WAM CH3

Li Guangzong’s hands trembled as he tugged at Shao Si’s sleeve.

Yet Shao Si had no reaction at all. Instead, he pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and turned his head to ask if he had a pen; he wanted to leave his phone number for the girl.

“What pen?!” Li Guangzong was thoroughly exasperated. “Look at a forty-five-degree angle—behind that pillar, it’s Gu Yanzhou! Oh my god! I’m actually breathing the same room’s air as my male god!”

Shao Si: “…I recall you brought a pen.”

Li Guangzong completely ignored his own artist. Right now, every sense in his body was virtually glued to Gu Yanzhou. After the initial excitement came a wave of panic: “When did he get here? Did he hear what we just said? Dad, did I say anything inappropriate? Think for me, I feel like I’m suffocating, I can’t think…”

You idiot!

Shao Si turned his head back and gave the makeup artist girl a gentle smile. “Miss, could I trouble you to borrow your phone for a moment?”

The girl was clearly startled by a certain Best Actor as well, only snapping back to her senses when she heard Shao Si speak. She saw the man before her with his eyes curving into a smile. When those eyes looked at absolutely no one else but you, it made a person involuntarily lose themselves in that focused gaze. It was as if, despite clearly touching a block of ice, an unbelievable heat was welling up from the bottom of her heart.

Thus, without a second thought, the girl took out her phone and handed it to him, even unlocking it for him proactively.

Held in Shao Si’s hand, the women’s phone made the five-inch screen look a size smaller.

Shao Si used it to dial his own number, hanging up immediately before it even rang. His hand speed throughout the process was incredibly fast, taking no more than twenty seconds. Then he took out his own phone and saved the unfamiliar number from the missed call notification into his contact list.

Makeup artist: “…?”

Shao Si spouted nonsense smoothly, “I think your makeup skills are quite good. I hope we have the chance to work together again next time.”

“Ah, is that so…” The girl’s cheeks flushed as red as apples. “I’m very honored. I’m too excited, I don’t even know what to say.”

Having finished panicking, Li Guangzong picked up his thermos from the floor, completely missing the interaction between the two beside him. He patted Shao Si and whispered, “Stop playing with your phone. Go over there and say hello to Best Actor Gu.”

“Why?” Truthfully, Shao Si was just too lazy to move. Sitting in his chair with his legs crossed, he said, “Wouldn’t it be a bit inappropriate to just rush over so rashly?”

Li Guangzong delivered a light kick to the back of his chair, hauled him up, and dragged him away.

As they approached, Director Wang finally noticed that the promising rookie he had spent so long selecting through auditions was also in the makeup room. He slapped his forehead. “I completely forgot! You came at just the right time. This is Gu Yanzhou; I shouldn’t need to introduce him… Yanzhou, this is Shao Si. Oh right, Xiao Si, I remember you also graduated from Dongying, right? Then he’s your senior brother, a few years ahead of you.”

It was true he graduated from the Donghai Film Academy, but during college, he had been constantly busy exposing various dark secrets to earn his lifespan. Things like a certain female student in the acting department being a sugar baby, campus violence incidents, or the grade director taking bribes—he had taken down quite a few of those. Because of this, he really didn’t have any impression of this illustrious senior brother.

…The main reason, however, was that he was face-blind.

“Hello, Senior Brother Gu. I’ve looked up to you for a long time. Truly, hearing a hundred times isn’t as good as seeing once.” Shao Si extended his hand, not the least bit shy, his words flowing smoothly. After finishing, he secretly gave himself a perfect score in his heart.

Damn, the upward curve of my lips right now is simply perfect. Not too cold, nor overly enthusiastic.

Only after finishing his opening remarks did he have the time to size up the person before him—the legendary man standing at the pinnacle of the entertainment circle.

Shao Si could never understand what was so handsome about Gu Yanzhou. Because of this, Li Guangzong had once almost chased him down with a kitchen knife. He remembered that day when the usually robust Li Guangzong was lying at home half-dead with a high fever, and Shao Si and his assistant went to visit him after filming.

The walls of Li Guangzong’s house were entirely plastered with posters of Gu Yanzhou. While the assistant was boiling water, Shao Si rubbed his chin and said to his manager: Your male god is just like this? You might as well hang my posters; I’m way more handsome than him.

