Superstar Aspirations Chapter 2

SA: CHAPTER 2

Translator: Vian

Editor: Shem

Only after Luo Zhentao repeatedly confird it, did he believe that he didn't hear it wrongly.

……Rong Xu wanted to act?

That Rong family's Young master, that prodigal rebel with killer matte smokey-eyed makeup wanted to act?!

Luo Zhentao's first reaction was: Are you playing with ?

He quietly looked at the boy in front of him with suspicion.

The teen's handso and distinct facial features with his red lips and white teeth were as if they were from a painting; indeed completely from that killer matte smokey-eyed look in Luo Zhentao's mory. He would have never thought Rong Xu's regular appearance would actually look like this. To have such an outstanding appearance, he would definitely be first-class goods even among all the attractive stars in the entertainnt circle. There was star potential.

But having good looks was one thing, being an actor was another matter. So to say, could that easily gullible, brain-dead, killer matte smokey-eyed makeup young master act? Not to ntion acting, could he swallow all the hardships that cos with it?

Luo Zhentao had on a difficult expression as he tried to persuade Rong Xu. He cleverly used excuses such as "being an actor is very tiring" and "filming often requires you to stand out in the sun, getting dirty, and being battered by the weather" to persuade Rong Xu. This way at least, he wouldn't be attacking the other's pride, after all, even if Rong Xu wasn't favored, he was still soone from the Rong family, there was no need to offend him.

However, in the face of Luo Zhentao's advice, Rong Xu's lips just hooked up in a smile and said: "Thank you for your kindness, Lou ge, but I have already been prepared. May I know when you can give the script?"

Luo Zhentao was surprised for a mont and thought for awhile before saying: "But it can be very dangerous when filming. Rong Xu, didn't you see that Zhong Yi was injured while filming?"

Rong Xu didn't answer his question and slightly inclined his head. Loose strands of black hair on his forehead fell to the side, revealing a pair of clear, bright eyes. "Since it happened that I'm already here at Huaxia Entertainnts today, why not Luo ge and I go upstairs and just directly get the script now?"

Luo Zhentao beca speechless and was unable to refuse.

Soon, Luo Zhentao reluctantly brought Rong Xu up to Huaxia Entertainnts and walked towards his office.

While this role was only a minor supporting character, its image was very lovable. The crew were also a top-notch within the country. The director, screenwriter, and two main leads were all famous figures in the industry. It wasn't easy for Luo Zhentao to be able to win this role. He even secretly used Rong Xu's na, pulling along a bit of Rong family's banner.

Ever since he heard the news of Rong Xu's car accident and Zhong Yi being injured, Luo Zhentao had already long thought of giving this role to a small ti actor under his managent. If that actor executed it well, this role will definitely let him turn the salted fish over ​and at least becoming a B-list actor.

Luo Zhentao's heart turned over countless reasons and excuses. He would rather find Rong Xu any other main supporting character instead of handing over this minor supporting character today.

And so Luo Zhentao naturally didn't realize that while he was deep in thought, the handso and leisurely elegant youth following behind him calmly swept his eyes over everything in Huaxia Entertainnts, quietly taking in this world's largest entertainnt company.

Huaxia Entertainnts, from their daring used of this na "Huaxia​", you could see that this dosticated entertainnt company was full of confidence.

There were many differences between this world's history and that in Rong Xu's mory. For example, starting from the Song Dynasty, the Southern Song Dynasty gained fifty more years in history. Later on, there was still a Ming Dynasty, but no Yuan Dynasty. The Qing Dynasty also only had a short history of a few hundred years, which afterwards, China entered a new period.

At the beginning of the last century, China officially established an entertainnt association. By mid-century, several veterans in the association found Huaxia Entertainnt Culture Company.

Huaxia Entertainnt's main building was located in China's capital, B-city's 3rd Ring Road,​ with three tall buildings that have more than 50 floors connected together. They also have a branch company in S-city.

Within China, Huaxia Entertainnt was a well-deserved leading giant; Looking around the world, probably only the Arican's Hollywood Unions could compete with it.

Huaxia Entertainnt had hundreds of managers and a nurous amount more artists. One such as Luo Zhentao who could only be regarded as a second-class manager, if he could keep that actor under his managent who wanted to go independent, he might still have a chance to be promoted as a first-class manager.

