Chapter 357: The Pug Man

After meeting the person, Dilireba felt a bit dizzy.

At that moment, listening to Yang Zi and the others, she didn't quite understand what they meant. It felt like there was a hidden meaning behind their words, but she didn't have the energy to overthink it.

After returning to the dormitory, she pretended she had just arrived, greeted Yang Zi and Xia Yehe naturally, and went to bed after washing up.

Just a moment ago, when she went, she thought it would be quite simple.

But when she actually met him, when that face she had seen countless times in movie theaters, on television, and in the news appeared before her, the aura of that big star rushed toward her. She truly couldn't say a single word, let alone refuse.

Now that she had calmed down, she knew this wouldn't do.

When they finally parted, she had said she would give an answer as soon as possible, but how could she give one?

She hadn't asked so many questions yet.

Dilireba took her phone out from beside her pillow and found the list in her contact book.

Looking at the two characters "Chen Nuo," she couldn't help but feel a sense of trance, as if she were in a dream.

Then, she began to type on the Nokia's hard plastic keypad: "Hello, Chen Zong. I'm sorry to bother you so late. I have a few questions that I didn't have time to ask you just now. Could you please answer them when you have time? First, can I really not take on roles during my freshman and sophomore years? I'm a bit worried about whether this will..."

It was a very long text message. Dilireba spent over half an hour carefully choosing her words. By the time she sent it, it was already past 12:00 AM, and she fell asleep as soon as she turned over.

It wasn't until she woke up the next morning that she saw the reply.

"I'll come find you again at 8:00 PM tonight."

Chen Nuo was very patient and not angry at all.

Even though he knew from Dilireba's text that the hour of talking he did last night had basically been a waste of breath.

But so what?

Women, isn't it perfectly normal for talking to them to be like talking to a brick wall?

Since she didn't understand, I'll just explain it again.

Face to face, I'll make things clear.

In short, I'll demonstrate my sincerity.

Back then, Liu Xuande, as a descendant of the Prince of Zhongshan, didn't hesitate to visit the thatched cottage three times, eventually gaining the loyal service of Prime Minister Zhuge, who dedicated his life to the Shu Kingdom.

As a mere descendant of a Long'an real estate boss, what airs did he, Chen Nuo, have to put on?

"There's really no need to rush during your freshman and sophomore years. How old are you this year? 18? 19? Oh, 18, right. Then what are you rushing for? Study hard at school, learn to act, and by the time you come out to take roles, you'll only be 20. 20! So young! When I was 20, I didn't even know what I was doing, and you can already come out to take roles and act..."

"I know what you were doing, you had already won..."

"What?" Chen Nuo didn't hear clearly what Dilireba was muttering.

Dilireba cleared her throat and said, "Chen Zong, it seems you had already won many awards by the time you were 20. Like Berlin, Golden Horse, and even the Oscars..."

Chen Nuo was stunned for a moment, frowned, and thought about it. Mainly, his memory wasn't great, and he had won a few too many awards, making it hard to keep track. Finally, he counted on his fingers and said, "No Golden Horse, that was at twenty-one. The Oscars, I was almost 22 then. If you start at 20, it's definitely not too late. One step up every year, climbing steadily. Two years is enough. When you go to the Kodak Theatre to accept an award then, remember to thank me."

After Chen Nuo finished speaking, he felt he was talking nonsense.

Damn, it's been a long time since I picked up girls; I've lost my sense of proportion.

He tilted his head to look at Dilireba, who was looking down and silent, knowing that she couldn't quite swallow this "big pie."

He quickly changed the subject and said, "I also know what you're thinking. Do you feel that since you have a bit of fame now, you want to strike while the iron is hot?"

Dilireba nodded honestly and let out an "um."

Chen Nuo shook his head and said, "Pang Xiaodi, your future lies in the stars and the sea; what does this little bit of heat count for? 'Sweet Potato Sister,' is that name very pleasant to hear? How is it any different from calling you 'Club Sister'? You tell me? In my opinion, that's an insult, you know?"

