Huayu Chunqiu, starting from being adopted by a fairy mother

Chapter 438 Gone with the Wind
Everyone has their own expertise; Liu Jing is a professional at making movies, but he's really not a professional at hosting.

The hosts had clear roles and were good at setting the pace.

What Liu Jing found boring, these people managed to make fun of, full of jokes, interesting stories, tears, and laughter.

Zeng Li and Zhou Xun are used to such situations, Tian Yu and Chen Kun have a great sense of variety, and Xiao Dao's unintentional remark can always cause a burst of laughter.

At the beginning of the recording, everyone was very reserved, but with the host's guidance, they gradually relaxed.

The atmosphere became increasingly relaxed, and the scene became more and more lively.

However, just like a parabola, after reaching its peak, it begins to decline.

There's no way around it; a single episode only lasts a little over an hour on television, but the actual recording takes more than ten hours.

The recording started at 10 a.m. and didn't end until 11 p.m. Thirteen hours of recording—most people couldn't endure that.

That's not all. Everyone else has finished, but Liu Jing and Zeng Li haven't. They still have to record "Wujiapo".

"Recording variety shows is more tiring than filming movies."

The night breeze caressed Zeng Li's face, clearing her mind considerably.

At 1:30 a.m., even the bustling city of Shanghai was quiet.

When Liu Jing and Zeng Li left Qiu Manor, the other guests had already returned to their hotel to rest.

After they finished their shift, the staff started getting busy; they definitely wouldn't rest that night.

“Indeed, I’m exhausted, both physically and mentally. I’ll treat you to a late-night snack.” Liu Jing rubbed his cheeks. Recording “Wujiapo” is different from recording a variety show.

The song was recorded long ago; today's recording is about the stage effects, how to interact, how to walk, what movements, and what expressions.

Zhou Xun and Chen Kun's performance of "The Message" was recorded on Hunan TV a few days ago, so they don't need to do it today.

"You're treating me to a late-night snack? You're really that kind of person?" Zeng Li glanced at him, thinking, "You're just trying to treat me like a late-night snack, aren't you?"

"Hey! Zeng Li, don't think so badly of me. Think about it yourself, how have I treated you? Have I ever cheated you? Have I ever hurt you?" Liu Jing said disapprovingly, "Your gaze is very subtle, like you're looking at a big bad wolf."

Zeng Li thought about it carefully and seriously, and it seemed that she really hadn't tricked herself.

Two years ago, she was in an awkward position in the industry, neither high enough nor low enough. She wanted to stand out, but didn't want to sacrifice herself. She wanted to snatch roles, but couldn't compete through normal means. Despite bearing the reputation of being a "200-year-old star of the Central Academy of Drama" and a "leading lady of the stage," she accomplished nothing except for earning a reputation for being a "Buddhist" type.

Even though her old classmate Zhang Ziyi has been declining in the past two years, she is still far ahead.

Yuan Quan, Mei Ting, and Qin Hailu, who are in similar positions to her, have steadily climbed the ladder step by step over the past few years.

Aside from her appearance, there doesn't seem to be much else to mention about her over the years.

Ever since this guy started flirting, things have visibly improved. In the latter half of last year, he surged ahead, showing signs of rivaling Zhang Ziyi.

Following the right people is very important; otherwise, how can you achieve a breakthrough?

Zeng Li thought to herself, but of course she wouldn't say it aloud. "I don't know. I only know that the debt has increased. When we were filming 'The Message' last year, it was less than a hundred takes. Now that 'The Message' is about to be released, it's a hundred and fifty takes. Even loan shark interest isn't this much."

Liu Jing muttered to himself as he paid back the money more than twenty times.

"What you're increasing isn't interest, it's the principal. You didn't give me my pre-holiday allowance during the New Year, so it's not unreasonable to hold you accountable for this five times, is it?"

"Call me 'Mom' once, and I'll let you sleep with me ten times over," Zeng Li said irritably.

Liu Jing was shocked. Not only did this person see through the trick in his words, but he also cursed back.

"I was getting my makeup done at the recording today. Someone personally said that, to express their gratitude, they would add five more times."

How did these dozens of times come about? Only a dozen or so times were obtained through Liu Jing's efforts; the rest were all given to him voluntarily by Zeng Li.

