How can you become a star without money?

Chapter 192 The King's Feast

Naza's cry of "Brother, save me!" startled Wang Yao.

At this moment, he was entertaining the security agency arranged by Director Hu. Amid the trending news that the college entrance examination had ended in most areas the day before yesterday, there was an even bigger bombshell news in Beijing that had not yet been revealed.

Yan Po, a well-known director in the industry who lives off his girlfriend, was attacked in a parking lot. His fate is unknown. The incident is very serious and was caused by a relationship dispute with his current girlfriend, Li Xiaoran. After the incident, Director Hu arranged for Wang Yao to join a professional security agency to avoid similar risks in the future.

After all, Wang Yao is their cash cow now, and this kid attracts so many women that female stars in the industry are like cats seeing mice when they see him. It's hard to guarantee that he won't get into some inexplicable trouble.

After all, possessing a treasure is a crime; even if Wang Yao doesn't provoke others, they will.

Yan Po is quite famous in the industry, known as the most handsome director. His relationship with Mei Ting, who is older than him, was quite a sensation. Mei Ting almost emptied her family's fortune to support him. Then he claimed that he couldn't stand the public's pressure of being a gigolo and broke up with him, which made Mei Ting feel very guilty. But in just six months, he got together with Li Xiaoran.

He was attacked because of Li Xiaoran's entanglement with her ex-boyfriend, so he was just an innocent bystander. Li Xiaoran has some connections, but not enough. After this incident, it is said that Mei Ting had to ask Ye Daying to help him put in a good word, which saved Yan Po's life.

For Wang Yao, this extreme event was somewhat unexpected. He only realized then that things hadn't been peaceful before 2014, which recently aroused his awareness of security.

When Nazha called for help, her first thought was that the recent buzz surrounding the "most beautiful college entrance exam taker" had triggered a risky incident.

But after hearing that it wasn't Nazha who was in trouble, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Lu Chuan's nationwide audition for the female lead in "The Banquet of the King" returned to northern Xinjiang a month ago. At that time, all the fellow villagers who participated in Shanghai opera with Gulnazar signed up to participate in the audition. In the end, Reba successfully entered the final round due to her outstanding qualities.

After the college entrance examination, the casting director asked Dilraba to participate in the final selection event. At the same time, she received a hint from the casting director about the unspoken rules, asking her to attend a dinner party that night with several other contestants who were not selected.

Having only seen such things on TV and in novels, Dilraba was completely bewildered and could only seek help from Gulnazar, who was already an 'insider', to learn how to handle such a situation.

Naza had a smooth life under Wang Yao's protection, and the company's atmosphere was one of rejection of sexual advances. Under Wang Yao's righteous influence, she had almost developed a strong sense of justice. She usually participated in various rights protection activities on MS, and now that she had finally encountered such a thing offline, she certainly couldn't stand idly by.

"Don't rush, did she say the casting director wanted to seduce someone, or the director wanted to seduce someone?" Wang Yao asked after hearing the whole story.

This wasn't a big deal for him; Zhang Meng could handle it. Besides, he figured it was probably the casting director using his authority and information gap to scare a young girl like Dilraba, which was common practice in the industry.

There is a group of scumbags in the crew who use this method to do shady things. In the early days, their targets were young girls who wanted to get roles and opportunities, and later they even went so far as to target female fans who visited the set.

Therefore, Huo Jianhua has always strictly forbidden his female fans from visiting him on set, in order to prevent any unexpected situations from arising that he would be unable to take responsibility for. He even threatened to retire from the entertainment industry at one point.

"I don't know, she was also vague about it." Naza chuckled. "But they said there are many big directors there tonight, even Feng Xiaopao is here."

"Hmm?" Wang Yao raised an eyebrow slightly. "What are Dilraba's thoughts? Does she want to continue trying to get roles? Or should she focus on her studies?"

“I think she still wants to try, but I think it’s unlikely that the role will fall into her hands, but I can’t say anything.” Having spent a long time with Zhang Meng and others, Nazha has developed her own understanding of the rules of the industry and society.

Besides being pretty and young, Dilraba has neither experience nor connections. How could they easily give her the lead role in such an important project?

“If you want to consider our friendship, you can offer to accompany her as a friend. It would be good for her to broaden her horizons. Then I’ll pick you up,” Wang Yao said after a moment’s thought.

