Chapter 57 Segua [VIP]
Chapter Summary: I can't get support from her.
The meeting place was arranged to be a restaurant.
As soon as the dubbing work was finished, Mu Zhi rushed over.
He assumed that Zhou Jingzhu had contacted him because she needed his help with something urgent.
After meeting, Zhou Jingzhu said, "Are you hungry? I'm hungry too. Let's order first."
"Let's talk after we finish eating, no rush."
Zhou Jingzhu had always given Mu Zhi the impression of being straightforward and generous, but today she showed a shy and timid side like a little girl.
It seems that the matters to be discussed have not yet been properly prepared.
Mu Zhi couldn't help but be curious, unsure of what Zhou Jingzhu wanted to talk to her about.
Actually, I'm currently focused on filming and pursuing an acting career, while Zhou Jingzhu's career path is that of an idol, while also being active in the fashion industry.
According to Zhou Jingzhu's recent work schedule revealed in the group chat: she is preparing a solo single, has good resources in the fashion industry, has shot several magazine covers, was invited to attend fashion shows abroad, and participated in the anniversary celebration of a top-tier fashion magazine.
Currently recording a music program.
Work is going smoothly, and it seems there haven't been any problems.
We've almost finished eating.
Zhou Jingzhu picked up her cup and took a sip of water. She hesitated for a moment before asking, "Um, Zhizhi, you're so pretty, you must have a lot of suitors, right? Have you ever thought about... dating?"
Mu Zhi: ? She wondered if she had misheard.
Seeing Zhou Jingzhu's serious expression and the question in her eyes, it was clear she wasn't joking.
Why are you suddenly asking this?
Zhou Jingzhu's eyes darted away, and she gave an awkward laugh: "It's nothing, I was just asking."
Mu Zhi replied, "For me, the current stage, which can also be said to be the next few years, is to focus on filming, to film well, and to deliver a result that I am satisfied with."
Dating is not something I'm considering.
Zhou Jingzhu remained silent for a while, then took another sip of water, rested her chin on her hand, and sighed, "I have an older brother and an older sister. They were both very good at studying since they were young, but I have no interest in business. I like singing and dancing."
After watching talent shows, I thought standing on stage was a wonderful thing, so I impulsively signed up.
During the competition, in that environment and atmosphere.
She had great ambitions, hoping to form a group and that the girl group that emerged from "Chasing the Light" would not be a limited-time group, but one that would remain popular in the industry for a long time.
After debuting as part of the group, they realized that their ideas were too naive.
"Look, in just half a year, we've already gone our separate ways. Since we formed the group last year, we've appeared on several variety shows, but our commercial performances and New Year's Eve stages have only received lukewarm responses, and our group singles have also achieved only average results."
That's where the Five Flowers girl group's journey ends.
"Among the five of us, Xinyan and Caige are the strongest overall. They are also very determined to pursue their dreams and will continue to be idols. They are capable of doing so."
Lü E went back to acting, Meng Yu went to acting too, and I'm the only one left.
Mu Zhi noticed that Zhou Jingzhu didn't look confused, and she hadn't heard Zhou Jingzhu mention any uncertainty about the future in the group chat. Mu Zhi figured that the purpose of asking her out wasn't to get advice or to consider how to proceed in the future.
Mu Zhi listened quietly.
Let Zhou Jingzhu continue.
“At the end of last year and the beginning of the new year, my manager and I had several meetings to discuss my future path. There are not many idol stages in China, and my skills are not as good as those of my contemporaries. Releasing a single also made me realize that I do not have the talent for music creation.”
My agent is quite laid-back with me, telling me to relax and take advantage of my current popularity to appear on variety shows.
She suggested I try developing a career in the fashion industry, saying I have family support, decent fashion sense, and good style. She envisioned me doing magazine shoots and walking the red carpet, and if I were interested, I could start a streetwear brand or a styling company in the future.
Mu Zhi was at a loss for words.
I've heard Zhou Jingzhu mention that her agent is a good friend of her sister, so it's probably because they're quite considerate of Zhou Jingzhu.
Actually, developing a career in the fashion industry might also lead to a different path.
“I was afraid of affecting the other members, so I didn’t tell them any of this.”
"I feel better after talking to you."
Zhou Jingzhu smiled casually and said, "Accepting that I'm not that great doesn't seem so sad. After all, I'm already a very lucky person."
He paused here, then continued, "Actually, the reason I asked you out today... let's get back to our first topic. Do you think it's a bit immoral for an idol to be in a relationship?"
Mu Zhi: !! Suddenly, a melon was stuffed into her mouth.
She remembered that Zhou Jingzhu had mentioned before that she wanted to be in a relationship.
She asked, quite surprised, "You're in a relationship?"
"No, it's a friend of mine. She's also an idol. Recently, she's been in contact with someone she likes, and she's a little worried about her idol status."
