He sent me a video, but didn't reply...
At 11 o'clock in the evening, Cheng Sizhou fell asleep, and Wen Zichuan left the hospital and rushed to the recording studio.
As a professional bodyguard, Leng Sui never talks too much or asks too many questions. He can be gentle and considerate in front of medical staff, or he can remain as cold as an ice cube when there is no need to show off.
He drove silently and sent Wen Zichuan to the second building.
"I still have work to do tonight, you should go back and rest first," Wen Zichuan said.
"My instructions are to protect your safety tonight," Leng Sui said.
Wen Zichuan frowned. He was still not used to it as someone was following him every time he went in and out.
But perhaps he should adapt as soon as possible. The artists under the company are very popular and most of them have assistants and bodyguards, even if it is just a private trip.
When I arrived at the recording studio, the lights were still on. Luckily, Brother Ji was in charge here, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to find anyone to keep the lights and equipment on for me all night.
"Oh, a big star! Oh my god, he even has bodyguards!" Brother Ji Pei Dongdong has always been boastful. When he saw Leng Sui's official look, he said it without thinking.
"I'll wait for you in the tea room," Leng Sui gestured, "Call me if you need anything."
Wen Zichuan nodded and gestured to Brother Ji. He had left a message in the work group during the day, saying that he would come over to record in the evening. He didn't expect Brother Ji to come and wait in person, which made him feel very sorry.
"It's okay, Teacher Wen. I'm alone anyway and it's so boring at night. I can come to the studio and get some overtime pay, right?" Pei Dongdong grinned at him, giving him as much emotional value as possible.
In fact, Wen Zichuan’s attitude towards the second sound was quite complicated.
When he signed the contract, it was indeed a complete scam that Kim Ki-duk had concocted with the unreliable "Voice Actor Idol Plan", but most of the colleagues he met here were very kind.
On the eve of the "plan"'s bankruptcy, the other two voice actors left first, and he was the last one, so his departure also meant the failure of the platform's model of signing voice actors, even though Second Voice had already become the top voice actor in the audio market.
He often comes here to record recently. Although the time does not completely overlap with get off work and home hours, he always feels that there is an indescribable sense of desolation in the office area, and the colleagues who greet him also have a heavy look on their faces.
Fortunately, Brother Ji has not changed. He is still calm and casual, and he makes light of important tasks. No matter how difficult the task is given to him, he can complete it beyond expectations without realizing it.
Wen Zichuan walked into the recording studio, put on headphones and started working.
He and Pei Dongdong are old partners with great tacit understanding. They completed the recording of four episodes of dry audio with almost no obstacles. When they finished, it was almost dawn.
"Brother Ji, thank you for your hard work." Wen Zichuan was too tired and let out a long breath as he spoke.
"Compared to my time in Beijing, this is nothing." Pei Dongdong put away his equipment as swiftly as an octopus. "Yeah, I'm a little hungry."
"What do you want to eat? I'll treat you."
"Barbecue and beer, ok?"
Half an hour later, Wen Zichuan, Pei Dongdong and Leng Sui arrived at a barbecue restaurant.
This store was originally located in a small alley next to Yangliu'an. Because all the houses in that area were demolished, they had to move to another location to continue their business.
Wen Zichuan knew that Cheng Sizhou liked the taste of his food very much, so he left the owner's contact information. This was his first time coming here after the store reopened.
By this time, the shop was about to close, but because they were acquaintances, the boss set up the stove again to grill for them.
There was no one else in the store except them, but Leng Sui was sitting in a corner with his back straight, as if he was on guard against someone suddenly rushing over and throwing a bottle of wine at them.
Pei Dongdong wanted to laugh when he saw such a stern person: "Brother! Brother Leng! Are you tired? We are already at the place where we can eat and drink, you should relax a little."
Leng Sui glanced at him without saying anything, but when he realized that he was being ridiculed, his posture became even more restrained.
Wen Zichuan speculated that this might be a professional habit in their line of work. Just like voice actors, when they see a polyphonetic word, they will carefully judge its pronunciation, and when they hear others read it wrong, they can't help but correct it.
"Brother Ji, how is the recent broadcast of Di Er Sheng's drama?" He poured beer for Brother Ji, added juice for himself and Leng Sui, and changed the subject.
Pei Dongdong's expression changed immediately when he heard this: "Did Chen Yilan tell you? The entire original content section has been cut."
"Why?" The second voice said, "Even a big family with a lot of assets would have to cut costs and lay off employees?
"The radio drama market is too dependent on the popularity of IPs and actors. After you leave, the platform will have no signed artists. Casting and profit sharing will have to be negotiated with various studios. The teachers' appearance fees are rising every year, but the market is so small. If they take more, President Jin will earn less." Pei Dongdong took a sip of wine with a condescending look. "The popular IPs we bought before are still in stock, and we can support them by adapting them, but when it comes to original works, who is willing to put in the effort?"
"What about the offline sector? Isn't Mr. Jin considering voice actor dramas?"
"Stage productions are even less profitable. He used to be happy to do it, because it wouldn't make money, but it would generate buzz, using impressive numbers to attract investment. But guess what? The Renmin University boss isn't stupid. He'd pass up his promising film, television, and variety shows to invest in a stage play like yours that only a few thousand people can see."
Wen Zichuan understood that Kim Ki-duk was just trying to show off his wealth. Last year, he was full of ambition to do offline business because he thought he had built a bridge with a group of bigwigs including Wei Jing. Then he sent himself to Boss Wei's bed. But Boss Wei only had his godson in his heart. It was strange that he would be happy. So not only did he fail to get investment, he also lost face. The projects invested by the bosses of Renmin University are all worth hundreds of millions or billions. Who would take him, who is only engaged in audio, seriously?
