Chapter 1838: Everyone Has Their Own Path

Perhaps because the boss Zhao Fusheng was personally present, the filming went quite smoothly today.

In fact, there wasn't even a single NG.

“Your presence as overseer is quite effective.”

Fan Baobao stood beside Zhao Fusheng, smiling as she looked at him.

Zhao Fusheng rolled his eyes. “What do you mean by that? Do you think I came to supervise them?”

“You have no sense of humor at all.”

Fan Baobao glared at Zhao Fusheng and said irritably.

Zhao Fusheng shrugged without retorting, but inwardly he disagreed with her words.

They were an old married couple, not strangers meeting for the first time; they knew each other too well.

“Want to have dinner with Xiaoqiang tonight?”

Zhao Fusheng looked at Fan Baobao and asked quietly.

Fan Baobao thought for a moment and shook her head. “Forget it. He’s the lead actor in the crew. If we take him out alone and not the others, it won’t be good.”

People fear scarcity, not inequality—that’s the mentality of most Chinese people.

If Zhao Fusheng and Fan Baobao called Wang Qiang out alone, the rest of the crew would surely feel uncomfortable, and rumors might spread, which wouldn’t be good for him either.

Wang Qiang probably didn’t want to be looked at with strange eyes in the crew either.

“Alright.”

Zhao Fusheng nodded, turned around, and whispered a few instructions to Wu Sijie, who was beside him.

Wu Sijie smiled, turned around, and went out to make a phone call.

“Do you have something to do?”

Fan Baobao asked Zhao Fusheng curiously.

Zhao Fusheng shook his head and smiled. “Nothing much. Since I’m here, I should leave a little gift, shouldn’t I?”

Fan Baobao smiled and didn’t ask further, letting Zhao Fusheng decide on his own.

Soon, Xu Shanzheng finished his scene and came over to greet Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng smiled and said, “I have other matters, so I won’t stay to watch. I’ve booked a restaurant nearby for the crew tonight. My assistant will give you the address. I’m treating everyone to dinner.”

Xu Shanzheng was startled and looked at Zhao Fusheng in surprise. He was about to refuse, but Zhao Fusheng waved his hand. “This is my personal treat. I hope everyone will give their best effort in filming and bring this work to the big screen as soon as possible.”

Then, raising his voice, Zhao Fusheng said to the crew around him, “I believe that under Director Xu’s leadership, you will deliver a satisfactory result, right?”

“Right!”

“Thank you, Chairman!”

The people around weren’t fools. Those who heard what Zhao Fusheng said immediately remembered that this man was a super-rich tycoon. His visit meant not only a meal but also red envelopes.

More importantly, the chairman himself had come, which meant Future Films really had high hopes for this movie.

Xu Shanzheng was also excited. Zhao Fusheng’s gesture clearly boosted his prestige. As a novice director, he had some fame in the circle, but that was accumulated as an actor. Now Zhao Fusheng’s move made it clear that he had high expectations for him.

To be honest, this was both pressure and motivation.

At the very least, Xu Shanzheng now felt he had to make this film well, at least ensuring it wouldn’t lose money.

“You all continue working; we’ll take our leave now.”

Zhao Fusheng smiled and bid farewell to Xu Shanzheng. Xu Shanzheng quickly nodded and, along with Wang Qiang and the assistant director, escorted the couple out of the set.

…

…

“You seem to have high hopes for Xu Shanzheng.”

Fan Baobao sat in the car and asked Zhao Fusheng casually.

Zhao Fusheng nodded, not intending to hide it from her, and said calmly, “I think he has the potential to become a Best Actor.”

“Best Actor?”

Fan Baobao was quite surprised and looked at Zhao Fusheng in confusion. “Are you joking?”

At this time, the term “Best Actor” wasn’t as ironic as it would later become. To win a Best Actor award, one had to have real skill.

Just look at the major awards each year; the runners-up were always genuine acting powerhouses.

As for those traffic idols wanting to be nominated?

Hah, dream on!

Even Andy Lau had to endure for so many years, let alone them.

But now, Zhao Fusheng was saying that Xu Shanzheng had a chance to become a Best Actor?

What a joke!

Zhao Fusheng chuckled. “Do I look like someone who likes to joke?”

“Not really.”

Fan Baobao shook her head. “I know his acting is decent, but I still don’t quite understand. Is he really as good as you say?”

Xu Shanzheng was a veteran in the entertainment industry, having gone through ups and downs for years. He and his wife Tao Hong were quite successful, though not top-tier, they were at least second or third tier.

