From unemployment in crosstalk to top star in Chinese entertainment

Looking at Yu Liang and the other person, Zhang Yi couldn't help but think of his first love.

Zhang Songwen picked up a thermos cup, unscrewed the cap, and sighed leisurely, "It's so good to be young."

Hearing this, Zhang Yuqi turned her head, a half-smile playing on her lips: "Old Gao, how about we do a little something too?"

Zhang Songwen shook her head: "It's unnecessary. Gao Qiqiang and his wife don't need these things. They're an old married couple, and it wouldn't look good on camera."

"Then how about..." Zhang Yuqi glanced at Yu Liang, "you could have Yu Liang stand in for you for a bit?"

Zhang Songwen, who was drinking water, choked and coughed several times before she recovered.

"Goodness," he wiped the water from the corner of his mouth, looking at Zhang Yuqi, "So this is what you were waiting for."

"Is Yu Liang really that charming?" Zhang Songwen couldn't help but exclaim.

He suddenly remembered when he was studying at the Beijing Film Academy. Back then, he was in the same class as Zhou Yiwei, Che Xiao, and Han Wenwen. The girls in the class all liked to play with him, but none of them wanted to play with him alone.

Similar to the current situation, whether it's the female classmate from back then or the sister-in-law in front of me, in the end, it's not him who revolves around her.

At that moment, Zhang Yuqi was also sizing up Yu Liang.

She was selected by Stephen Chow at the age of fifteen and signed with Star Overseas. She became the youngest "Star Girl" to debut with the role of Teacher Yuan in "CJ7". Later, she was nominated for Best New Performer at the Hong Kong Film Awards for her strong and mature image in "All About Women".

She thought her career would be smooth sailing, but unexpectedly, she was opposed by the company for taking on the role of Tian Xiao'e in "White Deer Plain" without her consent, and subsequently faced a lawsuit, forcing her to leave Star Overseas.

After that, resources plummeted.

Although she later reconciled with her former company and starred in "The Mermaid" for free, she was embroiled in two marriage disputes, and her career fluctuated, never returning to the heights she had reached when she first debuted.

From an innocent young woman to a powerful and sophisticated woman, Zhang Yuqi has never regretted any of the decisions she has made.

All she felt was resentment.

So since joining the group, she has been quietly observing the situation within the group, figuring out everyone's position and role, in order to integrate better resources.

At this time, Yu Liang, a young man with outstanding abilities who was on the rise in his career, came into her view.

Her eyes were fixed on Yu Liang, scrutinizing and calculating. She was weighing whether this man was worth her gamble.

Yu Liang wiped his mouth and glanced at Wang Churan.

With so many people gathered in front of the camera, he was too embarrassed to say anything even if he had something shameful to say.

Wang Churan had already walked back to the rest area quickly, her ears red.

When Liang walked out of the set, he found Lin Jiachuan and Tang Xiaohu huddled together, engrossed in watching something on their phones.

"Jiachuan, what are you doing?" Yu Liang came closer.

"Watching TV." Lin Jiachuan turned slightly to make room for her.

Yu Liang glanced at the screen and saw that the new version of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" was playing, and it happened to be the scene of the Three Heroes battling Lü Bu.

He Rundong's portrayal of Lü Bu is that of an invincible figure, wielding a halberd and standing proudly on horseback.

"I have to say, Ho Yun-tung's portrayal of Lü Bu was truly handsome," Lin Jiachuan remarked. "He's played quite a few top-tier fighters, hasn't he?"

"Bu Jingyun, Lü Bu, and Xiang Yu are all formidable figures."

Tang Xiaohu suddenly frowned.

"You guys said that when he was filming this scene, he had to ride a horse and fight with weapons, and you wanted me to go up there and make sure I could handle it."

"You forgot that he has a monstrous arm?" Lin Jiachuan said.

Yu Liang smiled and said, "I've practiced martial arts since I was a child, so I know a little about it. Actually, in many TV dramas, Lu Bu holds the halberd in the middle, but that's not how the halberd is actually used."

