Superstar Aspirations

SA: Chapter 4 – Who is Qin Cheng?

Translator: Vian

Editor: Shem

The car slowly parked in the garage. Rong Xu first got off to enter the house but he didn't even move more than a few steps and suddenly heard a sharp female voice.

"How do you handle things?! WangMa, be careful with my vase, don't drop it. Ah! I told you to be careful! Be gentler, got it?!"

The screeching voice was high pitch and somewhat harsh to the ears. When Rong Xu went in, that richly dressed middle-aged woman turned around and saw him at once. The woman’s appearance was rather attractive, wearing a green jade bracelet and a big pearl necklace, her wrists being twice as thick as Rong Xu's.

Probably because she didn't expect to suddenly see the boy or perhaps his current appearance shocked her, it took her a long time before she quickly blinked her eyes and said sarcastically: "Yo, the big shot celebrity came finally back? Why didn't you find someone to receive you? Steward Duan, what do you think we are paying you for? How can you let our Xiao Xu walk back on his own?"

Rong Xu's heart suddenly felt it was a bit laughable and softly called out, "Second Aunt," then turned around to go upstairs.

He didn't even take a few steps before hearing that women again: "Dinner was left for you in the kitchen. You can't say that Auntie is bullying you, you're still in the development stage so make sure to eat a bit more okay?"

As soon as this remark dropped, Steward Duan who just came in with a cold face looked at Wang Ma: "Why haven't you gone to heat up the dishes to serve for the young master?"

To let the owner eat in the kitchen, it would definitely be seen as no discipline by any other big well-off family. Wang Ma who was holding the vase faltered but didn't dare to move and cautiously looked at Second Madame's sharp countenance.

This Second Madame seemed to have not understand Steward Duan's meaning and even grandiosely said: "Just eat in the kitchen, it'll also save the servants the trouble of cleaning up the table afterwards. Our family's Xiao Xu know how to be sensible now and is going to be a big superstar, right?"

Rong Xu calmly stood there in the living room, the bright light shined down from his head, casting a dim layer of shadow on his white complexion. His eyes were hidden by the shadow, quietly looking at the second madame not far away. His face didn't show any other expressions but it also didn't seem to be angry, just wearing a blank expression like an old well with no ripples.

Rong Xu never hid the matter of filming from home, after all, he wants to travel back and forth by himself. It was just that it's too expensive so he needed Steward Duan to pick him up and drop him off. His credit card was frozen and this body was still underage, either would he drive illegally so he could only pull this move.

Rong Xu had long known that his filming matter will be known by his aunt and uncle sooner or later. It's just that he never thought this second aunt would give such a peculiar response.

After thinking for a moment, Rong Xu looked across Wang Ma's awkward face and said: "There's no need, Wang Ma. I've already eaten with the crew. I'll be going upstairs first, Second Aunt. "

Again, not waiting till Rong Xu took a few steps, Second Madame sneered: "Your elders are still downstairs yet you're already going upstairs by yourself? Is that how you act? Come come, let your Second Aunt care a bit about you, how are your injuries, ah? I heard you hit your head, how bad was it? It couldn't be that you were hit and became stupid now, right?"

As she spoke, Second Madame walked behind Rong Xu, planning to stretch out her hand to touch his hair. Just don't know whether or not Rong Xu grew eyes in the back of his head but he suddenly moved to the side, causing Second Madame to touch the air instead. Seeing this, the Second Madame's expression sank and wanted to take this opportunity to get angry but who would have expected that just as she turned around, her line of sight would fall on a pair of deep jet-black eyes.

The pair of eyes were dark with no luster, profound and unfathomable as if endless was firmly placed on Second Madame's body, so biting-cold that she couldn't help but shudder. It was just like a hunter staring down on a gazelle, being stared at with this kind of gaze made Second Madame's blood run cold, numbing her scalp. She somehow managed to embarrassingly take back her hand.

Rong Xu quietly stared at this noble madame in front of him for a long time before slightly raising the corners of his lips, revealing a smile without any warmth, his voice coldly saying: "Second aunt, I will be going upstairs first now." He stressed the two word "Second aunt" then turned around without hesitation.

Just as Rong Xu was about to reach the corner of the stairs, he heard Second Madame quietly say: "How unruly, may have been born from a mother but doesn't have the teachings of one."

Rong Xu's pace suddenly stopped and turned his head. His frigid gaze stabbed at Second Madame's body, causing it to tremble. At this moment, the young boy seemed to have become a cold-blooded Asura, appearing like a dead man.

Rong Xu first turned to look at Wang Ma: "Wang Ma, that vase is quite good, can you show it to me?"

