Chapter 12: Staying Vigorous

That day, reports about Guan Yan’s new movie were everywhere. Tang Qu took some time to glance at them as well. Although he was sitting right next to Guan Yan, there wasn’t a single mention of him in the reports.

Tang Qu couldn’t quite put his finger on what he was feeling. Previously, wherever he appeared, all the focus would be on him. It wasn’t that Tang Qu cared about fame or fortune, but he felt that in just a few short days, he had almost forgotten his past experiences.

“Why are you so distracted today?” Old Zhang put down his teacup and looked at the unsettled Tang Qu.

Tang Qu shook his head: “No reason.”

Old Zhang thought Tang Qu was a peculiar child. At the age of eighteen or nineteen, just stepping into the entertainment industry, it should be a time full of dreams and passion. Yet, Tang Qu gave off an aura of being too calm and indifferent, as if he had already weathered the ups and downs of the industry and seen through the world. It wasn’t that such a personality was bad, but in the entertainment industry, it could be a disadvantage.

“Tang Qu, let’s talk. Are you still thinking about that incident where you were blacklisted?” Old Zhang could only think of this reason.

Recently, Old Zhang had delved deeper into understanding Tang Qu. Tang Qu’s family didn’t pay much attention to his affairs, and the agency he signed with treated him decently, but the boss was also a young person who didn’t meticulously care about the psychological state of the artists. That incident should still be a thorn in Tang Qu’s side, especially since Old Zhang had made him watch Guan Yan’s movie.

But Tang Qu shook his head: “No, I’m just contemplating the gap between Guan Yan and me.”

“The gap? Why must you compare yourself with Guan Yan?” Old Zhang asked.

There was a seven or eight-year age difference between Guan Yan and Tang Qu; they weren’t even on the same level. Why compare the current self with Guan Yan, who had matured over the years?

Tang Qu didn’t speak. He couldn’t very well tell Old Zhang that the soul inside this body had already changed.

“Xiao Qu, I gave you that ticket not to pressure you, but to broaden your horizons. I know about the previous incidents where you were said to be imitating Guan Yan, but after actually watching, one can see that you’re not just simply imitating him. You have a spark. When someone merely imitates, they can only mimic the form, but you’ve captured the essence.”

As a fan of Guan Yan, Tang Qu was naturally different from those who merely rode on Guan Yan’s coattails. He had genuinely, albeit unintentionally, brought a touch of Guan Yan into his acting. This was something only professionals could discern, while the general public would see it as mere imitation.

“If you were just an actor who could imitate, I wouldn’t be teaching you. So, you don’t need to rush to compare yourself with Guan Yan. You will also become an excellent actor in the future.” Old Zhang left one thing unsaid; he believed Tang Qu’s future achievements might not necessarily be lower than Guan Yan’s.

Old Zhang had clearly misunderstood, but Tang Qu didn’t explain. In everyone’s eyes now, Guan Yan was a hurdle he had to overcome.

In truth, Tang Qu didn’t necessarily want to compete with Guan Yan; he just enjoyed acting alongside excellent actors, and currently, that excellent actor was Guan Yan. However, Tang Qu thought it unlikely to happen in the short term. If he couldn’t find the right feeling in his recent acting, he might temporarily step away from the industry.

Recently, Tang Qu has learned a lot from Old Zhang, but he still hasn’t found what he feels is missing. Tang Qu himself doesn’t understand what it is either. Others think his acting is excellent, but he always feels something is off.

“Today’s lesson ends here. There’s a drama currently short on actors, and I’ve recommended you. Go and give it a try. If you don’t pass the audition, don’t come back to class,” Old Zhang said.

“Thank you, teacher.”

Old Zhang waved his hand, “Don’t thank me yet. I’ve only recommended you. Whether you pass the audition is up to you.”

Tang Qu nodded.

He assured, “I definitely won’t tarnish your reputation.”

“Alright, stop being modest. Enjoy yourself these next couple of days. Once you join the crew, it won’t be so carefree.”

Although Old Zhang said Tang Qu might not pass, his tone clearly indicated he was certain the role was meant for Tang Qu.

On the way home, Tang Qu mentioned this to Zhang Yong.

“Yes, I know about it. Old Zhang told me a couple of days ago. He wanted to give you a surprise personally, so I didn’t tell you.”

Old Zhang is truly someone who appreciates talent.

“What kind of drama is it?”

Just as they reached a traffic light, Zhang Yong stopped the car and turned to look at Tang Qu, “A fantasy drama. Directed by Chen Ke. Recently, fantasy dramas have been a hot topic, and every drama directed by Chen Ke has been a hit. For a newcomer, even getting a small role in this drama is a great opportunity. I’ve heard many companies have gone to great lengths to get their newcomers an audition for this role.”

Tang Qu nodded. Although he wasn’t familiar with Director Chen Ke, from Zhang Yong’s description, he must be very impressive.

“Brother Yong, can you give me some information on Director Chen?”

“It’s in the back. There’s some basic information about Director Chen. Take a good look at it, and there’s also a part of the script. Go home and study it well.”

“Okay, what role is the audition for?”

“The master of the male lead. However, this master has quite a lot of scenes. If you really consider it, it’s almost like the third male lead.”

Tang Qu wasn’t very concerned about the role’s ranking. He was more interested in the role itself. He believed there’s no such thing as a small role; being able to deeply portray even a minor character is true skill.

When they arrived at Tang Qu’s apartment, Zhang Yong said to him, “Xiao Qu, don’t worry, don’t be so down. You will definitely pass the audition.”

Tang Qu: ?

“I’m not down.”

“I’m your agent, how could I not know what you’re thinking? Recently, I’ve noticed you’re not as lively as before. This won’t do. In the entertainment industry, even if you’re not always excited, you need to be more engaged.”

After returning home, Tang Qu looked at himself in the mirror. There was indeed a sense of incongruity. Tang Qu, at eighteen or nineteen, should be full of vitality and vigor, but his eyes were too calm, and his demeanor too quiet. No wonder Old Zhang and Brother Yong thought he was down. It was indeed a strange misunderstanding.

Tang Qu thought about it and realized he shouldn’t continue like this. Although he had plans to step back temporarily, as long as he was still in the entertainment industry, he should maintain his best state every minute and every second.

The title of Actor Tang wasn’t for nothing. The moment he stepped out of the bathroom, Tang Qu’s demeanor underwent a sudden transformation, visible through the full-length mirror in the bedroom.

Although Tang Yingdi’s professional skills were top-notch, he still needed to eat. Tang Qu frowned as he looked at the empty refrigerator.