HuaYu: Starting with Photography to Navigate the Entertainment Industry

Tang Yan looked a little embarrassed after being asked this by Xu Lang.

"You...you mean his sex scandal?"

"Or what?"

That's how people are; they can't remember good things, but they remember gossip and scandals very clearly.

In Xu Lang's memory, director Huang Jianzhong was at the height of his career in 2004.

He has directed films and television dramas such as "Good Women", "Dragon Year Police Officer", "New Year", "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer", and "King Goujian of Yue".

However, saying he's at the height of his fame doesn't refer to his work, but rather to his scandals:

Actress Zhang Yu publicly accused him of sexual harassment, alleging that he had sexual relations with others in front of her, and claimed to have more than 20 videotapes as evidence.

Subsequently, it was revealed that he was the most ruthless towards his mentor, not only verbally abusing him but also physically assaulting him by slapping and kicking him.

Rumors of ingratitude, unspoken rules, and sex scandals propelled him to the top, making him a breakout star.

"Having sex with other people in front of others?"

What the hell!

Just imagining that scene made Xu Lang's blood boil.

This behavior must be condemned!

"Bring me those 20 videotapes first, let me critique them!"

I reckon many men would think the same way after seeing this gossip.

That's what Xu Lang thought anyway.

"They're all... just rumors, right?" Tang Yan's expression became even more awkward.

rumor?

This time, before Xu Lang could speak, Zhu Zhu couldn't help but sneer. She wanted to say something, but after looking at Xu Lang, she simply shook her head and remained silent.

"If it's a rumor, it can only be because it's been spread too lightly."

Just because something or someone in the entertainment industry hasn't been the subject of any gossip or scandal doesn't mean it hasn't happened. It just means that the other party is good at hiding it, or that they have a lot of influence and can handle things quickly.

As for what's been said, we can't just look at the surface.

If you add three more orders of magnitude to the severity and scale, you'll be very close to the truth.

Regardless of whether it was a rumor or not, Xu Lang directly advised:

"This film doesn't have much influence. I advise you not to waste your time and energy trying to get it. Just find another one."

"what?"

This time, not only was Tang Yan somewhat surprised, but even Zhu Zhu, who was standing next to her, looked at Xu Lang with a surprised expression.

Why would you advise someone to give up their role?

Although Huang Jianzhong has had scandals, he is still a great director.

Besides, how did he know this film wouldn't have much influence?

Xu Lang didn't care what the two women thought; he had given them his advice, and whether they listened to it or not was none of his business.

Xu Kang looked at Tang Yan and made a direct offer:

"Mocha photos are 1000 each, the others are 2000 each. Think about it and decide if you want to take them. Once you decide, just contact me anytime."

"Well...?"

Although Tang Yan knew the price of the hot jug beforehand, it still sounded expensive to her now.

"Teacher Xu, could you give me a discount? I'm still in school and really don't have much money."

Tang Yan looked at Xu Lang with her big, blinking eyes, her soft, sweet voice carrying a pleading tone that made her all the more endearing.

If it were in his previous life, Xu Lang would have been willing to break his own ribs to make soup for her, let alone accept money, if he saw her expression like that.

But now?

"No, this is the price, not a penny less!"

She originally thought that once they met, with her sweet looks and some nice words, she wouldn't be able to win over Xu Lang.

But Tang Yan was really wrong.

"Is Xu Lang even a man? How can he be so heartless towards me?!"

Beauties like Zhu Zhu and Tang Yan are usually the object of boys' affections at school; they've never received this kind of treatment before.

Tang Yan's pitiful expression instantly turned into one of grievance and confusion, with tears welling up in her eyes.

This makes her even more beautiful and charming.

Xu Lang remained unmoved by Tang Yan's expression. In his previous life, he had seen too many brides crying and deleting their wedding photos when he was taking pictures of the bride and groom.

They've long since hardened their hearts.

He ignored Zhu Zhu and Tang Yan and continued eating by himself.

