Translator: Vian
Editor: Shem
This time, for Ye Qiao's crying scene, it was only when he cried no less than nine times did Director Guo was satisfied.
While this scene was the last one to be shot, the only thing Rong Xu had to do was close his eyes and pretended to be dead but Ye Qiao would always tightly hug him when he cried. That kind of heart piercing, aggrieved cry made Rong Xu somewhat sympathetic and also felt a bit of heartache for him.
As soon as the scene finished filming, Tang Menglan's assistant sounded a gun salute to celebrate Rong Xu for finishing his parts.
Tang Menglan's kindness towards Rong Xu showed up in all aspects. She even remembered to take care of him, who doesn't have a manager at this kind of time, making Rong Xu feel rather touched. This woman's EQ really was exceptionally high. It might be assumed that for her to get to her present position despite being so young and to even have been declared by Director Guo as the one and only heroine of "Vie for Supremacy", relying on only her appearance and acting skills were absolutely impossible.
Looking at Tang Menglan, then looking over at Dong Zheng who was not far off at the side slightly smiling towards him, Rong Xu's heart gradually started of surging with waves of emotion.
Originally, when he entered the entertainment circle, the biggest reason was to make money, leave that household, and live the life he wanted.
In his last life, he had already reached the top summit of that world to where he didn't know what else he could do as he proceeded forward. But right now, this world had just begun for him! A completely different earth and completely different people. He still had not conquered this world's entertainment circle, how could he just use acting as a means to make money? This was his career!
Suddenly, the thing that had been suffocating Rong Xu in his heart for a long time slowly dissipated.
When Tang Menglan came over to give Rong Xu his yajing red envelope, she was surprised to find that this friend of her seemed to have changed a little. She grinned as she shoved the red envelope into Rong Xu's hands, saying: "That very last scene has really been tough on you, all of us that were watching at the side were all worried whether or not you would have been strangled to death by Ye Qiao since he was holding onto you so tight." But after she turned around, Tang Menglan asked her assistant: "What happened to Rong Xu?"
The little assistant was surprised by this and asked: "Did something happen to Rong Xu? Isn't he the same as before?"
Tang Menglan shook her head: "I just have a subtle feeling that something changed a little...it seemed like he became even more handsome than before finishing the last scene."
Small assistant: "..."
It this skill of yours something like an instant cosmetic surgery ah? It can even let you become handsome in an instant?!
Later, Dong Zheng also came to give Rong Xu a yajing red envelope and personally handed over a business card to him. A name and a phone number were printed on that gold-plated business card with hollowed-out ornamental design in addition to "Tianji Entertainment's Manager" heading, the whole card reflecting a cold light from the bright stage lighting.
Dong Zheng laughed: "This is my manager's business card. I feel that we really hit off and it wouldn't be bad if we can later on be fellow artists in the same agency."
Rong Xu slightly smiled as he accepted the card.
Soon, Xu jie from the makeup group, Chen ge from the props group, Assistant Director Wang...all came one by one to give Rong Xu a yajing red envelope.
Assistant Director Wang said, rather dissatisfied: "My wife already gave you one yet I still have to give you another one. If it wasn't because I saw that last scene has really been tough on you there's no way would I give it."
Rong Xu didn't know whether to laugh or cry as he spoke: "Wang ge, why don't you take it back and I'll just take it as I've already received it?"
Assistant Director Wang immediately widened his eyes, pointedly focusing them on Rong Xu: "How can something that has already been given away be wanted back, I don't want it!" Just as he said this, the person had already quickly disappeared like smoke so Rong Xu could only helplessly shake his head.
Since a death scene had finished filming, there were so many red envelopes given to Rong Xu that they couldn't even fit into his arms. One of the on-scene staffs handed him a plastic bag and he gratefully thanked the other when that young girl's face turned red. One hand stuffed a red envelope into Rong Xu's hand as she shyly bowed down her head with blushing cheeks and handed over a pen and notebook: "If you don't mind...can I get your signature?"
