No one knew what the two of them said.
"This place's food is quite good, isn't it?" Director Wang asked Liu Yifeng and Xia Qianqian.
Liu Yifeng nodded generously, "It's indeed very good. I didn't expect grilled skewers to have such a unique flavor."
Xia Qianqian's mouth was stuffed like a little hamster. After she finished chewing, she said, "Director Wang, the place you recommended is better than mine. Last night, I recommended a place for roasted chicken in the Wuyi Square area, and everyone I took there was very satisfied. But unexpectedly, the taste of the place you recommended is even more memorable."
Seeing them give a thumbs up and praise him profusely, Director Wang chuckled, "You've only just arrived and you're already so amazed by the food? I'm not bragging, but our city has endless delicious food. I'll take you to try other delicacies another day. I promise you'll gain a lot of weight when you go back!"
Xia Qianqian quickly waved her hands, "That won't do. Artists pay close attention to their figures. I'll try whatever I want when I change careers. For now, I still need to control myself, otherwise, if I become ugly, no one will like me!"
"Hahaha, Qianqian, you're too cute. But if you make a living with your voice, then looks and figure aren't that important. People with real talent should use their skills to defeat those who are just pretty faces. These days, the Korean wave is so popular, and capitalists focus on packaging artists, with few paying attention to their actual abilities. Take recent TV dramas, for example, they're all brainless idol dramas, I'm sick of them. The entertainment industry really needs a shake-up. Many of them only teach young girls to be complacent, constantly dreaming of a Cinderella being chosen by Prince Charming and a sparrow turning into a phoenix. Anyone with a bit of sense knows this is impossible. In reality, the richer people are, the more calculating they are, and the poor simply can't compete with the rich."
Director Wang had endless stories to tell about this topic. He had been in this industry for over ten or twenty years and had seen too many behind-the-scenes dealings. It was just that he lacked the ability to change the atmosphere of the entertainment industry. Moreover, he believed that such a trend wouldn't be corrected for at least ten years. He said all this because he had a good impression of Qianqian and hoped she would focus on improving her own skills rather than trying to attract fans with her looks and figure. Everyone's youth is limited, and no one stays young forever. Those who became popular relying on their looks will eventually decline if they can't transition into skilled actors; this is something he could foresee.
Xia Qianqian was just making a casual remark. She smiled and nodded, "Director Wang, I know. Actually, I don't care too much about my figure, otherwise, I wouldn't be out here having skewers with you in the middle of the night. I just feel that if I can't even control my own figure, what great things can I achieve!"
"Don't overthink it. I'm just giving you advice as someone with experience. It's normal for girls to want to be beautiful and pay attention to their figures. I just hope that while you're managing your figure, you don't forget to improve your skills."
"Thank you for your reminder, Director Wang. I understand!" Xia Qianqian said with a smile.
At this moment, Director Wang's attention shifted back to Liu Yifeng, "Yifeng, are you really not planning to develop into a martial arts star? I think with your looks and skills, it would be a shame not to be a martial arts actor."
Liu Yifeng, who was eating skewers, put down the one in his hand when he saw Director Wang bringing the topic back to him. He smiled apologetically, "Director Wang, I've never thought about developing in that direction. Firstly, I don't have enough energy, and secondly, once you become famous, you lose your freedom. It's better to be free and unrestrained like this. Otherwise, you'd have to worry about being photographed constantly and all sorts of scandals flying around every time you go out!"
Although he knew Liu Yifeng wasn't interested, Director Wang couldn't help but sigh with regret, "You don't know, martial arts dramas these days are unwatchable. There are hardly any works worth mentioning. The fight scenes in them are like children playing house, and the audience is full of complaints. Unlike the stars of the past, when they filmed fight scenes, it was like masters exchanging blows, with movements flowing seamlessly. If you were to film martial arts scenes, they would definitely be spectacular and attract countless fans."
Even now, he couldn't forget the moves Liu Yifeng practiced in his yard; they looked like the male protagonist straight out of a wuxia novel. It was a pity that he was unwilling to appear on camera, otherwise, he would definitely become a new generation kung fu superstar.
"Director Wang, thank you for your kindness, but I also have no acting experience. Just knowing martial arts isn't enough. I'll just go back home and farm honestly!" Liu Yifeng's longed-for life was to have his own land and house in the countryside, raise some small animals, have enough to eat and drink every day, and spend his free time with his children and walking the dog. In his opinion, such a life was the most peaceful and happy. With Tongtong's help, he was already living such a life, with no worries about food and drink, and endless money. Why bother to torment himself!
Speaking of this, Director Wang couldn't force the issue. However, he had invited Liu Yifeng out for a late-night snack not only to thank him for his generous hospitality but also because he had a favor to ask. But unexpectedly, Liu Yifeng had no interest in acting at all, so he wasn't sure if Liu Yifeng would be willing to help him. Yet, he didn't want to force the other party. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but show a hesitant expression.
Liu Yifeng immediately noticed his unusual demeanor, "Director Wang, just say what you need to say. I'll help if I can!"
Director Wang was also a straightforward person. Liu Yifeng was willing to help, but only within his capabilities. Seeing that Liu Yifeng had been so direct, Director Wang no longer held back, "Then I'll be blunt. I'm currently directing a historical drama, and as you know, historical dramas inevitably involve fighting and killing. But the main actors in the drama, despite their tall stature, have no foundation in martial arts at all. Even with a martial arts instructor teaching them every move personally, their execution looks like mere showmanship, unbearable to watch. I've poured my heart and soul into this drama, investing two million, not only using my spare cash but also borrowing over a million from friends and family. If this drama doesn't become a hit, I'll have to sell my house to repay the debt. So..."
Before he could finish, Liu Yifeng immediately interrupted him, "Director Wang, from what you're saying, this drama has already started filming. It's not appropriate for me to replace a role at this time, is it? Besides, I just said I don't want to be a celebrity, so I'm afraid I can't help. Although he hoped Director Wang's drama would be a big hit, he didn't want to embark on a path he didn't desire just to help Director Wang. He also didn't want to push someone else out of a role halfway through. He knew how much effort many people put into getting a role, especially unknown actors who relied on playing significant roles to make a name for themselves. In any case, he couldn't do something like replacing someone and then taking their place.