Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 220, Section 218: A Wave of the Sleeve

Inside the main room, the charcoal fire burned brightly, dispelling the chill of early spring in the outskirts of Beijing, but it could not dispel the tension and anticipation in the hearts of the young actors.

The sounds of dialogue, discussion, and occasional laughter mingled together, adding a touch of life to this old house.

Director Lee Kuk-li sat in the main seat, his eyes sharp as he scanned each actor reciting their lines, occasionally jotting something down in his notebook.

When he habitually shifted his gaze toward the doorway, he was suddenly startled, and then a warm yet measured smile quickly spread across his face.

He raised his hand and patted it lightly, the sound not loud, but enough for everyone present to notice: "Everyone, please stop for a moment."

The reading abruptly stopped, and everyone's eyes turned curiously to Li Guoli, wondering why the director had suddenly called a halt.

Li Guoli had already stood up and walked quickly towards the door, his tone filled with obvious respect and welcome: "President Wang! When did you arrive? Why didn't you let us know in advance so we could prepare?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire hall became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Mr. Wang?
Which Mr. Wang?
Almost everyone's mind flashed to the same name, and their eyes were all focused on the young man in the dark jacket who had appeared at the door at some unknown time.

Wang Sheng walked in with a faint smile and shook hands with Li Guoli, who came to greet him: "Director Li, no need to be so polite. I just happened to be passing by and stopped by to see everyone. I hope I didn't disturb your work?"

"No, no! It's an honor for our entire crew to have you visit the set, Mr. Wang!" Li Guoli quickly said, then turned around to face the group of actors who were either bewildered, surprised, or excited. He raised his voice and formally introduced, "Come on, everyone, let's get to know each other. This is Mr. Wang Sheng, the general manager of Shengying Media and Enlight Media! He is also the person in charge and investor of our 'The Legendary Twins' project!"

Despite having their own suspicions, a chorus of soft gasps still rose in the room upon hearing Director Li's confirmation.

This is Wang Sheng?!

The "chief" who is famous in Beijing's film and television circles and even the whole country?
A legendary figure who supposedly turned stones into gold, single-handedly made Cecilia Cheung a star, produced hit TV series such as "30 Days" and "The Pursuit of Happyness," and even chatted with high-ranking officials of Beijing Film Studio and China Film Group.

He's so young!
He looked to be in his early twenties, younger than many of the actors present.

But the way he stood there, calm and composed, with an undeniable sense of control in his gaze, was a stark contrast to his age.

"Hello, Mr. Wang!"

"Hello, Mr. Wang!"

After a brief silence, a cacophony of greetings erupted as everyone stood up, their faces displaying expressions of respect, curiosity, or nervousness.

The two male leads, Lin Zhiyin and Su Youpeng, both from Taiwan, also abandoned their previous casualness, stood up straight, and greeted the audience in heavily accented Mandarin, their eyes filled with curiosity and scrutiny.

When they came to the mainland to film, they naturally heard of Wang Sheng's reputation and knew that he was the "big shot" who could truly determine their development prospects here.

Fan Xiaopang and Gao Yuanyuan's eyes lit up instantly when they saw Wang Sheng.

Fan Xiaopang couldn't help but smile. If it weren't for the inappropriate occasion, he probably would have jumped up to greet him long ago.

Gao Yuanyuan pursed her lips slightly, a hint of barely perceptible joy shimmering in her clear eyes as she quietly looked at him.

Among the crowd, Li Bingbing stood tall and straight. Unlike the others, she did not show her emotions too openly, but her cool eyes carefully examined Wang Sheng.

Just as my sister said, he was very tall and had a straight posture. His appearance wasn't the typical pretty boy type, but rather more rugged and handsome, with a calm and... in my sister's words, an aura of "everything is under control".

He's very young, but his demeanor is undeniable.

Wang Sheng's gaze swept calmly across the room, taking in everyone's reactions. He smiled slightly and gestured with his hand, saying, "Hello everyone, please sit down. There's no need to be shy. I just happened to be passing by. You can continue with your work and pretend I'm not here."

