Daylily, a bar in Houhai, wasn't the largest or most famous, but its business had always been good, with a loyal customer base.
The owner, Chen Jianhao, had connections in the show business community before opening the bar, which allowed him to invite a few celebrities to perform and boost Daylily's reputation.
However, the celebrities he could invite were mostly second- or third-tier vagabond singers, or even lower. For the customers, though, it was still a pleasant surprise, as Chen Jianhao never used these celebrity appearances as a marketing gimmick or charged extra for them.
This approach was quite different from other bars that treated celebrities as cash cows.
So, seeing famous vagabond singers perform at Daylily wasn't unusual, but tonight's situation was exceptional!
Because on stage was Chen Fei'er, the Heavenly Queen of the show business community! Normally, she wouldn't appear at a small place like Daylily. Even in all of Houhai, only Blue Lotus Flower might have a chance to invite her, and that would depend on connections and luck.
Now, Chen Fei'er not only came to Daylily but also sang a breathtaking song.
Her singing was so beautiful, so moving!
"From now on, rivers are just legends, heaven and earth melt, stars are swallowed!"
When Chen Fei'er finished the last two lines of the song, and Lu Chen's piano accompaniment faded away, the over 200 customers in Daylily couldn't contain their excitement and applause! Their enthusiastic cheers seemed to shake the roof, echoing through the glass windows onto the pedestrian street outside.
Many passersby stopped and turned to look. Such a lively scene was rare in Houhai's bars.
Lu Chen stood up, exchanging a smile with Chen Fei'er. Although there were no words, everything was understood.
Chen Fei'er bowed slightly and said, "Thank you."
"Sing another one!" A customer begged, "It was too good!"
This opportunity was too rare! His words resonated with many, and the applause continued.
However, Chen Fei'er had already had enough. She smiled and shook her head, waving at Lu Chen. Lu Chen knew she was leaving, saying goodbye to him.
He nodded.
Chen Fei'er blinked, a gentle smile on her face, and turned to leave the stage, disappearing from view like an elf in a dream, leaving behind a captivating figure.
Lu Chen didn't escort Chen Fei'er or leave with her. Because her identity had been exposed, it wasn't suitable for her to stay any longer. Leaving separately was to avoid another unnecessary scandal, especially since many people had pulled out their phones to record.
Daylily's customers were generally well-behaved, but in their excitement, they had broken the bar's no-photography rule. The waiters couldn't stop the numerous rule-breakers.
Chen Fei'er's charm was simply too powerful!
Lu Chen didn't need to worry about her leaving, as her assistant and bodyguard were present, and there was a small exit door backstage.
Although there was a bit of regret, tonight had already been perfect for him.
Lu Chen turned to the disappointed customers and said, "Sister Fei has left, so I'll sing a few more songs."
Everyone's disappointment instantly turned into excitement.
One shouldn't be too greedy; being able to hear Chen Fei'er's live performance, and a new song at that, was already a great fortune. One couldn't ask for more.
Lu Chen would continue to sing, which was enough to satisfy their musical cravings!
So, the commotion in the bar quickly subsided, and the customers returned to their seats.
Some people were secretly speculating about Lu Chen and Chen Fei'er's relationship.
Were the rumors between them true?
"Is this true?"
At the same time, about 10 kilometers away from Daylily, in the office of Ultron Film and Television Production Company, Yan Chengyi stared at the video on his computer screen, his expression disbelieving.
Ultron Film and Television was a mid-sized production company with 15 years of experience, known in the industry for producing TV dramas with decent ratings.
Yan Chengyi was one of the company's signed TV drama directors.
This middle-aged man, nearing his 50s, had a strong build, a loud voice, and a dignified aura. He was known for being meticulous about his personal image and rarely lost his composure.
However, just watching this video, Yan Chengyi was like a man who had seen a ghost, asking in shock, "Is this really not a special effect?" He had just returned from a shooting location this morning and was working overtime at the company to catch up on accumulated tasks while also selecting potential actors from the database.
