Seeing this, Ji Juntao simply changed the question: "If your parents were sick and needed you to stay with them at the hospital, but the filming schedule couldn't be delayed, what would you do?"
Shang Yechu replied without hesitation, "That's not true. They don't even have my contact information."
“If,” Ji Juntao said through gritted teeth, “we shouldn’t run away from the problem.”
Shang Yechu reluctantly confessed: "I asked you to answer the phone. Given your status and tone as the boss, transfer them some money first, then warn them not to bother me."
"After filming wrapped, a press conference was held where they told me that my parents had deliberately concealed their illness from me so as not to hinder my career, leaving me completely unaware and focused on filming. I was deeply moved and wept bitterly. I sacrificed so much for this film; please, audience members, remember—"
Ji Juntao: "..."
Ji Juntao finished the last sip of his instant coffee. He then asked, "If your first love were standing in front of you, how would you show that you love him very much?"
Shang Yechu frowned: "I didn't have a first love."
What about the men you've ever been attracted to?
"Does being so angry count as being moved?"
Do you have any close friends? You must have a few best friends, right?
The image of Sheng Wenzhi flashed through Shang Yechu's mind, and she shook her head firmly: "No."
Ji Juntao suddenly sensed something was wrong: "You and Su Ge—"
"That was just to inflate your value and impress you when you signed the contract. We're actually not that close."
"..." What's done is done, there's no point in dwelling on it now. Ji Juntao made a final effort, "What's the saddest thing you can imagine?"
Shang Yechu replied without hesitation, "Become a fool."
...
Ji Juntao covered his face and let out a long groan.
"Ye Chu." After a mournful cry, Ji Juntao lowered his hand, revealing a face ravaged by emotion. "You absolutely must film this movie."
"Why?"
Ji Juntao said firmly, "You can't go on like this. You have to feel pain. How can an actor make a good film if he can't even truly feel pain?"
Shang Yechu paused for a moment, then calmly said, "You may not know, but I have already suffered enough."
“That’s why you’ve become numb to pain!” Ji Juntao stood up. “You’ve become accustomed to pain, taking it for granted! Others might feel ten parts pain from the same thing, but you only feel two parts…”
Ji Juntao paced excitedly back and forth in her small, shabby office, her phone screen swaying with her steps. Shang Yechu could even see the spittle flying from her mouth.
“But normal people don’t act like that!” Ji Juntao exclaimed. “If you treat and portray pain with that kind of mentality, ordinary viewers will never be able to empathize with you! They’ll just think you’re an idiot, expressionless, mentally ill, heartless, acting like a happy occasion when your family is destroyed—even the donkey at the village entrance is more heartbroken than you—”
Ji Juntao took a deep breath and glared at Shang Yechu, saying, "You have to act in this play. Even if it's not for awards, it's worth it to practice. I've bet everything on you, you can't let my investment go to waste."
Ji Juntao's agitation surprised Shang Yechu: "You think I'm numb to pain, so I can't act out pain well? Do you think I have to actually die to film a death scene?"
"Stop pretending!" Ji Juntao said impatiently. "Look at your own heart. Ye Chu, just because you're used to suffering, you're indifferent to the suffering of others—because you're more miserable than others, so their suffering isn't miserable? What kind of stupid problem is that?"
"I'm indifferent?" Shang Yechu also got angry and sneered, "You're kind-hearted! What a big philanthropist, trying to fool a twenty-year-old artist with a B-signature! What kind of benevolent person are you pretending to be?"
Ji Juntao wasn't like Li Yi, who was a silent type. He immediately retorted, "I may not be kind-hearted, but I can listen to other people's advice! Unlike you, who is so stubborn that you cover your ears and refuse to listen to any suggestions about your acting skills, like a turtle babbling sutra! Are you only satisfied with being a flash in the pan, and then going to live-streaming e-commerce platforms when you're old and your star has faded?"
"Don't bother. If I were reduced to selling goods online, it would prove that Qingping Entertainment was already finished." Shang Yechu revealed a mocking smile. "I can sell goods online, but what can you do? Grind instant coffee powder at a coffee factory? You'd drink yourself to death!"
"Huff—huff—" Ji Juntao's face turned red with anger, and her voice rose ten octaves. "Starting with personal attacks now? What, did I hit a nerve? Looks like you're not entirely unaware of your pathetic acting skills—"
"My 'pathetic' acting skills?" Ji Juntao had really stepped on a landmine. She shouted, but Shang Yechu shouted even louder, "I, Shang Yechu, don't rely on my background, my looks, or those fat pigs. I climbed up from being an extra to where I am today, all thanks to this pathetic acting skill! I know better than you—Ji, if I ever hear those five words from your mouth again, I'll shove your head into a coffee machine!"
"So you're so afraid to even take on a low-budget film?"
"Who says I'm afraid to accept!"
——!
A mysterious smile suddenly appeared on Ji Juntao's face.
Shang Yechu paused.
Shang Yechu: "..."
Shang Yechu suddenly locked her phone screen with one click, then slapped herself in the face.
Ji Juntao's voice came faintly from the phone: "You didn't hang up the video. I saw it."
Shang Yechu: "..."
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