After the initial moment of surprise, Rong Xu took the pen and signed in the notebook. While he was signing, he seemed to act as usual and asked: "You look like you're quite young, are you an adult yet? How many years have you been in the crew?"
That young girl replied: "I'm here as an intern from a nearby university and entered the crew two months ago. I'll also become an adult in another two more months."
Rong Xu's hand slightly paused a bit before quickly writing down another line inside the notebook. When that young girl got back her notebook and opened it to look, she saw the words written on it, that made blush on her face heated up by a few more degrees. After that, when she flipped over to the back, she actually saw that the red envelope she just shoved onto Rong Xu was wedged between the back of the book!
Something was also written under the envelope: The food you sent was very delicious, we're equal peers, so I won't be accepting this red envelope.
The person actually still remembered that she sent three meals to him a month ago!
The girl's eyes suddenly reddened and started breathing heavily. She quickly and excitedly opened up her phone and sent a long string of exclamation marks to her class group chat:[So handsome! So handsome! So handsome!!! It's simply too much of a loss for you guys to not enter "Vie for Supremacy" crew! Just too handsome ah ah ah ah! So handsome yet also so gentle!!! If I were to have such a male vote, I can die without regrets ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!!!!!!!!!]
But after a while, there were some classmates who replied: [Dong Zheng and Ye Qiao really are handsome, this I must admit haha.]
The little lady was immediately angered: ["Of course, I know that Dong Zheng and Ye Qiao are handsome, but my family's Rongrong is much more handsome! He's the most handsome in the whole universe! You guys just wait and see! Just wait till the character posters comes in two days then you guys will be crying and looking for me to see his signature humph!]
[How handsome is he ah, so exaggerated?]
[Fine! Then by that time, you guys better not come to hold onto my thighs since you don't believe me!]
Rong Xu naturally didn't know about the little scene that was happening over there on the side. In his last life, his position had already came to the point where besides the director and senior actors, there would be no one else who would give him a yajing red envelope. As for now, although most of the crew rather takes care of him and would give him yajing red envelopes, that by no means that he could calmly accept a little girl's red envelope.
This was someone else's kind regards, just keeping it in mind was fine.
However, after a while, Ye Qiao came over with a pair of red rabbit eyes and shoved a full ten red envelopes onto Rong Xu. Rong Xu was surprised for a moment, then suddenly laughed in spite of trying not to: "Ye ge, you...were prepared to give me a few red envelopes in advance?"
Probably because he cried a bit too much, Ye Qiao's voice was still hoarse even now. So his voice was somewhat husky as he said: "Didn't Director Guo said how many times I NG-ed was how many red envelopes I needed to give you? I NG-ed nine times plus the first time, so exactly ten times. Xiao Xu, this crow beak of yours is too powerful, I'm never gonna talk to you again."
Ye Qiao's joking tone made Rong Xu let out a knowing smile, and also pulled out a red envelope from his pocket.
Upon seeing this, a moment didn't even past before Ye Qiao reacted, smoothly receiving it with his hands and asked: "What's this?"
Rong Xu calmly, composedly and seriously said: "Yaqi red envelope."
Ye Qiao immediately choked: "Cough… cough… cough..."
Ya what qi, ya exactly what qi?! This obviously was a duqi red envelope, simply wanting to suffocate him!
***
After they finished filming, Rong Xu didn't immediately leave. Instead, when it was evening, Director Guo led several important members of the crew and Rong Xu to go eat in an after filming dinner banquet. It was only a very small group of people, enough to fit two tables; the main actors, screenwriter, assistant director and all the leaders of each group was everyone that came.
In the end, after all, Rong Xu was still underage so on the grounds of him still being a child, the adults didn't pour him any alcohol. By the end of the banquet, everyone was drinking quite happily, leaving only Rong Xu who didn't drink to send off the assistant director and group leaders that had more than a few cups with a wry smile. Waiting till the very end, Director Guo privately handed a red envelope over to Rong Xu.
