Noon.
Hengdian World Studios.
Chen Feng followed Su Yuehong to the filming set and met Liu Boguang.
He wore glasses and looked refined.
He was probably just over thirty years old.
When he saw Chen Feng, his eyes lit up, and he jogged over to shake his hand and greet him: "Hello, hello, I'm Liu Boguang."
"Hello, Chen Feng."
Chen Feng shook his hand.
"Ah, I finally feel relieved seeing you. When Su Yuehong called me earlier and said you agreed, I couldn't believe it, I thought she was joking with me."
Liu Boguang truly seemed flattered.
Chen Feng chuckled and said: "I'm not some big-name star, what's there to joke about?"
"Oh, Chen Feng, your popularity is huge now."
Liu Boguang said with a hint of flattery: "Seriously, on all major platforms, any post or video featuring you gets terrifying click-through rates and comments. It has already surpassed many popular stars. As your alumni, I also feel honored."
"Not necessarily."
Chen Feng smiled.
"Really, really. Come, come, let's talk somewhere else, it's too noisy here. And there are too many passersby coming and going, it's inconvenient. Let's go, I'll take you somewhere."
Liu Boguang turned back to instruct his assistant a few words, then took Chen Feng and Su Yuehong and hurried away.
A few minutes later.
The three of them found a coffee shop nearby and entered a private room.
It was finally much quieter.
There are too many people in Hengdian.
The daily pedestrian traffic is enormous.
Everywhere are "Heng Piao" (aspiring actors in Hengdian), plus tourists, it's simply a sea of people.
It's impossible to even have a quiet conversation.
Inside the coffee shop's private room.
After the three of them were seated.
Liu Boguang ordered three cappuccinos, then started chatting with Chen Feng.
During this time, Su Yuehong uncharacteristically remained silent.
She seemed to be quietly observing Liu Boguang.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries.
Liu Boguang finally got to the point: "Chen Feng, we're alumni, I'm one year ahead of you. We're all our own people, so I'll just be direct, okay?"
"It's fine, just say it."
Chen Feng nodded.
"It's like this, I actually got some investment for this drama, which is why I chose to start filming in Hengdian. But the funds are very limited."
"Mainly because the drama is quite niche."
"It's a small urban drama set in the Republic of China period, telling the story of the Outer Eight Sects."
"The reason I'm so confident about this drama is because the investor is actually Third Master, the highly popular progenitor of tomb raiding."
"He read my script and liked it very much."
"So he gave me some money to make it."
"That's the gist of it."
Chen Feng nodded in understanding: "Oh, Third Master of the Southern School."
"Exactly, exactly."
Liu Boguang continued: "Although there's some investment, it's not a lot of money, and I can't afford popular stars, so I only found a few alumni to help."
"I can introduce you to them later."
"What I mean by all this is, even though you're a good friend and agreed to help, I might not be able to give you a very generous remuneration. Do you understand what I mean?"
Chen Feng smiled and said: "It's okay, let me see the role first. If the role is suitable, I can even make a friendly guest appearance."
"Really?"
Liu Boguang's eyes lit up, and he breathed a sigh of relief: "You're truly loyal. Su Yuehong said you're a real friend, the kind who helps in times of need, and I believe her."
"What about the role?"
Chen Feng asked casually: "What kind of role do you need me to make a guest appearance as?"
"Ahem, this role..."
Liu Boguang said with a slight awkwardness: "This role is an elder from the ancient Dao Sect among the Outer Eight Sects, the kind of person who is a great recluse hidden in the city."
"Dao Sect?"
Chen Feng blinked.
"That is... a thief."
"What?"
Before Chen Feng could speak, Su Yuehong was already displeased and quickly interrupted him: "Old Liu, what are you doing? I brought someone to you, and you want him to make a guest appearance as a thief?"
"Su Yuehong, listen to me."
"Listen to what?"
Su Yuehong frowned: "Chen Feng just shone brightly in the New Year's Day special program of What is an Actor. At this time, you want him to make a guest appearance as a thief? What were you thinking? Isn't there a positive role?"
"What do you know?"
Liu Boguang also got a little anxious.
He subconsciously retorted, and his face also darkened.
He seemed very displeased with Su Yuehong speaking to him so angrily.
Chen Feng quickly waved his hand: "Both of you, both of you, let me interrupt for a moment. Su Yuehong, don't interrupt for now, let me listen to the role information first."
"Chen Feng, a thief..."
"Just listen first."
Chen Feng smiled and waved his hand, then gestured to Director Liu: "It's okay, Director Liu, please continue."
"Good, good."
Liu Boguang finally smiled.
Su Yuehong, on the other hand, was unhappy.
Her face was expressionless.
She vaguely realized something.
If it involved something Liu Boguang cared about deeply, he wouldn't be as polite to her as he usually was.
That momentary look in his eyes almost broke Su Yuehong's composure.
That look was very fierce.
And very cold.
Beside them, Liu Boguang didn't notice Su Yuehong's emotional change at all, he just looked at Chen Feng excitedly and said: "Chen Feng, I'll explain it simply."
"My drama is set in the Republic of China period, telling the story of the Outer Eight Sects."
"You might not have heard of or understood these Outer Eight Sects, so I'll briefly explain: they are the Dao Sect, Gu Sect, Mechanism Gate, Thousand Doors, Orchid Gate, Shendiao Sect, Red Handkerchief, and Soul-Reaping Sect."
"Among them, the Dao Sect is the largest of the Outer Eight Sects."
"From grand bandits and highway robbers to petty thieves and opportunistic pilferers, all fall within the scope of the Dao Sect."
"Even the ancient profession of tomb raiding belongs to the Dao Sect."
"With this explanation, you should understand, right?"
"My story tells of how, during the Republic of China era, to raise military funds for the Anti-Japanese War, reclusive Dao Sect masters emerged from seclusion to aid the war, fighting against other Outer Eight Sects masters hired by the Japanese and puppet regimes with high salaries."
"Among them, the male lead is from the Dao Sect, and the female lead is from the Orchid Gate, meaning she's a prostitute."
"There was originally a reclusive master in the drama, an elder of the Dao Sect, whom I had planned to invite an old veteran actor to make a guest appearance as."
"But I've changed my mind now."
"I want you to make a guest appearance as this reclusive master."
"Chen Feng, the identity background of a thief is unavoidable, because I'm telling the story of the Outer Eight Sects."
"But this role is a pivotal character, and also the male lead's future teacher and savior."
"It's not many episodes, it'll be finished in half a month."
"What do you think, any thoughts?"
After listening, Chen Feng nodded without hesitation: "No thoughts, I agree. The role itself isn't important, what I like is the story behind the role."
"Good."
Liu Boguang excitedly slapped the table and gave Chen Feng a thumbs up: "Chen Feng, I have to think highly of you. Your realm is already very high."
"Haha, thanks for the compliment."
Chen Feng didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
You think highly of me?
If it weren't for the gimmick of the Outer Eight Sects attracting Chen Feng, he really might not have taken on such a role.
It's not very interesting.
The system's experience roles have a quantity requirement; it's not unlimited experience, so the further he goes, the quality of the experienced roles must be guaranteed.
This is also one of the reasons Chen Feng wanted to start his own company.
Get the company running and publicly look for roles.
Others look for lead roles.
But Chen Feng looks for extras.
However, the connotation of this extra role must be rich and distinctive.
In the future, he wouldn't touch trashy extra roles at all.