Huayu: Starting with Hextech

As filming of "Beauty's Rival in Palace" entered its second half, Yu Zheng's appreciation for Lin Xiao grew stronger.

That afternoon, Lin Xiao, dressed in a silver, gleaming armor, wearing a tasseled helmet, and holding a long sword, rode a tall black horse.

Sunlight shone on his armor, reflecting a dazzling light, making him look like a general who had stepped out of a painting, exuding heroic spirit and imposing authority.

"All troops, heed my command!"

Lin Xiao's voice wasn't particularly loud, but it carried a penetrating calmness and authority.

"This battle concerns the fate of our nation and the well-being of our people! We, as soldiers of the Han Dynasty, must defend our land with our very flesh and blood!"

He tightened the reins, and the warhorse reared up, letting out a neigh.

Lin Xiao steadied himself on horseback, his longsword pointing straight ahead, his eyes sharp as an eagle's: "Let's go!"

"Roar!" The extras responded in unison, their voices deafening.

"Cut! Perfect!"

Director Wu Jinyuan excitedly took off his headphones. "This shot is ready to use! Lin Xiao, your gaze and your presence just now were absolutely amazing!"

The staff at the scene applauded.

Several girls in charge of props and costumes huddled together, their eyes shining as they looked at Lin Xiao.

"Teacher Lin Xiao looks so handsome in armor..."

"My heart almost stopped when Ma stood up just now, but he actually kept his balance!"

"I heard he didn't use a stunt double; he did all the horse-riding scenes himself..."

Yu Zheng stood beside the monitor, arms crossed, a satisfied smile on his face.

He turned to his assistant and whispered, "Make a separate copy of that shot and send it to me."

"Mr. Yu, are we making promotional materials?" the assistant asked.

"Publicity is one aspect."

Yu Zheng pushed up his glasses, his eyes gleaming. "More importantly, let the investors see what 'cost-effectiveness' really means."

The "cost-effectiveness" he mentioned is precisely the greatest value Lin Xiao holds in his heart now.

Lin Xiao's salary was signed according to the standards for newcomers.

But his performance far exceeded what one would expect at this price point.

He has solid acting skills, is hardworking, and highly cooperative. More importantly, he naturally attracts attention and generates buzz.

Although "Chinese Paladin 3" has not yet been broadcast, some trailers and stills have already circulated online. Lin Xiao's portrayal of Chonglou is stunning and has already attracted a group of fans.

On the set of "Beauty's Rival in Palace", he visibly became more and more dazzling every day, and even the daily behind-the-scenes photos and videos of the crew received a lot more attention.

Yu Zheng saw all of this.

After finishing work that evening, Yu Zheng specifically asked his assistant to call Lin Xiao to his RV.

"Professor Yu Zheng," Lin Xiao greeted politely.

"Sit down, don't be shy." Yu Zheng poured him a cup of tea. "Try it, it's a pre-Qingming Longjing tea a friend gave me."

Lin Xiao accepted the tea with both hands, took a small sip, and said, "Good tea."

Yu Zheng smiled and looked him over.

Lin Xiao has removed her makeup and changed back into her everyday clothes.

Even so casually, her face was still excessively beautiful, and compared to when she first joined the crew, she seemed to have gained a more mature and composed air.

"You did a great job in today's circus performance." Yu Zheng got straight to the point. "Director Wu praised you for a long time, saying that you didn't need a stunt double, and that you practiced riding horses with the martial arts instructor for several days, falling down several times without saying a word."

Lin Xiao put down his teacup: "Of course. Since I'm playing a general, I can't not even ride a horse properly."

"There aren't many young people like you who are willing to endure hardship these days," Yu Zheng sighed. "Many young actors with a bit of fame complain endlessly about riding horses or even being suspended by wires, and they wish they could use stunt doubles for everything."

Lin Xiao didn't reply, but just listened quietly.

Yu Zheng paused, leaned forward slightly, and his tone became more candid:

"Lin Xiao, there are no outsiders here, so I'll be frank with you. I value the 'Beauty's Rival in Palace' project very much. And you are the biggest surprise in this project."

"Teacher Yu, you flatter me," Lin Xiao said modestly.

"It's not an overstatement, it's the truth." Yu Zheng waved his hand. "Your acting skills, attitude, and... well, your image, have all exceeded my expectations. Most importantly, you know how to cooperate and consider the crew's needs."

