Chapter 40

But things were different now. To use an analogy, in his previous life, he had liked keeping young starlets, spending money on bags, jewelry, luxury goods, even houses and cars for them. The more he invested, the more seriously he took that person. It was the same now that he was working in the entertainment industry.

After all, this was his first job since transmigrating. Through it, he had gained a foothold, become familiar with this world, made friends, and won fans and a sense of achievement. And he had paid a great deal to obtain all of it.

Because he had invested, he cared. Because he cared, he was willing to consider even more seriously how to take every step ahead.

By the time Chen Mo and Yang Qindong arrived at the private room downstairs, most of the crew had already arrived. Director Wang Chusheng naturally sat at the head of the table, with Chen Yuxiu and Li Zhaoxi seated beside him. Best Actress Lu Xiaonong sat below Chen Yuxiu, followed in order by the other crew members. The last seat was empty, apparently reserved for Chen Mo.

Before anyone could speak, Yang Qindong pulled Chen Mo over to Director Wang and smilingly apologized for being late.

Wang Chusheng did not care about such things. He waved it off with a smile. "We were the ones who arrived early. It has nothing to do with Chen Mo. You got here at just the right time."

Then he pointed at Chen Mo and introduced him to everyone. "This is Chen Mo, whom I brought in to play Sun Ce. All of you, look after him a little. Don't bully him."

Hearing Wang Chusheng say this, everyone laughed and agreed. Zhao Lan, who played Da Qiao, looked Chen Mo over and teased, "Oh my, what a tender little handsome guy. He's even prettier in person than on television. He really lives up to the description of Sun Ce as exceptionally beautiful. But Director, you're setting me up here. You found such a handsome kid under eighteen to act with me. Can we still be a couple on screen? Won't we end up looking like mother and son...?"

Her words sent everyone into uproarious laughter. Wang Chusheng could not help teasing back, "It's fine. We'll have the makeup artist make you look younger, and make him look older."

Before he had even finished speaking, everyone burst out laughing again.

Chen Yuxiu even stood up and walked over to Chen Mo. Throwing an arm around his shoulders, he smiled at Zhao Lan. "What are you worried about, Zhao Lan? You're naturally beautiful, and you barely have any scenes with him anyway. As long as the makeup artist does a good job, the two of you will absolutely look like a perfect pair on camera. I'm the unlucky one. Most of the first half is me acting opposite Xiao Mo. Poor old uncle me has to call such a handsome kid my brother for more than thirty minutes. Is that easy for me?"

Everyone present was a clever, seasoned actor. Seeing both Director Wang Chusheng and male lead Chen Yuxiu show such closeness toward Chen Mo, they naturally began to think things over. More or less, they figured out what sort of attitude they should have toward Chen Mo.

The actor playing Sun Quan thought for a moment, then joined in with a grin. "Brother Chen, what are you complaining about? At least you get to call the handsome kid your brother. I have to call him big brother outright..."

Since filming was officially starting the next day, everyone kept themselves in check. No one deliberately pushed drinks or tried to outdrink anyone. They simply had a meal together, chatted about the film, and then dispersed.

Early the next morning, everyone washed up and headed for the film city. The filming location for The Three Kingdoms: Eastern Wu was the Qin-Han Imperial Palace Scenic Area within the film city. The crew had finished setting up the site days ago. Major media outlets had also sent reporters to cover the event, and fans of the various stars had arrived as well. Among them, the fans of the two Best Actor winners, Li Zhaoxi and Chen Yuxiu, were the most fanatical. Holding support posters and enormous banners, they stood outside the set in a dense black mass that nearly surrounded the entire location. From a distance, it was a sea of people, at least two or three thousand strong.

When the crew entered the set laughing and chatting, all the reporters and fans immediately crowded forward to take photos and conduct interviews. Director Wang Chusheng spoke briefly on behalf of the crew before leading everyone backstage. Since it was the opening ceremony, every actor had to change into costume and finish their makeup before going onstage. This was Wang Chusheng's style for the opening ceremony of every film. No one was exempt.

