Becoming a Movie Star, System Only Finished Loading After Ten Years

Qi Hao mainly chatted with Zhang Manyu.

This international actress also attended the charity gala, raised her paddle several times, but didn't win anything.

Qi Hao hopes she will be among the next NPC options.

Zhang Manyu's advantage is that she didn't have particularly outstanding acting skills when she debuted.

The impression she gave to the audience, aside from being beautiful, was nothing noteworthy; seeing her performance, one would think she was just a pretty face walking on the screen.

During that time, criticizing Zhang Manyu's acting was a common discourse in the industry.

The director of the film "The Story of the Rose," Yang Fan, "praised one while criticizing the other," directly pointed out Zhang Manyu's then-awkward acting: Zhang Manyu was not relaxed enough, lacked depth, while Chung Chuhong was natural, full, with a clear self-awareness.

Looking at Zhang Manyu and Chung Chuhong now, the difference is obvious.

And the original author Yi Shu was equally critical; while she specifically appointed Zhang Manyu as the female lead, she also said she didn't know how to act.

Besides, veteran actors within the circle often bluntly said she was clumsy. While filming "Police Story," she NG'd over 30 times, enraging Fang Long who told her: Forget it, forget it, let's leave it at that, we'll use up all the film if we keep shooting.

Qi Hao was the same when he debuted.

On rare occasions when he got a chance to shine, he NG'd eight times in a row, and the director, impatient, would wave him off and replace him.

Not giving you a chance to plead.

In the director's eyes, actors were just tools, let alone the then-unknown Qi Hao.

As for Zhang Manyu, all her fortune lay in not being content with just being a pretty face.

In the years that followed, she persistently honed and reflected on her acting, constantly challenging and breaking through in her choice of works and roles.

Some say her acting is like a pearl polished by time, indirectly suggesting her acting was refined bit by bit.

Fang Long, who got angry on set at her back then, praised Zhang Manyu in an interview 20 years later as "the most professional, most dedicated, always on time, and the last to leave."

Qi Hao, who lost roles due to NGs, didn't become discouraged either.

It's just that times have changed.

Qi Hao's thought was first to survive and make a foothold, so he had to take the popularity route.

After becoming one of the Four Young Masters, he started focusing more on refining his acting skills, and now, after more than ten years in the industry, he still can't compare to top-tier actors like Zhang Manyu.

If he could have Zhang Manyu as an NPC mentor, it would greatly help Qi Hao improve his acting.

She's an experienced person.

Qi Hao once ventured around Xiangjiang for half a year, so he knows some Cantonese, and Zhang Manyu also knows some Mandarin, so communication isn't a problem for them.

As for English...

Qi Hao's vocabulary is alright; he can understand just about enough, but his speaking is awful.

Zhang Manyu is not familiar with Qi Hao but knows he's very popular now.

Just like Liu Dehua back then—well, Liu Dehua is still very popular now.

However, she has pretty much retired from the circle.

No matter how popular Qi Hao gets, she wouldn't be playing in his movies, nor would she join any film directed by him.

She's an international actress; Qi Hao is a rookie director—this is reality.

So when Qi Hao approached her, she didn't act particularly enthusiastic.

But she quickly realized Qi Hao was something else.

This guy... knows her works better than she does.

Some films, although classics, are works from many years ago; she wouldn't just take them out to watch all the time.

In fact, she doesn't like watching her own works.

So many details have become blurred over time.

Now, hearing Qi Hao's words, it's as if she's woken from a dream years ago, realizing how she acted back then.

This... is it that Qi Hao has a great memory, or is he crazily idolizing her?

But either way, facing someone like Qi Hao who is so familiar with her works, Zhang Manyu couldn't help but appreciate him.

The selection of training NPCs is basically among the stars one frequently interacts with during a certain period.

So, Qi Hao chatted a bit more to ensure Zhang Manyu entered the candidate list.

The last time, selecting Isabelle Huppert turned out too well.

To better utilize Isabelle Huppert, Qi Hao even deliberately bought all her available discs to watch.

After finishing them, he trained one after another.

With Isabelle Huppert herself assisting in interpretation and guidance, Qi Hao felt his acting skills have been improving rapidly lately.

It's just too good.

Young women are no good; those with a bit of age are better.

But Qi Hao couldn't monopolize Zhang Manyu the whole time, not that he was worried about rumors.

Zhang Manyu was born in '64 and Qi Hao in '81, hardly any rumor would spread easily.

The main thing is, Qi Hao was a popular figure, it's impossible not to interact with others.

Zhang Manyu was the same.

During the time Qi Hao and Zhang Manyu chatted, several groups of people tried to cut in.

Inserting into the conversation, trying to push Qi Hao away.

But no one could really cut in.

Qi Hao was discussing films frame-by-frame from both actor and director perspectives, leaving others baffled, making it hard to take over the topic, let alone interject.

Even Zhang Ziyi couldn't.

Even Zhang Ziyi didn't know "Hero" better than Qi Hao.

Moreover, Qi Hao glanced across and saw An Feng at risk of being mobbed.

Too many people surrounded her.

If a fight broke out, it could very well be a group hitting her.

Qi Hao and Zhang Manyu exchanged contact information and then reluctantly parted ways.

