IETSTSMLARA | The Rising Movie Emperor | 31
So who do you like?
Zhou Xintang wanted to ask this question but couldn't bring himself to do it. However, knowing that Lin Su didn't have feelings for Cheng Luozhu, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Cheng Luozhu had good acting skills and was very adaptable. Since they were in the same studio, Zhou Xintang still wanted to maintain a good relationship with him. Emotions could be irrational at times. If he and Cheng Luozhu were really rivals in love, he couldn't guarantee that he would be able to keep a clear mind.
With filming about to begin, Zhou Xintang had to put the question aside for now. It wasn't until after filming ended that he asked seriously, "What techniques did you teach Mr. Shi to pursue someone?"
Lin Su chuckled, "If you like someone, you should tell them. Strike while the iron is hot."
System 06 watched his host spouting nonsense with his eyes open.
However, Zhou Xintang believed it. He was genuinely afraid that if he hesitated, someone else would snatch Lin Su away.
Although he looked it up online and found many people saying that this was how it was in the beginning of a relationship, they would later regret their impatience after breaking up.
But he felt that Lin Su wouldn't be someone he'd regret being with.
This person was different from others. Even if it didn't end well in the end, it was better than losing everything without trying.
"So, do you have someone you like?" Zhou Xintang asked, feeling a bit nervous. "You seem to know a lot about this."
"Yeah, I do have someone I like," Lin Su said, looking ahead with a smile.
Zhou Xintang felt his heart sink as he looked at Lin Su's smile. There was so much joy and fondness in that smile, making him realize that the person who could evoke such an expression on his face must be someone he cherished deeply.
Even without Cheng Luozhu, there would still be someone else.
"Oh, who do you like then?" Zhou Xintang joked. "Since you're already in love, why not introduce us to your significant other?"
There was a moment of silence in the carriage. Zhou Xintang wanted to say something but didn't know how to start.
"Actually..."
"It seems like Brother Zhou is very interested in my love life," Lin Su suddenly interjected.
Zhou Xintang's fingers tightened slightly, and he chuckled, "As people age, they tend to become a bit nosy. If you don't want to talk about it..."
"I like you," Lin Su said calmly.
His tone was as calm as ever, as if he had just mentioned what they were going to eat for dinner.
"Oh..." Zhou Xintang instinctively responded, but he didn't know how to continue the conversation. What was that just now? Did he mishear it? Lin Su liked him? Was he joking?
Although he harbored various doubts, his heart felt as if he had won the lottery in the midst of his greatest poverty. Emotions surged like fireworks, leaving his mind blank and unable to utter a single word.
It wasn't until Lin Su called out to him when the car stopped that he snapped out of his thoughts. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"We've arrived at the hotel," Lin Su replied, already waiting outside the car window for him, indicating that he had been waiting for quite some time.
"Oh." Zhou Xintang felt embarrassed, unfastened his seatbelt, got out of the car, and followed Lin Su, reflecting on himself.
When Lin Su confessed to him just now, he had simply responded with an "oh." What kind of response was that? Would Lin Su think he had rejected him?
Feeling a bit foolish, he wondered if he had a chance to start over again.
However, even after entering the room, Zhou Xintang didn't find an opportunity to speak.
Instead, he felt tense when Lin Su naturally stepped into the room ahead of him.
As the door closed behind them, Zhou Xintang found himself in darkness. He was about to turn on the light when someone embraced him from behind.
Warm breath brushed against his ear, and Lin Su's deep voice sounded in his ear, "Xintang, do you also like me?"
"Yeah," Zhou Xintang heard his own answer, his heart pounding so loudly that it drowned out everything else. "I like you."
His heart was about to burst from liking someone so much.
In the darkness, a pair of fingers pinched his chin, and as he obediently turned his head, he realized what was about to happen. With anticipation in his heart, he closed his eyes and felt the soft sensation.
Lin Su didn't often smoke, but occasionally, when he felt bored, he would light up a cigarette. He had seen such scenes before, but he felt that he would never be able to adopt such a lazy and leisurely posture in his lifetime.
The faint smell of tobacco wasn't unpleasant; instead, it seemed like a unique scent belonging only to this person, which made him addicted.
"Hold me..." Zhou Xintang murmured softly after a brief separation.
