Entertainment: I just want to be the boss behind the scenes

Chapter 102 Don't try, it's not for you

Question: If I meet my ex-boyfriend during an interview and he is also my interviewer, what should I do?
Urgent, waiting online!
Looking at Meng Bai sitting opposite him, Song Zhi really wanted to post online to ask for help.

In fact, it wasn't that she didn't hear any news about Meng Bai after the breakup. On the contrary, because they were still in the same industry, she would occasionally hear friends or colleagues mention him.

After Soul Ferry was broadcast, I heard his name more often: in school promotional materials, on websites where I often watched dramas, on Weibo, and in chats with friends.

She didn’t know if it was because she was always intentionally accepting these messages, but she felt that she heard the name “Meng Bai” no less frequently than when she was in school.

Adapting scripts, producing hit works, making huge profits, establishing a company... Song Zhi watched the other party's progress. These were the futures that Meng Bai had described for her when the two of them were lying in bed.

Now, he is realizing his original dream step by step.

But these have nothing to do with me anymore.

When she saw the success of Soul Ferry, Song Zhi thought about sending a congratulatory message. She wrote and deleted the message in her memo, and finally gave up.

As what? As an ex-girlfriend?
She also anticipated that since both of them were in the film and television industry, they would meet again sooner or later.

She even imagined how she would feel at that time, and she should be able to calmly say "Long time no see" to the other person.

I didn't expect that this day would come so soon. And, it would happen in such a scene.

Song Zhi pinched his fingers lightly and pursed his lips tightly, his mind full of thoughts in a mess.

Meng Bai didn’t know what Song Zhi was thinking, but he knew that she must be very confused.

Because every time she was nervous, she would subconsciously pinch and rub her fingers.

Compared to Song Zhi's complicated emotions, Meng Bai is now feeling quite calm.

When they had just broken up, he also fantasized that one day when he became successful, he would definitely come to her, look at her painful and regretful expression, and slap her in the face.

Well, now that I think about it, it was really childish.

Moreover, as time passes, looking back at the breakup between the two people, you will find that it was not the fault of any one person.

Throwing away the melancholy in his heart, Meng Bai was the first to break the silence and asked, "How are you doing recently?"

"It's still the same." Song Zhi's expression was not bright, and he tried to remain calm and said, "It's a public institution, and we are promoted based on seniority. We rehearse two or three plays a month, and then we run around to different crews."

When they were in school, it could be called a love story between top students. Meng Bai was the top student in the drama department, and Song Zhi was also ranked among the top students in the acting department.

After graduation, Meng Bai became an independent screenwriter, while Song Zhi took the entrance exam for the People's Art Theatre on the recommendation of his teacher, and passed it on his first try.

The People's Art Theatre is the Beijing People's Art Theatre, a national-level drama theatre, the highest hall of the domestic drama community, and also a formal public institution with a full staff.

It can be said that apart from earning little and having little fame, the actors of the People's Art Theatre are almost the best in terms of professionalism, acting ability, official development and even the "actor contempt chain".

In fact, Meng Bai was recommended by Professor Zou to take the entrance exam for the People's Art Theatre. Moreover, the status of a screenwriter is one level higher than that of an actor. If he was admitted, his name would be written alongside those of big names such as Guo Moruo, Lao She, Cao Yu, and Ju Yin.

Unfortunately, as a young and high-spirited man at that time, he made a decision that "went against his ancestors" - not to take the examination for the official position.

"Are you also visiting the crew now?" Meng Bai asked doubtfully.

"Of course, you're not... With the little money we make a month, if we didn't take on any outside roles, we would have starved to death in Beijing North." Perhaps because he was not afraid of being heard in front of Meng Bai, an "acquaintance", Song Zhi complained subconsciously.

The profession of drama actor seems to be at the "top of the contempt chain", but in fact, only they know their own suffering.

The People's Art Theatre is a deficit-funded public institution, and a large part of its income is self-supporting. But drama is a niche thing, and given the status of the People's Art Theatre, it is impossible for it to stage some overly entertaining plays like the popular drama groups such as "Happy Twist" in the past two years. So although the performances of the People's Art Theatre are exciting enough and the actors' acting skills are also quite superb, it really doesn't make much money overall.

The theater makes little money, so the actors naturally get less money. Newcomers like Song Zhi only make three to five hundred yuan per play. In addition, there are many actors in the People's Art Theater, and they can only perform a few shows a year, so the money they earn is naturally very little.

Anyway, Meng Bai remembered that when the two were still together, Song Zhi only made about three to four thousand yuan a month.

Three to four thousand a month is barely enough in a small county, but it is not enough in northern Beijing. In addition, there is a lot of free time, so many actors of the People's Art Theater will take on acting jobs outside to supplement their family income. As long as there is no trouble or any important tasks, the theater generally does not care much.

However, auditioning for a film crew is not simply determined by your acting skills. You may say that you are a professional actor from the People's Art Theatre, but in the eyes of the producers, you may not be more competitive than someone who says that he has 50,000 fans.

Like Li Qin, Song Zhi also made his debut in Dream of Red Mansions, playing Xiangling. In the following years, he received several dramas intermittently, but none of them were very popular.

This year is even more miserable. I don’t know if it’s because of bad luck or something else, but from the beginning of the year to now, she hasn’t received any acting jobs.

If she couldn't get any acting jobs, she wouldn't get paid. For a while, she even had to shamelessly ask her family for living expenses.

Mother Song had advised her before that if it really didn't work out, she might as well change her career or return to her hometown and get married.

She herself actually thought about whether she was not suitable to be an actor and whether she should change her career as soon as possible like her colleagues.

The audition opportunity for "The Disguiser" was arranged by her acting teacher Liu Tianchi.

"Before I came here, I was thinking that if I failed this time, I would listen to my mother and go home and get married." Song Zhi smiled self-deprecatingly.

Meng Bai nodded and agreed, "It's not bad to get married, find a husband, and have a child. In another ten years, you will come home from get off work, sweating. Your husband will lie on the sofa playing with his phone and ask you to cook quickly. Your child who has just entered junior high school will ask you whether boiling water at 6888 degrees is a right angle or an obtuse angle. Your elderly parents who are in poor health will say that they spent to buy ten boxes of new health products today..."

"You're so annoying!" Song Zhi frowned and yelled at Meng Bai. This kind of life is really hellish just thinking about it.

Meng Bai smiled indifferently and said, "It's a reasonable assumption."

"It's reasonable, you big-headed ghost!"

After yelling at Meng Bai, Song Zhi was suddenly stunned. This conversation felt so familiar.

It was like this in the past. Whenever I said something, he would take advantage of the situation to make a joke. When I made him angry and started yelling at him, he would come over and hug me to please and comfort me.

However, Song Zhi looked at Meng Bai who was sitting opposite him and smiling, and he thought that he would not come to comfort him anymore.

"By the way, which role are you auditioning for?" Meng Bai asked.

Song Zhi then remembered that she would have to face this "ex-boyfriend interviewer" later. She just didn't know whether he would help her out of their past friendship or take this opportunity to give her no hope.

If it were two years ago, based on her understanding, Meng Bai would choose the former.

But now, she didn't know.

Taking a deep breath, Song Zhi slowly said, "I'm auditioning for the role of 'Agent No. 76 Wang Manchun.'"

"Wang Manchun?"

Meng Bai repeated in surprise, looked her up and down, and shook his head and said, "Don't try it, this role is not suitable for you."

Song Zhi bit his lips tightly when he heard that, and tears instantly welled up in his eyes.

(End of this chapter)