I'm just trying to ride the wave of popularity!

Chapter 12: The Pretentious King

night.

Gradually deepening.

Next to the rented house, under the streetlight.

Chen Jianfeng squatted on the rock, staring blankly at the contract for "Love Ferris Wheel".

For the past two weeks, he worked very hard to get a role in the movie "Love Ferris Wheel," but he was so humble that he was practically begging for a dog's attention, and in the end, all he got was a "sorry."

Two weeks later, the role he had once dreamed of was now in front of him. All he had to do was sign a contract and nod his head to join the crew and become a character with lines and a storyline.

but……

He found himself not as excited as he had imagined.

Instead of feeling excited, he felt empty, as if the road ahead wasn't the one he was meant to take.

……

"Shall we take the picture?"

"do not know……"

Are you going to take the picture?

"shoot!"

Under the streetlight.

Shen Long, eating instant noodles and dragging his cracked sandals, came out, squatted down next to Chen Jianfeng, slurped a bite, and savored the taste.

Chen Jianfeng looked at the instant noodles and felt a little hungry, but in the end, he stared blankly at the actor contract for "Love Ferris Wheel".

"We should film it, this is an opportunity..."

"I'm the male lead in 'Monkey King vs. Superman 2'... What will happen to our movie if they make that?"

Shen Long didn't respond when he heard this, he just kept eating his instant noodles in silence.

"You have to be focused when filming..." Chen Jianfeng put down the contract and murmured to himself as he looked into the distance.

"Do you think this movie will be a success?" Shen Long suddenly asked.

“During the day I thought it wouldn’t work, but now I think it can. My teacher at Yanjing told me that there are no bad subjects, only bad screenwriters and actors…”

Under the lamplight, Chen Jianfeng looked somewhat lost, as if speaking to himself, or perhaps to Shen Long.

Shen Long silently threw the instant noodle box into the trash can, thinking about the script for "Sun Wukong vs. Superman 2" and what President Zhou had said in the office today.

As he pondered, his emotions seemed to be somewhat affected, and his gaze gradually became serious.

"I'll go and rethink the script, revise it, and write another shooting plan..."

"it is good!"

Chen Jianfeng watched Shen Long's departing figure, then looked at his own contract.

Perhaps "Love Ferris Wheel" is much more reliable than the so-called "Monkey King vs. Superman 2"...

but!
He's the male lead!
..............................

August 6, early morning.

While polishing the script for "Sun Wukong vs. Superman 2", Shen Long was also writing the filming plan.

Before I knew it, the night had passed.

He was somewhat tired, but his whole body was full of fighting spirit.

The door to the rented room opened.

His younger brother, Shen Hu, carrying a guitar, returned from begging under the overpass.

He came back feeling very depressed. He lay on the bed in silence, staring blankly at the ceiling, looking completely drunk.

Shen Long asked several times before Shen Hu finally managed to say a few words.

Last night, the overpass underwent urban beautification renovations, and starting today, they can no longer sing there.

I was working part-time at a bar late at night when the customers made me drink so much that I almost threw up my stomach contents.

Everyone around him was telling him that he had no talent...

He knew he had no talent and was just a beggar, but deep down he was unwilling to go back to his hometown to work as a screwdriver.

And so I sang it over and over again, deceiving myself, comforting myself each time.

When Shen Long saw this, he sighed, unsure how to comfort his younger brother...

"When can Mr. Zhou help me release an album?"

After drinking, Shen Hu became somewhat like a madman, staring at the ceiling and muttering to himself.

But tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.

Shen Long sighed, unsure of what to say...

And so, Shen Hu stared blankly at the ceiling for who knows how long.

Then, there was a knock on the door.

Then, Zhou Yang, dressed in a suit and tie, pushed open the door and entered, frowning as he looked at Shen Hu, who reeked of alcohol.

Upon seeing Zhou Yang, Shen Hu immediately stood up.

"Have you been drinking?" "A little..."

"Oh, Wake Up Bar."

"I'll go pour some cold water on this."

"Row."

Shen Hu left the house and walked towards the public toilet.

