Huayu, can you be called the best actor if you don’t indulge yourself?

Chapter 572 An Invitation from Hollywood

He took off his sunglasses and hung them on his collar.

Close the car door.

After yawning, Li Luo stepped onto the stairs.

"Sir?"

A waiter standing at the restaurant entrance asked a question, smiling as he looked at the Asian man, who was dressed casually but had a very distinguished air about him.

"Wallberg".

Li Luo smiled and nodded in agreement.

"this way please."

The waiter's smile widened, and he immediately led the way inside.

Inside the elegantly decorated restaurant.

Many Hollywood celebrities are having breakfast here, so there's no need to worry about a repeat of yesterday morning's situation, as long as Li Luo doesn't appear at the same time as Kristen Stewart, Pattinson, and others.

The probability of being recognized by passersby is actually very low.

It has little to do with the amount of screen time; the main issue is that his image is so different from what he appears in the movie.

We were besieged yesterday.

It was purely an undeserved disaster.

Although Li Luo could easily push those people away, he didn't want a scandal involving shoving fans to break out on the day of the premiere, and even his buttocks were pinched seventeen or eighteen times.

He had no choice but to tough it out.

Fortunately, all of this has yielded very rich rewards.

The company grossed over $40 million on its opening day.

This number is enough to drive everyone on the crew crazy. They've completely ignored any comments from film critics. Let them criticize all they want; what do a little bit of infamy matter compared to success?

This amount.

This also startled Li Luo.

On its opening day, it grossed over 300 million RMB, a feat achieved by "Painted Skin" after nearly a month of hard work.

It's terrifying!
At this point, the conversion is possible.

After all, more than 40 million US dollars can easily be exchanged for more than 300 million RMB, giving a direct sense of the astonishing spending power of the world's largest film market.

It left him speechless.

The exact production and marketing costs are unknown.

However, judging from Godfrey's performance, this movie will definitely make him a fortune.

The situation is different from that in China.

Domestic box office revenue accounts for the vast majority of a production company's profits, and overseas copyrights are generally hard to sell to the general public. Despite the lively promotions at Cannes every year, it's all talk and no action.

Basically, only two types of films can actually sell: action films and art films.

DVDs and similar products were even worse.

In Hollywood, however, the situation is quite different. Through a casual conversation with Wahlberg, Li Luo realized that box office revenue is only one part of a film's income.

Overseas distribution, home audio-visual distribution, television distribution, and derivative development, etc.

These are the main sources of income.

With such a great harvest, the return to Los Angeles was naturally marked by an almost frenzied celebration. This time, even Godfrey, the director, and the screenwriter joined in, and everyone raised various cocktails and drank heartily.

Except for Kristen Stewart and Nikki Reed.

The former is eighteen, the latter is twenty.

Godfrey didn't want any scandals to break out on set right at the start of the box office boom, so the two guys could only pitifully clutch their orange juice.

The party last night didn't end until after 2 a.m.

Return to the apartment.

Christine gushed out, downing a glass of red wine, and then had a wild time with Li Luo before finally falling into a deep sleep.

He smiled and shook his head.

Li Luo continued walking forward with the waiter.

After two busy days, I can finally relax for a while.

It's unrealistic to expect actors to be treated like cattle here; the actors' unions would never hesitate to have a heart-to-heart talk with the production company.

"This is absolutely insane."

"Will Smith's 'Hancock' grossed over $60 million in its opening weekend, right? God, that's Will Smith! Who the hell knows who Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson are?"

"Yes."

"They are two lucky people."

"Judging from the current situation, they should have a chance to make it into the top ten for the year. In the future, everyone will know who they are. Did you see the news yesterday? The fans went absolutely crazy!"

"I heard it's a movie adapted from a bestselling book."

"Yes."

"And it's a series, meaning a sequel."

Keep moving forward.

Whispers drifted into my ears.

Especially when the last sentence was uttered, the men in suits sitting at the small table stopped talking abruptly. They exchanged wary glances, and then simultaneously sped up their eating.

