Superstar Aspirations

Translator: Vian

Editor: Shem

The opening first scene of "Ambush" so far, successfully finished!

As a weekly drama's crew, no one had time to rest and adjust because it would be broadcasted in just a month's time. They must continuously quickly film and produce at least four to five episodes.

Director Zheng praised Zhang Tongtong and Rong Xu for a bit, his gaze staying on Rong Xu for a second longer then he laughed: "Good luck! Next month will be even more difficult."

During the afternoon, Rong Xu, Zhang Tongtong and Yi Lan all did their scenes, but they never once saw Han Yanghao.

Han Yanghao apparently had already finished getting into costume at around three to four in the afternoon, but he offhandedly decided to first take his character posters. And so, his first day since the official filming in the drama was dawdled away just like this. When Director Zheng heard about this matter, he was also angry till his face was livid, but ultimately still didn't say anything. It's just that the atmosphere in the crew plummeted by a few more degrees.

Although Zhang Tongtong and Yi Lan were only second-tier artists, their acting was very acceptable. For the entire afternoon, only Yi Lan NG-ed twice. Rong Xu's and Zhang Tongtong's performance caused Director Zheng to be endlessly surprised.

At eleven late at night, the day's filming temporarily came to an end. After Rong Xu finished removing his make up, he pressed against his temple to ease the weariness while also walking out with Luo Zhentao.

In the empty street, a cool summer breeze brushed passed them, caressing and teasing the young man's hair to exposed a fair and full forehead.

Luo Zhentao told him in a low voice: "Seventy percent of "Ambush" investment came from Han Yanghao."

Rong Xu's brows slightly knitted, and finally retrieved his fingers as he turned around and asked: "From him?"

Luo Zhentao heavily nodded his head: "He seemed to have climbed onto a wealth lady this year. The wealth lady likes him very much and especially invested into this drama for him, directly ordering for him to be the male lead. Although this kind of thing doesn't happen much in the circle, there will still be some. Xiao Xu, you don't have to pay too much attention to him, as long as he doesn't cause any problems for us, just let him do whatever he wants. However, I didn't expect that Han Yanghao would actually go find a financial backer. Although this sort of thing wouldn't be criticized upfront about it in the circle, but behind the scenes everyone would still……"

He abruptly stopped what he was saying, Luo Zhentao suddenly remembered about a certain matter.

As if he guessed what the other was thinking, Rong Xu lightly answered: "There's nothing between Zhong Yi and me."

Luo Zhentao dryily laughed twice.

That's right, if the stars in the circle wanted to climb up, without a doubt, having strength was important. But if there was a financial backer, even if that strength was a bit lacking, it did not matter.

Before, the original owner was fooled by Zhong Yi, this little third-tier star, into finding resources for him. If Zhong Yi and Han Yanghao were both first-tier artists, then they definitely wouldn’t put the original owner in their eyes, and no matter what would go look for the current head of the Rong family, Rong Heng.

It seems that Zhong Yi was about to be discharged soon……

Just as this thought flashed through his mind, Rong Xu quickly placed that matter aside just as fast and continued to think about his own scenes tomorrow.

It didn't matter to him whatever Han Yanghao does, just as long as it didn't provoke him. Even if that Han Yanghao made Director Zheng angry to the point where his head burns with rage, Rong Xu also had no means to meddle.

But this thought was only barely maintained for a day and it died without even starting.

Assistant Director Li found Rong Xu with a guilt-ridden look on his face as he handed him a new script, and sighed: "The crew temporary decided to slightly changed the plot. Rong Xu, you'll have some of your scenes cut off in the first four episodes, but it there are also more scenes added for you. You should quickly get acquainted with it, we'll be filming the new script in the afternoon."

The handsome and elegant teen was slightly surprised, his eyes quickly flashed with a hint of hidden meaning. Rong Xu received the script and smiled as he nodded in understanding: "Okay, Li ge. I'll look through it first."

Only now was Assistant Director Li able to release his breath.

