Huayu 2021: Isn’t he in the technology field?

Chapter 261 Jiang Qing's Teasing Leads to a Foray into the Entertainment Industry
The next morning, the air in Luyang was still crisp and clear, with a thin layer of frost clinging to the tips of the withered grass, reflecting the pale winter morning light.

When Jiang Qing arrived at the film set wrapped in a long dark gray down jacket, a wave of heat mixed with the aroma of coffee hit her.

"Hey! The main character has arrived!"

Zhao Zhiwei, with his sharp eyes, was the first to shout, his voice so loud that it drew the attention of half the crew.

He was holding a cup of hot soy milk, deliberately winking and gesturing towards Jiang Qing.

"Teacher Jiang, did you sleep well last night? Those behind-the-scenes clips... wow, they were absolutely viral online yesterday!"

He deliberately dragged out his tone, eliciting low laughter from several staff members nearby.

Cui Yuxin immediately picked up the conversation, took a step closer and nudged Jiang Qing with her shoulder, looking mischievous.

"Brother Jiang, can you share your experience? Five minutes! How do you stay so focused and not even run out of breath? Teach me, I'll need it sometime!"

As he spoke, he gestured exaggeratedly as he hugged and kissed.

Zeng Keni and Qian Didi were looking at their phones together when they heard this. Zeng Keni's eyes lit up when she saw him, and she immediately jumped over with a grin.

"Good morning, Teacher Jiang! Where's Jingyi? Don't we usually come to the film set together? Is she... too shy to see anyone?"

She deliberately emphasized the word "shy" and winked at Jiang Qing.

Ma Ke chuckled to himself, joining in the commotion.

"President Jiang, afternoon tea shouldn't be treated for nothing! We contributed the screaming to create the best atmosphere last night! Shouldn't we do something to show our appreciation?"

He rubbed his fingers together, making a "you know what I mean" expression.

Throughout the entire set, from the lighting technicians to the production assistants, and even the actors who weren't filming, everyone's eyes were subtly focused on Jiang Qing, with good-natured teasing and excited anticipation.

The air was filled with an unspoken, relaxed yet ambiguous atmosphere, all because of yesterday's five-minute behind-the-scenes footage of the kissing scene.

Jiang Qing didn't show any particular expression on her face. She simply pulled the zipper of her down jacket down a little, revealing a black turtleneck sweater underneath.

He glanced at the group of people who were egging him on, and smiled.

"It's work, isn't it expected that you should put in some effort? Do you want to see me just going through the motions?"

His gaze shifted to Cui Yuxin.

"As for experience? Just practice your lung capacity more. I insist on going for a run every morning."

As he spoke, he walked naturally toward his chair, as if the teasing around him was just an insignificant background noise.

This nonchalant attitude left Zhao Zhiwei and his group, who had been egging them on, somewhat at a loss.

Just then, the side door was gently pushed open, and Zhang Jingyi, wrapped in a thick white down jacket, peeked out like a cautious cat before tiptoeing in.

She lowered her eyelashes, clutching a thermos tightly in her hand, her cheeks much rosier than usual.

As soon as she entered, she felt countless mocking gazes suddenly converge on her, including Jiang Qing's extremely noticeable gaze.

She paused noticeably, her body instinctively wanting to turn around and shrink back, as if that door was the only refuge.

But just as his toes began to move, he abruptly stopped.

She took a deep breath, as if to encourage herself, then straightened her back and raised her head, trying to make her expression look "normal," but her slightly reddened ears and somewhat unfocused eyes betrayed her.

Jiang Qing took in her reaction, and the smile in his eyes deepened.

He put down the script he had just picked up, stood up, and walked slowly toward her.

"Good morning, Princess."

Midway through filming, he would occasionally call Zhu Yun by the way Li Xun addressed her in the script.

Zhang Jingyi's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason, but she forced herself to remain calm and looked back at him.

"morning."

The voice was relatively steady, but there was a slight, almost imperceptible tremor at the end.

