I Want to Become the King of the Silver Screen [Entertainment Industry] Chapter 19 part 2

Chapter 19 part 2

Laughter burst out from the nearby table. Both of them turned to look, finding a man in a well-ironed gray shirt, neatly groomed hair, and wire-rimmed glasses. His standard Hong Kong style was evident, even in the way he spoke with a slight accent, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to overhear.”

There was another person sitting across from him who turned around. Through the lush green potted plant, both Jiang Yin and Qi Baijia choked.

*Cough cough,* “Mr. Zhao?!”

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“Ls, kv’p fwpv vbyv ol olal vyzjkdt vss zswezu,” Kkydt Zkd pyke.

Mblu olal nwaaldvzu kd y iwklv cya, sdl Ck Jykfky bye ekpnshlale. Mbl sodla oyp qasx vbl ldvlavykdxldv kdewpvau, yde vblu hyzwle rakhynu, ps vblal oyp ds dlle vs osaau ycswv clkdt rbsvstayrble. Ysalshla, vbl elnsa oyp wdkiwl yde iwkaju, obknb Kkydt Zkd bye nsxl vs zshl. Mblu bye blze plhlayz tyvblakdtp blal clqsal, cwv vblu dlhla lmrlnvle vs awd kdvs Hbys Zydpld vseyu.

Ck Jykfky’p vkrpkdlpp kdpvydvzu psclale wr y ckv, yde bl dseele yp kq clyvkdt y eawx, “Omynvzu, R bye y ckv vss xwnb vs eakdj, yde swa hsknlp tsv vss zswe. Fsaau ycswv vbyv.”

“So, you guys know each other?” The refined man’s gaze shifted among the three, and he pushed his glasses up while suggesting with a smile, “Since we’re acquainted, why not join us?”

“Sure!”

“No need!”

Jiang Yin and Qi Baijia responded almost simultaneously, one in front of the other.

Zhao Yansen, who had been half-rising to make space, looked their way.

Jiang Yin stood up decisively, “I mean, I’m sorry for causing you any trouble.”

Qi Baijia quickly followed suit, “No need to be so polite, we’re coming over.”

…

Jiang Yin initially intended to avoid suspicion by sitting next to the man with glasses. Zhao Yansen raised an eyebrow in slight puzzlement, causing Jiang Yin to instinctively halt his steps forward.

Once he settled down, Jiang Yin pondered for a moment. He found it odd that he was so readily following Zhao Yansen’s lead. After careful consideration, he attributed it to the residual instincts of the original owner of his body. Otherwise, he had no reason to be wary of Zhao Yansen.

Yes, that must be it, no doubt.

“Are you filming nearby?” Zhao Yansen inquired.

“Yes.” Jiang Yin answered without hesitation.

…

Alright, sometimes one must bow to the circumstances. Even an emperor must admit that without the crown, he had to compromise to power.

“I’m Rong Jiasheng,” the refined man introduced himself, “Jiasheng from ‘home’ in Chinese, and ‘sound’ in English. You can also call me Eric.”

Jiang Yin shook his hand politely, “Hello, I’m Jiang Yin. Jiang from rivers and lakes, and Yin—well, it’s a character representing music.”

“Yin” could mean harmony and tranquility, or describe silence. The original host’s parents had named him with the former intention, hoping that he would grow up to fulfill his mother’s unrealized musical dreams. The character “Yin” had a “heart” radical added to it, implying that they wished for him to have a composed and steady personality.

Jiang Yin wasn’t as fortunate in this aspect. The late emperor had given him this name, clearly with the latter intention—hoping that he would quietly disappear. When he didn’t understand anything, he still felt a natural affection for the late emperor. Even though the emperor often ignored him, he held a childlike admiration for him. But when he eventually understood the meaning of the character, all longing and admiration vanished.

Nonetheless, his brief past life did indeed serve as evidence of that character: he had entered unobtrusively and left without a trace.

Zhao Yansen glanced at him.

Qi Baijia across the table seemed to recognize the name Rong Jiasheng, looking somewhat surprised, but he quickly introduced himself with a cheerful smile. No one could surpass him in terms of familiarity and ease with strangers.

