HuaYu97: Starting as a Singer

Chapter 49 [049] She was too eager to improve.

"Hello, Teacher Qi Yuan and Teacher Ren. My name is Lin Zhiling. I am very happy to be able to work with you two."

Lin Chih-ling flashed a sweet smile, her voice sweet and gentle.

Not everyone likes this kind of voice; those who can't stand it will find it fake and pretentious.

Qi Yuan didn't dislike this baby voice.
He has always felt that Lin Chih-ling is among the top tier of Taiwanese actresses after the turn of the millennium.

He has a great figure, good looks, a great voice, and great legs; he's much better than those 1.5-meter-tall, surgically enhanced heartthrobs.

Ren Xianqi is a good man who keeps himself clean and upright. He and his girlfriend are childhood sweethearts and have been dating since college. Their relationship has always been very stable.

He politely responded to Lin Chih-ling, then went to the director to discuss how to film the scene.

Lin Chih-ling, a model who has been in the Taiwanese entertainment industry for many years, knows that Jen Hsien-chi has no scandals, and staying away from her is in line with Jen Hsien-chi's consistent style.

Originally, her target for getting close to Ren Xianqi was not Qi Yuan, but Qi Yuan, a musical prodigy who was not yet twenty years old.

"Teacher Qi Yuan, I especially like your songs, especially 'Small Town Girl'."

I can relate to the story of a girl from a small town moving to a big city.

Yesterday, my agent told me you were chosen to appear in the music video, and I was so excited I couldn't sleep all night.

Lin Zhiling looked at Qi Yuan with admiration, just like a little fangirl, even though she was a few years older than Qi Yuan.

Taiwanese girls really know how to use flattery. If it were an ordinary young person, they would definitely be overwhelmed by such praise.

Qi Yuan remained calm and was not swayed by Lin Zhiling's flattery. He changed the subject, saying, "Ms. Lin, I think you have a great appearance. I will be releasing a new Mandarin album in the second half of the year. There is a music video for one of the songs that I think would suit you very well. I plan to make that music video into a short film."

The song Qi Yuan mentioned is called "Love Me or Him".

In the music video for the song "Past Life," the male protagonist is sent to Shanghai for work and is forced to separate from his beloved girlfriend, White Rose.

In Shanghai, he met a passionate and fiery woman, and the two quickly fell in love.

But the image of the white rose lingered in his mind, and he couldn't choose between the two women.

To put it bluntly, it's a story about a scumbag cheating on his wife with two women.

Qi Yuan thought of this song the moment she saw Lin Zhiling.

The story could be changed so that he came to Taipei for work and met Lin Chih-ling (Red Rose).

Just find another pretty actress from mainland China to play White Rose.

With his debut album a huge success, Qi Yuan's production costs for his second album are sure to rise significantly.

Since it's Warner Bros.' money, we have to find a very beautiful mainland actress to play White Rose.

Lin Chih-ling's red rose plus a beautiful white rose, how amazing must this music video be?
Lin Chih-ling's eyes were full of surprise: "Really? Can I really act in this?"

For a small-time model like her, being the female lead in Qi Yuan's music video is a top-tier opportunity.

According to Qi Yuan, if they were to film that music video as a short film, it would likely become a hit.

The music video became a hit, and she became famous. She no longer needed to be a model and could become a real actress.

"That's my idea, but whether Warner's General Manager Zhou will adopt my suggestion is unknown," Qi Yuan said, shaking his head.

If Zhou Jianhui were there, he would definitely be cursing Qi Yuan in his heart.

When did I interfere with your album production?

You're trying to pick up girls and then blame me? You're a real scoundrel.

Lin Chih-ling's newly ignited flame of hope was extinguished by half.

She bit her lip, intending to learn more, but Qi Yuan stopped there and strode towards the director.

Richie Jen told the director, "I won't play the boy who flirts with the team manager. This is A-Yuan's music video, and I can't steal his thunder."

"..." The director was speechless.