Adult love is straightforward and decisive. Although Zhou Xintang felt he was too impulsive and emotional, he didn't regret it at all.
Darkness magnifies the desires in one's heart, making everything mysterious and intense.
Yes, intense.
"Director Lu, Xintang caught a cold from being out in the wind last night and needs to rest for two days. Yes, I'm sorry for delaying the progress of the crew..."
When Zhou Xintang woke up, he faintly heard the deliberately softened voice. The sky outside was still dark, and the blanket covering him was dry and comfortable. There was a fatigue that made him want to stay wrapped up in it forever.
It wasn't as painful as some people described; instead, the process was quite enjoyable, although the marks on his arms were a bit heavy. But for a man, such marks didn't need to be avoided like they did for women. To cater to his professional needs, Lin Su had left marks in places that were not easily visible.
"Awake?" There was a slight weight behind him, and the man's warm body heat enveloped him. It was a bit hot, but Zhou Xintang didn't want to push him away.
"Did you ask Director Lu for leave? What did he say?" Zhou Xintang asked, holding the hand that was resting on his waist.
"Director Lu was angry, but his lead actor had a fever of 38 degrees Celsius. We can't let actors perform while sick," Lin Su nuzzled against his neck. "He couldn't scold you, so he just scolded me instead. Xintang, I feel so wronged..."
Zhou Xintang felt both heartache for him and his coquettishness made him feel ticklish. He turned around and faced him, locking eyes. "Is it true?"
"No, it's not," Lin Su nuzzled against his nose. "Director Lu remembered the favor I did for the crew before and specially approved two days off for you to rest."
Loving the actor with all his heart and soul was delicious. Seeing him nestled in the blanket with slightly narrowed eyes, he looked like a beautiful spring dream, tempting others to tease him.
Love nourished people. How can a person's face full of sorrow and sadness be the same as his face full of happiness and starry eyes?
"You're not that old, but you're quite skilled at deceiving people," Zhou Xintang lowered his voice, his reproachful words sounding like sweet nothings. "Come on, what else have you lied to me about?"
Lin Su pondered for a moment and then said, just as Zhou Xintang raised an eyebrow, "Nothing else. I'm the most honest child."
"You still call yourself a child? How old are you?" Zhou Xintang chuckled, not realizing the broad smile on his face.
"In terms of age, I'm three years younger than you," Lin Su held his pushing hand. "Technically, I should be calling you... big brother."
His voice was low and magnetic, making Zhou Xintang blush. He wanted to look at him but felt embarrassed, so he pulled the blanket over himself.
How could Lin Su say that!!!
Indeed, he was robbing the cradle, but the taste of this "cradle" was just right.
Lin Su personally took care of the arrangements at the hotel. The original bed sheets and covers were all replaced with new ones, under the excuse that Zhou Xintang had sweated due to his cold, leaving no traces behind.
The official announcement stated that Zhou Xintang was under a lot of pressure, and apart from that, there was no evidence of anything else.
Sipping on warm honey water, Zhou Xintang watched Lin Su massage away his fatigue and said, "Now isn't the best time to announce it. How about we go public when I receive the Best Actor award?"
Lin Su was younger than him, and although he seemed capable, Zhou Xintang felt that he, as the older one...should take on more responsibilities.
Being gay was already a difficult path to tread, and their professions forced them to conceal their relationship even more deeply. Lin Su wasn't really part of the entertainment circle, and Zhou Xintang couldn't help but feel that this situation was unfair to him.
"Alright," Lin Su remained calm on the surface and even leaned in to give him a kiss.
Zhou Xintang cupped his face and asked, "Don't you feel upset or aggrieved about this?"
"I think you're right. It's not the right time to go public yet," Lin Su smiled. "I still lack the ability to guarantee that you won't be hurt by others after we come out, so it's better to be cautious."
When both sides share the same mindset, it's probably the happiest state for lovers. Zhou Xintang felt like he hadn't just sipped honey water, but instead had taken a bite of pure honey.
"Mmm, so sweet," Lin Su licked his lips.
"If you like sweet things, you can have it," Zhou Xintang pushed the cup towards him.
But Lin Su leaned in for another kiss and said, "I wasn't talking about honey."
Zhou Xintang, the movie star, felt like he was about to explode.
