Huayu: Hard fight against Zhang Weiping at the beginning

Chapter 635: Candidates Selected

In Beijing in autumn, around 7 a.m., there is still a slight coolness. But after 8 p.m., the sun eagerly radiates its heat, which is not like autumn at all.

In a typical newsstand in Dongcheng District, the owner, Lao Li, displays the latest edition of the Beijing Times in the most conspicuous place.

The front page headline of the Beijing Times featured a photo of Zhang Chen with Tom Cruise and Angelina Jolie.

The three stood in front of the Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City. Zhang Chen was wearing a dark T-shirt, Tom Cruise on his left smiled and showed his signature white teeth, and Angelina Jolie on his right wore sunglasses and a black bodysuit that made her look even more dashing.

When it comes to judging which celebrities are popular and which aren't, the general standard is exposure.

But exposure can be faked, and so can online discussion; it's hard to tell if someone is truly famous or just fake.

There are only two professions that can clearly tell whether a celebrity is truly popular or just pretending: ticket scalpers and newsstand owners.

The reason is simple: they have access to the most authentic sales data.

Whether a singer is popular or not, scalpers who resell tickets know best.

She's so popular that she doesn't have to worry about selling her concert tickets no matter how much the price increases.

But if it's fake fame, then they'll be in deep trouble.

Tickets obtained at inflated prices not only fail to fetch a good price when resold, but may also become unsellable.

The same principle applies to newsstand owners: if a particular issue of a newspaper or magazine sells well, it means the celebrity featured in that issue is truly popular; otherwise, it's all hype.
The boss's values ​​are that simple.

Today, the boss dares to place the Beijing Times in the most prominent position because he knows that Zhang Chen is truly popular.

As long as newspapers and magazines are associated with Zhang Chen, they're guaranteed to sell well.
Sure enough, it wasn't long before two students in school uniforms came over and started chattering at the newspaper:

One person said, "Yesterday, Weibo was flooded with posts saying they even went to Hongqiao to eat Zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste)!"

Another one: "Not only that, I saw Zhang Chen's Weibo post tonight, saying that Tom Cruise really loves Beijing's hutong culture, and Angelina Jolie absolutely adores candied hawthorns and wants to bring some back to China for her kids to eat~"

The two kids chattered away, sharing their gossip. Old Li knew these two students definitely wouldn't buy anything; they were just there to freeload. But he couldn't help but chime in: "Look, this photo is on the front page of every newspaper this morning. Even the Reference News mentioned it, saying it's the first time a Chinese director has taken a Hollywood star on a tour of Beijing."

Offline, many young people who follow the entertainment industry are discussing this matter, and online there is even more discussion.

Among the top five trending topics on Sina Weibo, #ZhangChenTomAngelZootourBJ#, #MissionImpossible4FilmingInChina#, and #AngelZootourAuditionProgress# firmly occupied three spots.

In the comments section, some joked that "Director Zhang has turned the Hollywood film crew into a tour group," while others wondered if "Angelababy has already been cast as the female lead in Mission: Impossible 4."

In just half an hour, the topic garnered over 50 million views.

At this moment, in a high-end apartment in Chaoyang District, Fan Xiaopang is sitting in front of his computer, holding a cup of hand-drip Blue Mountain coffee, while news clips from last night are playing on a loop on the computer screen.

She was wearing a champagne-colored silk robe, her long hair loosely tied back. When she glanced at the headline "Angelababy may join Mission: Impossible 4," she curled her lip in disdain.

"Sis, look at this news, netizens are all guessing that Angelina Jolie is the female lead."

The assistant pushed open the door, holding a freshly printed public opinion report, his tone tinged with worry.

Fan Xiaopang took the report, casually flipped through a couple of pages, and put it aside: "Impossible. I had Zhang Chen's recommendation, but he was still rejected because his salary exceeded the budget. Angelina Jolie's salary is even higher than mine. Paramount would never agree to that."

"But what if she's willing to lower her fee?"

"That's unlikely. Director Zhang told me that Hollywood stars don't easily lower their salaries; it's a big taboo. It's only possible for commercial stars to lower their salaries for art films; for commercial films, it's absolutely impossible."

The assistant suddenly realized, "Oh, I see. I was worried that Director Zhang might have given Julie special treatment."

"It's more likely that Julie gave him special treatment."

Fan Xiaopang spoke with great certainty. She dared not speak for other things, but she believed she knew Zhang Chen quite well on this point, as he always had all sorts of ingenious ideas.

However, Fan Xiaopang doesn't believe that opening a back door violates principles. Mission: Impossible 4 is not Zhang Chen's one-man show, and Tom Cruise and Paramount are not just for show.

