Becoming a Movie Star, System Only Finished Loading After Ten Years
Chapter 105 - 104: Inviting the Actress for a Cameo (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Chapter 105: Chapter 104: Inviting the Actress for a Cameo (Seeking Monthly Votes)

There’s another character who is a sexy young housewife.

Sounds a bit improper, but aside from her fiery personality, she doesn’t really do anything improper.

This young housewife, to spite her husband for not trusting her, runs off to stay at a hotel herself. Li Chenggong accidentally stumbles into her room just as her husband comes to catch her in the act, leading to a lot of humorous incidents.

Qi Hao thought for a moment, among his rumored girlfriends, who could play the young housewife...

There seem to be quite a few.

But favors shouldn’t be owed casually, because once you owe, you have to repay.

The female trickster... not sure if An Feng would be willing to take up the challenge. If she’s not interested, Zhou Xun or Wan Qian could work too.

Of course, this consideration is just about whether it’s doable.

Not at all considering if they can be invited, if they’re worth it.

Sexy housewife...

Jiang Qinqin is now a housewife too.

Zhu Yuanyuan is also a housewife.

Yuan Quan is also a housewife.

Qin Hailu is also quite the housewife, just not very sexy.

Zhou Xun is neither a housewife nor sexy.

Fan Xuexue isn’t a housewife yet, but at least she’s sexy, probably could pull off a housewife vibe.

Hmm, Zhou Yun is also a housewife.

But Zhou Yun is not one of Qi Hao’s rumored girlfriends.

Her husband Jiang Wen... has some "rumors" with Qi Hao.

Back in the day, Jiang Wen wanted to play Yu Ji.

Not sure if he would be interested in a sexy housewife.

Qi Hao suddenly thought, if Zhou Yun played the sexy housewife, Jiang Wen caught the affair, and he played the lover, that topic would blow up.

Qi Hao returned from the old county town and re-entered the capital’s social circle.

Almost every day he has to attend various gatherings.

This time, meeting up with friends, Qi Hao, as agreed, brought Wan Qian along.

Wan Qian graduated from Shanghai Theatre Academy, but after missing out on Shen City Drama Center, she ventured alone as a drifter in Beijing, passing the troupe exam first but not fitting into the only two selection slots.

After all, these slots allow for capital settlement!

Fortunately, Wang Xiaoying from the National Theater Company saw her exam clips and invited her to star in "Desert and People".

She is currently navigating the theater and music scene in the capital.

Today’s karaoke session wasn’t as risky as the last time with one guy and two girls.

This time Wu Jing and Qin Hao also came.

Additionally, Gao Yuanyuan, Li Xiaoran, and Song Jia joined.

Qi Hao introduced Wan Qian to everyone.

"I know you, from the class of 2000, I’m class of ’99..." Song Jia extended her hand for a shake with Wan Qian.

"Ah, senior, you’re here too." Wan Qian didn’t expect to meet someone familiar.

"Tong Lei introduced me."

Song Jia explained briefly, Tong Lei was her classmate.

Tong Lei became known to the public through her role "Tian Yu" in the period war drama "Bright Sword".

The group chatted about Wu Jing’s new movie "Wolf Fang".

Wu Jing probably felt there was no future in acting, so finally took a big step and made a film, to be released this December.

"Director Wu, we’ll rely on you in the future..."

Qi Hao clinked bottles with him, joining in with the group teasing Wu Jing.

"Xiaoran said you cast her as wife and mistress, what about a third wheel, how about me?"

Wu Jing threw Qi Hao a coquettish look, nearly making him sick.

The others almost laughed out loud.

Youth gatherings are different from older people gatherings, full of vitality.

While everyone was having fun, the door suddenly opened.

"Hey, Mr. Zhou!"

Qi Hao called out as soon as he saw the newcomer.

Wan Qian, attending such a gathering for the first time, even stood up directly, not daring to slack off given the huge difference in status.

