Chapter One: Unfulfilled Ambition

  "I think... actually, if he's really into film and television, maybe we've been looking at it from the wrong angle from the start." He Jian suddenly said "How about this? Let's agree to make him a regular guest, and in the future, whenever he has a good TV show or movie, we'll specially arrange an interview episode for him."

  Wang Jue Ming's footsteps stopped, somewhat stunned "This treatment...... is too high, exceeding his current status by too much...... I'm afraid if other celebrities find out, it will only bring him trouble."

  "But this might be the only way to get him to agree." Li Xiang thought for a moment and also expressed her agreement. "He Jiong and I will guarantee that we can merge the two styles in the shortest time possible, at which point, his concerns about ratings won't be as important anymore."

  "I'll think about it again. This matter involves the attitude of all the stars who have been on Happy Camp, even Zhao Wei didn't come, I need to consider Hunan TV's stance." Wang Jue Ming did not immediately respond, his annoyance made him feel a bit stifled, he picked up a stack of paper and fanned himself.

  "Second Brother Wang, what's that?" He Jiong asked casually.

  Wang Jue Ming suddenly reacted "Oh, right! Lin Xiao wrote some materials for you. Let me bring them to you."

  He saw Li Xiang and He Jiong's eyes suddenly lit up, but instead became suspicious "What thing?"

  "Brother Wang, you'd better take a look first and then consider our proposal just now." Li Xiang said with a meaningful smile.

  Wang Jue Ming flipped it open and took a look. He had only read for two seconds when his eyes widened bigger than a cow's. Then he continued reading with great eagerness.

  "Star effect? Packaging the host as a star? Great idea!"

  "Secularization? Departing from the current established variety show style? Well, that's just great!"

  He ignored the other two and focused on watching, as if he was having a full Manchu-Han Imperial Feast.

  More than ten minutes later, he finally put down his proposal with a full stomach and didn't speak immediately, but instead closed his eyes as if to rest.

  The proposal just now brought him a great shock. He didn't know that it was the variety style of 2013, but he felt that although the proposal was not as detailed as what professionals said, every method inside was unprecedented in mainland China and was feasible, a brand new and detailed style, which he needed time to digest.

  A vague feeling told him that the greatest opportunity for Happy Big Camp to impact ratings had arrived! Right on these thin pages!

  No one disturbed him, he thought for over ten minutes before suddenly remembering that there were two other living people in this room.

  "Sorry about that. I was lost in thought." He came back to himself, chuckled at his own absent-mindedness, and immediately asked "Did he write this?"

  "Yes, he mentioned it when we had dinner last time. We thought it would be helpful for the program, so we asked him to write a detailed document."

  Wang Jue Ming seemed lost in thought, his fingers lightly tapping on the table. After a few seconds, he murmured, "Talents..."

  "Brother Wang, what about the method we just discussed?"

  "Alright." Wang Jue Ming smiled wryly. "In the end, it's still me who has to play the villain to satisfy all the stars of Happy Big Yard. However, it seems like I really need to get in touch with CAMI now... that troublesome woman..."

  In the afternoon, Lin Xiao had a good rest and booked several tickets to Jiangxi two days later. Unexpectedly, he had just finished dinner when the phone rang.

  It was sent by CAMI.

  "I've been busy with Li Hao's matters recently, how about you?"

  "It's okay, the response is good. Wang Ge wanted me to be the trial host of Happy Camp, I refused."

  "Hmm, very wise. This will limit your acting career, you see Xiaoyanzi, she's the best example. As for trying out hosting, his eyes aren't blind, of course he knows how to make choices. Honestly, I didn't think you could do so well. But, he called me this afternoon."

  "Oh?" Lin Xiao became curious, hadn't the other person given up yet? "What did you say?"

  Cami burst out laughing "I have to say, this time your trick of teasing and then revealing has really landed a big fish. Wang Jue Ming told me that every month you'll be on two episodes, and within the year Happy Camp will do a special episode just for your film and television work. This is treatment that not many first-line stars even get."

  "So your meaning is to agree with them?"

  "Of course I agreed! But I added one more condition." CAMI smiled slyly "I made Li Hao a special guest for each episode."

  Lin Xiao lost his smile, CAMI is really ruthless.

  "How long will it take?" It's been too long and he won't do it anymore.

  "A quarter."

  "Alright." Lin Xiao thought for a moment before agreeing, then smiled and said "So I won't have to fly between two places every other week?"

  "Be content with what you have! An artist being busy is fulfilling, if you want to be an idle artist I can totally satisfy that." With a "click", CAMI hung up the phone.

  No sooner had he hung up the phone than the doorbell rang. He opened it to find Li Xiang and He Jiong already standing outside.

  "You're a big shot now, and you actually want us to come and talk to you in person." Li Xiang said with a smile.

  "Xiang Jie said with a smile, 'Please come in.'"

  As soon as the two sat down, He Jiong joked, "Wang Ge said that he had already discussed the contract with your agent and heard that someone else was added in for free. Although it's free, he was still unhappy about it for half a day. So, he won't be coming this time."