Even so, she still opened the message and typed, "Director Zhang, the day trip to Beijing looks lively," then deleted it after thinking about it and changed it to "Wishing 'Mission: Impossible 4' a smooth preparation, let's meet for coffee sometime."

She didn't want to appear too concerned; after all, having worked in the entertainment industry for so many years, composure is the key to success.

……

In a traditional Chinese courtyard in Xi'an, Jing Tian stood by the window with a newspaper in her hand. The headline on the front page was "Zhang Chen and two others travel to Beijing".

In the photo, Tom Cruise has a clean smile, which would normally be Jing Tian's favorite, but at this moment Jing Tian's attention is completely focused on the woman's face next to him.

Last night, when she saw the news that "Zhang Chen took Julie on a trip to Beijing", she had a bad feeling.

"Tian Tian, ​​don't overthink it, it's probably just normal hospitality."

Her mother stood to the side, looking at her pale face, and couldn't help but comfort her.

Jing Tian shook her head, her voice trembling slightly: "You don't understand. On the day of the audition, Director Zhang asked me, 'If you encountered a more famous opponent than yourself, how would you prove yourself?' I said then, 'Through understanding the character,' but now…"

Angelina Jolie is a top-tier Hollywood actress; in terms of fame and acting skills, I can't compare to her.

She opened the script, pointed to the character biography of the female lead "Jane," and said, "This character has action scenes and also needs to show her charm. I'm sure I have no problem with the action scenes, but when it comes to showing charm, I'm far behind her. Mom, I prepared for this role for a month, and now, all that effort has been wasted..."

Just then, Jing Tian's phone rang, and the caller ID showed "Uncle Lu Zheng".

She took a deep breath and pressed the answer button. Lu Zheng's voice, tinged with anxiety, came through the receiver: "Tian Tian, ​​I just called Zhang Chen to ask him out for dinner tonight and to ask about the role, but he said he's been very busy lately and doesn't have time."

Jing Tian's heart sank, and she blurted out instinctively, "Uncle Lu, is it... that I've been eliminated?"

"Hard to say."

Lu Zheng paused, "Don't worry, let me ask someone else..."

After hanging up the phone, Jing Tian walked to her desk, picked up the USB drive containing the video recording from her audition, and plugged it into her computer.

On the screen, she wore a black bodysuit and portrayed the scene of "Jane" protecting her teammates in a gunfight. Her eyes were firm and her movements were swift. Even Zhang Chen nodded and said, "She has that kind of spirit."

But now, these images are making her increasingly uneasy.

In the past, she almost always funded her own projects, which were essentially tailor-made for her.

Mission: Impossible 4 was the first time she had directly competed for a role in a film in the strict sense.

True fair competition!
This is really difficult!

Not far away, the parents, observing from a distance, became anxious upon seeing their daughter's condition: "I'll call Lao Lu and ask him."

Not long after, a phone call took place between the two.

"Old Lu, I'm really worried about Tian Tian's condition. Is there any other way we can do it?"

"Sister-in-law, this time it's my fault. I originally wanted to use silver bullets as a way, just like before, but Tian Tian said she wanted to compete head-on and win the female lead role with her own strength."

Children grow up and develop self-esteem.

I was willing to use money to pave the way, but I was afraid the child would have a grudge, so I softened my heart and agreed.

We originally thought that with Tian Tian's abilities, there wouldn't be any problem, but who would have thought that there would be top Hollywood stars competing against her!

"What should we do then? Should we try to pull some strings?"

"Don't rush into anything. Let me find out what's going on first, then we can decide what to do next."

"Okay, sure, you know more than we do. We'll wait for your message then. Thank you for your help!"

"Sister-in-law, what are you saying? Tian Tian is my niece too!"

After hanging up the phone, Lu Zheng truly regretted it.

What I just said wasn't an excuse; it was all true.

Miss Jing wanted to win the role through her own abilities, and he softened and agreed.

Now that things have fallen through, Miss Jing's parents will definitely think he failed in his duties.

It's really a bit unfair.

There's no use thinking about it too much; right now, I just need to figure out how to win Zhang Chen back.

……

At 3 PM, the official Weibo account of Mission: Impossible 4 suddenly released a bombshell announcement: "Welcome Angelina Jolie to officially join Mission: Impossible 4, teaming up with director Zhang Chen and Tom Cruise for a thrilling spy adventure!"

The accompanying photo shows Angelina Jolie with Zhang Chen and Tom Cruise in front of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at the Temple of Heaven. Jolie is making a peace sign and smiling brightly.

The news instantly caused a sensation online. The hashtag #AngelinaJolieJonesJonesJones trended at number one on the hot search list within five minutes. Comments flooded the screen with messages like "She's got the lead role" and "The Hollywood cast is amazing!" Some media outlets even published headlines like "Jing Tian fails audition, Angelina Jolie becomes the lead in 'Mission: Impossible 4'," which garnered over 4 million views in just half an hour. At that moment, Lu Zheng was in his investment company office, staring at the news on his computer screen, his face ashen.

