On the first day of New Year, Xiao Yi took Luzhou along, driving to the nearby well-known hot springs resort. There they ate Japanese Sushi. Luzhou was wearing a bathrobe, his hair was neat, this indicated that he didn’t need any make-up therefore the company asked the post-production team to fix it later, Xiao Yi held the DV while Luzhou sat cross-legged on the ground in front of the door, behind the green pines and antique decorations. On the night of New Year’s Eve (Dec. 30th) snow was still falling, there was a faint layer of white on the trees, Luzhou held a red envelope in his hand, and wore a smile as he said:
(T/N: DV = Digital Video)
“This new year, I wish every fan all the best in your studies and I wish you success in your work……”
“Thank you for accompanying me throughout these years……”
Xiao Yi held the DV, he thought to himself ‘When Luzhou is like this, he is simply handsome-to-death, no need for any discussions, he is both handsome and bright like the sunlight, he also has an inspiring image of the big brother next door, being with him every day, even being scolded by him every day is worth it.’
“Cut.” Xiao Yi said: “Very good.”
Luzhou sneezed and roared: “Hurry up and close the door! Who came up with this background! Wanting me to freeze to death!”
Xiao Yi: “……”
On the third day of the New Year, Xiao Qiang sent Xiao Yi and Luzhou to Wuhan to catch the return flight, just in time for another Chunyun rush hour.
(T/N: Chunyun = The Spring Festival travel season, a period in China when people returned home during Chinese New Year, there will be extremely high traffic and crowded with people)
Luzhou clearly still had something more to say, toward Xiao Qiang he said: “When you return, help me thank your father and mother for their hospitality.”
“No problem!” Xiao Qiang said with a smile: “Brother Zhou, film well!”
In the airport lounge, Luzhou held the phone and pondered for a long time, Xiao Yi went to get some water for him and when he came back, he saw that Luzhou was on the phone.
This peaceful attitude was different from when he talked to friends, this time, Xiao Yi almost thought that Luzhou was on the phone with his lover and was a little surprised as he looked at him.
“No, I spent the New Year at my little brother’s house.” Luzhou said: “I went to Jingshan and soaked in a hot spring, how about you over there?”
“Uhm……I got it.” Luzhou said, “I’ve passed by Wuhan.”
“Yes.” Luzhou said: “Uncle has answered the phone.”
Xiao Yi sat beside Luzhou, Luzhou glanced at him and took the water from Xiao Yi’s hand, on his wrist was a famous watch, his whole body was wrapped in an expensive suit, the shirt underneath formed a beautiful white edge between the cuff and the back of his hand, Xiao Yi smiled. Luzhou sent a warning to him through his eyes then he averted his eyes, not looking at him face to face any longer.
Xiao Yi thought, ‘does Luzhou also get homesick? He certainly must be homesick, is he calling his mother? One in the south of the day, one in the north, with no relatives around, he must also be very lonely.’ The receptionist in the VIP lounge came over, smiled and whispered to Xiao Yi.
(T/N: One in the south of the day, one in the north = Far apart from each other)
“You don’t need to worry about that.” Luzhou continued: “Take good care of yourself and don’t quarrel with your husband, I’m boarding the plane now, happy new year. Yes yes, I got it.” After he hung up the phone, he uploaded on weibo, ‘blue sky and white clouds, ready to take off, welcoming the New Year of work’, he also conveniently tagged Xiao Yi’s weibo.
On the same day Xiao Yi’s fans were crazily bullish, in a flash they rose up to more than 10,000, the next day Du Mei angrily rebuked Luzhou, she told him that he was simply crazy and that he had to be careful or he would kill Xiao Yi, Luzhou couldn’t stand the pressure from the company, therefore he deleted the post on weibo.
“Lixing’s release has always been strong.” Du Mei said: “I don’t know when the permission to broadcast will be sent down.”
Luzhou got a red envelope from the company for a good start of work, he readily threw it to Xiao Yi, Xiao Yi then had two red envelopes, he was simply overjoyed, Luzhou said: “Whatever, what did they say about the film over there?”
“Now there are three companies that want to work with you.” Du Mei said, “You pick one, I have given Xiao Yi the annual plan that I told you about yesterday, have you seen it?”
“I have.” Luzhou said bored, in fact he hadn’t even looked at it.
