Chapter 54
“To be the same gender as someone like you, really…” Shi Ru’s lips curled into a mocking smile. He looked at Xi Yanghong as if he were looking at some filthy bacteria that shouldn’t even survive in a petri dish. He deliberately paused, causing everyone present to look at him, before he softly uttered a few words.
Like a sharp arrow pinning someone to the ground: "I feel like the whole world should apologize to me!"
After saying that, he didn't care about the reaction of the person squatting on the ground, got up and walked out.
Seeing Shi Ru leave, Zheng Zhenzheng quickly followed behind, as if afraid that if she was a step too late, Xi Yanghong would become angry and do something to her.
Knowing Zheng Zhenzheng's attitude made things much easier. Shi Ru ordered his men to temporarily put Xi Yanghong under guard and hand her over to the inspector.
Then, the crew members were gathered to discuss the roles and screen time.
After all, he is the male lead. Even though this is a drama with the female lead as the main perspective, Xi Yanghong's screen time is only about ten minutes less than Zhu Yu's.
Thinking about the sheer amount of work involved in replacing all those scenes, Zheng Zhenzheng regretted it so much that she wanted to slap her past self who was head over heels in love while writing the script.
"I object!" The director had just finished filming the scene with the secondary couple and was about to discuss a new idea with Zheng Zhenzheng when he was called over.
He initially thought it was a telepathic connection between Zheng Zhenzheng and him, but before he could even settle into his chair, he heard such devastating news.
"His script only had a few pages left to film, and now they're replacing him? Isn't that ridiculous?!"
Before Shi Ru could offer any further explanation, the director slammed his fist on the table and stood up.
He had complained about the actor's poor acting skills when filming first started, and he wouldn't let him be replaced, no matter how much he pleaded. Now that filming is over, he wants to replace him?!
The director felt it was necessary for him to lose his temper a little.
Staring at him with such accusing eyes, even Shi Ru, with his strong willpower, couldn't help but feel a little guilty.
"Don't get excited, let Mr. Shi finish speaking first."
The person sitting next to the director glanced at Shi Ru's expression at the head of the table, then quickly stood up and coaxed and tricked him back into his chair.
After learning what Xi Yanghong had done, the people in the conference room couldn't help but look at Zheng Zhenzheng with a bit of sympathy and pity.
"Xiao Zheng!" After the meeting, the director walked over to Zheng Zhenzheng and patted her shoulder earnestly: "It's okay. In terms of the plot of this drama, whether there is a male lead or not doesn't really matter. Just make the revisions well, and your good fortune is yet to come!"
Actually, Zheng Zhenzheng wasn't that sad, but seeing how considerate everyone was, she didn't want to turn away their kindness.
Strangely, she had always thought she was deeply in love with Xi Yanghong, but when Shi Ru laid out those things in front of her, she inexplicably felt a sense of relief, as if a huge weight had finally been lifted from her shoulders.
Fortunately, she only took some useless photos. The feudal ethics that imprisoned women's chastity could not confine her to seeing the world with her own eyes and measuring mountains and rivers with her own feet.
"Don't worry, he's just a man. I was just having fun with him anyway!"
Regardless of whether others believe it or not, Zheng Zhenzheng insisted on her statement when her colleagues came to comfort her.
In the real world, Zhou Ye, as the general manager of Zhou's Entertainment, was organizing a planning meeting for the next quarter when he was taken away by the inspectors who broke down the door. He didn't even have time to put down the remote control he was using to operate the PPT.
However, all of this has nothing to do with Zhu Yu anymore.
After working overtime to finish filming the scenes that had to be reshot because of Xi Yanghong, Zhu Yu, who had been busy all year, finally got a rare break.
As her agent and suitor, Shi Ru offered to accompany her on a trip.
I've been busy with my career, but now that things are settled, it's finally time to put my love life on the table.
"So, have you decided where to start?"
In Zhu Yu's hand was a travel guide specially made by Shi Ru. For this month-long trip, Zhu Yu had chosen western Sichuan as their first destination.
It's said that traveling is the best way to test a couple, and Zhu Yu wanted to see if Shi Ru could remain consistent in an extreme environment.
"Let's go here! There's a music festival that day, and I've never been to a music festival before!"
"Okay," Shi Ru glanced at the address and silently noted it down. "By the way, Director Zhang asked about your schedule. He gave you a program for the Spring Festival Gala at the end of the year, and you need to record a music video beforehand." Shi Ru dropped this bombshell so calmly.
"The Spring Festival Gala!" Upon hearing this, Zhu Yu completely forgot about her travel guide. "What kind of performance am I supposed to do? Sing? Sing in a chorus? Dance? Be a backup dancer?"
The Spring Festival Gala programs are mostly singing and dancing, and her achievements in the entertainment industry are neither particularly good nor bad... After such a big opportunity as the Spring Festival Gala landed on her, it's no wonder that Shi Ru pulled strings behind the scenes.
