Chapter 722: Stars and Their Assistants (2) 10,400 words

Xiao Mo carried the insulated box to the nanny van.

Liu Bige immediately glared at her. "Why are you so slow?"

Xiao Mo lowered her head and apologized.

"Hurry up and bring it up." Liu Bige bared his teeth and hissed, drawing in a sharp breath.

Xiao Mo opened the insulated box; it was filled entirely with ice cubes.

She scooped the ice into a cloth bag and handed it to Liu Bige.

Seeing this, Liu Bige glared at her again. "Do you expect me to apply it myself?"

Xiao Mo was stunned.

"What are you still standing there for? Apply it, quick! It's killing me!" Liu Bige cursed.

Xiao Mo looked at Liu Bige, who was lying on his side in a strange posture on the seat. She hesitated for half a second, then, with the resignation of a working stiff, took the ice pack and applied it to his waist.

The moment it touched him, Liu Bige let out a shriek like a crowing rooster.

Xiao Mo was startled.

Liu Bige: "Be gentler!"

Xiao Mo: "I—I just barely touched you—"

Liu Bige: "Forget it, hurry up. Damn it, if I'm still like this when it's time to film, I'll be humiliated."

Xiao Mo hesitated and said, "How about I ask the crew for leave so you can go to the hospital and get it checked out?"

Liu Bige was annoyed: "Leave? What kind of leave? Do you want the whole crew to laugh at me?"

Xiao Mo: "..."

She said, "If we just say you accidentally twisted it when getting out of the car, it shouldn't matter, right?"

Liu Bige: "..."

Xiao Mo: "Most people wouldn't want to think in that direction anyway."

Most people wouldn't do such a thing, she muttered silently to herself.

Liu Bige: "... Then go help me ask for leave."

Xiao Mo nodded and turned to leave.

Liu Bige drew in another sharp breath and had no choice but to pick up the ice pack himself and place it on his waist.

The sound of his gasping was like being inside a cave, the volume suddenly spiking.

"Hoo—"

"Hoo-hoo—"

"Hoo—"

The gasping, sometimes rapid and sometimes slowing, came from the front.

It sounded as if someone had been injured.

Lu Yan He walked over with some surprise to take a look.

As it turned out, upon looking, he discovered it wasn't that someone was injured, but that Zhou Ruo was practicing for her next scene.

In the next scene, Zhou Ruo is injured—suffering a gunshot wound—and she was practicing the sound of her breathing after the injury.

She was holding a tablet, playing documentaries of other people who had been injured.

Lu Yan He didn't disturb her and quietly walked away.

When he returned to his lounge, someone was waiting at the door.

It was a cinematographer from *Storm Calmer No. 1*.

Lu Yan He asked with some surprise: "Brother Jiang, are you looking for me?"

"Yes, Yan He." Brother Jiang nodded, a smile on his face.

Jiang Yufeng, thirty-six years old, had been a cinematographer for thirteen years; he was a veteran with solid technical skills.

He was also the lead camera operator on set, ranking just below the director of photography.

"Please, come in." Lu Yan He opened the door and invited Jiang Yufeng inside. "Brother Jiang, would you like water or... coffee? Sorry, that's all I have here."

Jiang Yufeng waved his hand, saying it was fine, then added: "I know you're busy, but here's the thing: I—I have a script of my own. I wrote it myself and have wanted to make it for a long time. I was wondering... if you have the time, could you help me take a look at it?"

He pushed a kraft paper envelope toward Lu Yan He.

Lu Yan He looked surprised and unexpected.

"Is this a script?"

"Yes." Jiang Yufeng nodded.

Seeing this, Lu Yan He took it in his hands and pulled the script out of the envelope.

It was a very thick volume.

If it were for a TV series, it would definitely be too short, but for a movie, it seemed a bit long.

Lu Yan He nodded and said: "No problem, Brother Jiang. However, do you have any specific thoughts in mind by asking me to look at this script?"

He laughed: "Are you looking for me to act in it, invest in it, or something else? You have to tell me so I know how to read it."

Jiang Yufeng rubbed his hands together and said: "If I say I have all those thoughts, would that seem a bit greedy?"

