Chapter 174: Wanted to Chat About Some Sensitive Topics (Double Vote Beg for Monthly Tickets)

Having been in the entertainment circle for over a year, almost two, Sister Xiao Zhao was the most interesting person Bai Liang knew.

When they weren't close, even if she disliked someone or took a dislike to them, she would still maintain a certain politeness.

But once they got familiar, this older sister's way of talking grew increasingly "harsh."

"You've been pretty impressive lately!"

The familiar Zhao Xiaodao style—her words came out like a spear wrapped in a club.

At first listen you'd think she was being passive-aggressive, but on closer listen, she really was being passive-aggressive.

She even crossed her arms over her chest, as if that made her look more imposing.

This is also the innate disadvantage of a round face—at least for now, Sister Xiao Zhao still couldn't pull off that "dignity without anger" without these little gestures.

"Huh?" Bai Liang looked utterly harmless, but inside he was a bit puzzled: how did she know?

Nazha said the same thing, but compared to Sister Xiao Zhao's domineering air, Nazha was far cuter.

She'd even go "pretty please, pretty please" begging for mercy, saying "too amazing, I surrender!"

Of course that was useless—Bai Liang, if dropped into ancient times, would probably share the same temperament as Laozu Sect Bai Qi: surrender? Great! Makes it easier to "kill."

But Nazha was probably "faking surrender" too—who ever surrenders while pitching their voice and acting cute?

"Still playing dumb? The internet's gone crazy over you, people are saying two women fighting over a man."

"That, huh."

"What else?" Sister Xiao Zhao wore a cold smirk, as if she'd just caught a scumbag red-handed.

But Bai Liang was completely unfazed—a big cotton ball is a big cotton ball, he wouldn't fight back even when bullied~

Still, he felt he should explain: "I've already stepped in as the 'international organization' to mediate."

A normal person would ask at this point: how did you mediate?

But Sister Xiao Zhao always zeroed in on the most essential point, lifting an eyelid: "So you're admitting it's because you two fought, huh~ little troublemaker."

Bai Liang suddenly found things getting interesting.

He straightened his back, rubbed his chin, felt the stiff stubble just sprouting, and inspiration struck:

"Back when 'The Mystic Nine' and 'Noble Aspirations' aired back-to-back, didn't you have the same kind of trouble? Chen Weiting and Li Yifeng—which one do you think is better-looking? I'll dig up the trending searches from that time later, see if those two fandoms were fighting too."

Sister Xiao Zhao:???

A magic duel?

"You're almost as popular as them now, after this drama I'll stir up a scandal with you."

"Cut it out, the two of us stirring up a scandal feels kinda weird." Bai Liang said honestly.

Sister Xiao Zhao looked puzzled, and a bit unconvinced: "I've seen online that you have CP chemistry with every actress."

"Mainly I can't get past it myself, you know—ethics?"

"What, you respect me too much?" Sister Xiao Zhao was amused—oh, he's being pretty obedient today.

But Bai Liang did his familiar little bear shrug: "You stand next to me and you look like my daughter."

"You're asking for death!"

"Wrong, wrong~"

Watching Bai Liang get beaten and flee with his hands over his head, Dong Zijian on the side was genuinely impressed.

Bro, you're something else—wildly flirting with Zhao Liying!

He, this Beijing-circle Crown Prince, always behaved properly and politely around big stars, but Bai Liang seemed to have none of those reservations.

An actor showing up late to set should, by rights, get chewed out.

On a bigger scale, that's throwing your weight around.

But Bai Liang and Han Han threw their arms around each other's shoulders, and whatever shady deal they struck, the whole thing didn't make so much as a ripple.

As for Zhao Liying, on the surface she publicly gave Bai Liang a passive-aggressive dressing-down in front of others, but in a way it was kind of like shielding him.

Sister Xiao Zhao: I've already given him a scolding, you lot aren't allowed to keep chirping about it, got it?

And so, the fact that Bai Liang hadn't shown up on time and was three days late to set was as if it had never happened.

The main filming locations for "Pegasus" were the JS district in Shanghai and the Dingzha Old Town in Jiaxing, Zhejiang.

Going for that small-town look of the last century.

Those low buildings with grey tiles and grey walls, the delicate pretty courtyards and little bridges, the narrow alleys, the old streetlamps, the orchards—all these elements could give the film a unique nostalgic atmosphere.

It really was Han Han's film style—he loves this kind of vibe.

Oh right, JS district is the one Han Han's always trying to get his friends to buy apartments in, but while every other part of Shanghai saw prices rise, this one didn't budge, even dropping a bit.

