Shao Si's hand trembled as he tugged at Li Guangzong's sleeve.
However, Li Guangzong had no reaction. Instead, he pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and turned to ask if Shao Si had a pen. He wanted to leave his phone number for the girl.
"What pen? Forget about that," Li Guangzong said, exasperated. "Look 45 degrees to your right—behind that pillar, it's Gu Yanzhou! Oh my god! I'm breathing the same air as my idol in this room!"
Shao Si: "...I remember you brought a pen."
Li Guangzong completely ignored his own artist. All of his senses were now fixated on Gu Yanzhou. After the initial excitement, he became flustered: "When did he arrive? Did he hear everything we just said? Dad, did I say anything inappropriate? Can you think for me? I feel like I'm about to suffocate, I can't think straight..."
You idiot!
Shao Si turned his head back and smiled gently at the makeup artist girl: "Miss, may I trouble you to borrow your phone for a moment?"
The girl had clearly been startled by the appearance of a certain movie star and only came back to her senses when Shao Si spoke. She saw before her a man with eyes curved into crescents, especially when those eyes seemed to see only her, making it impossible not to be captivated by his focused gaze. It was like touching a block of ice, yet inexplicably feeling a warmth rising from within.
So without a second thought, the girl took out her phone and handed it to him, even unlocking it herself.
The women's phone looked a bit smaller in Shao Si's hands, making the five-inch screen appear to have shrunk.
Shao Si used it to dial his own number, hanging up just before it could ring, his hand movements incredibly quick, the whole process taking no more than twenty seconds. Then he took out his own phone and saved the unfamiliar number from the call log into his contacts.
Makeup artist: "...?"
Shao Si made up an excuse: "I think your makeup skills are really good. I hope we have the chance to work together again."
"Oh, I see..." the girl's cheeks turned as red as apples, "I'm very honored. I'm so excited, I don't know what to say."
Li Guangzong, having recovered from his panic, picked up his thermos from the ground, missing the interaction between these two. He patted Shao Si and said quietly: "Stop playing with your phone, go over and greet Gu Yanzhou."
"Why?" In fact, Shao Si was just too lazy to move. He sat in the chair with his legs crossed and said: "Wouldn't it be a bit inappropriate to approach so suddenly?"
Li Guangzong lightly kicked the back of his chair and pulled him up to walk.
As they got closer, Director Wang finally noticed the promising newcomer he had spent so long selecting through auditions. He slapped his forehead: "I almost forgot, it's good you're here. This is Gu Yanzhou, I probably don't need to introduce him... Yanzhou, this is Shao Si. Oh, Little Si, I remember you're also from East Sea Film Academy, right? Then he must be your senior, a few years ahead of you."
It was true that he graduated from East Sea Film Academy, but during his university years, he was always busy exposing various scandals to earn a living. Whether it was about a certain female student from the acting department being kept as a mistress, campus violence incidents, or grade advisors accepting bribes, he had taken down quite a few of these. As a result, he genuinely had no impression of this famous senior.
...Mainly because he was face-blind.
"Hello, Senior Gu. I've long admired your name, it's truly better to meet in person than to hear a hundred times." Shao Si extended his hand without hesitation, speaking extremely fluently, and secretly gave himself full marks in his heart.
Damn, the upward curve of my mouth right now is absolutely perfect, neither cold nor overly friendly.
Only after finishing his opening lines did he have time to observe the man before him, the legendary... man standing at the pinnacle of the entertainment industry.
Shao Si could never understand why people found Gu Yanzhou handsome, which had almost gotten him chased with a kitchen knife by Li Guangzong once. He remembered that day when the usually unshakeable Li Guangzong was bedridden with a high fever, and Shao Si and his assistant went to visit him after finishing their scenes.
Li Guangzong's walls were covered with Gu Yanzhou's posters. While the assistant was boiling water for him, Shao Si stroked his chin and said to his manager: Your idol, is this all? You might as well hang up my posters, I'm much more handsome than him.
These words instantly revived Li Guangzong, who leaped up to hit him.