“That’s five meals. What are you thinking?” Zeng Li rolled her eyes, her dignified demeanor revealing a hint of allure.

"You won the Popularity Award at the Magnolia Awards, and you personally promised five times. Is this what you call a meal?" Liu Jing took a few quick steps, then suddenly didn't want a late-night snack anymore.

"Big brother, you've messed with me five times recently, haven't you?" Zeng Li quickened her pace as well.

It's not just five times, it's been fifteen times already. Your math skills are questionable.

Recently, Sissi went to film "Inception," and with no one at home to restrain her, Liu Jing let loose and let himself go.

Jing Tian went back to her hometown for a period of time during the summer vacation and was not in Yandu.

Yang Mi has just graduated and has many acting offers waiting for her.

Liu Shishi is currently filming "The Legend of the White Snake: The Sequel" in Hengdian.

Shu Chang was busy preparing for "Love is Not Blind" and went to work as an assistant director on a film set.

It just so happens that Zeng Li has been quite free lately, and Liu Jing often takes this route after get off work.

Gaining even a little favor with the older sister was even harder than with Tang Yan. Liu Jing tried various methods, and each time he felt the other party was satisfied, but the bottleneck was like an insurmountable chasm, which he could not break through.

"Weren't we going out for a late-night snack? This seems to be the way back to the hotel," Liu Jing said, surprised.

"Debtors don't deserve to eat midnight snacks; they're only meant to be eaten. Take advantage of any opportunity to pay back as much as possible." Zeng Li said calmly. She wasn't a master of language; she was a master of witty remarks.

"Sigh! Da Li, the most difficult path I've ever walked is the one paved with your schemes." Liu Jing sighed. Zeng Li kept paying back her debts, but the debts kept piling up. There's no one else like her.

"Then you'd better walk this path for the rest of your life," Zeng Li chuckled.

There is no road in this world that you can walk for a lifetime, but there is definitely a road that you can walk through the middle of the night.

My favorability rating remains rock solid at 89 points, with no further developments.

Zeng Li wasn't the most difficult to deal with. Looking at the socialite-like Fat Bing, Liu Jing realized that she was the most difficult to handle. Zeng Li could only rank third, with Tang Yan above her.

The first and second are already taken care of, so how far away can the third be?

The recording of "Happy Camp" marked the official launch of the promotional campaign for "The Message," which encompassed land, sea, and air, as well as online and offline interactions.

At the beginning of July, news about "The Message" gradually spread, and the pre-release promotional activities began.

It was also around this time that Sina Weibo began its internal testing phase, and filming for "My Love from the Star" commenced.

July 7th was the day the filming of "My Love from the Star" was launched, at an old villa on the Bund.

As the producer, Liu Jing naturally had to attend; he had been in Shanghai these past few days.

The old house has a large terrace where Liu Jing hides, overlooking the Huangpu River.

On the west side of the terrace is the male protagonist's secret work station in Shanghai. A vintage leather suitcase is placed on the wooden floor of the old house, next to a magnifying glass and a yellowed old map of Shanghai.

The suitcase was open, and inside were replicas of newspapers from the Republic of China era and a Western pocket watch.

On the back wall is a backdrop that combines the Bund skyline and starry sky, with the words "You Who Came From the Stars - From Chang'an to Shanghai, the starlight has remained unchanged for five hundred years".

Following many suggestions, the premise of "My Love from the Star" was changed back. The male lead is now an alien who landed in Chang'an during the Ming Dynasty five hundred years ago.

The male and female leads first meet at an archaeological site. The male lead, Shen Mo, is an archaeology professor, and the female lead, Su Qianyi, is a national star.

From the main gate of the old house to the terrace, a dark brown wooden walkway is laid out, with twenty retro gasoline lamps hanging on both sides, and posters with silhouettes of characters from the play pasted on the lamp posts.

In the middle of the passageway is a telephone booth, modeled after those from the Republican era, complete with modern recording equipment. This was a small part of the opening ceremony, where the main cast recorded a line for their characters, which would later be used as promotional material for the series.

At that moment, Fat Bing, as the producer, was greeting guests at the main entrance.

She personally liaised with many of the media, guests, and sponsors.

Fat Bing smiled radiantly, which Liu Jing found rather fake, but he was very considerate.

