Chapter 326: Real and Fake

After using the piano to soothe the irritability accumulated from acting as an assassin, Zhou Yi, now refreshed, looked significantly more spirited.

Jiang Wen's "nitpicking" throughout the day had worn him out thoroughly, and that was after he had lowered his standards as much as possible.

However, when he stood up and turned his head, he was startled to find that three camera lenses had somehow been aimed at... him again?

"Good material."

Jiang Wen, rarely, gave Zhou Yi a thumbs up: "Awesome."

"???"

"Alright, wrap up, wrap up. Those who need to go home and rest, go home and rest."

Jiang Wen, overstepping his bounds, officially announced the end of work; this MV crew, arguably the most punctual regarding start and end times in the country, collected their meal subsidies to the unanimous praise of the cast and crew and happily went home.

"What the hell is he doing? What 'awesome'?"

"Who knows."

Chen Hao shrugged: "Let's go, we should head back too."

Because of filming the MV, Zhou Yi had been too lazy to go out to restaurants to eat these past few days, so he settled for eating nearby with her.

"After your MV is finished, I plan to see if there are any roles available outside. Anyway, it's been a year now, and the People's Art Theatre has lifted the restrictions."

After returning home, Chen Hao, who had started busy work in the kitchen, also told Zhou Yi about her considered plans.

Just as if returning to his own home, Zhou Yi, who poured himself a glass of water with practiced ease, clearly paused in his expression, then looked at Chen Hao, who was sorting vegetables in the kitchen, smiled, and shook his head slightly: "Do you need Jiang Wen to introduce you?"

"That's not necessary; my teacher will introduce me. I also have some senior and junior classmates I get along well with; following them to run around for supporting roles should be fine, and there are still opportunities to be found at the People's Art Theatre."

Chen Hao, who didn't have Zhou Yi's money-making ability, also had her own path, smiling and telling Zhou Yi not to worry.

"No need to push too hard; by next year at the latest, I think NetEase is going to take off; they have already started betting on games." Zhou Yi, knowing why Chen Hao was doing this, mentioned it.

"I have to push; we'll deal with the future later; for now, at the very least, I need to work hard to earn some money..."

Chen Hao's vegetable-sorting motion paused; standing in the kitchen, she turned her head to look at Zhou Yi, who was sitting on the dining chair, and said seriously, word by word: "To pay you back."

Silent Zhou Yi raised his cup for a tactical drink of water; the words "You don't owe me money" had already surged to his lips, but in the end, he swallowed them back down.

"How is your uncle's treatment in the United States?"

"The surgery was very successful; he has currently been transferred to a nursing home."

Chen Hao, having completely put down the heavy stone in her heart, was clearly in a good mood; she even brought out the red wine treasured in the house, which caught Zhou Yi's attention—

"Rare indeed; you even brought out the red wine kept at the bottom of the box."

"Generally speaking, when you're not in a good mood or under a bit of pressure, drinking a glass of red wine can easily help you relieve stress and aid sleep."

Chen Hao teased: "You're the same; no need to put too much pressure on yourself. Jiang Wen is the one you brought in; if it really doesn't work out, you can fire him."

Zhou Yi instinctively raised his eyes, meeting her gaze. Three seconds later, he noncommittally raised his hand to rub his nose: "Don't talk nonsense; I have no pressure."

"Achoo!"

In the Imperial Capital, at Jiang Wen's home, Jiang Wen, who was drawing his stick-figure storyboard, inexplicably sneezed.

………………………………………………

The next day, at the "Lianshan" film crew.

Zhou Yi, who had learned a little under Chen Hao's guidance last night, was preparing to come before the camera to undergo inspection, but discovered that quite a few reporters were actually squatting outside the crew—

As soon as they saw Zhou Yi approaching, the group swarmed up.

"Zhou Yi! Zhou Yi! Rumor has it Zhang Jizhong is contacting you, wanting to invite you to replace Lin Zhiying in the role of Duan Yu in 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils'; is this true?"

"Zhou Yi, may I ask if you have really joined 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils'?"

"Zhou Yi..."

"???"

Zhou Yi, inexplicably linked to 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils', was full of question marks—

"Although I don't know what happened, it is obvious that what I am currently busy with is my album, which has nothing to do with 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils'."

Ten minutes later, Zhou Yi and Chen Hao finally managed to enter the filming site, blocking the reporters outside.

"It is said that because Lin Zhiying's asking price was too high, it angered Zhang Jizhong to the point where he said he might as well add more money to hire you to play Duan Yu." After stating that he had not helped Zhou Yi accept a role, the know-it-all Qian Jiang explained the reason.

