[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-how-can-you-be-an-emperor-of-acting-without-lett":3,"chapter-how-can-you-be-an-emperor-of-acting-without-lett-how-can-you-be-an-emperor-of-acting-without-lett-chapter-39":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","How Can You Be an Emperor of Acting Without Letting Loose?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2324751,4547,"Chapter 39: Sixty Thousand","how-can-you-be-an-emperor-of-acting-without-lett-chapter-39",39,"\u003Cp>The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, 20 million investment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across the two shores and three regions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>2001.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Luo’s eyes were shrouded in smoke, his gaze flickering constantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber is a well-known wuxia novel, adapted into many films and TV dramas; only the Su Youpeng version meets all these criteria.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unexpectedly, Wu Dun was the investor hiding behind the scenes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That drama was packed with beautiful women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actors like Jia Jing, Gao Yuanyuan, and Guo Feili all appeared in it, leaving a deep impression on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It premiered in early 2003.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So filming had to begin in 2002; let’s work backward in time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We’re currently in the pre-production stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being approached by them must be due to the Lucky Coke’s effect, but Li Luo felt suspicious—he knew that in such wuxia dramas, the male and female leads are usually cast first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That means Su Youpeng is definitely on their list.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something must have happened that made Wu Dun abandon Su Youpeng, or vice versa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why they came to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation isn’t as Wu Dun claimed—it wasn’t created just to sign me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Youpeng is currently at the peak of his popularity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he had any other choice, Wu Dun wouldn’t have targeted me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a deep drag on his cigar, a faint smile tugging at his corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This guy probably had no other choice!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How about it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Dun flicked off ash and smiled: “Uncle Wu treats you well, doesn’t he? Not everyone gets these terms.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A classic old fox.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“True.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Luo exhaled slowly, eyes reddening with gratitude: “I never expected Uncle Wu still remembered me after all this time—it’s truly beyond words.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Decided. I’ll take the gamble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it succeeds, great fortune—chicken for dinner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it fails, no big deal—there’ll be plenty of chances later; no need to tie myself down!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for your kindness, Uncle Wu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook his head slowly, shamefaced: “But I’m used to being free-spirited—I’ve been beaten with sticks since childhood, but I just can’t change. That’s who I am.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let me focus on studying for a while first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those few simple words made Wu Dun’s heart skip half a beat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He expected the guy to bow his head in submission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, he pulls this stunt—wants to “study for a while”? Study what?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you study, who’s going to play my male lead?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t think there are plenty of actors in this circle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You need someone with the right looks and aura for the lead, the right age, decent acting skills and martial arts foundation, plus a compatible schedule—when you narrow it down by all these conditions, there are barely any left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most importantly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Dun came from the underworld—he tends to believe in certain things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he was down on his luck, he happened to see Li Luo making a dashing entrance on TV—he took it as heaven guiding him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Luo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Dun’s fingers trembled as he grabbed Li Luo’s hand: “Listen to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Director Wu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Luo’s heart pounded hard; he shook his head and sighed: “Let me speak first—I’m just naturally free-spirited. My dad beat me with sticks since I was a kid, but I can’t change. That’s just me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old fox panicked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s a chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The point isn’t studying—it’s being free-spirited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ladder has been laid out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grab it quickly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gripped Wu Dun’s hand back, adopting a look of distress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A seasoned businessman wouldn’t miss that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Luo’s acting was solid, but he was facing a thousand-year-old fox—Wu Dun, sensing a crack, felt initial joy, then immediately sensed something off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their hands clasped together, they stared at each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their expressions were strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The glasses-wearing man shifted uncomfortably, as if crows had flown past the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You kid.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Dun yanked his hand away, annoyed: “You trying to play games with me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My Uncle Wu,” Li Luo dropped the act, openly spreading his hands: “I really don’t want to sign with any agency—I’m not targeting you, I treat everyone the same.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Several agencies have approached me during this time—all turned down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled out his Nokia and showed proof.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The list of agency names marked in the call logs left Wu Dun speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Know when to pretend, know when to be honest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many have rejected me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One more doesn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Li Luo had come out and stated his case outright, Wu Dun would’ve been annoyed—but now, after circling each other a few times, revealing his hand felt far more acceptable to the old veteran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least the kid seemed sincere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Dun sighed regretfully, then rallied: “Fine, don’t sign—but I’m serious about this drama. Do you want the lead role?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhang Wuji?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Correct.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s the pay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Luo asked bluntly—since they were being open, he’d be direct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Dun held up his palm seriously: “You’re a newcomer, so this is already very good—but if you sign with my company, I can give you more!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t resist one last hook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While actors can elevate a drama, more often it’s the drama that makes the actor famous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he’s not one of us,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the pay would naturally be lower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Luo wasn’t stupid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More money? So what—it’d just get siphoned off anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A bit low.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Luo frowned, hesitating: “I’m not trying to haggle, but I’m the male lead—getting paid this little? I’d be laughed out of the industry!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I got over forty thousand just for playing Lin Pingzhi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now I’m getting fifty thousand for Zhang Wuji? It felt wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though becoming the lead would quickly boost my influence and fame, Li Luo still thought the pay was too low—he had Lin Pingzhi as a baseline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A raise of ten or twenty thousand wouldn’t be unreasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Dun thought it over, found it reasonable, then held up six fingers: “Sixty thousand. No more. And you’ll also play Zhang Cuishan—no problem?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the two fingers raised at both ends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Luo swallowed hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He truly thought the initial offer was fifty thousand—after all, this was a big-budget drama, he refused to sign with their agency, and he was a newcomer—pay would be crushed to the lowest possible level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought trading pay for fame and influence was worth it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He believed it was acceptable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he never expected the final pay would still be fifty thousand—after just one word of negotiation, it jumped ten thousand more!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The average price for a new apartment in the Third Ring Road is around 5,000 yuan per square meter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it’s not cheap,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>compared to the future, it’s practically dirt cheap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant he had just landed half a apartment in Beijing’s Third Ring Road in one go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as you can make it in this industry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s really fucking profitable!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I need to ask Xu Qing more about industry pay rates—can’t negotiate prices so recklessly anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I should also check the rates for those who invite me to act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning down offers with just a few words like before could easily lead to hidden losses without you even knowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a broad smile, he gripped Wu Dun’s hand firmly: “Brother Wu, you’re truly a straightforward guy. Don’t worry—I’ll take this job!”\u003C\u002Fp>",1214,"2026-06-20T17:17:01.025Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","fb5d4b52efddfdd9fdf6eea678c27878aff3269ecc9dc405dac6a9b248066b24","how-can-you-be-an-emperor-of-acting-without-lett-chapter-40","how-can-you-be-an-emperor-of-acting-without-lett-chapter-38",461,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhow-can-you-be-an-emperor-of-acting-without-lett-cover.jpg"]