Qi Lin shook his head decisively, "No, no, Director, you go ahead. I still have another crew's lunch to deliver. My dad made extra hot dishes today, and they won't taste good if they sit too long."
The director was not about to let him leave, especially with Huang Yi still there.
"Two hundred thousand! A salary of two hundred thousand! In cash! Today!"
Qi Lin suddenly halted mid-step, then turned seriously to the director.
"Really? In RMB?"
"As real as pearls!"
"How long will it take to shoot?"
"With some overtime, one week! One week tops!"
"Director, it's not about the money. I’ve loved acting since I was a kid. I cherish this opportunity. How about this: I'll deliver the next lunch and come right back. How's that?"
A photographer with a low laugh threshold burst out laughing, thinking this young man was really interesting, putting such a huge opportunity on hold to deliver lunch.
Huang Yi, on the other hand, was thoroughly enraged by this disregard. He shook off his hand and stormed off.
Hua Jie hurriedly chased after him, "Xiaoyi, Xiaoyi, slow down, slow down."
Qi Lin was standing by the door. Whether Huang Yi did it on purpose or not was unclear, but he intentionally bumped into Qi Lin on his way out.
Qi Lin was fine, but Huang Yi fell to the ground.
At that moment, Huang Yi was bewildered. He felt like he had just run into a pillar, not a person!
Embarrassed and angry, he pointed at Qi Lin, "Are you blind? Blocking the door!"
Qi Lin looked back in surprise. The door was nearly three meters wide. Blocking the door? Do you think I'm an elephant?
Before Qi Lin could speak, Director Xu shouted angrily.
"Wang Xiaohua! Get him out of here! Don’t make me lose my temper!"
Hua Jie agreed, pulling and dragging Huang Yi out of the crew.
Huang Yi didn't resist but kept cursing all the way out.
Qi Lin was a bit confused, "Director, are we filming a scene?"
The director sighed, then adjusted his mood, "That's just a diva who can't do anything but throw tantrums! You go deliver the lunch, and come back quickly. I'll be waiting for you."
Qi Lin nodded immediately, took a few steps, and then turned back, "Director, you're not lying, right? Really two hundred thousand?"
The director nodded seriously, "Two hundred thousand! I'll prepare the cash now. When you come back, sign the contract, and get into makeup! The two hundred thousand will be yours!"
"Okay, I'll be back soon."
Qi Lin ran off, not wanting the two hundred thousand to slip away.
After Qi Lin left, the assistant director adjusted his glasses and laughed, "Such a great find, and you only offer him two hundred thousand?"
Xu Zheng chuckled, "Two hundred thousand is little for a rookie?"
"Hahaha, with his looks, just standing there as a prop is worth more than two hundred thousand! You've got a bargain, but you did say he's a rookie. Can he act?"
Xu Zheng shrugged, "If that idiot could act, why can't he?"
Assistant director: "..."
...
Qi Lin raced back, the family van emitting black smoke. After delivering the lunch, he called his parents from the roadside.
"Dad, the director noticed me while I was delivering lunch and wants me to act in a movie. The salary is two hundred thousand!"
"What? Son, be careful. Not many good directors these days. He's not trying to take advantage of you, is he?"
"Dad, he's a male director!"
"So what? Do you think male directors can't take advantage of you?"
"...Dad, be serious."
"Son, don't worry. Which crew? I'll go with you. As they say, right, I'll be your agent!"
Qi Lin trusted his father. In business matters, his father was definitely more experienced. As an athlete, Qi Lin couldn't match his father's street smarts.
So, Qi Lin picked up his dad, and they headed to the crew together.
On the way, his dad asked a lot of questions, all revolving around one point.
‘Are you kidding? A director really noticed you?’
Qi Weiguo had no idea how stunning his son was. After all, he'd seen him grow up, messy and sweaty, hogging the bathroom every day.
The van soon arrived at the crew's location. Qi Weiguo walked into the set confidently.
The "Qingcheng" crew had been filming in Hengdian for a month and a half, consistently ordering lunch from his shop. Qi Weiguo had been delivering for the same time and was familiar with the place.
On set, the director was filming with the crew. The staff led Qi Lin and his father to the assistant director.
After introductions, Qi Weiguo, familiar with the routine, took out a box of good cigarettes he usually couldn’t bear to smoke. He handed one to the assistant director with a smile.
"Director, have a smoke. My son here is an athlete. Trains every day, and it’s all muscle up there now! If he does anything wrong, please be patient with him."
The assistant director took the cigarette, pulled out a lighter from his pocket, and lit Qi Weiguo's cigarette with a smile.
"Qi Lin has a great look. Our male lead had an accident, and Qi Lin stepping in is a real save!"
Qi Weiguo smiled, rubbing his hands, "Director, my son mentioned a salary of two hundred thousand?"
The assistant director nodded and called an assistant over. The assistant returned with a black briefcase in two minutes.
"Gong Director!"
The assistant director nodded and opened the briefcase in front of Qi Weiguo, revealing twenty stacks of crisp bills.
Qi Weiguo's eyes widened. Qi Lin's reaction was similar. He had won many awards for the country, but the prize money was never this much!
The assistant director smiled, "Sign the contract, and the money is yours."
Qi Weiguo's eyes flashed. He wiped his hands on his pants and asked, "Can I see the contract first?"
"Of course, of course."
The assistant director handed a paper contract to Qi Weiguo, who read it carefully.
"Ten days of shooting, with three additional free re-shoots if needed. Daily work hours as per the director’s schedule. Due to the previous actor's departure, some scenes need quick reshooting."
The director added, "You know, our location rental is limited. Other crews are waiting to use it."
Qi Weiguo nodded, eyes on the contract. After reading it all, he smiled, "Director, looking forward to working with you!"
Qi Lin: "..."
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