Chapter 311: A Deep Impression
Joseph owed Eric a lot. If it weren’t for Eric, Joseph wouldn’t have this success today.
Eric asked Joseph for help, saying that he needed a Chinese actress to be the protagonist of Joseph’s new film.
Joseph thought Eric had an actress as his sugar baby as most wealthy men did, and now Eric was going to give her a leg up.
Joseph felt disgusted by that, and he rejected Eric’s request.
But Eric did not give up. He told Joseph that this Chinese actress would impact Cardicra’s image.
This role was crucial to him, and Eric hoped Joseph could lend him a hand as repayment for Eric’s help back then.
When Eric brought up the past, Joseph could only agree to his request.
He had already started to talk with his partner on modifying the female protagonist to keep the essence of the film.
When Joseph’s partner knew he would hire a Chinese actress as the female protagonist, he almost broke the partnership with Joseph.
It took Joseph a long while to convince his partner to change the protagnoist.
He poured many efforts into this. In the end, he only needed Eric to bring the actress to him.
But he was informed by Eric that Yun Xiangxiang did not choose him.
Eric could see Joseph’s reluctance. That was why he prepared two choices while Yun Xiangxiang chose the latter.
Joseph was one of the directors at the top of the filming world.
If any film had his name on it, investors and actors would come in droves.
Almost nobody could order him around in his films. He was the absolute authority in his every film.
Since he became famous, nobody had ever rejected him until today. Today, he was rejected by a no-name Chinese actress.
If this news were to be heard by those old gits in Hollywood, Joseph would be their laughing stock.
Joseph was now more curious about Yun Xiangxiang, as they had started changing the script.
“May I know why you rejected to playing in my film?” Joseph wasn’t a diplomatic person.
When they arrived at the café, Joseph blurted this question out before he even ordered a cup of coffee.
He looked up on Yun Xiangxiang and even went to watch the films she played in.
To Joseph, Yun Xiangxiang’s acting skills were just average. Their country had tons of actors who were better than her.
No matter how he looked at it, Yun Xiangxiang shouldn’t be able to refuse him. That was why he had to get to the bottom of this himself.
Yun Xiangxiang did not answer him immediately. Instead, she politely took over the menu from the waiter and ordered her favorite drink. She smiled at Joseph, “What are you having?”
“A cup of long black, no sugar, and add some foam. Thank you.” Joseph handed the menu back to the waiter.
After the waiter had gone to prepare their drinks, Joseph continued, “Can you answer my question now?”
Yun Xiangxiang smiled at Joseph. “I love the book “Confessions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau.” You must have read it before, Mr. Joseph.”
“Of course.” Joseph nodded.
“I think “Confessions” is a confession book of the soul. Jean-Jacques Rousseau even wrote about when he was a thief, the time he abandoned his best friend, and the time when he framed someone.” Yun Xiangxiang continued.
“Mr. Rousseau is a great writer. The greatest part of him is his courage to face himself and know where he stood.” Joseph also loved the French author, Rousseau.
“Yes. He was the first author to criticize himself severely. It was exactly because he knew himself that he could surpass himself.” Yun Xiangxiang’s smile became wider.
Joseph’s grey eyes gazed at Yun Xiangxiang. He suddenly understood what Yun Xiangxiang was trying to say. “Interesting….”
Yun Xiangxiang was using “Confessions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau” to tell Joseph that she rejected him because she knew herself clearly and knew she wasn’t suited to play in his film.
There was a cultural difference between their countries. Joseph knew that Yun Xiangxiang existed because of her rejection today.
But if she failed to leave a lasting impression on him, he would forget about her quickly.
If she wanted to leave a lasting impression, she had to be brief and impactful, and not by prolonging the time.
Yun Xiangxiang succeeded. She didn’t answer Joseph directly, but she did it with a famous book.
It was a book that had nothing to do with his question, but she used what it was talking about to lead Joseph to divine the answer himself.
From now on, whenever Joseph would read “Confessions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau,” at least he would think of a Chinese actress named Yun Xiangxiang.
Perhaps when he met someone who didn’t know where they stood or wanted to run away from their weaknesses, he would think of a Chinese actress named Yun Xiangxiang.
Her answer didn’t degrade herself, nor did she butter him up. Yun Xiangxiang was a surprising lady.
“You are the first actress that I want to work with after just a moment of conversation.” Joseph gave Yun Xiangxiang high praise.
He called her ‘actress’ and not ‘Chinese actress.’ The meaning behind that distinction was enormous.
“It is my honor.” Yun Xiangxiang smiled brightly.
She did it on purpose. A world-renowned director like Joseph was someone she would like to work with.
It might not be the time yet, and Joseph didn’t have a script that suited her. Even so, she had to seize the opportunity that this meeting offered to show what she had.
If she left a great impression on him, he would think of her when he had a script suited to her.
Joseph’s time was valuable. He left after talking with Yun Xiangxiang for barely ten minutes. It was roughly the time to finish a cup of coffee.
Yun Xiangxiang didn’t ask for his number, nor did she ask him to stay. She sent him away just like that.
“You don’t seem disappointed at all.” He Wei noticed that Yun Xiangxiang had a relaxed smile on her face.
“I knew he was here for an answer. It’s already remarkable that I manage to get him to spend ten minutes with me.” Yun Xiangxiang was satisfied with her performance.
“You did your research on him?” He Wei asked.
Yun Xiangxiang shook her head. “I have only seen the films he directed.”
Yun Xiangxiang couldn’t miss the films directed by a world-class director like Joseph.
Every director had their style, and every director’s film had their soul.
No matter the subject of Joseph’s films, he loved to expose humans’ twisted and ugly nature.
Yun Xiangxiang guessed he might take a liking toward those who faced their weaknesses honestly.
She thought that he must love books like “Confessions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau.” Why else would she choose this out of countless famous literary works?