Agreed that if there's time, they might have tea together in the coming days.

Just now, within the brief exchange, they had said at least a few hundred words, and the contact time was actually enough.

Unless there's more physical interaction and depth.

Qi Hao glanced at An Feng's side and noticed Fan Xuexue holding An Feng's hand, her expression somewhat stern.

Qi Hao was a little worried and wanted to rush over.

Unfortunately, he was directly stopped by someone.

"Qi Hao, I thought you'd left. It's really hard to find you, it's been so long."

Huang Yi hurried over, feeling that she should catch up with Qi Hao.

"Indeed, it's been a while."

Qi Hao discreetly glanced at An Feng's side again.

Fortunately, this is a society governed by law, otherwise Qi Hao would suspect these women are conspiring to stall him so the others could attack An Feng.

Honestly, Qi Hao was surprised by the hostility this group of women had towards An Feng.

It seems that even when dating, one must remain low-key.

You have to wait until you're more impressive, when no one dares to provoke you.

"I heard you've never been in a relationship..."

Huang Yi's fiancé didn't come with her; she was the only one at the event.

Actually, he was called a fiancé, but they met in late June and it's been only over twenty days so far.

In just over twenty days, they set the wedding date, getting married on the eighth of next month.

This swift pace isn't much different from Liu Tao — Liu Tao and Wang Ke met for twenty days before having a flash marriage.

Huang Yi's case took forty-one days.

However, Wang Ke went bankrupt, and Liu Tao, who married into a billion-dollar family, became a national joke.

What's laughable is that the person Huang Yi is marrying doesn't even have a billion-dollar fortune but shares a startling commonality with Wang Ke — both are financial practitioners.

Therefore, whether she should marry has been the source of her recent concerns.

Huang Yi has had a bumpy road in love.

Her first love drifted away because her career in entertainment was progressing so well, eventually quietly going abroad.

Then there was the well-known Nie Yuan.

Followed by one of the "Four Young Masters of Beijing," Wang Yu, whose official girlfriend at the time was Zhao Yanzi, and they hadn't even broken up yet.

One was the original Xiaoyanzi, and the other was the successor Xiaoyanzi.

There were rumors everywhere when journalists in Shen City captured footage of Huang Yi and Wang Yu holding hands.

Rumors were flying, but the two promptly responded, denying the romance, with the agent saying, "There were no street lights outside the bar, it was pitch black, Wang Yu was just supporting Huang Yi!"

However, the clarification was of no use as there was too much evidence.

It's just that Wang Yu changed girlfriends faster than changing underwear, and the successor Xiaoyanzi quickly followed the original Xiaoyanzi's footsteps.

Then Huang Yi dated another rich second-generation.

This wealthy heir was Yang Yi, a very famous second-generation in Shen City, known for his family's business in many sauna industries in Shen City, thus earning the nickname "Sauna Prince."

Unfortunately, the Sauna Prince was snatched away by Huo Siyan.

These were the public ones; as for her time in Xiangjiang, she had a few unknown romances.

Overall, her private life was quite eventful.

On the contrary, Qi Hao hadn't dated anyone for so many years.

It's inevitable to want to tease him a little.

"Currently dating..."

Upon hearing this, Qi Hao glanced at her but said nothing more.

Maybe there truly are people who return youthful after a long journey, but Qi Hao certainly doesn't like it.

In this tainted showbiz, he kept himself clean and never understood why he should find someone who's been through it all.

"Ah, you're already dating?" Huang Yi was shocked.

Qi Hao had never admitted to being in a relationship, with many people suspecting he liked men or that he'd suffered a severe heartbreak.

Uh, perhaps even physical trauma.

"Almost, excuse me."

Qi Hao smiled and headed towards An Feng.

Once there, he realized that An Feng wasn't being besieged; she was chatting with Fan Xuexue and others about gossip from Korea.

Recently, Dongfang Shenqi members Jaejoong, Park Yoochun, Jaejoong, were in a legal battle with their agency S.M Entertainment over income distribution and slave contracts.

Currently, Korean stars are very popular in the mainland.

Several films even directly cast Korean actors in main roles.

Perhaps because they feel a connection, most of these stars support Dongfang Shenqi, criticizing S.M Entertainment's wrongdoing.

That's why these stars were a bit emotional.

It wasn't what Qi Hao thought, that someone was trying to trouble An Feng.

And An Feng was happily chatting and offering suggestions about personal studios.

After being blacklisted, she gradually freed herself from her mother's control.

Some of her previous team members voluntarily left or were persuaded to leave, and now she's rebuilding her team.

However, there were still implications in some conversations.

"Starting your own studio is good too. Qi Hao consulted me when he established his studio, and I didn't expect his studio to develop so well."

Fan Xuexue inadvertently magnified her interaction with Qi Hao.

Qi Hao was tired.

Most of his rumors were rarely spread by him.

Either it was a promotional need by the series crew, or actresses wanted publicity and bought articles.

As long as it's not too excessive, he seldom clarifies proactively.

Which led to the current situation.

Then the problem arose - since there was no emotional foundation, why did these people act like jealous wives finding out he got a new girlfriend?

It was simply unreasonable.