novellhall Chapter 19: The Show Isn't Just About the Camera!
Chapter 19: The Show Isn't Just About the Camera!
During a late-night snack!
Mao Xiaotong sent a WeChat message, inviting Xu Lang to go out for a late-night snack, but Xu Lang said he was having dinner with Yang Mi and the party hadn't ended yet.
Mao Xiaotong knew that Yang Mi had personally come to the film crew to pick him up. She suppressed the vague anxiety in her heart and was mostly happy for Xu Lang.
First Liu Shishi, then Yang Mi, these two top actresses born in the 85s have shown Xu Lang great potential.
This is practically the "key to accessing resources" that everyone in the industry dreams of.
She lay on the soft, large hotel bed, staring blankly at the message Xu Lang had replied to her.
They had only known each other for a little over a month, but he acted like a guide in every way, especially in giving her pointers on acting, which always made her feel enlightened.
She had long since forgotten about Chen Xiang, and in his place, Xu Lang's handsome face and effortless demeanor would always intrude into her mind unintentionally.
Their relationship became increasingly ambiguous, and many people in the crew even shipped them as a couple, which she was happy to see.
She had been waiting, waiting for Xu Lang to break through that barrier.
But Xu Lang didn't make a move for a long time, and she was getting anxious, especially since Xu Lang's scenes were about to wrap up.
If Xu Lang hasn't confessed his feelings by the end of filming, what should she do?
"what……"
The more she thought about it, the more confused she became. She couldn't help but bury her face in the pillow and let out a soft cry, rolling halfway around on the bed in an attempt to suppress the inexplicable anxiety in her heart.
It'll be a while!
He picked up his phone again and sent a message to Zhang Xinyu, who plays Li Mochou, saying he wanted to chat with her.
Soon, they arrived at Zhang Xinyu's room.
Zhang Xinyu suggested ordering some barbecue and beer to eat and chat, and she wholeheartedly agreed.
Zhang Xinyu sized up the sweet girl in front of her and said:
"Xiaotong, what's wrong? Did Xu Lang make you angry?"
"No, no way!" Mao Xiaotong denied proudly, her chubby cheeks looking adorable.
"Oh my, our Xiaotong is really smitten!" Zhang Xinyu said with a teasing and gossipy expression.
"Watching you two in the play, it doesn't seem like it's all acting; it's like you're a real couple, a married couple. You haven't quite made it official yet, have you?"
"No way..." Mao Xiaotong's cheeks flushed, her head lowered, her heart pounding, and she felt her ears burning.
"Sister Xinyu, isn't it always the guys who take the initiative in these kinds of situations?"
Zhang Xinyu found her younger sister, who was two years younger than her, to be incredibly cute with her shy demeanor.
"Who says only guys can take the initiative? We girls can too. I see he's quite popular with the opposite sex. If you don't make your move soon, someone else will snatch him away, and then you'll be crying."
"Ah..." Mao Xiaotong looked up, like an adorable kitten, her bright eyes fixed on her:
"Sister Xinyu, I'm three years older than him. Do you think he'll mind?"
"A woman three years older than her husband is considered a lucky charm! These days, relationships between older women and younger men are all the rage, aren't they?" Zhang Xinyu scoffed.
"Besides, look at the way he handles things and speaks, how is he younger than you? He's clearly a 'veteran actor,' very mature."
The two enjoyed barbecue and beer, and their conversation kept circling back to that one name.
Zhang Xinyu had long noticed Xu Lang's good looks and acting skills. If Mao Xiaotong hadn't been clinging to Xu Lang, she would have wanted to make a move on him too.
She is a very ambitious person who strives for the top; the director, producer Yu Zheng, and other staff members all highly praised Xu Lang's acting skills.
Even the top-tier celebrity Liu Shishi came to visit her personally, which made her very confident that Xu Lang's future would definitely reach the top.
Someone as ambitious as her would definitely try to climb up to someone with potential, but unfortunately, she was a step too late compared to Mao Xiaotong.
Since they were in the same production crew, they couldn't afford to have too much of a falling out.
……
When Xu Lang returned to the hotel, it was already late at night. After washing up, he prepared to go to sleep.
