Chapter 53: Backstab

Anyway, you've already prepared yourself, right?

Ceng Jia took Da Mi Mi's hand and helped her close her fingers.

"This isn't..."

Da Mi Mi still wanted to say something, but she gave up halfway—none of it mattered.

"Jia-jie, I still have a question."

"What?"

Da Mi Mi paused briefly, thought for two seconds, then said: "The first time we met at the bar, Jia-jie, your attitude toward Chen Ci..."

Ceng Jia smiled faintly, knowing what Da Mi Mi wanted to ask.

She interjected: "That was then, this is now—he still has value for you."

"Value? But I'm talking about love."

"Talking about love and talking about value don't conflict—shouldn't lovers support each other?"

Ceng Jia's words were correct, and Da Mi Mi agreed, but she still felt something was off…

"Master Ci, how's it going?"

"Not bad, the pose can still intimidate."

"Huh~"

Xue Er Qian exhaled long, wiped his forehead, and his white headband was drenched in sweat.

After three days and nights of nearly sleepless, unfed practice, he finally had a bit of presence.

Chen Ci was also fairly satisfied; at least he could bluff clueless outsiders.

Moreover, to be blunt, in a band performance the singer is the core; few people pay special attention to the drummer in the back.

Before Xue Er Qian could catch another breath, Chen Ci asked: "How's the script looking?"

Lao Zhao quickly grabbed the bag beside him: "This is his character bio; I had Pang Zi guide him."

Chen Ci took it and set it aside, not rushing to look.

Could it make Lao Zhao lower himself to ask Pang Zi for help?

It seems he really cares a lot about Xue Er Qian.

The situation is now clear; Chen Ci plans to let Xue Er Qian try the drummer's explosives from the Sewing Machine Band.

This is an important role, a member of the main cast.

Chen Ci conceived this role as somewhat handsome, not strikingly so, but quite narcissistic.

Although he's a main character, his presence in the main cast isn't strong.

Because of the film's runtime limit, the limited screen time will definitely focus on fleshing out the two main characters, Chen Gong and Hu Liang.

These past few days, Chen Ci has also noticed Xue Er Qian's performance—he's indeed been giving it his all.

Moreover, last year's "Serious Snow" brought him some popularity, straight to the top of the yearly sales chart.

Most importantly, he doesn't even want a fee…

"Master Ci, is this okay?" Lao Zhao asked cautiously.

"Let's leave it like this for now; we'll discuss after the audition."

"All right."

Lao Zhao lowered his head, embarrassed, while Chen Ci thought about other things.

Several days have passed; I don't know if Ning Hao has looked at my script—maybe he's just humoring me…

"Senior brother, this……"

Xue Er Qian whispered something to Lao Zhao, who waved his hand and gave him a reassuring look.

For a moment, nobody spoke, and the large room fell silent.

Ding-ling-ling~

Suddenly, a ringtone broke the brief quiet.

Few people know Chen Ci's home landline number; he hasn't moved yet, but Mei Na at his side quickly ran over to answer the phone.

"Hello……"

Before she could finish a sentence, Mei Na turned to face Chen Ci: "Brother-in-law, it's for you."

Well, of course calling Chen Ci's home is to find him.

Chen Ci took the phone from Mei Na: "Hello, I'm Chen Ci."

"Ah Ci……"

As soon as he opened his mouth, Chen Ci knew who it was: "Auntie, what's up?"

Upon hearing Chen Ci's address, Lao Zhao immediately became alert, quickly making a hushing gesture to Xue Er Qian and Mei Na.

"Ah Ci, I heard you recently went to the old house—is that true?"

"You already know everything—why ask me when the news spreads so fast?"

The other end paused: "Ah Ci, don't misunderstand—I'm not surveilling you."

Chen Ci smiled: "Surveillance? I didn't even say that word."

Perhaps Auntie also felt her wording was off, so she quickly changed the subject: "Ah Ci, who was the girl who just answered the phone? I heard her call you……brother‑in‑law?"

Chen Ci felt a bit embarrassed; he'd tried, but Mei Na's way of addressing him just wouldn't change.

"Oh, she's a friend's younger sister; I've been looking after her for a few days."

"Really?" Auntie obviously didn't believe it.

"Um, Auntie, do you have something or not? If not, I'm busy right now……"

"Wait a moment."

Gu Ma called for a halt, and finally began to talk about the main matter.

"A Ci, your Broken Guitar Band, Gu Ma has also heard of it."

"Yo, even you were alarmed?"

It's not just sarcasm; Chen Ci really didn't expect that.

Do the bigwigs, busy with myriad affairs day after day, even have time to listen to rock?

"Not just me."

"Huh?" Chen Ci wondered, could it be…

"You really should have seen A Se's expression back then—he knew those few songs were sung by you, and he was completely not okay……"

Chen Ci had no interest in the reaction of a little chubby, and after a dry cough he said, "Gu Ma, is there any more main matter to discuss?"

"Yes, A Ci, if you can turn over a new leaf and seriously make the band work, Gu Ma would be relieved. If you need any help in the future, you can come to us……"

"Is that all? Then I'm hanging up."

"Wait a moment."

Gu Ma called for a halt again, and Chen Ci, helpless, said, "Gu Ma, what else is there?"

"There are a few more words, which your Gu Fu asked me to pass on to you."

"Oh, does the old man also have something to say?"

Gu Ma paused briefly, then spoke softly: "A Ci, you've had musical talent since childhood. It's certainly good to now be on the right path, but don't aim too high."

"Aim too high, what do you mean?"

"Making a film really isn't as simple as you think; you should first specialize in one area. If you truly want to enter the film industry later, that's not something you can achieve overnight—you also need to start from the basics step by step."

Chen Ci sighed silently, truly worthy of being of the same family as the poetry-reciting adult—over such a small matter, they could still circle around it so many times.

"If you truly want to make a film, it just so happens that your Gu Fu's 《Mei Lanfang》 is about to start filming; at that time I can arrange for you to join the crew……"

"Gu Ma, is this your opinion, or his?"

Gu Ma didn't answer, and Chen Ci roughly figured it out.

"Gu Ma, to be frank, you don't believe I can make a film, do you? You think I'm again using his name to swindle."

That "again" is the essence; Chen Ci has an accurate self-assessment.

"A Ci, we just hope you can stay grounded……"

Gu Ma is still the same Gu Ma; from the moment Chen Ci answered the phone, every word of hers exuded concern.

Chen Ci just took these concerns to be genuine, but the result was the same—killing with a soft knife. m.

After that, there was nothing left to talk about; hanging up the phone, Chen Ci's mood was also complicated.

If one were to say feeling stifled, it seems also deserved, after all he really had been a bit inconsiderate before.

But being lectured out of the blue like that, he moreover couldn't find a particularly good reason to rebut anything.

For the film, he had been busy back and forth for so long; this was the first time he genuinely wanted to accomplish something.

Outsiders haven't said anything yet, but he was the first to suffer a backstab from 'family'.

This feeling of having something to say but being unable to say it is really infuriating!