Chapter 08
Wu Fangyuan hesitated for a moment, lying on the edge of the door with a worried face and staring at Luo Ding: "Is it really OK? You're going alone! "
Luo Ding rummaged in the closet for a long time before he picked out a suit of clothes that he wanted to wear. He took it out and threw it on the bed. He just tilted his head to glance at Wu Fangyuan: "Hmm."
If it were not for Wu Yuan's invitation, with Luo Ding's current popularity and contacts, it would be impossible to get the chance to attend Gongliang Guang's birthday party. Gongliang Guang is a well-known old media person, who mostly works behind the scenes. Although his popularity was not as high as that of idol stars, he definitely had no less influence than a first-tier male star in the circle.
Luo Ding had had contact with him before, of course, only as Cao Dingkun, so his personal understanding of Gongliang Guang was mostly from other people's hearsay. Gongliang Guang was not purely a person in the entertainment circle as he was also a professor at Beijing Film Academy. He had been working as an old professor there for more than ten years. His disciples were all over the world and have made countless outstanding achievements. Although he was introverted, he had some say in politics because he participated in the shooting of all kinds of positive historical TV dramas. Generally speaking, he could be regarded as the uncrowned king in a sense.
Although his 50th birthday party was grand and solemn, they wouldn't be going to the party just for the fun. Apart from the heavyweights of various industries in the circle, there were not many artists allowed to be present. Zheng Kezhen and Deng Jian, as well-known directors, were the same age as him. This time, they were invited by the Chinese channel to oversee some of the rare historical dramas in China in recent years, which naturally has some weight. As one of the leading actors, Wu Yuan was also lucky to be invited. But, he as a little-known actor who just plays a supporting role, for Luo Ding to come rushing to the door, afraid that he could not even touch the door.
Fortunately, guests at such gatherings have the right to invite their companions, but how many people were willing to create opportunities for others to this Vanity Fair? Unless the relationship reached a certain level, most people wouldn't even know the existence of this privilege.
Luo Ding did receive the invitation, but it was to invite Cao Dingkun. It had nothing to do with him now. Today's entertainment circle was not the same as the former one, as long as one had the strength, one would shine brilliantly. In fact, there were far more talented people who remained unknown behind the scenes than the public was aware of. No one could find your brilliance through the lens without the right opportunity, even if it was pure gold. Although Luo Ding had confidence in his acting skills, there were too many variables in a play before it's broadcast. It's not his style to wait for others to hold his own fate stupidly. As long as he had the opportunity, he must try his best to hold it tightly.
Artfully boasting in a meal's time to let Wu Yuan became very fond of him, he seemed to casually mention that his most respected old artist was Gongliang Guang. As expected, Wu Yuan who loves to brag in private, immediately boasted about the birthday party. After seeing Luo Ding's calm but enviable eyes, he invited him to show off the scenery in front of his friend.
While agreeing to the invitation, Luo Ding silently remembered the favour. The difference between Luo Ding and Su Shengbai was that he knows how to repay a favour. Due to this, Luo Ding was able to be in the top position in his last life while also receiving the favour of many people. All of these people, without exception, have deepened their contacts with him after his popularity, and his good relationship in the circle had also been established. Wu Yuan was a guy with a crude personality and liked to be in control in communication just complemented Luo Ding, who was somewhat indifferent in nature. As long as Luo Ding was willing, they could always maintain such a certain distance and *friendly relationship.
(TN: LMAO that * the author used tho. Very hmm, how to say, domineering and one-sided relationship akasdgas)
Luo Ding knew that Gongliang Guang was a man of ancient character and thus cautious of the rules, so he purposely dressed in a smart and neat way. His hair blown into a fluffy soft texture, light grey modified-style suit, the suit fitting his body and making his every move eyecatching but leaning more towards a young student's style. When he opened the door, Wu Fangyuan was once again gaping speechlessly at him.
Wu Fangyuan still didn't understand why Luo Ding could get the role of 《Tang Zhuan》. Luo Ding used to be purely an idol, even playing a nearly silent role in the group. He had never heard that the other side could act, and 《Tang Zhuan》was the first audition that Luo Ding had attended as he knew it. Nevertheless, he won the bid for the audition in one stroke but unexpectedly saw that the man was upset.
Luo Ding's change shocked him, but it was not big enough to make Luo Ding and the former appeared completely different. The other side's silence and quietness as always made Wu Fangyuan's heart more and more entangled with this familiarity yet disharmonious feelings.
