Chapter 78 - Understudy

“Jiang Zhi? When did the threshold of the entertainment industry become so low?

“She only knows how to read two pages of the script and put on a few postures to act as a stand-in.

“Director Zheng, do you really think that she can take the role of the second female lead? What a joke!”

Jiang Lu’s expression was full of sarcasm. It was obvious that she looked down on Jiang Zhi.

Jiang Zhi did not want to act at all, but Lu Mian was sitting beside her. He secretly held her hand under the table and gently hooked his index finger on her palm.

His deep eyes flickered with interest as if he was looking forward to playing the role of a couple with her in front of the camera.

Lu Mian’s eyes were bright, and she was stunned. Then, she looked down and felt conflicted…

Star Glory was about to expand, and she was financially tight. If she could get paid, she could consider it!

Moreover, Jiang Lu continued to slander her, not giving Director Zheng any respect at all.

Jiang Zhi intended to give Director Zheng a way out. In addition, the desire to win and lose that was buried in her bones also made her unable to withstand the provocation. Raising her beautiful chin, she nodded and replied, “Okay, I’ll do it!”

The room was silent. Everyone’s gaze fell on Jiang Lu, and their expressions were all different.

Jiang Lu pointed at the woman in front of her with an embarrassed expression. Her voice was sharp, and her eyes were filled with anger as she spoke.

“Star Glory, from managers to actors, just love food from other people’s mouths! This kind of behavior is really disgusting! I want to see what you guys can produce!

“When ‘Beacon’ is released, the broadcast and viewership ratings will definitely be bleak. Let me say this right here!

“All of you, remember this. I quit on my own accord. Jiang Zhi picked up the role that I threw away!”

Jiang Lu was so angry that she stormed out of the room. Outside the room, she smashed her phone into pieces and instructed her assistant to return to her room overnight to pack up her luggage and move out of the hotel…

In the conference room, the actors and actresses had witnessed with their own eyes that famous actors like Jiang Lu could and have been replaced. Naturally, they did not dare to make a fuss about the pay.

Everyone quieted down. Even though they still had some qualms about the pay, they expressed that they were willing to accept Director Zheng’s proposal and receive a portion of the pay first.

Director Zheng left early and discussed about the revision of the script with the scriptwriter.

Everyone stood up slowly. They looked at Jiang Zhi with some resentment in their eyes. A few of them mumbled boldly, “We actors are always on the short end of things. We should work together and force the producer to pay our pay. How can you speak up for us?”

“Isn’t that so? Jiang Lu spoke up for us, but she was still pushed away by some people!”

“Now a few famous actors in the production team have run away. All who are left are rookies. When they are released, who would watch them? Even if they consider it a B-class production, the money in our hands probably won’t even be a few hundred yuan. How unlucky! Why are we in the same team with such people?”

When the freelance actor walked past Jiang Zhi, he scoffed disdainfully, “It’s best not to delay our filming schedule.

“But no one can accompany you to waste time and repeat it over and over again!”

Jiang Zhi’s eyes were indifferent as she fiddled with her phone. She pressed the end button of the recording on the screen and saved Jiang Lu’s words during the meeting as a backup.

When she returned to her room, Jiang Zhi felt as if she was living in a fantasy.

She obviously started off accompanying an artiste to the set, but instead, she had gotten an important role…

The two dim yellow chandeliers at the head of the bed accompanied her. Jiang Zhi placed a pillow on her waist and carefully recited the lines.

Although she had read through the script a few times when she was acting as Yu Wan’s stunt double, as an actress, she had to understand the script on an entirely different level. She could not neglect this.

Jiang Zhi wanted to achieve perfection in everything she did!

..

The next day, on the set.

After enduring the storm, the crew of “Beacon” resumed filming. According to the schedule, they were filming Jiang Zhi and Lu Mian’s scenes together.

The crew members, who had only received a small amount of pay, were all in low spirits. They were half-heartedly pushing the rails and adjusting the lighting. The scene, which was originally filled with laughter and conversation, was now so silent that it was somewhat awkward.

Director Zheng could tell that everyone was not in a good mood, so he could only think of ways to liven up the atmosphere…

He urgently needed a few sets of amazing scenes to get Jiang Zhi’s acting skills recognized, so that she could have a firm foothold in the crew.

Director Zheng looked down and read the few scenes that were to be shot today. His eyes were shining. He stared at Lu Mian, who was affectionately stroking Jiang Zhi’s hair. Holding the walkie-talkie, he told the crew to change the setting.

“Lu Mian, Jiang Zhi, we have to shoot the kissing scene ahead of time while the lighting is good!”

“You two familiarize yourselves with the script and move around.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Director Zheng made the arrangements. Jiang Zhi and Lu Mian, who were wearing costumes, looked at each other in shock.