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Chapter 67: Why do you Have My Magazine?
On the second day after New Year’s, Bai Qingquan, Shen Jintai, Zheng Siqi, and screenwriter Meng Xiaosheng had a meal together. Before the meal started, candid photos of passersby circulated on the internet. The three of them were very generous this time. When they noticed that they were being photographed, Bai Qingquan smiled at the camera and shouted: “Make us handsome.”
Shen Jintai smiled and patted Zheng Siqi next to him. Zheng Siqi waved his hand towards the camera.
“Touhua and Bai Yueguang, are these two now friends? From my impression, this isn’t the first time they have been photographed eating together, right?”
“Not sure if the two of them have become friends. Gold powder and moonlight powder are harmonious now.”
“It’s obvious this was used to provoke people. The dinner party was with the crew. A bunch of other people were also there but no one seemed to mention them.”
“Yes, it seems Prince Ying was there too.”
“The three of them are the best looking in the East Palace. I didn’t expect modern clothes to be more eye-catching.”
“Is Touhua the one wearing sweater and jeans? He’s also in great shape.”
“Touhua’s figure is a must have in the circle. After watching his underwear advertisement, haven’t you realized this?”
“The three of them are really good-looking and they each of their own distinct characteristics. The prince is heroic and refreshing, Bai Yueguang is beautiful and gentle, and Touhua is handsome and smooth. It would be great if the three of them made a modern drama together.”
“Before filming a modern drama, how about giving Jintai Qiongying a HE first?”
“I really love and hate this crew. Whether it’s a BE or HE for Jintai Qiongying, can they at least just give us an answer?”
“I think looking at the recent interviews with the creators, it should be HE.”
“I also think it’s HE. Bai Qingquan’s exit photos have all come out, but Zheng Siqi’s haven’t been released yet. It’s obvious he still has scenes.”
“There is not enough sugar to eat. I have searched for Jintai Qiongying doujin articles everywhere on xx website and read all of them. I have to share it with my sisters. The meat of the prince and Li Xu is really delicious!”
“If you want to see the meat of the two of them rather than doujin, look at the original work!”
“Honestly, when I was reading the novel, I visualized the scenes as Touhua and Zheng Siqi. Oh my god! I had a nosebleed and felt I was ascending to heaven!”
“Isn’t Touhua going to make <Welcome Rain on a Spring Night>? The scale of this movie should be very large. When Touhua comes on screen, prepare to rub your hands.”
Funnily enough, the issues the netizens were discussing about also happened to be the topic the group was discussing at their get together. Since they were all in the same circle, their conversation would naturally revolve around their work. What Shen Jintai and the others were most curious about was Li Xu’s ending.
“What about me?” Zheng Siqi said: “Teacher Meng, do I have any more scenes?”
“Even you don’t know?” Bai Qingquan asked in surprise.
Zheng Siqi smiled and said: “I don’t know. Sister Wen said she was still waiting for the crew to decide.”
Bai Qingquan: “I thought you knew.”
“I also thought you knew,” Shen Jintai smiled and looked at Meng Xiaosheng: “Siqi should still have a part, right?”
Meng Xiaosheng lit a cigarette, smiled and said: “Everyone’s ending has been decided except Li Xu’s. It hasn’t been finalized yet. It’s possible. What I mean is it’s possible there may be two versions.”
Shen Jintai: “One sad and one happy?”
Meng Xiaosheng neither confirm or deny: “The crew said that the ending should be kept strictly confidential. I have been deleting and changing the last part. I’m not completely sure of my intentions yet. I can only tell you that for now, the prince still has a part.” Other than this, she didn’t reveal anything more.
It was certain that even if Zheng Siqi still have scenes, it wouldn’t be too many because he had already picked up a variety show. He won’t have much time to shoot for The East Palace. Bai Qingquan will also be joining a new crew for his new drama after the end of the Spring Festival.
The East Palace was so popular that it has brought tons of benefits to every actor who participated in it. Everyone had good resources for their follow-up works. Only Shen Jintai’s have not been decided.
“Do you really want to participate in <Welcome Rain on a Spring Night>?” Bai Qingquan asked: “I was particularly surprised when I heard that you might pick it up. I have read the plot. It seems a bit too controversial.”
“It’s not the same one that was posted on the internet anymore,” Shen Jintai said: “That one was not only too controversial, but there were also no thematic ideas behind it. However, Director Qiu showed me the first version. I thought it was pretty good, but this version was too calm. It’s meant to be a literary and artistic film so it won’t make a lot of money and thus couldn’t attract investments.”
—
The movie <Welcome Rain on a Spring Night> had reach an impasse. The main investment company that originally supported Qiu Hong still insisted on making the edited version and contacted Shen Jintai. Shen Jintai made it clear that he would not accept it.
As a hot traffic star now, he understood he needs to be cautious about taking that kind of movie. In addition, many TV dramas have contacted him, but they were all costume dramas that couldn’t compare to The East Palace in terms of scale or team.
Seeing as The East Palace was about to end, a traffic star like him couldn’t dawdle his feet for too long. It was time for him to make a decision.
Problem was, Shen Jintai really like the story of <Welcome Rain on a Spring Night>. It moved him deeply when he first read it. He had been repeatedly reading the script for the past two days and Qiu Hong had been in contact with him frequently.
