He's inviting you to hook up." Bai Bing pouted.

"Hey Lao Han," Liu Jing said irritably.

“He definitely messed up.” Bai Bing didn’t have time to deal with her boss; she needed to put the chair back in its place and then take him back to the company.

The boss has been sleeping at the company lately, even after Liu Yifei returned to Yandu.

At first, everyone thought Liu Jing was too slow, but after more than a week, everyone realized that the siblings seemed to be having a cold war.

Everyone, including Sisi, realized something was wrong on the third day after returning to Beijing.

She called several times, and Liu Jing answered normally each time, but he wouldn't mention going home.

Sisi understood. That jerk was just sulking with me. I don't think I offended him at all. What a petty jerk.

Everyone guessed correctly; Sisi kept threatening to break off the friendship, and this time Liu Jing took the initiative to break off the friendship first.

Not going home was a way of showing Xixi a firm stance.

Not going to other women's houses was a way of showing Xixi his principles.

Other women didn't dare approach Liu Jing either, fearing they'd be drawn into a cold war. Eventually, the siblings' internal conflicts shifted, and the focus of their attacks turned on themselves.

Bai Bing brought her boss back to the company, pushed open the office door, and couldn't help but shudder at the sight inside.

Good heavens! What's Liu Yifei doing here?

"You're back." Sisi was flipping through a book, not looking up, her expression indifferent.

"Boss, Sister Dong, I just brewed some tea. Please try it and see how it tastes." Zhang Tianai breathed a sigh of relief. Facing Qianqian alone had put her under a lot of pressure. Especially today, for some reason, she felt even more pressured than usual.

She reported many things to Sister Fei, but Sister Fei remained indifferent, showing none of her usual enthusiasm.

"Xiao Jiao, come with me for a moment, there's something I need to tell you." Bai Bing really wanted to cover Zhang Tianai's mouth. Calling me Sister Dong in front of Sister Qian is just trying to make me look bad.

"I haven't made the bed for the boss yet... Waaaaah..."

Bai Bing covered Zhang Tianai's mouth and pulled her outside. The main character is here, why bother making the bed?

Liu Jing sat in front of the tea table, picked up his cup and took a sip of tea. He wouldn't open his mouth unless his opponent spoke; he had to maintain the proper posture.

"I'm sorry, I was wrong, I won't do it again." Sisi put down her book and bit her lip.

Liu Jing brought the teacup to his lips, wondering if he had misheard. "What?"

"Never mind if you didn't hear me." Sisi turned her head away. I swallowed my pride and apologized first, and you still acted like you were in a difficult position.

"Ahem, where did I go wrong?" Liu Jing really got it right, feeling a sense of triumph.

For more than a decade, even when she made mistakes, Sisi remained stubborn and never apologized like this.

“My mistake was being willful. I knew you valued ‘The Message’ a lot, yet I still made unreasonable demands for a role.” Sisi bit her lip. At first, she really hadn’t thought that much about it.

Later, while chatting with Jing Tian, ​​she casually remarked that the predecessors planted the trees so that the successors could enjoy the shade. She commented on the success of "The Sacred Flame Order" and "Under the City Wall," saying that many people said that Director Jing was taking shortcuts.

Sisi understood. No wonder Liu Jing was so determined; he wanted to clear his name.

It wasn't that she couldn't think of it, but rather that she hadn't even considered it in that direction.

In Xixi's opinion, it's normal for Liu Jing to achieve whatever results he wants; she's seen all sorts of amazing things since she was a child.

"Mmm!" Liu Jing took a sip of tea; it smelled delicious.

"You've been so busy lately, I shouldn't have added to your troubles without considering your feelings."

"Oh." Liu Jing breathed a sigh of relief. It didn't matter; it hadn't caused any trouble.

"My mistake was being stubborn. You gave Yang Mi several roles, and I had someone release press releases saying she was a 'resource-backed' actress." Xixi, having given up all hope, blurted everything out.

"Huh!" Liu Jing was surprised. He knew nothing about this. Yang Mi hadn't told him, and Xiao Bai hadn't told him either.

"My mistake was going to the United States and having Xueting recognize me as her godmother..."

"puff……"

(End of this chapter)