Chapter 44: Premiere III

Damn it, she was a beauty so rare that one wouldn't encounter her in two hundred years at the Central Academy of Drama—what was with that look in his eyes?

Was he denying her beauty?

At this moment, Zeng Li felt a pang of heartache, but more so, she began to doubt Cheng Sheng's preferences.

Looking at Wang Jinhua and Fan Shuangbing, Cheng Sheng complained inwardly: *First it's one Bingbing, and now another? And what's the deal with Huayi? Sending people in two separate batches?*

Wait.

It couldn't be that Wang Jinhua and the elder and younger Wangs had already fallen out, could it?

According to the future he knew, Wang Jinhua was supposed to leave Huayi next year to start her own venture, establishing Cheng Tian Entertainment.

Furthermore, when Wang Jinhua left, she took a massive group of Huayi artists with her, which directly dealt a heavy blow to Huayi's vitality. The loss of talent was so severe it nearly caused a generational gap, leading Huayi into a period of decline.

In the short span of a decade or so in the future, a giant would begin to struggle with its expenses.

It seemed Wang Jinhua was a ruthless woman; she had certainly played a dirty hand against the elder and younger Wangs when she left.

"It is truly an honor to have you here, Sister Hua," Cheng Sheng said, shaking hands with Wang Jinhua.

"Director Cheng, you flatter me. Actually, I've wanted to meet someone as young and talented as you for a long time," Wang Jinhua said with a smile.

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries. It had to be said that Wang Jinhua was very well-spoken; no wonder she was called the nation's number one agent.

After just a few sentences, even Cheng Sheng developed a favorable impression of her.

"Director Cheng, next time you film a new movie, you must look after Bingbing. She is incredibly hardworking and will personally take on any kind of role, no matter how difficult," Wang Jinhua said, showering Fan Shuangbing with praise.

Cheng Sheng smiled; he knew Fan Shuangbing all too well.

The "Dragon Robe" incident in 2010 that shocked Cannes.

*"I don't marry into wealth; I am the wealth."*

That domineering declaration, paired with the dragon robe styling, successfully completed Fan Shuangbing's magnificent transformation from a "vase" to "Lady Fan."

In every subsequent red carpet appearance, Ke Wen would tailor stunning looks for her: crane outfits, porcelain doll styles, flower fairies... these classic looks not only made Fan Shuangbing, but also made Ke Wen's reputation soar in the fashion industry.

Unfortunately, once the tax scandal erupted, Fan Shuangbing fell straight from the clouds and slowly faded from the public eye.

Fan Shuangbing was considered one of the most inspirational figures in the entertainment industry.

From an unknown nobody to the explosively popular "Lady Fan"—if she hadn't made those mistakes, perhaps only a handful of people in the domestic industry could have ever surpassed her fame.

What a pity!

An actress with beauty, looks, and acting skills was truly hard to find in this circle.

"Certainly, certainly. Teacher Fan's acting is excellent. If there is a suitable role, she will definitely be chosen," Cheng Sheng said with a polite, perfunctory smile.

If he were filming *Wu Zetian*, Cheng Sheng actually would have sought out Fan Shuangbing; after all, her future portrayal of Wu Zetian was quite good.

In terms of image and styling, Fan Shuangbing, known for her powerful aura, matched the temperament of Wu Zetian.

She successfully captured Wu Zetian's decisiveness and tenderness, performing brilliantly in political intrigue scenes, such as the high-tension portrayal of "strangling her daughter to frame Empress Wang."

However, Fan Shuangbing's acting was too superficial. When playing Wu Zetian, she focused on external dominance but failed to deeply demonstrate the political maneuvering, wisdom, and the cold side of the emperor. Her handling of emotions was also not quite ideal.

This was Fan Shuangbing's weakness.

However, if he had the "Immersive Experience" buff, perhaps Fan Shuangbing's performance would have been more fitting.

"Thank you, Director Cheng."

Because they were surrounded by reporters, although Fan Shuangbing wanted to act a bit flirtatious with Cheng Sheng, she had to maintain her persona and thanked him subtly.

"Sister Hua, Teacher Fan, let's chat more when we have time. I'll have Sister Li lead you inside; I have things to attend to."

Seeing someone approaching him, Cheng Sheng spoke to Wang Jinhua and Fan Shuangbing, then asked Zeng Li to escort the two inside.

Following Zeng Li into the cinema, Zeng Li arranged for them to sit in the front row before leaving.

"Sister Hua, look over there!" Fan Shuangbing whispered.

Wang Jinhua looked up in the direction Fan Shuangbing was pointing and saw the elder and younger Wangs sitting not far away with Li Shuangbing.

"They arrived even earlier than us."

She wasn't curious at all about why the Wangs were there; after all, China Film had also invited them.

"Sister Hua, do you think Director Cheng took a liking to me?" Fan Shuangbing asked in a low voice.

"Don't be in a hurry. This is only the first meeting. There will be plenty of time to build a relationship later. Trust me—since you've followed me, I will definitely do everything in my power to make you a star," Wang Jinhua said, knowing exactly what Fan Shuangbing meant.

"Mm."

Fan Shuangbing gave a noncommittal response, her eyes drifting, but she had her own little schemes in mind.

Although Sister Hua said she would make her a star, after experiencing being replaced in *My Fair Princess*, she wouldn't fully believe anyone's words.

If she wanted something, it was best to fight for it herself.

Relying on others might result in something like *My Fair Princess*, where even after signing a contract, her lead role turns into a maid.

When the time came and no more guests arrived, Cheng Sheng and the main actors of the film entered the cinema and went up on stage.

They began the standard procedures before the premiere.

Chatting, telling jokes, and sharing stories from the filming period.

These were the fixed routines of a premiere, specifically designed to provide material for the media to write news stories.

At many film premieres, directors and actors would play the "victim," talking about the hardships encountered during filming or the good deeds the leads did, such as buying lunch boxes for extras or helping them adapt to their roles.

These were all ways to build a persona and generate hype.

This was essentially the specialty of actors; after all, the "script" was written long ago—they just had to "act" it out. No one was going to expose their manufactured personas anyway.

Through this "performance," actors could increase their popularity, which in turn would influence the film's reception, making fans interested in the movie and driving them to the theaters to support their idols.

There was also the matter of increasing personal charm. By crafting a unique and individualistic image through their personas in public or on social media, they could attract more fans.

Once they had enough fans, it meant their market value had increased, and advertisements and endorsements would follow in droves.

Therefore, actors would memorize their "scripts" before a premiere.

Below the stage.

Zhang Weiping and Director Zhang sat in the second row; the front row was occupied by teachers and the president of the Central Academy of Drama, as well as Master Han and others.

Watching Cheng Sheng talking eloquently on stage and sharing funny anecdotes from filming, Zhang Weiping mocked in a low voice, "This kid is getting too cocky. I don't think his career as a director will last long."

Director Zhang had a smile on his face, but he cast a slight glance at the elderly man sitting next to Master Han in the first row, feeling a surge of shock in his heart.

He recognized this old man.

While filming *Hero*, he had visited the National Museum to search for historical materials regarding the Qin Dynasty, and he had even spoken with the director of the National Museum.

(End of Chapter)