Chapter 2

This was honestly one of my favorite chapters haha, you’ll see why. Also, thanks to everyone who commented on the previous chapter! I was nervous about this translation not being well received, but your support moved me ?

Also, as always, if you see any mistakes or think something sounds off, let me know and I’ll check it!

Face-Slapping the Film Emperor and Empress (Entertainment Circle)

Han Zikui was the director of this drama. His existence was like a bug in a game. His family was prominent, rich, and powerful. His films were both good and popular, but his output was low, at most one movie per year. He was also the hidden boss of Zhou Xu and Zhang Hanshu, that is, the president of Huaxia Entertainment.

Because he never lacked money, Han Zikui only made films purely out of interest. At this time, he was not in China, so he had the a.s.sistant director set up a camera. But the reason why he wanted to see the audition was because Sun Yue strongly recommended a person, and that person was Zhang Hanshu.

Zhou Xu, who received the system’s information, naturally knew that Han Zikui was watching and that the choice was his, so he did not worry at all. This was because Han Zikui was absolutely fair and just, as nothing could bribe him.

Sword-like eyebrows, eagle eyes, high nose, and thin lips, perfect facial features like a sculpture. Han Zikui was handsome and elegant, emanating dignity.

The a.s.sistant director shouted at the camera, “Han Dao Han Dao, did you see it? Did you see it?”

“Saw it.”

“I’m so excited. Zhang Hanshu is really suitable for this role. Do you want to cast him immediately?”

“Look at the others first. Let the next one in.”

When Zhou Xu came in, his att.i.tude was still arrogant. He did not bow. He sat down on a stool and said “h.e.l.lo” without any further information.

The st.u.r.dy a.s.sistant director could only cough and say what he wanted. After he finished speaking, he looked up again and was completely stunned. The arrogant boy in front of him disappeared. Standing there was an elegant and kind person.

He stepped to the side and pretended to wash his hands, a faint smile on his lips, which made him look so happy.

After washing his hands, he sat down at the table in a good mood, even pretending to take a napkin and tuck it under his neck.

He smiled and took a bite, and did not speak from beginning to end until a drop of oil fell onto his clothes. He lowered his head, his eyes, face, and body all exuded anger. That kind of change to a sinister murderer instantly made the three interviewers’ hearts tighten. Their rapid heartbeat told them that they were afraid.

A few seconds later, the feeling of murder gradually disappeared, and Zhou Xu slowly looked up. Upon raising his head, he had reverted back to the gentle and friendly doctor.

Still without speaking, he finished eating all of the food with a slight smile, took off the napkin, and then smiled with great satisfaction. “Delicious.”

Zhou Xu’s audition was over, but the three interviewers were quiet. Throughout the whole process, Zhou Xu’s face was smiling, but the fear in their hearts gradually escalated with that smile, because they didn’t know when Zhou Xu would suddenly explode, and that eruption would surely cause death. They even worried that Zhou Xu was actually abnormal, otherwise, how could bowing his head cause so much fear, so real that they dared not believe it?

Zhou Xu saw the expressions of the three interviewers. He raised his chin again and said, “I’ve finished my performance.”

The a.s.sistant director came to his senses, and only when did he become clear-headed did he discover that he had gone through a cold sweat.

“Oh, well, go out and we’ll let you know what the result is.”

Zhou Xu turned around and walked away, not even saying “thank you”.

The a.s.sistant director said to the people around him, “How did this kid become so crazy?”

“That acting is worthy of his madness. You decide quickly. If you can’t decide, I will take this boy first. I will recommend him to Lu Dao for the next movie. If he is not popular, I will take your last name.”

The a.s.sistant director looked at the camera, and just as he wanted to say something, a voice spoke. “Only him, three days later, take him to my office.”

“Can Zhang Hanshu…?” The a.s.sistant director began to speak but hesitated. After all, he and Sun Yue were friends, and he did receive benefits from Sun Yue.

“He’s a good seedling, but he is not superior.”

