Male Sing and His Pet Owner: Chapter 74

No one knew exactly how the production team’s person in charge negotiated with Deng Xiaoran’s side, but in any case they managed to coax her into cooperating. She issued an announcement stating she was voluntarily withdrawing from the “Unnatural Events” production team due to illness, attracting a large batch of fans to comment below expressing regret and sadness.

Although the show had only aired two episodes, Deng Xiaoran’s big sister image had already deeply entered people’s hearts. Her audience rapport was exceptionally good.

When leaving the temporary WeChat group for the production team, Deng Xiaoran even specially sent a private message to Zhan Hang, wishing him smooth work and so on.

Zhan Hang replied: Also wishing you achieve your dreams soon. Is your health better?

Deng Xiaoran: Hehe, much better.

Deng Xiaoran: My heart wasn’t very good before, but I didn’t expect it to be this easily frightened. I was probably exhausted to the point of hallucinating at that time. Sigh… Just take it as early vacation. Perfect timing to pack up and go travel.

Zhan Hang: Don’t work too hard for your job in the future. Health is most important.

Deng Xiaoran: You’re right. Sister will learn from you. Will pay attention to health preservation from now on.

Zhan Hang: #big laugh

Neither of them was foolish. One didn’t ask about that day’s events in detail, the other avoided talking about Sun Yimin’s subsequent situation, not mentioning any relevant information at all, letting the conversation pass entirely with blessings. They had become friends with some degree of friendship.

However, even though Zhao Kaile and Zhan Hang kept tight lips, there were actually quite a few people present that day. Some information that should have leaked still leaked out.

Several days later, Bai Li’s office.

When Zhao Kaile was called over, he still felt a bit baffled. All the way there he was uneasy, thinking left and right until he finally figured it out. Could the company think it was me who went out and talked nonsense!!

The moment he entered, Zhao Kaile immediately began nervously shouting his innocence: “Sister Li! It really wasn’t me!”

Zhan Hang and Bai Li looked at each other, both bewildered.

“What wasn’t you?” Bai Li handed him a blue folder: “Several directors and screenwriters we know actively sent over scripts. Help pick and choose.”

Zhao Kaile: “Okay…”

Zhan Hang had an expression of watching a joke. Bai Li also reacted, laughing and crying at the same time: “We know it wasn’t you. That matter with Sun Yimin definitely won’t pass that easily. There are plenty of people behind the scenes who want to make petty moves. It wouldn’t be your turn.”

Zhao Kaile secretly wiped sweat, smiled embarrassedly, and lowered his head to flip through the documents.

Bai Li said to Zhan Hang: “This year the number of costume dramas announced is very large. We should still change competitive spaces, take some modern dramas, or period dramas.”

“Whatever.” Zhan Hang crossed his long legs, returning to his paralyzed face state: “Just don’t make me do variety shows anymore.”

“Jiang Chongyang said your performance was very unexpected.” Bai Li said this and laughed again, laughing uncontrollably.

Zhan Hang asked: “Positive or negative meaning?”

“Positive.” Bai Li turned the laptop screen toward him: “Look at your recent popularity. Isn’t it skyrocketing? Much more efficient than before when you worked conscientiously in the crew for a year to produce one or two dramas.”

Zhan Hang: “…”

“Just joking.” Bai Li said with a straight face: “Sun Yimin brought some trouble upon himself. That’s not a bad thing for us. There are still three episodes of ‘Unnatural Events’ behind. You can try getting closer to Zhao Jingran.”

Zhan Hang said perfunctorily: “Mm mm mm mm.”

Zhao Kaile sat on the sofa without saying a word, clearly engrossed in reading the scripts.

“Kaile, how is it?” Bai Li propped her chin and asked: “Which type do you find more attractive?”

Zhao Kaile looked up, his finger tapping on the two characters “Sharp Sword”: “This one!”

Zhan Hang took it and looked. “Sharp Sword,” military theme, telling the story of a group of young soldiers with vivid and distinct personalities challenging life and death on the perilous border, experiencing growth in the military camp with undercurrents surging. A passionate ensemble drama with no female lead.

Regarding this, Bai Li felt a bit surprised. Although she personally also quite liked this script, the audience for this theme was clearly much smaller than other themes. Zhan Hang had finally raised his popularity a bit. If he went directly from the variety show to participate in this “Sharp Sword,” it would be equivalent to self-sabotaging himself.

“Mm, not bad.” Zhan Hang said: “Let’s go with this one.”

“…” Bai Li was drinking tea. Upon hearing this, she nearly choked: “Look again.”

“I think the character Tang Wen is very challenging.” Zhao Kaile said with great interest: “A new recruit who just entered the camp, rash and impetuous, can’t read people’s expressions and only does things straightforwardly. Only when brothers from the same class, teachers and elders and so on… sacrifice themselves does he suddenly awaken. Later transforming into a tough guy. The image can completely reference Teacher Jiang.”

Zhan Hang asked: “Among male actors, you like Teacher Jiang’s type of tough guy?”

Zhao Kaile looked at the two in confusion: “Of course! Don’t you guys like it??”

Zhan Hang thoughtfully rubbed his chin.

“I do quite like Teacher Jiang.” Bai Li didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, feeling that these two were completely not on the same channel as her. She had no choice but to pull the topic back: “But this character… Zhan Hang, the director needs you to cooperate and keep a buzz cut. Can you accept that?”

