Entertainment: 1990

Chapter 444 Li Xue Takes Office
the other side.

After Chang Jihong and Gai Lili separated, she did not leave the film and television base, but went to the crew of "Xi Chu Ba Wang" - however, she did not go to find the crew of "Xi Chu Ba Wang", but went to find Wang Luyao.

Wang Luyao led her team back to Tianjin the day before yesterday. She originally wanted to rest in the dormitory, but people from the dance troupe came to her door every day, either for a role in "The Age of Glory" or for a chance to appear on the Spring Festival Gala.

She was so annoyed that she simply hid in the film crew of "The Hegemon-King of Western Chu" under the pretext of looking after Wang Yan.

Meanwhile, Wang Luyao was flipping through the script for the role in "The Age of Glory" that she had just received when she saw Chang Jihong coming over. She asked in surprise, "Sister Chang, what brings you here? Is there something you need?"

"It's nothing serious."

Chang Jihong looked around to make sure no one was watching, then told them about Li Xue's decision to drop out of school and work. She then asked in a low voice, "What is Li Xue's relationship with President Zhang and President Chen? Does she need any extra help?"

"She dropped out of school?"

Wang Luyao hadn't expected today's 'young people' to be so decisive, but thinking of Wang Yan, who had been urgently urging her to act as a matchmaker, she felt relieved.

Being a celebrity is very different now than it used to be. Celebrities in the 80s didn't earn much money, but now, as long as you become famous, earning a million or two a year is not a problem.

When fame and fortune are combined, how many young people can resist the temptation?

After figuring this out, Wang Luyao said to Chang Jihong, "I guess they must have been blessed, but things are different now. As long as President Zhang and President Chen don't personally interfere, just do what you need to do and don't take them too seriously."

Logically speaking, such things should be kept secret, but that's the way things are in the industry. Besides, Wang Luyao is practically a mistress who's already openly involved with the family, so she doesn't hold back when talking to her old colleagues.

Of course, on the other hand, Wang Luyao also deliberately wanted to get along well with Chang Jihong.

Wang Jinghua is senior and has a high status. Even Wang Luyao, her concubine, is afraid of her. Therefore, if she wants to recommend her dancers to the film crew, getting in touch with Chang Jihong is the best option.

After hearing this, Chang Jihong understood the situation.

Her main concern was the arrival of another concubine—Gaili was already troublesome enough, and if another concubine came along to attack from both sides, she really wouldn't know how to get along with her subordinates in the future.

So Chang Jihong returned the favor and changed the subject, saying, "Besides Wang Yan, isn't Li Xiaoran the most outstanding dancer in your troupe? Did she sign up for the audition this time?"

"Reported."

Wang Luyao waved the script in her hand: "I think the male lead's ideal woman is quite suitable for her."

You have to admit, the male lead is different. In the show, he not only has a comprador rival, but also a white moonlight and a cinnabar mole—the seven main characters are three men and four women.

Chang Jihong thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "This role doesn't really require much acting skill—okay, I'll keep an eye out for it and see if it's suitable."

This "white moonlight" character appears with two filters: beauty and arrogance. Apart from that, the character is rather flat, making her the least challenging character among the seven main characters.

…………

Just as the two were exchanging pleasantries, Li Xue had already arrived at the Dream Building.

She asked at the front desk for Xu Zhenghui's office address, then temporarily stored her luggage in the lobby. Just as she was about to take the elevator to the fourth floor, the elevator doors opened and Niu Li walked out.

"Niu Li?!"

"Li Xue!"

Two temporary roommates unexpectedly reunited and couldn't help but excitedly hug each other.

"Please give way."

Just then, an impatient voice came from behind, and the two quickly made way for another passenger in the elevator to leave first.

Niu Li gestured towards the other person's back and said, "We're from Beijing Film Academy. We just auditioned for 'The Age of Glory' together, and we both got the second female lead role—by the way, her name is also Li, Yuan Li."

No wonder he was so rude earlier; he was a competitor.

After Niu Li registered, she had nothing else to do. When she heard that Li Xue was going to report to the fourth floor, she simply accompanied her upstairs.

Hearing in the elevator that Li Xue had taken a leave of absence from school, she wasn't surprised at all; on the contrary, she agreed wholeheartedly: "Your lousy major isn't worth studying anyway, it's a good thing you jumped out early. Let me tell you, now... Mr. Zhang?!"

