EFB Chapter 31: He's Famous!
Chapter 31: He's Famous!
The next day, a short film on a historical theme was rehearsed.
He played a silent Chinese laborer with only one line, but he needed to portray resilience under oppression.
With the insights gained from his upgraded emotional attributes, Chen Xun vividly portrays a character who has endured many hardships yet maintains a steadfast gaze.
During a break in rehearsals, an elderly professor with gray hair, dressed in a suit and vest, walked over to inspect the area, surrounded by several students.
He is a senior professor at the film academy and the teacher of the instructor of this short film; he is highly respected.
The old professor watched the replay of Chen Xun's performance on the monitor, nodded slightly, and said to the instructor:
"This Chinese laborer was well-chosen; there's something in his eyes, he doesn't look like a student."
The supervising teacher quickly said:
"Professor, he's not a student, he's an actor hired from outside, named Chen Xun, who was also a student at our school before."
The old professor paused for a moment, pushed up his glasses, and looked carefully at Chen Xun, who was drinking water in the center of the field.
The more I look at it, the more familiar it seems.
Chen Xun also noticed the gazes directed at him, and he turned his head to meet the old professor's eyes.
My heart skipped a beat.
This is Professor Anderson, who previously taught him "History of Film" and "Fundamentals of Acting," an old man known for his strictness and appreciation of talent.
He didn't dare tell this professor face-to-face when he dropped out of school.
Professor Anderson walked over, looked Chen Xun up and down, his gaze complex:
"Chen? Is it really you? I thought I was seeing things."
Chen Xun felt a little embarrassed and put down the water bottle:
"Professor Anderson, hello."
"I heard from them that you're an actor now?"
Professor Anderson spoke calmly, but his eyes were sharp:
"I just watched your performance. You've improved a lot. It was very solid. It's much better than that tree stump you performed in class back then."
Chen Xun: "..."
The students next to them wanted to laugh but didn't dare to.
Professor Anderson sighed, his voice lowered so that only Chen Xun could hear it:
"It's a pity you left without a word back then. I felt it was a shame, thinking you were a resilient talent, just a bit lacking in foundation. Now it seems you suffered a lot out there!"
He patted Chen Xun on the shoulder:
"This path is not easy, but since you've chosen it, stick with it and don't waste the skills you've honed yourself."
After the professor finished speaking, he put his hands behind his back and continued to inspect the other groups.
Chen Xun stood there, his heart filled with mixed feelings.
Being recognized by a former teacher feels both bittersweet and a little ashamed.
If it weren't for that attribute panel cheat, he might have been worn down by reality and gone back to China long ago!
There's no way I could stand here!
He took a deep breath and suppressed his feelings.
Now is not the time for lamenting the passing of spring or the coming of autumn.
A gray orb of light fell from itself: [Aura-type attribute - Calmness +1].
absorb!
Aura: Lv1 (0/200)!
Another attribute has been upgraded!
A more introverted feeling has entered him, making him more composed when facing external scrutiny.
He glanced at the panel; his lines and expressions were about to be upgraded as well.
"Keep working!"
Just as he was immersed in his role, he sensed that something was wrong with his surroundings.
The once orderly perimeter of the film set had somehow become crowded with students, who were pointing and whispering in his direction, their phone cameras subtly aimed at him.
Chen Xun muttered to himself, but didn't stop his performance.
It's not unusual for student film crews to attract attention from passing students, but the number of people and the level of attention today seem a bit high.
"Cut!"
The student director called for a halt.
Just as he was about to speak, his phone started vibrating incessantly.
He picked it up and his eyes widened instantly. Then he looked up at Chen Xun with a shocked expression!
He ignored the footage being filmed and instead rushed to Chen Xun, lowering his voice, his tone trembling with excitement:
"Chen! Bro! You've been hiding this well, you bastard!"
Chen Xun was completely baffled by him:
"What's hidden deep inside?"
"Stop pretending!"
The director shoved his phone screen almost into Chen Xun's face:
"TMZ! You're on TMZ's front page!"
"You and Christine spent the night together at the Beverly Hills Hotel!"
"You slept with my goddess!!! I'm going to kill you!!!"
……
Aren't goddesses just for sleeping with?
Before Chen Xun could figure out what was going on, he was completely bewildered when he saw the text on the director's phone screen!
It's that infamous gossip website TMZ!
The headline featured several blurry but recognizable photos of him and Christine!
One photo shows him supporting her at the hotel entrance, with her leaning against him!
The other image is a screenshot from CCTV footage showing them entering the hotel room together!
The last photo is of him leaving the hotel alone the next morning!
The headline is highly sensational: "Twilight Actress Mysteriously Falls for Asian Actor? Hotel Night Gets Exposed!"
The comments section below has exploded!
Various speculations and doubts, along with racist remarks, continue to emerge!
Interspersed among them were the wails of fans!
Chen Xun hadn't expected the paparazzi at the Beverly Hills Hotel to be so crazy.
The main problem is that he's never been a celebrity, so who would have thought the paparazzi would be so omnipresent!
These people are incredibly resourceful; they even managed to access the hotel's surveillance footage!
That night, he was so busy dealing with Christine's troubles and enjoying room service that he completely forgot about this.
"This isn't what you think!"
Chen Xun tried to explain, his voice a little hoarse:
"She was drunk. I just took her home, and she slept on the sofa in the living room overnight. Nothing happened!"
"Living room sofa?"
The student director had a "you're kidding me" look on his face.
"Dude, who would believe that if this got out?"
"That's Kristen Stewart! Bella from Twilight!"
"You spent the night in a suite with her, and you said you slept on the sofa?"
"Are you impotent?"
Chen Xun: "..."
I just think picking up dead bodies is so tasteless!
He glared at the director and said, "You'd better watch your mouth!"
The director awkwardly shut his mouth.
The students around them whispered among themselves, as if they were watching a rare animal that had suddenly appeared.
Listen, Mark!
Chen Xun tried his best to calm himself down, speaking in a steady tone:
"That's the truth! Miss Stewart and I are just ordinary friends. That night was an accident. I hope you won't spread false information; it's not good for either of us!"
"I believe you! You wouldn't spread rumors!"
Mark gave him a knowing look and lowered his voice:
"We're friends now, so whenever you invite Christine over for a meal, I promise I won't tell anyone!"
Chen Xun: "..."
You clearly didn't believe me!
Chen Xun gave a wry smile.
He became famous overnight!
But this isn't the way he wants to become famous!
This scandal is more harmful than beneficial to him!
He might get attacked by Kristen Stewart's crazy fans or labeled as a "hype-chaser" or a "scheming man".
He took a deep breath and said to Mark, "Are we still filming today? If not, I'm going home!"
"Take a picture! Of course, take a picture!"
"This performance is guaranteed to trend on social media, it's even more worth watching!"
Chen Xun: "..."