"Old Liu, stop pretending to be profound. There aren't any pretty girls to be seen here."

Hu Ge, holding a wine glass, leaned on the railing, gazing at the Huangpu River like Liu Jing.

"Damn it, I'm only twenty-one." Liu Jing said bluntly.

"You're so hypocritical. You call me Lao Hu so smoothly, but what's wrong with me calling you Lao Liu? You don't have to call me that either, Liu Rijing sounds better." Lao Hu looked very lazy, not at all as serious as when they were exchanging pleasantries downstairs.

He glanced at Liu Jing sideways and shook his head repeatedly. "Who's twenty-one like you? When I was twenty-one, I didn't even know what I wanted to do."

"Let's stick with Lao Liu." Liu Jing sighed. Compared to Liu Rijing, Lao Liu sounded more agreeable.

"Where's your sister?" Old Hu grinned slyly, as if he had gotten a huge advantage.

"She's from your sugar figurine business, and you're asking me?" Liu Jing really didn't know; Liu Shishi arrived in Shanghai yesterday without reporting to him.

The women were all very self-aware; they didn't actively seek him out in Yan because Liu Yifei was there. They didn't take the initiative in Mo either, because Min Zong was there.

When Lao Hu said "your sister," he was referring to Liu Shishi, the second female lead in "My Love from the Star," and it wasn't an insult.

Liu Jing is the producer of "My Love from the Star," and this isn't just a nominal position; it requires real work. Many advertisers came specifically because of Liu Jing's role as producer, and he didn't want to tarnish his reputation.

A while ago, Fat Bing made a request, hoping that Liu Jing would make a cameo appearance to increase the popularity of her film.

Liu Jing readily agreed. Being a producer isn't the same as being a director or a production manager; the main responsibility is overseeing the quality. He figured he might as well take on a cameo role since he was already free on set, but the screen time couldn't be too much.

Fat Bing gave the role of the second female lead's brother to Liu Jing, ostensibly because, since you and Liu Shishi are already promoting your sibling relationship, why not play siblings again?

The second female lead's name is Lin Weiwei, and her brother's name is Lin Yichen, which sounds very similar to the male lead's. The sibling relationship between Long Kui and Jing Tian touched many people. Playing siblings again is also a selling point.

"Girls are outgoing, but you never know where their hearts are," Old Hu sighed.

"Anyway, it's not with you." Liu Jing's expression was unfriendly.

"Sister Cai is very troubled. Shishi is always filming outside, and people are restless. Others are also having their own thoughts." Old Hu waved downstairs with a wicked smile on his face.

Liu Jing looked over and saw that it was Huo Siyan. She was busy running around, treating him like family at all.

Huo Siyan raised her middle finger at Hu Ge, her stubborn little face full of contempt.

When Bingbing was at Huayi Brothers, she wasn't always a rival; she made two or three friends, one of whom was Huo Siyan.

Huo Siyan was supporting her friend this time and also had a cameo role in the film, playing an actress who doesn't get along with the female lead.

"Sugarman only has a handful of signed artists, so what if they have their own agendas?" Liu Jing scoffed.

"Sugar figurines aren't just for artists." Old Hu said with amusement. The company may be small, but there's a lot to do.

There's a saying that goes, "A small temple has a lot of evil spirits, and a shallow pond has many turtles."

Liu Jing was detached from worldly affairs, focusing only on results and never caring about the process; little did he know the sordid and despicable things happening underneath.

Old Hu sighed inwardly, "That's true, tigers don't care how cats live."

"Old Hu, Shishi isn't the one filming the most outside, is she? In that case, you don't need to act in my movie." Liu Jing mocked, it's really funny how the eldest brother talks about the second brother.

Sugarman has requirements for its artists' acceptance of outside projects, with fewer restrictions than Rongxinda, but they are still very strict.

Without the company's written consent, artists may not sign contracts or participate in related performing arts activities.

Sugarman is responsible for setting prices for external clients; artists are not allowed to negotiate privately. Profits are then split according to a set percentage. Sugarman also reviews external projects to ensure they do not negatively impact the company's or the artist's image.

Most importantly, it cannot affect internal company projects; everything must be based on self-produced dramas.

