Huayu: Starting from retirement, sweeping across the domestic entertainment industry

Chapter 235 Recording "hai6"

The following morning, in a film studio in Beijing.

Li Ran and Zhang Ruonan stood side by side in front of the camera, while the photographer shouted, "Closer!" "Yes, look here!" The shutter clicked away like raindrops hitting a tin roof.

This is the last set of promotional materials for "Tonight, Even If This Love Disappears from the World". After shooting this set, all that will be left for offline promotion is the roadshow.

Zhang Ruonan's legs were getting a little sore from standing. Taking advantage of the moment when the photographer was changing lenses, she quietly leaned closer to Li Ran, shifted her weight to her other foot, and naturally placed her hand on his shoulder, gently resting her head on it.

Li Ran smiled and didn't say anything, but subtly moved half a step closer to her so that she could lean on him more comfortably.

Zhang Ruonan smiled slightly, looked up at Li Ran, her eyes filled with love.

The photographer captured this moment perfectly. "Amazing! Don't move—"

After the morning shoot ended, the two had lunch in the lounge next to the studio.

Zhang Ruonan picked out the green peppers one by one and threw them into Li Ran's lunchbox. Li Ran glanced at them, didn't say anything, and picked them up and ate them.

"If it's an evening flight, do you need to go back to get your luggage after filming? Why don't you just bring it over like I did?"

Zhang Ruonan lowered her head and ate a mouthful of rice.

Li Ran chuckled awkwardly, "No, I'm from Changsha. Why would I bring luggage home? Besides, I'm going to Shanghai in a few days."

Zhang Ruonan nodded and picked up another piece of green pepper and put it over there.

The flight is tonight, from Beijing to Changsha, which takes a little over two hours.

Zhang Ruonan leaned against the porthole, covered with a blanket, her eyes closed, her eyelashes casting faint shadows under her eyelids.

She wasn't asleep, she just didn't want to talk.

Li Ran didn't say anything. He looked down at his phone. On the screen was a message from Liu Haocun saying that Wang Churan didn't have a good appetite today. Her grandmother made a soup with pickled radish and old duck, and she only drank two bowls.

Li Ran looked at the words "two bowls," a slight smile playing on her lips, and replied, "Tell her to eat less, don't overeat."

After sending the message, he put down his phone, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes.

When the plane landed, the sky over Changsha was overcast with low-hanging clouds.

The two emerged from the VIP channel, where a car was already waiting to pick them up.

Zhang Ruonan got into the car, took off her coat and draped it over her lap, leaned back in her seat, and let out a long breath.

"Tired?" Li Ran asked.

"It's alright," Zhang Ruonan said.

The car drove out of the airport, onto the highway, and headed towards the city.

Looking at the scenery rushing past the window, Zhang Ruonan suddenly asked, "Have you ever been to Happy Camp before?"

Li Ran thought for a moment. "I've been here once before, when I was playing professionally, with my teammates."

He paused, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Back then, Teacher He even asked us esports players if we only played games all day." We said yes, and he laughed, saying, "Then your work is our entertainment."

Zhang Ruonan listened and smiled.

"Teacher He is a very nice person."

After its restructuring, "Happy Camp" was renamed "Hello, Saturday". The first episode was scheduled to be recorded on January 1st, which happened to be the same day as the movie's release.

The format of the show hasn't changed much; it still consists of games, chatting, and promoting works. The only difference is that the hosts have changed from the five members of the Happy Family to He Jiong leading a few newcomers.

Fortunately, He Jiong was able to hold the fort alone; his presence was like a pillar of strength.

The recording is scheduled for tomorrow, which is to accommodate Li Ran's schedule; there's nothing we can do about it.

Filming for "Glory" isn't finished yet; they've only filmed the daily scenes, and haven't even shot any of the major action sequences.

It was already past nine o'clock at night when the car drove into the hotel's underground parking garage, which was arranged by the production team.

The hotel is right next to Hunan Broadcasting System, less than a ten-minute walk away. I can go directly there for rehearsal tomorrow morning without having to get up early or worry about traffic jams.

Zhang Ruonan leaned against the elevator wall, watching the two shadows reflected on the elevator doors.

"Actually, it's fine to stay at your place, it's not far anyway."