As he flipped through the new script, the teen's clear eyes were gradually dyed in a layer of darkness, the corner of his lip slowly hooked up. Rong Xu carefully read the script, after reading it all, he gently released a sigh and looked up to see Han Yanghao who was being waited upon by an assistant not far away; his lips slightly pursed up, and his gaze turned deep and profound.

For a weekly drama changing its script, in general was to cater to the audience. But in any kind of drama series, if the investors wanted to change the story, as long as the Director felt it was no problem, then what they wanted to change will be changed.

The more of a big name the Director was, the more they wouldn't care about the investor's opinions. However, Director Zheng was after all a new director. Now that this new script greatly added onto the male and female lead's emotional drama in their encounter and as they get to know each other, it weakened the plot on the spy part. As a result, it didn't have much of an affect on the female lead and second female lead, the one that suffered the most impact would be Rong Xu.

In a large first half of "Ambush" plot, Huo Xi was only ever shown as the Marshal, without any kind of emotional development. It was only till the latter half that his feelings toward the heroine was slowly revealed: Actually, he had already liked Liang Linghui ever since he was a child, but had always suppressed it deep in his heart.

If he didn't like her, why would he marry her?

If he didn't love her, why would he stand against the public opinion, stubbornly insisting on marrying an ordinary high school teacher?

This kind of arrogant, cold-blooded person with a deep profound mind would never show their own likes and thoughts to others. Even in the very end, Liang Linghui still didn't know that Huo Xi actually loved her, only Huo Xi himself and the audience knew.

The new script and the original one didn't have much of a difference in the general direction of the plot, which was the reason why Director Zheng agreed to change the script. However, Han Yanghao's scenes increased by more than five hundreds, while Rong Xu's scenes dropped by more than three hundreds. Therefore, it was the reason for Assistant Director Li's guilt just now.

When Luo Zhentao saw the new script, he was also very angry: "How can you so casually change the script? When the contract was signed, we've already finished discussing about the amount of scenes and pay. Cutting the scenes back by a few dozens, or even a hundred would still be okay. But this is more than three hundreds!"

Having said that, Luo Zhentao called to get in touch with the company's PR Department, ready to have them send people out to deal with this matter.

Huaxia Entertainment's system was perfect, their PR Department was the top in the country. But towards different artists, the PR Department's approach would also be different. When the Deputy Director heard Luo Zhentao's complaint, he thought for a moment then said to the person on the phone: "It'll be fine to just have them add about hundred or so more scenes. These sort of things are normal within the circle, the newbie will have to get use to it."

And so, Rong Xu's scenes increased by a hundred.

Somehow this matter actually fell into Han Yanghao's ears. The next morning, Rong Xu and Han Yanghao finally got ready for their first scene together.

Sitting in the dressing room, the makeup artist attentively applied makeup for Rong Xu, applying on a dark eyeshadow powder, making this excessively beautiful face appear a bit more profound and sharp.

At this time, Han Yanghao who just finished with his makeup from who knows where, crossed the dressing room doorway. He nonchalantly told his assistant: "I didn't think that they would only give me five hundred scenes, it’s like something you would give to a beggar. What does five hundred scenes count as, it'll be finished shooting in just a few days. How boring."

The assistant laughed and agreed to curry favor: "Ah Hao, five hundred scenes are pretty good, at least much better than a hundred."

Han Yanghao sneered in disdain: "True, a hundred scenes aren't even something you can give to a beggar."

This sentence echoed in the dressing room for a long time. The exquisite and handsome teen slightly looked up, his phoenix eyes off setted against the light color of the eyeliner, making it appear even more narrowed and slender. The moment he lifted his gaze, there was a kind of unspeakable imposing and overbearing grandeur. Ironically, Han Yanghao was staring at Rong Xu's reflection. When he saw that Rong Xu was also staring back at him through the mirror, it made him startled for a second and his heart, for some reason started to tremble.

That kind of cold and indifferent eyes were very much like a needle, constantly stabbing at Han Yanghao's heart.

Han Yanghao gripped his hand together to cover up the inexplicable nervousness in his heart, and coldly sneered: "Compete with me? Overestimating one's own capabilities."

