Chapter 34: Joining the Cast of

When an actor reaches a certain level, many things can’t be overlooked, or they’ll be looked down upon.

For example, hotels, business vehicles, assistants, and so on.

The production team will arrange all of these.

The production of “Immortal Sword 3” heavily relied on Qi Hao for his casting, and given his recent surge in popularity, they immediately provided top-tier accommodations and a business vehicle without hesitation.

The assistant assigned by the production team was Yang Liu, who drove a business vehicle to Xiaoshan Airport to pick him up.

Hengdian is over a hundred kilometers from Xiaoshan Airport, and the journey gave Qi Hao and Zhang Nan ample time to get to know this assistant.

Throughout the filming of “Immortal Sword 3,” this assistant would be with him.

A proper understanding helps cooperation; if they get along well, it can also help avoid being stabbed in the back.

Many celebrity scandals are leaked by people close to them.

Unexpectedly, Yang Liu was also a background actor—she came to Hengdian after graduating from junior college to work as a background performer.

She dreamed of one day becoming someone important.

With her decent looks and stunning figure, Yang Liu succeeded—but never rose to prominence, because casting directors and group leaders constantly tried to pressure her into sexual favors, and she refused to sleep with them; under duress, she switched to behind-the-scenes work.

“Sexual favors? That’s really tragic—are you planning to just stay as an assistant now?”

Qi Hao understood completely.

He himself had faced threats of sexual coercion and lost many opportunities because of it, but as a wall-hugger—back then he didn’t know this damn system would take ten years to load—he would never sell his body for a little bit of resources.

Even if he were to sell, his body as a wall-hugger should be worth more.

So, to this day, he still hadn’t sold it.

“I usually work as an assistant on various sets, and occasionally, on less demanding productions, I handle makeup and styling—you know, the requirements for supporting roles and background actors are low.”

Yang Liu replied while skillfully driving.

“You’re quite multi-talented…” Qi Hao felt a touch of admiration, as if seeing his younger self.

The difference was that Qi Hao had bulldozed his way forward with sheer confidence.

But Yang Liu could only struggle at the bottom.

People like Yang Liu were everywhere in Hengdian.

This once ordinary little town had become a dream incubator, with aspiring dreamers pouring in daily from all over the country.

Yet very few ever truly made it.

Those who couldn’t make it either left or fell into decay in this small town.

Every night, pink lights flickered on in the alleys.

“How did you land the opportunity to be Qi Hao’s assistant?” Zhang Nan sat in the backseat beside Qi Hao, reading the “Immortal Sword 3” script the entire time.

He didn’t need to memorize most of the script like Qi Hao did.

But as a competent agent, he had to read through the script and mark any inappropriate parts, then argue with the writers and director once they reached the set.

The goal was to secure every possible right for his artist.

Signing a role didn’t mean the fighting ended—even after filming wrapped, the fighting continued.

If you don’t fight, you’ll just watch your scenes get chopped during editing.

During promotion, there’s also fighting over positioning, billing order, layout, commercial deals… the entire process is filled with backstabbing.

Zhang Nan was Qi Hao’s frontline warrior.

In his spare time, he also helped Qi Hao screen the staff around him.

“Yeah, it’s not easy to become my assistant—how did you manage it?”

Qi Hao also thought this was a very worthy question.

It wasn’t arrogance—he just knew that the lead actor’s assistant role was always a fiercely contested position.

It was both a challenge and an opportunity.

The challenge: lead actors are usually hard to please; some don’t even treat assistants like human beings.

The opportunity: if you please them well, the benefits are guaranteed.

You might even use the chance to become a formal assistant to a major star.

Someone like Yang Liu, with her background actor roots and excellent looks, might even get a random role recommendation from a big name.

Background actors who become assistants usually have this kind of thought in mind.

Yeah, forming a relationship with a big name is also a viable path for female assistants.

Who knows, maybe, cough, maybe you’ll become the big name’s wife.

The odds are much higher than a thirty-year-old Badaozongcai falling for a fifty-year-old menopausal me.

“I was originally assigned to be Yang Mi’s assistant, but since you only need one assistant who can drive and understands makeup and styling, it’s hard to find someone suitable.”

Yang Liu’s implication: Don’t you know how hard you are to please?

Like anyone could just step in.

“Haha, I don’t like too many people hovering around me.”

Qi Hao hadn’t hired a suitable assistant, so the production team had to provide one—this was common in the entertainment industry; the production could provide anything from hotels, RVs, assistants, personal assistants, to chickens and ducks…

At Qi Hao’s level, having three or five assistants was normal.

Some stars even demanded eight assistants from the production team to handle every aspect of work and life.

But Lao Tian felt they had to be cautious with Tang Ren.

That company had a narrow mind; if anything unpleasant happened during or after cooperation, they’d retaliate.

Having a bunch of their people around inevitably risked them finding leverage.

So Qi Hao took only one assistant, paired with Zhang Nan—just enough to get by.