Wang Ma was surprised for a moment and unconsciously turned around to look at Second Madame. Seeing the latter was showing an uninterested look, she slowly walked up front and handed over the vase.

The vase was an artifact from the late Qing Dynasty, however it actually wasn't much of a quality goods. In Rong Xu's last life, after he became famous he participated in many charity auctions and had a bit of knowledge of historical artifacts. At most, this vase was just a second-rate product that had an appearance of a guan kiln and was most likely unable to enter any official’s home at the time. Don't know where this second madame got this fake goods from but to even treat it as a precious treasure, as long as more than three hundred thousand was spent on this vase, it would definitely be considered a loss.

Thinking this in his heart, Rong Xu opened his mouth and said: "Not bad."

Second Madame looked at him strangely and smiled mockingly: "This vase is a guan kiln I just spent 500,000 to bring back, what do you know? Wang Ma, go get the vase and properly put it back for me. Certain things should only be for certain people…"

Peng!

Second Madame's whole body went stiff. Her lips could only open and close as all her words got stuck in her throat. Her face went pale, her whole body trembled as she broke out in a cold sweat. Just half a meter away from her was the broken fragments that seemed to imply she just avoided a bloody disaster! If Rong Xu had thrown it a bit further to the side, the vase would have absolutely hit her in the head and make it blossom!

Second Madame finally recovered and went up the stairs as she furiously shrieked: "You parentless little bastard, you stop right there! Haven't you gotten brave ah, you dare to touched my things and smashed it!"

"Get lost!" Rong Xu flipped his hand over to grasp the bronze ding on the corner of the staircase railing and directly threw it towards the Second Madame.

Second Madame jerked to the side and crashed onto the handrail and almost rolled down the stairs.

Rong Xu coldly stared at her before smiling all of a sudden and said in an even voice: "Did you forget how I used to be when you saw me like this? Second Aunt, I am a man. Are you such you want to move against me right now? Oh yes, what happened to Second uncle's study six months ago? Who was the one that smashed all your jewelry a year ago…" Pausing for a bit, Rong Xu's smile became gentler by a few degrees: "Do you want me to remind you?"

All at once, the rest of the room all recalled.

Steward Duan and Wang Ma had the most reaction while Second Madame who just recovered from the shock still didn't understand what Rong Xu meant but Steward Duan and the rest had been living with Rong Xu for a long time already. These past few days, their master seems to have switched with someone else. His temperament when treated people became milder and had also cut off his relations with those bad friends of his. He even got up early in the morning to go to Film City Studio today.

It was as if he really changed, becoming warmer and pleasant.

The change in appearance seemed to have numbed the Second Madame's heart. She heard from Wang Ma, that Rong Xu's changes can even make one lower their guards, but after being reminded like this, one really sobered up. Yes, how could she forget that this little bastard is a shameless thing that would even hit a woman!

Second Madame didn't dare to say anymore and Rong Xu just coldly stabbed at her with his gaze once then turned around to go upstairs. This time, Second Madame didn't say anymore nonsense, only waiting till Rong Xu was about to reach his room did she said in a loud voice: "You sure have grown up ah, really have grown up ah! Very well, just wait till Rong Heng comes back, I'll see how longer you can be arrogant! "

Rong Xu couldn't help but laugh: Was it necessary for this 'not dare to face but dare to act mighty behind someone more powerful' kind of thing?

Not paying any attention to the rude and brainless Second Madame, Rong Xu opened the door and entered before intentionally slamming the door close with a loud 'bang'. After entering the room, Second Madame's swearing and cursing still could be heard from downstairs. Rong Xu leaned against the door and used his fingers to gently knead against his temples.

The relationships of this family is honestly too complicated.

When the Old Master, Rong Xu’s grandfather, was still alive, while the original owner was still defiant and wasn't particularly bright, he would still normally attend class. After his death, however, the aunt and uncle's ugly faces were revealed. The Second Uncle Rong Heng would show various indifferent discrimination against 'Rong Xu', while the Second Aunt would make sarcastic remarks everyday. When the original was younger, they would rely on their status as elders to frequently hit him as well.

It was originally already a sensitive period for teenagers yet his parents and grandfather died one after another and coupled with the aunt and uncle's horrible treatment, the original Rong Xu quickly became an ignorant and incompetent goth teen who would follow those bad friends everyday in a life of debauchery, getting in fights, causing troubles when drunk, and finally, drunk driving.

"They can all blame you, but I am the least qualified to blame you…"

Rong Xu gently shook his head, faintly smiling.