The place they rented was at the entrance of a hutong in the suburbs of Yanjing. There was no private bathroom, and they had to go to a public toilet dozens of meters away to wash up and empty their chamber pots.

Shen Long watched Shen Hu's departing figure, then smiled bitterly: "President Zhou, he seems to be feeling unwell..."

"I know."

"Mr. Zhou, there's no one else here. Can you tell me the truth?"

"What truth?"

Is he talented?

Shen Long looked at Zhou Yang.

Zhou Yang looked into the distance and nodded earnestly: "He is very talented..."

"Really talented?"

"Yes, but it will take time..."

Zhou Yang's confident voice startled Shen Long. After confirming that Zhou Yang didn't seem to be trying to comfort him, he lowered his head and asked again, somewhat uncertainly, "Can...can we succeed?"

Zhou Yang patted Shen Long on the shoulder and smiled: "We're on our way to success."

"Are we supposed to piggyback on the popularity of 'Love Ferris Wheel' for everything?"

"It's not about freeloading, it's a strategic cooperation, a mutual exchange of resources!" Zhou Yang refuted Shen Long's words very seriously.

What do we have?

"We have dreams and passion..."

"..."

Shen Long opened his mouth.

I suddenly felt like I couldn't hold it in anymore.

"By the way, after Shen Hu sobers up, bring him to the film set too... This time, don't walk like a bunch of rats, take an air-conditioned taxi."

"Mr. Zhou, what about you? Aren't you going?"

"We still need to discuss the cinema investment a bit more, and there are a few other project collaborations as well. I'm very busy today..."

"Oh, you really want to invest in the movie theater?"

"That's it."

........................

The midday sun was very bright.

Zhang Muxue sat quietly in the coffee shop.

[Feihe Cinema] is not in a good position and is about to go bankrupt.

She desperately needs some money, or a blockbuster movie to keep the cinemas afloat.

In fact, she already thought that "President Zhou" was just a conman who freeloaded off her.

However, when "President Zhou" told her on the phone that he had joined the film crew of "Love Ferris Wheel," Zhang Muxue became skeptical.

Although the producers of the film "Love Ferris Wheel" were two female college students, the distributor was Starlight Entertainment, a well-known company in the film and television industry. Many up-and-coming actors supported the film, and Zheng Yichen, currently one of the most popular young actors in the industry, played the male lead...

Well, based on some inside information she received, the film's promotional expenses will not be small, and the box office is likely to be quite good.

Although I don't believe that "President Zhou" will be in "Love Ferris Wheel," what if he is?
As a car pulled up beside her window, Zhang Muxue snapped out of her reverie.

She was shocked when she saw a young man wearing sunglasses and carrying a briefcase step out of the red Audi A6!
Is this Mr. Zhou?
How come you're driving an Audi A6?
Then, she saw "President Zhou" straighten his suit and look towards the passenger seat.

A pretty girl wearing a mask got out of the passenger seat and looked at me with a puzzled expression.

……

"Director An, my partner, Mr. Zhang from Feihe Cinema, has been waiting inside for a long time."

"Zhou Yang, tell me, do you have bricks in your briefcase?" An Xiaoshi stared intently at Zhou Yang's ever-present briefcase.

"No, why would you think that?" Zhou Yang shook his head with a gentle smile.

“This morning, I saw you secretly stuff something into your briefcase!” An Xiaoshi took a deep breath: “That thing looked like the foam bricks from our film crew.”

"No." Zhou Yang smiled and pushed up his glasses.

"Zhou Yang, tell me honestly, have you been using my car to swindle people around?" An Xiaoshi's delicate face turned serious after seeing Zhou Yang's expression.

“No…” Zhou Yang shook his head again, staring intently at An Xiaoshi, and said seriously, “Director An, I hope you understand that I am wholeheartedly dedicated to serving our film… Alright, don’t keep President Zhang waiting too long…”

Seeing Zhou Yang's serious expression, An Xiaoshi was a little puzzled. Then, watching Zhou Yang walk towards the coffee shop first, she seemed to realize something and suddenly froze, quickly chasing after him: "Wait! Why do I look like your secretary? Get me the script and contract, and follow behind me!"

"..."

(End of this chapter)