novelraw Chapter 88: The Evergreen Young Master
Chapter 88: The Evergreen Young Master
The vermilion wooden door closed silently behind him.
Jiang Ci returned to this deep, secluded alley.
He walked up to the black Toyota Alphard, pulled open the door, and got inside.
Sun Zhou immediately turned around, his face filled with urgency and worry, but he didn't dare ask too much, only cautiously observing Jiang Ci.
There wasn't much extra movement on Jiang Ci's face.
But having followed him for so long, Sun Zhou knew that beneath this calm often lay turbulent waves.
"Brother Ci... how did it go? Director Wei... what did he say?" Sun Zhou finally couldn't hold back, his voice extremely soft.
Jiang Ci leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes, seeming very tired.
"The role I want is Xiang Yu."
He spoke lightly.The moment Sun Zhou heard this, his eyes instantly lit up!
Xiang Yu!
The tragic hero!
Brother Ci has tons of experience playing this kind of role!
"That's fantastic, Brother Ci! Director Wei truly has a discerning eye!"
Sun Zhou's excitement hadn't lasted three seconds before it was drenched to the bone by Jiang Ci's next sentence.
"But I have to compete for it."
"My opponent is Peng Shaofeng."
The ecstatic joy on Sun Zhou's face froze, then shattered bit by bit, turning into disbelief.
His hand jerked, knocking over a bottle of Evian mineral water sitting in the side compartment.
"Peng... Peng Shaofeng?!"
Sun Zhou's voice changed pitch.
"Which Peng Shaofeng? Is it the one I'm thinking of? The crown prince of Evergreen Entertainment?!"
Jiang Ci didn't open his eyes, just let out a soft "Hmm" from his nose.
Sun Zhou felt like he was about to stop breathing.
"Brother Ci, this... this isn't fair!"
Sun Zhou practically jumped out of his seat,
"Peng Shaofeng's dad is one of the founders of Evergreen Entertainment, and Evergreen Entertainment is the biggest investor in 'The Legend of Han and Chu'! This isn't an audition, it's just going through the motions, right? The role was decided internally long ago!"
He scrambled to take out his tablet, frantically tapping on the screen with his fingers, muttering under his breath.
"Let me check... I'll check right away..."
Soon, Peng Shaofeng's information was read out by him item by item, and with each item, Sun Zhou's tone grew more desperate.
"Peng Shaofeng, from Taiwan, born into an acting family, his mother was the Best Actress of the 70s..."
"As for him, height 1.8 meters, tall and sturdy build, works out regularly year-round, famously known in the industry as the go-to tough guy, hailed by the media as 'walking testosterone'..."
"His acting skills go without saying, debuted ten years ago, nominated three times for the Golden Horse Award Best Actor, even though he missed it each time, his ability is universally acknowledged!"
"He's best at playing ambitious, ruthless characters and tough guy roles, that previous film 'Dark Gold Empire', the villain boss he played was absolutely incredible!"
The more Sun Zhou spoke, the softer his voice became.
Whether it was in terms of physical appearance, acting credentials, or even the capital backing and market appeal behind them.
His Brother Ci was at an absolute disadvantage.
After finishing, Sun Zhou dejectedly put down the tablet.
He stole a glance at Jiang Ci, finding the other still with his eyes closed, unnervingly calm.
This composure sent a shiver down Sun Zhou's spine.
Had Brother Ci been so shocked by this news that he'd gone numb?
"Drive."
Jiang Ci finally spoke, still just those two words.
"Back to the hotel."
"Oh... okay, yes, Brother Ci."
Sun Zhou hurriedly started the car, the black entourage van reversed out of the narrow alley, then turned around and slowly drove away.
Not a word was spoken the entire way.
The moment they returned to the presidential suite at the hotel, Jiang Ci, without a word, walked straight toward his room.
With a "bang," the door closed.
Sun Zhou was shut out.
He paced anxiously around the living room.
This matter was too big!
He pulled out his phone and dialed the number he trusted and revered the most.
"Hello, Sister Wan!"
The moment the call connected, Sun Zhou nearly burst into tears, "Something huge has happened!"
...
Inside the hotel suite.
Jiang Ci walked up to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, his back to the door, looking at the gray sky outside.
Then he turned and walked into the spacious walk-in closet.
Inside the closet, all four walls were huge full-length mirrors.
The mirrors reflected his current figure.
Slender, thin.
His entire being exuded an inescapable melancholy and frailness.
Was there even the slightest connection between him like this and the "strength to lift mountains, spirit to overshadow the world" Conqueror of Western Chu from the history books?
None.
Peng Shaofeng's image almost perfectly matched the public's every imagination of Xiang Yu.
Tall and imposing, brimming with a sense of power.
While if he stood out there, he'd look more like that strategist who couldn't even restrain a chicken. Wei Song probably had that consideration when suggesting he play Liu Bang.
Jiang Ci reached out his hand, touching the unfamiliar face in the mirror.
He slowly closed his eyes.
His consciousness sank into his mind.
That familiar system interface unfolded in his vision.
His gaze, passing over the already unlocked skills, locked firmly onto the 【Special Category】 column.
【Physical Optimization LV1】
【Emotional Isolation LV1】
【Deep Sleep LV1】
The three skills were still glowing brightly.
His gaze finally settled on the first skill.
【Physical Optimization LV1: This skill is a passive skill. When the host engages in high-intensity physical activities (including but not limited to crying scenes, running in the rain, intense fight scenes, shouting arguments, etc.), physical stamina consumption will be reduced by 20%, and lactic acid decomposition speed will be increased, effectively alleviating muscle soreness the next day.】
Playing Xiang Yu.
Meant wearing armor weighing dozens of pounds.
Meant filming large amounts of high-intensity horse battle and fight scenes.
Meant needing powerful physical stamina to support the character's world-dominating aura.
Without this skill, he didn't even have the qualification to stand at the starting line of that open audition.
This was his entry ticket.
Also his only trump card that could make up for the gap in physical appearance.
Jiang Ci's gaze slowly moved to the skill's price.
【Physical Optimization LV1】: 1300 points of Heartbreak Value.
He glanced again at the balance in the upper right corner.
【Heartbreak Value Balance: 1440】
This was a huge gamble.
In his mind, Wei Song's words rang out again.
"The role of Liu Bang is perfect for you!"
He could choose another path.
Accept the role of Liu Bang, shoot this drama safely and steadily.
But so what?
Could the role of Liu Bang bring him Heartbreak Value?
No.
For him, that would be wasting his life.
A dead end.
So, there was only one path ahead.
"Exchange."
Jiang Ci silently uttered these two words in his heart.
Without the slightest hesitation.
【Confirm exchange for skill "Physical Optimization LV1"? Will consume 1300 points of Heartbreak Value.】
"Confirm."
The numbers on the system interface began to jump frantically.
1440... 1000... 500...
Finally, they settled on an unbearably glaring number.
【Heartbreak Value Balance: 140】
The huge disparity made Jiang Ci's heart twitch.
Immediately after, another cold interface automatically popped up, occupying his entire field of vision.
【Life Countdown: 190 days 7 hours 2 minutes 11 seconds】
Time, second by second, mercilessly ticked away.
Right at that moment.
A faint yet incredibly clear warm current slowly spread out from the area of his heart.
That warm current flowed along his blood vessels toward his limbs.
Very weak at first.
But soon it became continuous and steady, circulating through his body,
nourishing every inch of tired muscle and bone.