“Which one did you choose?” Du Mei asked, “This year I’m going to integrate all the companies and we’re going to sign contracts with more people, now we have sufficient funds and almost all of our connections are ready to go, there were only minor difficulties with a few opponents over there. If the conditions permit it, we shall prepare the film before the end of the year.”
Lin Yao said: “Yesterday Li Dao recommended a screenwriter to the company and it happened that you were not there, we listened to the idea and thought it was good.”
“You act as a manager, a producer as well as a producing manager.” Luzhou said: “And you also have to deal with many other miscellaneous tasks, you’re already too busy, can you even manage it? If you look at Lixing, everything there is divided into divisions for management.”
“It will gradually get there.” Du Mei said: “In the beginning, nevertheless, it will be a little busy, everything will be good once it’s on the right track. Anyhow, which one did you think is good?”
Luzhou said: “Anything is fine, what do you say? Let me look at it again?”
Du Mei: “……”
Xiao Yi: “……”
Xiao Yi took out the annual report that Du Mei had sent yesterday, Du Mei said: “People in Juhua have limited the number of ancient dramas next year, I have rejected all the ancient dramas.”
“A fashion drama?” Luzhou said: “An anti-Japanese drama? Not those use hands to tear the devils.”
(T/N: It’s an anti-Japanese drama, 鬼子 (devils) is a term insulting the Japanese during wartime. Tear the devil’s = another way of saying anti-Japanese drama)
“The screenwriters are all popular,” Du Mei said: “There are both good and bad executive producers, you look at it yourself.”
Luzhou said: “Let’s just take this fashion drama, to avoid that the ministry of broadcasting will later on go back and forth on the rules and block it for 3 years again like the last time.”
Xiao Yi thought to himself ‘I have to join the crew again?’, Du Mei said: “Okay, then wait a moment, try to win a grand slam this year, Lin Yao and I think very highly of this script, it’s just that we are uncertain about whether you would act in an idol drama or not.”
“It doesn’t matter to me.” Luzhou said: “Most importantly the script has to be well written, with enough dog blood and nothing too fussy.”
(T/N: 狗血 (dog blood) – melodrama)
Du Mei called the film and television company in front of Luzhou, Lin Yao then said: “Xiao Yi, you come with me, there is something I want to ask your advice about.”
Xiao Yi: “……”
Xiao Yi immediately got up, and said ‘aiya, chief Lin, how can you say that, something like asking for advice or not asking for advice, you just need to command and everything will be good’……Luzhou’s face sank, he coughed, Xiao Yi immediately had on a serious expression, thinking to himself that Luzhou only allowed him to be his servant, it seemed that he completely couldn’t bear to see him serve others.
Lin Yao took Xiao Yi to the next room where a few teenagers were sitting, they were in the middle of reading a script, when they saw Lin Yao come in, they all got up one after another, Lin Yao casually chatted a few words with them while Xiao Yi was puzzled and somewhat thought——are these four teenagers new?
The new people didn’t look straight at Xiao Yi, Xiao Yi felt that these people were somewhat a little arrogant, yet their attitude towards Lin Yao was very good.
“Come, this is Teacher Xiao, he has studied vocal music and he is Luzhou’s personal assistant.” When Lin Yao introduced Xiao Yi to them, the new people immediately shook hands with Xiao Yi and smiled as they said: “Teacher Xiao.”
“Don’t mention it, don’t mention it.” Xiao Yi said.
Lin Yao glanced at Xiao Yi, Xiao Yi understood it clearly, he probably wanted him to take a look at these new people’s articulation and singing skills, of course, since they had signed a contract with Du Mei, they certainly had some skill, all of them must have received formal training. Lin Yao said: “Sing whatever you like, Xiao Yi, you give them some pointers.”
Xiao Yi laughed and said: “I didn’t learn vocal music, even if I give some pointers, everyone should just exchange with each other.”
Therefore one among the new people sang a few lines, Xiao Yi said: “Come, I’ll accompany you, what do you want to sing?”
(T/N: 伴奏 (accompaniment) = musical term, it’s mean XY will play the instrument while one of them sing)
Xiao Yi got up and moved next to the piano testing the keynotes, the new people choose their song and sang, Xiao Yi’s singing skills were completely relying on talent, after graduation he hadn’t trained his voice for several years but he still had a little bit of the foundation, he could still distinguish between their ability.
Xiao Yi listened quietly, after Luzhou finished discussing the matters, he also came over and stood outside the room watching Xiao Yi playing the piano, the new people was singing a part of a song, Xiao Yi said: “Good, very good.”
