CHAPTER 47: CHAPTER 0047 ACTUALLY, I DIDN’T LOSE OUT EITHER (REQUEST FOR MONTHLY PASS)

The gossip about Qi Hao was extremely effective, so effective that even Yang Mi’s side was a bit stunned.

The highlight of her acting career was Guo Xiang in "The Return of the Condor Heroes."

But that was in the past.

And it didn’t bring her any great resources, mostly just minor roles in various films and TV shows afterward.

Calling her a second or third-tier celebrity was a bit of a stretch.

However, once the gossip with Qi Hao spread, her name instantly dominated the internet and major media outlets.

This level of buzz is something many quasi-first-tier female stars can only dream of.

She now clearly understands why people want to be involved in gossip with Qi Hao.

It’s not about getting lucky, they have already gotten lucky.

Even a few decent endorsements have reached out to her.

Even if it’s just initial contact, if she can land one or two, her early investment in marketing will be recouped.

She considers herself lucky.

The media, having offended some big shots, is proactively trying to make amends.

Especially with that situation involving Ge You’s father.

The officials are paying attention; one wrong move, and media bosses involved could face the music.

’Face the music’ doesn’t mean jail time, but being called in for a ’cup of tea’ by regulatory authorities. It seems insignificant, but who knows what targeted actions might follow?

Therefore, the media has to use new gossip to cover up the old one.

It’s much more effective than clearing things up directly.

Yang Mi spent the least money and got the best marketing result.

Uh...

She’s so pleased she doesn’t want to stop.

And now, there’s a problem.

According to the original plan, the three of them agreed to take turns with Qi Hao.

Now that Yang Mi won’t stop, Liu Shishi has no chance.

Liu Shishi released several related news pieces and even posted photos of her with Qi Hao on set, but they didn’t make a splash.

What used to be a harmonious trio now has cracks, and they quickly stopped showing sisterly love on set.

Hogging everything!

It’s really hateful.

Fortunately, Sugar Man, after being rejected by Qi Hao, already mapped out a new hype path for Liu Shishi, so there’s no need for a fallout with Yang Mi.

However, Liu Shishi did not sit back.

Someone leaked the conversation between Yang Mi and Qi Hao that day, specifically about the pronunciation of the word ’strong,’ and in this exchange of bickering chicken pecking, Yang Mi actually lost.

CP fans think they’re quite charming together.

Learning and progressing together.

However, inevitably, some questioned Yang Mi.

You’re a third-year college student, claiming to come from a literary family, yet you can’t read better than a middle school student; it’s truly embarrassing.

It did, however, earn Qi Hao a wave of favor.

Look, this kid only graduated from middle school, but education and knowledge are two different things.

Not only does he act well, but he also didn’t slack off in studying.

Many staff members of "Chinese Paladin 3" further revealed information, saying that Qi Hao would read a book whenever he had free time on set.

He wasn’t just playing the part.

If he had very few scenes to shoot, he could sit there reading for several hours.

Moreover, Qi Hao also hired an acting coach for lessons.

This shows that even though he’s not formally trained, he hasn’t given up on pursuing professional theoretical knowledge.

It’s truly touching.

Such a positive, motivated young man, yet some people mindlessly spread gossip to slander him.

If you could muster even a third of his effort, you wouldn’t have to resort to such underhanded methods to compete with him.

Many young actors were suspected by netizens of attacking Qi Hao.

Some are wrongly accused while others are not, but in any case, the only winner is Qi Hao.

This win is not due to luck.

You can see it from the slightly bruised-looking eye circles of Zhanqi Laiden.

The harder you work, the more comfortable others become.

"Let’s put a temporary end to this; the boss’s messes are too many, you need to pay me more!" Zhanqi Laiden took a sip of the soy milk that was handed over, frowning.

"Don’t worry, you won’t be shortchanged."

Old Tian was very satisfied with the result and felt he hadn’t hired the wrong person.

"How about ending my probation period ahead of time?" Zhanqi Laiden realized only after joining the company that his probation was the longest there.

Now three months have passed, and three months remain!

"You know why you’re on probation, just bear with it, maybe you’ll quit smoking in a few months," Old Tian laughed mischievously.

He now manages the studio operations, often dealing with Zhanqi Laiden.

Once the seal is lifted, the first to suffer could be him.

"Old Tian, you’re really something!" Zhanqi Laiden rolled his eyes and was planning to sleep in the boss’s office.

"Oh, by the way, I didn’t tell the boss what you’ve been up to, don’t slip up," Old Tian reminded him.

Referring to those bigwig pranks.

"Thanks!"

Zhanqi Laiden opened the door to the boss’s office and continued to sleep soundly.

The boss wasn’t there; it was his privilege.

Talented people, even with three months of probation left, receive certain courtesies.

Qi Hao knew it but wouldn’t say anything.

In fact, he was waiting to complete a mission now.

It was a system requirement to shoot a "romantic scene" with a "female star."

Thankfully, it was a female star and not a male star.

