FIMA Ch30: Studio

Xie Jinzhou was a well-behaved student and quickly bowed: “I’m sorry, Teacher Gu, I was wrong, Teacher Gu.”

“Mm.” Gu Siyuan, being a generous teacher, responded lightly and then looked up at him: “Watch.”

As he spoke, his expression slightly tightened, and his entire demeanor suddenly changed, as if he had become that ruthless and cold-hearted commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

He suddenly appeared, like a god descending from the heavens, kicking the escaping suspect back to the scene. His eyes, as cold and sharp as an eagle’s, swept over the people present from a commanding height.

Seeing the surprise and admiration in their eyes, he lazily lowered his eyelids, but a bright glint flashed through his eyes—a peerless confidence and a disdain for these incompetent people.

From these subtle expressions and movements, Xie Jinzhou saw that the calm, wise, and powerful Jin Yiwei commander actually had his own shallow, childish, and cute emotions.

It was like a treasure.

This fleeting contrast made one remember him endlessly.

At this moment, Gu Siyuan temporarily assumed the role of the male lead. He should have been looking at the opponent actor.

But as an outsider, Xie Jinzhou felt that he was also looking at himself, sending electric signals to himself. For a moment, his heart started pounding: “So handsome, I want to call him hubby…”

However, as soon as he spoke, Xie Jinzhou wanted to die on the spot.

Gu Siyuan also withdrew his gaze, staring at him for a moment, then said calmly, “This is the reaction we want from the audience; this is the significance of an idol drama male lead.”

However, there was a hint of barely concealed amusement in his voice.

“Mm.” Xie Jinzhou responded woodenly, stiffly, but inside he just wanted to turn into a pangolin immediately and dig a hole to bury himself.

It was too embarrassing.

He was a seven-foot man, a pure man, how could he, as if struck by lightning, say something so embarrassing?

…

Gu Siyuan was undoubtedly a brilliant teacher.

Xie Jinzhou was undoubtedly a promising talent.

In addition to testing and guiding him on the spot, Gu Siyuan also expressionlessly watched several of Xie Jinzhou’s previous performances.

Although many of the plots were not great, Xie Jinzhou’s acting was not awkward, and there was nothing to criticize about his facial expressions. Moreover, all of his lines were delivered in his own voice, and both his vocal quality and lines were quite good.

Especially the recent one, the one that made Xie Jinzhou decide to temporarily stop work and fade out of the audience’s sight, actually had his best performance.

However, why had Xie Jinzhou been labeled as merely a traffic actor, leaving the impression of being a wooden actor who couldn’t act?

This could be partly due to the audience’s preconceived notions about traffic actors, but his inability to showcase his talent was also a problem.

Xie Jinzhou was undoubtedly an internally talented person, with his own understanding of the roles he played, and he was serious and willing to endure hardships.

During Gu Siyuan’s guidance in character design, Xie Jinzhou would always ask questions, such as whether the character’s personality wasn’t set up this way, whether the reactions were reasonable, or whether the character would collapse.

This was naturally correct.

But he had a misunderstanding of the actor’s profession.

Acting solely by immersing oneself in their own world was completely insufficient. Apart from dealing with the character itself, it was more important to face the broad audience.

There were many complete individuals around; many complete characters also exist in scripts.

Why should the audience be attracted to you?

Therefore, occasionally small irrationalities in portraying a character would leave a deep impression on the audience, who would notice the character’s contrasting charm and thus notice you and fall in love with you.

Therefore, when interacting with the opponent actor, one must give each other the scenes they deserve. When it’s time to show off and flaunt skills, one must actively strive for it, temporarily letting go of some illogical aspects.

Sometimes, right is wrong, and wrong is right.

Especially in idol dramas, the audience doesn’t care whether your character is consistent and complete from beginning to end.

What they care about is a lively person who resonates with them and makes their hearts beat.

However, under Gu Siyuan’s strict management requirements, Xie Jinzhou’s acting skills continued to improve by leaps and bounds.

At this time, he also received another call from his agent, Fang Wei.

As usual, Fang Wei asked him a few questions about renewing his contract: “Recently, the big boss has been pressing us?”

Xie Jinzhou smiled: “Sister Wei, don’t you already know what I think? I didn’t say it earlier because I was worried it would put you in a difficult position.”

Fang Wei sighed: “Is there no other possibility? If you renew the contract this time, the big boss agrees to give you company shares.”

Xie Jinzhou said, “It would be a lie to say I don’t care about money, but if it were only about money, why would I hesitate so long? Sister Wei, you know I want to continue acting, and I want to go further.”

“Mm, got it.” Fang Wei’s tone softened a bit.

Although she had expected this, it was the first time she had directly heard a definitive answer from Xie Jinzhou.

