Chapter 36 – Life Saving Medication (1/2)
Qi ShaoDong, the vice president of Vision Construction.
He was also the younger brother of Qi ShaoHua who was the heir of Vision Construction.
These two brothers weren’t like the ones in the Qiu family who fought each other for power and control.
Because the Qi family had stared clearly from a long time ago that only the first wife’s son Qi ShaoHua would have the right to inherit the family enterprises. As for Qi ShaoDong this son that was born after the original wife had passed away, he could only obtain a small percentage of the inheritance and that was it. After all the Qi family relied on the first wife’s Wei family connections and money to establish themselves and it was only in the last couple of years that they had really become a business empire.
Thus ever since young Qi ShaoDong had been raised in a free and easy manner. Not much attention was placed on him and also not much pressure.
However he seemed to be ambitious. He went overseas to study and after returning he obediently started working at the company from the bottom up and had already climbed up to the position of a vice president. Of course within this Qi ShaoDong’s mother had also secretly helped her son behind the scenes. But no matter how hard Qi ShaoDong worked it was impossible for him to surpass his older brother. And so perhaps out of a sense of guilt, the Qi family was very lax in their attitude towards Qi ShaoDong’s behaviour in his personal life.
Qi ShaoDong had a reputation. He was often featured on the tabloid news as someone who liked to destroy other people’s relationships.
It was though he was trying to make up for something he lacked. For some reason Qi ShaoDong, who had both looks and money, seemed to like stealing other people’s girlfriends. And it wasn’t any random person, but they were always people who were tipped to and anticipated to inherit family businesses or conglomerates. In the beginning no one thought Qi ShaoDong was doing it on purpose. After all before men and women were married they were all still considered single, but after two or three successive similar cases, it seemed less coincidental and more purposeful. Thus his reputation was established
And right now the Qiu family was also investing in the real estate business. In a few projects they were one of the competitors of Vision Construction. In regards to this vice president with the special identity, Qiu Qian had already had him investigated before.
Qiu Qian thus put aside Qiu XiaoHai and went into the study to take out that a little black box from from the draw. He took out the earpiece and then returned to watch the TV.
Right now the screen was showing the next star to arrive. Qiu XiaoHai was crouched on the corner of the couch and was waving his hands about as if trying to flick aside the person that was currently blocking Ah Bai from view on the screen. However this was the TV so that was not possible. Qiu Qian couldn’t help rubbing Qiu XiaoHai’s head when he saw his innocent behavior.
“… let me introduce you. This is Vision Entertainment vice president Qi ShaoDong. And this person I don’t need to introduce, Young Master Qi no doubt you recognize him straight away.” Within the environmental noise, Su Quan’s voice was transmitted through the earpiece.
“Haha, indeed. I am Mr Bai’s loyal fan ah.” A voice that was both casual but which also wasn’t lacking in elegance replied. “I’m Qi ShaoDong, it’s an honor to meet you Mr Bai. I’ve admired you for a long time.”
“An honor to meet you. Mr Qi is too kind.” Bai Lang’s voice was very polite.
“I’m not saying it out of politeness,” Qi ShaoDong’s voice carried laughter. “Li ChuanQing in “Outside Jade and Gold” really made me and my group of friends sweat and self-reflect. That type of elegance isn’t something any of us can compare to. Right now we’re using it as an example to study by.”
“How come I can’t see that Young Master Qi has learnt anything?” Su Quan interjected, laughing.
“What are you trying to say Su Quan? Right now I’m doing my best to pretend to be elegant and graceful. Turns out nothing’s changed?”
“A leopard can’t change its spots.” Su Quan teased.
“Can you please give me a little bit of face, we’re making introductions here.” Qi ShaoDong protested.
Bai Lang cooperated and laughed a bit. “It’s just acting. How can it compare with Mr Qi?”
“Don’t be so distant. You can call me Young Master Qi just like Su Quan.”
