The Common Man's Return in Chinese Entertainment

Ma Zhongjun waved his hand, "Alright, eat and drink your fill and hurry back, don't stay out too late."

"Okay, Mr. Ma, Sister Cheng Qian, I'll be going now."

"Okay, drive carefully and be safe."

"it is good."

After Ji Qingxu left the private room, Ma Zhongjun smiled and took a sip of wine, "That little guy is really smart."

Cheng Qian smiled and said, "Mr. Ma, Qing is probably acting so casually because she regards you as a close elder."

Ma Zhongjun smiled and said, "It seems you think highly of him."

Cheng Qian smiled and ladled out a bowl of soup, handing it to him. "If Mr. Ma thinks highly of him, then I think highly of him too."

Ma Zhongjun smiled, picked up the soup bowl, and drank it. After a couple of sips, he suddenly said, "Let's cancel the previous plan."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Qian asked in surprise, "Nie Yuan doesn't want him anymore?"

Ma Zhongjun put down the soup bowl and wiped his mouth with a tissue. "No, thank you. Although Nie Yuan is more famous than Qing Xu now and his career is going well, he is six years older than Qing Xu. He debuted in 2000 and has only achieved so much in all this time. I estimate that his ceiling is only a second-tier artist. He may have a chance to become a first-tier artist, but he will never become the most popular one. Qing Xu has more potential than him. After these dramas air, Qing Xu may be able to catch up with him in terms of fame."

After a pause, Ma Zhongjun let out a soft sigh. "Moreover, Qingxu is the first artist I personally signed. With that factor in mind, if we were to sign Nie Yuan as well, what would he think? What would the people in the company think? What would outsiders think? This would be detrimental to the future development of Ciwen Oriental Performing Arts Agency. Besides, Qingxu is no pushover. He's managed to endure staying in Hai Run for several years. If we were to actually do that, it would be a losing proposition."

"What if Qingxu develops and there are even better options..."

Ma Zhongjun waved his hand, "No, firstly, no company would offer better treatment than me. Which company would sign a new actor who gets the male lead in their first role? Secondly, Qingxu is a martial artist. Lao Kou told me that since Qingxu joined him, many people have tried to poach him, but he hasn't been tempted. From my observation, Qingxu isn't the kind of person who is heartless and ungrateful. He has a bit of a stubborn personality; as long as you don't provoke him, you'll be fine."

At this point, Ma Zhongjun touched his bald head and said, "I am 46 years old this year. Qingxu signed an 8-year contract with us. I may have retired by the time the contract is up to the next generation. I hope that Qingxu and I can create a beautiful story together."

Hearing Ma Zhongjun's explanation, Cheng Qian nodded gently, "I understand."

......

Back in the car, Ji Qingxu asked with a smile, "Brother Chong, have you eaten?"

Zhang Zhong replied with a smile, "I ate. I ate with Mr. Ma's driver. It was a very good meal."

Upon hearing this, Ji Qingxu smiled and glanced at Cuihua Tower outside the car window. "Let's go back to the hotel."

"it is good."

As the car drove away from the parking lot, Ji Qingxu recalled the scene of the three of them chatting during dinner that evening.

A chorus performance at the Spring Festival Gala?

As for how effective it would be, Ji Qingxu wasn't sure. In his previous life, when he watched the Spring Festival Gala, he basically had no impression of the singers in the chorus.

However, this is probably the limit that Ciwen Media can achieve. After all, Ciwen Media's headquarters are in Zhejiang Province, and compared with these local companies in Beijing, Ciwen Media is still somewhat lacking in some aspects.

Although there was some regret, Ji Qingxu was still very happy to have the opportunity to participate in the Spring Festival Gala. At least compared to those artists who never appeared on the Spring Festival Gala stage in their entire lives, when the news of his appearance on the Spring Festival Gala stage spread, he wondered how many people would be envious and jealous, especially his classmates at school.

The Spring Festival Gala of today is not the same as the Spring Festival Gala of later generations. The Spring Festival Gala of today can be said to be the most prestigious and best publicity platform in China, without exception.

Ji Qingxu wondered how much fame participating in the Spring Festival Gala would increase his chances. He expressed his anticipation.

Then Ji Qingxu thought of the talent agency that Ma Zhongjun had mentioned earlier, and chuckled as he knocked on the car window. He wondered which artists Ciwen Media would recruit, whether there would be any familiar "rising stars," or whether there would be any rivals who wanted to challenge him. Ji Qingxu was quite curious about the talent agency that Ciwen Media was about to establish.

......

Filming days pass quickly, and before long it was National Day in October.