Mu Zhi: "..."
Zhou Jingzhu tossed her hair, a hint of panic on her face as if her secret had been exposed. It seemed that the friend she was referring to was most likely Zhou Jingzhu herself.
"Putting all other factors aside and focusing solely on the matter at hand, it's hard for fans to accept their idols dating. Most fans are career-oriented and hope their idols can concentrate on their careers and have increasingly better careers."
Once news of their relationship breaks, a number of fans will inevitably be disappointed and leave the fandom.
Zhou Jingzhu listened, her face showing some frustration, and said, "But my friend... she doesn't need to rely on fans to vote, support endorsement sales, or manipulate data; she can get resources on her own. She can secretly date, without making it official, and without letting her fans find out."
"I assure you it won't interfere with your career, it's okay, right? It's not uncommon for celebrities to be secretly married or for idols to date, especially male idols who are even promiscuous."
Mu Zhi could tell from Zhou Jingzhu's words that Zhou Jingzhu had already made up her mind.
It's true that many idols in the entertainment industry are in relationships.
A few days ago, Mu Zhi saw on Weibo that a male idol who had just formed a group last year and was managed by his former manager Shang Jian was exposed by his secret girlfriend for cheating on him. She said that after the group was formed, he chatted and flirted with a female internet celebrity and even had a physical relationship with her.
Mu Zhi doesn't care about others.
Now they understood the meaning behind Zhou Jingzhu's earlier words.
Zhou Jingzhu doesn't currently have a specific, ambitious goal to achieve in her career. She has the energy and time, and recently she may have met someone she's attracted to, and she wants to start a relationship.
Everyone has different pursuits, and Mu Zhi shouldn't interfere.
Zhou Jingzhu confided in her, wanting to get support from her, but Mu Zhi couldn't provide it.
As a friend, Mu Zhi could only offer this advice: "Paparazzi in the entertainment industry are everywhere. If you're in a relationship, be prepared to be photographed and have your relationship exposed. Also, you'll need to give your fans an explanation when that happens."
After a long silence, Zhou Jingzhu nodded: "Okay, I will... pass it on to my friend."
"There's one more question."
"Zhizhi, everyone says to try not to date people in the entertainment industry. There are too many temptations around, and even if you get together, it's hard to make it last."
You said that a handsome and talented person, especially one in a certain circle, has a high chance of being a scumbag. How can I be sure if he's serious? Is he a womanizer?
Mu Zhi: ? ? ? This involves a blind spot in her knowledge.
It is speculated that Zhou Jingzhu was well protected by her older siblings and had little experience in romantic relationships.
As a novice, she could only rely on her own subjective opinions to speculate: "To judge whether he is a womanizer... observe how he interacts with female friends in his social circle? Does he have a sense of boundaries?"
Let him prove to you through his actions whether he's serious about the relationship.
Mu Zhi frankly said, "To be honest, I don't have much experience in relationships, so my answer may not be of any value and may not provide any substantial or effective advice."
Tell Zhou Jingzhu not to easily give away her heart.
"It takes time to see a person clearly, so don't get hurt. I hope you can consider telling your family about this; family involvement and oversight are sometimes not a bad thing."
Zhou Jingzhu nodded thoughtfully, then smiled sweetly, a little shyly: "I'm not afraid of getting hurt, I just don't want to ruin the tall image I have of him."
Seeing Zhou Jingzhu like this, Mu Zhi thought to herself: Oh no, she's already fallen in love.
Hopefully, Zhou Jingzhu has met a good man.
The dubbing work for "The Bell Ringer" was completed.
The next morning, Mu Zhi and her team immediately flew to Shanghai.
We arrived at the hotel at noon, had lunch, and rested for a while.
In the afternoon, we arrived at the filming location of "Back to 17".
The film crew was shooting in an old-fashioned residential building.
Zhou Can's home is a three-bedroom, one-living-room apartment.
Originally a family of four, after her parents passed away unexpectedly, she was left to live with her grandfather.
When Mu Zhi returns, the scene she'll be filming is with Grandpa Feng Chongxian.
Feng Zhongxian plays the role of Zhou Can's grandfather, who is also her only relative.
In her past life, after Zhou Can got together with Qin Heng, she chose to stay in the local area and attend an ordinary university for Qin Heng's sake. During her university years, she became pregnant and had to take a leave of absence, which angered her grandfather so much that he fell ill and was hospitalized. He passed away a few years later.
Sometimes, a wrong choice can lead to a series of wrong choices.
Having been given a second chance at life, Zhou Can is determined not only to change her own life but also her grandfather's. She wants to get into her dream university, become a successful person, and allow her grandfather to enjoy his later years in peace.
This scene depicts Zhou Can, who has returned to his 17-year-old self, being discharged from the hospital after a week and returning home with his grandfather.
Director Xu Kuan: "Mu Zhi, you're back and you have to film a crying scene right from the start."
