Chapter 26

Chapter 27: Su Youpeng's Arrival

In the afternoon, Su Youpeng finally arrived, albeit fashionably late. His fans, who were incredibly resourceful, had already learned of the Little Tiger's arrival and over a dozen young girls were waiting outside the hotel with Little Tiger posters.

Inside the meeting room, Fan Binbin's eyes sparkled as she said, "Su Youpeng, the Little Tiger of the Little Tigers, was once my idol too. I never thought I would be acting alongside him. I wonder if he's easy to get along with."

Lin Xinru explained, "I've done a few radio shows with Su Youpeng. He's quite kind, but his agent is rather annoying."

Ye Ming added, "Actually, many celebrities are very approachable in private. They don't need to be the bad guys, so it's usually their agents or bodyguards who play the tough role. When something happens, it's often the people around the celebrity who take the blame."

After getting out of the car, fans swarmed around Su Youpeng, shouting their love and admiration, unable to contain their excitement. Su Youpeng, with his handsome face, was indeed a heartthrob for many young girls.

At that moment, an agent with golden hair and black sunglasses, extending a delicate finger, tried to hold back the enthusiastic fans.

But Su Youpeng stopped him, saying, "A Long, let it be. They've come a long way."

He kindly signed autographs and took photos with the fans before entering the Rujui Hotel with his agent.

After entering, A Long said somewhat discontentedly, "A Peng, you're a big star. Do you really need to pay attention to those fans? They're just little girls who don't understand anything."

Su Youpeng, looking around to ensure no one was around, said helplessly, "A Long, I'm not unaware. After the Little Tigers disbanded, I haven't had any significant works. 'Little Hero Dragon Tornado' wasn't a complete failure, but it didn't do well. Now isn't the time to distance myself from my fans. When I was in the Little Tigers, I might have seemed aloof and revered, but now, I need to cherish every fan who still supports me. They are my most loyal fans."

Flowers don't stay red for a hundred days. Su Youpeng, who had returned from his European studies, understood this very well.

Otherwise, why would a top idol from the Little Tigers take on a drama by Qiong Yao? He wanted to open up new paths in his acting career.

Upon arrival, Su Youpeng didn't act arrogantly just because he was a big star. He knew he was a newcomer in the film and television industry and needed to build good relationships with the crew.

Therefore, after finding out everyone was in the meeting room, he first apologized to He Xiujun and Sun Shupeng, explaining the reason for his late arrival.

This calmed Sun Shupeng, who was initially furious. As a director, he hated having a big star who thought they were above him, which could be very troublesome.

Now, Su Youpeng's humble attitude was commendable. Given his status in the industry, it was already quite rare for him to explain himself.

Sun Shupeng simply said, "The weather is beyond our control. It's good that you arrived safely. Familiarize yourself with the script. If you have any questions, you can ask me or Director Chao. Get to know everyone first."

Su Youpeng didn't act like a star when dealing with the producers and director, but when it came to the other members of the "Story of a Concubine" crew, he naturally exuded a sense of superiority.

This is the entertainment industry. If you're a big star with influence, you have certain privileges.

And these privileges are shown through the respect you receive from your peers.

System Scan

[Name: Su Youpeng, Age: 23. Acting: 300, Singing: 810, Fame: Considering his status in the Little Tigers, 890. Combat: 280, Insight: 3.5 stars, Top Singer.]

No wonder Su Youpeng never reached the status of a top actor. His insight and acting skills were slightly inferior to Zhao Wei, but his singing and fame, considering his age, were indeed impressive.

The Little Tigers were a classic that was hard to replicate.

When the director introduced the three lead actors, including Ye Ming, Su Youpeng greeted them with a handshake. However, when it came to supporting actors like Fan Binbin, he merely smiled and nodded slightly.

Among them was Bai Yulan, a veteran actress from the National Theatre, who played the role of Auntie Rong. She was a national first-class actress who had performed on the Spring Festival Gala three times, making her the most senior member of the cast.