Jiang Qing stopped in front of her and looked down at her, his gaze lingering on her face, deliberately drawing out his words.

"You look good today? Looks like you slept well last night?"

He looked her over with amusement.

Zhang Jingyi's face flushed instantly under his gaze. Knowing he was doing it on purpose, her stubbornness was stirred up.

She pursed her lips, raised her bright eyes, and glared back, trying to appear more imposing.

"Of course! I haven't done anything wrong, so of course I slept well! But you, Teacher Jiang..."

She paused deliberately, looked him up and down, and mimicked his tone from before.

"Your dark circles seem a bit heavy? Could it be... you stayed up too late watching the behind-the-scenes footage and are having trouble sleeping?"

After she finished speaking, she herself felt that what she said was a bit "daring," and her face turned even redder, but she forced herself not to look away, like a little kitten that had mustered up the courage to challenge a big cat.

Jiang Qing burst out laughing at her "counterattack".

"Ah……"

He raised his hand and gently rubbed his lower eyelid with his index finger.

"Maybe so, after all... it's unforgettable."

He deliberately pronounced the last four words clearly and ambiguously, his eyes fixed on her.

"boom!"

Zhang Jingyi felt all the blood rush to her face, and the courage she had just mustered vanished instantly.

She could no longer hold back, and ignoring the onlookers, she grabbed her thermos and strode towards her dressing room, practically fleeing in panic.

He could faintly hear Zhao Zhiwei and his group laughing unabashedly behind him, as well as Jiang Qing's annoying chuckle.

Jiang Qing, you bastard!
The girl puffed up her cheeks in anger.

Jokes aside, filming had to continue, and the morning's scenes were successfully filmed in a relaxed yet slightly subtle atmosphere.

However, by the afternoon, the atmosphere on set started to become a bit strange again.

Zhang Jingyi sat on a small stool in the rest area, holding a script in her hand, but her eyes were clearly not focused on the page.

She kept checking her phone, then couldn't help but glance at the styling studio in the corner with its door tightly closed.

Not only her, but Zhao Zhiwei and the others, and even Liu Junjie, would occasionally glance in that direction, their eyes filled with anticipation.

"Why haven't you come out yet?"

Zeng Keni muttered to herself, glancing at the door of the styling room for the nth time.

"They've been inside for almost two hours, haven't they?"

"It should be soon."

Zhao Zhiwei craned his neck to peer into the styling room.

"I bet the effect will be amazing!"

"I wonder what Teacher Jiang would look like with a buzz cut?"

Cui Yuxin looked on with curiosity.

"His face... he must be handsome with a buzz cut, right?"

Zhang Jingyi didn't speak, but her fingers unconsciously curled a corner of the script.

She was also imagining what it would look like if Jiang Qing had such deep and three-dimensional features, paired with a buzz cut...
Cold-blooded? Wild? Or...? She couldn't quite put her finger on it, only feeling her heart race and her eyes involuntarily glancing over again.

Just then, with a soft "click," the door to the styling room was pushed open from the inside.

Zhang Jingyi turned her head instantly and stared intently at the scene.

Immediately, their gazes froze!
Everyone else on set was drawn to the scene as if by a magnet. There, Jiang Qing's tall figure appeared in the doorway.

He wore a well-tailored long black coat that accentuated his broad shoulders and long legs, giving him an imposing presence.

But what's most striking is the top of his head.

The original soft black hair has disappeared, replaced by a very short and neat buzz cut that is close to the scalp!

That buzz cut seemed to completely reshape his entire aura. The aloofness that was originally somewhere between genius and coldness was now replaced by an almost sharp, mature and powerful presence.

His temples and sideburns were shaved very short, clearly revealing his full forehead and sharply defined jawline.

Her brow bone appeared higher, and her eyes, no longer obscured by her bangs, were sharp enough to pierce through people's hearts, carrying a cold edge that kept strangers at bay and a calm composure that commanded everything.

