Huayu Chunqiu, starting from being adopted by a fairy mother

Chapter 417 Soon to be a mother, can't play a female student anymore
Quanjude was bustling, and it became even more lively after Liu Yifei checked in.

The news had already spread while the three of them were still eating.

After finishing their meal, they went outside, where many fans were waiting.

Sisi greeted everyone as she walked towards the parking lot.

Liu Jing followed beside the two women, keeping a close eye on everything around him.

"Liu Yifei, when are you joining the crew?" someone shouted.

"I've already joined the crew." Sisi smiled, this scene was a piece of cake for her.

"Shuchang, are you having dinner? Is Liu Rijing treating us?" someone asked Shuchang.

Liu Jing looked over abruptly and saw a girl of seventeen or eighteen years old. It wasn't during the holidays, and she wasn't in school. She must have a lot of free time.

He couldn't hide the glint in his eyes when he wanted to stab someone, and he blinded the young girl, making her lose all color in her eyes.

"Congratulations, you got it right, but there's no prize." Shu Chang smiled without showing her teeth, appearing very ladylike.

"Sissi, your bodyguard is glaring at me, you should do something about him." Someone, offended by Liu Jing's gaze, offered their opinion to Sissi, which drew laughter from everyone.

“I didn’t pay him a salary, so I can’t control him.” Sisi laughed and called Liu Rijing in front of me, “I want to take care of you.”

"Sisi, there are rumors online that you're retiring from the entertainment industry. Is that true?"

The hottest news online recently is undoubtedly the selection of the "Four Little Actresses," which has overshadowed other news thanks to the hype from over a hundred media outlets.

The female contestants showcased their talents, especially those who had a chance to make it into the top ten, generating a constant stream of news.

Some rely on news, some on scandals, and some on gossip to grab attention. They all boil down to one thing: popularity represents attention, and this trend must never be interrupted.

The media and platforms are also very happy; the longer the buzz lasts and the more attention it attracts, the more they gain.

"Do you hope it's true?" Sisi couldn't hold back anymore, her sweet, childlike voice escaping her lips. The news of her retiring from the entertainment industry wasn't recent. Whenever there was a period of silence, people would say she was retiring, or that she was pregnant and had given birth.

"We don't want that," several people responded simultaneously.

"Liu Yifei, whether you were selected or not, you are the most beautiful actress in my heart."

"Thank you," Sisi said politely.

"Liu Jing, have you already decided on Yang Mi as the female lead for your next project? Can you tell us what kind of movie it is?"

Liu Jing was bewildered. He was starting filming "The Night the Comet Came" in the second half of this year, and the script had already been localized. There were four female leads in total, and preparations hadn't even begun yet. How come I didn't know Yang Mi had already been cast?

"It's a suspense drama, and the female lead hasn't been decided yet." Shu Chang understood what was going on and quickly answered for Liu Jing.

The competitors are all hyping things up, but each of them is doing it on different points.

Huang Shengyi is associated with Stephen Chow, family background, kung fu, and contract termination; Li Xiaolu is known for her Best Actress award, "The Bath" (a TV series), and romance; Huo Siyan is associated with the Seven Fairies, "I Want to Be Famous," and charity work; Shu Chang is a child star, a silly girl, a Golden Eagle Goddess, and Consort Dong'e; Tang Yan is an Olympic Baby, "Ip Man," and "Chinese Paladin 3"...

Besides promoting their own beauty, they also smear others.

If we're talking about the most talked-about people, it's definitely Yang Mi, who also has the most notable roles. Many discussions mention Liu Jing, but the older brother doesn't seem to care, while Yang Mi seems to enjoy the publicity.

It was revealed a while ago that Liu Jing has a drama starting filming in the second half of this year, and she has already been internally cast as the female lead.

The popularity of "Chinese Paladin 3" has been quite high recently. Cai Xukun (the producer) knows how to create hype; she linked the drama with a leading actress selection. Leveraging the popularity of Yang Mi, Tang Yan, and Liu Shishi, "Chinese Paladin 3" has garnered considerable attention.

"Changchang, Yang Mi got so many more votes than you, how do you feel?" a girl asked loudly.

"Yang Mi and I are good friends, so it doesn't matter who comes in first or last. She deserved to get second place, and I'm very happy." Shu Chang smiled, unconsciously emphasizing the word "second place."

