Chapter 832: Being Thought Of

Ma Rui caught the faint scent of perfume on her, and his whole person felt a bit floaty. However, he had always been quick-tongued, so he spoke his thoughts directly: "Sister, I think you have more charm now than you do acting in the drama."

"Screw you!" Yang Jing immediately scolded with a laugh, slapping him on the arm, "Are you saying I don't know how to act, you brat?"

"Sister Yang, I feel more comfortable when you talk like that. That look you just gave me was like a man-eating spirit from Strange Tales of Liaozhai; I felt a chill down my back." Ma Rui continued joking, shrinking his neck.

"Ma Rui has such a foul mouth!" The art director, Sun Ning, shook his head with a smile.

Director Wang, however, gave Ma Rui a serious look and said slowly, "I think Ma Rui will be a hit in the future. Small eyes, a slick tongue, and a bit of a rascal—this image almost never existed in movies before."

Hearing this, Yang Jing was a bit dismissive of Director Wang's words: "Little brother, don't let Director Wang fool you. Sister is telling you the truth: with your looks, it's a bit of a struggle to be a leading man."

Ma Rui wasn't angry when he heard this. Instead, he said with a grin, "It's not bad to play supporting roles well, either."

In reality, Yang Jing quite liked Ma Rui; he was very genuine and not pretentious.

She sighed and advised him from the bottom of her heart: "Actually, this acting profession is really hard to do. You spend years running between sets, being picked over by others. When filming, you're out in the wind and rain; it looks glamorous, but it's actually very bitter. Little brother, your family background is good, so it's best not to do this. If you really want to, you should be a producer."

As she spoke, the people in the private room suddenly quieted down.

Ma Rui looked at her profile, and a sudden, indescribable heartache surged in his heart. He blurted out, "Sister, don't worry. Once I have the power to call the shots, I will definitely help you get some roles to play."

Yang Jing looked up, her eyes shimmering as if filled with water. She reached out and patted the back of his hand twice, saying softly, "Little brother has a kind heart."

Throughout the evening, Yang Jing took great care of Ma Rui, picking food for him and pouring water from time to time, though she would occasionally choke him with a few words.

After a few rounds, Yang Jing had figured him out—this kid responds to hard, not soft, tactics; translated into plain language, he doesn't like delicate, pampered types.

Several old hands saw this and laughed, fanning the flames and constantly egging the two on to drink a toast with arms linked.

Ma Rui drank a few cups, his face burning red.

Yang Jing's eyes were also hazy from the alcohol; she rested her hand on his shoulder, her fingertips gently pinching his shoulder.

The relationship between the two suddenly became ambiguous on this night.

The night grew late, and the streetlights stretched their shadows long.

Ma Rui pushed open the door to his home, dizzy and disoriented. Before he could even change his shoes, his ear was precisely pinched by a hand.

"Ouch—it hurts, it hurts, it hurts!"

He Yushui smelled the alcohol all over him, and her face sank: "Tell me, where did you go tonight, you brat?"

Ma Rui put on a fawning smile and grimaced: "Someone from the crew invited me to dinner."

He Yushui snorted in annoyance: "Who are you trying to fool? Did you go to Quanjude to treat someone?"

Ma Rui was suddenly scared silly, his voice changing pitch: "Mom, did you send someone to follow me?"

"Do I have so much free time that I'd follow you?" He Yushui let go, sat on the sofa, and crossed her arms, saying, "Let me tell you, your aunt is treating foreign merchants to dinner in the private room right next to yours. She was the one who called me and told me to keep an eye on you, so you don't get bewitched by some vixen. Tell me, what exactly is going on?"

Ma Rui panicked and hurriedly leaned in to explain: "Mom, my aunt is just like that; she didn't even say hello when she saw me. She only knows part of the story. The person I helped out when we finished was the second female lead of our crew. In the plot, I chase her, but I don't catch her in the end; she runs off with a rich man..."

He Yushui scolded: "Are you infatuated with her? Let me tell you, these people don't really like you; they're just eyeing your background."

"Mom, I have my own judgment," Ma Rui said anxiously. "Although she has a bit of a rough, street-smart air, she's actually quite a good person. She's also quite pitiful; both her parents are ill, and her family is very short on money."

He Yushui went up and kicked him: "You little brat! Those are all standard lines women use to elicit sympathy; don't believe everything everyone says. I think you should stop going to that Film Academy. Just go to He Zheng's company and learn alongside him."

Ma Rui shook his head: "I'm not going. I'm not interested in that stuff. Besides, if I go there, it'll look like I'm going to ask for money."

He Yushui glared at him in annoyance: "Since you got into the Film Academy, I won't stop you. But you have to apply yourself; you can't just hang around the crew every day at such a young age. Tell me, where did you get the money to treat people tonight?"

Ma Rui said with a grin: "It's the payment from this drama."

He Yushui sneered: "You spent two thousand four on a single meal, and you're still spouting nonsense to me."

Ma Rui blinked, looking shocked: "Mom, how are you like a spy? You even know how much I spent?"

"Do you think I want to know?" He Yushui rolled her eyes. "It was all your aunt who told me. She's also afraid you'll go astray and get cheated by someone."

Ma Rui had no choice but to tell the truth: "My money was given to me by my uncle. He ran into me while I was filming at Shichahai a few days ago and gave me three thousand yuan."

He Yushui scolded: "Who are you trying to fool? Your uncle only gave you three thousand? Even a fool wouldn't believe that."

Ma Rui changed his tune: "Ten thousand, I—"

He Yushui interrupted him: "At least fifty thousand."

Ma Rui was shocked, his mouth hanging wide open: "Did my uncle tell you about the money he gave me?"

"Is your uncle that kind of person?" He Yushui snorted. "I guessed."

Only then did Ma Rui realize he had let something slip, and he said with a mournful face: "Mom, the money was given to me by my uncle; you can't take it back."

He Yushui sighed, her tone softening: "Keep it. Your aunt also told me that if you want to make it in this circle, you have to build up some connections. I've figured it out now; since you're in this line of work, then study it well. But I'm warning you, don't ever hang out with people who have bad habits. And those women, you need to be careful too."

Ma Rui nodded repeatedly: "Mom, I know. I've seen all kinds of people since I was little; I know what everyone wants. But... that Yang Jing is really quite pitiful. Whatever drama you're going to film next, give her a hand!"

When He Yushui heard this, her face turned dark again: "Still saying you weren't seduced? You've only filmed one drama and you're already trying to find work for others. Let me make this clear: I have no roles for her."

"Didn't you say a few days ago that there's a drama going to the United States? Just give her a role in that."

"I haven't decided whether to invest in it yet. Besides, that crew only wants investment; they don't let us send people in," He Yushui said crossly.

"Mom, who is the male lead in that drama?"

"The male lead is Jiang Wen."

Ma Rui's eyes lit up: "Jiang Wen is a great actor! You should invest quickly!"

He Yushui shook her head: "The price they quoted is 1.3 million US dollars. The cost of living in the United States is so high, I'm afraid they'll run out of money halfway through and then ask me to cover the deficit. I don't want to be a sucker."

Ma Rui said anxiously: "My uncle understands the cost of living in the United States; why don't you ask him!"

He Yushui leaned back on the sofa and said listlessly: "Wait until he comes back; he's gone to Shanghai again."