The Common Man's Return in Chinese Entertainment

Chapter 103 Liu Yifei's Depression

"Okay, now that everyone has given their feedback, you can also give your feedback on me. Let's learn from each other and make progress together."

Seeing the wide-eyed stares of everyone, Ji Qingxu chuckled and said, "Did I really not do anything wrong just now?"

Everyone shook their heads in unison. Zhu Yawen couldn't help but ask, "Qingxu, did you rehearse the play 'Thunderstorm' before? When I heard you recite your lines, it was as if the character Lu Dahai appeared in my mind."

"Yes, that's how I feel too. It's like when I watched those senior students rehearse before. No, you're saying they're even better than them."

"Did you guys notice it just now? Qingxu spoke his lines with that pure theatrical accent."

"Yes, that's what I wanted to say too."

Hearing everyone's praise, Ji Qingxu smiled and gestured for them to stop. "Alright, that's enough with the compliments. Are you all trying to make me dizzy from all the praise so I'll be too embarrassed to comment on you later?"

"Damn, we got found out."

"Hahaha!"

After laughing, Ji Qingxu said seriously, "Let's continue. First, let's go over the lines. Once the lines are fine, we can start the formal rehearsal."

"Okay! XN"

The group rehearsed their lines until 9:30. Seeing that everyone was looking a bit listless, Ji Qingxu smiled and said, "

That's all for today, we'll continue tomorrow.

Upon hearing this, everyone subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, and noticing the reactions around them, they laughed again.

Jiang Yiyan suddenly spoke up, "Qingxu, how did you train? You haven't been at school for very long, but you completely outclass us in terms of lines. Do you have some secret? Can you teach us?"

Ji Qingxu smiled and said, "Diligence can make up for lack of talent."

Zhu Yawen chimed in, "Qingxu wasn't lying. Whenever he's at school, he's incredibly diligent, whether it's morning practice or regular classes. Even when he's filming, his textbooks are always filled with dense notes. Of course, Qingxu's talent is also the most important reason. Think about it, if someone is talented and hardworking, who else would be outstanding?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Qingxu cupped his hands in a "modest" gesture and said, "You flatter me. I didn't know I was so outstanding. Old Pig, you truly have an eye for talent."

"Is it worth a late-night snack for me to praise you like this?"

"Damn, so this is where I was waiting."

"Hahaha! XN"

Ji Qingxu smiled and looked at Liu Yifei and the other two women, "Do you guys have a habit of dieting at night? Why don't you eat something with us?"

The three women exchanged glances and smiled, saying, "Okay, let's go get something to eat together."

"Okay, let's turn off the lights and leave."

After turning off the lights, everyone walked out of the school together.

Arriving at a barbecue stall near the school that they often ate at, Ji Qingxu gestured, "Old Pig, you guys eat a lot, you should have some."

"Alright, what would the three beauties like to eat?"

When Zhu Yawen asked, the three women smiled and waved their hands, telling him to order whatever he wanted.

"Then I'll just order whatever I want, boss. Half a case of beer, then twenty beef skewers, twenty skewers..." After Zhu Yawen finished ordering, Jiang Yiyan suddenly said, "Qianqian, will your mother scold you for eating barbecue?"

Seeing everyone looking at her, Liu Yifei's face instantly turned red, and she looked a little embarrassed. "It's okay, I'll just eat a little less. I'm not that hungry."

Ji Qingxu said with a smile, "Yifei, if your mother scolds you, just tell her to come find Lao Zhu. Lao Zhu ordered these dishes."

Zhu Yawen saw Ji Qingxu glance at her after he finished speaking, and said with a smile, "That's right, if Auntie says anything to you, just say that I dragged you here to eat."

Liu Yifei waved her hand shyly, "No need, my mom doesn't care about that. Actually, I also want to eat barbecue, so today is a good day to satisfy my craving."

"You're in for a treat! This barbecue restaurant is the top choice for late-night snacks at Beijing Film Academy. Don't let the ordinary environment fool you, the ingredients here are all very fresh, so eat with confidence. If there's any problem, we'll come back tomorrow and tear the place down."

Pan Yutong gently patted Zhu Yawen and said reproachfully, "You think you're so smart."

After saying that, he looked at Liu Yifei and smiled, "Yifei, it's okay. I've eaten at this restaurant many times with Yawen and the others. The ingredients are fresh and the taste is good. I'm not very hungry either. Let's eat a little bit of each later and have a taste."

Liu Yifei nodded her head upon hearing this, "Okay, Sister Yutong."

"Come on, let's have a sip first. You ladies can have your drinks."

After filling the glasses with beer and soft drinks, everyone clinked glasses together.

After putting down her glass, Jiang Yiyan asked curiously, "Qingxu, do you guys drink while filming on set? I asked Qianqian, and she said she didn't know. You men should know, right?"

Ji Qingxu replied with a smile, "Rarely. Everyone is a bit tired after filming all day. Usually, after finishing work and having dinner, we go back to our rooms to rest. However, if we film for a long time and finish work a little earlier, we might go out for a drink. We don't usually drink much, except for the pre-production dinner and the wrap party."

"Do you think drinking alcohol affects our delivery of lines? Will it affect our pronunciation or anything like that?"

"As long as you don't drink excessively, it's fine. Drinking a little now and then is okay."

"Smoking is more harmful than drinking; it strains your voice."

"That's hard to say. I've seen many senior actors on set smoking, and even the actresses smoke."