"Sisi, Wang Lihong wrote and directed 'Love Announcement,' saying you're the most suitable female lead. Will you take the role?" The person asking this was definitely a fan. Liu Jing was also surprised and looked at Sisi, eager to know the answer.

Sisi smiled slightly, "I'll be a mother soon, so I can't play a female student anymore."

"Xixi, when are you and Liu Rijin breaking up?" It was a male voice, and it was so loud it cracked.

"Mom, can't you wish me well for once?" Sisi said, both amused and exasperated.

"Sissi, are you pregnant?"

"Sisi, when are you having your baby? Can I be the baby's godmother?"

"Sisi, the boy's name is Liu Chuanfeng, and the girl's name is An Xiaoxi. I wish you twins, a boy and a girl."

The phrase "the mother of my child" nearly caused the fans to lose control, but thankfully they arrived at the parking lot in time.

"Holy crap, a minivan."

"Oh my god, is Liu Yifei's family going bankrupt?"

"No wonder she was taking on so many business deals last year. Poor Sisi, her family is all dependent on her."

……

Liu Jing covered his face, not wanting to be photographed. Three big stars dressed to the nines, traveling in a minivan—it was too embarrassing for them.

Sisi was very composed, and even waved goodbye to everyone when she opened the passenger door.

The van took more than ten minutes to get out of the parking lot, causing a traffic jam.

Driving on the wide road, Liu Jing couldn't help but complain, "Shu Chang, it's one thing to pick me up from the airport in a van. You came all the way from the film set, so I didn't say anything and didn't blame you. But to go out for a meal, you insist on driving a van. You're totally crazy."

Liu Jing was firmly against going out. Taking a taxi was better than driving a van.

But the minority must submit to the majority; one vote cannot overcome two. Because of his disagreement, Xixi readily agreed, and in the end, Shuchang still drove out in the van.

“This kind of hype will be more effective and generate more buzz. What do you know? Isn’t a van better than a scandal? Sisi is with us; it’s not appropriate for us to create a scandal.” Shu Chang argued confidently, “We have to consider my sister’s fragile pride.”

She likes driving a minivan because it can carry a lot of cargo and she can even sleep in it.

She often spends time on film sets. She couldn't afford a van before, but having a minivan made things much more convenient.

Now that she's better off and can afford a luxury car, she still prefers to drive her minivan around.

Shu Chang's driving skills in a minivan are better than in a sports car; she doesn't even look in the rearview mirror when reversing.

When she left, she habitually started the van. She had intended to drive a different car, but Liu Jing objected, so she didn't.

"I'm all set now." Sisi made a move to unbuckle her seatbelt.

Shu Chang drove the minivan smoothly, overtaking one car after another. Qianqian couldn't even get out of the car; she was just saying it.

Xixi must be unhappy that Liu Jing has been involved in scandals with other people.

But Liu Jing and Shu Chang, well, they just can't generate any buzz.

Strangely enough, these two rarely have any scandals.

Even if the two are photographed engaging in intimate behavior, the general public will interpret it as a simple friendship. Let alone outsiders, most people in the industry don't think there's anything between them. As for whether there's anything between them, Xixi knows best. Shuchang is not only a best friend and sworn sister, but also a blood sister who fought alongside her.

"Hehe, sis, you can't leave. How can I live without you? You can make headlines with just a casual appearance, and a single photo of you can go viral online. I could run naked down the street and nobody would even see me." Shu Chang said with a fawning expression.

"Why don't you try running around naked?" Sisi said disdainfully, thinking her best friend was hopeless.

In an interview before the Lunar New Year, a reporter asked Shu Chang if she was quiet and reserved in private, and she admitted it against her conscience. Shu Chang is definitely a crazy woman; she's either acting eccentrically or being cute in private. I really don't see how she can be quiet and reserved.

"You're my first wife, and Mu Tou is my second wife. I have to take responsibility for both of you and can't let you suffer." Shu Chang said casually.

"Drive carefully, Jing Tian should be here soon." Qianqian rolled her eyes, not wanting to argue with Shu, because no matter if it was fallacy, logic, or irrationality, she couldn't win the argument.

"Looks like Little Sweetie is getting anxious too. Well, the boss is about to be bombarded by his employees." Shu Chang said gloatingly.

