Chapter 12
At this time, Lu Zixi, who knew nothing about this, walked out of the gate of Changxing and finally couldn't help rolling his eyes that he had just wanted to roll at Zhao Zhiping.
What does "if you use the company's money, you have to think well of the company" mean? Isn't this kind of rogue logic equivalent to saying, "Just because the company pays you a salary, that makes it your daddy?" This is clearly earned income as defined by law; there's no question of who owes whom anything.
Furthermore, a wise bird chooses its tree to roost in. If Changxing truly had shown kindness to the original owner, then Lu Zixi would have considered his feelings. But what did Changxing do when the original owner was in dire straits? Changxing's management was a mess. He gave the original owner a manager who required bribes to work as a personal agent, even coercing and bribing him into serving as a drinking companion, squeezing every last ounce of his worth. It could be said that this indirectly contributed to the original owner's suicide. Lu Zixi was lucky not to retaliate against them, but he still expected gratitude?
That’s nice to think about!
Most importantly, his request for an advance on travel expenses wasn't a deliberate or unreasonable act; it was in accordance with the procedures, and he truly was broke. Lu Zixi had never truly been short of money, but the original owner was completely destitute, with only a few hundred yuan left in his pocket, which he had traded for watermelons to give to the Doomsday Survival System. When he finally realized what was happening, he realized he hadn't even saved enough for food. Fortunately, someone had given him two million yuan in a previous donation, which saved him from starvation.
Using the first sum of money was like making a start. He finally paid off the high-interest loan left by the original owner in one lump sum before the interest continued to grow.
Two million might sound like a lot, but for Lu Zixi, who had been in the entertainment industry for many years, he knew that such a sum of money was easily earned by a popular artist. He believed that with his own ability, he would be able to repay it one day. Therefore, even if someone traced the two million and demanded its return, he would be able to pay it back easily and with a clear conscience. However, no matter how capable Lu Zixi was, he could not guarantee that he could repay the loan shark. Therefore, if he wanted to get rid of this debt, he had to do it now.
After receiving the money, the other party sent him a video, which was a screen recording of destroying the original nude photos on a computer. After watching it, Lu Zixi didn't feel much relieved.
Because he knew that if the other party wanted to keep this photo, there were countless ways, and deleting an original photo did not mean anything. His only hope was that since he chose the right timing and he was not famous yet, the other party would not deliberately keep a nude photo of a small artist. In this way, when he became famous in the future, no one would be able to threaten him in this way.
As Lu Zixi was thinking this, he noticed the transfer notification on his mobile phone. He thought to himself that Changxing acted quite quickly this time. After roughly calculating the budget, he readily hailed a taxi and headed to Yuanhong International Building.
Unlike last time, this time in the building, the depressing atmosphere caused by his death has been swept away, and the works of other artists began to appear on the screen again, but there was always an LED screen that was continuously playing Lu Zixi's last work in his previous life.
"Peeping Light".
Since its release, this film has swept all other films of its time with its extremely high box office, with theaters fully booked and additional screenings added, making it an extremely popular hit. The most surprising thing is its subject matter. This is not a traditional commercial film. It can even be said that it has some elements of science fiction and art films. The protagonist is just an ordinary nine-to-five civil servant. At some point, he suddenly finds that the things around him begin to disappear one by one, or rather, world civilization begins to regress. The world begins to lack high-tech, existing electronic devices and other tools, and there are no books or words. Eventually, even color fades away. Finally, one day, the world collapses. He opens his eyes and finds himself lying in a wasteland. There is no light, no wind, and everything before him is black and white.
He ran in fear in the wilderness for a long time and finally found a team including a doctor, a soldier, a scientist, a politician and others. Their goal was to recover the lost human civilization.
This film has also been rated as "the re-evolution history of human civilization". It glimpses the light in the darkness. When everything is lost, what do you have left? What do you want to pursue? What are the most authentic elements of life?