These words instantly provoked Li Guangzong into a terminal lucidity, leaping up to hit him.

Better not to bring up the past.

Shao Si believed there was nothing wrong with his taste, even though everyone around him felt his taste was terrible.

But Shao Si stubbornly maintained that, since he thought he was very handsome and they also thought he was handsome, how could they say his taste was problematic? It made perfect sense.

Gu Yanzhou genuinely looked very ordinary.

…

“Hello.” At this moment, this ‘ordinary-looking’ man smiled and shook his hand. Shao Si observed that his hand had no extraneous accessories; it was very simple, with distinct joints, warm, and clean.

After holding it for only three seconds, Gu Yanzhou let go.

The two nodded at each other without saying much else.

Li Guangzong carefully interjected from the side, “Hello, I am your fan… Could I also… shake your hand?”

Shao Si put his hand behind his back and secretly pinched him, signaling him not to show such an embarrassing, infatuated face. Yet, with this pinch, he discovered Li Guangzong’s back was completely drenched in sweat from excitement, leaving his hand covered in a salty dampness.

Shao Si’s expression froze. Looking disgusted, he fiercely wiped his hand against his pants twice.

Li Guangzong also instantly stiffened: “Why are you rubbing my butt?”

…

The scene was briefly extremely awkward.

Fortunately, Gu Yanzhou didn’t mind. Instead, he proactively reached out his hand to greet Li Guangzong.

Looking at Li Guangzong’s pathetic look, Shao Si figured he would probably chop off his entire hand when he got home and offer incense to it.

Director Wang just pretended he didn’t hear anything. He had contacted Gu Yanzhou this time actually intending to have him play the second male lead in his new film. He had practically watched this child grow up; he had extremely high talent, and the two of them frequently collaborated when Gu Yanzhou first entered the industry.

Even though Gu Yanzhou always called him his esteemed mentor, Director Wang initially thought nothing of it. Having been in the circle for so many years, he had seen too many minor stars who, after becoming top-tier big shots, looked down on him entirely, requiring an appointment just to make a phone call.

But Gu Yanzhou was an exception. In recent years, his acting fee had skyrocketed to astronomical prices, yet the quote he gave Director Wang every time was still the same as before: one million per movie. Just one million.

What kind of concept was one million?

One million was so low that Director Wang felt too embarrassed to accept it. But he couldn’t resist Gu Yanzhou comforting him every time, saying: Sir, spend more money on the production and don’t worry about anything else. If the movie turns out well, I’ll gain reputation and popularity, won’t I? Calculated this way, I don’t lose out. What I’m earning can’t be bought with money.

“Director Wang, if you had told me about this a bit earlier, I definitely would have agreed.” Gu Yanzhou continued discussing business with Director Wang in a gentle tone. His handsome features were actually somewhat flamboyant, but they were forcibly suppressed by his peaceful aura, making him as understated as his attire. “It’s just that Director Feng finalized a role with me last week, so there’s a scheduling conflict.”

“Hey, that Old Feng, fighting with me over people again.” Director Wang was angry for a moment but quickly let it go, adding, “It’s hard on you to come over in person. Next time, just tell me over the phone. How could I dare hold up a busy man like you.”

Gu Yanzhou said, “Discussing business is secondary. Mainly, I wanted to come see you. It’s been over half a year since we last met.”

First-class speaking skills. Probably a beast in human clothing.

Shao Si silently came to a conclusion in his heart.

Then, the next second, he was pulled in front of the beast in human clothing by Director Wang.

Director Wang took Gu Yanzhou’s hand and placed it over Shao Si’s, speaking kindly, “Originally, I wanted you to guide Xiao Si. This child is a good seedling; he could definitely learn a lot from you. It seems you two just don’t have the fate.”

Shao Si thought to himself, What lack of fate? Why does it sound like a matchmaker arranging a marriage?

Gu Yanzhou’s gaze seemingly slid over Shao Si carelessly, ultimately landing on their overlapping hands.

Shao Si felt creeped out by his stare. Just as he was about to retract his hand, he heard Gu Yanzhou say in an even tone, though clearly with hidden meaning: “How could there be no fate.”

…

Even after Director Wang led the crew’s top talents to collectively and respectfully see Gu Yanzhou out, Shao Si was still holding the business card in his hand, spacing out.