His assistant had recommended the rising star, Lu Chen. Yan Chengyi had no impression of Lu Chen, as he had been busy with the shooting of the TV drama "Urban Love" for the past six months and hadn't had time to follow the gossip in the show business community.
However, the video his assistant showed him left a deep impression on him.
In the video, Lu Chen's dramatic scene of removing his shirt and kicking down an assailant was so impactful that it felt unreal, like something out of an explosive action movie.
Yan Chengyi didn't doubt the authenticity of the video; the incident in Hangzhou had been so sensational that even he had heard about it despite his busy schedule.
But seeing the footage today left him stunned.
His assistant chuckled, "Boss, this is definitely real! It's been on the front page of many newspapers and trending on social media. It's still hot right now!"
Yan Chengyi sighed, running his hand through his neatly combed black hair, lamenting, "According to you young people, I really am out of touch. I need to pay more attention to the internet."
He had a social media account but rarely used it, leaving it to his assistant to manage.
The assistant flattered him, "Boss, you're not outdated; you're still young!"
Yan Chengyi waved his hand dismissively, not taking the flattery seriously, and asked with a hint of curiosity, "Guo Zi, are you suggesting we have him audition for the role of Chen Yaoyang?"
The assistant replied candidly, "Yes, I think Lu Chen is perfect for the role of Chen Yaoyang."
As Yan Chengyi's most capable and trusted assistant, Guo Zi had often been approached by lesser-known actors seeking roles in Yan Chengyi's productions.
If the timing was right and the role suitable, Guo Zi wouldn't hesitate to recommend them, as it could lead to benefits for himself.
Yan Chengyi was aware of this but appreciated that Guo Zi knew his boundaries and never overstepped his role, so he played along. After all, if he didn't reward his subordinates, who would remain loyal?
However, the role of Chen Yaoyang was different; it was a crucial supporting character in the opening of "Urban Love" Season 2, significantly impacting the episode's ratings, so he had to be cautious!
"Urban Love" was Ultron Film and Television's key weekend drama this year, with a substantial investment. Weekend dramas refer to episodes aired on Saturday and Sunday nights, typically one episode per night.
Since the new century, the domestic film and television industry has faced significant challenges from foreign cultures, with trends from Europe, America, Japan, and South Korea dominating the scene, leading to considerable changes in the industry.
The emergence of weekend dramas was a prime example, blending elements of American and Korean dramas, produced in a format that allowed for real-time audience feedback to determine the number of episodes filmed.
If the ratings were high and the audience enjoyed it, more episodes would be produced, potentially leading to multiple seasons as long as advertising sales were good. However, if the ratings were poor, the production might be cut short after just ten episodes, leaving it unresolved.
For production companies, shooting weekend dramas had its pros and cons, but the advantages outweighed the disadvantages. Yan Chengyi was the director of "Urban Love," and so far, he had completed all 24 episodes of the first season, with 18 episodes aired and decent ratings that satisfied the investors.
Influenced by American dramas, weekend dramas had high shooting standards and required significant short-term funding. To mitigate risks, production companies like Ultron often brought in investors to share the financial burden.
"Urban Love" was confirmed to start filming, and the company had set higher demands, with the screenwriter adding more new characters to the script, making actor selection Yan Chengyi's primary task. He was concerned that Guo Zi might overstep and complicate his work.
This was something Yan Chengyi could not tolerate!
"Boss, I don't know this Lu Chen," Guo Zi quickly defended himself.
"Isn't Chen Yaoyang supposed to be a young and handsome police officer? Look at Lu Chen's impressive skills! He must have trained in martial arts, like Taekwondo or mixed martial arts, and…"
He controlled the mouse and opened another video, "You should see his personal image!"
The video Guo Zi opened was Lu Chen's music video for "Not Yet Lovers."
In this MV, Lu Chen played a college student acting alongside Mu Xiaochu, showcasing his natural charm.
Yan Chengyi's eyes lit up as he made a decision on the spot: "Let's contact Lu Chen and invite him for the casting of Chen Yaoyang!"
Yan Chengyi felt that Lu Chen possessed a quality that matched his requirements perfectly.
Chen Yaoyang was the one!
(End of Chapter)
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