"You've been on the Weibo trending list a few times, what does that heat count for? Is it that impressive? Isn't that just something you can do if you have a face? Is being good-looking considered an advantage? Do you know what price one has to pay to look a little less good?"

Dilireba opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, she didn't say it.

Chen Nuo continued: "Take me for example, I'm about to start losing weight for a new film again. Do you know how many jin I have to lose?"

Dilireba asked blankly, "How many?"

"40 jin."

"Ah?"

"40 jin, just to look a little less good. You tell me, isn't that miserable? Can you still say being good-looking is an advantage?"

"I..." Dilireba wanted to say something more, but in the end, she swallowed her words.

Chen Nuo sighed.

Losing 40 jin of body weight to fit the image of a 19th-century opium smoker with a queue.

This was something Quentin had communicated with him about recently.

Speaking of which, it was bizarre. The investors hadn't been found, the contract hadn't been signed—in other words, it wasn't even known if the film could be made—yet the two leads and the director were already preparing. It was as if they were completely ignoring the possibility that it might not get made.

He was losing weight, and Leonardo was gaining weight.

His goal was to lose 40 jin, and Leonardo's was to gain 30 jin.

He needed a nutritionist's assistance, while Leonardo could just eat normally.

Damn.

"So, settle down and study for a while. Everything will come in the future. I'll only say this once. Think about it carefully."

Chen Nuo said earnestly.

In all fairness, the latter part of what he said was definitely not "drawing a pie."

The earlier part about "one step at a time, walking into the Kodak in two years" was, and he admitted that.

But the latter part, he really wasn't talking nonsense.

After finishing his chat with Dilireba and looking at her expression, Chen Nuo felt the matter was in the bag.

Although the girl said she wanted to go back and think about it when she got out of the car, he truly didn't believe there were any more problems after he had said so much.

Speaking of which, Uncle Liu visited the thatched cottage three times and met a Prime Minister who drew a pie for him.

He, in recruiting Reba, was drawing the pie himself.

The difference is clear.

Who says a second-generation real estate heir isn't as good as a second-generation royal heir?

"Beijing Love Story" started filming on August 9th.

Chen Sicheng wrote, directed, and starred in it, gathering a group of powerful actors and popular stars; it could be called star-studded.

The starring lineup included Tong Liya, Zhang Yi, Li Chen, Yang Mi, Tong Dawei, and others, all of whom were hot figures in the circle at the time.

The script was not only backed by the heart-and-soul script written by the self-proclaimed screenwriter Chen Sicheng and the actual screenwriter Li Yaling,

but it also incorporated the fireworks of the city of Beijing and the bitterness and sweetness of love, making it a grand urban emotional drama. Even just starting filming was enough to earn plenty of attention, with the topic fully maxed out.

Every word above is true, except that Tong Liya was a bit fake.

Not fake, just that her virtue didn't match her position.

When filming started, the crew members were whispering privately, wondering why such an unknown actress had been found to play the female lead.

Later, they found out, "Heh," she really had a background; it was said she was the female lead for Jiang Wen's upcoming new film.

Even later, they found out, "Heh," it turned out the film's director was interested in her.

No wonder.

Today, they were filming an emotional scene between Shen Bing and Cheng Feng at the entrance of a hutong.

A hutong scene was set up on the set, with a few bicycles piled up against the blue brick wall.

Chen Sicheng was in a suit, and Tong Liya was wearing a white shirt and a beige trench coat. The two stood still, and the script supervisor clapped the clapperboard with a "pop."

Chen Sicheng said: "Shen Bing, don't go, we haven't finished talking about this matter!"

He took a step forward, his tone urgent, his hand waving in mid-air, as if he wanted to grab her shoulder but didn't dare to actually do it.

Tong Liya turned her head, frowning, her eyes a bit red: "Cheng Feng, are you done yet? I said, I'm tired."

After speaking, she turned to leave.

Chen Sicheng said: "Tired? Even if you're tired, you can't just walk away like this!"

He chased after her and blocked her path.

The two were close now; he looked down at her, panting, then grabbed her arm and shouted: "What exactly do you want me to do?"