Little Lion hasn't taken on many outside acting roles; Old Hu has taken on the most. And now, he's not even actively involved in the self-produced dramas by Sugar Man.

After filming "The Myth", Hu Ge kept pestering Liu Jing, asking him to give him a role with lines in his next movie.

The play Liu Jing was preparing, "The Night the Comet Came," had a total of eight roles: four men and four women. He didn't plan to hold a public casting call; he figured he could manage the roles internally.

The subject matter was novel, and the script was readily available; he didn't want to leave it unused.

The production cost was several million, and all the actors received no salary. Once the movie is released and makes money, we'll share the profits.

The plot is complex and quite mind-bending. However, the preparation and filming were simple, and Liu Jing didn't devote much energy to it.

Many years after graduation, several high school classmates organized a reunion. The filming location has been decided: this old villa.

After filming wrapped on "My Love from the Star," they started cleaning up the site to prepare for the start of filming for "Comet."

The eight characters come from different professions: a programmer, a teacher, an inheritor of intangible cultural heritage, a freelance illustrator, a medical doctoral student, a rich second-generation who failed in his business, a local government official, and a product manager at an internet company.

Each person's career and predicament reflect the choice anxiety of contemporary young people and reveal the hidden connections between people.

The four male actors are Liu Jing, Zhu Yawen, Hu Ge, and Luo Jin.

The four actresses are Zeng Li, Gao Yuanyuan, Tang Yan, and Xixi.

They intended to start filming discreetly, but word got out anyway, and many people were eager to join the crew.

“Your film is an internal production, not an external one. Besides, I only filmed external productions because the company didn’t have enough projects, so you can’t blame me for that,” Lao Hu argued vehemently.

"Old Hu, you've gotten too big for your britches. You said I'm being hypocritical, but you're the one being hypocritical." Liu Jing was quite surprised.

“Three years ago, I became famous too quickly, and my foundation was unstable. I really got carried away. That crash brought me back down to earth, and I could never get back on my feet. Arrogance brings rain, and arrogance brings disaster. If I could do it all over again, I would give everything I have now to prevent that day from ever happening.” Hu Ge looked dejected, recalling countless midnight dreams and countless tears of regret.

"Life can't be relived, so live well. I hope you can live a life that's as substantial as two people's." Liu Jing patted Lao Hu on the shoulder, understanding his feelings.

Hu Ge laughed heartily, "Don't worry, I'm lucky to be alive. I'm curious, did you and Xixi ever drift apart?"

"If you're always wandering the world, you won't know how high the sky is until you try it yourself. I was once too, when I was less than ten years old. Other kids were fearless because their understanding was limited. I was fearless because I thought I was amazing. That experience made me realize reality: without real skills, even Qin Shi Huang reborn would have to admit defeat." Liu Jing sighed, then smiled as he thought of Qianqian. "Qianqian never got cocky. With me keeping her in check, she couldn't get cocky."

"I feel sorry for her. Having a brother like you must be quite hopeless." Old Hu shrugged, then changed the subject, "I also admire her. If it were me, I would have given up long ago."

Liu Jing smiled. Qianqian wasn't the type to give up easily; her stubbornness couldn't be explained away by a simple matter of saving face. She could face adversity with pride and humbly acknowledge her shortcomings, possessing an indomitable spirit that was "unyielding, indestructible, and unbreakable."

The same applies to Fan Bingbing and Yang Mi, only they express it differently.

"Longkui, Longkui..."

A commotion suddenly arose outside the gate; Liu Shishi had arrived.

Although "Chinese Paladin 3" has been broadcast on some local TV stations, its reputation has begun to spread online, especially the character Long Kui, played by Liu Shishi, who has been recognized by many game fans.

Liu Jing watched the little lion enter, a thought flashing through his mind. "Old Hu, do you mean someone at Tangren is unhappy with Shishi?"

"I didn't say anything, you just interpreted it yourself." Old Hu smiled, then suddenly his expression changed. "Treat me to dinner tonight, I need to use the restroom."

"Hey, you're a local from Shanghai, and you expect me to treat you? How dare you? I hope you eat your fill in the toilet."

Liu Jing turned his head and immediately understood; Bai Bing was walking towards them.

How did these two end up together?

Liu Jing muttered to himself that Bai Bing and Liu Shishi came in together, followed by Luo Jin.

