Huayu: The young actress is heavily dependent on me

"You know this is my first project, so it's very important to me."

Seeing that Meng Ziyi was clearly wavering, Chen Li pressed on while the iron was hot.

"If this succeeds, I'll have the confidence to attract investment and negotiate partnerships, but if it fails..."

"Hmph, I'll take care of you..." Meng Ziyi retorted stubbornly, but her voice grew softer and softer.

Meng Ziyi knew, of course, that Chen Li had gone to great lengths to secure the investment this time, and she was genuinely afraid that Chen Li would lose everything.

"Fool, you help me this time, but what about next time? I can't rely on you forever, can I?"

Chen Li held Meng Ziyi on his lap and reached out to ruffle her hair.

"I promise, I'll make you suffer a little this time, but I'll definitely give you the lead role in the next drama, a drama tailor-made for you."

"You promise?" Meng Ziyi raised an eyebrow, her eyes shining.

"I guarantee it!" Chen Li nodded.

"Hehe, okay then, I'll say yes." Meng Ziyi was overjoyed by Chen Li's flattery.

Who told me I'm the future boss's wife?

She's just a young girl; you can just put up with it.

My future with Chen Li is still long.

Just as she was thinking this, Chen Li's hand had already reached out without her noticing, and began to tease Meng Ziyi's nerves.

Meng Ziyi blushed, then closed her eyes and kissed him.

......

In a photography studio on the outskirts of Beijing, several high-powered HDI lamps are pointing at a makeshift living room set for a photo shoot.

As instructed by the director, Li Xian held up a can of herbal tea and flashed a smile that revealed exactly eight teeth in front of the camera.

"Okay—this one's done! We're done!"

The director's voice came from behind the monitor, and the lighting technician started removing the reflectors.

Li Xian breathed a sigh of relief and quickly walked to the sidelines, where a young female producer wearing a sun-protective suit was putting sheets into a folder.

Li Xian stood next to her for two seconds, cleared his throat, and then lowered his voice to speak:

"Sister Wang, when will the payment for this GG be settled?"

Sister Wang snapped the pen cap back on without even looking up.

"Just follow the contract process. Payment will be made within a month of filming, but the exact amount depends on the progress of the client's finance department."

Li Xian quickly forced a smile and nodded.

He retreated to a corner and took his phone out of his pocket. The bank's text message was still in the notification bar; the balance was 47 yuan.

He is not the protagonist of the novel, and there is no "w" after him.

The lease expires the day after tomorrow, and the landlord has already started urging me to pay.

This time, GG's reward is eight thousand yuan. If it doesn't arrive within a month, he'll have to borrow money.

In 2012, while still a sophomore at the Beijing Film Academy, he filmed his first movie, "A Thousand Arrows Piercing the Heart," co-starring with Yan Bingyan.

People in the industry say that art films can hone acting skills, and he did, and the film was good, later receiving an 8.6 rating on Douban. But the reputation he built up from that film didn't help him open the next door.

The following year, he took on another low-budget youth film, "First Love Is Not Full," produced by Andy Lau as part of the "Asian New Director Project." The film grossed only around two million dollars, barely making a splash.

He made one film after another, and then failed at every one of them.

By my senior year, I had fewer and fewer opportunities to even attempt a shot.

He was in the 2010 class of the Performance Department at Beijing Film Academy—the same year as Yang Zi and Zhang Yishan, but in a different class.

Yang Zi has the national popularity of "Home with Kids" as a safety net, while Zhang Yishan holds two cards in his hand: "Little Soldier Zhang Ga" and "Home with Kids".

As for Li Xian, in the summer of 2014, he had graduated from the Beijing Film Academy less than a month ago, and his resume showed nothing except for a few movies that grossed less than three million yuan in total.

Without signing with an agency or receiving new projects, he could only make a living by filming short films and short movies in the suburbs of Beijing.

This summer he went to countless studios, shooting everything from herbal tea to sneakers to instant noodles. He changed his GG shirts one after another, and at his lowest point, his bank account balance was only 38 yuan, which he couldn't even get from an ATM.

Li Xian took off his GG shirt, folded it neatly, and returned it to the costume department. His phone vibrated in his pocket.

