Chapter 6: Visiting Old Zhang

Zhang Yong randomly slapped his face, wondering what he was thinking. Tang Qu was still just a child.

“Tang Qu, let’s go in.”

“Okay, Brother Zhang.” Tang Qu turned back to look at Brother Zhang and replied lightly.

Zhang Yong increasingly felt that the person standing next to him was indeed an award-winning actor.

He pushed aside the unrealistic thoughts in his mind; it seemed he needed to relieve some stress lately. The pressure from work had been so great that he was starting to see illusions.

After Zhang Yong pressed the doorbell, a few seconds later, an auntie came out to open the door.

“May I help you two?”

“I’m Zhang Yong; I made an appointment to visit Teacher Zhang today.”

“Please come in.”

Tang Qu followed closely behind Zhang Yong as they entered.

“Old Zhang is in the garden; I’ll take you there.”

The three of them walked toward the garden, and through the glass window, Tang Qu saw the elderly man in the garden.

The old man was holding a watering can, watering the flowers.

When Tang Qu truly saw Old Zhang, one word filled his mind: simplicity and authenticity.

Old Zhang stood there as if he were one with the world, without a hint of discord.

“Xiao Qu, don’t daze off; quickly greet Teacher Zhang,” Zhang Yong nudged Tang Qu.

Tang Qu stood up straight and then deeply bowed: “Hello, Teacher Zhang!”

Teacher Zhang waved his hand: “No need for such formalities; I don’t mind.”

Handing the watering can to a nearby servant, Old Zhang wiped his hands and sat down in the prepared seat in the garden: “Come, sit.”

Zhang Yong quickly led Tang Qu over. Seeing Old Zhang about to pour water, he picked up the teapot before Old Zhang could: “Let me do it.”

While pouring the water, Old Zhang observed Tang Qu. He had agreed to meet Tang Qu out of respect for a friend. He had seen Tang Qu’s short film, and while the acting was average and lacked spirit, he didn’t think much of such actors. However, the entertainment industry was filled with people like that nowadays. Recently, aside from Guan Yan, he hadn’t found any actor he could respect.

But today, seeing Tang Qu surprised him greatly; he saw a spark in Tang Qu’s eyes, a brilliance that didn’t belong to the superficial entertainment industry. Given time, Tang Qu would surely become a figure that the entire industry would go crazy over.

Similarly, Tang Qu was observing Old Zhang. Before coming, Zhang Yong had briefed him about Old Zhang. He was a trained actor, devoted to his craft throughout his life, a true veteran of the stage. He had won numerous awards in his youth, but he didn’t care much for them. It was only when he could no longer act that he retired to his home. However, actors in the industry still took pride in receiving guidance from Old Zhang.

Tang Qu’s first reaction upon seeing Old Zhang was that he was an ordinary old man, but he quickly extinguished that thought. It was precisely this kind of unassuming demeanor that represented true mastery.

“You must be Tang Qu.”

“Yes, Teacher Zhang.” Although Tang Qu was already an award-winning actor, he still held great respect for his seniors, as he always felt like a child in front of them.

“I’ve seen your short film; you acted quite well,” Old Zhang said lightly.

Tang Qu slightly lowered his head: “Thank you for the compliment, Teacher Zhang; it was merely a clumsy imitation of others’ work.”

Neither humble nor arrogant, and unafraid of the truth, this character trait unexpectedly resonated with Old Zhang.

In the entertainment industry, it’s not a big deal if your acting skills aren’t top-notch; what’s important is knowing how to conduct yourself. Don’t get complacent just because of a small success and overlook your own issues. It’s rare to see someone like Tang Qu who openly acknowledges his own problems.

“Knowing that you’re just imitating others and still daring to act, isn’t that just asking to be laughed at?” Old Zhang sneered.