In any case, the original gave him a new life. Even if he did many wrong things, he had no qualifications to rebuke. So much so that if it was something that originally belonged to the original, he would certainly take it back for him. Like just now, according to Rong Xu's own character, it would have been impossible for him to move against that Second Madame but there was a kind of hidden instinct inside his body.

You can scold me, but you cannot scold my mom!

So in place of the original 'Rong Xu', he threw out that vase.

"It looks like I have to first find an opportunity to leave this place…"

Settling on this move, Rong Xu opened his one thousand RMB phone and began checking out some information on houses he could rent while quietly calculating the money he had left. However, he never expected that this Second Aunt of his could really endure for so long, to actually continuously scold him for two whole hours without any need to gasp for breath,

Waiting till the other was done, Rong Xu opened the door to go downstairs then that Second Aunt's voice would suddenly stopped. When he went upstairs again, she would continue her cursing. However, the next day, when she got up all ready to continue her session, she found that her throat was sore, causing it to be swollen and painful.

***

At this time, Rong Xu was already sitting downstairs about to eat, acting as if he didn't hear her roar that sounded like a pig being slaughtered.

……Just a sore throat? Her vigor can be said to be quite persistent, he deliberately adjusted the air conditioner to 16 degrees yesterday and used the highest ventilation to continuously blow in Second Madame's direction.

For the next few days, Rong Xu took some medicine to nurse his body while working out to strength his body. For the first few days, Second Madame lost her voice and couldn't speak to Rong Xu so she could only narrow her eyes and ignore him as if he didn't exist. Later, when she could finally start cursing again, Rong Xu had already started his shooting and had to leave early and return late so she would always miss him.

"Vie for Supremacy" had already started its filming. Rong Xu officially entered the cast on the third day and started filming his own scenes.

The scenes that would be shot in B City were all indoor scenes that could be regarded as the most relaxing parts. Right now, during such hot summer days, they would still turn on the air conditioner in the studio for them but starting next month, they would have to go to Hengdian in southern China and start shooting the outdoor scenes where they'd have to stand under the scorching sun.

Just a few days before the filming, the cast constantly NG and was still in an awkward period with each other. By the time Rong Xu came, they've already broken the ice and got along quite well.

Rong Xu was recommended by assistant director Wang, so on the first day Rong Xu came in, he especially went to his dressing room and quietly said: "After all, this is your first scene, Director Guo arranged for a scene between you and Tang jie. Rong Xu, it's best not to NG. Director Guo is particular superstitious about these things, if you NG in your first scene, he will think that you will frequently NG later on."

Rong Xu smiled and nodded: "Okay, I understand. Thank you, Wang ge."

Wang Zhao still had a looked worried: "Your shixiong NG twice on his first scene and even now whenever Director Guo sees him, he would have a tight face."

Rong Xu's gaze moved to look not far away. At this moment, the second male lead, Ye Qiao, was standing in front of Director Guo and seems to be getting another tongue-lashing.

Of course, when Wang Zhao said "your shixiong" he didn't mean that Ye Qiao was Rong Xu's actual shixiong but that the second male lead's Dongli Lan is Wanqi Yao's shixiong in "Vie for Supremacy". The two people were pupils under the same master, one was Liang Province's crown prince, the other was a recluse who've drawn away from the secular world. However, in the wake of Wanqi Yao becoming Chu State's military adviser, the two could not avoid facing each other to fight.

Dongli Lan extremely hated Wanqi Yao because during their tutelage, he was inferior to this junior brother no matter what. In the very end, their Master also gave Wang Qiu Pavilion to this junior brother. Wang Qiu Pavilion had countless spies which was equal to having an information source so as early as eight years ago, he(WQY) knew when Dongli Lan rebelled against Master's teachings and went back to Liang Province, he relied on the status of coming from Wang Qiu Pavilion School to win the crown prince position.

Base on intelligences, Dongli Lan was far from Wanqi Yao; base on martial arts, even ten Wanqi Yao would not be as good as Dongli Lan.

The enactment of the sentiments between senior and junior brother in "Vie for Supremacy" also made the show well worth seeing. The once profound feelings and accompany of the toy bamboo stick horse in the end, when it came to the battlefield was either you die and I live or I die and you live, with no way to coexist.

Looking at Ye Qiao from afar, Rong Xu composed himself and remembered a conversation between him and Luo Zhentao.

There were some people who lack an opportunity and a classic character that could leave a sufficient enough impression to make people remember. Perhaps this time, this Ye Qiao could use this opportunity to stand out.

Half an hour later, Rong Xu shot his first scene. Assistant director Wang broke out in a cold sweat, because of Ye Qiao's mistake just now, Director Guo was wearing a cold face, silently watching Rong Xu and Tang Menglan's acting.