Lu Yan He smiled even more brightly.

"Alright, let me read the script first." Lu Yan He said. "But, Brother Jiang, have you signed with any other companies? Can you let me see this script first?"

Jiang Yufeng waved his hand, looking a bit dispirited.

"I haven't signed with any other company; I'm running my own cinematography studio. But to be honest, I've shown this script to Long Yan, Ruyi, and a few others. They all think this script has no market and the investment is too high, so no one is willing to do it."

Hearing this, Lu Yan He nodded and asked: "According to your idea, how much money would it take to film this?"

"Excluding post-production, it would take at least 40 million to film it." Jiang Yufeng said. "It is indeed a bit high."

Lu Yan He immediately estimated in his heart: if it costs 40 million before post-production, then adding music, editing, and other post-production work, if they aren't careful, 60 million wouldn't be enough. Plus marketing and distribution, the production budget for this film could soar to nearly 100 million.

Linghe had never made a film this big.

However, Lu Yan He didn't refuse immediately.

He said: "Let me read the script first."

Jiang Yufeng nodded.

After Jiang Yufeng left, Lu Yan He flipped through the script. He didn't read it carefully, just getting a general idea of the style.

To Lu Yan He's surprise, this seemed to be a film leaning toward a biographical genre.

It told the story of the ups and downs of a cinematographer in the film industry during the Republic of China era.

A drama, and a biographical drama at that.

Yet it required a budget of nearly 100 million. Regardless of the script's quality, just looking at this combination, Lu Yan He roughly understood why Long Yan and Ruyi were unwilling to invest.

Such a story, if made into a movie, would likely lose money.

Even if Lu Yan He starred in it, unless a marketing miracle like *Love Letter* occurred, under normal circumstances, the box office would at most reach 300 to 500 million, and that would be entirely due to the halo of Lu Yan He's past success.

Such a story simply wouldn't attract audiences at the moment.

"Did you give the script to Lu Yan He?" Wei Chang, the producer of *Storm Calmer No. 1*, asked Jiang Yufeng.

Jiang Yufeng nodded and said: "I gave it to him. Let's try; see if he's willing to help."

Wei Chang sighed.

"Your film costs too much money." Wei Chang said. "Under normal circumstances, no film company would be willing to do it."

—You aren't Lu Yan He, after all.

This was what Wei Chang didn't say out loud.

Jiang Yufeng: "But without that much money, you can't capture the style of that era. I don't want those cookie-cutter Republic of China sets."

"What if Lu Yan He refuses you too?" Wei Chang asked.

"What else can I do?" Jiang Yufeng said. "I just won't make it."

Wei Chang: "By the way, I heard you're going to be the cinematographer for Shijin's *Ten Miles of Fragrance* project later?"

"Yes." Jiang Yufeng smiled. "You get news fast."

"That project is Shijin's first project since entering the entertainment industry; everyone is watching it." Wei Chang said. "Maybe Shijin will be a strong competitor to Long Yan in the future."

"In the current film market, no one is anyone's competitor." Jiang Yufeng said bluntly. "How many film projects actually made money last year? More than half of the most profitable film projects are related to Lu Yan He. Since Shijin is entering, I hope they can stir up the market and stop it from being so dead."

Wei Chang: "Sigh, film, to be honest, its positioning in the market has changed. Audiences have more choices; it's no longer about picking one movie out of two, but choosing between watching a movie or doing something else among various products. However, with Shijin entering, they will likely spend a lot on promotion. If they can bring people's attention back to movies a bit more, that would be good."

"What do you think of the box office for *Storm Calmer No. 1*?"

"It shouldn't be bad." Wei Chang said. "Just the names Liu Bige, Lu Yan He, and Wen Shengming alone can sell a lot of tickets."

"Sometimes, I'm a bit confused. You say movies can't rely on a few names to sell tickets, but when you talk about them, it seems they can. But if you say relying on a few people can sell tickets, they often flop so hard their mothers wouldn't recognize them. Even the comedy movie Jia Long released recently had terrible results, selling only a little over 100 million." Jiang Yufeng sighed.

