TN: About the chapter title “prying at the corner of a wall”, in colloquial usage, it means to steal someone else’s partner, poach someone else’s romantic interest, or undermine someone’s relationship. It can also refer to attempting to take someone else’s business opportunities or employees.

At that moment, a WeChat notification popped up on his phone. It was from Ye Shengyi: [Brother Luo, I’m really sorry. I finished work too late today, my eyes can barely stay open. How about we reschedule? QAQ]

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Luo Yu frowned slightly. He remembered that last time Sister Cui had dropped Ye Shengyi off at home, and the neighborhood wasn’t far from him.

Luo Yu put on his jacket, grabbed his car keys, and headed out. He drove to the opposite side of the entrance to Ye Shengyi’s complex.

Just as he was about to call Ye Shengyi, a taxi pulled up at the entrance, and a boy with a backpack stepped out.

The streetlights cast a cold glow over him. He was so thin that he looked like a piece of paper figurine, as if a gust of wind could blow him away.

Luo Yu squinted his eyes, trying to make out the figure. That back definitely belonged to Ye Shengyi. But wait, did this kid cut his hair? Where had all that purple luck gone?

Luo Yu began to wonder if he had the wrong person.

He opened the car door and quickly walked over, following behind the boy.

The boy seemed completely unaware of his presence, lost in his own emotions—particularly sad ones.

Sure enough, just as he was about to enter the complex, the boy raised his hand to wipe his eyes.

Luo Yu sighed and softly called out the boy’s name, “Ye Shengyi.”

The boy stopped, took a deep breath, and turned around. The eyes that had once been so full of energy now brimmed with sadness and grievance as they met Luo Yu’s.

“Brother Luo—you… you…”

Luo Yu raised his hand, gently pressing the boy’s head onto his shoulder. “Alright, go ahead and cry.”

At first, Ye Shengyi was confused, but two seconds later, he burst into tears.

Even the security guard, who had been dozing off in the gatehouse, was startled awake by the loud wailing. He opened the window and stuck his head out to see what was happening.

Luo Yu gave the guard an apologetic wave, signaling him to just ignore it.

The guard thought for a moment—this kind of crying at such a late hour probably meant a breakup.

—The midnight darkness gave this kid a reason to express his upset unabashedly.

After imagining a dramatic breakup scene for about ten minutes, Luo Yu patted Ye Shengyi’s shoulder and said softly, “Let’s go, hop in the car. Let’s get some late-night snacks.”

Ye Shengyi sniffled and nodded hard. “Okay.”

Once in Luo Yu’s car, and after buckling his seatbelt, Ye Shengyi asked, “Brother Luo, why did you come? I clearly sent you a message saying… we weren’t meeting today.”

Luo Yu smiled slightly. “When I asked you, you seemed so eager to see me. Knowing that I waited until almost eleven, you still suddenly canceled, but with your personality I knew you wouldn’t just send a single text message. Normally, you’d at least send a voice message or give me a call. So, why didn’t you? Because you were afraid I’d hear the sadness in your voice. Since I guessed that you were upset, I had to come and check on you—especially since you haven’t posted on your social media in a while.”

Hearing this, a small smile finally appeared on Ye Shengyi’s face.

“So Brother Luo, you really do care about me.”

“This doesn’t count as caring. If I truly cared enough, I would’ve noticed your sadness earlier.”

“Where are we going?”

“We’re going to a street stall, have some fried rice, and maybe some skewers. How does that sound?” Luo Yu asked.

“Brother Luo, you’re famous now! Going to a street stall, aren’t you afraid of being recognized?”

“The best way to hide is in plain sight. As long as you don’t treat me like Luo Yu, no one else will either.”

Luo Yu drove to the old town section and parked the car. Then, he led Ye Shengyi for a few minutes before they arrived at a street stall.

Under the red canopy were about a dozen small square tables, but only five or six were still occupied.

The shirtless chef, with a towel draped over his shoulder, was energetically flipping his wok. The smell of stir-fry and barbecue filled the air, making Ye Shengyi’s stomach growl uncontrollably.

Luo Yu, wearing black-framed glasses, pulled out a chair and motioned for Ye Shengyi to sit down.

Ye Shengyi glanced around. The other diners seemed to be men in their thirties or forties, so the chances of anyone recognizing Luo Yu were indeed slim.

“But your disguise is still too simple,” Ye Shengyi muttered under his breath.

“It won’t be simple for long.” Luo Yu raised his hand and called out, “Order up—”

The lady boss hurried over. “Coming! What’ll it be?”

“What do you want? The fried rice here is top-notch, and the small meat skewers, beef skewers, and grilled gluten are all amazing.”

Ye Shengyi, having smelled the food for a while, was already drooling. “I don’t know what’s good. Whatever you order, I’ll eat.”

“Alright. We’ll have what I just mentioned, and two bottles of cola,” Luo Yu said.

“Brother Luo, you know me so well—I really need some ‘happiness water’ right now!”

Once the lady boss brought over the colas, Ye Shengyi gulped down several mouthfuls, letting out a few loud burps before exhaling deeply.

“Before the food arrives, why don’t you pour out what’s been bothering you? Otherwise, there won’t be any room left for the delicious food.” Luo Yu looked at Ye Shengyi.

His gaze was gentle, without any sense of coercion, and instead, it felt very accepting.  

This made Ye Shengyi suddenly feel a surge of desire to confide.  

“Actually, when Brother Yan first introduced me to work as an assistant makeup artist for Ai Cheng, I was really happy. Because Ai Cheng is also my idol. Before I went, I studied a lot of her makeup looks from various events—some were very fashionable, some were pure, and some had a natural, no-makeup look. I seriously researched how to enhance her features in each style.” Ye Shengyi took a deep breath and then smiled wryly.  

“And then?” Luo Yu broke apart a pair of disposable chopsticks, smoothed off the splinters, and handed them to him.  

“Then, like any industry, seniority matters. Look at my face. Doesn’t it scream ‘young, inexperienced, and unreliable’?”  

“Young, yes. Inexperienced and unreliable, I don’t see that,” Luo Yu chuckled, having a rough idea of what Ye Shengyi had encountered.  

“So, after I became Ai Cheng’s assistant makeup artist, the thing I did the most was handing over brushes. I didn’t even get the chance to apply her foundation. Then, a few days ago, she attended a music festival, and the makeup artist gave her a smoky eye look. It looked quite trendy up close, but it really didn’t suit Ai Cheng. She has big, round eyes, and she’s petite, so her look ended up resembling…”  

“The Corpse Bride?” Luo Yu asked.  

“How… did you know?”  

“Before picking you up, I did some browsing. When I saw that look, I knew it couldn’t have been your work,” Luo Yu smiled as he lowered his head.  

“Exactly. I know cyberpunk is really popular among singers lately, but it just doesn’t suit Ai Cheng. I spoke up at the time, but Ai Cheng was quite unhappy, and her makeup artist told me to go help the assistant take care of her leather jacket. I barely had any chance to do makeup during this period and was basically stuck running errands.”  

“And today? What happened at the jewelry launch?” Luo Yu asked softly.  

When his gentle gaze fell upon Ye Shengyi, he suddenly felt like a child, and the strong front he had been forcing himself to maintain softened in an instant.  

“Today was a jewelry launch, and Ai Cheng was wearing a long dress, looking elegant and intellectual. But the makeup artist, Sister Lan, because the brand was from the West, decided to give Ai Cheng a Western-style makeup look—deep-set eyes, prominent brow bones, and high cheekbones.”  

“Ai Cheng is better suited for a princess style, and makeup that emphasizes her facial contours too much would overshadow the jewelry itself,” Luo Yu imagined Ai Cheng’s makeup in his mind.  

“Exactly. I made a suggestion at the time, too. When Ai Cheng stands next to other women with similar Western makeup, she loses her distinctiveness. But Ai Cheng and Sister Lan believed that highlighting her facial structure was more high-class, and since the organizers had no objections, I had no right to say anything…”  

Luo Yu smiled knowingly, seemingly understanding Ai Cheng’s desire to follow the mainstream aesthetic. “So, how did the organizers react after seeing the result?”  

“I wasn’t at the scene, but apparently the official photographer barely spent any time on Ai Cheng. Her makeup made her seem…”  

“Quite ordinary.”  

“Yes. For the evening banquet, she had to change into another dress. That outfit is really ethereal, so I wanted to suggest a more romantic, colorful makeup look. But Ai Cheng and Sister Lan still disagreed and decided to stick with the pure style.”  

“Because that style, while not outstanding, is at least safe.”  

Ye Shengyi shrugged helplessly, “Exactly. I guess my repeated suggestions annoyed Ai Cheng and Sister Lan. I ended up being asked to move things around and return the dresses. After the evening banquet, Sister Lan even had a talk with me. She made it clear: I don’t have much experience, but I have too many ideas. Sometimes, I should observe more instead of rushing to speak. Most importantly, she knows Ai Cheng best and understands what Ai Cheng wants, so there’s no need for me to disrupt their rhythm.”  

“Giving Ai Cheng what she wants— from that perspective, Sister Lan isn’t wrong. But…”  

Just then, the fried rice and skewers arrived, golden and fragrant. The young man serving them gave Luo Yu a glance.  

Luo Yu stood out among the crowd at the food stall, with his broad shoulders and upright posture.  

But when the young man tried to get a clearer look at Luo Yu’s face, he noticed that Luo Yu had placed a napkin under the nose pads of his glasses to keep them from slipping. This obscured his features, but even through the lenses, the young man could tell Luo Yu had beautiful eyes.  