He stood up and paced back and forth in the spacious office, oblivious to the fact that his cigar had burned down to the end and the ash was falling onto the expensive wool carpet.

He rubbed his temples in frustration, recalling what Jing Tian had told him three days ago: "Uncle, I want to get this role through my own abilities. If I rely on connections, even if I get it, people will say I got it through back channels."

He used to think the little girl was ambitious, but now he finds it incredibly ironic.

In the entertainment industry, talent sometimes really can't beat fame and connections.

He picked up his phone, wanting to call Zhang Chen again, but his finger hovered over the dial button, unable to press it.

He knew that it would be too late to make demands now.

……

In Fan Xiaopang's apartment, however, the atmosphere became somewhat tense. Fan Xiaopang was looking at the news on his computer when his coffee cup suddenly stopped, splashing brown liquid onto the off-white carpet, leaving a small stain.

"what happened?"

Her voice rose, her usual composure gone. "Has Paramount gone mad? Jolie's salary is higher than mine. They said they'd kick me out for overspending, but now they've agreed?"

Agent Mu Xiaoguang leaned over for a look and frowned as well: "Director Zhang wouldn't cheat you, would he? Could it be that Tom Cruise recommended you? But I heard that Director Zhang has the final say on this role."

Fan Xiaopang took a deep breath, picked up a tissue, squatted down and wiped the carpet, but the more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

She stared at Julie's smile on the screen, a surge of intense resentment welling up inside her:

Why was she excluded because of "overspending," while Jolie was able to join the cast despite receiving the same salary?
Is it just because Jolie is a Hollywood star and has international box office appeal?
However, besides North America, the main market for Mission: Impossible 4 is China, and her box office appeal in China is no less than that of Jolie.

But she quickly forced herself to calm down.

Based on her understanding of Zhang Chen, it was impossible for him to let such a private matter affect his work. Could it be that he was offering a lower price for the role?

"No, there's definitely something wrong here."

Fan Xiaopang stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the endless stream of cars below. Her mind raced. She had always regarded Julie as her rival. She could lose to anyone but Julie, especially not to her, especially on Chinese soil.

Fan Xiaopang's strong fighting spirit was ignited, and her whole body was filled with chakra. She picked up her phone, found Zhang Chen's number, but hesitated to dial it.

I hesitated for half an hour, repeatedly swiping my finger across the screen, trying to figure out what to say so as not to seem too deliberate, while still achieving my goal.

She needs to figure out what's going on. Even if she can't get the role back, she needs to know exactly where she went wrong.

Taking a deep breath, Fan Xiaopang pressed the dial button.

The phone rang three times before being answered. Zhang Chen's voice sounded tired, and the background noise vaguely suggested he was at an airport: "Hello, Bingbing?"

"Are you at the airport?"

"Hmm, just dropping someone off~"

Fan Xiaopang pondered for a moment: "Angelina Jolie?"

"Yeah, and Tom Cruise too. The female lead for Mission: Impossible 4 has been cast, and they're going back to their home countries too~"

Since the other party brought it up, Fan Xiaopang decided to stop beating around the bush.

But she couldn't just act recklessly. She tried to make her tone sound casual, "I saw in the news that Jolie has joined Mission: Impossible 4. Congratulations! This cast is so exciting."

"Thank you," Zhang Chen smiled, his voice tinged with a hint of teasing. "What, don't you have any questions for me?"

Fan Xiaopang was slightly angry, feeling that Zhang Chen was mocking her: "Where exactly did I go wrong? Why did they use her instead of me? Her salary should be higher than mine, right?"

Zhang Chen's voice was tinged with laughter: "No, she's much shorter than you~"

"What? She lowered her fee? Then I can lower mine too~" Fan Xiaopang's inner universe began to burn.

"Haha," Zhang Chen's tone was smug, like someone who had pulled off a prank: "Julie isn't the lead actress; she plays the villainous female assassin, it's a cameo, and her salary is $500 million, which is much less than yours, isn't it?"

"Hmph, you tricked me!"

"Hahaha~"

Fan Xiaopang instantly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a weight lifted from his heart. His tone became lighter, "My little darling, you did an excellent job keeping this a secret. I was just complaining to my agent about Paramount's double standards."

"You've probably cursed me a lot in your heart, haven't you?"

"How could that be? But by doing this, you've fooled us all!"

“It’s just a publicity strategy,” Zhang Chen said with a smile. “Pacific Rim 2 is about to be released during the Lunar New Year season, and Mission: Impossible 4 is in preparation. This is a smokescreen to whet the audience’s appetite and also to generate buzz for the official announcement of the female lead later.”

