Chapter One: Unfulfilled Ambition

  The first play on the second day was Kangxi summoning Songgotu, and the actor who played Songgotu, Xue Zhongrui, is also a veteran actor with very precise acting skills. He had a wonderful confrontation with Chen Daoming.

  After seeing today's lineup, the new generation of actors naturally wouldn't miss it. The scene was already packed with people before the show even started, and after one performance, almost everyone felt their blood boiling.

  "Great performance! You're indeed a seasoned actor." Sun Lei praised.

  "It's really wonderful. I don't know how long it took us to get to this point." Cai Dekuan also sighed, "By the way, Lin Xiao didn't seem to come today, isn't he usually here every day? Has he lost interest too?"

  "Hehe, didn't you see today's schedule? The second scene is Huang Guifei Hui Fei meeting Yin Cuo." An actor next to him smiled with a hint of meaning "You guys think about it, why did this happen? Yesterday there was such a big stir, and today the schedule changed."

  Three people exchanged a look, and it was clear without saying anything.

  "Green eyes have been added." He withdrew his gaze, and Sun Lei said in a low voice, "Unexpectedly, among this batch of new actors, it's not Su Malanu, nor is it Bao Rilongmei, nor is it Lan Qi'er. The first one to gain the director's favor is actually Yin Cui."

  "Is it a blessing? Not necessarily. This opportunity, if you go up, you'll just go up, and if you don't, the evaluation of the whole play will fall here." Cai Dekuan said thoughtfully, "Gong Xuehua is not Liu Songde, this play is far from being finished with just a bow."

  The two men stopped talking and focused on watching the filming in the field.

  Not far from them, Liu Songde gritted his teeth and stood in the shadows with a group of new generation actors.

  At eight o'clock, when Lin Xiao came in wearing a new set of clothes, he immediately felt their malicious gaze. He smiled and didn't take it to heart. Where there are people, there is competition; where there is competition, there is jealousy; and where there is jealousy, there will be cliques. Sometimes, the reason for jealousy is simply because one is too excellent.

  At 9:15, after finishing the previous scene, Chen Jialin let everyone take a break and prepare to continue filming Lin Xiao and Gong Xuehua's scenes.

  The director took advantage of this time to tell the two people about the play again. Chen Jialin was discussing with Xue Zhongrui when he suddenly found that there were two more people in front of him.

  "Oh? Zhu Bian? Zhao Jian? When did you arrive?" A man of ordinary appearance stood before them, Chen Jialin hastily asked someone to bring over a stool.

  "Arrived yesterday." Screenwriter Zhu Suojin greeted and sat down. "I think some scripts have come up with better ideas, I'd like to discuss them with everyone."

  "This won't, bring me along too." Producer Zhao Xue Mei helplessly shrugged her shoulders "Actually, what's the matter can be said over the phone, why did Zhu editor have to make a special trip?"

  "It's probably hard to say clearly over the phone." Zhu Suojin pushed her black-framed glasses and smiled, saying "Actually, it's a matter of role, I've been thinking about it, and I still think there are many places that can be changed."

  "Oh? Which role?"

  "Embarrassed."

  Chen Jialin, Si Qinge and Chen Daoming exchanged a glance, but none of them spoke.

  "Zhu Bian's meaning is that this character has appeared too much." Zhao Xue Mei explained, "The Kangxi Dynasty is expected to have 50 episodes, and Yin Zhen's total screen time is almost one episode. However, the script did not write about the nine kings seizing the throne, and there was no need to make so many shots for an unimportant A Ge."

  "Old Zhu, Old Zhao." After a moment of silence, Chen Daoming spoke up "We're considered old friends now, right?"

  "Of course." "Teacher Chen, you really love to joke around."

  "Is that what you both mean?" Chen Daoming asked calmly. "I heard that Old Zhu, your script has two big plays that Zhao Qingya took on?"

  Before anyone could respond, Su Qianhao spoke up, "If this is what you guys mean, then we can consider reducing it a bit. But if this is Zhao Qingya's intention, isn't she looking down on us?"

  "This role of Yun Cui was one I auditioned for personally." Chen Dao Ming looked seriously at the two people's eyes "I think he's not bad."

  Zhu Suojin and Zhao Xuemei exchanged a glance, the meaning of this sentence was very clear. Chen Daoming and Si Qinge did not give Zhao Qingya any face at all.

  "We're just thinking of the crew." After some thought, Zhao Xue Mei smiled and said "We've put the revised script here. Actually, we didn't cut much, just some unnecessary shots. Please review it, Director."

  "Well, I'll consider it." Chen Jialin remained silent.

  Zhu Suojin and Zhao Xuemei chatted for a few more minutes before getting up and leaving.

  As soon as he walked out of the scene, Zhu Suojin immediately asked discontentedly, "I wanted to say a few more words just now, why did you stop me?"

  "Old Zhu, you didn't see clearly." Zhao Xue Mei sighed "Zhao Qing Ya, Chen Dao Ming, Si Qin Gao Wa, who did you offend?"

  "Even if Zhao Qingya agrees to take on your supporting role, can her status in the entertainment industry compare to that of Chen Daoming and Shi Ke? Seeing that they have backers, we should know when to retreat. Is it worth sacrificing future opportunities for one film? Do you really think Chen Daoming and Shi Ke are Buddhist monks without desires or emotions? If you don't give them face, you'll be even more unable to survive in the entertainment industry."