He felt like Lin Su's teasing had gone too far, and if they went out like this, he might be regarded as a fool who could only laugh.
"Who taught you all this?" Zhou Xintang turned away and chuckled.
"I'm new to love," Lin Su said affectionately. "But whenever I see you, I just feel like saying these things. I guess I'm a natural."
Well, now he was definitely going to explode.
Zhou Xintang thought to himself that he only wanted a sweet and simple romance, but his younger boyfriend had turned their relationship into a honey pot.
He couldn't climb out of this situation anymore; it was impossible in this lifetime.
The news PR was handled well, and when Zhou Xintang returned to the set, everyone only cared about his health. Only Cheng Luozhu privately reminded him with a face full of pity, "Brother Zhou, you should tone it down a bit."
Zhou Xintang looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"Although I know you and Brother Lin are lovebirds, others don't know yet. Tone down your expression a bit, don't let it show," Cheng Luozhu didn’t want to guessed where Zhou Xintang had disappeared for two days.
Clearly, there was a hint of sourness in the air just a couple of days ago, but now he was back with a radiant complexion. It was obvious what had happened.
Luckily, he had pretended to be sick, so if anyone asked, they'd probably just think he still had a fever but was dedicated to his work.
"Is it that obvious?" Zhou Xintang carefully examined himself in the mirror. Indeed, his complexion had improved significantly, and his cheeks were rosy. Had his eyes always looked this bright?
His features were already delicate, but now he looked like he had absorbed some sort of energy.
"What should I do?" Zhou Xintang turned to Cheng Luozhu. "How did you know about Lin Su and me? We..."
"Haven't you two liked each other for a long time?" Cheng Luozhu blinked innocently.
Zhou Xintang slapped his forehead. "Could you tell that Lin Su likes me?"
"Yeah," Cheng Luozhu nodded without hesitation.
“Then how did you figure out that I liked him?” Zhou Xintang felt utterly defeated; he thought he had hidden it quite well.
"Isn't it obvious at a glance?" Cheng Luozhu's eyes were full of mischief. "When Brother Lin was doing my makeup before, you were practically jealous... ahem, nothing, forget I said anything."
Zhou Xintang felt incredibly embarrassed. Yes, he had been jealous, and now everyone seemed to know about it. He wished he could disappear.
"That was just a misunderstanding," Zhou Xintang apologized, turning his face away. "I thought Lin Su had feelings for you. I'm sorry for using you as a shield."
"Oh..." Cheng Luozhu didn't really mind about that. What he was more curious about was, "Then Brother Zhou, how did you know that Brother Lin wasn't interested in me?"
"Isn't Shi Wei pursuing you? You should know about that," Zhou Xintang applied an ice pack to his face to cool down. "He even asked Lin Su for advice on how to pursue you."
"Pfft, cough, cough..." Cheng Luozhu choked on his own saliva, coughing uncontrollably. "Shi Wei likes me?!"
He was horrified. He had thought that guy was just looking for trouble with him.
"You didn't... notice?" Zhou Xintang raised an eyebrow.
Cheng Luozhu retorted, "Why would I notice?"
"Didn't you notice it in me at a glance?" Zhou Xintang smirked. "Are you that oblivious?"
Cheng Luozhu couldn't express his bitterness. "I really didn't expect this. Could he be blind?"
Although he didn't think he wasn't worthy of someone's affection, the fact that Shi Wei liked him despite his previous appearance made him wonder if Shi Wei actually liked the previous body's owner.
That would be a cruel twist of fate.
No, he needed to stay away from Mr. Shi.
The filming of "The Warlords" went smoothly. Lin Su also considered that being too affectionate with his newfound lover might raise suspicion, so he toned it down a bit to ensure that Zhou Xintang could complete the film without anyone noticing anything amiss.
While they were sweet and lovey-dovey, Shi Wei's side of things felt particularly desolate.
Cheng Luozhu, who had recently been getting along well with him, suddenly started avoiding him. Even if they happened to meet, Cheng Luozhu always found various excuses to avoid being alone with him. When they did meet, it was with polite smiles.
"Maybe he really dislikes me," Shi Wei sat on the sofa, feeling frustrated, and couldn't help but pour his heart out to Lin Su. "Can you help me figure out what he's thinking?"
He wasn't ready to give up on their relationship yet.