As he ate, he sensed something was off; the pointing and whispering behind him seemed directed at him.

"Holy crap, look at how wronged that girl looks, I can't bear to watch."

"The girl next to me with dimples also looks resentful."

"With both beauties like this, why is that kid still eating with his head down? Doesn't he have a brain?!"

"Can't you tell? That girl was definitely being bullied by that guy!"

"How could he bear to bully such a beautiful woman?"

In a short time, the voices denouncing Xu Lang grew louder and louder.

"Sigh, they're all just bootlickers, they're used to it!"

Xu Lang cursed inwardly, "Damn it, just because she's a beautiful woman, does that mean I have to give her things for free or at a discount?"

Beautiful women are a scarce resource; they have an advantage wherever they go and are more likely to get preferential treatment. Xu Lang knew this too.

But knowing something is one thing, agreeing with it or not is another.

What's wrong with the beautiful girl?

What does this have to do with me?

Since it's okay, why should we get special treatment?

"Waiter, the bill, please. The rest can be packed up."

These meat skewers on the table, if you take them back to the three beasts in the dormitory, won't they obediently call you godfather?

There's a joke from later generations that goes like this: if you offer your goddess 200 yuan for dinner, she won't even bother going, thinking it's beneath her.

But when you treat your brother to a meal with 200 yuan, he keeps calling you "godfather," which really gets your emotions running high.

Zhu Zhu and Tang Yan exchanged a glance, knowing that there was nothing more to say today, so they could only get up and follow Xu Lang outside.

Once outside, Xu Lang addressed the two of them again:

"If you have any thoughts, you can call me and we can talk privately."

Alright, I won't see you off. I'm leaving.

After saying that, Xu Lang actually turned around and left without looking back.

Walking back to his dormitory, Xu Lang secretly recalled Zhu Zhu and Tang Yan's behavior just now.

"Hmm, this Zhu Zhu seems more open-minded, and..."

After Xu Lang quoted the price, Zhu Zhu clearly wanted to bargain, but she didn't say anything in the end, which meant...

"She was too embarrassed to speak up when there were other people around."

Thinking of this, Xu Lang's lips twitched involuntarily.

"Great, this is a sign that we can be mutually exempt."

Thinking back to Tang Yan, Xu Lang had only one feeling:

"Pack!"

People in the entertainment industry can't stand reading FHM magazine?

Xu Lang would never believe it, not even if you beat him to death.

Pure?

They're all just packaging.

Just like Huang Shengyi, whom Zhu Zhu just mentioned, her company decided on her image and set her on a pure and innocent route after she played the role of the mute girl in Stephen Chow's "Kung Fu".

Just six months later, and they're already shooting a sexy cover for FHM!

Thinking of Huang Shengyi, Xu Lang felt a pang of regret:

Huang Shengyi should be a junior at the Beijing Film Academy now, but Xu Lang has never met her, neither in his previous life nor in this one.

"The 'Star Girl' is very popular right now, so it's normal that we don't see her anymore."

But suddenly, a thought struck Xu Lang, and he wondered to himself.

"That's not right. Logically speaking, a persona shouldn't be changed so easily. Stephen Chow's company has already established a pure and innocent image for Huang Shengyi, so why would they allow her to shoot for FHM magazine?"

There's no good or bad in being innocent or sexy; they're just two different ways of presenting oneself.

But these two routes are incompatible!

Reflecting on his experiences in both lives, there was only one person whom Xu Lang could describe as both pure and lustful:

Vivian Chow.

He is known as the idol of three generations of my family: my grandfather, my father, and myself.

No one else will do.

"It seems that Huang Shengyi's photoshoot for FHM magazine is definitely not a simple matter."

At this moment, Xu Lang's gossipy nature was also piqued.

As he was thinking, the phone suddenly rang. When he picked it up, he saw that it was Zhu Zhu, whom he had just parted ways with.

Looking at Zhu Zhu's number, Xu Lang smiled inwardly.

"Is this a private meeting they want to schedule?"