“Come, next person.” Xiao Yi said with a smile: “Do you usually train your voice?”
“No,” the newcomer felt embarrassed as he said.
Xiao Yi played a high part, the next person went up and sang, then the third, and the fourth.
After he finished listening, Xiao Yi sighed: “Their basic skills are better than mine.”
Lin Yao smiled and said: “Not bad, not bad.”
Xiao Yi bid them goodbye and came out, Lin Yao asked: “How are they?”
“Uhm…..They still need to sharpen their skills” Xiao Yi said: “After all it’s only for the purpose of filming and not for singing……the requirements don’t need to be too high.”
Lin Yao asked again: “Luzhou what do you think?”
“It’s simply blinding my dog eyes and deafening my dog ears.” Luzhou politely said.
Lin Yao: “……”
Xiao Yi: “……”
Lu Zhou also added: “The one that played the piano was not bad, he could be developed.”
Xiao Yi laughed heartily, Lin Yao had a helpless expression on his face, he went back to his office.
A while later Xiao Yi and another person met face to face, he was shocked, that person was unexpectedly Wu Heng Gu!
Wu Heng Gu smiled and said: “Brother Zhou! Xiao Yi, we meet again!”
Luzhou issued a noise from his nose then walked past Wu Heng Gu who had extended his hand, it was frozen in midair, Xiao Yi stepped forward to catch his hand, smiled and said: “You have worked hard.”
Wu Heng Gu had just acted as a male support for Luzhou, because of the maifu his popularity had increased, Xiao Yi knew that Luzhou most likely didn’t feel very comfortable but in order not to offend him, Xiao Yi had to exchange a few words, he whispered: “Brother Zhou didn’t sleep well yesterday.”
Wu Heng Gu nodded with understanding.
Wu Heng Gu had signed a short-term contract with Luzhou’s company, Du Mei was still thinking of methods to scoop out people everywhere, it seemed that her ambition this year weren’t small, even including both Luzhou and Wu Heng Gu, tying them together into the fashion drama.
In this fashion drama, Luzhou played a thirty-five years old virgin who was forced to suffer from oppression and hardships, Wu Heng Gu played the role of a playboy.
And the older sister in Ju Hua company, an American mixed-blood named Tina, played the girlfriend (the female lead) that was dumped by Wu Heng Gu.
In the drama, Tina got drunk in a bar and fell into the river, she was rescued and sent home by the honest, old man Luzhou.
Wu Heng Gu played the illegitimate son of the media company’s chairman, the company where Luzhou worked.
As for the second female lead, QiQi, she would play Luzhou’s sister with the same father but a different mother, QiQi had become very close with Wu Heng Gu during a motor show, she tried every means to pry the corner from Wu Heng Gu’s current girlfriend.
(T/N: 撬牆角 – Try to steal someone else’s boyfriend or girlfriend)
Xiao Yi thought to himself that the relationship between these characters were one really messy dog blood, Luzhou still hadn’t read the script yet, Xiao Yi held the script and read it slowly to savour it, thinking to himself that besides implanting too many advertisements, the drama was still quite appealing to people.
(T/N: 狗血 (dog blood) – melodrama)
However after passing five episodes, it was not very good, Xiao Yi had to take on the serious identity of 「a person who would become a death star if they did not know the outcome」, and concentrated on finishing the whole story until Luzhou repeatedly urged him to quickly go cook dinner for him, Xiao Yi would then unwillingly go wash his hands in the sink.
(T/N: 死星人 (death star) – an old saying of someone will die on a planet if they don’t, in this case, know the outcome of the drama)
Luzhou only saw three pages and at once collapsed.
“This is sick ah!” Luzhou bellowed and said: “There are more of the advertisements than of the original story! What the hell is this?! Is there a shortage of money?!”
Xiao Yi: “……”
“The story is pretty good……” Xiao Yi said.
Luzhou picked up the script again and looked at it for a while, finally he couldn’t bear it anymore and dropped it for the second time, he said: “Now, the writers could write these terrifying works they have simply reached great heights! Letting me, an old man wear women’s clothing to a banquet hall to take pictures, this is deliberately wanting to mess with me ah!”
Xiao Yi laughed, standing in the kitchen he nearly fell on his knees laughing because of Luzhou, a moment ago when he saw this section he thought of how Luzhou would react, there was one section that described, how the old virgin male lead took advantage of his position and sneaked into the banquet hall while pretending to be a woman to go in to find Tina.
