Chapter 301 - 300: Give It a Try

Chapter 301: Chapter 300: Give It a Try

Gu Qingyin and Huo Yunjing exchanged a glance, observing Huo Xinghai as they walked.

Huo Xinghai took the initiative to hand the woman a cup of water, and he passed the hand warmer his assistant gave him to her. A smile danced in his eyes when he spoke to her, but that smile clearly faded when he turned to talk to others...

"Hiss..." Gu Qingyin narrowed her eyes. "Something’s not right."

Huo Yunjing nodded. "Very much not right."

"No wonder he suddenly decided to start acting. His intentions are clearly elsewhere," Gu Qingyin murmured with a sigh. "He’s reached that age... when the heart starts to stir."

"It’s the female lead," Huo Yunjing said. "What’s her name?"

"Let me think." Gu Qingyin pondered for a couple of seconds. "It was something like Xie... something Yi?"

"Xie Xinyi," the staff member guiding them said, also lowering their voice to match. "She’s this year’s breakout ’it girl.’ Good acting, good looks, but her personality is a little proud. But celebrities, you know, they’re all like that."

Gu Qingyin pouted. ’So what if they’re a celebrity? They get put on a pedestal by their fans and start thinking they’re actually someone special.’

As they drew closer, the staff member had intended to lead them directly to Huo Xinghai, but they were stopped.

Gu Qingyin thanked him and gestured for him to go on with his work, telling him not to worry about them.

The staff member left. Gu Qingyin and Huo Yunjing stood in place, staring at Huo Xinghai, waiting to see when he would finally notice them.

But Huo Xinghai was clearly engrossed in his chat with Xie Xinyi, not paying the slightest bit of attention to anyone else.

"I don’t see how she’s proud," Gu Qingyin whispered. "Isn’t her smile quite cute?"

Huo Yunjing’s lips curved slightly. "Depends on the person."

Gu Qingyin nodded in agreement. ’Being proud toward everyone either means there’s something wrong with your brain or you have zero emotional intelligence.’

"Cut! Prepare for the next scene!"

After the director’s shout from over there, everyone on the set started moving.

Huo Xinghai also paused his chat with Xie Xinyi and turned to look over, then he froze. He’d felt like someone had been watching him from this direction for a while, but since he was filming and then talking with Xie Xinyi, he hadn’t paid it any mind.

Just as the director was about to call Huo Xinghai over to discuss the next scene, he saw the young man stride through the crowd, heading straight for the handsome man and beautiful woman standing behind everyone. Only then did the director remember that Huo Xinghai’s parents were visiting. Someone had mentioned it to him earlier, but he’d forgotten.

Immediately after, the director found himself marveling. ’Just how is Huo Xinghai’s entire family so good-looking? Every single one of them is gorgeous. If they were in the entertainment industry, they’d instantly become mega-famous.’

At this thought, an idea sparked in the director’s mind, and he called over the screenwriter.

Over there, Huo Xinghai hugged his parents one by one, a happy grin on his face. "What made you decide to visit the set? And without telling me, too. Were you trying to surprise me?"

Gu Qingyin raised an eyebrow with a smile. "Are you surprised?"

Huo Xinghai nodded emphatically. "Extremely surprised!" He glanced toward the director. "I still have two scenes. Wait for me for a bit, and we’ll go eat after I’m done." After speaking, he called his assistant over and asked them to prepare chairs and hot water.

Huo Xinghai’s assistant had been switched to a young woman. She had a round, adorable face, a lively air about her, and her smile gave off a strange sense of warmth and friendliness.

"Hello, Uncle and Auntie. You can just call me Xiao Yuan. I’m Brother Hai’s assistant." Xiao Yuan smiled a little shyly. "Brother Hai’s rest area is inside. I’ll take you there."

Gu Qingyin smiled and nodded. "Sorry to trouble you."

"No trouble, no trouble at all. It’s what I’m supposed to do." Xiao Yuan waved her hands, then took out two folding chairs and set them up. "Please, sit. I’ll go get you some hot water."

The cups were barely in her hand when Huo Xinghai came back over, this time with people in tow.