Rong Xu's elegant and fair face held on a aningful smile as he looked at Huaxia Entertainnts' busy and orderly scene this whole ti.

***

The two people soon arrived at Luo Zhentao's office. Luo Zhentao took out the script, but before giving it to Rong Xu, he hesitantly said: "Young master Rong, acting is really hard and the director's request is also very high. This director's temper is quite bad, I'm worried you……"

Luo Zhentao stopped there and didn't say any more.

Rong Xu took the script and smiled as he said: "Thank you."

Coming to here, Luo Zhentao was thoroughly defeated.

Luo Zhentao originally thought that everything would be over when Rong Xu got the script, who would have thought that before Rong Xu left, he would also ask for his number.

The beautiful and elegant teenager carefully explained: "In the car accident before, my phone broke and all the numbers recorded inside disappeared too."

With this, Luo Zhentao finally understood why the young master of the Rong family personally ca to the company to find him instead of directly making a phone call. However, it was precisely this that Luo Zhentao secretly felt that the Rong Xu who was in front of him and the one in his mory had too big of a difference.

As if he saw through his confusion, Rong Xu smiled again and said: "The impact of the car accident on was quite big and also resulted in losing so mories. The doctor said that it may cause so personality changes."

Luo Zhentao suddenly realized.

***

After Rong Xu left, Luo Zhentao depressingly sat on his chair and sighed: "mory loss? Personality change? Why didn't you forget about the role? That was Director Guo Long's “Vie for Supremacy”! I'm willing to go find you a supporting character in an idol drama or even a second male lead to exchange……"

Be that as it may, but since he already gave away the role, Luo Zhentao also couldn't be so irresponsible once it was all said and done. He imdiately called the production team to confirm that Rong Xu would be entering the cast in a few days.

This cast was also quite odd: "Wasn't Zhong Yi injured? How was he able to enter the cast? Director Guo has very high standards, Zhong Yi was barely adequate enough to enter his eyes. Xiao Luo​, if the person you recomnded isn't up to standards, I can't guarantee that Director Guo will give , this assistant director any face."

Luo Zhentao bitterly smiled: "Wang ge, please tolerate it for . ​I will also go visit the crew in two days."

In many film castings, the director essentially only choose who will play the leads. As for those who would be playing minor supporting roles, they would often leave such opportunities to their own people. Their n then could recomnd candidates to bring the quota up and if the director agreed, they could directly join in.

That was why so well-connected managers have plenty of resources on hand.

Early in the morning, not knowing what to feel, Luo Zhentao also went to Film City Studio with curious coincidence and found his old friend Wang Zhao.

Wang Zhao had followed Director Duo for six years already and was now the team's assistant director as well as the director's assistant. This ti, it was specifically because Luo Zhentao relied on this relationship that he was able to get the role.

Seeing Luo Zhentao co, Assistant director Wang was surprised: "You're asking about Rong Xu? He ca long ago, he called three days ago to confirm the ti the shooting starts. This little fella is really handso and quite amiable, Director Guo already agrees to have him as Zhong Yi's replacent. We're taking the character posters first today and if there aren't any problems, we can start the shooting in seven days. But you should know we never even heard of the na Rong Xu, so before we take the character posters, Director Guo wants him to do an audition first."

Once he heard these words, Luo Zhentao was startled: "Audition?"

Wang Zhao waved his hand: "It's nothing big, it's just an obligatory thing. If his acting is too poor, Director Guo probably would not agree to it but Director Guo doesn't really place much value on this role. While the character setup is quite good, it has very few scenes. Of course, if he acts well, it would be great, but even if he acts only so-so it wouldn't cause much of any impact on the main story. An actor with no formal training would also suffice."

Luo Zhentao gave a dry laugh: " ……Wang ge, do you really not recognize Rong Xu?"

Wang Zhao asked back in puzzlent: " Why would I recognize him? This guy's looks are quite outstanding, if I really did know him, how can I forget that face? Oh yeah, there's sothing I have to tell you about. Xiao Luo, my daughter-in-law today practically dragged people into the dressing room for makeup and didn't even spare a glance! She's been at it for an hour already! "

Just as he finished talking, assistant director Wang was called away by a staff, only leaving behind Luo Zhentao who didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Don't recognize Rong Xu?

How can you not recognize Rong Xu!