Lin Su didn't dislike Shi Wei. As a business partner, Shi Wei was truly reliable, but unfortunately, when it came to love, people often became irrational and abandoned their principles.
"If you give me a thirty percent stake in Huanle Pictures, I'll help you," Lin Su proposed his conditions.
If you want to win the beauty, you must pay the price.
Shi Wei paused with his glass of red wine mid-air. "You've only recently acquired Time Entertainment. Can you handle Huanle's side as well?"
"As long as you give it to me, Mr. Shi, I can handle anything," Lin Su smiled. "But remember, the offer can’t wait. If Luozhu finds someone else by then, there's nothing I can do."
"I really made the wrong friend," Shi Wei sighed. "I'll give it to you, but why are you in such a hurry? You shouldn't be short of money now, should you?"
"I am short, very short," Lin Su tapped on the table. "I want to announce my relationship with him. However, with the current financial situation, I can't afford any turbulence. After you've found someone, don't you want to go public?"
"Of course," Shi Wei dreamed of it, but he hadn't thought about it so deeply. Pursuing someone and then developing a secret relationship obviously didn't fit Shi Wei's style. He wanted a proper relationship, to mark Cheng Luozhu as his own and deter others from coveting him.
However, he hadn't expected Lin Su to be one step ahead of him.
"How about we collaborate?" Shi Wei proposed seriously. He was a reliable business partner when it came to matters not related to romance.
"I should be the one to pave the way for you," Lin Su smiled. "I'm ahead of you, so I should test the waters first. I'll take the loss."
"What do you want?" Shi Wei propped up his head.
"After securing Huanle, the next target is Kang Shang," Lin Su said casually, with a hint of a smile. "I'll give you a three percent discount."
"Deal," Shi Wei knew Lin Su's intention in dealing with Kang Shang. The company had signed Zhou Xintang for ten years, so technically, they should be cooperating.
However, Zhou Xintang treated them as if he were his benefactor, but then they turned the tables on him in the end.
Lin Su's protective attitude was quite similar to his.
"The Warlords" had been heavily promoted since its inception, and the publicity only intensified after filming ended. Shi Wei spared no expense in promoting Cheng Luozhu. The editing and post-production scenes of the film were exquisite, with a mix of laughter, tears, and finally focusing on the grand victory of the decisive battle.
It was tragic, heroic, magnificent, and unparalleled.
The production quality of "The Warlords" on this timeline surpassed that of the original timeline.
After watching it, Lin Su only left with a comment, "This drama is bound to be a hit." He no longer needed to worry about the follow-up matters.
After "The Warlords" wrapped up filming, Zhou Xintang also had various promotional activities scheduled.
However, Lin Su didn't need to accompany him everywhere anymore. Xiao Chen was particularly adept at handling these matters now.
Fans were eagerly anticipating their grand appearances, not only for Zhou Xintang but also for that nationally loved agent. The incident where Lin Su saved and hugged someone had even spawned a large number of CP fans.
Although there were also CP fans shipping Lin Su with Cheng Luozhu, Zhou Xintang secretly felt happy about the CP between him and Lin Su.
However, some fans were overly explicit in their language, talking about things like "jiaoqi wuli (coquettish and weak)," "three days and three nights," or "mei kai jishidu (the plum blossoms bloom at thirty degrees)."
That was a bit too much. Maybe just a few degrees would suffice. The next day, besides feeling a bit sour, there was nothing else.
While Zhou Xintang was busy with endorsements, Lin Su took the opportunity to pursue further studies at the overseas university he had already applied to. He couldn't appear all the time, leaving the fans who wanted some sugar completely unsatisfied.
However, none of that mattered because without the nationally loved agent, there was still Cheng Luozhu available for CP.
Although Zhou Xintang didn't know how they ended up as a CP, as long as the fans were happy, it didn't matter. After all, it wasn't real.
Lin Su remained calm, but Shi Wei was worried. He feared that Zhou Xintang might steal his wife.
"If they end up together, let's cry together," Shi Wei loosened his tie, feeling frustrated as he watched Lin Su's calm face on the video call.
Lin Su wasn't particularly busy with his university courses, as they were quite simple for him.
However, he still had to follow the process. But he wasn't idle either. With Cheng Luozhu's exceptional acting skills and protagonist halo, climbing to the top would be effortless.
