189: Chapter 189 I Can Do It All

After finishing the magazine cover shoot, Lin Chuyan was getting ready to leave for Hong Kong. However, right before he left, things piled up, and he was called back by Director Han Xiao for some dubbing.

Although 90% of "the long season" used live-recorded audio, the actor playing the Hong Kong businessman really couldn't get the accent right. Since he couldn't mimic it, they had Lin Chuyan, who was from Guangdong Province, step in to do it for him. This had been agreed upon beforehand.

It was three days later before he finished dubbing and set off for Hong Kong again. Along the way, Xia Zhi asked questions casually.

"So, Brother, when is 'the long season' airing?"

It was among the dramas scheduled for release by Tencent this year, though it was ranked quite far down the list. Still, you never know; it felt like it could be pushed up at any moment.

Lin Chuyan actually knew the answer to this question, as he had asked the director: "If it's fast, it'll be within the next two months."

"Did they change the date?"

"Yeah, they said Tencent's recent dramas haven't been doing too well, so they might push it up to save the situation, otherwise the subscribers will all leave."

"Brother, have you seen the final cut?"

"I saw one episode. It's excellent."

"Are you in the first episode?"

"Actually, believe it or not, I am, but I doubt many people will recognize me..." Lin Chuyan laughed. "It's a top-down camera angle, so you can only see the top of my head and the bridge of my nose. I was probably on screen for less than half a minute."

The remaining episodes of "the long season" were still being edited. If they worked hard, there was a good chance it would be pushed up within these two months.

Having seen the first episode, Lin Chuyan was even more confident about the drama. He just didn't know how his scenes would end up being edited, and it made him itch with anticipation.

When he asked the director, he was being coy, saying it wasn't finished editing yet. But he also assured him that he would definitely make thousands of young girls fall for him, and this performance would absolutely not lose to that Prince Xiao Ran.

Fine, he would just have to wait patiently.

Wu Yue began to brief him on the key creative team members he was going to meet.

"Director Mu Sheng used to be the assistant director for Director Du Qiyu. This time, he was suddenly promoted to a new director. Since it's a rare opportunity for him to direct a film, he really cherishes it."

"But at the end of the day, the final say still rests with Director Du Qiyu. Even though we haven't seen the script for this movie yet, I doubt it will be bad. The reason is simple: there are too many big shots involved."

"Let's put it this way: from the producer to the planners and the supporting cast, you could say that apart from the director and the lead, everyone else is a big shot. I only found out later that they were making this movie to raise some money for their teacher..."

"It's said that their teacher just retired, so a few of these big shots got together and decided to make a movie, with all the earnings going to the teacher as a retirement fund..."

Lin Chuyan gave a thumbs up: "Awesome, you can do that? The question is: what if it loses money?"

Wu Yue: "With so many big shots, it won't lose money, definitely not. Besides, don't we have you?"

Lin Chuyan: "You really think highly of me..."

The trip from Ludo to Hong Kong was quite fast; the high-speed train only took four hours. With chatting and laughing along the way, they arrived quickly.

They chose the Rosewood hotel, which was considered one of the best five-star hotels. It cost five or six thousand a night, but fortunately, the location was excellent, and from the window, they could see Victoria Harbour and the Avenue of Stars directly.

Lin Chuyan earned a lot and spent a lot now, but he believed in spending when necessary. Saving money was one thing, and enjoying life was another; they didn't conflict or contradict each other...

After resting for a while, the group didn't waste any time. The meeting place was arranged at the home of the producer, Director Du Qiyu. They took a taxi there and met the creative team at four in the afternoon.

As soon as they entered, Director Du Qiyu, Director Mu Sheng, and Uncle Da were all there.

Wu Yue took the lead in greeting everyone and introduced Lin Chuyan.

Lin Chuyan had done his homework before coming, and the characteristics of the people in front of him were quite distinct.

The man wearing rimless glasses with a receding hairline, who was smoking a cigar, had to be Director Du Qiyu; this man was famous for loving cigars.

Director Mu Sheng had slightly long, greying hair and also wore glasses, but he looked refined and scholarly. His temperament was vastly different from Director Du Qiyu, who looked like a gang boss...

The remaining person, Uncle Da, who had a small mustache, was looking at him with a smile.

Lin Chuyan didn't wait for Wu Yue to introduce him. He stepped forward and greeted them one by one, and sure enough, he hadn't gotten the names wrong.

"Very sharp," Director Du Qiyu said while smoking his cigar, greeting Lin Chuyan. "Come, come, Nickname, everyone, come over and sit. Let's sit and chat."