After a long while, he finally spoke, turning his head to ask Li Guangzong, “Son, why do you think he gave me his business card?”

Li Guangzong: “To hit on you?”

Seeing Shao Si actually rub his chin and consider the possibility, Li Guangzong wished he could kick him. “I’m joking with you! Don’t flatter yourself and take an inch for a mile. It’s all because Director Wang wants to groom you properly. Do you think he could refuse to give Director Wang face?”

Shao Si: “So that’s how it is. Then I’m relieved.”

Relieved about what!

I’m really going to die of anger because of you!

How can the artist I manage be this shameless? You really are the most shameless one I’ve ever taken on.

Li Guangzong began to deeply ponder exactly what had supported him to survive until now.

The first scene was relatively easy, and since Shao Si rarely had NGs, what Director Wang estimated would take eight hours to finish was shortened to six hours thanks to Shao Si’s high efficiency.

This young man was indeed even more outstanding than he had anticipated.

Director Wang always spent a considerable amount of time on pre-production prep, including the aforementioned auditions; the auditions alone took three months.

The movie Undercover was another police thriller, but different from anti-narcotics police, it told the story of an undercover agent at the bottom of the triad society.

Produced by Director Wang, it was bound to be a masterpiece.

Shao Si’s attitude towards this film was extremely serious because he knew that after finishing this shoot, the company would nine times out of ten arrange for him to act in high-paying, low-quality, brain-damaging commercial trash films.

The only reason they let him take Director Wang’s film this time was merely to ride the momentum of him recently winning Best Actor, solidifying his public persona as a ‘capable Best Actor.’

Shao Si began to miss the era a few years ago when he could freely choose his scripts.

On the way back, he rallied his spirits to discuss with Li Guangzong what had caused the entertainment industry to become increasingly degenerate nowadays.

“Dad, is there something wrong with your brain? Asking the kind of question that makes 1.3 billion Chinese people fall silent.” Li Guangzong pulled a bottle of water from the cardboard box by his feet and handed it to Shao Si. “Want a drink?”

Shao Si took it, but still didn’t plan to give up on the topic. “…The economy is becoming more and more developed, yet human spirit is in a state of extreme scarcity. Don’t you find it tragic?”

Li Guangzong: “…”

Shao Si: “Why aren’t you speaking?”

Li Guangzong rubbed his temples. “Why don’t you just go to sleep.”

Shao Si thought for a moment, then tossed the water aside and went to sleep right on command.

While filming earlier, his brain was wound too tight, suppressing his drowsiness. Now that he was reminded, the sleep bugs continuously resurfaced.

Li Guangzong also planned to close his eyes and snooze for a bit. Just in the nick of time, he suddenly remembered: “Shao Si! You didn’t fucking throw away the business card Best Actor Gu gave you, did you?”

“…Right, how could I forget to throw it away.”

Shao Si curled up in the backseat, a large blanket covering his face as well.

Li Guangzong watched Shao Si’s hands rustle under the blanket for a while, before an arm extended very lazily from beneath it, a business card pinched between his fingertips.

“Why are you giving it to me?” Li Guangzong was so angry he almost laughed. “Send him a text yourself. You just met today; while he still has an impression of you, hurry up and kiss up to him with a greeting.”

Shao Si couldn’t be bothered with him.

“Did you hear me? Hurry up.”

“I’m counting to three! Or else I’ll make you regret it!”

“Three, two…”

“I’m so pissed,” Li Guangzong held onto the seat back and stood up slightly hunched, leaning his body toward the backseat. He reached out to take the business card from Shao Si’s hand, conceding defeat. “Give me your phone. I’ll send it for you.”

Li Guangzong felt like he was simply a wet nurse wiping Shao Si’s ass; there wasn’t a single thing he didn’t have to worry about for him.

—Hello Senior Brother Gu, this is Shao Si, we just met today. Actually, I have always admired you greatly. You are my idol. I hope Senior Brother will look after me in the future [/cute]

Sent successfully.

Li Guangzong went the whole nine yards, opening Shao Si’s Weibo, finding Gu Yanzhou, and dropping him a follow.

Just as he was about to toss the phone back to Shao Si, the phone buzzed twice.

—Thank you. I like you very much too. Good luck on the new film, wishing you success.

Sender: Gu Yanzhou.