  "In short, tell Zhao Qingya that the script has been given to the director and whether it is used or not is not up to us. If she asks about the result, just take out these two Buddha statues, and she won't say anything."

  On the set, Chen Jialin flipped through the script left by Zhu Suojin and smiled wryly, "Well, it seems that even the supporting roles are not counted, at most a named extra."

  Chen Daoming expressionlessly stirred his tea cup "Some people's hands are a bit too long."

  "Every production team has its own forces at play. The investors are one faction, the actors another. And isn't there a new talent that the investors want to promote this time? I think this kid is more promising." Su Qiang also said lightly, "Now it's good, other forces want to join in too. Just the day before yesterday, Hunan TV exposed Zhao Qingya for being arrogant, and today the screenwriter and producer came over. Every year, how many new actors are buried by these dark hands? The media always says that new actors can't rise to fame, but they don't know about the darkness under the light."

  "Unfortunately, in my film set, those people's hands can't reach in." Chen Jialin's eyes gleamed "As long as she is a good actor, I will use her. Isn't she trying to reduce her role? I'll deliberately add more!"

  "Of course, on the premise that he has this value." He leaned comfortably in his chair, his eyes lightly scanning Lin Xiao who was tidying up his clothes. "But in this way, the requirements for him will be even higher."

  "Bang!" Far away in Shenzhen, Zhao Qingya slammed down the phone.

  "Zhang Jie, what's wrong?" Song Qingming walked up and asked.

  Zhao Qingya fell silent for a moment, then said coldly, "That former teammate of yours is quite capable. He actually got Chen Daoming and Si Qinger to take the bullet for him."

  Song Qing's eyes flashed, but she didn't say a word.

  "Director Zhao..." The staff around were at a loss, several cameras were all focused on Zhao Qingya, because she suddenly heard the phone and immediately replaced the director to call cut.

  "Continue." Zhao Qingya glanced at them and said to the tense newcomer in front of her, "What are you afraid of? Continue filming."

  "Yes, Sister Zhao." The newcomer replied with a bow, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

  "Is that it?" Song Qingming asked reluctantly.

  Zhao Qingya glared at him "Does it count or not? I said it counts!" Ou

  Far away in Shenzhen, Lin Xiao had no idea that a sinister hand that almost made him an extra had appeared on the set once. He was fully engaged in understanding the director's reading of the play and communicating with Gong Xuehua.

  Gong Xuehua is also a powerful actress, with over 400 acting skills that surpass Lin Xiao by a large margin, and her other stats are not low either. When acting against her, Lin Xiao still feels quite pressured.

  "Ready." Nine thirty, all actors in position, clapperboard slaps "A!"

  "The Emperor... he wants Rong Fei! Not me!" Gong Xuehua's eyes were already brimming with tears from the very beginning. This scene was where Kangxi flipped over the card of Imperial Noble Consort Hui, but instead went to Rong Fei's place.

  It started as a complaint between mother and son, but later it became Hui Fei letting Yun Cuo and the Crown Prince compete for the throne. The emotional ups and downs, although they can be shown by Gong Xuehua alone, would cover up Lin Xiao's role.

  Chen Jialin, Chen Daoming, and Shi Qigong all carefully watched every detail of the scene. If Lin Xiao was overshadowed by Gong Xuehua, an old artist without any highlights, then they would follow Zhao Qingya.

  "Mother is thinking too much." Lin Xiao bit his lip, a look of heartache and fear of saying more flashed across his face.

  "Good!" "Not bad!" Instantly, a few low cheers erupted from outside.

  "It's just getting started." Chen Daoming took a sip of tea, and this was only the beginning, the real show was yet to come.

  Gong Xuehua tightly hugged Lin Xiao, tears rolling down "I know, I have a humble origin. Although now I am the only imperial noble consort, it's just that I have an advantage because I entered the palace early. Ten years later, how can we ensure our mother and son are safe?"

  Lin Xiao desperately stirred up his emotions, at this moment the best thing to do was to render his feelings and have a good cry.

  He began to recall, every time he accompanied the Golden Rooster Awards, the white eyes of clothing brands, the grievances he had suffered, but no matter what, he could only have red eyes.

  He choked with sobs and persuaded "Mother..."

  “CUT！”

  Chen Jialin furrowed her brow and said, "Lin Xiao, although your goal is to make yourself cry with the wise queen. But if you can't do it, then don't do it. This drawing a tiger but ending up with a dog will only have a worse effect."

  "Good idea, but it's not specified in the script. Unfortunately, the acting didn't quite live up to it, and it was a bit excessive."

  Chen Daoming didn't say anything.

  "Haha." Liu Songde burst out laughing and said, "Satisfying! Too satisfying! With this level of skill, you still want to show off?"

  "This time it's the director giving him a chance, but if he can't grasp this opportunity, he'll be finished."

  "Everyone knows that if you don't perform well, you'll lose face for the director. Later on, who knows, your scenes might even get cut! I'd like to see how he's going to handle this!"

  A flurry of whispers and murmurs suddenly erupted from Liu Songde's group.

  Cai Dekuan furrowed his brow and asked Sun Lei, "How is it?"

  "It's a bit rushed. But if I were to act, it would be nothing more than this. No reliance on medication, just editing out the tears. Does he really think he's a movie emperor?" Sun Lei said.

  Cai Dekuan nodded and suddenly smiled "But if I were to act, I'm afraid it would be hard for me to get a little red-eyed."

  "That's natural."