"It depends on individual constitution. It's not that you can't smoke, but like drinking, you have to control it. When Master Mei Lanfang was alive, he often said not to smoke, you can drink less alcohol, but try not to smoke."

"Hey, we can't control that. If you're going to a film set, you can choose not to drink, but you still have to offer a cigarette when you meet people. It's a little better with girls, but we guys have no choice but to socialize with them."

"Right, you can't just chat aimlessly when trying to get close to someone, and you can't just give them money if you don't smoke, right?"

"Hahaha!"

"Qingxu, do you smoke?"

"smoke."

"Was that a habit you developed on set?"

"almost."

"Qingxu, do you think smoking a cigar would be better? I see all the rich people smoking cigars."

"It should be better. Anyway, you can control your smoking and drinking. As long as you pay attention to your daily life except for necessary social interactions, you may be fine when you are young, but there will definitely be aftereffects when you get older."

"I hope we can all become big stars as soon as possible, that might make things a little better. Otherwise, if you're not famous, you'll have to be humble and subservient wherever you go, and you won't be able to refuse when people offer you drinks or cigarettes."

"Old Pig gets more sentimental whenever he drinks."

"Hahaha!"

Looking at the laughing crowd, Ji Qingxu smiled and took a sip of beer. The entertainment industry was slightly better, but the music industry was too chaotic.

Smoking and drinking are nothing compared to what Ji Qingxu has heard. Some newcomers to the industry also do all sorts of messy things.

Because people in the music industry often say that inspiration is needed, Ji Qingxu thinks it's ridiculous. It's not that inspiration doesn't exist, but needing to find it in that way is just an excuse.

Of course, the entertainment industry isn't without its share of messy things, but when acting requires inspiration, the entertainment industry always finds another excuse, which is "being there," especially when there are romantic scenes.

Thinking of this, Ji Qingxu suddenly laughed, "I am mortal enemies with DD."

In the following days, the group would find a classroom to rehearse together after class each day, and then they would have a late-night snack together after rehearsals.

Since Ji Qingxu treated everyone on the first day, Zhu Yawen insisted on treating everyone on the second day, followed by Luo Jin and Lu Fangsheng. After the boys finished treating everyone, it was the girls' turn.

Saturday arrived quickly.

Seeing her daughter pout and get into the car looking rather dejected, Liu Xiaoli quickly asked with concern, "Qianqian, what's wrong? Were you bullied?"

Liu Yifei mumbled, "No."

"Can't I even tell the truth to my mom?"

"No, it's just... it's just..."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiaoli joked, "Did your mother coming to pick you up make things difficult for you?"

Liu Yifei nodded.

"The mother was heartbroken. She hadn't seen her precious daughter for a week, and now she was being disliked."

Liu Yifei grabbed her mother's arm and shook it while pleading, "Mom, that's not what I meant, it's something else."

"Would it be convenient to talk to your mother about it?"

Liu Yifei said somewhat dejectedly, "Mom, you know I've been rehearsing for a play lately to prepare for my final exams, right?"

"Yeah, did a guy confess his feelings to you?"

"Mom, you're making fun of me."

"Hehe, Mom's just kidding. What's the reason then?"

"It was Ji Qingxu who treated us to a late-night snack after our first day of rehearsal. After that, they all treated us one after another. When it was finally my turn, Mom, come pick me up from school. Will they think I'm stingy, that I can't even afford to treat them to a meal?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiaoli quietly breathed a sigh of relief; it was good that it wasn't something she had been worried about.

Seeing her daughter's worried and distressed expression, Liu Xiaoli smiled and said, "How about this, Mom will treat everyone tomorrow night and invite all your classmates who rehearsed with you. That way, no one will think you're stingy."

Upon hearing this suggestion, Liu Yifei's eyes lit up. "Really? Mom's going to treat them to dinner?"

"Yes, whether my darling Sisi can pass her final exams depends on them."

"Mom, I'm not as bad as you say. I work very hard!"

Liu Xiaoli smiled and said, "Okay, okay, our Qianqian is very capable. Why don't you call them first and ask if they have time?"

"Okay, then I'll tell them."

Seeing her daughter take out her phone and make a call, Liu Xiaoli subconsciously moved closer.

"Hey, PaPa, are you in the dorm or somewhere? Nothing, wait, something's up. My mom said she's treating you guys to dinner tonight, it's one of our rehearsals... Um, I haven't called him yet... I'll call him first... Okay."

After hanging up the phone, Liu Yifei dialed another number. She glanced at the three words "Ji Qingxu" displayed on her daughter's phone and Liu Xiaoli's eyebrows twitched.

"Wolong, what are you doing?"

Upon hearing this title, Liu Xiaoli was completely bewildered.

"Hehe, are you free tomorrow night? Don't talk nonsense, my mom's here... My mom wants to treat you to dinner tomorrow night, you guys have been the ones paying for me lately... Ah..."

Seeing her daughter looking at her with surprise, Liu Xiaoli blinked and quietly moved to the side.

"Okay, I'll treat you again next week... Okay, bye-bye."

Seeing her daughter pout after hanging up the phone, Liu Xiaoli tentatively asked, "Qianqian, didn't your classmate agree?"

Liu Yifei nodded dejectedly, "Yes, he said it was too extravagant and unnecessary. He also said that they only host small gatherings and the expenses are low. If you, Mom, treat them to a big meal, they won't have the money to pay you back, and they'll feel uncomfortable."

>