Chapter 11: Zhou Xun Gets Drunk

"Haha, that's not the case. For a production of the scale of *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils*, how could we use newcomers? We will definitely prioritize established starlets like Zhao Wei and Zhou Xun."

As the saying goes, a lie is most convincing when it is seventy percent true and thirty percent false. Zhang Jizhong acknowledged the existence and project initiation of *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils*, then used Zhao Wei as a shield to hide his true intentions.

It wouldn't be until February 2002 that Zhang Jizhong would officially announce the project initiation of *Demi-Gods* together with the Jiangsu Television Station, Jiuzhou Audiovisual, and the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and the first gimmick used for hype was Zhao Wei playing A'zhu.

With such an astonishing remark from Lu Kuan, Zhang Jizhong was even more determined to bind him firmly to his own chariot.

"Master Lu, *Demi-Gods* does indeed intend to have me as the producer, and the actors will be determined gradually after the project is initiated."

"If you are interested, we can communicate more when the time comes; everything is negotiable!"

This was the effect Lu Kuan wanted, as if constantly dangling him with a long line.

Being fresh out of the mountains, he could only use these low-level occult methods to put on airs; once his wings were fully grown and he could lead with capital, that would be when he would be invincible.

As the lights began to flicker on, the young Daoist priest looked at the exercises from twenty years ago in his hotel room, feeling somewhat at a loss. Only English and Chinese were barely manageable; these Jiangsu exam papers were just too damn perverted.

At this time, Jiangsu was still far from aligning with the national exam, and the reputation of Master Ge Jun made students tremble with fear.

However, in 2002, Master Ge went to wreak havoc on the examinees in Henan Province, which made Lu Kuan feel slightly relieved.

His cell phone rang; he lifted his eyelids—it was Jiang Qinqin.

"Hello? Lu Kuan, can you take a taxi to Angel Bar? It's in the city center; I'll send you the address in a moment."

"Oh, don't move!"

There was a rustling sound on the other end of the line. Jiang Qinqin finally managed to steady the drunk Zhou Xun and then freed up a hand: "Brother Xun is too drunk, I really can't handle it. Can you come and help us drive?"

There was such a good thing!

The young Daoist priest pinched his fingers to calculate: the Heavenly Stem Jia meets the Earthly Branch Zi, and the Earthly Branch Ji meets the Earthly Branches Si and Wu—a peach blossom tribulation seemed to be approaching. He was about to have a moment of romance!

Lu Kuan arrived at Angel Bar with practiced ease.

"How did she drink this much?"

Even though Lu Kuan had prepared himself mentally, he was still somewhat shocked to see the usually uninhibited Zhou Xun in such a sorry state.

The two of them only found a seat in the furthest corner, and Jiang Qinqin didn't dare ask the waiter for help.

He wiped the corners of Zhou Xun's mouth as she vomited all over the floor, then wrapped a scarf around half of her face; being photographed at this time would undoubtedly be another huge scandal.

"Trapped by love, that's all. I told her to listen to you and not go to the hospital, but I couldn't persuade her."

"She kept watch for Li Yapeng all night after his surgery, but then Qu Ying showed up the next day. You can imagine the rest!"

The young Daoist priest, acting as the mastermind behind the scenes, calmly let her hook onto his arm and took Zhou Xun from Jiang Qinqin's embrace.

He accidentally touched a patch of plumpness, and Jiang Qinqin's body trembled. Fortunately, the light in the bar was dim, and both pretended not to notice as they helped Zhou Xun to the car.

Jiang Qinqin patted her towering chest, still shaken: "I'm so glad you came. A few punks at the next table kept whistling; they scared me to death!"

She was wearing a high-necked sweater today, and from the side, one could intuitively see her long, fair neck and the high protrusion beneath the sweater.

"Oh, wait a second, I left my bag on the seat." Jiang Qinqin slapped her forehead, only to realize that her phone was missing along with the bag.

Thinking of the punks she had just mentioned, Lu Kuan left a small gap in the car window and accompanied Jiang Qinqin back into the bar.

"Leaving so soon, little sister?"

A few lewd whistles came from the next table. The tattooed man had just returned from the restroom and found the two beauties gone. Seeing her return, he immediately took the initiative to strike.

"Hooked up with a pretty boy so quickly? Damn, is someone that skinny even capable?"

Jiang Qinqin's face darkened, and she wrapped her scarf tighter. It was best to ignore such people, and even more important not to let them recognize her.

Lu Kuan, who was beside her, suddenly extended a foot and kicked away the tattooed man's reaching hand, which was just about to touch her plump buttocks.

"Damn! Get him!"

The familiar provocation was met with a counter-attack, and the bar descended into chaos.

Lu Kuan kicked away the men and women blocking his path several times, grabbed Jiang Qinqin, and sprinted out the door toward the dark alleyway.

The interior of the urban village was complex and tangled, and with no streetlights, it was the easiest place to hide.

The two entered a dark alley. The pursuit of a group of thugs caused a commotion of chickens and dogs in the urban village, and they ran past their hiding spot several times without noticing them.

The alley entrance was narrow, and Jiang Qinqin stood opposite Lu Kuan. The two were squeezed face-to-face, and the man's warm breath kept hitting her forehead.

Even with the slightly thicker winter clothes acting as a barrier, the atmosphere, mixed with their scents and breathing, was incredibly seductive and ambiguous.

She was somewhat grateful for the ten-plus centimeter height difference between them; otherwise, being in such intimate contact with a young man six or seven years her junior would have been incredibly awkward.

She suddenly felt a large hand pass behind her back and slip into the back pocket of her jeans. The warm sensation rapidly occupied her physical senses, and her long-deprived body trembled.

"Mmm...!"

Jiang Qinqin looked up in astonishment, instinctively about to cry out, but Lu Kuan covered her mouth with his hand.

In her desperation, she used the heel of her high-heeled shoe to grind hard into the young Daoist priest's foot. It hurt so much that he hurriedly pulled out an object, waved it repeatedly in front of the female star, and skillfully removed the battery, which finally made her understand everything.

It turned out he was afraid that the phone's ringtone would reveal their location, and he had resorted to this expedient measure in his haste.

Jiang Qinqin's pretty face flushed red. She fluttered her long eyelashes and mouthed an apology. Those luscious, red lips made Lu Kuan, who had only just had a taste, feel unable to stop.

"You!..."

Jiang Qinqin felt something was wrong with her body. She looked down, spat internally, and turned her head away, saying nothing more.

The young Daoist priest gave an awkward laugh and slowly shuffled out of the narrow alley. After looking left and right, he limped back to the car with her.

Seeing his awkward appearance, Jiang Qinqin burst into a giggle, thinking to herself that a little virgin really couldn't handle being teased.

Lu Kuan played the gentleman at this moment, not mentioning the previous ambiguity, and asked seriously: "Are we going back to the crew's hotel?"

Jiang Qinqin was stunned for a moment: "Forget it, let's find a hotel. The crew is currently being blocked by a bunch of reporters; if she goes back, she's finished."

Lu Kuan glanced at the unconscious Brother Xun in the back seat and drove straight to the only five-star hotel in the city center. He went to open a suite on the top floor first, then notified Jiang Qinqin to come up via the elevator secretly.

Fortunately, the hotel's security and check-in inspections weren't that strict at this time. The two of them worked together to lay Zhou Xun down on the sofa. The latter had sobered up a bit by now and was shouting loudly that she wanted to keep drinking.

(End of chapter)