Chapter 81: A Commercial Featuring Half the Entertainment Industry!

Galen emerged from the recording studio and, seeing Li Qing’s startled face, apologized, “I was just singing based on how I remembered it from childhood, shouting out the feeling I got back then. I can’t compare to real masters of Qinqiang opera. Sorry to make a fool of myself!”

“Uh… not at all! It was fine,” Li Qing replied. He didn’t actually care how well Galen sang; he was still recovering from the shock of that thunderous bellow. No matter how he looked at Galen, he couldn’t help but think he was a bit of an oddball.

As the two were talking, Li Ronghao pushed open the door and walked in. He didn’t even greet Li Qing, and instead turned to Galen with a beaming smile. “Ah Lun, recording a song, are you?”

“Yes,” Galen responded, standing up. “Mr. Li, is there something you need?”

“I just wanted to let you know—the MV project for the new album has started. We’ve handed it over entirely to the film and television company. Mai Le will give you the details; I just came to inform you.”

“They’re going to shoot an MV?” Galen was reassured to hear the project would be handled by the film and TV professionals. With their technical skills, the quality surely wouldn’t be bad. But would the schedule be too tight? He raised the question immediately.

Li Ronghao replied, “They’re only shooting a few tracks, not all of them.”

“Oh, I’ll follow the company’s arrangements then,” Galen said without objection.

“Alright!” Li Ronghao said, and turned to leave.

At that moment, Li Qing had just finished editing and compiling Galen’s earlier recording. He played it back, and the sound came through the headphones. Li Ronghao heard it as well and asked curiously, “Oh? What’s this?”

“It’s a Qinqiang opera segment. I plan to add it to the song ‘Chang’an, Chang’an,’” Galen explained.

“Oh?” Li Ronghao paused, suddenly interested. He stepped forward, picked up the headphones and said to Li Qing, “Play it again.”

Li Qing obliged, playing it once more. When Li Ronghao finished listening and set the headphones down, Li Qing couldn’t help but ask, “Mr. Li, are you a fan of Qinqiang opera?”

Li Ronghao shook his head slowly. “I’ve heard that exact segment before.”

“Huh?”

“What?” Both Galen and Li Qing were taken aback. Galen, in particular, was suddenly excited—if Li Ronghao had really heard it before, then this performance must truly exist in this world.

“I’m certain I have,” Li Ronghao said solemnly. “Over twenty years ago, when I was in my junior year at university, I went to the Northwest on a field trip with my professor. I heard a local farmer sing that very line. His uncle—”

“Wait, Mr. Li!” Galen couldn’t help but interrupt, “It was his mother’s brother!”

“Hm?” Li Ronghao was puzzled. “But the version you just sang sounded just like what I remember. It was his uncle, wasn’t it?”

Galen laughed. “That’s just the local dialect! Well, since you’ve heard it, that makes things easier. We can definitely find a Qinqiang teacher to sing it properly.”

“That’s no problem,” Li Ronghao said. “I have a classmate in a local folk opera troupe in the Northwest. I’ll ask him to help us find a teacher—shouldn’t be hard to arrange.”

“In that case,” Li Qing stood up and said, “Mr. Li, once you’ve set it up, just give me the address. I’ll go there in person and record that segment locally.”

“Haha!” Li Ronghao was clearly pleased that Li Qing now addressed him so respectfully. “Alright! I’ll let you know once I’ve arranged it.”

“I’ll wait for your news,” Li Qing replied earnestly.

Li Ronghao left, humming a little tune, clearly in high spirits.

Galen glanced back at Li Qing, busy again at his computer, and still couldn’t quite figure out the man’s temperament.

...

Galen had more work that afternoon: he was scheduled to film a summer commercial for Master Cola.

Shooting a commercial was different from acting in a film—there weren’t as many rules, nor much emphasis on acting skills. The script, in Galen’s opinion, didn’t have any particular highlights; it was mostly about showcasing celebrity faces.

Of course, this was the advertising department’s plan, and he couldn’t complain—he was being paid to follow instructions.

The commercial had already been filming for several days, and since Galen was only making a cameo, his scenes were scheduled for today.

The shoot was set in an indoor basketball court at a university. When Galen arrived, the place was packed. The temporary bleachers were filled with students, all extras for the commercial, tasked with cheering loudly on the sidelines.

The stars of the ad were split into two teams: the Blue Team and the Silver Team.

Master Cola had clearly spared no expense. The Blue Team, in order, boasted the film king Gu Tianle, Asia’s new dance king Luo Yaoxiang, rising starlets Guo Caijie and Yang Ying, the singing and dancing group “LOL Knights,” and two athletic champions: national footballer Lin Hao and long-distance runner Pan Sen.

The Silver Team had an even more impressive lineup, including one of the Four Heavenly Kings, dance king Ding Cheng; singing and dancing queen Cai Linlin; the internationally acclaimed ballet star Xi Weier; as well as another idol group and two gold-medal athletes.