When it came to acting excellence, Fan Baobao felt that Xu Shanzheng’s wife was slightly better than him.

Zhao Fusheng didn’t argue with Fan Baobao. Some things couldn’t be proven with words alone; facts would speak for themselves.

As for Uncle Shanzheng’s level, time would prove his words.

“But I do hope his movie succeeds.”

Fan Baobao suddenly said to Zhao Fusheng.

“Why?”

Zhao Fusheng was a bit surprised; he didn’t expect Fan Baobao to care about this.

Fan Baobao smiled. “Not only because it’s a film our company invested in, but also because I think if this movie succeeds, Xiaoqiang can take this path in the future.”

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback, then understood her meaning.

So Fan Baobao had also seen the problems with Wang Qiang.

In fact, after finishing “Soldiers’ Sortie” and “A World Without Thieves,” Wang Qiang had fallen into a difficult situation.

It wasn’t that he lacked acting skills; after being honed by veterans like Jiang Wen, he certainly couldn’t rely solely on his so-called natural performance to carry a role.

But the problem was that having acting skills didn’t help because his appearance was too unremarkable.

In today’s entertainment industry, acting powerhouses were increasingly overlooked. No matter how good the acting, if the image wasn’t attractive enough, it couldn’t draw audiences.

Speaking of which, the rise of the traffic era was largely due to audience pickiness.

Or rather, some people might claim online how discerning they are, spotting a true acting powerhouse at a glance.

But in reality, it was these very people who once boosted those traffic stars.

Capital certainly has the power to make an artist popular, but the problem is that capital can’t decide whether audiences like those artists.

In the end, it was the audiences themselves who chose the traffic idols.

If audiences liked watching them, capital and TV stations naturally pushed them to the top.

As for later, it can only be said that audiences gradually realized that movies and TV shows relying solely on good looks were unwatchable, hence the later emergence of the term “veteran actors.”

Wang Qiang’s problem was that his image wasn’t particularly likable as a handsome guy, and his acting wasn’t outstanding. To survive in this circle long-term, he had almost no standout traits.

That was the scariest part.

Whether as an actor or a star, if you have nothing that makes people remember you, that’s the biggest problem.

Not everyone can be like that “Horse Trembling Queen,” who managed to hype herself into a superstar with a bunch of messy scandals, and after tax evasion, began testing the public with charity.

Besides, that’s the way of stars.

A true actor needs to rely on their work to speak.

Now, what lay before Wang Qiang was one path.

If the movie “Lost on Journey” succeeded, it meant he could take the route of a comedy star—a path where looks didn’t matter, only the willingness to play the fool to survive.

In short, it didn’t matter that Wang Qiang was ugly; as long as his on-screen image could make the audience laugh, his future path would be smooth.

Of course, only friends like Zhao Fusheng and Fan Baobao would consider this for him; others wouldn’t bother with such matters.

“Hopefully.”

Zhao Fusheng smiled and didn’t say much more about Fan Baobao’s words.

Some things, he understood and she understood; there was no need to elaborate.

“By the way, you mentioned last time sending Beibei to an elite school?”

Zhao Fusheng suddenly remembered something and asked Fan Baobao casually.

Fan Baobao nodded. “There are many bilingual schools in the capital now. I want her to study there.”

After all, she was her own sister. In Fan Baobao’s mind, since she had the means, she should give Fan Beibei the best education.

“Bilingual schools, huh.”

Zhao Fusheng thought for a moment and finally shook his head. “If you ask me, we should ask Beibei what she thinks.”

“Her?”

Fan Baobao snorted. “How old is she? What does she know? Besides, I’m doing this for her own good. Going to a good school now means getting ahead at the starting line. In the future…”

“Future what?”

Zhao Fusheng ruffled Fan Baobao’s hair affectionately. “Do you think she needs to worry about the future?”

“Huh?”

Fan Baobao was startled, then realized what Zhao Fusheng meant.

Yes, did Fan Beibei need to worry about the future?

For other children, they might need to worry about falling behind at the starting line or being left behind by their peers.

But for Fan Beibei, she didn’t need to worry at all!

It was like others struggling just to buy a house in the capital, but when Fan Beibei grew up, she could choose any house from the Second Ring Road to the Sixth Ring Road to live in.

She could even live in a different one each day from Monday to Sunday.

They say all roads lead to Rome. Many people strive their whole lives just to reach Rome and have a place of their own.

But for Fan Beibei, she didn’t need to go to Rome, because Rome was her home.