Wei Chang said: "That was a problem with Jia Long's choice of subject. He insisted on making a comedy with a tragic tone, a non-comedy for the general public, making everyone feel like it was a realistic story, so people didn't want to go to the cinema. He didn't find the core selling point."

"Everyone only has a few selling points. Why is Lu Yan He awesome? Because Lu Yan He has formed an impression on the industry and all audiences: his movies are worth watching, regardless of the subject. He can try anything, and he has always succeeded, never failed. This has become his biggest selling point, giving everyone confidence in him."

"Then he can't be replicated."

"Yes." Wei Chang nodded. "Wen Shengming is actually similar. How difficult is it for him to come out of retirement? What kind of film could possibly move him to come out of retirement? Often, the role of stars isn't just about fans paying for it, but their impression in the public's mind, combined with a few selling points, which can leverage a large market."

"You're right." Jiang Yufeng nodded. "As expected of you."

"Now Lu Yan He keeps dragging his feet, refusing to sign the sequel contract for *Burning Fire*. The company is divided into two factions, and they've started arguing." Wei Chang revealed. "The box office for the first *Burning Fire* was very good, and now business cooperation licensing starts at 5 million. The company wants to push the second one as soon as possible, but Lu Yan He is an unknown factor. So, some people have proposed letting Lu Yan He's character exit the second one."

"Exit the second one?" Jiang Yufeng asked in shock. "Did I hear you wrong, or have your people at Long Yan gone crazy?"

"Because the reputation of the entire production of the first *Burning Fire* was very good, and it was an ensemble cast, many people believe that even if Lu Yan He's character doesn't appear in the second one, it won't affect the basic foundation of *Burning Fire*." Wei Chang said. "Of course, they have a point. An actor's foundation is ultimately limited. If the *Burning Fire* IP is established, as long as the quality is maintained, even if they change a few characters to tell the story, it can still sell. Such cases are not uncommon."

As long as it's not the same character being played by a different actor, that is indeed true.

"Then that wouldn't be called *Burning Fire 2*." Jiang Yufeng said.

"Yes." Wei Chang nodded. "Their idea is to open a separate movie for Shang Yongzhou's character, with a storyline that doesn't continue from the first one. Once Lu Yan He confirms his return, they will do the originally planned story."

Jiang Yufeng scoffed.

"They are shooting themselves in the foot by doing this. I've only ever seen successful people try their best to keep all successful elements; I've never seen anyone think they can succeed even if a link is missing."

Wei Chang said pointedly: "Yes, but come to think of it, Long Yan does have the capital to be that confident. *Burning Fire* was Lu Yan He's first starring film to break 2 billion at the box office. *Burning Fire* needs him, and he needs *Burning Fire*, doesn't he?"

"Does he need a number like that?" Jiang Yufeng shook his head. "I don't think so."

"Hmm?"

"If he didn't have this box office of over 2 billion, would he not be the male lead that every film project fights for?" Jiang Yufeng asked. "In terms of roles he can play, is there any other male actor who can compete with him?"

Wei Chang said: "If it's a commercial film like *Burning Fire*, to be honest, Li Zhibai could do it, Wang Dashan could do it, even Lang Xia could do it."

"Are you kidding?"

"I'm not kidding." Wei Chang said. "The logic of using people in commercial films isn't that the bigger the star, the better. Just like *Burning Fire*, with Shang Yongzhou, is the effect of Shang Yongzhou paired with Li Zhibai worse than paired with Lu Yan He? Not necessarily. Commercial films are never about the best being the most suitable. The protagonists of commercial films, most of the time, aren't even the actors."

After Wei Chang said this, Jiang Yufeng understood a little.

"I think Lu Yan He should still want to act in *Burning Fire*, otherwise it wouldn't be a delaying tactic, but a direct refusal." Wei Chang said to Jiang Yufeng. "The situation at Long Yan is very complicated now. If those who want to open a solo movie for Shang Yongzhou gain the upper hand, Lu Yan He will be in a passive position."

"If Shang Yongzhou's solo movie doesn't achieve the success of *Burning Fire*, it won't necessarily be Lu Yan He who is in a passive position." Jiang Yufeng said.

"That depends on how Lu Yan He thinks." Wei Chang said. "Anyway, no matter what, don't be kept in the dark about everything, and don't be left knowing nothing while others have already made several moves."