As for Zhou Xintang, although he managed to snatch the lead role in "The Warlords" once, he couldn't do it every time, considering Cheng Luozhu was also under his studio.
Lin Su, busy typing away on his keyboard, glanced at the screen and responded to Shi Wei's complaints with little attention. "You can cry alone."
Shi Wei asked, "What are you busy with? I heard you started customizing scripts specifically for Zhou Xintang."
Lin Su nodded as he continued typing. "Yeah. Do you have anything else to discuss? Instead of complaining to me, why don't you take Zhou Xintang and his crew out for a meal? Use all available resources to pursue him properly."
Shi Wei felt frustrated. "Me? Take him out for a meal?” Even though I'm not jealous, this is too much.
Lin Su looked at him like he was a fool. "Although you should be cautious, Xintang is already taken, but he's close to the person you want to pursue. It wouldn't hurt to please him and ask for his help."
Finally understanding, Shi Wei raised another concern. "Aren't you worried Zhou Xintang might take interest in me?"
"He's not blind," Lin Su replied curtly before ending the call. He didn't want to waste any more time conversing with someone lacking emotional intelligence.
Shi Wei, “...”
Was Cheng Luozhu blind then? Wait, he was handsome, wealthy, and charming—how could someone like him be considered blind for showing interest in him?
It was a matter of poor judgment in friendships. Poor judgment!
Lin Su hung up the phone and immediately dialed Zhou Xintang's number. Lately, Zhou Xintang, the movie star, had a lot of roadshow announcements, but Lin Su was the one arranging his schedule. No one knew Zhou Xintang's availability better than him.
Zhou Xintang seemed to be eating when he answered, with a table full of spicy and flavorful dishes.
"Eating so much spicy food, aren't you afraid of breaking out?" Lin Su joked softly.
Zhou Xintang waved his hand frantically, his face turning red. "Wait... wait, hold it."
The camera angle shifted, revealing Cheng Luozhu awkwardly holding a shrimp tail in the video. "Hi, Brother Lin. Sorry for interrupting."
Lin Su remained completely unfazed. "No problem."
In such situations, as long as I'm not embarrassed, you're the one feeling awkward.
Zhou Xintang felt a bit embarrassed but not angry. It was like when a couple's little quirks were discovered by someone else—it was both embarrassing and sweet. "I have the next two days off from work, so I'm just going to relax with Luozhu. If you're busy, you can hang up first."
"Okay," Lin Su nodded and ended the call, sending a message afterward. ‘Let me know when Cheng Luozhu leaves or falls asleep. Don't eat too much outside. If you want something, tell me in advance.’
Without receiving a reply, Lin Su went back to his tasks, while Zhou Xintang, with a smile on his face, looked at Cheng Luozhu. "Sorry about that."
"It's okay, brother~" Cheng Luozhu deliberately stretched the word.
In reality, he didn't dislike their interactions at all. He actually found it very sweet when Lin Su called him by that endearing term with a smile, like they were sharing some CP sweetness.
Zhou Xintang pretended to threaten to hit him with his phone, but another message came on the phone because the page was not closed, the message was displayed directly on the screen.
Cheng Luozhu shrugged, and Zhou Xintang realized his mistake when he saw the message. He covered his face in embarrassment. "He just doesn't want to show affection in front of you."
This explanation sounded feeble and unconvincing.
Cheng Luozhu chuckled. "Oh, then tell Brother Lin we're going to play games all night."
"But I want to sleep," Zhou Xintang coughed lightly. He had been busy these past few days, and he hadn't had a proper conversation with his boyfriend in three days. He missed him.
Cheng Luozhu felt a surge of anger. "I want to be in a relationship too. You guys are too lovey-dovey."
"With whom are you going to be in a relationship with?" Zhou Xintang raised an eyebrow. "Can they treat you better than how Lin Su treats me?"
Cheng Luozhu was irritated. "That's not necessarily true. If I wanted, I could find someone in no time."
"Okay, three minutes limit. If you successfully confess your love to someone today, I'll call you dad," Zhou Xintang said with a smile, though there was a hint of challenge in his expression.
"You're trying to provoke me, aren't you?" Cheng Luozhu wasn't naive.