The other plots in the movie are equally thought-provoking. A group of people constitute a small human society. When the talents in the team are suspicious of each other and kill each other, the protagonist, who symbolizes the most ordinary people, is still the same as before, confused, at a loss, repeatedly standing in line, and without self. But slowly when he realizes that he no longer has the direction of the masses to follow blindly, he gradually finds himself, an independent personality after stripping away all external influences, and finds the true meaning of life.
What's even more exaggerated is that after losing its color, the entire movie was presented in black and white film. Until the end, when the protagonist regained the lost civilization, the movie content was presented in highly saturated colors, which formed a sharp contrast with the previous scenes and was extremely impactful. However, such an abnormal "black and white film" made people watch it with relish and couldn't stop, and it reaped countless box office successes in a short time.
This was the pinnacle of Lu Zixi's acting career in his previous life. He spent a full five months in the wilderness, a period spanning more than half a year, before painstakingly completing this landmark film. He then won the Qianqiu Award, representing China's highest level of filmmaking, becoming a well-deserved new Best Actor. It's said that the film also passed the preliminary review at the Venice Film Festival, but unfortunately, they never give awards to deceased individuals, so the award was shelved.
Lu Zixi watched his face from his previous life appear on the screen. Even in the low-quality black and white image, one could tell that his eyes were full of drama. He had to admit that this was the peak of his state of mind after three months of careful preparation and full dedication to the film. Even if he were to reshoot it, he might not be able to achieve such a good effect.
He just stood there, admiring the final sound of his previous life, and didn't even notice the small exclamations that sounded around him.
"Why are you still standing here? Aren't you going up?" a deep and magnetic voice sounded behind him, with a hint of questioning, "Are you here to take pictures today?"
Lu Zixi was stunned, and suddenly woke up from his recollection. He turned around and asked in disbelief, "Why are you here again?"
Isn't this a bit too coincidental?
It can be said to be weird!
"You're in my company, asking 'Why me again?'" Yan Yunzhen repeated his words, a look of disbelief in his eyes. "If I'm not here, where else could I be?"
"Don't you have to film? Don't you have to rush to attend announcements? Don't you have to participate in various activities?" Lu Zixi felt incredible. Is Yan Yunzhen so idle all day? This is not the style of this workaholic who has a lot of things going on both at home and abroad!
"I need a vacation too." Yan Yunzhen frowned, "There's only one long vacation this month every year."
"Then don't you want to enjoy life?" Lu Zixi continued to ask, "Why do you go to the company during the holidays?"
"What do you mean?" Yan Yunzhen narrowed his eyes, revealing a hint of dissatisfaction. "You blame me for always running into you? Fine, then be more self-conscious. Next time you see me, remember to avoid me."
"You..." Lu Zixi took a deep breath. It was obviously not easy to ask directly if you were the host, if there was any way to locate me, or if there was any mission related to me. So he said, "Forget it, I just think... it's a bit coincidental."
"Oh," Yan Yunzhen glanced at him with a half-smile, "From the way you sounded, I thought you thought I was following you."
Lu Zixi was caught off guard and was choked by him. He could only wave his hand, turn around and walk towards the elevator.
"You're wrong," Yan Yunzhen said behind him, "That's the staff passage."
Lu Zixi stumbled.
On someone else's territory, I found the employee entrance twice without any instruction, and it always seemed a bit like my past life...
Lu Zixi felt that his vest was a little precarious.
He left here almost as if escaping, found the elevator, and hurried upstairs.
He was filming the debut solo album of Yan Zhi, a talent show singer who had just emerged from a Yuanhong-sponsored program. As a creative singer with immense popularity, Yan Zhi was highly regarded by Yuanhong and made thorough preparations. The shoot was divided into two parts: interior and exterior. The interior scenes took place in Yuanhong's own studio, focusing on classrooms, the library, and the indoor basketball court. The exterior scenes were shot at a nearby university, capturing scenes of the high school campus and some scenes in the hallways.
Lu Zixi arrived a little early. The female lead's scene from the previous performance hadn't finished yet. The female lead, played by Yan Zhi, was filming some scenes without the male lead with the extras. When the production manager saw him, he quickly called out, "Go over there and put on your makeup first. You can go straight on stage after you're done. Have you read the script?"
