novelraw Chapter 32 Youth is an asset
Chapter 32 Youth is an asset
Another email came from Lin Wei and was concise and to the point.
"Director Zhang, Chen Bo's original works are of excellent quality. I suggest giving him appropriate stage support; there might be unexpected surprises. Yue Qing will also be there; I hope you'll take care of her."
Zhang Guanhai rubbed his throbbing temples and shoved the cigarette butt into the ashtray that had already piled up like a small mountain.
"What kind of mess is this..." he muttered to himself, his bald head reflecting a glint of wisdom under the lamplight. "One wants to be ruthlessly punished, the other wants to be flattered to the skies, and both are people you can't afford to offend."
Assistant Xiao Wang poked his head in: "Director Zhang, the costume department is asking about Chen Bo's costume. Should we go with the newcomer standard or...?"
"According to the newcomer standard!" Zhang Guanhai said irritably. What else could he do? He would cancel each other out and treat everyone equally!
Xiao Wang shrank back after being yelled at, and was about to leave when he was stopped again.
"Wait a minute." Zhang Guanhai scratched his already thinning hair in frustration. "It's a little bit better, the lighting is normal, don't cause any trouble."
As for Lu Ze's bribe, it was returned intact after the show was recorded, Zhang Guanhai sighed.
If Lu Ze can be offended, can Xu Yueqing be offended?
She's currently very popular and has capital behind her. If you offend Lin Wei with her mouth, it will be difficult to get A-list celebrities on your shows in the future.
After his assistant left, Zhang Guanhai slumped in his chair, stared at the ceiling, and let out a long sigh.
Being a director isn't easy these days.
Not only do you need to understand art, but you also need to understand human relationships and social customs.
Yunding Mountain Villa, at dusk.
In the courtyard of Zhou Lingyan's villa, the barbecue grill was already set up, the charcoal was glowing red, the meat skewers were sizzling, and the aroma was irresistible.
Wearing a pink cartoon apron, Bei Weiwei was diligently flipping the skewers, her movements so skilled that Chen Bo was somewhat surprised.
"I didn't expect you to know this." Chen Bo leaned back in the wicker chair, holding a can of beer in his hand.
"I used to go to the countryside for barbecues with my parents a lot when I was little, that's how I got these skills," Bei Weiwei said with a smile, fine beads of sweat appearing on her forehead. "Lingyan, pass me the seasonings."
Zhou Lingyan reluctantly handed over the condiment box, while she herself wore a loose white shirt and super short hot pants, her long legs dazzlingly white in the twilight.
She didn't offer any help; she just stood by with her arms crossed, like a supervisor.
"Weiwei, are you sure you want to stay here?" Zhou Lingyan asked for the nth time.
"We haven't slept together in ages," Bei Weiwei blinked. "When we went on a college trip, the five of us even camped together, lying in one big tent."
I miss those days when Xu Yueqing and Zhou Lingyan hadn't fallen out, and we all went to soak in hot springs together, with car headlights blinding us.
"Dream on!" Zhou Lingyan immediately refused. "I'm a restless sleeper, I'm afraid I'll kick you out of bed in the middle of the night."
"Then I'll sleep on the floor." Bei Weiwei seemed easygoing as she continued flipping the skewers. "The main reason is that I want to go shopping with Chen Bo early tomorrow. We need them for the show, and it's too far from my house."
Chen Bo drank his beer without saying a word.
He finally understood that Bei Weiwei, though seemingly gentle, was actually very persistent. Once she set her mind on something, she would plunge headlong into it without ever looking back.
"Why isn't Lulu here yet?" Zhou Lingyan glanced at the time. "Wasn't she supposed to arrive at 6:30?"
No sooner had she finished speaking than Zhao Lulu appeared outside the courtyard gate.
The door opened, and Zhao Lulu, dressed in a stylish leather jacket and pants, wearing high heels, and carrying two large bags, rushed in.
"It's here! The traffic was killing me!" She slammed the bag down on the table, letting out a sigh of relief. "I brought wine, the best red wine, and seafood—huge lobsters and scallops! We're having a good meal tonight!"