"It's not far, but there's no need," Li Ran said. "It's convenient here, so sleeping an extra half hour is good."

Zhang Ruonan did not respond.

Although she didn't intend for Li Ran to meet her parents first, she did want to visit them.

The elevator arrived, the doors opened, and the motion-sensor lights in the corridor turned on one by one.

The two rooms are at opposite ends of the corridor, one on the left and one on the right.

This was Li Ran's request, because he trusted the city's "enthusiasm" too much.

Hunan TV, as one of the most popular local TV stations in the country, has produced countless national-level variety shows over the decades, from "Happy Camp" to "Singer" to "The Voice" to the current "Hello, Saturday", each of which is a phenomenon.

And its byproduct is that a group of people more dedicated than film crews—paparazzi and stalkers—are always waiting outside its door.

Their telephoto lenses can capture silhouettes of people in hotel windows from across the street, and they can deduce how many meals you've had from takeout receipts in garbage bags.

They have a keen sense of smell like hunting dogs and are as ubiquitous as geckos.

What Li Ran fears is not being photographed, but the overwhelming speculation, interpretation, and subsequent backlash that follow.

He didn't want the word "romance" to overshadow the "work" on the eve of the film's release.

He knows the rules of this industry all too well—gossip always travels faster than the work itself.

The two people walked to the fork in the corridor and stopped.

Zhang Ruonan turned around and looked at Li Ran. She didn't say anything, she just looked at him.

Li Ran reached out and gently ruffled her hair. The movement was very light. "Go to sleep early. You have to get up early tomorrow."

Zhang Ruonan nodded.

She turned and walked towards her room, but after a couple of steps, she stopped without looking back. "Li Ran."

"Um?"

"Good night."

"Good night."

She kept walking, wanting to say, "After the show is finished, take me to meet your parents!"

But after thinking about it, I'll wait until after the show is finished!

Li Ran stood there, watching her figure disappear at the end of the corridor, and listening to the soft sound of the door closing.

Then he turned around and walked in the opposite direction.

Two people, two rooms.

The dressing room was softly lit in the morning, and several rows of cosmetics were neatly arranged in front of the mirror, including brushes, foundation, and eyeshadow palettes.

Li Ran sat in a chair as the makeup artist worked on his face.

Although Li Ran's looks don't require makeup, she still applies a simple base layer in order to look good on camera.

With his eyes closed, he went through the recording schedule for the day in his mind: opening dance, games, interviews, and promotions. The whole process would take at least four or five hours.

The door was gently pushed open without knocking; it was a very natural push, as if the person had returned to their own home.

-

He Jiong walked in, carrying two bags, one containing lunch boxes and the other containing takeout bowls.

He was wearing a light-colored hoodie and a baseball cap pulled low over his shoulders, but his eyes were still bright, radiating a gentle warmth that made people feel like they were bathed in a spring breeze.

He saw Li Ran getting her makeup done, but instead of greeting her loudly, he walked over, put the bag he was carrying on the table, and smiled at Li Ran in the mirror.

"Li Ran, haven't you had breakfast yet?" His voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet dressing room, with a slight upward inflection at the end, as if he were concerned about a junior he hadn't seen in a long time.

Li Ran opened his eyes, his posture respectful but not distant.

"Teacher He, we really haven't had time to eat yet."

The makeup artist paused for a moment, then continued applying powder.

Li Ran glanced at her. She didn't look up, but the corners of her mouth curved slightly, clearly not surprised by He Jiong's appearance.

He often does this, pushing open the door without saying hello and bringing breakfast, coffee, and fruit to the guests.

He has a good memory; he remembers who likes spicy food, who doesn't eat cilantro, and who is allergic to peanuts.

He didn't mention these little things, but everyone noticed them.

He Jiong took the lunch boxes out of the bag one by one and arranged them.

The meal included rice noodles, steamed buns, and baba (a type of flatbread), and was thoughtfully accompanied by disposable chopsticks, tissues, and a small packet of chili sauce.

"I knew you hadn't eaten yet, so I specially brought you rice noodles, steamed buns, and rice cakes."

He paused, as if remembering something, and turned to look at Zhang Ruonan beside him, "Ruonan, I also brought you a portion."

""

Zhang Ruonan was flipping through the script when she heard this. She looked up, smiled, and thanked him, "Thank you, Teacher He."

