HuaYu14: Female celebrities are going too fast.

She tied her hair up with a nodding deer emoji, then tentatively asked:

[You're not angry, are you? Then I won't accept these kinds of guys next time!]

Zhou Xun smiled and typed slowly: [I'm not angry, just a little agitated.]

Naza replied instantly: [Feeling hot? Then drink more hot water.]

Zhou Xun: [Drinking water is useless.]

Naza: [What should we do then?]

Zhou Xun: [Next time we meet, just wear that black lace-trimmed dress (evil grin).]

So, which brand are you endorsing?

Na Zha posted a shy emoji: [The brand you like to drink.]

"What brand of drink do you like?"

Before Zhou Xun could reply, Nazha sent another message:

[Okay, I'm done chatting now, we still need to film after dinner. Talk to you next time.]

Zhou Xun: [Yes, I love you.]

"Can you stop grinning like an idiot at your phone?" came Huang Jingyu's dissatisfied voice from the side.

Zhou Xun looked up and found Huang Jingyu looking at him with a "hopeless" expression:

"What's so fun about being in a relationship?"

"You don't understand." Zhou Xun put his phone face down on the table, picked up his chopsticks, and said, "You can't feel your father's happiness."

"I can't feel it, but I do feel the joy of eating meat."

Huang Jingyu picked up a piece of braised pork and stuffed it into his mouth. "If you don't eat it, this whole plate of braised pork is mine."

Zhou Xun looked down and saw that only a small portion of the braised pork was left on the plate.

He wielded his chopsticks, quickly picking up a piece from the plate and stuffing it into his mouth.

Huang Jingyu was not to be outdone and followed suit, vying for the prize.

Actually, the braised pork was just so-so, but Zhou Xun thought that the braised pork he had won by his own merit was damn delicious.

After lunch, the two strolled leisurely along the sidewalk in front of the First Gate of Beijing to digest their food.

When it was almost time, the two took a taxi to the airport.

Zhou Xun was arranging pet transport. [JieJieJie] seemed to have gotten used to it, meowing twice before nestling in the carrier.

Huang Jingyu took Zhou Xun to the airport and then took a taxi back to the film set.

It was already 7 p.m. when Zhou found the hotel where the film crew was staying.

Following the directions, Zhou Xun found the casting director, Zhang Yu, who was there to greet him in the hotel's office.

"You must be Zhou Xun, the one Sister Li was talking about? You're quite the handsome young man." Zhang Yu extended his hand. "Please sit down and let's talk."

Zhou Xun smiled and shook hands, then placed the cat carrier on the ground.

After the two sat down, Zhang Yu pushed the script in front of Zhou Xun and got straight to the point:

"We've been rehearsing this segment of 'Flower and Moon' for about ten days now, and the official filming will begin in a few days."

"Zhuo Yun's character has a lot of action scenes, are you okay with that?"

Zhou Xun shook his head. "No problem."

"Okay!" Zhang Yu pushed the room key in front of Zhou Xun. "Get a good rest tonight, and join the formal training tomorrow."

"The contract hasn't been sent from headquarters yet. We'll send it to you as soon as it arrives."

Zhou Xun nodded, took the room key, and went upstairs.

At this moment, in the president's office of Shangjing Tangren, Cai Yinong's fingers were constantly tapping on the table.

There were two contracts on the table: one was the artist contract for Zhou Xun, and the other was the contract for the role of Zhuo Yun.

She's feeling a bit irritable right now because of Jiang Jingfu and Zhou Xun's artist contract.

Tsai Yi-nong's primary criterion for signing artists is appearance. She is very satisfied with Zhou Xun's looks and does want to sign him.

But for some reason, whenever she had this thought, she felt like ants were crawling all over her body.

She had a vague feeling that Zhou Xun was a bit of a jinx to Tang Ren, having lured away the top female star, and she couldn't do anything about it.

"Let him finish this movie and get out of here."

Cai Yinong rubbed her temples, pushed the artist contract aside, and only asked her assistant to send Zhuo Yun's role contract to Hengdian.

