Chinese entertainment: What's wrong with actresses wanting to improve?

Chapter 101 The Actress's Reaction

A high-end apartment in Beijing.

Zhang Ziyi sat on the sofa, with entertainment news playing on the television in front of her.

On the screen, Fan Binbin stood next to Fu Yibai, smiling politely and humbly.

"The reason Fan Binbin won is that she better fits the character's temperament..."

The reporter's questions and Fu Yibai's answers penetrated his ears word by word.

She stared at the screen, her expression eerily calm.

Her agent watched her cautiously from the side.

"Sister Zhang, how about... we get something to eat?"

Zhang Ziyi remained silent.

"I practiced for a month, six hours of English and three hours of physical exercises every day..."

Zhang Ziyi gave a cold laugh.

"Nine hours a day? Does she think filming is like military training?"

The agent opened his mouth, but didn't dare to say anything.

Zhang Ziyi picked up the remote and turned off the TV; the room was eerily quiet.

"Help me make an appointment with Fu Yibai."

The agent was taken aback.

"Sister Zhang, asking him out at this time..."

"Invite him to dinner."

Zhang Ziyi interrupted her, her tone as calm as if she were saying that the weather was nice today.

"It's just sleeping. That maid can sleep, but I can't?"

I refuse to believe I could be worse than her.

The agent hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded.

"Okay, I'll contact them."

…………

Li Binbin's home.

Li Xue handed over her phone; the screen displayed a message she had just received.

"Fan Binbin is confirmed."

Li Binbin glanced at it, but his expression remained unchanged.

"understood."

Li Xue asked cautiously, "Sister, should we...?"

"What do you want?"

Li Binbin picked up a strawberry and put it in his mouth.

"It's only natural for a company to promote its own people. Why should we join in?"

"But……"

"There's no 'but' about it."

Li Binbin swallowed the strawberry, his tone indifferent.

"If it doesn't work this time, we'll try again next time."

He'll get tired of it eventually.

As long as he has projects, there will still be opportunities.

Li Xue nodded knowingly.

Li Binbin didn't say anything more and turned to walk into the bedroom.

.........

Zhou Xun was nestled on the sofa, holding a book in her hands, with a bag of potato chips spread out in front of her.

The TV was on, showing entertainment news.

On the screen, Fan Binbin stood on the stage, smiling politely and humbly.

Zhou Xun glanced at it, then continued reading.

The agent sat beside him, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

"Xun, aren't you sad at all?"

"What are you sad about?"

"You practiced the moves for that character for a month."

Zhou Xun turned a page of his book, his tone languid.

"Just because you practice doesn't mean you have to get it. That's absurd."

"But……"

"There's no 'but' about it."

Zhou Xun finally raised her head and glanced at her agent.

"Fan Binbin is definitely more suitable than me."

My English is so bad that even I have trouble understanding it.

The action scenes were even more appalling.

It's normal not to have been selected.

The agent opened his mouth, as if to say something, but then swallowed it back.

Zhou Xun continued reading with her head down, and after a while, she added another sentence.

"Besides, if it doesn't work this time, there's always next time."

What's the rush?

…………

Liu Xiaoli sat on the sofa, her face looking rather pale.

Liu Yifei came out of the room and paused when she saw her mother's expression.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

"See for yourself."

Liu Xiaoli handed over her phone; a news notification was displayed on the screen.

The female lead for Inception has been decided: Fan Binbin wins.

Liu Yifei took the phone, glanced at it, and then put it down.

"oh."

"Just 'Oh'?"

Liu Xiaoli frowned.

Aren't you sad?

Liu Yifei sat down next to her and thought for a moment.

"A little... but it's not that sad."

Why?

"I'm only seventeen. I'll have plenty of opportunities in the future."

Liu Xiaoli looked at her daughter with a complicated expression.

"Yifei, is that really what you think, or...?"

"Really?"

Liu Yifei smiled, her eyes crinkling.

"Moreover, Brother Yibai must have his reasons."

The fact that I wasn't selected means I'm not good enough.

Then keep trying!

Liu Xiaoli remained silent for a few seconds, then finally sighed.

"Alright, as long as you're okay with it."

Liu Yifei nodded, got up and went back to her room.