"Holding it in the middle not only shortens the attack range, but also makes it difficult to bring out the true advantages of the halberd."

Lin Jiachuan and Tang Xiaohu nodded at the same time, agreeing with Yu Liang's point.

He's clearly a martial arts expert; he can even discern the intricacies of a TV series.

Yu Liang continued in a serious tone: "In actual battles, Lü Bu usually held the reins with one hand and swung the halberd handle with the other."

After Lin Jiachuan and Tang Xiaohu understood, they instantly felt terrible.

"No wonder Lü Bu could easily defeat everyone." Guo Qilin stepped forward and added casually.

Lin Jiachuan slapped his phone on his lap, never expecting there would be a second challenge.

"Is this how people from your Deyun Society usually perform crosstalk?"

He originally thought it was science popularization, but it turned out to be practical science popularization. Once this knowledge is in his mind, it can never be washed away.

The group's voices were neither too loud nor too soft, and Zhang Yuqi, who was walking in their direction, overheard them.

"You comedians are quite the smooth talkers," Zhang Yuqi said, walking up to Yu Liang with a half-smile.

"I didn't say anything, Sister Yuqi." Yu Liang shrugged, looking completely innocent. "I just taught them how to hold the halberd—"

"Okay, stop." Zhang Yuqi hurriedly raised her hand to stop him from continuing, then turned her head and looked him up and down. "Yu Liang, you used to tell dirty jokes at Deyun Club, right?"

"You'll have to ask Dalin about that," Yu Liang said without hesitation, passing the buck. "After all, that's how Master taught us."

Guo Qilin immediately said, "Brother, don't talk nonsense. My dad never taught you this."

"Then how do I know it?" Yu Liang asked back.

"Brother, others may not remember your dark past, but I do."

"Back then, everyone else called her 'Little Fan,' but you never uttered a word and called her 'Little Mistress.'"

Everyone present knew the two brothers were up to something, and they burst into laughter.

"I said it's great to be in the same group as you two," Lin Jiachuan said with a smile, "We can listen to crosstalk anytime, anywhere."

---

A dozen days later, Guo Qilin finished filming his scenes.

After filming the last scene where Lu Han and Gao Qiqiang confront each other, Zhang Yi clapped his hands and praised him, saying, "Qi Lin acted well."

He has watched Guo Qilin grow step by step over the past few days.

The speed of progress is visible to the naked eye.

Holding the flowers handed to him by the crew, Guo Qilin smiled and said, "Thank you, Brother Zhang Yi and Brother Songwen, for your help these past few days."

Over the past two weeks, he has systematically studied acting with Zhang Yi and Zhang Songwen.

Guo Qilin often audited the one-on-one tutoring sessions that Zhang Songwen offered to Zhang Ruonan.

When Zhang Songwen was teaching Zhang Ruonan how to find the emotions of a character, he sat quietly beside him and listened.

Guo Qilin walked out of the filming area and found that Yu Liang was already standing next to the monitor waiting for him.

"Dalin." Yu Liang pulled him aside. People were coming and going on set. The props team was dismantling the set panels in the corridor, and several production assistants were pushing lighting rigs past.

Yu Liang's voice was drowned out by various noises, but Guo Qilin heard it very clearly.

"I appreciate your willingness to act without pay. But you need to understand that I'm not the only investor in this project; I only have a small share. So you should take your pay as it's due."

"This isn't about being polite to me; it's the fruit of your labor."

Yu Liang had already thought it through: if Da Lin really refused to accept it, he would ask the director to give Da Lin a larger red envelope.

In short, we can't let him down.

Guo Qilin paused for a moment, then nodded.

Yu Liang patted him on the shoulder: "Go back and get some rest. We'll watch it together when it airs."

"Brother," Guo Qilin suddenly spoke, "I used to help you at Deyun Club, but now it's the other way around."

Yu Liang paused for a moment, then laughed: "What are you saying, silly boy? You sewed my clothes for nothing back then."