“Do you still want to debut as a star? If you do well this time, Brother Hao can recommend some resources,” Zhang Nan added.

This was classic empty promise-making.

He didn’t just draw big pies for his boss—he drew them just as well for every other team member.

“No, the entertainment industry is just like this—you can only choose between integrity or opportunity,” Yang Liu laughed.

Stay in Hengdian long enough, and you either learn to let go or see through it all.

“Then if you do well, consider signing a long-term contract—Brother Hao is currently short on assistants…”

Was this pie not tasty enough?

Not to your liking?

No problem—I’ll give you a different flavor.

“Alright, if that really happens, I won’t have to keep job-hunting anymore.”

Yang Liu deeply admired Qi Hao, the true emperor who rose from background actor status, and Qi Hao’s gaze toward her held no lust.

It was as clear as… a fool’s.

My huge chest is right here, and these two guys didn’t even glance once.

After arriving in Hengdian, Qi Hao checked into the hotel.

Two hours after he rested, Zhang Nan took him out for dinner, and then…

They arrived at the recording studio they’d already arranged.

“Why do I feel like I’m working for you?”

Qi Hao was forced into a chair and given headphones, yet he felt like he was on the electric chair.

Brother Tongzi, electrify me!

“Finish early, end early—you don’t want this job dragging on for months, do you?”

Zhang Nan had shown Qi Hao the schedule beforehand, and Qi Hao had approved it before this arrangement was made.

So you agreed—why are you so reluctant now?

It’s Lao Tian’s fault for spoiling you.

“Fine, let’s get it over with!”

Finish early, get paid early—for the Santana 2000.

Santana Phantom 2000!

Because Qi Hao had his own matters to attend to, and Yang Mi wouldn’t arrive in Hengdian until later, the planned group dinner for the main cast to get acquainted was canceled.

Yang Mi was simultaneously filming “New Dream of the Red Chamber” and “Immortal Sword 3,” and was temporarily borrowed by “Immortal Sword 3.”

Originally, the role of Xue Jian was cast to Tang Yan.

Later, they felt she wasn’t suitable and recast it with Yang Mi.

Tang Ren actually wanted to sign Yang Mi—her contract with Rong Xinda expires next year, so they could sign her right after it ends.

Their calculations were perfect—but whether they’d succeed was another matter.

Tang Ren had also tried to court Qi Hao.

But Lao Tian, Qi Hao’s agent, turned down offers from several major companies.

Compared to Qi Hao, Yang Mi—a promising second- or third-tier actor—was clearly easier to land.

The next day, Qi Hao had the production team send someone over early to style him.

He played Xu Zhangqing, nicknamed White Tofu.

His entire on-screen look consisted mostly of white robes, highlighting his handsome appearance.

Tang Ren spent so much money hiring Qi Hao mainly to leverage his fame.

If so, they’d definitely amplify his attractiveness on camera.

In this TV series, Qi Hao had at least six or seven white outfits alone, not counting daily changes—he’d have at least a dozen outfits total.

“Just do the hairstyle, no makeup needed.”

After changing into his costume, Qi Hao told the makeup and costume artist sent by the production team.

The makeup and costume artist looked hesitant.

She had to admit that Qi Hao’s natural advantages were excellent—once dressed in ancient attire and wearing a wig, he instantly looked like a figure stepped out of a painting.

But wouldn’t skipping makeup be a bit too…?

“Our Qi Hao didn’t wear makeup when filming ‘The Legend of the Condor Heroes’ or ‘Wrong Wedding, Right Husband,’” Zhang Nan added from the side.

Hearing this, the makeup and costume artist finally sighed in relief.

If this wasn’t his first time doing it this way, it should be fine.

She adjusted his wig slightly, tidied his eyebrows, then packed up her tools and went to apply makeup to the others.

Qi Hao arrived at Tang Family Compound, where the launch ceremony for ‘Xianjian 3’ was being held, dressed in his ancient costume.

Outside, a crowd of fans had already gathered.

As a game adaptation with the immense popularity of its predecessor ‘Xianjian 1,’ this ‘Xianjian 3’ was highly anticipated.

Qi Hao’s arrival instantly set the fans into a frenzy.

Someone shouted out:

“Xiao Fei Gun is here!”

Not only were Qi Hao’s fans excited; the game fans were too—they stared in awe at Qi Hao being escorted by security, all thinking that his Xu Zhangqing was utterly stunning.

No wonder he’s the senior disciple of Shushan!

“Big brother!” Yang Mi, dressed in her costume, popped her head out from the crowd and cheerfully greeted Qi Hao.

She had arrived slightly earlier than Qi Hao.

Calling him “big brother” was naturally because of ‘The Legend of the Condor Heroes,’ instantly bridging the gap between them.

“Haha, your hairstyle looks great…”

Qi Hao resisted the urge to rub his arms; the costume wasn’t thick, and in this February weather, it was bound to be cold.

And with Big Mi’s “big brother,” goosebumps broke out all over him.