He stood there without saying a word, already embodying the later "Li Xun" character—a man who had endured hardship, was cold and domineering, and exuded a powerful aura.

The entire set was silent for a good two or three seconds, and then—

"Wow... Holy crap!!!"

"Oh My God!!!"

"So cool!!!"

……

A deafening roar of cheers, whistles, and gasps erupted instantly, nearly turning the entire set upside down!
"Damn! That buzz cut looks so cool! I'm thinking of getting one myself!"

Zhao Zhiwei excitedly slapped his thigh and jumped up.

"Ahhh! Teacher Jiang! He's so handsome!"

Zeng Keni and Qian Didi hugged each other and screamed.

"That presence! Absolutely amazing! Director! Quick! Action! Shoot him right now!"

Cui Yuxin shouted excitedly.

Liu Junjie also showed an extremely satisfied smile and nodded repeatedly.

"Great! Great! This feels so right!"

Everyone gathered around, and the clicking of mobile phones taking pictures filled the air.

Zhang Jingyi was completely stunned.

She sat on a small stool, tilting her head back, her eyes fixed on the transformed man not far away.

My heart felt like it was being clenched tightly by something, then suddenly released, pounding wildly in my chest.

She had seen him with his flamboyant blond hair and his cool, focused black hair, but the Jiang Qing in front of her, with his buzz cut, black coat, and powerful, almost cold aura, was a completely new visual experience.

The overwhelming, mature masculine charm emanating from him made her forget to breathe; she felt her cheeks burning and her heart pounding as if it were about to jump out of her chest.

Jiang Qing was used to everyone's reactions. His expression didn't change. He just glanced around the crowd and finally focused his gaze on the girl sitting on a small stool with her head tilted back and her eyes wide open.

He smiled silently, took long strides and walked straight toward her, the hem of his black coat drawing a clean arc with each step.

The commotion on set subsided, and everyone watched with expressions of anticipation as "Li Xun" walked towards his "Zhu Yun".

As Zhang Jingyi watched him approach step by step, his aggressive buzz cut and deep, cold eyes made her instinctively want to shrink back, but her body seemed to be nailed to the spot, unable to move, and she could only wait foolishly for him to get closer.

Jiang Qing stopped in front of her, his tall figure completely enveloping her.

He leaned slightly closer, his sharp eyes staring intently at her, clearly reflecting her stunned expression.

He deliberately lowered his voice, with a hint of amusement in it.

"What? Are you stunned?"

His breath brushed against her cheek.

"Your eyes are practically glued to the screen? Hmm?"

The close contact and slightly teasing words instantly snapped Zhang Jingyi out of her daze, and a huge sense of embarrassment washed over her once again.

She stood up abruptly, her movements so fast she almost tipped over the small stool, her face turning bright red, like a ripe tomato.

She didn't dare look into Jiang Qing's eyes, which seemed to see right through people, and ignored the suppressed laughter around her. Clutching the script, she lowered her head like a frightened deer and once again fled into the corner of the rest area amidst the laughter of the crowd, leaving behind only a retreating figure.

As Jiang Qing watched her flee in panic, the coldness in his eyes melted instantly, replaced by a smile.

He straightened up and unconsciously rubbed his strong sideburns with his hand.

Judging from this, the new look seems to be quite good.

Jiang Qing's extremely unconventional buzz cut hairstyle naturally did not escape the "poisonous hands" of the production team's publicity group.

That same evening, the official Weibo account of the Lighter production team updated again.

The copy is concise and powerful: "Li Xun's evolved form, loading complete."

The accompanying photos are several high-definition pictures of Jiang Qing wearing that black coat, sporting a neat buzz cut, and standing under the studio lights.

In the photo, his eyes are cold, his jawline is taut, and he exudes a powerful aura that keeps strangers at bay, a stark contrast to his previous image as a blond boy and a rebellious black-haired youth.

Meanwhile, the official Weibo account also released a carefully edited short video comparing three iconic looks of Jiang Qing as Li Xun.

