69novels Chapter 71 Zhang Ziyi's Ambition
Chapter 71 Zhang Ziyi's Ambition
When Li Si'an and Tang Yun came out of the Guanghua Chang'an Building, the sun was already setting. Li Si'an hailed a minivan, opened the door for Tang Yun to get in first, and then followed her into the back seat.
"White Stone Bridge".
The car headed west. Tang Yun leaned back in her seat, still clutching the Meidenggao document in her hand. She had rolled the edge of the paper into a thin tube, then unrolled it, then rolled it up again.
"Don't be nervous, we've already finished filming." Li Si'an placed her hand on the back of her hand.
"I'm not nervous." Tang Yun unfolded the paper tube, then rolled it up again. "I just feel... the photographer didn't say anything, Director Chen didn't say anything, so is it going to be okay or not?"
"Whether it works or not, we'll just have to wait for news." Li Si'an leaned back in her chair. "Director Zhang recommended you, so Director Chen has to give him face. Besides, the conditions are there for all to see."
Tang Yun rolled her eyes at him, but the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.
The car turned into the alley near Baishiqiao and stopped in front of the shop. Li Si'an paid the fare, and the two of them got out of the car.
The shop door was ajar, and the wind chimes tinkled in the evening breeze. Li Si'an pushed the door open and went in, then looked up and froze.
Zhang Ziyi was standing behind the counter, in front of a woman in her forties wearing a floral shirt and holding a coat that she had just taken off the hanger, which she was holding up to show off her body.
Zhang Ziyi had a smile on her face, but it looked stiff, as if it were pasted onto a wall, and her lips were almost twitching.
When Zhang Ziyi saw Li Si'an and Tang Yun enter, her eyes lit up instantly, as if she had seen a savior.
"Hey, hey, hey! I'm back, I'm back!" She came out from behind the counter, grabbed Li Si'an's arm, her voice low but unable to hide her urgency.
"Hurry, hurry! This lady wants to buy clothes, but I don't know the prices!"
Li Si'an was pulled so hard that she stumbled.
"Where's Sister Nan?"
"He went out! He said he was going to Xidan to pick up some goods, but he hasn't come back all afternoon!"
Where is Chen Dong?
"They're playing videos in the backyard! I asked that simpleton, and he said, 'You figure it out.' Where am I supposed to watch them?!"
Zhang Ziyi stamped her feet anxiously, lowering her voice even further, "That lady has been standing there for ten minutes, and I haven't even dared to quote a price. Please, just help me out."
Li Si'an chuckled, went around behind the counter, put on a smile, and spoke to the older woman.
"Big sister, you like this one?"
The older woman gestured with the coat in her hand again, "The material is nice, but I don't know how much it costs."
Li Si'an took the clothes and glanced at them—it was a thin trench coat, khaki-colored, sourced from Wen Kai's place, and of good quality.
"This one? You have excellent taste. It's a new style this year, from Hong Kong. Look at the stitching, the buttons—" He turned the garment over and pointed to the lining, "The original price was 280, but if you really want it, you can take it for 220."
The woman hesitated for a moment. "Two hundred and twenty? Can you make it any cheaper?"
"Sister, this really can't be any cheaper. Go to Xidan and you'll find the same material for at least 400 yuan." Li Si'an unfolded the clothes, draped them over the sister's shoulders, and took a step back to look at them.
"Look, this color suits your skin so well. You have fair skin, khaki looks best on you."
The older woman looked at herself in the mirror, turned left and right, and a satisfied look appeared on her face. "Alright, two hundred and twenty, I'll take it."
Li Si'an quickly folded the clothes, put them in a bag, took the money, and handed it over. "Take care, come back another time."
The older sister carried the bag out the door, and the wind chimes rang again.
Zhang Ziyi peeked out from behind the counter and let out a long sigh. "My God, they're finally gone."
Tang Yun laughed so hard her shoulders shook. "Weren't you always so talkative? Why can't you even give a price?"
