Becoming a Movie Star, System Only Finished Loading After Ten Years
Chapter 141 - 138: Playing the Villain (Request for Double Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 141: Chapter 138: Playing the Villain (Request for Double Monthly Tickets)

Shooting wrapped up on the 22nd, and the 25th was New Year’s Eve. Even though it was almost New Year, Qi Hao and Zhang Meng still held onto the editor Lu Yun to make him work.

Lu Yun was editing the film, but what the final cut would look like was up to Qi Hao and Zhang Meng.

The director must instill their ideas into the editor.

They must fill him up completely.

Otherwise, even a tiny mistake could ruin the film’s presentation at release.

And film stock is limited; a bad edit would mean total disaster.

Although Lu Yun’s editing skills were quite good, he was a newcomer who hadn’t graduated long ago.

The field of editing is challenging, and getting a project is not easy.

He had no choice but to grit his teeth and get to work.

Additionally, the executive director Gao Bo also knew how to edit and had a clearer understanding of Qi Hao and Zhang Meng’s vision; he volunteered to join the editing work.

They spent two days deliberating until they finally settled on the final edit.

Only then did Qi Hao start his journey home for New Year.

The previous plan was not to go home for New Year, but who could resist going home if possible?

The film they shot earlier repeatedly featured the theme of going home for New Year, whether wealthy or not.

His parents were getting older; in this lifetime, there wouldn’t be much time left to spend together.

On his way back, Qi Hao experienced the feeling of "Lost on Journey."

Even though it was just the short distance from the capital to Jinmen, the traffic jam was bad enough to make one question life.

Everyone was heading out of the capital.

Fortunately, Qi Hao made it home by noon on New Year’s Eve.

He watched the Spring Festival Gala with his parents and cousin.

Although the gala was not perfect and still had its flaws, it brought quite a few surprises to the audience.

Zhao Benshan’s comedy sketch "Not Short of Money" was a classic.

It’s said that the sketch was whipped up at the last minute, with only 12 days for creation.

The previous sketch "Cake Delivery" was axed because its male-female relationship theme had strong sexual innuendos.

So Zhao Benshan, along with Xu Zhengchao—who had been collaborating on the New Year’s Gala for two years—and newcomer Yin Qi, rushed to create one.

However, sketches like the scam-busting "Selling Crutches," the revolutionary "Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow," and the satire of village officials and businessmen colluding in "New Year’s Greetings" had a depth that "Not Short of Money" couldn’t reach.

This was the embarrassment faced by Zhao Benshan and all sketch performers.

The comedy quality was still high, but the depth of thought was no longer there.

In comedy sketches, without depth of thought and just a lot of gags and jokes, people would forget them soon after watching.

Actually, films are the same.

With the increasing strictness of censorship, people can only produce things that are safe rather than excellent.

"If you could perform at the New Year’s Gala, wouldn’t that make me look better?"

Mr. Qi watched every New Year’s Gala from start to finish, just like he never missed a national soccer team match.

"Look better? You mean oily?" Qi Hao didn’t hold back.

"You little brat, do you believe I’ll tell your mom to rush you into finding a girlfriend?" The old man was angry and embarrassed.

"No need to hit so hard."

He was only staying at home for about three days; on the fourth day of the New Year, he had to start work on "Wind Sound."

"What kind of son are you, anyway? Where do I have any oily shine?"

The old man was actually quite vain; being told he was shiny really got to him.

"Alright, alright, I’ll give you some pocket money. This time, be sure to hide it well, so mom doesn’t find it."

Qi Hao took the opportunity when his mom went to sleep to secretly slip a wad of cash to his dad.

"Well... I’ll just accept it." A son showing filial piety, it didn’t seem right not to accept.

"I saw that," cousin Hu Shan glanced over.

"There’s enough for everyone..." Qi Hao pulled out another wad for Hu Shan; he had prepared quite a sum.

This year was his lowest income year in recent years.

Mainly because he didn’t act in many commercial films, and he couldn’t charge much for his own projects and had no new endorsements.

Plus, he was supporting a studio; his income decreased instead of increasing.

But as a popular star, no matter how little he made, he was still much wealthier than the average person.

"I don’t want it; I already got my salary."

Hu Shan dodged. She was just joking. Since starting college, she had begun doing part-time jobs and rarely asked for money from her family.

She had scholarships for tuition, and the better the school, the lower the fees.

Big items like phones and laptops were all bought and gifted to her by Qi Hao.

"Take it, it’s your New Year’s money!"

Qi Hao insisted on giving it to her; young girls are easily unbalanced when first entering society.

College days might still be easier.

Once in society, one encounters all sorts of brands and luxury goods, and one wrong step could lead astray.

Give more money to ease the mind.

Hu Shan reluctantly accepted it.

"Has your internship at the TV station ended?" Qi Hao inquired.

"Yes, now I’m in the variety department, working as a junior planner."

During her internship, Hu Shan switched departments several times before finding the one that suited her best.

"Variety? What kind of variety show? I’ll come and support you."

Qi Hao’s eyes lit up. He hadn’t been able to assist his cousin with her job search at all; by the time he knew about it, Hu Shan had already gone to Jinmen TV Station.

"No need, bro, I haven’t even said I’m your sister."