Snatching roles and hitching a ride are things that happen everywhere.

He smiled and looked away.

Li Luo arrived at the courtyard inside the restaurant.

The decor is Mediterranean style, surrounded by greenery everywhere. There is also something like a grape trellis built above the courtyard, with green leaves swaying in the wind, bringing a touch of coolness to the diners.

The waiters moved with elegance, and their trays and smiles were all done according to established standards.

All it takes is a snap of the fingers.

They can provide meticulous service.

Fresh fruits, desserts, and all sorts of exquisite food were laid out before him, and he could hear the cheerful laughter that filled the air with the smell of money. Li Luo couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

In this country, one can indeed live a life akin to that of a god.

They run private ranches and private hunting grounds.

He keeps a bunch of maids.

They could also build a private island for vacations, complete with a private jet worth tens of millions of dollars and a luxurious estate worth hundreds of millions of dollars, indulging in all sorts of extravagance without any problem.

The premise is.

You can afford it and keep paying for it!

"Oh~~~"

"The big star is here!"

"Jacob! Jacob! Jacob!"

A strange cry rang out from the corner of the courtyard, followed by five or six guys sitting around it banging on the table as if no one else was there, attracting surprised and somewhat disgruntled stares from all directions.

But when they noticed Mark Wahlberg and Jessica Alba sitting there...

The dissatisfaction in his eyes quickly faded.

Instead, there was a kind and ingratiating smile.

These two may not be among the top stars in Hollywood, but they are already high enough to be admired by others. It is a position that countless excellent actors would fight tooth and nail to reach.

"Please."

Li Luo shook his head, smiled, and spread his hands.

Wahlberg and his cronies, Jessica and her cronies were all there, and they were all looking at him with wide smiles.

Li Luo kept giving high-fives and hugs to each person.

They greeted each other in turn.

"Hey~"

Li Luo greeted the laughing Chocolate Sweetheart with a polite hug; Jessica Alba's incredibly beautiful figure was simply irresistible to him.

"plum!"

When he held her close, Jessica almost went limp.

Smile on face.

Her smile was incredibly sweet.

Connor, Owen, and the others sitting nearby looked at the two guys pretending not to know each other with disdain.

"mark."

Li Luo raised his hand to greet the person opposite him and then pulled out a chair.

"No."

Wahlberg shook his head, blinked, and raised his glass: "From now on, I think you should call me Phil!"

"Decided?"

Li Luo instantly understood and picked up the orange juice to touch it.

"Yes."

With a crisp clink of glasses, Wahlberg took a sip: "Although I encountered some minor troubles, I resolved them smoothly, and I'll be joining the filming crew soon!"

"No matter the outcome, I owe you one."

"Also, congratulations to Li."

Before Li Luo could even exchange pleasantries, he smiled and raised his glass again: "Congratulations to our Hollywood rising star!!!"

Under his leadership.

Everyone cheered and raised their glasses.

Knowing that Wahlberg made the decision is another reason to be happy.

Let's raise our glasses together.

Li Luo didn't say that his role was too small and that he didn't deserve such praise. He laughed and raised his glass to everyone, indicating that the customs and habits of the two places were different, and that one should show one's talent when necessary.

If you humbly admit that you're not good enough, people won't think you're being modest.

Extremely high probability.

On the contrary, they'll think you're easy to manipulate!
Everyone put down their cups.

Connor immediately inquired excitedly about the status of "Twilight," and everyone else also cast curious glances at him, including Wahlberg and Jessica, who were both amazed by the sudden surge in popularity.

It always inspires boundless curiosity in people.

Upon confirming that the opening day box office had exceeded 40 million, another gasp of amazement rang out.

Various praises.

Li Luo accepted it calmly.

The box office figures for the original film are unknown, and he doesn't care about that at all. He just needs to know that he contributed to the current box office of over 40 million.

I've been doing promotional work these past two days and have actually met quite a few new fans.

And those people.

