Chapter 43: Layman Jiaqian

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“Qingqing, is it really okay to go out like this?”

“Maybe you should bring a few bodyguards. If you're recognized by fans, you'll be in danger!”

His little assistant, Zhao Ya, was extremely worried. Even the slightest rustle in the hotel corridor made her hyper-vigilant, fearing a sasaeng fan might emerge to do something inappropriate to Gu Qing.

“I’ve only just gained a bit of fame, and you want me to bring bodyguards? Do you think the internet hasn't criticized me enough for being a 'big shot'?”

Gu Qing put on a mask and a baseball cap. He paired a white long-sleeved lettered shirt with jeans and sneakers—as minimalist as it could get.

A star without the glamorous filters, exquisite makeup, and magnificent attire.

Walking on the street wearing a mask, who could possibly recognize you?

Do people really think they're so free after a full day of work that they want to pull off people's masks just to look at handsome guys?

“Let’s go.”

Gu Qing nudged his assistant's shoulder and got into the driver's private car, heading toward his teacher's home.

After a long while, they arrived at a small farmhouse courtyard in a remote suburb.

Stars rarely visited this place. The elderly neighbors nearby cast curious glances at the vehicle before returning to their idle chatter at the village entrance.

“Teacher, I’ve arrived.”

After sending the message, Gu Qing gave Zhao Ya and the driver half a day off, telling them to return only when needed.

“Ah Gu—”

A gentle male voice drifted from the courtyard.

“Teacher.”

Gu Qing stood outside the iron gate, waving with a smile.

“Come in, come in quickly.”

Zhang Songwen looked at his student. Even though Gu Qing had become a top celebrity, there was no sense of estrangement between them. He warmly led Gu Qing into the courtyard.

The surroundings were filled with flowers and trees; the lush vegetation was refreshing to the soul.

“Teacher, you have so much greenery in your home,” Gu Qing remarked in admiration.

“It can't be helped. When there are no dramas to film, one has to grow some flowers and plants to pass the time,” Zhang Songwen said, expressing the helplessness of a middle-aged actor.

However, being naturally optimistic, he pulled Gu Qing into the room and said, “Come, Ah Gu, let me introduce you to a good friend of mine.”

Sitting inside was a thin, middle-aged man sipping tea. When he looked at Gu Qing, he was momentarily stunned by surprise before giving a reserved nod as a greeting.

“Jia... no, Teacher Zhou Yiwei?!”

Gu Qing nearly tripped over his words, almost calling out the man who had gone viral in his previous life: "Ten years an actor, unknown to all; one day a pay raise, and the whole world knows!"

The 'Pay-Raise Hermit'!

“Ah Gu, you know Yiwei?”

Zhang Songwen was incredulous.

Even Zhou Yiwei, who was sipping tea, snapped his head up, a look of confusion in his eyes.

How could a plain, ordinary little actor like him be recognized by the hottest top star right now?

As an "old cadre" type, Zhou Yiwei didn't pay much attention to mobile phone content.

But he couldn't help it because his wife, a top star on Moon TV, chased the variety show *Running Man* every night, blushing and screaming like a young girl, shouting things like, "Qingqing Mama, I love you!"

Because of this, Zhou Yiwei had been jealous for quite a while.

“Uh... I've seen the dramas Senior Yiwei has acted in,” Gu Qing’s brain worked at high speed. “Senior played Pan Wenjie in *The Exorcist Zhong Kui*; I have a very deep impression of it.”

“Ah Gu, that was a drama from 2009. You actually remember that?” Zhang Songwen said in shock.

“Teacher, I have a photographic memory,” Gu Qing replied.

“Being young is great...”

Zhang Songwen simply assumed it was the excellent memory of youth. He smiled, led Gu Qing to a chair, personally brewed tea, and handed him a cup. “Ah Gu, try this.”

“Thank you, Teacher.”

Gu Qing carefully took it and took a light sip. The fresh fragrance of the tea, accompanied by a faint bitterness, lingered on his tongue. “It’s delicious.”

