The Common Man's Return in Chinese Entertainment

"Teacher Wang, I haven't said anything yet."

"I know you're up to no good without me saying anything."

"Professor Wang, I am your student. How can you bear to see your student become the first example of someone being expelled from the Beijing Film Academy?"

"Stop talking nonsense, I've never admitted that you're my student."

"Teacher Wang, I'm even planning to take care of you in your old age."

"I'm only 35 years old this year, what kind of old age am I supporting?"

"We need to plan ahead so that we may not need it now but will later."

"..."

Looking at Ji Qingxu, who was as sticky as a piece of chewing gum, Wang Jinsong felt a headache coming on.

"Have you gone to see Wang Chunzi?"

"I approached you first, I'll go see the homeroom teacher later."

"How about I go with you?"

Ji Qingxu chuckled awkwardly, "No need for that, you can just call the homeroom teacher."

Upon hearing this, Wang Jinsong laughed in anger, "You brat, how did you cultivate this thick skin? I didn't teach you."

"Hehe, self-taught."

Looking at Ji Qingxu's grinning face, Wang Jinsong sighed helplessly.

When someone asked him to help with training, Wang Jinsong was prepared to give it a quick answer. However, after meeting Ji Qingxu, Wang Jinsong changed his mind. The kid's face was very peculiar. Normally, he looked kind and approachable, but as soon as he made an angry expression, he was like a completely different person.

At that time, Wang Jinsong came to the conclusion that Ji Qingxu had great potential. Later, he learned that Ji Qingxu had practiced martial arts since childhood and was quite skilled. So Wang Jinsong accepted the commission without hesitation.

What surprised Wang Jinsong even more during his subsequent teaching was that Ji Qingxu had an exceptionally strong memory. Although it wasn't as exaggerated as photographic memory, he could memorize an entire article of several thousand words after reading it only twice.

Thinking about this, Wang Jinsong felt that Ji Qingxu was a bit too mature. With Ji Qingxu's memory, Wang Jinsong thought he would get a very high score in the college entrance examination. He didn't expect that Ji Qingxu only scored over 400 points. When he called the kid to ask, the kid argued that it was no use to get such a high score. The Beijing Film Academy doesn't give bonuses to high scorers in the college entrance examination.

When Ji Qingxu was admitted to the Beijing Film Academy, he received a role in a play right after the start of the semester. He played a very important supporting role, which made Wang Jinsong quite gratified. He felt that he had not misjudged or misled Ji Qingxu. However, what he did not expect was that after the first play was completed, he received a second play before he even came to school. What was even more surprising was that the second play was the male lead role.

Ji Qingxu became famous overnight at the Beijing Film Academy, becoming the male lead in his freshman year, which is an extremely rare occurrence for the academy.

Although Wang Jinsong knew that Ji Qingxu's acting skills wouldn't be greatly affected even if he didn't study at school, he only stayed at school for less than a month after his freshman year ended, and before his sophomore year even started, he received another role. This made Wang Jinsong, the vice dean of the acting academy, feel somewhat helpless.

This situation is actually not a big deal; on the contrary, it is a typical example of "success." However, Ji Qingxu is just an isolated case. Putting aside what other people who are unaware of the truth might speculate, the students at the school alone might raise objections.

"Teacher Wang, has this put you in a difficult position?"

Wang Jinsong smiled helplessly, "It's alright, not a big problem. Your first drama will air at the end of the year, right?"

"right."

"Sigh, I wish it had aired sooner. Oh well, it's not something you can decide. Give me the script, I'll help you sort it out first."

"Okay, thank you, Teacher Wang."

"Give me your all this time. We're working with actors from other countries, so we can't afford to lose face in front of outsiders."

"Don't worry, Teacher Wang, I will go all out and wipe them out without leaving a single survivor."

Upon hearing Ji Qingxu's "murderous" words, Wang Jinsong glared at him and took the script.

Half an hour later, Wang Jinsong returned the script to Ji Qingxu and waved his hand, "Forget it, this script is too simple. With your acting skills, as long as you don't make any mistakes, there won't be any problems."

"Teacher Wang, there will also be actors from South Korea in the crew. Is their acting style different from ours?"

Hearing this question, Wang Jinsong nodded. "That's right. The actors over there... let's not talk about the top actors, they all have their own unique skills. As for the more ordinary actors, they are outgoing, exaggerated, stereotypical, precise, and pay attention to their appearance. They are very infectious and dramatic, which is somewhat similar to the theatrical performance style here. You can clearly see what they want to express through their facial expressions and body language. Maybe the upper limit is not that high, but the lower limit is guaranteed. However, this kind of performance style is good at first glance, but after watching it for a long time, it becomes boring. It has a kind of industrialized assembly line feel."