"You're competing with Yang Mi, but who is Jing Tian competing with? What place she gets doesn't matter to her." Qianqian didn't think so. Jing Tian was similar to her in temperament—a low-key person. She was only curious about these competitions, not attached to them.

The three of them were having dinner when Jing Tian called. She had just returned from filming in Jiaozuo yesterday and missed her sister Qianqian, so she asked to go shopping together.

Shu Chang believes that Jing Tian's real intention is not what it seems, and that she, like Shu Chang, is requesting support.

Liu Jing was a little jealous and didn't even call me. I just arrived in Yandu and haven't even sent a text message.

"That's true. Jing Tian is a nice person and gets along well with everyone. She's self-sufficient and doesn't need to compete with anyone for resources. If she wants to act in a certain role, she can just invest in it. If there isn't a suitable role, she can tailor-make one for her." Shu Chang sighed, "You can't compare people." The Four Little Actresses aren't of much use to Jing Tian; she's already a resource-rich actress and doesn't care about this little bit of extra income.

Yes, it's even more beautiful.

That's all, I won't force it.

Liu Jing believed Shu Chang's words.

Bai Bing helped Nazha secure a role in "The Myth 2". Liu Jing called Jing Tian and asked, "You haven't even figured things out yourself yet, and you're so eager to get roles for Nazha. What are you thinking? Lin Xiaoman originally reserved that role for you, are you really willing to give it up to Nazha?"
Jing Tian stated frankly, "It's the same whether she takes the role or I do. Nazha signed with my company, which means she trusts me, and of course I have to be responsible for her. Besides, if I want to cast Jackie Chan, I'll just invest the money myself. He can get any role he wants; I don't believe he'd turn down money. This role is for Nazha. From now on, for your own films, keep the roles for me; I won't give them to anyone else."

What else can Liu Jing say? Jing Tian has redefined what it means to be a "resource-backed star".

"Ahem, Xixi, Wang Lihong invited you to act in a movie? I didn't hear you mention it." The two women in front of him were silent, and Liu Jing finally had a chance to speak. He didn't know about this before.

“I’ve received so many scripts, I can’t possibly tell you about them all. He sent one to my email, and I didn’t even notice. Later, he called me, and I told him I was busy filming ‘Inception’ and didn’t have time. He wanted to wait for my availability, but I didn’t make him wait.” Sisi glanced at it secretly, feeling quite pleased. He was jealous.

"They're quite persistent, aren't they?" Liu Jing was even more annoyed.

"Oh! So many people want to cast Xixi in movies, and she's already jealous. I think we should dig a vinegar cellar in the future, so our relatives and friends won't need to buy vinegar."

Shu Chang could clearly hear the sour taste in Liu Jing's mouth.

She was also jealous, saying, "So many people want me to act in their movies, but I've never seen you get jealous."

"Silly girl, just drive your car." Liu Jing couldn't save face.

"Sisi, if you dare take his role, our backyard will catch fire, and the grape trellis will collapse. When I become a director, you'll be my leading lady. The two of us sisters will be invincible. Liu Jing and Liu Rijing will all be trampled underfoot." Shu Chang said with a grin.

"Chen Jiashang is preparing to film 'Nie Xiaoqian,' which will start filming next year. He intends to invite you, so you should reserve your schedule for next year." Liu Jing snorted lightly, thinking, "You silly girl, you have a conscience. You've given me plenty of double the pleasure before."

That Leehom Wang guy, wanting to cast Sissi in "Love Announcement"? Dream on.

Before the relationship between Liu Yifei and Wang Lihong was exposed, several people in the entertainment industry publicly expressed their admiration for her, including Wang Lihong.

Even though Liu Jing knew that Qianqian wasn't superficial, he wasn't exactly naive. The other guy was handsome, talented, and a great singer. If these two were to act together, he'd feel even more insecure than someone with less than a million in their pocket.

Sissi only films one movie a year, so he's already secured the slots for the next two years.

Chen Jiashang does intend to collaborate with Qianqian again, while Liu Jing wants to wait until the script is completed before deciding on the outcome.

What are we waiting for? Let's give them a heads-up.

Sisi is quite interested in roles like ghosts and monsters. She doesn't want to play fairies or serious characters; she wants to break the audience's preconceived notions about her.