Tong Liya held her head high, the light hitting her face, reflecting her face that was delicate to an excessive degree.

Her eyebrows were as delicate as a painting, the corners of her eyes slightly upturned, her nose bridge straight, carrying a bit of the unique exotic charm of a Xinjiang girl. At this moment, a gust of wind blew, her hair was blown a bit messy, a few strands sticking to the side of her face, setting off her skin as white as jade.

Then she suddenly shouted back: "I... I want you to stop clinging to me like this, okay?"

"Cut!"

Chen Sicheng called stop himself, his tone a bit irritable, and turned to wave at the camera: "No, no, do it again! Take a break."

He didn't say who was not good enough, just sat back by the monitor, looking at the image inside, his brows locked tight.

The assistant director came over and lowered his voice: "Director Chen, does it feel wrong? Why not add a kiss? At the end, if there's no kiss, the two of them look like they're just messing around..."

After speaking, he gave a hehe laugh and added: "Do you want me to go talk to her?"

"Talk? How will you talk?" Chen Sicheng glanced at him.

"I'll just tell the truth, add a kiss scene here, otherwise the emotion won't come up." The assistant director looked indifferent.

Chen Sicheng's face was gloomy, and he didn't say anything.

He knew clearly in his heart that the scene just now wasn't stuck because of the kiss scene, but because he was so mesmerized by Tong Liya's face that he forgot all his lines.

Recently, when filming opposite her, this kind of thing happened more and more frequently.

Chen Sicheng had never felt this way about any woman in his life—that kind of man's love and desire for a woman, emerging bit by bit from the bottom of his heart, burning him like fire until he was distracted and dazed, his state getting worse day by day.

Ironically, looking at it this way, he had truly substituted himself into the state of the male lead in the play.

If he added a kiss scene to relieve this itching longing, it would most likely make the scene better.

However, he knew the assistant director didn't think that way at all.

Chen Sicheng knew clearly that the whole crew probably saw his feelings for Tong Liya. This short, fat assistant director was speaking grandly, but in fact, he was intentionally giving him a ladder, wanting him to take advantage of the situation.

Before, he still wanted to put on a show; after all, the contract was there, and he had to save some face.

But now, his mind was full of Tong Liya's delicate appearance in the night wind just now; how could he care about his image? He hardened his heart and cursed secretly: "Fuck, what's the point of pretending? A bastard doesn't take advantage when he can."

But forcing it definitely wouldn't work.

A man's brain turns faster than anyone else's at times like this. Chen Sicheng squinted and pondered for a moment, immediately had an idea, turned to the assistant director and said: "You go tell her, just say that for the sake of the play, we need to add a kiss scene here to sublimate the emotion. Not that kind of sticky long kiss, just me leaning in for a forced kiss, and then she pushes me away hard, creating some conflict, it's that simple."

When the assistant director heard this, he grinned, his eyes showing a bit of admiration, and nodded: "Okay, Director, I'll go right now."

Watching the short, fat assistant director's back as he walked away, Chen Sicheng felt a bit smug.

He knew clearly that brute force was the worst strategy.

He had to be more circuitous and find a way to break through from the side.

For example, this excuse just now, how wonderful—it was completely for the sake of the plot, reasonable and fair, and could really make the play look better. As a professional actor, what fault could she find?

What's even more wonderful is that once some bottom lines are opened, the gap will only get bigger and bigger.

This time it's just a forced kiss, what about next time? And the time after that?

After a while, the assistant director returned, but his face didn't look good, and he said in a low voice: "Director Chen, she won't do it."

Chen Sicheng was stunned and frowned: "Won't do it?"

The assistant director scratched his head, his tone a bit awkward: "She said... she doesn't want to film it."

"Doesn't want to?" Chen Sicheng sneered, "A professional actor, and she doesn't even have this bit of professionalism? Is she here to film or to be a princess?"

The assistant director laughed sheepishly, didn't dare to answer, shrugged his shoulders, and retreated to the side.

Chen Sicheng stared at the monitor, his face even gloomier.

The previous wishful thinking didn't work, making him feel humiliated.

