The Secret Realm of Time, His and Her Life Through the Changes

"The Legend of Huizhou Merchants" is a period drama set in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China.

In the drama, the male protagonist Ling Shaojing lived in the streets and alleys during his childhood before going abroad to study. At that time, the character's appearance was that of a Qing Dynasty "braid".

Since there weren't many scenes, they didn't plan to have Shang Yibo shave his head for this look.

Now, in order to better match his character's look and achieve a better effect in the drama, Shang Yibo has proactively offered to shave his head, showing his willingness to make sacrifices for the role. However, this will likely affect his subsequent schedule and business engagements.

Zhou Yanruo thought for a moment and decided that she should still greet Xie Can, the director of Yihua Actors Agency.

"Jiajia, I think it's better to talk to Jie Can first. All we know right now is that it will affect our variety show recording and shampoo endorsement. We don't know if there will be any other consequences."

"I'll call Brother Can."

Ding Jiajia called Jie Can: "Brother Can, we're doing a makeup test for 'Legend of Huizhou Merchants.' The styling requires us to shave Yibo's head."

"What? Shave your head?" Jie Can roared. "I'd like to see who dares to do that. What about the rest of the schedule and business deals? It's only two or three episodes of content. Do I really need to shave my head? I don't agree to this."

Ding Jiajia whispered to Zhou Yanruo, who was standing next to her, "Brother Can doesn't agree."

Zhou Yanruo took the phone and said, "Jie Can, this is Zhou Yanruo. What are the potential impacts? Should we sort them out and make a list so we can address them one by one?"

"Mr. Zhou, it's just two or three episodes of scenes. Let the stylist handle it, and the post-production team do some retouching. It's such a simple thing, don't make things complicated for yourself."

"Yibo asked for it himself for the sake of the effect. Now, can you persuade him?"

"Sigh, what a troublesome person." Xie Can sighed helplessly on the phone and said, "Let me sort out the business situation first."

"Send me a copy once you've compiled it. I can cooperate with you to resolve any issues related to breach of contract."

"It can only be the."

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Yanruo and Ding Jiajia took the milk tea and coffee back to the dressing room.

"Wow, you guys are really fast!" Ding Jiajia exclaimed in surprise.

Shang Yibo's hair has been shaved off. His skin was already fair, and without hair, he looks exactly like a 'makeup sponge'.

"It's quite pretty," Zhou Yanruo muttered softly.

Shang Yibo looked at Zhou Yanruo in the mirror, his lips curving upwards into a smile that resembled a parenthesis.

Li Manman looked Shang Yibo up and down, then spread her hands and exclaimed dramatically, "This is my muse!"

Shang Yibo was embarrassed by these people. "Have you guys had enough? It's just a hair styling session, why all the fuss?"

“Yibo’s youthful spirit matches Ling Shaojing’s perfectly; he doesn’t need makeup to express it. Well, the best makeup is to smile more, and youth will shine.” Li Manman said in a coquettish tone.

"Then you'll have nothing to do," the stylist joked.

"Tch, I have nothing to do here with Teacher Yibo. The crew isn't just responsible for him. Sigh..." Li Manman pouted and said aggrievedly, "There's also a face full of wrinkles that I need to fill in."

"Why haven't the costumes been delivered yet? We're supposed to be shooting stills today," Shang Yibo asked.

Just then, two staff members from the costume department pushed in a costume cart.

Zhou Yanruo and Ding Jiajia temporarily left the dressing room to make it easier for Shang Yibo to change clothes.

"Should we talk to the company and arrange a male assistant for Yibo? That would be more convenient."

“There used to be a male assistant who was careless and unserious, so he was fired by Chan Ge. For a while, Chan Ge personally followed up on his schedule, but later he had more artists to manage and didn’t have time to focus on Yibo anymore.”

Ding Jiajia felt that Zhou Yanruo made sense. It wouldn't be convenient for the two women to rely on each other. Besides, they were both from Rushang Group and not entertainment professionals. Given Shang Yibo's current momentum, this wouldn't work.

"Besides the inconvenience, there's also the fact that neither you nor I are professionals. We weren't professional enough in handling these negative public opinions, and we lost the initiative. We still bear some responsibility for that."

"We're on the same page. I think so too. I always feel that my lack of professionalism is holding Yibo back."

"Didn't Yihua arrange for a performance coach to accompany the crew? Then ask them to arrange a professional assistant and schedule, and make sure it's a man."

"Okay, I'll go with Yihua Entertainment to apply."

The two were talking at the entrance of the dressing room when Shen Qing, the female lead of "Legend of Huizhou Merchants," and her two assistants walked over, each carrying two paper bags.

"Excuse me, are you staff members of Mr. Shang Yibo?" one of the assistants asked Zhou Yanruo and Ding Jiajia.

“Yes,” Ding Jiajia replied.

"Teacher Shen Qing has come to pay a visit to Teacher Shang Yibo."

"Please wait."

Zhou Yanruo knocked twice on the dressing room door.

"Come in," Shang Yibo said.

Shen Qing walked ahead of them and pushed open the door to enter the dressing room.

"Hello Mr. Shang Yibo, I am Shen Qing, and my character in the drama is Liang Yuhong." Shen Qing stepped forward and introduced herself to Shang Yibo.

Two assistants placed coffee and pastries from paper bags on a long table in the middle of the room.

"Dear teachers, I have prepared some snacks. Please enjoy them," Shen Qing said.

"Thank you, Ms. Shen Qing." Shang Yibo stood up and greeted Shen Qing politely.

"Brother Manman, you like milk tea, right? I specially asked my assistant to prepare some." Shen Qing searched on the table, picked up a cup of milk tea, and handed it to Li Manman, saying, "Brother Manman also did my decorations. Thank you for your hard work."

Li Manman was holding a cup of milk tea, which Ding Jiajia had just given him. Now Shen Qing was handing him another cup. Li Manman twisted slightly, "Teacher Shen Qing, you're too kind."

Seeing that he didn't reach out to take the milk tea, Shen Qing put it back on the table, saying, "Brother Manman, you can drink it later."

Ding Jiajia whispered to Zhou Yanruo, who was standing next to her, "What Brother Manman just said about a face with 'rough edges'."

Zhou Yanruo laughed and said, "Shh, don't talk nonsense. She is Liang Yuhong, Ling Shaojing's official partner."

Ding Jiajia: "Brother Manman has the most venomous tongue. How could any actress's face not be beautiful?"

Shen Qing: "Teacher Shang hasn't finished the makeup test yet, has he? I just finished taking stills. I'll learn more from you after I join the crew."

Shang Yibo remained noncommittal: "The staff are still waiting for me to try on the clothes, so I won't keep Teacher Shen waiting."

After exchanging pleasantries with the others, Shen Qing left the dressing room.

Zhou Yanruo thought to herself, "People in the entertainment industry are so worldly-wise."

Ding Jiajia saw Shen Qing and her assistant to the door, saying, "Thank you for the coffee and snacks, Teacher Shen."

Shen Qingqian smiled and nodded, watching Ding Jiajia leave before saying to her assistant, "Why did my mother have to make such a fuss? It was so embarrassing. If this happens again, I won't come."