Fang Wei couldn’t help but feel a bit regretful. Xie Jinzhou was currently the most profitable artist in their company and the easiest to manage among those she had worked with.

Now, with the termination of the contract, it would be a significant loss for both herself and the company.

However, they were on different paths and couldn’t work together.

Xie Jinzhou hadn’t left any handle on him; the company had no means of threatening him.

Xie Jinzhou bit his red lips and earnestly said, “Sister Wei, thank you for the past few years. If there’s anything you need in the future, within reason, we can still cooperate.”

Fang Wei’s face brightened a bit: “Mm, you’ve been the easiest artist I’ve worked with. You now have only half a month left on your contract. Have you found any suitable new companies? Tell me, and I can give you some advice.”

Xie Jinzhou shook his head: “I’ve received many offers, but none have caught my eye.”

Although his reputation wasn’t great due to the last drama, his excellent looks and young age made him a highly valuable commodity in the youth market. His commercial value almost surpassed everyone else. Even Qi Ran was slightly inferior to him.

Many companies saw his commercial potential and wanted to sign him, but their offers were all within a certain range, without guarantees about the quality of film and television works, and some even required him to promote new talent.

He didn’t mind mentoring new talent. Fresh blood in the entertainment industry has always been a slow process. However, he himself didn’t have any particularly outstanding works yet, so taking on new talent would be like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs…

Hearing this, Fang Wei’s mood improved further, and her tone softened: “There’s no rush; you’re still young. Take your time to find the right fit. By the way, Jinzhou, remember the suspense adventure variety show you signed with the Fruit Channel last month? The director’s team just contacted me, and they’re starting the recording this weekend. You don’t have any commercial activities in the next few days, so prepare well.”

Upon hearing this, Xie Jinzhou’s eyes brightened: “Alright, thank you, Sister Wei.”

Hearing his cheerful tone, Fang Wei smiled wryly: “What’s to thank? This will probably be the last activity I arrange for you.”

Xie Jinzhou blinked and fell silent.

Fang Wei continued, “Let’s not talk about that. I just don’t understand, out of so many good variety shows, why did you choose ‘Who is the Adventure King’?”

Xie Jinzhou’s expression was calm: “Since it’s for maintaining popularity, I chose the one with the highest popularity.”

He had always been a loyal viewer of this show and had long wanted to participate.

However, this show was extremely popular, and many stars were eager to join. The production team often decided on the guests a year in advance.

Moreover, he had been busy with filming for the past two years, and his schedule was tight, so he hadn’t been able to participate until recently.

Fang Wei sighed deeply: “Just be careful then, do more and say less, and don’t try to steal the spotlight.”

Fang Wei’s apprehension about this variety show was not without reason.

“Who is the Adventure King” was already in its fifth season, and it was a rare variety show with both high viewership and online ratings, accumulating a large fan base.

Since it was a suspense adventure show, it required not just variety skills but also intelligence and physical strength.

The show’s veteran fans were very discerning and often critiqued each guest. Many flying guests were criticized for dragging the team down.

However, the show’s popularity remained high, and many people continued to participate eagerly.

Some actors who had not been popular for a long time changed their reputation and increased their popularity through this show. But more often, participants became the subject of jokes, making headlines for all the wrong reasons, and their reputations plummeted.

For his first time on a competitive variety show, Xie Jinzhou chose such a high-difficulty one.

And he was a traffic star with a poor reputation, making him a prime target for those variety show fans who loved to feel superior.

Xie Jinzhou himself was quite relaxed about it, but he still expressed his gratitude: “Got it, Sister Wei, thank you for the reminder. I’ll be careful during the recording.”

They exchanged a few more polite words before hanging up.

Gu Siyuan, who had been sitting on the sofa beside him, had listened to their entire conversation.

At this point, he asked directly: “Why not consider starting your own studio?”

Xie Jinzhou looked at Gu Siyuan: “You mean after I don’t renew the contract?”

Gu Siyuan nodded affirmatively.

Xie Jinzhou paused: “I’ve only been acting for three or four years and have no connections in the entertainment industry. Besides…”

Here, Xie Jinzhou puffed up his cheeks and glared at Gu Siyuan, grumbling: “Didn’t you say earlier that you hadn’t seen any of my works? This means my work coverage is limited, and my status is unstable. Good scripts from film and television companies wouldn’t consider me unless I’m one of their own.”

Seeing his indignant yet resigned expression, Gu Siyuan couldn’t help but smile.

However, he disagreed with Xie Jinzhou’s earlier statement.

He shook his head calmly: “Not true. Not only you, I’ve analyzed the film and television market. Even those in their thirties and signed with platforms or film companies aren’t considered for good scripts.”