After only a few exchanges, the atmosphere at the table felt as if they were long-time friends.

“Are you filming a show related to food delivery?” Rong Jiasheng suddenly asked.

Jiang Yin was taken aback, “How did you know?”

“It’s really you,” Rong Jiasheng laughed heartily, “I always trust my intuition, and it has never failed me.”

After a brief thought, Jiang Yin realized, “You’re Mr. 1703!”

Having learned that he was involved in food delivery and also friends with Zhao Yansen, Jiang Yin remembered the time he encountered Zhao Yansen. Back then, the customer name on the order was a single capital letter “E,” which corresponded to the initial of “Eric.”

“That’s right, it’s me,” Rong Jiasheng said with a smile, “That day, I ordered food delivery. I couldn’t free my hands on the second floor, so I had Yansen help me open the door. He came back and said he knew the delivery person. I was surprised to find out that there’s an actor so dedicated. I didn’t expect to meet you so soon.”

In an instant, Rong Jiasheng transitioned from someone who had seen a few familiar faces to being Jiang Yin’s former customer.

Seeing him in this light made Jiang Yin feel a closer connection, so he raised his glass, “I also want to thank you for the positive review.”

Rong Jiasheng chuckled, and they clinked glasses in harmony, “You’re welcome.”

Qi Baijia took a few swigs from his drink, nodding with an air of profoundness, “Fate, it’s fate.”

Zhao Yansen, who had unknowingly transitioned from a familiar acquaintance to a customer and good friend, furrowed his brows. He shot a disapproving look at Rong Jiasheng, signaling him to tone it down. Rong Jiasheng was a playboy who enjoyed flirting, and although it was consensual, Jiang Yin had already turned over a new leaf. If he were to stray again, it could be problematic.

Zhao Yansen wasn’t underestimating Jiang Yin, but at this age, it was easy for someone to take a wrong turn. The entertainment industry was already tumultuous, and without parents around, if there wasn’t a reliable person to offer guidance, a child could easily be led astray and ruin their life.

He had witnessed such situations many times before.

If he hadn’t encountered this situation, he might have ignored it. However, since he had, and he was partly responsible for it, he couldn’t just turn a blind eye.

Feeling a strong sense of responsibility, Zhao Yansen interrupted their conversation.

“Have you two eaten?”

Jiang Yin: “I’ve eaten.”

Qi Baijia: “I haven’t.”

Jiang Yin: “…”

Qi Baijia, influenced by the alcohol, grinned foolishly, “Come, come, everyone’s meeting is fate. Today, I’ll treat you all to celebrate my breakup. Order whatever you want to eat!”

He patted his chest as if he was about to stand up and announce to the whole place. However, Jiang Yin quickly got up and pressed him back down.

Rong Jiasheng considerately stood up and shifted his position, making room for Jiang Yin to take care of Qi Baijia.

Jiang Yin wanted to say thank you, but he realized that after this switch, he was now facing Zhao Yansen directly. When he lifted his eyes, he met Zhao Yansen’s stern and serious expression.

…

Pretending not to notice the furrowed brows, Jiang Yin suggested, “Why don’t I treat this time? Our previous meetings were always rushed. This is a great opportunity to formally express my gratitude to Mr. Zhao for his previous kindness.”

Zhao Yansen’s brows relaxed, “Sure.”

Rong Jiasheng, rubbing his chin, observed the silence between the two.

The bar they were in not only served drinks but also had a selection of meals, primarily Western cuisine. Zhao Yansen ordered spaghetti with meat sauce and a fruit salad. Rong Jiasheng chose a steak with creamy mushroom soup. Not being well-versed in Western food, Jiang Yin selected a visually appealing pineapple rice dish and a fruit platter.

