Chapter 13: Argument

Arriving outside the corridor, seeing no one around, Li Luo shook off his clothes and strode away, refreshed and invigorated.

Walking as he went.

Opening his personal attribute panel.

【Li Luo】

【Constitution: 65】

【Charisma: 70】

【Performance: Not yet mastered, experience 96/100】

【Physique: Not yet mastered, experience 59/100】

【Dialogue: Not yet mastered, experience 43/100】

【Mastered Skills:】

【Long Fist (Mastered) Seven Stars Sword Art (Mastered)】

After one bout of indulgence, he gained 20 experience points in Performance; his attributes had successfully reached ninety, nearing the hundred-point threshold.

These attributes were not fixed.

Through diligent practice over this period, his Performance, Physique, and Dialogue skills had all improved.

He closed the panel with satisfaction.

A carefree whistle echoed through the corridor.

March 27, 2000.

Water Margin City.

Today marked the launch ceremony of the wuxia epic with a total investment of 40 million, as crew members, actors, local authorities, and portal website media turned the scene into a frenzy.

Playing with his Nokia 3310, Li Luo sent a quick text to his family.

Not having a phone was truly inconvenient.

Being able to reach them anytime would ease his family’s worries, and he needed to save contacts from many on set—they might prove useful resources someday.

Though phones were extremely expensive now.

But he wasn’t short on money.

So he decisively spent over a thousand yuan on a compact Nokia 3310—this thing could crack walnuts and block bullets, a must-have personal defense tool.

“When will we ever be like that?”

Putting away his phone, he followed Chen Lifeng’s envious gaze forward.

There stood a graceful woman amid the crowd, dressed in an exquisitely crafted ancient gown that did nothing to hide her stunning figure.

Her skin was pale.

So soft it seemed she could be squeezed to release water.

Had you not known her age, no one would guess she was already thirty-one.

This woman was the actress portraying Ren Yingying in The Smiling, Proud Wanderer.

Xu Qing.

Facing the barrage of media questions, this stunningly beautiful woman handled every inquiry with ease, overshadowing even the male lead, Shao Bing.

Li Luo quickly averted his gaze.

Only now, close to the launch date, had Xu Qing joined the cast.

So there had been no chance to get to know her—but time was long, who could say what the future held?

He had chosen this path.

He could not avoid encountering those dazzling actresses in the spotlight.

Thinking of this, he glanced sideways.

The young nun met his gaze and immediately clenched her legs, quietly stepping away in fright—during this time, whenever he got the chance, Li Luo had been ruthlessly draining experience from her.

Even though he thoroughly enjoyed the sensation, he had worn her out.

Just one look from this brute of a man.

Made her legs go weak.

The girl had gently suggested that, for everyone’s future, such matters should remain private.

No need to make them public.

After a moment’s hesitation, Li Luo feigned reluctant agreement.

In exchange,

He successfully coaxed her into unlocking a new method.

As these events flashed through his mind, Li Luo kept his posture straight: “Keep going—those days will come sooner or later.”

Unlike the male and female leads and other well-known supporting actors,

Though he and the young nun had given their best, the two unknowns received no media interviews, only a few scattered cameras capturing a handful of photos.

This was why Chen Lifeng kept complaining.

In this line of work, one naturally hoped the camera would focus on oneself.

Yet after a moment’s thought, Li Luo could not recall any notable roles Chen Lifeng had played afterward—either her career had faded,

Or she had married and left the industry.

To expect the same treatment as Xu Qing was probably impossible.

The grand launch ceremony began swiftly amid Li Luo’s wandering thoughts; following seniority and role ranking, he took three incense sticks, bowed to some unknown deity, and placed them in the censer.

The ritual of burning incense and worshipping gods had come from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

It was less superstition

Than a quest for peace of mind.

Filming a movie involved massive funds; everyone hoped for smooth production without mishaps—this ceremony served as an excellent morale booster for the crew.

After the ceremony, they enjoyed a lavish launch banquet.

The filming of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer officially began.

“How many times have I told you!”

An angry roar echoed across the set: “I said don’t act like that—can’t you understand human speech?”

A Weiqu voice countered: “Then how am I supposed to act?”

“You’re an actor.”

The loud voice continued: “Show me your professional level.”

Arguments erupted nonstop; the entire crew trembled.

Ten days ago, the incense sticks he had placed in the censer had done little good; Li Luo flipped through his script, his peripheral vision flicking toward the tent nearby.

Lately, the crew had been plagued by problems, mostly centered on Zhang Zhong and Shao Bing.

The exact cause remained unknown.

But after the two entered the tent, fierce arguments erupted immediately.

“If you don’t want to work, leave.”

Soon after, Zhang Zhong’s sharp shout rang out again: “There are plenty of actors—don’t think you’re irreplaceable!”

“Shhh~”

The tent flap flew open as the tough-guy actor Shao Bing stormed out.

His face was as dark as charcoal.

“What are you staring at?” Zhang Zhong followed closely, hands on hips, scanning everyone, beard bristling and eyes glaring: “Don’t you all want to work?”

At his roar, everyone pretended to be busy.

Yet shock was etched on every face—though there had been disputes before, nothing had ever reached this level of public outburst, not even threats of replacement.

Only Xu Qing hesitated briefly, then stepped forward to mediate with Zhang Zhong.

Everyone else dared not interfere.

The replacement scandal.

Buried memories revived in Li Luo’s mind; he stared in surprise at the furious Shao Bing as he left.

Fragmented recollections told him this version of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer had erupted in conflict at launch, and the male lead had been replaced on the spot—leading to Li Erpeng’s entry, a scandal that had rocked the industry.

According to Zhang Zhong’s account,

Shao Bing was arrogant,

Demanding a million-yuan salary and a long list of conditions while failing to perform his duties.

According to Shao Bing’s version,

That was pure nonsense—he was nothing like that.

Some suspected Zhang Da Huizi had deliberately targeted Shao Bing to stir up hype for The Smiling, Proud Wanderer.

Everyone had their own theory.

Though now in the thick of it, Li Luo was utterly confused.

Some things were not to be casually inquired about.

Perhaps both reasons were true.

The only confirmed fact now was that since Shao Bing left The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, the Golden Rooster and Huabiao Award winner’s career faded into obscurity, drowned beneath the glow of countless stars.