“Although you traffic stars seem very popular and capital is heavily promoting you, in reality, scripts that win awards won’t reach you, except for those backed by capital.”

Xie Jinzhou sipped his hot water, the steam rising, making his eyes even clearer and brighter.

He looked at Gu Siyuan, waiting for him to continue.

Gu Siyuan sat on the sofa, his posture upright, his tone cold and detached: “In other words, not just you, but all the traffic stars here are actually abandoned pieces.”

“From the beginning to the end, the capital market has been clear and rational about your positioning. Most of the roles you get are in idol dramas. Even in movies, they are primarily cheesy youth romances or guest roles to boost presales when the director can’t attract an audience.”

Xie Jinzhou, who initially just wanted to clear his mind, found himself increasingly embarrassed as he listened. He finally couldn’t help but cough a few times: “Do you always speak this bluntly?”

“It’s better than self-deception.” Gu Siyuan’s expression remained calm.

Xie Jinzhou fell silent because he knew everything Gu Siyuan said was true.

In this world, everyone has a place that they initially chose or was set by others, and breaking out of it is extremely difficult.

Gu Siyuan continued: “If you sign with these so-called film and television companies, at best, your scripts will change from poorly made idol dramas to well-funded, slightly better-produced idol dramas. Essentially, there’s no significant difference.”

He suddenly shook his head: “Well, maybe there is a difference. You’ll need to mentor new talent, and they’ll add roles to your shows.”

Xie Jinzhou didn’t question his conclusion but instead asked, “Do you know why so many people still want to sign with big companies?”

“Because it’s safe and low-risk. It’s either panning for gold or sifting through excrement,” Gu Siyuan replied blandly. “If it were before, making this choice wouldn’t be considered foolish, just unoriginal.”

“Before?” Xie Jinzhou blinked, propping his chin on his slender, white wrist, looking straight at him with clear eyes. “So what’s different now? What’s changed?”

Leaning back on the sofa, Gu Siyuan lightly tugged at his tie and slowly said, “Because of me. Now, you have me.”

Watching Gu Siyuan’s lazy and sexy movements, Xie Jinzhou felt his heart start to stir.

Propping his chin with his hand, he asked foolishly, “What… do you mean?”

“I can help you,” Gu Siyuan said. “I can help you assess the pros and cons of each project, choose the most optimal and stable marketing strategies. My presence offers advantages greater than any big company, without the disadvantages they bring.”

Xie Jinzhou felt like he was about to take the bait.

Awkwardly changing the subject, he asked, “But aren’t you a teacher?”

Gu Siyuan smiled, “Allow me to reintroduce myself. My surname is Gu, from Gu Hongxuan.”

Gu Hongxuan was the boss of the top production company in the entertainment industry, a name Xie Jinzhou was certainly familiar with.

He reacted immediately, “You’re President Gu’s son. But wait, doesn’t he only have four sons…”

“That’s why I’m looking to collaborate with you,” Gu Siyuan nodded. “I’m his stepson.”

Xie Jinzhou thought for a moment, then mysteriously asked, “So your goal is… to undermine the Gu family?”

Gu Siyuan shook his head, enunciating clearly, “To build a new skyscraper, overshadowing theirs, so they live in my shadow. And you are one of the bricks I’ve chosen.”

Of course, he was just making it up. He didn’t care about the Gu family or the small entertainment industry. It was just an excuse to complete his task and help Xie Jinzhou better.

However, Xie Jinzhou took it completely seriously. From the first meeting, Gu Siyuan had a way of making him trust completely.

He couldn’t help but feel his heart race. He never imagined someone could say such things so openly.

But he admitted he was deeply tempted. Ambitious and disruptive men were the most alluring.

“Well then, happy cooperation,” Xie Jinzhou extended his hand, smiling brilliantly.

Gu Siyuan reached out and lightly tapped his palm, “It’s a deal.”

Xie Jinzhou looked at the fleeting touch and the slowly reddening mark on his palm.

On the first day of establishing the studio, he was already met with violence from his manager.

Is this collaboration even necessary…

Once Gu Siyuan decided to do something, he moved very quickly.

Within just two days, the studio’s location and qualifications were sorted out.

Besides hiring a few new assistants, editors, photo retouchers, copywriters, and public relations personnel, he somehow found an executive manager for Xie Jinzhou.

The efficiency was undeniable.

But Xie Jinzhou expressed a small dissatisfaction with the presence of the executive manager.

However, Gu Siyuan immediately stated he didn’t have time to accompany him to film sets or commercial shoots, and someone needed to share this workload.

Xie Jinzhou remarked he had never seen a rookie manager with such an attitude.

This was clearly his first entry into the entertainment industry, the studio had only been established for three days, and he had only one artist, yet he dared to be so indifferent to a current popular star…

Gu Siyuan explained he was not there to be his manager but his boss.

