Chapter 137: Director Chen Had Too Much to Drink

This grand awards gala lasted for more than five hours in total.

When it finally concluded, the sky outside had already turned dark.

At the invitation of Director Chen, Lin Chuan accompanied him to a well-known hotel in Kyoto to celebrate.

Inside the private dining room, aside from Director Chen and Editor Huang, Mu Qing, Teacher Chen Dong, Teacher Zhou Qingming, and several main actors and actresses who starred in *Loyal Warriors of the Distinguished House* were all present.

Lin Chuan had seen all of these people at the awards ceremony, so he did not feel like a stranger among them.

Consequently, Lin Chuan quickly mingled and fit right in with the group.

Though Director Chen and Teacher Chen Dong usually appeared very serious, at the dining table they were like completely different people, drinking heavily, talking, and laughing loudly.

After a few drinks, Director Chen’s face took on a faint reddish hue. He threw his arm around Lin Chuan’s shoulder and slurred his words, "Xiao Chuan... how was it today? Ar... are you happy?"

Lin Chuan smiled and nodded, "Thank you, Director Chen. Otherwise, I wouldn't have achieved the honor I have today, nor would I have had the opportunity to attend the National Drama Awards. I’d like to propose a toast to you."

"No... no need to rush into drinking. No one is allowed to leave tonight unless we're thoroughly drunk... Xiao Chuan, your big brother here is happy too. You... you are a talent, a high-end talent. You can... write and sing, and you also do that thing... what was it called again... let me think..."

Well, he certainly had not held back on the drinks. Director Chen was more than two full zodiac cycles older than Lin Chuan, yet he was already calling himself an older brother? Lin Chuan did not bother to correct him. Could one really argue about such matters with a drunk man?

Right at that moment, Director Chen slammed his palm down on the table, giving everyone else a profound start. Heads turned in their direction in unison. Lin Chuan was quite startled as well.

"I remember now... that commercial, the one filmed by that card company... Right, I saw it. To be honest, every single movement you made in that commercial was exceptionally brilliant, truly great..." Director Chen said, enunciating each word carefully.

"Old Chen is drunk again. If he can't hold his liquor, he should drink less, yet he always insists on showing off." Editor Huang shook his head with a smile from the side, making no move to stop him.

Clearly, they were longtime friends of Director Chen and knew his temperament inside out. Trying to persuade him to drink less was less likely to succeed than hoping a sow could climb a tree.

Lin Chuan smiled modestly and said, "You must be talking about the Cadi Corporation commercial, right? It's not as great as you make it sound, just some very common movements..."

"Very common movements? Xiao Chuan, if... if you put it that way, I'm going to... to be displeased. What do I do for a living? A director... I am a director, don't you think I can tell something like this apart?" Director Chen deliberately put on a stern face, acting somewhat angry.

Seeing this, Lin Chuan smiled and said nothing. He simply picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and placed it on Director Chen's plate.

Without even looking at it, Director Chen continued, "Don't think I don't understand. Wasn't that... running? No... scaling walls and vaulting over roofs? Still not right..."

"It's called parkour. This extreme sport has swept across the entire country ever since Xiao Chuan's commercial aired. Countless teenagers are now imitating those movements, running and jumping all over the streets and alleys like a pack of monkeys. Why, just a few days ago, my son wanted to join some sort of parkour team..." Editor Huang chimed in from the side.

Hearing this, Lin Chuan was astonished. He never expected this sport to spread so rapidly, even covering the entire nation.

If that was the case, could Lin Chuan be considered the founder of this sport? The very pioneer?

A wave of quiet satisfaction washed over him. No matter what, this could certainly be considered an achievement, right?

"Right, that parkour thing! Xiao Chuan, although you sing wonderfully, I believe you have even greater potential as an actor... Aside from anything else, just the parkour you pulled off is something ordinary people could never do. My next project... my next project is preparing to go into production after the Lunar New Year... Right now, I'm lacking a male lead, a leading man who knows martial arts... What do you say, would you like to give it a try?"

Despite being drunk, Director Chen appeared surprisingly lucid as he spoke these words, his serious expression filled with absolute sincerity.

Lin Chuan gave an awkward chuckle and suddenly felt as if someone was staring at him.

He turned his head and saw that the male actors who had been drinking earlier had all cast their gazes upon him. Among them, Lin Chuan still had a slight impression of one individual—the second male lead of *Loyal Warriors of the Distinguished House*. The look he directed at Lin Chuan even carried a trace of hostility.

Instantly, Lin Chuan was left speechless.

Was there any need for that? Wasn't it just a drunken remark made on a whim? Did they really have to be so nervous and treat him like an enemy?

Truth be told, Lin Chuan had never harbored any desire to pursue acting. For one thing, he was not prepared for it. To be honest, apart from singing, he knew next to nothing about acting, and his performing skills were probably atrocious.

Secondly, Yangyang could not be left unattended. Although Wang Yue was around now, having her help out occasionally was fine, but if he were to go off acting and be away for months at a time, neither his son nor he himself could bear it.

Besides, Lin Chuan had no wish to snatch rice bowls out of other people's hands, even though he didn't fear any competition.

"Director Chen, you're drunk. Let's talk about this another time, when you're sober," Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"Don't use me being drunk as an excuse, I am completely sober... Lin Chuan, your old brother here is being entirely sincere... Ask them, when have I ever proactively invited someone, let alone pestered them like this?" Director Chen shouted loudly.

"Alright, Old Chen, you really are drunk. Tonight is a celebration, let's put work matters aside for now. How about we sit down and have a proper talk another day?" Editor Huang could no longer watch.

He could see the dilemma written across Lin Chuan's face.

Although today was his first time meeting this young man, Editor Huang genuinely appreciated Lin Chuan. That was why he stepped in immediately to help defuse the crisis.

Meanwhile, Teacher Chen Dong walked over holding his wine glass, put on a stern face, and said sharply, "Old Chen, looks like you haven't had enough yet, talking so much nonsense! Come on, you and I will have another drink, and let the youngsters go make their own noise over there..."

As he spoke, he gently ushered Lin Chuan away from his chair.

Lin Chuan let out a long breath, nodded gratefully toward Teacher Chen Dong and Editor Huang, and then quietly walked away to sit down by himself.

The drinking session lasted until very late. When it was time to leave, Mu Qing offered to drive him home, but Lin Chuan declined.

The wind was quite biting tonight, but Lin Chuan preferred to walk back. After all, his home was not too far away; it would take just over an hour on foot.

It was a good opportunity to let the alcohol wear off while he pondered his plans for the coming year and the direction of his future...