Thinking this, Zhu Yu's gaze towards Shi Ru became unclear.
Although he has never explicitly stated it, since the establishment of the studio, in order to quickly gain a foothold before Shi Ru went abroad, Zhu Yu and he have been almost inseparable.
"Shi Ru... thank you." Zhu Yu looked into Shi Ru's eyes and suddenly became serious.
She had a smooth journey with almost no setbacks, and she certainly knew whose credit was more to her.
Zhu Yu even had a vague sense that something important had been settled in his heart, and this was most likely related to Shi Ru.
She couldn't remember what it was about, but it was probably related to... Zhou Ye?
"Why are you being so polite with me!" Shi Ru glanced at Zhu Yu, then smiled and bent his finger to look at her forehead.
——
Rehearsal site
Zhu Yu's program was added at the direct instruction of the leadership. The program that was replaced is currently unknown, but it is undoubtedly related to the downfall of the Zhou family.
These days, Zhu Yu wasn't completely oblivious to what was happening around her. With the downfall of the Zhou family, the entertainment industry underwent a major purge, with many people, both popular and washed-up, leaving the industry in ruins.
Even when news of the Spring Festival Gala is released and everyone starts marketing their appearance on the Gala, it can't compare to the popularity of a trending topic like "XXX was summoned and detained."
It's no exaggeration to say that some obscure celebrities might have reached their peak of fame by wearing striped clothes and turning left and right.
However, given that it was a national stage like the Spring Festival Gala, Zhu Yu's program was a duet with a respected veteran artist.
The old man had a high pursuit of art, which led Zhu Yu to find a teacher to hone his skills three months in advance, and still make many adjustments with the old man during rehearsals.
I was completely led by the nose.
Sitting on the sidelines to rest, Zhu Yu took a sip of water handed to her by her assistant. After rehearsing for two hours straight, her throat was parched.
"Little Zhu, have you ever learned to sing before?" Just as she was watching the skit on stage with great interest and laughing, the old man suddenly strolled over and sat down next to Zhu Yu.
"Ah, Teacher Huang, ever since I received the assignment to perform on the Spring Festival Gala, I've been learning one-on-one with a teacher! I know my singing still has many flaws, I..."
Thinking she was about to be scolded again, Zhu Yu was so nervous she almost stood up. This Teacher Huang was no ordinary person; she was a national first-class singer and the dean of the Kyoto Conservatory of Music.
When Zhu Yugang met this person of great renown, he almost dared not look him in the eye.
"Don't be nervous," Teacher Huang quickly pressed down on the child's shoulder to stop him from standing up. "I just wanted to chat with you, I didn't mean to blame you."
After Zhu Yu sat down with some skepticism, Teacher Huang slowly began to speak: "I think you have a pretty good voice and you're quite clever. Seize this opportunity; this is a hot opportunity from above!"
In Teacher Huang's era, there was no such thing as "different professions are like different worlds". Singing well leads to acting, and acting well leads to singing. Everyone in the entertainment industry is a double or triple threat.
Things are different now. The entertainment industry is facing a talent shortage, with each new generation being less promising than the last. The singing industry isn't much better. What was that popular internet phrase again... oh, it's "the domestic fish are finished."
Thinking about what his former leader had said to him before he received the assignment, Teacher Huang's eyes were filled with deep thought.
Perhaps this girl in front of us will become a breath of fresh air in today's stagnant art world, stirring up the whole pool and making it flow again?
"A talent show?!"
After the rehearsal, Shi Ru still personally drove to pick her up. However, before Zhu Yu could even fasten her seatbelt, she heard something that should have had absolutely nothing to do with her career plan.
"Is it for Xiaoxiao's sake? It's not impossible." There are only two artists in the studio right now. She's on the right track, and it's time to promote Xiaoxiao.
As is customary, talent shows are an excellent platform for debuting.
"But why would I go on a talent show? I can't sing or dance... and most importantly, I'd rather not be acting, why would I go on a talent show..."
For someone who already has a fan base and has even appeared on the Spring Festival Gala, going to participate in a talent show is no longer a trivial matter like being unconventional.
This is blatant job theft!
"Of course, I'm not asking you to be a contestant." Shi Ru had only said one sentence before Zhu Yu interrupted him, before he could explain further.
"My mentor is even worse! Who do I think I am to critique others?"
“Not a mentor either…” Shi Ru felt utterly helpless. He noticed that since that day, Zhu Yu had become much more lively than before, as if a huge weight had been lifted from her heart.
"If I'm neither a mentor nor a contestant, then what can I do? Host?"
"You are going to be the initiator, as an outstanding young literary and artistic worker."
A long string of nouns stunned Zhu Yu. Seeing that she had finally calmed down, Shi Ru slowly started the car.
"This program aims to select outstanding singing artists. The initiator represents the image of the country. You have performed well these past few days, so Teacher Huang recommended you to the higher-ups."
"By the way, one of the judges for this talent show is Teacher Huang."
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