Chapter 29

Yang Mi gritted her teeth: "So you were prepared."

Zhou Jin laughed dryly.

Yang Mi tied her hair up, walked to Zhou Jin, and said aggressively and fiercely:

"Last time."

"Mm-hmm-hmm!"

Zhou Jin nodded immediately, then gently pressed down on Yang Mi's head.

Ten minutes later.

"Mmm."

Yang Mi glared at Zhou Jin fiercely, then hurried to the bathroom to wash up and brush her teeth.

The strong, proactive, and domineering Yang Mi compromised and broke her bottom line for him time and time again.

Zhou Jin only felt an unprecedented sense of conquest.

The next morning.

Zhou Jin woke up, the quilt empty.

Yang Mi had scenes tomorrow morning and could have left last night.

But Yang Mi still slept with Zhou Jin until morning, and only left early to avoid being discovered.

Zhou Jin checked the harvest of the system yesterday somewhat excitedly.

【Entry Upgrade Card: Upgrade any entry, raising it to advanced.】

Zhou Jin checked all the entries he could upgrade.

When he saw "Dragon Spirit and Tiger Vigor," Zhou Jin frowned.

【Dragon Spirit and Tiger Vigor: Human energy is not a rootless source. While improving your energy, it is also consuming your total cells. Upgrade to advanced to have no consumption and directly improve energy.】

Zhou Jin widened his eyes instantly.

"Damn, dog system, you plotted against me."

"No wonder I felt Dragon Spirit and Tiger Vigor, as a primary entry, was too powerful; I didn't expect there to be a price."

Zhou Jin gave the opportunity for this upgrade to Dragon Spirit and Tiger Vigor without hesitation.

【Dragon Spirit and Tiger Vigor (Primary) → Dragon Spirit and Tiger Vigor (Advanced)】

【Dragon Spirit and Tiger Vigor: Your physical strength and endurance are improved, just like a tiger returning to its nest or a dragon entering the sea. Your physical strength is abundant, your endurance is amazing, and you are strong and lasting. And there are no side effects.】

Zhou Jin nodded with satisfaction; an advanced entry was indeed different.

【Do you want to draw an advanced entry?】

Zhou Jin confirmed in his heart.

A slot machine appeared on the light screen, and the patterns on it rolled continuously.

【Entry draw successful—Advanced Entry: Emotional Outburst.】

【Entry effect: Act in any performance that requires emotional outburst, possess explosive acting skills, have strong infectious power, make the audience empathize, and make the character deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.】

The Prince Yu he played happened to be a villain and had several scenes with extremely strong emotional outbursts.

With this entry, it was just right.

Zhou Jin looked at the last reward 【Luck Card】, feeling surprised but also somewhat regretful, because there was no 【Character Experience Card】 inside.

For the rest of the time, Zhou Jin practiced the performance of Prince Yu in the hotel.

He also accompanied Bai Lu to audition.

A few days passed in a flash.

On the day of the makeup test.

The three came to the makeup test site. Meng Ziyi looked at the other actors and asked Zhou Jin after hesitating for a moment:

"Zhou Jin, the director wants to give me a supporting role similar to a maid, with very few lines, and most of the time I'm just a background board."

Zhou Jin saw Meng Ziyi's thoughts and asked: "What is your opinion?"

"I want to refuse."

Meng Ziyi was actually a bit disappointed. The three of them came to the crew together; Zhou Jin played Prince Yu, and Bai Lu played Qin Banruo, both with heavy scenes.

Letting her play a maid made her somewhat unwilling.

Zhou Jin suddenly remembered that Meng Ziyi's first drama was *God of War Zhao Zilong* at the end of 2024, and she also played a maid at that time.

At that time, Meng Ziyi didn't seem to want to act, but someone persuaded her, saying that the very famous Fan Bingbing also played a maid in *My Fair Princess* at the beginning.

Zhou Jin thought for a while and said: "Such a big production, even if it's just showing your face, is a very good opportunity."

"Besides, what's shameful about debuting as a maid? Fan Bingbing, who played a maid in *My Fair Princess*, didn't she become popular across the country later?"

"So, I support you in taking this role."

Meng Ziyi was clearly moved and immediately said firmly: "Then I'll listen to you."

Not long after, everyone entered the dressing room one after another, starting to apply makeup and change clothes.

In the dressing room, after Zhou Jin finished his makeup, he put on Prince Yu's royal attire.

【Ancient Costume Appearance】 entry, activated.

Appearance +1.

Zhou Jin had an extra temperament on him.

The makeup artist looked Zhou Jin up and down, somewhat surprised and sighed sincerely: "Simply born for ancient costumes, too handsome, and the temperament is too good."

"Matching Prince Yu's clothes, he looks exactly like a real prince."