Bai Liang had been in Shanghai for ages, and if it weren't for filming, this would be his first time in JS district.

This film was shot in chronological order.

The early stage of the film had about half a year of prep, the actual shoot for all the actors combined was three months, leaving only a little over a month for post-production, and then it had to hit the Spring Festival slot.

Of all the projects Bai Liang filmed this year, "Pegasus" was shot the latest, yet it would meet audiences the earliest!

The trick was that Han Han was planning to edit as they shot.

Moving post-production work forward.

Besides the usual set gear, they actually set up a shed on site dedicated to editing.

Every day after shooting, they'd cut that day's footage, and the next day polish the previous day's shots.

Once everything wrapped, they'd do the fine cut.

Damn, Han Han really is a genius—Bai Liang felt his own horizons were shallow, he'd truly never seen anyone do it this way.

If this film does well at the box office during Spring Festival, that'll be a slap in the face for those professional directors.

On paper, this workflow looks exactly like slapdash production.

But Bai Liang felt that since he had some impression of "Pegasus," the box office should be decent—seems like plenty of clips went viral too.

"Tsk tsk, no wonder~"

"No wonder what?" Han Han finished watching the monitor and asked curiously.

"You and Guo Xiaosi, doing a cross-industry film like this—no wonder they say that among the three hundred and sixty trades, every trade can produce a director."

Oh great, so that's how you bring up Guo Xiaosi?

Not far away, Dong Zijian's mouth twitched slightly; he always felt that Bai Liang's move was like clubbing on someone else's minefield.

Han Han's face predictably darkened. "You're comparing me to him?"

"I haven't acted in Tiny Times yet, so I can't compare for now. Feels like you're still slightly more impressive—but not by much."

Han Han:.

Does this count as a compliment or a diss?

"Get lost, get lost."

"I actually have serious business with you."

"What serious business?"

"When are we shooting that racing scene? Weren't you going to let me do it? The Red Bull people said they'd already talked it over with you, and wanted to film a promo video while we're at it."

"No rush for now, I'm planning to shoot it last."

The moment Red Bull came up, Han Han got fired up—after all, they were sponsoring the film.

Of course, this was all because of Bai Liang. Some projects in the industry like to use traffic stars, and that's exactly why.

Those brand sponsors really do come sniffing over the moment they catch a whiff.

Besides the product placement, they also wanted Han Han to film two versions when shooting that racing scene.

The other version was to have Bai Liang do it, so they could use it for promotion.

Last time at the racetrack, Red Bull was bummed they couldn't cash in on the traffic.

They'd been mulling it over—if only Bai Liang had a Red Bull logo on him when he stepped out of that burning Mercedes. Now they had their chance! Naturally, they couldn't let it slip.

Besides that, of course there was also Mercedes' sponsorship, but Han Han felt this wasn't entirely Bai Liang's doing—he'd put in his own effort too.

The reason he didn't hold a grudge at all about Bai Liang inexplicably "going dark" for three days—besides finding him easy on the eyes and fun to hang out with—the "God of Wealth" factor made up no small part of it.

Just like that line from Han Han's own movie:

Adults only look at pros and cons; only children insist on right and wrong.

Oh right, as for why Han Han wanted to save that racing scene for last, his reasoning was pretty solid too.

"Given your driving style, if you die on set, at least you'd leave behind a final work."

"That bullshit sounds like something I've heard before," Bai Liang cursed as he tried to recall.

"Who? That's quite the chemistry."

"Shit, Wu Jing."

"What about Wu Jing?" A made-up and changed-into-costume Deng Chao walked over, and hearing Wu Jing's name asked casually.

This book's latest updates are on ##!! Update!

Bai Liang waved his hand. "I beat him up once, and he's been holding a grudge."

This wasn't exactly talking behind his back—anyway, Wu Jing was planning to bring this up later as promo banter anyway.

Just a spoiler in advance.

Deng Chao burst out laughing at once. "You beat up Wu Jing? He's a martial arts champion."

"Then do you know who I am?" Bai Liang turned his head, stood up—his 184.5 cm height and upright build were extremely intimidating.

Deng Chao was clearly intimidated, standing there with a face full of confusion.

Who on earth are you, sir?

"My mama's good big boy, my grandma's good obedient grandson, the most outstanding man in the old Bai family."

"Shit!"

Deng Chao speechlessly flipped him the bird, but then offered a fair assessment: "You're suited for comedy. Being funny while dead serious—that's a talent too."