Even the fan club leaders for both teams were celebrities: Zhao Liying, the “national sweetheart,” and Guo Biting, crowned the “goddess of the younger generation.”

With all these stars, it was as if half the entertainment and sports industries had gathered here.

Next to these luminaries, Galen hardly counted as a star at all; the difference in popularity was glaring.

The two teams weren’t battling it out on the basketball court—they were having a dance-off.

They had already filmed individual dance battles over the past few days; today was the group battle scene.

Ding Cheng, Luo Yaoxiang, Cai Linlin, Xi Weier, and the two idol group members had all received professional dance training. The other actors and athletes, however, hadn’t learned street dance, so instructors were on hand to guide them.

Fu Chunli came personally to escort Galen to the director.

The director, a plump man who was Master Cola’s go-to for commercials, pointed to a shiny cart nearby and said, “In a minute, the cart will be filled with ice and cola. When I say ‘action,’ you push it to center court and deliver your line: ‘Dancing is exhausting! Let’s take a break with a bottle of Cola!’ Got it?”

“Yes, got it,” Galen nodded, accepting the branded T-shirt from a staff member.

Fu Chunli encouraged him, “Don’t be nervous, you’ll do great!”

“Thanks,” Galen replied, heading to the dressing room to change. When he came out, he handed his own clothes to Mai Le, then waited for his scene.

But the director glanced at him and said, “You can go rest somewhere for now—your scene will be shot last. I’ll give you a heads-up when it’s time.”

Galen was speechless, but left without complaint, finding an empty seat in the stands.

No sooner had he sat down than a soft female voice said, “Sorry, this seat’s taken.”

“Oh… Sorry, my mistake,” Galen replied, getting up to leave. But suddenly he froze, staring in surprise. “You’re… Zhao Liying?”

Zhao Liying didn’t recognize Galen but smiled politely and nodded.

Galen smiled back. He had thought about introducing himself, but didn’t want to be misunderstood as trying to flirt—especially with so many students around—so he dropped the idea.

He moved to a seat further back, but hadn’t been there long before a male student tapped him on the shoulder and asked, “Hey, are you Galen?”

“Yes,” Galen replied absentmindedly, still preoccupied with how to deliver his line for the commercial.

But as soon as he admitted it, the student exclaimed excitedly, “You really are Galen!” Then, as if discovering a rare animal, he called out to the other students, “Hey! Look! Galen’s here!”

“Huh? Galen? Where?”

“Is he here to dance?”

Many glanced toward the court, but didn’t see Galen.

“Where are you all looking? He’s over here!” The boy waved his arms, eager to point Galen out.

At last, everyone realized Galen was right there among them, sitting in the audience just like they were.

“Wow! It really is Galen!”

“Are you here to dance, Galen?”

“He must be filming the commercial too, right?”

“Hey, why are you wearing a Master Cola staff shirt?”

“Galen! Sign my chest!”

Amid the chatter, a bold girl squeezed through the crowd and handed Galen a marker, proudly presenting her chest for his autograph.

That was all it took—more students crowded around, one after another asking for autographs. Some wanted him to sign their backs, some their hats, but most wanted signatures on their chests, regardless of gender.

Zhao Liying, hearing the commotion behind her, couldn’t help but look back. She saw everyone swarming around the guy who’d sat in the wrong seat earlier. Who was he? Was he some campus celebrity? Why was he so popular?

The scene finally caught the attention of teachers and crew members, who had to step in and restore order. The students reluctantly dispersed, and Galen finally breathed a sigh of relief—at last, he could focus on how to deliver his line.

But after only a few minutes, a female voice spoke up at his side. “Hey, aren’t you Galen?”

“Uh…” Galen looked up and was startled by the stunning woman before him—she looked familiar. Who was she…?

After a moment’s thought, he remembered: Guo Biting!

He stood up immediately. “Hello, Sister Ting!”

“Hello, hello!” Guo Biting replied with cheerful warmth. “Ada and I are best friends. She told me about you—said you’re incredibly talented. She mentioned that your song will be on her new album at the end of the year!”

“Ah…” Galen was caught off guard, searching his memory for Ada. He couldn’t recall any senior in the industry by that name, and other than Liu Nan, he hadn’t written songs for anyone else. But then he realized—if it was someone from Taiwan, a close friend of Guo Biting, and using his song, it must be Zhang Peiyu.

With that in mind, Galen said, “Yu-jie flatters me!”

“Not at all! I’ve listened to your music too. At first, Ada forced me to listen, but now I have your songs saved on my own phone!”

“That’s a real honor!”

They chatted a bit, and Zhao Liying, seated in front, started to feel something was off. Things weren’t going as she’d expected. She couldn’t help but turn to Guo Biting and ask, “Honey! Do you two know each other?”