Chapter 330 - 330: Give Her a Chance
Shen Jun gazed at the girl before him, his silence stretching out. Finally, he let out a resigned sigh. “You have to share your plans with me. I promise to protect you from any harm, but I need to know what you’re thinking, alright?”
Wen Nian nodded with utmost seriousness. She did have a plan, but there were some things that she couldn’t tell Shen Jun, like mentioning Wang Bing.
The following morning, Wen Nian expressed her desire to see the completed advertisement. Xu Chang welcomed her warmly, and to her surprise, she found Wang Bing at the studio.
Wang Bing, now a B-list celebrity, had lost some of her former A-list shine. She was recognizable but struggled with subpar scripts, her fame waning. Passers-by might only find her vaguely familiar.
Despite Xu Chang’s rise as a renowned director, his office remained refreshingly unpretentious. There was nothing unnecessary. Wen Nian overheard every word exchanged between Wang Bing’s agent and him.
Seeing her enter, Xu Chang nodded and gestured for her to sit at the side and wait for a while.
Wang Bing, sporting a cap, wore a friendly smile but exuded a certain aloofness. To those unfamiliar with her, she might appear chilly. However, Wen Nian knew her well from a previous life. Wang Bing had even warned her about Wu Gang with a stern expression.
Wen Nian reminisced about their first meeting in that earlier life. It was also because of Wu Gang that Wang Bing took the initiative to talk to her. Back then, she had secured two roles from Wu Gang, albeit minor ones with few scenes. At that time, she wasn’t familiar with Wu Gang. She had no idea that Wu Gang to eventually give her away and make her accompany many people.
Wang Bing, who was well aware of this, had cautioned her during their initial meeting. It was just that she had been obsessed with fame at the time…
Recalling this, Wen Nian returned Wang Bing’s warm smile. “Are you here to see Director Xu today as well?”
Clearly taken aback by Wen Nian’s initiative, Wang Bing gave a hesitant nod.
Before Wang Bing could speak, her manager spoke anxiously. “Wang Bing is truly a hidden talent, Xu Chang. Didn’t you say that you owe me a favor. Why not give her a chance in your next film? If the audition doesn’t go well, I won’t bother you anymore.”
Wang Bing’s manager looked to be over 40 years old and was dressed very simply, but her desire to fight for an opportunity for Wang Bing was real. In Wen Nian’s previous life, she had never seen a manager advocate so fervently for a second or third-tier artist.
Xu Chang remained fixed on his computer screen, reviewing the post-production work from the previous day. “I already have someone in mind.”
“Xu Chang!” Wang Bing’s agent sounded increasingly anxious. “Have you forgotten those days when you couldn’t even afford instant noodles? I helped you a lot back then! You even took braised pork with you when you left my place. You could devour three or four pounds of spare ribs on your own. You even…”
“Sister Wang!” Xu Chang swiftly interrupted her, unfazed by the reminiscences of his past hardships. After all, his history was common knowledge, and Sister Wang had genuinely supported him.
Xu Chang sighed as he glanced back and forth between Wen Nian and Wang Bing, both seated before him. Undeniably, Wang Bing possessed commendable looks and acting skills. He wasn’t unfamiliar with her work; if it weren’t for Wen Nian, he might have been inclined to select Wang Bing. After all, she was under Sister Wang’s guidance. Nevertheless, his inclination leaned toward Wen Nian.
Observing Xu Chang’s conflicted expression and his intermittent glances in her direction, Wen Nian suddenly grasped the situation. She hadn’t expected that Xu Chang’s upcoming film would consider her for the leading female role.
In her previous life, Wang Bing’s breakthrough came with a role in one of Xu Chang’s films. The movie depicted the plight of a female university graduate struggling to find employment, ultimately falling victim to a lascivious boss who coerced her into becoming yet another one of his many lovers. It was a dark tale of deception and dead-end choices.
At this moment, Wen Nian comprehended why Wang Bing had skyrocketed to stardom so swiftly. That film had almost mirrored her own life journey, a story she could relate to from start to finish.
Wen Nian turned to face Wang Bing, her eyes filled with hope. Despite Wang Bing’s chilly exterior, Wen Nian could discern the genuine longing in her gaze.
If she secured a role in this film, Wen Nian could utilize it as a stepping stone to offer Wang Bing more substantial opportunities and perhaps even present Director Wu with a substantial “gift.”
“Director Xu,” Wen Nian rose from her seat, “I believe she has a lot of potential.. Would you consider giving her a chance?”