Chapter 27
In the days that followed, Luo Zhengzheng would occasionally visit the film set. The actors in the crew only knew that she was an investor. No one knew her specific identity. Although they were very curious about her, seeing that Chen Ze treated her with great respect, they suppressed their gossip and focused on filming.
Everyone knew that it was difficult to get a role in Director Lu's films. If they've been chosen by him, they should cherish it, as the opportunity was extremely rare. If this film becomes a hit like his previous two, they might rise to stardom overnight, and even minor roles could bring them some benefits. In the entertainment industry, every star, big or small, wanted to be famous. They just want to finish filming and avoid trouble.
Luo Can successfully received his admission letter from Tsinghua University. Although Wang Zehao's grades weren't as good as Luo Can's. Though he underperformed in the college entrance examination this year, he still got into a university in the capital. Just before the start of the semester, Gu Shi had the finance department settle their salaries ahead of schedule.
Holding his freshly earned salary, Luo Can happily stuffed it into his pocket. After getting off work, he excitedly ran to his elder brother-in-law's office, saying he wanted to treat him to dinner.
Gu Shi glanced at his bulging jeans pocket: "Keep that little bit of money."
Luo Can leaned against his elder brother-in-law's desk, speaking casually, "Then you go back and eat. I'll meet up with my elder sister right now."
Gu Shi looked up: "You invited your sister?"
Luo Can rolled his eyes at him: "I finally made some money, of course I have to treat my elder sister, as for you..."
He had originally invited Wang Zehao, but when Wang Zehao heard that he was inviting elder sister and elder brother-in-law to dinner, he absolutely refused to come. They'll just have to eat together another time.
"What's wrong with me?" Gu Shi said, then lowered his head and quickly signed the document.
Luo Can grinned and said, "Of course you're just a tag along."
After signing the last document, Gu Shi remarked, "You've learned from Guo Yao for nothing. You're still as talkative as ever."
Luo Can helped him tidy up the documents: "Why are you so serious? Don't they say a smile makes you ten years younger? You always have a long face, no wonder my elder sister says your expression is always blank."
"Did your elder sister really say that?" Gu Shi turned off the computer. His tone was casual, as if he were talking about everyday things, making it hard to guard against.
Luo Can didn't pay attention and blurted out, "Of course it was my elder sister who said it."
Gu Shiyang raised an eyebrow: "So, in your elder sister's eyes, I'm expressionless. That's a real shame."
Luo Can exclaimed "Ah!" and realized what he meant, quickly explaining, "My sister definitely didn't mean that."
Gu Shi nodded: "I'll ask your elder sister."
He then handed the file folder to Luo Can and walked out with his phone.
Luo Can grabbed the file bag and caught up with him: "Elder Brother-in-law, don't be angry with my elder sister, she definitely didn't mean it that way."
Gu Shi stopped and glanced at him: "You still have a lot to learn from Guo Yao."
What did that mean?
Luo Can scratched his forehead, his eyes lit up, and he asked loudly, "Elder Brother-in-law, are you not angry?"
Gu Shi didn't stop walking and strode out.
Luo Can caught up with him: "Elder Brother-in-law, are you playing with me?"
Gu Shi turned around: "Didn't you make plans with your elder sister? Why aren't you leaving?"
Luo Can coughed lightly: "Let's eat hot pot. Do you like it?"
He knew elder brother-in-law couldn't handle spicy food, so he glanced at him discreetly and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the man showed no signs of anger.
Gu Shi teased him, "You're the host, so should follow the host's lead."
Luo Can: ......
Upon arriving at the hot pot restaurant where they had arranged to meet elder sister, the two went straight to a private room.
Luo Can peeked out and said with a smile, "Elder Sis, you ordered a hot pot with two broths?"
Luo Zhengzheng looked at Gu Shi and said with a slight smile, "Your elder brother-in-law can't eat spicy food."
Gu Shi sat down next to her, his smile deepening: "Actually, eating a little bit of spice is fine."
Luo Can chuckled, "Elder Brother-in-law, look how good my elder sister is to you."
Gu Shi boasted shamelessly, "Of course your elder sister is good to me."
Luo Can pouted and was about to retort, when Luo Zhengzheng interrupted him: "I've already ordered some dishes, you can order whatever you like."
Luo Can smiled and said, "We definitely need beer. Drinking beer and eating hot pot is the only way to have a good time."
Gu Shi looked at Luo Zhengzheng: "Then drink?"
