A few days later, after signing the contract, Xiao Yi was already quite familiar with the process. The first time joining the crew went smoothly without major issues, and this time, there were no hidden daggers from Zhang Xinran, so everything should go even more smoothly. However, for several consecutive days, Du Mei brainstormed ways to build momentum for Lu Zhou.

The breakup scene before the New Year was incredibly popular one year ago, coupled with the buzz around the New Year's greeting video. This year, they needed to figure out how to keep Lu Zhou's discussion level active during the period before the TV drama aired. This way, when it premiered during the summer break, they could ensure high viewership.

It was only now that Xiao Yi learned that on the other side, Li Xing had already decisively won the battle for the Spring Festival slot against a formidable opponent. Now, everyone was eagerly waiting for the new drama during the summer break.

This incident strengthened Du Mei's confidence in establishing her own film and television company. Otherwise, regardless of what role Lu Zhou played, he would easily be controlled by others.

Xiao Yi had asked Lu Zhou once how it would be if Du Mei opened her own film and television company. Lu Zhou only provided an explanation similar to the one already mentioned and left it at that.

While jogging and testing his heart rate, Lu Zhou also forced Xiao Yi to exercise daily in the basement. Now, he could almost keep up with Lu Zhou's pace.

After wiping off sweat, Lu Zhou said, "I have a question for you."

Xiao Yi, "Ah?"

Lu Zhou wore a serious expression and, with a towel draped around his neck, said, "Every time I see your innocent 'Ah?' it makes me want to hit you. Do you know that?"

Xiao Yi earnestly replied, "Understood."

Lu Zhou threw the towel onto Xiao Yi's head, and Xiao Yi, puzzled, ended up smelling like sweat from the almost wrung-out towel.

Lu Zhou continued genuinely, "Do you consider yourself mine or Director Du's person?"

"Of course, I'm yours—my idol!" Xiao Yi exclaimed, almost wanting to embrace Lu Zhou's robust thighs. "You treat me so well! You even gave me a year-end bonus!"

Lu Zhou remained silent.

"Then let me tell you," Lu Zhou continued, "If you're mine, don't talk too much about me in front of Director Du. The one who pays your salary is me, not Ms Du. Got it?"

"Understood!" Xiao Yi immediately responded. "But I haven't said much, even in the contract, it's stated that everything follows your orders. I'll do whatever you ask."

After pondering, Lu Zhou got off the treadmill and insisted, "Let me tell you, Du Mei wants to expand the business and doesn't want to be constrained by others. She wants to cultivate new talents. This idea came up two years ago when she had a dispute with Weilin Films. Our company used to be affiliated with Weilin."

"Oh," Xiao Yi said. "She lets you take on jobs, and then she takes a cut, right?"

Xiao Yi handed Lu Zhou a canned beverage. Lu Zhou's expression changed intermittently, and he said, "Yes."

Xiao Yi asked, "How much does she take? Is it a lot? Is she treating you unfairly?"

"She doesn't treat me unfairly; it's the norm in the industry—twenty percent," Lu Zhou said.

Xiao Yi thought  ‘that’s a lot’. Lu Zhou could earn two million from a drama, and Du Mei could take four hundred thousand. However, if Du Mei handled the production herself, she could earn even more. It was indeed so.

"Do you think I should switch?" Lu Zhou said. "You newbies, guess how much she would take from you?"

Xiao Yi remained silent.

"Eighty percent," Lu Zhou said.

Xiao Yi was astonished. Lu Zhou went upstairs, and Xiao Yi went into the bathtub, asking, "Would you switch companies, Zhou ge?"

"Do you think I would tell you if I were planning to switch?" Lu Zhou remarked. "Du Mei knows these things very well; she's smarter than me."

Xiao Yi didn't say anything more.