She glanced at Bei Weiwei by the barbecue grill, then at Chen Bo in the rattan chair, and finally her gaze settled on Zhou Lingyan.
"Lingyan, I heard Weiwei is going to stay here for the night?" Zhao Lulu leaned closer. "Isn't that like a lamb entering a tiger's den?"
"You're the tiger!" Zhou Lingyan glared at her. "I'm so cute, how could I be a tiger? I just find her annoying, I'm only staying one night and I'm leaving!"
Zhao Lulu smiled without saying a word, walked over to Chen Bo and sat down, opening a can of beer for herself.
"Teacher Chen, are you nervous as we get closer to challenging the champion?" She nudged Chen Bo's beer can.
"A little," Chen Bo said honestly. "It's not that I'm afraid of singing, it's that I'm afraid the audience will be too noisy."
Zhao Lulu laughed heartily: "Don't worry, we'll all go and cheer you on. Yueqing is going, Lingyan is going, Weiwei is going, and I bet Manman is going too. Tsk tsk, with this lineup, even the kings and queens of the entertainment industry don't get this kind of treatment."
Chen Bo said nonchalantly, "Would you like this good fortune?"
"I can't afford it." Zhao Lulu shook her head. "But seriously, Chen Bo, I heard the demo of your song, it's great. I have a feeling you'll become famous."
Chen Bo confidently replied, "Absolutely!"
"It's good to have confidence," Zhao Lulu said mysteriously. "Your song, how should I put it... is particularly easy for people to identify with it. If Yueqing doesn't react after listening to it, I'll change my name."
At this moment, Bei Weiwei brought over a plate of grilled meat skewers: "Eat these first, I'll grill the seafood later."
The grilled skewers smelled delicious, the meat was tender, and the seasoning was just right.
Chen Bo ate a skewer and his eyes lit up: "Delicious!"
Bei Weiwei immediately beamed: "Then eat more, I baked a lot."
Zhou Lingyan also took a skewer, took a bite, and pouted, "It's alright, not as good as my aunt's."
"Then you should ask your auntie to grill it," Bei Weiwei said with a smile, not angry at all.
Zhou Lingyan choked for a moment, snorted, and continued eating by herself.
As dusk settled, the string lights in the courtyard came on, casting a warm yellow glow over the small yard. Smoke billowed from the barbecue grill, the aroma of wine mingling with the scent of meat, creating a pleasant atmosphere.
Zhao Lulu is good at livening up the atmosphere. She told a few gossip stories from the entertainment industry, which made everyone laugh.
"By the way, do you guys know that rising star Li Haoran?" Zhao Lulu said mysteriously. "He was photographed meeting three girls at night last week. What a master of time management!"
"Three?" Bevyvi asked in surprise. "At the same time?"
"I travel during off-peak hours." Zhao Lulu gestured to indicate the names. "One at eight o'clock in the evening, one at ten o'clock, one in the early morning, and I would leave the last girl's house in the morning and go straight to the film set. My dark circles were so thick that even makeup couldn't cover them."
Chen Bo listened with great interest: "That's impressive stamina."
"What do you mean, 'can'?" Zhou Lingyan rolled her eyes. "You'll have kidney deficiency sooner or later."
As he spoke, he glanced sideways at someone.
"That's not necessarily true," Zhao Lulu said. "She's only twenty-three. Youth is an asset, but I heard she's been taking Chinese medicine to regulate her body recently. Tsk tsk."
Amidst laughter and conversation, after a few bottles of red wine, everyone was slightly tipsy.
Bei Weiwei's cheeks flushed as she leaned back in her chair, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Chen Bo: "Chen Bo, you must do your best. I'll be watching you from the audience."
"Thank you." Chen Bo raised his glass.
Zhou Lingyan suddenly stood up: "I'll go get some fruit."
She turned and went inside.
Zhao Lulu and Bei Weiwei exchanged a glance, and Zhao Lulu whispered, "Lingyan seems a bit off."