Xiao Yi was immersed in cooking, he wore an apron with light yellow trousers, the sleeves of his shirt were rolled up and his hair looked a bit longer under the kitchen light.
Luzhou looked at the script then looked at Xiao Yi again, and said: “In a few days go buy a few more clothes, and gather your spirit.”
“Ai.” Xiao Yi said: “It doesn’t matter when joining the crew, nobody notices me anyway.”
“What are you thinking!” Luzhou said: “When the moment comes, see if there is a small supporting role for you to play.”
Xiao Yi nearly cuts his hand, he asked: “Can can can……can I?”
“The script has been changed.” Luzhou impatiently said: “Just join the crew and let’s talk about it later.”
Xiao Yi was surprised and said: “How to change it? Are you changing it yourself?”
Luzhou said: “We will also bring our own screenwriter into the crew! Last time filming the ancient drama, who was it, they brought their own director into the crew, this is niu!”
(T/N: 牛 – slang for cool/awesome)
Xiao Yi: “……”
“See who have the highest status.” Luzhou said: “The people who have the highest status will have the final say, otherwise, how am I supposed to wear women’s clothing and act in this drama? Even if I want to act, don’t tell me that all the supporting actors are stupid? Suddenly a tall and strong 1m85 woman come in, are their eyes all blind!”
Xiao Yi said: “Maybe it is because the drama was designed for another type of man.”
Luzhou’s face was bored as he flipped through the script once again, he said: “What with the implantation (he’s talking about adding the advertisements in the drama), it’s simply low enough to burst.”
The moment Luzhou came across the script, in a flash he would turn into a complaining superman, Xiao Yi almost laughed crazily because of him. The next day when they went back to the company, Du Mei had personally called Ju Hua to give them some suggestions, the other side promised to revise the script but the advertisement brands had already been contacted and couldn’t be changed, therefore they promised to raise one episode up to 550,000 yuan for Luzhou, when Xiao Yi heard that, he was speechless.
As he frequently came to the company, Xiao Yi also roughly heard a little bit about the cost of filming through other people’s conversation, people like Luzhou, they could gain a sky-high price for one episode in a drama, sometimes the amount was calculated by the whole package (the whole drama), sometimes the amount was calculated according to the number of episodes, in any case, no matter what, the calculation of one drama, ten million wasn’t a small number.
Of course the company still had to take out a part of it, Xiao Yi was unclear of the exact number they took out, he also did not dare to ask much, but a script with 30 episodes, usually after the filming finished, after cutting this and cutting that, there would be more than 30 episodes, the pay was according to the number of episodes, more episodes meant more profit, and it was also easy to negotiate with the actors.
In order to avoid tax on the contract, the paid couldn’t be written too high like that.
Usually the cost of ancient dramas were more expensive than modern ones, the cost of one episode was between 1.5 million and 2.5 million while the modern drama ranged from 1 million to 1.8 million. This little amount of money, they had to pay Luzhou 550,000 yuan and also had to pay the female lead and supporting female, the supporting male #2 and supporting male #3, the screenwriter, director, executive producer, the filmmaker……they also had to pay the crew including makeup, stage, lighting, the cameraman, the post-production……rent space, rent stage props, and masses of extras who were asked to send out meals……In the end, more or less they would overspend.
But Luzhou holding 550,000 yuan, this 550,000 yuan the film and television company was willing to pay, after all, with Luzhou, there would be rating (of the TV show), with rating, this drama would sell well and every TV station would be fighting over the right to broadcast it, when the mothers in the audience changed channels, as soon as they saw Luzhou’s face they would stop and watch it with full interest.
Although Li Changzheng had often won awards, his rating (in tv shows) couldn’t be compared to Luzhou’s, sometimes Li Changzheng was unable to carry the box office. The ancient drama had red and dark tones with a heavy atmosphere and it had run into the period of Spring Festivals which needed happy films in the New Year, watching less than one minute people would completely exploded。
Therefore Luzhou and Li Changzheng felt a little like king didn’t see king, after Xiao Yi heard one round of gossip, he just felt that his former wish of wanting Luzhou and Li Changzheng to act as rivals in a drama was a very foolish and a very naive wish.
(T/N: 王不見王 (King doesn’t see king) = a mountain can’t have two tigers, meaning there can only be Luzhou or Li Changzheng and not both)