Chapter 275 - 263 Who do you think you are
Just as Zhao Chun was preparing to storm off and demand an explanation, he ran into the utterly unbothered Jia Wenxiu sauntering his way.
"Wenxiu, you poached the actor I chose. That’s not very honorable of you, is it?" Considering their past friendship, Zhao Chun managed to keep his tone relatively calm.
"You’ve got the wrong idea." Jia Wenxiu pursed her lips in a slight smile, not even bothering to meet his gaze. "Water flows to lower ground; people climb to higher places. We gave him better terms, so naturally, he came to us. It was his own choice—what does that have to do with me? If you couldn’t hold onto him, that’s on you for being incapable."
Zhao Chun stared at her lovely, radiant face and muttered, "How did you become like this?"
"What do you know?" Jia Wenxiu’s face remained emotionless. She gave him a quick once-over. "If you don’t understand anything, then don’t talk nonsense."
"And one more thing," she added coolly, "with your level of skill, do you really think your work is watchable? Out of respect for our acquaintance, let me give you some advice—don’t try to compete with Yi Bai; you can’t compare to him. If you have any self-awareness, just give up now. Save yourself from being mocked later. Honestly, you’re nothing without your family. If they weren’t backing you, do you think anyone would be foolish enough to follow you?"
"Hahahaha!" Zhao Chun suddenly burst into raucous laughter, laughing so hard that tears nearly spilled from his eyes. His usually handsome face flushed red.
Jia Wenxiu turned her head to glance at him with a bewildered expression. What’s wrong with him? Is he insane?
As she turned to leave, Zhao Chun’s loud, arrogant voice rang out behind her. "Jia Wenxiu, let me make this clear today: if it weren’t for Jinghuai, dammit, do you think I’d even bother saying a single word to you?"
He abruptly grabbed her shoulders and turned her around. Since he was taller than her, Jia Wenxiu had to lift her head to look at him.
Zhao Chun spat to the side, raised an eyebrow, and spoke in a light, mocking tone, "Who do you think you are? Do you think I need you, Jia Wenxiu, to teach me how to live my life?"
After saying his piece, he disdainfully let go of her, his eyes bloodshot as he turned away. What’s wrong with him? How did he ever think someone like her was wonderful? Starting today, Jia Wenxiu was dead to him!
She was nothing compared to Jiang Jinghuai’s original little sister. With her ungrateful, treacherous nature, even ten years of kindness couldn’t foster loyalty in her. Jiang Jinghuai’s sister, my ass!
A pile of dog shit by the roadside smelled better than her!
"Unbelievable!" Jia Wenxiu brushed her shoulder with disgust, fury rising in her heart. Zhao Chun, this time I’m going to crush you so hard you’ll regret everything! Self-important fool with no real ability!
When Zhao Chun returned to the set, everyone had already gathered around someone, chatting and laughing.
Who is it now? Another one here to poach from my team?
From within the crowd, the person looked up and flashed him a warm smile. "Director Zhao."
The smile was sunny, clean, and carried a hint of mischief. "Huh, Director Zhao, your eyes are all red. What happened? Went out and got bullied?"
Zhao Chun nearly spat blood. He awkwardly coughed into his hand. "No, of course not."
Saying such a thing in front of everyone—where was he supposed to put his dignity?
Crew: Director, didn’t your dignity disappear yesterday?
Yesterday, their typically awe-inspiring, proud, and superior leader had been rendered an embarrassed, blushy mess by a single woman. That scene—the crew would’ve loved to witness it again.
Oh, ho ho!
"Boss, we just told Sangsang about the stolen role, and Sangsang said she’d get justice for you!" Chen Wan, clinging to Tian Sangsang’s arm, looked totally righteous and indignant!
"Yeah, with Sangsang here, what do we have to fear?" Xiao Ming said, clenching his fist!
"Too bad, just as Sangsang was about to leave, you came back," Yao Yu added. Why’d he have to come back so quickly!
Ugh. I was only gone for five minutes, and the world’s already flipped upside down. One after another, they’re all calling Sangsang so sweetly. Aren’t we all the same age?
"No need. I’ve already taught her a lesson," Zhao Chun said, lifting his chin slightly.
Crew: Not buying it. Oh ho ho ←_←
Zhao Chun: What’s with these looks? What happened??
"Get serious, all of you! Let’s talk work!" Zhao Chun avoided meeting Tian Sangsang’s gaze, putting on a stern face. "The male lead’s gone. What are we going to do now? Ideas?"
"The auditions are over. Are we going to hold another round?" Chen Wan asked.
"Another round definitely won’t fit the timeline. What if we look around the school?" Xiao Ming suggested.
Script supervisor Xiao Li chimed in, "What’s the point of looking around the school? Isn’t there a perfectly good option right here? Boss, I think Yao Yu would be a great fit."
Yao Yu had decent looks and a solid physique. Among the men on the team, aside from Zhao Chun, he was the only one who could be considered tall and handsome. Most of the others were on the shorter side.
"Haha, ha ha ha." Yao Yu scratched his head sheepishly, laughing. "No way, not me. If you’re going that far, why not suggest the boss himself? The boss is so dashing and graceful, like a jade tree in the wind, elegant and distinguished, a noble gentleman, as handsome as Pan An—what a waste if he doesn’t act!"
This was the moment they had been waiting for.
The crew exchanged knowing smiles and nodded in unison. "We think what he said makes a lot of sense."
Zhao Chun smirked. "Yao Yu, didn’t you say you were bad at literature? Wow, six idioms in a row—you’re impressive!"
Yao Yu: "It’s all thanks to how striking and valiant you are, Boss. Looking at you has improved my vocabulary."
"Sangsang, what do you think?" The crew, once again in perfect coordination, turned their eyes to Tian Sangsang.
Zhao Chun:
Tian Sangsang hadn’t considered the idea at first, but after listening to them, her mind opened to new possibilities.
In the original "Lushan Love," the lead actress and actor were Zhang Yu and Guo Kaimin—both good-looking. Now, since this was a fictionalized setting, it might as well be a remake. From her perspective, she was definitely prettier than Zhang Yu (serious face), and Zhao Chun was absolutely better-looking than Guo Kaimin. Plus, his personality was similar to the male lead—innocent and prone to blushing. He’d be perfect for the role.
"There’s a term: self-directing and self-acting," Tian Sangsang raised an eyebrow and said. "It’s part of what directors do sometimes. Also, it’ll save us money—quite the bargain."
"Self-direct and act?" Zhao Chun looked a little awkward. "I can’t do it!"
"How can a man say he can’t?" Tian Sangsang retorted, righteous and firm. "It’s not like we’re asking you to, uh, self ’attack’ and self ’take’!"
Zhao Chun: o(╥﹏╥)o Not a single word made sense.
Crew: Boss, just listen to Sangsang already!
"I’m the screenwriter, director, accountant, producer—and I sometimes do camera work, editing... And now you want me to act too? I..." He felt aggrieved!
The crew interrupted, "Boss, we’ll never forget your sacrifice! When the movie’s released, the entire nation will remember your handsome face! Do it for us!"
Tian Sangsang suppressed a laugh behind her hand. The vibe here was so much more relaxed and harmonious compared to the uptight energy of the family compound.
Zhao Chun resisted but couldn’t beat the numbers against him.
It’s not that he was reluctant to try acting; though nervous, he loved a good challenge...
But just imagining that he’d soon be acting alongside Tian Sangsang left him filled with both anticipation and dread.
Especially knowing that she was laughing so smugly without a shred of sympathy—it made Zhao Chun feel oh-so wronged.