Chapter 24

Still... Wang Chusheng thought the shooting schedules for the two films might clash. For the sake of his own movie, before Chen Mo could say anything, he immediately said, "Chen Mo has already accepted the role of Sun Ce. If the schedules overlap, he probably won't have time to film this!"

After saying that, Wang Chusheng forcibly took the audition card from the Duckbill Cap production team and handed it back to the female assistant. He directly declined on Chen Mo's behalf. "We know Director Jin values Chen Mo and wants to give him this opportunity. But unfortunately, it looks like we can't work together this time. Everything has to follow the order it came in. We already confirmed ours first."

Everyone knew that Director Wang Chusheng hated actors taking overlapping productions during filming. Back when he was filming Fragrance and Shadows, a famous actress in the crew secretly went off to film another project behind his back. When Wang Chusheng found out, he immediately dismissed her according to her contract, despite the film already being halfway through production and despite her being an important supporting actress with substantial screen time. The incident caused a huge uproar. Not only did the actress who had taken the overlapping role and her fans express dissatisfaction with Director Wang's "arbitrary and domineering" behavior, even some investors failed to understand his decision.

But no matter what, Director Wang stuck to his principles. From then on, whenever he made a film, he never worked with that actress again. After seeing Director Wang's reaction to overlapping productions, other actors also changed their attitudes. From then on, whenever they accepted one of Director Wang's projects, no matter how famous they were, they no longer dared to do something like that.

Even major stars treated Director Wang that way, let alone Chen Mo, a newcomer who had just debuted.

Besides, compared with Director Wang, who had won so many awards his hands were practically numb, and compared with a historical art film that was lavishly funded and meticulous in both investment and casting, Jin Wanqiu's youth campus movie—with neither funding nor much in the way of commercial appeal—was practically trash.

If someone put those two scripts together, even an idiot would know which one to choose. So before Chen Mo could speak, Yang Qindong smilingly picked up the conversation.

Of course, unlike Director Wang Chusheng's blunt, straightforward rejection that could easily offend people, Yang Qindong spoke much more gently and tactfully. But no matter how tactful he was, a rejection was still a rejection. The assistant, burdened with her mission, had failed to drag Chen Mo back to her own production team's audition room. In her frustration, she nearly cried. Clutching a stack of documents, she refused to leave and stared at Chen Mo with pleading eyes.

Anyone who didn't know better would have thought Chen Mo had wronged and abandoned her!

Yang Qindong had no choice but to coax and cajole the assistant away. Everyone else hurriedly left as well. Yet just as they arrived at the hot pot restaurant, Director Jin Wanqiu called Yang Qindong directly.

Over the phone, Jin Wanqiu not only sincerely expressed her wish for Chen Mo to play the male lead, but also bluntly offered to postpone the start of filming if Chen Mo met her standards after the audition. She was willing to delay it by up to three months!

Jin Wanqiu had gone this far. If Yang Qindong and Chen Mo still refused, they would be showing no appreciation for her kindness.

Hearing this exchange, everyone was speechless. They all looked Chen Mo over with curious expressions.

Well! He was good-looking, somewhat talented, and had some acting skills, but was he really that outstanding? Jin Wanqiu was, after all, a well-known director. Yet she was practically begging a rookie to become her movie's male lead, even willing to postpone production for him...

No matter how they thought about it, it felt downright surreal, didn't it?

"Looks like the system bound to me really does come with a Jack Sue Aura!"

Seeing everyone gape at him in disbelief, Chen Mo tilted his head up toward the ceiling and thought innocently.

Chen Mo was secretly admiring himself, but he had no idea that the main reason Jin Wanqiu so sincerely wanted him to audition for the male lead had little to do with him personally. In other words, if Jin Wanqiu hadn't learned from her assistant that Wang Chusheng had cast Chen Mo as Sun Ce, she might not have been so determined to get him for this role.