It's good to let Naza see the real world, so she won't develop a spoiled attitude later. Just like raising a child, if you don't let her hit a wall on her own, she'll definitely cause trouble when she's all grown up.

“Then I’ll bring the full set of six anti-wolf gear,” Naza said in a serious tone.

"Okay." Wang Yao chuckled, already imagining Nazha's serious little face on the other end of the phone.

Wang Yao inquired about the location of the event and then had his assistant book a flight back to Shanghai.

I was originally planning to continue casting for "Dance of a Thousand Years" in Beijing, and then fly directly to Japan to film after the "22" crew finished shooting. But now it seems I have to change my plans.

However, after interviewing a large number of dance troupes and dancers in the past two days, Wang Yao has indeed found quite a few promising talents. Although Li Man has not left Juli Company, she has secretly registered with Da Lei Dance Troupe to assist Miao Miao in her interviews.

After briefly explaining the miscellaneous matters in Beijing, Wang Yao flew to Shanghai with Xiao Yan, the female bodyguard personally recommended by Director Hu. Before boarding the plane, he made a special call to Qin Lan to ask if she would participate in the "Wang Yan" event.

"The final list has already been announced, right? There was no mention of a grand finale banquet." Qin Lan was also a little surprised after hearing this.

The female lead for "The Banquet" had already been decided beforehand; the entire audition was just a publicity stunt for the film's early release, since the film was made to push Xingmei Company to go public.

But after hearing what Wang Yao said, Qin Lan realized what was going on.

"Mr. Wang, what news did you receive?" Qin Lan asked in a slightly somber tone.

"How is Miss Qin's relationship with Director Lu?" Wang Yao asked somewhat offensively.

"Well, we've been together for a long time," Qin Lan said, pausing for a moment before responding somewhat awkwardly.

"Are you planning to get married?" Wang Yao asked again.

"Of course, otherwise do you think I'm with him for resources?" Qin Lan was speechless.

"Then, Miss Qin, you can come with me tonight to see if there's a grand finale banquet," Wang Yao extended an invitation.

Qin Lan fell silent.

She's not some naive girl like Gulnazar; she's seen it all in the industry. Since Wang Yao asked, it means there must be a banquet, but it's not for the film crew.

She was involved in the casting process, but she wasn't invited to the banquet, which clearly indicated that they didn't want her to appear.

Although Qin Lan is somewhat love-struck, she is not stupid and understands how to get along with the opposite sex. Most importantly, she knows how to "play dumb." Life is like a play, after all, everyone has secrets.

But Wang Yao's invitation was clearly a blow to her feigned ignorance.

If you go, you'll definitely face the expected reality.

If I don't go, I'll face an unexpected marriage.

For Qin Lan, who was eager to settle down and start a family, Lu Chuan was a good choice given her age.

“Miss Qin, I think marriage is the most important thing in life. Don’t get married just for the sake of getting married, but because you want to get married. After all, your honor and disgrace, rise and fall, for decades after marriage may be tied to another person, so you should think about it carefully.” Wang Yao’s voice was tinged with a smile, like a gentle piece of advice.

Qin Lan's mind was in turmoil, and she began to reflect on why she got married and whether she truly trusted and had expectations of her partner.

After thinking for no more than three seconds, Qin Lan asked, "What are the benefits if I go with President Wang?"

"Hmm, my friendship? And a chance to test the waters of marriage," Wang Yao said with a smile.

"President Wang, you should know that if I show up at this banquet, I risk losing the lead role in 'The Banquet of Kings,' and I might even be burdened with some strange rumors because of my presence with you," Qin Lan chuckled.

"But even if you get the lead role in 'The Banquet,' can you act for the rest of your life?" Wang Yao asked with a smile.

Wang Yao's words struck her like a hammer blow, making her see stars.

Qin Lan is a woman who is willing to play dumb, but once someone wakes her up, she finds it difficult to get back into character.

Caught in a dilemma, I could only turn to my best friends for advice.

"Go, of course I'll go. I want to see what kind of party he's been up to behind your back. If it really is that kind of event, then you really need to think about it carefully. The internet is so chaotic lately."
"If he causes trouble in the future, you'll be implicated too. These are all potential risks. Men can't control their lower bodies." Wu Zhuli immediately expressed her support upon hearing this.