Jiang Yufeng's eyes changed slightly.

"Do you think I can tell Lu Yan He this news?"

Wei Chang: "That depends on you. Anyway, once I step out of this door, I haven't said anything to you."

After Wei Chang came out, he walked a bit further, took out his phone, and sent a message to Huang Tai: I've told Jiang Yufeng. It depends on whether he passes it to Lu Yan He's ears.

Huang Tai: Did Jiang Yufeng really show his script to Lu Yan He?

Wei Chang: Yes.

Huang Tai: Keep an eye on that script too. If Lu Yan He is interested in doing it, tell me immediately.

Wei Chang: Are we going to participate in his script?

Huang Tai: That depends on whether Lu Yan He is willing to do it.

Wei Chang: Understood.

When the market is good, people's courage grows; when the market is bad, people's courage shrinks. Even a company like Long Yan is no exception.

Huang Tai does have plans to open a solo movie for the character Shang Yongzhou, but that doesn't mean she really thinks the *Burning Fire* series can bypass Lu Yan He's character and not make a second one.

A true IP must be a series with character and story continuity.

What was said from Wei Chang's mouth was not false, but it was also a tactic.

Huang Tai cannot wait like this continuously; she must give Lu Yan He some strong medicine.

Huang Tai is very confident that Lu Yan He is definitely willing to continue acting in the *Burning Fire* series.

In China, not many film companies can make such a movie, let alone make it successful and gain a good reputation and market response.

As for the unpleasantness that happened before—

Huang Tai also thinks it's not important.

That was just an excuse Lu Yan He used to increase his bargaining chips.

That's right, just as Lu Yan He and his team thought, Huang Tai really thought so.

The medicine from Wei Chang and Jiang Yufeng has been administered; now they just have to wait for Lu Yan He's reaction. It needs to ferment for a while.

Huang Tai hasn't been idle either.

She came to the set of *Those Years*.

She came to see Li Zhibai.

"We want to make *Fake Death Won't Do* Part 2." She said to Li Zhibai.

Li Zhibai was a bit surprised.

"Ah?"

The box office of *Fake Death Won't Do* exceeded 600 million. For an urban romantic comedy, this box office result was very good, even the box office champion of urban romantic comedies that year.

Long Yan wanted to develop a sequel, but Li Zhibai hadn't heard any wind of it before.

"We want to invite you to return and star in the sequel with Ji Miao again." Huang Tai said.

Li Zhibai said: "When this movie was released, didn't many people criticize it?"

"That was because of market positioning. Many people went to see it expecting a Liu Bige-style movie, and the negative reviews were mainly focused on the movie not meeting expectations." Huang Tai said. "But as for the movie itself, it is still a very good movie in the hearts of the audience. In fact, you can see it from the reviews of this movie on the internet."

Li Zhibai didn't speak.

"Look, these are comments from many movie fans on the internet." Huang Tai actually took out a bound booklet, half the thickness of a brick. "These are the voices of the audience who like this movie, calling for a sequel."

Li Zhibai asked: "Will Liu Bige return to direct?"

"No." Huang Tai shook her head. "Liu Bige might indeed not be suitable for directing romantic comedies. We still want to find someone suitable for this subject. Of course, we will invite the original screenwriter Miao Yue back and ask her to continue writing the script for the sequel."

Li Zhibai showed hesitation.

"I can't promise you directly that I will act in it now." He said bluntly. "There are already many romantic comedies looking for me, and I finally started to have other subjects to film."

Huang Tai seemed to have expected Li Zhibai to say this.

She took a script out of her bag.

"If you are willing to return to *Fake Death Won't Do 2*, this script, as long as you are willing to act, is yours."

Li Zhibai looked at Huang Tai with some surprise.

He took it in his hands.

On the cover of the script was written *Orange*.

Below the name on the right was a dash, written—

Adapted from the Mao Dun Literature Prize-winning novel.

Li Zhibai raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"How about it?" Huang Tai said. "Although this is a drama, not a blockbuster, and the investment is not very large, it is definitely a good script. If you act well, you can aim for awards."