When it was Qi Baijia’s turn to order, he initially wanted to order more alcohol. However, the gazes of both Jiang Yin and Zhao Yansen fell on him at the same time, instantly jolting him into sobriety. He fluently recited his order: “Fried chicken wings, French fries, cheese-baked prawns, mashed potatoes, and a dried fruit platter…”

Jiang Yin: “…”

Fully sober now, Qi Baijia felt a bit uneasy. Despite being known as a social butterfly in the entertainment circle, he hadn’t had the opportunity to interact with big shots like Zhao Yansen up close. He entered the entertainment industry at the age of five, witnessing the ups and downs within the circle, and he always avoided getting close to such people. He never imagined that one day he would sit at a table with them, eating like friends.

His courage might have been bolstered by alcohol earlier, but now that he was sobering up, he was finding it difficult to hold his composure. However, when he looked at Jiang Yin’s composed demeanor, he couldn’t help but admire him.

On the other hand, it was Jiang Yin who felt somewhat uneasy. Considering his history with Zhao Yansen, he might not have dared to even be in the same room with him. Yet here Zhao Yansen was, calm and collected, acting as if he was just hanging out with friends. Jiang Yin, who was merely accompanying them, was making things much more tense than they needed to be.

With this realization, everyone started to relax.

Jiang Yin was unaware that he had become an example for Qi Baijia. Although his mind was clear that he had changed his identity and was no longer the emperor, the experiences from his past life had already become ingrained in him. Even though Zhao Yansen stood before him, Jiang Yin didn’t feel any discomfort. He would be just as comfortable talking to a leader or anyone else. This innate self-assuredness was something he had developed over the years, thanks to his past experiences.

Zhao Yansen’s interaction with Jiang Yin wasn’t entirely unexpected, but Rong Jiasheng found it surprising.

Zhao Yansen was famously known for being a heartthrob among young people in the entertainment industry. The younger generation and even his peers treated him like a cat encountering a mouse; they avoided him like the plague. Raised with the aura of being from a privileged background, Zhao Yansen was an adversary to them all, but he had consistently dominated his peers. Sometimes even Rong Jiasheng felt envious of Zhao Yansen’s accomplishments.

Jiang Yin was the first person, apart from Peng Peng, whom he had seen to be so at ease with Zhao Yansen while dining with him.

Quietly, Rong Jiasheng made a mental note of Jiang Yin’s name, intending to ask later who he was. Somehow, he felt like he had heard this name somewhere before.

Both Qi Baijia and Rong Jiasheng were adept at socializing and maintaining a pleasant atmosphere. Jiang Yin also made sure to uphold the mutual relationship between the two sides. He wasn’t a person to pass up the opportunity to expand his network. With such a good chance, there was no reason to let it slip away.

Jiang Yin wasn’t sure who Han Lingran had managed to connect with, but he didn’t want to be caught off guard if Han Lingran decided to target him. If he could leverage Zhao Yansen’s influence, he might be able to stay out of trouble. Though it might seem a bit calculated to use Zhao Yansen, Jiang Yin had no intention of deceiving anyone. He saw it as owing a favor and planned to return it later.

Qi Baijia seemed to have a similar idea. The two exchanged a subtle glance.

As a result, the meal went smoothly. The conversation was enjoyable, and the Western cuisine they ordered turned out to be quite good. At least Jiang Yin found his pineapple rice to be delicious.

The golden fried rice was served in a hollowed-out pineapple, and the colors were visually stunning. Each grain of rice was wrapped in scrambled egg, and there were cashews, peas, diced ham, and shrimp. He would scoop a spoonful into his mouth, including a piece of pineapple, creating a harmonious mix of sweet and savory flavors.

As the meal neared its end, Rong Jiasheng took out his phone, “Let’s exchange WeChat numbers. We can meet up again sometime.”

Initially thinking that he might not have much in common with these two young men, he was pleasantly surprised to find the opposite. They had no trouble finding topics to discuss, especially regarding baby faces. They were articulate, which wasn’t surprising given their high emotional intelligence as public figures.

“Sure.” Jiang Yin readily agreed.

He was about to open WeChat to scan the QR code, but Rong Jiasheng handed him the phone with a QR code ready to scan. With a beep, he scanned it and saw the name “Zhao Yansen.”

Jiang Yin: “…”

It was the first time Jiang Yin had seen someone use their real name as their WeChat ID, but what was even more astonishing was that the profile picture was Zhao Yansen’s official ID photo.

