Chapter 22: Open and Covert Struggles (Second Update)
After all the numbers were drawn and the contestants had given brief self-introductions, Li Sishi and the others, following the staff's instructions, stood in front of this year's Miss Hong Kong promotional board to take a group photo.
When the group photo circulated in various newspapers and magazines the next day, people at the Lucky Tea Restaurant immediately started discussing it: "Our 'beauty' still steals the show..."
Even standing in the lower left corner, she was still dazzling and had a unique temperament. It was as if everyone around her was a mannequin that could only put on pretty smiles, but her eyes seemed to speak. Through the not-so-clear colored paper, her story-filled gaze drifted into the hearts of the viewers.
It's stunning at first glance, and even more so upon closer inspection, it possesses an indescribable and unique charm. It's a perfect score, and I'd add another point!
Without a doubt, Li Sishi is using her trained acting skills to outmaneuver her competitors who are currently only showcasing their beautiful appearance.
But to those unaware of the inside story, this is Li Sishi's beautiful and captivating face, full of charm and a natural aura of a superstar.
Such a promising talent, in the eyes of some, is undoubtedly another source of regret and frustration.
It's all Lei Jun's fault, that scoundrel who's so good at hoarding things. He couldn't stand seeing others succeed when he didn't get any for himself, so he refused to give his old friends his contact information. Now, that good talent has been poached by TBL, that unscrupulous businessman who uses beauty pageants!
Yes, that's right. Ever since the release of "Summer Promise" in the early hours of the morning, the uninformed laymen only saw the beautiful appearance of the new MV's female companion, while the discerning insiders all set their sights on this young and beautiful woman.
After being blocked by Lei Jun, and after they finally found out that the girl was the top ten student in the new academic year, not only was the opportunity over, but her family also didn't want a top student who could attend a prestigious school like Diocesan Girls' School to go and work in the entertainment industry.
After those who went to test and persuade him all failed, the big boss of Luo Xuan's company heard some rumors and specially summoned Luo Xuan to ask him what was going on.
Luo Xuan, though somewhat tempered by the harsh realities of society, still retained a youthful spirit and honestly recounted everything that had happened to the big boss.
He also felt that he was being unfairly burdened—if he had done something wrong, then apologizing and trying to make amends would be his duty, just like when there weren't enough male models and he had to fill in temporarily.
The same applies to him; but if someone deliberately frames him, he definitely won't be able to stand it.
Upon hearing Luo Xuan's story of how he snagged a MV shooting job in the early morning, only to be framed and have his model intercepted, and how he ended up having to ask a friend for help to salvage the situation, the big boss kindly offered him a few words of advice and promised to give him an explanation.
Then, she inquired about the female friend who had helped Luo Xuan out of the situation, saying frankly that the girl had great potential and that Luo Xuan should try to sign her into the company.
So Luo Xuan, even more honestly and fearfully, told the big boss that his female friend was still studying and probably wouldn't be considering signing a contract for the time being.
At the time, the big boss was still very friendly and smiled, saying it was okay and that he should work hard in the future.
But after encountering more exclusion and framing, Luo Xuan, who was dismissed, spent an entire night at home thinking and finally roughly understood the intricate entanglement of interests.
It's quite possible that his fate was sealed the moment he accepted that seemingly good opportunity in the early hours of the morning, hoping to snag a bargain.
No wonder this lucrative opportunity, coveted by everyone in the head office and all the branches, fell so easily into his lap!
Because this isn't a piece of fat, it's a hot potato!
The person who takes on this hot potato will be targeted by everyone—the obstruction of the music video shoot is the beginning, and the subsequent poaching of his subordinates one by one is the follow-up; in the end, the seemingly kind but actually wicked boss and those who are constantly targeting him will attack him together, leaving him with no choice but to leave, which is the ending of this entanglement of interests...
It's regrettable that he didn't begin to understand the key to it until after he left.
His family told him to help out at his family's clothing store, but Luo Xuan didn't want to rely on his family's "charity." So he contacted Cheng Erjian, who was doing well at the TV station recently, and asked him to help him get a job doing odd jobs at the TV station.
Cheng Erjian felt very sorry for Luo Xuan's plight, but considering Luo Xuan's situation, he did not introduce him to a job as a dancer for the time being. Instead, he took him to work as an extra to help him get through this period.
Just like when he was out of acting roles after his show ended, Luo Xuan helped him work part-time as a music video model. Good brothers should support each other!
It's funny, really. These days, most songs are love songs, and female singers especially sing sad love songs. So, with fewer and fewer people under their wing, Luo Xuan, who has to fill in as a part-time model, and Cheng Erjian, who works part-time to make ends meet, are both in...
In the music video, he plays a male companion who is primarily a scumbag...
Driven by the pressures of life, these two young men with little dating experience were forced into becoming outwardly playboys with the air of scumbags.
Later, Cheng Erjian finally got a role as a twisted and domineering CEO. In order to play the role well and broaden his acting range, Luo Xuan asked a few friends who were also dancers to take him to nightclubs to broaden his horizons while he was busy with work.
To the astonishment of his friends, Cheng Erjian, who seemed like a playboy and a scumbag, acted like a virtuous man forced into prostitution at the nightclub. He drove away seven pretty girls who tried to chat him up, and his friends suffered as a result, failing to get anything good out of him all night...
Therefore, when Cheng Erjian, feeling mentally prepared the second time, approached his friends again to say, "Let's go check it out," one of his friends, who had a particularly fiery temper, immediately started yelling, "Go what? Go home and sleep! If we take you, we won't have any fun!"