Xiao Mo walked through the crowd and came to Liu Bige's side.

Liu Bige looked around before asking in a low voice: "What are they talking about?"

Xiao Mo shook her head and said: "I can't hear anything clearly."

Hearing this, Liu Bige immediately wanted to get angry, but there were so many people around, so he opened his mouth and held it back.

"So useless!" He suppressed his temper and complained.

Xiao Mo lowered her head expressionlessly.

"Are you okay?"

When Xiao Mo went to get water, Yan Sui's voice suddenly sounded behind her.

Xiao Mo was startled and looked at Yan Sui in surprise.

Yan Sui is Li Zhibai's assistant, and they assistants often communicate a lot.

Yan Sui is also a gentle person and has a good relationship with everyone.

A look of confusion appeared on Xiao Mo's face, as if she didn't understand why Yan Sui asked her "Are you okay".

Yan Sui said: "I saw Liu Bige seemed to lose his temper at you again just now."

"I'm used to it." Xiao Mo lowered her gaze somewhat dully. "It's fine."

"If your company keeps refusing to let you change positions, if you don't want to do it anymore, you can come to me. I'll introduce you to Woodpecker."

Xiao Mo looked at Yan Sui with some surprise.

Yan Sui smiled and said: "Being an artist's assistant is not easy, and Liu Bige's assistant is especially hard. You are patient enough."

Xiao Mo: "As long as they pay me on time."

"Try to hold on for a year. Once you have a year of work experience, it will be more convenient to change jobs later." Yan Sui said.

Xiao Mo nodded.

Yan Sui said these words to Xiao Mo, really just... sympathy for a fellow sufferer, nothing else.

He has been Li Zhibai's assistant for a few years.

Being an assistant to a star artist is a very difficult job.

Even if Li Zhibai is considered a very good artist, an assistant is an assistant. To put it bluntly, it's a job of serving people.

Almost no time of one's own, no life of one's own, having to endure the artist's bad temper, and also having to manage all sorts of miscellaneous things like a nanny.

As for income, he is indeed not low, with about 30,000 a month in hand, and a red envelope at the end of the year, which is comparable to a white-collar worker. But compared to the hard work throughout the year, he doesn't feel it's worth it at all.

Many star artists' teams rely on secretly selling news and schedules to make extra money.

Yan Sui didn't do this. First, Li Zhibai is really quite good. Besides feeling that being an assistant is hard, he actually has no opinion on Li Zhibai. Even after staying by his side for a long time, he has more or less developed some feelings and hopes he does well. Second, Yan Sui has been staying by Li Zhibai's side, aiming for a better position in the future.

Just like Wang Biao is doing as Lu Yan He's executive agent.

Yan Sui also thinks that maybe one day he will become Li Zhibai's executive agent and start earning commissions from Li Zhibai's income.

He hasn't talked to Li Zhibai about this yet, but he decided that if Li Zhibai and Lin Suyang don't mention it to him by next year, he will take the initiative to mention it.

After staying in the hospital for three days, Wang Biao really couldn't stay any longer, packed his things, returned to the crew, and came to report to Lu Yan He.

"Are you better? You came so fast." Lu Yan He said. "You're in such a hurry, are you so afraid that others will steal your job?"

Wang Biao glanced at Yu Xiaoyan and Xing Lecheng with disdain and said: "I am responsible. Is my job something they can steal just because they want to? If they only had this much ability, I wouldn't have been your assistant for so long."

Lu Yan He laughed.

"After being an assistant for so long, your skin is still as thick as ever."

Wang Biao: "Say whatever you want. Anyway, I'm better, and I'm back to work today. In September, CCTV has a program recording for the start of the school season, and they want to invite us to give a speech. I discussed it with Sister Ziyan, and we feel this job cannot be pushed."

"Okay, you guys arrange it." Lu Yan He nodded.

"In addition, *Young Days* will come to record here on August 2nd and 3rd." Wang Biao said to Lu Yan He. "We have to coordinate with the crew these two days, try not to arrange night scenes for you, and then, it will wrap up in early October. If we can catch up with the last recording, we have to participate in the last recording. Their time is very difficult to adjust, this is the final recording time."

Lu Yan He nodded.

