I Want to Become the King of the Silver Screen [Entertainment Industry] Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Blueberry Egg Tart

Chen Dan ordered the newly released blueberry egg tarts from Grandpa Ken’s restaurant. When they arrived, they were still hot. As soon as she opened the box, a delightful aroma of egg tarts and blueberries wafted into his nose.

The previously plain egg tart filling was now covered with a layer of blueberry jam, along with three or four blueberry grains.

At first glance, the purplish-black blueberry jam gave a slightly dark culinary impression. However, after taking a bite was a pleasant surprise. The egg tart crust was soft, fragrant, and crispy. The rich sweetness of the egg tart filling combined harmoniously with the tangy sweetness of the blueberries, creating an unexpectedly delightful texture. Not only was the blueberry jam and grains spread on top of the egg tart, but they were also wrapped inside.

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The upcoming scene was a significant one for Jiang Yin. He wasn’t worried about acting opposite Zou Yan, but when it came to acting with Zhang Ningli, he couldn’t guarantee that he wouldn’t make any mistakes.

Although Zhang Ningli had a hot temper, she was easygoing and pleasant to talk to when she wasn’t angry. She nodded at the two of them and said, “Relax, don’t be nervous. Let’s aim for a smooth performance!”

She even praised Jiang Yin, saying, “This young man’s appearance is quite good. Which agency is he signed with? They have a good eye.”

Jiang Yin smiled and replied, “Jia Die Entertainment.”

The original owner of his contract was Jia Die Entertainment. Although they couldn’t compete with big companies like Le Yi, Bai Xiang, or Chong Xin, they still had some reputation in the industry.

The original owner had signed a seven-year contract, with two and a half years remaining.

When he first signed with the company, despite being young, the original owner’s good looks led the company to design several paths for him. However, none of them were very successful. The market was already dominated by popular idol groups with great singing and dancing skills, and child stars had better resources for acting. Coming from a different background, the original owner was at a disadvantage from the start. In this industry, having good looks without talent was not enough.

Every year, the company welcomed new talents, but the investments didn’t yield results. Naturally, they would focus on promoting others instead. However, the original owner was too proud to participate in insignificant commercial performances and variety shows, so he could only struggle in various melodramatic family dramas.

That was why, under the provocation of Han Lingran and a momentary lapse of judgment, he foolishly sought to be kept by someone.

Zhang Ningli casually mentioned a few Jia Die stars she knew. Most of the ones she knew were the pillars of Jia Die. In Jiang Yin’s memory, the original owner had hardly any opportunities to interact with them. However, he didn’t show it and patiently listened to Zhang Ningli, occasionally agreeing with her.

Beside them, Zou Yan watched and felt desperate about this face-centric world.

“Alright, let’s begin,” Director Liang shouted, and everyone quickly took their positions as filming resumed.

“One, two, three, action!”

Inside the palace, Liu Ying and Liu Fei, the two brothers, were happily chatting. Dancers gracefully danced to the music in the center, while palace attendants occasionally helped pour wine.

Suddenly, a magnificent figure dressed as the Empress Dowager appeared at the door. Empress Dowager Lv Hu walked in, her gaze sharpened upon seeing the scene inside, a momentary flash of displeasure crossing her face.

Liu Ying stood up to greet her, “Mother Empress.”

Liu Fei followed closely behind.

The music abruptly stopped, and the dancers paused their movements, bowing their heads and stepping aside to make way.

The camera zoomed in as Empress Dowager Lv Hu smiled, “The Emperor invited the Prince of Qi to the feast. How come I wasn’t informed? It has been a long time since I last saw the Prince of Qi, and I have missed him dearly.”

Liu Fei, still not realizing that he had already provoked Empress Dowager Lv Hu, immediately complied with her words, driven by his fear of her.

Liu Ying, on the other hand, smiled but tightened his grip on the wine cup in his hand.

Behind the camera, Director Liang captured this action that went beyond the scope of the script. He raised an eyebrow but stroked his chin without saying much.

