657 I Will Not Let This off the Hook
"What did you just say?! Hahaha! Newcomer! Do you realize that you just said something foolish? Go ask Song Qincheng! I don't think she is powerful enough to kick me out from this entertainment industry!"
After his initial shock, Zhang Zhongji burst out in laughter. Rendered speechless, Song Qincheng could only purse her lips. It was anger that made her mention banning him from being in the entertainment industry. In reality, it was hard for Song Qincheng to do anything to him even if she brought out all her connections and resources. Clearly, his relationship with the big boss from China Central Television was not that simple. The pressure from the higher-ups had managed to force the filming crew and company to give him this second most important role in Lin Yue the Heroine. If not, Song Qincheng could always remove him from this production as the biggest investor of this movie.
"Xiaobei! Let's not stoop to his level! It's not worth it! You should just pick up the pieces and do your best in the upcoming scenes! I believe you can definitely do it!"
Song Qincheng chose to avoid the question. Instead, she rephrased her reply to become words of encouragement. Seemingly, she did not believe that Chen Xiaobei was capable to deal with Zhang Zhongji as his support was after all, too powerful.
"Mr. Chen! Are you ready? Everyone else is prepared! We are just waiting for you!" said an assistant.
"I'm ready! Coming!"
After a quick reply, Chen Xiaobei turned around and told Zhang Zhongji something important with a smile on his face.
"Remember! The main character of this movie is me! I will mess with your life if you get in my way!"
After that, Chen Xiaobei followed the assistant to the place where they shot the scene.
"Psst! Your acting skills are not better than mine! Compared to me, you are still very inexperienced! Do you really think a newcomer like you is worth my time? Everyone, tell me! Is he worth my time?"
Immediately, the people around them separated into two groups. One of the group sided with Zhong Zhongji. Without mercy, they started to attack Chen Xiaobei with nasty statements.
"How can that bastard be compared to Bro Zhang! Bro Zhang is after all the most famous action superstar in the entertainment circle! At most, that kid is only good for carrying stuff for you around here! Just look for an opportunity to show him your true colors! Let him know who is the boss that runs this place!"
On the other hand, there was a second group of people that sided with Song Qincheng. They let out a sigh and commented in a soft tone, "Mr. Chen is just too damn arrogant! Zhang Zhongji is after all his senior! Plus, the people behind him are just too powerful for Mr. Chen to handle! As a newcomer, there is no harm succumbing to Zhang Zhongji! Things would turn ugly if the both of them are not willing to take a step back."
Clearly, no one thought that Chen Xiaobei was capable of dealing with Zhang Zhongji. To them, Chen Xiaobei was still new to the entertainment circle – his connections and acting skills were definitely worse than Zhong Zhangji. Messing with him was no different from committing suicide.
"Come! Let's gamble on something fun! Let's see how many times that kid needs to retake the same scene! If he manages to finish the scene with one single cut, the gambling ration will be 1:1000! Two to five times is 1:300! Six to ten times is 1:300! Eleven to thirty times is 1:10! Finally, I'll take all the money if he takes more than thirty times to complete that one single scene! I'm literally giving out free money! Come and get it now!"
Immediately, everyone acted upon it after hearing Zhang Zhonji's announcement.
"Director Feng is famous for his strictness! Also, this scene can be considered one of the most important scenes! Before that, even Zhuang Bufan failed to pass this scene after he tried for seven to eight times! I think that kid needs around eleven to thirty times to complete this scene!"
"Generally speaking, do you know that why newcomers don't like to work together with Director Feng? That is because Director Feng would scold them until they cry themselves to sleep if they make the same mistake over and over again! I think this newcomer definitely needs more than thirty times to complete this scene! I can guarantee that we are going to give away our money to Bro Zhang!"
"What if that kid is really lucky? I'm going to bet a big one on this! I bet he can complete the scene within six to ten times!"
"What a bold move! I don't think he can complete the scene within ten times! I bet more than ten times!"
"Ten times and above!"
"It has to be more than ten times!"
...
Seconds later, everyone had placed their bets. Other than one person bet that Chen Xiaobei could complete the scene within six to ten times; the rest bet that he needed eleven to thirty times to complete the scene. Guessing that Chen Xiaobei might need more than thirty times to complete the scene, there were quite a number of them did not dare to place a bet. Losing this bet meant giving out free money to Zhang Zhongji.
"Boss Song! I thought you have high hopes on that kid? You should place a bet too! Think about it! If he managed to complete the scene in one take, I will have to pay you one thousand times of the amount that you bet! People always say that you are like a heroine in the entertainment circle! Please don't disappoint me!"
"Alright! I bet that Chen Xiaobei can complete this scene in one single take!"
In a fit of anger, Song Qincheng took out all her money from her purse.
"A total of 1,833 on the bet! Pay me 1,883,300 if you lose the bet!"
"I don't mind paying two million if that he can complete the scene in one single take! Although, is that even possible? Boss Song, thank you so much for giving me money to spend! Hahaha…"
At that moment, the filming had already begun. Under Feng Yaolun's command, Tang Mengwan descended from the sky under the shower of flower petals. From far, it looked like a goddess was coming down from heaven. Considering that she had repeated this scene seven to eight times when she worked together with Zhuang Bufan, her performance was simply perfect.
Even Feng Yaolun could not help but clap his hands.
"Perfect! This is just too damn perfect! Next, it's all up to Chen Xiaobei now!"
At the same time, every camera and everyone had their attention landed on the same direction.
*Clippity-clop*
A white horse came into view. On the white horse sat a handsome young man in white attire and white boots. All he did was ride on the horse in a calm and humble manner. However, everyone could not stop looking at him when he came into view. It was as if this young man possessed the ability that was similar to a black hole – capturing all the attention around him. The white horse then rode past Tang Mengwan and the young man turned around to take a look at her. There was no additional emotion on his face. Lost in a deep reverie, Tang Mengwan stood there like a statue after the horse rode pass her. Rendered speechless, everyone could not believe what just happened.
"Perfect! This is the feeling that I want! Xiaobei's performance is perfect! I can't find any fault in it! Not only his acting is good but also bring out Mengwan's feelings! Perfect! Too perfect!"
"Director Feng… You have no shouted cut… The thing that you just said was recorded…"
"What a load of bullshit! That's the sound editor's job! If the team fails to edit the clip, I will fire all of them!"
"Y-y-yes…"
Gulped, the cameraman had not seen Director Feng act in such an excited manner. Meanwhile, Zhang Zhongji and the crowd were taken aback.
"What do you think? Do I look cool and handsome?"
With a scornful smile on his face, Chen Xiaobei walked towards them slowly.