Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 475-473: Filming Begins for "Spy Playing House"

The car came to a smooth stop in front of the hotel, and the doorman respectfully opened the car door.

Wang Sheng got out of the car first and whispered a few words to his assistant who came up to him, which was nothing more than confirming the arrangements for the start of filming of "Spy Playing House" the next day.

Li Bingbing followed behind him, her high heels clicking crisply and slightly hurriedly on the polished marble floor.

"Director Wang, I'll go up first."

In the elevator, Li Bingbing pressed the button for her floor, her voice a few degrees softer than usual.

Wang Sheng simply gave a faint "hmm," his gaze remaining fixed on the constantly changing numbers on the elevator screen.

Only when the elevator stopped at Li Bingbing's floor and the doors slowly opened did he seem to remember something and add, in a tone as casual as if he were describing tomorrow's weather: "Come over after you've finished your business."

The door closed behind him, and only then did Li Bingbing belatedly realize that his heart was pounding fiercely.

He agreed.

There were no extra words, not even extra glances, but this brief permission had already set the course for tonight.

Back in his suite, Li Bingbing locked the door, leaned against the cold door panel, and let out a long sigh.

She didn't turn on the main lights; only the dim, yellowish light from the corridor lamps outlined the luxurious contours of the room.

Instead of taking a shower right away, she went to the window and looked down at the dazzling yet indifferent "City of Angels" below.

A moment later, she picked up the room phone and dialed an overseas number.

"Sister?" The phone was answered almost immediately after one ring, with Li Xiuxiu's clear and questioning voice coming through, clearly indicating that she had been waiting for this call.

“Xiuxiu,” Li Bingbing tried to keep her voice calm, “the ceremony is over.”

"How did it go? Did it go smoothly? Director Wang, he..." Li Xiuxiu's tone was filled with urgency and anticipation.

"The Museum won the Best Visual Effects award." Li Bingbing announced the good news first, then paused and lowered his voice, "He... asked me to come over later."

There was a moment or two of silence on the other end of the phone, then Li Xiuxiu's voice was filled with relief and even more obvious excitement: "Great! Sis, I told you! This is an opportunity, you have to seize it! Director Wang is riding high in Hollywood right now, if you get on his good side, you'll never have to worry about resources in the future! Think about Fan Xiaopang, Gao Yuanyuan, Zhang Bozhi, and the others..."

“I know,” Li Bingbing interrupted her sister. Li Xiuxiu had said these words many times before she left.

It wasn't that she didn't understand; it's just that when the situation was actually presented to her, the last vestiges of self-respect—that belonged to an actress rather than a "commodity"—still stung slightly. "I just... wanted to let you know."

"Sister, don't think too much about it." Li Xiuxiu noticed the slight hesitation in her voice and comforted her, "Who hasn't gone through this in this industry? The important thing is the result. Once you're really famous and standing on the podium, who will care how you got there? Besides, Director Wang is young and promising, it's not like he's wronged you."

"Okay." Li Bingbing responded, not wanting to say anything more. "I'll hang up now, I need to get ready."

"Okay! Sis, keep it up! Looking forward to your good news!"

After hanging up the phone, Li Bingbing stood there for a while before heading to the bathroom.

She needed to wash away the scent of perfume, fatigue, and barely concealed excitement she brought back from the awards ceremony, and face tonight's "audience" in a completely new state.

She knew this might be the most important "performance" of her career.

Warm water washed over my body, and a misty steam filled the air.

Li Bingbing closed her eyes, letting the water flow over her skin.

She thought of her hometown, and her experiences at the Shanghai Theatre Academy...

All the images ultimately converged into one belief: she had to seize every possible opportunity to climb up.

After showering, she carefully dried herself and, instead of wearing the bathrobe provided by the hotel, changed into a silk slip dress that she had brought herself.

The skirt was not long, but it perfectly outlined her long and shapely legs.

She looked in the mirror and sprayed a light, alluring perfume behind her ears and on the inside of her wrists. She didn't apply much makeup, just making sure her skin looked good without any makeup.

She knew her advantage at that moment lay in the allure that straddled youthful innocence and maturity, as well as the excellent physique maintained through years of dance practice and exercise. Taking a deep breath, she picked up her room key and left the room.

Wang Sheng's suite is on the top floor.

Before knocking, Li Bingbing adjusted the straps of her nightgown one last time, making sure it was at a casual yet alluring angle.

The door was quickly opened, and Wang Sheng had changed into a dark casual outfit. He seemed to have just washed up, and his hair was still slightly damp.

He glanced at her, his gaze lingering on her for a moment, but offered no comment before stepping aside to let her in.

The distance between the two instantly closed, close enough that they could feel each other's breath.

He didn't touch her immediately, but looked down at her, his gaze tracing from her smooth forehead to her slightly trembling eyelashes, and then to her lips, which were even redder with nervousness.

Li Bingbing tilted her head back, her heart pounding wildly in her chest, almost as if it would burst out of her chest.

She could smell his faint, fresh scent, as if he had just showered, mixed with a hint of masculine, assertive aroma.

……

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the heavy curtains, casting a narrow strip of light across the carpet.

Wang Sheng's biological clock is extremely precise; he opened his eyes one minute before his phone alarm went off.

The woman beside him was still fast asleep, breathing evenly, her long hair spread out on the pillow.

Without a second thought, he got up, took a shower, changed into a neat set of sportswear, and even did his unwavering half-hour core strength training in the hotel gym. The transmigration brought not only memories of his past life, but also recovery abilities and energy reserves far exceeding those of ordinary people.

……

At nine o'clock in the morning, in a large film studio in the suburbs of Los Angeles, which had been temporarily converted into a "high-tech safe house," people were bustling about, and the atmosphere was lively and busy.

The opening ceremony for "MR. & MRS. SPY" will be held here.

Compared to the common practice of burning incense and praying to gods in China, Hollywood's opening ceremony is more like a professional press conference and team mobilization meeting.

As the director and co-producer, Wang Sheng became the focus of attention as soon as he appeared.

He changed into a black director's vest over a simple white T-shirt, making him look capable and authoritative.

New Line Cinema executives Kevin Brown, Toby Emmerich, and others came forward to shake hands and exchange pleasantries with him.

"Wang, congratulations on the Oscars last night! What a perfect start!" Brown laughed and patted him on the shoulder.

"Thank you. I hope 'The Spy' continues to have good luck," Wang Sheng replied calmly.

Stars Matt Damon and Kate Beckinsale also arrived.

Damon, dressed casually and with a friendly smile, took the initiative to exchange his understanding of the script with Wang Sheng.

Beckinsale, dressed in a sharp pantsuit, looked at the rapidly rising Eastern director in Hollywood with a cool and aloof air and a hint of curiosity.

The opening ceremony was simple and efficient.

Wang Sheng, the main actors, and representatives of the production company stood together in front of a backdrop bearing the movie's logo, where a photographer took a group photo to symbolize the start of the project.

There were no lengthy speeches, only Wang Sheng's concise and powerful remarks:

"Spy House is a story about identity, trust, and family, wrapped in action and comedy. I believe that with our outstanding team and actors, we can create a film that audiences around the world will love. Now, I announce that Spy House has officially begun filming!"

There was thunderous applause.

At his command, the entire studio instantly sprang into action, operating like a precise machine. Lighting, photography, sound recording, production crew… each department took its place. Matt Damon and Kate Beckinsale entered the temporary “mansion living room” set, ready to shoot their first scene.

(End of this chapter)