[{"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-83":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},2324795,4547,"Chapter 83","how-can-you-be-an-emperor-of-acting-without-lett-chapter-83",83,"\u003Cp>In the corner of the café sat Zhang Zhongzhi and Yu Min.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just got a call.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said if you’re free, come out and sit with us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since it concerned his next drama, Li Luo made the move to take temporary leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sit down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the industry, anyone who knows me even a little calls me Hu Zi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Li Luo address him that way, he couldn’t help but correct him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We came here for a reason.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No interruption.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Luo signaled to the nearby server: “Just an espresso for me—no sugar.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the server brought the coffee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Min continued, explaining they had come to discuss his understanding of Duan Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Luo had no problem with that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reporters outside the café kept snapping photos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Capturing every moment of the three chatting warmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The discussion on the plot came to a pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are several ways to calculate a fee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Per minute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Per episode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or a flat package deal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the exact amount, it varies from person to person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Su Youpeng starred in My Fair Princess Season 1, he was still a newcomer in film and television.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He earned two thousand per episode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, if an actor lands a great script, he may voluntarily lower his fee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The final price?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One side sets the offer; the other side negotiates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had consulted Xu Qing and Yu Feihong—current top-tier actors’ fees are generally fifty to sixty thousand per episode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And still rising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was stuck in an awkward spot: The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber hadn’t aired yet, so his bargaining power was weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But sometimes money isn’t everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me say a few words.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhongzhi and Yu Min exchanged glances, then both nodded slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were industry insiders—they knew that for a male lead, this price wasn’t high; in fact, they thought it was cheap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two years ago, the lead in a big-budget production was already fetching over a million.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teacher Zhongzhi gave me my first break.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Two hundred thousand!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lifted his coffee and took a slow sip. “If Teacher Zhongzhi needs me to play Duan Yu, two hundred thousand total is enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duan Yu’s role isn’t heavy enough to earn a male lead’s fee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it won’t be too low either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhongzhi had planned to lowball him at fifteen thousand per episode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never expected Li Luo would slash his own price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cut straight to the bone—dropping it to just over seven thousand per episode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Times had changed—this was clearly a friendship price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Luo had his own reasoning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils was well-made; playing Duan Yu was a good opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Wan’s fame far surpassed his own; at this point, he had to lower his fee to tip the scales in his favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other hand, it was also a way to repay Hu Zi for giving him the role of Lin Pingzhi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either way, he wasn’t losing out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood. We get your meaning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re welcome.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks for the coffee!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he had come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Luo hopped on his bicycle, rang the bell loudly, and vanished around the corner in a rush.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That sense of youthfulness hit you straight in the face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhongzhi stroked his beard and muttered: “I almost said yes right then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That speech earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had warmed Hu Zi’s heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone has emotions; to be treated with such sincerity, he couldn’t feel nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know why we came here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today wasn’t just a casual visit, as they claimed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the reporters outside were called by them—to use Li Luo to pressure Lin Zhiying’s fee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they pulled this off, they’d save hundreds of thousands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A very good deal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Screw the investors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhongzhi muttered under his breath, blowing on his beard. “If Lin Zhiying won’t lower his price, I’m using Li Luo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the meeting, there was no further word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Luo stopped overthinking and returned to his routine filming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As time passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daily news reports kept bringing new updates, with the cast of The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils steadily appearing in the papers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xin, who had shared an intense kiss scene with him, successfully landed the role of Mu Wanqing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Duan Yu remained undecided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some said Lu Yi, others said Lin Zhiying, still others said Li Luo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone had a different opinion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even before filming began, the hype was already soaring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reporters swarmed The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber set too, trying to pry out insider details from Li Luo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Curious onlookers, of course, included fellow actors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Luo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How should I know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surrounding actors exchanged glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All quickly looked away.\u003C\u002Fp>",1252,"2026-06-20T17:17:01.025Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","39fb902b7491eff89af95024cc993d7fc828dfce08c1304197038249bf8af6f1","how-can-you-be-an-emperor-of-acting-without-lett-chapter-84","how-can-you-be-an-emperor-of-acting-without-lett-chapter-82",461,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhow-can-you-be-an-emperor-of-acting-without-lett-cover.jpg"]