Chapter 44: Explosive Acting and a Heart-Pounding Negotiation

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“Invoke a spirit?”

For a moment, Zhou Le was completely bewildered.

He had heard that allowing a spirit to possess one’s body could drive away evil and such, but wasn’t that all just an expression of the general public’s beautiful hopes?

If word got out, he could probably make some money on the side.

And if the rumors reached certain circles devoted to spiritual symbols, he might even earn more.

But much like traditional Chinese medicine and health care, would any of that actually help his acting?

Just as he was thinking this, Xu Zheng felt they had talked enough. He took out the script and intended to let Zhou Le give it a try.

Putting everything else aside, as long as Zhou Le’s performance was at least above average, they could use him.

“Mr. Zhou, take a look at the script first. I want to see how you think pain should be expressed.”

With a troubled look, Zhou Le accepted the script.

In his mind, pain could be divided into three levels. The first was a minor injury—something one could endure. The second was pain so severe it became difficult to bear. The third was pain at its absolute extreme.

This scene was about Lu Shouyi changing his dressing and having to appear to be in tremendous agony.

The script merely said: Cry out in pain, heart-wrenchingly.

Like most scripts, it was exceedingly concise.

If this had been a novel, this one passage alone could probably have taken at least a thousand words.

Still, after reading it, Zhou Le felt that although he could perform the scene, he lacked some relevant experience.

And he still had no idea what would make Xu Zheng truly appreciate his performance.

Perhaps it would be enough simply to demonstrate his ability. Perhaps he needed to go all the way.

But at that moment, a thought suddenly surfaced in Zhou Le’s mind.

“Would you like to summon the character and let it possess you?”

Zhou Le: “?”

“That works too?”

But if it could be done, then naturally he had to try.

A strange voice inexplicably appeared in his mind, and Zhou Le subconsciously repeated it in a low voice.

Xu Zheng said, “What did you say?”

He had only heard Zhou Le muttering something incomprehensible.

The next moment, Zhou Le abruptly collapsed onto the floor, startling Xu Zheng into jumping to his feet.

Then Zhou Le began trembling all over. His handsome face, previously rosy-lipped and fair, turned gray and pallid at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Sounds of agony rang out continuously.

Under the watchful eyes of director Wen Muye, producer Xu Zheng, and Ning Hao, Zhou Le’s entire body began to convulse.

There had been no warning whatsoever.

As his low groans grew louder, Zhou Le gradually lost the ability to suppress his pain.

Beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down his face.

Xu Zheng was so frightened that he nearly grew hair on his head.

“What’s wrong? Are you all right? Are you acting, or are you genuinely unwell? Don’t scare me!”

Xu Zheng spoke rapidly while Wen Muye instinctively glanced at the camera in the room to check whether it was recording.

If something truly went wrong, the three of them would have to rely on the footage to prove their innocence.

The ordeal continued for more than ten seconds.

Only then did Zhou Le stop trembling.

He weakly turned over, his entire body sprawled limply on the floor as he gasped for breath.

“Director Wen... how was my performance?”

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Zhou Le spoke in broken, feeble breaths.

Xu Zheng: “?”

That had all been acting?

Still panting heavily, Zhou Le said, “Yes.”

“If that was acting, then you’re unbelievably good. Damn, what kind of acting is that? Brother, I’ve never seen anything so realistic in my life. I genuinely thought something had happened to you just now. I was even afraid Noon Sunlight had deliberately sent you here to mess with me.”

Zhou Le smiled.

There was not a trace of color in his lips.

“Did I pass?”

“You passed, you passed. You’re the one. Can you stand up?”

Zhou Le tried, only to find that his body felt weak. “I put too much into the performance. I don’t have any strength left now.”

The three men hurriedly joined hands and helped Zhou Le to his feet.

“That was incredible. You absolutely have to join our production. In a moment, bring your agent in and let’s discuss your fee. But are you really all right?”

“I’m really fine.”

“Even so, why don’t you go to the hospital for a checkup? I’d feel better.”

“Are you worried I’ll die on set, Director Wen?”

“Ahaha, that sounds rather harsh. But naturally, no one can afford to have something happen to them on set.”

“I’ll get a checkup later.”

“All right. Mr. Zhou, could you and your agent wait next door for a while? Once we’ve finished discussing things, we’ll have your agent come in to talk about your fee.”

“Certainly.”

After sitting for a while, Zhou Le gradually recovered. But as he walked out, he cursed the system inwardly.

He had only intended to try summoning the character and allowing it to possess him.

He had never expected it to make him experience one hundred percent of the character’s pain.

If he had not used the bathroom before coming in, Zhou Le felt he might have wet the entire floor.

And afterward, his body had been left weak and drained.

Su Yingxia, who had been anxiously waiting outside, was startled when she saw him.

“Brother Le, Brother Le, what happened to you?”

Zhou Le leaned against the wall.

“Nothing. I got the role.”

But Su Yingxia had heard the agonized sounds from inside just moments earlier.

At first, she had assumed Zhou Le was acting.

Yet seeing how disheveled he looked now, she immediately began imagining the worst.

“Did those three bully you? Did they force you to suffer before giving you the role?”

Zhou Le shook his head. “No. I simply acted too intensely and made it too realistic, which is why I ended up like this. They didn’t do anything to me.”

“All right, then.”

Zhou Le nodded. “Get me a piece of chocolate.”

Then, while eating the chocolate, he said, “They’ll be negotiating your fee with you in a moment. Don’t show any weakness when you go in.”

The relief Su Yingxia had just felt immediately vanished again.

She knew she would have to face something like this sooner or later.

But it was her first time, and everyone inside was a celebrity she had previously only seen online.

“Brother Le, I’m a little nervous.”

“It’s fine. Don’t be nervous. Didn’t we already discuss this? One million. We’re not asking for too much, but we can’t accept less than that either. They clearly value me, so stand your ground.”

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“All right. I’ll give it a try.”

About ten minutes later, Zhou Le and Su Yingxia went back inside.

Xu Zheng, meanwhile, came out to wait, leaving Ning Hao and Wen Muye inside to negotiate.

Su Yingxia entered the room nervously.

It was her first time negotiating a performer’s fee on someone else’s behalf.

She had assumed she would have to name a price first, then let the other side bargain it down.

That was how she had always haggled when buying clothes.

So she blurted out, “Two million.”

Wen Muye and Ning Hao exchanged a glance.

They both saw the amusement in each other’s eyes. Earlier, they had thought they might have to offer at least four million.

Although Zhou Le was still worth less at present, once Wu Jing and Da Peng’s two films were released, Noon Sunlight gave him a good publicity push, and he secured endorsements from several major brands, even four million might not be enough.

Besides, Zhou Le’s performance just now had genuinely shocked them.

After all these years in the industry, it wasn’t that they had never seen anyone act at that level—but they could count such people on one hand.

He had looked as though he were truly about to die on the spot.

A talent like this would definitely be worth working with again in the future.

So, since it wasn’t their own money, they figured that using the investor’s funds to establish a good relationship would be worthwhile.

Ning Hao spoke up. “Two million is too little. Would three million work?”

Su Yingxia said, “That works.”

“All right. We can sign the contract right now. You can go outside and call Mr. Zhou in first.”

Su Yingxia: “?”

That was it?

She rose in a daze.

Only halfway to the door did she realize what they had said.

Had they really said three million?

She had asked for two, and they had offered three?

Had they misspoken?

Or had she misheard them?

But then she wondered what would happen if she pointed it out and they realized their mistake.

At that thought, she did not dare say another word and hurried out of the conference room.

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