Little Qi, you're pretty confident. Who gave you the courage? You think you can steal Qi Yuan's thunder? Have you forgotten how Qi Yuan crushed you yesterday?
"Hey! Xiao Qi, look how beautiful the team's female manager is, and the team has no shortage of sunny, youthful guys. Nobody can win her over, so how difficult do you think it is? Only a handsome guy like A-Yuan could make the storyline of this MV believable."

The director said seriously, "That's true... um?"

Ren Xianqi realized something was wrong after he came to his senses.

What do you mean?
Does the statement that Qi Yuan's relationship with the female manager is reasonable mean that the plot becomes unreasonable?
The director, with his keen eye, patted him on the shoulder: "Some things you just have to admit. Ah-Yuan's music video is called 'Youthful Romantic Love Story.' Yours should be renamed 'Chinese Science Fiction.'"

Hey!
Ren Xianqi, feeling deeply hurt, retorted, "Then I'll play the role of a team member who beats up A-Yuan."

In terms of looks, he is not as good as Qi Yuan.

Surely it's okay to beat up Qi Yuan in the music video to vent your anger?
The director didn't stop it, which can be considered tacit approval.

Richie Jen beating up Qi Yuan is a little Easter egg; attentive fans watching the MV will definitely find this little detail interesting.

"Brother Qi, what are you guys talking about?" Qi Yuan asked curiously.

The plot of the music video is very simple, and there's probably not much to discuss.

It's a story about a boy who manages to seduce the team's female manager, but the price he pays is a beating.

"It's nothing, I just told the director you looked especially handsome today." Richie Jen couldn't very well say that he and the director had just discussed how to beat up Qi Yuan in the music video to vent their anger, could he?
Filming begins.

Lin Chih-ling, who plays the team manager, looks at Qi Yuan with a smile in her eyes.

Qi Yuan smiled happily, but a team of baseball players walked up behind him, shattering his fantasy completely.

It turns out that Lin Zhiling wasn't looking at him, but at the team members.

Qi Yuan handled the transition from happiness to dejection quite well, and the director couldn't help but praise her: "No wonder she's from the Beijing Film Academy, her acting is excellent."

Next game.

Qi Yuan, wearing roller skates, secretly peeks at Lin Zhiling.

Lin Zhiling also came over on roller skates. Qi Yuan fell down in his nervousness, and Lin Zhiling reached out to help him up.

After the team lost the game, Lin Chih-ling hid in the locker room and cried alone.

Qi Yuan presented a bouquet of flowers to Lin Zhiling, who was feeling down, and used a mop as a guitar to cheer her up.

Then... the team members came back, grabbed their weapons, chased Qi Yuan for ten blocks, cornered him in an alley, and gave him a good beating.

Ren Xianqi made a cameo appearance as a team member in this scene, and the director thoughtfully arranged a close-up shot of him punching Qi Yuan in the face.

Finally, Lin Chih-ling came to Qi Yuan with band-aids and anti-inflammatory medicine, and the MV storyline ended.

"Brother Qi, see you next time. I hope our albums will both be bestsellers in the second half of the year."

"It must sell well, it definitely will sell well."

Qi Yuan and Ren Xianqi hugged briefly before parting ways.

The two may not have the opportunity to meet in the coming months.

Because they were both so famous, Richie Jen was busy filming a music video for "Swordsman" that was dozens of hours long.

After finishing the talent show, Qi Yuan will return to the mainland to film a Wahaha purified water commercial.

The next time we meet might be in the second half of the year.

This is also why, even though their album is not scheduled for release until the second half of the year, the music video and songs were recorded in the last few days.

Qi Yuan climbed into the nanny van parked by the roadside, and a graceful figure appeared outside the window.

"Teacher Qi Yuan, can I discuss the story behind that music video with you?"

This figure was none other than Lin Zhiling, who had chased after him.

She has been a model since she was fifteen and has been in the industry for nine years, but has never been able to truly break into the entertainment industry.

She wants to progress so much.

(End of this chapter)