Just as he finished his words, Han Yanghao turned around and went out. He didn't directly say that sentence towards anyone, but everyone inside the dressing room clearly understood. This was obviously directed towards Rong Xu who 'just added a hundred scenes.'

Although the makeup artists didn't want to offend Han Yanghao in any way, but when they saw the way the teen slightly lowered his gaze, they couldn't help but feel some heartaches. His lively fluttering eyelashes were like a small thick fan, casting a layer of shadow on the young man's handsome face, and covering up the color and emotions in his eye.

Rong Xu was silent, not uttering a sound, but that tightly pursed lip seemed to be telling of his grievance and helplessness.

……This child was still young, not even an adult yet ah!

The makeup artist, Liu jie finally couldn't stand it anymore: "Ignore him, he's just going a bit crazy right now. Who doesn't know that he's almost about to be expired these past two years. Rong Xu, you just do your best, I think that your acting is much better than his. You definitely can perform better than him!"

Once these words were said, a few other makeup artists also quickly echoed along.

"He's too much, does he really thinks of himself as some big star?"

"I used to work with Liu Qi before in the same crew. Liu Qi is now currently a popular young star, his name is much bigger than Han Yanghao, but doesn't act like this at all."

"That's right, I also work with Xia Muyan in the same crew before. After the filming, she was always kind and when the drama was finalized, she even gave everyone a cake and a small gift. It's true that a full bottle of water makes no noise, but half a bottle of water does!"

All the condemning indignation at the injustice inside the dressing room made Rong Xu slowly raised the corner of his lip, his faintly discernible gaze looked through the mirror at the studio where Han Yanghao was strutting off to rest.

With this kind of temper, even if there was someone holding him up, how far could he even go?

Rong Xu gentle released a sigh, suddenly feeling like he was bullying a little child.

***

In the meantime, in the distant B-City, "Disciple" crew officially finished its filming!

This movie took a full six months to film, so now that it was finished, the whole crew was crazily celebrating.

The female lead Xia Muyan was indeed worthy of being the well-known good person in the circle. Her assistant bought many cakes, desserts and gave each one to every crew member, even the driver had a share. Xia Muyan smiled as she bowed, her voice softly rang out: "Thank you everyone, many thanks to everyone for taking care of me these past six months."

Everyone was immediately moved.

Not far away, a tall and upright noble-like man was holding onto his phone as he walked into the studio. From start to finish, he had been fixedly staring at his phone, completely not paying attention to anyone in the studio. However after a while, when his manager next to him poked his arm, he finally looked up to see Xia Muyan standing in front of him.

Xia Muyan smiled: "Qin Cheng, I've learned a lot during this time. I hope there would be many more opportunities to work together later on."

Qin Cheng was slightly startled, and swept a look all around to see all the staff and crew members gathered here. He seemed to have suddenly realized that the filming was finally finished. Coming to here, that handsome man put away his phone, and calmly said to everyone there: "Thank you for your care. Congratulations to everyone, we've reached the end."

These words were nice and simple, and even though he didn't prepare gifts for everyone like Xia Muyan, but all crew members' and staffs' eyes quickly turned hot, and there were some who were actually moved to tears.

"Qin……Qin Cheng would actually say thank you to us?"

"I suddenly feel like these last past few months have been worth it ah!"

"I thought that Qin Shen would only look down at his phone, he actually would still say thank you!"

Qin Cheng: "……"

After eating a celebration feast, "Disciple" cast finally really dismissed. Aside from the publicity roadshow pre-screening, it was hard to have another opportunity for everyone to get together. Xia Muyan was allergic to alcohol, and was the only one who didn't drink. Even Qin Cheng drank about half a cup.

When it was time for everyone to leave, Xia Muyan held her arms as she looked at a certain some man's back who was leaving, the color in her eyes were slowly darkening. But she only looked for a moment. She removed her gaze and jokingly said to her assistant: "He was acting so cold for six months, and just needed to say one nice sentence for everyone to be grateful to tears. The way one conducts themselves ah, the gap really is too big. And when it's a star, one really even more so can't compete."

The little assistant was suddenly taken aback: "Xia jie, don't you like him a lot?"

