Huayu 2011: Starting with Hilarious Men

Fame is a wonderful thing, and so is money.

Last semester, because of her bottom-ranked grade in her major courses, few girls were willing to act with Zheng Nan when it was necessary to have a two-person scene in her acting class.

Things are different now; many girls are eager to act alongside Zheng Nan.

Ren Yi, who was standing to the side, was filled with envy: "If Lao Lin were here, he would go crazy if he saw this."

"What's so crazy about it? Old Lin has experienced the same thing plenty of times in karaoke bars."

"That was before. Now, Lao Lin doesn't have money to go out and spend."

Since Lin Wenruo boasted to her family about having her allowance cut, she has rarely left the school.

"Same place tonight, my treat." Lin Wenruo, the former rich guy in the dorm, has fallen on hard times, and Zheng Nan decides to carry on Lin Wenruo's legacy.

"Boss, you're so generous! No wonder you have girls who like you." Who wouldn't like getting something for free?

…………

On May 20th, Ding Xiu rushed to Shanghai. He called Zheng Nan at the airport but no one answered, so he took a taxi to the Shanghai Theatre Academy to look for her.

Ding Xiu found the gatekeeper and asked if he could enter the school.

The Shanghai Theatre Academy is currently in a semi-open state; there is a clear process for entering the campus, but it is relatively relaxed.

The security guard sized up Ding Xiu a few times. He was quite handsome, more so than many students at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, and looked like a celebrity.

"What brings you to the school?" the gatekeeper asked.

"Looking for someone, looking for Zheng Nan."

"Zheng Nan? Are you a talent scout? Or from an entertainment company? You don't look like a paparazzi." Upon hearing Zheng Nan's name, the previously relaxed security guard immediately perked up.

Zheng Nan is now considered a star student at the Shanghai Theatre Academy. She has been featured on the official website and trending on social media. In particular, recently, many people have come to the Shanghai Theatre Academy looking for Zheng Nan.

"I am Zheng Nan's maternal uncle." Ding Xiu took out his ID card to try to prove his identity.

"Who are you kidding? You two don't even share the same last name!" the gatekeeper said menacingly in a wise voice.

The security guard's words left Ding Xiu speechless. As expected of a metropolis like Shanghai, even the security guards are so unique.

Ding Xiu silently took out an unopened box of Yuxi cigarettes and placed it on his ID card.

The gatekeeper remained motionless, a disdainful smile playing on his lips.

It was as if it were saying, "Don't try to touch my noble soul with your despicable thoughts!"

Ding Xiu then took out an unopened box of Zhonghua cigarettes and a windproof lighter.

A gentle breeze swept by, and the guard's coat fluttered, and his cigarette and lighter vanished.

"When you register, just say you're a new grease trap cleaning company, here to inspect the cafeteria. Next time you come, make sure your reason is reasonable."

The security guard who accepted the cigarette was actually quite helpful; he even gave Ding Xiu some advice.

"That's a good reason!" Ding Xiu couldn't help but admire the gatekeeper's wisdom.

Unless something goes wrong, the school leaders will definitely not investigate these registration records further.

"Hmph, that's what you call wisdom. Learn from it. Go in now." The gatekeeper said proudly.

Most people start working as security guards after retiring at sixty, but he's different; he started right after graduating from university! He avoided forty years of detours compared to others!

Ding Xiu smiled slightly; he admired the gatekeeper.

Under the watchful eye of the gatekeeper, Ding Xiu stepped into the Shanghai Theatre Academy campus. Before he had taken two steps, he heard a familiar voice from the side.

"Uncle, what brings you here?" Zheng Nan, who was practicing her physical fitness outdoors, spotted her uncle at a glance.

My uncle is such an outstanding man that wherever he goes, he shines like a firefly in the dark, bright and dazzling!

Ding Xiu looked in the direction the voice came from, and after confirming it was Zheng Nan, he turned to look at the gatekeeper, only to see a box of Yuxi cigarettes that had just been opened.

After greeting the teacher in charge, Zheng Nan walked towards Ding Xiu.

"Uncle, what are you looking at?" Zheng Nan asked.

"I didn't see anything. I called you but you didn't answer, so I came straight here."

"I was in a posture class and didn't bring my phone."

"What time do you finish class? We can talk after you finish."

"There are only twenty minutes left in class today, Uncle, why don't you take a stroll around the campus first?"

"Okay." Ding Xiu wasn't embarrassed at all and casually started to tour the Shanghai Theatre Academy campus.

When Zheng Nan returned to the class line, several girls gathered around her.

"Zheng Nan, who's looking for you? He's so handsome."

"Is he a celebrity? He's so manly."

My uncle has the handsome looks of a mature man, and many young women are particularly attracted to this type.

"Um, he's my uncle, he came to see me," Zheng Nan explained.

Is your uncle single?

"What's your uncle's QQ number? Could you leave it to me?"

These girls were exceptionally enthusiastic, much more so than when they were with Zheng Nan.

"Uncle doesn't use QQ, everyone hurry back, the teacher will get angry soon." Zheng Nan politely declined, he didn't want his classmate to become his aunt.

Twenty minutes later, the bell rang to signal the end of get out of class.

University students no longer have the kind of extended class time that exists in high school or junior high school.

University professors leave work on time even more punctually than their students.

Zheng Nan quickly went back to get her phone and casually told Ren Yi, "Old Ren, I'm taking my uncle to the restaurant to order food. Remember to tell them to meet at our usual spot."

This marks the third consecutive night that Zheng Nan has treated everyone to dinner at Formosa Boulevard since his return.

"Okay," Ren Yi replied.

Zheng Nan's intention in calling Ren Yi and the others when he saw his uncle was quite simple: he had received a lot of help from Ren Yi and the others when filming the first season of "Hilarious Men".

Now that "Hilarious Men" is a hit and a second season is about to be filmed, Zheng Nan can't just abandon his buddies; he definitely has to lend a hand.

The filming of "Hilarious Men" will be mainly driven and funded by the company, and the company's Zheng Nan will be handed over to Lao Jiu to take charge of.

Since we'll definitely be dealing with each other in the future, why not introduce us now so we can get to know each other better?

"Why are you running? Catch your breath."

"Uncle hasn't eaten yet, has he? I'll take you to eat and introduce you to a few of my classmates. They've all helped me before," Zheng Nan explained briefly.

…………

Formosa Hotel.

When Lin Wenruo and the others arrived, all the dishes had already been served.

The first thing Lin Wenruo said when she entered the private room and saw Ding Xiu was, "Holy crap, Lao Zheng, is this your uncle? If you hadn't told me, I would have thought it was Wu Xiubo!!"

"Hello, I am Ding Xiu, Zheng Nan's uncle."

Although Lin Wenruo and his companions weren't very bright, they couldn't find out why the two didn't share the same surname.

He introduced himself honestly: "Hello, Uncle, I am Lin Wenruo."

"Ren Yi." "Duan Xingye." "Yuan Bingyan."

"I watched 'Hilarious Men' again these past two days, and I remember all of your faces. Thank you all for your help to Zheng Nan before." Ding Xiu raised a glass of beer and downed it.

After a brief introduction over the meal, the group returned to school, where Zheng Nan and Ding Xiu began discussing business.

Are you still planning to use those guys in season two?

Now that only the uncle and nephew were left in the private room, there were some questions they could ask each other.

"We'll definitely use them, but their roles won't be many. As for how to pay them—whether it's by the day or by the number of scenes—that's something you'll need to decide, Uncle..."

When the first season of "Hilarious Men" was filmed, the cast members appeared for free, but they had to be paid for the second season.