Chapter 94: That Seems a Little Too Scientific (Please Subscribe, 8/10)

The car had been bought, the studio had been set up, and things had basically started to run on the right track.

Su Mu was trying on the bespoke suit and formalwear sent over by Liu Qiangxi’s people.

With his tall, straight figure and a million-yuan watch on his wrist, he looked even more distinguished and luxurious.

Su Mu: “Do they give the watch too?”

The staff member: “...”

Qian Jida: “...”

Su Mu: “Just kidding. Please thank Director Liu for me later. I’m very satisfied with the suit.”

Watching the staff member hurry away, Qian Jida said, speechless, “You really asked for it? That watch is only being loaned to you for the awards ceremony. The suit alone is already more than enough. Add a watch worth several million on top of that, and who’d dare ask you to endorse anything in the future?”

Su Mu patted Qian Jida on the shoulder. “You have to be brave enough to test the waters. It doesn’t cost anything to ask. What if they really gave it to me?”

Qian Jida snorted. “Heh. You really are good at ‘what if.’”

Su Mu shrugged. “Fine. Then this is the outfit for tomorrow’s ceremony.”

Qian Jida said, “Everyone who can attend the ceremony will be there. People from the three major platforms are coming too. I got word from Director Zheng Quan that they’ll arrive with Chen Anzhi’s crew. You can just meet the director then and get acquainted ahead of time.”

“Okay,” Su Mu said.

In truth, Su Mu had barely gone out at all during this period.

At home, apart from occasionally grinding his proficiency, he had been studying the script for The Wind in the Pines, 1162.

There was no doubt that this was the most important project for him next year.

It was also the first step in his transition away from costume romance dramas into other genres.

From the script alone, there was already not much more Su Mu could absorb.

He had the entire story, down to the dialogue, memorized by now.

But his understanding of the historical figure Xin Qiji still only went that far.

The bold and unrestrained temperament, the heart that held the world in its embrace, and yet the era itself could never fulfill that fervent blood in his veins. In the end, all he could do in his twilight years was look back at the lantern-lit distance...

Everyone knew those things.

With his current Level 4 acting skill, Su Mu had no trouble whatsoever capturing everything the script demanded.

After all, he could perfectly express joy, anger, sorrow, and delight.

And the audience would never find fault with any of it.

But the problem was that such a Xin Qiji was Xin Qiji in other people’s eyes.

Not Su Mu’s own.

It was just like the realm of acting he had sensed before.

One kind of actor is always himself, no matter whom he plays.

The other becomes whoever he is playing.

Su Mu wanted to enter the first stage: a stage with character, with a label, where no matter whom he played, it would always still be him.

So he had to act out his own Xin Qiji.

A true historical hero, in that era of war, chaos, and foreign invasion by the Jin.

What, in the deepest part of his heart, was he really like?

Or, as Zhang Huaimou had put it, what exactly was that force carved into Xin Qiji’s bones?

That, Su Mu still had not fully understood.

But he knew that once he did understand it, the character would truly become his.

Only, to find something so deeply rooted in the bones...

Sitting at home would never be enough.

He needed to truly step onto the battlefield, to wear armor for real and ride out with a spear in hand.

Perhaps only then would he truly understand what Xin Qiji had felt.

...

The next day.

The Peak of China Awards Ceremony began.

At a time like this, it was when celebrities concentrated their exposure and stirred up the hottest buzz.

Su Mu’s name was naturally pushed to the very top.

It wasn’t entirely intentional.

Rather, over the course of the year, too many issues had piled up around him, and all of them were being dug back up now.

The comments online were relentless:

Su Mu mocked Li Xinjie before, saying they should meet at the Peak of China Awards, right? Now the ceremony is here. Let’s see how he cashes in that arrogance!

After Su Mu left Giant Elephant and parted ways with the company, he probably won’t get any awards this year. After all, nobody’s throwing money around to manage things for him anymore.

Did the street-dance variety show Su Mu had recorded finally finish airing? Can he even dance, really? Is he actually going to ruin that show?

The higher you fly, the harder you fall. Now that Su Mu has left the company, will he even still have resources? He’s going to capsize soon enough, right?