{T/N: Er.. so it’s lost in translation but “shao” which means young master/young man from a good family, can actually be called very easily. It’s just a single word. So can be used quite casually/as a nickname. In English it sound super formal but Qi ShaoDong is actually trying to get more familiar. It’s the same word that Fang Hua used in “Young Master Bai” as a nickname for him for the fans}
Qi ShaoDong’s voice was very friendly. “Speaking of coincidences, I was just talking to Su Quan these couple of days about Mr Bai and never thought I’d have a chance to meet you today. Perhaps it’s fate. If Mr Bai has time some day, let’s go get something to eat. I will ask a few friends to come as well and we can have a gathering?”
Qiu Qian who was sittingin front of the TV narrowed his eyes.
“Hei, if everyone fan was like you and requested to have a meal together, then do you think Mr Bai would have any free time?”
Su Quan blocked it in a somewhat insincere manner.
“Then let’s not waste time,” Qi ShaoDong spoke as though he was being amenable. “How about we just have a drink then? Didn’t Mr Bai just have a beer commercial recently? It was very appealing. How about right after we finish up here?”
Just as Bai Lang was about to open his mouth to reply when Su Quan again interrupted him and spoke first.
“That’s not possible. I don’t mind telling you that at this time Mr Bai can’t randomly go out to drink. Someone will get unhappy.”
“Oh?” Qi ShaoDong’s voice seemed to change.
But just as Qiu Qian was listening intently, suddenly Qiu XiaoHai threw himself on him and at the same time pulled on the earpiece cord, pulling it out from Qiu Qian’s ear. By the time Qiu Qian replaced it all he could hear was air and noise.
Qiu Qian was very unhappy. And the mischievous Qiu XiaoHai was lying on Qiu Qian’s stomach and complaining, “I can’t see Ah Bai anymore.”
He looked pretty cute like that. Qiu Qian flicked his son’s pouting lips and said, “How about we go and pick up Ah Bai to go home.”
“Really?” Qiu XiaoHai’s eyes lit up.
Qiu Qian thought about the job that Bai Lang had given him. “Have you finished your homework?”
Qiu XiaoHai’s shoulders sunk. “Not yet.”
“Go and get it. Once you finish it we’ll go.”
“En!”
***
“Chaos Street” was filled with chase and fight scenes.
Whether or not it was the rookie police officer Chen FengGe or the undercover spy Luo Zai, both roles involved heavy physical requirements.
Thus the crew hired professional martial artists to help to train them in a street-smart but effective fighting style. Prior to beginning the shoot they organized many special training courses in order to prevent too many NG scenes later on. After all fighting was just like sport. It needed practice and repetition. The visual difference between someone that was unskilled and someone with training would be very apparent.
Bai Lang played the role of “Luo Zai”. The other male lead, that is the rookie police officer Chen FengGe was played by an actor called Sun XiBin who had a bright and outgoing image. Sun XiBin was an actor from the company “Flying Film and Television”. The pathway he was going down was someone who was handsome and cool. However his tanned skin paired with his large and pearly white teeth made him very likeable and sunny looking. His acting style was also very natural and he had played many roles of blue collar workers, farmers and other such down to earth characters. Experience-wise, he was Bai Lang’s senior.
After Bai Lang and Sun XiBin confirmed they would accept their roles, the two people were immediately sent to physical training classes. Because their schedules were different, the crew sent them an instructor each so they could train separately.
It was the first time Bai Lang had ever undergone this kind of training. In his life he had never shot a martial arts flick before. His image did not allow it.
As for why “Chaos Street” had offered the role of the gangster-like Luo Zai to Bai Lang, it was because the script specified that Luo Zai was also a very good looking ruffian. There were also a few scenes where Luo Zai disguised himself as a wealthy young man and snuck into a private club to have a look. So asking Bai Lang to do this role wasn’t too unusual. However this was also a test of Bai Lang’s acting ability. Because his good looking face now had to be able to express a type of rough and streetwise character and if his manner was too fake, then it would likely elicit the audiences ire and frustration.
In any case before Bai Lang could play the role, he first had to complete the tough schedule of intense training.
The instructor assigned to Bai Lang was a retired army officer.
The officer’s demeanor and mouth was quite impolite. He was tough and stern, and didn’t care who he was dealing with. If anything went wrong then he would immediately began cursing and swearing. In the first couple of days Bai Lang wasn’t emotionally prepared and was yelled at until he was quite wretched, and the intense training made his hands and legs weak. As soon as he got home he would immediately fell asleep, exhausted.