"Besides these two jobs, on August 11th, Huang Kai and Xin Zixing's wedding. We will set off on the evening of the 10th after filming, attend the wedding the next day, and come back in the afternoon." Wang Biao said. "The time is very tight, but in order not to affect the normal filming of the crew, I can only make you work hard."

Lu Yan He nodded again.

"That's fine."

"I won't accompany you then." Wang Biao said. "Brother Dong will be responsible."

"Oh." Lu Yan He laughed. "You usually have to follow me wherever I go. How come you're finally not following me this time?"

Wang Biao said seriously: "I have to use this day to go back to Yuming and finalize your production contract for the *Jiang Yan* project, as well as the related promotional matters for your electronic album release in September."

Lu Yan He was shocked.

"Wang Biao, you're a bit cool now."

Wang Biao made a V sign, expressionless, and said: "Please call me the cool executive agent."

Lu Yan He laughed.

"You should bring Xiaoyan and Lecheng more, let them share a bit, and they can also learn." Lu Yan He said. "Don't forget what I told you."

—If you don't know how to lead a team, you can only work yourself to death.

The cool executive agent Wang Biao's mouth twitched, curled up subtly, and then immediately pressed it down.

"I will."

In the group of three, Li Zhibai asked in surprise: Has Wang Biao evolved to this point?

Lu Yan He: Yes, it completely exceeded my expectations. I feel that with his learning ability, he can succeed in anything.

Li Zhibai: Why does it feel like compared to your assistant, my assistant is so much weaker.

Lu Yan He: Yan Sui? Isn't he quite good? You also said he was very reliable before.

Li Zhibai: When you asked Wang Biao to be your executive agent before, I thought about whether Yan Sui could also learn, so he could share many of Brother Suyang's specific affairs. However, Brother Suyang took him to help me connect with some work, and the feedback was not good. A program could make the other party's director angry.

Lu Yan He: How did this happen?

Li Zhibai: It seems he is a bit stubborn and doesn't know how to adapt.

Lu Yan He: For example?

Li Zhibai: For example, my rehearsal time was originally set for 3:00 PM, but because another artist's schedule changed, they wanted to coordinate the rehearsal time with me. As a result, Yan Sui refused no matter what. In fact, it could have been coordinated, and I didn't only have that time to rehearse that day.

Lu Yan He: Why did Yan Sui refuse?

Li Zhibai: I asked him at the time, and he said because if the time was changed, it would affect my dinner time and I wouldn't be able to eat dinner on time, so he didn't agree.

Yan Liang: From another perspective, he is also protecting your interests.

Li Zhibai: Yes, so I don't know what to say.

Lu Yan He: Why don't you know what to say? You have to tell him the right thing so he knows what to do next time.

Li Zhibai: Brother Suyang has told him many times, but the change is not obvious.

Lu Yan He: Alright.

Li Zhibai: I envy you.

Yan Liang: At least your agents, one is Chen Ziyan, one is Lin Suyang, look at me, Zhou Ping'an, Brother Ping'an you are familiar with.

Lu Yan He:...

Lu Yan He: He actually just has the problem of having too many thoughts.

Lu Yan He: That movie *Ten Miles of Fragrance*, has he been persuading you not to give up?

Yan Liang: Hmm, my ears are almost calloused.

Lu Yan He: He is so persistent in wanting you to take *Ten Miles of Fragrance*, is it to let you connect with Shijin, or rather, he himself wants to connect with Shijin?

Yan Liang: Possibly. I feel that his relationship with Vice President Ma is not as good as before. I have also encountered him talking to people about the situation where he might change places.

Lu Yan He: If he leaves Star Entertainment, Star Entertainment has lost a great general.

Yan Liang: The earth can turn without anyone.

Lu Yan He: Without Copernicus and Galileo, who knows the earth is turning.

Yan Liang:...

Lu Yan He: However, are you really not considering the resources on Shijin's side?

Yan Liang: I'm not tempted. If it was when I wasn't famous, it would be fine. Now I don't lack resources, but Shijin... although he has many resources, if it really becomes what Zhou Ping'an said, becoming some "spokesperson" for them, whatever movie I act in would largely be tied to Shijin, right?

