Chapter 308: Hong Kong Circle, Little Qian Sui
Xiang You grinned crookedly: “Come on, I’ll take you to see Master.”
He also knew that the Program Team wanted to seek an Explosive Point, and Andy Lau’s “unexpected” appearance was the biggest Explosive Point.
The group walked into the Film Crew, and along the way many Staff were greeting Chi Ye and the others. The Film Crew had clearly received the Program Team’s message in advance and was well prepared.
“This is Area A, over there is Group B filming the ancient battlefield, very spectacular. I rode on horseback, galloping in the center of the battlefield—that feeling… was explosive. Chi Ye, do you want to experience it later?”
Xiang You was talking when suddenly a shout came from afar.
“Chi Ye!”
Wu Zhenyu walked over wearing a Helmet, smiling as he said: “Long time no see, Chi Ye.”
“Teacher Wu.”
Chi Ye nodded, glanced at the other’s outfit, then at Xiang You’s women’s clothing, and guessed: “Are you playing Xiang You’s husband?”
Teacher Wu’s face, which had just been about to smile, froze instantly. He subconsciously moved two meters away from Xiang You before cursing: “You punk, if you want to die, don’t drag me down.”
“Haha.”
Everyone laughed.
Wang Chuxing and Tan Yue were both quite reserved. Xiang You was okay, but Teacher Wu was the first Big Star they met when joining the crew. In fact, Wang Chuxing had been one of Teacher Wu’s students on a Variety Show a few years ago.
A proper “Teacher.”
“Xiao Wang, Little Tan, hello.”
Teacher Wu was very familiar with the Mainland and naturally with the new generation Actors in Internal Entertainment Circle. He nodded in greeting, then exchanged pleasantries with Sister Shang, Shi Jinwei, and the other Guests before curiously asking: “Isn’t your Program supposed to have eight Guests? Where are the other two?”
“Went for a stomach pump.”
“Oh, stomach pump… stomach pump?!”
Teacher Wu was startled.
Even Xiang You asked in surprise: “Teacher Huang is here?!”
Everyone: “…”
This matter was really hard to explain in detail. After all, drinking Povidone-iodone orally was such an event that, not to mention in the Entertainment Industry, even in the abstract world, it was a high-Value “feat.”
If they said it now, wouldn’t Aunt Mao and Zheng Chunchun hate them to death later?
—Chi Ye wasn’t afraid.
But Chi Ye wasn’t one to badmouth people behind their backs, so he thought for a moment and gave a very apt description: “Teacher Huang isn’t here, but I’m here.”
Xiang You and Teacher Wu instantly understood, pointing at Chi Ye speechless.
Right, how could they forget Chi Ye?
Compared to Teacher Huang, Chi Ye was the real Conan—wherever he went, trouble followed. Like his innate Unrivaled Top Streamer holy body in Internal Entertainment Circle where everything he acted in exploded, many in the Industry were now privately studying just how much Metaphysics was on this guy.
“You do have self-awareness.”
In the crowd, Shi Jinwei curled her lip.
Chi Ye glanced at her and nodded: “You’re next.”
Shi Jinwei felt a chill in her tailbone and gritted her teeth: “You’re really vicious.”
“Come on, come on, I’ll take you inside… Hello, everyone good.”
Teacher Wu led the group into the crew, joining the welcoming family, while not forgetting to greet the camera.
At this moment, in the Live Broadcast Room.
Because the Program Team had temporarily edited out the sensitive content related to Aunt Mao and Zheng Chunchun, the viewing experience for the Audience watching the live broadcast during this time wasn’t great.
But after the 《Yi Lu Fan Hua》 Program Team arrived at the 《Seal God》 Film Crew, Bullet Comments started surging, and it hit a new high after Xiang You appeared.
Now with Teacher Wu greeting, the Bullet Comments became even livelier.
「Teacher Wu!」
「Teacher Wu’s look… I don’t want to watch this Movie anymore.」
「It’s okay, 《Seal God Legend》 this Movie is destined to become a Benchmark work in Hong Kong Film History.」
「?」
「Hong Kong Film History’s number one abstract Movie!」
「Hahaha.」
「…」
“Did Jin Xia not come with you?”
At the back of the Program Team, Teacher Wu walked side by side with Chi Ye, asking quietly.
“She didn’t come. She’ll wait for me to go back, then come for the third episode.”
“How’s that Movie of yours going?”
“…Which one?”
Teacher Wu: “The Sci-Fi film you’re shooting now. I’m in Hong Kong and I’ve heard lots of people discussing it.”
