Brother Dao Took the Entertainment Industry by Storm, Fans Beg Me Not to Kill Anymore

Chapter 648: Director Chou Has Way Too Many Sore Spots!

Many people had arrived in the main hall.

This art center had multiple routes leading upward—aside from the most common elevators and fire escapes, there was also a massive spiral staircase and escalators. The overall decor was exceptionally elegant, with bright lights and gleaming marble floors that made the already spacious art hall feel connected in all directions.

The people who had come today were clearly not tourists of this place, but actors here for auditions.

Some headed straight for the elevators, preparing to ride them upstairs.

Others split off, admiring the artworks displayed in the hall as they made their way up the grand spiral staircase.

Xiao Heʼs pause didnʼt attract anyone elseʼs attention.

Except for Yun Ziqiʼs.

When he heard unfamiliar footsteps behind him, Xiao He had already pulled himself from his thoughts and turned to look.

He saw a young man in a new-style white traditional shirt walking toward him with a smiling expression.

The otherʼs style today was very much like a young scholar from the Republican Era. Not only did he have an unusually fine jade pendant hanging from his waist, but he also carried a folding fan in his hand in an affected manner. Just one glance was enough to give people a distinctive impression.
Clearly, he, like Xiao He, was planning to win through temperament and likeness.

But that wasnʼt the main reason he had come to approach Xiao He.

”This is Emperor Chenʼs authentic calligraphy from the seventh year of his reign. It was later treasured by an emperor from a certain dynasty, but due to unknown reasons, it drifted overseas, disappeared for many years, and finally appeared at an auction in England two years ago. It ultimately sold for 280 million Hong Kong dollars to a patriotic Chinese collector...”

Xiao He didnʼt interrupt, just listened seriously to the otherʼs narration.

”Later, when word got out that ʼImperial Enterpriseʼ was about to start production, this patriotic collector lent the authentic piece to the production team for study, and it was placed here for more people to appreciate its true appearance.”

Yun Ziqi finally finished telling this story.

Xiao He glanced at Yun Ziqi, then at the artwork in front of him, let out a light laugh, and said, ”So this is the stepping stone that got you your smooth recommendation slot?”

Yun Ziqi didnʼt answer immediately.

But the answer seemed obvious.

”What an extravagant move.” Xiao He sighed in an affected manner. ”Truly something us ordinary people canʼt manage. No wonder they call him a ʼpatriotic businessman.ʼ”

He stressed the last word particularly heavily.

If Xiao Heʼs investigation was correct, the patriotic businessman Yun Ziqi mentioned was his grandfather, who had immigrated overseas years ago. It was also the main reason Yun Ziqi had been attacked online recently.

Really, when useful, heʼs patriotic; when useless, heʼs just a businessman.

Borrowed things always have to be returned. After making a circuit around the country, it would just be taken back overseas by their so-called patriotic businessman for safekeeping. How could Yun Ziqi even have the face to say such things?

But Yun Ziqi didnʼt seem embarrassed by Xiao Heʼs words. He just reached out and tapped the railing in front of him, speaking with a leisurely tone, ”After all, the opponents this time are all very strong. I have to give it my all.”

He looked at Xiao He again. ”So how did you get in? Maybe weʼre not so different after all.”

Xiao He tugged at the corner of his mouth and smiled at Yun Ziqi. ”How I got in isnʼt important. What matters is the final result. What do you think, Teacher Yun?”

Although the previous matter had been superficially resolved, the two were still somewhat at odds when they met again.

”Xiao He.”

Another personʼs voice came from behind them.

It was Shu Han.

He was naturally also here for the audition, but through a different channel from Xiao He. His agent had found another way to secure his recommendation slot.

Two top-tier agents in one company—this intensity was still a bit over the top.

Shu Han had heard a little at the company about Xiao He and Yun Ziqiʼs situation, so his sudden call to Xiao He now was naturally to watch out for Yun Ziqi.

His gaze swept imperceptibly over Yun Ziqi, then he threw Xiao He a questioning look.

Xiao He shook his head slightly, signaling Shu Han not to get involved in the conflict between him and Yun Ziqi.

But he also had no intention of staying here listening to the other say utterly boring things.

So Xiao He stepped forward, patted Yun Ziqiʼs shoulder, and said with a somewhat roguish air, ”Good luck, Teacher Yun. Iʼll be going on ahead.”

Then, under Yun Ziqiʼs gaze, Xiao He followed Shu Han upstairs.

-

Once they had gone a bit farther away, Shu Han asked in a low voice, ”What was that about? He didnʼt make things difficult for you, did he?”

”Playing mind games.”

Xiao He shrugged. ”I donʼt know what heʼs thinking. There are so many actors here for the audition, why does he treat me like public enemy number one?”

Shu Han was silent for a moment, then said with some complexity, ”Then you donʼt have a clear understanding of yourself.”

”Among the actors here, youʼre already one of the hottest contenders. Havenʼt you seen the netizensʼ rankings these past few days? Youʼve been consistently at the top.”

Xiao He was young, had great traffic, and was a good actor—it was perfectly normal for him to become a thorn in othersʼ sides, wasnʼt it?

Hearing Shu Han say this, Xiao He explained awkwardly, ”I havenʼt been keeping up with public opinion lately. Sister Liu has been handling it... But if you put it that way, your ranking shouldnʼt be low either, right?”

In that case, Shu Han seemed even more competitive than Xiao He, as Shu Han was well-suited to play the emperor in terms of both experience and acting skill.

”Yeah, but my agent told me my experience of going abroad to develop might be a sore spot, and the director wouldnʼt like it.”

Shu Han let out a long sigh.

Xiao He raised an eyebrow and muttered quietly, ”Director Chou is quite old-fashioned then. Yun Ziqi got in, but he still holds your going abroad against you.”

”Itʼs not surprising he thinks that way.”

Shu Han gave a bitter smile.

Becoming famous domestically and then running abroad to develop, and when that didnʼt work out, using the domestic market as a fallback to come back... Summed up like that, it was indeed pretty shameful.

This was Shu Hanʼs own doing, and he couldnʼt blame anyone.

Seeing this, Xiao He didnʼt say anything more.

The two walked up the spiral staircase to the upper-floor hall. Many actors were already seated there, but the entire space was eerily quiet, with few people talking. The atmosphere seemed to have suddenly turned tense and serious.

These people were all here for auditions, but not all for the role of Emperor Chen. There were other important roles as well.

Xiao He and Shu Han stood at the staircase entrance for a moment, surveying the scene. Then they skirted around the crowd in the hall to a spot by the window, where they could get some fresh air and continue discussing the audition situation.

”A batch of actors has already gone in for auditions,” Shu Han said. ”I observed them—theyʼre all from a less competitive group of recommendation slot holders. I suspect that long before our audition today, Director Chou had already quietly categorized us.”

Xiao He thought for a moment, then asked, ”Iʼm in the three PM batch. What about you?”

Shu Han shook his head helplessly. ”Iʼm in the one PM batch.”

Xiao He understood immediately.

He and Shu Han had been separated.

If things were really as Shu Han said, it meant Shu Han was in the middle tier, while Xiao He was in a higher tier. Director Chou clearly placed more importance on his batch.

So was it really Shu Hanʼs experience of going abroad that had hit a sore spot?

Xiao He thought ruefully.

Good thing ʼFast Speed Shadow 7ʼ hadnʼt entered its promotional phase yet.

This Director Chou had way too many sore spots!