Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 309, Section 307: The Basic Principles of Substitute Work and Recording

Even in August, the evening heat in Beijing is still stifling.

On the set of "The Proposal," a busy day of filming has just ended.

"Cut! Okay, that's a good take! The actors can wrap up now. Other departments, hurry up and pack up your equipment and clean up the set!" Executive director Wu Yiyi shouted through a megaphone, his voice tinged with fatigue but also with the ease of having successfully completed the task.

The atmosphere immediately shifted from intense quiet to noisy.

The lighting crew began packing up the massive lighting equipment, the sound crew carefully tidied up the expensive equipment, and the stagehands started moving various props.

Li Bingbing and Wang Zhiwen, the male and female leads, breathed a sigh of relief and walked towards the temporary rest area accompanied by their assistants.

Just then, two slender figures, led by crew members, quietly arrived at the edge of the set.

Cecilia Cheung and her agent, Li Xiuxiu, who accompanied her.

Cecilia Cheung had just finished a commercial performance for a high-end skincare product in Beijing. With her face still covered in exquisite makeup and wearing a Chanel dress from the latest season, she stood out conspicuously in the somewhat messy film set.

She glanced at Wang Sheng, who was whispering with Wu Yiyi not far away, pouted, and complained to Li Xiuxiu beside her, "Sister Xiuxiu, look at him, he's so busy. I haven't even officially acted in a movie he directed yet!"

Her tone carried a hint of coquettishness and a barely perceptible sourness.

After signing with Enlight Media, she debuted as the champion of "Super Girl" and accumulated a lot of popularity with film and television works such as "The Four" and "King of Comedy". She is especially popular in the field of commercial performances in mainland China, but she has not yet played the lead role in a film directed by Wang Sheng.

Seeing her sister Li Bingbing, who was making her film debut as the lead actress in a Lunar New Year film, Cecilia Cheung's competitive spirit and sense of imbalance resurfaced.

Li Xiuxiu was dressed in a well-fitting beige business suit today, exuding a capable and efficient air. Upon hearing this, she smiled slightly, patted Zhang Bozhi's arm, and whispered reassuringly, "Azhi, your career path is different. You're now involved in television, commercial performances, and endorsements, and you have such high national recognition. President Wang knows this. Opportunities will definitely come; just be patient."

Her gaze, however, bypassed Cecilia Cheung and landed on the young director who was vaguely surrounded by the crowd, a complex emotion flashing deep in her eyes.

She and her sister Li Bingbing came from ordinary backgrounds, but through their own hard work and good talent, they climbed up the ranks in the industry step by step.

Being able to sign with Sheng Ying Group and quickly gain important roles, Li Bingbing even landed the lead role in a Lunar New Year film personally directed by Wang Sheng, which seemed like an instant meteoric rise to fame to outsiders.

But the more this is the case, the more one feels "overwhelmed with gratitude" and even "anxious and uneasy".

When the two sisters talked privately, they asked themselves if they had "gone all out" like Cecilia Cheung at an early age, nor did they have the kind of "special favor" that Fan Xiaopang and Gao Yuanyuan had.

These top-tier resources, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, leave them with a sense of unreality and a vague unease amidst their joy—in this circle, gaining something often means paying a corresponding price.

What they have given seems far from enough, or rather, the "critical moment" has not yet arrived.

Li Bingbing once complained to her sister in private: "President Wang is... a little too good to us, so good that it makes us uneasy."

This feeling of "getting top-tier resources without putting in much effort" is like a tiny thorn that occasionally pricks them.

The two did not immediately go forward to disturb them, but simply watched from a distance.

Wang Shengzheng and Wu Yiyi were seen reviewing today's footage on the monitor, occasionally exchanging a few words of advice.

Not long after, the conversation between Wang Sheng and Wu Yiyi seemed to come to an end.

Wu Yi nodded and left to arrange the follow-up work.

Seeing this, Li Xiuxiu suppressed her unease, put on a professional smile again, and pulled Zhang Bozhi over.

"President Wang," Li Xiuxiu said in a clear, crisp voice, with just the right amount of respect.

Wang Sheng turned around at the sound of their voices, saw the two of them, and nodded: "Did Azhi have a good commercial performance today?"

His gaze swept over Cecilia Cheung calmly and naturally.

"It went very smoothly, thank you for your concern, Mr. Wang," Cecilia Cheung replied quickly, a sweet smile blooming on her face.

Li Xiuxiu picked up the conversation, her tone carrying a hint of seeking permission: "President Wang, Bingbing is feeling especially grateful for playing the female lead in your movie for the first time, and would like to treat everyone to dinner out of her own pocket, to get together. I wonder if that would be convenient for you?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Sheng looked at Li Bingbing, who was talking to his assistant not far away.

