Chapter 162: Grew from Deng Chao into Huang Bo

"Back to the very beginning, standing dazed before the mirror

"Clumsily tying the knot of a red tie

"Combing hair into a grown-up style, putting on a sharp suit

"When I see you later, I'll surely be more beautiful than imagined~"

The pure, melodious voice in the demo drifted over; Chen Hao, who had just taken the "Graduation" EP audition tape from Zhou Yi's hands, hummed along to the melody she had looped until she could sing it, dipped a ladle into the simmering, bubbling white radish and pork rib soup in the kitchen, and lowered her head to savor it carefully.

Three or five seconds later, the corners of her mouth immediately curled up in triumph.

After turning off the heat and ladling all the radishes and ribs into the soup bowl, the moment she lifted the bowl's rim, the scalding sensation made her instantly quicken her pace—

She trotted out of the kitchen, hissing and yelping from the heat in her mouth.

After placing the soup bowl on the glass coffee table in the living room, Chen Hao hurriedly pinched her earlobes with her index fingers and thumbs, and the burning sensation quickly subsided.

The image on the TV screen was still paused on Hunan TV; the rerun of "Happy Camp" had become her top choice for a meal companion today.

Her casual pajamas were loose and baggy yet could not conceal her excellent figure; her long hair, curled by filming, was pinned up in a bun, secured by a single hairpin slanted at the back of her head.

Although it wasn't the first time she had watched it, every time she saw Zhou Yi on the "Happy Camp" stage actually daring to brag about having the title of "Kitchen God," she still couldn't help but laugh out loud.

So much time had passed, and the only things Zhou Yi could still show off were fried noodles, fried rice, and stir-fried pork with chili peppers—the same old three.

Just as she was eating, the phone thrown in the sofa gap suddenly rang—

"Hello?"

"Miss Chen, hello. We are the external filming crew for the program 'Super Visit.' Here is the situation: we are producing a special feature on Zhou Yi and would like to ask if you are interested in accepting our interview..."

"Interview? Are you sure?"

At the CCTV building, Sa Beinan, who had also received a call from the production team, frowned and asked another question out of professional instinct: "Are you really the 'Super Visit' program team?"

This truly could not be blamed on him; in this day and age, there were simply too many gangs scamming people under the names of various program teams, and popular variety shows like "Super Visit" and "Happy Camp" naturally could not escape the scammers' clutches.

As the host of "Today's Law," the fraud cases he had seen were countless.

At the filming site on Peking University campus, the head of the external team, hearing this, could only laugh helplessly; he walked over to Zhou Yi, who was still listening to the director explain the scene to find the right feel, handed him the phone, and explained the situation.

Hearing Zhou Yi's voice, Sa Beinan finally relaxed, and without another word, gave his word: "No problem, I will definitely expose all the embarrassing things you did at school when the time comes."

"In that case, both of us will probably have to appear on 'Today's Law' as examples; I advise you to be kind."

Zhou Yi, who had absolutely no idol baggage, made the entire external filming crew of "Super Visit" laugh until their mouths twisted.

Since host Li Jing took the lead in establishing this project, this was the first time they had filmed such an interesting external segment. They didn't even need to rack their brains to edit; simply releasing Zhou Yi's performance exactly as it was would be the effect.

Most importantly, Zhou Yi was very cooperative with their work and didn't have so many tricks up his sleeve.

Lin Yichen, who had gone through the adjustment since filming began, was no longer as stiff as at the start; when she laughed, she laughed louder than anyone else.

After interacting with this person these days, she also understood why he had so many rumors.

He was really very funny when he spoke.

"Alright, alright, let's shoot one take to try it out." The director, also laughing, clapped his hands, interrupted everyone's laughter, and then spoke.

"I need to find someone to act in the MV for 'Goodbye'; I don't want to suffer anymore."

Zhou Yi, who had just been laughing, immediately started looking for outside help.