That's what they say, but with the big boss present, who can really pretend he doesn't exist?
Li Guoli quickly instructed people to bring Wang Sheng a chair and pour him hot tea.

Wang Sheng didn't put on airs. He sat down next to Li Guoli and said to everyone, "I listened for a while and the atmosphere seemed good. Director Li is strict, and everyone is preparing diligently, which is a good thing. 'The Legendary Twins' is the company's key project this year, and I hope everyone can give their best and do a good job on this project."

His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly, carrying a sense of encouragement and expectation. Everyone nodded in agreement.

Wang Sheng then casually asked, "Are you getting used to life in Beijing? If you encounter any difficulties in your life or training, you can mention it to the production team or your company."

Lin Zhiyin and Su Youpeng, as the male leads, were the first to express their gratitude, saying that the crew had made very thoughtful arrangements. The other actors echoed their sentiments, and the atmosphere relaxed a bit.

Wang Sheng's gaze swept across the crowd, finally settling on Fan Xiaopang, Gao Yuanyuan, and Li Bingbing. He smiled and said to Li Guoli, "Director Li, may I have a few words with these artists from our company?"

Li Guoli immediately understood: "Of course, Mr. Wang, please go ahead."

As he spoke, he gestured to the others that they could rest for a while and move around freely, but not go too far.

Upon hearing this, Fan Xiaopang, Gao Yuanyuan, and Li Bingbing all came over.

"President Wang." The three of them spoke almost simultaneously.

Fan Xiaopang's face was beaming with an undisguised smile, tinged with a hint of smugness, as if to say, "See, I did a great job, didn't I?"

Gao Yuanyuan appeared slightly shy, but her eyes were clear.

Li Bingbing, on the other hand, was poised and graceful, displaying a professional level of respect.

Wang Sheng looked at them, first at the most lively Fan Xiaopang, and teased, "Xiaopang, when I heard you reciting your lines just now, you were a bit too forceful. Tie Xinlan is gentle on the outside but tough on the inside, she's not always ready to fight, so tone it down."

Fan Xiaopang stuck out his tongue and quickly nodded, "I understand, Mr. Wang! I'll think about it again later."

Wang Sheng then looked at Gao Yuanyuan, his tone softening: "Yuanyuan, Su Ying is a difficult character to play. She is intelligent, calm, and a bit eccentric. She doesn't have many lines, but her eyes and micro-expressions are very important. Read the script more and understand the logic behind her behavior."

Gao Yuanyuan nodded earnestly: "Yes, I will, Mr. Wang."

Finally, his gaze fell on Li Bingbing, with a hint of scrutiny and a hint of approval: "Li Bingbing?"

"Yes, Mr. Wang," Li Bingbing replied neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"The Palace Mistress of Yaoyue has a strong presence and excellent delivery of lines." Wang Sheng nodded approvingly: "This character is rich in layers. If you can grasp her obsession and pain of turning love into hate, she will be outstanding."

Li Bingbing was surprised that Wang Sheng would directly comment on her performance. She was slightly moved, but calmly replied, "Thank you for your affirmation, Mr. Wang. I will continue to work hard and understand the character well."

"The three of you are all artists that the company is focusing on."

Wang Sheng looked at them, his tone becoming more serious: "The Legendary Twins is a great platform. Seize the opportunity and perform well. The company has many projects to come, and we need all kinds of talent. Acting skills are the foundation of your career. Learn more from Director Li, learn from your seniors, and push yourself to the limit."

"Yes, Mr. Wang!" the three replied in unison.

A few simple words of conversation served as both encouragement and guidance.

Fan Xiaopang toned down his playful nature, Gao Yuanyuan became more composed, while Li Bingbing felt a sense of pressure and motivation from being valued.

After sitting for a while longer and chatting with Li Guoli about the overall preparation progress and follow-up arrangements for the film crew, Wang Sheng got up to say goodbye.

He arrived suddenly and left just as abruptly, without significantly disrupting the crew's normal work.

But his visit to the set was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples in the hearts of many actors.

The three female celebrities who were spoken to separately, in particular, had very different thoughts...

(End of this chapter)