Li Zhibai: If you say so, it seems so.

Yan Liang: I still want to be freer and be a person with the right to choose.

The dispute between Yan Liang and Zhou Ping'an actually lies in the fact that Zhou Ping'an believes that for Yan Liang, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get on the capital's gaming table, but for Yan Liang, these years of acting experience make him think that getting on the capital's gaming table or not, for him now, does more harm than good.

Being famous is only temporary.

Capital represents real resources.

However, people won't let him get on the table for free. Getting on the table requires paying a price and making sacrifices.

Can *Gold Rush* continue to be filmed?

What about *Friends*?

The Hollywood movie *Speed of Life and Death* that Lu Yan He tailored for him, what if Shijin cannot enter the investment circle of this project?

What Yan Liang rejected was not *Ten Miles of Fragrance*, but the bundling, and the "Shijin spokesperson" that Zhou Ping'an was hinting at in his words.

He can act in Shijin's movies, provided that it is just a movie, not implying other factors, provided that it is a movie that truly moves him from the script level, like *Gold Rush* and *The Summit*.

Yan Liang certainly knows the benefits of getting on the table, but he cares more about the disadvantages of getting on the table now.

That is something he is unwilling to sacrifice.

"Huang Tai came to see Li Zhibai, there must be some new project."

At the same time, Li Yuefeng was also on the phone with his agent.

"Li Zhibai may not take it. Go and inquire. If there is a chance, help me fight for this movie." Li Yuefeng said.

The agent said: "Okay, by the way, have you finished reading the original work of *Ten Miles of Fragrance*?"

"Finished." Li Yuefeng said. "Are there many people competing for this movie?"

"Almost all first-tier male actors are in their consideration." The agent said. "This is the first movie produced by Shijin. No matter what, they won't let it fail. This is a big cake that almost everyone wants to grab."

Li Yuefeng asked: "Lu Yan He shouldn't act in it, right?"

"I don't know if Shijin has looked for Lu Yan He, but I estimate Lu Yan He won't act in it." The agent also said bluntly. "This movie is mainly from a female perspective, the first protagonist is the female lead, and the positioning of this movie is neither a serious work aiming for awards nor a big industrial-level blockbuster like *Burning Fire*. There is not much significance for him to appear."

Li Yuefeng nodded.

"That's fine. If I have to compete with him, I really don't have the confidence."

The agent said: "If Lu Yan He acted in it, I don't think Shijin would communicate with so many first-tier male actors about this play."

Indeed.

Shijin wants to use this movie to fire the first shot of entering the entertainment industry. If they could invite Lu Yan He to star, in the current entertainment industry, Shijin wouldn't need to talk to other male actors at all.

The agent said again: "Besides *Ten Miles of Fragrance*, Shijin also obtained the filming rights for the big IP *God Map*. According to the news I have inquired about so far, Shijin is going to adapt a web drama first. *God Map* is definitely from the male lead's perspective. At that time, this drama will also be what we strive for."

Li Yuefeng nodded.

Li Yuefeng was already popular, and his team was very good at marketing. In the eyes of the outside world, although his actual achievements cannot be compared with Yan Liang, who has several big hit dramas in his hands, he is definitely on the same level. In everyone's impression, Li Yuefeng's commercial value and fan stickiness are higher, more in line with the traffic characteristics of the internet era.

This is his advantage.

Therefore, if *God Map* is really to be developed, Li Yuefeng is definitely one of the most competitive male actors.

Moreover, if he is determined to fight for it, the competitiveness is actually greater than competing for *Ten Miles of Fragrance*.

Nothing else, movies of the level of *Ten Miles of Fragrance* are few and far between in China every year, with more monks than porridge.

Dramas adapted from big IPs like *God Map* still have many every year in the industry. At least several big platforms have an S+ big drama to do every year, and all major head film and television production companies also have an S+ big drama to do every year. This is an ecology that will definitely continue under the situation where the drama market is mature and not as extremely unstable as the film market.

Movies like *Ten Miles of Fragrance* are just like *Burning Fire*. When it's made, you might think it's just a blockbuster with special effects, or you might think it looks like a flop, but besides it, there is no second one. This is just such a cake. If you want to act in a movie, this is one of the best cakes.