Li Bingbing seemed to sense the gaze and looked over as well, her eyes showing a hint of nervousness.

"It's perfectly normal for the lead actor to treat the crew to a meal to express their gratitude."

Wang Sheng spoke casually, glancing at the assistant director beside him: "Go and inform them."

The assistant director smiled and agreed, "Okay, Director Wang, this is a great opportunity to improve our meals. I don't think anyone will refuse."

Wang Sheng thought for a moment and then added, "I haven't had dinner either, let's eat together."

His words were tantamount to an agreement to attend. Li Xiuxiu was overjoyed and quickly said, "Thank you, Mr. Wang!"

Wang Sheng's presence undoubtedly elevated the dinner party to a whole new level.

This is not just about giving Li Bingbing face, but also about sending a signal to everyone in the crew—he values ​​this film and recognizes Li Bingbing as the female lead.

……

That evening, the dinner was held in a private room at a well-known Shandong cuisine restaurant.

Several large round tables were packed with people, creating a lively atmosphere.

Wang Sheng, naturally the backbone, sat at a table with executive director Wu Yiyi, lead actors Wang Zhiwen and Li Bingbing, as well as heads of core departments such as cinematography, art direction, and production.

As Li Bingbing's sister and Zhang Bozhi's agent, Li Xiuxiu naturally sat at this table, as Zhang Bozhi was a popular artist in the company.

During the meal, toasts were exchanged and laughter filled the air.

Li Bingbing had clearly dressed up carefully, wearing an elegant yet feminine dress. Holding her wine glass, she solemnly toasted Wang Sheng again: "Director Wang, thank you so much for giving me this opportunity. I will definitely work harder and live up to your trust and the company's cultivation."

Her tone was sincere, even carrying a hint of barely perceptible excitement.

Wang Sheng raised his teacup in a gesture of respect, his expression calm: "The company gave you this opportunity because they saw your potential and hard work."

Your acting skills and attitude are evident to everyone. The project "The Proposal Marriage" needs an actress like you to bring the female lead to life.

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the others present, his voice not loud but clearly audible: "At Shengying, as long as you are willing to work hard and have the ability, the company will give you opportunities. This is something I have always emphasized."

……

After three rounds of wine, five flavors of food.

Wang Sheng got up and left his seat to go to the restroom.

Li Xiuxiu watched his figure disappear through the door, hesitated for a moment, and finally took a deep breath, whispered to Zhang Bozhi beside her, "I'm going to touch up my makeup," and then got up and followed him out.

The corridor was relatively quiet, isolated from the noise of the private rooms.

As Wang Sheng came out of the restroom and was wiping his hands with a tissue, he saw Li Xiuxiu standing quietly by the window not far away in the corridor, seemingly waiting for him.

"Manager Li, is something the matter?"

Wang Sheng was somewhat surprised. He threw the tissue into the trash can next to him and walked over.

He thought Li Xiuxiu wanted to say something more on behalf of her sister, or to fight for some resources for Zhang Bozhi.

Outside the window, the night view of Beijing unfolds, with neon lights flashing.

Li Xiuxiu took a few steps over and faced Wang Sheng. The dim light in the corridor cast an ambiguous shadow on her face.

She seemed a little nervous; her fingers unconsciously curled slightly, but her gaze was unusually firm as she stared directly at Wang Sheng.

“Mr. Wang,” her voice was a little lower than usual, with a resolute air of determination, “there’s something I… want to tell you.”

"Okay, go ahead." Wang Sheng looked at her leisurely, waiting for her to continue.

Li Xiuxiu paused for a moment, as if organizing her thoughts, and then, in a tone that was almost direct and even had a hint of transaction, she clearly said, "Azhi... she's not feeling well today, she's on her period."

However, Li Xiuxiu wasn't finished speaking.

She took a few more steps closer, lowering her voice even further, yet each word reached Wang Sheng's ears clearly: "If you need anything tonight,"

A blush inevitably crept onto her cheeks, but her eyes showed no sign of flinching. "I can do it for you."

The air seemed to freeze at this moment.

Immortal jump?
Nowadays, it is essential to understand the basic principles of recording. Runjin Xishan and Wang Sheng both thoroughly searched the other party.

"Manager Li, please have some self-respect."

After Wang Sheng finished speaking, he walked towards the private room without looking back.

Li Xiuxiu blushed instantly.

She's a young, unmarried woman, and after making such a clear advance, she was still rejected. It's really hurtful to her self-esteem!

(End of this chapter)