Following Xia Zhiyi's instructions, Xu Chen called Min Chengye, the person in charge of the operation, and after carefully crafting his words, inquired about the situation.
Then came Director Min's long silence, followed by an outburst.
When Xu Chen heard Director Min cursing on the other end of the phone, he clearly realized from those few questions that someone was behind it all. Xu Chen was furious and didn't even have time to curse the person behind him first.
She glanced at Xia Zhiyi silently, receiving a raised eyebrow from Xia Zhiyi.
In the three years since his first appearance on a variety show, the baby fat on the boy's face has almost disappeared. The boy has become a young man, and his original delicate cuteness has turned into a refined and handsome appearance. Occasionally, you can still see a bit of cuteness, but more than that, you have a kind of ascetic and noble air that seems like you could enter a laboratory at any time.
Some of his subtle actions have changed slightly in recent years, perhaps due to Fu Chi's influence, making him appear more like a powerful figure like Fu Chi, who commands respect without anger.
In the past Xia Zhiyi's gentleness was the cuteness and friendliness of a young man. Now, Xia Zhiyi still maintains the surface gentleness, but it only makes people feel that he is well-mannered and more like a young nobleman than a boy next door.
Xu Chen felt a sense of emotion whenever he noticed the subtle changes in Xia Zhiyi. Seeing Xia Zhiyi raise her eyebrows at this moment, he couldn't help but think of President Fu.
President Fu's facial expressions remained largely unchanged, and he spoke very little. Whenever he gave a report, the slight raising of his eyebrows always gave one the unsettling feeling that they might have said something wrong.
The tension was palpable.
Xia Zhiyi was much better; his gaze was always gentler than Fu Chi's, and he wasn't as distant. He looked at Xu Chen with a slightly questioning gaze, so Xu Chen wouldn't misunderstand anything.
Xu Chen mouthed, " Director Min doesn't know who did it either. Should I say?"
Xia Zhiyi smiled and shook her head.
He has his own means to find out who spread the rumors, but there's no need to make it so clear.
There was nothing else to it; Xia Zhiyi was just curious about the level of that Boy Band member who lacked confidence and even had to resort to such underhanded tactics to squeeze out his competitors.
For the past three years, Xia Zhiyi mostly relied on Xu Chen to contact production teams and meet with directors and screenwriters privately for auditions, so she could directly join the production team afterward. Sometimes she even went to fill in for others. She had never experienced an audition process where everyone auditioned together before.
In fact, Xia Zhiyi has performed quite well over the past three years. In any production he has been in, regardless of the subject matter or the role, no one has said that he acted poorly.
Xu Chen received many scripts, and it wasn't that no one wanted Xia Zhiyi to play the lead role. However, he was too busy before. After finishing this phase of his mission, he looked down on those who offered her roles. After searching around the industry for a while, he came across this historical drama directed by Director Min.
Historical dramas are mostly ensemble pieces, and this one is no exception.
The lead role that Xia Zhiyi is about to audition for is the core character of this drama, Huo Zekang, who was historically famous and served as prime minister for three dynasties and assisted three monarchs in the Great Yan Dynasty. He was the greatest contributor to the prosperity of the Great Yan.
The role was offered to Xia Zhiyi by Director Min through Director Mu. However, the initial invitation was only for Xia Zhiyi to play Huo Zekang's teenage years, while Huo Zekang's adult and old age would be played by other actors.
However, Xia Zhiyi aware of the impact these three stages and three roles would have on the audience's perception. Although Director Min did this because he considered that people's state and eyes are different at each stage, and it is difficult for ordinary people to play the role across age, finding actors according to age is the safest and most reliable solution.
But others might not be able to do it, but Xia Zhiyi is fine.
He went through countless cycles of childhood, adolescence, youth, adulthood, and even old age. In order to avoid being noticed, he had to adjust his mindset, eyes, and even behavior to the appropriate stage each time. He was a master at this.
Moreover, Xia Zhiyi has been a powerful minister, a prime minister, and even Imperial Capital; he's a skilled craftsman!
Not to mention, when Xia Zhiyi first went to ancient times to serve as an official, she referred to the political views and ways of doing things of Huo Zekang, the first prime minister in history. Although it cannot be said that she could fully understand Huo Zekang's thoughts at that time, she certainly knew him very well and had even put his life experiences into practice.
So, after receiving the news, Xia Zhiyi contacted Director Min directly and, after inquiring, received an opportunity from Director Min: if she could do it, she could play the entire life of Huo Zekang by herself.
Xu Chen felt this was a bit difficult. Although Xia Zhiyi was indeed very capable, she did not stop Xia Zhiyi from doing so.
It's good to try. If it succeeds, Director Min's " The Great Yan Dynasty's Renowned Chancellor " is a key project supported by the government!
However, Xu Chen thought about it again. Xia Zhiyi had already been noticed by the authorities. It seemed that even if she didn't stand out in this drama, she had already entered the authorities' field of vision. In the future, she would definitely have the green light for cooperation in the cultural and entertainment industry, and he didn't have to worry about it at all.
Xu Chen:... What an unfulfilling experience for an artist.
However, another artist under her management has been steadily rising in her career, but her personality issues have caused her to get into lawsuits from time to time, which has left her constantly overwhelmed. It seems that Xia Zhiyi's situation is much easier and more comfortable.
In short, with Xia Zhiyi full of confidence and Xu Chen both believing and not so believing, the two arrived at the audition site smoothly, only to find that the atmosphere among the people who had arrived earlier in the waiting room was somewhat subtle.
Xu Chen glanced around discreetly.
Just then, Zhao Ziwang, who had previously worked with Xia Zhiyi, saw the two of them and took the initiative to strike up a conversation. "Hey, Xiao Xia, you're here for an audition too?"
Zhao Ziwang was someone Xia Zhiyi met while filming " The Chasing." The two exchanged contact information afterward, but for various reasons, they never worked together again after " The Chasing," which Zhao Ziwang found quite regrettable.
Especially after encountering eccentric actors on other film sets, Zhao Ziwang grew to like Xia Zhiyi, an actress who was both unpretentious and capable.
Now, Zhao Ziwang never expected to meet Xia Zhiyi here today. After his hit drama " The Chasing " became a sensation, he also benefited from it, playing many leading roles in recent years. Earlier this year, he even tried his hand at a movie, which is currently in production and is said to be released during the summer.
If the box office is good, Zhao Ziwang could also enter the film industry.
He transitioned from idol to actor, and he has worked very hard to get to where he is today.
"Oh, you're here to audition for Huo Zekang too?" Xia Zhiyi asked directly.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Ziwang chuckled and scratched the back of his head, "No, I auditioned for the young Emperor Gaozong of Yan."
Huo Zekang served three emperors: Emperor Gaozong of Yan of Yan, Emperor Wenzong of Yan, and Emperor Renzong of Yan. Emperor Gaozong of Yan was the first and the one with whom Huo Zekang was most compatible.