Chapter 1126: Zhu Qingxiang Assumes the Alias Hong Yileng

"Settle the bill for them and have them all get lost. Since they're useless, there's no need to support so many people. The daily cost of wages and boxed lunches is no small sum. You have no idea how to be frugal; what use are you to me?"

The director couldn't vent his anger on the actors, so he vented it on the assistant director.

He called him over and gave him a thorough scolding.

He had to vent his frustration first.

The subordinate was scolded, and even if he was unconvinced, he could only endure it.

He could only nod and bow, agreeing repeatedly: "Yes, yes, yes, everything you say is right. It was my lack of consideration; I'll fire them all immediately."

"Wait, there's no rush to fire them. I have a method; is the director interested in hearing it?"

The director didn't turn around, but he knew who was speaking.

Hong Yileng.

The male lead.

He brought his own capital into the production; to put it bluntly, he was basically supporting the entire crew by himself!

The big financier, whoever has the money calls the shots.

The director immediately put on a beaming smile, stood up, and turned around: "Mr. Hong, what do you suggest we do?"

Hong Yileng: "Set up a table to recruit extras. Those poor students don't come only because they are forced by life and need to earn money to support themselves. If we give them the opportunity to earn money, are we afraid no one will come to watch?"

"You are brilliant."

"Mr. Hong, you are not only handsome and a good actor, but you are also so brainy. You will surely soar to the skies in the future; your prospects are limitless..."

The two directors flattered him to the extreme.

They didn't stop until they had praised the male lead as if he were peerless in heaven and on earth.

The table was set up, and the notice recruiting students as extras was posted, but the number of people who came to sign up was sparse.

Hong Yileng found it strange; logically, this shouldn't be happening, right?

Money is there to be made, so where is the problem?

So he went to the notice, and after just two glances, he was so angry his nose was almost crooked.

"Who wrote this? Come out."

The assistant director hurried over: "What's wrong, Mr. Hong? I wrote it."

"You wrote it?"

He raised his foot to kick him, but he forcibly held back.

Never mind that there weren't many people watching; the crew was full of backstabbing and all sorts of people. If his scene of kicking someone were filmed by someone with ulterior motives and uploaded to the internet, he wouldn't be able to clear his name even with a thousand mouths.

Hong Yileng gritted his teeth, frustrated by his subordinate's incompetence: "What is that thing on your neck for? Is it only for eating? When you wrote this, couldn't you use your brain and think? Thirty yuan a day, who would come? Who would come? If it were you, would you come?"

He was about to explode with anger.

It really is impossible to leave out a single instruction.

For extras, the daily wage is thirty yuan, but when students from Huaxia University go out for part-time jobs, they charge at least three hundred just to tutor a student for one session.

Without investigating the reason clearly, he just closed his eyes and wrote the notice. No wonder no one came; it would be strange if anyone did.

But the assistant director also felt very aggrieved.

He couldn't help but mutter in a low voice: "It's not a small amount. I give this much in other places too, and those extras usually swarm over. If I need ten, a hundred or eighty people will sign up."

Hong Yileng:...

He was about to explode.

But he still had to patiently explain; he couldn't lose his temper, even if the person in front of him was as stupid as an idiot.

"I beg you, sir, this is not a film and television base; there aren't a large number of people here dreaming of achieving a leap in social class."

"This is Huaxia University, the best institution of learning in Jiangzhou. Thirty yuan won't attract anyone. You must immediately change the price on the notice to five hundred yuan a day, and it is limited to students on campus."

"Five hundred?"

The assistant director's eyes widened. No way, is this money really that easy to earn?

Five hundred per person, and they need to film for twenty consecutive days; that's ten thousand yuan per person.

But there aren't many scenes on campus, yet they need quite a few extras—probably over a hundred people. That means, just on this small matter of extras, they have to spend a lot more money?

"No, the crew's budget isn't enough." He shook his head and refused directly.

Hong Yileng said readily: "I will cover this money; no need to go through the crew's budget."

"That's fine, that's fine, I'll change it immediately."

He beamed with joy and went to change the notice immediately.

Five hundred yuan a day—the effect was indeed different.

More people came to sign up. Although there wasn't the long queue they had expected, at least there were people.

There were requirements for signing up: register which department and class.

"Why?"

"What is your purpose?"

Some had questions, and some simply turned around and left; their vigilance was quite high.

The assistant director answered as they had discussed: "There's no other meaning; it's just to keep statistics. In case any situation arises during the filming process, we can notify your counselor immediately."

"But please rest assured, the possibility of that is extremely small. It's just a precaution, just in case."

The explanation was reasonable enough, so the students agreed.

The filming process wasn't complicated either. There wasn't much for the extras to do; most of the roles were just passersby.

The crew filmed on campus for several consecutive days, and their reputation was good, so more and more student actors signed up.

This crew was quite approachable, and they could do what they promised.

The lead actor wasn't aloof either and wouldn't throw his weight around.

Especially the male lead, Hong Yileng, who was getting along well with several girls from the Economics Department who were plain in appearance, and even wanted to treat them to a meal.

He gave his reason: "I've envied classmates who were good at studying since I was little. It's a pity I was too playful when I was a child and my grades weren't good, so I could only go to the Film Academy and become an actor after graduation..."

Although this sounded like a humblebrag, it didn't make people feel repulsed.

The few girls agreed readily.

"Alright, then it's settled. I'll come to pick you up downstairs at the dormitory building this afternoon."

When Hong Yileng arrived, Shi Ran was just walking out, and the two almost bumped into each other.

"Sorry." Shi Ran apologized, then prepared to leave.

He blocked her path instead, saying with surprise: "Are you the number one talented woman of Jiangzhou, Shi Ran?"

She stopped and smiled politely: "I am Shi Ran, but I am not any number one talented woman."

"My god! I actually saw Shi Ran. I didn't expect this to actually be true..."

He acted very excited, so excited that he almost started dancing with joy.

"You are too modest. If you can't bear the title of the number one talented woman of Jiangzhou, then no one can. This is my business card." He handed over the business card with both hands.

In this day and age, when boys try to strike up a conversation with girls, they usually use all sorts of tricks to ask for their WeChat.

To be able to directly hand over a business card and wait for the other party to take the initiative to contact them, one is either foolish or full of sincerity.

"Thank you."

Shi Ran also politely took the business card with both hands and glanced at it.

Hong Yileng, the label below was actor.

It was introduced in great detail, and there was even the name of the drama currently being filmed, which was exactly the one being shot on campus.

Shi Ran felt it looked a bit familiar, but she didn't pay it any mind.

She just scanned it and politely put it into her pocket: "Goodbye."

At this time, those few girls came out from the dormitory.

Hong Yileng took the opportunity to invite her: "Classmate Shi Ran, I am treating a few girls from your department to a meal, please come with us."

"No need, thank you, I still have things to do."

A girl who usually had a good relationship with Shi Ran came over, took her arm, and begged: "Ranran, just come with us. Everyone is a classmate, but you are usually so busy that we never have a chance to hang out with you."

"Why not join us this time? There is no time like the present."