Qiu Hong loved him so enigmatically that the movie couldn’t start if he was not casted. “As soon as I saw you, I was inspired.” Qiu Hong said: “I think you have the kind of feeling that I want.”
Shen Jintai felt what he said seem to be a rainbow fart so he was too embarrassed to ask him what he meant by it.
“Your new project?” Mrs. Yan asked him after he hung up the phone.
Shen Jintai said: “It hasn’t been finalized yet, it may not be possible to shoot.”
Mrs. Yan: “Why?”
Shen Jintai: “The director has couldn’t pulled the investment.”
Mrs. Yan: “How is the story?”
Shen Jintai looked at Mrs. Yan and knew instantly what she meant. She had the kind of lavishness of “the story is most important, and money isn’t an issue” undertone. He gave the script to Mrs. Yan.
Mrs. Yan used to be a strong woman. After two years of poor health, she became a full-time stay-at-home wife. She had both cultural and aesthetic taste. After reading the script she said emotionally: “Such a good story yet it still can’t get investments?”
Shen Jintai: “It’s not profitable at first glance. The target audience of this movie and my fans are not the same kind of people. The box office I can bring will be pretty limited.”
“Sometimes the box office depends on the promotion and luck. I think this film could be well made and net many awards.” Mrs. Yan glanced at Shen Jintai and said: “If you want to be a big star, you need to have the same number of trophies as starlight.”
She frowned and thought for a bit, then asked: “Have you shown it to Qiuchi?”
Shen Jintai froze for a moment and said: “No.”
“You should show it to him.” Mrs. Yan said: “It’s okay. He has always had a clear separation between his public and private life. Just show it to him. Whether he’ll invest or not, that’ll be his decision as the boss of Sunshine Media. What have you got to lose?”
Shen Jintai was convinced. Business was business. Showing it to Yan Qiuchi wouldn’t be an issue. The relationship between them was lukewarm now so Yan Qiuchi would not think that he’s using him for personal gains. Shen Jintai also wasn’t afraid to be indebted to him either.
“He’s upstairs.” Mrs. Yan said: “Why don’t I take it to him on your behalf?”
“I’d better go by myself.” Shen Jintai said with a smile.
He took the script and went upstairs. He knocked on the door and waited for a few minutes but no one answered. He was about to go back downstairs when the door suddenly opened.
Yan Qiuchi was wiping his hair with a towel as he walked out. Seeing that it was Shen Jintai, he immediately covered himself more diligently with the bathrobe: “Are you looking for me?”
Shen Jintai hurriedly walked back again: “Am I bothering you?”
“Was just taking a shower.” Yan Qiuchi’s gulped as he glanced at Shen Jintai and said: “Come in and talk.”
Shen Jintai had wore a bright orangey-red sweater today that was very loose fitting. His whole body looked sunny and warm. Since he had been growing out his hair for The East Palace, it was long enough now that he had to use a rubber band to tie it back. His face looked fairer and daintier, but his facial features were more vivid, matching the industry standard of an actor’s face.
From a glance, he looked as if he was a well-dressed woman, but he was distinctly male. He was taller than the average woman, his eyes were bright and valiant and his adam’s apple was prominent and good-looking.
Shen Jintai smelled the faint fragrance coming from Yan Qiuchi’s body that was covered with warm moisture from his shower. He glanced into the room and found it to be extremely large. Even with all the various furniture, it still looked very spacious. It had a clean and simple look.
“Wait a moment. I’ll get dressed.” Yan Qiuchi said as he opened the door to the cloakroom and entered. Shen Jintai vaguely saw Yan Qiuchi taking off his bathrobe through the translucent door and caught a glimpse of his fair and broad back that was faintly exposed. He hurriedly stopped staring and turn his head away.
“Sit anywhere you like.” Yan Qiuchi said from the cloakroom.
Shen Jintai sat down at the coffee table in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. There was an indigo-colored clay vase on the table with a white plum branch in it. He surveyed the room again. Not far from the window was a large bed. The sheets and duvet covers were dark gray. In the corner of the bed, there was a magazine.
If it was any ordinary magazine, Shen Jintai wouldn’t have paid much attention to it, but the cover of this magazine looked too familiar. It was the Harper’s Bazaar magazine that he was featured in as the cover. This was the biggest-name magazine he had ever shot for. The photographer was a big celebrity in the industry and took very good photos. Not only was the cover impressive, the inside pages were equally remarkable as well.
Shen Jintai felt that this magazine by Yan Qiuchi’s besides looked a bit too out of place. Everything in the room was extraordinary neat and tidy, fitting Yan Qiuchi’s rigorous, abstinent, and organized persona. The room felt as if it was like walking into a hotel room for the first time. There wasn’t a trace of anyone living in it long-term.
Only that magazine stood out conspicuously. The cover was spread out and half of it was covered by the pillow. It was crooked and exposed causing the rigorous and orderly look of the room to be completely messed up by it.
Needless to say, he looked damn good on that cover.
The author has something to say:
There will be two updates in the afternoon.
Kinky Thoughts: Don’t give me false hope <The East Palace is Coming> crew!!!
What is Yan Qiuchi doing with that magazine by his beside? The detective in me want to inspect his garbage bins and under his bed to find
 clues.