Entertainment King:Extracting Skills from the Movies

Zhang Zhizong calmed himself slightly and asked coldly,

"Are there reporters outside the hospital? Have there been any online reports yet?"

Hearing this, his assistant grew visibly uneasy.

"There are some reporters, but we've managed to dismiss most of them. As for the internet... several platforms are already covering the incident, and public opinion is spreading rapidly."

She hesitated to reveal the full truth—that the internet was in an uproar—knowing the volatile "ticking time bomb" before her might explode. Who knew what kind of chaos he would unleash?

Zhang Zhizong's expression darkened, his blood pressure rising.

"Do I have to spell it out for you? No matter the cost, suppress those trending topics!"

The assistant, on the verge of tears, already regretted not taking a sick day today.

"Boss Zhang, it's already too late. Twenty minutes ago, Urban Entertainment Daily, Southern Weekend, and Celebrity Gossip Network simultaneously released photos of you and Sister Mei... in the car."

"What? Impossible!"

Zhang Zhizong sat bolt upright, his expression a mix of shock and smoldering fury.

How could this have spread so quickly after the incident? He had already instructed key media outlets to hold back. Had those bastards taken his money but failed to deliver?

The assistant, feeling the suffocating pressure, braced herself and continued,

"And just now, Zhang Yu, the actress who exposed you before, has come forward with another explosive accusation. Several actresses you've... interacted with have also stepped forward. Photos and audio recordings are circulating everywhere—it's uncontrollable now."

"That vile wench—she's courting death!"

Zhang Zhizong's chest heaved with rage, his trembling hands clenched into fists.

He couldn't even remember if he had ever actually "interacted" with Zhang Yu, but he was sure of one thing: the entertainment industry had its rules. How could anyone expect roles after just a few meetings? Who did she think she was?

He had previously warned Zhang Yu, even threatening to blacklist her. But now she had dared to stir the pot again.

His mounting fury made his face turn red. Just as he was about to erupt, two more phone calls came in.

The assistant answered them, growing more nervous with each word.

"Boss Zhang, the investors and producers have called. They want to know if you can handle this situation. If you need more time, they suggest you step back from the project temporarily…"

Crash!

Zhang Zhizong grabbed the cup on his bedside table and smashed it onto the floor. The shattering glass echoed sharply through the quiet hospital room.

The assistant flinched at the sight of his terrifying, demon-like anger.

"This is treason! Complete treason!"

Zhang Zhizong was fuming, his breathing ragged as he tried to suppress the bile rising in his throat.

The news had hit him hard.

The investors' suggestion was practically an eviction notice. Despite being the producer and figurehead of the project, the tangled web of interests behind the scenes was vast, with the real power resting in the hands of the investors.

With his scandal overshadowing the project, their recommendation to "step back" might as well have been a death sentence for his career.

After all, the crew was already assembled, and production was ready to start. His absence would hardly derail the project.

The thought of his painstaking efforts and personal investments being swept aside filled him with a sense of hopelessness.

"Find them! No matter what it takes, dig out that damned rat! I want them to suffer a fate worse than death!"

Unable to vent his frustration any other way, Zhang Zhizong bellowed at the top of his lungs.

"And that traitorous Zhang Yu—if anyone dares to hire her again, they'll have me to deal with!"

---

The day of the audition arrived.

Though the furor surrounding Zhang Zhizong continued to escalate, Du Sheng had no time to pay it any attention.

Early in the morning, he and Wang Yaoyang arrived at a makeup studio in the film city to prepare for his audition.

Since Murong Fu was supposed to be around 25 or 26 years old when he appeared, Du Sheng was determined to match the character's appearance as closely as possible. He wasn't about to let all his preparation go to waste.

"Ms. Wen, we spoke the other day—yes, it's for an audition for a period drama. He needs a look that's mature but still youthful," Wang Yaoyang said with an eager smile, buttering up a woman in her late thirties.

Having abandoned his dreams of being a bit-part actor, Wang Yaoyang was now fully committed to helping Du Sheng succeed. Volunteering to handle various tasks, he was determined to ride Du Sheng's coattails to success.

Du Sheng, for his part, appreciated having someone to take care of the small stuff.

Ms. Wen's makeup skills were top-notch. She carefully analyzed Du Sheng's facial features and made subtle adjustments to his eyebrows and face shape, enhancing his mature, aristocratic aura while retaining a natural look.

When she finished, he looked even more refined—his appearance almost felt otherworldly.

"Thank you, Ms. Wen," Du Sheng said sincerely.

Although Ms. Wen wasn't a top-tier makeup artist for A-list celebrities, she was well-regarded in Hengdian. The fact that Wang Yaoyang had managed to book her showed that he wasn't entirely useless.

At the Mountain View Hotel, auditions were just beginning.

This time, each actor auditioning was required to wear full period costume before entering the audition room.

Du Sheng sat in the waiting area, watching people come and go, his mind slightly restless.

This was the most competitive and high-stakes opportunity he had faced since entering the industry, and he had spent longer preparing for it than any previous role.

This was the moment that would make or break him.

"Nervous?" Wang Yaoyang asked, noticing Du Sheng's unease. "That's not like you."

In his eyes, Du Sheng was bold, detail-oriented, and thick-skinned—a bit of an old soul despite his youth.

"I'm not even 19 yet," Du Sheng replied with a wry smile, glad for the distraction. "I've never been in a situation like this before."

In truth, this was Wang Yaoyang's first time in such a high-pressure environment, too. But he knew if he let his nerves show, it would only make things worse for Du Sheng.

He forced a cheerful grin, though his stiff posture and tightly clenched fists betrayed his own tension.

Seeing this, Du Sheng couldn't help but laugh. "I'm feeling better already."

He gave Wang Yaoyang a thumbs-up.

"You're like Wang Baoqiang's long-lost twin. Just talking to you makes me relax."

"Huh?" Wang Yaoyang blinked in confusion.

Du Sheng waved him off, rambling nonsense to ease the mood further.

"Your strong arms are like the safest harbor in a storm."

"Oh, stop it! You're so annoying!~" Wang Yaoyang joked in mock shyness, knowing his antics had brought Du Sheng back to his usual self.

"Pfft!"

A passing woman burst out laughing at the sight of the duo's antics.

Her earlier tension dissipated, leaving her amused.

Du Sheng recognized her immediately and offered a polite smile.

It was none other than Liu Tao, who had been invited to audition for the role of A Zhu. Having recently played Princess Musa in Romance in the Clouds

3, she was a rising star.

Liu Tao returned his smile, a little embarrassed, and followed her manager into another makeup room.