The Common Man's Return in Chinese Entertainment

Chapter 35 Ji Qingxu's Secret

Seeing Zhu Yawen and Luo Jin looking at him with curiosity, Ji Qingxu gestured to Lu Fangsheng beside him, "Old Lu should know the answer to this."

Lu Fang-sheng said with a smile, "Everyone's situation is different. I think it's very necessary to study at school because you can only learn a lot of professional knowledge at school. If you don't study a lot of things about acting, you'll be completely clueless when you join a film crew. Anyway, I think if you want to be a good actor, you definitely need to study some professional knowledge at school."

Ji Qingxu agreed, "Old Lu is right. Don't let my busy filming schedule fool you. I studied professional acting for over a year to get into the Beijing Film Academy."

Zhu Yawen asked in surprise, "You started studying acting before you even got into the Beijing Film Academy?"

Ji Qingxu replied with a smile, "Of course, otherwise why do you think the homeroom teacher would allow me to take such a long leave?"

Luo Jin nudged Zhu Yawen, saying, "You forgot? Brother Chicken's first role was a supporting one, and his second role was the male lead. If he didn't have acting skills, how could the production team have agreed to let him act in the film?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yawen suddenly realized what was going on, and then looked at Ji Qingxu with a "resentful" expression, saying, "Damn, Brother Ji, you're too awesome. When we were in school, we played and you played, we slept and you slept. I never thought that you, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, would actually be studying hard in private."

Upon hearing this, Ji Qingxu burst into laughter.

"Brother Chicken, was that sword-kicking move difficult?"

Seeing Luo Jin looking at him expectantly, and remembering that Luo Jin had also practiced martial arts since childhood, Ji Qingxu smiled and said, "It's difficult in some ways, but not difficult in others. How about I teach you and you give it a try?"

Luo Jin said excitedly, "Okay, thank you, Brother Chicken."

"Brother Chicken, what about us?"

Ji Qingxu smiled and shook his head, "You and Lao Lu can just watch and see, it's going to be difficult for you."

Luo Jin also explained, "I'm not sure I can learn it either. Don't be fooled by how cool Brother Chicken's sword kick looks. Only someone who has practiced martial arts for many years can achieve that level of power and accuracy. If you don't have a foundation in martial arts, don't even try, or you'll get hurt."

Ji Qingxu said with a smile, "I'll let you try it later, but don't try it in private. A little injury is fine, but if you get scratched on your face, you're doomed."

Upon hearing the warning from the two martial arts practitioners in the dormitory, Zhu Yawen and Lu Fangsheng nodded repeatedly to indicate that they understood.

After glancing at the film crew, Ji Qingxu said with a smile, "How about this, we'll try again after I finish filming."

"It's alright, it's alright, your filming is the most important thing."

"Brother Chicken, you go ahead and film. We'll go back tomorrow, no rush."

"Okay, I'll go prepare for filming first. You guys can wander around on your own. We'll have dinner together tonight."

"it is good."

.....

"Tantai Mieming, you..."

Watching Ji Qingxu perform in the arena, Zhu Yawen and the other two huddled together and discussed in hushed tones.

"Brother Chicken wasn't bragging. His acting skills are amazing. I'm so jealous. He only stayed at school for less than a month, and he could totally beat me."

"You forgot what Brother Chicken just said: he studied acting for more than a year before he was admitted to the Beijing Film Academy."

Lu Fang-sheng stroked his chin thoughtfully and said, "Brother Chicken must have found a really great teacher."

"What do you mean?"

Seeing Zhu Yawen and Luo Jin looking at him curiously, Lu Fangsheng covered his mouth and whispered, "You can tell from the way he performs that Brother Ji must have undergone formal acting training, and he also added some of his own understanding of acting. He must have been 'tailor-made' by a great teacher based on his own conditions. Hmm, just as great as the teachers in our class."

"You mean even though Brother Chicken wasn't in school, his professional knowledge hasn't fallen behind; in fact, it's far superior to ours?"

"Yes, after all, we... well, you two are still learning theoretical knowledge, while Brother Chicken has already combined theory with practice, so his progress rate will definitely surpass ours."

"Damn, Lao Lu, I've discovered you're pretty awesome too. You've only been back in China for a little over half a year, and you're practically a China expert by now."

