[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-chinese-entertainment-starting-as-a-male-model":3,"chapter-chinese-entertainment-starting-as-a-male-model-showbiz-begins-as-a-male-model-chapter-7":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Showbiz: Starting as a Male Model",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2216356,3922,"Chapter 7: Choosing him to play Lu Bu—no problem!","showbiz-begins-as-a-male-model-chapter-7",7,"\u003Cp>\"Don't worry, Miss Nazha. The crew's filming schedule remains unchanged; it won't affect your availability.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Guli Nazha nodded, half-believing, and didn't ask any further questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Artists don't need to handle these tedious negotiations themselves; if there’s a scheduling conflict, the manager handles it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was just checking in on the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though the \"firefighter\" for the role of Lu Bu hadn't been found yet, Sun Qiang didn't mind talking big for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the crew had been a bit anxious since the incident. Regardless of whether he had a candidate, he couldn't let the production stall, even if he had to step in himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides... who said there wasn't a suitable candidate?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regarding the role of Lu Bu, if they were filming a serious, authentic Three Kingdoms drama, the requirements would certainly be strict.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this *God of War Zhao Zilong* thing? You couldn't say it was similar to a serious drama; you could only say it was completely unrelated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It perfectly fits that saying: adaptation isn't random fabrication, and dramatization isn't nonsense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*God of War Zhao Zilong* could be said to dabble in both fabrication and nonsense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, the requirements for casting Lu Bu could be relaxed a bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, there was a hard requirement regarding height.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mainly because the lead actor, Lin Gengxin, was too tall. If they found a male artist around 1.7 meters to play Lu Bu, would Lu Bu have to look up at Zhao Yun during their scenes?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That would be too weird.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, that was the height of most male artists in the industry... Regardless, Sun Qiang had rejected all the tall guys he could find.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Sun Qiang was considering whether to just let Bai Liang fill the vacancy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn't just grabbing at straws; he had his reasons for wanting to use Bai Liang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, Bai Liang was very handsome and tall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, he wasn't one of those scrawny male artists. He couldn't be called a hulking brute, but he was at least sturdier than Lin Gengxin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, the guy had connections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That \"Sister Yang\" who introduced Bai Liang to the crew, Yang Xing, used to be Zhang Ziyi's manager before spending some time in the Hong Kong circle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had extensive connections and capital backing. There was news that Yang Xing was planning a major move by next year, shifting her focus from Hong Kong to the mainland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, and another important point: Yang Xing’s philosophy for cultivating artists was the \"few but high-quality\" route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Sun Qiang's view, even though Bai Liang was a newcomer, since Yang Xing had taken a liking to him, his future prospects wouldn't be too bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a casting director, Sun Qiang admitted his eye for talent might not be the sharpest, but he was a practical man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If his own eye wasn't sharp enough, he’d just copy the homework of those who were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Yang Xing reached out, she had said Bai Liang was a newcomer and to give him a small role.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Qiang had indeed prepared a small role, but now, wasn't this a perfect coincidence?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He might as well give Yang Xing some face!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entertainment industry is all about favors; having someone behind you makes things easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So... Sun Qiang didn't ask Bai Liang any basic questions at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like whether he graduated from a professional acting school or if he had acted before. He figured Yang Xing must have already \"vetted the goods.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only problem currently was... Bai Liang’s temperament didn't quite fit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That gentle, sunny smile of his would likely attract a lot of attention from girls, but it didn't look like a \"three-surname slave\" at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Sun Qiang claimed that as a casting director, he had a few tricks up his sleeve and was good at \"reading people.\" \"Come on, Xiao Bai, wipe that smile off and tighten your face.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Liang didn't quite understand the audition process, but he respected professional expertise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he tightened his face, he subconsciously narrowed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cool, handsome style inherent in his bone structure and features instantly returned! Because of the squinting, it even seemed to carry a hint of killing intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoa! Not bad!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Qiang marveled inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xing’s eye for talent was truly impressive!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harmless, gentle, sunny, handsome boy when smiling; the style changed instantly when he tightened his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What does this mean? This kid has a wide acting range and a versatile temperament—he’s someone Heaven has blessed with a career.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An actor of this type can play many roles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Bu is certainly one of them, at least the Lu Bu in *God of War Zhao Zilong*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Clap!*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Qiang clapped his hands. \"Alright, no problem! We'll sign the contract tomorrow. Do you want me to send it to your manager to look over first?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Liang shook his head, thinking to himself, *What manager?