After all, Director Wang was famous in the industry for being ruthless and having a sharp eye!

Wasn't there a saying? Anyone Director Wang took a liking to, anyone he had personally trained—pick any one of them, and even if they hadn't won awards yet, they were destined to win them within a few years.

Those already-famous Best Actors and Best Actresses demanded fees that were too high, carried too much attitude, and didn't suit the role in age or temperament, so Jin Wanqiu didn't dare consider them. But Chen Mo was still a newcomer.

First, she would pull him into her hands. Then, as long as she patiently waited for him to receive enough training under Director Wang and graduate from his tutelage, she could use him right away!

By then, he would have fame, publicity value, and acting skills... For such a promising prospect, she could absolutely afford to wait two or three months!

So, seriously speaking, Director Jin was the truly surreal one!

Chapter 24

By the time they finished hot pot, it was already past seven in the evening. The city lights had just come on. Full and satisfied, everyone went their separate ways, each returning home to find their own wives. Yang Qindong, who had no wife, drove Chen Mo back to his apartment. On the way, he mentioned that Banana TV had long wanted the Emperor Wu of Han: The Young Emperor production team to record an episode of one of its major variety shows. But because Chen Mo had final exams and his school wouldn't let him leave, they had never been able to settle on a recording date.

With only two weeks left before the drama aired, failing to finish the recording before then might affect the show's upcoming promotion. The interests involved were linked one after another, and Banana TV could no longer sit still. As Chen Mo's agent, Yang Qindong felt somewhat guilty and had proactively suggested that Chen Mo withdraw from the recording. But as soon as he said it, neither Banana TV nor the Young Emperor production team wanted to let go of Chen Mo, a hot topic who could boost ratings and generate publicity. The matter dragged on until now. The moment Chen Mo's final exams ended, they immediately called to ask about his availability.

After discussing it over the phone with Banana TV and the other Young Emperor actors appearing on the program, Yang Qindong decided to set the recording for next Monday. The matter had been settled yesterday, but because he was worried about Chen Mo's audition, Yang Qindong had feared it would affect Chen Mo's mood and hadn't brought it up when they met earlier.

"Next Monday? Isn't that the day after tomorrow?" Chen Mo raised his brows. "If we're recording on Monday, shouldn't we at least head over on Sunday to go over the script... Damn, you're exploiting child labor. You aren't leaving me any time to rest at all!"

"Not bad, you even know what it means to go over the script!" Yang Qindong laughed before adding, "You should count your blessings. Since you signed with me, what work have I arranged for you? I haven't even accepted any advertising endorsements for you. I was afraid too many side jobs would delay your studies. Have you ever seen such a kind-hearted capitalist?"

"Then I really should thank you for your merciful heart, old man... But what was that about advertising endorsements? How come I didn't know about them?"

"They were all no-name brands and small fry trying to latch onto you because you've gained a little fame. They weren't sincere at all, so I rejected them." Yang Qindong explained as he turned the steering wheel. "For newly debuted artists, advertising endorsements are a very important hurdle. Some businesses want to use a celebrity's fame to promote their products. Those brands vary wildly in quality, and some even have serious product problems. No matter how much money they offer, you can't accept endorsements like that. Once you do, if the product has an issue, the artist's career and reputation will suffer along with it.

"...Then there are brands that don't have quality issues, but have limited brand images and target consumers. Even if you accept those endorsements, they won't do much to improve an artist's image. They may even affect how major brands view you when considering spokespersons. Those endorsement contracts are basically tasteless. Unless you're desperately short of money, I wouldn't recommend taking too many."

"...Finally, there are brands that have been on the market for a long time and possess real strength and influence, as well as international high-end luxury brands. The former is what we should strive for, while the latter is something you can only hope to encounter by chance. Basically, with your qualifications..." Yang Qindong turned around and carefully examined Chen Mo before raising his brows. "In another three to five years, you can start thinking about it."