"What are you guys talking about, I could hear laughter from afar in the room..." Zhou Xun shook off her jacket and stubbed out a half-smoked cigarette in the ashtray.

"Talking about Qi Hao’s mistresses and side chicks." Qin Hao said with a smile.

"Wow, he doesn’t even have a girlfriend, yet he already has mistresses and side chicks?" Zhou Xun walked in with two girls behind her, and she introduced, "This is Yang Zimo, collaborated with me on ’Perhaps Love’, and this is..."

She herself seemed to have forgotten.

The girl being introduced immediately continued, "Hello everyone, I’m Li Jin."

"Right, Li Jin, Li Shaohong’s current little darling..." Zhou Xun laughed.

She and Li Shaohong, Li Xiaowan seemed to part amicably, but there’s actually quite a few conflicts.

Back then, Zhou Xun was discovered from a dance hall, had no acting experience at all, personally guided by Li Shaohong.

Chen Kun signed with Rongxinda before graduating, though professionally trained, still needed Li Shaohong’s meticulous guidance scene by scene.

However, Zhou Xun and Chen Kun both served Rongxinda for ten years.

From their standpoint, they’ve done their best, can’t just be loyal to their boss forever because they were taught.

The life of a worker is also life, after all.

So, Zhou Xun, Chen Kun, and more recently Yang Mi who’s preparing to leave, have all flown out of Li Shaohong’s nest.

This is also why Qi Hao is reluctant to work in the broker business.

Bosses and employees are hard to achieve mutual benefit.

Seeing one after another leave, besides inwardly cursing these ungrateful bastards, Li Shaohong can only groom new talent again.

Li Jin is one of them.

She rents with Yang Zimo, who was out to hang out with Zhou Xun and was brought to the gathering, so she sneaked in too.

Fortunately, her senior Zhou Xun did not take out the displeasure with Li Shaohong on her.

Except always calling her "Li Qing" — Zhou Xun explained, she has a childhood friend named Li Qing, so it’s a habit, besides that, she’s quite nice to Li Jin.

Everyone in the circle knows that Mr. Zhou is very generous and open-hearted.

"This is Wan Qian, have a seat. Are we all here? Once everyone is here, let’s order some snacks and drinks." Qi Hao didn’t mind others bringing friends along.

In fact, their gathering was very loose.

Anyone could bring someone along.

As long as you could fit in.

If you couldn’t fit in, then no one would invite you next time.

So the threshold for this gathering was to be able to fit in.

Of course, if you could start a rumor with Qi Hao, then you’d definitely fit in.

Very thoroughly integrated.

"Our ’Li Mi’s Conjecture’ lost a bit, but the box office for ’Painted Skin’ is still quite good, so there’s hope we won’t lose money."

Talking about Zhou Xun’s two consecutive movies, her enthusiasm wasn’t too high.

Both movies had good reputations, especially ’Li Mi’s Conjecture’, with critics praising her acting skills.

However, the box office was a bit dismal.

’Li Mi’s Conjecture’ only made 12 million at the box office, and thankfully it only cost 6 million to make, otherwise Mrs. Hua would be crying her eyes out.

"As long as the reviews are good, we’ve done our best acting. If it loses money, it just means the script wasn’t good."

Qi Hao casually consoled her.

People often say this or that actor can’t carry the box office. But honestly, how can actors carry the box office? At most you can say the acting wasn’t good, but saying they carry the box office is a bit unfair.

The audience watches for the story.

And the story is written by the screenwriter, directed by the director, acted by the actor, not to mention the promotion, all of which impact the box office.

The blame can’t all fall on the actor.

"If everyone was as reasonable as you, the world would be at peace. I’ll sing for a while, then we can play cards later."

Zhou Xun first sang a song and then asked Qi Hao to duet with her.

"I think I don’t love you enough / I’ve never forgotten myself / Not fully invested / So things fall apart..."

Qi Hao was like an emotionless karaoke machine.

Even the newcomer, Yang Zimo, actively asked him to duet a song.

