Chapter One: Unfulfilled Ambition

  "Cheng Wanning, I don't know who that is. But Lan Xiaolong and Du Liang are both from the troops. Do you really think the company has eyes and ears everywhere?"

  Lin sighed and shook his head, "That's really too bad."

  He would never tell the other party that the later famous Ning Caishen, Soldier Assault, My Regimental Commander My Regiment, and Blood-colored Romance were all from the hands of the above-mentioned people.

  The car soon arrived at the Hunan TV Tower, and CAMI led him upstairs to the third floor with ease.

  "Hey, Cami!" A young man called out enthusiastically.

  Lin Xiao looked carefully and almost thought he was seeing things, wasn't this Hunan TV's golden host He Jiong? How did he get such a young face?!

  "This is Happy Camp host He Jiong." CAMI introduced "This is Huaxia's artist Lin Xiao, and there is also a Li Hao, who will arrive in the evening."

  "I've long heard of your great name." The two exchanged polite greetings. Lin Xiao turned his head and asked in a low voice, "Does he know you?"

  "We've met a few times." Cami replied simply.

  "It just so happens that this time we have six guests, and for now only two students have arrived. The other two have already sent over their scripts and will arrive when the formal recording starts," He Jiong explained.

  "Oh? And who are the other two?" Lin Xiao asked.

  "He Qiong said mysteriously, 'We only know one of them for now, but when the time comes, I'll tell you and guarantee that you will be greatly surprised.'"

  They had lunch together, took a nap in the afternoon, and at night, lively Li Hao appeared in his room.

  "Wow, bro." The big kid came up and patted his shoulder heavily. "Your news is not bad, huh... a newcomer endorsed by Teacher Chen Daoming, what a big name."

  Lin Xiao laughed and felt that it was great to be young and unaware of the taste of worry, after sizing him up, Li Hao seemed a bit dark from doing outdoor programs.

  "Xiao Ge, your gaze is going to sink me? Come on, I've been waiting for a long time." Li Hao leaned back onto the bed with a heroic posture.

  Lin Xiao's sentimental moment was immediately killed off.

  "I'm so sorry to interrupt your tryst." He only then noticed CAMI also standing at the door. "However, tonight is Lui's turn, and two students have arrived, the TV station wants you to go over."

  They walked into the Hunan TV building again, but this time they were taken directly to the top floor's production studio. In the spacious production studio, four people were already rehearsing their lines.

  Lin Xiao's eyes swept over, and he was stunned for a moment.

  What a student! Obviously, they are future first-line film and television stars, Chen Kun and Zhao Wei!

  Like He Jiong, they are now much younger, the mature sensuality of the future has not yet opened up, but that thread of freshly graduated greenness is as tender as new green. They were all students in '96, and at this time they should have just graduated.

  Shook his head, secretly laughing at himself for not having achieved anything since returning, but instead had met most of the future A-list stars, and still had a chance to take on a role in one of Huang Xiaoming's films.

  "Discern." He said in his heart, and instantly, a string of data appeared.

  Name: Zhao Wei, Height: 166, Acting skills: 380, Singing skills: 200, A-level artist.

  Name: Chen Kun, Height: 176, Acting skills: 390, Singing skills: 150, B-level artist.

  Watching the two of them somewhat awkwardly reciting their lines, he suddenly found a sense of balance. It turned out that he had unknowingly stood on the same starting line as this batch of new first-line actors born after the 90s.

  Entering the Happy Camp stage, several people greeted each other warmly and got to know one another. This is the first step in a variety show, first of all, you have to go through this rehearsal to "test the waters", see if the other person can take jokes, what level of joke they can handle. If it's someone who doesn't like to joke around, the host will try not to tease them too much, so as not to create an awkward atmosphere.

  Of course, as a result, that person's camera time has been greatly reduced, and what's more, they might even be put on the blacklist of that TV station.

  The conversation with Ke Tai went very smoothly, Chen Kun seemed a bit stiff, but still spoke well. On the other hand, Zhao Wei had a slightly cold expression, never actively passing the burden to them, only to Chen Kun, and helping Chen Kun out of trouble, almost treating the two as air. Lin Xiao didn't seem to mind either, as the other side had already become famous with the broadcast of "My Fair Princess" in 1998, while he knew that Chen Kun still had to wait until 2002's "The Legend of the Condor Hero" for everyone to thoroughly recognize him.

  Unfortunately, Xiaoyanzi made her famous in one year but spent several years overturning the established image of Xiaoyanzi in the audience's mind.

  The entertainment industry is the most realistic, if you're not popular, you have to listen to the big shots and can't fight back or retort. When you become popular, you can still do the same to others. Zhao Wei's attitude is actually already very good. Lin Xiao himself has seen a big shot drive a third-tier artist out of the dressing room backstage.

  He was originally still a bit worried about Li Hao, but he soon discovered that his warnings were in vain. Li Hao's somewhat natural foolishness made He Jiong and Li Xiang love him so much that they often left him with a big red face. He could already imagine that Li Hao would get a lot of screen time tomorrow.

  "So, how did Lin Xiao think of developing in the entertainment industry?" Li Xiang asked with a smile. As the dialogue went on, Chen Kun's speaking time became less and less, and many shots were taken of the other three guests' faces instead.

