He plays Feng Yuxiu, and his girlfriend is a fairy-like beauty.

Chen Sicheng withdrew his fingers from the table.

He didn't say anything, but picked up his iced lemon tea and Chong Yemo raised it up.

"Use tea instead of wine."

He tilted his head back and took a big gulp, his Adam's apple bobbing as the cup hit the table with a muffled sound.

"Ye Mo, I'm not a believer in fate, but tonight I'm starting to believe."

He pushed his chair back half an inch and sat up straight.

"I started writing the script for this play two years ago. Back then, I would write until three or four in the morning every night after work. The plot had to be coherent, the jokes had to be incorporated, and it had to be convincing. I revised it seventeen times."

"After I finished writing it, I took the notebook and went around looking for investment for half a year."

"Some people say that suspense films have no market in mainland China, some say that mixing comedy and mystery is incongruous, and some people directly told me - Sicheng, can't you just focus on acting? Not everyone can be a director."

He smiled, but it was a very faint smile.

"Before tonight, I was still short 15 million besides Baoqiang. I originally planned to make another trip to Beijing next week to shamelessly knock on the doors of a few bosses."

"Then Baoqiang brought you here."

He glanced at Wang Baoqiang.

Wang Baoqiang was looking down at a piece of French toast, his mouth still full, when he mumbled, "What are you looking at? It's not like it's the first time I've helped you."

Chen Sicheng didn't respond, and turned his gaze back to Ye Mo.

"Ye Mo, I don't know you well. Before tonight, I had only seen you on the big screen. But I, Chen Sicheng, will remember that you came and invested this money. If you ever need my help in the future, just say the word."

Ye Mo waved his hand.

"Director Chen—I'll call you Brother Sicheng, don't be so harsh. I'm not giving this away for free; investments are meant to yield returns."

"That's natural." Chen Sicheng nodded.

Ye Mo picked up the milk tea, took a sip, and slowly put it down.

"However, there's something I need to explain to you first."

"I'll have to wait a while for that money."

"I'm currently filming three movies back-to-back. My salary for 'Infernal Affairs' will be paid according to the contract, and I won't get paid until filming wraps up. 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes' is almost done, and my cameo role in that movie will be paid soon too. All three payments will be received within a month at the latest."

"Fifteen million will be deposited into your account within a month, not a penny less."

Chen Sicheng thought for two seconds.

"No problem. I need more time to prepare. The actors, the venue, and the crew setup can't be done in a day or two. A month will be just right."

Wang Baoqiang finally swallowed the French toast.

"I'm saying, you two, one of you is contributing money and the other is contributing labor, so what am I contributing?"

Ye Mo glanced at him: "You're going to risk your life? Aren't you playing the unlucky guy who got framed?"

Chen Sicheng burst out laughing.

Wang Baoqiang laughed too, and then slapped the table again as he laughed.

"You understand me best. When Sicheng and I were filming 'Soldiers Sortie,' we crawled on the ground in temperatures below minus twenty degrees Celsius. The skin on our hands was all chafed. But we didn't feel the hardship back then—because you were my brother by my side."

"Now we're brothers again."

He picked up his iced lemon tea and stood up.

"Come on, everyone, pick up your glasses—there's no wine tonight, so take this. Sicheng, Ye Mo, just say the word."

Chen Sicheng stood up.

Ye Mo also stood up.

Three cups of iced lemon tea were brought together.

"Never abandon, never give up."

Wang Baoqiang's voice cracked slightly when he said this.

After drinking the dregs, he sat down, lowered his head, and continued to eat his French toast, never looking up at anyone again.

Chen Sicheng remained silent for a while, then suddenly spoke.

"Ye Mo, you said you wanted to make a cameo appearance—I actually have a role I'd like you to try out."

"What role?"

"A robber, not many scenes, only two or three, but very crucial, requires an actor who can intimidate people just by looking at him."

Ye Mo recalled the robbers in the movie "Detective Chinatown" from his previous life.

"Okay, let me know your availability when the time comes."

Casual chat.

Chen Sicheng asked Ye Mo about her experience on "Infernal Affairs," and Ye Mo briefly explained what happened on set.

Wang Baoqiang interjected: "Do you know what Brother Dehua said about Ye Mo on set? He said that when acting with Ye Mo, you don't need to act; there's something being delivered to you through his eyes, and you just need to receive it."

Ye Mo was taken aback: "He really said that?"

Why would I lie to you? Zulan heard it too.

Chen Sicheng looked at Ye Mo thoughtfully.

"I don't recall any young actor who could make Andy Lau say something like that. Ye Mo, what level have you reached now?"

Ye Mo thought for a moment.

"I don't know, I just want to play each role well."

Chen Sicheng did not ask any further questions.

The three of them chatted for a while longer about Running Man, Wang Baoqiang's new movie, and which Hong Kong tea restaurant had the best pineapple buns.

One o'clock in the morning.

Ye Mo stood up to take his leave.

Chen Sicheng escorted him to the entrance of the tea restaurant.

"Ye Mo," Chen Sicheng called out to him, "Regardless of what happens in the future, you're my brother now."

Ye Mo turned around and glanced at him.

Without saying anything, she reached out and patted him on the shoulder.

I turned and walked into the night in Tsim Sha Tsui.

---

The next day.

Zhang Yuan's temporary office.

Ye Mo finished recounting what happened last night.

Zhang Yuan sat behind her desk, looking at him with an expression in her eyes as if she had just swallowed an egg.

"Fifteen million?"

"Um."

"Chen Sicheng?"