"Well, whatever works. I’ll justify all means," Zhou Xintang said calmly, crossing one leg over the other and leaning back leisurely. He added subtly, "If two people want to be together, they should be together. If they hesitate and drag it out, they might lose the chance to someone else. And if they give up halfway through and feel hopeless. If they stop chasing then it will be you who will be crying in the end…”
He swayed with his beer, murmuring to himself. On the other end, Cheng Luozhu dialed a number, which was answered promptly with a cold yet gentle voice, "Luozhu, do you need something?"
"Three minutes..." Zhou Xintang reminded him silently with narrowed eyes.
Clearing his throat, Cheng Luozhu hesitated for a moment before saying, "Can't I call you if there's nothing wrong?"
"Of course you can," Shi Wei's tone was upbeat, as if he felt satisfied just by receiving his call.
Cheng Luozhu propped his chin with one hand, hesitated, and then said, "Shi Wei, I want to tell you something."
"Yeah, I'm listening," Shi Wei replied.
Zhou Xintang raised an eyebrow but remained silent.
"I..." Cheng Luozhu gritted his teeth and finally blurted out, "I like you too."
There was silence on the other end for three seconds. Just as Cheng Luozhu started to doubt whether he should hang up, there was a crash followed by a flurry of activity, and then the phone clicked off.
Cheng Luozhu's face darkened, while Zhou Xintang laughed without any brotherly compassion. "Haha, Shi Wei must be freaking out. Though it's not an answer, we still have to time it."
Cheng Luozhu was too preoccupied to care about the timing and immediately dialed the number again.
"What happened on your end..."
"My phone just knocked over a glass, but I'm fine. Luozhu, was what you said earlier true? It wasn't just a game or a dare, right?" Shi Wei's voice sounded anxious.
"It wasn't," Cheng Luozhu replied. Though it was part of the game, he meant it sincerely. "If you don't believe me, I can tell you in person."
“Where are you? I'm coming over now,” footsteps could be heard on Shi Wei's end.
"Hold on, don't come. What if you get into an accident while driving because you're too excited?" Cheng Luozhu stopped him firmly.
Shi Wei hesitated for a moment. "I have a driver."
"It's too late to trouble the driver. As a boss, you should know how to be considerate to your employees. I’ll see you tomorrow," Cheng Luozhu hung up abruptly as if the phone was burning hot.
Beside him, Zhou Xintang laughed so hard he could barely catch his breath, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Are you afraid to bother the driver, or are you worried about ruining your image?"
After eating spicy food, his face flushed and he didn’t have any makeup, so it didn’t seem quite suitable for Cheng Luozhu to meet someone.
Cheng Luozhu turned his head and sneered, "It seems we didn't exceed three minutes just now."
Zhou Xintang’s smile instantly dropped. "Yeah, we talked about calling, calling... what was it again?"
"Dad," Cheng Luozhu slapped the table, waiting for that anticipated response.
"Alright," Zhou Xintang smoothly responded. Before Cheng Luozhu could react, he had already rolled off the bed and darted into the room, locking the door tightly behind him.
"Zhou Xintang, you cheater!!! Come out!" Cheng Luozhu decided that his appearance tonight was no longer important.
These two friends were truly made for each other, experts at pulling pranks on people.
Just as various trending topics were buzzing everywhere, "The Warlords" finally premiered. Despite the crowded summer box office with many blockbuster films, it managed to carve out its own path.
With an opening box office of 70 million, it hit the billion mark within three hours, skyrocketing all the way. Theaters everywhere added extra screenings, with attendance rates surpassing everyone's expectations.
"I thought it was just another over-hyped film, but the scale was so grand! Totally worth the ticket price. Ready for a second viewing!"
“Everyone was prepared to watch a romance movie with their boyfriends, but then he wanted to watch this. I even said, 'What's good about historical movies?' Now... it's really amazing."
"Ahhh, Brother Zhou is so handsome! I can't handle it."
"Is that newcomer the one who played the supporting role in 'Love Me'? That literary scholar has such a vibe, his acting skills are amazing, absolutely stunning, pre-ordering!"
"Does anyone else think the love between the emperor and Meng Jiao is tragically beautiful? There is no love one can't have, you know?"
"There's no tragically beautiful love, only sugar mixed with broken glass. Are you sure you want a taste?"