Xie Jinzhou felt like he had just escaped a tiger’s den only to enter a wolf’s lair. Who else hires their own boss…

Tsk…

At that moment, the recording for “Who is the Adventure King” began.

This time, instead of Fang Wei, it was the newly hired executive manager, Tu Ning, who accompanied Xie Jinzhou to the recording.

“Who is the Adventure King” is a variety show combining escape room challenges and puzzle-solving.

Most episodes were filmed indoors, except for a few outdoor ones. The episode Xie Jinzhou participated in was filmed at a famous amusement park in Beijing.

The recording day coincided with the weekend.

Fans who had gotten wind of the recording online arrived early at the amusement park, hoping to catch a glimpse from afar. Coupled with the usual weekend visitors, the park was packed.

Xie Jinzhou got out of the nanny van, feigning a cool and indifferent look as he scanned his fan group, secretly pleased.

After nearly two months of inactivity, there were still so many people offline.

However, when his gaze swept to a small group next to his fans, his eyes narrowed.

“Sister Ning, is Qi Ran in this episode too?”

Tu Ning, seemingly briefed by Gu Siyuan on Qi Ran’s history, replied, “Originally, the three guest stars were you, Xi Shuang, and Cheng Ruofeng. But Cheng Ruofeng recently had a conflict with his agency, so many of his external activities were canceled. Qi Ran has a new show coming out soon, so he’s likely here to promote it.”

“Oh…” Xie Jinzhou nodded and said no more.

It was Qi Ran who did wrong. If anyone should avoid the other, it should be Qi Ran avoiding him.

Thinking this, he realized it had been a long time since he last saw Qi Ran, or his second brother Qi Run, his nominal boyfriend.

Busy with acting classes and setting up the studio, everything revolved around Gu Siyuan, making him forget about other people in his life.

The official recording of the show would start in the afternoon. They arrived early because all the participants would have lunch together to get acquainted.

This unspoken rule was naturally followed by everyone.

Even the newly crowned rising star, Xi Shuang, known for her mischievous love antics, arrived early.

The others were no exception.

Qi Ran, in particular, exuded a halo of popularity, already mingling effortlessly with everyone.

When he saw Xie Jinzhou approaching, he warmly greeted him.

Apart from the three to five guest stars per episode, “Who is the Adventure King” also featured four permanent guests.

From the first to the fifth season, the lineup of permanent guests had seen minor changes, but Mr. Li had always been there. He was mature, wise, and had a unique talent for humor, making him the backbone of the show and a respected figure in the entertainment industry.

Besides Mr. Li, the other three permanent guests were all A-listers in the entertainment industry: Wang Xue, a national goddess known for her popularity and fashion sense; Ji Haoying, a new-generation actor with a strong background; and Lu Yanyan, a rare female actress with substantial star power. The latter two joined in the fifth season.

Mr. Li warmly greeted everyone, “Since we’re all familiar here, let’s dispense with formality. Come, let’s toast first, then eat and drink without restraint.”

Naturally, no one wanted to disrespect him, so they immediately raised their glasses and celebrated.

The entertainment industry, as big as it was, also had its tight-knit circles. Among the seven seated here, except for Xi Shuang, who was relatively new and had the opportunity to promote a new drama on “Who is the Adventure King,” the other six were all top-tier or close to top-tier stars who frequently interacted in various social settings.

Even Xie Jinzhou, who hadn’t been on many variety shows, had once promoted a new drama on another show hosted by Mr. Li. Not to mention the others.

After dinner and a short break, the recording was about to officially begin.

At this moment, Mr. Gu Siyuan, the manager Xie Jinzhou had criticized as irresponsible, was meeting with Cheng Ou, his partner at Yuanzhi Technology Company.

The driver was taking them to visit their first major client, Universal Park.

“Universal Park has already implemented our latest real-time dynamic holographic simulation technology. And look at those production crew members ahead; I heard they’re filming a very popular escape room decryption variety show here today. This technology will surely amaze everyone when it’s showcased to the public…” Cheng Ou enthusiastically explained.

Gu Siyuan nodded in agreement, watching the staggering daily flow of visitors to the park and the crowd gathered in front.

This offline promotional method, coupled with recruiting some internet KOLs later, was indeed a good idea.

“Oh, thank you, Mr. Xie…”

“Jinzhou looks so handsome!”

“Xie Jinzhou!”

Suddenly, screams erupted from the crowd.

Seeing his boss furrow his brows, Cheng Ou quickly flattered him, showing his loyalty, “These people are really noisy, their manners aren’t up to par!”

Gu Siyuan glanced at him coldly and said, “Not up to par where?”

Cheng Ou: …

Was he kissing up too hard?