Once the young man left, Ye Shengyi gave Luo Yu a thumbs-up. “As expected, even if Brother Gu showed up, he might not recognize you like this.”  

“Teacher Gu has sharp eyes,” Luo Yu laughed, pushing the fried rice towards Ye Shengyi. “Eat up. I’ve already had dinner, so I’ll skip the main dish.”  

“By the way, you were saying ‘but’ earlier. But what?” Ye Shengyi asked.  

“But Ai Cheng and Sister Lan have their rapport. Ai Cheng trusts Sister Lan, and Sister Lan knows how to meet her needs. They’ve reached a balance, and your arrival might have unintentionally disrupted that balance, so…”  

“So I’ve been excluded by them?”  

Luo Yu smiled slightly, knowing that Ye Shengyi understood his point.  

There were also more practical and self-serving reasons: Sister Lan had spent years building trust with Ai Cheng and didn’t want Ye Shengyi to take that away.  

Ye Shengyi picked up his spoon and started eating the fried rice in big bites.  

Luo Yu thought that after realizing the harsh reality, this kid might lose his appetite, but surprisingly, he ate with great relish.  

Before long, the fried rice was gone, and Ye Shengyi grabbed a skewer, devouring it in a few bites, leaving streaks of chili oil on both sides of his mouth.  

“Previously, to stay in Ai Cheng’s team, I kept compromising and changing myself! Ai Cheng didn’t like my purple hair, so I dyed it black! She didn’t like my accessories, saying they might get caught in her hair, so I took them all off! She didn’t think much of my makeup skills, so I ran errands instead! I even learned how to apply fake nails just to earn her approval! But so what? We don’t get along, and staying there won’t get me anywhere!”  

Ye Shengyi pressed the skewer stick onto the table and gulped down several swigs of cola, quite boldly.  

“So, what’s your plan?” Luo Yu asked with a smile, resting his chin on his hand.  

“What else? She doesn’t appreciate my skills, my hair, or my Christmas tree-like fashion sense, but I wasn’t dressing up for her in the first place! Tomorrow, I’m going to tell her I’m done, I’m quitting. I feel bad for wasting Brother Yan’s favor in getting me this job, but if this road is a dead end, I can’t stay stuck forever!”  

Luo Yu lowered his eyes and smiled, reminded of his former self.  

Ye Shengyi was braver than he had been.  

“So, have you found your next job? Most people don’t quit without securing something else first,” Luo Yu asked with a grin.  

“I have!” Ye Shengyi said confidently.  

Seeing that look, Luo Yu felt an inexplicable unease—could it be he had a new competitor?  

“Where?”

“You! I want to be your exclusive makeup artist!” Ye Shengyi looked into Luo Yu’s eyes, speaking boldly and earnestly.

“My makeup artist?” Luo Yu was momentarily stunned. He had thought he’d have to persuade Ye Shengyi, but unexpectedly, Ye Shengyi had beaten him to it!

“The moment I saw you, I just knew… that saying—‘A golden fish cannot stay in a pond; when the time comes, it will transform into a dragon!’”

Luo Yu almost spat out his soda. “Th-thanks…”

“I believe that once ‘Counterattack’ airs, your Bai Ying will become iconic! And once ‘Storm’ airs, your Huo Haoyan will also become the ultimate supporting character! I’ll use my skills to make your roles shine! If you have other candidates for a makeup artist, I’m willing to compete for the position! But I can guarantee you won’t find anyone with a better value for money than me!” Ye Shengyi patted his chest in confidence.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

For some reason, Luo Yu felt warmth in his heart.

This Ye Shengyi, someone who actively fought for their chance, someone who unwaveringly believed in him, gave Luo Yu a sense of responsibility he’d never felt before.

He knew he had to choose his future roles carefully, walk the right path, and not let down those who were willing to walk alongside him.

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“Let’s go, it’s time to head back,” Gu Xiaowei said as he left the railing and walked towards their bicycles.

“Do you think we’ll get photographed when we go back?” Luo Yu asked.

Those paparazzi must be waiting outside the hotel. They missed photos of their departure, so they’d definitely want to capture them returning together.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“Let them take pictures if they want,” Gu Xiaowei said, his foot tapping the ground, “We can pull the curtains open and stand by the window for them to take pictures. Afterward, they can go home and rest early.”

“Haha, I can’t even imagine that scene. Doesn’t it sound like royalty, standing on the terrace for the media to take pictures?”

Gu Xiaowei’s lips curled into a smile, seemingly in a good mood due to Luo Yu’s joke.

But when Luo Yu looked closely, his smile had already faded, a fleeting moment indeed.

Back at the hotel, Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu didn’t care about how many photos the paparazzi took. They hurried to their room to freshen up.

Luo Yu fell into bed and was asleep in three seconds.

The next morning, yawning, Luo Yu sat in the back seat of Sister Cui’s car with Gu Xiaowei.

“What did you two do last night?” Sister Cui turned around to look at them.

“Nothing much, Gu Xiaowei helped me film a video, which we’ll release when the fans hit five million.”

Sister Cui patted her chest. “Good, good. The photos of you two returning to the hotel last night have been posted online. They say you left and returned together on bicycles, and there are a lot of speculations about what you two were doing.”

“Oh, what are people guessing we were doing?” Luo Yu asked with interest.

“If you were with someone else, like Liu Songtao, people would think you went for a health treatment. If it was with Jiang Muxing, they’d assume you went to a KTV. But with Gu Xiaowei… the most commented speculation is that you two went cycling.”

Luo Yu felt disappointed. “Really? Shouldn’t the speculation be that we went somewhere on a bicycle to do something?”

“But it’s Gu Xiaowei, the disciplined Gu Xiaowei. Could it be that you two were cycling to eat late-night snacks?”

“We already had hot pot; we couldn’t eat more.”

“Exactly. Or were you two cycling out on a date?”

Luo Yu laughed. “Yes, we were cycling, enjoying the river breeze, out on a date! If only the civil affairs bureau were open late at night, we could even get our marriage certificates!”

Sister Cui saw Gu Xiaowei pulling out his phone and quickly said, “Look at you, speaking so freely. Gu Xiaowei will have to clarify things online quickly.”

“I’m just shopping online,” Gu Xiaowei said, raising his eyes.

“Shopping for what?”

“You wanted to get a certificate, right? I’m buying two online. Next time we get photographed, we can show the certificate to the netizens and make them stop guessing,” Gu Xiaowei said.

“What certificate?” Luo Yu leaned over, and Gu Xiaowei generously turned his phone screen for him to see.

It showed the bold red words—”Good Buddy Certificate.”

Luo Yu paused. “Does Cheng Fei also have this certificate?”

“He wanted to give me one, but I didn’t accept.”

Luo Yu snickered inwardly, no wonder Cheng Fei had such a sour attitude when he first met him on the set.

Sister Cui dropped Gu Xiaowei off at the entrance of his upscale residential area. She could only drop him off at the gate.

As he was leaving, Gu Xiaowei knocked on Luo Yu’s window. “See you on the set.”

Hearing these words, Luo Yu felt a particularly special emotion.

In his previous life, Gu Xiaowei had been so immersed in his role as Lu Pingfeng that he had to take two years off to recuperate.

If Luo Yu had one wish in his new life, it wouldn’t be to defeat He Mu or Ou Juntao but to accompany Gu Xiaowei through this journey and smoothly transition to another stage of life.

“See you on the set,” Luo Yu said softly, watching Gu Xiaowei’s back as he pushed his suitcase along.

In the next two days, Luo Yu’s days became a bit busy, but the busy schedule didn’t quite feel like serious work.

For instance, Pinnacle Sports had already indicated to Sister Cui that there was a 70% chance they wouldn’t renew the contract with He Mu, and that the next spokesperson would be Luo Yu. Sister Cui was much more cautious than before. She knew that with He Mu’s team’s handling style, the announcement of not renewing the contract would definitely come from He Mu’s side. Pinnacle Sports needed to be strategic, not leaking any intention of signing with Luo Yu, and avoiding provoking He Mu’s fans into a conflict. Sister Cui thought that first, they should use “Burn, Little Cosmos” to warm up, making everyone feel that Luo Yu was more suitable for Pinnacle Sports, and then officially announce after “Counterattack” aired. This way, they could effectively buffer the attacks from He Mu’s fans.

This idea resonated with Pinnacle Sports, and both sides were already in preliminary discussions about the contract details.

Another thing was that Sister Cui took Luo Yu to the studio apartment she rented for him, which was a duplex structure.

Luo Yu followed Sister Cui, feeling like Liu Laolao visiting the Grand View Garden. What made him shy was that the background wall in the studio apartment was adorned with large, high-definition stills of Bai Ying, with every strand of hair depicted in a flowing and beautiful manner.

That wasn’t all; as they walked further, the wall was covered with an oversized grid of the photos Gu Xiaowei took for him as well. Sister Cui specially explained that she had obtained Gu Xiaowei’s consent for these photos.

Luo Yu’s ears turned red, feeling as though the whole world was filled with himself.

The first floor was an activity area with a large sofa where he could lie down, watch videos, and play games lazily. Besides the activity area, there was also a walk-in closet.

Luo Yu opened the door and found rows of cabinets. He pointed inside and said, “Having so many cabinets… isn’t it a bit wasteful?”

“Not at all. With ‘Counterattack’ about to air, believe it or not, your business activities will increase. Even if there aren’t business activities, you’ll need to cooperate with basic interviews and drama promotions. Do you plan to continue wearing white T-shirts and linen casual pants?”

“I don’t have the money to fill them all up.” Luo Yu casually opened one of the cabinets and then froze.

