Chapter 14#

Chapter 14: The Gold Medal Agent#

The two arrived at Qin Feng’s office together. Closing the door, Qin Feng got straight to the point. “The company has arranged for me to take you on. To be honest, I wasn’t too keen on it. I haven’t mentored a newcomer in a long time. But since Chairman Su personally arranged it, I had to give face. However, if you can’t cooperate well, even if Chairman Su intervenes, I’ll have you replaced.”

Lu Yan smiled, indicating his understanding. “I understand. Thank you for your efforts, Brother Feng.”

Qin Feng was somewhat satisfied with his attitude. “But don’t feel pressured. Since I’ve taken you on, I’ll be responsible for you. You don’t need to worry about me making things difficult for you at work. No matter what, I won’t tarnish my own reputation.”

Lu Yan said calmly, “Brother Feng’s professional ethics are well-renowned in the industry. Naturally, I have nothing to worry about.”

Qin Feng nodded. “You have excellent external conditions. In the entertainment industry, that’s capital. You just finished filming a movie with Director Li, but it’s still in post-production. There was basically no pre-release promotion, and the post-release promotion hasn’t started yet. So right now, you’re a complete newcomer. For you, the most important thing now is how to enter the public eye and raise your profile. If you want exposure, currently the fastest way is participating in talent shows or variety programs. But I don’t recommend that – it would only lower your grade . Right now is the stage when various New Year blockbusters are being prepared for production. I think you could work towards that direction. I heard Director Li speaks highly of you, so your acting skills should be decent.”

Lu Yan didn’t downplay his abilities too much. “They’re okay.”

Qin Feng was even more satisfied. “That gives me more confidence in you. The New Year film the company is preparing to shoot is directed by Wang Ruidong. The male lead has already been confirmed as Shan Chuyu. I’ve secured the male supporting role for you. You’ll receive the script tomorrow. By the later stages of filming this movie, the pre-release promotion for Director Li’s film you previously worked on should begin. Then we’ll hit from both sides, aiming for a spectacular debut. Before that, it’s best if you don’t accept media interviews and try not to be seen in public as much as possible. Any problems?”

“No problems. I’ll follow all of Brother Feng’s arrangements.”

“Good. As a newcomer, the most important thing is obedience. You’re doing well. Next, I’ll take you to familiarize yourself with the company. We also need to get you an employee ID card for easier access to the company. But once you’re famous, your face will be your pass.” Qin Feng made a rare joke.

Along the way, Lu Yan grew increasingly impressed. Qin Feng truly deserved his reputation as a gold medal agent – every detail was handled perfectly. As for the words he had spoken at the beginning, Lu Yan didn’t take them to heart. Compared to duplicitous behavior – saying one thing to your face and doing another behind your back – Lu Yan preferred Qin Feng’s direct style of communication. After all, barring any unforeseen circumstances, they would be working together for at least three years. Even if they couldn’t be completely open with each other, it was best not to hold too much back.

“Where are you living now?” Qin Feng suddenly asked.

Lu Yan quickly gave an address.

Qin Feng frowned. “That won’t do. It’s too far. Tell you what, I’ll apply for company dormitory housing for you first. The conditions won’t be great, but the location is convenient. Later, when you’re famous, you can move to a better place. Young people shouldn’t be too impatient. In this industry, fame is everything.”

Lu Yan nodded in understanding.

“Also, it would be best to arrange an assistant for you. I have several other artists under my care, so I can’t always follow you. Having an assistant will make things much easier.”

“Can I choose my own assistant?” Lu Yan asked.

“What, you have someone in mind?”

Lu Yan hesitated slightly. “There is one, but I don’t know if he can come. It’s the assistant assigned to me when I was filming Director Li’s movie – Song Hui. We worked together for a few months, and I think he’s very good.”

“Someone from the crew,” Qin Feng mused for a moment. “Alright, I’ll contact him first. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll arrange someone else for you.”

Lu Yan smiled. “Thank you, Brother Feng.”

The script arrived the next day.

It was a period romantic comedy. The story followed Yuan Bao, a young man from an aristocratic family who, dissatisfied with an arranged marriage and unwilling to marry a woman he had never met, ran away from home. On the road, by a series of mishaps, he encountered Zhu Zi – his fiancée who had also run away from her own arranged marriage while disguised as a man – and Shen Qian, her cousin who had followed out of concern for his runaway cousin. The three met due to misunderstandings and became friends, traveling together without knowing each other’s true identities. The lively, impulsive Yuan Bao and the sheltered Zhu Zi constantly created comedic mishaps, while the steady, capable Shen Qian was left to clean up their messes. During this journey, Yuan Bao gradually fell for Zhu Zi, and not knowing she was a woman in disguise, thought he had fallen for a man, leading to all sorts of chaos. Naturally, in the end, everything was sorted out and all was well – if one ignored the slightly melancholy look in Shen Qian’s eyes as he watched Yuan Bao and Zhu Zi get married.

The story was somewhat cliché, but luckily the plot devices were fairly novel, full of comedic moments without falling into tired tropes.