Rong Xu didn't pretend to be polite and received it but when he weighed the amount inside, he suddenly paused. He raised his head to look at Director Guo in surprise and saw this cold and imposing director smoking a cigarette as he watched him in the dim light of the night then indifferently said: "I heard that you have been recently...faring badly in the Rong Family. The Rong Family still have quite a bit of status in B-City, if you want to fight against them, it's necessary to be backed by a big power. Huaxia Entertainment is not a bad place, even a hundred Rong Families wouldn't be able to compare. You're still young, enduring patient right now can also be considered as increasing your experience."
Aside from discussing the drama, this was the first time Director Guo talked so much to him.
This big director had always been cold and serious. He wouldn't even let go of the girls when scolding people in the studio and could scold till the other starts crying. But right now, he was currently advising him like this.
Rong Xu curved his lips, showing a hint of an affable smile appearing like a gleam of light drawn across the dark night, illuminating all his bright future prospects in that moment. He softly said: "I understand Director Guo. Thank you for taking care of me in these two months."
Director Guo waved his hand which could be regarded as ending this conversation.
The next day, Rong Xu directly went to the airport and took the plane back to B-City. The plane quickly landed at the Capital Airport but when Rong Xu was just pulling his luggage as he walked out of the lobby, he suddenly saw a familiar figure holding onto a sign squeezed in the middle of a crowd of people. As soon as that person saw him, he started waving around excitedly: "Rong Xu! Rong Xu!"
Rong Xu was slightly surprised before walking up to him: "Luo ge."
Rong Xu didn't know at all about this matter of Luo Zhentao personally coming to pick him up. But he did know that he never told anyone about his flight number so Luo Zhentao shouldn't have known when he would've arrived. He's afraid that Luo Zhentao had probably been waiting here since early in the morning.
Luo Zhentao enthusiastically went over to take his suitcase and sent him home. Along the way, he kept on talking about some interesting things that happened in the circle, but also plainly stated that he and Tang Menglan's manager had been in contact these days, knew that Rong Xu's time with the crew was quite good, acted really well, and that the members of the crew like him very much.
At the very end, Luo Zhentao, intentionally or unintentionally, mentioned the matter of Director Guo adding extra scenes and changing the script for Rong Xu.
"This is a very good thing, I never thought that you, Young Master Rong, would actually be this awesome to be able to actually let Director Guo personally decide to add extra scenes for you!" Luo Zhentao exclaimed in admiration as he lamented: "It just so happened that I was busy that this time, so I didn't have time to go to Hengdian. If there was a chance, I would've definitely flown over to help you with some things. It's really too tiring for you to film and also handle those trivial matters, even if you have three heads and six arms, how would you be able to attend to all those things at the same time ah! You look at how busy I've been lately, almost all of my hair had fallen off because of it! No matter how you say it, your role and I have a little bit of relation but I haven't been taking care of you at all. My heart's been feeling so guilty and ashamed that I couldn't even sleep at night. So much of my hair had fallen off that I'm about to be bald!"
Rong Xu looked at him in amusement and softly laughed.
Seeing this beautiful youth suddenly laughing, Luo Zhentao tightly grasped the steering wheel and opened his mouth but in the end didn't say anything.
The car slowly entered into the estates' area with neither of the two speaking.
Rong Xu turned to look at the scenery outside the window, the brown window tint reflected on the young boy's calm and beautiful countenance. Luo Zhentao quietly looked at him through the rearview mirror and repeatedly wanted to speak, but when the words reached his throat, he couldn't open his mouth no matter what.
All the way till the end, Rong Xu let Luo Zhentao drive him directly to the gate in the estates' area. Luo Zhentao personally got off to help Rong Xu carry his luggage and also kept insisting that he should send him in but Rong Xu shook his head: "It's getting dark, there's still some distance from here back to the downtown area. Here is fine Luo ge."
Luo Zhentao opened his mouth and hesitated for a long time but still didn't say anything.