She closed the door, sat down on the edge of the bed, and picked up her phone.

The screen displays a WeChat message that hasn't been sent yet.

"Brother Yibai, congratulations Sister Fan."

She stared at that line of text for a long time, but eventually deleted it.

Hengdian, the film crew of "Empresses in the Palace".

The filming wrapped up early today, and Qin Lan, Gao Lu, Tang Yan, Yang Rong, and Yan Danchen gathered in the rest area, scrolling through the news on their phone screens.

"It's official! It's Fan Binbin!"

Gao Lu was the first to call out, her tone carrying an indescribable complexity.

Tang Yan leaned over to take a look, and after reading it, she leaned back in her chair and let out a long sigh.

"well……"

"Why are you sighing?"

Yang Rong walked over with a glass of water.

"I knew this would be the result, so what's there to lament?"

"Knowing is one thing, but seeing it with my own eyes is still a bit..."

Tang Yan paused, unable to find the right words.

Yan Danchen chimed in quietly from the side.

"envious."

Tang Yan nodded.

"Yes, I'm just envious."

Qin Lan leaned back in her chair, holding the script in her hands, and didn't say anything.

Gao Lu leaned closer and lowered her voice.

"Sister Lan, aren't you even a little bit tempted?"

Qin Lan looked up at her.

"What are you thinking?"

"That role has given Fan Binbin a huge boost; he's going to be an international star from now on."

Qin Lan smiled, her tone calm.

She is her, and I am me.

Her ascension is her business; I'll focus on making my film.

What's there to compare?

"That's true, but..."

"There's no 'but' about it."

Qin Lan put down the script and looked at the group of girls.

"President Fu has already been very kind of him to release the information and give everyone a fair chance to compete. It's normal that we newcomers weren't selected. When we have the ability, the opportunity will naturally come."

The group was silent for a few seconds, then nodded in agreement.

"Sister Lan is right."

"So, shall we focus on filming from now on?"

"Focus on filming!"

The group picked up their scripts again and went their separate ways.

Only Qin Lan, after they left, gazed at the distant sky and sighed softly.

Hengdian, the film crew of "My Own Swordsman".

Hu Jing is resting, waiting for the next scene.

Wang Ou came over and sat down next to her without her noticing.

"Jing-jie, have you seen the news?"

"What news?"

"Fan Binbin landed that Hollywood role."

Hu Jing nodded.

"oh."

"Just 'Oh'?"

Wang Ou's eyes widened.

Aren't you envious?

Hu Jing glanced at her sideways and smiled.

"What's there to envy?"

"That's a Hollywood blockbuster, over 100 million US dollars."

Hu Jing looked away and continued watching the monitor.

"My English is bad, and my action scenes are bad, so what's the use of being envious?"

"But you and General Manager Fu..."

Wang Ou lowered his voice and winked meaningfully.

Hu Jing didn't reply, she just smiled.

Wang Ou, feeling awkward, touched his nose sheepishly.

After a while, she came closer again.

"Jing-jie, won't President Fu be unhappy if he sees what you said online?"

"What did you say?"

"You mean those pre-arranged ones."

Some people even said that Fan Binbin slept with President Fu and stuff like that…

Hu Jing remained silent for two seconds.

"He won't care about these things."

Why?

"Because he never cares what others say."

Wang Ou paused for a moment, then nodded.

"That's true. Someone like President Fu doesn't seem like someone who would care about these things."

The two watched the play quietly for a while longer.

Wang Ou suddenly spoke again.

"Jing-jie, do you think I have a chance if I want to get into Mr. Fu's bed?"

Hu Jing almost choked on her own saliva.

She turned her head to look at Wang Ou, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Are you serious?"

"Just kidding."

Wang Ou laughed without a care in the world.

"But honestly, what woman wouldn't want to sleep with a man like Mr. Fu?"

Young, rich, handsome, composed, talented, and generous to women.

There are so many people in the industry watching.

Hu Jing didn't say anything.

Wang Ou continued speaking to himself.

"Fan Binbin really hit the jackpot this time; his career skyrocketed after just one role."

I wish I had that kind of luck...

As Hu Jing listened to her rambling on, her mind began to drift away.