"I've never sold anything before! How would I know how much those clothes cost!" Zhang Ziyi came out from behind the counter, plopped down in a chair, and...
"What if I say too little and lose money? What if I say too much and drive people away? That's why I'm waiting for you to come back."
Li Si'an leaned against the counter, counted out the two hundred and twenty yuan, and stuffed it into the money box. "Alright, thank you, Happy Zhang, for watching the shop for us."
"No need to thank me, I just came to visit and then this happened." Zhang Ziyi picked up her glass from the table and took a sip of water. "What did you guys do this afternoon?"
Li Si'an leaned against the counter, a smug smile playing on her lips.
"Tang Yun is going to film GG."
Zhang Ziyi was stunned for a moment. "What?"
"The guy from Meidengo Ice Cream," Li Si'an pointed at Tang Yun with her finger, "He went for an interview this afternoon at Saatchi & Saatchi, an international company. Director Zhang Yibai recommended him."
Zhang Ziyi turned to look at Tang Yun, her mouth agape, unable to close it for a long time.
"Really?"
Tang Yun blushed slightly and handed over the document. "I just went to try it out, I haven't made a decision yet."
Zhang Ziyi took the documents, flipped through a couple of pages, then looked up, her eyes shining with a complex mix of emotions. "Meideggao? Is that the 'Meideggao, Cool Summer' thing on TV?"
"Mm." Tang Yun nodded.
Zhang Ziyi closed the documents, placed them on the table, leaned back, and let out a long sigh.
"Oh my god... you two, one of you is releasing an album and making a music video, and the other is filming a movie, when am I going to get my turn?"
She tilted her head and looked at the ceiling. "I lay in bed in Yunnan for so long, playing an amputee. I almost got bedsores on my butt. The film still hasn't been released, and I don't know when it will be shown."
Li Si'an leaned against the counter, looking at Zhang Ziyi's utterly dejected expression, and decided to comfort her.
"Your face is good enough to be in a 'GG' photoshoot, but you're not suited for the kind of sweet ice cream 'GG' photoshoot."
Zhang Ziyi glared at him. "Then what kind of roles am I suited to play?"
"You have a movie face." Li Si'an pointed at her face with her finger. "Good bone structure, angular features, not the sweet girl look."
You're perfect for high-fashion photoshoots—the kind featuring designer cosmetics. Just stand there, no need to smile, your eyes should radiate confidence and sophistication.
Zhang Ziyi blinked, looking doubtful, and asked, "What high-end cosmetics?"
"Those international brands, like Estée Lauder and stuff."
Zhang Ziyi frowned. "Ya Shi... what?"
"Estée Lauder," Li Si'an said, emphasizing each word.
"Never heard of it."
"There are plenty of brands you haven't heard of," Li Si'an chuckled.
"Not many people in China know about this brand now; it's mostly used by wealthy people and those who have returned from studying abroad. But overseas, it's a top-tier brand."
Zhang Ziyi leaned back in her chair and repeated the words "Estee Lauder" twice.
Tang Yun smiled, pursing her lips, and tugged at Zhang Ziyi's sleeve. "Alright, alright, stop being so sour. We'll eat together tonight, and he can treat us."
"Absolutely." Li Si'an stood up from her chair, took out a few bills from her pocket, and said, "Wait here, I'll go out and buy some skewers."
He went out and didn't return for more than twenty minutes, carrying two large bags of barbecue, steaming hot, the aroma of cumin and chili instantly filling the entire store.
Tang Yun took the bag, opened it, and spread it out on the counter. The lamb skewers were sizzling with oil, the tendons were grilled to a golden brown, and there were also a few skewers of beef tendon and cartilage.
Chen Dong rushed out from the backyard, drawn by the smell. "Wow, barbecue!"
"Go, go, go get a few bottles of beer." Li Si'an gestured towards the freezer.
Chen Dong took out a few bottles of beer and a few bottles of Beibingyang soda from the freezer, pried open the caps, and handed one to each person. Several people stood around the counter, each holding a few skewers in their hand, their mouths glistening with oil.