With that, Han Zikui hung up right then and there, and his last words were so sincere and ruthless. Without a doubt, Zhang Hanshu could still succeed if he was willing to work hard. But if he was unable to get up after Zhou Xu’s attack, then what was the difference between him and the original Zhou Xu?

Anyone can be the protagonist, but some people simply become the supporting character to others.

At the end of the audition, Zhou Xu was pleased with his performance, so all he had to do now was go home and get in touch with his family’s feelings.

This time, he must make Zhou Xu brilliant in all fields, and the family must become his haven and support.

However, he had not yet taken a step before Zhou Xu was stopped by the a.s.sistant director. Zhou Xu saw the envy and jealousy of the other auditioners and the surprise in Zhang Hanshu’s eyes. He looked back with an arrogant expression and said, “What are you doing?”

The a.s.sistant director coughed lightly. Every time he was treated like this by Zhou Xu, he could not adapt. In the past, those actors who were not respectful, they changed and became good. Now, he came across a young newcomer. As a result, for the first time, he had to give face over and over again.

But when he thought of Zhou Xu’s performance in the audition, he swallowed his saliva and suppressed his discontent. After all, he loved talent, and naturally, at the same time, was greedy. This time, he supported Han Zikui, because with Zhou Xu’s acting skills, it was only a matter of time before Zhou Xu became famous.

“Well, come in, I have something to ask you.”

Zhou Xu paused before he leisurely followed the a.s.sistant director into the office. Then he sat down and said, “If I’m to be informed that I was selected, then I am very happy. If this is to discuss the performance fee, then please contact my company. If it is something else, I may refuse to answer.”

The a.s.sistant director was speechless, and after a while he answered, “If there’s no mishaps, you will play Dr. Su, I tell you.”

“Thank you.”

“You can go now.”

“Goodbye. I hope to work together pleasantly with you in the future.” After speaking, Zhou Xu bowed for the first time, which shocked the a.s.sistant director, who thought he had seen a ghost.

After receiving the results, Zhou Xu went home. Before, he would not go home so early, and he hated going home. But now, under the guise of not being satisfied, he wanted to let his grandpa, father, and brother love himself more and be more reluctant to let him feel wronged. Perhaps in the future, it would be better to bother the people he hates using them.

The Zhou Group was the third ranked company in B City, so it was definitely not an exaggeration to say that the Zhou family was a rich and powerful family. Zhou Qiang loved his wife very much. After his wife died, he never married again. He did not want to see his two children being treated badly by a stepmother.

As soon as he got home, Zhou Xu collapsed onto the sofa. In any case, he himself was like this, but since he’s at home, he could be more willful, so that his performance of Zhou Xu was more lively.

Zhou Xu was determined. He already understood his father and grandfather very well. As for his older brother, Zhou Xu felt that nothing needed to be done, as his brother also loved him dearly.

Zhou Xu rested on the sofa until five o’clock. Then he went to the kitchen and cooked a home-cooked dish. When Grandpa, Dad, and Brother came home at the same time, they saw the hired aunt’s proud expression.

Doubtfully, they entered, and found that the dish on the table was what they liked to eat. They thought that the aunt had made it specially for them. After sitting down, they couldn’t wait to eat it. When Zhou Xu came in with the last dish, he saw them eating happily and immediately became angry.

With inflated cheeks, mouth pouting, and eyebrows locked, Zhou Xu angrily said, “Why didn’t you wait for me to eat? Do you know how hard I had to work to make this dish? Grandpa, I know you like vermicelli with spicy minced pork, so I specially made a big plate for you. Dad, your abalone porridge, and Brother, your favorite braised salmon head. As a result, none of you actually even waited for me. Is this how my grandfather, father, and brother act? You leave, I won’t eat!”

With that, Zhou Xu put down the last garlic duck breast, turned around, and ran away.

The remaining three people in the dining room were stunned. The proud little devil Zhou, who was just like a proud rooster, had made a table specially for them?