Fan Xiaopang's eyes lit up: "The female lead has been decided?"

Zhang Chen glanced at him: "Yes, but don't even think about it, it's Jing Tian~"

Another 'humph'~
That 'humph' made Zhang Chen's mind wander: "I'm staying at the Kempinski these days, do you want to come over?"

"No way!"

Fan Xiaopang decisively refused: "Given Angelina's sly nature, I don't believe you two aren't together. You're definitely not clean, don't even think about touching me~"

After hanging up the phone, Fan Xiaopang leaned back on the sofa and smiled at his agent, "What a scare! Zhang Chen and the others were using a diversionary tactic; they really got me completely fooled!"

Mu Xiaoguang also breathed a sigh of relief: "I knew Director Zhang wasn't that kind of person. Are you relieved now?"

Fan Xiaopang nodded and deleted the draft he had just edited on his computer, titled "Questioning Paramount's Double Standards."

After finishing what he was doing, Fan Xiaopang got up and walked outside. Mu Xiaoguang, who was standing next to him, asked curiously, "Where are you going?"

"Kempinski, don't wait for me when you're done. I probably won't be back tonight."

……

At the same time, Jing Tian's phone rang, and the words "Director Zhang" on the screen made her heart jump into her throat.

She had just finished a phone call with Lu Zheng, who was still advising her, "If it really doesn't work out, just give up, and your uncle will find you other resources." But she was unwilling to give up. She had already put in so much effort for this role, from understanding the character's psychology to practicing fighting moves. She didn't want to give up just like that.

Taking a deep breath, Jing Tian pressed the answer button, her voice trembling slightly: "Director Zhang, hello."

“Jing Tian, ​​I have good news for you,” Zhang Chen’s voice was gentle and clear, like a warm current flowing into her heart, “You’ve been cast as the female lead in Mission: Impossible 4.”

Jing Tian stared blankly at her phone, wondering if she had misheard. She instinctively asked, "Director Zhang, you...you're not joking, are you? But the previous news said Angelina Jolie..."

“Julie is making a cameo appearance as a villain,” Zhang Chen patiently explained. “The announcement of her joining the cast was to generate buzz, since Hollywood stars attract a lot of attention and can help generate hype for Mission: Impossible 4.”

Actually, after the audition, Tom Cruise and I both felt that you were the most suitable candidate for 'Jane'..."

Tears welled up suddenly, and Jing Tian quickly raised her hand to wipe them away, trying her best not to let the other person notice anything unusual on her end: "Thank you, Director Zhang! Thank you for believing in me! I will definitely prepare well, practice my fighting skills and English every day, and I will never let you and the crew down!"

"Don't be so nervous," Zhang Chen said with a smile. "Your fighting skills are already good enough, but you still need to practice your flirtatious side. Watch some videos on that topic and you'll get the hang of it..."

After hanging up the phone, Jing Tian stood there stunned for a few seconds, holding her phone. Then she suddenly turned around and shouted to her mother, who was sitting on the sofa, "Mom! I got it! Director Zhang has cast me as the female lead!"

The mother sat up in astonishment, looking at her daughter who had suddenly become fully recovered: "Really?"

"real!"

Jing Tian ran over and hugged her mother's arm, her eyes red but her smile bright. "Director Zhang said that my performance during the audition was very good, and he and Tom Cruise both approve of me! I didn't rely on connections, I relied on my own strength!"

Looking at the genuine smile on her daughter's face, the mother felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

She patted Jing Tian on the shoulder, her voice a little hoarse: "Good, good! Mom knew it, my Tian Tian is the best!"

Jing Tian walked to the desk, picked up the script that was worn and slightly creased. It wasn't a complete script; it only contained the part about "Jian".

But at that moment, she was filled with pride.

……

In the presidential suite at the Kempinski Hotel, Zhang Chen was on the phone with his temporary assistant: "Send out Julie's character poster and Jing Tian's female lead poster together, along with Jing Tian's audition clip, and the caption 'Mission: Impossible 4 - Duel of the Beauties, Stay Tuned'."

The phone call ended, and a seductive figure clung to her like an octopus: "Hmph, you haven't forgotten your old flame for a new one, have you?"

Zhang Chen felt the softness in his hands, but spoke the most positive words: "What new love or old love? We're all Chinese. If we can help each other, we should." He hoped that in the future, Chinese actors would appear in Hollywood not because Hollywood needed one or two Chinese faces, but because there were suitable roles that only they could play.

……

Is there anything wrong with what I wrote these past two days? The readership has dropped a lot. Dear readers, please point out any errors and I'll correct them immediately.
(End of this chapter)