Extra 2.11

After that day, everyone in the company knew that Mr. Gu had a beautiful wife who was cherished to the core. It was no wonder that the workaholic boss, who used to spend nearly twenty-four hours a day in the office, had recently been frequently late, leaving early, or even absent altogether. It turned out that the king no longer attended morning court sessions.

Yes, the king no longer attended morning court, especially after Jiang Xue resigned and stayed at home. Gu Zhanwang wished he could move the office to his home and never visit the actual office.

Jiang Xue could not tolerate being endlessly consumed by this insatiable wolf. Feeling that being drained at home every day was not a solution, she decided to meet with the director who had previously approached her for a film to see if there were any suitable roles for her.

Director Chen had recently been busy with his new movie and spent all day on the set. He could only spare some time during lunch. When Jiang Xue called him, he had just thought of a small cameo role in the movie but had not yet found a suitable candidate. The role was somewhat sensitive, and after discussing it with several actresses, all had declined. Director Chen did not hold much hope when he asked Jiang Xue to come to the set for a face-to-face discussion. He approached it with the mindset of “it doesn’t hurt to try; maybe she’ll agree.”

Jiang Xue had some filming experience. Her years in the performing arts gave her a strong sense of the camera. However, like Yali before her, she had never worked in movies. Seeing Yali’s successful transition, she wanted to try it herself. Besides, it would help her pass the time and avoid her troubles at home.

Director Chen’s assistant guided Jiang Xue inside. A small child, running at full speed, dashed towards them and then stopped in front of Jiang Xue. With eyes that were very similar to Su Xiaoxiao’s, the child looked up and asked, “Godmother, godmother, why are you here? Are you here to visit Xiao Roubao?”

Jiang Xue was a bit embarrassed. She hadn’t known Xiao Roubao was there. Maybe it was just her illusion, but Xiao Roubao seemed to have lost a bit of weight in the few days she had been away and grown a little taller.

The cute and lively Xiao Roubao, with a sweet mouth, was quite endearing. Jiang Xue couldn’t help but smile and didn’t want to lie to him, so she shook her head and said, “I made an appointment with Director Chen. I didn’t know you were here before. Are you going to act in this play, too?”

The little boy lifted his bangs and patted his chest with his little hands, “Godmother, Old Chen said I’m the No. 1 male lead. Am I awesome?”

Jiang Xue cleared her throat, “Awesome, very awesome.”

Director Chen, having overheard them, came out from inside. “Comrade Jiang Xue is here? Do you two know each other?”

The little boy stepped forward and took Jiang Xue’s arm, “This is my godmother. Isn’t she pretty? Old Chen, are you thinking of having my godmother play that beautiful dancer?”

Xiao Roubao took a couple of steps back, examined Jiang Xue, and, with a thoughtful expression, nodded. He said, “Old Chen, the more I look at my godmother, the more she seems perfect for the role. What did you write in your notebook? A beauty so stunning she could topple a country, right? Isn’t that exactly how my godmother appears?”

Jiang Xue, dressed today in a fitted qipao, exuded a cold and aloof grace that matched the description of a “beauty who could topple a country.” Everything about her seemed perfectly suited for the role.

Jiang Xue smiled gently and asked, “Dancer?”

Jiang Xue didn’t expect it to be this kind of role. No wonder Director Chen had mentioned over the phone that many people were unwilling to take on this role and hoped she would do a cameo. The compensation was negotiable.

Director Chen observed Jiang Xue. The role of the dancer was quite complex. It required portraying a rich girl from a poor family who was coerced into prostitution. The character needed to embody the aloofness of a wealthy individual, the purity of someone untouched by corruption, and the determination to sell art rather than her body despite her circumstances. In troubled times, a beauty without connections and background was seen as a threat. Jiang Xue also needs to convey the desperation of fighting for survival after being mistreated by various powerful figures.

She stood there in a gorgeous silk qipao with all kinds of charm. Basically, she didn’t even need to take makeup photos or audition. She was exactly the role itself. As Xiao Roubao said, it was tailor-made for her.

Someone must have bought some food. When Xiao Roubao heard it, he immediately abandoned them and ran over excitedly.

Director Chen invited Jiang Xue inside. Without saying a word, he handed her the script and sat to the side, patiently waiting for her to finish reading.

After Jiang Xue finished reading, she set the script aside, and her face showed no clear reaction.