She never thought highly of Lu Chuan and felt that he was not a man worth entrusting her life to.

“I think if you don’t know, that’s fine. But if you know and don’t go, it’s like a thorn in your side. Even if you don’t go today, you’ll never be able to get rid of it. It’s better to go and see for yourself. Maybe things aren’t so bad. We’re overthinking it,” Fu Rui advised. “If I go, the chances of us breaking up are definitely over 90%,” Qin Lan said with a bitter smile.

“To be honest, you can tolerate it once or twice, but can you tolerate it after marriage? You’re not the kind of person who can tolerate things. As long as he doesn’t change, it’s only a matter of time before things break up. And if it’s called breaking up now, it will be called divorce later,” Wu Zhuli advised earnestly.

“What Zhu Zi said makes sense. The hardest thing about a relationship is compromise. Either you change or he changes. If neither of you changes and you try to maintain a facade of peace, it will eventually collapse. That’s why I don’t date. It’s too tiring. It’s not like I’m going to starve to death, so why should I sacrifice and make myself suffer?” Fu Huan pouted.

"And didn't you see Yang Lan's column on MSN? Men really reveal themselves after marriage; they're two completely different creatures before and after marriage," Wu Zhuli sighed.

"Besides, if you end up marrying him, it will be difficult for you to make a living in the film industry. How many women who marry directors can still make it back? Xu Zheng's wife has been retired from acting for several years. Will she still have a place in the industry if she makes a comeback? And Chen Hong, she may have to depend on her husband for the rest of her life."

"He also said that marriage wouldn't interfere with my career." Qin Lan was taken aback.

Her career is her fallback plan, so she's quite sensitive about it.

"A man's words are deceitful. You're not a young girl in your early twenties anymore, sister." Fu Huan rolled her eyes upon hearing this.

Since Wang Yao helped her analyze the "pig butchering scam" last time, she and Qin Lanhua spent half a month confirming that the other party was indeed a gigolo who specifically preyed on older single women, and that Fu Fu was not the only target, but also another female celebrity in the industry.

This made Fu Huan, who was not very interested in dating and marriage to become even more resistant, and he decided that he didn't care about being single for life.

"Moreover, Mr. Wang said you can gain his friendship. To be honest, I think that's more important than your marriage. Mr. Wang's resources are far beyond what any director in the industry can compare to. Do you know how many employees Tianhuo Company has right now?" Wu Zhuli lowered her voice.

"How much?" Qin Lan and Fu Rui asked at the same time.

“At least a thousand people. I heard from Qiu Cixuan that the Korean branch is even larger, and they’ve launched four projects worth tens of millions of yuan each.” Wu Zhuli said mysteriously.

"A company with over a thousand employees? Wouldn't that be the largest media company in the country?" Qin Lan exclaimed in surprise, her mouth agape.

She naturally knew that Wang Yao was wealthy and successful, but she had never really grasped it directly. After all, she had seen many coal mine owners with assets of over a billion yuan, but a company of this size in the entertainment industry was indeed quite intimidating, considering that Huayi only had two or three hundred employees.

"While a large number of people doesn't necessarily indicate a company's size, it does show that the company's business is growing. Moreover, President Wang is a very willing person to delegate authority. Look at the 'Return to Temptation' project; he just threw the staff over and didn't get involved in anything else. Also, Zhang Meng was the one who led the entire production of 'Fairy Robe.' Why are people in the industry willing to support her now? It's because she really has Wang Yao backing her and is in power."

If you can really build a relationship with President Wang, you might become the next Zhang Meng. Anyway, you have good connections and organizational skills in the industry, and with my help, you can take over a project like "Fairy Robe".
"Maybe you could even transition into a director-turned-actor. There have been a lot of rumors circulating in the industry lately. After Xu Jinglei successfully transitioned to directing, actresses like Xiao Yanzi, Ziwei, and Wu Age are all eager to follow suit. I think this is an opportunity for you." Wu Zhuli began her analysis from a career perspective.

"Well, I don't know how to direct either." Qin Lan was taken aback. Although she was somewhat tempted, it was indeed quite appealing.

"Can Lu Chuan direct a film?" Wu Zhuli asked meaningfully.

Qin Lan was taken aback.

