Chapter 141: The Bandit's Flavor Is Too Strong (Bonus Chapter, Begging for Monthly Tickets)

The information currently leaked about the "Operation Red Sea" project isn't all that much.

Still, Sister Yanzi has inside info on her side — all of it obtained by her buttering up "Sister Yang" with every breath.

Things like the production company, the investors, which department is giving the project strong support, and so on.

Oh right, she also mentioned one very important point: the casting for this film probably won't be all that competitive.

On one hand, it's a main-melody military theme — how to put this — it's not like there's no market for it. Last year, Wu Jing's "Wolf Warrior" raked in several hundred million at the box office.

But for a lot of in-the-circle stars with high traffic, it's a bit of a thankless task.

The grueling shoot is one thing, but the result is what really matters.

When actors sign on for a film, beyond the paycheck, what most of them really want is the positive payoff it brings afterward.

"Operation Red Sea" is an ensemble military film that doesn't foreground individual heroism.

What does "ensemble" mean?

Even if you're the lead, your face smeared with camo and dressed the same as everyone else — after the audience finishes the movie, what they'll probably remember isn't the actor.

Here's a not-quite-perfect example: when watching movies like "Transformers" or "Godzilla," how many people actually pay attention to the so-called human leads?

What audiences are interested in, what they'll discuss afterward, are still those hunks of metal and giant monsters.

"Operation Red Sea" has a bit of that flavor too, so even though casting news has been put out, no particularly hot artists will be all that interested.

Even though everyone knows it's a big production with a high budget.

So what? You go abroad and eat dust for a few months, and by the time the film hits theaters, the audience might not even remember the actors' faces.

Not to mention the shooting schedule is supposedly brutal — not everyone is willing to suffer for no good reason.

Of course, for slightly lesser-tier artists, this project is still pretty decent.

Main-melody big production, well-known director, solid crew, reliable production company.

If you can land a lead role, it looks mighty fine on the résumé.

But for Bai Liang, this project is a bit of a mixed bag.

Even Sister Yanzi isn't all that worked up this time — she just figures the opportunity is decent, worth giving it a shot.

Still, starting at second male lead — if he ends up as third or fourth male lead, there's really no point. She has full confidence in her own Dou Xiao Bai ge.

Just like she bragged in front of Han Han before — about to blow up.

The next top-tier star!

Whether anyone else believes it or not, Sister Yanzi firmly does.

On the way to the audition venue after arriving in Yanjing, Sister Yanzi casually asked: "Dou Xiao Bai ge, are you interested in military themes?"

Bai Liang thought for a moment: "Military themes — so-so~"

"Huh? But last time you told me you wanted to act in one of those anti-Japanese god-tier dramas — that counts as military too, right?"

"Military themes have their own subdivisions, you know. Modern military themes — I'm only so-so on them."

"Why?"

"Guess~"

Why? Of course it's because he's played it before.

Just like racing — that adrenaline-maxed-out kind of thing — most of the stuff boys like, Bai Liang has basically experienced firsthand.

Guns and cannons naturally fall in that category!

And unlike the average enthusiast, even abroad, folks who like playing with guns mostly just shoot at targets, or at most go hunting to get their fix on some wild animals.

If you want to play live-action combat, all you can use is water-bead ammo, BB pellets, that sort of thing.

After all, using real guns and live ammo for combat isn't called a game — it's called a shootout.

A real bullet coming at you doesn't care who's in the way. What lunatic would dare use that stuff to shoot at each other?

Bai Liang would.

It's not even that he's just "dare" — he's actually experienced a real battlefield, strolled in for a leisurely look around, started with a single knife, all gear picked up along the way.

Real-life Tarkov knife-run, look it up.

Bai Liang can't be an ancient person, so he's interested in period dramas.

He can't be an immortal, so he's equally curious about xianxia and supernatural themes.

Even a lot of modern workplace dramas interest him — at the very least, he gets to experience the lives of some unusual professions.

But modern military themes — he's actually shot real guns at people, knows exactly what it feels like to have a bullet zip past your head.

Under those circumstances, modern military themes naturally lose a lot of their appeal for him, unless the story or character setup is particularly interesting.

Still, "Operation Red Sea" isn't completely without interest for him.

At the very least, Bai Liang really hasn't played in a full-fledged special-forces squad operation.

He's not afraid of dying — bullets swerve around him — but he can't find teammates with the same gift~

Chatting with Sister Yanzi, they arrived in no time.

Unlike the previous "auditions," this one wasn't at a hotel or some company — it was a place that looked like a training facility.

"Wow! So many guns!"

