Chapter 83

In the corner of the café sat Zhang Zhongzhi and Yu Min.

I just got a call.

He said if you’re free, come out and sit with us.

Since it concerned his next drama, Li Luo made the move to take temporary leave.

“Sit down.”

Zhang Zhongzhi waved his hand dismissively. “From now on, call me Hu Zi like everyone else—no more ‘Teacher’ all day long. Just order what you want to drink.”

In the industry, anyone who knows me even a little calls me Hu Zi.

Hearing Li Luo address him that way, he couldn’t help but correct him.

“We came here for a reason.”

Yu Min also gestured for Li Luo to sit, smiling as he adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses. “I heard you’re shooting here, so I thought I’d invite you out for a chat—didn’t interrupt your filming, did I?”

“No interruption.”

Li Luo signaled to the nearby server: “Just an espresso for me—no sugar.”

When the server brought the coffee.

Yu Min continued, explaining they had come to discuss his understanding of Duan Yu.

Li Luo had no problem with that.

He had read through all of The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils during this time, memorized Duan Yu’s plotlines, and had plenty to say—whatever came to mind, he spilled out freely.

Reporters outside the café kept snapping photos.

Capturing every moment of the three chatting warmly.

The discussion on the plot came to a pause.

Zhang Zhongzhi took a sip of coffee and lightly tapped the table. “Duan Yu has twenty-seven episodes in our script. Now let’s talk about your fee.”

There are several ways to calculate a fee.

Per minute.

Per episode.

Or a flat package deal.

As for the exact amount, it varies from person to person.

It depends on screen time, the actor’s experience, and market value—actors with hit dramas in hand are always in high demand; the more productions compete for them, the higher their fee climbs.

When Su Youpeng starred in My Fair Princess Season 1, he was still a newcomer in film and television.

He earned two thousand per episode.

If he tried to quote two thousand per episode now, after My Fair Princess became a sensation, it would be like slapping the producer in the face!

Of course, if an actor lands a great script, he may voluntarily lower his fee.

The final price?

One side sets the offer; the other side negotiates.

He had consulted Xu Qing and Yu Feihong—current top-tier actors’ fees are generally fifty to sixty thousand per episode.

And still rising.

He was stuck in an awkward spot: The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber hadn’t aired yet, so his bargaining power was weak.

But sometimes money isn’t everything.

“Let me say a few words.”

Li Luo interrupted Hu Zi, looking seriously at the two across from him. “I’ll be honest: I’m playing two roles in The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber. Wu Dun offered me six hundred thousand.”

“Hmm.”

Zhang Zhongzhi and Yu Min exchanged glances, then both nodded slowly.

They were industry insiders—they knew that for a male lead, this price wasn’t high; in fact, they thought it was cheap.

Two years ago, the lead in a big-budget production was already fetching over a million.

“Teacher Zhongzhi gave me my first break.”

Li Luo stared at Zhang Zhongzhi and continued: “If not for you, I wouldn’t know where I’d be now. So I don’t need to know what you’re offering—I’ll just say this.”

“Two hundred thousand!”

He lifted his coffee and took a slow sip. “If Teacher Zhongzhi needs me to play Duan Yu, two hundred thousand total is enough.”

Duan Yu’s role isn’t heavy enough to earn a male lead’s fee.

But it won’t be too low either.

Zhang Zhongzhi had planned to lowball him at fifteen thousand per episode.

He never expected Li Luo would slash his own price.

He cut straight to the bone—dropping it to just over seven thousand per episode.

Hearing this price, Zhang Zhongzhi nearly agreed on the spot. Though it was five times what he’d earned playing Lin Pingzhi, nearly two years had passed.

Times had changed—this was clearly a friendship price.

Li Luo had his own reasoning.

The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils was well-made; playing Duan Yu was a good opportunity.

Wen Wan’s fame far surpassed his own; at this point, he had to lower his fee to tip the scales in his favor.

On the other hand, it was also a way to repay Hu Zi for giving him the role of Lin Pingzhi.

Either way, he wasn’t losing out.

“Understood. We get your meaning.”

Seeing Zhang Zhongzhi visibly moved, Yu Min quickly took over: “The final decision still requires internal discussion by our production team. We’ll notify you if there’s further news. Thank you!”

“You’re welcome.”

Time was running out. Li Luo drained his coffee in one gulp and stood up smiling. “I’ll head back to set. You two keep busy.”

“Thanks for the coffee!”

Just as he had come.

Li Luo hopped on his bicycle, rang the bell loudly, and vanished around the corner in a rush.

That sense of youthfulness hit you straight in the face.

“This kid’s really good.” After a moment of silence in the corner, Yu Min picked up his spoon and slowly stirred his coffee, sighing softly. “Didn’t expect him to be so loyal—real talent.”

“Indeed!”

Zhang Zhongzhi stroked his beard and muttered: “I almost said yes right then.”

That speech earlier.

Had warmed Hu Zi’s heart.

Everyone has emotions; to be treated with such sincerity, he couldn’t feel nothing.

“You know why we came here.”

Yu Min sipped his cold coffee and glanced outside at the reporters. “We can’t ignore the investors’ opinions. Let’s see if this news can bring down Lin Zhiying’s fee first.”

Today wasn’t just a casual visit, as they claimed.

Even the reporters outside were called by them—to use Li Luo to pressure Lin Zhiying’s fee.

If they pulled this off, they’d save hundreds of thousands.

A very good deal.

“Screw the investors.”

Zhang Zhongzhi muttered under his breath, blowing on his beard. “If Lin Zhiying won’t lower his price, I’m using Li Luo.”

After the meeting, there was no further word.

For the role of Duan Yu in The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, he had given his best—two hundred thousand was already a deep discount; he couldn’t act for free. Now it was up to them to weigh their options!

Li Luo stopped overthinking and returned to his routine filming.

As time passed.

Daily news reports kept bringing new updates, with the cast of The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils steadily appearing in the papers.

Jiang Xin, who had shared an intense kiss scene with him, successfully landed the role of Mu Wanqing.

But Duan Yu remained undecided.

Some said Lu Yi, others said Lin Zhiying, still others said Li Luo.

Everyone had a different opinion.

Even before filming began, the hype was already soaring.

Reporters swarmed The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber set too, trying to pry out insider details from Li Luo.

Curious onlookers, of course, included fellow actors.

“Li Luo.”

Seeing him walk out of the break room, Chen Zihan couldn’t help asking curiously: “I saw a bunch of reporters outside just now—how’s it going? Do you have a shot?”

“How should I know?”

Li Luo shrugged and shoved his phone back in his pocket. “It’s normal for actors to audition. I don’t get why they’re so excited.”

The surrounding actors exchanged glances.

All quickly looked away.