I’m just thinking, he acted in so many costume romance dramas this year. What if they’re all nominated, but he doesn’t win a single trophy? Wouldn’t that be a joke? Hahaha!

The topic was being liked furiously by people online.

It quickly surged to the top of the trending charts.

Those who liked Su Mu naturally ignored all of it.

But there were always some who cared.

...

In the guest seating area, Zhou Wanming, Li Hui, and Li Xinjie had already arrived and taken their seats.

Li Hui glanced at the remarks online, then smiled.

“So Su Mu broke with the company and doesn’t even know how to use public relations or promotion anymore? Award ceremonies are exactly the place where negative chatter is most taboo. Now the netizens are starting to dig up old scores and discuss everything under the sun. He’s probably going to have a rough time once he gets onstage.”

Li Xinjie said, “Su Mu’s dramas should all be nominated, shouldn’t they? Maybe he really will win something.”

Li Hui gave a cold snort. “No need to be envious. You can too, later. The company will push you hard for the next two years, with resources flowing your way. Just seize the opportunity.”

On the other side, Zhou Wanming nodded. “That’s right. As long as you work hard, the company’s resources will definitely be enough to raise you to a position even higher than Su Mu’s.

“But when the time comes, you must not repeat Su Mu’s mistake and think that leaving the company means you can strike out on your own. In reality, without the company behind him, he may not even be able to find the people to handle his public relations. In the past few years, we spent money helping him buy trophies, and maybe he got used to it. If he really thinks the awards from the Peak of China can be taken at will, then that’s simply ridiculous.”

Li Xinjie said, “Su Mu...”

At that moment,

while Zhou Wanming and Li Hui were brainwashing Li Xinjie,

Su Mu and Qian Jida had already walked the red carpet and entered their assigned seats inside the venue.

Their seats were not far apart.

But before Su Mu had even sat down, he saw a whole group of people coming over to greet him!

Looking more closely...

Good heavens.

Zhuang Yan, Wang Ouyi, Ma Baoguo, and a whole crowd of seasoned veteran actors were there.

Li Hui said, “Maybe they’ve worked together before. It’s normal for them to know each other.”

Then Zhang Huaimou arrived with the president of Huayi as well, chatting pleasantly with Su Mu.

Zhou Wanming frowned. “He’s just leaning on Zhang the director’s connections. What business could he possibly be talking about?”

Right after he said that,

the moment came for Zheng Quan from Kiwi to land a resounding slap in the face.

He came over with Director Chen Anzhi and introduced him to Su Mu.

Their voices were low.

But every word came through clearly.

Zheng Quan said, “Su Mu, I don’t need to introduce this gentleman, do I?”

Su Mu said, “Hello, Director Chen. I’m Su Mu. I’ll be joining the crew next year, so I hope you’ll guide me then.”

Chen Anzhi smiled and patted Su Mu on the shoulder. “Zhang Huaimou has praised you to the skies. He made me want to work with you even before this. Now I finally have the chance.”

Su Mu said, “After the ceremony ends, I’ll come pay you a visit and talk in more detail.”

Chen Anzhi said, “Good.”

As they were speaking,

Zhao Zhouming and Yu Hong and the others also arrived.

These were the heads of two major video platforms.

Yu Hong said, “Su Mu, next year you won’t be filming only Director Chen’s one drama, right? Take a look at our scripts too when the time comes.”

Zhao Zhouming said, “Old Yu, that sounded awfully insincere. Why talk about scripts at all? Wouldn’t it be much better to talk directly about the pay?”

...

At that moment, the three men sitting nearby fell silent.

Zhou Wanming and Li Hui were full of question marks, astonished beyond words.

What the hell? Why did it feel like, after leaving the company...

his resources had actually gotten better!?

Since when did he know so many big shots in the industry?

That made no sense at all!

Li Xinjie said, “President Zhou, Su Mu doesn’t seem as miserable as you said.”

Zhou Wanming: “...”

Li Hui: “...”

Sorry for the slower update. I’ve been writing all day and my brain and hands are a little worn out. I’ll finish this properly, and from here on I’ll keep up the pace with ten thousand words a day.

A book recommendation: Chinese Exchange Student at Hogwarts by Li Pei.

The concept is fresh and it’s written well. If you like that sort of thing, give it a look.

End of chapter.