Just because I wrote "Zhu Xian," the school beauty sent me razor blades.

The moment the news of the "Flirting Scholar" project was announced, actors throughout the Chinese film and television industry couldn't sit still.

Everyone in the industry knows Lin Yuan's influence. Getting into any of Lin Yuan's projects, whether it's a lead role or a minor character, is practically a guaranteed ticket to stardom. Tianxing Film and Television's casting studio's inbox was completely flooded with recommendation letters from various talent agencies within just two days.

However, Lin Yuan's choice of lead actor surprised everyone.

Instead of choosing current top-tier celebrities or traditional comedians known for their humor, he made a direct decision, casting Zhou Chen, a talented middle-aged actor whose acting skills, though previously lukewarm due to his handsome appearance, were superb, to play "Tang Bohu." The female lead, "Qiu Xiang," was played by Xu Qian, a bright and charming young actress with a sweet appearance and a touch of arrogance.

At the audition, Zhou Chen's hands were shaking when he received the script.

"Director Lin... are you sure you want me to play Tang Bohu?" Zhou Chen gripped the script, his eyes filled with both excitement and confusion. "I've only ever played righteous, awe-inspiring heroes in period dramas or serious historical figures. This Tang Bohu is not only going to be eccentric, but he also has to rap while banging on a bowl. My style... won't it be too incongruous?"

"That's the contrast we're going for." Lin Yuan leaned back on the sofa, smiling as he guided the conversation. "A righteous and awe-inspiring exterior paired with an extremely unrestrained and nonsensical soul. The more composed you are in normal times, the more explosive the humor will be when you let loose. Trust me, after you play this Tang Bohu, your acting career will directly enter a new phase."

Not only is the cast of leading actors amazing, but the casting of supporting actors is also a battle of the gods in the Chinese film industry.

Upon learning that Lin Yuan was going to make a comedy, many top veteran actors and award-winning figures in the industry not only had no airs, but even volunteered to make cameo appearances without any payment.

Zhang Jingsong, a veteran singer who is currently popular in the music scene, was "convinced" by Lin Yuan and happily accepted the role of Zhu Zhishan. He even signed a written agreement on the spot, guaranteeing that he would not use a stunt double when filming the scenes of "splashing ink to paint and running naked with ink on his whole body"!

The pivotal role of "Madam Hua" is played by Qin Hua, a veteran actress known for her stern and elegant performances. Furthermore, the roles of Hua's senior advisor "Dui Dui Peng" and the villain "Deadly Scholar" are also filled by renowned veteran actors with solid acting skills.

When this lineup was released, the entire internet exclaimed that it was "outrageously luxurious"!

……

In the rehearsal hall, the first script reading and trial performance began.

In the spacious hall, a group of veteran actors, who usually exude an aura of authority on the red carpet and in serious dramas, sat in a circle, each holding a script and displaying a different expression.

"To be honest, I've been acting my whole life, won three Best Actress awards, and today, getting this role as Madam Hua, I'm actually a little nervous." Qin Hua rubbed her temples, a rare hint of unease appearing on her elegant face. "Director Lin, for this 'Smiling Half-Step Madness' and 'One-Day Death Powder' segment, the dialogue requires me to act like a TV shopping host, trying to sell Tang Bohu to each other? And to make extremely exaggerated frozen expressions for the camera? This... won't it look ridiculous?"

Zhang Jingsong, stroking his beard, chimed in, "Yeah, Director Lin, and there was that scene where I walked the street with the Four Great Talents. I had to fold a fan and twist my waist – my old back can't take that kind of torture! Can the audience really accept that style?"

Although everyone admires Lin Yuan, the veteran actors who are used to traditional performance norms inevitably feel a little reserved and restrained when faced with this cross-generational "nonsensical" style.

The atmosphere at the scene fell into a subtle pause.

Seeing this, Lin Yuan stood up unhurriedly and casually draped his coat over the back of the chair.

"It's indeed abstract to just look at the words, so let me give you an example." Lin Yuan walked to the center of the venue, his expression changing instantly.

Lin Yuan instantly switched modes, his hands loosely gripping as if holding a microphone, his gaze shifting from cool and composed to a highly expressive, playful, and arrogant one. A rapid-fire, rhythmic "bowl-pounding rap" burst forth:

"In Peach Blossom Valley dwells a Peach Blossom Hermitage, and in the hermitage dwells a Peach Blossom Immortal! The Peach Blossom Immortal plants peach trees, and picks the blossoms to exchange for wine!"