But that's all in the past now.
Shao Si believed his taste was not a problem, although everyone around him thought otherwise.
But Shao Si stubbornly believed, since I think I'm very handsome, and you all think I'm handsome, how can you say my taste is problematic? There's nothing wrong with it.
Gu Yanzhou really does look quite ordinary.
...
"Hello." At this moment, this 'ordinary-looking' man smiled and shook his hand. Shao Si observed that there were no unnecessary accessories on his hand, it was very simple, with distinct bones, warm and clean.
After just three seconds, Gu Yanzhou released his hand.
The two nodded at each other, without further words.
Li Guangzong carefully interjected from the side: "Hello, I'm your fan... can I... shake your hand too?"
Shao Si put his hand behind his back and secretly pinched him, indicating that he shouldn't show such a cheap fanboy face. But as he pinched, he found that Li Guangzong's back was drenched in sweat from excitement, leaving his hand covered in salty moisture.
Shao Si's expression froze, and he disgustedly wiped his hand hard on Li Guangzong's pants.
Li Guangzong also froze: "Why are you rubbing my butt?"
...
The scene became extremely awkward for a moment.
Fortunately, Gu Yanzhou didn't mind and actively extended his hand to greet Li Guangzong.
Seeing Li Guangzong's bear-like behavior, Shao Si estimated that he would probably cut off his entire hand and enshrine it with incense when he got home.
Director Wang pretended not to hear anything. His reason for contacting Gu Yanzhou this time was actually that he wanted Gu Yanzhou to play the second male lead in his new drama. This kid had grown up under his watch, with extremely high talent. When Gu Yanzhou first entered the industry, they often collaborated.
Although Gu Yanzhou always said he was his mentor, Director Wang didn't think much of it at first. He had been in this circle for so many years and had seen too many young stars who, after rising to the top, looked down on him and required appointments just to get a phone call.
But Gu Yanzhou was an exception. In recent years, his fee had skyrocketed, but every time he quoted a price to Director Wang, it was still the same as before: one million yuan per movie, just one million.
What concept is one million?
One million was so low that Director Wang couldn't even save face, but every time Gu Yanzhou would comfort him saying: "You should spend more money on production, don't worry about anything else. If the film is well-made, I can also benefit from increased reputation and fame. Thinking this way, I'm not at a loss. What I'm gaining is something money can't buy."
"Director Wang, if you had told me about this a bit earlier, I would have definitely agreed," Gu Yanzhou continued to discuss business with Director Wang, his tone gentle. His handsome features were actually somewhat flamboyant, but they were forcibly subdued by the calm aura he exuded, making him appear as simple as his attire. "It's just that last week, Director Feng finalized a role with me, and there's a time conflict."
"Hey, that old Feng, snatching my people again." Director Wang was upset for a moment but quickly let it go. He then said, "It's kind of you to come here in person. In the future, you can just tell me these things over the phone. How dare I waste the time of such a busy person like you?"
Gu Yanzhou said, "Discussing business is secondary. I mainly wanted to come see you. It's been over half a year since we last met."
His conversational skills were top-notch. He might be a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Shao Si silently concluded in his heart.
Then in the next second, he was pulled by Director Wang in front of this potential wolf in sheep's clothing.
Director Wang took Gu Yanzhou's hand and placed it on top of Shao Si's, saying with a kindly expression: "I originally wanted you to guide Little Si. This kid has potential, and he would certainly learn a lot following you. It seems you two won't have this opportunity now."
Shao Si thought to himself, what do you mean no opportunity? Why does this sound like a matchmaker arranging a marriage?
Gu Yanzhou's gaze seemingly carelessly swept over Shao Si, finally landing on their overlapping hands.
Shao Si felt uneasy under his stare and was about to withdraw his hand when he heard Gu Yanzhou say in a steady tone, yet clearly with hidden meaning: "How could there be no opportunity?"
...
Even as Director Wang led the crew's strongest combat force to respectfully see Gu Yanzhou off, Shao Si was still in a daze, holding the business card in his hand.