Seeing Rong Xu was carrying his luggage ready to leave, Luo Zhentao was somewhat disheartened. Although he had also mixed in the circle for three to four years, but after all said and done, he still has yet to become a complete old fried dough stick. He even remembered that he used to privately disliked and would avoid this Young Master of the Rong Family, now for him to take the initiative to persuade him to stay...
No! This was a chance, he definitely must not let it slip by!
Luo Zhentao loudly called out: "Rong Xu, there's one thing I want to talk to you about. If you would like to sign with me..."
"Luo ge." The youth's clear and melodious voice interrupted Luo Zhentao's words.
The brilliant and beautiful sunlight glittered down, the light of the setting sun reflected on the young boy's elegant and beautiful visage, appearing as if a shallow layer of gold veil was placed on. His thin lips slightly pursed up, with a gaze like water; such beauty caused Luo Zhentao to suddenly go mute, completely unable to speak and could only listen to Rong Xu who had a light smile on his face: "Tang jie said that you had something you wanted to show me, is that true?"
Tang Menglan who is far away in Hengdian: "Achoo! Who's talking bad about me!"
Luo Zhentao was even more confused: Tang Menglan said that he had something to show him? How come he didn't know about this?
Rong Xu reminded him: "It should be some information concerning with Huaxia Entertainment."
Luo Zhentao's eyes suddenly brightened: "Yes, yes! There was such a thing!"
Luo Zhentao quickly pulled out a thick contract document and solemnly handed it to Rong Xu. Before he left, he prudently reminded Rong Xu: "Young Master Rong, please be sure to, please please please be sure to carefully read through it."
When Rong Xu took the contract and was about to reach the front entrance, he received a message from Luo Zhentao. In the message, the other carefully told him: Huaxia Entertainment's style of doing things had always been very open, many contracts have more room for negotiations. So if Rong Xu was dissatisfied with something, he could always talk to him and he would extend his full maximum effort to fight for it for Rong Xu.
Yes, for Luo Zhentao Rong Xu was already no newcomer. He could not use the attitude he would to a newcomer to treat the other.
In a few days later, "Vie for Supremacy" character posters would be released. And in a few more months, this huge drama series production would also be released.
In either cases, just by depending on this qualification, Rong Xu already has the qualifications of choice. Not to mention that recently, that big time star under his management had already terminated the contract with the company. He only had two or three unseasoned newcomers, so he must exhaust all efforts to fight for this— as praised by Tang Menglan —"very powerful and good seedling" who he also sees as someone with good prospects and potential——
He had the perfect specifications for an actor: good looks, excellent temperament, strong acting skills, and high EQ.
He was simply born for the entertainment circle!
Rong Xu replied with a simple text while dragging his suitcase step by step to the main entrance. He put away the contract inside his carry-on bag in no hurry to look through it, but didn't know that on the other end of the phone, Luo Zhentao had been grasping onto his phone as he waited for his message, worried that Rong Xu would reply with an "I don��t think that these materials are very good." If so, that would be troublesome.
Under the sinking light of the sunset, Rong Xu swiped his card to open the main entrance and casually walked up to the front door like he was on a stroll. He pulled out the key he inserted in the keyhole and only heard a 'click' when the door slowly opened. However, Rong Xu stopped before the door, having vaguely felt that something was wrong.
...Steward Duan didn't seem to have said the phrase: "You have returned?"
Holding onto these doubts, Rong Xu entered and softly called: "Uncle Duan?"
His only reply was still silence.
Rong Xu slightly knitted his distinctly arched brow, then walked inside. Passing through the long and narrow entrance hall, his line of sight went to the old steward who was respectfully standing at the side as he entered the drawing room. The old steward nodded towards him and called out "Young Master" to which Rong Xu wanted to respond to when he saw a figure's rear back suddenly quickly stood up from the sofa and at lighting speed, fiercely threw themselves into his arms.
Rong Xu's eyes widened.