Otherwise, the recently settled scandals might just restart.

And thankfully, it was just a romantic scene. If it required shooting something like "Se Jie," Qi Hao might really have a hard time holding it together.

"Are both of you ready?"

There were several directors in the production team who could direct, but such an important part today was surely under the control of Li Guoli, the chief director.

"Almost ready."

Qi Hao had just finished chewing his gum.

He personally didn’t have bad breath, but he still brushed his teeth seriously and chewed some gum.

This was a matter of etiquette.

In the circle, there are some rather gross acts, like knowing a romantic scene was coming and deliberately not brushing teeth while eating garlic.

Tang Yan was much more nervous than Qi Hao.

Even though she wasn’t new to romantic scenes, and she wasn’t without boyfriends either.

"Don’t be nervous, it’s a TV drama, it’s easy to shoot."

"Chinese Paladin 3" is essentially a costume fantasy idol drama, the romantic scenes couldn’t be too exaggerated.

Early idol dramas might only have lip-touching scenes throughout the series.

"Put your hand on Qi Hao’s arm, tilt your head slightly, cut — did you twist your neck?"

The moment they embraced, it was cut.

Qi Hao suddenly felt this task wasn’t that easy after all.

He thought it was going to be the simplest task ever.

Just as it came time for the romantic scene, he received the task — talk about having a pillow when you’re sleepy.

Turned out the romantic scene NG’d five times and still wasn’t done.

"Tang Yan, didn’t your teacher teach you how to act?"

No matter how much they coaxed, it was NG every time — truly a disgrace to the Central Academy of Drama.

Li Guoli was a bit annoyed, he even wanted to ask Tang Yan if she was deliberately NG’ing just to kiss Qi Hao.

"I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!"

Tang Yan bowed to apologize to the director, to Qi Hao, and to the photographer.

"It’s okay, take a deep breath."

Qi Hao took a tissue from his assistant and wiped his face a bit; luckily, he didn’t wear makeup in this show, otherwise, he’d have to have the makeup artist do a touch-up.

Last time, Li Guoli said Tang Yan needed to be more proactive, not make it seem so unwilling.

As a result, this time, she went so aggressive, she almost deformed Qi Hao’s face with her kiss.

"Life is kissing you with pain, and you’re going all in.

"In the ten minutes they adjusted, Tang Yan was taken for a touch-up.

Qi Hao picked up the book he had been reading; not to learn, but to appear relaxed.

Otherwise, Tang Yan would get even more nervous.

Actually, Qi Hao thought the second take was quite okay, but unfortunately, Li Guoli the director wasn’t satisfied.

As a result, the third, fourth, and fifth takes got worse each time.

"Mr. Qi Hao, have you never been nervous filming romantic scenes before?" Tang Yan asked after her touch-up, trying to ease the awkwardness with some chit-chat.

She was too embarrassed to even call him "Brother Hao" anymore.

Usually, while chatting and joking around on set, she called him Brother Hao.

Just like Yang Mi calling "Big Brother."

"It’s alright, learned from movies," Qi Hao seemed to realize that his words might have an ambiguous meaning and quickly added, "Hong Kong films..."

"Didn’t you ever NG?"

"Of course, I did, quite a few times actually, but in the end kept a good mindset and finished smoothly."

Actually, Qi Hao nailed it in one take.

Mostly because his co-stars were quite experienced, and he was the more passive one in the scene.

Now, he was deliberately downplaying his skills to ease Tang Yan’s nerves.

After chatting for a while, you could clearly see Tang Yan was doing much better.

"Mr. Qi Hao, do you think I’m deliberately messing up the shoots?" Just before starting again, Tang Yan suddenly asked.

"Actually, I’m not losing out either..." Qi Hao replied with a trace of melancholy.

"Ah? Hahaha..." Tang Yan didn’t expect Qi Hao to say that, and her embarrassment was alleviated along with her stress.

Finally, on the sixth take, they seamlessly pulled off what satisfied the director.

"Not bad, remember this feeling; you two have several more romantic scenes in this drama."

Li Guoli was finally satisfied.

His greatest pride in this TV drama was making Qi Hao look handsome, not feeling inferior to Yang Guo from "The Return of the Condor Heroes."

What a pity though.

An Feng in "The Return of the Condor Heroes" is just unbeatable.

Even if "Chinese Paladin 3" had three female leads sharing the spotlight, combining all three into one still couldn’t match An Feng’s effect.

"Thank you, thank you, director, thank you, Mr. Qi Hao~" Tang Yan let out a long sigh of relief.

Even though filming romantic scenes with Qi Hao wasn’t hard, she even enjoyed it a little, greatly satisfying her vanity — a privilege even Qi Hao’s current rumored girlfriend, Yang Mi, couldn’t enjoy. But constantly NG’ing was just not right.

As the director said, she had several romantic scenes with Qi Hao.

"Also, thank you, don’t mention it!"

Demoness, thank you for helping me complete the mission; from today, no one can call me "Zhang Yu" anymore.