Luo Jin plays the second male lead, Li Yaoting, the protector of the female lead, Su Qianyi, and a very warm-hearted man.

Bai Bing and the little lion had a casual relationship and didn't interact much, yet they were holding hands at this moment.

The relationships between women are truly strange. The deepest connection these two had was during a game of ghost hunting not long ago.

"Old Hu, Old Hu..."

The assistant was fine until he shouted, because the more he shouted, the faster Hu Ge ran.

"Sigh! Xiaobai's really going after Lao Cai. He's not trying to poach Shishi, is he? No way, Xiaobai knows what he's doing." Liu Jing's expression was strange, but then he thought, "Probably not. My assistant knows what he's doing with Xiaoshi." The future of Tangren is the path his senior brother is paving for his junior sister.

Tang Yan didn't get the lead role in the drama "The Weaver Girl"; it was taken by Janine Chang.

Li Guoli believes that Janine Chang is more suitable than Tang Yan. Tang Yan has a sweet and lively temperament, but lacks historical depth in period dramas. Janine Chang's fresh and elegant temperament and intellectual and reserved acting skills are more in line with the needs of the role.

Janine Chang wants to open up the mainland market and broaden her acting range, while "The Weaver Girl" wants to achieve high ratings in Taiwan. It's a two-way race.

During the audition, Lao Li commented on Janine Chang, "Her smile can make the audience feel warm, which is also the kind of approachability that Huang Qiao'er needs most."

Old Li's casting choices differ from Old Cai's. As a director, he prioritizes the film's sake and doesn't have much personal bias. His support for Liu Shishi's casting as Zhao Zhaoyi stems from his belief that Xiao Shizi's acting range needs to expand and shouldn't be limited to one type of role.

Bai Bing disagreed. She thought Old Li looked down on Tang Yan mainly because Zhang Junning's temperament was similar to that of a sugar figurine maker. When Old Li saw Zhang Junning now, he must have thought of Cai Yinong from before, so he had a preconceived notion and gave her a favorable impression.

Because of this role, Janine Chang placed her mainland contract with Sugar Man, which deepened Bai Bing's suspicions.

Old Li patiently explained to Bai Bing, "The key to casting is not competition, but to let the actors and the roles find each other. During the audition, Janine Chang had a deeper understanding of the character than Tang Yan."

Bai Bing listened, but that was all; she turned around and swung her hoe at Hu Ge.

They say sugar figurines can only be used in TV dramas, and mostly period dramas, which limits your development. Hu Ge, as the number one of the four most popular young actors, you should have a broader vision and a brighter future.

They say Golden Harvest has a lot of film resources. If you want to change your acting style, my side is the best choice.

Liu Shishi's acceptance of outside acting roles caused unrest among the staff, and Bai Bing's hoe made Lao Hu even more uneasy.

Bai Bing and the little lion went upstairs, said hello, and hurriedly went back to their room to change clothes.

At the opening ceremony, the main cast and crew were required to appear on stage, and the little lion wearing a short-sleeved shirt was clearly inappropriate.

Bai Bing also needs to change her clothes because she is the host of the opening ceremony.

Standing on a corner of the terrace, Liu Jing looked out at the vast expanse of the Huangpu River and watched the scheming and intrigue among the guests, feeling quite emotional.

"Oh! Our dear, lovely and respectable CEO Min has arrived! It's an honor to have you here."

Liu Jing looked in the direction of the voice and saw that everyone, whether sitting or standing, went to the door to greet them.

Liu Jing will argue with anyone who says that Fat Bing has no acting skills.

Fat Bing's expression showed a mixture of surprise, apology, excitement, and a sense of being unprepared.

Zhang Min is here!

Liu Jing wasn't surprised, and Pang Bing was also mentally prepared.

Two days ago, Fat Bing came to visit, and Zhang Min personally said that she wanted to come and support me; those words still ring in my ears.

Life truly is like a play, and it all depends on acting skills; those who can act well will have food to eat.

Liu Jing was lost in thought, and vaguely, he gained a deeper understanding of acting skills.

The world is a grand stage; some play others, some play themselves. Some can act for a while, but sooner or later their true colors will be revealed. Some can act forever, and even their pretense becomes real…

(End of this chapter)