This is also why actors of the level of Li Yuefeng and Xiao Yun still come to act as the male second and female second in *Those Years*.

Nothing else, first, this is a movie, second, this is a movie written by Lu Yan He, third, based on the first two points, as long as this movie performs normally, it is enough to add to their acting career.

But to let Li Yuefeng act as the male second for Li Zhibai in a drama, the possibility is much smaller.

In this circle now, among actors of the same age, only Lu Yan He can make other male actors willingly act as the male second. No one else is possible. It's not that there is no high or low between them, it's still that sentence, they have their own S, S+ male leads to act, there is no need to be a supporting role.

The drama market offers actors more choices than the film market.

Except for those like Lu Yan He who don't care about the role's billing, who is willing to lower themselves by one level.

Yan Liang's second billing in the two double-male-lead dramas *Gold Rush* and *The Summit* is also because the first billing is an old actor, so the second billing is not shameful, otherwise, Zhou Ping'an would definitely not have accepted it.

Liu Bige: "Brother, I only played a small supporting role in *Those Years*. Can you get me a role with more scenes for the next role?"

His agent said: "You can play an important supporting role in *Those Years*, and you are still not satisfied? Do you know how many people are competing for your role?"

Liu Bige: "Of course I know, but I can't just be satisfied with such a role, right? Huang Tai from Long Yan came to see Li Zhibai before, there must be a new project. Did you help me inquire about what project it is? Maybe in that project, there can be a male second for me to act?"

His agent said: "Don't think about that project. Long Yan wants to develop a sequel movie to *Fake Death Won't Do*, with the original cast. The new roles must just be bit parts with a few lines."

Hearing this, Liu Bige immediately lost interest.

"So that's how it is."

"However, there is a project I want to compete for for you, but I have to discuss it with Linghe to see if I can get a piece of your good performance from the current filming material of *Those Years* to compete." The agent said. "The project *Ten Miles of Fragrance* is currently negotiating with almost all first-tier male actors in the circle. Don't count on the male lead, but the male second and male third in this movie are also roles with many scenes and highlights."

Liu Bige: "Is this the movie Shijin is going to do?"

"Yes."

"Who is the male lead of the movie *Ten Miles of Fragrance* planning to find?" Liu Bige asked. "Do I have no hope at all?"

"Shijin has put out the word that they only look for popular first-tier male actors. I heard Li Yuefeng is also on the list."

Liu Bige frowned with some unwillingness.

Suddenly, he thought of something and saw Xiao Mo, who had been sitting silently on the side without speaking in the room.

The latter lowered her head, her bangs covered most of her face, and she was looking at her phone, not knowing what she was looking at.

"Didn't you see I was on the phone? Get out." Liu Bige scolded.

Xiao Mo stood up like a frightened bird and went out timidly.

She went out the door, walked two steps forward, and when she passed the corner, she bumped into someone unexpectedly.

The phone fell to the ground with a clatter.

Xiao Mo staggered back a step, and the person in front of her immediately reached out and grabbed her arm.

"Sorry."

Li Zhibai apologized first.

Xiao Mo looked at Li Zhibai in surprise, shook her head, and turned to look for her phone.

Li Zhibai bent down first and picked up the phone that Xiao Mo dropped on the ground.

When he caught a glimpse of the content on the phone screen, he was stunned.

Xiao Mo also saw it. When the phone fell to the ground just now, a program hidden in the background popped up for some reason.

A recording program showing that it was recording and had been recording for twenty-two minutes.

Li Zhibai handed the phone out and looked at Xiao Mo with some doubt.

Xiao Mo's face was pale, she looked at Li Zhibai nervously and uneasily, and reached out to take the phone hesitantly.

"Thank you." She said in a low voice.

"It's okay." Li Zhibai nodded. "I bumped into you by accident, sorry."

Xiao Mo shook her head timidly and ran forward.

Li Zhibai looked back at her, his expression more confused, but he gradually thought of something.

He looked back at the other side of the corner.

That was Liu Bige's lounge.

Recommend the new Xianxia novel *Sword of Demon Hunting* ===== CHAPTER 723 =====