Chapter 96: The Million-Dollar Handshake

Watching the few busy people.

Li Luo didn’t know what to do, so he just stared helplessly.

“Good evening.”

A practice partner with a high ponytail, standing nearly one meter seventy, walked up and smiled as she extended her hand: “May I ask your surname, sir?”

“No need for formalities, surname Li.”

He lightly shook her hand.

Her fingers were slightly rough; though guests here weren’t truly here to learn golf, she still practiced diligently to appear more professional.

With this weather, if she didn’t move around, she couldn’t stand it.

So her hands bore the marks of it.

Her tiny vest clung tightly to her abdomen.

Above it rose another astonishing curve—Li Luo wondered how she could maintain balance so easily under such conditions.

“Mr. Li, is this your first time playing golf?”

Upon receiving an affirmative answer, the practice partner sized up his height and approximate arm length, then gestured for him to follow her to a corner spot: “Let me help you pick a suitable club.”

The club was in his hands.

The practice partner guided him step by step on the correct grip posture.

With a curvaceous girl instructing him up close, Li Luo—who usually learned things quickly—felt utterly clumsy.

After much effort, she finally taught him.

Soon, she placed a golf ball and demonstrated the swing.

“Thump~”

Her body spun sharply, and the ball shot off.

Her pleated skirt flared up with it.

Half her buttocks were clearly visible, and her chest bounced rhythmically—Li Luo couldn’t stop admiring it.

No wonder successful people loved bringing girls to play golf—this sport sounded classy, and you got to see such beautiful scenery. Perfect two-for-one.

“Mr. Li.”

The girl picked up a ball, crouched down, and placed it on the rubber tee: “Your turn.”

Looking down from above.

Deep beyond measure—perfect shot!

“Thump!!!”

When she stepped aside, Li Luo swung his club down with a whistle, and after a sharp crack, the golf ball shot out like a cannonball, veering wildly and slamming into a net dozens of meters away.

“Whoa~”

The sound made Ma Zhongjun look up: “That’s a heavy hitter.”

Just from the sound, he could tell the power was immense.

“That motion is wrong.”

The beautiful practice partner was startled and quickly moved behind Li Luo, gripping his forearm and shaking it: “Just swing your arm, watch your point of impact, and turn your feet along with it.”

Feeling the overwhelming pressure.

Li Luo grinned and swung his club repeatedly at empty air.

A few minutes later.

Finally, he swung out a beautiful arc.

“A Luo.”

Wu Dun’s voice called from behind: “Take a break—I want to talk to you.”

The real business was coming.

Li Luo stopped teasing the pleated-skirt girl and straightened up, walking back.

He caught the cigar flying toward him.

He plopped onto the spacious sofa in the resting area, glanced at Ma Zhongjun and Li Sipin playing nearby, then turned and lit his pre-cut cigar, exhaling thick clouds of smoke.

“How does it feel?”

Wu Dun leaned back on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other, lightly bouncing.

“She’s got a great figure.”

Li Luo swirled the smoke in his mouth, then slowly exhaled: “The tip must be expensive.”

They were old acquaintances.

No need to beat around the bush.

“Just three hundred, can’t get cheaper.”

Wu Dun sat up straight and slapped Li Luo’s shoulder hard: “Little Luo, you still don’t get it—money’s nothing. What matters to a man is his career.”

“Once your career succeeds, even things you don’t want will be chased after and offered to you.”

Three hundred yuan didn’t sound like much, but this was 2002, when the average monthly salary was just a few hundred.

Just accompanying someone to play golf.

Though you sacrificed something, you earned half a month’s salary for an ordinary worker.

No wonder the practice partners gave their all—the money came too fast.

But faster still were people like Wu Dun.

With his assets and film rights alone, in this short time, he’d already earned countless hundreds—money flowed into his pocket without him lifting a finger!

In just this short time, assets under the other’s name and rights to various films and TV dramas had already earned him countless multiples of three hundred yuan—without doing a thing, money kept flooding into his wallet!

Li Luo smiled, sipped his cocktail.

“You’ve heard about the ratings, right?”

Wu Dun shifted gears and asked: “Your performance was excellent—what are your plans next?”

“What plans do I have?” Li Luo grinned, keeping the cigar in his mouth: “Wu Ge asking me this must mean you’ve got something to say—I’m all ears.”

“Alright, I won’t beat around the bush.”

Wu Dun leaned closer and said plainly: “I’m currently polishing a script based on Ti Ying saving her father.”

“Planning to start filming around October next year.”

“No problem.”

Li Luo smiled and immediately agreed: “October? That slot’s yours!”

Looking at the hand extended toward him.