What a fantastic world to imagine, but now wasn’t the time to eat such a precious meal. Quickly go to coax people, ah!

Grandpa Zhou Guo pushed Zhou Qiang forward, Zhou Qiang gave his son Zhou Yang a push until finally, Zhou Yang took action. He knocked on the door and said, “Xiaoxu, don’t be angry, we were wrong.”

“Humph, you eat, you die. If I ever cook for you again, I won’t be surnamed Zhou.”

Zhou Guo glared at Zhou Qiang. “I blame you. You ate as soon as you entered, and didn’t think about who could cook a table that suits our appet.i.te. That aunt has been in our house for nearly ten years. When did she do it, you idiot?”

Zhou Qiang was speechless. How could he know that, ah! He could only knock on the door and say, “Xiaoxu, Dad was wrong, you come out first. We didn’t expect you to cook for us.”

“Didn’t you think to wait for me? I know I’m not obedient, so I still wanted to do something for you. But as a result, you treat me like this and don’t take me seriously at all.

“Xiaoxu, you come out, Grandpa was wrong. You can do whatever you want in the future, we can even discuss acting.”

“Really?”

“Really, really. Grandpa promises that if your dad forces you again, Grandpa will help you deal with him.”

Zhou Xu was at the door, the corner of his mouth hooked up. He certainly knew what technique worked best for those who loved him. And for the relatives that loved him but were awkward, they had to be forced or given a reason to take a step, which was enough. As for the point of using acting on them, Zhou Xu felt that, like white lies, sometimes it was not a bad thing.

“Very reluctantly” opening the door, Zhou Xu haughtily glanced at the three people, then ignored them and went to the dining room. The three left behind looked at each other and looked at Zhou Xu, and finally smiled. Their baby, although a little bad-tempered and stubborn, actually loved them.

The family of four was happy. Zhou Xu was very proud to tell them that there were more than 100 auditioners, and the director only preferred him. Grandpa praised him, and although Zhou Qiang still did not say anything, Zhou Xu knew that his heart had been shaken, which was enough. After all, this was the first day, and he had only just started.

Three days later, Zhou Xu went to Han Zikui’s office. At the entrance to the office, Zhou Xu ran into Zhang Hanshu again, but this time, behind Zhang Hanshu was Sun Yue, the film empress.

Sun Yue knew that Zhou Xu had taken Zhang Hanshu’s role, so she didn’t give him any face. Zhou Xu sneered in his heart. This was the so-called heroine? It’s just the same. The face was beautiful, but the manner was not really good.

Zhou Xu didn’t care about Sun Yue at all, and regarded her as air. Even if she came to help Zhang Hanshu steal the role, he still didn’t care. Because there were many good movies, Zhou Xu could get the role he wanted at any time. However, it is said that Sun Yue’s backer was very strong, so it was possible that she could get Zhang Hanshu admitted into the group.

Entering the office, Zhou Xu finally saw the “cheat” character. He leaned casually on his desk, dressed in simple black trousers and a pink-striped shirt with the top two b.u.t.tons undone. Facial features refined to perfection, as well as clean and well-groomed hair, all of it gave the person in front of them a visible presence, a kind of bearing that was absolutely present in people of high rank.

Underneath this n.o.ble temperament, Han Zikui actually had an indifferent and alienated heart. He was gentle and courteous to everyone, but this was because those people were not even in his eyes at all, and so he could handle them easily.

What Zhou Xu didn’t know was that Han Zikui was shocked when he saw Zhou Xu. His slightly thin body, his unruly manner, and even his slightly narrowed peach blossom eyes, for Han Zikui, he was attracted to all of it. This was the first time that Han Zikui fell in love at first sight.

When they looked at each other, electricity sparked, a thumping sound seemingly piercing their eardrums, forcefully opening a door in each other’s worlds.

Zhou Xu bowed his head and smiled. This time it was really interesting. He seemed to be attracted to this powerful “cheat” character.

Chapter One ~ Chapter Three