Seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune, I became a legend in the entertainment industry by avo

Chapter 204 The Bottom Line Must Not Be Crossed

someday.

After filming Lu Ran and Huang Xiaoxian's scenes, Teng Huatao watched the footage on the monitor and looked up at Zhang Qilin: "Qilin's turn just now was great. He really captured Lu Ran's awkwardness of wanting to greet someone but not knowing where to start. It was very natural."

Zhang Qilin smiled modestly: "Thank you, Director. It's all thanks to Sister Bai for the good role I played."

This was just a perfectly normal exchange between a director and an actor.

However, Sun Jile, who was standing to the side, glanced between Teng Huatao and Zhang Qilin and snorted almost inaudibly.

These days, the more he looks at Zhang Qilin, the more an eyesore he finds him.

Since his two dramas became huge hits, he has become the center of attention wherever he goes, and all the actors have to fawn over him.

This is the norm in the film and television industry, and he doesn't see anything wrong with it.

However, Zhang Qilin did not.

It's not that I don't respect you, it's that I don't try to please you.

The tone he used when talking to himself was the same as the tone he used when talking to the stagehands.

At first, he thought the kid was just clueless.

I don't understand the subtle differences in the entertainment industry.

Later, he gradually realized what was going on.

Zhang Qilin wasn't ignorant of the rules; he just didn't feel inferior to him.

Sun Jile grew angrier the more he thought about it. How dare a newcomer who had just emerged on the scene sit on equal footing with him?

With two hugely popular dramas under his belt, he is a prominent figure in the industry.

Let alone a newcomer like Zhang Qilin.

Even if it's his own fellow townsman who offends him, he'll still make the other person lose face at the press conference.

What made Sun Jile even more dissatisfied was that during a break in filming, Director Teng took the initiative to sit next to Zhang Qilin and chatted for nearly twenty minutes.

Sun Jile didn't know what they were talking about, but he saw Director Teng laughing relaxedly, which made him feel inexplicably threatened.

Having been in this industry for many years, he knows exactly how to quickly rise to the top.

Zhang Qilin, relying on his handsome face, tries to make his presence known to Director Teng every day, hoping to steal his resources by using his good looks.

With his wife around, Director Teng will definitely give him priority in resources, but sometimes, a whispered word from his wife can lead to anything.

Sun Jile felt he had to teach him a lesson and let him know that a newcomer should act like a newcomer.

Don't always dream of instant success.

You have to be obedient in front of him.

Zhang Qilin was unaware of Sun Jile's inner thoughts.

He always thought that as long as he didn't take sides, didn't talk too much, and cooperated with the filming, he could safely get through the rest of the scenes.

In a group scene, Lu Ran, Huang Xiaoxian, and Wang Xiaojian appear in the same scene at the same time.

After filming, Teng Huatao, as usual, asked the actors to come and watch the playback.

"Qi Lin performed very well this time," Teng Huatao pointed to the monitor. "Look at his eyes, the feeling of wanting to say something but holding back is particularly well done."

Zhang Qilin smiled modestly and said nothing.

He caught a glimpse of Sun Jile out of the corner of his eye.

Sun Jile stood next to the monitor. He didn't watch the playback, but stared at Zhang Qilin for a few seconds before looking away.

Seeing Sun Jile's eyes, Zhang Qilin's heart skipped a beat.

Lu Ran's role was already small, and he tried his best not to steal the spotlight in any scene, ensuring that Wang Xiaojian was the absolute visual focus.

But he couldn't control Teng Huatao's praise.

Is Sun Jile going to overthink this little thing again?

As it turns out, he underestimated the narrow-mindedness and darkness in some people's hearts.

In the following days, the atmosphere on set became noticeably more delicate.

Sun Jile deliberately or unintentionally picked on Zhang Qilin on various occasions.

Sometimes it's during rehearsals when someone suddenly says, "Your emotion just now wasn't right," and sometimes it's during breaks when someone says in front of everyone, "Newcomers still need more practice and experience."

Zhang Qilin would just smile and not respond.

He knew Sun Jile was doing it on purpose, but he didn't want to make a big deal out of it.

Once, during the filming of a simple dialogue scene, Sun Jile made Zhang Qilin do seven takes in a row.

"Stop!" Sun Jile suddenly raised his hand. "Director, his eyes were wandering when he was saying his lines. He wasn't looking me in the eye."

""

Zhang Qilin knew perfectly well that he had been looking into Sun Jile's eyes the whole time.

But he didn't say anything, he just nodded: "Okay, Brother Le, I'll do one more take."

After the eighth take was filmed, Sun Jile nitpicked again: "This time the eyes are right, but the tone is too flat, without any variation."

Teng Huatao sat behind the monitor, his brows furrowed.

He looked at Sun Jile, then at Zhang Qilin: "Qilin, try to find the feeling again."

Zhang Qilin adjusted his state.

Article 9, passed on the first try.

As she finished work, Sister Bai passed by Zhang Qilin with a meaningful smile on her face.

He knew that many people in the crew were just watching the spectacle.

A rising star versus a newcomer – this unequal contest seemed destined to have a predetermined outcome to outsiders.

That evening, Teng Huatao subtly reminded Sun Jile, "Le'er, everyone is trying to make this movie a success. There's no need to make some things too obvious."

2

Sun Jile pretended to be nonchalant and said, "Director Teng, is there something I did wrong?"

Teng Huatao glanced at him and said, "Qi Lin is a very hardworking kid with good acting skills. As a senior, you should mentor him and stop picking on him. Our crew needs to work together to produce a good film."

