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

"Yo, Mr. Zhou, where have you been lately? You haven't been to any gatherings."

Qi Hao has spent most of his time in the capital recently, and their small circle has held a couple of gatherings, but Zhou Xun didn't attend any of them.

It was only today at the "Wind Sound" press conference that Qi Hao saw Zhou Xun.

"Wind Sound" will be released on September 29th, just over a month from now.

"Just filming, what else can I do?"

Zhou Xun was languid, and if it weren't for the occasion being inappropriate, she would probably be slouching.

"Still hustling like this? Didn't you have that Mr. Wang?"

Qi Hao was purely curious. This Mr. Wang spent a fortune — 3.88 million — to bid on a Zitan Official Residence Annex Building Model just to win the beauty's smile.

But pursuing Zhou Xun seemed a bit... Mr. Wang's tastes were a bit peculiar.

But who can say for sure, some rich people have odd quirks and specifically like something special.

These days, rich second-generation dating female stars is the norm, especially those four surnamed "Wang," known as the "Four Young Masters of Beijing."

They have a few female stars on their conquests list.

It's Wang Shuo pursuing Zhou Xun this time.

"Heh, he's just an airhead."

Zhou Xun leaned towards Qi Hao and whispered.

At this moment, the press conference hadn't started yet, only Zhou Xun, Qi Hao, and Su Youpeng were present.

The others hadn't arrived yet.

An Feng was also invited, but to avoid suspicion, the two didn't arrive together.

"What do you mean?"

Everyone loves gossip, and Qi Hao was no exception.

He remembered that Zhou Xun once said of Li Yapeng, "Li Yapeng fulfills all my fantasies about men!"

That's a really high compliment.

After all, everyone knows that fantasies are uncontrollable.

No matter who it is, a fantasy immediately turns their mind quite dirty.

Well, unlucky people turn dark, happy people just turn dirty.

Zhou Xun apparently had already become "dirty."

And she was well-experienced and knowledgeable.

It's just unclear what exactly Zhou Xun's "airhead" referred to.

Unfortunately, Zhou Xun didn't seem to want to talk more about this person, and instead, she pointed her lips toward the entrance: "An Feng is here, aren't you going to greet her?"

"Listen to yourself, is that how you talk to people?"

Qi Hao was baffled by her, not knowing what to say.

"The more you avoid, the more curious others become. When the media reporters come in later, you're sure to be bombarded with questions."

Zhou Xun was very experienced in this regard.

Even though Qi Hao had lots of rumors, they were all thunder without rain, unlike Zhou Xun, who had thunder and rain.

She openly had several boyfriends, not to mention the unpublicized ones.

At least a few months are needed to have the right to make it public.

"Sigh, what are you saying? Isn't it just that the movie is being released soon? I deliberately guided the media to stir up some gossip, there's really nothing between her and me."

Zhou Xun was a blabbermouth, and Qi Hao obviously couldn't admit anything in front of her.

Unlike Huang Yi, who was so indifferent, she almost didn't count as a part of Inner Entertainment anymore.

"Hehe, you're just fooling yourself."

Zhou Xun really looked down on Qi Hao, not like herself, who loved and hated freely, liked someone and slept with them, disliked and kicked them out.

As each of the main actors entered, the press conference officially started.

Qi Hao had a relatively minor role in the film, roughly the fourth position. Combined with directors Gao Qunshu, Chen Guofu, and screenwriters Mai Family, Zhang Jialu, his position was set next to An Feng.

It seemed reasonable enough, but Qi Hao had reasons to suspect the filmmakers did it on purpose.

Seated on Qi Hao's other side was Mai Family.

He was a winner of the Mao Dun Literature Prize, known as the "Father of Chinese Spy Novels."

In fact, as a screenwriter, he didn't often visit the crew.

So, Qi Hao wasn't quite familiar with him.

If Qi Hao intentionally communicated with someone he's not very familiar with while deliberately ignoring An Feng, whom he just collaborated with on a film, it'd seem too deliberate.

Therefore, before the press conference began, Qi Hao could only pretend to naturally engage with An Feng.

"Did you enjoy your time in Jiangcheng?"

"Not really, my grandma got sick. Sigh, with old age, her health's not what it used to be."

"Oh, how is she now?"

Qi Hao didn't expect to hear such news from a casual question.

His concern was genuine, but it also made him worried, as to whether he should do something as a somewhat ambiguous rumored boyfriend.

Completely inexperienced!

"She's much better now, just needs to take care and recuperate in the future. Thank you, how's everyone in your family?"

An Feng knew that Qi Hao took the opportunity to attend a music award ceremony to return to Jinmen for a couple of days.

They often chat on QQ.

"My family is doing well, they're all teachers. They walk to and from work every day and often visit the Five Great Avenues for leisure."

Sometimes, Qi Hao envied his parents.