Zhang Ziyi took a bite of the lamb skewer, chewed it a couple of times, and squinted her eyes. "This place grills pretty well."
"Old Ma has been grilling for over ten years." Li Si'an picked up a skewer of meat tendon, took a sip of beer, and said, "His skewers are the most authentic on this street."
Chen Nan came in from the doorway at this moment, carrying two large bags of clothes. Seeing several people eating skewers around the counter, he put the clothes on the ground.
"Well, you guys are something else, you're eating and you didn't even wait for me."
"I've saved this for you." Li Si'an handed over a bunch of skewers. "Just bought them, they're still warm."
Chen Nan took the skewers, pried open a bottle of beer, and leaned against the counter to eat.
Halfway through the meal, Zhang Ziyi suddenly put down her skewer and looked at Li Si'an.
"Anzi, is that Estée Lauder brand you were talking about really that amazing?"
"Impressive." Li Si'an chewed on some meat tendon and mumbled, "A top international brand. It's not well-known in China right now, but you'll see in a few years."
Zhang Ziyi put down the skewer, leaned against the counter, and thought for a moment.
"So, when you say my face is suitable for those kinds of male-male roles, are you serious or just trying to make me happy?"
"Really." Li Si'an put down the lottery ticket and looked at her seriously. "Happy Zhang, I'm telling you the truth."
Your face has great bone structure, you're photogenic. When shooting those high-end cosmetics photos, you don't even need to smile, just standing there gives off a story.
But that's for the future. Right now, you're just a student who just got into the Central Academy of Drama. Who knows you yet?
Zhang Ziyi snorted, picked up her beer bottle, and took a sip. "Fine! You said it yourself, so I can film that Estée Lauder thing in the future."
Yes, I said so.
Tang Yun laughed beside her, handing Zhang Ziyi a skewer of meat tendons. "Alright, alright, eat first, it won't taste good when it gets cold."
The group finished off the two large bags of barbecue, leaving a pile of skewers on the table. Chen Dong burped, satisfied, and went back to the backyard to put on a video.
Chen Nan helped tidy up the skewers and empty bottles, and wiped the counter with a rag.
Zhang Ziyi washed her hands, picked up her bag, and walked out.
Li Si'an saw her to the door. Zhang Ziyi hailed a minivan on the roadside, opened the door, and turned around.
"Anzi".
"Um?"
"Remember that Estée Lauder brand. If I actually manage to snag it, I mean it—I'll treat you and Tang Yun to barbecue for a year!"
She got into the car and closed the door. The car started, its taillights flashed briefly in the alley, and it disappeared around the corner.
The wind chimes rang once, then slowly fell silent again.
The next afternoon, Li Si'an was leaning over the counter flipping through a copy of "Popular Cinema" when her StarTAC phone beeped.
He took out his phone and flipped it open. "Feed?"
"Anzi, this is Zhang Yibai." Zhang Yibai's voice came through the receiver, with a hint of a smile.
"Director Zhang." Li Si'an sat up straight.
"We've got news from Meidenggao." Zhang Yibai paused for a moment. "Chen Hanwen just called me. Tang Yun is confirmed."
Li Si'an gripped her phone, and the corners of her mouth slowly curled up.
"Is it settled?"
"It's settled." Zhang Yibai's voice was also filled with delight. "However, the filming time will have to wait a few days. Chen Hanwen said that their project manager has recommended a girl who is also quite good."
The original plan was for one model, but now that both are good, they want to change it to a two-model plan. The entire shooting script needs to be redone, so it will take a few days.
"Okay, let's wait. Good things come to those who wait."
"That's what I said too." Zhang Yibai chuckled on the other end. "I'll let you know once the specific time is set. Wait for my call."
"Okay, thank you, Director Zhang."
After hanging up the phone, Tang Yun peeked down from upstairs. "Who was that?"
Li Si'an looked up and smiled at her.
"It's Director Zhang. He said that Meidenggao has made the decision, and you've been selected."