Inside were rows of formal attire, ranging from silver-gray to pure black, with varying materials and styles. Although Luo Yu believed that he wouldn’t be able to distinguish them all when taken out.

“These were prepared for you by President Jiang.”

“So many? Even if I went on a blind date every day, I wouldn’t be able to wear them all in a week, right?”

“President Jiang means that for formal occasions, it’s better to have your own clothes rather than borrowing them last minute and scrambling to find the right style. As for other wardrobes, your stylist can help you shop when they arrive. But I think… Teacher Gu’s taste suits you best. The clothes he picked last time were impeccable in terms of style,” Sister Cui said with admiration.

“He… indeed has much better taste than I do.”

Sister Cui then took Luo Yu to the second floor, which had a spare bedroom for the team to rest, an office with a small conference table, and even a projector for PPT presentations. Everything was well-organized.

Looking at the empty table, Luo Yu really felt the need to recruit a team.

“There are two makeup artists coming for interviews today,” Sister Cui said, pulling out a chair at the main seat. “I understand your personality. You’re not used to having assistants around, which makes you uncomfortable. But a makeup artist is necessary. When you’re in ‘Beast and Rose,’ you’ll need touch-ups at all times. Do you plan to use Gu Xiaowei’s makeup artist?”

“Wait! What about Xiao Yezi? Can’t he stay with me?” Luo Yu appreciated Ye Shengyi’s skills, and he was also Brother Yan’s apprentice.

“Xiao Yezi has already found a job. Brother Yan introduced him to Ai Cheng as an assistant makeup artist,” Sister Cui said with resignation. “Before, Xiao Yezi wanted to follow you, but at that time, you were about to terminate the contract with Bo Wenyuan, and you were worried you wouldn’t be able to pay him. Now he has a good place to go. I didn’t have the heart to poach him. If Xiao Yezi agreed, it would offend Ai Cheng, and if he didn’t, it would be a disappointment to you. I didn’t want to put him in a difficult position.”

“Oh…” Luo Yu felt disappointed instantly.

The two makeup artists who came for the interview today didn’t quite meet Luo Yu’s satisfaction.

One had a makeup style that was too heavy, which highlighted Luo Yu’s facial features but appeared tacky up close.

The other was good at fashionable styles, making Luo Yu’s face more recognizable, suitable for magazines but not for film shoots.

Luo Yu took photos of both styles, intending to send them to his friend group, but thinking about Cheng Fei’s straight male taste, he decided to send them to someone with better taste who could provide a tactful response.

Half a minute later, the phone buzzed twice. Luo Yu opened it to find that Gu Xiaowei’s comments were indeed tactful and concise.

[……]

Luo Yu: [Teacher Gu, even if you send an emoji, it’s fine.]

In “Beast and Rose,” Gu Xiaowei played a great painter and was currently learning the basics of oil painting in a studio.

Xiao Qin sat next to him, bored, scrolling through her phone, when she suddenly heard Gu Xiaowei speak after being quiet for a while.

“Is there an emoji that can express ‘none of these look good’?”

Xiao Qin paused and asked seriously, “Brother Gu, is the emoji for a buddy or a female friend?”

“What’s the difference?”

“If it’s for Brother Cheng, he might just reply, ‘Get lost! You look the best in the whole wide world.’ But if it’s for a girl, like Miss Xie Chang, she might not block you because you’re handsome, but she’ll definitely give you an eye roll.”

“It’s not a girl, but I don’t want to receive an eye roll from the other person,” Gu Xiaowei said.

“Then just say ‘none of these look good, but you look the best,’” Xiao Qin suggested. “It’s not Brother Cheng, right? If it were straight guy Brother Cheng, he would definitely laugh.”

Gu Xiaowei calmly lowered his head and sent a simple and direct message: [Change the makeup artist.]

Luo Yu received the message and smiled knowingly: [As expected, Gu Xiaowei doesn’t send emojis.]

Sister Cui knew Luo Yu wouldn’t be satisfied, so after sending off the two interviewees, she made coffee, and the two sat at the table, silent for about three minutes.

“Why don’t you poach him?” Sister Cui suggested.

Luo Yu raised his eyebrows, “Aren’t you afraid of offending Ai Cheng?”

“You’re a male actor, and Ai Cheng is a female singer. There’s no competition between you. Even if you offend her… the harm should be minimal. Besides, given your nature, you’ll feel awkward with unfamiliar people around you. Xiao Yezi’s skills and style still suit you best.”

Sister Cui’s actual thought was that if it did offend, Jiang Yinchuan would handle it.

What’s a boss for? To take the heat!

“Well… I’ll give it a try.”

Luo Yu lowered his head and opened Ye Shengyi’s Moments, originally intending to check his recent activities, but found that he hadn’t posted for over a month.

Luo Yu frowned, “Ai Cheng must have many activities, right?”

“Yes, indeed.”

“Then… why hasn’t Xiao Yezi posted any Moments about Ai Cheng’s activities?”

Even if he couldn’t post pictures of Ai Cheng, he could share what he ate, saw, and the fan situation on-site.

This kid used to be impatient if he didn’t post on his social media for a day.

When Luo Yu mentioned it, Sister Cui also felt it was odd, “Hey, yeah. What happened to him? It doesn’t seem like him?”

Luo Yu wasn’t sure if Ye Shengyi was busy with work, so he sent a WeChat message: [Xiao Yezi, are you busy lately? I want to invite you to dinner and talk about something.]

But there was no response. Luo Yu searched online for Ai Cheng’s recent schedule; she should be attending a high-end jewelry launch today.

“Maybe today isn’t the right time. Xiao Yezi should be busy.”

But unexpectedly, Ye Shengyi sent a voice message, sounding like he was in a bathroom with a bit of echo: [Ahhh, Brother Luo, you finally contacted me! I’d love to have dinner with you! Even if you don’t treat me, just seeing your handsome face would make me eat three more bowls of rice!]

Luo Yu: [How about tonight? Are you attending the high-end jewelry event with Ai Cheng?]

Ye Shengyi: [Yes! My event ends at ten tonight. Will it be too late? But if we arrange it after, I’m afraid I’ll be resting, and you’ll go to the ‘Beast and Rose’ set!]

Luo Yu: [Then tonight it is. I’ll pick you up after work. Let’s go for a late-night snack.]

Ye Shengyi: [Sure! Sure! Brother Luo, they’re calling me. I need to go over!]

Although only a few words were exchanged, Luo Yu could sense that Ye Shengyi was very eager to meet him.

That evening, Luo Yu spent the time at home waiting by watching documentaries about forensic science.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Sister Cui had checked with the crew, and before the official shooting starts, Luo Yu would undergo two weeks of forensic training. In the meantime, Luo Yu wanted to learn as much as possible about the professional aspects of the character Wen Yuchi.

After watching episode after episode of the documentary, Luo Yu picked up his phone and checked the time—it was almost eleven at night. Was Ye Shengyi’s work still not finished?

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“Okay.” Gu Xiaowei nodded.

The private room fell silent for a full three seconds.

“Is this considered a crazily indulgent affection?” Li Shengyu said with a face full of doubt, as if he thought his ears were malfunctioning.

Luo Yu laughed, “How is this related to indulgence?”

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Li Shengyu answered solemnly, “I would only let my girlfriend on my van!”

Luo Yu’s eyes lit up, “Oh, Li Shengyu—so you have a girlfriend!”

As expected, the topic veered off course and shifted to a thorough interrogation of Li Shengyu. However, Li Shengyu was as tight-lipped as ever, even after three bottles of beer, he wouldn’t reveal who his girlfriend was.

The gathering that evening was very enjoyable for everyone, and Li Shengyu and Jiang Muxing both added Gu Xiaowei on WeChat.

Jiang Muxing repeatedly confirmed that Gu Xiaowei was on his friend list. When Luo Yu and Gu Xiaowei got into the car, Gu Xiaowei’s phone buzzed. He checked to find it was a sticker from Jiang Muxing, a small rabbit peeking through a door crack.

“What does it mean when he sends me this sticker?” Gu Xiaowei frowned and studied it seriously.

Luo Yu smiled, “He probably wants to know whether you added him out of courtesy or if you genuinely plan to talk to him.”

“I see.” Gu Xiaowei finally relaxed his frown and replied with a cute bunny sticker.

“I can imagine Jiang Muxing should be spinning around with his phone in hand right now,” Luo Yu glanced out the window and then quietly said, “Thank you.”

“Why are you thanking me?”

“Because I know you’re not really into social gatherings. You came to have hotpot with us, listen to Li Shengyu talk about filming, and chat with Jiang Muxing about music, all because they’re my friends.”

Gu Xiaowei said, “I’m not that pretentious, nor am I socially awkward. I just trust your judgment in friends.”

“Trusting my judgment in friends?” Luo Yu smiled self-deprecatingly, “You must have forgotten about Bo Wenyuan, right?”

“I also thank him for teaching you the skill of identifying scumbags.”

The car arrived back at the hotel. After eating and drinking so contentedly, Luo Yu stretched and said, “I’m a bit full. I want to go out for some exercise.”

“Sure, let’s go together.”

Luo Yu checked the time. It was 10:30 PM, and there were still some pedestrians outside. Moreover, he noticed there seemed to be paparazzi waiting outside when the car returned.

But knowing Gu Xiaowei, he wouldn’t care about that.

Walking or shopping at night is a perfectly normal activity, so there’s no fear of being seen.

“I feel that after this variety show airs, your fan count should break five million. Don’t you need to record a VLOG to thank them?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

“Did you record one when your fans broke ten million?”