Although Shen Qian’s subtle, unspoken love for his cousin Zhu Zi and his ultimate sacrifice of hiding his feelings for her happiness was a plot point used to death in romantic dramas, if the actor had the right appearance, just a few deep and melancholic glances would be enough to make female fans clutch their hearts.

Additionally, there was the plot where Yuan Bao, mistakenly believing he liked men, dragged Shen Qian out for drinks to vent his frustrations, even nearly kissing Shen Qian to confirm his sexuality – this would also be enough to win over a large number of fujoshi (female fans of male-male romance).

In an era where promoting bromance had become a trend, and it felt like a disservice to the audience not to include it, this little bit of ambiguity was nothing. Of course, it would work best if both actors were handsome.

Lu Yan was cast as the male supporting role, Shen Qian, while the male lead, Yuan Bao, was played by Shan Chuyu.

Shan Chuyu was a popular idol star and one of Starry Sky’s top artists. Although he had yet to win a Best Actor award, his current popularity was on par with any Best Actor. With his baby face, he looked particularly young – though nearly thirty, he appeared to be in his early twenties. His smile was especially sunny, making him perfect for the lively Yuan Bao. Lu Yan, though younger, had a more stable temperament and was well-suited for the older Shen Qian.

When he first met Shan Chuyu on set, it was the latter who greeted him first. Lu Yan was reading his script when someone suddenly slapped him on the back. Turning around, he was met with a brilliant smiling face, a hand raised in greeting as he yelled, “Hey, ‘Cousin.’”

Lu Yan was momentarily stunned and didn’t react. Shan Chuyu laughed heartily. “You’re Lu Yan, right? Didn’t scare you, did I? I’m Shan Chuyu.”

The corner of Lu Yan’s mouth curled up slightly, a hint of mischief in his eyes. “How could it scare me, Xiaobao?”

Shan Chuyu’s eyes lit up. “Oh, Lu Yan, you’re really funny. I like you.”

“Aren’t you supposed to call me ‘Cousin’?” Lu Yan blinked.

“Alright, I didn’t expect someone as serious-looking as you to be even more of an actor than I am.”

Only then did Lu Yan greet him normally.

Shan Chuyu was indeed as sunny and cheerful as the rumors said. Whether he was easy to get along with naturally depended on the person. Lu Yan knew that his friendly attitude was mostly due to Qin Feng having given him a heads-up beforehand. He wasn’t narcissistic enough to think it was purely due to his own charm. And being able to reach his current position in the entertainment industry, Shan Chuyu was definitely not as simple as his face made him seem.

Off-camera, Shan Chuyu loved to act, often slipping into his character. Given that his role this time was the sunny, lively Yuan Bao, he was especially fond of clowning around on set – especially when Lu Yan was around. Lu Yan was no longer a green youth. Having gone through two lifetimes of experience, he had a deep understanding of how to navigate the world and knew how to say the right thing and act the right way depending on the person. So he didn’t mind indulging in a little fun. They both knew the game they were playing. Through this mutual probing and pushing, they ended up getting along quite well.

Perhaps because the movie was a lighthearted comedy, and because Director Wang had a more easygoing personality – not as explosive as Director Li, rarely yelling at people – the entire set had a very good atmosphere. The interactions between the actors, and between the actors and the crew, were all very pleasant.

In this kind of environment, Lu Yan was able to relax a little, unlike during his last movie when he was constantly on edge.

Lu Yan’s consistent attitude towards life, combined with the backing of a gold medal agent like Qin Feng and the favor of a top star like Shan Chuyu, placed him in a very favorable position on set. No one dared to be rude to him anymore. Even those minor roles who were jealous of his treatment treated him with respect. Even the female lead, Song Tiantian, was willing to follow Shan Chuyu’s joking lead and call him “Brother.”

Song Hui, under Qin Feng’s arrangement, became Lu Yan’s personal assistant. He handled pick-ups and drop-offs every day and took care of all matters efficiently. Although Qin Feng couldn’t always be on set watching over Lu Yan, he always arranged and informed him of important matters in advance, making things very easy. Lu Yan only needed to focus on doing his job and acting well. It could be said that this period was the most comfortable Lu Yan had enjoyed since being reborn.

Comfortable times always pass quickly. As filming neared its end, the promotion for “Blade’s Edge” – the movie directed by Li Ran that Lu Yan had previously worked on – also began.

On one hand, the filming was speeding up as it approached its conclusion. On the other hand, there was the intense, fast-paced promotion for the new film. Every day of Lu Yan’s schedule was packed full. Those leisurely days now felt as distant as a previous lifetime. Yet Lu Yan didn’t dislike this busyness at all. To put it in slightly more refined terms, it was a painful pleasure.

During this time, Qin Feng, as his agent, also shifted his focus heavily onto Lu Yan. He constantly coordinated with the film crew to adjust schedules, trying his best not to let Lu Yan miss any promotional event. For Qin Feng, a gold medal agent, how a newcomer like Lu Yan would be presented to the public, and with what intensity – this was a battle that could not afford to be taken lightly.