"..."
Various reviews kept pouring in, with the rating reaching 9.8 after the premiere.
The power of word-of-mouth was immense. Without the support of Shi Wei and Lin Su, "The Warlords" had already become a hit.
The success not only brought in box office revenue but also boosted popularity. Supporting and minor roles in "The Warlords" all gained popularity, with Zhou Xintang and Cheng Luozhu being the most prominent.
Numerous offers for endorsements and appearances kept pouring in. Seizing the opportunity, Lin Su secured high-quality endorsements for both of them while rejecting others that might have issues or low quality.
As for the new movie, Shi Wei invested in a military film and directly arranged for Cheng Luozhu to audition for the male lead. With his versatility and ability to endure hardship, Cheng Luozhu transformed into a tough military figure, completely shedding his previous scholarly charm.
This was just one step in Cheng Luozhu's climb to success, and Lin Su naturally didn't stop him.
Having completed his six-month course abroad, Lin Su returned just in time to see Cheng Luozhu off. But he wasn't sending him off to film a movie; he was sending him off to... military training.
While Cheng Luozhu's physique and appearance were suitable for his role in the film, he lacked the strength needed to portray a tough soldier convincingly.
So even with Shi Wei's support, Cheng Luozhu still had to participate in a three-month military training. Although Cheng Luozhu was quite enthusiastic about this military training, the only one who was not happy about it was Shi Wei.
"By the time I come back, I'll probably be able to lift weights effortlessly," Cheng Luozhu laughed in the airport lounge, "with eight-pack abs and a bronze tan..."
The more Cheng Luozhu fantasized, the more depressed Shi Wei felt. One was out of concern, the other... was afraid of being overpowered in bed.
After all, there was a big difference between fancy moves and what the military actually taught.
Lin Su remembered that in the original timeline, Cheng Luozhu also played some more aesthetically pleasing roles later on. Some people just don't tan naturally, so Shi Wei's worry was completely unnecessary.
But as a friend without a conscience, how could he casually remind Shi Wei of this? So, Shi didn't have a choice but to continue worrying about his wife.
On the way back, Zhou Xintang felt a bit envious. "Cheng Luozhu is already preparing for a new drama. Is there anyone sending me a script?"
Shi Wei remained silent. Shi Corporation had indeed sent Zhou Xintang an invitation for a role in a film, but it was a supporting role.
However, Lin Su promptly rejected it. This script was prepared for Cheng Luozhu and there was no way the lead role could be given up. So, Shi Wei could only keep quiet.
"Don't you want to take a break?" Lin Su asked.
"I need to work to support my family," Zhou Xintang naturally rested his head on Lin Su's shoulder, playfully fiddling with his fingers as if teasing a tiger's whiskers. "How else can I support my adorable little boyfriend?"
Lin Su squeezed his fingers. "Big brother is responsible for earning money to support the family, while I'm responsible for being as beautiful as a flower, right?"
"Correct," Zhou Xintang snapped his fingers.
Meanwhile, Shi Wei, who had just separated from his wife, "..."
He felt like jumping out of the car. All they ever did was show off their affection day by day.
As for brothers who are willing to sacrifice their dignity just to please their wives... just kidding, who needs dignity when it comes to pleasing your wife?
When Shi Wei left and it was just the two of them, Lin Su handed the script to Zhou Xintang.
Zhou Xintang accepted it with some confusion, but once he picked up the script, he couldn't put it down.
The development of technology continued to an unbelievable era, where robots evolved intelligence and could self-replicate in large numbers, even venturing into outer space to obtain countless resources.
In such an era filled with cold machinery, the only value humans had was their intelligence, because there was a limit to the development of machines themselves, while human intelligence could offer infinite possibilities for the future.
Development was the concept instilled in the entire world from the beginning, and from the moment a person was born, they were fed with a large amount of knowledge by machines to facilitate their growth.
It was a dark age for humanity, but also an age of self-resistance. Similar to the plot of such sci-fi blockbusters, the storyline wouldn't be too complex.
Overall, it was a story of the protagonist, as an ordinary human, fighting for the survival space of humanity.
The laughter, tears, emotions, and struggles in the darkness were the most outstanding aspects of this script.
"This is a commercial film," Zhou Xintang said after reading the script.