Is she really that conservative?

Fuck her mother, I don't believe it. Chen Sicheng thought fiercely.

On the other side, Tong Liya was in a state of chaos.

She sat on the rest chair, her fingers unconsciously picking at the rubber on the armrest.

The assistant director said there was indeed some truth to it—adding a kiss scene here would indeed make the emotion fuller. And as a professional actor, it was indeed as he said, these scenes were trivial, and could even be said to be part of the job.

But she just couldn't do it.

It wasn't being pretentious, nor was it being unprofessional, and it wasn't even just because the contract stated no kiss scenes.

It was that whenever she thought about acting in such scenes with others, a sense of rejection surged from the bottom of her heart, like a stone blocking her, pressing down on her so heavily that she couldn't breathe.

She really didn't want to.

But now the director wanted to go back on his word, what should she do?

Her agent, Brother Zhou, happened not to be on set today, and there wasn't even anyone to discuss it with.

"Tong Liya, the director is calling you over."

The assistant director came over again.

She took a deep breath, followed him to the monitor, squeezed out a smile, and greeted: "Director Chen."

Chen Sicheng also smiled, his tone quite gentle: "Old Ning told you just now, right?"

"Um, he told me."

"I know, we have this clause in our contract, but filming until now, you as an actor should also feel that sometimes kiss scenes are unavoidable. Between lovers, there must be some intimate actions. This time it's not about doing anything real, just a light touch, you push me away, and the emotion comes out, which can be better conveyed to the audience. Don't you think?"

Tong Liya lowered her head slightly, staring at the ground in front of him, and said softly: "... Um."

Chen Sicheng was happy in his heart, thinking she had loosened up, and hurriedly said: "That's fine, go prepare, I'll come over and run through it with you in a while, how about that?"

Tong Liya was silent for two seconds, then said in a low voice: "Director, I still think... it's better if we follow the contract."

The smile on Chen Sicheng's face froze, and his brows frowned: "A contract is a contract, but now I am the director, and I am talking to you about the play. Do you understand?"

"I understand... but since the contract was signed, I think it's better to do it according to the contract."

Chen Sicheng waved his hand impatiently: "Don't keep mentioning the contract to me, just one word, are you filming or not?"

Tong Liya bit her lip and said in a low voice: "I... still think it's better not to add a kiss scene."

As soon as these words came out, Chen Sicheng stood up with a "thump," his face livid, and sneered: "Fine, you're tough! If you don't film, then don't film, let's stop here for today, dismissed!"

He turned and walked away angrily, without looking back, leaving a bunch of people on the crew looking at each other.

Some whispered, some started to pack up.

Tong Liya stood on the spot, feeling the gazes and whispers from all directions, lowered her head to look at the ground, and tears finally welled up, sliding down her cheeks.

After all, she was just a girl who had graduated not long ago.

This was only her second play since graduation.

Returning to the hotel room, Tong Liya didn't even take off her clothes and just lay on the bed.

At 5:30 PM, it was dinner time. She had been filming for a whole day, and logically speaking, she should be tired and hungry, but there was no hunger in her stomach. She stared blankly at the ceiling, as if she had lost her soul.

His shadow kept coming and going in her mind, unable to be driven away.

The longing was like a tide, filling her whole being.

What is he doing?

Tong Liya really wanted to give him a call, to hear his voice, even if it was just a "I'm busy."

But they had only spoken three days ago, and she didn't want him to think she was too clingy, too lacking in sense. So, she could only grit her teeth and endure, forcibly suppressing that impulse.

Just then, her phone rang.

Tong Liya looked down, and the two characters "Chen Nuo" jumping on the screen instantly made her dull mood come alive from the inside out, like a drought-stricken wasteland welcoming rain.

She quickly pressed the answer button, her voice carrying an uncontrollable joy: "Hello?"

"Hello, Yaya, I have something to ask you. Do you know Dilireba?"

Tong Liya was stunned for a moment; she never expected Chen Nuo to suddenly mention this name, and her brain couldn't turn around for a moment.

The other side said again: "Dilireba Dilmurat."