After a while, he finally spoke, turning to ask Li Guangzong: "Son, why do you think he gave me his business card?"
Li Guangzong: "To seduce you?"
Seeing Shao Si actually stroking his chin and pondering this possibility, Li Guangzong wanted to kick him: "I'm joking with you! Don't read too much into it. It's all because Director Wang intends to cultivate you well. How could he not give face to Director Wang?"
Shao Si: "Oh, so that's how it is. Then I'm relieved."
"What are you so assured about?
I'm about to die from anger because of you!
How can the artist I manage be so shameless? You're truly the most shameless one I've ever managed."
Li Guangzong began to ponder deeply about what exactly had kept him alive until now.
The first scene was relatively easy, and Shao Si rarely needed retakes. Director Wang had estimated it would take eight hours, but with Shao Si's high efficiency, it was shortened to six hours.
This young man was indeed more outstanding than he had anticipated.
Director Wang spent quite a long time on pre-production preparations for the film, including the previously mentioned open auditions, which alone took three months.
"Undercover" was still a police and gangster film, but unlike drug enforcement police stories, it narrated the tale of an undercover agent at the bottom of a criminal organization.
When Director Wang produces, it's bound to be a masterpiece.
Shao Si took an extremely serious attitude towards this film because he knew that after this, the company would most likely arrange some high-paying, low-quality, brain-melting commercial flops for him.
Letting him take on Director Wang's film this time was merely to capitalize on the momentum of his recent Best Actor win, solidifying his image as a 'critically acclaimed actor' to the public.
Shao Si began to reminisce about the days a few years ago when he could freely choose his scripts.
On the way back, he mustered up the energy to discuss with Li Guangzong what had caused the entertainment industry to become increasingly degenerate.
"Dad, is there something wrong with your brain? Asking such a question that would silence all 1.3 billion Chinese people." Li Guangzong pulled out a bottle of water from a paper box at his feet and handed it to Shao Si. "Want some?"
Shao Si took it but still didn't want to drop the topic: "... Now that the economy is becoming more developed, human spirituality is in a state of extreme scarcity. Don't you find it tragic?"
Li Guangzong: "..."
Shao Si: "Why aren't you saying anything?"
Li Guangzong rubbed his temples: "Why don't you just go to sleep?"
Shao Si thought for a moment, then tossed the water aside and decided to sleep just like that.
His mind had been so tense while filming earlier that he had suppressed his drowsiness, but now, after being reminded, sleepiness was bubbling up endlessly.
Li Guangzong also planned to close his eyes for a brief nap, but at the crucial moment, he suddenly remembered: "Shao Si! You didn't throw away the business card Gu Yanzhou gave you, did you?"
"...Right, how could I forget to throw it away."
Shao Si curled up in the back seat, with a large blanket covering even his face.
Li Guangzong watched as Shao Si's hand rustled under the blanket for a while, then an arm lazily extended out from under the blanket, fingers pinching a business card.
"Why are you giving it to me?" Li Guangzong was almost amused by his anger. "You should send him a text yourself. You've just met, take advantage while he still remembers you, quickly go and say hello."
Shao Si couldn't be bothered to respond.
"Did you hear me? Hurry up."
"I'll count to three! Otherwise, I'll make you regret it!"
"Three, two..."
"You're killing me," Li Guangzong leaned on the back of the seat, bending over towards the back seat, then reached out to take the business card from Shao Si's hand. Giving up, he said, "Give me your phone, I'll send it for you."
Li Guangzong felt like he was Shao Si's nanny, having to wipe his ass for him in every aspect.
—Senior Gu, hello, this is Shao Si. We just met today. Actually, I've always admired you greatly. You're my idol. I hope you can look after me in the future [/cute]
Send successful.
Li Guangzong went the extra mile, opened Shao Si's Weibo, found Gu Yanzhou, and followed him.
Just as he was about to throw the phone back to Shao Si, the phone vibrated twice.
—Thank you, I like you too. Good luck with your new film, wishing you all the best.
Sender: Gu Yanzhou.