*

As the weather gradually warmed up, Lu Zhou went on to shoot some advertisements. Xiao Yi simply accompanied him and followed behind. When not on set, life was quite leisurely. Occasionally, Beijing would have clear days, but Lu Zhou couldn't go anywhere, only walking on the lawn at home or reading books. In the evenings, he would go out for nightlife activities with celebrity friends, drink, and sing karaoke.

Xiao Yi could see that Lu Zhou didn't really want to go out. Every time he came back after drinking, his mood wasn't great. He would rather stay at home watching movies. Still, relationships needed to be maintained, so he kept up the frequency of going out every two days. Every time he had to arrange Lu Zhou's makeup artist, hairstylist, and wardrobe consultant, preparing from four in the afternoon to leave by nine at night.

"So tired, damn it," Lu Zhou complained. "Let's start shooting as soon as possible. It's annoying to socialize every day."

Spring always brings various unexpressed frustrations. Lu Zhou was a bit irritable, but fortunately, the shooting was about to start. This time, Xiao Yi was prepared and bought a pile of things to meet Lu Zhou's occasional needs.

"Are you moving?" Lu Zhou's expression twitched. He said, "Xiao Yi, how about inviting the crew to our home for the shoot?"

Xiao Yi chuckled, "It's always good to be prepared."

"Prepare your ass!" Lu Zhou couldn't take it anymore. He uttered, "The set is in Beijing! It's all Beijing scenery. Do you love going to Hengdian to get bitten by mosquitoes?!"

Xiao Yi: "..."

*

The next day, when Xiao Yi didn't know what to do, Du Mei called him, asking him to quickly wake up Lu Zhou and go to the company.

"What's going on again?" Lu Zhou helplessly said, "Spare me."

Xiao Yi said, " Zhou ge, change your underwear quickly."

Lu Zhou instantly woke up, touched his lower body, blushed, and, after a long time without release, it would automatically come out in about ten days. Xiao Yi found him some underwear and said, "I'll... wash it for you. You take a shower first."

Xiao Yi went downstairs with the underwear to wash. Lu Zhou's volume was too much, and Xiao Yi blushed as he went to the bathroom in his room to wash Lu Zhou's underwear. Lu Zhou, completely naked, flashed into the bathroom and started showering.

During this time, Du Mei called several times. While washing the underwear, Xiao Yi rushed out to answer. Lu Zhou finished washing in a few minutes, gestured for Xiao Yi to hand him the phone to find out what was going on.

"Hey!" Lu Zhou said, "What's this sticky stuff on the phone?"

Lu Zhou's handsome face was stuck to the phone, smeared with some strange liquid.

Xiao Yi went to wash Lu Zhou's underwear again, and Lu Zhou answered Du Mei's call. Du Mei said, "It's super urgent. Hurry up and come to the company. The director and producer are both waiting."

At ten in the morning that day, in the meeting room, Lu Zhou went crazy on the spot.

"I..." Lu Zhou decisively said, " it isn’t that I’m refusing. I really have no choice! Director Guo!"

"Um, Lu Zhou?" The producer signalled him to touch his face, and Lu Zhou, bewildered, touched his face, finding the liquid had dried.

Xiao Yi: "..."

When driving, Xiao Yi couldn't see Lu Zhou's right side at all. At first, he was shocked, but then he thought that it was his own, so it didn't matter. He immediately went out to find wet wipes for him.

Lu Zhou, wiping his face, was on the verge of tears. However, sitting in front of him was the esteemed director Guo, who had helped Lu Zhou before. Director Guo smiled and said, "Okay, if that's the case, I understand."

The producer said, "Actually, we didn't have high hopes. We know your schedule is tight."

Du Mei sighed and said, "Why did this happen?"

In Xiao Yi's heart, a voice was shouting, "Choose me, choose me! I'm willing to act!" Unfortunately, it was impossible for anyone to choose him. Whether he could act or not, leaving aside, once he was selected to play a supporting role, a drama that was already hard to sell would become even more challenging to sell.