"There's no other way. There are just too many outstanding talents in China. I can only work even harder."

"Damn, you guys are working too hard. It makes me look useless. No way, I'm going to go to the Beijing Film Studio every weekend after I go back. I need to combine theory with practice. Otherwise, you'll all become famous actors and I'll be the only unknown one. Just thinking about that makes me feel bad."

"So you're not going to the girls' dormitory social event next week?"

"I'm not going. They only invited us to a blind date because they wanted to find out about Brother Chicken. Brother Chicken has become a leading man, and I haven't even had a minor supporting role. If this continues, I feel like the gap between me and Brother Chicken will only widen. I need to work harder."

"Tsk, old pig, you seem so unfamiliar to me."

"There's no way around it. Having such an outstanding roommate puts a lot of pressure on you. When Brother Chicken becomes famous, and people ask him in interviews, 'What are your roommates' names at the Beijing Film Academy?' When we say our names, the reporters look blank and ask, 'Who are these people?' Just imagine how embarrassing that would be."

"Damn, now that you mention it, I want to go back to school today."

"Haha, don't rush. There's no need to rush to work hard now. You can work hard when you get back."

"..."

The three of them felt immense pressure watching Ji Qingxu perform in the arena, and at the same time, a sense of urgency arose in their hearts.

Although Ji Qingxu was skilled and more attractive than them, they had all been admitted to the Beijing Film Academy together and were roommates in the same dormitory. Ji Qingxu had become a leading actor, while the rest of them had never even played a significant role, let alone become famous. This made the three of them lose interest in talking and just stand silently outside the film set watching.

When Ji Qingxu saw the three of them again after finishing work, he immediately noticed something was wrong.

Seeing this, Ji Qingxu didn't say much. He simply dragged the three of them to a restaurant, poured several bottles of liquor down their throats, and finally left them in a nearby guesthouse, turning them into a pile of mud.

......

The next day, around noon, seeing Zhu Yawen and the other two leisurely strolling into the film set, Ji Qingxu laughed and said, "Get up! How are you feeling?"

"Brother Chicken, you're amazing! You drank so much with us last night and are filming today, yet you don't look tired at all."

Ji Qingxu smiled and said, "You can do that too if you get up at five o'clock every morning to exercise."

Zhu Yawen gestured to Luo Jin and said, "Mule has also practiced martial arts since he was a child, but he can't hold his liquor as well as I can."

Luo Jin said speechlessly, "What does martial arts have to do with drinking capacity? Everyone's constitution is different. Brother Chicken is an animal, how can you compare to him?"

"Damn, just say you're envious and jealous."

Lu Fang-sheng, who was standing to the side, said with a smile, "Brother Chicken, the three of us have come to say goodbye and get ready to go back. We have class tomorrow."

Ji Qingxu nodded upon hearing this, "Okay, see you at our school then. Come on, I'll have someone take you back."

"No need, no need, we can take a bus back ourselves, it's not far."

Ji Qingxu smiled and said, "Alright, don't be so polite with me. It's no trouble to see you off. I've already made arrangements. Let's go."

Seeing that Ji Qingxu had already walked ahead, Zhu Yawen and the other two exchanged glances, smiled, and quickly followed.

......

"Take off your clothes."

"Did your classmate go back?"

"You're not asking a question you already know the answer to."

"Can't they just ask?"

"Okay, hurry up and take off your clothes and lie down. I'll finish this quickly so I can go back and rest."

Hearing Ji Qingxu's urging, Fan Xiaopang subtly curled his lip. "You stinky man, you don't understand romance at all. He's just trying to distract you because he's afraid you'll feel awkward."

Seeing Ji Qingxu turn around, Fan Xiaopang teased, "Shy? Are you going to give me a massage while blindfolded later?"

Ji Qingxu glanced at her speechlessly upon hearing this. "Which eye of yours saw me being shy? I'm warming my hands with essential oil first, otherwise, can you stand them being ice cold later?"

Upon hearing this, Fan Xiaopang gave an awkward laugh.

Seeing Ji Qingxu open the essential oil bottle and pour the oil onto his hands while rubbing them together, Fan Xiaopang quickly took off his clothes.

......