Xia Muyan was slightly stunned. After a long time, she shook her head: "What's the use of liking, that's already something of the past. Qin Cheng, this kind of person, is destined for a single life. You see how he’s like, he definitely wouldn't be able to fall in love with anyone. Also, don't say anything like I like him anymore, if you kept on saying it later on, I'll become angry. ……That has already long passed."

The little assistant confusedly nodded his head.

But what Xia Muyan didn't know was that just behind her, a certain man had been continuously staring at his phone to where his eyes were unwilling to even blink.

Up until they got in the car, Xu Jin sat in the passenger seat to sort out some materials in this short period of time. Qin Cheng slowly pressed his lip in a tight straight line and coldly said: "Is it because the picture you took for me is not good-looking enough?"

"Keke keke, cough……"

Xu Jin who had almost been angrily choked to death cursed: "Still not good-looking enough? I took at least a hundred pictures for you every single time yet you, this Great Young Master, would only choose one. This is still not enough? I still had to use every possible means to copywrite it! Is that seven-figure annual salary of mine just to help you take pictures?!"

Qin Cheng curbed his look and tepidly said: "Then how come nobody commented, forwarded, and liked?"

Xu Jin: "……"

Fuck! More than one million forwarding, more than one million comments and more than three million likes!

Are you treating them as air?!

These days, Qin Cheng would upload a selfie every three days, and changing his profile picture every day had already caused a sensation online. #Qin Cheng this tag had reached the top three hottest searches within twenty-four hours. All fans were wondering what exactly kind of wind their male god was blowing, but they all unanimously expressed: 【Requesting male god to continue blowing your wind, kneeling and begging for a full 360 degrees Armstrong nude rotation in an icy and snowy world, please!!!】

Suppressing his want to resign, Xu Jin calmly analyzed the situation: "Exactly what are you waiting for everyday?"

Staying silent for a long time, Qin Cheng finally said: "There's this person… they haven't been forwarding, commenting, or liking my pictures at all."

Xu Jin: "……Did they follow you?"

Qin Cheng: "……"

Xu Jin: "I think that if they were following you, they definitely would've found out about your serpentine behavior during this period of time."

Qin Cheng: "……"

Xu Jin: "Hey, Qin Cheng, are you listening? Hello? What happened to you?"

Qin Cheng: "……"

What happened? My brain has been repeatedly playing that sentence——

Did he follow you?

Follow you?

You?

?

The Author has something to say:

Xia Muyan: Qin Huang can like someone? I don't believe it!

Qin OrangeOrange: Ah, why don't I forward, comment and like Baby's pictures? Aren't Baby's photos more handsome enough?

Translator's Addition:

Vian: I knew it!

Qin Cheng: *is shocked*

Vian: *eats more popcorn* I'm glad the author actually wrote this scene instead of my non canon skits though ^^

Shem: *day 639201176226* I’m more shock that your popcorn hasn’t expired yet………

Vian: Popcorn has a long shelf life! Especially if stored properly!

Shem: ……

Good luck – [加油 – Jiāyóu] If you’re even a little bit familiar with Chinese you’ll probably know this. Literially , it means add oil but it’s used to cheer someone on, encourage them, tell them to put in extra effort, etc. Like Fighting! or Good luck!

A full bottle of water makes no noise, but half a bottle of water does – A full bottle filled with water when shook will produce no sound, but a half full bottle when shook will create noise instead.

Able people who really has ability and strength will know to be reserved. On the other hand, people who have no ablities will always look for opportunities to brag and show off. Well, their bark is worse than their bite basically.

Good person – [老好人- lǎo hǎo rén] A person who tries to never to offend anybody

Armstrong – I honestly have no idea why Armstrong is here

Serpentine – Neuropathy aka. crazy. It's CN internet slang because serpentine[蛇精病 – Shé jīng bìng] sounds like neuropathy[神经病 – Shénjīngbìng]

Qin Huang – We had Qin Orangeorange, we have Qin Shen, and now we have Qin Huang. [皇 – Huáng] as in Emperor[皇上 – Huángshàng]

Sorry, I was drowning in school work for the first half of last week and ended up sick in the second half.

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