"As long as the script is good, and the executive director and actors are reliable, the director just needs to call 'action.' I've been a producer for over ten years, and no one knows better than me how shady the directing industry is." Wu Zhuli sneered. "If they can do it, why can't we?"

Qin Lan swallowed hard, thinking that her best friend might have been watching too many Ms lately, making her seem a bit too assertive, like a man.

“Acting in someone else’s play means you’re always at their mercy, but acting in your own director’s play must be pretty cool. I heard from Director Zhao that Jiang Wen made her transition because of this. If you can really become a director, you can secretly arrange a role for me, and I’ll give you a chance,” Fu Huang encouraged with a grin.

"Get lost." Qin Lan was both amused and exasperated. After some hesitation, she decided to accompany Wang Yao to see him.

That's one way to give myself an explanation.

At 9 p.m., Qin Lan, who had dressed up a bit, was driven by Fu Su to the agreed meeting place. The location of the "Wang Yan" casting celebration banquet was obviously not a simple celebration place. It was a private club with a conventional decoration. The "Wang Yan" celebration sign was hung at the entrance, but there was no media or reporters in sight.

On the contrary, the several fair-skinned and beautiful receptionists at the entrance were quite eye-catching. Qin Lan and Fu Rui observed from the car for a while and found that quite a few familiar faces from the industry walked in one after another.

"It looks pretty decent," Fu Huang muttered.

"It would be best if it were a real victory celebration banquet," Qin Lan sneered.

A short while later, Wang Yao's signature RV was seen parked next to them.

"Wait for me in the car," Qin Lan instructed, then got out and greeted, "President Wang."

"Oh, Sister Lan, you're here quite early." Wang Yao greeted her with a gentle smile, changing his form of address.

Qin Lan raised her eyebrows slightly, her smile deepening. "I was feeling quite restless, so I decided to come early."

"If you happen to see something you shouldn't, Sister Lan, you have to stay calm and not do anything," Wang Yao joked.

"Don't worry, I'm a very reasonable person." Qin Lan took a deep breath, a fierce glint in her eyes. "Let's go?"

"Let's go." Wang Yao nodded, telling his female bodyguard, Xiao Yan, to wait outside.

As the two approached the entrance, a hostess greeted them professionally, "Welcome to the celebration banquet for the auditions of 'The King's Banquet.' Do you two have invitations?"

Wang Yao and Qin Lan were both wearing masks, so it's normal that you can't recognize them.

"What are you doing here?" Qin Lan asked in surprise.

The hostess was stunned for a moment, and even more so when she saw Qin Lan take off her mask.

"You two know each other?" Wang Yao glanced at the hostess and raised an eyebrow curiously.

“Xin Zhilei is also a participating actress; she was one of the top 18 I selected,” Qin Lan explained.

"Um, the casting director said the final celebration banquet would be held together. I knew I didn't have a chance, so I just took a part-time job as a greeter," Xin Zhilei said with a sheepish smile, coming back to her senses.

At this time, she was a typical poor newcomer with no background or connections. She participated in casting calls everywhere and earned a living by working as a part-time model and greeter.

"I don't have an invitation, can I still come in?" Qin Lan asked with a smile.

"Of course." Xin Zhilei hesitated for a moment. Although the assistant director had clearly stated that no one could enter without an invitation, Qin Lan was Director Lu's girlfriend.

So Qin Lan used her connections to get Wang Yao into the banquet hall on the second floor without any problems.

This is also the main reason why Wang Yao brought her here. If Wang Yao were alone, he would most likely be stopped at the door, and the people inside would miss the most accurate information.

But bringing Qin Lan along gave it a thrilling, surprise inspection feel.

The second floor was a banquet hall. Apart from some waiters cleaning, there were some crew members chatting and smoking. Not a single main cast or star could be seen. It was probably because the final auditions had ended and the main cast members had gone to the next stage banquet.

Upon seeing Qin Lan appear, the expressions of the crew members visibly changed.

"Where is Director Lu?" Qin Lan asked a familiar staff member with a blank expression.

"Sister Lan, what brings you here?" The staff member looked terrified.

Holy crap, they're not here to catch you cheating, are they?!

"Where is he?" Qin Lan asked, frowning.

"The He Tianxia private room on the third floor," the staff member said with a forced smile.

(End of this chapter)