Hu Shan hurriedly declined, and besides, she’s in planning, no need for her to contact celebrities to be on the show.

"Uh... as your brother, do I embarrass you?"

Qi Hao was speechless. He could understand his cousin’s pride; no matter how well the family treated her, perhaps the fact she was living under someone else’s roof couldn’t be changed.

But to give up a strong help because of ridiculous pride, that’s just foolish.

Those second-generation rich always claim they’ve made it on their own, but truly there are very few who started from scratch.

"Not really, but I feel since I’m new to the industry, I should learn more things. If there’s ever an opportunity, I will definitely ask for your help."

Hu Shan quickly explained seeing Qi Hao a bit upset.

"What variety show are you involved in planning?" Qi Hao asked again.

He regularly received various invitations to variety shows, but he almost never participated, not even for film and TV promotions.

He also had no interest in showing his private side to the audience.

However, if he could help his cousin, it wouldn’t be bad to participate in the show she’s planning.

"’Variety Food Street,’ it’s a food program, I guess. Recently we’re arranging for celebrities to drop in at ordinary people’s homes for meals. It’s quite interesting..."

People new to work are always full of enthusiasm.

Talking about her new job, Hu Shan got spirited too.

Qi Hao, on the side, asked about some details.

Dropping in for meals...

Would going to a rumored girlfriend’s house for a meal count?

"If you need, just talk to your director, you can invite me to the show."

Qi Hao gave his cousin a firm promise.

It’s no exaggeration to say that Hu Shan helped Qi Hao tremendously.

He owed his cousin a huge favor.

Back then, Qi Hao packed his bags hastily, left a note, and ran off to the entertainment industry.

Over the past ten years, it’s the cousin who accompanied his parents.

Moreover, the cousin acted as a mediator countless times between Qi Hao and his parents, otherwise, Qi Hao’s relationship with his parents wouldn’t have been restored to how it is now.

The disappointment Qi Hao brought to his parents found redemption in the cousin.

Qi Hao didn’t go to a good school, but she did, and excelled in every aspect, smoothly considering a 985 university.

Finding an internship was effortless too, and she got into a very respectable TV station.

Whenever neighbors mentioned Hu Shan, they all praised her, saying how well Mr. and Mrs. Qi raised her.

Not just before.

If nothing unexpected happens, it will surely be the cousin accompanying the parents more in the future.

As long as she doesn’t marry far away, she will always be Mr. and Mrs. Qi’s little treasure.

After staying at home for a few days, Qi Hao went to the filming site of "Wind Sound".

In this movie, he’s playing an intelligence officer named Takeda.

Even though he despised Neon greatly, to the point he thought only dead Neon people were good, to play this role well, Qi Hao still researched extensively.

The intelligence agency Takeda was responsible for belonged to the Neon Army’s intelligence department, mainly handling military-related non-combat affairs such as espionage activities, coaxing traitors, monitoring ideology, and economic invasion.

Generally, they had sections for politics, economics, education, special high affairs, etc.

In anti-Japanese dramas, the special high section is often mentioned; it’s one of its subordinate sections.

They are significant accomplices of the combat divisions, ranked alongside the "military police" responsible for military police duties within the army command.

However, in the area of suppressing anti-Japanese movements, the two often act jointly because the intelligence agency has limited armed force.

Takeda’s characteristics include his background and cunning.

He came from a prestigious family, with a strong sense of family; everything he did was with the belief of washing away his grandfather’s shame.

And as the main antagonist in the movie, his cunning is beyond doubt.

The reason many anti-Japanese dramas are called divine dramas is largely because they intentionally dumb down these officers to please the audience.

Damn, just think, with such foolish enemies, it still took eight years to defeat them, just how messed up would we be?

"Qi Hao is here, welcome, welcome."

Director Gao Qunshu breathed a sigh of relief. If Qi Hao didn’t come soon, the crew would have to move locations.

By then, returning here to shoot Qi Hao’s scenes would be a hassle.

"Director Gao, please guide me well." Qi Hao shook hands with him, noticing Li Xue’xue standing next to the director, he didn’t ignore her.

Li Xue’xue had a complex expression.

She had just cut emotional ties with a swift stroke and ended all her thoughts about Qi Hao.

She didn’t expect to collaborate with Qi Hao once again.

More ridiculously, the two have rivalry scenes in the movie, where she even has to face Qi Hao naked, enduring the so-called body measurement punishment.

Upon reading the script, she almost gave up the role.

But alas, it was her chance.

"Haha, this time you’re playing the villain, are you mentally prepared?" Director Gao Qunshu wasn’t aware of Li Xue’xue and Qi Hao’s entanglements, and even if he knew, he wouldn’t find it a big deal.

In this entertainment circle environment, where’s the room for so many devoted lovesick couples?

Just speaking of Li Xue’xue herself, her personal life wasn’t particularly clean either. She was under Mrs. Hua, and at least her love life was much messier than Qi Hao’s.

Never mind the numerous rumored girlfriends of Qi Hao, actually, the more rumored girlfriends one has, the more it indicates one doesn’t have an actual love life.

If you actually slept with someone, you wouldn’t change rumored girlfriends so fast.

"Don’t worry, I’m already mentally prepared for being beaten up on the streets."

Qi Hao showed no signs of mental strain whatsoever.