As the former "Little Whirlwind of Asia", although Lin Zhiying had faded in recent years, his star power was still sitting right there.

Zhang Jizhong naturally refused, proposing a 60% reduction in salary before talks could proceed; otherwise, it would be better to add money to hire Zhou Yi or reduce money to find Ma Yukuo.

After all, the noble Young Master aura was stronger on Zhou Yi.

If it weren't that they truly couldn't afford the money, Zhang Jizhong would have sent an invitation to Warner Bros. to try, after all, they could still ride the heat.

"He knows how to create hype."

Zhou Yi, understanding almost instantly, clicked his tongue twice.

Who in the industry nowadays doesn't know he is filming his MV in full swing?

Chen Hao, standing nearby, perked up her ears: "'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils'? My teacher seems to have told me she submitted my resume."

"Does that count as using connections?" Zhou Yi glanced at her sideways: "The thing I hate most in my life is people who use connections."

"Go, go, go; don't you have any idea in your heart how you got on 'Food Street' yourself?"

Chen Hao rolled her eyes at the man: "As the only variety show you've ever been on in Taiwan, the ins and outs have been picked apart until they're worn smooth."

Zhou Yi immediately stopped talking nonsense, directly wishing her success, and telling her to treat him to a meal if she got selected.

Although he knew it was probably a foregone conclusion.

After all, A Zi in 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils' could basically be counted as one of the representative roles of Chen Hao's brief acting career.

Although the woman who played Wang Yuyan reaped the most benefits from this drama—the nickname "Fairy Sister" ran through her entire career, and later even became the number one model heroine in the urban entertainment section of Qidian.

"Zhou Yi, I adjusted your scenes. Come, learn from me—hmm?"

Jiang Wen, arriving with the new script, looked unexpectedly at Zhou Yi in the camera lens, who had barely reached the passable standard: "Which famous master taught you Shoubashou Sect, that you actually managed to touch on a little bit?"

"You don't know anything; I call this innate talent."

The rain stopped, the sky cleared, and Zhou Yi felt he was back in the game.

"Fine, your talent, your talent."

Jiang Wen, too lazy to deal with Zhou Yi's tendency to shine at the slightest hint of sunshine, turned his gaze to Chen Hao: "Chen Hao, for the wife role in the 'In the Name of the Father' arc, you can try a different interpretation. Play it more domineering."

"That kind of beautiful snake vibe—charming, yet extremely dangerous."

As he spoke, he handed Chen Hao the revised script.

In the original 'In the Name of the Father' arc, Zhou Yi would embark on a path of revenge after his entire family was slaughtered; to that end, he married Chen Hao, the daughter of a big shot, a role that was basically just a vase.

But after Jiang Wen's latest revision, Chen Hao's character also became an ambitious schemer—

Her marriage to Zhou Yi was merely because she found him capable and easy to control due to his lack of family support; even while sharing a bed with him, she never stopped thinking about how to seize power once her plans succeeded.

Zhou Yi saw this too, yet he was still willing to marry. Two people sharing a bed but with different dreams used each other's hands to eliminate their enemies, until finally Zhou Yi struck down the original boss; after becoming the Godfather, he also disposed of his wife, who knew all the secrets and held all the leverage—

"Behind every glory lies a carving of loneliness."

In this script, Chen Hao's character has many opportunities to show herself.

The story opens in a rainy alley at night: Zhou Yi, having lost his family, meets Chen Hao; one, escorted by attendants, looks like a proud heiress, while the other, soaked to the skin, resembles a stray dog abandoned by its master.

Of course, for Chen Hao, the biggest change in this script is that her character becomes extremely proactive—

Taking the initiative to seize everything, including the male lead, Zhou Yi.

"Do you like me?"

"Of course."

August 15, filming set.

Compared to her usual self, who seemed like a completely different person, Chen Hao gazed at the man in front of her, dressed in a sharp suit; using no stunt double, she went in person and flashed a smile full of ambition: "Then, let's get married."

"Really?"

Zhou Yi, back in his comfort zone, was equally fired up.

"Of course."

Chen Hao, who had just spoken, slowly rose to her feet, paced to the man's front, reached out to grab his tie, leaned down close to his face, and exhaled a breath fragrant as orchids.

The next second, her crimson lips pressed directly onto the man's lips!

The passionate emotion was utterly genuine, as if she truly intended to make this man her own.

(End of this chapter)