But they all took out real money.

While chatting, Li Luo glanced at the food placed in front of him.

Nothing much happened today.

It was just a casual get-together with a few friends.

At this moment, he once again experienced the extravagant lifestyle of Hollywood stars, with fruits from all over the world displayed in an orderly fashion, and sandwiches, cinnamon rolls, muffins, bacon and eggs emitting a rich aroma.

Orange juice, coffee, and all kinds of other drinks are available, and if that's not enough...

Pan-fry a steak.

Or perhaps a plate of pasta would be good.

Just wave your finger.

Li Luo wasn't sure if the food here was expensive, but the amount in front of him was enough for two or three more people to finish.

Squandering.

And enjoy it.

That's what they're doing.

In fact, it's not just high-income groups like Wahlberg and Jessica; even ordinary wage earners have become accustomed to this kind of consumption, driving to warehouse supermarkets for a shopping spree.

The more you buy, the better the price.

They don't care whether they can actually use it or not.

If you can't finish your food, you throw it away again, and then you're left worrying about the bills that keep piling up like snowflakes.

But that kind of sorrow.

Wahlberg and Jessica shouldn't make a mistake.

The table was mostly filled with desserts, which Li Luo found too much to handle. He waved to the waiter to bring him a ribeye steak and leisurely sipped his orange juice while waiting for the food to arrive.

When not filming.

Jessica and the others have gotten used to this relaxed lifestyle.

I spend an hour or two having brunch, then go shopping, get a beauty treatment, and work out. I go back and review a script, and finally have a few drinks at a friend's gathering. That's how I spend my ordinary day.

I'm so bored.

Then go abroad to find a tourist destination for vacation.

Surfing in Hawaii, skiing in Switzerland, or watching elephants in Africa—they fully enjoy their own wealthy lifestyle.

Of course, they also give their all when they are working.

This comfortable life.

It's not that there's no corresponding price to pay.

"plum."

Jessica took a sip of orange juice, grinned, showing her white teeth, and reached for the paper bag at her feet: "I've taken care of what you asked me to do. Remember, you owe me a favor!"

Li Luo put down the cup in a daze.

No.

When did I ever ask this guy to do me a favor?!

The paper bags rustled.

Jessica, beaming, pulled out something resembling a picture frame and handed it to Li Luo with both hands. Inside was a framed jersey.

It's not new.

It looks a bit old.

However, the purple-gold color was already incredibly dazzling.

Above the number eight, a string of English letters is printed.

BRYANT.

Moving his gaze downwards, Li Luo saw a series of carefully handwritten words: "This is the jersey I wore in the 05-06 season when I defeated the Dallas Mavericks and scored 62 points. I'm giving it to my friend from the East, Li."

"Kobe Bryant."

Below this frame, there are two photos of the match from that time.

In the photo.

It also features the Black Mamba's signature.

The words written on the jersey were read aloud by Connor, who rushed over, and then he stared wide-eyed at Jessica: "Come on, we've known each other for so long."

"Jesse, how about I owe you a favor too?"

"two?"

"Or perhaps three?"

Hearing the chubby boy's excited words, Jessica covered her mouth and burst into laughter.

Of course, getting an autographed new jersey was no problem, but jerseys with such commemorative value weren't easy to come by, and she knew very well that what the chubby boy really wanted was the kind that Li Luo had.

So they didn't respond at all.

The gift in her hand was clearly a gift from Jessica.

and.

They prepared very carefully.

Compared to the value of the jersey, the sentiment behind it is obviously more precious. Seeing that she had a pair of jersey shorts with the number 8, Chocolate Sweetheart got herself a signed jersey.

It would be a lie to say that Li Luo wasn't moved.

"Thank you."

After examining the details of the jersey more closely, he looked at Jessica excitedly: "This is completely unexpected, I love it!"

"Hahaha."

Jessica laughed even harder, and then smugly pulled a fancy piece of paper from her pocket: "How about this? I don't think you'll refuse it either, right?"