“I don’t remember.”

Luo Yu laughed out loud; that response was very much like Gu Xiaowei.

“You don’t even remember whether you did it, yet you ask me to?”

But Luo Yu thought for a moment and said, “I could do one. Otherwise, if my fan count really breaks five million, Sister Cui might organize something bigger, making me embarrassed.”

“Recording one at night might not show your face clearly, but the blur effect can be good. Just like your previous street lamp selfie.”

“Wait a moment, I’ll wash my face. Even if it’s blurry, I can’t have an oily face,” Luo Yu went into the bathroom, thoroughly cleaned himself, and then suddenly remembered something. He stuck his head out and asked, “You saw my street lamp selfie?”

“En.”

“Back then, we hadn’t followed each other on Weibo, right?” Luo Yu asked again.

“After we followed each other, I looked back.”

Luo Yu felt a bit guilty. After he followed Gu Xiaowei, he didn’t go back through his photos or anything, which made it seem like he didn’t care much about Gu Xiaowei.

Who knew Gu Xiaowei seemed to read his thoughts and teased, “Are you thinking that you never went back through my Weibo, worried I’d find out you don’t care much about me, and now you’re trying to make up for it?”

Luo Yu chuckled, “How could that be… I actually don’t use Weibo much.”

After drying his face, Luo Yu silently decided to go through Gu Xiaowei’s Weibo history once he got back.

“But my Weibo isn’t very interesting. Most of it is posted by my agent.”

Luo Yu came out and changed into a T-shirt. “Posted by your agent? But didn’t you help me a few times? And posting my pictures last time?”

“The photography works were posted by me.”

Luo Yu said enviously, “Your agent is really good. They’re so indulgent with you.”

Other agents typically don’t forward things unrelated to their artists, but Gu Xiaowei’s agent not only didn’t restrict him but also forwarded things for him.

“Sister Cui is also very indulgent with you,” Gu Xiaowei said.

“That’s different. There’s an understanding between Sister Cui and me about what can and can’t be posted.”

Who knew Gu Xiaowei’s lips curled up slightly, “Are you sure? Didn’t Sister Cui teach you to edit photos before posting them?”

“This…”

“But you don’t need to edit. Your candid photos are already quite good.”

After Gu Xiaowei said this, he walked towards the door.

They took the elevator down, walked out of the hotel, and Gu Xiaowei gestured at the public bikes. They scanned the code and rode off.

Luo Yu looked back curiously and saw that three or four people had stood up, their surprised expressions still visible. After waiting so long at the hotel entrance, the target had ridden away on a bike?

The problem was if they also followed on bikes, they’d be too conspicuous. If they went back to the car or hailed a taxi to follow, they wouldn’t be able to catch up now.

Both Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu had long legs, and they rode swiftly, disappearing into the night in the blink of an eye.

“Where are we going?” Luo Yu asked Gu Xiaowei.

Since leaving school, he hadn’t ridden a bike in a long time.

He smiled, and the night wind seemed to be pulled long and far by an invisible force, the streetlights casting fleeting lights over his brows, and the light in his eyes and smile on his lips became all that the night was.

“To a place that’s less crowded and more open,” Gu Xiaowei replied.

“Haha, good thing I’m not a girl; otherwise, I’d be suspicious you have other intentions,” Luo Yu said as he rode, glancing at Gu Xiaowei. “On the way back from the mountain mushroom hotpot restaurant, I saw a viewing platform by the river. It’s open. Just don’t know if there will still be people walking there at this hour. It should take about twenty to thirty minutes to ride there—perfect for digesting!”

“Have you thought about what to record?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

“Well… I don’t seem to have any particular talents. Singing, dancing, performing comedy—none of them are impressive,” Luo Yu scratched the back of his head.

Gu Xiaowei smiled helplessly, “Are you sure?”

“My talent is carrying you—want me to carry you again?”

Luo Yu looked over, his eyes full of laughter, bright as if someone had scattered a handful of glittering diamonds in his eyes.

They passed by a night market, with stalls lined up on the roadside, the smell of barbecue and fried skewers wafting through the air.

There were also some small vendors with stalls on tricycles.

One stall had various glowing toys, small cars, and piggy banks made from beads. Whenever a child passed by, they’d rush to that stall.

Luo Yu’s feet tapped the ground as he navigated through the crowd. He suddenly noticed Gu Xiaowei was missing, stopped, and looked around. He hesitated to call out “Gu Xiaowei” loudly, as even if people in this street weren’t fans, they’d probably still recognize him.

“Where did he go?”

Luo Yu pushed his bike to the side of the road and called Gu Xiaowei’s phone.

“Classmate, where are you?”

“I’m next to the tricycle selling glowing balloons.”

Luo Yu tilted his head and found the toy stall. Gu Xiaowei, wearing a mask, was discussing something with the stall owner.

“Hey, Gu Xiaowei, what are you looking at? Senior Brother will buy it for you?” Luo Yu approached and threw an arm around Gu Xiaowei’s shoulder.

Surrounded by children clamoring for balloons, Gu Xiaowei leaned towards Luo Yu and said in his ear, “Guess.”

The breathed word was very light, containing a hint of a smile, tickling Luo Yu’s ear.

“Guess? Glowing balloons?” Luo Yu raised his eyebrows.

“Why glowing balloons?”

“Because… I just feel like you’d like bright things.”

Gu Xiaowei chuckled softly and pointed to a toy sword in the tricycle stall, saying, “But I want that.”

“You want this?” Luo Yu picked up the toy sword in surprise and waved it around.

It was very light, with a plastic sheath and hilt. Luo Yu drew the sword, and the blade appeared to have a metallic sheen but was quite soft. It was likely designed to prevent injuries if children played with it, so it would bend upon contact with anything.

“I remember you’ve done some wuxia films. Haven’t you had enough of swordplay?” Luo Yu asked with a smile.

“I want to see you perform,” Gu Xiaowei said.

“Me? You mean when we record the video later using this?”

“Yes,” Gu Xiaowei nodded.

Under the colorful lights, Gu Xiaowei’s profile had a rugged yet inscrutable outline, with a childlike clarity that seemed to see through everything, but also a restraint that hid all emotions deeply.

“I’ve already said… I’ve almost returned everything I learned to my former teacher.” Luo Yu felt a pang of guilt about this.

“Then don’t lose what’s left. Let me see,” Gu Xiaowei said.

Luo Yu paused for two seconds, suddenly finding the phrase “don’t lose what’s left” very precious. 

Since Gu Xiaowei wanted to see, then he would show him everything.

The sword only cost eight yuan, and it came with a strap on the sheath. Luo Yu initially wanted to sling it on his back, but unfortunately, since it was meant for children, the strap was too short. He could only hang it on his shoulder.

The two of them got on their bicycles and set off again.

Away from the noisy night market streets, they rode along the riverside boulevard. By nearly eleven at night, they finally arrived at the observation deck that Luo Yu had mentioned.

The river breeze blew gently, and there were no pedestrians around at this time. Only the lonely streetlights illuminated the platform, and the distant, dim river.

Luo Yu stood in the center of the observation deck, feeling a bit embarrassed. “I’m asking, do you really want to see me perform with the sword? It’s a bit awkward. Should I go back and prepare, practice for a week or two, and maybe set it to music…?”

“Do you remember the sword dance you performed during the school anniversary in your junior year?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

“Don’t tell me… you were watching from the audience at that time?” Luo Yu asked.

“Of course. Everyone around me was gasping. When you leaped with the sword, it seemed like you would stay suspended in the air forever.”

“Ah, my old teacher also said that my airtime was very long.” Luo Yu lowered his eyes, feeling a bit sad as he recalled his martial arts teacher.

“Don’t think about those predefined moves. Didn’t you like martial arts back then? If you still like it now, just think of it as playing a piece of ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ on the piano. Not every martial artist can become a champion in the end.”

Gu Xiaowei had a calm demeanor, as if he was waiting for something or protecting something.

And under his gaze, all of Luo Yu’s past frustrations and disappointments faded into calm, and what remained was the passion hidden deep in his heart.

“Alright, you need to record it well today, because regardless of whether this video gets seen by many people online or not, tonight you are my only audience.”

Luo Yu smiled as he stepped back, rotating his wrists and stretching his legs. He then took down the toy sword from his shoulder.

A faint smile appeared on Gu Xiaowei’s lips as he leaned back against the observation deck railing. The river breeze lifted his hair as he watched Luo Yu.

At that moment, Luo Yu felt as if he had returned to his previous life, seeing Gu Xiaowei still practicing on stage just before he was about to leave the theater.

The prelude of “Floating Clouds and Flying Steps” began, with the pipa’s layered and resonant tones followed by the guzheng’s sound, like a waterfall cascading down.

Luo Yu had long forgotten the specific moves he performed back then. He moved spontaneously, making the sword whistle and clang.

His movements were elegant and vigorous, the swordplay precise and profound. His steps were measured, and when he leaped, his back arched like a bow, reaching towards the sky. The sword flourishes were graceful, as if releasing the wildness hidden in his bones.

Despite being on an observation deck, the performance gave a sense of vastness.

As the sword dance came to an end, Luo Yu’s movements combined softness with strength, as if he had sheathed all the wind, frost, and snow.

“As expected… if you don’t practice, you can’t do it. Many of my moves are no longer performable,” Luo Yu sighed regretfully.

“But there’s no rule on how you should perform swordplay, nor any requirement for how one move should connect to the next. It’s all based on your preference, performing freely as you like. Isn’t that good?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

Luo Yu adjusted his breathing and wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Yes, I feel very refreshed!”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“Among the performances during the school anniversary, your sword dance is the only one I want to watch countless times,” Gu Xiaowei said.

