She had intended to disrupt the rhythm, but he took the opportunity to pull her back to the plot, and she unknowingly cooperated with him to complete the play.
To outsiders, it looked like two veteran actors were putting on a show, but only Fu Cheng knew that he was being manipulated the entire time. He never managed to take back the rhythm of the performance from Yokota.
Fu Cheng could no longer bear it. He even forgot that he was in front of everyone. He couldn't maintain his composure and stared intently at the actor playing Yokota: "Who exactly are you!"
Unexpectedly, Yokota sighed and plucked off his mustache: "Little Fu! You don't even recognize your boss? That's a major taboo in the workplace!"
Fu Cheng was stunned: "Mr. Guo... Mr. Guo?!"
After joining Guanrui, he had dined with Guanrui's senior management and naturally recognized Guo Wenyuan. He also knew that Guanrui was an investor in "Red Actress," but he never expected that Guo Wenyuan, as an investor, wouldn't stay behind the scenes counting money, but instead go to the forefront to act, and... actually act so well!
Fu Cheng was in a daze and began to doubt the meaning of life.
Director Xie then stepped forward and patted the two men on the shoulder: "That scene was absolutely brilliant! Especially Mr. Guo, I never expected your acting to be even better than I imagined. Did you study acting?"
"How is that possible!"
Faced with Director Xie's suspicious gaze, Guo Wenyuan calmly lied, "These skills were honed in the business world. The business world is like a battlefield, and acting skills are very important!"
Director Xie: "..."
I didn't believe your nonsense!
☆, Chapter 97
As soon as the audition ended, Fu Cheng made an excuse that he had other work to do and left in a hurry without even having a meal.
Guo Wenyuan watched his retreating figure, a flicker of something seemed to pass through his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and went to eat with the crew as if nothing had happened.
At first, apart from Director Xie and the producer, no one in the crew knew Guo Wenyuan's identity. They were just amazed by his excellent acting skills, saying that he held his own against Actor Fu.
However, after Fu Cheng revealed Guo Wenyuan's identity, everyone was stunned and began to recall whether they had done anything disrespectful to their sugar daddy.
The makeup artist silently covered her face. While applying makeup, she touched the sugar daddy's face twice and complimented his smooth skin.
The prop master recalled that before the audition, the sponsor asked him if he could prepare a plate of sushi, which he refused without hesitation.
The actor playing Yokota's adjutant looked up at the sky sadly. He had the most scenes with the sugar daddy. How should he get along with the sugar daddy? Should he ask Mr. Guo's assistant for advice?
Guo Wenyuan, being a shrewd person, immediately noticed that everyone had become reserved.
He didn't expose it. When they arrived at the restaurant, he asked his assistant to buy several large bowls of lobster and some barbecue, and also brought in several cases of wine.
After a round of drinks, Guo Wenyuan had become one of the crew members, and they even started calling each other Brother Guo.
Shen Huai and the others had to admit that he had some skill.
Director Xie sat next to Guo Wenyuan and made several probing remarks, which Guo Wenyuan deflected with jokes. However, Guo Wenyuan was worried that if he continued, he would be exposed, so he excused himself to go to the restroom and slipped out.
After relieving himself in the restroom, Guo Wenyuan sauntered back to the private room, only to see Shen Huai and Ye Cang talking in the corridor on the way.
Since their parting at the hospital, Guo Wenyuan had had few opportunities to see Shen Huai again. After experiencing his assistant's various unreliable choices in script selection, he realized more and more how important it was to have a professional agent with sound judgment.
Although Guanrui has many excellent agents if he really wanted to, Guo Wenyuan couldn't help but be wary of having them as his agents. After all, life isn't acting; even if he's a good actor, he'll eventually slip up. Besides, Guanrui isn't just his company; the other directors aren't easy to fool.
The company's agents are not like his assistants; if one of them were bribed by someone, he would probably regret it deeply.
After much deliberation, Shen Huai was still the most suitable candidate.
Guo Wenyuan walked towards Shen Huai. Before he got close, Shen Huai had already noticed him and stopped talking to Ye Cang.
Guo Wenyuan chuckled and said, "Busy? Um...shall we talk in private?"
Shen Huai nodded, telling Ye Cang to go back first, and then smiled and said, "I was worried that you weren't doing well, but it seems you're adapting very well. I was just worrying unnecessarily."
"No way!" Guo Wenyuan retorted immediately with righteous indignation upon hearing Shen Huai's words. "Am I the kind of person who craves wealth and luxury?"
Shen Huai looked at his designer clothes, the big gold watch on his wrist, and the thick gold chain around his neck: "..."
Guo Wenyuan quickly coughed a few times to cover up the question: "It feels good to have money, but it still can't compare to the satisfaction of acting. But my assistant is too infuriating! His aesthetic sense has completely fallen below the bottom line of humanity. Without him, I can't even imagine that there are so many nonsensical scripts in this world that can actually be produced?!"
"I went through tremendous effort to get the role of Yokota, and he actually thinks I bought it with money! This is an insult to me!"
Shen Huai certainly didn't think Guo Wenyuan had come specifically to complain, so he waited for him to explain his purpose.
After venting his frustrations, Guo Wenyuan finally felt a bit better and then said, "Didn't I say before that I wanted you to be my manager? If you don't want to come to Guanrui, I can come to Chenxing instead!"