He opened his mouth, subconsciously wanted to say a few words to remind the other party to pay attention to the dinner, but suddenly stopped after his eyes met the clear eyes of Luo Ding.
He suddenly had a kind of inexplicable intuition that the current Luo Ding was different from the one who went to the audition with him in the morning.
*******
Gongliang Guang's villa was next to a golf course on the outskirts of the city. It was covered by trees, so it was not easy for the outside world to peep.
Among a bunch of luxury cars, a small Volkswagen was very low-key. Wu Fangyuan borrowed the car privately because Yaxing Entertainment rejected Luo Ding's application for renting a bus car.
After looking around, Wu Fangyuan was quite ashamed: "I knew I should spend more money to rent a Cayenne, but I didn't think about it before." It's a little disgraceful to show up with such a poor appearance.
What nonsense.
Luo Ding ignored him. He's a little-known artist who didn't come here to join in the extravagance pomp. That kind of behaviour was easy to backfire when he's on the stage. He's fine with what he had now.
Wu Fangyuan couldn't follow him inside. Luo Ding said goodbye to him and calmly handed the vice card of the invitation to the doorman in the eyes of a group of people, "Who is it?" after the other party checked the authenticity, he made sure he didn't bring his mobile phone, smiled and made a welcoming gesture.
Inside the door was another world..... A more familiar world.
The clothes and the whole fragrance and image of dazzling paper and gold were intoxicating. Women in dresses and men in suits were talking in small groups with sincere smiles. Almost half of these people were the people he knew their names of. They were regarded as brothers and sisters with Cao Dingkun at a party not long ago. Now the news of Cao Dingkun's death couldn't even affect the perfect smile on any of their faces. This was the friendship in the entertainment circle. No one knows how much sincerity the other side holds for themselves. The moment when they knew the truth may be something many people didn't want to face.
Luo Ding smiled and suppressed the inexplicable emotion in his heart. He picked up a glass of champagne from the entrance table and looked for the trace of Wu Yuan.
The people around him were looking at him as if he were not there. No one knew who Luo Ding was. His appearance was so excellent that he didn't look like a person who worked behind the scenes. But if he was an artist, how could such a highly distinguishable face be unknown? They exchanged eyes, but because no one knew the details of the relationship, no one would like to be the first bird out of the flock to talk to him.
Luo Ding's eyes twinkled. He found Wu Yuan near a rattan screen and walked forward quickly.
Wu Yuan's position was basically in the focus of the whole audience's eyes. Zheng Kezhen was sitting there too. He knew that the other side intended to cultivate himself, but he still couldn't help but give rise to some tension.
Gongliang Guang has a long, thin face, thick eyebrows that frown toward the centre, appearing mean-tempered. His face was also grumpy. It seems to be a rather unfriendly existence to unfamiliar people. In fact, he was extremely amiable towards his friends.
This kind of birthday party was for the family's juniors. He didn't have the patience to entertain others, so he pushed it onto his son. He took the time to talk with his old friend Zheng Kezhen at the deck seat. All the people who came to the banquet knew his temper, and they didn't come here to communicate with him, so they at most wished a happy birthday to him when passing by the deck seat, but Gongliang Guang still felt bored. His preferences never appealed to others, but as an old academic artist, he really didn't like those who had their whole body written with schemes and calculations. The entertainment industry was becoming more and more impetuous. Like Zheng Kezhen's current historical drama, it should have more publicity to promote the culture of the ancestors, but no one was willing to promote it because of the big investment. Every time he thought about it, he felt saddened.
"Wu Yuan!"
He was murmuring to Zheng Kezhen about such distorted values. Suddenly, he heard a clear and bright male voice, which revealed the agileness and thoroughness of that person that he had not met for a long time, and made him subconsciously looked up towards the voice.
He brushed his eyes for a while, straightened his back, and looked at the visitor carefully.
The slim young man was tall above average. A grey suit which could be seen from the cutting and material that it was not made by famous experts, but it fits the man inexplicably. Compared with those people who wore hand-made from head to toe in the circle, there was a kind of clean temperament that was difficult to describe with words.
A fluffy and parted hair unlike the popular hairstyle and not dyed as the current fashion pursued by young people. The most primitive black and straight hair made which people easily feel good at a glance. Gongliang Guang had seen too many beautiful men and women in the performing arts circle in his life, but he still couldn't help being surprised after carefully examining this man's facial features. Those black eyes, which seemed to have been washed with pure water, were clear and bright. Gongliang Guang subconsciously looked around the venue. He only felt that this man's eyes were clean and no dirt could be found in it.