Zhou Xun was unaware that he had become Tang Ren's "nemesis," and he was studying Zhuo Yun's script in his room.

Zhuo Yun is a Taoist priest who is skilled in exorcising demons. He likes the fox spirit Hua Yue but never confesses his feelings.

The character arcs are fairly complete, and the character designs are indeed likable; no wonder Sister Li specifically recommended it.

The next morning, Zhou Xun carried [Jie Jie Jie] out the door, ate breakfast, and then followed the production crew to the training shed.

Zhou Xun casually placed [Jie Jie Jie] on a stool, hoping to let the fat cat move around a bit.

Unexpectedly, it meowed once and lay down on the stool.

Zhou Xun ignored it and followed the production assistant to find the action director, Li Dachao.

"Director Li, Zhou Xun has arrived," the stagehand said before leaving.

"You're here?" Li Dachao looked up and sized Zhou Xun up and down. "You're the new guy, Zhuo Yun?"

"Hello, Director Li." Zhou Xun smiled and nodded.

Li Dachao didn't mince words and said directly, "I heard you played Lü Bu in 'God of War'?"

Zhou Xun nodded, readily admitting it.

"The actor who plays Lü Bu must have a good foundation." Li Dachao waved his hand. "Come on, let's spar a bit, I want to see your skills."

The stuntmen nearby exchanged glances upon hearing this, and couldn't help but smile.

Everyone in the crew knows that Director Li is a member of Jackie Chan's stunt team, a trained martial artist with real kung fu skills.

Director Li wasn't just "exchanging a few moves"; he was clearly trying to subdue the newcomer so he could control him during later filming.

"OK."

Zhou Xun wasn't afraid at all; the [Fighting Mastery] skill in his mind wasn't just for show.

The two men stretched their wrists and stood in the center of the room, where people around them made way for them.

Li Dachao showed no mercy, got into a fighting stance, and threw a jab to test the waters.

Zhou Xun didn't move his feet, but dodged to the side and then retaliated with a jab.

The force of the punch swept past Li Dachao's eyes, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes:

"Kid, you've got some skills. I'm not going to hold back now."

"You're not bad either."

Li Dachao smiled slightly, abandoning his probing attitude and beginning to take it seriously.

The two exchanged blows for more than twenty rounds, with Zhou Xun skillfully deflecting every attack Li Dachao made.

Li Dachao could only barely dodge Zhou Xun's every counterattack.

Li Dachao's forehead was covered in sweat, while Zhou Xun appeared calm and composed.

Zhou Xun's youth clearly gave him an edge in terms of endurance.

The expressions on the faces of the stuntmen around them changed from watching the show to looking very serious.

"Could this kid really beat Director Li?!"

"Let's continue!" Li Dachao shouted, quickening his attack rhythm even further.

This time, Zhou Xun didn't give way. He seized an opportunity when Li Dachao missed a punch and suddenly pressed forward.

With his left hand, he deflected his block, while his right fist stopped just short of his chin.

A collective gasp rippled through the audience; everyone looked at each other in disbelief.

They both saw the disbelief in each other's eyes.

"Good lad." Li Dachao wasn't one to back down either; he patted Zhou Xun on the shoulder.

"Casting you for the role of Zhuo Yun was an absolutely correct decision!"

"Director Li is too kind."

"I didn't give way. I'm old and my legs are slow. I can't beat you."

Li Dachao waved his hand and turned to the stuntmen watching, saying:

"You saw it all clearly? That's real skill."

"We'll redesign Zhuo Yun's action scenes based on his skill level; let's not waste his solid foundation!"

The other stuntmen beside him nodded in agreement, their eyes now filled with admiration as they looked at Zhou Xun.

Zhou Xun dusted off his hands and was about to leave when he looked up and noticed that someone had appeared on the sidelines at some point.

Zhang Ruoyun was leaning against the prop box, arms crossed, looking at him with a half-smile:

"Brother, you're pretty good."