Guo Wenyuan went to great lengths to find a suitable agent.
"Once I sign the contract, you can use all of Guanrui's resources as long as I have a say. If I come across a suitable script, I can also bring my own funding to join the production. As for your salary, you don't need to worry about it. Although you don't lack it, I won't treat you unfairly."
Guo Wenyuan thought that since he had already said so much and received a lot of benefits, Shen Huai should agree.
To everyone's surprise, Shen Huai shook his head: "I'm sorry, I'm afraid I can't agree."
"Why!"
Guo Wenyuan grew anxious, "You can tell me if you have any other requests!"
Shen Huai sighed: "If it were before, I probably would have agreed, but not now. I have to think about the physical and mental health of my artists."
Guo Wenyuan was taken aback.
Shen Huai said, "Song Yimian is now one of my artists. That incident had a great impact on him, and I hope he can get over that psychological trauma. But if he signs you, the situation will be different. I'm sorry."
Guo Wenyuan fell silent. Of course, he knew what Shen Huai was referring to. Although the matter had nothing to do with him, it was indeed committed by this body, and Shen Huai was right.
Guo Wenyuan had no choice but to curse his former boss, Mr. Guo, in his heart once again.
Shen Huai probably felt a little embarrassed and said, "Although we can't cooperate, you can always come to me if you need anything in the future."
Guo Wenyuan sighed, not knowing what else to say. He bid farewell to Shen Huai listlessly, his back view appearing particularly desolate.
It seems I have no choice but to go back and continue to put up with my assistant's bizarre aesthetic sense. Hopefully, given the possibility of being fired at any time, he'll improve his taste a little.
Shen Huai shook his head helplessly and went back as well.
After the two left, a figure emerged from the shadow of the green plants on the other side; it was Song Yimian.
Song Yimian originally intended to talk to Shen Huai about wanting to stay in the crew, but when he walked over, he saw Guo Wenyuan and Shen Huai standing together. He was worried that Guo Wenyuan might do something to Shen Huai, so he hid to the side, ready to save his manager from trouble at any time.
But to everyone's surprise, Guo Wenyuan changed his lecherous demeanor and was actually discussing signing a contract with Shen Huai.
Listening to the conditions he mentioned, Song Yimian would have been tempted if it weren't for their past conflict. Not to mention that for an agent, President Guo was practically a gold mine. Song Yimian could hardly think of any reason why Shen Huai would refuse.
However, Shen Huai still refused, and the reason was actually because of him.
Song Yimian couldn't believe what he was hearing. In terms of acting skills, he was far inferior to Guo Wenyuan, not to mention his status and the abundant resources Guo Wenyuan had. Yet Shen Huai refused without even thinking about it.
Song Yimian was initially apprehensive, but this was quickly followed by a strong desire to improve himself.
Even though Shen Huai signed Song Yimian back then, Song Yimian was still very insecure. The setbacks, big and small, over the past two years have had an indelible impact on his psyche, and this is not something that can be changed overnight.
But at this moment, he truly felt Shen Huai's expectations of him.
Shen Huai never talked about what he had done for him, but he always carefully protected and encouraged him. He even gave up such a tempting offer from President Guo, all for his own sake.
This gave Song Yimian, who had always been insecure, a surge of confidence.
For the first time, he told himself, "I can do it! I will definitely become a good actor, and I will prove that Brother Shen's choice was right."
This will completely changed his state of mind. He even felt that the shadow cast on him by Guo Wenyuan, who had always been as terrifying as a monster in his heart, seemed to have faded a lot.
-
After dinner, the crew returned to the hotel. Director Xie was a little drunk, and assistant director Xiao Chen helped him back to his room.
Director Xie rubbed his forehead: "Copy that video you shot earlier to your computer."
He was referring to the audition segment where Guo Wenyuan and Fu Cheng auditioned.
Xiao Chen quickly said, "Director Xie, please rest first. There's no rush to watch it later."
"Who says I'm not in a hurry!" Director Xie glared at him.
Xiao Chen had no choice but to copy the video from his phone to his computer. While waiting for the transfer, hesitantly asked, "Director Xie, does this mean the actors are all set?"
Director Xie hummed in agreement.
Xiao Chen was a bit of a headache. He hadn't thought much of it before, but the three main actors, besides the already confirmed Best Actor Fu Cheng, the most important female lead was a newcomer who had only acted in one web series and one variety show, and the villain had been changed from a veteran actor to the film's investor.
How are we going to promote this then?!
This combination is practically rife with unspoken rules; Xiao Chen can imagine how much hair the producer must have lost because of it.
Director Xie, however, was too lazy to care about such things. He always focused all his energy on filming and let others worry about the rest.
Just then, the video was copied and Director Xie clicked to play it.
Xiao Chen's video starts from the moment Fu Cheng tries to regain the rhythm and takes a step forward; the entire video is not long.
Director Xie silently played the video twice before pausing it and asking Xiao Chen, "What do you think of his acting?"
"Huh?" Xiao Chen realized that Director Xie was talking about Guo Wenyuan. He hesitated for a moment, "He is very strong. Fu Cheng has no chance against him."
Director Xie laughed: "Fu Cheng's acting skills are not bad. How many people can you think of who can suppress him into this kind of person?"
After thinking about it, Xiao Chen finally gave up.