When he reached their age, he might not have as good health as they did, given how irregular his life in the entertainment industry was.

"I've heard about the Five Great Avenues, I'll go take a look when I have time."

An Feng said in a low voice.

More and more media reporters were gathering, and chatting like this would surely be noticed, but not chatting felt strange too.

"If you're interested in crabapple flowers, consider early April, it's the best time to see them."

Talking about his hometown, Qi Hao became spirited.

Although he sometimes felt that many buildings in Jinmen symbolized humiliation, remembering that humiliation was also a form of education.

"Sure, my favorites are crabapples and roses..."

An Feng did the math, it wasn't even September yet, still half a year to go.

"Ahem..."

The Mai Family elbowed on the table, coughing into his hand, successfully drawing Qi Hao and An Feng's attention.

"Mr. Mai, are you alright?"

Qi Hao asked with concern.

"I'm fine, but I think you two might be in trouble. Tone it down a bit, the media is watching you now."

The Mai Family kindly reminded them.

"Thank you, Mr. Mai!"

Only then did Qi Hao realize he and An Feng might have been chatting too freely.

Sure enough, not long after the press conference started, the journalists found a chance to question them.

"Qi Hao, what were you chatting about with An Feng that looked so enjoyable?"

Without contrast, there's no harm; today, Qi Hao interacted with two female stars, Zhou Xun and An Feng.

During his interaction with Zhou Xun, there were also media adjusting equipment in the venue.

The impression Qi Hao and Zhou Xun gave was like buddies, even when they whispered closely together, no one would guess they had spent the night together.

But with Qi Hao and An Feng, there were some doubts.

Mainly because of the expressions on their faces...

"We were talking about acting, discussing playing villains. This time in 'Wind Sound,' I played the villain Takeda, and at first, I was very anxious about it, as it could greatly impact my public image..."

Qi Hao lied without even needing a script.

Although An Feng nodded in acknowledgment of Qi Hao's words, she was also pondering internally.

This skill of lying right to someone's face without flinching, might it one day be used on her?

"But you seemed to be having a great time!"

The reporters certainly didn't believe Qi Hao's explanation; they thought he was lying.

"For an actor, the happiest thing is to break new ground in their performances. Ever since I played Takeda, I really felt a breakthrough, like the clouds parted. The last time was when I played in 'Heavenly Dog,' so I suggested An Feng consider playing a villain too."

Qi Hao smoothly made up more, even inviting An Feng to join in.

An Feng was a bit dumbfounded but seriously said, "I always wanted to play the protagonist, the hero, but after hearing Mr. Qi Hao's suggestion, I will seriously consider it."

"An Feng, playing a villain requires a certain presence, you don't quite seem convincing as a villain."

Immediately, some media chimed in sarcastically.

"Actually, An Feng said the same thing. She felt she didn't have the presence to play a villain, wouldn't be convincing at all. But I don't think that's true. Before our movie 'Wind Sound,' who would have thought I'd play Takeda? Ask around those who came today, don't they all hate me to the core?"

Qi Hao, worried An Feng wouldn't be able to continue the story, stepped in to help.

He never strayed far from the topic of 'Wind Sound,' diligently promoting the film, making it harder for others to just sit back.

"He almost drove us crazy," Zhang Hanyu said first. "I never thought Qi Hao could play a villain before, but he really brought Takeda to life."

"Qi Hao was practically my nightmare!"

Zhou Xun indeed suffered quite a bit, and hearing this, Li Xue'xue nearly rolled her eyes—she was the one tormented the most.

After wrapping up, she didn't want to remember the scene of being measured by Qi Hao for a long time.

"What goes around comes around, and the villain was dealt with in the movie."

Qi Hao made a pleading gesture, continuing to energetically promote the movie.

He had high expectations for 'Wind Sound,' hoping to win a supporting role award with it.

Seeing that they couldn't dig anything out of Qi Hao, the media had to shift focus.

Zhou Xun and Li Xue'xue were both there today.

The industry had always rumored bad blood between the two; they hoped something could be squeezed out today.

Ideally, something as juicy as Fan Xuexue and Li Xue'xue calling each other sisters.

Zhou Xun and that Mr. Wang were also hot news, but Zhou Xun's romantic entanglements were so well known that people were getting tired of it, much less exciting than Qi Hao and An Feng.

Then there was Su Youpeng, who no one expected to take on movie roles.

The once-popular Little Tigers band had long gone separate ways. Wu Qilong had just been in divorce news, Su Youpeng had rumors questioning his orientation, and Chen Zhipeng was almost a non-entity.

However, it was rumored the three might reunite on this year's Spring Festival Gala stage.

The cast of 'Wind Sound' was star-studded, with even the supporting roles worthy of media digging repeatedly.

As for Qi Hao and An Feng...

Many media people thought there was something between them.

As long as there was something, there'd be no need to worry that they'd never slip up—their secrets would be uncovered eventually.