With its elements of technology, action, and spectacle, if brought to life, it would be a very good commercial blockbuster.
"Yes," Lin Su smiled. "What do you think?"
"I can handle those action scenes, but can we really achieve the desired effects depicted in the script?" Zhou Xintang was somewhat concerned.
Many of these imagined scenes would require post-production special effects, each frame of which would entail huge costs.
System 06 analyzed: 【Host, this script seems to be a historical segment from the original world.】
【That's enough for this world,】 Lin Su shrugged.
As human society advances to an extremely high level of technology, it faces the question of whether machines should have intelligence.
The historical conclusion is that development is inevitable, and humans should not suppress it but rather further develop. When human strength alone is insufficient to contend with machines, they can become partners.
It's a matter of the survival of the fittest.
"Do you want to take it?" Lin Su asked.
Zhou Xintang did want to take it. Although the script was a commercial film, it wasn't a poorly made one without substance. It was a challenge for him. "I want to take it."
"Then you'll be in charge of filming, and leave the rest to me," Lin Su patted his head and got up.
With these words, Zhou Xintang's heart instantly settled. Despite being younger than him, Lin Su was more reliable than anyone else.
"I almost suspect you're not the same person as my previous assistant," Zhou Xintang instinctively said, "Could it be that you were involved in some kind of plot involving a car accident and time traveled?"
System 06 exclaimed: 【Zhou Xintang is very clever.】
"Are you interested in acting in a time-travel drama?" Lin Su turned around and asked.
Zhou Xintang huffed, "Not really."
"In reality, there aren't that many time-travel incidents. Why not allow someone to accumulate experience and skills, brother?" Lin Su tapped his forehead and chuckled.
His attitude was as steady as ever, even making Zhou Xintang suspect that he might have been watching too many idol dramas lately.
Daydreaming is a sickness that needs to be cured. Just because his boyfriend is talented doesn't mean he's a time traveler. That would be the greatest insult to someone's hard work.
"As people get older, they tend to dream," Zhou Xintang put aside his earlier scattered thoughts and casually asked, "Who wrote this script? It doesn't seem like any screenwriter I know."
"I wrote it," Lin Su replied naturally.
Zhou Xintang: "...Is there anything you can't do?"
Lin Su pondered for a moment. "There are quite a few things I don’t know."
He needs to think about it? Normally, when someone talks about what they can't do, they list them one by one. Zhou Xintang's suppressed suspicion resurfaced: "Such as?"
"Well, being a time traveler," Lin Su answered seriously.
Zhou Xintang: "..."
Would a time traveler admit to being a time traveler? What a big liar!
It was evident that Zhou Xintang, the actor, had no intention of asking further questions.
System 06's mechanical heart felt complicated: 【Human rhetoric is truly remarkable.】
He believed the lie but doubted the truth.
"There's still a lot for you to learn," Lin Su replied.
The name of the sci-fi film Lin Su wrote was quite simple, called "Future."
It had more action scenes than the military film Cheng Luozhu was about to shoot, placing significant demands on the body. The action not only needed to be sharp and decisive but also performed gracefully.
Compared to the muscular physique, Lin Su preferred Zhou Xintang's sleek muscle lines. Because the protagonist was an ordinary person, ordinary people wouldn't have such strong muscles, but they could have a very attractive face.
Zhou Xintang was prepared to accept training. He was ready to accept whatever strictness the martial arts instructor might bring. Then he saw Lin Su on the training ground.
Lin Su was dressed in a simple and convenient martial arts uniform, looking quite professional.
Zhou Xintang hesitated as he looked at him. "Are you sure you're not teaching flower-style martial arts?"
"Try it," Lin Su beckoned to him.
Zhou Xintang had undergone some action training before, but it hadn't met the standards of this movie. As soon as Lin Su finished speaking, Zhou Xintang's foot came flying towards him.
Initially planning to stop before reaching him, Zhou Xintang was caught off guard as his foot was grabbed. His vision flipped as he found himself pressed firmly to the ground, with Lin Su's hand tightly gripping his neck, rendering him powerless to resist.
If this were in bed, even if he wanted to take the dominant position, it wouldn't be possible!
Thankfully, he had the foresight to realize that in advance.
In any case, his feelings felt quite complicated.
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Thanks for the update
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