The group made a beeline for Huo Yunjing.

"Dad," Huo Xinghai said with a strange expression, "do you want to act?"

For a rare moment, Huo Yunjing’s eyes showed his confusion. ’Act?’

The director chuckled. "There’s a role that’s perfect for you. It’s a supporting character, but he has a huge impact on the protagonist. In terms of story, he’s a very brilliant character. Interested in giving it a try?"

Huo Yunjing stood up, his height advantage immediately apparent. He was a full head taller than the director. Looking down slightly at the director, he asked, "Why me?"

The director’s eyes grew even brighter. "I’ve been looking this whole time! But you’re the closest I’ve ever seen to the character!"

The screenwriter was also very pleased and chimed in from the side, "This character is the number one general. He aided the founding emperor and was later enfeoffed as a marquis. He’s a master of martial arts with a powerful aura, handsome yet masculine... a truly peerless figure."

The director sighed. "The requirements are quite high, so we haven’t been able to find a suitable actor. The moment I saw you today, I knew you were the one. How about it? Think it over. Just consider it supporting your son’s career."

Huo Xinghai quickly interjected, "Dad, you don’t have to consider me. If you don’t want to do it, just forget it. Anyway, the character doesn’t even have that many lines. They can just find someone who’s ’good enough’."

Before he could finish speaking, the director shot him a glare.

Of course, Huo Yunjing didn’t want to act. He was just about to refuse when Gu Qingyin nudged him, and the rejection on the tip of his tongue turned into, "I’ll think about it. I’ll give you an answer in a bit."

The director and screenwriter’s faces lit up with joy. They repeatedly said that was great and then dragged Huo Xinghai away to film.

"You want to see me act?" Huo Yunjing asked, confused.

Gu Qingyin shook her head and said in a low voice, "If you take this role, we’ll have a legitimate reason to stay on set."

As for what they would do on set... why, observe Huo Xinghai and Xie Xinyi up close, of course!

Huo Yunjing understood. He was a bit speechless. "Can’t we just ask him directly?"

"Nothing’s even started yet! If we ask him directly, he definitely won’t say anything. What if it doesn’t work out later? How awkward would that be?" Gu Qingyin argued reasonably. "We’ll just casually watch. We won’t interfere."

Huo Yunjing shot her a glance. ’You’d better not.’

After that scene was finished, Huo Yunjing accepted the director’s offer. The director immediately had someone bring over a contract and had him sign it, afraid Huo Yunjing would change his mind. After the signing, the director looked at Gu Qingyin and asked tentatively, "This Marquis also has a wife. Would you like to give it a try?"

Gu Qingyin blinked and smiled. "Sure, why not? I’ll treat it as a new life experience. I think acting seems quite interesting."

The director’s smile grew even wider.

In truth, the director already had an actress in mind for this role and had been quite satisfied with his choice. But looking at Huo Yunjing’s looks and aura, that actress just didn’t match up. The original pairing was better.

Huo Xinghai’s emotions were incredibly complicated. He couldn’t help but glance back at Xie Xinyi. ’With Mom and Dad here, how am I supposed to pursue her?’

Xie Xinyi’s assistant was telling her about Huo Xinghai’s parents. After hearing the story, she took a sharp breath and secretly decided to keep her distance from Huo Xinghai for the next few days.

’Meeting the parents when things have just started getting flirty is way too terrifying!’

After filming wrapped up, Huo Xinghai removed his makeup, changed his clothes, and, fully bundled up, took his parents to a hot pot restaurant. Luckily, it was cold there at night, so being covered up so thoroughly wouldn’t arouse suspicion.

"Is Xingchen home? The last time I was there, I heard him say one of his commissions was a bit tricky and that he needed to find someone to help." Huo Xinghai asked about his younger brother while pouring tea for his parents.

Gu Qingyin nodded. "It’s been resolved. He’s been taking on a lot of commissions lately and is growing up fast."

A hint of pride was in Huo Xinghai’s voice. "My little brother is excellent at everything he does."

Huo Yunjing smiled and asked unexpectedly, "What about you? Did you start acting on a whim, or are you serious about it?"