He took it out and saw that the caller ID displayed two words: Yang Zi.

"Hey, old classmate? What made you think of calling me?"

"What do you mean by that? Can't I call you if there's nothing wrong?"

Yang Zi's voice was light and energetic, without any hint of pity, which relieved Li Xian.

"Alright, alright, tell me, what are your instructions?"

The sound of documents being flipped through came from the other end of the phone, and Yang Zi paused for a moment:

"I have something important to tell you. There's a freshman at our school who's been working on a new project recently—a web series with a youth theme."

"The project has been approved through the 'teaching experiment' channel, the kind officially stamped by the performing arts academy. They are currently casting a large number of actors, and I have a teacher who recommended you."

Li Xian stopped.

"Is it because they have a limited budget, so they're using a lot of new talent? Is that lowers the entry barrier?"

"The entry requirements aren't low at all!" Yang Zi corrected.

"Professor Xu personally serves as their art consultant, and the school provides equipment and venue support. The standards are very high. Since you haven't signed with a company and your schedule is open, you might as well try your luck."

"The second male lead hasn't been cast yet, so this is a chance for you to turn your career around."

The second male lead.

Before Li Xian had fully thought it through, he had already asked the question aloud:

"Then... how do I contact them?"

"A staff member will add you in a bit, so get ready—by the way,"

Yang Zi lowered her voice a few decibels, her tone shifting from straightforward to a half-joking, teasing tone.

"I heard this project is a rare student web series that our college strongly supports. If you, a senior from the class of 2010, lose to the juniors, don't come to Beijing Film Academy to mooch meals from me again."

"When have I ever eaten at your place?"

Li Xian's tone was deliberately relaxed, but his Adam's apple clearly bobbed once.

"Last time! It was on Guijie Street, don't you have any self-awareness?" Yang Zi chuckled, then said seriously.

"Honestly, give it a try, the role is perfect for you."

"OK."

"If it works out... I'll treat you to dinner, not the kind of place on Guijie Street, but a proper, fancy meal."

"Alright, keep the money for your rent first, so you don't have to borrow money from me again later." Yang Zi hung up the phone with a smile.

Li Xian gazed at the distant sunset and clenched his fist.

The opportunity is right in front of us.

......

Chen Li arranged the audition to take place in a small rehearsal room on the third floor of the performing arts academy.

When Li Xian pushed the door open, Chen Li was looking down at the actors' information.

The audition was very simple: a casual conversation scene.

Li Xian took the script, scanned it for two minutes, and then stood up to perform a scene.

Chen Li was somewhat surprised to find that her senior's performance was actually quite good.

No wonder he's a professionally trained actor who has worked in various film crews for many years.

He didn't say many polite words, but looked into Li Xian's eyes and asked another question.

"If I ever started my own studio, would you be willing to join me?"

Li Xian was visibly taken aback.

He looked at Chen Li, a junior three years his junior, sitting in a folding chair with a script spread out on his lap, his expression serious.

A freshman majoring in performing arts is already thinking about opening his own studio?

"You want to start your own company?" Li Xian asked.

"Yes," Chen Li said.

"This web series is my first step, and there will be a second and a third step in the future."

"At that time, I need actors who can carry a show, not the kind of actors who wait for a platform to give them roles, but people who can work together to make the project a success."

Li Xian looked at Chen Li, his gaze becoming complicated.

Both are students at the Beijing Film Academy, but while he's still worrying about next month's rent and the last spot in the studio tomorrow, this junior, three years his junior, is already building a framework for his future.

"Senior, you have potential, you just lack a platform willing to support you."

"A low-budget web series alone is definitely not enough. I will promote you further so that you can handle serious dramas and movies."

"Establish a firm foothold within two years, and become a new top influencer within five years."

"Others might not be willing to give you these resources, but when I start my company, I definitely need a leading actor. I believe in your potential, and I'm willing to bet you can reach even greater heights."

Li Xian was stunned by Chen Li's flattering words.

He recalled that afternoon outside the sweltering photography studio on the outskirts of Beijing, counting on his fingers when the eight thousand yuan would arrive, and the "47 yuan" balance on his bank card.

"Okay. If that day ever comes," Li Xian said.

"I will definitely come."