Chapter 46: Senior Sister

Fengze Garden

Li Luo parked the car and walked over with a relaxed stride, watching the ancient-style entrance ahead lit up by lanterns.

He had also seen Huang Sheng and Bian Xiaoxiao just now.

But he didn’t care.

It’s a game—better to play it slowly for real enjoyment.

Besides, having a pretty girl go out of her way to flatter you? That feeling was actually quite satisfying.

Women, how to put it.

Sometimes the more indifferent you act, the more they cling to you.

Of course, you must also be strong enough yourself!

He strolled up the steps and entered between two large red pillars—this place, Xu Qing had brought him to eat before: a famous Beijing Lu cuisine restaurant, whose signature scallion-braised sea cucumber looked unassuming but was deeply loved by diners.

The interior decor was also excellent, each step revealing a new scene.

He gave his name.

Under the server’s guidance, he headed straight for the private room.

Before he even opened the door, he heard familiar loud laughter coming from inside.

“Ha, you little pink intestine.”

As Li Luo stepped into the room, a figure strode forward with commanding presence and hugged him tightly: “Old buddy, now that you’re a college student, you’re gonna turn your back on me and not even call?”

He grumbled in his mouth but wore a beaming smile.

A pair of big hands.

Slapped Li Luo’s back with thudding thumps.

“Chief Yuan.”

A sweet, lilting voice chimed in teasingly: “You’re speaking Cantonese again—we can’t understand a word. You’ll have to drink two rounds as punishment.”

The man hugging him was Yuan Bin.

They had trained with swords and spears on the Laughing in the Wind set, and danced with dancers and guns in nightclubs together.

Over the past few months,

they had forged a deep revolutionary friendship.

“Big Brother Yuan.”

Reciprocity is courtesy; Li Luo happily returned a few slaps: “Damn, how’d you end up in Beijing?”

“I’ve called you several times already.”

“Don’t go making up stories.”

“Alright, alright, college students really are different.” Yuan Bin winced from the slaps and stepped back, sizing him up: “You’ve gotten stronger and taller, right?”

During this time, eating well and drinking well, Li Luo had grown a bit taller.

He was now one meter eighty-two.

He hadn’t expected the guy to notice so sharply at first glance.

“Come on, come on, let me introduce you.”

Before he could react, he was pulled toward the round table: “You know Wu Zong—next to him is Jia Jingwen, a famous beauty from Taiwan.”

“Hello, Sister Jingwen.”

Li Luo met her gaze and smiled in greeting.

This beautiful woman wore an outfit that was extremely fashionable now, her skin so smooth it looked like it could be popped.

Her beauty was outstanding, her figure fiery.

Her facial structure and bone structure were top-tier.

No wonder she was rated a Hupu goddess.

Jia Jingwen quickly stood up, smiling and extending her small hand: “Li Luo, nice to meet you—call me Jingwen. I heard you’ve got great martial skills; I look forward to your guidance.”

No arrogance at all; her tone was polite and warm.

You could feel it.

She had a lively personality.

“Mutual learning.”

Li Luo lightly touched her hand, then smiled at Wu Dun beside him: “Big Brother Wu, my apologies.”

“Traffic was a bit heavy—I kept you waiting.”

He hadn’t even been late.

He’d arrived ten minutes early, yet these people had gotten here even earlier.

He had come at Wu Dun’s invitation.

To have dinner with the main cast of The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber and get to know each other.

“We just got here too.”

Wu Zong waved his hand, indicating it didn’t matter.

In his past life, rumors had circulated that Jia Jingwen had once enjoyed excellent resources because someone stood behind her.

Li Luo had speculated about it before.

Now his guess was nearly certain.

The two sat extremely close—not the normal social distance.

The contrast was stark.

It felt like a beauty and a beast.

But it wasn’t his business—he kept it at arm’s length; such things weren’t even new in this circle.

“Lai Shuiqing.”

As Li Luo’s only close friend present, Yuan Bin took on the role of introducer and waved again: “Director Lai is a seasoned veteran—be sure to learn from him.”

Another big-bearded man, though not as exaggerated as Zhang Zhongzhi.

He spoke Mandarin but with a detectable Hong Kong accent.

They shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.

In this setting, you had to play the part—Li Luo still couldn’t make everyone line up to introduce themselves, but there’d be time enough later.

Lai Shuiqing was quite pleased with Li Luo’s appearance.

He had watched some clips of Laughing in the Wind and sensed the man’s acting talent, so he had no objections—better than being forced to cast complete newcomers chosen by investors.

Besides the two Taiwanese and two Hong Kongers, another person was present in the private room.

No need for Yuan Bin to introduce him.

Li Luo stepped forward on his own and greeted warmly: “Teacher Guoli, hello—I grew up watching your dramas.”

This wasn’t an exaggeration.

He had created iconic screen roles from Secret Mission to Iron Teeth and Copper Jaw.

“Don’t call me teacher.”

Hearing this, Zhang Guoli chuckled: “Am I really that old?”

A soft laugh rippled through the room.

Zhang Guoli was easygoing and witty; wherever he was, the drinking party always felt warm and lively—he was also cast in The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber.

In fact, due to Wu Zong’s connections, the Iron Triangle would each play different roles in the drama.

But the other two weren’t in Beijing.

So they didn’t show up.

This bamboo gang’s Jianghu boss had deeper reach than Li Luo imagined—back in the early 2000s, he had funded a large number of domestic TV dramas.

Including Iron Teeth and Copper Jaw.

“Just joking.”

Seeing Li Luo’s slightly awkward expression, Zhang Guoli smiled and gripped his hand: “I’ve heard your name too—you played Lin Pingzhi well, and you’re a freshman at Beijing Film Academy, right?”

“Thank you, Teacher Guoli.”

Li Luo nodded in response: “Yes, I’m a freshman at BFA—Professor Huo Xuan is my class advisor.”

“BFA?”

Jia Jingwen chimed in eagerly, then her expression turned disappointed: “I’m from the ’93 class—if I hadn’t dropped out, you’d be my junior.”

In her early years, she had come to BFA to study.

But after her father’s business failed, she was forced to abandon her studies and return to Taiwan to debut.

At a young age, she bore the burden of supporting her family.

“’93 class?”

Li Luo looked surprised: “Is Flying Rainbow your…?”

“Class advisor.”

Hearing this, Jia Jingwen immediately pressed: “Do you know Teacher Yu?”

Know her? Of course he knew her.

He knew her inside and out, top to bottom.

But Li Luo hadn’t known she’d studied at BFA too—now not only Jia Jingwen but Zhang Guoli was also curiously watching him; this “sister” wasn’t a title to be tossed around lightly.

“Yes, I had dinner with Flying Rainbow yesterday.”

Li Luo stepped forward and extended his hand again to Jia Jing: “Once a North Film person, always a North Film person, senior, junior Li Luo greets you.”

From her earlier words and expression, it was clear that North Film had given her many fond memories.

In that case.

He decided to go along with it.

Building a good relationship with the female lead and the investor’s favored candidate is no bad thing.

He had originally considered attending North Film for its vast network of connections.

He hadn’t expected it to be useful so soon.

“Alright.”

Jia Jing stood up with a grin and gripped Li Luo’s hand tightly: “Same to you, junior.”

Compared to the earlier formalities,

there was now an extra touch of warmth.