Sun Jile was somewhat displeased, but he still smiled apologetically and said, "Director, you're right. I'll be more careful in the future."

Teng Huatao patted him on the shoulder: "That's good. Let's all work together to finish this show."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Sun Jile watched Teng Huatao's retreating figure, his face gradually darkening.

He felt that Teng Huatao was favoring Zhang Qilin, and his jealousy and resentment grew stronger.

the next day.

That was Zhang Qilin's last scene on set; filming wrapped up after that.

He arrived at the film set early and diligently made preparations, hoping to finish as soon as possible.

Soon after, Sun Jile arrived at the scene, and his assistant handed him a cup of coffee.

He took the coffee, took a sip, and frowned. "Who made this coffee?"

The assistant quickly said, "Brother Le, it was bought from the coffee shop downstairs—"

"How many times have I told you? It's freshly ground, freshly ground, understand?" Sun Jile threw the cup into his assistant's hand. "Buy another one."

The assistant took the cup, ignoring the coffee stains all over his clothes, and ran out.

The surrounding actors and staff pretended not to see it.

Zhang Qilin pretended not to see it and continued preparing.

Today we're filming the wedding scene.

According to the script, in order to protect Huang Xiaoxian, Wang Xiaojian severely humiliated Lu Ran in front of everyone.

Zhang Qilin had mentally rehearsed this scene many times. As long as Sun Jile didn't cause any trouble, he was confident he could get it right in one take.

Shortly after, Teng Huatao's voice came from behind the monitor: "Actors in position, ready to begin."

Zhang Qilin walked to his designated position and took his place.

The play started out normally.

The two rehearsed their lines and moved around according to the script, and everything went smoothly.

Until Wang Xiaojian said, "Since you don't understand the law, there's a person standing right next to her, breathing. Are you blind?"

After saying this, Sun Jile suddenly took a step forward, almost touching Zhang Qilin.

This action wasn't in the script.

Zhang Qilin was stunned for a moment, but quickly reacted and took half a step back, showing that he was being forced to retreat.

"Stop!" Sun Jile suddenly raised his hand. "Director, his backward movement was off-paced. It should have been faster to make him look more disheveled."

Teng Huatao looked up from behind the monitor: "Qi Lin, let's do one more take."

In the second scene, Sun Jile added more scenes.

After saying, "You're so old-fashioned," he reached out and poked Zhang Qilin's chest hard.

Zhang Qilin felt a sharp pain where he had been poked. He knew the other person had done it on purpose, but in order to finish filming the scene smoothly, he suppressed his anger and continued acting.

"Stop," Sun Jile called again. "Director, I don't think his reaction just now was realistic. If I poked him, he should have been even angrier."

The scene quieted down.

Everyone could see that Sun Jile was deliberately making things difficult for her.

Teng Huatao's brows furrowed into a deep frown.

He looked at Sun Jile, then at Zhang Qilin, and finally said, "Le'er, just follow the script. There's no need to add too much improvisation."

"Director, I did this for the sake of the film," Sun Jile said, spreading his hands. "Lu Ran should be very angry at this moment, but Zhang Qilin's performance was too restrained, not like a man who has been humiliated in public."

Zhang Qilin raised his eyes and looked directly at Sun Jile: "Brother Le, I'm willing to cooperate with whatever you think should be done."

His voice was calm, but beneath that calm lay a raging fire.

Sun Jile laughed, his eyes filled with condescending disdain: "A newbie, it's understandable to lack experience. But when I speak later, make your expression even more ferocious, the kind where your veins bulge out, understand?"

Zhang Qilin didn't speak, he just nodded.

The third take began.

This time, Sun Jile went even further.

Not only were physical gestures added, but the lines were also changed.

In the original script, Wang Xiaojian concludes by saying, "Go home and ask your parents if what you're doing is appropriate."

Sun Jile said, "Go home and ask your parents how they raised such a wretch like you!"

Zhang Qilin stood still, his expression instantly turning cold.

He has been in this world for over a year and has rarely received the worst possible fortune.

He was also trying his best.

He might compromise for the sake of a reward, but he has his bottom line.

Once the bottom line is crossed, to hell with rewards, and I won't give anyone face.

Seeing Zhang Qilin's expression change, Sun Jile said disdainfully, "What, you're not convinced?"

Zhang Qilin ignored him and turned to Teng Huatao, saying in a serious tone, "Director Teng, what do you think about some actors arbitrarily altering lines and adding personal attacks?"

Sun Jile shouted, "What do you mean? I'm doing this for the sake of the play!"

Zhang Qilin turned to Sun Jile: "Does the desire for a good performance justify insulting your co-stars? Does the desire for a good performance justify bringing personal emotions into your acting?"

"Stop throwing accusations around," Sun Jile raised his voice. "You acted terribly, but you can't even criticize it?"

"Whether my acting is good or bad is up to the director and the audience," Zhang Qilin retorted directly, "not just you."

Sun Jile turned to Teng Huatao: "Director Teng, did you hear that? He's just a supporting actor, how dare he talk to the lead like that? How are we supposed to film this?"

Teng Huatao stood up, about to speak.

Zhang Qilin chimed in: "Director Teng, some people have seriously affected the normal filming process and must be dealt with seriously, otherwise, this drama can't be filmed."

""

Sun Jile was furious. He slammed the script on the table and yelled, "Who the hell do you think you are? You dare to challenge me? Believe me or not, I'll make sure you can't stay in this industry!"