With the arrival of National Day, the filming of the movie crew was inevitably greatly affected. Even though it was still 2003, there were still countless tourists visiting Beijing during the National Day holiday.

It was basically impossible to film on location because the filming locations for "Beijing, My Love" in Beijing were all popular tourist attractions, and there were too many people watching the spectacle.

Even though the main cast members, such as Ji Qingxu, weren't exactly big stars, the veteran actors like Si Qin, Gao Wa, and Pan Hong were very famous, attracting a large audience.

So the crew has been mainly shooting interior scenes these past few days, and they only shoot for six or seven hours a day, finishing around five o'clock in the afternoon. It has to be said that the crew schedule at Zhuangdianer TV station is very different from the crew schedule that Ji Qingxu has experienced before. No wonder so many people want to work for state-owned enterprises.

After finishing work and removing her makeup that day, Ji Qingxu had just stepped out of the dressing room when Han Caiying approached her. "Qingxu, want to have dinner together tonight?"

Ji Qingxu asked with a smile, "What would you like to eat?"

Han Chae-young gestured wildly, "Crabs! I heard it's crab season now."

Upon hearing this, Ji Qingxu chuckled and said, "You have quite the appetite. Okay, then we'll have crabs for dinner tonight."

"How about I join?"

Seeing Sun Feifei walk up from behind and say this, Ji Qingxu glanced at Han Caiying, who had just subtly rolled her eyes, and said with a smile, "Okay, let's go together then. Do you want to go back to the hotel to change?"

The two said in unison, "Yes."

"Then I'll wait for you downstairs at the hotel."

"it is good."

......

"Please grant my request!"

Hearing the familiar voice, Ji Qingxu opened his eyes and saw two women standing in front of him. He subconsciously glanced at his watch. Damn, it was already past seven o'clock. The two of them had spent two hours getting ready.

Noticing Ji Qingxu's actions, both women showed a hint of embarrassment.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Qingxu, you must be starving. I'll treat you later."

"Let me do it, it's my treat."

"I'm here, you're the guests, so it's my treat."

Hearing the two women arguing, Ji Qingxu said speechlessly, "Ladies, shall we set off first?"

The two girls chuckled and nodded obediently.

The three of them then walked out of the hotel. Ji Qingxu glanced at the two women beside him and raised an eyebrow.

It's unclear whether the two are on the same wavelength, but their outfits are somewhat similar. Han Chae-young is wearing a white tank top, denim shorts, and a dark shirt, while Sun Feifei is wearing a pink tank top, white shorts, and a yellow shirt. Both women are around 170cm tall, with very eye-catching long legs. And if Ji Qingxu isn't mistaken, both women are only wearing some coverings, making them look exceptionally sexy.

After getting into the car, Zhang Chong glanced at the rearview mirror. Ji Qingxu was sitting in the middle, with the two women sitting next to him. Seeing this, Zhang Chong thought to himself that his martial uncle was really popular with women.

"Qingxu, let's go."

"it is good."

......

Zhengyanglou is a restaurant in Beijing that is very famous for its crab dishes.

Ji Qingxu and the other two will have their meal here today. As for Zhang Zhong, he will take care of himself later. Unless necessary, Zhang Zhong never eats with Ji Qingxu. After Ji Qingxu told him several times, Zhang Zhong still did the same, so Ji Qingxu stopped trying to persuade him.

Zhengyanglou is famous not only for its crabs, but also for its delicious mutton hot pot. The three of us ordered a pot of mutton hot pot and some crabs.

After ordering, Ji Qingxu said with a smile, "It's best to drink some Shaoxing wine with crab. How about we each have a bottle?"

"it is good."

"I'll do as you say."

So they ordered three more jugs of one-jin (500ml) yellow wine.

When the crabs arrived, Ji Qingxu declined the waiter's offer to demonstrate how to eat them, and said with a smile, "I'll teach you."

Sun Feifei praised, "Qingxu, you seem to have a great appetite."

"Qingxu, you're amazing."

Ji Qingxu smiled, picked up a crab, and then picked up scissors to start dismantling it.

As a second-generation rich kid who spends all his time eating, drinking, and having fun, Ji Qingxu certainly has some skill when it comes to food.

Wow, that's amazing.

"Watching Qingxu play is like watching art."

"..."

As the crabs were being dismantled, the two women showered him with compliments. Ji Qingxu remained silent and smiled throughout. Once one crab was finished, seeing the two women staring at him expectantly, Ji Qingxu smiled and placed the crab in Han Caiying's bowl. "Caiying, you're the guest, so the first one is for you. Feifei, the second one is for you."

The two women exchanged a glance, and Han Chae-young smiled and said, "Then I won't be polite."

"Thank you for your help, Qingxu."