"They're all props — things that can't actually fire." Bai Liang took one glance and knew those seemingly finely-crafted firearms were just for show.

But even so, in China, this is enough to get plenty of bros who've never had the chance to touch the stuff all worked up.

Even Sister Yanzi couldn't tear her eyes away.

Soon there was something even harder to look away from — because not far off, a bunch of "beefcakes" were over there stripping~

There were also some fitness machines nearby. Felt like besides being used for auditions, this place would probably have the actors training here in the future too.

"Wow~"

"Alright, wipe the drool, where's that Huang Jingyu guy?"

Bai Liang looked around left and right, while Sister Yanzi immediately switched into work mode and went to find the person in charge to ask about the audition.

To be fair, there were quite a few actors here for the audition.

But most of the faces were unfamiliar.

Bai Liang truly didn't see any well-known faces; after searching for a long time, he finally spotted Du Jiang, barely recognizable as famous.

"Holy shit, Big Immortal?"

"Huh? Hey, bro, why are you everywhere?!"

Turning his head, Bai Liang saw Wang Yanlin's big face and instinctively lowered his gaze to the man's shoes.

"Lin Genxin said that next time he sees you, he'll stuff your socks in your mouth."

"It was clearly him who started it."

Perhaps because the contest of whose feet were less smelly was a bit embarrassing, Wang Yanlin quickly insisted they drop the subject and hoped Lin Genxin would forget too.

But he cheerfully joined Bai Liang in teasing Lin Genxin about almost shoving his shoe in Xiao Zhao's face.

After teasing, Wang Yanlin grinned and said, "You're here, and I'm happy!"

"What does that mean?" Bai Liang blinked, thinking: Has this guy's tastes changed in just a few days?

That guy better be wary of you now~

"Wait for you to carry me."

So-called "hunxue" is the art of leveling up by just lying around in Summoner's Rift.

Wang Yanlin claimed to have deep expertise in it, wishing he could just attach himself to Bai Liang.

From now on, wherever you act, I'll follow you to that set and hang around—I'll rise to fame someday.

"Carry you? I haven't even auditioned yet."

"You can't fail the audition? I don't believe it~"

Wang Yanlin's voice was a bit too loud and successfully drew some hostility toward Bai Liang. But unlike before, most of the auditioners here were truly minor players; Bai Liang standing there alone was already the biggest name on site.

Some people visibly relaxed, not thinking someone as famous as Bai Liang would compete for those minor supporting roles.

It was like in a Hollywood movie, where hyper-advanced aliens fly in at warp speed just to snatch some "trash."

That's insane.

Bai Liang: No problem—I love picking on those who think they're awesome.

For example,

Just as Bai Liang was chatting happily with Wang Yanlin and teasing Lin Genxin, a gust of wind suddenly surged behind him!

In that moment, Bai Liang seemed to see Wang Yanlin's pupils slowly dilate.

At the same time, a hand swiftly gripped his shoulder and began pulling him backward with force.

Before he could react, Bai Liang slammed his body backward while grabbing the hand on his shoulder and unleashed his full strength!

Thud!

"Holy shit, someone—"

Before Wang Yanlin could finish speaking, the "despicable" attacker was slammed to the ground by Bai Liang's textbook shoulder throw.

Since the floor wasn't concrete outside, Bai Liang didn't hold back at all.

~I'll knock you silly, you bastard~

As Huang Jingyu lay on the floor staring at the ceiling, questioning life itself, he saw a foot kicking straight toward his face.

!. Read

Accompanied by a roar: "Hit him!"

Holy shit

Luckily, Wang Yanlin's kick was blocked by Bai Liang; otherwise, Huang Jingyu would've been knocked senseless.

"Friends, friends, not fighting—no rush."

Bai Liang quickly calmed Wang Yanlin down—damn, Northeastern guys are brutal! They actually act when there's trouble!

The guy on the ground was also a Northeastern guy; now he felt only some pain and a bit dazed from the throw, so he promptly sat up, grinning at Bai Liang: "Bai Liang, you really hit hard."

"You're not any better—you were trying to lock me up just now, weren't you?"

"... I'm not convinced." Huang Jingyu silently requested a rematch.

At that moment, Bai Liang stepped back and said, "Wang Yanlin, hit him!"

"Got it~"

Seeing that giant foot coming at his face again, Huang Jingyu had no choice but to give up.

Fuck, two-on-one justice? Who can stand that?

Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners hate this shit—dominant one-on-one, completely done for two-on-one.

The commotion on their side was clearly too loud—it drew the attention of the director and others inside the audition room, who came out to check.

Sister Yanzi gasped and ran over. "Xiao Bai, are you okay?"