Her smile was genuine, not the kind of polite, social smile, but one that truly warmed her heart.

He Jiong waved his hand, speaking casually as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

"Don't be so polite, we're all family."

He didn't stay long; he left his breakfast and then left.

Li Ran sat down again, and the makeup artist continued to apply his makeup.

Zhang Ruonan had already taken apart the chopsticks and started eating the rice noodles. She ate very carefully, afraid of splashing soup onto her clothes.

After Li Ran finished her makeup, she looked at the steaming bowl of rice noodles in front of her and picked up her chopsticks.

He didn't have much affection for the Happy Family, except for He Jiong.

He even disliked other people a little, not out of personal grudges, but because he couldn't stand them.

That guy was notoriously "soft-kneed," bowing down to senior people, fawning over those with high popularity, and ignoring newcomers.

And that big mouth of hers, she says whatever comes to mind, regardless of the occasion or the person she's talking to. She just wants to be quick-witted and leaves others with a mess.

He doesn't like that kind of person.

It's not that I'm aloof, it's that I find it annoying—annoying that kind of self-righteousness that mistakes "smoothness" for "emotional intelligence."

However, Li Weijia's relationship with Long Danni did catch his attention.

There have been rumors in the industry that Li Weijia and Long Danni were once together, some say they have broken up, and others say they were never actually together at all. There are many conflicting opinions and no definitive conclusion.

He didn't know if it was true or not; he had never asked his aunt.

Asking about this makes you seem gossipy, but not asking leaves you curious.

However, after He Jiong brought him breakfast today, he remembered it again.

I can find an opportunity to ask my aunt about it another day. Anyway, it's not shameful to ask her about something she's curious about.

He lowered his head and took a bite of rice noodles. The rice noodles were smooth and slippery, the soup base was fresh and fragrant, and the spiciness was just right, which was the taste that locals in Changsha liked.

He Jiong is not from Changsha, but he has lived here for more than 20 years and is more of a local than the locals.

Zhang Ruonan whispered from the side, "Teacher He is such a kind person."

"Mm," Li Ran responded without saying anything more.

He Jiong's goodness needs no evaluation from him.

More than 20 years have passed, and countless people have said and written about it.

The recording of the show began, the stage lights came on, and the music made the floor tremble slightly.

Li Ran stood at the backstage entrance and took a deep breath.

The scene before me was almost identical to that of "Happy Camp"—the same studio, the same audience seats, the same lighting layout, only the words on the backdrop had changed.

The hosts were no longer the Happy Family, but He Jiong and several newcomers standing on the stage.

The process is the same old thing.

The opening dance, self-introductions, games, interviews, and closing ceremony were all familiar, with games like charades, telephone, and microphone grabbing.

Standing in the waiting area, Li Ran listened to He Jiong read the opening remarks in that familiar voice and suddenly felt a little dazed.

This show accompanied countless people for over twenty years, and then it was gone just like that.

But the new program is still the same; it has a different name and a different host, but the essence remains unchanged.

He Jiong wore a dark blue suit today, his hair was neatly combed, and he stood in the center of the stage, his voice as steady as ever.

"Let's welcome today's guests—Li Ran and Zhang Ruonan!" Applause rang out, and Li Ran walked out from the side of the stage, waving to the audience. Zhang Ruonan followed behind him, smiling and bowing.

After taking his position, Li Ran's gaze swept over the host's seat.

Standing next to He Jiong were several newcomers, some of whom he recognized, and others of whom were strangers.

One of them was an old acquaintance—Wang Hedi, wearing a black hoodie, with his hair permed into small curls, standing among the newcomers, with that kind of slightly awkward, business-like smile unique to young people.

When Li Ran saw him, her heart skipped a beat.

Wang Hedi.

Without him, this role should have been played by Wang Hedi.

Last year, when casting for "The Legend of Canglan", he heard the producer mention that someone originally wanted to put Wang Hedi in the role of Dongfang Qingcang, but after learning that he had agreed to take the role, the matter was dropped.

He didn't know if missing out on this role would affect Wang Hedi's future career.

Wang Hedi, who played Dongfang Qingcang, became a sensation. He went from being criticized for his "expressionless acting" to being called an "ugly man in ancient costume dramas" and then to being "true to his heart," making a comeback and gaining countless fans.