He has already taken Sissi's spot this year. There are eight roles in total for "The Night the Comet Came," and Sissi was the only one who was pre-selected.

It wasn't him who decided on her; it was Sisi who decided on her own. She had never filmed a proper modern drama before, let alone a mind-bending suspense drama, and she really liked this script.

The filming period for this movie was extremely short. Liu Jing planned to finish it within ten days, with an investment of three million yuan. All the actors and crew worked without pay; it was just for fun.

"Then you're mistaken. He should invite Yang Mi. Yang Mi played Nie Xiaoqian, and it was so-so, not too bad. Moreover, Yang Mi has worked with Chen Jiashang in 'King of Beggars,' so working together again would be another selling point."

Before Sisi could respond, Shu Chang spoke first. She said Yang Mi was so-so, which meant she was not bad, and that was quite a high compliment from her.

"Impressive, you even know these things," Liu Jing praised.

"Of course! In the future, I'll be the director and Xixi will be the producer. The two of us will be the best partners." Shu Chang was very smug.

"You want to be a director? Hah..." Liu Jing's tone was full of disdain.

"What? Actors can become directors? Wang Lihong can become a director, Xu Jinglei can become a director, Yu Feihong has become a director, why can't I become a director? Besides, I am a graduate student in directing, I am more qualified than them." Shu Chang said indignantly.

After acting for so many years, she suddenly felt there was no challenge left. Directing is far more interesting than acting, so she started pursuing a master's degree in directing last year.

“I think Changchang is right, you can recommend Yang Mi,” Qianqian agreed.

Liu Jing and Shu Chang looked over at the same time. Was this a serious statement or sarcasm? Something was off. This was the third time today that someone had spoken up for Yang Mi.

"When Chen Jiashang was preparing for Painted Skin two years ago, Zeng Li was actually a better fit for the role of Pei Rong than Fat Bing. But she had played Mei San Niang before, so Chen Jiashang was the first to pass her over. Not to mention him, even if I were the director, I would never have chosen Yang Mi to play Nie Xiaoqian," Liu Jing explained.

"How's the script?" Sisi bit her lip. Even if Liu Jing didn't arrange a role for her, she wouldn't act in Wang Lihong's play.

She has always been very discreet; as someone who is already in a relationship, she avoids anything that might cause offense. Over the years of acting, she has made many friends, but very few men.

Her male friends, who were also college classmates, thought Liu Jing wouldn't think much of it.

"After 'Painted Skin' was taken off the screens, Taiji didn't even say goodbye..."

Liu Jing recounted yesterday's conversation to Qianqian and Shuchang, only mentioning the important parts.

"I know about this. I heard that Taiji intends to invite Gu Tianle." Shu Chang's reputation as an all-knowing person is well-deserved.

"Gu Tianle? You wouldn't be inviting Li Ruotong to play Nie Xiaoqian, would you?" Liu Jing asked with a strange expression.

"She's already retired from the entertainment industry. She broke up with her boyfriend of ten years last year, and her father suffered a stroke this year. How could she possibly have the heart to act?" Sisi sighed. She still paid close attention to her senior colleague.

“Hey! I suddenly have an idea. If Xixi plays Nie Xiaoqian, it could be…” Before Shu Changshen could finish speaking, Liu Jing interrupted her, “Silly girl, don’t give bad advice. Liu Shishi didn’t offend you.”

"Liu Shishi?" Qianqian's expression shifted. Since "The Legend of Zhen Huan" failed to turn Liu Shishi into a character similar to Wanwan, should she try it in "Nie Xiaoqian"?

"What are you thinking? Liu Shishi is a nobody, she can't carry the box office. If I were the director, I would definitely cast her like this. You play Ning Caichen, Sissi plays Nie Xiaoqian, Louis Koo plays Yan Chixia, Carman Lee plays Yan Chixia's white moonlight, and Joey Wong plays the grandmother. We've got the nostalgia and the buzz, no need for any publicity, it'll generate buzz on its own."

"This idea is insane..." Sisi was dumbfounded.

"I don't know if you can be a director, but you can be a screenwriter," Liu Jing murmured.

"Don't call the film 'Nie Xiaoqian,' give it a better name, and you'll be halfway to success."

(End of this chapter)