: Is it feigned reluctance or genuine naivety?

On the way back to F City, Chi Yuan slept almost the entire way.

Upon arriving at the hotel booked by the film crew, he thoughtfully left a tube of ointment, leaving Chi Yuan both amused and exasperated. However, for the sake of Mr. Jiang's formidable reputation, he couldn't say anything.

After a good night's sleep at the hotel, Chi Yuan finally recovered the energy and spirit he had lost from traveling back and forth and paying interest.

He needs to get there early for today's script reading.

Xiao Zhao handed Chi Yuan a list: "Sister Wei Ran sent this over. These are all the main actors in this drama. She wants you to familiarize yourself with them beforehand so you don't not recognize anyone."

Chi Yuan hadn't met many agents, but he knew that Li Weiran cared deeply about him and was genuinely trying to cultivate him, rather than just going through the motions according to the terms of the sugar daddy contract.

The more he realized this, the more moved he became, because Mr. Jiang had chosen Li Weiran as his agent.

Mr. Jiang is truly paving the way for him.

Chi Yuan: "You don't need to come along anymore. You're on the day off."

Being able to have a holiday was naturally a happy thing, and Xiao Zhao left in high spirits.

Chi Yuan took the script and entered the elevator himself. The meeting room was on the 28th floor, and he lived on the 18th floor.

The elevator stopped on the 22nd floor, and a tall figure stood in the doorway, blocking all the light from outside.

Chi Yuan narrowed his eyes. Before he could see the other person's face clearly, he heard the other person's voice first: "We meet again, little fox."

Little fox?

Chi Yuan finally recognized the person who had come; it was Yan Chuan.

"Senior," Chi Yuan greeted politely.

Yan Chuan looked at him with a smile: "Calling me senior is too formal. We'll be working together for several months in the future, so call me brother."

"Brother?" Chi Yuan called out subconsciously.

"Hey." Yan Chuan shamelessly took advantage of the situation, thinking to himself that it sounded really good.

Although Chi Yuan felt he might have been being overly sensitive that day, he still subconsciously disliked the somewhat ambiguous atmosphere, and silently distanced himself: "Just call me senior."

Yan Chuan raised an eyebrow: "Are you afraid I'll use your data because we're so far apart?"

Chi Yuan: "No, I... I'm the one who's riding on my senior's coattails."

Yan Chuan: "It's okay, I'll let you ride along."

Chi Yuan was stunned; he didn't know how to respond to those words.

Fortunately, the elevator stopped again at this moment, and several veteran actors came in. Chi Yuan recognized them from their information and greeted them politely.

The veteran actor, not recognizing Chi Yuan, politely asked, "You are...?"

Chi Yuan introduced himself: "I am Chi Yuan, and I play the second male lead, Ling Che, in 'The Emperor's Power'."

The veteran actor's eyes lit up with interest upon hearing that it was the second male lead. But looking at Chi Yuan's fair skin and delicate appearance, he casually remarked, "Ling Che is a young general; can your frail body handle him?"

Chi Yuan: "I'm quite physically fit."

Is it durable?

Yan Chuan suddenly chimed in.

Chi Yuan wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he felt that the second word in Yan Yingdi's three words just now wasn't pronounced very clearly.

But under the watchful eyes of a Best Actor winner and two veteran actors, Chi Yuan had no choice but to answer: "I have a background in martial arts."

A hint of regret flashed in Yan Chuan's eyes; it wasn't the answer he wanted to hear.

The elevator quickly arrived at the 28th floor. Chi Yuan told them to get out first, and then walked behind them alone, keeping a relative distance.

This was the first time Yan Chuan had been treated so coldly. If he was frightened the first time, this time his deliberate act of kindness had no effect.

Is it a case of feigned reluctance, or is it truly that simple?

-

In the conference room, people gradually arrived. Apart from Chi Yuan, a newcomer, everyone else knew each other or had heard of each other. After a brief greeting, everyone began to read together.

Director Rong paid special attention to Chi Yuan. One of the reasons he chose Chi Yuan was that Tianyu had invested in the film. At that time, Li Weiran approached him again, and he couldn't refuse, so he gave him a chance.

Chi Yuan had prepared for a long time, and then he shared his understanding of the character. It was clear that he had put in a lot of effort.

Yan Chuan praised, "It's already quite impressive that a newcomer could understand it this well."

Yan Chuan is a movie star and the male lead. When he said that, everyone else knew his attitude, and even their gazes towards Chi Yuan became a bit more friendly.

Chi Yuan: "Thank you."

Although he didn't understand Yan Chuan's intentions, he was still grateful that the other party was helping him.

Yan Chuan smiled gently, his phoenix eyes were very beautiful.

Rong Xuan glanced at Yan Chuan, knowing that he had a good impression of this newcomer, and felt much more at ease about their upcoming scenes together.

As long as Yan Chuan is willing to mentor him, and as long as Chi Yuan isn't too incompetent, he'll definitely be able to act well.

Rong Xuan: "You two still have countless training sessions ahead, horseback riding and archery, you'll have to practice all of those. I'm not worried about Yan Chuan, but Chi Yuan, do you know how to ride a horse and shoot arrows?"

Chi Yuan: "I've learned it, but I want to practice it again."

Rong Xuan was very satisfied with Chi Yuan's attitude: "Okay, you won't have many scenes for the first half month, so use your spare time to practice."

Yan Chuan: "I'll go practice too."

Rong Xuan was about to say that you have so many scenes in the early stages, why are you practicing? Then Yan Chuan said, "The last time I had to ride a horse was three years ago. I need to get back into the swing of things."

Even the Best Actor is taking this so seriously, what else can he say?

Rong Xuan: "Alright, then you two can practice together and get some practice to improve your teamwork."

Yan Chuan plays a powerful emperor vying for supremacy, while Chi Yuan portrays a young general. The young general is orphaned; his father and brothers died in battle when he was young, leaving him as the sole heir. To protect the general's only son, the emperor, played by Yan Chuan, personally raises the boy like a brother and father.

As the boy grew up, the empire faced internal and external troubles. He fought on the battlefield for the emperor he served, and ultimately died defending the country's borders.

If the male lead and the second male lead act well together, the drama will be very exciting.

Yan Chuan immediately leaned close to the boy's ear and casually invited, "Shall we go together tomorrow?"

Even though there was nothing excessive, Chi Yuan felt that the other person's gaze was off.

"We can also rehearse our lines while we're at it."

Since things had come to this point, Chi Yuan really couldn't refuse: "Okay."

Yan Chuan immediately made a decision: "Which room do you want to stay in? I'll pick you up tomorrow."

catch?

The onlookers suddenly understood something, then pretended not to know anything.

This kind of thing happens all the time in this industry; being good-looking always gives you a shortcut.

Chi Yuan: "No need to pick us up, we can just meet in the lobby."

Yan Chuan: "Okay, let's add each other on WeChat. That way, I can wake you up if you're ever late."

Chi Yuan wanted to say that he wouldn't be late, but... he still needed to add her on WeChat.

After the reading session ended, Chi Yuan quickly returned to his room, where Rong Xuan stopped Yan Chuan: "You've fallen back into your old habits again..."

Yan Chuan smiled and said nonchalantly, "Don't worry, you know me. It's consensual, no coercion."

Rong Xuan: "That would be best."

The director didn't strongly object, after all, for a newcomer like Chi Yuan, Yan Chuan's favor might be the opportunity he had been dreaming of.