“How is it?” Director Chen asked nervously.

Jiang Xue replied, “It’s okay.”

“I understand that the pole dancing scene might seem a bit excessive.” Old Chen sighed. “Our cultural norms are not as liberal as those in other countries, and we could face criticism for wearing revealing clothing. However, if love and sexuality are portrayed thoughtfully, they can be both romantic and refined, achieving high artistic quality. Those with wisdom see the depth, and those with kindness see the beauty. I don’t claim to be a high-minded artist or guarantee that the result will be sophisticated rather than vulgar. I can only say that I’ll do my best to convey the subtlety and modesty of the Oriental woman while also capturing her passionate and lively beauty when needed. Of course, this also sets a high bar for the performer.”

Director Chen tapped the script: “To be honest, I’ve already met with no fewer than five actors. Even professional actors are hesitant about this scene. They can accept the role of the dancer and are fine with ordinary ballroom dancing or minimal physical contact with male actors, but they refuse the pole dancing scene, especially with so many people watching. The general request is to change the scene. If you…”

“I can give it a try,” Jiang Xue said with a smile, taking a cigarette from her handbag. “Do you mind if I smoke?”

Director Chen was momentarily stunned and shook his head. When he heard the click of the lighter, he finally reacted and incredulously asked, “You—are you saying you’re willing to take on this role?”

Jiang Xue smiled and blew smoke rings: “Yes, I can try, but I haven’t worked with film before and don’t have relevant acting experience, so I’m not sure if I can perform well.”

Director Chen was overjoyed, grinning like a big fool. “No, no, no, Comrade Jiang Xue, you don’t need to act. Just the way you were smoking is exactly like that dancer.”

Jiang Xue: “…………” What is he saying? Is he implying she’s very worldly?

Director Chen pounded his left palm with his right fist. “That’s great, great! You’re simply born for this role, Comrade Jiang Xue. You don’t even need to act; just sitting there is already the role itself.”

This Director Chen…

Jiang Xue helplessly rubbed her forehead. “Director Chen, I want to say that I’m already married. I can perform pole dancing, but I can’t have any physical contact with other male actors. Otherwise, my husband won’t agree to this role. I hope you can include this in the contract to avoid future disputes. Is that okay?”

Director Chen nodded continuously: “Yes, yes, of course!” At this moment, even if Jiang Xue wanted the stars in the sky, Director Chen would find a way to help her find them. “Great, it’s really great.”

Director Chen began outlining his grand vision: “You are like a white lotus—beautiful from a distance but untouchable. You are pure and unspoiled. Men admire your beauty, but you choose to sell your art, not your body. Even at over 30 years old, you refuse to compromise. Your resolve remains unbent by worldly views. You firmly believe in either not marrying at all or marrying for love. Ultimately, you dedicate yourself to the noble cause of revolutionary intelligence, sacrificing your life for crucial information that contributes to the success of the revolution, dying at the hands of the enemy. I plan to adjust the script slightly; this scene can be expanded and refined. My goal is to portray you as a heroic and deeply moving female character among the leading roles!”

Director Chen became increasingly excited as he considered it, clapping his hands and saying, “That’s it.”

Jiang Xue: “…………” She nearly choked on the smoke.

Wasn’t it supposed to be a cameo? How did it suddenly turn into a leading role? This Director Chen was really something.

Jiang Xue thought he might be getting a bit carried away, so she subtly reminded him, “Director Chen, wouldn’t this be a bad idea?”

“You also think it’s a bad idea, right?” Director Chen looked at Jiang Xue, pinching his chin and pacing back and forth. “As one of the main leads, your screen time might be a bit less, but don’t worry. I’ll expand this storyline. The actual scenes will only increase, not decrease. You’ll be on par with Yali as the female lead, and there will be more scenes with her. I’ll have to work it out carefully.”

Jiang Xue: “…………” She obviously didn’t mean that. She was concerned that the role might have too much screen time, not that it was too little. But since she didn’t understand films or arts much, she figured she’d just go along with whatever the scriptwriter and director decided.

Afraid that Jiang Xue might change her mind and that he wouldn’t find anyone more suitable, Director Chen quickly added, “I’ll have someone draft the contract right away. If you have any other requirements, just let me know. Once it’s ready, I’ll have it sent to you immediately. Let me have my assistant drive you back.”