His words were pointed.

A few days ago, a media outlet wanted to visit the set for an exclusive interview, mainly with Lin Xiao and Yang Mi.

After obtaining Yu Zheng's consent, Lin Xiao took the initiative to suggest that the interview focus on the drama "Beauty's Rival in Palace" and the entire team, rather than on Lin Xiao himself.

This action pleased Yu Zheng.

"The crew is a whole, and I'm just one part of it," Lin Xiao replied tactfully.

Yu Zheng nodded, his admiration deepening.

He pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Now that 'Beauty's Rival in Palace' is finished filming, what are your plans for the future?"

Lin Xiao's heart skipped a beat; he knew the main topic was about to be discussed.

"I'm currently in contact with a few scripts, and I'm still considering them," he answered rather conservatively. "I mainly want to choose suitable roles and continue to build my experience."

"Yes, it's good to be cautious." Yu Zheng took a folder from his briefcase and handed it to Lin Xiao. "Take a look at this."

Lin Xiao took it and opened it.

Inside are preliminary plans for several projects, including period dramas, Republican-era dramas, and modern dramas.

Although they are still in their early stages, it is clear that the certification studio is putting considerable effort into its preparations.

"These are the projects I will focus on in the next year or two."

Yu Zheng lit a cigarette and slowly said, "Some of them I handle myself, and some I collaborate with other companies. As for actors, I'm always looking for suitable, promising newcomers."

He looked at Lin Xiao with intense gaze: "Lin Xiao, I have high hopes for you. Beyond just our collaboration on 'Beauty's Rival in Palace,' I hope we can have a longer and deeper partnership."

Lin Xiao closed the folder, his expression earnest: "Thank you for your trust and guidance, Teacher Yu Zheng. It is my honor to learn from you."

He neither immediately agreed nor refused, but expressed his gratitude and willingness to cooperate.

This sense of propriety once again earned Yu Zheng's high regard.

"We'll discuss the specifics once the project is more mature," Yu Zheng flicked his cigarette ash. "But there's something I can tell you in advance."

He lowered his voice: "I have an idea for a Qing Dynasty drama, and the outline is almost complete. It's about a modern girl who travels back to the Qing Dynasty and gets caught up in the power struggle among the princes. I'm thinking of Yang Mi for the female lead. As for the male lead..."

He paused, then looked at Lin Xiao: "I think you're a good fit."

Lin Xiao's heart skipped a beat.

A Qing Dynasty palace drama? Time travel? The struggle for the throne among the nine princes?

Could this be... "Palace"?

According to the timeline of the previous life, "Palace" is indeed a work by Yu Zheng. Filming began in 2010 and it was broadcast in 2011. The main actors were Yang Mi and Feng Shaofeng.

This drama sparked a craze for time-travel dramas in mainland China and propelled Yang Mi to become a top-tier actress.

If Yu Zheng already has this idea now, and prefers him and Yang Mi...

"Professor Yu Zheng, this topic is very novel." Lin Xiao steadied himself and carefully chose his words. "If the script is well-developed, I would certainly be willing to give it a try."

"Great!" Yu Zheng smiled. "I'm glad you said that. The script is still being polished, and it should be ready by the end of the year. I'll show it to you first then."

"Thank you, Professor Yu Zheng," Lin Xiao said sincerely.

He knew that Yu Zheng's connection had been initially secured.

Yu Zheng, who will dominate the TV drama industry in the next few years, has already included him in his list of core partners.

After chatting for a while longer, Lin Xiao got up to say goodbye.

Stepping out of the RV, the cool night breeze of Hengdian blew in.

Lin Xiao took a deep breath, feeling something surging in his chest.

Yu Zheng's favor means that he is likely to have no shortage of acting opportunities in the next few years.

Moreover, they star in dramas that are destined to be hits, either as the male lead or as an important supporting actor.

This is an unimaginable opportunity for a newcomer who is just starting out.

But he wasn't blinded by greed.

Yu Zheng's acting can make people famous, but it also has its limitations.

It's formulaic, controversial, and can easily lead to actors being typecast.

He can't put all his bets on this one ship.

We still need to follow up on Wang Jinhua's situation at Huayi Brothers.

That's a bigger platform, with broader resources.

There is also the possibility of developing independently.