aircannonsinc Chapter 243 Fishing Friends Circle
Chapter 243 Fishing Friends Circle
Late at night, at a five-star hotel in Kyoto.
He Shengming lay on the large bed, a faint, pleasant fragrance still lingering on his body.
That seemed to be the scent left behind when Jiang Baizhi leaned against him during the daytime filming.
Goodnight, Teacher He.
The cool, slightly trembling voice in his mind was like a fine feather, constantly scratching at He Shengming's heart.
The scratching made this seasoned veteran of the entertainment industry, who had seen it all, toss and turn in bed like a high school student experiencing first love, clutching his pillow.
"Jiang Baizhi, Jiang Baizhi, hehehe."
He Shengming sat up abruptly and touched his face, which was flushed from excessive excitement.
Jiang Baizhi is all he can think about right now.
It was the broken feeling of her long, wet hair sticking to her cheeks.
It was a fleeting glimpse of her as she ran away, lifting her skirt.
And then there was that soft, sweet "Goodnight" before she left.
"Such a wonderful girl, if she had waited any longer and been deceived by those reckless gigolos in the industry, it would have been a real loss to the Chinese film industry!"
"I'm more reliable; I need to win over Bai Zhi as soon as possible!"
He Shengming gave himself a plausible reason.
"I need to find out more about her background and see just how ruthless her gangster brother is."
"That way, I can prepare a gift for meeting the parents in advance... no, I mean self-defense equipment."
Thinking of this, He Shengming picked up his phone.
As a well-established and accomplished actor, his circle of friends consists of famous directors and big names.
He opened his WeChat Moments and picked out a photo from his album. It was a side profile picture of Jiang Baizhi, dressed in Zhang Yan's robe, sitting in the shade reading a script during a break from filming that afternoon.
In the photo, Jiang Baizhi looks desolate.
Backlit, her charm is amplified to the extreme, breathtakingly beautiful, like a porcelain doll that might vanish at any moment.
After deliberating for a long time, He Shengming typed out a line of text filled with the older generation's appreciation:
[Today's reflection: Deep within the palace, I encountered a young, spiritually inclined junior.]
Her name is Jiang Baizhi, a girl who made me redefine "dedication" and "talent."
Do you know her? You'll be absolutely amazed when you meet her! (Thumbs up)
Click to send.
He didn't directly say, "I'm determined to pursue this girl."
After all, that would bring Jiang Baizhi unnecessary pressure from rumors.
That's fine.
With the attitude of "an older brother mentoring a younger generation," he can both attack and defend, which is simply perfect!
He Shengming stared at the "fishing" post on his phone screen, his heart pounding like a rabbit in his chest.
"Some people should know her, right?" He Shengming muttered to himself, picking up a glass of warm water as he went.
The words fell.
Less than a minute after it was sent, WeChat notifications rang twice.
He Shengming's eyes lit up, and he thought to himself: They're here!
He couldn't wait to open the comment section of his WeChat Moments.
He originally thought it would be a famous director or veteran actor who would come out with the scoop, but the first few comments almost made him spit out his water.
[Old Wang]: Teacher He, this young girl is really pretty, just like the star in our calendars when we were young.
[Xiao Liu]: Brother He, is this the female lead of the new drama? She has an amazing aura!
[Jiang Tianhou]: This child is good-looking, I'll remember him.
He Shengming thought that no one in his WeChat Moments knew Jiang Baizhi, but just then, another message appeared in the comments section of his Moments.
[He Jianguo (Father)]: I know her! I know this girl! By the way, Shengming, how do you know Jiang Baizhi? Tell me quickly!
He Shengming's hand holding the cup trembled.
"My dad? I didn't expect my dad to know Jiang Baizhi?"
Seeing his father, whose profile picture was an eagle soaring and whose ID was "Hard Work and Struggle," send three exclamation marks in a row, He Shengming was completely dumbfounded.
Before he could reply in the comments section, his phone screen suddenly started vibrating violently.
— [The Empress Dowager (note: biological father)] is calling!
He Shengming quickly answered the call, but before he could even call out "Dad," his father's voice, strong yet strangely gentle, came through the line:
"Shengming, you're still awake?"
"Did you eat well tonight? It's windy in Kyoto, remember to wear long johns."
He Shengming was completely bewildered:
"Dad...it's almost eleven o'clock, I was about to go to sleep."
"I ate, the crew provided boxed lunches... What's up calling you so late at night?"
"Ahem, as long as you're full, that's good. It's the foundation for everything."
Old Man He coughed twice on the other end of the line, then abruptly changed the subject, speaking very quickly:
"By the way, I just saw your WeChat Moments."
"Are you currently filming in the same production group as that girl named Jiang Baizhi?"
"Does she look exactly the same in person as on TV?"
"Is she well-behaved? Does she have good manners?"
He Shengming: "......."
So all the previous concern was just a smokescreen, and Jiang Baizhi was the ultimate target?
"Yes, she played the third female lead, Zhang Yan, in our drama 'Beauty's Rival in Palace'."
"I've been acting with you a lot, what's wrong, Dad?"
"Great! That's wonderful!"
Old Man He slapped his thigh excitedly on the other end of the line, the sound so loud it made He Shengming's ears hurt on the other end of the phone:
"I've made up my mind! I'm going to Kyoto tomorrow on business, and I'll stop by the film set to see you!"
"It's been about six months since we last saw each other, hasn't it? Oh, Dad, I've missed you so much!"
My dad suddenly wants to visit me on set?
I'm afraid they have another purpose!
He Shengming, expressionless, exposed the truth:
"Dad, didn't you say last week that I look too old and you didn't want to see me in videos?"
"Besides, what business could you possibly have back in your hometown that you could bring to the Kyoto film crew?"
"How can you be so insensible, child!"
Old Man He blushed and shouted confidently:
"I'm going to check on my son's work environment, and while I'm at it... while I'm at it, on behalf of the He family, to extend my regards to the young generation who are dedicated to art. Is there anything wrong with that?"
He Shengming sighed:
"Alright, alright, you came to see me, so you might as well check on Jiang Baizhi while you're at it, okay?"
"But Dad, how did you know about her? Don't you usually only read 'Get Rich Quick' magazine?"
Mentioning this, Old Man He's voice instantly became fervent:
"You're so out of touch! Did you even watch 'The Voice of China'? That girl's song brought tears to my eyes!"
"That pure, unadulterated smile is so beautiful!"
"My comrades' group chats exploded. Old Li insisted that Jiang Baizhi looked like his first love, and I argued with him on the spot. She clearly looks more like my first love... cough cough, my wife."
He Shengming was completely dumbfounded as his father began to expound on the charm of "Goddess Bai Zhi" over the phone.
What?
Old Li said Jiang Baizhi looks like his first love?
Does she resemble Dad's first love?
"No, I must have misheard. Dad's first love was Mom!"