Guo Qilin smiled and reached out to hug Yu Liang.

Then he turned and got into the waiting van. As the car started, he rolled down the window and waved to Yu Liang.

Yu Liang stood at the entrance of the film set, watching the car drive out of the set and disappear into the streets of Jiang City.

---

"Guo Qilin went back?"

As soon as Yu Liang stepped into the rest area, Wang Churan's voice came from the side.

She was filming another scene and didn't have time to see Guo Qilin off.

Yu Liang nodded.

Wang Churan glanced at him, said nothing, and turned to leave.

Yu Liang reached out and stopped her. "Wait a minute."

"What's wrong?"

"You've kissed me, you've touched my abs, don't you have anything to say?" Yu Liang looked down at her, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Wang Churan's cheeks flushed red at a visible speed.

She knew he was referring to the time she had taken the initiative to kiss him on the stone steps that day, and the time she had rubbed his stomach at the hotel.

The two things piled up, leaving her momentarily at a loss for words.

"What does it mean?" she whispered, her gaze drifting elsewhere.

"How about... I transfer you two hundred yuan?"

"Two hundred yuan? Are you treating me like a male model?" Yu Liang leaned forward and questioned, "You didn't actually hire a male model, did you?!"

"What is a male model?" Wang Churan looked up, looking confused. "I've only heard my roommate mention 'young master,' but I don't know what a male model is."

"The male model is sitting and drinking, kissing other people."

"And what about the young master?"

"Young Master is standing and opening the wine while watching others kiss," Yu Liang explained.

Wang Churan nodded, then turned his gaze to her: "Then why do you still say you're not a male model?"

Yu Liang was taken aback. This little girl had turned naughty. He then said, "Don't change the subject. You haven't said how you're going to make it up to me yet."

Wang Churan's eyes flashed with a hint of wariness: "Then what do you want to do?"

"I want to kiss him back," Yu Liang said.

Wang Churan was stunned for a moment.

"Then let me touch your abs too," Yu Liangmian added without changing his expression.

"I don't have abs." Wang Churan subconsciously took a half step back.

"Then touching your belly is fine too." Yu Liang took half a step forward.

The two faced off for a second.

Wang Churan suddenly raised her head, meeting his gaze, her eyes sparkling, a barely perceptible smile playing on her lips.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

Yu Liang originally thought she would blush and avoid him like before, or grit her teeth and scold him for being indecent.

But she didn't.

She just stared straight at him, as if to say, "Try what you just said, if you're so capable, then do it."

Yu Liang stared at her for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"You've gone astray," he said.

Wang Churan's lips finally curled up. "Sister Yuqi said that you have to be a little ruthless to deal with someone like you."

Why?

"She always says I'm too honest, and she also says..."

"What else is there to say?"

"They also said that you are just like Wu Xiubo, who was recently exposed for his misconduct, someone who is neither proactive nor willing to refuse, and who is irresponsible."

"Does Sister Yuqi usually talk about me like this in front of you?" Yu Liang frowned.

I haven't offended her at all, but she keeps undermining me behind my back.

It seems necessary to set aside some energy and teach her a lesson.

Wang Churan looked at his furrowed brows and suddenly felt a little guilty: "I only mentioned it once or twice."

Yu Liang took a deep breath and wrote down the bill.

---

Meanwhile, in the restroom at the other end of the film set.

Squat forward a bit so your heels don't get wet.

Standing in front of the banner, Zhang Ruonan stood up and pulled up her trousers.

"Whoosh—"

A rush of water washed over her, and then she straightened her clothes and opened the door to the cubicle.

Zhang Yuqi was standing in front of the mirror at the sink, slowly smoothing her hair.

"Sister Yuqi, let's go." Zhang Ruonan walked over.

Zhang Yuqi glanced at her in the mirror, her gaze moving a few inches down from her face. "Ruonan, how old are you?"

"Twenty-two? What's wrong?" Zhang Ruonan looked bewildered.