But unfortunately, Pinault’s script has not been completed yet. Second Voice has cancelled the original work and will not produce any original works in the future. So how will her play be broadcast?
"'Long Road to Beauty' is also an original work, right? Has President Jin and Guohua Music Publishing House reached an agreement?" Wen Zichuan thought, don't they still have a dubbing? It can't be said that everything has been cancelled.
"It's the last one. Guohua Music Society is not very popular. President Jin was not happy about it at first, but... Teacher Mu Cen is confident that he can convince you to take the lead role. President Jin probably also thinks that with your personality, you will not forget the cultivation of your old boss, and he wants to use you to reconcile with Xingyu Feiyu." Pei Dongdong felt embarrassed and took a sip of wine tactically. He didn't know how to describe his boss. Even if the king of heaven came, he would have to be his tool for two days.
"Carrying water in a bamboo basket." The silent Leng Sui suddenly spoke and commented on Kim Ki-duk's behavior.
"Pfft—Brother Leng, this is 'if you don't make a sound, you'll be a sensation!'" Pei Dongdong almost spit out the wine he had just drunk. "Boss Jin is a boss after all, he's rich, so he doesn't mind making a few. But we're in a tough spot. I heard this year's year-end bonus will be cut in half, and everyone is looking for better jobs."
While it would be refreshing to let Kim Ki-duk suffer the consequences, he holds the capital, so why would he shoulder all the risk himself? Furthermore, with his low character and wicked nature, he would surely feel no shame in passing the risk on to his employees.
Fortunately, a few months ago, Wen Zichuan saw that Su Zhuo was in a difficult situation and suggested that he switch to Xingyu Feiyu, from an artistic assistant to an agent, which also allowed him to avoid various subsequent problems.
"Could it be that Chen Yilan, Yan Dantong and the others are also...?"
"Without offline performances, Yan Dantong resigned at the beginning of the year. Later, CEO Jin hired a product manager who was on the same level as Chen Yilan, saying the new manager would be responsible for adaptations while Chen Yilan would be responsible for original works. Isn't this forcing someone to resign? I don't think she'll be here for long either."
Wen Zichuan was filled with regret. He took on "The Long Road" not entirely because of Mu Cen, but because he was interested in the subject matter and wanted to continue working with Chen Yilan and others. He didn't expect that they would go their separate ways so soon.
"Don't feel sorry," Pei Dongdong raised his hand and clinked glasses with him. "You have to believe that with their talent, they will get better and better after leaving Second Sound, just like you."
"Of course I believe it. What about you, Brother Ji? What are your plans?" Wen Zichuan asked.
"Oh my God, who can keep working for the capitalists? If I can't keep doing that, I'll just pack a bag and travel around the world, but at least traveling around China is no problem!" Pei Dongdong laughed.
"Be careful." Leng Sui, who was very frugal with words, said four more words.
"Ahem." Pei Dongdong nearly choked. "Hey, Brother Leng, how about you quit your job too and we go together? Look at your muscular body, you must be an expert in outdoor activities! When the time comes, I'll introduce you to a beautiful girl, okay?"
Leng Sui's face turned pale and red at what he said, and he replied more concisely: "No."
Wen Zichuan was amused by them and drank a big sip of juice. It was really rare to have a brief moment of relaxation and comfort.
For a long time, work and Cheng Sizhou's affairs were two huge mountains weighing on his heart. If he hadn't held on to them, he would have been crushed long ago.
He also wanted to be like Pei Dongdong, carrying a backpack and leaving at any time, to go to the vast world, to the countryside and mountains and rivers, to cleanse his confused heart, and rebuild his tired muscles and bones. Perhaps letting go of everything is another kind of fulfillment in life.
Two days later, Mr. Jiang's funeral was held.
Wen Zichuan was filming a final scene in another place, but even if he was free, he didn't dare to appear in front of the elders of the Jiang and Cheng families and disrupt such an important matter.
After finishing the filming and returning to the hotel, he received the first video message from Cheng Sizhou, which was about ten seconds long. Cheng Sizhou said that he had recovered well and told him not to worry.
Wen Zichuan took off his makeup, found a place with good lighting, turned on the beauty filter but it didn't seem to work, so he turned it off again. After thinking for a long time, he still couldn't decide what to say. Finally, when he heard several colleagues say they were going to buy local specialties, he said that it would be far away tomorrow, so he should bring him some local specialties.
Cheng Sizhou didn't reply, and Wen Zichuan didn't urge him. Relationships between people always develop step by step. As long as they care about each other, he will be satisfied.
Xie Bing likes the "workaholic" type of artists the most. When reporting to General Manager Wei as usual, he did his best to praise Wen Zichuan, which made the lead actor Wei Xiaoming look unremarkable.
Wei Jing could hear the hidden meaning in his words, but he didn't care. He signed Wen Zichuan just to give his flowers a bunch of green leaves. He would give him the necessary resources, but it was impossible for Wen Zichuan to bypass Wei Xiaoming.
Fortunately, Wen Zichuan was not greedy. He never thought about competing with the "Prince". He just wanted a few days of vacation.
President Wei waved his hand in agreement and casually said that he could visit Mr. Aldridge when he had time.
Wen Zichuan was not surprised. Wei Jing should have known about his relationship with Wen Duo for a long time. After all, they had extremely similar faces.
But when did he know this? Before he signed himself, or after he signed himself?
Wen Zichuan had a feeling that although Kim Ki-duk's "giving" him to Wei Jing was a failed plan, Wei Jing took advantage of the situation and signed him, which seemed to have put him into another plan.
In such a huge entertainment industry, he has no backing and his influence is insignificant. It is considered lucky that he can be of any use.
But think about it from another perspective. Since others always use him as a bargaining chip and exchange him, why doesn't he "exchange" himself?
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