Tong Liya reacted: "Ah, yes, I know her, I've met her once."

"How do you know her?"

Tong Liya steadied herself, remembering the scene where she was chatting with that beautiful Uyghur girl next to her at a banquet in Urumqi, and said: "We met at a dinner party in Xinjiang before. She sat next to me, she was quite good-looking, and we chatted a few times. Later, she asked me which school was good to apply to, and I just said a few words."

She paused and asked curiously: "What's wrong?"

"Oh, it's like this..."

Chen Nuo roughly explained the matter on the other end of the phone. After listening, Tong Liya couldn't help but burst into laughter: "She actually got in! Amazing! And then, when are you signing the contract?"

"Sign my ass!"

Chen Nuo cursed angrily.

Three days ago, he had a smooth chat with Dilireba, and he thought he had explained the future and the stakes thoroughly, but just five minutes ago, a long text message came over, directly confusing him.

That text message was sent by the "future cash cow" in his eyes.

It was over six hundred words, starting from how she accidentally met a sister surnamed "Tong," talking about how she traveled thousands of miles to Beijing, how she was lucky enough to get into the Beijing Film Academy... rambling on and on, and finally turning to the main point—an apology.

The meaning was roughly: Chen Zong, you are too awesome, your field is too high-end, a little girl like me really can't climb high, so I decided to sign with Shanghai Tang Ren Film and Television, I'm really sorry to disappoint your good intentions, etc.

Tong Liya, listening to Chen Nuo's retelling on the phone, was also a bit confused for a moment.

Someone would actually refuse an invitation from Huanxin Company? Really?

Of course, she didn't know that Yang Zi had treated Dilireba to a "brainwashing meal." But she knew that Dilireba was absolutely clueless about the mainland entertainment industry, otherwise, she wouldn't have foolishly asked her which school to apply to back then.

"Why don't you chat with her again and explain?" she said tentatively.

"Explain my ass! My lips are almost worn out, but she's impervious to reason. I think she's asking for trouble!"

"Oh," Tong Liya responded softly.

Hearing the other side angry, logically she should help her fellow villager explain a few words. But she didn't want to say anything, and even a sense of sourness welled up in her heart.

She was in a bad mood today and wanted to act spoiled and complain to him.

But as soon as he opened his mouth, it was all about other women.

Although she understood that this jealousy was unreasonable, that uncomfortable feeling was like a small thorn, pricking her heart.

The man on the other end of the phone seemed not to notice at all, saying carelessly: "Alright, that's it. I'm just quite surprised; she said she knew a sister surnamed Tong, and I thought of you. It turned out to be you. Quite a coincidence, huh?"

"... It is quite a coincidence."

"How is your filming? Is it going smoothly?"

Tong Liya had the words on the tip of her tongue, but swallowed them back, pretending nothing happened: "It's going smoothly."

"That's good. Alright, that's it. By the way, within half an hour, someone should come to knock on your door. If no one comes, call me again. Alright, hanging up. I'll think about how to handle this. Damn, Cai Yinong, digging my wall. You've got guts!"

The phone hung up, and Tong Liya didn't react for a moment.

Chen Nuo's last words were fast and urgent, and she was really a bit confused.

But fortunately, the "half an hour" he spoke of wasn't really half an hour, but only about 30 seconds later, Tong Liya's doorbell was pressed.

She was full of curiosity.

Who is it?

Could it be flowers for her? Or some other gift?

She had already had her birthday. August 8th, the day before filming started, he was in Long'an at the time, but he still ordered a very beautiful big cake for her.

So what kind of surprise is it this time?

Tong Liya walked to the door and looked out through the peephole.

Her mood instantly sank, as if a basin of cold water had been poured on her.

Standing outside the door was none other than the culprit who made her mood hit rock bottom today.

At this time, what is he here for?

Did I really run into it?

No way, the director still looks quite like a gentleman, he can't be this kind of person, right?

She frowned, hesitated for a moment, but finally put on the door chain and only opened the door a narrow crack.