The person tightly hugged him and spoke in a spoiling and indulging tone to him: "My little Rongrong darling, Auntie came to see you, you've suffered ah! Quickly let Auntie see, how bad did you hit your head? Were there any problems from the car crash? Why did you end up losing your memory? Did you break your hands? Did you break your legs?! Does it still hurt ah?! My little darling oh, your Auntie is about to die from heartache here!"
Rong Xu: "..."
This kind of posture where the other was tightly hugging and pressing him against their bosom caused Rong Xu's chest to feel a burst of suffocation. He didn't know whether to cry or to laugh as he allowed the other to hug him, but was still unable to figure out who this person was from his memory. But he didn't dare to move about randomly, if he and this person had a very close relationship and they realized that he wasn't the original 'Rong Xu', the trouble it will bring wouldn't be small.
As his brain quickly searched around, Rong Xu looked up and suddenly saw a black figure slowly standing up from the sofa.
That person slowly turned around to look at him and in what seemed like a whole century's time when he saw the other's face, Rong Xu's pupil contracted, his heart was also abruptly startled. But Rong Xu didn't realize that the other person's body also suddenly went stiff.
That without an equal, handsome man was also fixedly looking at Rong Xu, separated by a short distance of just a few meters. Almost exactly at the moment he saw him(RX), all of his movements stopped. Only knowing to look at him, as if he would only look at him. His abstruse and deeply hidden eyes in precipitation let people unable to make out the color, nose like a sharp knife, and thin lips slightly pursed. This face appeared perfect to where it resembles an exquisite sculpture of the Western golden age; as if it was made of white jade, and carved by the Heavens.
When this person's gaze dropped down, a formidable aura instantly pressed down causing everyone there to not dare to breathe.
Just like that, that person fixedly stared at Rong Xu, no one knew what he was currently thinking in his heart but his eyes didn't even blink. From beginning to end, he was just seriously and attentively looking.
At this moment, the woman who was hugging Rong Xu finally let go of her iron grip and looked back, saying: "You're still not quickly coming over to look at your little brother Rongrong. My family's Rongrong darling has really suffered, can't you see that he's already become so thin! Aren't you often staying within the country, is this how you take care of your little brother?"
When these words fell, the man dressed in black unhappily knitted his brows but still obediently walked over with his long legs over in front of Rong Xu. Even as he walked over, his gaze never moved, still firmly focused on Rong Xu. All emotions were suppressed down inside his obsidian black eyes, with simply no way to fathom them.
This kind of gaze made Rong Xu tightly pursed up his lips and in general, just felt that something wasn't right.
That beautiful lady seemed to be very dissatisfied with the man's behavior and just glanced at him once before turning back to look at Rong Xu: "Rongrong darling, it was Auntie's fault before because Auntie was busy, she never noticed your situation. If you happen to have any kind of issues later on, you can just directly go find him. If he dares to ignore you or dares to treat you badly, you just tell Auntie! Auntie will help you cut him!"
The author has something to say: Many years later
Auntie: Rongrong darling, are you here because that person is bullying you again? You can tell Auntie, Auntie will help you cut him!
Rongrong: ...Auntie, we're together.
Auntie: ...Auntie's hearing isn't that good, how did he bully you?
Rongrong: ...…Auntie, we are together!
Auntie: He actually dares to bully you to bed with him! Cut him to death!!! (p皿)
Rongrong: _(:3 "∠)_
Male vote – Chinese internet slang for boyfriend
Three heads and six arms – a being of formidable powers
Old fried dough stick – cunning old fox, experienced person
Little brother– Not actual brother. It's just a close form of address.
Cut – Well, I can also use punish here but cut has such a nice ring here~
Edit: Can't believe I forgot about this
Ya what qi, ya exactly what qi?! This obviously was a duqi red envelope, simply wanting to suffocate him!
For the first part, read the footnote in ch 6
堵(du) 氣(qi) – Thie qi is still the same character, 堵(du) means to block/stifle, hence suffocate ^^