First up is the blond, comic book-like man.

In the sunlight, his blond hair shone brightly, his eyes held the arrogance of a genius and the unruliness of a young man, and a cynical smile played on his lips, as if he were a male protagonist who had stepped out of a comic book.

The second one is a rebellious genius with sharp black hair.

By the library window, her soft black hair framed a clean and sharp profile, her focused yet cold gaze radiating an air of ambition and drive. Her fingertips traced the pages of a book or tapped on a keyboard.

The last buzz cut look is cool and mature, which is the latest style that was just released.

A black overcoat, a sharp buzz cut, eyes as cold as ice, an aura of power, and the composure that comes with experience.

This Weibo post was like dropping a depth charge into a lake that had just calmed down!
The terms "Jiang Qing's buzz cut", "Li Xun's three looks", and "lighter and princess dress" once again dominated the top of the trending search list at lightning speed.

On Douyin's trending list, comparison videos are going viral, with likes and comments increasing rapidly.

"Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy crap! Jiang Qing, you dare to do that! You really dare to do that! And the best part is, you're incredibly handsome!"

"Help! Is this the same person? The blond hair makes him a handsome boy straight out of a comic book, the black hair makes him a cool and aloof academic genius, and the buzz cut makes him a cool and aloof boss! I'm truly impressed by this face!"

"The three looks represent three completely different stages of Li Xun's life! The blond hair represents the fearless and arrogant genius of a newborn calf, the black hair represents his still invincible and sharp edge, and the buzz cut represents the return of a king with full charisma! Jiang Qing's portrayal is absolutely brilliant!"

"As expected, a buzz cut is the only true test of a handsome man! Jiang Qing's bone structure and facial features are perfectly accentuated by the buzz cut! His aura is so powerful, it makes my legs weak even through the screen!"

Jiang Qing: You guys think I'm just someone who works in artificial intelligence? No, I'm also a future Best Actor with an amazing ability to transform into any character! (doge)

"The contrast is too striking! The blonde hair is stunning, the black hair is pleasing to the eye, and the buzz cut is simply divine! This show is already a hit before it even airs, a phenomenal blockbuster in the making!"

"Jiang Qing of Wuwen Technology, a double PhD from the University of Science and Technology of China, a world-renowned AI genius, an idol of many high achievers, and the head of a tech unicorn company... Now you're telling me he's also such a great actor? Does that leave no room for the entertainment industry? This is a complete dimensional reduction attack!"

"Now I believe that top students are indeed well-rounded talents! His comprehension and expressiveness, and his nuanced portrayal of the character, are truly exceptional! Li Xun is the perfect fit for the role!"

……

Meanwhile, as Jiang Qing demonstrated amazing versatility and seemingly decent acting skills in the behind-the-scenes footage, netizens' expectations for his two works, the movie "Four Seas" (in which he had a cameo role) and the drama "Beginning" (in which he starred and is yet to be released), were also raised dramatically!
"Oh my god! I can't wait to see him play Xiuta in [The Four Seas]! Even though it's a small role, the contrast is amazing!"

"[Sihai] Hurry up and upload it! I want to see Jiang Qing's Xiuta-ge! Even if it's just a few minutes of screen time, I want to see it!"

"I'm even more excited for 'The Beginning'! Xiao Heyun is the male lead! He's paired with Zhao Jinmai! The synopsis alone is intriguing, an infinite flow suspense! Jiang Qing plays a programmer, I wonder what it will be like."

"When will [The Beginning] be released?! I can't wait! I want to see Jiang Shen and Mai Mai act together!"

"From AI genius to programmer Xiao Heyun, and then to computer genius Li Xun... Jiang Qing's crossover is really closely related to his original profession! Hahaha..."

Many people suddenly realized that Jiang Qing, the artificial intelligence genius and tech upstart who was originally a big name in the tech world, was striding confidently into the entertainment industry.

Judging from the current situation, it seems that he did not act on a whim.

(End of this chapter)