As the saying goes, “No one knows a child better than their parents.” As a son, Liu Ying naturally understood his mother. Seeing his elder brother joyfully greeting her, he forgot that he had an overbearing and intolerant mother.

Could he really not have guessed anything when the palace attendant brought the wine as instructed by Empress Dowager Lv Hu? Was it truly just a coincidence that he happened to stand up and get the wine with Liu Fei?

“Very good. Keep up this emotional state. Let’s continue with the next scene. Prepare the wine. One, two, three, action!”

The filming continued.

Lv Hu’s confidant understood her intentions with just a single glance from her, and quickly brought the poisoned wine.

The camera zoomed in, focusing on the three individuals.

Lv Hu had a smile on her face, showing no signs of murderous intent. She appeared as if she was genuinely there to have a drink.

Liu Fei remained oblivious and continued to comply and agree with Lv Hu, fearing her intimidation.

Liu Ying remained silent. He had become silent ever since Lv Hu sat down to converse with Liu Fei. Especially when he saw the palace attendant approaching with the wine, his face instantly turned pale.

Then, without much hesitation, he lifted the wine jug, poured himself a cup, and raised it calmly and gracefully. His actions flowed smoothly, displaying composure.

“As a filial son, I also propose a toast, wishing Empress Mother good health and well-being.”

Lv Hu’s face changed abruptly.

Mother and son locked eyes, one displaying anger tinged with panic, the other calm yet resolute.

Finally, just as Liu Ying was about to take a sip, Lv Hu was defeated and strode forward, knocking the wine cup out of his hand.

Liu Fei, still unaware of the situation, looked at the wine cup that fell to the ground and then at the wine in his hand. Suddenly, his expression changed as he realized what had happened.

“Okay, cut!” Director Liang was very satisfied. “Very good, very good. Just like that. The performances are all excellent. Keep up the good work and try to nail the next scene in one take as well.”

The temperature in the set in June had already started to rise. Although it wasn’t the hottest time yet, they were wearing heavy ancient costumes and tightly wrapped headgear. After filming a scene, they had sweated quite a bit.

Jiang Yin gently wiped off the sweat from his forehead with a tissue. Just now, when he acted opposite Zhang Ningli, he truly experienced what genuine acting was. At the moment of their eye contact, he felt as if he had returned to his previous life and saw the Empress Dowager, or rather, Zhang Ningli’s aura was even more imposing than the Empress Dowager’s.

Now he understood the feeling Qi Baijia described as being unable to catch up with the scene. This time, he completely relied on the brilliance of the character’s image. If it were another role, it might not have been so smooth for him.

However, others were unaware of this. If there were some who previously felt dissatisfied, thinking that he was taking advantage of his appearance, they no longer felt that way now. Everyone had eyes, and that eye contact just now was full of tension and intensity. They themselves couldn’t guarantee passing a scene in one take when facing Teacher Zhang, but Jiang Yin, whom they looked down upon, accomplished it.

Especially those few who had openly praised or subtly disparaged him earlier, their expressions were not looking too good at the moment.

Qi Baijia took it lightly and gave Jiang Yin a thumbs up. He secretly reflected on whether he had become a bit complacent himself. While others had made significant progress in the past six months, he felt like he was still stuck in the same place, relying on old skills.

Another person with an unhappy expression was Zou Yan. When he heard Teacher Zhang praising Jiang Yin, he became green with envy. He was so infuriated that he sweated profusely, but he couldn’t show it. He even choked on a mouthful of blood.

However, this state of affairs made it easier for Liu Fei to act. He made an anxious excuse and left, concluding his role.

The scenes between Jiang Yin and Zhang Ningli continued.

Prince Qi hurriedly left, and Lv Hu watched his departing figure. With her back turned to Liu Ying, her expression instantly turned solemn.

Liu Ying opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but it seemed he knew that anything he said would be futile. He closed his eyes and spoke softly, “Empress Mother, Prince Qi is my biological elder brother.”