Luo Zhengzheng nodded: "Drink less."
The waiter brought the dishes over and helped them cook them in the pot.
Luo Can poured some alcohol for elder sister and elder brother-in-law, and also poured himself a glass.
The pot was boiling hot. Gu Shi cooked a slice of tender beef and put it in Luo Zhengzheng's bowl.
Luo Zhengzheng was taken aback and looked at him: "You eat, I can do it myself."
Gu Shi said, "This is spicy."
Luo Zhengzheng smiled. The catfish in the pot was cooked. She picked one up, put it on a plate, and handed it to him: "There aren't many chilies on this fish. Try it. If you don't like it, don't eat it."
Gu Shi nodded, picked up a piece of fish and ate it. He took a deep breath and said, "Although it's a bit spicy, the taste is very good."
He lowered his head and carefully finished eating the fish.
Luo Can sat to the side, drinking and eating, occasionally glancing at elder sister and elder brother-in-law. He belatedly realized that sitting there eating with them might be somewhat superfluous. Had he unintentionally become a third wheel?
Seeing that Gu Shi had finished eating the catfish and was picking up another one, Luo Zhengzheng said, "Don't eat too much."
The person's lips were already bright red from the spiciness and his fair cheeks were also flushed red. They were clearly suffering from the spiciness.
But this spiciness was just okay for her.
Gu Shi said, "It's fine to eat it once in a while."
Luo Can suggested to him, "If it's too spicy, have a beer."
Gu Shi raised his glass and the three of them clinked glasses. He said in a very ceremonial manner,
"Wishing Luo Can a happy university life."
Luo Zhengzheng smiled and said, "Okay, then wish Luo Can a happy university life."
Luo Can laughed: "Then wish me a happy university life."
After finishing their hot pot meal, Gu Shi paid the bill first.
Luo Can said with dissatisfaction, "I promised to treat you."
Gu Shi smiled and said, "Keep that money for when you start school."
Luo Zhengzheng also said, "Keep it."
Luo Can touched the money in his pocket and chuckled.
After Luo Can started school, Luo Zhengzheng focused her efforts on adapting the novel. Chen Hui introduced her to some well-known screenwriters in the industry.
Once the script was finished, filming for the movie "I Am a Robot" was also completed.
Chen Hui had no other projects, so Luo Zhengzheng asked her to prepare for the TV series "Home and Country". As for funding, she had enough money and didn't need to find investors.
With sufficient funds, everything was easy. Chen Hui busied herself with finding directors, actors, and so on. Fortunately, the company already had several teams of people who didn't have any projects to work on at the moment, so she brought them over.
Luo Zhengzheng was involved throughout the entire process. She and Chen Hui were busy all day long.
Han Yue had good connections at Wanhua Entertainment, and moreover, she was Chen Ze's girlfriend. She had heard that the company was going to shoot a period drama about political intrigue. She had just finished filming a modern idol drama and didn't have any other projects to shoot, so she secretly set her sights on the female lead position.
When Director Lu heard that Luo Zhengzheng was going to direct a TV series, he was very interested after reading the script and volunteered to be the director of the series.
Chen Ze immediately objected, saying that Director Lu only makes movies, and if he goes to direct a TV series, what if he couldn't control the pacing and makes a bad series? Wouldn't that ruin his reputation?
It was not that there weren't directors who make good movies as well as good TV series.
But he just invested hundreds of millions in a science fiction film, so to be on the safe side, Luo Zhengzheng should find someone else.
How could Luo Zhengzheng refuse such a good director who was offered to her? Besides, Director Lu had directed TV series before and they all had a very good reputation.
When she got stubborn, Chen Ze couldn't persuade her at all. Not only could he not persuade her, but he also couldn't control Director Lu. But he knew that someone could control Luo Zhengzheng.
So he called Gu Shi and asked him to persuade his wife. After all, he had invested 200 million yuan in the movie "I Am a Robot,". He couldn't believe he wasn't nervous.
However, Gu Shi was not nervous and did not intend to persuade Luo Zhengzheng. He said, "You should trust Director Lu. The worst thing in doing business is to be impatient."
After hanging up the phone, Chen Ze was furious. Was this really a matter of trust?
If he had known that the two of them were breathing from the same nostril, he shouldn't have called Gu Shi, lest he have made himself angry.