Wu Dun froze, surprised—he hadn’t even finished speaking yet.

Didn’t he need to persuade him at all?

“No.”

Wu Dun licked his lips, his ugly face showing helpless resignation: “You don’t know what role you’d play, who the female lead is, what the story is, or how much the pay is?”

Wu Dun licked his lips, his ugly, fearsome face showing a hint of helplessness: “Don’t you know anything about what role you’ll play, who the female lead is, what the story’s about, or how much the pay is?”

He knew negotiating a new drama with Li Luo would be easier—they had a history of cooperation and got along well.

But this guy hadn’t even started talking yet!

“Any role’s fine.”

Li Luo’s outstretched hand didn’t move, his expression earnest: “I’ll act with anyone, as long as it’s not a sex film. Pay, Wu Ge, you decide.”

Li Luo’s hand hung suspended in midair, unmoving, his expression utterly sincere: “I’ll act with anyone—just not in a romance film. The pay, Wu Ge, you decide.”

“I don’t have many strengths.”

“Gratitude is one.”

“Even if you hike the price or demand more, I won’t do it to you, Wu Ge.”

“Even if I raise the price or make demands, I’d never do it to you, Wu Ge.”

Warmed the heart of the seasoned veteran.

Such a considerate young man.

Rare indeed!

“Good.”

Wu Dun gripped his hand firmly and said with emotion: “You’re loyal—I like that. I won’t let you down. For the new drama, I plan to keep the original cast—you, Jingwen, and Yuanyuan are the leads.”

Wu Dun gripped his hand tightly and said with emotion: “You’re loyal and righteous—I like that. Wu Ge won’t let you down. For the new drama, I plan to keep the same cast—you, Jingwen, and Yuanyuan are the three leads.”

In the film industry, there’s a habit: when a drama becomes popular, if schedules allow, everyone prefers to reunite the original cast for a new project.

After all, the chemistry has already been proven.

Such a drama might not guarantee a hit, but it’s guaranteed to turn a profit—just like sequels to box office hits.

Just listing the names of the main cast.

Is a guarantee of sales.

“No problem—just send me the schedule,” Li Luo said, squeezing Wu Dun’s hand slightly, his expression slightly embarrassed: “But Wu Ge, may I make a small request?”

“No problem—just send me the call sheet when it’s ready.” Li Luo squeezed the other’s hand slightly, his expression slightly embarrassed: “But Wu Ge, could I ask you a small favor?”

Wu Dun had no objection.

The guy had been so generous—he couldn’t possibly be stingy now.

Since the other party had been so considerate, how could he possibly back out?

Social people don’t do things like that!

“Exactly.”

He let go, and Li Luo scratched his head: “If possible, could you help keep one or two female roles with a bit of dialogue? Don’t worry—the acting’s fine, they’re all girls from my class.”

“One or two?”

Wu Dun’s expression turned strange, his gaze playful as he looked over.

“Cough~”

Li Luo looked embarrassed: “Two then!”

“Hahaha~”

Wu Dun’s laughter echoed through the private room, drawing glances from Ma Zhongjun and Li Si who weren’t even playing.

“Very good.”

After a long while, the laughter subsided. Wu Dun readily agreed: “You’ve got the spirit of my younger days. Uncle Wu will lend you a hand—when the script’s ready, pick freely.”

They’re just supporting roles. Who plays them doesn’t matter.

They’re all graduates of Beijing Film Academy; they won’t mess up small parts.

He put on the air of an experienced elder and smiled: “Women? You’ve got to sweeten the deal.”

He neither confirmed nor denied.

Li Luo smiled and bowed slightly in thanks.

“Alright.”

Wu Dun bit down on his cigar and lowered his voice: “Remember what I just said? Those two over there came here to hand you money—they both want you for their dramas. Whether you take it or not is up to you.”

“Let me remind you: they know the viewership ratings of The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber in Wandao.”

“So no need to wait.”

“If the script and price are right, just take it.”

He dropped those words and stood up, walking toward Ma Zhongjun: “Your technique’s terrible. Let me play—you go rest a bit.”

These words nearly overwhelmed Li Luo.

Yesterday he’d been fantasizing about endless offers after The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber premiered.

He never imagined.

That tomorrow, this would suddenly happen right before his eyes.

Seeing the bald man, who bore a slight resemblance to Brother B, stride over with arms flung wide, Li Luo snapped to attention.

He actually had a major advantage.

Even if people hadn’t watched the best domestic dramas, they’d heard of them. The reason they waited for The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber to air—beyond pay—was to have the chance to pick scripts.

Landing a good drama would keep the momentum going.

