Chapter 44: August

In August 2002, the hottest topics in the Mainland music scene were undoubtedly the Cheng Chen and A Du plagiarism incident and the upcoming Huayu Yinyuehui Singer Competition.

Looking at the entire entertainment circle, if we shift our gaze two thousand kilometers away to Gang Sheng, we would find a sensational major event unfolding there.

The hottest rising star Xie Tingfeng held a press conference at the Emperor Entertainment office building to address his withdrawal from the entertainment circle.

The press conference lasted roughly half an hour, and within that limited time, he issued a rather interesting personal statement.

It said that since entering the industry at sixteen, he had basically taken very few vacations and rarely had time to be with his family.

This year his grandmother turned ninety, and he had once promised to set aside time to keep her company.

On January 1st of this year, he had made a New Year's wish, hoping the media would pay more attention to his career this year, but the media's subsequent behavior left him deeply disappointed and made him want to quit the entertainment circle.

He would officially leave Gang Sheng in early September, but he himself did not know when he would return.

Throughout August, he would complete all his pending work, including releasing an album, advertising jobs, and unfinished film scenes and performances.

But anyone with eyes could see he was holding this press conference because of the "substitute driver case," and his exit from the entertainment circle was a move made out of helplessness.

This "star second-generation," who had attracted widespread attention from birth, was not only a triple threat in film, television, and music, but was also entangled with actresses like Wang Fei and Zhang Baizhi.

He dominated the headlines in Gang Sheng and even the whole nation, enjoying unrivaled fame, and finally ended his entertainment career this year.

When asked by reporters:

"You're quitting the entertainment circle in September, which is also when the 'substitute driver case' will be sentenced. Are you worried you might be found guilty and jailed, which is why you've decided to temporarily withdraw?"

Xie Tingfeng replied:

"No, it's mainly because I feel too tired, and it has nothing to do with any other issues."

Another reporter asked:

"So many reporters are chasing you for interviews only because too many things have happened to you. Do you admit that?"

Xie Tingfeng decisively shook his head and refused:

"I don't deny that I've made mistakes, but I'm also very disappointed with the way the Gang Sheng media operates."

Listen to this — that's what high emotional intelligence sounds like.

Whether he's wrong or not, the blame is always on the media. His leaving the entertainment circle is because he was poisoned and forced out by the media — he's the victim!

But no matter what, Xie Tingfeng's departure from the circle still left his fans heartbroken; some even did all sorts of foolish things in a bid to keep him, repeatedly making the news.

When Cheng Chen saw these news stories, he was utterly speechless. They certainly didn't know that their Brother Tingfeng would make a powerful comeback next year.

When they looked back later at the foolish things they'd done, he wondered if they'd regret it.

But this had nothing to do with Cheng Chen. Right now, he had returned to the state of filming "Heaven Sword."

While filming with the "Criminal Police" crew, he also attended the opera class of Professor Wang Quan at Central Academy of Drama.

Wang Quan was a professor in the Peking Opera department at Central Academy of Drama. The moment he heard Cheng Chen was introduced by Luo Tong to study opera, he immediately approved Cheng Chen to attend classes together with the sophomores.

Cheng Chen wasn't studying opera systematically; he was only practicing because of a singing style in a song, so Wang Quan often gave this auditing student extra lessons.

This treatment made Cheng Chen feel flattered. Later, he learned from Tang Wei that Professor Wang Quan had actually had a past with Luo Laotou when they were young.

Now both of them were divorced and single, and when Professor Wang Quan taught Cheng Chen opera, he would casually inquire about Luo Laotou's recent situation.

This made Cheng Chen exclaim that talented men remained popular even in their old age!

……

"Here comes Xiao Cheng."

"Hey, Sister Chen, I bought some fruit on the way. Teacher Ying Da, you all come have some too.

"

Walking into the crew's makeup room, Cheng Chen greeted everyone familiarly.

"You kid, everyone else comes to the crew to act every day, but you — like a wholesale dealer, you haul every good thing into the crew. Doesn't your partner care?"

The woman Cheng Chen addressed as Sister Chen was Chen Jin, one of the main cast of "The Story of Criminal Police."

Some viewers might not be familiar with this older sister; the younger audience may not have seen some of her earlier works, but mention Su Mother's Zhao Meilan, the wife of Su Daqiang in "Du Ting Hao," and people immediately grit their teeth.

She portrayed a domineering wife who was sharp-tongued and mean, with conservative views and a preference for boys over girls.

She played a domestic tyrant to perfection, earning unanimous "curses" from the audience.

Besides "Du Ting Hao," she also appeared in works like "Aftershock" and "Ode to Joy 2."

Every famous actor has their own representative works. When audiences pay attention to their works,

their gaze also drifts into their personal lives. Since her debut, Chen Jin had played many classic roles and won countless awards.

Yet her romantic life was remarkably blank — no scandals had ever been linked to her name, and her views were more progressive than most.

She and her brother had made a childhood pact to never marry, embracing a philosophy of non-marriage.

Looking at this beautiful woman before him, Cheng Chen didn't think her views were all that unacceptable — everyone thinks differently, no need to dig deeper.

"The day I leave the crew, I'll really miss this kid bringing fruit, cold tea, and whatnot every few days."

The plump Ying Da took a bite of apple and said with a grin.

This one needs no introduction — everyone knows him. But when people mention him, more think of his ex-wife, the famous actress Song Dandan.

Years after their divorce, the two had publicly traded insults on social media, drawing sighs from many.

"Mainly because I wanted to eat it myself, but it'd look bad eating alone, so I dragged everyone along. When Director Wang scolds me, you all have to help share the fire!"

Cheng Chen said with a grin.

"Geez, this kid is sly — he's been waiting for us here, hahaha."

Chen Jin ate grapes and pointed at Cheng Chen, laughing and scolding him.

The scene of a few people bantering and laughing was nothing new to the others.

When Cheng Chen first joined the crew, some people actually recognized him — wow, a hot pop star!

Don't think crew members don't follow celebrities. A mysterious singer like Cheng Chen, who had risen to fame overnight and was all the rage, was especially popular with young people.

Among friends boasting and guessing which mysterious singer was behind the songs playing on every street corner,

Then you directly pull out a photo with the mysterious singer.

Damn, your show-off aura is maxed out!

But as Cheng Chen's visits to the set increased, everyone soon grew used to it.

So what if he's the mysterious singer? He's still got two eyes, one nose, and one mouth.

Cheng Chen took out some fruit and shared it with other actors and crew in the makeup room, then sat down and let the makeup artist do as she pleased.

"Teacher Cheng, are you sure? Once I bring down these shears, your flowing hair is gone!"

The makeup artist asked again beside him.

"Go ahead, Tony, I've been mentally prepared."

Cheng Chen smiled.

"Call me William!"

"Yes, Tony."

…