Chinese entertainment: Top stars started being pursued by young actresses

Chapter 6.6. Could she be the princess from Princess Agents?
"So you went to act before enrolling in school?"

Lin Shaobai and Guo Zifan went to the cafeteria for lunch together at noon.

After each ordering a bowl of noodles, the two found a seat and sat down. Guo Zifan was a little curious when he heard that Lin Shaobai was going to film so early.

Many second- and third-year students in the Performance Department of Beijing Film Academy use their holidays to audition and act in plays, but fewer first-year students do.

Although there are official rules prohibiting freshmen from seeking acting roles on their own, ... that's only on the surface.

"Yes. I think we can't miss that opportunity."

Lin Shaobai slurped up a few mouthfuls of noodles.

If they don't take on a blockbuster drama now, they simply won't be able to compete with Bo and Xiao in 2019.

Those two became famous overnight, not only gaining a lot of attention but also remaining popular for a long time, still top celebrities in the Chinese entertainment industry today.

"Ashes of Love" is a phenomenal hit drama with nine different aspects.

At the time, Yang Zi gained nearly 700 million followers for her role as Jinmi, making her the actress with the most new followers in 2018.

The male lead, Lunzi, rose to the top tier of stardom, while the second male lead, Luo Yunxi, became a sensation with his role as Runyu, and almost all of his subsequent roles were as the male lead.

It was the highest-rated show on Jiangsu Satellite TV that year.

Having been reborn, Lin Shaobai could not possibly miss such a phenomenal hit drama.

Even if it's busy and time is tight, I still have to take it on.

"Then do you still have time for military training and classes?"

"I'll probably have to squeeze in some time these next two months, but we'll finish filming soon."

"..."

Guo Zifan didn't say anything more.

Meanwhile, Zhang Jingyi and her classmates were standing not far away.

The princess stared intently at Lin Shaobai's back, as if trying to see right through him.

"What are you doing?" Zhang Jingyi's classmate asked curiously, noticing that something was off with her.

Don't you think Lin Shaobai from our class is a bit strange?

"Lin Shaobai?"

"Ah."

Which one is Lin Shaobai?

When they first started school, no one was familiar with each other's names, let alone Lin Shaobai, who hadn't even attended a class meeting.

Zhang Jingyi only remembered Lin Shaobai's name after having some contact with him.

"That one. The one who had dinner with Guo Zifan."

Zhang Jingyi pointed with her finger.

"Ah... I remember now, he said you were the most beautiful art exam candidate."

"..."

"What, you're quite interested in him?"

The female student finished speaking and gave a very strange smile.

Zhang Jingyi's expression remained calm: "Do you think I look like a princess?"

"what???"

The female classmate was completely dumbfounded.

Why did Zhang Jingyi suddenly say that?

They hadn't talked about fairy tales before, had they?

"Are you OK?"

"Actually, this is quite outrageous. I heard Dean Han say that I'm like a little princess that day. Dean Han said to let it go, maybe he thinks I'm too young, but Lin Shaobai... thinks so too."

Zhang Jingyi blinked her bright eyes and looked at her classmate with great sincerity.

The female student gasped, her gaze slowly shifting to Lin Shaobai's back.

Could it be that Lin Shaobai has a crush on Zhang Jingyi?
That doesn't make sense.

After a while, the female classmate seemed to realize something, and she reached out and grabbed Zhang Jingyi's shoulder: "Is she trying to be sarcastic?"

Zhang Jingyi: "Irony?"

"Yes, think about what could be considered princess-like lately? Isn't it that red-clad princess who turned evil in 'Princess Agents'?"

Zhao Xiaodao's "Princess Agents" premiered on June 5, 2017, and was a hit drama. Lin Gengxin also became popular again because of this drama.

His game ID, "[The Dream of Nine Hundred Million Girls]", was also dug up and became a meme. At the time, Zhao Xiaodao was a traffic queen, and she almost exclusively acted in popular historical dramas. Who would have thought that she would later win the Feitian Award for Best Actress with "The Wind Blows in Half Summer" and take the path of a powerful actress?

Having such a substantial award puts them far ahead of other "85s" (a term referring to young, over 85% of people who are considered "experts" or "experts").

Zhang Jingyi's eyes suddenly widened when she heard what her classmate said.

Yes.

Chun'er.

Li Xiaoqin plays Yuan Chun.

That special feature is the princess.

"Could he be saying something bad about you?"

"..."

Zhang Jingyi lowered her eyelids, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Maybe not, and there's no reason for me to be sarcastic. I have no grudge against him."

"Oh, why are you saying all this? Our noodles are almost ready, let's go! Of all things, eating is the most important."

Zhang Jingyi was forcibly dragged by her classmates to the food counter to get her meal.

Holding the bowl of noodles, she found it increasingly strange.

A few minutes later, they chose to turn back and come to Lin Shaobai's dining table.

Guo Zifan and Lin Shaobai turned to look at her at the same time.

Lin Shaobai even had half a bowl of noodles in his mouth.

"What?"

As soon as he spoke, the noodles fell back into the bowl.

Zhang Jingyi stood upright with her hands on her plate, looking down, exuding an inexplicable air of aloofness.

"Lin Shaobai, are you saying I look like Princess Yuan Chun? The one who turned evil."

"..."

Lin Shaobai stood there awkwardly.

He thought for a moment and explained, "No."

Zhang Jingyi took a deep breath, and after getting the answer, she turned around and returned to her original spot to start eating her noodles.

Lin Shaobai thought she would continue to investigate, but it turned out she only wanted to get two words.

Guo Zifan punched Lin Shaobai's arm: "Hey, when did you two get so close?"

"You call this a good relationship?"

"You think your relationship isn't good? The way she looked at you back then was clearly different from how she looked at other guys."

"..."

Lin Shaobai turned to look at Zhang Jingyi.

Even when she eats, she is very quiet and elegant, showing excellent upbringing.

You clearly meant this kind of princess when you said it, so why did you think of Princess Agents?
"But she brought up 'Princess Agents'," Guo Zifan stirred the noodles in his bowl, "didn't that TV series just finish airing?"

"You still watch 'Princess Agents'?"

"As performing arts students, we often have to watch TV series and write reviews, especially those featuring famous actors."

"Oh."

"But I also have to practice singing and dancing at the same time."

Guo Zifan sighed deeply as he said this.

He became a member of X玖少年团 as the dance lead in 2016.

This is a male pop music group from mainland China.

Of course, most people haven't heard of it because it's relatively obscure.

The only time this group gained any recognition was because one of its members, Xiao Zhan, became famous.

Boy groups and girl groups formed in mainland China generally don't fare very well, unless they are groups that come out of a popular talent show, in which case they might get some attention.

For example, the boy groups that came from Idol Producer, the girl groups that came from Youth With You 2, the girl groups that came from Produce 101, and the boy groups that came from TF Entertainment's idol training program, such as Cheer Boys and TF Boys.

In other groups, it was almost impossible to find this person.

When it comes to boy and girl groups that are good at singing and dancing, South Korea is the best. South Korea's entertainment industry is indeed quite good.

Objectively speaking, the films and TV series are very well made, and it feels like any random extra would have great acting skills.

(End of this chapter)