However, he received a message from his ex-girlfriend, Bai Mengyan.
The two hadn't seen each other for a while, as Bai Mengyan had left the city for filming.
She sent him a message, mainly about some acting techniques that Xu Lang had taught her last time, which helped him in filming this short film.
She said she was very excited!
Xu Lang was about to reply to her message...
She made a video call.
"My dear Miss Bai, don't you know what time it is? Aren't you afraid of disturbing my sleep?"
"You're not asleep, I can see you're typing!" In the video, Bai Mengyan, wearing a face mask and with her long hair down, sits on the edge of the bed.
"Xu Lang, you don't know, I was criticized very badly at the beginning, and I even doubted whether I was suitable to make short films."
"Just when I was in despair, I remembered the tricks you taught me, and you know what? They really worked! The director said I had an epiphany on the spot and praised my quick wit, hahaha."
"You don't know, shooting short films is completely different from being a model..."
She talked on and on, feeling very excited and thrilled, and extremely grateful to Xu Lang.
Xu Lang smiled. As an actor who had been in the entertainment industry for decades, handling simple short films was a piece of cake.
"So, how do you plan to thank me?"
"I have no money!" Bai Mengyan blurted out, clutching her pocket tightly.
Xu Lang grinned mischievously and said, "Talking about money is too vulgar. How about... repayment with your body?"
"Screw you, Xu Lang. Don't keep thinking about me. We've already broken up." Bai Mengyan rolled her eyes at him, then a wicked smile curved her lips.
"However, if you don't have a girlfriend yet, this way of thanking me wouldn't be a bad idea. Unfortunately, I'm currently out of town, so I can't reach you here!"
The two joked and chatted for a long time.
Xu Lang's eyelids drooped, and he mumbled a few words before his phone slipped onto his pillow and he fell asleep.
The video call never ended.
Bai Mengyan, on the other side, looked at him as he fell asleep, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.
A man who gives his heart is still so handsome!
Just watching quietly like this can bring joy.
The next morning!
There was a knock on the door, and Xu Lang opened his eyes to find that the video call was still going on.
He groggily grabbed his phone, intending to turn off the video, but then he noticed that Bai Mengyan was changing clothes with her back to the camera. Her smooth back and familiar figure were caught off guard by his gaze.
Xu Lang: "..."
He didn't say anything, went to the door, opened the door, and Mao Xiaotong and Zhang Xinyu called him to have breakfast together.
"Sister Xiaotong, could you order one for me first? I'll wash up and be right there."
"Okay, then hurry up!"
Close the door.
Xu Lang picked up his phone, stared at Bai Mengyan who was trying on clothes, and a smile appeared on his lips.
I went into the bathroom, put my phone down, and started washing up.
When he finished washing up, Bai Mengyan finally noticed, cursed "pervert," and immediately hung up.
A message immediately came through:
"Xu Lang, you peeping tom, you pervert!"
Xu Lang replied without hesitation:
"It's not like I haven't seen it before, I don't care!"
"Go to hell!"
……
Xu Lang arrived at the breakfast stall, where Mao Xiaotong had already ordered breakfast for him, so he could start eating right away.
Soy milk with fried dough sticks, and a bowl of plain congee.
That was awesome!
Zhang Xinyu spoke abruptly, her tone both tentative and casual:
"Xu Lang, have you ever heard this saying?"
Xu Lang took a bite of the fried dough stick and turned to look at her:
"What did you say?"
Zhang Xinyu glanced at Mao Xiaotong out of the corner of her eye and said:
"Napoleon wrote to Josephine that 'men conquer the world, and then conquer women,' meaning that the initiative in important life decisions always lies in the hands of men."
Xu Lang stopped chewing the fried dough stick, glanced at Mao Xiaotong out of the corner of his eye, and then said seriously:
"Do you know what Josephine said in her reply to Napoleon?"
Zhang Xinyu was a little stunned; she really hadn't noticed this layer.
Xu Lang smiled slightly and said, "This is what she said: 'Women conquer men, and then conquer the world.'"
A subtle game of strategy!
Xu Lang was well aware of her hints, but sometimes he had to play dumb; he had his reasons.
In the entertainment industry, the drama never ends just in front of the camera.