Lin Yuan not only speaks clearly and seamlessly into the dynamic rhythm, but also uses the rhythm of his body and the smooth switching of his eyes to vividly portray the image of Tang Bohu, who is "unrestrained on the surface but infinitely affectionate on the inside"!

Immediately afterwards, Lin Yuan played two roles, performing the scene where "Madam Hua" and "Tang Bohu" were trying to sell each other poison—

"Our Hua family's 'One-Day Death Powder' is made from seven kinds of poisonous insects combined with Tian Shan snow lotus. Anyone who eats it will die within a day!" Lin Yuan's tone changed, his eyes fixed, and he made an extremely exaggerated and comical expression of praise for the camera. "It's truly an essential medicine for home, travel, and even for silencing witnesses!"

Changing his stance, he transformed into "Tang Bohu": "Our Tang family's 'Smiling Half-Step Madness' is no less impressive! It's made by boiling a half-step snake and a mad toad. As the name suggests, you absolutely cannot take half a step or show a smile, otherwise your whole body will explode and you'll die!"

The one-minute demonstration seamlessly connects the rhythm of the lines, the subtle manipulation of facial expressions, and the explosive point of the nonsensical core!

The rehearsal hall fell into a deathly silence.

All the veteran actors and Zhou Chen were stunned! Their eyes almost popped out of their sockets!

"My God... this is so smooth!" Zhou Chen gasped, his scalp tingling from the terrifying tension of Lin Yuan's performance.

"The rhythm! The facial control! My God, this isn't just slapstick, it's a perfect fusion of exaggerated humor and top-notch dramatic tension!" Qin Hua's eyes lit up, and he slammed his hand on the table, his elegant face filled with excitement. "I get it! Director Lin! I completely understand how to act in this style!"

With Lin Yuan's personal demonstration, the reserve and awkwardness in the rehearsal hall vanished instantly, replaced by a hilarious "carnival" where everyone's true nature was unleashed.

Once veteran actors shed their airs, their formidable acting prowess is activated by nonsensical scripts, creating a chemical reaction that's practically nuclear fusion!

Qin Hua completely shed her past image as a Best Actress. In the scene where she was selling poison, her eyes darted around faster than anyone else's, vividly portraying the character's "arrogant yet serious nonsense."

Zhang Jingsong let loose, holding the script and discussing with Zhou Chen the scene where "Zhu Zhishan is painted as a divine eagle," laughing so hard he couldn't straighten up: "Hahahaha! 'This is clearly a picture of a little bird pecking at rice, and you're telling me it's a divine eagle spreading its wings?!' Director Lin, this scene is amazing! I'll act it! I'll even act it if I'm covered in paint! If this doesn't become a hit, I'll change my name!"

The veteran actor who played the senior advisor "Dui Dui Peng" added a lot of extremely funny physical movements when he was rehearsing his lines with Zhou Chen and was "vomiting non-stop". After the performance, the entire crew laughed so hard that they fell to the ground and couldn't get up.

"Acting used to be a labor of love, but rehearsing with Director Lin today, I'm practically laughing my lungs off!" Zhou Chen wiped away tears of laughter, utterly impressed by Lin Yuan. "Director Lin, I swear, if we keep filming at this pace, this movie will definitely rewrite the history of Chinese-language comedies on Chinese New Year's Day!"

Lin Yuan looked at the group of veteran actors in front of him, who were thoroughly enjoying themselves and even vying to add more scenes, and calmly nodded: "Everyone, keep this up. Comedy is meant to make people laugh, so the actors themselves have to have fun first. Pack up, we're officially starting filming tomorrow!"

The news spread like wildfire, and when the entire internet learned that the cast of "Flirting Scholar" actually included many film emperors, film empresses and veteran singers, and that these veteran actors were "happily rehearsing" on set, major social media platforms exploded once again.

"Am I seeing things? Qin Hua is going to act in a comedy? Zhang Jingsong is playing Zhu Zhishan?"

"Veteran actors collectively letting loose? What magic does Director Lin possess?!"

"I can't wait for the first day of the Lunar New Year to come! I can't wait to see the gods fight!"

After rehearsal, Lin Yuan stood in front of the corridor of Tianxing Film and Television, listening to the laughter and cheerful voices coming from the rehearsal hall behind him, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

The perfect casting has been completed; the game is now in a winning position.