Later, after listening to Cheng Erjian's tearful complaints as if they were a joke, Luo Xuan took him to see the doctor once and then earnestly advised him: "There are some things in life that you really can't force..."
However, relying on Luo Xuan's oral experience, Cheng Erjian also worked very hard to complete the portrayal of the perverted domineering CEO. Then, it was as if he had broken some kind of curse that "if you play a green-clad character, all the green peppers, cucumbers, and vegetables will come knocking on your door." In the following period, he received several offers to play roles of bespectacled scoundrels.
“This time it’s better. I play the second male lead who is forced into marriage. The plot is that the second female lead deliberately gets me drunk, making me think that she did something to me…” Perhaps it’s because he has had so many lice that he no longer feels itchy. Moreover, this role is closer to his own personality than the previous ones, so Cheng Erjian’s expression when talking about this role was quite natural.
"In short, even Mr. Li praised your good looks. As long as you are willing to work hard and endure hardship, you will definitely get your chance." Cheng Erjian encouraged him, recalling how he took Luo Xuan to see Manager Li, who was in charge of artist affairs, and how Manager Li was very satisfied with Luo Xuan's appearance and quickly signed the contract.
"I hope so. Anyway, I'll just take it one step at a time..." Luo Xuan nodded.
"Hey, Ah Jian, the director wants you to change your clothes, we're about to start filming!" Just as Cheng Erjian was about to say something, the PA in charge of his group came over and called out.
"You go to work first, I can manage on my own. It's not like I've never been here before," Luo Xuan said quickly.
"Then you go first"
"I'll rest here for a while and talk to you when I get back after I finish work." Cheng Erjian added as he stood up.
"Come on, do you think I'm like you? Go on!" Luo Xuan shoved him.
After watching Cheng Erjian leave the dressing room, Luo Xuan sat in his seat and looked around at the surroundings with a bored expression.
The dressing rooms in every TV station seem to look pretty much the same: rows of mirrors and dressing tables, with a personal locker in the corner, and then you'll find the tea room, dressing room, etc.
People came and went in a hurry, creating a bustling and vibrant scene.
"Hey you over there, go buy me a coffee." A gentle female voice came from behind. Luo Xuan turned around and saw that the popular actress Wen Huihui was sitting at the dressing table not far behind him.
After confirming that Wen Huihui was indeed calling him, Luo Xuan didn't offer any explanation. He simply asked for details about the coffee Wen Huihui wanted and then went to buy it. He had done plenty of errands like this when he was a model manager.
Seeing how well-behaved and sensible this fair-skinned young man was, Wen Huihui gave him an approving look and took the coffee he handed her: "Thank you. You can ask my assistant for the money when he comes back later."
"No need, I really enjoy watching you act. Consider this my chance to treat you to coffee." Luo Xuan knew he could afford a cup of coffee, so he quickly waved his hand.
Seeing Luo Xuan return to his seat, Wen Huihui picked up her coffee, took a sip, and then turned back to face the mirror to continue fixing her hair.
Then she saw in the mirror two people behind her saying with disdain, "Luo Xuan really does look like he knows how to flatter and fawn. No wonder he signed a contract to become an artist so quickly..."
When her assistant returned and clarified the situation, Wen Huihui felt very embarrassed to realize she had mistaken Luo Xuan for a handyman. Furthermore, she had caused Luo Xuan to be ridiculed. So, after thinking it over carefully...
She asked Director Ho, who was directing her, "Director Ho, I remember you're going to shoot a promotional video later to encourage citizens to participate in the Miss Hong Kong pageant, right? You need a few guys in it who look like the refined type who work in Central?"
"Yes, you have a good recommendation?" Director He immediately followed up on the topic, understanding the implied meaning.
"What do you think of that guy over there? He looks pretty refined." Wen Huihui pointed to Luo Xuan's location. "I'm planning to have him as my male companion for a music video..."
“Since it’s Vivian, and you’re calling her that, then of course there’s no problem,” Director He said readily.
Unexpectedly, Luo Xuan was thrilled to have work right after signing the contract and thanked Director He who came to find him: "Thank you, Director. I will definitely put my heart and soul into filming!"
"No need to thank me."
"Thank you so much, Sister Vivi. She's the one who recommended you to me." Director He gestured for Luo Xuan to thank Wen Huihui.
"Thank you so much, Sister Vivi!" Luo Xuan quickly went over to express his gratitude to Wen Huihui.
"Don't be shy, just take the photos with your heart." Wen Huihui smiled and waved her hand. "I have high hopes for you, don't let me down!"
Luo Xuan nodded vigorously and went back to tell Cheng Erjian, who had just finished filming. Cheng Erjian was also very happy for him.
"Look at this, isn't this a stroke of good luck!" Being promoted by a popular star is such a rare thing, and Luo Xuan has already had such good fortune since he just arrived.
Luo Xuan, who also felt he had struck gold, chuckled twice, then put on a mysterious air: "May is currently competing in the Miss Hong Kong pageant, maybe my job can help her out..."
This way, he can repay the favor Li Sishi did for him when she temporarily saved him from trouble, but it turned out to attract a lot of attention.
While Luo Xuan was contemplating the possibility of helping in the future, Wan Jiamei, who was waiting in line according to her number to have her first round of individual photos taken, felt that she really needed to find someone to help her.
"That number 9 copied all my poses! What am I going to do now? There's still one more person coming up to take my picture!" She tugged at Li Sishi, who had already finished taking hers, and cried softly.
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