If he took a bad one,

He’d easily ruin his hand of good cards.

But now people had come to his door—there was no room left to pick and choose. Every word he spoke next had to be carefully considered—even if he refused, he couldn’t offend them!

“Hello, Manager Ma.”

As the bald man approached, Li Luo stood up quickly.

“Sit, sit, sit.”

Ma Zhongjun waved him down and picked up another glass of wine: “Old Wu already told you, right? Let me be straight: I’ve seen some clips of The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber—you performed well.”

“Manager Ma, you flatter me.”

Li Luo sat back down and nodded: “Yes, Wu Zong said you and Li Zong wanted to talk with me.”

The meaning wasn’t spelled out—just chat for now.

See how things go.

“Good.”

Ma Zhongjun changed tone: “In the drama, did you actually ride?”

In his upcoming drama,

There’s a lot of equestrian action.

And most of it’s on-location shooting. This question seems trivial, but he cared deeply.

“I did ride for real.”

Li Luo weighed his words, then continued: “When I filmed The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, I trained in horseback riding. Later, when I came to Jingcheng for school, I also studied at a riding club for a while.”

“Actually, I know you.”

Satisfied with the answer, Ma Zhongjun smiled: “My new drama has an online vote—you made it onto the longlist.”

Online vote.

Li Luo quickly scoured his memory and blurted out: “The Sword of the Prowling Shadow?”

He often browsed online forums; he’d never miss such a buzz. A few days ago, he’d even gone to chat rooms to rally votes for himself—but he was still far behind the top spot.

The Sword of the Prowling Shadow wasn’t a huge hit, but its production was top-notch.

It was a solid drama.

“Have you followed it?”

Ma Zhongjun asked, then answered himself: “Of course—you’re young.”

“Surfing the internet is trendy.”

His tone was subtly tempting; he spread his hands: “How about it? You’ve already acted in two Jin Yong dramas—ever thought of trying a Liang Yusheng drama? Just as a challenge to yourself.”

Li Luo asked: “Zhang Danfeng?”

“If it’s a supporting role.”

Ma Zhongjun scratched his bald head, looking slightly exasperated: “Then it wouldn’t be worth me coming all this way!”

As the main producer,

He had every right to say that.

Li Luo was tempted, and pressed further: “But isn’t this a vote?”

The drama was genuinely good—not a waste.

And The Sword of the Prowling Shadow emphasized on-location shooting, which he loved—this style captured the martial world’s spirit beautifully. It was hard work, but the results were outstanding.

Of course, the female lead was another reason he was tempted.

That little face—who could resist?

Online voting for the lead role had been trendy for a while: the production team would contact candidates in order of their vote rankings.

His own vote count had no chance.

His fleeting temptation was caught by Ma Zhongjun.

“The vote is just for show.”

He acted decisively, slamming his fist onto the sofa: “If you’re willing, you’re the top vote-getter. Wu Zong is a friend to all—I won’t play games. I’ll offer you 45,000 per episode.”

“What do you say?”

Not only was it a good drama, the pay was genuinely generous.

Currently, top-tier male TV actors earn 50,000 to 60,000 per episode; the two Chen actors could get around 80,000.

45,000 per episode.

That was already near top-tier pay.

After The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber aired, the rate would be about the same.

“No problem.”

Li Luo took a deep breath and nodded firmly: “Thank you, Manager Ma, for believing in me. I’m not ungrateful—I just need to know the shooting schedule. I already promised Wu Zong.”

“No conflict.”

Ma Zhongjun beamed, extending his hand: “I start shooting in January.”

He thought this price was worth it.

After all, once The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber aired, the actor would likely rise to this rate anyway.

Now he was securing the slot early—when the lead actor rode the drama’s popularity wave, the extra revenue he’d generate for the TV station would far exceed this amount.

People at different levels see things differently.

Investors didn’t care whether pay was a bit higher or lower—the key was whether it sold.

Of course, they couldn’t just give wildly.

As investors, they couldn’t disrupt the market themselves.

“It’s a deal.”

Li Luo gripped his hand tightly, locking in next year’s next job.

That handshake was worth a million.

“It’s a deal.”

Ma Zhongjun finished the negotiation and laughed happily.

He was delighted.

Someone else wasn’t.

The most anxious right now was Li Si—his own lead role had been snatched away. Though The Sword of the Prowling Shadow started shooting first, the drama he needed to lock down most urgently was his own.

“Enough, Old Ma.”

Seeing the two shake hands, he hurried over: “Go play your game quickly, now it’s my turn.”

These words.

They made Li Luo laugh in disbelief.

So this evening, these people meant to split him up!