Chi Ye was surprised: “Really?”
“Of course it’s real.”
Teacher Wu explained: “Hong Kong Circle is really not doing well now. Many old Actors have no work, let alone your huge Film Crew and Sci-Fi genre. Lots of people wanted to go to the Mainland before, but… it’s not easy.”
“《Mars Rescue》 has quite a few Hong Kong Actors.”
“I know, I get it.”
Teacher Wu patted Chi Ye’s shoulder: “I know what kind of person you are… Whatever you hear later, don’t take it to heart. Many people still can’t get over their past glory.”
“…?”
Chi Ye didn’t understand why Teacher Wu said this.
But soon, he gradually understood the meaning behind the other saying this in advance.
He had originally thought that this visit to the set and Hong Kong trip would be relatively relaxed, with more Goodwill.
But after really entering the Film Crew, aside from a few old friends like Xiang You and Teacher Wu, the others were fine on camera but off camera, the exclusionary atmosphere was obvious.
And the looks toward him were sometimes complex, sometimes shaking their heads, not lacking cricket sounds mixed with local dialect.
Chi Ye couldn’t understand much, but figured it wasn’t anything good.
“Why are they like this?”
Shi Jinwei also noticed this. During the break midway through recording, she looked at Chi Ye puzzled: “Have all your enemies come to Hong Kong?”
Chi Ye: “…”
He didn’t answer her, but thought it was probably because after he became famous, he hadn’t given much to Hong Kong Circle resources… More precisely, except for Jin Sui Company, he hadn’t given much to other Interest Groups in Hong Kong Circle, including the biggest one, the Xiang family, in terms of “attitude.”
Chi Ye was actually a bit speechless about this.
Because as far as he was concerned, from beginning to end, only Jin Sui had helped him. The other Interest Groups were basically strangers to him.
And due to Chi Ye Studio’s currently small size, he had few Projects under control. Giving opportunities to actors from Jin Sui Company was already the biggest breakthrough. By true selection standards, did Hong Kong’s current young Actors even measure up?
In short, combining various reasons, his arrival in Hong Kong was far from the “widely welcomed” everyone imagined.
“Then for this Hong Kong Film Awards…”
Sister Shang was nearby, eating melon while analyzing: “Are you about to flop?”
Chi Ye heard the “expectation” in her tone and was a bit unhappy: “Why does it sound like you’re happy about it?”
“No, no.”
Sister Shang waved her hands explaining: “I just want to see you feud with someone. It doesn’t matter who.”
Chi Ye: “…I want to feud with you right now.”
Sister Shang: “?”
She glanced at Chi Ye, suddenly stepped back a few steps, pointing at him: “Xiao Chi, stop making dirty jokes at me all the time. You’re so greasy.”
Chi Ye: “???”
How did I make a dirty joke?
Shi Jinwei nodded in agreement: “That’s true. Don’t let Chi Ye’s proper act fool you. He has tons of tricks up his sleeve. Sis, be careful. You’re so pretty, it’s fine if he just talks, but watch out if he goes hard.”
Chi Ye: “???”
Delusional women?
Two of them, real idiots, pfft.
Although the two “good friends” were talking about Chi Ye, from their current relationships with him, both women were clearly a bit worried about the Hong Kong Film Awards.
—In their view, Chi Ye winning the Hong Kong Film Awards this time was basically a sure thing.
Even Chi Ye Team had started releasing hype for the Hot Search “Unrivaled Top Streamer’s First Triple Crown Movie Emperor.”
The boasts were out there. If… if he didn’t win this time, it would be a huge slap in the face.
More importantly, if he didn’t win, what would all the Rivals and Capital waiting to catch his “weakness” do?
In the Entertainment Industry, every step up, countless people are watching you. It’s tough.
Sister Shang seemed to sense the hardships Chi Ye had gone through and shook her head with a sigh: “Xiao Chi, it’s lonely at the top. I get you, because I’ve been there.”
Chi Ye: “I don’t get you, because I’ve always been smooth.”
Sister Shang: “…I hope you don’t win this time.”
“Thanks, and I hope you don’t get cured this time.”
“…You two really have each other’s backs.”
Sister Qianzi was speechless listening, looking at Chi Ye: “Don’t you have any contingency plans? If not, at least proactively contact Andy Lau and the Xiang family. I feel like if you show some attitude, lean more toward Hong Kong Circle Artists in the future, they’ll help you.”
Chi Ye glanced at her: “No need.”
Shi Jinwei: “?”
“Then just wait for the accident.”
