The Martial Artist Turned Movie Mogul

Chapter 26: 25. Our own artists are so competitive Chapter 26: 25. Our own artists are so competitive Could this person be a scammer?

Everyone knows Director Xie is strict in hiring, and it seems the search for the female assassin has been going on for two or three months now, with many first and second-tier stars eager to play the role. How could it be Tang Shu’s turn?

A scammer, it must be a scammer!

Sister Luo grew even more convinced in her heart.

However, the person on the other end of the line orderly explained, “This is the situation: Director Xie saw Tang Shu’s performance in ‘Journey Together’ and looked up some idol drama clips she appeared in recently online, feeling that her acting skills could carry the role.”

“Wait, ‘Journey… Together’?”

This scammer’s got some skills, huh?

Even knew that Tang Shu was filming a variety show—not out of the loop at all!

“Yes, Director Lin of ‘Journey Together’ is a schoolmate of our Director Xie. He recommended Tang Shu, and after seeing her martial abilities, Director Xie thought she was very suitable.”

Martial abilities…

Is he talking about Tang Shu? She had no idea her artist had such skills.

Luo Lin was full of question marks when she heard this, and before she could make sense of it, her email pinged, and a voice came from her phone.

“The contract for this role has been sent to your email. The movie shooting is scheduled for next month. Please take a look at the terms and get back to us later.”

“Okay… sure.”

Sister Luo hung up the phone, dubious, and clicked to open the contract template, finding the terms clear and detailed.

As a veteran agent, she could tell at a glance whether the contract was legitimate or not.

“┗|｀O′|┛ Wow—!!!”

The next instant, a groundhog-like scream echoed through the hotel room.

“It’s real, it’s real!”

“I’m not dreaming, not at all!”

After her excitement subsided, Sister Luo, with her own artist’s trusty Big Horse Monkey, dove headfirst into the soft bed, accidentally kicking off the pile of TV drama scripts with her foot.

“With Director Xie’s movie in hand, who needs TV drama scripts?”

“No thanks to them!”

Then, remembering something, a hint of regret flickered in Sister Luo’s eyes.

“Now I won’t get to use my sharp eyesight as a seasoned agent.”

Their artist was too outstanding – no help for it—
***
Day three of the shoot.

Resting in a tent deep within the forest, everyone would wake up early due to discomfort, even after a tiring previous day.

Geng Qiuqiu rubbed her eyes and sat up before stepping out to find that Tang Shu next door had already packed up neatly, and her tent was folded just as tidy.

In her hand was a map, and with the other, she was writing and drawing with a marker pen.

The exquisite features of her face radiated a unique calm, and her slightly tight sportswear added a forbiddance to her beauty.

Darn, even she, a woman, was tempted.

This young lady was definitely enchanting!

Geng Qiuqiu was annoyed that her heart raced just from looking at a woman, and even after two full days together, she still wasn’t accustomed to Tang Shu, who was a bit different from others.

She reached out a claw and greeted her quietly.

“Tangtang, good morning~~~”
“Morning, Sister Qiu.”

Tang Shu folded the map several times and tucked it into her backpack before handing over the prepared breakfast.

“Have something to eat, we’ll be setting off soon.”

“You were looking at the map just now, will we reach the primitive village today?”

“Yes, we’ll get there if we head east for another Shichen.”

“An hour…”

“Two hours.”

Tang Shu corrected herself.

She was still not quite accustomed to some of the modern ways of life.

The team members woke up one after another, and the group packed up and resumed their trekking and fording actions. However, compared to the previous two days, their pace had quickened significantly.

Zeng Xiumin, wearing the sportswear Geng Qiuqiu had lent her, used all her strength to barely keep up with the group’s pace.

Just as Tang Shu predicted, before noon, the group caught sight of the ancient village hidden amidst the forest.

From a distance, it looked even more like a quaint village. Occasionally, villagers in ethnic minority garments could be seen walking through the mountains, and now and then, children’s playful laughter could be heard from within the village.

“We’ve finally arrived!”

Everyone cheered in unison. Each person had acquired a few new wounds, an inevitable part of their difficult journey.

Lin Yi smiled, “Our hidden mission is about to start. Let’s go and find out how the villagers live.”

The primitive village was not large, with a total population of just over three hundred people, not more than a hundred households.

Because there was only one rugged path suitable for single-file travel leading to the outside, and given that this area was part of a protected primeval forest, modern development was limited. Therefore, the villagers’ lives were somewhat harder than average.

“Why don’t they move out? The outside world obviously offers a better life.”

“Perhaps it’s because their ancestors are from here. That’s a kind of attachment.”

There are always some people whose attraction to the outside world is far less important than the land that has nurtured them since birth.

With the enthusiastic hospitality of the villagers, the group took a comprehensive tour, and aside from some homemade candied fruits and vegetables, there was almost nothing to gain.

“I think these hand-woven bamboo baskets made by the villagers are quite nice, very artistic. How about we sell them during a live stream?”

“And these candied fruits taste really good!”

The group started discussing in twos and threes, while Tang Shu looked through the wooden bamboo window in the room toward that patch of lush green plants outside.

Exquisite Plant?

Would this medicinal herb, which only appears in arid regions, also exist near such a forest?

***
Su City.

As soon as she got off the plane, Sister Luo’s phone was bombarded by her assistant.

“Sister Luo, Sister Luo, how’s your investigation going? The public opinion online is getting worse for Tang Shu. The one million followers she had has dropped to just over 700,000. If it keeps falling, she’ll be gone!”

“Stay calm, give me one day’s time, and I will resolve it today for sure.”

“Are you certain?”

“Certain, and sure.”

Luo Lin spoke with determination and anticipation.

After hanging up the phone, she took a cab straight to the cafe she had agreed on with Xu Cheng.

“Hello, Assistant Xu, I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”

“Not at all, I’ve just arrived as well.”

The two sat opposite each other, and after one ordered a cup of coffee, entered into the main topic.

“Regarding the role of the female assassin in ‘Heroes in Troubled Times,’ Tang Shu can take it, but there are some details in the contract we need to discuss…”

Half an hour later, they reached a consensus on the contract details and signed their names.

Both sighed in relief.

One was excited to have secured such an important role, while the other was relieved to have completed a task assigned by their boss.

After all, it took a full three months to find a suitable supporting actor.

“Assistant Xu, I’m sure you’ve seen the recent news about Tang Shu. I have a favor to ask for your help.”

“Please speak, Miss Luo.”