At this point, Wang Jinsong stroked his chin and pondered for a moment, "The urban drama you're starring in this time might feature actors trained according to the industrial standards I mentioned earlier. It'll probably feel awkward when the two of you act together. When does filming for this drama start?"

"They said I'd join the crew on August 20th, but they didn't say when filming would start."

"So there's still one month left?"

"right."

"Have you been alright lately?"

"It's okay, I'm going to stay home and work on the script."

"Alright, then I'll take you to the theater to experience it. You can observe the actors' performances and learn from them."

Upon hearing this, Ji Qingxu said gratefully, "Thank you, Teacher Wang. I will never forget your great kindness and I will definitely take care of you in your old age."

"Get lost! I'm only in my early thirties, who told you to take care of me in my old age?"

"Hehehe."

"Don't laugh, kid. You should think about how to ask Teacher Wang for leave first."

Upon hearing this, Ji Qingxu's smile froze on his face. Noticing Wang Jinsong's gloating expression, he said obsequiously, "Teacher Wang, I'll need your help in this matter."

Wang Jinsong glared at Ji Qingxu with annoyance, "I must have had the worst luck in eight lifetimes to know you."

After saying that, he got up and walked towards the study. Ji Qingxu chuckled and quickly followed him.

......

"Teacher Wang...hehe, it's just a little thing. Ji Qingxu has taken on another role...yes, he'll be joining the crew at the end of next month...this is the first collaboration between our Huaxia TV station and the Koreans, and he's playing the male lead...hahaha, he's right next to me. He said he's too embarrassed to see you and asked me to sound you out...hehe, okay, I'll have him call you, hmm."

After hanging up the phone, Wang Jinsong gestured, "I'll call Teacher Wang later and tell him in person."

"Okay, I'll call the homeroom teacher in a bit."

"After you finish filming this movie, go back to school and attend classes. I'm not saying you can't take on acting roles, but at least finish the rest of your sophomore year courses."

Seeing Wang Jinsong's serious expression, Ji Qingxu said solemnly, "I understand. I'll go back to school after this movie is finished. Even if directors Zhang Yimou or Chen Kai invite me to act, I won't go."

Upon hearing those two names, Wang Jinsong was speechless. "You're dreaming! Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige are asking you to act? Why don't you say that the major Hollywood studios are all asking you to act?"

"Teacher Wang, I'm a student you've personally taught. Don't you have confidence in your students?"

"I don't see confidence, but I do see shamelessness."

"Teacher Wang, can someone who's thin-skinned be an actor? I remember we actors had a class called 'Liberating Your Nature'."

Hearing Ji Qingxu's sophistry, Wang Jinsong smirked, "Anyway, I've notified you. Just don't come looking for me if there are any problems."

Ji Qingxu held up two fingers and said seriously, "Received."

Seeing that Ji Qingxu had taken his words to heart, Wang Jinsong's expression softened considerably. "Qingxu, it's not that I'm deliberately putting you down. Things are a bit better at the Beijing Film Academy, but you can ask around at the Central Academy of Drama. You can count the number of first- and second-year students who get acting roles on one hand. Although you're smart, studious, and exceptionally perceptive, you must remember one thing: public opinion is a fearsome thing, understand?"

Ji Qingxu replied earnestly, "Understood. By the way, Teacher Wang, do you think someone might report me?"

Upon hearing Ji Qingxu's last joke, Wang Jinsong's expression turned somewhat unpleasant.

Seeing this, Ji Qingxu raised an eyebrow. "Did someone really report me?"

Wang Jinsong smiled helplessly, "Yes, they say you skipped too many classes, that you violated school rules, that the teachers gave you special treatment..."

Upon hearing this, Ji Qingxu said gratefully, "Thank you, Teacher Wang."

Hearing Ji Qingxu's thanks, a hint of relief flashed in Wang Jinsong's eyes. He then waved his hand, "Alright, you didn't skip class on purpose. As for the report..."

After a pause, Wang Jinsong sighed softly, "You don't need to delve into it. You're not the first, nor will you be the last, to do this. What you need to do is produce outstanding results to prove yourself; everything else is unimportant."

Ji Qingxu nodded slowly upon hearing this. "Okay, I understand."

......