“Ah Gu, did you come to see me today because you want to ask more questions about acting?” Zhang Songwen asked.

“Yes, Teacher. Following your requirements, I’ve finished writing the character biography, but when I act in front of the mirror, it always feels very disjointed.”

Gu Qing handed over the printed character biography and the script.

“Sha Qianmo?”

Zhang Songwen flipped through the pages, reading carefully.

Sitting nearby, Zhou Yiwei, a true cinephile, couldn't help but steal a curious glance at the script.

“Second male lead?”

As he read, a hint of envy surfaced in his eyes.

To be able to play the second male lead in his very first drama—that surpassed countless actors. Even he hadn't played such an important role.

But then he thought

The other few top stars at Gu Qing's level were all playing the male leads in movies for their first projects, collaborating with A-list actresses; that was even more exaggerated.

By comparison,

Gu Qing's treatment was actually a little pitiful.

“Yiwei, you take a look too. Help me give Ah Gu some feedback,” Zhang Songwen said, considering his old friend, and handed over the biography and script.

Half an hour passed.

Gu Qing was sipping tea, so he didn't feel bored.

Lately,

He had been facing the screams of fans and crowded crowds at every moment, unable to stop smiling, which left him feeling quite anxious inside.

Therefore,

He deeply enjoyed the quiet time in this small courtyard; it felt as if the whole world had become peaceful.

“Try acting it out,” Zhou Yiwei closed the script and looked seriously at Gu Qing. “That one part—the dialogue where you face Bai Zihua and say you are taking Hua Qiangu away.”

Like Zhang Songwen, he had served as an acting teacher at a film academy, so his tone inevitably carried a hint of command.

“Yiwei...”

The more emotionally intelligent Zhang Songwen felt this was inappropriate and was about to explain.

“Alright, Teacher Zhou.”

Gu Qing didn't mind. He was the one asking for help; he wouldn't hold himself in such high regard.

Gu Qing stood up and walked to the center of the room, his fingers hanging by his trouser seams curling slightly.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them, his chin was slightly raised, attempting to mimic Sha Qianmo's disdainful, god-like posture from the script.

“The person this Seat intends to take away, who dares to stop—”

The end of the sentence caught abruptly in his throat. Gu Qing's right arm rose like a rusty mechanical limb, his shoulder jerking slightly as his fingertips poked into the void.

What should have been an enchanting "orchid finger" was instead curled into a fist, as if he had been burned.

“Uh... this...”

The teacup in Zhang Songwen's hand froze mid-air, his brow furrowing deeply.

He saw his student suddenly tilt his head, eyes widening, glaring fiercely at the "Bai Zihua" in the air—with absolutely zero killing intent.

“Don't be afraid, little one.”

As Gu Qing turned, his left foot tripped over a rattan chair, and he stumbled, only avoiding a fall by grabbing the tea table.

He forcibly suppressed his panic and continued the lines, but his voice was as flat as an AI reading: “With your sister here, I will surely protect you.”

“*Sigh*—”

Zhou Yiwei took a deep breath, the script in his hand letting out a "creak" as he gripped it tightly.

The air froze amidst the steaming vapor of the teacups. The sound of dogs barking outside the village suddenly became piercing, penetrating the newspaper-covered wooden lattice windows.

“Teacher Zhang, Teacher Zhou, I've finished acting.”

Like a child standing in a corner as punishment for a mistake, Gu Qing asked expectantly, “What did you think?”

“What did I think...”

Zhou Yiwei opened his mouth, then closed it again.

You don't know how to act at all!

If Gu Qing were his own student at the acting academy, he wouldn't be able to stop himself from telling him to pack his bags and get out.

But then he remembered,

Zhang Songwen had mentioned to him that Gu Qing was just a singing and dancing idol who had been inexplicably tied to acting by his company, and he wasn't even willing to spend money to hire a teacher.

Instead, he was willing to spend his own money to continue learning; his attitude was absolutely beyond reproach.

“That... your... that step you took was quite good.”

After holding it in for a long time, Zhou Yiwei finally thought of something he could praise.

Gu Qing: “……”

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(End of Chapter)