If the heartstrings really existed, Luo Yu suspected they were held by Gu Xiaowei’s fingers, plucked to the extreme and then suddenly released.

“Thank you,” Luo Yu said.

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“Hey, Li Shengyu and Jiang Muxing said they’re going for mushroom hot pot! Want to join us?” Luo Yu lowered his body slightly to speak to Gu Xiaowei.

Gu Xiaowei looked up with a hint of an elusive smile, “They are your friends now, aren’t they?”

“Yes. This is probably the biggest gain from participating in this show,” Luo Yu said with a smile.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

In his previous life, he was truly alone in the entertainment industry, except for Sister Cui, no one cared about him. Friends were something he only made after transitioning to stage plays.

Now, Luo Yu no longer needed to worry about not being able to gather enough people for a game of cards.

On the side, Han Yang watched Luo Yu and found him quite special.

When he swiftly and decisively took the flag behind He Mu, there was no hesitation. When he rode the horse towards the finish line, his figure seemed rare and carefree. Yet when he reached the finish line and looked at his teammates, he smiled so openly, as if he was not driven by a desire to win or lose but was simply sharing joy.

He had the strength of a man, yet didn’t completely shed the purity of youth.

“Sister Cui just received a call from Director Sheng,” Gu Xiaowei said, watching Luo Yu. But Luo Yu didn’t show any anxiety or nervousness; he just lifted his helmet.

“The role should be mine.”

“Oh, you weren’t so confident before,” Gu Xiaowei said, holding the railing with one hand and pulling his reins down with the other, leaning closer.

“I could tell from your expression—if we can’t work together, you’ll surely feel disappointed,” Luo Yu said with a bright smile.

Han Yang approached Sister Cui, “Congratulations on landing such a good role.”

“Thank you,” Sister Cui didn’t expect him to offer congratulations. “I also hope Mr. Han can pay more attention to Luo Yu’s performance and give us a chance to collaborate.”

Finally saying the request for collaboration, Sister Cui felt confident, whereas she previously felt timid.

She had learned a lot from being beside Gu Xiaowei, such as keeping Luo Yu’s memorable moments ready in the phone, setting the stage before discussing collaboration to show Luo Yu’s unique value, and maintaining calm and confidence to keep the other party engaged.

“Of course. I have a drama in pre-production and hope to start shooting in the second quarter. There’s a role that fits Luo Yu well. If ‘Beast and Rose’ finishes shooting by then, he’s welcome to audition.”

Sister Cui seized the opportunity, “Then Mr. Han, could we exchange contact information?”

Typically, a producer like Han Yang would ask an assistant to handle it, but unexpectedly, Han Yang took out his phone and opened the WeChat QR code, “This is my work WeChat. I might not be online during holidays and breaks.”

Sister Cui quickly scanned the code and added Han Yang, her face showing disbelief.

Han Yang nodded towards Gu Xiaowei as a farewell gesture and then turned to leave.

Sister Cui came back to her senses and said regretfully, “I should have asked you to greet Mr. Han. Just letting him go like that seemed impolite.”

Luo Yu asked, “Who was that CEO just now?”

“Han Yang, the producer from K Station,” Gu Xiaowei said.

Luo Yu touched his nose, with a smirk looking at Sister Cui, “Sister Cui, not only is Mr. Han handsome, but he also has a lot of grace, right?”

Sister Cui’s eyes were fixed on Han Yang’s WeChat profile picture, which was of a Ragdoll cat. She felt that this cat was more noble and luxurious than anything on earth, “As long as he can get you a role, even if I have to praise him as being more handsome than Teacher Gu, I could write a hundred thousand words of praise!”

Gu Xiaowei’s brows furrowed slightly, a small movement that Luo Yu caught.

He poked Gu Xiaowei’s forehead, “Teacher Gu, there’s no need for a competitive spirit here.”

Gu Xiaowei lifted his chin and grabbed Luo Yu’s hand, completely unguarded.

Li Shengyu and Jiang Muxing waved at Luo Yu, “We’re leaving—going back to change clothes and remove makeup—”

Luo Yu pulled on the reins, changed direction, and trotted towards them: “Coming!”

The news that he had secured the role of Wen Yuchi quickly spread through the production team.

Xu Mu smiled with his eyes squinted into slits, secretly delighted at the huge profits.

When the cast of “Beast and Rose” was announced, it happened to coincide with the airing of their show, providing free publicity!

“Luo Yu is one of the rare actors who has participated in the works of directors Lin Yue, Xu Han, and Sheng Yunlan, isn’t he?”

The assistant director’s reminder made Xu Mu feel that there was another angle for program promotion.

“As long as he doesn’t collapse or falter, no one can stop him from becoming popular,” the cameraman commented.

Although they had only interacted for two days, Xu Mu had gained some understanding of Luo Yu’s personality.

He had a sense of propriety, wasn’t blindly pursuing fame and fortune, and wouldn’t give up opportunities to showcase himself for the sake of being low-key.

“A person like him… it’s probably not easy to find something that could hold him accountable for a principled mistake.”

Especially for someone who has just emerged from a low point, they would cherish their feathers even more.

With some people rejoicing, there are bound to be others who are sorrowful.

He Mu’s agent had just received a call confirming that He Mu had not secured the role of Wen Yuchi.

“If you don’t mind, can I ask who eventually got the role of Wen Yuchi?”

“For specific results, please follow the official Weibo.”

After the call ended, He Mu’s agent heard the crew members chatting.

“Just now, Luo Yu’s agent went away from the crowd to take a call. It seemed like Luo Yu got a role. She kept saying thank you and almost cried!”

“Luo Yu is quite good. Among the guests on this episode, I have the best impression of him. No matter what role he gets, I really hope he becomes popular.”

Hearing this, He Mu’s agent’s heart sank. The phone call notification was likely about the casting results for “Beast and Rose.”

“Oh! I also saw that Producer Han added his agent on WeChat!”

“Really? That’s great! Producer Han’s TV dramas are a quality benchmark in the industry! I’d really like to see Luo Yu in one of Producer Han’s dramas!”

“I’d like to see it too! If his drama can be on K Station, I’d be willing to recharge for three years immediately!”

Hearing this, He Mu’s agent suddenly envied Cui Zhuxin greatly.

When he got to the van, he saw He Mu’s face turning pale, obviously having found out as well.

—What else could be done? Just endure it!

Their vehicle drove away, brushing past Li Shengyu’s van, and voices from inside the van were audible even from inside.

“Luo Yu—congratulations! You’ve fought your way through and are going to the big screen!”

“Brother Luo, I declare you as my idol!”

He Mu said coldly, “Didn’t Chairman Ou say he would try his best to get the role of Wen Yuchi for me? Why did it end up with Luo Yu?”

“Am I spoiling you too much?” the agent suddenly spoke up.

He Mu was stunned, “What…what are you saying?”

“Do you think you can get anything you want, that the world only has Dijun Media, and that you should be invincible in the industry?”

“I…I didn’t think that way.” He Mu didn’t expect his agent to suddenly say these things and was completely bewildered.

In the past, his agent would comfort him, persuade him, but this time his tone was very sharp.

“He Mu, actually, since Luo Yu successfully auditioned for Bai Ying, I’ve wanted to tell you—be mentally prepared. The roles you want will often be taken by him. Even if you hire internet trolls to flood social media, they won’t overturn Luo Yu. You’ll increasingly be compared to him, and the harm you inflicted on Luo Yu in the past will come back to you in the same way,” the agent said.

At that moment, He Mu felt an inexplicable fear.

He remembered the scathing attacks by internet trolls on Luo Yu, and how his numerous fans had drowned Luo Yu out.

If one day, Luo Yu also had fan appeal like him, how would he retaliate?

At this moment, Luo Yu was happily dining with Li Shengyu and the others.

The mountain mushroom hotpot restaurant was not large but was very popular. Fortunately, Li Shengyu’s assistant had reserved a private room in advance, and they entered through the back door, avoiding attention.

After they sat down, Li Shengyu and Jiang Muxing appeared a bit nervous.

Luo Yu and Sister Cui were already so hungry that their stomachs were flattened, showing no pretensions, and immediately began ordering dishes with the iPad.

“Five plates of beef! Five plates of lamb!” Luo Yu’s fingers were tapping rapidly on the screen.

“Duck blood! Also beef tripe, yellow throat! My favorites!” Sister Cui’s face was almost pressed against the screen.

Jiang Muxing reminded, “We’re here for mountain mushroom hotpot…”

“Oh! Right! How about a large mushroom platter? There are so many mushrooms here I’ve never heard of!” Luo Yu curiously examined the options.

Li Shengyu and Jiang Muxing exchanged glances, wondering how Luo Yu managed to ignore Gu Xiaowei, who hadn’t spoken a word.

Jiang Muxing took a breath and smiled politely at Gu Xiaowei, “Hello, Teacher Gu, I really enjoy watching your dramas. You were really impressive in ‘Sunset Avenue’!”

Gu Xiaowei across the table slowly curved his lips. For the first time, Jiang Muxing had a concrete sense of what a “ice melting smile” looked like.

Gu Xiaowei mimicked Jiang Muxing’s tone, “Hello, Teacher Jiang. Your ‘Cloud God’ is also a must-listen track for me on my way to jobs. I also like ‘Night Dye’ and ‘Carved Beams and Painted Rafters’.”

Jiang Muxing’s eyes lit up, “You’ve heard my songs?”