"Um."

"A director's debut film who has never made a movie before?"

"Um."

Zhang Yuan took a deep breath.

She picked up the coffee on the table, took a sip, put it down, picked it up again, and put it down again.

"Ye Mo, don't speak yet, let me calm down."

There was silence for about ten seconds.

"What's your situation right now?" Zhang Yuan leaned forward.

"Your bet with Liu Yifei's mother is for two years and 100 million yuan. You're currently filming three movies back-to-back, with your combined salary after taxes amounting to just over 14 million yuan. 'Infernal Affairs' hasn't finished filming yet, 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes' hasn't finished filming yet, and the movie you had a cameo role in is also being filmed—you haven't received the money yet. How much cash do you have on hand?"

"Adding my previous savings, it's almost exactly fifteen million."

"So you put all your savings into it."

"right."

"Invest in an actor who has never made a film before, so he can make his directorial debut, which he wrote, directed, and starred in."

"right."

Zhang Yuan leaned back in her chair.

Do you know how many actors' directorial debuts flop every year?

"Know."

Do you know what the box office ceiling is for the suspense comedy genre in China?

There is no ceiling.

Zhang Yuan choked for a moment.

Ye Mo put down the cup in his hand.

"Sister Yuan, I have a question for you."

"you say."

"Why am I popular now and earn a high salary?"

"You're a good actor, you've become famous."

"How long will this popularity last?"

Zhang Yuan didn't respond.

"One movie can keep me famous for half a year, two movies for a year. I'm currently filming three movies at the same time. After they're all released, I'll have at least a year and a half of exposure. During that year and a half, I'll be valuable."

"But what about a year and a half later?"

"New actors emerge, new hit shows appear, and the audience's attention shifts. No one in the entertainment industry can stay popular forever—Brother Dehua has been popular for thirty years, but that's an exception, not the norm."

Zhang Yuan's expression changed.

It wasn't that I was persuaded, but rather that something about me was touched.

Ye Mo continued.

"If I put all this money in the bank, how many points would I get in interest in a year? It's hard to say if it would even keep up with inflation. But if I invest it in a reliable project, the return could be dozens of times."

How do you know Chen Sicheng is reliable?

Ye Mo thought for a moment.

"He had a script, which he worked on for two years. Wang Baoqiang had known him for over a decade and was willing to invest his own money in it and act for free."

"Sister Yuan, someone who would make someone like Wang Baoqiang willing to bet his entire fortune, can't be a swindler."

Zhang Yuan remained silent for a long time.

"You've convinced me."

She paused for a moment, then said, "But there's a condition—I'll review the contract; you can't sign it alone, and all terms must go through the proper procedures."

"OK."

"And another thing," she said, looking at Ye Mo, "how much sleep have you been getting lately?"

"That's enough."

"Enough my ass! The dark circles under your eyes are practically down to your chin. Don't go anywhere after work today, just go home and sleep."

Ye Mo smiled.

"OK."

However, there was one thing Zhang Yuan hadn't told Ye Mo.

Chen Sicheng has powerful connections, so his new movie won't be too bad!

---

night.

Ye Mo returned to his residence and collapsed onto the sofa.

The phone rang.

Liu Yifei.

"Feed".

"Why does your voice sound like that? Didn't you sleep well again?"

Liu Yifei's voice came through the receiver, thousands of kilometers away, across the distance of the mainland.

"I'm going to sleep. Sister Yuan forced me to finish work early today."

"Did she force you?"

"Um."

"Then I should thank her."

There was a two-second silence.

"I heard you made an investment?"

"Did Sister Zhang tell you that?"

"She sent me a WeChat message saying that your Ye Mo did something big last night. I thought you were injured again, and then she told me to ask you myself."

Ye Mo switched the phone to his other ear.

"He wasn't injured; he just invested in a movie, Chen Sicheng's directorial debut, a suspenseful comedy."

"How much?"

"Fifteen million."

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

"...You've invested your entire fortune?"

"almost."

Another silence fell.

Then Liu Yifei smiled gently.

"You know what? If my mom finds out, she'll definitely say you're unreliable again."

"And you?"

"I?"

Liu Yifei lowered her voice a little.

"I think you should just do what you want to do. Anyway—if you lose everything, I'll take care of you from now on."

Ye Mo was taken aback.

Then I laughed out loud.

"What are you laughing at?"

"You'll support me? Then wouldn't I be living off a woman?"

"right!"

"Then I'm going to spend all your savings!"

The two of them laughed for a long time over the phone.

After laughing, Liu Yifei's voice became serious.

"Ye Mo".

"Um."

"Are you really alright? I heard you had dark circles under your eyes like a panda last night at the tea restaurant."

"It's nothing, it's just that there's been a lot of drama these past few days."

"Promise me one thing."

"you say."

Send me a message every day telling me how many hours you slept. If it's less than five hours—

"So what are you going to do about it?"

"I'll buy a plane ticket and fly there."

Ye Mo held the phone to his ear.

The night view of Hong Kong outside the window is ablaze with lights.

"it is good."

"You agreed."

"Um."

"Then I'll hang up, you can go to sleep."

"No, not at all."

"Um?"

"miss you."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.

"Me too."

hang up.

Ye Mo held his phone to his chest and stared at the ceiling.

The light from the window cast flickering shadows on his face.

A moment later he turned over.

The number in my head is still spinning.

Ten million.

One billion.

Two years.

But there was a slight curve at the corner of his mouth.

He can't wait two years; he must achieve his goal within a year at most!

......