Tong Liya poked half her face through the crack in the door and squeezed out a polite smile: "Director, is there anything?" But in her heart, she secretly made up her mind that if this guy dared to have any inappropriate thoughts, she wouldn't be soft-handed.

But what she didn't expect was that Chen Sicheng's face was actually full of smiles—that kind of fawning smile she had never seen before, his eyes and nose squeezed together, like a pug, completely different from the furious, majestic director on set an hour ago.

What Tong Liya didn't know was that when Chen Sicheng followed the "Spring Breeze" crew to Cannes to compete, he had also used this "face-changing skill" in front of someone.

"Sorry to disturb your rest, Yaya. Hahaha, actually, it's no big deal, it's just that Director Cao from New Classics Media called me just now. Hey, sorry, really sorry, today is all my fault."

Chen Sicheng rubbed his hands and said with a smile: "Originally, since the contract was signed, we should do things according to the contract, it was me who didn't think it through. Hahaha, my fault, my fault. But it was all for the sake of the play, I didn't mean anything else. Please understand. Hahaha."

Tong Liya was stunned, her brain couldn't turn around for a moment, completely unable to understand how things turned out like this.

But her stunned look fell into Chen Sicheng's eyes, and it became something else.

Damn, really hard to deal with. It really wasn't that easy to get past. He cursed secretly in his heart.

Director Chen had calculated everything but didn't expect that this woman actually had a relationship with Director Cao of New Classics Media.

She really was hiding her strength; no wonder she dared to mention not filming this or that to him back then. It turned out she already had a trump card in her heart, knowing he didn't dare not use her.

But what is her background?

Why did even Director Cao have a look of deep mystery when mentioning her?

Damn it, don't be so scary, okay? Could she really be the wife of some big shot?

Damn.

Actually, I should have thought of it earlier; how could a woman with such looks not have an owner?

And looking at it this period of time, obviously her acting skills were just so-so, yet she could play the female lead in Jiang Wen's play as soon as she graduated from school. Is it possible this isn't a connection?

This background, it's estimated to be sky-high.

Chen Sicheng felt his scalp tingle the more he thought about it.

Although he did take a fancy to the other party, where in the world is there no grass? Isn't a beautiful woman just like that after a long time? Why bother?

He was the one who knew best how to bend and stretch. Seeing Tong Liya's cold face and silence, he hurriedly slapped himself twice lightly, squeezing out an even brighter smile: "Sorry, sorry, I really didn't know. Hahaha... Alright, I won't disturb you anymore."

Finally, he accidentally let it slip and added: "Rest well, Madam."

Chen Sicheng slipped away.

Madam?

What does that mean?

Tong Liya closed the door, leaned against the back of the door and pondered for a while, then suddenly the corners of her mouth curved, and she laughed softly.

The laughter was small at first, but the more she thought about it, the more she couldn't help it. She took two quick steps, threw herself onto the bed, and laughed until her shoulders shook.

After a while, she calmed down, picked up her phone, and sent a text message.

"Is it you?"

The other side replied in seconds: "He came?:)"

"He came ^_^"

"I said, if he has any opinions, tell me, forgot?"

"Hee hee, I remember now."

"OK. Let's not talk for now, damn, I'm going to find your fellow villager to settle the score, little girl, actually daring to play me."

"Good. Teach her a good lesson."

Tong Liya stared at the phone screen, flipping back and forth through these few short chat records several times.

She didn't know how he got connected with the investor of this play—Director Cao of New Classics Media, but at this moment, none of that mattered. She only felt the happiness in her heart almost overflowing.

She discovered that her previous feeling was not wrong at all.

He was really like a harbor without waves, steadily guarding there, allowing her, a small boat drifting outside for too long, to finally have a place to dock.

After a while, her stomach growled, and Tong Liya came back to her senses, humming a little tune and pushing the door out to forage.

The moment she closed the door, a bit of curiosity suddenly popped up in her heart.

Yes, just curiosity, the previous sour jealousy had long since dissipated completely.

He said he was going to find her little fellow villager to settle the score?

I wonder how he will calculate it.

PS:

400 monthly tickets, add 2000 words.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 358 =====