Huayu: This top star doesn't play by the rules.

Nodding, Chen Chao took the script from Zhou Yuanzhou, glanced at it a few times, memorized its contents, and then closed his eyes to prepare himself.

When he reopened his eyes, his entire demeanor changed abruptly. He gently adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose, his gaze gentle yet carrying a sense of detachment.

Looking at Zhou Yuanzhou sitting not far from him, Chen Chao's eyes flashed with a barely perceptible emotion, but he quickly regained his composure and a perfectly timed smile appeared on his lips. "Director Zhao, I've long admired your name."

With just a glance, a gesture, and a single sentence, Chen Chao perfectly captured the essence of Shen Wei during this period.

They exchanged a glance, and both Zhou Yuanzhou and Yang Yijing saw surprise in each other's eyes.

"Very good." Zhou Yuanzhou nodded slightly and said, "Next, Chen Chao, please try out the scene where the Black-Robed Envoy makes his entrance again."

Reaching out, he took off his glasses and casually placed them on the table. The gentle look in Chen Chao's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by an aura of authority and coldness that emanated from his very bones.

Even though it was just a matter of taking off his glasses, Chen Chao gave them the feeling that he was a completely different person, as if he really was the black-robed envoy who had protected the land for thousands of years, stepping out of the script.

Looking at Chen Chao in front of her, Yang Yijing couldn't help but gasp and whispered to Zhou Yuanzhou, "He looks so much like him. He gives me the same feeling as the Black-Robed Envoy I imagined."

But Zhou Yuanzhou didn't speak, he just stared intently at Chen Chao, his eyes full of anticipation, "Finally, let's test Night Lord."

After a moment of silence, Chen Chao slowly curled a wicked smile onto his lips. He tilted his head slightly, his eyes filled with madness and obsession, as well as a hint of vulnerability that was barely perceptible.

Before Chen Chao could even continue his performance, Zhou Yuanzhou excitedly stood up, walked over to Chen Chao, and tightly grasped his hand. "That's wonderful! That's fantastic! Chen Chao, you're exactly the Shen Wei I've been looking for!"

"No, you are Shen Wei, the Black-Robed Envoy, and the Night Lord! This role is perfect for you!"

Hearing Zhou Yuanzhou's words, Yang Yijing quickly echoed, "That's right! Teacher Chen Chao, your acting skills are amazing! We sincerely invite you to play the male lead in 'Guardian'!"

Letting out a soft breath, Chen Chao quickly returned to his usual demeanor, smiling as he said, "Thank you for your recognition, Director Zhou and Producer Yang. I'm very happy to play this role."

With both parties interested, the rest was a natural progression: Ji Ran discussed the contract details with Zhou Yuanzhou and Yang Yijing.

Before LeEco withdrew its investment and ran away, the production team of "Guardian" was quite wealthy. Therefore, thanks to Ji Ran's strong argument and the fact that he had to play three roles, Chen Chao received a very good salary.

The contract also included a point that Chen Chao valued most: the production team promised that the drama would not have any BL (Boys' Love) plot elements like those in the BL adaptation of "Addicted".

After signing the contract, Zhou Yuanzhou personally escorted Chen Chao and Ji Ran downstairs. "Chen Chao, our crew is scheduled to start filming on March 5th. Take some time to prepare, and contact me anytime if you have any questions."

"Okay, Director Zhou."

.........

February 22nd arrived in the blink of an eye, and the cumulative box office of "Duckweed" officially broke through the 1.5 billion RMB mark, but this has already reached its limit.

This achievement not only proved Han Han's directing ability but also recognized Deng Chao's box office appeal. Chen Chao, who played the second male lead, also reaped considerable rewards.

From a newcomer who debuted less than a year ago to a film actor with 1.5 billion yuan in box office revenue, Chen Chao's rise has been so rapid that it has caught the attention of many in the entertainment industry.

Suddenly, scripts, endorsements, and variety show invitations poured into Chen Chao's studio like snowflakes. Ji Ran, the studio manager, was so busy every day that she barely had time to breathe.

"Chao, these are a few scripts that I think are okay." Ji Ran placed several printed scripts in front of Chen Chao and said in a deep voice, "There are male leads in period dramas and second male leads in movies."

Chen Chao picked up the script and flipped through it. Comparing it to his memory, he found that it was all stuff he had never heard of before. He shook his head and put the script down. "I won't take on any other roles for now. I'll dedicate all my time to 'Guardian'."

"Guardian?" Upon hearing Chen Chao's words, Ji Ran couldn't help but frown. "Chao, I'm not saying Guardian is bad, but it's just a web series after all, with limited investment and influence."

"You're currently in your rising phase, so you should take on more excellent TV dramas and big-budget movies to solidify your position and achievements."

"Brother Ji Ran, I know you're doing this for my own good." After thinking for a moment, Chen Chao managed to come up with a reason, "But I believe 'Guardian' won't let us down."

"Moreover, playing three roles is very challenging for me, and it should help me improve my acting skills. We can earn money anytime, but suitable roles are not always available."

Seeing Chen Chao's determined gaze, Ji Ran could only nod slightly in the end, "Okay, I'll listen to you."

"Oh, right, there's something else." Ji Ran seemed to suddenly remember something. "CCTV contacted us and wants to invite you to participate in this year's May Fourth Youth Day Gala."

"The May Fourth Gala?" Chen Chao paused for a moment, then his eyes lit up. "Sure, no problem. But did they specify what kind of performance I need to do?"

"Yes, they chose your most famous work, 'Misplaced Time and Space'," Ji Ran said with a smile.

"Uh, this song isn't really suitable for the May Fourth Gala, is it?" Chen Chao was slightly taken aback upon hearing Ji Ran's words.

"Indeed, the theme doesn't quite fit, so they're wondering if you could adapt it to make it more relevant to national sentiment?"

After pondering for a moment, Chen Chao nodded. He already had an idea of ​​how to adapt it, since there would be two versions of this patriotic song, "Misplaced Time and Space," in the future. "Okay, I'll give it a try."

Over the next few days, Chen Chao, who had no particular schedule, focused on studying the adaptation of "Misplaced Time and Space" in his hotel room.

.........

On March 2nd, Chen Chao Studio officially released "Misplaced Time and Space (May Fourth Special Edition)".

The song caused a sensation across the internet as soon as it was released. Unlike the original version's gentle sadness, the May Fourth version of "Misplaced Time and Space" has a more stirring melody and lyrics full of patriotism and historical weight.

Chen Chao, with his clear and powerful voice, sang out a dialogue spanning a century, expressing contemporary youth's respect for and inheritance of revolutionary martyrs.