"Waterfa!"

Irving stared at the piece of paper and immediately cursed, extremely envious, "Is this a Lakers courtside ticket for tonight?"

"No, no, no."

Wahlberg slammed his fist on the table, expressing his strong dissatisfaction.

Irving and Connor joined in with boos.

The ticket price is not expensive.

It can be done for three to five thousand US dollars.

The fact that the American sweetheart was getting autographed jerseys and courtside tickets was just too infuriating! Especially seeing Li Luo's smug smile, these guys wanted nothing more than to beat him up again.

"OK, OK."

Amidst the disdainful boos from these guys, Jessica laughed and pulled out a few more tickets, waving them around.

In the blink of an eye.

The boos turned into excited cheers.

This movement.

It was indeed quite a big one.

They quieted down before the waiter could remind them, watching Connor happily accept the tickets, while Wahlberg gulped down a mouthful of orange juice, knowing for sure that he would get one too.

These two guys.

It's obvious they don't intend to make it public.

Jessica wants to go to the game with Lee, so she needs someone to cover for her.

Wahlberg, however, didn't care; friends should help each other.

Especially this kind of thing.

"plum."

Thinking of something, Wahlberg put down his cup: "Actually, there's something else today. Before the game starts, could you spare some time to have dinner with me?"

"Someone wants to have a chat with you."

"no problem."

Li Luo paused for a moment, then quickly gestured to the other party that it was okay.

No matter who it is.

He has no objections now.

Getting to know more people in Hollywood is never a bad thing, especially after confirming that you're going to pursue a two-pronged approach and develop your career in Hollywood. Building connections here is essential.

Jessica cast a questioning look at her.

Only after Wahlberg said it wasn't a bad thing did she look away and enjoy her time with Lee.

After having brunch.

Everyone headed straight for the seaside villa.

As soon as Jessica entered the room, she jumped onto Li Luo without any hesitation and happily hugged his neck.
"Uh."

He looked at Jessica's assistant.

Li Luo hesitated.

The black-haired girl carrying the handbag looked surprised, then shook her head and chuckled.

"It's ok."

Chocolate Sweetheart nibbled on his ear, her face beaming with a sunny smile: "Anna is the person I trust most, and she is also my best friend. There are no secrets between us."

Amid the complaints of the others.

Li Luo laughed heartily, grabbed the girl's buttocks, and led the blushing Jessica upstairs.

What I owed earlier.

We have to pay it back right now.

After a short rest, Li Luo reunited with the crew.

After finishing the group appearance in the afternoon and attending the cocktail party tonight, the promotion of "Twilight" is basically over for him, since he still needs to highlight the key points.

Main tasks.

Pattinson and Christine will have to shoulder the responsibility.

Having garnered the greatest praise and glory, they naturally have to put in even more effort.

Get things done this afternoon.

Before heading to the Lakers' home arena to watch the game, Li Luo went to an elegantly decorated Italian restaurant and, led by a waiter, headed straight to a corner of the restaurant.

It's only five o'clock now.

It wasn't officially mealtime yet.

It was much quieter than in the morning, and soon Wahlberg's soft laughter could be heard.

"plum!"

Noticing his arrival, Wahlberg raised his arm.

at the same time.

The person who had been facing away from him turned around with a broad smile. The unfamiliar yet familiar face made Li Luo hesitate for a moment, but then he quickly walked forward, smiling and extending his hand:
“Mr. Emmanuel, I never expected it would be you who invited me to dinner.”

"plum."

Ali Emmanuel gave him a firm but measured handshake, smiled and nodded, saying, "You have a good memory. I hope this last-minute invitation hasn't caused you any trouble."

"of course not."

After exchanging a few polite words, Li Luo thanked the waiter who had helped pull out the chair.

Then he sat down with a calm expression.

A la carte.

Savoring fine wines from Italy.

Then we chatted casually.

Li Luo handled the situation with ease, while pondering the other party's intentions and how to respond, but before the other party revealed their intentions...