"Zimo comes from a family of Peking Opera performers," Zhou Xun helped with the introduction, proving that being in musicals takes more than ordinary talent.

However, her singing was just average.

Coming from a Peking Opera family doesn’t directly relate to singing pop songs well.

"Jin is learning Kunqu," Yang Zimo didn’t forget to boost the person he brought along.

Then everyone urged Li Jin to sing a segment for everyone.

To blend into a small circle, you can’t be too pretentious. Li Jin searched through the KTV song list and chose to sing a segment from "The Palace of Eternal Life - Small Banquet - Weeping Face Return".

The people at this gathering had never experienced such refined art.

Everyone was captivated.

"How long have you studied?" Wu Jing curiously asked.

"Seven years, but still not considered entry-level, at most just amateur level." Li Jin quickly answered the question.

"It sounds wonderful, why didn’t you continue?" Qi Hao also sighed.

He was born in a place like Jinmen.

He was most impressed by those who could do comedy and perform theater.

Qi Hao’s father was a good friend of the famous Qiu school Hualian Third Master Kang, who often took Qi Hao to listen to operas.

"What gives you the right to criticize others? You didn’t even finish school yourself," Song Jia chimed in, leaving Qi Hao speechless.

"Yeah, Haozi, you didn’t even complete elementary school," Wu Jing added insult to injury.

"Stop talking nonsense, I graduated junior high!"

Qi Hao insisted on his level of education, because it wasn’t much to begin with, and they were trying to downplay it even more.

"Come over to my side, I won’t mind, let’s sing..."

Li Xiaoran was amused.

"You guys go ahead and sing, who wants to play cards? Qin Hao? Anyone else?"

Zhou Xun enjoyed playing cards at gatherings.

She occasionally organized mahjong sessions, as a central figure in this small circle.

However, Qi Hao wasn’t particularly interested in playing cards or mahjong.

He didn’t often join her card games.

The two became more familiar after Qi Hao made a cameo in ’Li Mi’s Conjecture’.

Fan Xuexue and Li Xue’xue didn’t join Qi Hao’s small circle, not only because Qi Hao wasn’t that close with them, but also due to Zhou Xun, since her relationship with them was complicated.

Gao Yuanyuan and Yang Zimo joined her for cards.

Qi Hao continued singing with Song Jia, Wan Qian, and Li Xiaoran, and after Li Jin performed Kunqu, he just sat quietly on the side watching his friends play cards.

"Mr. Zhou, would you cameo in my movie?"

Qi Hao, after singing a song with Li Xiaoran, asked Zhou Xun with one hand holding a beer and the other draped over her shoulder.

"Move your hand a bit lower, and you’ll touch my chest," Zhou Xun reminded.

"Whoa!" Qi Hao jumped back as if avoiding a snake or scorpion.

"What role?" Zhou Xun answered Qi Hao’s previous question.

"A peddler of bootleg DVDs at the train station, just a few scenes." Qi Hao didn’t have many A-list actresses willing to make a cameo, so if he could have an A-list actress selling bootleg DVDs, it would definitely be a big draw.

The movie wasn’t meant to encourage buying bootleg DVDs but rather to reflect a social phenomenon.

The train station is like a microcosm of life, with people selling bootleg DVDs, hustling customers for hotels, even offering haircuts...

"Whoa, that’s quite sensational?" Zhou Xun was intrigued.

"We’ll have you wear a coat, with DVDs on one side, and cell phones on the other... it’ll definitely challenge your acting skills." Qi Hao coaxed.

He not only wanted to pitch for an A-list actress cameo but also planned to do it for free.

"Why are there cell phones on the other side?" Zhou Xun asked, puzzled.

"They’re stolen, if the customer doesn’t buy the DVDs, you push the phones on them. If they don’t like what’s under your coat, you show them what’s in others’ hands. Whichever they like, you help them steal it..."

Qi Hao rubbed his fingers together.

He was already fantasizing about being rewarded with Steal +10 in the future.

He could use it to steal his friends’ phones for fun.