“I’ve heard many of your songs. So, can we skip calling each other ‘Teacher’ now?”

Luo Yu also looked up and smiled, “Can you two stop the commercial flattery? Let’s hurry up and order.”

After a meal, Li Shengyu and Jiang Muxing discovered that Gu Xiaowei was actually very easy to get along with, even though he wasn’t the life of the party, he could carry any topic and was good at listening, responding and keeping the conversation lively.

When Li Shengyu, who had a bit of a cleanliness obsession, used a spoon to scrape off some small black spots on the mushrooms, Gu Xiaowei wasn’t impatient at all, showing no resentment for the previous acting PK during the shooting of “Storm”.

This made Li Shengyu feel embarrassed, and he opened a bottle of beer, very seriously apologizing to Luo Yu again.

“Looking back now, I guess I was a bit envious of you,” Li Shengyu remarked.

“It’s my honor to be envied by you,” Luo Yu clinked beer bottles with him.

Li Shengyu smiled heartily, “Now I’m not envious at all. Your roles are always so captivating. I accept losing in that acting battle wholeheartedly.”

“You’ve been criticized online, and you still accept it?” Luo Yu asked with a smile.

“In our line of work, being criticized is common. If no one is criticizing you, it means you’ve hit rock bottom. You believe it or not, thanks to Brother Gu, we’ll get trending again for eating hotpot. Those who criticized me will probably be surprised—Li Shengyu and Luo Yu aren’t that antagonistic after all. They’re friends in the industry who can eat hotpot together!”

Being straightforward, the boys drank a few bottles of beer and spoke even more openly.

As they chatted, Li Shengyu and Jiang Muxing made strong suggestions to Luo Yu.

“I’m telling you, you must have an assistant! If you’re filming period dramas—wearing layer upon layer and walking around without an assistant, you’ll be exhausted,” Li Shengyu said.

“You also need a van. Otherwise, if you want to rest for a while, you’d have to set up a temporary stall and could accidentally get hit on the head by passing props,” Jiang Muxing, who had felt the importance of a van from participating in a few variety shows, added.

“A van, huh… I’ll consider it.”

“When you’re filming movies, won’t you need a quiet space to discuss scenes with Brother Gu? If you hit a snag, will you just sit in the set and self-breakthrough?” Li Shengyu said again.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“Hey, you have a van, right?” Luo Yu looked at Gu Xiaowei, because he had never seen one on the set of “Counterattack.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Then when we need a quiet space to rehearse, can’t I just go to your van?”

Luo Yu still hasn’t gotten over the shadow of drowning in a van from his past life.

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Dingdang responded, “No, you can’t. That’s cheating.”

“Alright.” Jiang Muxing reluctantly lowered his hand.

Li Shengyu raised his hand this time and asked loudly, “Can the program team edit my and Xingxing’s faces onto Luo Yu’s? That way, our team only needs Luo Yu to compete!”

This time even the director monitoring from the monitor couldn’t help but shout into the megaphone, “Why don’t you let Luo Yu collect your appearance fee for you?”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Mick frowned and asked, “This isn’t allowed, that isn’t allowed. I want to ask, what exactly are the program team’s special effects?”

Deer smiled, “The only special effect you’ll see is when you fall off the horse, there will be intense applause.”

Dingdang continued, “Or when you’re trotting on the horse, countless bullet screens will pass by—urging you to move faster, otherwise the child in their belly will already be born, and you still haven’t completed the circle.”

All the guests shook their heads in unison.

“We don’t want these special effects!”

“But the audience needs them.” Deer shrugged.

Everyone had a helpless expression.

“Everyone has passed this morning’s assessment, completing the round-the-field riding test. Next, we enter the official competition segment!” Dingdang announced.

“The staff will attach a small flag to each person’s back. I’m sure you’ve all guessed what it’s for?”

The guests chorused, “To grab flags!”

“Yes, but only within this round! Attention, everyone, it’s not about which team grabs the most flags, but about which team has the most flags on their members’ backs when they reach the finish line. That means, if Xingxing’s flag is taken by the opponent, it doesn’t matter. If Luo Yu or Li Shengyu takes down other people’s flags and puts them on Xingxing, it counts the same.”

“Wow, so we’re heading into a chaotic melee on horseback?”

“And our coaches will follow around the guests. Please pay attention to safety. Any pushing or pulling is considered a violation and will result in being penalized,” Dingdang reminded.

Thus, the two sides began to discuss tactics.

He Mu initially felt confident, but when he saw Luo Yu jumping over obstacles on horseback, he started to feel nervous—his riding skills, learned for shooting an MV, were insignificant compared to Luo Yu’s.

“Who’s going to watch Luo Yu?” He Mu asked.

Mick and Liu Songtao looked at He Mu in unison.

At this moment, He Mu was rather level-headed. He could accept not being the center of attention, but he really couldn’t afford being compared to Luo Yu anymore.

“There are rumors online about me not getting along with him, and we already had a PK on the checker board. If I confront him directly again, it’ll just be more misunderstandings. This is really not ideal.”

Mick sighed, “Then I’ll go. Although I don’t think I can stop him. Brother Liu, just try to finish this round safely.”

Liu Songtao patted his belly, “I know my own limits. Don’t worry.”

Afterward, the three looked at Luo Yu and his two companions, finding them already chatting and laughing, either lacking the desire to win or not taking the competition seriously.

He Mu told himself that as long as he grabbed the flag of the weakest contestant, Jiang Muxing, regardless of whether their team won, at least he personally wouldn’t lose!

Thus, the six guests lined up side by side, and at the sound of the whistle, everyone started moving.

Jiang Muxing was cautious and careful; even when everyone left, his horse barely turned a small circle and didn’t move forward much at all.

Mick was right next to Luo Yu, already ready to keep a close watch on him. Who would have thought that Luo Yu first patted Jiang Muxing’s back, and his horse started moving forward normally.

In the blink of an eye, Luo Yu suddenly crouched on the horse’s back and left Mick’s side. Mick felt a slight tremor on his back, touched it in surprise, and immediately shouted to Liu Songtao ahead, “My flag is gone!”

“What—” Liu Songtao was about to turn around when Luo Yu galloped past him.

“Be careful—”

He Mu extended his arm. If Luo Yu wanted to grab Liu Songtao’s flag, he would have to turn towards their direction, allowing He Mu to take the opportunity to grab Luo Yu’s flag.

Liu Songtao, frightened, pulled tightly on the reins and leaned back, while He Mu’s hand reached across his chest towards Luo Yu.

The three horses were very close together, and with the coaches protecting them, the five horses ran parallel, creating a tension that almost made it hard to breathe, with only the sound of clopping hooves seeming to stomp on the heart.

He Mu didn’t manage to touch the flag on Luo Yu’s back. At this moment, Liu Songtao, overly worried, wanted to quickly leave the battle scene and charged forward.

As soon as he left, there were no obstacles between He Mu and Luo Yu.

The two horses instantly closed in. He Mu, alert, tightened his reins, trying to adjust the distance with Luo Yu. But just as he straightened his back, Luo Yu suddenly tilted sideways on the horse’s back. The coach beside him thought he was about to fall and was about to grab him—He Mu suddenly felt something slap his back and, coming to his senses, saw Luo Yu back on his horse, suddenly speeding up and galloping away.

“He Mu—your flag was taken by him!” Mick shouted at He Mu.

He Mu touched his back and found it empty!

Luo Yu actually took his flag! He did it on purpose! He definitely did it on purpose!

He Mu gritted his teeth and sped up to chase Luo Yu.

Mick shouted from behind, “Don’t chase him! Chase Li Shengyu!”

The game’s rule is to see how many flags each team loses in the end.

Even if Luo Yu took their three flags, as long as their team could take Li Shengyu’s and Jiang Muxing’s flags, Luo Yu’s team would still lose.

He Mu weighed his riding skills. He couldn’t afford to fall off his horse while trying to catch Luo Yu, or he would become a big laughing stock.

Since that’s the case, he decided to focus on a more certain task.

At this moment, Li Shengyu was coming up from behind. He Mu slowed his pace, waiting for Li Shengyu to pass by him.

Li Shengyu also pulled on the reins and came to a stop, looking at He Mu with a blank expression.

“Go on,” He Mu arrogantly lifted his chin.

“Not going.” Li Shengyu remained motionless, with an expression as if he owed billions and wasn’t planning to pay it back.

He Mu thought that Li Shengyu had been giving him a hard time on the show for a long time, and now he could finally teach him a good lesson…

But when He Mu circled around to Li Shengyu’s back, he found that there was no flag on him!

“Where’s your flag?” He Mu asked.

Li Shengyu, who had just had a blank expression, now flashed a somewhat smug smile, “Just like yours.”

“Just like mine?”

He Mu recognized each word but suddenly couldn’t understand the meaning when put together!

Li Shengyu leaned towards He Mu’s direction and said slowly, “Just like yours—also taken by Luo Yu.”

At that moment, He Mu found it hard to breathe as he finally realized the opponent’s tactical arrangement and why they were so calm earlier!

Meanwhile, Jiang Muxing was being attacked from both front and back by Mick and Liu Songtao, even attempting to maneuver around was blocked by Mick.

“No way! Xingxing, why don’t you have a flag on your back?” Liu Songtao almost pulled him onto his own horse to check more carefully, “Where did you hide the flag?”

Jiang Muxing pointed towards the finish line, “Over there!”

At the finish line, Luo Yu held up five flags, waving them high.

“When did your flag go to Luo Yu?” Liu Songtao asked in confusion.

