Chapter 38
Zhao Ying admires Liang Shi's acting skills. After they added each other on WeChat last time, she said, "I'll contact you if I need any work in the future."
But Liang Shi took it as just a polite remark at the time.
Unexpectedly, a few days later, Zhao Ying actually introduced her to some work.
Liang Shi immediately replied: 【Yes.】
Zhao Ying said, "You didn't even ask what the script was or what the role was before you agreed to it?"
The background noise from her voice was loud, like she was on a film set, and her tone was mocking, almost teasing.
Liang Shi had typed a few words, but then felt that typing wasn't sincere enough, so he pressed the screen and sent her a voice message: "Sister Ying, the scripts you act in must be good scripts, what am I, a newcomer, going to be picky about? Besides, the jobs you introduced me to are definitely not bad, they are more than enough for me, I'm just afraid I'm not good enough for this production team."
Zhao Ying was overjoyed after hearing this. When she sent her another voice message, she couldn't hide her laughter. "You really know how to talk. You're not the same person as Zhao Xuning at all."
"But it's no use flattering me. This time, the open casting call isn't up to me. You'll have to earn it through your own abilities. All I can offer you is an audition spot. It's this Friday at 2:30 PM on the fourth floor of the Qingcheng Theater. I'll send you the audition clip in a bit."
Zhao Ying speaks with a slightly broadcaster-like tone, lazy and casual, which is exceptionally pleasant to listen to.
After sending the documents, she added, "I'm just letting you know beforehand, Chen Liuying is also auditioning for this role, but she wanted to audition for the second female lead and was rejected. Now she can only audition for the third female lead. If you're worried about competing with her, you don't have to participate, and I won't say anything. But..."
She didn't say anything more.
But Liang Shi, who had been in the entertainment industry for many years, understood this perfectly well.
However, what follows should be—I won't introduce any more jobs to you.
There's a saying in the industry: resources are earned through competition, and acting is more important than personal relationships.
If you and a friend encounter the same script and the same role, you should bravely strive for it and rely on your own abilities.
If you back down because of your friendship, you're insulting both the script and your friend, and the director won't use you again.
Directors aren't afraid of ambitious actors; they're afraid of actors who lack ambition.
The fact that this actor yields to everything shows that he lacks commitment to his role.
How can an actor like that possibly act well?
Similarly, if you don't go to a film set because there are people you dislike in the crew, then you might not go.
Such actors rarely get opportunities.
Liang Shi immediately replied: 【Don't worry, Sister Ying, I will cherish this opportunity and try my best to succeed. [Fist pump emoji]】
A double entendre.
Zhao Ying only replied with a cheering emoji.
Just as Zhao Xuning was about to leave work, he received a message from Zhao Ying: "Tsk, Miss Liang has pretty high EQ."
Zhao Xuning didn't reply at first. As she took off her white coat, she was still thinking, "Is she going to have a fight with Liang Shi every day?"
Why is everyone talking about Liang Shi?
Zhao Ying: [You actually can't get along with Miss Liang? Sister, you should reflect on that.]
Zhao Xuning: [?]
Zhao Ying: [It must be because you're being stubborn.]
Zhao Xuning: [...]
A few seconds later, Zhao Xuning sent a deathly smile emoji.
Zhao Xuning: [That's because you haven't seen how much of a scoundrel she used to be.]
//
After studying the script, the days went by very quickly.
Xu Qingzhu was so busy with the new product launch that she didn't have time to talk to Liang Shi about that matter, and the two tacitly let it go.
On Thursday evening, Xu Qingzhu unusually got off work early.
Since the new product launch was on Friday, and everything was ready, Xu Qingzhu left work after arranging everything.
Her mind is now like a taut bowstring, taut and ready; all she needs to do is wait until tomorrow to hit the bullseye.
However, for safety reasons, she had a video conference with Sally and Cherry after she got home.
While nestled on the sofa, Liang Shi was cutting fruit in the kitchen.
Xu Qingzhu asked Sally if she had proofread the PPT one last time.
Sally rolled her eyes. "Blanche, I'm a designer, I'm not responsible for proofreading PPTs."
Xu Qingzhu: "...But you and Lulu, who's in charge of this, got along really well."
Sally: "..."