Jiang Xue extinguished her cigarette and stood up. “No need to trouble yourself. I drove here myself. Director Chen, let’s be clear about things first. The parts of the script I’ve seen are fine for now, but the contract needs to include a clause that I must approve any script changes.”

Jiang Xue was genuinely worried that Director Chen might get carried away and add more scenes on a whim.

Director Chen nodded and said, “Don’t worry. Your role will only have more screen time, won’t be decreased, and there won’t be any inappropriate erotic scenes. You can perform freely in the pole dancing scenes; I won’t interfere too much.”

Jiang Xue nodded. “That’s fine. I’ll leave you a contact address. Please send them over once you’ve revised the script and the contract. We can discuss the details next time.”

Director Chen was thrilled. He never expected things to go so smoothly. He loved discovering talented actors at the art troupe; they were versatile and could sing, dance, and act. They only needed to familiarize themselves with blocking and rehearse their lines. Most often, their performance was even stronger than that of those with formal training. Yali was a perfect example, though she was indeed more professional. She had come from the art troupe and then studied in the acting department, combining solid groundwork with systematic training. She was bound to become a prominent artist in the industry.

Jiang Xue’s appearance and demeanor were flawless. While she might not be as versatile as Yali, who could fit any role, Director Chen strongly felt that she could become a benchmark for specific roles, such as this captivating dancer. In the future, the name Jiang Xue will come to mind whenever people think of qipao, pole dancing, or intelligence agents.

Directors should strive to create excellent works, but there’s also a great sense of accomplishment in nurturing great actors. Whether it’s Yali or Xiao Roubao, whether it’s the role of the individual, Director Chen, as a mentor, felt equally proud.
He had a feeling that Jiang Xue would become the next household name emerging from his films.

After leaving Director Chen, Jiang Xue went to find Xiao Roubao.

Xiao Roubao was almost nine years old, but his personality and appearance remained the same. His chubby, soft face always seemed to smile before he spoke, and when he laughed, his eyes would always turn into little crescent moons.

Jiang Xue spotted him sitting on the floor with his legs crossed, cheeks puffed up like a little pufferfish as he ate. “Xiao Roubao, do you have any scenes this afternoon? Would you like to go play with your godfather?”

Gu Zhanwang really loved Xiao Roubao as if he were his own child. He often mentioned him and even said today that Xiao Roubao hadn’t had a meal with him for a while. He asked Xiao Du to buy him a gift.

Xiao Roubao shook his head and said, “Godmother, I won’t go. My older brother is preparing for the college entrance examination right now. My mother makes delicious food at home every day. I want to go home and eat the meals my mother cooks.”

Since opening the "Three Meals and Four Seasons," Su Xiaoxiao has rarely cooked.

Since the opening of “Three Meals and Four Seasons,” Su Xiaoxiao had rarely cooked at home. Later, when “Three Meals and Four Seasons” moved to “Guowang,” the “headquarters” continued to operate. There were still quite a few annual and monthly customers, so even if the “headquarters” had to be relocated, it had to continue serving this part of the clientele well.

Uncle Yang’s idea was to have Bai Lan lead the team to manage the Guowang branch while he stayed here, as he thought it was more suitable. After all, having more stores meant more profit.

Su Xiaoxiao was well aware of Uncle Yang’s intentions. The kids needed to eat, and so did the elderly. Even without customers, he would find a way to stay and take care of the food for the elderly and children.

Su Xiaoxiao had few opportunities recently to showcase her cooking skills. With her eldest son preparing for the college entrance examination, she had taken the time to cook for her sons. As a foodie, how could Xiao Roubao miss such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?

“Is Fantuan going to take the college entrance examination?” Jiang Xue asked, recalling that Fantuan seemed to be only fifteen or sixteen years old. Time had flown by so quickly; before she knew it, Fantuan was already preparing for the college entrance examination.

Xiao Roubao said, “Big Brother isn’t little anymore. He’s almost as tall as Dad. He’s not little at all. He skipped a grade in elementary, middle school, and high school. If he hadn’t taken time to take care of me and my sister when he was in elementary, he would have taken the college entrance examination two years earlier.”

Jiang Xue: “……” Alright, she forgot that the children from the Han Cheng family couldn’t be compared to ordinary kids.

Since Xiao Roubao didn’t want to go play with his godfather, Jiang Xue didn’t force him and drove back by herself.

—end of Extra Chapter for Gu Zhanwang and Jiang Xue