Here was the situation: a drama about to start shooting, the investment was in place, the crew was ready, and after countless revisions of the script, even the screenwriter ended up in the hospital. The drama was in nearly perfect condition. However, at this critical moment, both the second male lead and the male lead encountered problems.

The male lead was a former popular idol who had faded away, and the second male lead was a powerful actor. The result of both breaching their contracts was that there was now no suitable actor. After discussing it separately, Director Guo seemed to be interested in Wu Henggu, and Du Mei and Director Guo went aside to chat.

In the office, only Xiao Yi and Lu Zhou were left.

"We could consider Bai Husheng," Xiao Yi suggested. "Isn't he quite popular on Tianya forums?"

"Have you seen him in any famous dramas?" Lu Zhou impatiently asked.

Xiao Yi said, "Then... what about Huang Mao?"

"Poor acting, no good at all," Lu Zhou said. "Internet celebrities are internet celebrities. Being handsome is useless without acting skills. Director Guo is a top director and usually doesn't even visit forums. He only selects actors he thinks can handle it. Have you ever seen Ang Lee go on Tianya to pick actors for a historical drama, like picking four leading actresses to boost box office? Besides, who wants to watch a drama where the vase is just there for decoration? It's not an antique show."

"Oh," Xiao Yi understood. Today, he learned that this action was called "rescuing the scene." He had also seen Republic of China drama projects in the company's annual plan. In fact, there were five dramas specifically chosen for Lu Zhou. The applications had all been approved, and it was obvious that some were ambitious projects. However, because Lu Zhou was cast as a supporting role, Du Mei considered it repeatedly and eventually reluctantly let them go.

Mountains and rivers shattered, wind scattered pollen, Xiao Yi really wanted to act in this, but of course, it was just a daydream. Acting was very hard.

" Zhou ge, do you want to take it?" Xiao Yi cautiously asked, observing Lu Zhou, who seemed hesitant, as if he wanted to stand up. His hands pressed on the chair, showing hesitation.

Lu Zhou didn't say anything. After thinking for a while, he said, "Because Director Guo once mentored me." Saying this, he sighed and sat back down.

"Never mind, I can't fit it into my schedule anyway," Lu Zhou added.

Xiao Yi began to practice his split personality skills, talking to himself and playing the roles of both Xiao Yi and Lu Zhou, starting a dialogue.

"To repay Director Guo, huh."

"You don't know anything!" Xiao Yi muttered to himself. "In the entertainment industry, they praise you to the sky when you're popular and criticize you when you're not. If you're not famous, who would want to hire you?!"

Lu Zhou: "..."

Xiao Yi, with a sly look like Tuzki rabbit, held a dictionary as a improvised brick, tapped it on his head, turned around, and began to sing a solo act, "Come on, come on, Lu Zhou is Superman!"

"You idiot!" Xiao Yi muttered again, imitating Lu Zhou's voice angrily, "Have you ever acted before? Rushed through scenes?"

"But this time, Director Guo is the one seeking help."

"That's still because I'm famous," Xiao Yi said to himself. "If I'm not famous, who would hire you?"

Lu Zhou: "You..."

Xiao Yi: "Someone like you, who's nothing! Don't even think about repaying anyone in your entire life!"

Lu Zhou: "..."

Xiao Yi: "In this day and age, if you want to repay someone, you have to be famous. Hey, someone like you, who's nothing, doesn't even have the chance to repay favours. Too bad, too bad."

Xiao Yi's split personality skills were obviously not that good. By the end, he confused himself, feeling that it didn't sound like Lu Zhou's tone or his own. However, when he and Du Ma were in the dorm before, they often used this trick to converse, stimulating the other roommate. For example: "Hey, I really want to take the postgraduate entrance exam." "If you want to take it, just take it." "What if I don't pass?" "If you don't take it, you know nothing. Is your courage only this much?"... And so on.

Roommates were quite sensitive to their antics. From deciding what to eat at night to going to graduate school, Du Ma and Xiao Yi often recklessly helped them express their inner thoughts and then made fun of them. In the end, the roommate, unable to endure, went to study for a master's degree. Now, he had gone abroad to pursue his dream of becoming a composer.