Now that he's taken the cake, whether Wang Hedi can still be popular is something he doesn't know.

However, Wang Hedi's foundation was not bad.

His debut role was in the mainland Chinese version of "Meteor Garden," where he played Dao Ming Si.

The show received a lukewarm reception and poor reviews in China, but it was very popular in the Asia-Pacific region.

Wang Hedi gained a considerable fan base in Southeast Asia thanks to his role as Daoming Si.

Even without the "Azure Orchid Manual," he wouldn't be completely unaware of this person.

Whether it will be a huge hit is hard to say.

Li Ran didn't have any ill feelings towards Wang Hedi.

This young man is very sincere, speaks frankly, and has a slightly goofy smile.

Standing next to Wang Hedi is Qin Xiaoxian from Deyun Society.

Wearing a flashy shirt, with light brown hair and exquisite makeup, he stood there like a male lead who had just stepped out of an idol drama.

He smiled at the camera, revealing a set of white teeth.

Li Ran couldn't bring herself to like him.

It's not a personal grudge, it's just annoyance.

Since his debut, Qin Xiaoxian has always maintained the persona of a "rich second generation," driving luxury cars, wearing designer clothes, and living in a mansion.

Well, to put it simply, his character is so-so.

It seems that there are very few people who perform crosstalk with good character.

Da Linzi rarely talked to him about the shady dealings involved, such as privately contacting fans, which was commonplace.

This guy is a regular, and he's comparable to the Canadian "playboy," just not as famous.

Li Ran couldn't understand why so many people in the entertainment industry liked to create a "rich second generation" persona.

If you're really a rich kid, that's fine too. Someone like him never flaunts his wealth.

The key is that you are not.

They still pretend, and their pretense is full of holes. Even when exposed, they still stubbornly deny it.

The gaze then shifted and landed on Cai Shaofen.

She was wearing a red dress, her hair was up, and she stood next to He Jiong, smiling and waving to the audience.

The moment Li Ran saw her, the corners of his mouth involuntarily curved into a smile.

He genuinely liked this senior colleague.

Although he hadn't watched "Empresses in the Palace," he always laughed out loud every time he saw Cai Shaofen's portrayal of the Empress and her line, "This concubine can't do it."

Also, the way she looks when she speaks with her hair down in real life is even funnier than he imagined.

Li Ran couldn't help but laugh several times during the recording process. It wasn't out of disrespect for his seniors, but because it was just too funny.

For example, she said "Let's play games together" but instead said "Let's play games together".

He Jiong corrected her from the side. She was stunned for a moment, then laughed first, laughing so hard that she bent over, saying, "I'll change it, I'll change it."

Li Ran stood opposite her, watching her laugh, and then he laughed along. Zhang Ruonan nudged him with her elbow and whispered, "Stop laughing."

He tried to hold it in, but couldn't help laughing again.

It's not that he disrespects Cai Shaofen.

On the contrary, he respected her too much.

She is the kind of artist who can openly accept her imperfections in front of the camera and even turn them into sources of humor.

Her Mandarin is not good, but she never tries to hide it or feel inferior about it.

The more seriously she spoke, the more the audience wanted to laugh.

Not only was she not angry, but she also laughed along with them. This kind of open-mindedness is not something everyone possesses.

This is much better than some entertainers who started out as comedians but became famous and then couldn't take a joke anymore.

After the recording ended, Cai Shaofen walked over and patted Li Ran on the shoulder.

"What are you laughing at? Is it that funny when I'm just posting normally?" She pretended to be serious, but the laughter in her eyes was impossible to hide.

Li Ran quickly shook his head.

"No, no, Ms. Cai, I just think you're so adorable."

Cai Shaofen rolled her eyes at him.

Her eyes rolled wide and round, with a hint of reproach and a touch of disdain that said, "Don't give me that."

She said to Li Ran, "Come to our house for dinner next time you and your girlfriend. I'll cook, and if it's not good, you don't have to pay."

Li Ran smiled and nodded. "Okay, I'll definitely go when I have time."

After Cai Shaofen left, Zhang Ruonan asked with a puzzled look, "Girlfriend, that girlfriend?"

"Could it be that other one? She only saw you today."

"No, how did she know?"

"When we were recording the show, your eyes were practically glued to me—"

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