Chapter 29 – Premiere (1/2)
Bai Lang paused very slightly. His expression didn’t change much as he smiled. “I’m not moving. I’m paying rent so I’ll continue to live there.”
“So it seems like this “experiencing the role” has been really good for you ah,” Gao FenFen smiled intimately however there was a knife hidden in her smile. “After living there, probably you can’t get used to living in an ordinary apartment again. Oh, such a good friend. How come I don’t have one?”
“How about I become a secondary landlord and share a room with Sister Fen?” Bai Lang said generously. “Our living condition right now is similar to “Partners for Life”. If Sister Fen comes, you can definitely be the female protagonist.”
Gao FenFen immediately clapped her hands joyfully. “If the male lead is you then I will definitely move in tomorrow.”
“How can I allow Sister Fen to lower herself in this manner,” Bai Lang smiled again. “I will definitely find someone worthy of you. However I don’t know what Sister Fen’s requirements are?”
Bai Lang artfully changed the topic of conversation to Gao FenFen. After they joked around for a bit longer, they finally moved away from the topic of where he was living.
However just based on the previous question it was enough to awaken in the audience’s mind the rumor of Bai Land being kept from a few months before. If they continued down this pathway of questioning, whether or not it was believable that Bai Lang was paying rent was one matter, even if they believed it, the impression that Bai Lang was used to and didn’t want to move out of a luxurious house was something that would impact on his image in the audience’s mind.
Thus Gao FenFen’s questioning was something that was designed to seek trouble for Bai Lang.
On the surface Bai Lang continued to accept Gao FenFen’s interview with an untroubled face, however underneath he was thinking quickly about if he had had any altercation or problem with Gao FenFen. However no matter how much he thought he couldn’t think of anything. Right now his only clue was Kang Jian and the girl who was standing next to the cameraman.
After all this entire building was rented out by “Harmony Entertainment”, it was a professional filming environment.
Harmony Entertainment was one of the five major TV program production houses in the country. They had over a hundred small and large programs, and so in order to accomodate all types of different filming activities, they had rented out this entire building. Other than the dressing rooms, equipment rooms and other such necessary rooms, each floor had been segregated into independent filming studios. If people weren’t specifically working on a particular program, then theoretically speaking they shouldn’t be able to casually walk around and watch.
And Bai Lang was sure that Kang Jian shouldn’t have any employee’s pass to Harmony Entertainment. So the fact that Kang Jian could right now righteously stand next to the camera person and watch his entire filming, the reason should be the girl standing by his side that Bai Lang didn’t know.
Just as he thought, once the program had completed filming, Bai Lang and Gao FenFen were freed from those two couches on the screen. Bai Lang was still very polite and exchanged a few pleasantries with Gao FenFen. The two people hadn’t even walked completely off the stage before the girl dragged Kang Jian over and blocked their path.
“Sister FenFen, every time I hear your interview it’s very exciting. Today is still the same.” The girl treated Bai Lang as though he didn’t exist. She only talked quickly and enthusiastically to Gao FenFen. “No matter how much someone poses and pretends, Sister FenFen you can make them show their true colors with just a few sentences. It’s really satisfying to see. I will ask my father to add more money to the program’s budget. Sister’s Fen’s show will definitely become even more famous.”
“Then I should thank you for your compliments,” Gao FenFen acted as though she couldn’t hear the hidden meanings. She was very polite and said, “Miss ShaSha you have free time today to come?”
The girl clutched Kang Jian’s hand. “Why else except for Kang Jian? I just helped Kang Jian to arrange a few roles. Today I brought him here to get used to the set. In the future he will get very busy.”
Gao FenFen’s gaze swept over Kang Jian. She smiled in a friendly manner. “You played Cheng Xu from “A Confused Account” right? I’ve seen that film before. Mr Kang’s performance in it was very good. I hope that one day I can interview you on my show ah.”
Kang Jian showed a humbled expression and said, “I don’t dare. I’m still a long way from that.”
“Who said?” The girl immediately protested. “I think you’re much better than some two-faced people! Sister FenFen, don’t you think so?”
Gao FenFen grinned and said cooperatively, “Since Mr Kang is admired by Miss ShaSha, then you definitely must be someone that is better than most.”