But Su Youpeng only nodded casually, as if he were a leader meeting her.

Bai Yulan was immediately displeased and said with a cold face, "Manager He, Director, I'm not feeling well. I'll go back now. I'll be on time for the opening ceremony on the 18th."

A Long, seeing this, was unhappy and stepped forward, pointing at Bai Yulan, "What's your attitude? Are you不服气 (unhappy)?"

Everyone could see that Bai Yulan was targeting Su Youpeng. As his agent, A Long couldn't let this slide.

A big star means influence and guaranteed ratings. Therefore, big stars have a special status in a production, sometimes even having directorial power.

A big star's dignity cannot be violated.

By reputation, Su Youpeng was indeed the biggest star in the production.

If he were disrespected by Bai Yulan, it would be a huge blow to his reputation in the entertainment industry.

The director didn't say anything, but his anger was evident.

The production hadn't even started, and the cast was already at odds. How could they shoot the show like this?

But Bai Yulan wasn't intimidated. She said coldly, "Get out of my way, or you'll regret it. Who do you think you are? When I was performing on the Spring Festival Gala, you were still playing in the mud."

A Long was stunned, not knowing how to respond.

He thought he knew the rules of the entertainment industry, believing that big stars had privileges. But he never imagined that in Beijing, there was a special type of actor: those within the system.

Actors like Bai Yulan, veterans of the industry, were not to be trifled with by a mere agent.

Actors within the system had a sense of superiority, considering themselves the elite, while outside stars, no matter how famous, were seen as amateurs.

Only after Bai Yulan stormed out did A Long realize the situation.

He jumped up, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and said, "Director, look at the actors you've chosen. They have no manners. How can A Peng work with such people?"

The director was speechless. In the industry, besides top-tier actors, the most difficult to handle were these veteran actors within the system. It was hard to please them.

Su Youpeng glanced at A Long and said, "Enough, A Long. Be more careful with your words. We're all a team, working for the same show. There's no need to be so picky."

It was clear that Su Youpeng was approaching the "Story of a Concubine" with a humble attitude.

Ye Ming then reminded everyone, "It's best to be patient with some actors. While they may not hinder our production, their connections are extensive. If we anger them, they could cause us trouble in unexpected ways."

He was referring to veteran actors like Bai Yulan.

He Xiujun, noticing the tense atmosphere, said, "Su Youpeng has just arrived and must be tired. Let him rest first. We can discuss the script later. Everyone, feel free to mingle. Ye Ming, stay behind."

She sensed that Ye Ming had something important to say. As the first producer from Taiwan to work on a co-production in mainland China, she was well aware of the local dynamics.

After everyone left, He Xiujun said, "Ye Ming, what do you think? Will Teacher Bai be angry and cause us trouble?"

Sun Shupeng was also concerned and waited for Ye Ming's response.

Producers and directors hated external interference, but sometimes it was unavoidable.

Ye Ming thought for a moment and said, "I can't be certain, but it depends on Teacher Bai's intentions. Given her influence in the industry, causing us trouble would be as simple as a phone call. I can guarantee that when Teacher Bai and Su Youpeng act together, it won't be pleasant. Please keep this in mind, Manager He and Director Sun."

Sun Shupeng slammed the table and said, "Forget it. I'll talk to Teacher Bai. This gathering didn't achieve its purpose and only highlighted the conflicts within the crew. Manager He, let's call it off. If they want to practice, let them. It's not our concern."

He had hoped to use this gathering for everyone to bond and exchange ideas, but it seemed impossible now.

He Xiujun could only agree reluctantly.

Su Youpeng was a big star who needed to be handled carefully, but Bai Yulan was also a force to be reckoned with. Though not a top-tier actor, she had extensive connections and was not to be underestimated.

After leaving, Ye Ming heard Fan Binbin praising Teacher Bai's dominance, calling her a true idol.

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