Lu Zhou seemed to fall for this as well. Xiao Yi was about to say something more, but Lu Zhou said, "Shut up!"

Lu Zhou made up his mind and stood up. Coincidentally, Director Guo and Du Mei passed by the corridor. Lu Zhou said, "Director Guo, please come inside. Let's discuss it again."

*

That afternoon, Lu Zhou signed another contract.

Director Guo found another male lead. It wasn't that they didn't want Lu Zhou to play the male lead. If Lu Zhou was willing to take it, he could choose any role he wanted. However, Lu Zhou had to shoot two dramas simultaneously, and the schedule was extremely tight. Luckily, both dramas were being shot in Beijing, so they didn't have to travel far. Grateful for Lu Zhou's face, the director gave him the "scene-saving" job. Immediately, they arranged for another crew to adjust their schedule to avoid conflicting with Lu Zhou's other projects.

Just as Lu Zhou returned home and came back to his senses, he roared, "Xiao Yi! I'm going to be killed by you!"

Xiao Yi immediately dodged as Lu Zhou threw the script at him, scattering it all over.

Xiao Yi: "..."

Lu Zhou: "..."

It had been many years since Lu Zhou took on two dramas with completely packed schedules. Except for when he just started and had to rush between three different sets to play a supporting role, this was the first time. Now, he had the main role in one drama and the second male lead in another.

"Why are you still looking at the script?!" Lu Zhou roared. "Quick, give me the shooting schedule!"

Xiao Yi helped Lu Zhou arrange the work schedule on the calendar while settling the bill with Lu Zhou's personal costume designer. Three days after shooting began, Lu Zhou also had to attend the Shanghai Film Festival, making him extremely busy. He also had to prepare several outfits for his appearances this year.

After sorting out the first week, Lu Zhou's schedule was packed. Xiao Yi said, "Oh?"

Lu Zhou asked cautiously, "What?"

Xiao Yi said, "Actually, there are very few night scenes. Looking at this schedule, you can take on another drama."

Lu Zhou: "..."

"Xiao General," Lu Zhou said seriously, "you have to treat your cash cow well, understand? Although I earn a lot, under good circumstances, maybe, possibly, depending on the situation, I might generously reward you with a bit of my limited meat soup. (Roaring) But if burst my liver to death with back-to-back dramas!!! You'll end up on the streets!!! Understand?!"

Xiao Yi: "..."

Xiao Yi knew that Lu Zhou was actually quite happy. He was a sentimental person, and in less than a year of close interaction, Xiao Yi genuinely felt this about Lu Zhou. He didn't believe what people said; he only looked at what others did. If someone treated him well, although he wouldn't admit it verbally, he would always remember it.

Of course, he would also hold a grudge against those who treated him badly.

For example, on the first day of work, Lu Zhou fiercely scolded the props assistant of the first crew just because the assistant saw Xiao Yi standing by the wall and, fearing he wouldn't hear, loudly said, "Hey! Don't stand there!"

Lu Zhou immediately darkened his face and said, "This is my assistant. Even though I scold him, it's my business. Don't scold him."

Lu Zhou spoke, and the assistant immediately realized he had mistaken the person. He quickly apologized to Xiao Yi, and his mentor also came over to apologize. Lu Zhou only stopped after that.

Xiao Yi originally thought he already had a rough idea of how to handle things when joining a crew. However, shooting in Beijing was completely different from Hengdian. All the indoor scenes were sponsored by real estate developers. They took a model home, and the crew swarmed in like locusts. They blocked the passage, set up lights, and constructed boards, just like shooting a commercial.

"How much is this house?" Xiao Yi asked.

The house was very large and spacious, decorated into cubicles like an office building. The director sat, reading the script, and said, "More than eight million. Houses here are expensive. What, thinking of buying one?"

"I can't afford it," Xiao Yi said.