"Sister Yanzi, we're old friends, and right now it's clearly me who's in trouble," Huang Jingyu said helplessly.

Just moments ago, she'd nearly stepped over him without even glancing his way.

The bond's faded.

"You've got thick skin—what trouble could you possibly be in? You must've been causing trouble!" As the righteous Dragonfly Captain, Sister Yanzi didn't even ask—she declared judgment immediately.

And she wasn't wrong!

"That's Bai Liang, right? Director Yang mentioned him to me before—very spirited young man."

Hearing Director Lin Chaoxian's words, Yang Xing felt his eyelid twitch—he looked utterly exasperated.

Damn, he's been in the industry over a year—how is this kid still so irresponsible?

Oh no, two little rascals!

Lucky she only has one under her! If she signed both, she'd have a headache every day.

But once these big shots found out what happened, they became interested.

"Today's young actors are really good!"

"These two are especially impressive, especially Bai Liang—he knows a lot of things."

Although Huang Jingyu was his own artist, Yang Xing had zero desire to speak up for the kid after seeing him sit on the floor grinning like an idiot.

"I've heard of him." Producer Yu Dong clearly had strong interest in Bai Liang; after sizing him up from a distance, he suddenly asked, "Manager Yang, which one do you recommend for Gu Shun? I think both boys are quite good—very upright."

Yang Xing:.

She caught Yu Dong's teasing tone, smiled and shook her head, "Huang Jingyu came to audition for Gu Shun. As for Bai Liang, I don't even know what role he's auditioning for—let him decide for himself."

What role is he auditioning for?

Bai Liang hadn't decided when he arrived, but now he had.

"I'll audition for the sniper then~"

Huang Jingyu chuckled, "The one I got injured and got replaced for?"

Wang Yanlin beside him could barely hold back—he was such a simple country boy. "Bro, what if the Master has his eye on the role you wanted?"

"Huh?!"

Not bro~

Bai Liang wasn't here to steal Huang Jingyu's role—he'd already discussed this with Sister Yanzi before coming; his only goal was the lead role: Yang Rui, the captain of the "Jiaolong Assault Team."

There was no way around it—Huang Jingyu's supporting role had nearly been locked in thanks to Yang Xing's help.

Roles after the second lead? Hmm… not worth much.

Sister Yanzi didn't even want Bai Liang to take them—she thought they weren't worth it.

But the lead role's competition would be far tougher, surely drawing in established veterans from the industry.

No matter how much of an ensemble piece it was, the producers wouldn't cast the entire cast with unknowns—just rely on Huang Jingyu, the guy famous for danmei dramas, to carry the show.

Sister Yanzi's rational analysis: there'd definitely be some seasoned actors with solid military drama credits and good reputations.

Bai Liang gave her a thumbs-up for her professional judgment—this analysis was spot-on.

But as always: since he came, he might as well aim for the biggest target.

Even if he failed the audition, he wanted the crew to feel regretful.

So Bai Liang didn't act.

Draw fast, kid!

Before anyone's eyes could even register what happened, the heavy prop pistol was already pressed against his forehead—Huang Jingyu was stunned for the second time today.

Huh?!

Seeing his dazed expression, Yang Xing covered his face, thinking: Why the hell did this brat insist on auditioning alongside Bai Liang?

At the same time, he mentally cursed—where the hell did this kid learn that move?

Damn, so cool!

Then came the rifle—when they saw Bai Liang casually and smoothly flip open the bolt, the military instructors on site fell silent.

Kid… aren't you being a bit too much like a bandit?

Get someone to check him out?

Bai Liang: I only know these few things.

He'd only practiced flashy gun tricks—aimed purely at looking impressive, looking cool.

Give him a revolver, and he'd spin it.

As for real marksmanship or tactical operations? Meh—he didn't need them anyway; he'd just go with the flow.

But even if it was mediocre, it looked damn cool!

Bai Liang had fame, buzz, and a great physique—once he put on the assault team uniform, the vibe was instantly there.

More importantly, he looked calm and composed—even if a bit young, he truly had the aura of a captain.

Of course, if he were going for the sniper role of Gu Shun, Bai Liang could show off more.

Acting, though~

Lin Chaoxian, Yu Dong, and others were clearly intrigued.

Intrigued—and conflicted!

Kid, why don't you try out for the sniper Gu Shun? You could even kick Huang Jingyu out—it's not impossible.

—

ps: The protagonist won't play in "Red Sea"—he has other plans. Try to guess.

Four updates today, totaling 15,000 characters—done.

Another patron… when will these extra updates ever end?

(End of Chapter)