CHAPTER 366: 364 PALM: SHE CANNOT LET DOWN, NOR WILL SHE LET DOWN HER OWN PASSION.

The top of the screen kept popping up with WeChat message notifications, Wen Qiao clicked on them, "Red Makeup still has more than two months before we finish shooting, and I’ll definitely be taking leave again to record variety shows. It’s not good to always keep the crew waiting for just me, and I’m not like Ye Shengnan, an acting emperor. My acting skills are still lacking. Instead of trying to rapidly boost my popularity in a short time, I’d rather refine my acting skills first."

People say showbiz is a place to make quick money, with very low barriers to entry and virtually anyone can secure a spot in the industry.

But a large part of the reason this perception exists is because of the artists themselves, who are solely focused on increasing their visibility, yet their abilities can’t back up their ambitions. In the end, this only backfires.

Take, for example, the current domestic entertainment industry, which offers far fewer stages and resources to idol artists as compared to other entertainers. Influenced by the broader environment, they inevitably face the need to transition.

But before that transition, whether they have the requisite skills to move into the smaller circle of actors is something few people consider.

It’s not that idols transforming into actors isn’t allowed, but it’s about matching the right lid to the right pot—undertake endeavors that match one’s abilities.

Being grounded and building step by step is stronger than anything. The audience’s eyes are clear, and their hearts are not made of stone; they see everyone’s efforts.

Like the veteran actress Mei Lanqiao and the household name, superstar Fang Baichen, and even Qi Ming, who was her peer, were all focused on doing each task well. They were worthy of their fans’ affection.

If an individual who only knows how to stare blankly is paired with an actor whose acting is leagues better, and yet his wage is much higher than that of a seasoned actor, this somewhat lacks integrity.

Wen Qiao doesn’t aspire to single-handedly change the long-standing perception of the entertainment industry nor change the practices and thoughts of other artists in the circle. What she can do is to make herself into someone she is satisfied with, to not disappoint those who like her, and to be worthy of her fans’ applause and flowers.

Acting is her passion, which she cannot and will not let down.

"Alright, then I’ll cancel them for you, since we’ve now locked down ES, this international big brand, we won’t have to worry about lacking endorsements later," Jiang Yao nodded in agreement. "But, your awareness has really been getting better lately."

"When have I ever not been aware?"

Wen Qiao gave her a disgruntled glance and then looked down at her phone again.

The continuous notifications were from a group chat for the variety show "Unexpected", including all five regular MCs and all the staff members.

The WeChat group had been created at the end of the filming, and now the group chat was bustling with conversation.

As soon as Wen Qiao clicked into it, she saw a meme created from her photo.

In the picture, she was scrunching up her face, limbs tightly clinging to a robust coconut tree, and the person who edited the photo had even added tears to the corners of her eyes, with the caption—

Weak, pitiable, and helpless.

"....."

What in the world is all this mess!

[Qiaoqiao’s not full: Give you one yuan, hurry up and delete it!]

[Post-production Big Head: Captured the essence perfectly.]

[Qiaoqiao’s not full: Leave a line when you do things, so we can meet in a good way in the future.]

[Director Xiao Xingxing: Hahahaha, definitely saving this.]

[Cameraman Lao Lin: They didn’t just edit yours, they did the other four as well, take it easy.]