"Thank you for the compliment." Zhou Jin nodded modestly.

Zhou Jin walked out of the dressing room, pushed the door, and walked into the conference room.

Several directors, as well as Hu Ge and Liu Tao who had already changed into costumes, all showed expressions of amazement after seeing him.

Zhou Jin nodded to them one by one.

Not long after, Wang Ou, who had finished her makeup, walked in.

Wang Ou was very pretty, and after putting on Qin Banruo's costume and makeup, she was even prettier.

But when Bai Lu, who was wearing the same costume and makeup, walked out, everyone's eyes lit up.

The originally pretty Wang Ou, standing next to Bai Lu, instantly looked somewhat eclipsed.

Clearly, just from the level of beauty, Wang Ou was overshadowed by Bai Lu.

Wang Ou gritted her teeth lightly.

Director Kong himself was inclined toward Wang Ou, but Bai Lu's appearance was indeed very stunning.

He pondered for a while, looked at Zhou Jin, and asked: "You have a lot of scenes with Qin Banruo, who do you think is more suitable?"

Zhou Jin was stunned for a moment, and everyone looked at him.

Bai Lu looked at him nervously, and Wang Ou also looked at him nervously.

Zhou Jin thought for a while and said: "I think it feels better to act with Bai Lu."

"Although her acting is indeed not as good as Wang Ou's, it is qualified."

Wang Ou frowned.

Zhou Jin continued: "There is another reason. Although Bai Lu's acting is a bit worse, she is younger and prettier, fitting the image of a courtesan, and the audience won't be distracted when watching."

Bai Lu looked at Zhou Jin, stars appearing in her eyes, her eyes full of Zhou Jin's shadow.

Too powerful, just say it like that.

Wang Ou frowned slightly, clenching her fists tightly.

Zhou Jin paused and said pointedly: "And, Bai Lu is still a newcomer."

Everyone present understood what Zhou Jin meant.

Wang Ou gritted her teeth, wanting to slap the table and refute, but there was no way; what Zhou Jin said was a fact.

And as a newcomer, Bai Lu's salary could be pressed very low.

If she lowered her own salary, how would she ask for prices when taking on dramas in the future?

Director Kong looked at the other directors and producers, and several people discussed in low voices.

Actually, Zhou Jin's opinion was not decisive, but what he said indeed made sense.

The most critical thing was that the crew was short of funds, and Wang Ou's salary was dozens of times that of Bai Lu's.

For such a big production, the director still had pursuits. If Bai Lu's acting was really not good, even if she brought capital into the crew, they would refuse.

At least Bai Lu's acting was up to standard.

After discussing for a while, several directors and producers already had a preference.

A director said casually: "Bai Lu is a newcomer after all."

Director Kong didn't hesitate and directly made the decision: "Then let's settle on Bai Lu."

He would rather use the money saved on costumes, makeup, and props.

Soon the director announced that Bai Lu would play the role of Qin Banruo.

After hearing this, Bai Lu was incredibly surprised and bowed to thank them.

Out of the conference room, Bai Lu couldn't help it anymore and pounced into Zhou Jin's arms excitedly.

"Thank you, Zhou Jin."

She wasn't stupid; she saw the director's initial inclination.

"If you hadn't spoken for me, this role definitely wouldn't have been mine."

Zhou Jin smiled: "If your acting wasn't good, you wouldn't have reached the makeup test step at all; I just reminded the director."

Next was taking the still photos.

After taking the still photos, Zhou Jin sent the still photos he took to Yang Mi, Reba, and Li Yitong.

Soon the three women replied, all full of praise.

Yang Mi said: "I really want to pin you to the bed right now. But the filming progress here is too rushed, and I really can't spare the time."

Reba said: "So handsome, when does it start filming?"

Zhou Jin replied to her: "Rest for a day tomorrow, and officially start filming the day after tomorrow."

Reba saw this message, and her eyes lit up.

She finished her scenes early today, but she had filming tasks early tomorrow morning.

She hadn't seen Zhou Jin for a long time, and she missed him so much.

Reba decided then and there to go to the hotel where Zhou Jin was staying tonight, launch a night raid, take Zhou Jin down, and then sleep beautifully while hugging Zhou Jin.

Li Yitong's eyes lit up on the other side as well.

Li Yitong said: "So handsome, the temperament is really good, I've collected the picture."

Li Yitong also asked: "When does it start filming?"

Zhou Jin replied to her: "Rest tomorrow, start filming the day after tomorrow."

Li Yitong thought to herself, the crew's scenes today would be filmed until very late, and she happened to have no scenes tomorrow, so she would just go over early tomorrow morning to give Zhou Jin a surprise.

Zhou Jin had no idea about the plans Reba and Li Yitong had made.