As a newcomer who had only debuted recently, although Chen Mo had received strong support from his company and manager and had gained a little fame within the industry, Yang Qindong had not arranged a makeup team for him in order to avoid causing dissatisfaction among the crew. He had only assigned two assistants to take care of Chen Mo's daily needs. As for makeup, it was left to the crew's makeup artists. Yang Qindong had even treated the lighting crew, camera crew, and makeup artists to a late-night meal, hoping they would make Chen Mo look better when filming began.

As the saying went, those who had eaten his food could not be too harsh with him. After Yang Qindong's late-night treat, Chen Mo could clearly feel that the crew members had become much friendlier toward him.

But no matter how friendly they were, they could only do him small favors while working. No one would give Chen Mo too much special treatment over one meal. First, it was not worth it; second, they did not have that kind of authority. Take the crew's makeup artists, for example. Under normal circumstances, major stars like Chen Yuxiu, Li Zhaoxi, and Lu Xiaonong brought their own makeup teams when joining a production, so the crew's makeup artists did not need to worry about their looks.

They were only responsible for doing makeup for the other actors in the crew, such as the second, third, and fourth male leads, the second, third, and fourth female leads, and even extras. The Three Kingdoms: Eastern Wu was a male-led production with few female roles, mostly carried by capable veteran actors. These people had spent more than a decade struggling in the industry. Though their fame might not match that of today's trendy internet celebrities and fresh-faced idols, in terms of seniority and ability, the crew certainly would not make these seasoned actors wait at the back of the line for makeup.

So when Chen Mo changed into costume and entered the makeup room, he naturally went to a corner to wait. His assistant Xiao Ding immediately placed a lounge chair beside him. Before Chen Mo could sit down, Chen Yuxiu's assistant came out of Chen Yuxiu's private makeup room, greeted Chen Mo with a smile, and invited him inside.

Chen Mo was slightly stunned. The other actors waiting in the outer makeup room exchanged flickering looks and began making their own guesses. By the time Chen Mo followed the assistant into Chen Yuxiu's private makeup room, the murmuring outside had grown even louder.

"What exactly is Chen Mo's background? Best Actor Chen is treating him far too well..."

"They're both surnamed Chen. Do you think Chen Mo might be related to Best Actor Chen?"

"How could that be? Chen Mo's car accident caused such a huge stir a while back. The media practically dug up three generations of his family. No one ever said Chen Mo had any connection to Best Actor Chen..."

Like the people outside, Chen Mo also found it a little strange. When he entered Chen Yuxiu's makeup room, Chen Yuxiu was sitting before the vanity having his makeup done. Seeing Chen Mo's reflection in the mirror, Chen Yuxiu smiled at it before Chen Mo could speak. "You're here. Sit for a while. Once Sister Liao finishes my makeup, she can do yours. There are so many people outside. If you really wait out there, who knows how long it'll take?"

Chen Mo thanked Chen Yuxiu and had just taken a seat in the back when Chen Yuxiu asked again, "How well have you grasped the role? If there's anything you're uncertain about, talk to Brother Chen. I may not be a director, but I've acted for so many years. I have a little experience, at least."

Chen Mo became even more suspicious. He truly could not understand why Chen Yuxiu was being so enthusiastic toward him. However, he did not show it on his face and took the opportunity to explain his own understanding of the role.

Chen Yuxiu nodded in satisfaction and said with a smile, "When you auditioned, I already thought you had good talent and acting skills. Your understanding of the character was also very much on point."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Chen Yuxiu finished his makeup and stood up. He examined himself in the mirror for a while, then beckoned Chen Mo over. With both hands on Chen Mo's shoulders, he pressed him down into the chair, while he himself went to sit in the back with a smile and casually picked up a script to read.

Soon, Chen Mo had finished his makeup and put on his wig and golden crown. With a jade-like face and crimson lips, tall and elegant in a suit of armor, he stood there full of high spirits and youthful vigor. Combined with the faint smile on his face that felt like a spring breeze, he was simply dazzling. Chen Yuxiu could not help praising him. "Truly valiant and spirited—Sun Lang of Jiangdong. I've realized, Xiao Mo, that your appearance is especially suited to costume dramas."