"I'll rehearse with Mr. Feng a bit more later to get into character."
When the crew was in Jincheng, Mu Zhi had acted opposite Feng Zhongxian while filming Zhou Can's scenes in the hospital, and learned a lot from this veteran actor.
A good co-star can inspire another actor's emotions, leading to a more immersive and engaging performance, and together they can make the play even more精彩 (wonderful/brilliant).
Zhou Can was discharged from the hospital after only one week, and his injured hand and forehead had not yet healed.
Mu Zhi's left hand still had to be in a cast, and her forehead also needed to be painted with special effects makeup to look injured, while the prop master and makeup artist were busy working around her.
Grandpa Feng Chongxian strolled over with the script in his hand, and put on his reading glasses, saying he wanted to go over the lines with Mu Zhixian.
We spent some time together on set.
Perhaps due to his age, Feng Chongxian's temperament is somewhat slow.
Mu Zhi felt that Feng Chongxian was acting strangely today. He seemed eager to start filming as soon as possible, and his raised eyebrows couldn't hide his happiness.
Once the prop master and makeup artist have finished...
Mu Zhi asked curiously, "Grandpa Feng, is there something happy happening to you today? You seem so cheerful."
Feng Chongxian chuckled and said, "I can't hide anything from you, little girl."
"My grandson is coming to visit the set today."
So they were rushing to have dinner together after work.
Mu Zhi smiled and said, "Don't worry, I will definitely perform well and won't hold you back."
“I’m not worried. Your acting skills are no worse than mine, and I’ve been eating rice for decades longer than you.”
"Grandpa Feng, please don't flatter me!"
Mu Zhi knew that she was far behind Feng Chongxian.
She acted in several scenes with Feng Chongxian and even sat next to the director on set to watch Feng Chongxian's performance on the monitor.
A scene filmed earlier in the hospital depicting the female lead's grandfather's final moments in his past life. Years of estrangement vanished in that moment of life and death. Two cloudy tears streamed down his face, his eyes filled with worry, regret, and guilt for not raising his granddaughter properly towards his deceased daughter...
Feng Chongxian truly lives up to his reputation as a veteran artist. He poured his heart and soul into the role, becoming the character himself. His performance was highly realistic in its handling of details, bringing the character to life.
He simply said, "My age and experience are what they are, and I have personally experienced many of the emotions in the character, so I just bring them out when I'm acting..." He was very modest.
What is particularly commendable is that Feng Zhongxian, a veteran actor who has won numerous awards, took great care of his younger co-stars on set and during the performance.
He was very approachable and down-to-earth with the crew.
He was a kind and approachable old man.
After exchanging a few words, the two of them simultaneously became serious, preparing themselves emotionally and getting into character, beginning their formal rehearsal and blocking...
5:50 p.m.
With the director's words, "That concludes today's filming," the shoot ended.
That's a wrap.
Staff members stepped forward to remove the "fractured" prop from Mu Zhi's left hand.
Mu Zhi glanced casually and noticed a tall man standing not far behind the crowd on set.
He was wearing a black baseball cap, a black face mask, a black T-shirt with graffiti, ripped jeans, and black sneakers.
This is a typical everyday outfit with a male celebrity vibe.
The man was probably 1.86 meters tall, ruling out Song Yuanliang as a possibility; his demeanor didn't resemble Song Yuanliang's either.
Mu Zhi had a feeling that this person looked familiar.
The man seemed to notice her gaze, and after looking at her for a moment from a distance of a few meters, he generously raised his hand to greet her.
Oh, I remember who it was.
Boss He Zhiyue?!
According to her understanding, this is a film produced by Guangying Media, and Lanxing Media has not invested in "Back to 17".
Why is He Zhiyue in this film crew? Her attire is a stark contrast to the boss's always-dressed image, suggesting she's deliberately trying to conceal her identity and avoid being recognized.
It seems they are waiting for someone.
Several staff members on set noticed He Zhiyue, but they couldn't recognize him because he was wearing a mask.
Everyone's busy wrapping up work right now, so they don't have time to pay much attention.
Mu Zhi walked towards He Zhiyue. As she approached, He Zhiyue, who had been keeping his hat brim low and head slightly bowed, raised his head upon seeing Mu Zhi, revealing his eyes and his signature broken eyebrow.
It's confirmed, it really is He Zhiyue.
Mu Zhi asked uncertainly, "Are you here to visit Professor Feng Chongxian on set?"
"Yes, he is my maternal grandfather."
No wonder, an old artist of such advanced age would sign with a new company.
"So my audition opportunity is related to Professor Feng Zhongxian?"
[Author's Note]
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 23:36:54 on June 11, 2022 and 23:57:29 on June 12, 2022!
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: bibibabo, 也曾遇遇, 西西西西西米, and 炸克婶1瓶;
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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