Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 384, page 382: No way!
Inside the "Qin and Han Exhibition Hall" at the Huairou film set.

Time seemed to be split into two flows.

A massive and sophisticated filming machine belonging to Wang Sheng and Jackie Chan, and to "Night at the Museum".

Every day, every scene, progresses slowly and steadily under almost obsessive attention to detail.

Wearing a security guard uniform, Jackie Chan maneuvers and dodges amidst green screens, mechanical figures, and complex movements designed by Yuen Woo-ping. Sweat often soaks through his inner lining, yet he quickly switches to the frantic yet resilient demeanor of Chen Dabao in front of the camera.

Wang Sheng, sitting behind the monitor, would occasionally call a pause, working with the cinematographer, lighting technician, and special effects director to meticulously refine every lighting angle and the sluggishness of a puppet's movement, striving to ensure that every shot could withstand the test of the future giant screen.

The entire crew was like a giant ship at full power, steadily breaking through the unknown ice sea of ​​the film industry under the command of Captain Wang Sheng.

Another flow belongs to the outside world, to Sheng Ying Media's upcoming 2001 Lunar New Year film, "Lost in Thailand".

Since November, promotional materials for "Lost in Thailand" have been plastered all over the streets and alleys of almost all major and medium-sized cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.

On the bus stop poster, Fan Wei and Wang Baoqiang, one with the helpless air of an elite and the other with the simple and honest look of a commoner, form a stark contrast. The background is a crowded train station during the Spring Festival travel rush, and the large headline is exceptionally eye-catching: "A long and arduous journey, but it's all good to be home!"

Even earlier than visuals, what captured people's senses was the movie's theme song, "Whether you're rich or poor, go home for the New Year."

The lyrics for this song were written by Wang Sheng himself. The melody is simple and catchy, the lyrics are simple and touching, and the arrangement is very down-to-earth, even with a touch of folk song flavor.

It first leveraged the strong relationships between Shengying and various radio stations to intensively promote itself on traffic and music radio stations, quickly climbing to the top of various charts.

Immediately afterwards, pirated cassette tapes and the newly popular MP3 files spread like a virus.

Walking on the cold streets in December, you hear it playing from the music stores along the street, taxi drivers humming it casually, and even the old ladies haggling over prices at the market can sway to the melody on the radio.

"Whether you're rich or poor, you go home for the New Year; there's always a New Year's Eve dinner at home..."

"Another year has passed, drifting by, filled with sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, and salty flavors..."

A powerful emotional resonance, based on local sentiment and collective memory, was quickly built up through repeated singing of the song.

"Lost in Thailand? The movie with the song 'Whether you're rich or poor, go home for the New Year'?"

This became the first thing many people thought of when they heard it.

Online, although the internet is not yet widespread, discussions about movie trailers, curiosity about the unfamiliar face of Wang Baoqiang, and expectations for the quality guarantee of "Wang Sheng as producer and Wu Yiyi as director" have already gathered into a considerable wave in university BBS and nascent online communities.

……

December 5th, evening.

Wang Sheng has just finished filming a scene where Jackie Chan interacts with "Han Dynasty dance terracotta figures". The result was good, and the crew wrapped up early.

He wrapped his coat tighter and was about to return to his temporary office to watch the rough cut of "Night at the Museum" when Li Tingting walked over quickly with her phone in hand, a strange look on her face that was hard to detect.

"Mr. Wang, it's Director Wu Yiyi on the phone. He wants to report on the last roadshow of 'Lost in Thailand'. Also... Ms. Gao Yuanyuan just called you. She sounded... a bit anxious."

Wang Shengxian answered Wu Yiyi's call.

"Mr. Wang!"

Wu Yiyi's voice carried the fatigue of her journey, but even more so, excitement: "The last roadshow in Tianjin just ended, and it was a huge hit! The audience's reaction was amazing! The interaction between Teacher Fan Wei and Wang Baoqiang was incredible; the laughter never stopped!"

Especially when the song "Whether You're Rich or Poor, Go Home for the New Year" started playing, the whole audience sang along! Seriously, I got goosebumps!

Wang Sheng listened, a hint of a smile in his voice, and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Yi Yi. The results sound good. In the last few days, stay calm and stick to the established plan. Don't worry about scheduling."

"Understood! Don't worry, Mr. Wang, we guarantee we won't let you down!" Wu Yiyi assured him with great enthusiasm.

After hanging up the phone, Wang Shengcai looked at Li Tingting: "Gao Yuanyuan? What did she say?"

Li Tingting hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Miss Gao didn't say what it was about, she just asked if you were free tonight. She wanted to see you. She sounded... a little flustered, and her voice even sounded a little tearful."

Wang Sheng frowned slightly. Gao Yuanyuan had been either busy rehearsing for her final play or resting at home lately.

What could be so urgent?

So panicked she was almost crying?

He glanced at his watch, pondered for a moment, and said, "Call her back and tell her I just finished work here and will be back in the city in about two hours."

"Okay, Mr. Wang."

Li Tingting agreed and went to do it.

……

at the same time.

Inside the apartment.

Gao Yuanyuan curled up on the soft sofa in the living room, clutching a pregnancy test stick that had just shown two clear red lines. Her face was pale, and her eyes were panicked and helpless.

Throughout November, she vaguely felt something was wrong with her body; she was easily tired and had a poor appetite.

At first, I thought it was because she was busy with her studies and felt uneasy about Wang Sheng's aloof attitude.

It wasn't until December that she suddenly realized that her "relative," who always visited on time every month, was more than ten days late.

An ominous premonition gripped her.

This afternoon, she finally mustered up the courage, disguised herself, and went to a pharmacy far from home to buy different brands of pregnancy tests.

At that moment, looking at those two glaring lines, she felt a wave of dizziness.

pregnant?

how come……

It seems that in October, in Shenyang, in a moment of confusion and infatuation, I think... I think I really didn't wear it.

Just that one time?
Panic overwhelmed her instantly, like ice water.

What does Wang Shenghui think?
Will he keep the child? Or will he... let her get rid of it?

The thought of "getting rid of" sent a chill down Gao Yuanyuan's spine, and she instinctively covered her still flat stomach with her hands.

A strange emotion, a mixture of fear, bewilderment, and a hint of maternal instinct that she herself was unaware of, was churning within her.

She picked up her phone, intending to call Wang Sheng, but her fingers trembled so much that she couldn't press the correct number.

When she finally got through to Li Tingting, and heard that Wang Sheng was busy and would reply later, her voice, which she had been trying to keep calm, almost immediately choked up.

After hanging up the phone, an overwhelming sense of helplessness overwhelmed her.

She looked around the exquisitely decorated apartment, which now seemed incredibly empty and cold, and felt a profound loneliness for the first time.

She needed Wang Sheng, she needed him to give her direction, an answer, even if that answer was the one she feared most.

Time ticked by in anxious waiting.

As dusk settles outside the window, the neon lights of Beijing begin to twinkle, outlining the vibrant cityscape at night.

However, all of this was irrelevant to Gao Yuanyuan. She seemed to be trapped on a silent, isolated island with only herself and the pregnancy test, awaiting judgment from the other side.

(End of this chapter)