Zhao Yansen remained nonchalant and reminded Jiang Yin, “Send a verification message.”

Jiang Yin sent the verification message and quickly got verified. Subconsciously, he clicked on the profile picture.

“Farewell of Citizens Safely Returning to Country X…”

“Harvest Festival for Farmers…”

“Commemorating Academician XX…”

“New Tax Reduction Policies for Private Enterprises…”

“Recommendation for ‘XXX’…”

…

Out of ten posts, eight were retweets, and each had a brief, incisive comment.

The style was suffocatingly overwhelming.

Jiang Yin finally understood why people called him “old-fashioned.” The posts in his parents’ social media feeds were “younger” than this. Zhao Yansen managed to make 28 look like 48.

Scrolling further down, the only non-news-related content consisted of pictures of his family and a dog. Even these were straightforward – a picture of his sister with the caption “visiting the set” when he visited the set of “The Legend of Empress Lu”, and a picture of a golden retriever, with equally straightforward text.

Jiang Yin silently retreated and added Rong Jiasheng on WeChat.

Rong Jiasheng’s social media was much more normal – a glimpse into the life of an elite man, with pictures of morning sunlight, coffee tables in the afternoon, busy work, and lively nightlife.

Jiang Yin was genuinely curious about how these two had become friends. Out of courtesy, he refrained from looking further and only glanced briefly. He put away his phone and bid farewell to the two with a smile.

As they walked away, Qi Baijia exclaimed excitedly, slapping his thigh, “Oh my god, I can’t believe it! I actually added Zhao Yansen on WeChat! I can boast about this for the rest of my life!”

With a sense of pilgrimage, Qi Baijia opened Zhao Yansen’s social media feed and then…

…

…

… paused for a moment. “Indeed, he’s a big shot. Different from ordinary people.”

Jiang Yin commented, “He’s already gone.”

Qi Baijia couldn’t help but burst into laughter, “Hahaha, I didn’t expect a big shot’s social media to be like this…”

Jiang Yin couldn’t hold back his laughter either.

Both Jiang Yin and Qi Baijia had standard social media feeds. After all, they had to consider their public image and be careful not to be caught in any compromising situations that could be shared online. Almost every post was approved by their managers.

After scrolling through Rong Jiasheng’s feed, Jiang Yin asked, “Do you know him?”

Qi Baijia replied, “I’m not very clear about it. Some friends mentioned him. I heard that his family is involved in the daily necessities and appliances industry.” He mentioned a few common supermarket brands, “They say those are all owned by his family.”

He paused for a moment and glanced at Jiang Yin’s expression before continuing, “But my friend also said he’s a well-known playboy in the city.”

Jiang Yin understood that he was being subtly reminded not to follow the same path as before. He smiled and said, “I understand.”

Qi Baijia immediately felt relieved and playfully put his arm around Jiang Yin’s shoulder, “Yin, thanks a lot today. I’ve gained some reputation by association with you. I’ll treat you to a meal sometime.”

Jiang Yin replied, “No need for a meal, just help me practice crying scenes.”

Qi Baijia immediately patted his chest, “No problem, I’ve got you covered!”

And true to his word, Qi Baijia acted on it. That evening, he took Jiang Yin to his home, which also served as his studio. Despite Qi Baijia’s limited acting range, his acting skills were quite impressive, and his experience in the field far surpassed Jiang Yin’s.

Although he hadn’t attended a film school, he had studied acting privately and was more than qualified to teach Jiang Yin. His teaching method was very straightforward, much like highlighting important points for an exam. There was no need for in-depth understanding; as long as you grasped a few key elements, it would be sufficient to handle the task.

Jiang Yin needed quick progress as he was still far from delving into the deeper layers of acting. Over the course of a few days, his acting skills improved dramatically.

For nearly half a month, the shooting of “Fateful Encounter” went smoothly. Due to location and scheduling reasons, most of the scenes shot were focused on the female lead and a few senior actors. Jiang Yin had been shooting for half a month, eagerly awaiting his major scene.

And when it finally arrived, it was a kissing scene.

****