His words weren't nonsense—when Bai Liang's expression wasn't too stern and he tossed in some witty lines, he really was pretty funny.

Drop him into a Han Han movie, and there'd be zero sense of dissonance.

Right now, dressed up like a small-town youth with a center-parted hairstyle, he still managed to look handsome while gaining a few extra notes of dopey, chuunibyou vibes.

A center part really does test your looks.

On some people it looks like a traitor; on others it comes off as a try-hard edgelord.

A lot of weird hairstyles only work if you're handsome enough to pull them off.

The value of that "God-sent meal ticket" line keeps rising.

"Then you're wrong again."

"Huh?"

"I'm suited for everything. Acting skills, get it?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah"

"Are you showing off again?!" Little Zhao Sister arrived fashionably late, reaching up to pinch Bai Liang's ear.

"I was just about to chat about some sensitive topics with Brother Chao."

Seeing that Little Zhao Sister was struggling a bit to pinch his ear while on tiptoe, Bai Liang simply bent over slightly to save her some effort.

Satisfied after two pinches, Little Zhao Sister turned and left.

A man's sensitive topics? Pfft! Pervert!

But Deng Chao was interested—come on, let's chat about something spicy!

Who doesn't love gossip? The thing about two exotic beauties tearing each other apart online over Bai Liang—although it looks like hype or rival brands bashing each other, in showbiz, the more outrageous something seems, the more likely it might actually be true.

This time, even Dong Zijian and Han Han's attention was drawn over.

Especially Dong Zijian!

He had deep feelings about this matter~

One could even say he held a bit of a grudge against Bai Liang.

Because on the very day Gulnaza and Dilireba officially started their catfight, he happened to be publicly announcing his relationship with his girlfriend on Weibo.

What terrible luck!

He's the Crown Prince of the Beijing circle! Announcing his relationship, yet he barely scraped a spot on the trending searches — does that even make sense?

It made him look like he had no status at all, and even got his girlfriend upset.

After all, when other people announce their relationships, they're on the trending searches, receiving blessings from all sides.

When it was his turn, it was cold and quiet.

"Everyone wants to hear something sensitive?"

Bai Liang hadn't expected that one sentence from him would draw everyone over at once.

"Speak, speak! Which of those two is actually your girlfriend!" Deng Chao urged.

"I have something even more sensitive~"

Hiss. Good lad! Could it be that both of them are...

Han Han, looking at Bai Liang, now truly felt as if he were looking at his younger self.

My bond with my wife is very solid, but perhaps with other Misses I've long been like family.

I even hope they can be friendly and helpful with each other, living in peace. That's all.

Others may fall in love with me, and I may also take a fancy to others, but no one can change the bond between me and my wife.

This theory seems to be exactly what Han Han said. Damn, a role model for our generation.

It was called the "Wife and Mistress Peaceful Coexistence Theory."

Of course, later he got roasted and then "clarified" that they were ex-girlfriends; let's take his word for it that it was a slip of the tongue.

Facing everyone's expectation, Bai Liang naturally also "lived up to everyone's hopes": "Then shall we talk about the 'tavern' issue? The failed art student?"

Hiss. Damn, isn't that way too sensitive!

Han Han and Deng Chao turned and walked away, leaving one Dong Zijian who walked a bit slower and got caught by Bai Liang.

He looked quite helpless. "Liang-ge, I'm not interested in this."

"Then what are you interested in? Let's chat about it for five mao."

"Having kids." Dong Zijian blurted it out, and by the time he realized what he'd done, he found he hadn't heard any gossip but had spilled his own business instead.

However, within five minutes, he had his phone's notepad open.

"Liang-ge, slow down a bit, my typing speed can't quite keep up."

"Alright~ Anyway, just digest all this slowly for now, I'll put together a guide for you later."

When it came to having kids, Bai Liang did know a little bit.

Anyway, passing on some exclusive insights to little Dong was no problem at all.

However, for some unknown reason, when the two were halfway through their chat, Zhao Liying was squatting behind them.

At first she had clearly come over to hear what nonsense this little rascal Bai Liang was spouting.

But after hearing the topic the two were discussing, she suddenly took an interest.

When Bai Liang noticed her, he caught her wearing a thoughtful expression.

"Sister, what are you doing?"

"None of your business~" The caught little Zhao sister wasn't flustered at all, she even rolled her eyes at him — utterly brazen.

Bai Liang boldly ventured a guess: "You want a kid too?"

"What? Can't I?"

"No, of course you can. Women are born with the right to bear children, but the question is — can you have one all by yourself?"

(End of chapter)