Chapter 6: Smashing Concrete Isn't That Bad

Fire Phoenix Hotel, smoking area.

Beside Qi Hui Hui handed Liqun cigarettes to his senior and junior brothers, and the three of them inhaled and exhaled the fragrant white smoke together.

With Liqun cigarettes, smoking alone is just self-interest; smoking with a group is truly benefiting the group.

"I heard the actress playing the second female lead is from Hong Kong Island," Ling Xiaosu shared the news he knew.

Zhang Ruoyun immediately felt a toothache upon hearing this: "The first female lead is Korean, and the second female lead is from Hong Kong Island?"

"One speaks Korean, the other speaks Cantonese... can they even continue filming?"

He had already stumbled over his lines during the audition just now.

"It's not just the language," Beside Qi Hui Hui said. "The script is also in three languages."

Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Korean.

Even if you want to read the script or know the other person's lines, it's not that easy.

Hearing this, Zhang Ruoyun inhaled a mouthful of secondhand smoke.

"Now do you know why I didn't want to act?" Ling Xiaosu took a deep drag of his cigarette.

Acting this would be deadly!

Just thinking about it made him so anxious he wanted to speak Shaanxi dialect.

Beside Qi Hui Hui didn't continue the topic but asked Ling Xiaosu for his phone number.

Ling Xiaosu didn't refuse; he gave his phone number to Beside Qi Hui Hui, and a bit more satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

This junior brother is good; handling things makes people feel comfortable.

If Beside Qi Hui Hui asked for the phone number after getting the role, it would carry a hint of gratitude.

If Beside Qi Hui Hui asked for the phone number without getting the role, it would add a hint of sycophancy.

Regardless of the outcome, there was a bit of snobbery in it, making people feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Ling Xiaosu gave out his phone number and also mentioned his QQ number.

Beside Qi Hui Hui took his old Nokia and wrote down both numbers.

"Junior brother, your phone is a bit old," Ling Xiaosu glanced at it and said.

Beside Qi Hui Hui shrugged: "Just graduated, can't help it."

His phone was indeed very old, an old-model Nokia, so old it didn't even have Snake.

And the phones nowadays, although still feature phones, already had QQ online.

Compared to other phones, Beside Qi Hui Hui's phone was like a product from the last era.

At this moment, the cameraman pushed open the glass door of the smoking area and hurried over:

"Teacher Qi, the producer asks you to come over."

"Me?" Beside Qi Hui Hui paused for a moment, and then excitement and nervousness rose in his eyes.

Could it be that I made it?

"Go ahead, junior brother," Ling Xiaosu couldn't suppress his joy in his eyebrows; he knew he had likely already gotten rid of a hot potato.

"Truly enviable..." Zhang Ruoyun muttered.

Playing the male lead right upon debut; even he, a resource-backed actor, couldn't do that.

For the drama "Snow Leopard," he initially wanted the role of Zhou Weiguo.

His father also agreed, after all, good water shouldn't flow to outsiders' fields.

But his beautiful idea of playing the male lead was brutally crushed by the investors.

They claimed that if the male lead wasn't a tattooed character, they would withdraw funding; with no choice, he could only obediently go play a supporting role.

"Senior brother... don't rush to leave in a moment," Beside Qi Hui Hui called out, then followed the cameraman toward the room they had just been in.

"Ruoyun, tell me about Beside Qi Hui Hui," Ling Xiaosu looked at his departing back and said.

Aren't you quite familiar with him... Zhang Ruoyun couldn't help but think resentfully.

"Okay, senior brother."

Audition room.

As soon as Beside Qi Hui Hui entered, the producer stood up and said directly with a smile: "Sorry to keep you waiting, Teacher Qi."

"We have decided to invite you to play the male lead; I wonder if you are willing?"

Upon hearing this, Beside Qi Hui Hui suppressed his rapidly beating heart and slowly nodded: "No problem, it's my honor."

"This is the contract; take a look first," the producer took out a document and casually lifted a suitcase, saying:

"Regarding food and accommodation, we will provide the best hotels and services."

"Regarding remuneration, our production team's price is ten thousand per episode."