Niu Li was gesturing wildly when the elevator doors suddenly opened, revealing Zhang Yan waiting outside. She was so startled her voice changed instantly. "Niu Li, right?"

Zhang Yan laughed and said, "You're the only one from the Military Arts Academy in our company, so you have to make your school proud."

"I...I...will...do it..."

Niu Li nodded haphazardly, but Li Xue pulled her back, and she remembered that she needed to get out of the elevator.

Zhang Yan didn't speak to Li Xue at all, only nodding slightly to her.

As the elevator doors closed and began to descend, Niu Li clutched her chest, still shaken, and whispered, "That scared me to death. Thank goodness I didn't say anything bad about our company."

Li Xue glanced at her sideways and joked, "Do you often talk badly about the company?"

"I was just using an example!"

Niu Li patted her on the shoulder, then, seeing that no one was in the hallway, leaned close to Li Xue's ear and asked, "How was the experience with President Zhang?"

"What does it taste like?"

Li Xue asked the question knowingly. She and Niu Li had a good relationship, but it wasn't to this extent.

Moreover, while a concubine like Wang Luyao, who has already gone through the proper channels, can be a little more outrageous, she doesn't even have the right to call Zhang Yan directly, so how could she dare to talk nonsense outside?
"I'm not going to tell anyone!"

Niu Li's eyes lit up as she said, "President Zhang is like a piece of Tang Sanzang's flesh in the industry now; taking a bite will make you ascend to heaven in broad daylight..."

Why don't you say "even the chickens and dogs ascend to heaven"?

Li Xue rolled her eyes at Niu Li, thinking to herself that there would definitely be many benefits, but as for ascending to heaven in broad daylight... only President Chen, the empress, could be considered to have such an opportunity.

"That's me."

Niu Li pointed to herself and said, "If it weren't for your help, I wouldn't have gotten into Yuanmeng so easily—you know about Mr. Zhang's speech at the Broadcasting Academy the other day? I heard that a lot of people were crying and begging to get into Yuanmeng!"

“I was there at the time.”

Li Xue really didn't want to discuss the Tang Monk's flesh with her, so she changed the subject, saying, "There were indeed quite a few people who went at the time, but they weren't crying and shouting—let's not talk about this anymore, come on, come on, come with me to report for duty first."

After saying that, he led Niu Li to the office of the deputy director of the film and television group.

Li Xue knocked on the door, and a quick reply came from inside: "Come in."

She gestured for Niu Li to wait outside, then pushed open the door and bowed slightly, saying, "Hello, Director Xu."

"Just call me Brother Xu from now on."

While scrolling through his contacts, Xu Zhenghui pointed to the sofa opposite him, signaling Li Xue to wait a moment. Then, while dialing a number, he said, "In our company, when it comes to directors, it's Director Wang Zhongqi. No one else dares to overstep their bounds... It's me, Xu Zhenghui!"
We need to work on that grading system. Manager Wang just ordered that, while everyone's gathered for casting, we should take them on a tour of the dormitories. We can then post the grading system there; it'll motivate them to strive for excellence, won't it?"

After hanging up the phone, Xu Zhenghui looked at Li Xue again and smiled, "This isn't the first time we've met, so let's skip the formalities. Chang Jie and I are very happy that you've officially joined our film and television team. By the way, do you have a lot of luggage? Do you need to buy any daily necessities?"

As he spoke, he pulled a car key out of the drawer: "Can you drive? Our film crew currently has a van and a pickup truck. If you can drive, it will be much more convenient to get things done in the future."

Li Xue hurriedly replied, "I just got my driver's license; Mr. Zhang made me learn!"

After she finished speaking, she realized that she might have said something wrong, so she quickly covered it up by saying, "I was working as an assistant to Mr. Chen Daoming at the time, and Mr. Zhang only gave me a few pointers because of Mr. Chen's reputation."

However, this cover-up seems more like a case of protesting too much.

Li Xue, being intelligent, would never make such a basic mistake. The reason she deliberately created a flaw was naturally to gain preferential treatment from Xu Zhenghui.

After all, she really did have an affair with President Zhang.

Unfortunately, the flirtatious glances were cast at the blind man. Xu Zhenghui suddenly realized and said, "I see—okay, I'll find someone to give you directions. I won't arrange a driver. You can drive to the dormitory yourself."

(End of this chapter)