The first trial…successfully passed!

It passed exceptionally well, even exceedingly remarkable that even Director Guo could not help but show a trace of satisfaction.

Just like this, the shooting went on for more than ten days. On the 15th day, the male lead Dong Zheng finally came in. Rong Xu didn't have many scenes with him so he(RX) watched his(DZ) scenes with Tang Menglan or his(DZ) occasional scenes with Ye Qiao instead. This drama had very few female characters, besides Tang Menglan, there was no one who could be counted as a second female lead nor do they have many scenes.

___

Everything appears to be going smoothly, Rong Xu ate the catering lunch boxes with the other actors and would be picked up in the morning and dropped off in the evening by Steward Duan. In less than a month, all the indoor shootings were finished and the staff started to prepare to fly over to Hengdian the next day. The actors still have to wait two more days for the staff to get everything all set up then fly over.

Getting along for a month also let Tang Menglan and Rong Xu grow a lot closer too. Tang Menglan had already privately checked Rong Xu and know that this person was actually Rong family's unfavored young master. Tang Menglan didn't expose this matter but instead continued to often chat with Rong Xu.

With Tang Menglan's identity right now, not to mention that Rong Xu wasn't favored, even if he was extremely favored, she had no need to please and flatter him. The reason Tang Menglan was close to Rong Xu was because she thinks he was very good-natured and easy to get along with but also because Rong Xu lost both of his parents since he was young so it aroused a maternal instinct in Tang Menglan.

"Pity, maybe we could've bump into "Disciple" crew if we continued shooting for two more days. My relationship with the third female lead, Tan Wen, is quite good so maybe she could've brought us inside for a look. Maybe we could've even meet Xia Muyan."

Tang Menglan could be considered as the biggest actor among the cast in "Vie for Supremacy" so whether it's the male lead Dong Zheng or second male lead Ye Qiao and much less Rong Xu, they all nodded together at her words.

Dong Zheng asked with a smile: "It would be nice if we could meet Xia jie, the reason why I wanted to be an actor was because I saw Xia jie acting in "The Point Where the Staircase Intersect" as a child."

Saying this, everyone laughed out loud. Whether it was true or false in the end, only Dong Zheng himself will know.

After all is said and done, Rong Xu still had yet to enter the entertainment industry and he hasn't heard of any news of "Disciple" but he did know about Xia Muyan. This Film Empress would be in her early thirties this year but had already taken three awards in China and an Oscar nomination in American. She could be regarded as many actors' female idol and goddess.

Ye Qiao suddenly asked: "I heard the "Disciple" protagonist was Qin Cheng? Will he come too?"

This was the first time Rong Xu heard to the name "Qin Cheng". It was a blank space in his mind with only a few vague movie titles but he simply couldn't recall the other's appearance. Rong Xu suddenly realized that the original's memory basically did not have any male actors, it was almost all images of actresses!

……This was his area of negligence, he should brush up on this today when he goes back.

Tang Menglan suddenly laughed when she heard Ye Qiao: "Of course Qin Cheng will come but it seems he will only come back in a few more days. Unfortunately, we would have already left for Hengdian. I'm afraid just seeing Qin Cheng's face would be harder than seeing Xia Muyan."

Ye Qiao sighed: "It because I loved Qin Cheng's "Evening Sound" that I entered the entertainment circle."

Tang Menglan and Dong Zheng both laughed, only Rong Xu looked strangely at Ye Qiao and the latter lowered his head shamefully in embarrassment. At this moment, Rong Xu suddenly inexplicably felt that what he said was true.

In any case, Rong Xu followed the crew together to leave B city three days later and settled into the hot and humid Hengdian.

The author has something to say:

Luo Zhentao: How do I say this, this role popularity is very high! [Please pay attention]

Rong Xu: If this role wasn't good enough, did you think I still would had wanted it? [Smiling]

The name of the little Gong that just appeared: ……When will I appear?

• In Chinese, “Guan” means the government. The Guan Kiln was the government kiln that only produced fine porcelains for the royal family and court

• Ding (鼎) were prehistoric and ancient Chinese cauldrons, standing upon legs with a lid and two facing handles. They are one of the most important shapes used in Chinese ritual bronzes.

• Jie(Jiejie) Chinese for older sister. Is often used by girls who consider themselves to be sisters. The younger girl would be called a Meimei.
  

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The author’s note was technically from chapter 5 but it makes more sense in this chapter. Probably because she released chapter 4 & 5 at the same time or something, that’s why it was at 5.

Thank you Shem for doing the footnotes here cuz I was to lazy ^^