Huayu, my cheat code is a bit strange.

Chapter 33 Human Heart, Human Nature, Acting Skills (Please read, recommend, anything!)

The atmosphere in the meeting room was somber.

Gu Xiao looked at the script in her hand, her eyes becoming complicated: "President You, I can't see through such a good thing."

I understand your concerns, but don't overcomplicate things.

Yu Jianming explained, "When directors and producers choose actors, it's not just about the film itself. There are also investment considerations involved. You represent not only yourself, but also your network and potential resources."

He said, "The value of top-tier artists is beyond imagination. An opportunity in exchange for a favor is an extremely worthwhile deal."

Gu Xiao nodded thoughtfully; this was indeed an angle he had never considered.

He is no longer the unknown nobody he was a few days ago, but a newcomer at the Beijing Film Academy who has the potential to become "Duan Yu".

Chen Kun's expression was somewhat tense, and his hands under the table unconsciously clenched.

……

……

After Gu Xiao left, Chen Kun also walked out of the conference room.

He was a student in the class of '96 at Beijing Film Academy. When he came to his alma mater, he needed to meet many people, build relationships, and network.

Two years after graduation, he realized the importance of interpersonal relationships.

Inside the meeting room, as the two young men left one after the other, the atmosphere became much more relaxed, and the content of the conversation became more explicit.

Huo Xuan took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, pulled one out and put it in his mouth, glancing sideways at Chen Yi:

"I told you long ago not to invite Chen Kun. He just made things so awkward."

Chen Yi coughed and said awkwardly:
"We're all students at the Beijing Film Academy, don't we think about looking out for each other?"

Huo Xuan spat, "How old is Gu Xiao? How old is Chen Kun? Who wants to be surpassed by a junior?"

Chen Yi remained silent.

"Professor Huo, you flatter me."

You Jianming smiled and smoothed things over, saying, "Chen Kun isn't petty, and besides, having a competitive spirit is a good thing."

Huo Xuan didn't say anything more, but her expression was still very unpleasant.

It wasn't that he didn't trust his students; it was just that the competition in this field was too fierce.

In order to become famous, he barely acknowledges even his own brothers, let alone his juniors.

He didn't want Gu Xiao to be exposed to these things too early; they were too cruel and too explicit.

You Jianming looked at Huo Xuan meaningfully: "It seems you really like that kid."

Huo Xuan exhaled a smoke ring, neither admitting nor denying it.

"Children and grandchildren will have their own blessings."

You Jianming leaned back in his chair, his tone confident, "That kid is no ordinary person. His understanding of this industry is probably deeper than you can imagine."

Huo Xuan narrowed her eyes: "What do you mean?"

"Have you ever thought about why he publicly criticized Chen Kun?" You Jianming asked with a half-smile.

Chen Yi couldn't help but interject, "It's just youthful impetuosity. If he were more sensible, he could get along well with Chen Kun."

"No, it's impossible."

You Jianming shook his head and interrupted, "He saw through Chen Kun, or rather, he understood the rules of this circle. There's no room for maneuver between the two of them; it's wise for them to draw a clear line as soon as possible."

Chen Yi was somewhat displeased. "How could there be no room for maneuver? He could totally cooperate with Chen Kun!"

"How can we cooperate when we have different statuses?"

You Jianming pointed out incisively: "Gu Xiao's role in 'Tianlong' is still pending, but Chen Kun is a definite lead actor."

He understood Chen Yi's idea; the other party hoped that the two young people from Beijing Film Academy would look after each other on set, strive to get roles on both sides, and advance and retreat together in the entertainment industry in the future.

But that's too idealistic.

The essence of cooperation is the exchange of benefits, and now Gu Xiao can only put pressure on Chen Kun.

As he spoke, You Jianming's feelings became complicated.

The principle is easy to explain, but difficult to implement. Being able to see the contradiction clearly is not the same as daring to confront the contradiction head-on.

From the moment he met Gu Xiao to the end of their conversation, less than fifteen minutes had passed, yet he seemed to see several different faces.

Although experience is not directly related to age, it is indeed rare for a seventeen-year-old to have such a clear understanding of social rules.

He's definitely an interesting young man.

……

……

Apartment building, three units.

Gu Xiao had no idea that after he left, an in-depth discussion about the rules of the entertainment industry was taking place in the conference room.

At this moment, he was sitting at his desk, looking at the script, his brows slightly furrowed.

In the meeting room, he wasn't feigning humility to win favor, but rather speaking the truth—he genuinely didn't know much about that period of history in the Republic of China.

The novel "The Story of a Noble Family" was too distant and unfamiliar to him.

Apart from vaguely remembering that Liu Yifei, Chen Kun, and Dong Jie were in the drama, the rest of the plot and character relationships were a complete blank in his mind.

He had the courage to take on the role of Duan Yu in "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" because he had read the original novel and watched the TV series, and had a concrete image of that infatuated yet somewhat pedantic nobleman.

But who is "Ouyang Yujian"?
The script only provides the dialogue for a few scenes and simple scene prompts:

A progressive young man who has returned from studying abroad, full of ideals, struggles in the cracks of the Jin family and has a vague emotional entanglement with Leng Qingqiu.

A few words can only sketch out a vague outline.

How can he portray a character that he cannot empathize with at all, or even visualize in his mind?
Little Jiu poked its head out of its nest, its bright black eyes curiously watching its owner staring blankly at a few sheets of paper.

Gu Xiao scooped it up and placed it on the script, her fingertips unconsciously combing the downy fur on its back.

"How should we portray Ouyang Yujian?" he muttered to himself.

Xiao Jiu naturally didn't answer, but simply squinted her eyes comfortably and made gurgling sounds.

Gu Xiao tried to concentrate and activate her spiritual vision, hoping to analyze and dissect the core of the character, just like analyzing dance moves or movie clips.

This time, however, his extraordinary visual perception and memory failed him.

He could see the strokes of every character clearly and memorize all the lines instantly, but he couldn't "see" what kind of heart the young man named Ouyang Yujian harbored in the deep courtyard of Beiping during the Republic of China era.

Memories can only be recalled, not created.

Ultimately, performance is not just a collection of techniques.

He leaned back in his chair and sighed softly.

Silence filled the room.

Gu Xiao suddenly stood up, the chair legs scraping against the floor.

"Chirp?" Startled by the noise, Xiao Jiu looked up, her eyes full of confusion.

Gu Xiao reached out and put the script into her schoolbag.

Xiao Jiu turned her head and asked, "What are you going to do?"

He zipped up his backpack and said succinctly, "To the library."

Thinking about it is pointless.

Since we can't empathize with the characters from within right now, let's investigate the history, at least by reading the original novel of "The Story of a Noble Family".

Thinking of this, he suddenly stopped, then raised his hand and gently patted his forehead.

"How stupid," he muttered to himself with a self-deprecating laugh. "Why go to the library if you want to know that history? Why not just ask the older generation?"

Gu Xiao tucked Xiao Jiu away and quickly walked out of the house.

Once on the street, he flagged down a yellow minivan taxi.

He opened the car door, got into the back seat, and said casually, "To the Beijing Zoo."

　I've never seen "The Story of Gold," I have absolutely no recollection of it.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)