Director Lu also felt that Chen Ze was being overly nervous after investing hundreds of millions in the film. Since the slightest thing made him nervous, he looked down on him. He complained to Luo Zhengzheng in private: "This TV series hasn't even been filmed yet. Judging from the plot structure, it will take about half a year to film. With post-production, by the time 'Home and Country' airs and 'I Am a Robot' has no other problems, it should already be released. What is he so nervous about? Doesn't he trust me? Who is he looking down on?"
Luo Zhengzheng definitely agreed with him. She would be stupid to turn down a good director.
With Director Lu directing "Home and Country," her drama was already one-third successful. The remaining third depends on the actors and the screenwriter, and of course, there were other unstable factors in the last third.
As for the actors, given Director Lu's seriousness in casting, he certainly wouldn't choose just anyone.
As soon as the casting announcement was released, many people came to audition.
Of course, since the TV series was being produced under the name of Wanhua Entertainment, actors from Wanhua Entertainment would definitely be the first choice.
Han Yue approached Chen Ze and told him she wanted to act in the drama "Home and Country". Chen Ze told her directly that the drama was not invested in by the company and that she should audition. Even if it was invested in by the company, she would still have to audition.
Besides, this drama was invested in by Luo Zhengzheng. He didn't participate at all and he wouldn't randomly put actors in. If she had the ability, she could get the role based on her ability. If she didn't have the ability, it was only right to get rejected.
Han Yue didn't believe it: "Without investment, how can it be filmed under the company's name?"
He was obviously just fooling her. Did this man want to break up with her? He was becoming increasingly perfunctory with her.
Chen Ze looked at her impatiently: "Because that's a TV series invested in and produced by Luo Zhengzheng. Who is Luo Zhengzheng? I have to call her elder sister-in-law. She wants to use our company's name to produce a TV series, how could I disagree?"
Han Yue frowned: "Isn't she going a bit too far?"
Chen Ze glanced at her: "What do you know?"
He and Gu Shi had a close relationship since childhood. His grandparents, parents, and brothers were all soldiers. They couldn't support him to start an entertainment company. He was able to start the company with money lent to him by a few brothers, among whom Gu Shi lent the most. Gu Shi still hasn't paid off his debts.
Their relationship was closer than that of blood brothers. When his brother's wife filmed a TV series under his company's name, he was only happy, feeling that his brother treated him like family. So how could he possibly complain?
Han Yue wanted to say something, but Chen Ze said, "She's my elder sister-in-law. Show her some respect."
Han Yue wanted to say, "Why should I? She's your elder sister-in-law, and I'm your girlfriend! Shouldn't we be equals? Why should I show her respect?"
Seeing her expression, Chen Ze couldn't help but say, "Luo Zhengzheng has a very good temper. If you don't provoke her, she won't do anything to you. Just follow the rules."
Han Yue thought to herself, "Luo Zhengzheng has a good temper, so how could she have a bad temper? That's underestimating her."
Thinking of the female lead in "Home and Country," she suppressed her resentment and said, "I understand, I will respect her."
Chen Ze waved his hand: "If you want to play the female lead, go audition. If you don't get the role, then you should look for the reasons within yourself. Has your acting deteriorated, or has it always been like this? Find a teacher and learn properly to improve your acting skills?"
Han Yue left Chen Ze's office and went to the audition room on the third floor.
Luo Zhengzheng was sitting in the audition room watching the audition with Director Lu when her phone suddenly rang.
She opened the call and saw it was from Liu Hanyue. She smiled and asked, "What's up?"
Liu Hanyue asked from the other end, "I heard from Mother-in-law that the TV series you invested in is casting. What do you think of me?"
Luo Zhengzheng exclaimed and asked her, "You want to act?"
Liu Hanyue said solemnly, "I want to be an actress. I think you and eldest sister-in-law are right. As long as a woman has money, what kind of life can't she live? I don't know how to do business. I can only think of the path of becoming a star. I have a good appearance. I participated in singing competitions before. Although I have never acted, I can learn. I can find a teacher to teach me. I don't need to play important roles. I just need to play a small role."
Luo Zhengzheng hesitated and said, "But the director of this play is Director Lu. Even for a small supporting role, he is very strict. You have to audition and pass the audition to act."
Liu Hanyue didn't mince words: "Fine, we'll earn our living through our own abilities and nobody can say anything about it."
Luo Zhengzheng smiled and said, "Then come to Wanhua Entertainment. They're having an audition now."
In this drama, she did think of a role that would suit her well.