"I'm asking you how big this is." Zhang Yuqi gestured with her chin towards her chest.

Zhang Ruonan looked down following her gaze, then said helplessly, "Sis, you can't tell I'm this flat-chested?"

Zhang Yuqi said matter-of-factly, "It's precisely because it's flat that I didn't know."

"70AA." Zhang Ruonan was a little reluctant to answer the question.

She suddenly remembered that her roommates had called her "Princess Taiping" for four whole years when she was in school.

"Don't you usually use a pad?" Zhang Yuqi asked. Girls can talk about anything when they're alone, especially when changing clothes; the conversation will quickly veer off to this topic.

"Sis, do you think everyone is as well-endowed as you? I'm so flat-chested, how can I pad myself up? I can't even squeeze anything out."

Speaking of this, Zhang Ruonan suddenly remembered something.

Once, she was changing clothes in Zhang Yuqi's RV. Not long after she finished changing, Yu Liang walked in, looked down at the piece of her invisible inner garment that she had left next to the mat on the floor, and asked seriously, "Whose eye mask fell off?"

Zhang Ruonan almost wanted to disappear into the ground at that moment.

Zhang Yuqi laughed so hard she couldn't stand up straight, and it took her a while to recover. Then she started giving Zhang Ruonan serious advice, from dietary adjustments to massage techniques, one after another.

"If all else fails, just find a boyfriend so you can touch them. I feel like Yu Liang's pecs are bigger than yours."

"Sister Yuqi, you can't be so disrespectful. Besides, Brother Yu Liang isn't that big."

"You don't believe me?" Zhang Yuqi raised an eyebrow. "I can tell at a glance that you, Brother Yu Liang, are the kind of person who looks slim in clothes but has a muscular build when you take them off."

People like him, who practice martial arts year-round, have low body fat and very firm muscles, completely different from the bulky, unhealthy physiques developed in gyms.

He does not mean that.

Perhaps Zhang Yuqi's description was too vivid, because Zhang Ruonan's mind began to wander.

"What are Yuqi and Ruonan talking about?"

Yu Liang's voice drifted from not far away.

"We didn't talk about much," Zhang Yuqi replied calmly, "we just talked about the benefits of exercise."

"Why am I hearing about 'chest muscles' now?"

Zhang Yuqi glanced at him.

Yu Liang turned to look at Zhang Ruonan, her tone softening slightly: "Ruonan, Teacher Songwen wants you to come over for tutoring. Go ahead."

Zhang Ruonan first looked up at Zhang Yuqi, then at Yu Liang. Sensing that the atmosphere was a bit off, she obediently nodded and slipped between the two of them.

"Sister Yuqi, I haven't offended you, have I?" Yu Liang got straight to the point.

"What do you mean?" Zhang Yuqi asked calmly.

Why did you slander me in front of Wang Churan?

Zhang Yuqi said frankly, "I was just trying to kindly remind her not to be scammed."

"Then you don't need to say I'm like Wu Xiubo."

"What? Aren't you one?" Zhang Yuqi tilted her head slightly, her tone carrying a hint of playful provocation.

"Sister, you underestimate me."

"Although I, Yu Liang, am not an honest and upright person, I would never do something like what he did."

Even a fleeting affair should maintain at least a basic level of decorum.

Why send people to prison?

Zhang Yuqi looked at Yu Liang's face and leaned forward slightly.

"Yu Liang, are you a proactive and responsible person?"

She was wearing a white shirt with a low neckline, but as she leaned forward, the snow-white curve below her collarbone almost completely filled Yu Liang's field of vision.

For a moment, the atmosphere became somewhat ambiguous.

Yu Liang's Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

He stared at the snow-white expanse that seemed to be bursting out of the collar.

If it were any other girl, he would really like to personally match them up.

Then raise your arms and shout.

The two sides of the Taiwan Strait must be reunified!

"Sister Yuqi," he withdrew his gaze, looked directly into her eyes, and a slight smile played on his lips, "what do you mean by that?"