Superstar Aspirations

SA: CHAPTER 2

Translator: Vian

Editor: Shem

Only after Luo Zhentao repeatedly confirmed 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 me?

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

The teen's handsome 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 memory. 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 entertainment 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 mention acting, could he swallow all the hardships that comes 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 someone 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 me the script?"

Luo Zhentao was surprised for a moment 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 Entertainments today, why not Luo ge and I go upstairs and just directly get the script now?"

Luo Zhentao became speechless and was unable to refuse.

Soon, Luo Zhentao reluctantly brought Rong Xu up to Huaxia Entertainments 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 name, 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 time actor under his management. 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 handsome and leisurely elegant youth following behind him calmly swept his eyes over everything in Huaxia Entertainments, quietly taking in this world's largest entertainment company.

Huaxia Entertainments, from their daring used of this name "Huaxia

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There were many differences between this world's history and that in Rong Xu's memory. 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 entertainment association. By mid-century, several veterans in the association found Huaxia Entertainment Culture Company.

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

Huaxia Entertainment had hundreds of managers and a numerous 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 management 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 meaningful smile as he looked at Huaxia Entertainments' busy and orderly scene this whole time.

***

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 came 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 memory 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 me was quite big and also resulted in me losing some memories. The doctor said that it may cause some personality changes."

Luo Zhentao suddenly realized.

***

After Rong Xu left, Luo Zhentao depressingly sat on his chair and sighed: "Memory 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 immediately 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 recommended isn't up to standards, I can't guarantee that Director Guo will give me, this assistant director any face."

Luo Zhentao bitterly smiled: "Wang ge, please tolerate it for me. ​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 men then could recommend candidates to bring the quota up and if the director agreed, they could directly join in.

That was why some 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 time, it was specifically because Luo Zhentao relied on this relationship that he was able to get the role.

Seeing Luo Zhentao come, Assistant director Wang was surprised: "You're asking about Rong Xu? He came long ago, he called three days ago to confirm the time the shooting starts. This little fella is really handsome and quite amiable, Director Guo already agrees to have him as Zhong Yi's replacement. 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 name 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 puzzlement: " 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 something 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 me 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 met him once last year. Isn't he still chasing after Zhong Yi? My friend told me 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 me this time 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 Menglan. By relying on an ancient china drama to debut, she became 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 acclaimed "Vie for Supremacy" heroine, the industry's famous ‘ Miracle Rating's Star​.’

As for the second male lead, he was the same 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 temperament 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 time actor under his management longer need to pay attention to these things and although that man was far from Tang Menglan'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 time 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 something and slapped his thigh, exclaiming: "Oh damn! That guy is very good-looking! A true beauty!"

Luo Zhentao immediately 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 handsome 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 movement caused the wide sleeves to slipped down his arm, exposing a fair wrist.

His eyebrows seemed 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 messy props but when he stood there it seemed 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 seemed as if he was someone coming out of a painting, his elegant and refined temperament 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 moment, it was as if the winter snow had melted and came 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-kilometers 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 come up with, someone else take a crack it.