Throughout this entire exchange this “two-faced person” Bai Lang maintained a slight smile as he stood to one side. Right now the stage was behind where he was standing, on his right was a lot of camera equipment and to his left was Gao FenFen. These people paid no attention to him however unless he deliberately went around them, then for the moment he was trapped.
However while thegirl was talking to Gao FenFen, Kang Jian gave him an apologetic glance. Then he said to the girl, “ShaSha, let’s go first. Sister Fen just finished filming and must be tired. Let’s not prevent her from resting.”
The girl then glared in a threatening way at Bai Lang. She said to Gao FenFen, “Then I won’t disturb sister FenFen any longer. I just want to say again, your interview was very “exciting”. I liked it a lot.”
After the finished the girl dragged Kang Jian away and loudly began introducing the other facilities in the studio and her father’s management and planning for such facilities, and etc.
Because Kang Jian and the girl were walking towards the studio exit to the public area, if Bai Lang wanted to leave then he had to walk in the same direction. However he didn’t want to follow behind them thus he stood on the spot and waited for a few moments. Gao FenFen seemed to have the same intention.
He waited until they had left the studio door before he finally turned to Gao FenFen to say goodbye. Gao FenFen smiled at Bai Lang. “Don’t worry too much about today. This program is edited. If they want to they can cut out whatever they want. And Li Sha has no say in it.”
Bai Lang couldn’t help but feel surprised. Since Gao FenFen was behaving in this manner, he used the opportunity to ask, “Can I ask, Li Sha is…?”
“Who else but Harmony Entertainment’s CEO Li Ming’s daughter. She’s the Princess of this big building.” Gao FenFen’s smile was slightly unnatural. However afterwards she looked at Bai Lang keenly. “However she’s nothing compared to who you have standing behind you. Mr Qiu and Mr Hong, with the two of them added together, then it can only be left to me to babysit Li Sha.”
Bai Lang was stunned. After a few moments he managed a smile, “It must be hard on Sister Fen.”
Gao FenFen looked at the wholly innocent looking face of Bai Lang. She couldn’t help adding a sentence, “Saying that you can think in one way but behave in another, it’s really not completely wrong.” {T/N: She’s not insulting him. She’s saying ‘two faced’ sort of but in a more polite way. Basically saying that he has a public persona that’s duplicitous and hard to read.}
***
The plot of “Gold” was just as Bai Lang said on the show. It was an entertaining flick that you didn’t need to use your brain to think too hard about. Back then when Zhu Kuan decided on the style of the film, other than Old Zhao’s requirements for investing, the important factor was the showing realistic and good quality suits and materials. Other than that, the next most important factor was making the film entertaining.
After all this was a small production without much fame. If they made a boring art-house film, it would be tantamount to throwing the investment funds into the bottom of the ocean. Thus “Gold”’s plot was simple, the conflicts were obvious and the pacing was fast. With the addition of the luxurious and opulent styling Zhu Kuan and decided on, it could only be to all these entertaining features to attract as many audiences to watch as possible.
This kind of fast paced plotline was able to cover up some of the defects of newcomers. This was also Zhu Kuan’s decisions since there were many newcomers in the movie. However what led Zhu Kuan to be unexpectedly surprised was Bai Lang and Que QiMing. These two opposing characters in the movie both showed an outstanding and above expectation performance. It added extra emotional and explosive quality to this fast paced movie and made the audience more immersed in the plotline. Their hate became more hateful, their anger became even more angry, and so in the end when they finally reach a satisfying conclusion, then the feeling of gratification was even greater. Thus after the movie was completed, Zhu Kuan was able to puff out his chest and promise to Old Zhao that although he wasn’t sure how much money “Gold” would earn, however he definitely would not lose money.
Initially Zhu Kuan did not have much funds for promotional activities for “Gold” although of course he did his best. However in the later days, there was a new investor in “Gold” and with his aid, the promotion became wider and greater and thus “Gold” opened to a beautiful opening box office and became like an unknown dark horse that suddenly raced to the front of the race. It was suddenly the object of thousands of eyes and attention.
By comparison the historical film “Emperor Feng” which at its opening ceremony was far, far above that of “Gold”. However by the time it came to screening, the fame of these two films were now on equal footing.