Chapter 32: Next Time, For Sure!

Zhou Le had experienced gunfights before, albeit while lying on the ground. However, after witnessing Wu Jing’s fight choreography firsthand, he couldn't help but exclaim that it was truly impressive. Watching it up close on set was incredibly exhilarating. Later, he studied the footage frame by frame and learned from Wu Jing’s explanations that every move was meticulously designed, with each strike and parry rooted in authentic martial arts styles like Tongbeiquan and Shaolin boxing.

"Brother, do you think it's too late for me to learn?"

Wu Jing looked at him and shook his head. "It's fine as a hobby, but it's hard to make a professional career out of it. It’s not impossible—some people have done it and achieved results—but I wouldn't recommend it. If you really want to learn, just pick up the basics; you aren't going to catch up to the career martial artists now."

Zhou Le nodded. "Fair enough. I'll take it slow then; I’m not really cut out for that kind of hardship."

Wu Jing laughed. "You can't handle hardship? In this whole crew, besides me, you're the one who can handle it best."

"I do handle my meals pretty well."

At this, Wu Jing squeezed Zhou Le’s arm and patted his shoulder. "Was there something you didn't tell me the truth about earlier?"

Zhou Le was startled. "No way, Brother Jing. I’ve always been honest."

"Care to rephrase that?"

"Alright, I admit I complained about you. You told me I’d have fight scenes, but I didn't expect it to just be me getting beaten up."

Wu Jing chuckled. "That's not it."

Zhou Le sighed. "Brother Jing, surely you don't mean the fact that I'm not a virgin?"

Wu Jing shook his head. "Are you really 180 centimeters tall?"

Zhou Le hadn't expected that. "Brother Jing, I’m 185."

"Then your resume..."

"I just fudged it a little to pass the screening. It doesn't look good for a supporting actor to be too tall—though it didn't help me get cast by other crews anyway."

"I'll give you credit for being honest."

With the factory scenes wrapped up, Zhou Le returned to his idle state. He wasn't in a rush to leave. Even though it was already winter back home and the Lunar New Year was approaching, there was no point in rushing back. He was the only one left in his household registry, and his godfather, Yu Qian, would be busy with performances at the Deyun Society. Going back would just mean sitting around. He decided to wait and leave with the crew.

One day, while reading the script, Zhou Le became curious about the warship sequence. "Brother Jing, are we going to film that part on a real warship? Do I have a chance to go?"

Wu Jing glanced at the script. "That part? It's already been filmed—back in China."

"Filmed in China?"

"Yeah. If we actually sailed those warships across the ocean to Africa, some countries would start getting nervous."

"Man, I was hoping to see it in person. Was the missile launch shot filmed in China too? Did you see it yourself?"

"No. That was footage provided to me; I just used it." Wu Jing smiled. "I know what you're thinking. We'll see how things go; if there's a chance, I'll take you along to see it."

Zhou Le slapped his thigh. "Deal! It’s a promise. Brother Jing, is anything bothering you? Any aches?"

"Actually, my whole body is aching."

Zhou Le: "Shoulders? Sit down, Brother Jing, let me rub them for you."

Wu Jing was speechless. "I told you I keep a rabbit, and you're telling everyone I don't wear pants, aren't you?"

Zhou Le spent another half-month there before returning to China with the crew. Despite the constant bickering, he knew that was just Wu Jing’s personality. In fact, Wu Jing had been very good to him; the character Zhuo Yifan in the original script had been quite one-dimensional, but Wu Jing had specifically rewritten the role to better suit Zhou Le’s own interpretation. He even added a scene where Zhou Le reloads a gun with one hand.

However, while everyone else walked off the plane, Wu Jing had to be pushed in a wheelchair, having been injured during the final scenes. He remained in the chair during the wrap-up banquet back home. Fortunately, because of Wu Jing’s injury, Zhou Le managed to escape the worst of the drinking.

Back in China, the first thing Zhou Le did was have a meal with Yu Qian’s family and spend the night. Soon after, he heard that Zhang Han, having been passed over for *Wolf Warrior 2*, had started filming a TV drama—a period piece where he would play the lead from his youth to his old age, starring alongside Song Yi. Zhou Le felt a silent pang of sympathy for him.

But Zhou Le was no longer the obscure extra he once was. By mid-January, just after New Year’s, he received his payment for *City of Rock*. He immediately called Da Peng: "Hey, Brother Da Peng, where are you? Let’s grab a meal. My treat this time."

"I'm in Beijing. It's rare for you to offer—name the time."

"How about tonight?"

"Sounds good."

Since the rest of the crew wasn't in Beijing and had their own commitments, only Liu Yan was available to join.

In the private room, Da Peng said, "Le, you’ve done well for yourself. Your godfather is Yu Qian, and you’ve been in Director Wu Jing’s film. You’re bound for greatness, so don't forget your brothers."

Zhou Le immediately raised his glass. "Brother Da Peng, that’s a slap in the face. Besides, this is the first time I’m meeting Sister Yan; what would she think of me if you say that?"

Liu Yan, sitting nearby, smiled. "Don't worry, I have my own judgment. Just because I’m close to Da Peng doesn't mean I listen to everything he says."

Zhou Le nodded. "That's a relief. You look even more beautiful in person than on screen, Sister Yan."

Da Peng suddenly asked, "You must have known about her for a long time. She started in the industry earlier than I did. What do you think of her acting?"

The question was clearly a trap. Zhou Le thought carefully. "Do you want the honest answer or the polite one?"

"The truth, of course."

Liu Yan looked at him with a smile. Having weathered so many storms and controversies over the years, she was used to it. She wouldn't be offended by an opinion, especially one prompted by Da Peng.

"The truth? It wasn't great. I honestly couldn't get into the roles you played before. But just like me playing extras, sometimes you take roles you don't like because they aren't acting jobs—they're opportunities. But if I had to pick one, I think your performance in *I Belonged to You*, which came out this year, was your best."

Liu Yan looked at him with renewed interest. She hadn't expected him to say that.

Da Peng quickly spotted the loophole. "Wait a minute. That movie came out in September. You had just finished *City of Rock*, were busy with your godfather, and then went straight to Africa. When did you have time to see it in a theater?"

Zhou Le gave a shy, embarrassed smile. "I watched a pirated copy in Africa. I’m sorry, Sister Yan, I really had no choice. I’ll definitely support your official releases next time. From now on, whether it's novels or movies, I’m going to fight against piracy."

"Really, I promise!"