After saying that, Yang Qindong did not forget to praise himself. "I'm really jealous of you. You debuted and immediately ran into an agent like me—kind-hearted, well-connected, and capable. How are you so lucky?"

The hot pot dipping sauce had been a little too salty, so Chen Mo was just twisting open a bottle of mineral water. Hearing Yang Qindong's words, he nearly choked. He immediately put down the bottle and laughed. "So narcissistic. Could you please not tell jokes while I'm drinking?"

Yang Qindong raised his brows. Turning the wheel as he spoke, he said, "How is that a joke? I learned it all from you. They say those who keep company with vermilion turn red, while those who keep company with ink turn black. So tell me, am I black now, or red?"

"Your heart is black and your face is red. Winter winds are strong, so put on more face cream before you go out." Chen Mo bantered with him a few times. Seeing that they had arrived at the apartment, he immediately opened the door and got out.

In the depths of winter, the northwesterly wind howled past, chilling a person to the bone. Chen Mo covered his ears with his hands and ran toward the apartment building.

Yang Qindong rolled down the car window, stuck his head out, and reminded him, "I'll have Xiao Ding pick you up tomorrow morning. Remember to bring your ID."

With his back to Yang Qindong, Chen Mo vigorously waved an arm to show that he understood.

Chen Mo was alone in the apartment. Father Chen and Mother Chen had returned to the restaurant half a month ago. Even if their son had made something of himself, business still had to go on. Besides, although Chen Mo had spent more than half a year working hard and gained a little fame, he had not actually earned much money.

The only seventy or eighty thousand yuan he had earned had long since been deposited into a bank card by Mother Chen. Later, after hearing that artists had high expenses outside, needing to buy clothes and maintain appearances, Father Chen and Mother Chen worried that Chen Mo would be mocked if he had no money on hand. They transferred another twenty thousand yuan into the card, making it an even one hundred thousand, and gave the card directly to Chen Mo.

The three-bedroom, two-living-room apartment was neither particularly large nor particularly small. At least, compared with the several properties Chen Mo had owned in Beijing in his previous life, it was nothing special. But he had grown used to life as a family of three. Now that two people were suddenly gone, the place felt far too quiet no matter how he looked at it.

A feeling of loneliness spread through him.

Chen Mo washed away the hot pot smell in the bathroom, changed into comfortable loungewear, and returned to the living room. Several stacks of stock market data and materials that Pei Qingjue had somehow dug up again sat on the coffee table. Chen Mo casually picked up one and started flipping through it.

Water droplets falling from his half-dry hair landed on the materials, instantly soaking into the paper. Chen Mo stared at the round water stain for a while before suddenly losing all interest in studying the material.

This was so annoying!

No wonder he hadn't liked being alone in his previous life.

He casually tossed the materials back onto the coffee table and picked up his phone, randomly scrolling through his contacts. His finger repeatedly passed over Yang Qindong, Director Zhang, Huang Lixin, Lin Xia, even Director Wang and Chen Yuxiu, before finally stopping on the reservation number for Don't Come Back Restaurant.

Chen Mo stared at the phone screen for a long time. In the end, he continued scrolling upward, found Pei Qingjue's number, and called it.

"...Didn't you say you'd teach me how to trade stocks after my final exams? Don't tell me you forgot?" Chen Mo relaxed against the back of the sofa, turning on the television while speaking on the phone.

A currently popular drama was playing a scene in which the male and female leads, seven years into their marriage, were arguing because of a mistress. The chaotic sounds of their fight instantly filled the empty apartment. There was a strange silence on the other end of the line. After a while, Pei Qingjue finally asked, "Are people fighting at your home?"

"It's the TV." Chen Mo raised his brows and asked directly, "Where are you? Why is it so noisy around you?"

Pei Qingjue avoided the question. "It's after work hours now—"

"You're at a nightclub, aren't you?" Chen Mo cut him off.