He wasn't in a hurry to ask.

With Wahlberg as a guest, there was no awkwardness at all.

Emmanuel's conversational skills were also quite good.

Well informed.

They can talk about anything with ease.

The other person speaks with great charisma, and can draw attention to him with every gesture. Even if a Hollywood star is sitting next to him, he cannot overshadow Emmanuel's presence.

He exudes boundless energy, and his high-bridged brows and eyes radiate intense confidence.

They are also naturally very approachable.

While Li Luo was observing Emmanuel, Emmanuel was also quickly analyzing the Asian man sitting in front of him amidst laughter and conversation.

Last time, I exchanged a few polite words and left in a hurry, simply because I thought the Asian man was good-looking.

Now we're communicating face-to-face.

He could clearly sense the unique aura emanating from the other person.

Very vivid.

They have their own unique aura.

As a veteran Hollywood agent, Emmanuel has worked with countless public figures, including actors, singers, supermodels, and athletes. In his view, every successful public figure is one of them.

Each of them possesses its own unique appeal.

at this point.

He felt it was very important.

Finally, you can sense the other person's sharpness, but Li's demeanor and speech are quite calm and composed, without any sense of restraint, which is completely different from the Asians you usually encounter.

Confident as if...
Emmanuel thought of a man with a big nose, and felt a similar sensation about that man.

That person was just more witty and talkative.

Li before my eyes.

It seemed a bit too composed.

However, in his opinion, this was definitely a good thing. It was better than those offbeat entertainers whose minds were full of erotica, women, and alcohol. At least he didn't have to worry about them suddenly exploding like a powder keg.

Think of this.

Emmanuel's gaze grew even more intense.

The way they looked at Li Luo was as if they were looking at a super hot stripper.

spaghetti.

He sucked on it with a slurping sound.

That longing look in her eyes reminded Li Luo of various Hollywood urban legends, and he immediately felt a tightness in his anus, and the smile on his face became a little stiff.

"Ok?"

Emmanuel noticed the change in his expression.

"fine."

Li Luo smiled, picked up his glass, and gestured to Wahlberg, saying, "I was just thinking about that girl Mark and I saw last time. My God! Her figure was amazing. Women are truly a gift from God."

Wahlberg instinctively clinked his glass together.

I wondered when I had ever seen a woman with a great figure.

I agree with your point of view.

Although he didn't know why Li Luo suddenly changed the subject, it didn't stop Emmanuel from picking up the thread: "I also met someone like that when I was in Las Vegas before."

"wrong."

He stopped speaking and looked at Li Luo with a strange expression: "You don't think I'm gay, do you?"

Wahlberg looked around, then burst into laughter: "My God, Ali, the way you were staring at Li just now really looked like a gay man! I didn't even realize it until you said it, hahaha!!!"

"Snapped!"

Emmanuel slapped his forehead hard.

"I bear witness."

Rubbing his face, Wahlberg couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Lee, Ali is definitely not the kind of person you think he is. In fact, he's the wildest mommy in strip clubs."

"The rest is up to you!"

"Hahaha."

"Ali is gay! Hahahaha, all the jokes for today are here!"

Amid bursts of chuckles.

Wahlberg strode towards the restroom.

"Feel sorry."

Li Luo looked at the person opposite him with embarrassment.

"It's ok."

Emmanuel shook his head and chuckled, then pulled out a business card from his pocket and handed it out with both hands: "I think it's necessary to reintroduce myself. I am Ali Emmanuel, the founder and CEO of Endeavour Elite Brokerage."

"My company's main business is brokerage."

“Mark Wahlberg, Jessica Alba, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Hugh Jackman and others are Endeavour’s contracted artists.”

"I do have feelings for you, but it has nothing to do with my body."

"it's here."

"I would like to formally extend an invitation to you."

"If possible, I'd like to help you truly integrate into Hollywood and become a globally renowned movie star, instead of just playing a minor role in a romantic fantasy film!"

(End of this chapter)