Huayu Entertainment: Starting with Exorcising Evil from a Film Queen

The audition was scheduled for three days later, and Zhang Ze arrived at the film set on time.

As soon as I reached the entrance of the dressing room, I saw two familiar yet unfamiliar figures.

It's Hu Ge and Tang Yan.

Both of them received a notification from the production team that there were auditions for important roles today, and director Li Guoli specially pulled them over to help with the acting and also to give them a feel for the roles.

Of course, the main reason was that Tang Yan insisted on coming with Hu Ge.

She just wanted to see for herself what kind of amazing person Zhang Ze, whom Yang Mi had been praising so highly in the group chat, really was.

Hu Ge took a step forward and extended his hand.

"Professor Zhang Ze? I've heard so much about you. I'm Hu Ge."

His attitude was very polite, with a professional demeanor.

Zhang Ze shook hands with him and said politely, "Hello, Professor Hu Ge."

After shaking hands, Hu Ge looked Zhang Ze up and down, then smiled.

"No wonder Yang Mi was cheering you on in the group chat, you really are handsome and dashing."

Tang Yan, who was standing to the side, didn't say anything, but secretly sized up Zhang Ze with her big eyes.

She looks even better in person than in photos.

Moreover, he has a very special temperament, cool and clean, which is completely different from the sunny boyish feeling of Hu Ge.

In some ways, he is even more appealing than Hugo.

She felt that Yang Mi hadn't exaggerated; the man in front of her did indeed possess a unique charm.

Just as Zhang Ze was exchanging pleasantries with the two lead actors, a commotion arose at the other end of the corridor.

Surrounded by a group of assistants and agents, Huo Huajian walked over in a grand procession.

Director Li Guoli almost ran out to greet him, his face full of apologies.

"Brother Hua, I'm so sorry, I really apologize."

Li Guoli kept apologizing, adopting a very humble attitude.

"This time it's the higher-ups' idea, it's...it's the investors who pushed for it, and I'm in a difficult position."

"But don't worry, I believe that with your acting skills and image, Brother Wah, this role is perfect for you!"

The previously stiff features on Huo Huajian's face softened somewhat.

He followed Li Guoli into the private dressing room prepared for him, and after being dressed by his own makeup artist, he sat down and asked a question as if it were casual.

"Director Li, who exactly is the person competing with me for this role?"

Li Guoli's facial muscles twitched as he organized his thoughts.

"It seems... she's not someone from our circle."

He paused, as if searching for the right word.

"I heard he's a master, but he's just doing it as a hobby."

When Huo Huajian heard the word "master," he was taken aback at first, and then a slight sneer appeared on his lips.

He felt that he had been nervous for nothing.

"Director Li, you don't need to worry."

He looked at Li Guoli in the mirror and said magnanimously, "Just follow the rules. I trust the crew's professional judgment."

Even if we don't have the opportunity to work together this time, our friendship will not change.

Upon hearing this, Li Guoli immediately showed a grateful smile.

"I'm relieved to hear that, Brother Hua!"

"If things really don't go as planned this time, next time, next time I'll definitely ask you to be the male lead!"

Huo Huajian smiled and nodded, without saying anything more.

But he had already made up his mind.

There won't be a next time.

This role of Xu Changqing will be the last one he plays in collaboration with Li Guoli.

The director's credibility in his eyes has been completely destroyed.

As for whether he will lose?

He hadn't even considered that possibility.

If a professional actor who has worked his way up in the industry for so many years could lose to a so-called master who suddenly appeared out of nowhere, then he wouldn't need to act anymore.

On the other side, Zhang Ze came out after finishing his makeup and learned that he had to wait for Huo Huajian to audition first, but he didn't care at all.

He's an established actor, while I'm just a newcomer with some fame. The difference in our status is huge, so it's only natural that I have to wait.

Hu Ge, who was standing next to him, walked over and lowered his voice.

"Be careful, Howard is not someone to be trifled with."

Hu Ge briefly listed Huo Huajian's works in recent years, including Gui Haiyidao in "The World's Finest" and Zhou Nianzhong in "The Green Jewel on the Roof," all of which were hit dramas with huge ratings. He also mentioned the enormous fame Huo Huajian had accumulated in Taiwan and mainland China.

"He is very popular, has good acting skills, and Director Li admires him very much. He had wanted to work with him several times before."

"If it weren't for President Cai's intervention, there wouldn't have been an audition for this role; it would have been his all along."

Hu Ge looked at Zhang Ze and summarized very seriously.