After receiving Lu Zixi's affirmative answer, several makeup artists surrounded him, took him to the dressing table, and started working.
Lu Zixi habitually and obediently closed her eyes and cooperated with them in putting on makeup. Suddenly, one of the makeup artists spoke up: "Hey, are you that...that that..."
"The one that's trending today, surpassing Chang Yi!" another makeup artist chimed in, her tone also sounding a bit excited, full of gossip. "Hey, you know what, you have a much better temperament than Chang Yi. That's what true purity looks like."
Lu Zixi opened his eyes somewhat helplessly, blinking at them, as docile as a little deer, which made people's hearts soften before they even opened their mouths.
They even couldn't help but start to think, with this temperament and image, if she was given a role similar to Chang Yi, she should have some fame, so how come she is still unknown until now?
"You're so good," the makeup artist looked at his dazed and uneasy expression and couldn't help but feel protective of him. She rubbed his head gently and said, "It's okay. We all know that Chang Yi is not a good person. Don't feel any psychological burden. Just act well."
Lu Zixi nodded obediently, with the corners of her mouth raised, and a pair of dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth when she smiled, so cute that people wanted to reach out and poke her.
"Oh, your skin is so good, little face!" Another makeup artist couldn't help but pinch his face and asked, "How do you usually take care of your skin?"
...It is better not to tell the truth that I gave a pile of watermelons to a great cultivator from ancient times who had no watermelons to eat, and the great cultivator was so happy that he gave the child a beauty pill.
Lu Zixi tilted his head and thought for a while, then whispered some of the techniques he had learned in his previous life to the makeup artist here. Even some of the idle staff came over to listen, wanting to know what good ideas he had.
So when Yan Yunzhen entered the filming site again, he saw this scene:
A young man in white clothes was bathing in the sun, with a warm smile, his body slightly leaning forward, surrounded by everyone in the audience. He seemed to have become the new darling of the group. Even the female lead Yan Zhi, who had just finished the stage, came over to talk to him, and the atmosphere was beautiful and harmonious.
For some reason, when Yan Yunzhen knew that Lu Zixi was not only popular among him, he felt inexplicably relieved.
It turned out that he was not the only one who looked at Lu Zixi differently. No matter who it was, no one would dislike such an outstanding and clean-cut boy.
After all, his image represents the beauty deep in the hearts of countless people, making people willing to show kindness to him unconditionally.
"Okay, are you done talking over there?" The director finished reviewing the filmed segment behind the monitor and waved his hand, signaling Lu Zixi to take the stage. "Third scene, first act, male lead!"
Lu Zixi was smiling gently the previous second, but when he stood up the next second, his demeanor changed slightly.
Everyone looked at him expectantly.
Although the big boy in front of them is very likable, work is work after all, and everyone still welcomes people with real abilities. They hope that the person who just gave them a good impression will not let them down.
Lu Zixi has always been able to get into a role quickly. He closed his eyes and opened them again. The boy next door who used to get along well with everyone disappeared. Instead, he became the popular male god praised by everyone in the script. His every move was full of confidence and charm. Although his male hormones were not as strong as those of mature men, he had a unique appeal because of his youth and freshness, and even a certain degree of shock. He was like a little leopard that had not grown up, clean, full of vitality, standing in the sun, shining brightly.
He raised one corner of his mouth, blinked his eyes slightly, and smiled mischievously at the monitor, indicating that he was ready.
The makeup artist who had just been chatting with Lu Zixi was stunned for a long time when she saw that sunny and energetic smile. She grabbed her companion's hand and exclaimed, "Ahhh, he's so handsome! Why didn't I realize he was so handsome just now! It feels so good! My girlish heart is bursting!"
"Based on my years of intuition, I bet he'll be famous! He definitely will be!" Another makeup artist also grabbed her hand, trying to suppress her excitement and whispered, "I'm going to follow him right now! I want to be one of the first loyal fans!"
Yan Yunzhen couldn't help but look down at his phone.
So naive, he was the first one to pay attention to him.
...What's with this inexplicable pride?
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