He had determined the conceptual framework for the "Graduation" EP, but filling in the MV content still required professionals.

At most, he would coordinate the big picture, responsible for removing elements from the MV script that he found unpleasant, using his own eye to ensure the MV wouldn't look tacky after the arrival of the mobile internet era.

However, looking at it now, the framework plots for "Those Years" and "Goodbye" had been filled out a bit too fully.

The concepts for "Stubborn" and "The Wind Rises" were relatively not too complex; he acted them with ease, it was just a simple MV.

But the side plots of "Those Years" and "Goodbye," if expanded slightly, could be viewed as a complete music micro-film; for him, it was somewhat of a torment.

Although he could act it, it required adjustment, which was too tiring and time-consuming.

Zhou Yi now regretted why he had added so much plot to these two MVs, even though from the director down to Lin Yichen, everyone was quite satisfied with the MV script for "Those Years."

"So, what are the requirements for the actors in 'Goodbye'?"

Qian Jiang, who was responsible for cleaning up Zhou Yi's mess, didn't ask many questions; he opened his small notebook and started recording Zhou Yi's requirements—

"The MV has two stages, two lead actors. One should preferably still be a college student, the other a middle-aged person around thirty who has entered society. The acting must be good, able to portray the youth and middle age in the 'Goodbye' script; a comparison will be needed then."

"No problem, leave it to me."

Qian Jiang, having precisely recorded the requirements, immediately locked his target on the Film Academy in the Imperial Capital.

Although Zhou Yi was somewhat willful, his professional requirements regarding the MV plot were very high; otherwise, he wouldn't have been grinding himself over and over again on the "Those Years" set.

In his own words, since he was acting, he must at least guarantee basic viewing quality and not just fake competence.

Under these circumstances, students from the Film Academy who had received professional training were the most reliable.

…………………………………………………………

Central Academy of Drama campus.

After returning to meet teacher Ma Shuyun and obtaining the relevant preparation materials needed for the People's Art Theatre exam, Chen Hao excitedly called Zhou Yi, only to hear his half-dead tone on the other end of the line—

"Congratulations, congratulations, you are about to complete your Shandong people's ultimate dream."

"What's wrong with you? You sound weak and lifeless."

Hearing Zhou Yi look as if he was about to die, Chen Hao found it hilarious: "It's just an MV, is it that tiring? You acted quite well when you guest-starred as Li Bai, even though the number of NGs was high."

"Let me tell you a joke: the Li Bai with you was one of the roles I acted in that required the least acting."

"I think you'd better not let the director hear that, or he will fight you to the death."

Chen Hao chuckled secretly: "He specifically removed some plot points with slightly more complex emotional expressions just for you."

Pure good intentions were taken as a donkey's liver and lungs (ungratefulness).

However, after listening to Zhou Yi's complaints, Chen Hao thought for a moment and actually offered a candidate: "I've also listened to the song 'Goodbye.' If you are looking for a college student with acting skills, there is someone in our school I think should work.

"He has already dipped his toes into television dramas; although he isn't famous yet, his acting is considered quite good at school, and like you, he is a Jiang Xiren."

As a graduate of the Central Academy of Drama, Chen Hao wasn't too familiar with the Beijing Film Academy side, but she often heard the name of that boy named Deng Chao at her school.

"Deng Chao?"

In the Warner wheat field rest room.

Zhou Yi was originally reviewing the student information brought back by Qian Jiang, but upon seeing Deng Chao's file, he instinctively raised an eyebrow.

That could work.

But Deng Chao at this age playing a middle-aged man, even with a beard attached—

Hmm?

That's not right.

Zhou Yi, suddenly thinking of Huang Bo's face, narrowed his eyes slightly.

Among the people he remembered, although Huang Bo hadn't even reached thirty, his face was so convincing at forty that people would believe it.

PS: Written on a mobile phone on the KTV sofa during the victory celebration; it was tough.

Three chapters tomorrow!

(End of this chapter)