"To be honest, your chances of winning are very slim."

Zhang Ze listened calmly, then waved his hand to indicate that he understood.

He didn't feel flustered.

He has a very stable mindset.

This trip was just a trial run. It would be great if I could land the role of Xu Changqing, but even if I failed, it wouldn't be a big deal.

With memories of the future and a reputation panel to rely on, he wasn't worried about not making it big. The only difference was whether he would progress faster or slower on this path.

Tang Yan, who was standing to the side, sensed that the atmosphere was a bit tense, so she quickly spoke up to smooth things over.

"Hey, Lao Hu, don't scare people like that."

She curiously approached Zhang Ze, her big eyes full of curiosity.

"Teacher Zhang Ze, Mimi says your fortune telling is incredibly accurate. Could you also take a look at my and Lao Hu's fortunes?"

Zhang Ze looked at her, then at Hu Ge beside him, and had no objection.

He didn't need to use his aura-gazing technique at all; he could simply rely on his memories from the future to arrange things clearly for the two of them.

He first said to Tang Yan, "Your career is also progressing very well."

"Although his acting skills... well, there might still be room for improvement, he has a great rapport with audiences and will become a sensation throughout Southeast Asia in the next few years."

Zhang Ze's words made Tang Yan overjoyed. Although the previous comment about her acting skills made her a little embarrassed, the bright prospects that followed completely overshadowed that.

However, she was also muttering to herself.

It's become a hit throughout Southeast Asia?

Isn't that a huge exaggeration?

Zhang Ze wasn't joking. In later generations, this person indeed made a fortune in the Southeast Asian market with the drama "Summer's Desire," and was extremely popular.

He then turned to Hugo.

"I don't need to say more about Mr. Hu. You will be one of the top male actors in mainland China for the next ten years."

"After that, their success continued unabated, winning awards left and right."

"He is a true pillar of the mainland entertainment industry, one of the top figures among middle-aged male actors."

These words stirred a ripple in Hu Ge's eyes. Although he didn't completely believe them, who doesn't like to hear nice things?

Hu Ge's experience is well-known. He built his popularity with the Legend of Sword and Fairy series and then rose to prominence with hit dramas like Nirvana in Fire and The Disguiser, establishing his unshakeable position in the Chinese entertainment industry.

Liu Shishi, who had been listening quietly the whole time, couldn't help but interject, "What about me? What about me?"

"You..." Zhang Ze looked at her, "You're relatively more low-key than them, but you're steady and reliable. You'll be one of Tang Ren's pillars in the future, with a bright future ahead of you."

Upon hearing this, Liu Shishi smiled. She was a quiet person by nature and not formally trained in acting, so she always felt a little inferior when facing other actors. Now that she heard that she would also have a good future, she was immediately happy.

After Zhang Ze said a few words, the atmosphere instantly became lively.

Hu Ge and Tang Yan's attitude towards Zhang Ze also changed from being polite at first to becoming much closer.

"By the way, where's Mimi? She said she's coming," Tang Yan asked.

"She's probably on her way; she's heading this way."

Hu Ge glanced at his phone. "He said he came specifically to cheer you on."

Zhang Ze smiled, not in a hurry, and simply sat down and chatted with the others while waiting for Yang Mi to arrive.

Not long after, a flurry of footsteps approached from afar, and the door to the dressing room was suddenly pushed open.

"I'm here! Did you miss me?"

Yang Mi rushed in with a bang, her signature high decibels arriving before she did.

She heard that Zhang Ze was auditioning today, so she took a day off from the production crew to come and support him.

"How's it going? Is it your turn?" She rushed to Zhang Ze, full of anticipation.

"Not yet, Howard is inside," Zhang Ze replied.

Yang Mi pursed her lips and muttered under her breath, "Quite the airs."

She chatted with the others for a few minutes, but Huo Huajian's conversation still showed no signs of ending.

Zhang Ze wasn't in a hurry, so he simply chatted with the others while waiting for Yang Mi to arrive, which was also a way of building connections.

Another ten minutes or so later, a crew member finally came and knocked on the door.

"Teacher Hu, Teacher Tang Yan, Shi Shi, Teacher Huo's audition is about to begin. The director would like you to go over and prepare to act together."

The three of them immediately stood up.

Zhang Ze also stood up and said to them, "Then I'll go change my clothes and touch up my makeup first."

After saying that, he turned and walked towards his dressing room, preparing to make final preparations for his upcoming appearance.