“From the start, my horse wouldn’t move, and when Brother Luo patted my back, he took it,” Jiang Muxing said obviously.

Mick suddenly realized, covering his face with his hand, “So, you and Li Shengyu gave your flags to Luo Yu. As long as he takes all three of our flags, there will be no flags left to grab, and you’ll definitely win!”

Jiang Muxing nodded, “Yes!”

Mick asked in confusion, “Do you trust Luo Yu that much? If he couldn’t take all the flags from our team, this tactic would be useless!”

Li Shengyu slowly rode towards them, explaining loudly, “Both Xingxing and I have average riding skills. Our flags would eventually be taken by you and He Mu. So, why not go all out and win thoroughly!”

Liu Songtao, with a helpless look, said, “Am I not worthy of a name in this flag-snatching game?”

He Mu, who finally realized he had been thoroughly tricked, was really furious. He shouted towards the director, “Isn’t this a violation? Are you sure there are no violations? Can teammates’ flags be taken in advance?”

The director and assistant director were both focused on watching the replay.

“Aiya, the horseback riding posture looks so handsome and dashing!”

“Imagine, if this were a period drama, wouldn’t Luo Yu be charging through thousands of troops with a silver spear?” Xu Mu asked with a smile.

The assistant director elbowed Xu Mu and said, “Stop laughing for now. He Mu has objections; you need to explain it well.”

“What objections? Showing the audience the scene where they’re riding horses and pulling each other’s hair? What’s the point of such a predictable plot? It needs to be unexpected like Luo Yu’s performance, which is bound to spark discussions when aired.”

After speaking, Xu Mu grabbed the large speaker nearby and shouted towards He Mu, “No foul play—there were no rules against taking the teammates’ flags when the rules were announced by Deer and Dingdang!”

He Mu was momentarily choked out of any response. He immediately understood that Luo Yu’s performance was exactly the kind of effect they wanted for the show. What’s the difference between recording this show and recording it in vain? Was he just there to be a supporting actor for Luo Yu?

At this time, He Mu’s agent approached Xu Mu. “Director Xu, thanks for your hard work today. But since there’s still time, how about letting them have another round? The production team could use more material for editing.”

Xu Mu nodded in the direction of Gu Xiaowei and Han Yang. “Director Han is watching. I can tell the crew not to disclose the filming situation to prevent netizens from thinking He Mu can’t accept losing. But how Director Han feels about it, I can’t control. Losing the game isn’t the issue; losing grace is.”

The agent looked over and saw Han Yang with his hands in his pockets, watching the guests with apparent interest. He must have seen the whole match from start to finish.

Since Luo Yu had already taken the prize, it was indeed not necessary for He Mu to leave an impression of being a sore loser in Han Yang’s mind.

“Well, since Director Xu promised to ensure He Mu’s footage, I won’t trouble you further,” the agent said.

“Deal,” Xu Mu made an OK gesture.

Finally, it was time to announce the results.

The six guests lined up again. Liu Songtao had a relaxed smile on his face and announced, “We can finally wrap up! After riding horses all day, I really feel like I’ve exhausted my lifetime’s worth of exercise!”

Mick laughed and said, “Brother Liu, you still have a long life ahead of you.”

He Mu tried to force a smile but couldn’t manage it. The game was too frustrating; he hadn’t even ridden the horse properly before it ended.

On the other hand, Luo Yu was all smiles.

“Let’s go have hot pot after we’re done! My assistant found out that there’s a restaurant nearby that serves mountain mushroom hot pot that’s exceptionally delicious!” Jiang Muxing’s eyes lit up at the mention of food.

“I’m definitely up for it,” Li Shengyu looked at Luo Yu, “How about you? Do you have other plans with Teacher Gu?”

“I’ll ask him. He should be willing to join us,” Luo Yu said.

“Ah, if I really get to share a meal with Teacher Gu, I’m both excited and nervous!” Jiang Muxing patted his chest.

He Mu fought the urge to roll his eyes. To him, Jiang Muxing and Li Shengyu pulling Luo Yu to dinner was just to get close to Gu Xiaowei.

He wanted to see how long Gu Xiaowei could shield Luo Yu!

At this moment, Deer and Dingdang announced that the winners of today’s game were Luo Yu, Li Shengyu, and Jiang Muxing.

Their team immediately huddled together, cheering with joy.

The recording of this episode finally concluded. Luo Yu looked towards Gu Xiaowei and Sister Cui, waving vigorously.

Sister Cui also smiled and waved back. The variety show episode Jiang Yinchuan arranged for him was not only positive but also highlighted Luo Yu’s strengths. If this episode airs, it would definitely boost Luo Yu’s popularity.

At this moment, Sister Cui’s phone vibrated in her pocket, but she didn’t feel it and continued to smile at Luo Yu.

“Sister Cui, your phone is vibrating,” Gu Xiaowei said.

“Ah, oh! Thank you!” Sister Cui quickly took out her phone. The screen displayed a contact from the “Beast and Rose” production team.

Sister Cui felt inexplicably nervous, like waiting for college entrance exam results.

“Hello, this is Luo Yu’s agent Cui Zhuxin. May I ask if the audition results are out?” Sister Cui said while covering the phone, stepping out of the crowd to a quieter place.

“Yes, I’m calling to inform you that the production team has decided to cast Luo Yu for the role of Wen Yuchi. Please come with Luo Yu to discuss the details of the contract this Monday. There is also a script reading meeting with the creative team at 2 PM on Wednesday. Other details will be sent to your email, and please let us know if you have any questions.”

Sister Cui covered her mouth, her eyes instantly reddening.

It’s a movie, a film directed by a renowned director. How many actors dream of making it to the big screen? Luo Yu secured this role through a genuine audition.

Sister Cui could now genuinely feel that his future was bright and limitless.

She walked back to Gu Xiaowei, unable to contain her joy. Gu Xiaowei seemed to sense she had something to say, and leaned towards her, speaking softly, “The audition results are out, right?”

Sister Cui nodded vigorously, “Yes, they are. He got the role.”

Gu Xiaowei’s eyes were calm and understanding. He turned to Han Yang and said, “Mr. Han, it’s confirmed that he will join the cast.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Han Yang lowered his eyes and smiled, “Are you trying to gauge my reaction?”

“Oh? I don’t know what kind of reaction Mr. Han expects me to gauge,” Gu Xiaowei countered.

“Things that are handed over are often taken for granted; things fought for are more valued,” Han Yang said.

At that moment, Luo Yu rode over to them and reached Gu Xiaowei.

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Sister Cui was also astonished, “Luo Yu can actually ride a horse? When did he learn? I don’t remember him ever learning.”

Gu Xiaowei watched Luo Yu’s figure and said calmly, “Probably in his dreams.”

Sister Cui couldn’t help but laugh, “I apologize on behalf of Luo Yu. He used to claim he never even snored in his sleep. I didn’t expect him to be riding horses in his dreams.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

At this moment, Xu Mu was also excited, unable to resist replaying the footage of Luo Yu galloping around the arena, marveling, “This is so handsome.”

“Haha, if this segment airs, there will probably be a lot of viewers sending comments wanting to have his babies!” the assistant director said.

Xu Mu glanced at the assistant director, “That’s not an accurate prediction enough. The comments will definitely be about wanting to strip off his vest!”

“Strip off whose vest?”

A teasing voice came.

Xu Mu turned around to see a middle-aged man with glasses and a refined smile.

“Oh, isn’t this Mr. Han? What brings you here?” Xu Mu pulled over a folding chair for him to sit.

Han Yang sat down unceremoniously and smiled, “I’m an investor in this club. Since you’re recording here, shouldn’t you let me take a look? Yesterday, Producer Liang from your station posted a photo of a handsome guy on his WeChat Moments. Less than a minute after I liked it, it was gone. There’s something fishy; why aren’t we allowed to see the handsome guy?”

Xu Mu chuckled twice and immediately blocked the monitor with his body, “The entertainment industry is full of handsome guys, Mr. Han.”

Of course, Producer Liang was probably worried that Han Yang would steal his actor, so Xu Mu was definitely siding with Producer Liang on this.

Han Yang pointed to the monitor and said, “Director Xu, don’t be stingy. Show me that scene of the horse riding again.”

Xu Mu half-joked, “Not showing it.”

“Why not?”

“Wait until my show airs, and then you can see it. It’ll help increase my ratings.”

Xu Mu’s words successfully amused Han Yang.

Han Yang was a famous producer in the entertainment industry and worked closely with K Station, one of the four major video websites.

“This show is impressive; even Gu Xiaowei is here?” Han Yang said, looking at Gu Xiaowei standing with the staff.

“Teacher Gu is just here to see how outdoor variety shows are filmed. And he’s here with a friend.”

“With a friend? Cheng Fei? Then your production team must have spent a lot of money!”

It was well known in the industry that Cheng Fei was Gu Xiaowei’s close friend. Han Yang could only think of Cheng Fei when considering who Gu Xiaowei would accompany to a variety show.

“Not Cheng Fei,” Xu Mu said with a mysterious smile, “But I also have to thank this guest for helping me gather both Gu Xiaowei and Cheng Fei.”

“Ah?” Han Yang, seeing Xu Mu’s smug expression, knew he had found a treasure and followed the gaze of the production team’s other staff.

Just then, He Mu was helping Liu Songtao ride the horse, continually instructing him on how to balance his weight. Liu Songtao still wobbled and nearly fell off.

Fortunately, the coach nearby quickly supported Liu Songtao and pushed him back onto the horse.

Liu Songtao patted his chest and said, “Thank goodness, thank goodness!”