Seeing the two people smiled at each other, with tacit understanding, Wu Yuan clapped his hands once to snap Gongliang Guang back from his daze.
Gongliang Guang couldn't help but stare at each other's eyes. He looked in Luo Ding's direction, reached out and pulled Zheng Kezhen's clothes: "Hey! Old Zheng, who is this?"
Zheng Kezhen still hadn't figured some of the differences between the present Luo Ding and the one in the audition in the morning. Luo Ding now looked somewhat like Fu Zhu in the 《Tang Zhuan》, but it's not that sort of free of desires and inflexible air, rather it was that kind of cleanness that couldn't be touched.
He didn't study Gongliang Guang's preferences, naturally, he didn't expect that Luo Ding was matching what Gongliang Guang liked most. He only thought that the current Luo Ding that was neat from head to toe was very pleasant to his eyes. Hearing this, he conditionally introduced him to Gongliang Guang: "Oh, this is Luo Ding, an artist. In my play, you've seen the secret history of the Tang Dynasty. Do you know who's Fu Zhu?"
Gongliang Guang was a little surprised: "Fu Zhu? He's playing the role of Fu Zhu? The character of Fu Zhu..... His temperament doesn't fit him!" The youth's dying spirit and the fresh young man in front of him seem to be as far away as from two worlds!
Zheng Kezhen rolled his eyes and said, "You're looking down on him. His acting is very good." He said, stood up and shouted to Luo Ding, who was whispering with Wu Yuan, "Luo Ding, come here and meet him. This is Gongliang Guang, Mr Gongliang is your senior!"
Luo Ding's eyes widened slightly, and fell on Gong Liangguang with unexpected eyes, matching his young face, so that his expression seemed to be quite appropriate.
"You're Teacher Gongliang?" He stood up, didn't choose the title Zheng Kezhen gave him, didn't ask for a handshake, but stood up as if it was a subconscious action and nodded to each other. Such inexperienced and overcautious politeness was undoubtedly more in line with the public kind and broad minds.
Gongliang Guang's eyebrows were already relaxed. He laughed, leaned forward and patted Luo Ding on the shoulder. He didn't hide his appreciation of the other: "Good boy! Letting him, Mr Zheng, be willing to give you the important role of Fu Zhu. As expected, there are talented people in the performing arts circle!"
Chapter 08
Wu Fangyuan hesitated for a moment, lying on the edge of the door with a worried face and staring at Luo Ding: "Is it really OK? You're going alone! "
Luo Ding rummaged in the closet for a long time before he picked out a suit of clothes that he wanted to wear. He took it out and threw it on the bed. He just tilted his head to glance at Wu Fangyuan: "Hmm."
If it were not for Wu Yuan's invitation, with Luo Ding's current popularity and contacts, it would be impossible to get the chance to attend Gongliang Guang's birthday party. Gongliang Guang is a well-known old media person, who mostly works behind the scenes. Although his popularity was not as high as that of idol stars, he definitely had no less influence than a first-tier male star in the circle.
Luo Ding had had contact with him before, of course, only as Cao Dingkun, so his personal understanding of Gongliang Guang was mostly from other people's hearsay. Gongliang Guang was not purely a person in the entertainment circle as he was also a professor at Beijing Film Academy. He had been working as an old professor there for more than ten years. His disciples were all over the world and have made countless outstanding achievements. Although he was introverted, he had some say in politics because he participated in the shooting of all kinds of positive historical TV dramas. Generally speaking, he could be regarded as the uncrowned king in a sense.
Although his 50th birthday party was grand and solemn, they wouldn't be going to the party just for the fun. Apart from the heavyweights of various industries in the circle, there were not many artists allowed to be present. Zheng Kezhen and Deng Jian, as well-known directors, were the same age as him. This time, they were invited by the Chinese channel to oversee some of the rare historical dramas in China in recent years, which naturally has some weight. As one of the leading actors, Wu Yuan was also lucky to be invited. But, he as a little-known actor who just plays a supporting role, for Luo Ding to come rushing to the door, afraid that he could not even touch the door.
Fortunately, guests at such gatherings have the right to invite their companions, but how many people were willing to create opportunities for others to this Vanity Fair? Unless the relationship reached a certain level, most people wouldn't even know the existence of this privilege.
Luo Ding did receive the invitation, but it was to invite Cao Dingkun. It had nothing to do with him now. Today's entertainment circle was not the same as the former one, as long as one had the strength, one would shine brilliantly. In fact, there were far more talented people who remained unknown behind the scenes than the public was aware of. No one could find your brilliance through the lens without the right opportunity, even if it was pure gold. Although Luo Ding had confidence in his acting skills, there were too many variables in a play before it's broadcast. It's not his style to wait for others to hold his own fate stupidly. As long as he had the opportunity, he must try his best to hold it tightly.
