As a Magnate, I Started Checking in at a Convenience Store - Chapter 286:

Chapter 286: Visiting the Production Team

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Early the next morning, Zhou Chao got up promptly. After all, there were quite a few things to attend to today, including a meeting with the high-ranking staff of the film and television city. He wondered if they would be cooperative or not.

Zhou Chao left the hotel leisurely. Guo Qilin had arranged a three-day stay for him, and he had learned about it when he checked in yesterday, so there was no need to extend his stay.

Driving the Veneno, he left the hotel and headed straight for Xiangshan Film and Television City.

When Zhou Chao arrived at Xiangshan Film and Television City again, he saw a group of people sitting in the open space not far from the main gate. After a quick glance, he confirmed that these were the extras, sitting by the roadside and waiting for work.

Checking the time, it was already 10 o’clock in the morning.

“At this time, the executives of the film and television city should already be at work.”

Without thinking too much, he took out his phone and called the person in charge of Xiangshan Film and Television City. This was the phone number provided by the film and television city’s sign-in system.

The phone rang for a full 15 seconds, but there was no answer from the other end, which made Zhou Chao furrow his brow.

“Seems like they’re busy early in the morning. 1 wonder if it’s genuine busyness or just a facade,” Zhou Chao mused, wearing a meaningful smile. There was a hint of coldness in his deep-set eyes as he walked towards the film and television city.

Zhou Chao still paid for an entrance ticket and, once inside the film and television city, he noticed that there were many more people there compared to yesterday. He also saw a bustling crowd not far away in the Republican-era area, suggesting that a production crew might be shooting there.

Standing at the intersection of the road leading to the film and television city’s office area and the filming area, Zhou Chao decided to go to the office area first to check the working attitude of the staff.

Without hesitation, Zhou Chao proceeded towards the office area.

The office area within the film and television city was also designed in an antique architectural style. As Zhou Chao entered, he noticed two security guards seated inside a security booth, engrossed in conversation and completely unaware of his presence.

“Let’s hope 1 won’t be too disappointed,” Zhou Chao muttered, paying more attention to his mission than the lax attitude of the security guards. He continued to walk straight ahead.

Upon entering the office building, Zhou Chao was surprised to find four or five middle-aged women gathered around a large table, engaged in a game of mahjong. They chatted and laughed, leaving Zhou Chao momentarily perplexed.

“Excuse me, is there something you need?” One of the middle-aged women who had noticed Zhou Chao’s presence approached him and inquired, all the while eyeing him up and down.

“Hello, may I ask if your supervisors are available?”

“Which supervisor are you looking for? Our manager won’t be here until noon. If you need to meet another supervisor, please leave your contact information, and 1’11 inform them when they arrive.”

Perhaps because Zhou Chao had a good physique and looked handsome, the middle-aged woman couldn’t help but chat a bit more.

Zhou Chao was about to ask more questions when he heard one of the women at the mahjong table shouting loudly.

“Yufang, what are you doing? Come over here, it’s your turn to play mahjong. Xiaoling has already lost all her money.”

The middle-aged woman in front of Zhou Chao, Yufang, turned her head and replied, “Just a moment, 1’11 be right there.”

Afterward, she said to Zhou Chao, “Hey handsome, do you have any business here? If not, you should leave. We generally don’t allow outsiders to stay.”

Zhou Chao was momentarily taken aback by her words but then replied, “Uh, it’s alright, I’m leaving.”

With that, he turned and walked towards the exit, his face transitioning from a faint smile to a more serene expression.

Watching Zhou Chao leave without hesitation, Yufang couldn’t help but comment, “That was strange!”

As Zhou Chao walked out, he passed by a display board with information about the leaders and staff of the film and television city. He stopped for a couple of minutes, took out his phone, and snapped a couple of photos before continuing on his way.

“These are not just ordinary big shots!” Zhou Chao glanced back at the office building and shook his head.

Regarding the film and television city’s leadership, Zhou Chao had a general understanding of the situation, but he didn’t dwell on it too much.

As he left the office area, Zhou Chao noticed that the sky was gradually darkening, and there was a hint of impending rain in the air.

“It looks like it’s going to rain,” Zhou Chao said, looking up at the overcast sky in the distance.

He followed the road that led to the Tang Dynasty area, as he had come today to try his hand as an extra, though he wasn’t sure if he would be successful.

After about twenty minutes of walking, Zhou Chao arrived at the Tang Dynasty filming area.

By now, the area had already been cordoned off by the crew of the “Joy of Life,” but there were still many tourists standing around the periphery. Zhou Chao navigated through the crowd and spotted Guo Qilin and others sitting under a sunshade, enjoying some fruit.

Zhou Chao was about to go over and greet them when he was stopped by someone.

“Back off, back off! Can’t you see they’re filming here? Why are you walking forward? Are you blind?” A production assistant from the crew stepped forward and stopped Zhou Chao, speaking loudly and attracting the attention of onlookers.

Zhou Chao’s deep eyes flashed with a hint of coldness as he stared coldly at the production assistant and said, “You can stop me, but please do so politely.”

The production assistant, who was feeling somewhat triumphant moments ago, felt like he had been frozen in place by Zhou Chao’s icy gaze.

It took him about ten seconds to regain his composure, and he lowered his head, speaking in a somewhat timid tone, “I’m sorry.”

“Be more careful in the future, don’t be so harsh with your words,” Zhou Chao advised before turning away without another glance at the production assistant. He then took out his phone and called Guo Qilin.

As soon as the call went through, Guo Qilin inside the sunshade lifted his phone, instantly stood up from his seat, and looked around. His actions left the surrounding staff in astonishment.

He answered the call while scanning the crowd.

“Hello, Young Master Zhou, have you arrived? 1 see you now. I’ll be right there!” As soon as Guo Qilin answered the phone, he spotted Zhou Chao, who had been stopped by the crew member in the crowd to his right.

“Okay!” Zhou Chao replied and hung up the phone.

Guo Qilin swiftly walked over, exchanging a few words with a middle-aged man as he passed by, and the man followed him towards Zhou Chao.

“Assistant Director!” The man in front of Zhou Chao noticed Guo Qilin and him approaching and quietly addressed another person nearby.

The assistant director didn’t even spare a glance at him but followed Guo Qilin to Zhou Chao’s side.

“Young Master Zhou, please come inside. It’s crowded and noisy out here!”

“Alright. Let’s go.” Zhou Chao agreed, and they moved past the production assistant, heading towards the sunshade.

“Young Master Zhou, this is our on-site assistant director, Li Qi. He’s in charge of the production team and the crew’s logistics,” Guo Qilin introduced the middle-aged man to Zhou Chao.

Guo Qilin knew the attitude of his crew’s production assistants and sensed that something might have happened earlier when he saw Zhou Chao. That’s why he had invited the assistant director to join them.

“Young Master Zhou, if there was any unpleasant incident earlier, 1 want to apologize on behalf of the crew,” Assistant Director Li Qi immediately addressed the situation, understanding that something had occurred.

Zhou Chao observed the attitudes of both men and realized they were aware of what had transpired.

“It’s alright. 1 just hope Director Li can manage his team members better. People with such good temperaments are rare.”

“Understood, 1’11 take note of it for the future,” Director Li Qi assured as Zhou Chao prepared to leave with Guo Qilin and the assistant director..