When he and Wang Zhao went drinking together before, they also talked about Rong Xu! Why did Wang Zhao said he doesn't know?

***

"That Rong family's prodigal killer matte makeup young master? Of course I know him, I even t him once last year. Isn't he still chasing after Zhong Yi? My friend told that Zhong Yi just needed two tries before that young master took the bait and is now harassing around to give him the role so that he can please him. Eh, wait wait wait, you're not finding this ti because of him, right? What was that young master called again Rong……Rong what again?"

***

This is called not recognizing?

This is called not forgetting his face?!

The other's just dressed a bit more normally and makeup wasn't so……shocking. Just like that and you wouldn't recognize him?

Luo Zhentao wandered around the crew for a while before he saw the female lead and second male lead.

The actress was an A-list celebrity in China called Tang nglan. By relying on an ancient china drama to debut, she beca an instant hit. Afterwards, she successively starred in a few idol dramas but last year she switched to starring in a bourgeois tragedy​ with impressive results and even received an award. This was Director Guo's much acclaid "Vie for Supremacy" heroine, the industry's famous ‘ Miracle Rating's Star​.’

As for the second male lead, he was the sa as Rong Xu who entered through personal connections. This second male lead was also starred in a few TV series as the male lead before. Pretty good acting skills with formal training, it's just that his face didn't have much of a presence, causing him to lose out on a few opportunities.

Although Rong Xu obviously wasn't his own artist, perhaps it was out of the nature of a manager, Luo Zhentao silently observed the crew. As a qualified manager, Luo Zhentao needs to understand the temperant of each individual in the team, especially for the more important people, those who you could not offend and those who you should get along with.

That big ti actor under his managent longer need to pay attention to these things and although that man was far from Tang nglan's level, he still had a certain amount of status in the industry. But other smaller actors still have to be very cautious.

Those small ti actors didn't have much experience, so Luo Zhentao could only remind them: You could not ignore anyone in the team, even if it's the catering person you still have to treat them seriously.

Like this, Luo Zhentao wandered around till he reached the props area where he bumped into a props person he knew and they started conversing happily.

The two were talking about when they should hold a get together again when Luo Zhentao saw this big and rough Manchurian man suddenly fixed his eyes on sothing and slapped his thigh, exclaiming: "Oh damn! That guy is very good-looking! A true beauty!"

Luo Zhentao imdiately turned to follow his friend's line of sight to look but when his eyes landed on that young boy, he suddenly paused!

He only saw within the bright and glaring lighting a handso and elegant young man in a gorgeous white brocade lift up the curtains, coming from the dressing room. A white as jade hand was first revealed, showing his lean joints and slender fingers. His movent caused the wide sleeves to slipped down his arm, exposing a fair wrist.

His eyebrows seed as if it would bring in the world's most profound and rich scenery, clear and unfeeling phoenix eyes, slender eyebrows like a painting, and thin lips slightly pursed up. His long inky back hair dangled from behind, becoming even more dazzling against the jade white brocade.

He was obviously surrounded by miscellaneous and ssy props but when he stood there it seed as if he was standing in a great river under the golden glow of the sunset. Red clouds dyed the sky, afterglows of dusk reflected upon the river, the water and sky becoming one color. And when the cool breeze blew, one could hear the gentle tickling of the water.

This man seed as if he was soone coming out of a painting, his elegant and refined temperant differentiating him from the people around him. He placidly touched his eye, not knowing what the people beside him said to him, his lips faintly curved up and gave a gentle laugh. At that mont, it was as if the winter snow had lted and ca a warm spring breeze that caressed one's cheek, making one feel refreshed and at ease.

Luo Zhentao stiffened, looking till he turned silly and was only able to hear his heart beating violently.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

This person…..this person……

This person was actually Rong Xu!

Turn the salted fish over ​- idiom, to experience a reversal of fortune

Huaxia ​- China

3rd Ring Road – a 48-kiloters city ring road that encircles the center of the city of Beijing. Beijing have multiples of ring roads, this one is apparently famous for it’s bad traffic since it runs through Beijing’s central business district.

A ring road is basically a belt line, beltway, circumferential highway, loop or orbital and is a road or a series of connected roads encircling a town or city. (via. Wiki)

Miracle Rating's Star ​- [收視率靈藥] best I could co up with, soone else take a crack it.