Some actors had good looks, good figures, and all-around decent qualities, yet the moment they put on ancient costume, they seemed jarringly out of place. Either their mannerisms were lacking, or their temperament did not fit. This was largely because most actors in the entertainment industry did not have much formal education or sufficient cultural grounding, so when portraying characters, they could never convey the refined, jade-like grace of ancient gentlemen.

Actors like Chen Mo, who already looked striking in modern clothes but became even more breathtaking in historical costume, were rare.

Chen Yuxiu immediately recalled Chen Mo's stunning performance as Han Yan in Emperor Wu of Han: The Young Emperor. It was said that after that drama aired, Chen Mo had not only attracted a great many young female fans obsessed with looks, but even quite a few industry bigwigs and investors had wanted to invite him out for dinner and drinks. Fortunately, Chen Mo's agency and manager had protected him well. Moreover, Chen Mo had been quite close to Boss Mu of Mu Group during that period. Most people could not figure out Boss Mu's attitude toward Chen Mo, and they did not want to offend Boss Mu over an actor, so they could only keep their distance from Chen Mo.

Just as he was lost in thought, someone suddenly knocked on the makeup room door. Chen Yuxiu's assistant answered instinctively, and someone pushed the door open from outside. It turned out Director Wang Chusheng had sent a production assistant to invite Chen Yuxiu onstage.

Chen Yuxiu came back to himself and gave Chen Mo a slight nod. He checked his makeup one final time in the mirror before turning and leaving.

Seeing this, Chen Mo followed behind Chen Yuxiu and walked out of the makeup room as well.

Because he was a newcomer who had just debuted, even though the role Chen Mo played was fairly important, he was still placed last to appear. Once onstage, he naturally sat at the far edge. The principal cast of The Three Kingdoms: Eastern Wu consisted of top stars at the Best Actor and Best Actress level, and Director Wang Chusheng himself was also a highly talked-about figure. Thus, after the opening ceremony began, the reporters below focused nearly all their questions on these big names. Chen Mo and the others were naturally neglected.

Fortunately, Chen Mo had prepared himself beforehand, so he did not feel embarrassed. Just as he was about to sit quietly to the side and be a beautiful man, he heard a reporter ask, "Director Wang, may I ask why you chose Chen Mo to play Sun Ce? As far as I know, you have always placed great importance on an actor's acting ability when working with them. But Chen Mo did not graduate from an acting program and has only appeared in one idol drama before this. Do you believe Chen Mo's acting is better than Xiao Chun's?"

Chen Mo had not expected someone to drag him into the line of fire before he had even done anything. He had heard of the Xiao Chun mentioned by the reporter. Supposedly, Xiao Chun was an outstanding graduate of Huaying, with a father who was a highly influential producer in the industry and a mother who had once been a famous actress. After marrying Xiao Chun's father, she had retired from acting and devoted herself to caring for her husband and raising their children at home.

Influenced by his family environment from a young age, Xiao Chun had been deeply interested in acting. He debuted as a child star and had played many classic roles, including Red Boy, Nezha, and Young Qin Shi Huang. He had even been nominated for the Lily Flower Award's Best Supporting Actor Award for Young Qin Shi Huang, becoming the youngest nominee in the award's history.

After graduating from high school, Xiao Chun enrolled in the acting department of Huajing Film and Television Academy. At the same time, under his father's arrangements, he officially debuted. Afterward, he appeared in several historical television dramas in succession and was considered a popular young actor with respectable acting skills.

When Wang Chusheng had been preparing The Three Kingdoms: Eastern Wu, Xiao Chun's producer father had intended to recommend his son to Wang Chusheng and push him onto the big screen.

But the role he had wanted was not Sun Ce, who died less than twenty minutes after appearing. He wanted Sun Quan, who inherited Eastern Wu's power after Sun Ce's death and had many scenes opposite the male lead, Zhou Yu. In order to win the role for his son, Xiao Chun's father had even mobilized all his connections to plead Xiao Chun's case with Wang Chusheng. Unfortunately, Wang Chusheng was famous in the industry for favoring his own people and being difficult to persuade. More importantly, Wang Chusheng had already chosen someone for Sun Quan, so he simply ignored everyone's lobbying.