*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, it was quite formal for a small role with only a few lines. He had originally thought the pay would be daily, like modeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He retracted his assessment that this crew was a fly-by-night operation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s better to be formal; it avoids getting stiffed on pay like Huang Jingyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt a little excited—he was going to be an Emperor!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The role Sister Yang introduced him to was an Emperor. Though it sounded impressive, in this show, it actually had very little presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It mainly served as a background prop; the lines were very sparse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Liang didn't mind; how cool would it be to experience being an Emperor!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before coming, he had done his homework and briefly looked up the life of Liu Bian, the Emperor of the late Eastern Han Dynasty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After researching, he found there wasn't much to research.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ascended the throne at seventeen and was gone by eighteen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also understood why Sun Qiang told him to tighten his face. An Emperor—how could he be smiling gently at everyone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Liang thought it was perfect!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Welcome to our crew. Have your assistant register at the front desk; we'll arrange a room for you...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Assistant?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Liang was confused. He had neither a manager nor an assistant... Is this standard equipment in the entertainment industry?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Does everyone have one?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Sun Qiang said this, his eyes were actually glancing at the guy standing not far away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the crew member who had taken two packs of cigarettes from Bai Liang and brought him to the hotel lobby to wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Qiang clearly didn't recognize his own employee. When he arrived, he saw the guy accompanying Bai Liang and naturally assumed he was an assistant or driver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Very reasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this, Bai Liang’s image in Sun Qiang’s mind was complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A potential heartthrob discovered by a famous manager, highly malleable, and even equipped with an assistant before he’d even acted—this was enough to show how much Yang Xing valued him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Young man, your future is limitless!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Choosing him to play Lu Bu—no problem!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was at least a top-tier supporting role. Using company and crew resources to leverage his own connections—he couldn't lose either way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The audition ended in a daze. Bai Liang’s first acting audition in two lifetimes was over just like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be polite, he sent a text to thank Yang Xing and told her he had passed the audition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, he didn't forget to show off to Huang Jingyu, adding, \"How about you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Jingyu replied with a middle-finger emoji, then went silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Yang Xing, who was in Shanghai, glanced at her phone and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The famous producer Zhang Jiazhen, who was dining with her, asked curiously, \"Any good news?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, just an interesting young man I ran into earlier. His image and temperament are quite good, so I introduced him to a crew.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Someone you took a liking to? Did you sign him?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He’s not professionally trained and has never acted. Let him hone his skills first. The crew is a big melting pot; it’s not easy for actors from unconventional backgrounds to make it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What if he’s a good seedling and someone else signs him first?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s not that easy to make it. His role is as small as it gets. The crew was originally going to find a bit-part actor on the spot anyway. It was just a casual move. If he truly has talent, he’ll eventually end up in my hands. This kid is very sharp.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regarding Bai Liang’s move of tipping her off at the business KTV, Yang Xing was confident that if he really wanted to make a name for himself in the industry, he wouldn't overlook her, his \"talent scout.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, this was only his first role. Next year, the company she was partnering with Zhang Jiazhen to form would officially launch, and she would be the executive director.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before that, whenever Bai Liang contacted her, she would help out a little by introducing him to some minor roles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weight of his subsequent roles would gradually increase, but not too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xing mainly wanted to leave an impression on Bai Liang: *Whatever I let slip through my fingers is enough for you to live on.*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeding him too much wouldn't work. The result of over-baiting a fishing spot is just raising the fish's appetite, which leads to an empty catch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once that impression is formed, if Bai Liang really strives and wants to sign with a company to develop properly, he’ll definitely look for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While maintaining a sense of gratitude, it also makes it easier for Yang Xing to \"control\" him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s not that she has any strange hobbies; this is just the relationship that must exist between a manager and an artist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many managers or behind-the-scenes teams who can't keep their artists in check can only watch helplessly as their artists do stupid things that make people cringe on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an entertainment industry where the average education level is low, such things are not uncommon.\u003C\u002Fp>",1679,"2026-06-17T12:05:47.902Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","e4c987b179f6d2a9a142154258dc64c773f271a2a588b84883e6b2d45d569566","showbiz-begins-as-a-male-model-chapter-8","chinese-entertainment-starting-as-a-male-model-chapter-6",668,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fshowbiz-starting-as-a-male-model-cover.jpg"]