Xiao Yi looked around.

The director spoke with a typical Beijing accent, speaking like he was performing a ballad tune. He liked to joke around, and Xiao Yi sat on the side, thinking that this drama was definitely less exhausting than shooting in Hengdian. No wonder everyone liked shooting low-budget productions like this. As long as they could get a big star, the script was melodramatic enough, and the director was easygoing, the actors had an easy time, and it saved money too.

"Come on." The director smiled. "Lao Lu, I won't dare to give you acting directions. Just do as you like."

Everyone laughed, and Lu Zhou, with a serious expression, grunted. He knew the director liked to talk and joke, so he didn't say much and went to change his clothes, then lying down on the table.

Lu Zhou changed into a white shirt and trousers, messed up his hair, wore glasses, an old pair of sports shoes, and lay on the table for a nap. He rested with his face against the table, slightly open-mouthed.

"Hey—"chief editor said surged a wave and said, "Wake up!"

Lu Zhou suddenly startled, searching for his glasses. When he looked up, he happened to see the chief editor's chest. He let out a loud scream, blushing, and fell backward.

Lu Zhou's actions were very exaggerated but amusing. Xiao Yi hadn't expected Lu Zhou's portrayal of a modern drama to be like this; it was completely different from what he had imagined. When Xiao Yi read the script, several times he thought Lu Zhou should play a playboy like Wu Henggu, the kind who would sit on a sofa, wearing a suit, unbuttoning two buttons on his shirt, casually holding a glass of wine.

Surrounded by beautiful women, with a butler standing by, this type of domineering character was undoubtedly Lu Zhou's first choice!

However, Lu Zhou played a thirty-something-year-old virgin vividly. Xiao Yi almost couldn't recognize him.

The camera moved forward to film Lu Zhou's face. Lu Zhou sighed, grabbed his glasses, and sat down in a fluster, one hand on the table, while the other hand agilely spun a pen in circles, from the thumb to the index finger and then to the little finger.

Almost everyone couldn't help but applaud. Lu Zhou's expressions, demeanour, and movements were all very convincing.

"Go interview him!" The chief editor threw a stack of documents at Lu Zhou's face, making a mess, then continued patrolling in the office.

"Last month's articles were of poor quality," the chief editor told him. "Be more serious."

Lu Zhou looked helpless, gazed at the ceiling, then picked up his jacket.

"Cut," said the director.

The assistants came forward to set up, and the scene was finished.

Next was Lu Zhou's scene. He was alone, flipping through materials at the cabinet, also answering a call at the office.

"Okay!" Lu Zhou said. "Right away!"

Lu Zhou hurried out, almost slipping, then ran back to flip through the folder, taking an old photo.

"Cut."

Next was Lu Zhou lying on a swivel chair, feet up on the desk, shoes off, looking up at the ceiling. The camera zoomed in to capture his face. Lu Zhou remained silent for a moment, then sighed, holding an old photo in his hand. He made a difficult swallowing motion, his eyes slightly reddening.

Three seconds later, Lu Zhou burst into laughter.

Everyone: "..."

"Who prepared the photos!" Lu Zhou exclaimed, puzzled, throwing the photo on the table. "Why bring a photo of a giant panda! Even an Oscar-winning actor can't cry with this!"

The entire crew was about to be amused to death. The director asked, "Who brought the old photos? Did the female lead bring hers?"

"Not ready yet," the prop master said. "How about we change the angle?"

"I have one." Xiao Yi said.

Xiao Yi had a childhood photo in his wallet, gave it to Lu Zhou, who looked at it thoughtfully, signalling the director to start.

Xiao Yi gestured if Lu Zhou needed eye drops, and Lu Zhou shook his head.

Holding the photo, Lu Zhou, according to the script, had to go through a scene where the female lead left, and the male lead was left with her childhood photo. Subsequently, there would be numerous flashbacks, a melancholic theme song, sentimental memories, and the male lead had a crying scene.

 

 

Translator : DarNan