Artfully boasting in a meal's time to let Wu Yuan became very fond of him, he seemed to casually mention that his most respected old artist was Gongliang Guang. As expected, Wu Yuan who loves to brag in private, immediately boasted about the birthday party. After seeing Luo Ding's calm but enviable eyes, he invited him to show off the scenery in front of his friend.
While agreeing to the invitation, Luo Ding silently remembered the favour. The difference between Luo Ding and Su Shengbai was that he knows how to repay a favour. Due to this, Luo Ding was able to be in the top position in his last life while also receiving the favour of many people. All of these people, without exception, have deepened their contacts with him after his popularity, and his good relationship in the circle had also been established. Wu Yuan was a guy with a crude personality and liked to be in control in communication just complemented Luo Ding, who was somewhat indifferent in nature. As long as Luo Ding was willing, they could always maintain such a certain distance and *friendly relationship.
(TN: LMAO that * the author used tho. Very hmm, how to say, domineering and one-sided relationship akasdgas)
Luo Ding knew that Gongliang Guang was a man of ancient character and thus cautious of the rules, so he purposely dressed in a smart and neat way. His hair blown into a fluffy soft texture, light grey modified-style suit, the suit fitting his body and making his every move eyecatching but leaning more towards a young student's style. When he opened the door, Wu Fangyuan was once again gaping speechlessly at him.
Wu Fangyuan still didn't understand why Luo Ding could get the role of 《Tang Zhuan》. Luo Ding used to be purely an idol, even playing a nearly silent role in the group. He had never heard that the other side could act, and 《Tang Zhuan》was the first audition that Luo Ding had attended as he knew it. Nevertheless, he won the bid for the audition in one stroke but unexpectedly saw that the man was upset.
Luo Ding's change shocked him, but it was not big enough to make Luo Ding and the former appeared completely different. The other side's silence and quietness as always made Wu Fangyuan's heart more and more entangled with this familiarity yet disharmonious feelings.
He opened his mouth, subconsciously wanted to say a few words to remind the other party to pay attention to the dinner, but suddenly stopped after his eyes met the clear eyes of Luo Ding.
He suddenly had a kind of inexplicable intuition that the current Luo Ding was different from the one who went to the audition with him in the morning.
*******
Gongliang Guang's villa was next to a golf course on the outskirts of the city. It was covered by trees, so it was not easy for the outside world to peep.
Among a bunch of luxury cars, a small Volkswagen was very low-key. Wu Fangyuan borrowed the car privately because Yaxing Entertainment rejected Luo Ding's application for renting a bus car.
After looking around, Wu Fangyuan was quite ashamed: "I knew I should spend more money to rent a Cayenne, but I didn't think about it before." It's a little disgraceful to show up with such a poor appearance.
What nonsense.
Luo Ding ignored him. He's a little-known artist who didn't come here to join in the extravagance pomp. That kind of behaviour was easy to backfire when he's on the stage. He's fine with what he had now.
Wu Fangyuan couldn't follow him inside. Luo Ding said goodbye to him and calmly handed the vice card of the invitation to the doorman in the eyes of a group of people, "Who is it?" after the other party checked the authenticity, he made sure he didn't bring his mobile phone, smiled and made a welcoming gesture.
Inside the door was another world..... A more familiar world.
The clothes and the whole fragrance and image of dazzling paper and gold were intoxicating. Women in dresses and men in suits were talking in small groups with sincere smiles. Almost half of these people were the people he knew their names of. They were regarded as brothers and sisters with Cao Dingkun at a party not long ago. Now the news of Cao Dingkun's death couldn't even affect the perfect smile on any of their faces. This was the friendship in the entertainment circle. No one knows how much sincerity the other side holds for themselves. The moment when they knew the truth may be something many people didn't want to face.
Luo Ding smiled and suppressed the inexplicable emotion in his heart. He picked up a glass of champagne from the entrance table and looked for the trace of Wu Yuan.
The people around him were looking at him as if he were not there. No one knew who Luo Ding was. His appearance was so excellent that he didn't look like a person who worked behind the scenes. But if he was an artist, how could such a highly distinguishable face be unknown? They exchanged eyes, but because no one knew the details of the relationship, no one would like to be the first bird out of the flock to talk to him.
