Chapter 942: Eavesdropping On The Conversation

Lin Dongxue whispered, "Should we leave?"

Tao Yueyue said, "Let’s have a listen. I haven't heard the conversations between a celebrity and an agent before!"

"Haha, so you’re nosy too."

The conversation continued. The agent said to Cai Zhengkai, "Oh my God, keep your voice down. It’s not deleting your scenes to add his scenes. A movie is only so long. If you force him into the movie later, it’ll squeeze out the other characters as well. In the end, you’re the protagonist and he is the second-lead."

Cai Zhengkai gave an unaccepting sigh. "Why are you helping defend the investor’s side? Did you receive their money?"

"Me receiving their money?" The agent smiled. "I really want to make some extra money. Is he willing to give it to me?"

With the sound of a cigarette lighter, Cai Zhengkai said, "I don't want to film with this kind of person. Look at the movies he’s in. All of them went to sh*t. Back then, I was a first-line actor, but now I’ve fallen into filming with this kind of person?"

"Relax your mentality and just think about making money. Nothing goes smoothly all the time in life. When the Chinese-US co-produced film starts in the second half of this year, you can play it well and get an award. In the future, everyone will only remember this movie. They’ll forget all the old ones. The entertainment circle is like that."

"I hate to hear the words 'entertainment circle' the most. Who entertains? I’m an actor from an acting school. I want my own work!"

"Okay, okay, okay, stop detesting the world. Do you want something to drink… Actually, I heard an inside story that Little Ai was about to be out of a job. The investors spent so much money on him in order to make him rise to popularity, but he’s still neither here nor there. He may have to give up and go into mixed variety shows."

"Didn’t he have solid networking?"

"Even if he was the biological son, if he’s like this, even his father wouldn’t be able to stand him… I need to go to the toilet."

With that, the agent stood up and Lin Dongxue secretly said that it was bad. Sure enough, the agent saw the three people "eavesdropping" and sat back down, probably reporting to Cai Zhengkai.

After half a minute, the two came over. The screenwriter smiled. "Brother Cai, are your eyes okay? We didn't deliberately eavesdrop. We actually came first."

Cai Zhengkai had a gloomy face. "I’ll treat this table."

"The money has already been paid," said the screenwriter. "We’ll take our leave now."

"No, no, let's talk."

The agent sat down and said to Lin Dongxue, "Beauty, don't spread what you heard just now, okay? Our Zhengkai is a public figure and his image is the property of our company."

Lin Dongxue said, "Don't worry, my mouth isn’t that loose. As a police officer, we’re exposed to more things than you think."

"This kid…" The agent looked at Tao Yueyue again.

"Okay, you don't need to tell us one by one. Are you guarding against villains?" Lin Dongxue was a little upset.

Cai Zhengkai stared at Tao Yueyue without speaking, which made Tao Yueyue very nervous. After all, she was sitting in front of a well-known national movie star. He suddenly asked, "Am I similar to that person?"

"Who?" Tao Yueyue asked.

"The person who kidnapped you."

"He… he isn’t as good-looking as you and his temperament isn’t very similar."

"Meaning, I don't look like him inside or out?"

"Uh, I think it's just acting. You don't need to imitate him completely. After all, you can't learn it." Tao Yueyue replied nervously, thinking about how she was actually saying so much to Cai Zhengkai back and forth.

"Can't learn? Why can't I learn it? Do you look down on my acting skills?" Cai Zhengkai got up angrily and left.

The agent mediated, "Don’t blame him. He’s been trying to figure out this role for the past two days. After all, a bad guy like that is very challenging. Even if he has ten thousand shortcomings, at least he has one good thing. He has an obsession with performance… I'm leaving now!"

With that, the agent caught up with Cai Zhengkai.

Tao Yueyue was able to draw a long breath and patted her chest. "That scared me to death. I thought they were going to come over and murder us to seal our lips."

Lin Dongxue was amused and laughed, "I always thought that his acting skills were okay, but that his luck wasn’t good so he’s been a part of bad movies."

"Sister Lin, I… I want…"

"Do you want to take a group photo?"

Tao Yueyue nodded desperately. "Looking at him acting so fierce earlier, I was embarrassed to speak."

"I'll help you ask when we eat."

The screenwriter said, "Stars generally don't mind this kind of thing. You can speak directly."

"Uncle screenwriter, why hasn't the heroine arrived yet?"

"She should be still on the plane now and won't be here until the afternoon. By the way, do you mind the exposure?"

"What does exposure mean?"

"Going on the news. At the start of the afternoon, a reporter will come. You’re the original prototype of the story. The reporter may ask you questions."

"I… I mind!"

Even when she first appeared in the newspaper, Tao Yueyue used a pseudonym. She didn't want her life to be disturbed.

"Then I’ll go back and tell the director that you won’t participate."

"Is that okay?"

"Yes, yes." The screenwriter laughed, "A start-up ceremony is just a means of publicity. You aren’t a member of the crew, so there is no need to go through this matter."

After drinking, it was almost time for the meal and the three of them went straight to the restaurant downstairs.

As two visitors, they just had to eat. When they saw steamed crabs the size of a plate, roast leg of lamb wrapped in tin foil, salt and pepper goose paw, and fish head with chopped peppers, Lin Dongxue knew that today's meal was definitely worth it.

The position where everyone sat could reflect their relationships. The crew and the director sat together with the director sitting next to the producer. On the other side of the producer was Little Ai, who was sitting opposite of Cai Zhengkai, his agent, and assistant.

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

In addition to the few people who they had met before, there were also a few new faces. Some men saw Lin Dongxue and wanted to strike up a conversation with her. They curiously asked others who she was and was answered with, "Guardian of the story’s original prototype."

At the dinner table, everyone toasted each other. When getting to Lin Dongxue's side, she always refused politely but firmly, and the other party could only give up.

Tao Yueyue gnawed at a goose paw and kept looking at Cai Zhengkai. He put down his chopsticks without taking too many mouthfuls at all, took out the small medicine bottle from his arms, and swallowed a capsule, as if he was ready to leave the table at any time. Lin Dongxue said, "I’ll go and ask for it for you. I’ll take one as well while we’re at it."

"Then let's take it together."

This meal was great in terms of quality alone. It indirectly reflected the wealth of the investor. This table was worth upwards of a thousand yuan.

Soon, when everyone had almost finished, the producer lit a cigar. "Everyone, be quiet."

Little Ai echoed, "The producer has something to say. Stop eating and put your wine glasses down!"

Cai Zhengkai wrinkled his nose, showing a very disgusted expression.

The producer took a deep drag of his cigar. "The opening ceremony will be held in the afternoon. Don't make any mistakes in front of the reporters. The investment towards this drama is 50 million. Remember, 50 million!" Everyone nodded as he raised five of his fingers.

He took another drag of his cigar and continued, "After the filming has started, the investment will gradually arrive. I can reveal that it’s more than what I promised before. Of course, the money has to be used on the blade.1 Do you understand what I mean by the blade?" Then, he looked around at them in a circle.

Seeing no one answered, Tao Yueyue answered, "The story!"

The producer looked at Tao Yueyue up and down. "What did you say?"

"The most important thing about a movie is the story of course!" Tao Yueyue answered.