It was still Director Du Qiyu speaking: "Don't call me Director Du here. Director Mu Sheng is the director. Call me Producer Du or Director Du, both are OK."

"Uncle Da and the female lead's roles have already been decided. You know why we brought you here. Let's get straight to the point. Shall we talk about the script?"

Lin Chuyan was naturally eager to get things moving, so he nodded: "Let's talk!"

Then he asked the question he had been hiding in his heart: "'a moment of romance,' the name sounds like a tragedy... The female lead doesn't die at the end, does she?"

To his surprise, everyone laughed when they heard this.

"Someone does die, but it's not the female lead." Uncle Da shook his head. "Let's put it this way: except for the female lead, everyone else dies."

Wow, how exciting.

Lin Chuyan became interested.

Director Du Qiyu continued: "To put it simply, this story is about a rich young lady falling in love with a street punk. The other plot points woven in—like the male and female leads being hunted by a gang, the male lead going away to hide from enemies, and the female lead giving up her studies abroad to run over and take care of him... these are all just to set the stage for this love story."

Director Du Qiyu stared at Lin Chuyan's face: "Do you think it's ridiculous? Why would the female lead give up everything for him? Just because he's poor? Just because he's a gangster?"

Lin Chuyan nodded.

If a plot like this were filmed... it would get slammed, right? Being lovesick is fine, but you can't be brainless. When the audience watches it, they'll only say: 'Girl, run!'

"That's exactly why! We must find a ridiculously handsome male lead to neutralize this ridiculous plot! Doesn't that make it not so ridiculous anymore?" Director Du Qiyu stubbed out his cigar, his voice filled with persuasion. "A rich young lady falling in love with a street punk—what else could it be for? Of course, it's sexual charisma! Nickname, you are that ridiculously handsome person who can make young girls fall head over heels for him!"

Damn, that actually makes so much sense.

Lin Chuyan was instantly convinced.

He gets me. He really knows how to appreciate me.

Also, Hong Kong films are truly wild. It feels like this will be both wild and good when it's filmed, right?

Director Du Qiyu continued: "Besides, you've played this type of role before, haven't you? Weren't there girls who were infatuated with you in those? And they had a bit of Stockholm syndrome, yet didn't the audience find it quite natural? It didn't break immersion at all! Everyone thought it was very reasonable, so I think you're quite suitable!"

Actually, from the moment Lin Chuyan walked into the room and he saw him for the first time, Director Du Qiyu had made up his mind—this kid is fucking handsome!

He knew his own film, didn't he? Looks are the number one priority. As long as he is handsome enough, he had big moves prepared for the rest; it would absolutely turn out great!

As for acting skills? Isn't that what Uncle Da is here for?!

What was the most urgent priority? It was not to let this kid get away. Trick him into joining first, then we'll see...

Lin Chuyan continued to ask: "So the male lead gets hacked to death by the gang in the end?"

"They take each other down; everyone dies, but I want him to die in a blaze of glory!" Director Du Qiyu was getting a bit carried away as he spoke, gesturing continuously. "Before he dies, there's a scene like this: in the middle of the night, he rides with the female lead to a bridal shop, smashes the shop window, and the two of them put on a wedding dress and a white suit."

Director Du Qiyu slapped the table: "I saw your recent awards ceremony, and you really look handsome in a suit! It matches; everything matches."

Lin Chuyan asked with a smile: "And then, Director Du?"

"Then comes the next scene, which will definitely look great when filmed: the male lead in a white suit carrying the female lead in a white wedding dress, he's riding a motorcycle, blood streaming from his nose, eyes unfocused, but still determined, speeding down the highway! Then the BGM kicks in! Oh, I haven't decided which BGM to use yet."

Lin Chuyan tried hard to imagine it. Honestly, a white wedding dress + a damn handsome man + a speeding motorcycle—if this scene could really be captured, it would be absolutely beautiful.

"In other words, the male lead needs to know how to ride a motorcycle, right? He needs to have great Driving Skills, right?"

"Hmm..." Director Du Qiyu rubbed his chin. "It's fine, if you don't know how, just practice more. It's a bit dangerous if you drive too fast, but it won't feel right if you're too slow. Well, using a stunt double isn't out of the question either. Also, it's not just motorcycles; you also need to drive cars and trucks."

Lin Chuyan blinked: "Director Du, don't underestimate me. My Driving Skills are very good, better than you imagine."

"You know how to ride a motorcycle, right?"

"Yeah."

"Then you definitely know how to drive a car too, right?"

"Yes."

"You surely don't know how to drive a truck, right?"

"I can do it all."

"..."

Director Du Qiyu was momentarily at a loss for words: Damn, is this guy actually as good at bragging as I am?