Luo Ding's eyes twinkled. He found Wu Yuan near a rattan screen and walked forward quickly.
Wu Yuan's position was basically in the focus of the whole audience's eyes. Zheng Kezhen was sitting there too. He knew that the other side intended to cultivate himself, but he still couldn't help but give rise to some tension.
Gongliang Guang has a long, thin face, thick eyebrows that frown toward the centre, appearing mean-tempered. His face was also grumpy. It seems to be a rather unfriendly existence to unfamiliar people. In fact, he was extremely amiable towards his friends.
This kind of birthday party was for the family's juniors. He didn't have the patience to entertain others, so he pushed it onto his son. He took the time to talk with his old friend Zheng Kezhen at the deck seat. All the people who came to the banquet knew his temper, and they didn't come here to communicate with him, so they at most wished a happy birthday to him when passing by the deck seat, but Gongliang Guang still felt bored. His preferences never appealed to others, but as an old academic artist, he really didn't like those who had their whole body written with schemes and calculations. The entertainment industry was becoming more and more impetuous. Like Zheng Kezhen's current historical drama, it should have more publicity to promote the culture of the ancestors, but no one was willing to promote it because of the big investment. Every time he thought about it, he felt saddened.
"Wu Yuan!"
He was murmuring to Zheng Kezhen about such distorted values. Suddenly, he heard a clear and bright male voice, which revealed the agileness and thoroughness of that person that he had not met for a long time, and made him subconsciously looked up towards the voice.
He brushed his eyes for a while, straightened his back, and looked at the visitor carefully.
The slim young man was tall above average. A grey suit which could be seen from the cutting and material that it was not made by famous experts, but it fits the man inexplicably. Compared with those people who wore hand-made from head to toe in the circle, there was a kind of clean temperament that was difficult to describe with words.
A fluffy and parted hair unlike the popular hairstyle and not dyed as the current fashion pursued by young people. The most primitive black and straight hair made which people easily feel good at a glance. Gongliang Guang had seen too many beautiful men and women in the performing arts circle in his life, but he still couldn't help being surprised after carefully examining this man's facial features. Those black eyes, which seemed to have been washed with pure water, were clear and bright. Gongliang Guang subconsciously looked around the venue. He only felt that this man's eyes were clean and no dirt could be found in it.
Seeing the two people smiled at each other, with tacit understanding, Wu Yuan clapped his hands once to snap Gongliang Guang back from his daze.
Gongliang Guang couldn't help but stare at each other's eyes. He looked in Luo Ding's direction, reached out and pulled Zheng Kezhen's clothes: "Hey! Old Zheng, who is this?"
Zheng Kezhen still hadn't figured some of the differences between the present Luo Ding and the one in the audition in the morning. Luo Ding now looked somewhat like Fu Zhu in the 《Tang Zhuan》, but it's not that sort of free of desires and inflexible air, rather it was that kind of cleanness that couldn't be touched.
He didn't study Gongliang Guang's preferences, naturally, he didn't expect that Luo Ding was matching what Gongliang Guang liked most. He only thought that the current Luo Ding that was neat from head to toe was very pleasant to his eyes. Hearing this, he conditionally introduced him to Gongliang Guang: "Oh, this is Luo Ding, an artist. In my play, you've seen the secret history of the Tang Dynasty. Do you know who's Fu Zhu?"
Gongliang Guang was a little surprised: "Fu Zhu? He's playing the role of Fu Zhu? The character of Fu Zhu..... His temperament doesn't fit him!" The youth's dying spirit and the fresh young man in front of him seem to be as far away as from two worlds!
Zheng Kezhen rolled his eyes and said, "You're looking down on him. His acting is very good." He said, stood up and shouted to Luo Ding, who was whispering with Wu Yuan, "Luo Ding, come here and meet him. This is Gongliang Guang, Mr Gongliang is your senior!"
Luo Ding's eyes widened slightly, and fell on Gong Liangguang with unexpected eyes, matching his young face, so that his expression seemed to be quite appropriate.
"You're Teacher Gongliang?" He stood up, didn't choose the title Zheng Kezhen gave him, didn't ask for a handshake, but stood up as if it was a subconscious action and nodded to each other. Such inexperienced and overcautious politeness was undoubtedly more in line with the public kind and broad minds.
Gongliang Guang's eyebrows were already relaxed. He laughed, leaned forward and patted Luo Ding on the shoulder. He didn't hide his appreciation of the other: "Good boy! Letting him, Mr Zheng, be willing to give you the important role of Fu Zhu. As expected, there are talented people in the performing arts circle!"