She was a bit angry, thinking Chi Ye was great in every way—good-looking, capable, shrewd, even trending toward Capital tycoon—but… that mouth and personality were so hateable.
Teasing people all the time was one thing, but his personality was abnormally tough. From his series of clashes with Beijing Circle and Mainland Film Circle, Shi Jinwei could tell Chi Ye truly neither yielded to soft nor hard tactics.
What did he yield to?
He probably yielded to Jin Xia…
Speaking of which, that little Drama Queen was so dramatic, and he liked that type?
Then why didn’t he like Aunt Mao?!
…
That night after 《Yi Lu Fan Hua》 ended the set visit, they returned to their temporary residence. Aunt Mao and Zheng Chunchun had returned and were deliberately dangling in front of the camera with their IV Drips.
“Did you hear?”
“Hear what?”
“Today when we weren’t there, they went to visit the 《Seal God》 set, and barely anyone paid attention to Chi Ye. Heard even the Director just showed his face, no real chat.”
“…What’s the situation?”
Don’t underestimate two women’s gossip desires, especially these two Big Stars in the Entertainment Industry, knowing more insider info, and… their bad feelings toward Chi Ye had peaked on the first day of recording.
At this moment, Zheng Chunchun looked at Aunt Mao, curious and slyly expectant: “Wasn’t he the Hong Kong Circle Young Actor? Even his own Circle doesn’t like him?”
“What Hong Kong Circle push, hah.”
Aunt Mao curled her lip disdainfully: “With his personality, he can’t fit in anywhere. It’s normal for people to hate him.”
“But this time, apparently he upset a few Hong Kong Capital groups. Probably want to give him a knock.”
“Sister Mao, do you have sources?”
“Not really, a few friends called me today.” Aunt Mao pretentiously chuckled: “I heard he went to visit the set today and didn’t even see Andy Lau’s face. Xiang You took him, but the guy had already left.”
“…So disrespectful?”
Zheng Chunchun was stunned.
If it were her, no matter how much she hated him inside, with Chi Ye’s current Star Power and Capital, she’d keep up appearances.
Someone like Andy Lau giving zero face was rare.
“Not surprising. Andy Lau is originally from Capital City, close with old Beijing Circle, and one of Hong Kong Investors. Plus 《Influenza》’s international Performance somewhat threatens him, so of course he doesn’t like Chi Ye.”
“…Now I get it.” Zheng Chunchun shook her head: “All damn RMB.”
“Then…” She paused, sneakily glancing at Chi Ye, lowering her voice: “The Hong Kong Film Award Best Actor thing…”
“Who knows, maybe something unexpected happens.”
Aunt Mao speculated with malicious anticipation.
The Hong Kong Film Award Best Actor Award was indeed fierce, with unimaginable boost to Chi Ye’s Career. If he didn’t get it this time, it would be a “historic” blow to his upward trajectory since 《Circulation》.
She really wanted to see that.
“Si Zi and Zhu Yao Lin, Beijing Circle should be thrilled.”
When Zheng Chunchun looked at Chi Ye again, her gaze had a hint of faint superiority—no Hong Kong Film Award Best Actor, and his Traffic constantly eroded by new Top Streamers…
How old was Chi Ye this year?
Over thirty, right?
How many more years could he maintain the Disparity?
No need for her to “kowtow and lick” with the low posture from the first day of recording.
Next time he mouths off, she’d mouth back hard!
Thinking this, Zheng Chunchun suddenly noticed Chi Ye’s gaze.
Chi Ye looked over, his gaze a bit odd, but didn’t linger.
Because the Program was on time, the live broadcast had ended.
Someone came to “visit the set” outside the door.
“Hello, I’m looking for Chi Ye.”
A mature big sis voice sounded, then everyone looked up to see a very unfamiliar but very pretty woman at the door.
She smiled and waved at Director Li. Director Li had stood up the instant he saw the woman, trotting over bowing: “Oh, Sui Zong… Sui Zong, why’d you come personally… I… I didn’t expect you to come yourself.”
Mainland’s tough integrator, Hong Kong’s Local Tyrant.
In Hong Kong, identities reversed.
“It’s fine, got off work early today.”
Jin Sui smiled and chatted briefly with Director Li, then looked at Chi Ye: “You came and didn’t even call me?”
Chi Ye: “Mainly afraid you’d throw me into Victoria Harbour.”
Jin Sui: “?”
Chi Ye turned to introduce to the others: “Let me introduce, my Aunt, Jin Sui.”
Everyone: “?”