  "Actually, my junior brother is quite suitable for your program. He hasn't been discovered yet, but if you follow my proposal and make some changes, you will soon discover his advantages."

  "Alright, let's not waste any more words." Li Xiang took out a stack of contracts. "This is your specific treatment. We're all envious just looking at it. Now the monthly salary is 1000, each episode is 200, and transportation fees are calculated separately. You've actually reached the treatment of a second-tier celebrity!"

  "We used to have a monthly salary of only a few hundred, let alone count by episodes. At that time, eating and living were all problems." He Jiong smiled and said "Be content, no problem, just sign it, we will work together for a season later. By the way, Wang Ge specially called Ye Zi today, starting from next period, Xie Na will record with us together."

  Lin Xiao didn't hesitate, picked it up and carefully reviewed it, the other two didn't rush him. The contract was brief, as he wasn't an official host, it was much simpler. However, he still spent an hour deliberating before signing his name.

  "It was a pleasure working together." The three of them shook hands, and after signing off on Lin Xiao's quarter, the two of them had even brighter smiles on their faces.

  "I believe that after a quarter, a brand new Happy Camp will appear in front of everyone."

  For the next two days, no one came looking for him. He packed his things and flew directly to Shanxi Huangcheng Xiangfu two days later.

  It's already late July, and the weather has shown signs of warming up. The crew should be filming summer scenes now. After finishing here, they will move to Zhejiang to film palace scenes, and then to Inner Mongolia, where he had his trial shoot, which was also filmed on location there.

  The Imperial City's Xiangfu Mansion is indeed one of the best-maintained mansions in the country, with its gardens full of vibrant flowers, pavilions and towers, small bridges and flowing water. When I returned here, it was a completely different scene, bustling with activity as film crews and staff members hurried about.

  "Hurry up! Hurry up!" A staff member kept shouting "Where's Xiaozhuang's cane? How come it hasn't been found yet?"

  Cane? Lin Xiao frowned, it's been less than a month and you're already in post-production?

  He grabbed an employee and asked, "What's going on? Why is it progressing so quickly?"

  He gave him a slanted glance and continued yelling, completely ignoring him.

  "I'm an actor from Hunan who just arrived."

  "Oh, it's you." The staff immediately put on a smiling face, Chen Daoming "appointed" the new person. He had heard of it, of course. "Today is like this, originally we were going to shoot Teacher Chen meeting Wei Dongting at Chang Chun Garden, but Li Ruijin who plays Wei Dongting is in Ulan Bator and can't come back for a short time. No way, the director said that since it's the same scene, let's just shoot Kangxi applying for abdication, and Empress Xiaozhuang advising Kangxi."

  Good! Lin Xiao shouted and came early, but it's better to come cleverly. This kind of movie emperor and queen's scene, in his past life, he hadn't even seen it!

  In his memory, this play was emotionally turbulent and intense, a real big show, completely different from the usual reminders and entrustments of Xiaozhuang to Kangxi, it's truly an emperor and empress's acting skills colliding, worth watching!

  He hastily asked for the location and walked over in that direction. By the time he arrived, there were already a lot of people gathered around. Except for a few veteran actors who maintained their composure, most of the new actors were standing there with expectant faces.

  The crew was quiet, with no one saying a word. The twenty or so people at the door were like decorations, their eyes fixed on Chen Daoming and Shi Qigong, who were sitting inside chatting.

  Everyone knows that next is Mars hitting Earth.

  With a loud "A" and a snap of the clapperboard, their eyes simultaneously shifted to the interior of the room.

  A strange atmosphere is spreading, it's unclear whether it's tension or anticipation.

  Both sides of the main actors stopped, Su Qionghua and several palace maids walked out, leaving only Chen Daoming's artist in the ancestral hall room to offer incense.

  When the last incense stick was inserted, the director gave a hand signal. Empress Dowager Cixi slowly walked out of the side house.

  At this moment, Lin Xiao's eyes suddenly widened.

  Xiang Gong's portrayal of Xiaozhuang, almost without makeup, leaning on a crutch, walked over. And the palace maid behind her was actually that little beauty he had brought along several times!

  "She's also in this group." It turns out that they are acquaintances, but they haven't exchanged more than a few words. At the moment, there is still some joy at seeing familiar faces.

  The little beauty walked with her head down, following closely behind Su Qianhao.

  "Bang" Chen Daoming's whole body trembled slightly, and his knees fell to the ground. He almost shouted in a trembling voice, "Ancestors..."

  With this kneel, two lines of tears almost burst out without warning.

  "Great!" "Beautiful!" "You're indeed the movie emperor!" Suddenly, like a swarm of bees, the applause rose up extremely low. The surrounding young people, as if they had taken stimulants, had their eyes turned into spotlights.

  Lin Xiao also clicked his tongue.

  Ordinary actors can realistically control their emotions, which is not too difficult. However, to truly convey deep emotions and cry when needed, Lin Xiao asks himself how many Golden Horse Award winners for Best Actor can achieve this, and at least he himself cannot do it.

  But the other side had just been brewing for less than a minute!