“Small issue.” Zhan Hang had a completely indifferent expression.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Kaile also began sizing up Zhan Hang’s face, imagining what he would look like with a buzz cut. He couldn’t help but curve the corner of his mouth, then afraid of being noticed by the other party, desperately suppressed it.

Zhan Hang’s eyes were very sharp. He immediately asked unhappily: “What kind of expression is that? Will I be ugly with a buzz cut?”

Zhao Kaile said sincerely: “No no no…”

Zhan Hang said coldly: “When the time comes, I’ll shave yours too.”

Zhao Kaile: “…”

“Gentlemen, we haven’t decided yet.” Bai Li knocked on the table to indicate she was still here, her face helpless: “Zhan Hang, think again. Even if you perform this role well, it won’t bring you much heat. The theme’s audience itself has limitations.”

Zhan Hang asked politely: “According to your meaning, which script is most suitable?”

“Good steel should be used on the blade’s edge. Your face should temporarily be used to fall in love with beautiful women, or fight with another handsome guy over a beautiful woman.” Bai Li said: “Not keeping a buzz cut and mixing in with a pile of iron-blooded men. Aren’t gentle young masters and cold-faced martial heroes enough for you to choose? Why choose such a…”

“Here you go again.” Zhan Hang frowned unhappily: “Every time scripts are brought, saying it’s to ask my opinion, but actually you’ve already decided in your heart. Since that’s the case, why bother going through the motions to ask me?”

Bai Li pursed her lips and patiently explained: “That’s not what I mean. I just hope you also look at others. Don’t be so arbitrary.”

Zhao Kaile sensed the atmosphere was going off track again and hurriedly mediated: “Right right right, Brother Hang you should still look at the others. Let’s take them all back to look at.”

Ending this not very pleasant conversation, Zhan Hang took Zhao Kaile and the scripts back.

Up to this day, Zhao Kaile had already become a qualified novice driver. Currently he was the one driving when they went out.

Zhan Hang sat in the back seat, arms crossed, still brooding over what happened just now.

“Brother Hang, what do you want to eat at noon?” Zhao Kaile asked: “I’ll tell the aunt.”

Zhan Hang: “Whatever.”

Zhao Kaile said: “Don’t be unhappy… Sister Li’s words also made quite a lot of sense.”

“You think she really thinks that way?” Zhan Hang said disdainfully: “There are only two possibilities for her not letting me take a script. One is that the script is really no good, and another is that the money is too little. If the pay is too little, she looks down on it. No matter how good the script is, she also looks down on it. This script could reach my eyes only because of her bit of personal connection, letting me take a look and go through the motions. She never intended to really let me take it. Then she just needs to tell people, Zhan Hang feels his abilities are limited and can’t take it, and everything is settled.”

Zhao Kaile showed a thoughtful expression.

Actually, the current relationship between Bai Li and Zhan Hang was in a very subtle stage. If Zhan Hang’s star power was a bit bigger, Bai Li would respect his opinions more. And if time turned back several years, the fledgling Zhan Hang also wouldn’t have thoughts like he had now. He would willingly let Bai Li drive him, completely a money-making machine without emotions.

The more Zhao Kaile thought about it, the more confused his brain became. However, he still had to drive, so he quickly cleared his thoughts and focused on the road ahead.

Zhan Hang said again unhappily: “Right now I’m just completely uncomfortable. As soon as I slightly resist, she plays the emotional card. And you, you little brat, just happen to fall for her trick…”

“…” Zhao Kaile didn’t answer, thinking to himself that you yourself also fall for it quite a lot!

“Annoyed. Destroy it all.” Zhan Hang frowned and said.

Zhao Kaile: “Then I’ll directly drive into the river…”

Zhan Hang said angrily: “Are you crazy?! Deliberately trying to anger me?!”

Zhao Kaile shrank his neck: “Don’t dare don’t dare.”

The two arrived home. Zhan Hang changed his shoes, shuffled upstairs in slippers with an angry air, putting on an attitude of not coming down until mealtime.

Zhao Kaile went to the kitchen to greet the aunt.

“Angry again?” The aunt said while picking vegetables, sighing: “This little Zhan just has a big temper. Every day he can find reasons to be angry.”

Zhao Kaile laughed heartily, went over to help her pick vegetables together, saying: “Lost an argument with someone. He’ll be fine in a while.”

While eating, the doorbell suddenly rang. Zhao Kaile looked at the display screen. Zhou Jiyang’s big face was pressed against it, very comical. “…” Zhan Hang was even less in the mood to eat. He gestured to Zhao Kaile, meaning to pretend they weren’t home.

However, Zhou Jiyang immediately called. Zhan Hang answered. The other party said ruthlessly: “Don’t pretend. I saw your car just drive back.”

Zhan Hang supported his forehead and had Zhao Kaile open the door to let him in.

Today Zhou Jiyang wore a pair of black-framed glasses and formal attire. He was originally born with a naturally handsome noble young master appearance. With this tidying up, he also had quite a refined and cultured scoundrel temperament. When entering, he carried a document folder under his arm.

Zhan Hang had an unwelcoming expression and asked: “What are you here for again?”

“Interview.” Zhou Jiyang said, pulling Zhao Kaile to sit down on one side, opening the document folder in his hand. Inside was a contract.

Zhao Kaile suspiciously took it and looked, then said in shock: “You really established a studio??”

Zhou Jiyang gave an “mm-hmm,” and proudly raised his eyebrows at Zhan Hang.