  "Of course it's because in the entertainment industry you can change your face every day. You don't know how hard it is to change a route in the music scene." He said with a smile.

  Through some tentative probing earlier, Li Xiang naturally knew that the other party was someone who could take a joke, and she hastily added "What? Is it really necessary to learn how to change one's face in the entertainment industry?"

  "I haven't received professional training in this field, so I don't have a deep understanding of it. You should ask the two people next to me." Lin Xiao calmly shifted the topic to them.

  Zhao Wei showed a hint of gratitude for the first time. She and Chen Kun were classmates, with a pretty good relationship, and this time there was indeed an intention to help, but the newcomer's tension made him perform poorly. If Lin Xiao hadn't constantly shifted the topic, the camera might not be focusing on him now.

  Li Xiang and He Jiong didn't understand his meaning, so they quickly changed the subject with Chen Kun to talk about school life.

  The lines are coming to an end, and the several packages that He Jiong and Li Xiang shook out were all taken over by Lin Xiao, who used many classic lines from later on, making everyone else laugh so hard they were doubled over.

  The entertainment craze of 2013 is absolutely not comparable to that of 2000 in terms of humor.

  "Lin Xiao, Li Hao. Why don't you consider coming to our Happy Big Yard as a regular guest?" Li Xiang wiped away the tears she had just laughed out and asked "I'm not the producer, there are some things that aren't said so clearly, but I always feel like your style is completely different from ours now."

  "This episode's ratings will definitely rise, I have a premonition." He Hong also laughed uncontrollably "We sincerely invite you, if you come to participate in the variety show, it will be a big..."

  He suddenly couldn't think of a suitable adjective, but Chen Kun, who was smiling beside him, handed over a word: "Strange".

  "I give up." Lin Xiao was also infected by the atmosphere "It's actually my junior brother, I think he's the right material."

  In fact, what he means is Cai Kangyong, Chen Handian behind Xiao S. However, if Li Hao really went, his status should be much higher.

  "But... I want to release an album." Li Hao Bai said blankly.

  "Ah, funny guy releases an album. Hehe, why do I want to laugh again." Li Xiang couldn't help but burst out laughing whenever she saw Li Hao's silly expression.

  "Alright, it's about time. Let's wait for a few more days until the other two arrive and record this episode. The effect should be pretty good." He Jiong said.

  Some people also felt a bit tired, after all, such a long time of speaking in front of an audience, and still having to entertain, is a very exhausting thing.

  "How about it? Want to go have a midnight snack?" Lin Xiao suggested, having finally found an opportunity to develop this connection, he wasn't going to let it slip away easily.

  "Good!" Li Hao nodded first, Chen Kun also affirmed, He Jiong and Li Xiang discussed for a while, and did not refuse. Only Zhao Wei hesitated for a moment.

  "It's late at night, dress more warmly, who can see you?" CAMI immediately understood Lin Xiao's meaning. There was also a Zhao Wei from the Still Pearl series, she secretly praised her own artist for being clever enough, and naturally wanted to follow her own artist's path.

  Hesitation was only temporary, and under the persuasion of classmate Chen Kun, Zhao Wei also nodded soon.

  At midnight, we found a relatively secluded street stall introduced by CAMI, and the taste was actually not bad. While eating, Lin Xiao told a few more "future" jokes, making several people laugh so hard that they couldn't bear it.

  "Linxiao, I think your personality is similar to that of a certain director." Zhao Wei didn't join in the laughter with the third-rate artists, but just smiled faintly and remained silent. This was her first time speaking up after Linxiao had just finished telling a joke.

  "Oh? Who?" Lin Xiao asked after taking a sip of his drink. He absolutely did not touch beer.

  Zhao Wei didn't expect herself to suddenly say that either. She was stunned for a moment before saying, "Zhou Xingchi, Master Star."

  The speaker may not have meant it, but the listener took it to heart.

  Lin Xiao's mind had already quickly turned around, in 2000, Zhao Wei mentioned Stephen Chow to herself?

  In 2001, Zhao Wei starred in Stephen Chow's Shaolin Soccer as Mui.

  He silently tapped his fingers on the table without saying a word and instead joined Li Xiang and He Jiong's comedic team.

  Being too obvious scares away the prey and ends up being counterproductive. He, like just now, made some unrelated jokes, first meeting, grasping the right measure, only needing to leave an impression on the other party, remembering that there is such a person is enough.

  An hour later, everyone dispersed with a smile. Lin Xiao and his two friends did not plan to take a car and walked on the streets of Changsha.

  The night wind blows, bringing with it the quietness of a bustling city after curtain call. They sit on chairs by the roadside, watching the passing vehicles with great interest.

  "It's great." Li Hao suddenly said, "If I become famous in the future, it will probably be impossible to ride a horse on the street like this without any obstruction."

  "That's right, even going to the convenience store requires someone to accompany you. However, as long as you're in this circle, who doesn't want to experience that kind of pain and joy?" CAMI also sighed and said "Ordinary people only see those dazzling stars, how would they know about the countless newcomers behind them who are struggling to get ahead? The sacrifices a star makes, it's hard for outsiders to imagine. They maintain their lives and bodies almost to the point of self-abuse."