Sally wailed, "Liang Shi! Come and control your Blanche! I'm going crazy!"
Xu Qingzhu: "..."
She sighed and rubbed her forehead in exasperation, "Just one more time, once is enough."
Lin Luoxi said from the side, "I just confirmed with the media that everyone will be there on time, so don't worry."
Xu Qingzhu immediately said, "Cherry is amazing. Sally, look at Cherry's efficiency. She would have finished the job long ago if she had time to complain!"
Sally clasped her hands together, looking as if she were about to ascend to heaven, and asked with particular sincerity, "Miss Blanche, don't you have a sex life?"
Xu Qingzhu: "..."
Sally has always lived abroad and has always been outspoken when she talks about these things.
"Please, please consider Liang Shi's feelings, okay?" Sally said, "You're turning into a workaholic so fast! If this keeps up, your Liang Shi will be stolen away by a mistress!"
Xu Qingzhu: "..."
Just then, Liang Shi came out carrying fruit and immediately explained, "I didn't, Sally, don't wrong me."
She went around behind Xu Qingzhu and pressed on Xu Qingzhu's shoulder, but Xu Qingzhu frowned and let out a muffled groan. She immediately reached out and pressed down on her hand.
"Does it hurt here?" Liang Shi asked.
Xu Qingzhu nodded, "It hurts too much."
"Let me massage your shoulders for you." Liang Shi eased the pressure as she massaged her shoulders, and said in a low voice, "That's how it is for you people who sit in the office all day. You don't move around often, so your shoulders, neck, and back are all in bad shape."
"Us?" Xu Qingzhu raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you one too?"
Liang Shi hesitated for two seconds, then nodded: "You're right."
Sally complained on the other end of the video call, "Liang Shi, your wife has really gone crazy lately. I've never worked overtime when I was abroad, but working all night here has left me completely exhausted."
Liang Shi naturally sided with Xu Qingzhu, saying, "Then just do it for her, it's a small thing."
Sally: "..."
She rolled her eyes. "Liang Shi, are you impotent?"
Without even thinking, Liang Shi replied, "No, that won't work."
Sally: "..."
For a moment, I was speechless.
“If listening to my wife is wrong, then I really can’t do it.” Liang Shi said, “Don’t try to provoke me like that. Provocation doesn’t work on me.”
Sally: "..."
There's nothing to say, just despair.
However, Sally still helped to confirm it, and then teased Liang Shi and Xu Qingzhu.
"Don't you two have a nightlife?" Sally said. "It's late at night, so you should do things that adults like to do. Don't always be so focused on work, okay?"
Liang Shi: "...Isn't work enjoyable?"
Sally: "I don't feel as happy as when I'm sleeping."
He then added, "You should be happier if you're sleeping together as a couple."
Snap.
Xu Qingzhu hung up the video call and shut down the computer.
Sally's voice faded into the living room.
Xu Qingzhu said expressionlessly, "Don't listen to her nonsense."
Liang Shi chuckled, "It's alright, I'm used to it."
Sally has always been cheerful, and she used to crack jokes occasionally when it was just the two of them.
However, they were all harmless little jokes.
You can just give a perfunctory answer and get by.
Xu Qingzhu took her computer to the study, and Liang Shi then occupied the living room space.
To some extent, they cooperated quite well.
Because he had a screen test on Friday afternoon, Liang Shi printed out the character biography and a short script of the role he was auditioning for, and also asked Zhou Li for leave.
Zhou Li only asked her to finish up her work in the morning and write a weekly report to submit.
None of them are complicated matters.
The living room was quiet at this moment, and Liang Shigang was reading the script.
This is a modern suspense drama, and the third female lead is a villain, but she is different from the usual villains; she is a villain who is all bark and no bite.
He always appears as a good guy, but he's actually the biggest boss in the show.
Playing a seemingly innocent but actually cunning character in modern dramas is not easy, and such actors are usually criticized for their poor acting skills.
Liang Shi found information about the film crew online.
The director is the winner of the Golden Mango Award for Best New Director and Best Director of the Year last year, and the lead actors are Zhao Ying and Shu Yi, who is currently enjoying great success in the entertainment industry.
Liang Shi had seen this director's works.
She was shocked after watching it, so her feeling at the time was correct.