"A total of 68 episodes, plus possible subsequent reshoots, the total remuneration is 700,000; do you have any other objections?"

"... Ahem, no objections, we'll follow your lead," Beside Qi Hui Hui flipped through the contract; it was very complete, with clear stipulations on the rights and obligations of both parties, and also conditions for breach of contract penalties.

Beside Qi Hui Hui saw no flaws and immediately signed his name.

Seeing the contract completed, the producer and director also showed smiles.

What they valued was Beside Qi Hui Hui's cost-saving and usefulness.

Immediately, the producer opened the nearby suitcase and took out ten thick stacks of Renminbi.

"This is the first payment of 100,000; the remaining funds will be paid in three installments."

Beside Qi Hui Hui glanced at the suitcase and couldn't help but whistle in surprise; inside were full of red hundred-yuan banknotes.

The total must be several million.

The producer silently closed the suitcase; this money was prepared for Ling Xiaosu, intended to pay his remuneration in a single cash payment to fully demonstrate the production team's sincerity.

Unfortunately, he couldn't see it.

"There's one more thing." Director Lin Tianyi said: "The crew starts work in three months, at the Magic City Film and Television City. Be there on time."

"Huh? Three months?" Beside Qi Hui Hui was stunned for a moment; he'd thought they were starting filming right now.

"Of course it's three months from now." The producer said: "The crew is still in preparation right now; a lot of actors haven't even been cast yet."

……

Leaving the room.

Beside Qi Hui Hui carried the black plastic bag, feeling rather like Wang Duoyu hauling a slab of pork belly.

"Got a hundred thousand that easily…" Beside Qi Hui Hui sighed.

Lay bricks?

What's the bloody point of laying bricks… ahem, laying bricks isn't so bad either.

To house the masses beneath a thousand spacious roofs — build the nation, after all.

It's just that, for me, Qi, the entertainment circle can be even vaster skies and broader horizons!

Beside Qi Hui Hui walked with light steps toward the smoking area; it was time to thank his senior brother and junior brother.

He'd have to treat them to a proper meal.

However, when Beside Qi Hui Hui reached the smoking area, he found both of them gone.

A glance at his phone revealed a text from Little Zhang:

【Senior Brother, Ling Senior Brother and I had something come up and left. We'll find you for drinks next time and fleece you, you big landlord.】

Beside Qi Hui Hui pressed his lips together and shrugged helplessly.

……

The clothing shop.

Beside Qi Hui Hui walked in wearing a white suit.

The boss was still playing games at the counter, while the landlady, her long legs sheathed in stockings, bustled about the shop tidying clothes.

Their son was still watching the animated show "Fruity Robo."

"Landlady." Beside Qi Hui Hui called out.

"Oh? Back already?" The landlady glanced at him, then went back to fussing with her things without looking up:

"Your clothes are in the corner. Change yourself."

"After you change, don't leave yet. I need to inspect my white suit — that thing's precious. Damage, dirt, wrinkles all cost extra, and there's also the dry-cleaning fee, the ironing fee, you'll need to cover…"

"No need." Beside Qi Hui Hui cut off her chatter:

"I'm taking this suit. How much?"

Saying so, he pulled out a thick stack of crisp hundred-yuan bills with a crisp "fwap."

The sight was rather dashing; even the little brat watching "Fruity Robo" couldn't help but widen his eyes.

"Oh? A bit player can earn this much?" The landlady looked Beside Qi Hui Hui up and down — this kid wouldn't have broken the law, would he?

Beside Qi Hui Hui picked up his own clothes from the corner: "Sorry, I'm the lead now."

Hearing this, the landlady's face went blank.

"I am the center of attention, the great lead, hahahaha…" On the TV, little Xiao Guoding sat inside the Fruity Celestial, looking down at the shattered Fruity Robos littering the ground and laughing wildly at the sky.

Beside Qi Hui Hui left a few hundred-yuan bills on the counter, waved his hand, and walked out of the clothing shop carrying his old clothes.

"Mom, I want to be the big lead too when I grow up…" From behind, in the clothing shop, the little boy's voice faintly rang out.