Lv Hu didn’t turn around, she merely tilted her head slightly, revealing half of her delicately made-up cheek. “Emperor, remember that you are the emperor!”

After speaking, she didn’t even cast another glance at her son. “Someone, clean up.”

With her back straight, she left. However, at the entrance, her footsteps paused for a moment. Just a moment. It seemed as if she wanted to explain, but in the end, she continued walking without looking back.

The script ended here, and Director Liang was about to call it a wrap. However, his gaze fell on Jiang Yin and he hesitated, immediately shifting the camera’s focus.

Liu Ying was crying. No one said an emperor couldn’t cry, especially not Liu Ying, who was known for his benevolence and kindness. He watched his mother’s retreating figure in silence, shedding tears silently, soundlessly.

He seemed to recall his younger brother, Liu Ruyi, who was poisoned and died. He had only left him for a short while, and when he returned, his brother had already ceased breathing. He thought of Lady Qi, who was turned into a human pig, her tragic and pitiful state. He wanted to blame and complain, but he couldn’t, because she was his mother.

He couldn’t say his mother was wrong.

So all he could do was cry.

He couldn’t even let out a sob, waving his hand to reassure the alarmed palace attendants on both sides. He tried hard to hold back his tears, shaking his head to indicate that there was no need to worry. He was afraid of speaking without restraint and causing harm to those around him.

Last time, when he cried uncontrollably upon seeing Lady Qi turned into a human pig, he had let his mother’s attendants hear his reproachful words. As a result, when he woke up from his illness, those familiar attendants had vanished without a trace.

Even though the people around him now were all his mother’s people, he didn’t want them to lose their lives because of him.

In the lavishly decorated banquet hall, with fine wine and delicacies still present, the pleasant melodies lingered in the air. Yet, an intangible desolation and helplessness spread, as if something was slowly extinguishing within those crying eyes.

The scene fell into silence.

Director Liang watched the enlarged image on the screen, and his eyes grew brighter. If he was initially satisfied with Jiang Yin’s performance, now he was pleasantly surprised.

He didn’t actually have a problem with using connections or bringing in outsiders. Given the current situation in the industry, he wasn’t ignorant of the need for flexibility. However, there was one condition: these people had to be obedient and not interfere with his production.

In his eyes, Zou Yan was someone who didn’t follow instructions. He had asked these young actors to sit down and observe seriously, but Zou Yan was busy networking everywhere, treating his words as if they were nothing. It would have been acceptable if his acting skills were good enough, but unfortunately, they weren’t.

Of course, he didn’t have high expectations for Jiang Yin either, but he never expected to be pleasantly surprised.

Nevertheless, he didn’t say much, calmly calling for a break and reviewing the footage in his mind.

As the shooting ended, Jiang Yin’s tears didn’t immediately stop. In that moment, he suddenly remembered his past life.

He didn’t become seriously ill in the Cold Palace. At that time, though weak, he gradually improved as he grew up. However, after ascending the throne as Emperor, his illness worsened.

He was terrified and helpless. He sought help from the palace attendants who had been with him since childhood, but within two days, they disappeared for various reasons.

One palace maid who had taken care of him during his upbringing couldn’t bear the torment and secretly returned to seek his help. Before he could even speak, the attendants dragged her away.

She struggled and cried out to him, “Your Majesty, save me!”

It was so painful, so agonizing.

He was held firmly by the Emperor’s personal eunuch and couldn’t move. For six long months, he heard those words, “Your Majesty, save me,” in his nightmares.

In that fleeting moment just now, he didn’t know why he remembered that scene.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” Chen Dan was startled to see him still crying and quickly approached.

“He’s just immersed in the role. Let him take a break,” Qi Baijia, who had plenty of experience, handed him a tissue from his pocket.

Jiang Yin took the tissue and covered his eyes, concealing his emotions. He forced a smile and said, “Oh, I didn’t expect to get so carried away. Couldn’t hold back for a moment.”

As he was calming himself, Chen Dan suddenly gasped, “Zhao, Young master Zhao…”

Jiang Yin’s tears instantly stopped.

***