Han Yang saw He Mu trying to help Liu Songtao but withdrawing his hand in the end, understanding that He Mu was probably worried that with Liu Songtao’s weight, helping him might cause him to fall off instead. It was understandable; one shouldn’t risk their own safety to help someone else.

It was just a bit lacking in impact.

“At my age, I can’t appreciate this type…”

Before Han Yang could finish his sentence, a startled Jiang Muxing, spooked by the horse running by, almost fell off. Coach Shi hurriedly stretched out his arm to grab him, but Jiang Muxing was falling to the other side.

Luo Yu, standing nearby, caught Jiang Muxing’s waist with one hand and helped him up, then gently tapped his helmet and said with a smile, “Don’t be afraid. Both Coach Shi and I are here.”

Li Shengyu, who was ahead, stopped and looked back, “Xingxing—are you okay?”

“He’s fine! You ride slower too!” Luo Yu called out.

Han Yang squinted and pointed towards Luo Yu, “Who is that? He looks a bit familiar…”

With such outstanding features and physique, Han Yang felt he wouldn’t forget him.

“It’s Luo Yu. He’s the actor who frequently made it to trending searches recently due to Director Lin and Director Xu’s TV dramas.” Xu Mu sighed, in the end Han Yang still managed to spot Luo Yu.

“Luo Yu? He rides very well,” Han Yang said, looking at Xu Mu. “The person you were watching earlier, riding and leaping over obstacles, was him, right?”

“Yes,” Xu Mu leaned in and said quietly, “He’s quite impressive, isn’t he?”

Han Yang turned back to Xu Mu, noticing Xu Mu raising his eyebrows. “Old Xu, some actions don’t suit you. You look rather greasy.”

“Our friendship is over,” Xu Mu said, putting away all expressions and seriously focusing on the monitor.

Han Yang shrugged. “We never had a friendship to begin with; it was all about my money.”

“Get, get, get, don’t spy on us recording our show.”

“I’m not spying on your show; I’m just watching Gu Xiaowei over there.”

Han Yang then stood up and walked toward Gu Xiaowei, raising his hand from a distance to wave.

He had expected Gu Xiaowei to greet him, but the other clearly didn’t notice him, his gaze too directly focused on the center of the horse track instead.

“Oh—”

A burst of astonished exclamations followed. Han Yang turned instinctively and saw a figure riding a horse, pulling on the reins and leaping over an obstacle.

In that brief moment, Han Yang felt as if he saw a moonlit night, with a white horse flying over a frost-covered river.

After landing, the rider pulled on the reins, and the horse lifted its front hooves.

Luo Yu lowered his head, stroked the horse’s neck, and Dongdong, the horse, calmed down and trotted slowly.

Dongdong looked back at the obstacle, clearly wanting to try again as if he hadn’t had enough fun.

Luo Yu knew that while Dongdong was often used for beginners due to his gentle nature, he still had a deep desire to run freely.

“Later, we’ll run together,” Luo Yu said to Dongdong.

Dongdong seemed to understand, obediently moving toward the area where the guests were lined up.

Han Yang slowly turned back and continued walking towards Gu Xiaowei, noticing that Gu Xiaowei was also putting away his phone.

“You looked like a fan greeting you at the airport just now.”

Gu Xiaowei finally looked over and politely nodded to Han Yang. “Mr. Han, long time no see. Are you here to ride horses or to support Director Xu?”

“Curious why his show hasn’t been canceled yet, so I came to see if he has any tricks to revive it,” Han Yang said half-jokingly.

Standing nearby, Sister Cui grew nervous hearing Han Yang’s words. As a famous producer, she had to find a way to speak up! Don’t be timid, Cui Zhuxin! Zhuque Media has long collapsed! You are now an agent for Yinchuan Culture! Keep your head up and chest out, and fight for your artist!

Sister Cui took a deep breath and was about to get her business card when Han Yang had already stroked up a conversation with Gu Xiaowei.

“Was Xiao Gu also taking pictures of Luo Yu riding and jumping over obstacles just now?”

“En,” Gu Xiaowei nodded.

“I think among these people, his riding skills are the best. He probably doesn’t need a stunt double for archery or combat scenes.”

As soon as Han Yang finished speaking, Sister Cui’s heart tightened. She quickly realized something and answered, “Luo Yu has trained in martial arts, so action scenes are definitely no problem!”

Regardless of how abrupt her words sounded, she couldn’t miss the opportunity to talk to the big producer, she must have thicker skin!

“Mr. Han, hello. I am Luo Yu’s agent, Cui Zhuxin,” Sister Cui finally took out her business card, even though her palms were sweaty. “It’s an honor to meet you here.”

Sister Cui initially intended to step around Gu Xiaowei, but unexpectedly, Gu Xiaowei stepped back and moved to the other side, giving Sister Cui the chance to communicate with Han Yang.

Han Yang took Sister Cui’s business card and glanced at it. “So Luo Yu is now signed with Yinchuan Culture.”

“Yes,” Sister Cui nodded.

“Jiang Yinchuan’s taste has always been good; the artists he signed have mostly made it big.”

This was Han Yang’s indirect way of implying that Luo Yu would eventually succeed as well.

“Has he done any action scenes before?” Han Yang asked again.

It was clear that he was looking for actors for a project.

Sister Cui’s face remained calm, but her heart skipped a beat. Luo Yu hadn’t had a chance to do a proper action scene before due to Zhuque Media’s constraints. Now that Han Yang was asking, she didn’t know where to find one. But she immediately thought of “Counterattack”.

“Yes, in the upcoming ‘Counterattack’, he has action scenes. Although the show hasn’t aired yet, I can find some behind-the-scenes footage for you to reference.”

“Oh, I see…”

Clearly, Han Yang’s interest was waning.

“I have plenty,” Gu Xiaowei suddenly spoke up.

“From your side?”

“En, clips of the action scenes in ‘Counterattack’.”

Gu Xiaowei handed over his phone. Han Yang took it and saw that it was an unedited, raw video shot by the crew.

The video showed Bai Ying with half-long hair, his eyes shifting from a smiling expression to a fierce glare, as he struck the target with a knee kick. The power and precision were evident as he swiftly took down the opponent and lifted him with one hand, showcasing practiced skill.

“Any more?” Han Yang asked, then realized it was pointless to ask.

It was Gu Xiaowei’s phone; having one video was because they worked on the same project. He couldn’t have multiple videos stored, could he?

However, Gu Xiaowei took back the phone and swiped through to find clips of Luo Yu learning action scenes from “Counterattack”’s stunt coordinator, Chen Feng.

Chen Feng had slowed down his demonstration to teach Luo Yu, but Luo Yu quickly picked it up, showing decisive strength with each move. Especially when he went from sweeping a leg at Chen Feng’s arms to a heel attack from above, the striking power and character portrayal were instantly established within that move.

Han Yang couldn’t stop watching.

“Does he have any roles or show appearances coming up?” he asked.

Sister Cui was excited, clearly Han Yang was looking for actors for a project.

But before she could finish, Gu Xiaowei said, “He’s very busy.”

Sister Cui was stunned. Even if she wanted to showcase Luo Yu’s exceptional demand, there was no need to do so in front of a major producer!

“Really? Variety show?” Han Yang tilted his chin towards Xu Mu’s direction.

“Movie,” Gu Xiaowei replied. “With me.”

“With you? Aren’t you filming ‘Beast and Rose’?” Han Yang asked, somewhat surprised.

Sister Cui mentally extended a long hand—No, Teacher Gu, that news isn’t confirmed yet!

“Yes, he’s going to play a forensic assistant,” Gu Xiaowei’s tone remained casual as if it were a given.

“How long will the filming take?” Han Yang asked.

“Two to three months,” Gu Xiaowei answered.

Han Yang sighed and patted Gu Xiaowei’s chest. “Alright, I feel like you’re showing off.”

“Showing off what?”

“That such an outstanding person is working with you—so, Han Yang, get in line.”

“Well, the official announcement hasn’t been made, and competition is still fierce,” Sister Cui didn’t want to be too definitive.

She worried that Gu Xiaowei’s blind trust in Luo Yu might result in missing out on Han Yang’s project if the role of Wen Yuchi wasn’t secured, which would be a huge loss!

“Director Sheng and Screenwriter Xia imagine Luo Yu as Wen Yuchi every day while discussing the script. How could they possibly replace him?” Gu Xiaowei replied.

Han Yang’s interest in Luo Yu grew even stronger.

“Oh, after the movie, he might have another role,” Gu Xiaowei said.

“From M Channel?” Han Yang thought about the series Producer Liang is preparing. “Is it the Olympic Champion series?”

“Yes.”

Han Yang thought, Teacher Gu, can you give a complete answer all at once? You’re like squeezing toothpaste.

But it had been many years since someone like Luo Yu had appeared so stunningly in his view.

Time passed unnoticed in the morning, and the guests’ training came to an end. It was time to test their skills.

Deer said, “Guests! Guests! Your riding posture must be handsome! Your riding stance must be steady! Dismounting shouldn’t be sloppy! If someone can perform a flying leap—don’t doubt it, it’s likely due to special effects!”

The latter part of the statement made the guests laugh.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Dingdang continued, “So don’t worry, if your riding skills aren’t up to par, special effects will help! Show off your equestrian style!”

Liu Songtao was the first to raise his hand. “I’d like to ask, can the special effects… help me flatten my belly?”

“Sorry, that’s not possible,” Deer answered bluntly.

Jiang Muxing raised his hand and asked, “Can I ride a hobby horse and have it adjusted to look like a real stallion?”

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