novelraw Chapter 96: The Gates of Evergreen Will Always Be Open to You
Chapter 96: The Gates of Evergreen Will Always Be Open to You
Everyone was still basking in the massive shock sparked by Peng Shaofeng’s line, “He’s playing a monarch.”
Mutual admiration between heroes.
Recognition from one strong person to another.
This should have been a moment to go down in history.
But Jiang Ci’s remark landed like a firecracker — loud and out of place.
“...Take a photo?”
Peng Shaofeng’s outstretched hand froze in midair.
The frankness and relief that had been on his face instantly congealed, leaving only bewilderment.
He wondered if he had heard things wrong because he took off his armor too fast.
Standing at the edge of the set, Peng Shaofeng’s agent — who had just been swelling with pride at his client’s poise — suddenly felt like the world went dark.This is a top-tier audition that affects five hundred million investment!
Not a fan meet-and-greet!
What does he think this is? A life-sized cardboard cutout!
Sun Zhou stood in a corner and, slowly, put his hands over his face.
If he had shown a little courtesy, said “You’re welcome,” this would have passed.
Borrowing the armor for a photo? And then post it to social media?
Wei Song’s satisfied smile also froze.
He pinched his chin and looked at the young man in the center, who wore a face of genuine sincerity and seemed to really just want to take a souvenir photo with the prop.
Suddenly he wondered if this was what young people called “humor” these days?
The only one in the whole room who probably wasn’t affected was the veteran actor Liu Hanyu, who had just been helped to his feet.
He looked at Jiang Ci, then at Peng Shaofeng, and in his cloudy eyes there was actually a flash of contemplation.
It seemed... not impossible?
That suit of armor was indeed handsome.
At that moment.
“Hahahahahaha!”
A hearty, unrestrained burst of laughter shattered the silence.
It came from Peng Shaofeng.
He laughed as he pointed at Jiang Ci, breathless.
“You... you son of a— hahahaha!”
Peng Shaofeng’s agent was completely dumbfounded.
Shaofeng, what are you laughing at! He’s humiliating you!
Peng Shaofeng didn’t care at all.
He stepped forward and slapped Jiang Ci’s shoulder hard.
The force made Jiang Ci stagger.
“Interesting! I accept this fellow as a friend!”
Peng Shaofeng’s eyes shone astonishingly bright.
He had seen too many fake courtesies, too many artists who were one way in front of people and another behind their backs.
He had never seen someone like Jiang Ci, who laid out his desires and thoughts so candidly, almost foolishly blunt.
He admired strength.
He admired genuine strength even more.
Peng Shaofeng’s agent watched this and began to suspect his own sanity.
...
The audition ended.
The result was unsurprising.
In front of everyone, Wei Song formally announced that the role of Xiang Yu in The Legend of Han and Chu would be played by Jiang Ci.
The producer from Evergreen Entertainment turned an extremely ugly shade.
But what could he say?
His top star, Evergreen’s “crown prince,” had publicly conceded and even called someone brother.
If he caused a scene now, it wouldn’t be fighting for the film’s interests anymore, it would be slapping Peng Shaofeng in the face.
He could only swallow his anger, gather his team, and slink away.
Inside the soundstage, the atmosphere finally relaxed.
Wei Song looked at Jiang Ci with growing satisfaction.
“Jiang Ci, come to the company the day after tomorrow to sign the contract. You’ve got a heavy role, so you need to enter production early for posture and equestrian training.”
“All right, Director Wei.”
Jiang Ci nodded, mentally calculating that this KPI was now half secured.
As for the Yu Ji connection...
We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it, one step at a time.
He bid farewell with Sun Zhou and left the soundstage.
They had just walked into a quiet hallway when a voice came from behind.
“Jiang Ci.”
It was Peng Shaofeng.
He’d changed back into the casual clothes he came in and had followed alone, without any assistants.
“Brother Feng.” Jiang Ci stopped.
Sun Zhou stood to the side, palms sweating with nerves.
Peng Shaofeng came up to the two of them. Tall and imposing, he nonetheless wore a calm demeanor.
“Interested in coming to Evergreen Entertainment?”
He got straight to the point, no beating around the bush.
“Your talent shouldn’t be confined by a small temple.”
Boom!
Sun Zhou’s brain exploded.
What the hell! Poaching right in front of us!
His hand reflexively went into his pocket to grab his phone, ready to report back to boss Lin Wan.
That’s Evergreen Entertainment! The real flagship company in the industry!
Resources, connections, production capability — all top-tier!
He frantically shot pleading looks at Jiang Ci: Bro! Big bro! Hold firm! Don’t accept!
Jiang Ci felt nothing inside.
Go to you?
How would my broken-heart KPI be measured then?
Will you reliably supply me tragic roles to play?
He shook his head, wearing his trademark sincerity.
“Thanks for the offer, Brother Feng, but my current company is fine.”
He thought a moment and added,
“The boss is beautiful and kind, and the colleagues are... very united.”
Hearing Jiang Ci’s reply, Sun Zhou finally withdrew his hand from his pocket and put away his phone.
Peng Shaofeng was stunned by the clean, decisive refusal.
He had assumed no newcomer could turn down Evergreen.
He studied Jiang Ci deeply, hoping to read something on his face.
But all he saw was calmness and seriousness.
“The road is long.” Peng Shaofeng didn’t try to persuade further. “The gates of Evergreen are always open to you.”
With that he turned and strode away.
...
On the other side.
In the casting conference room, smoke curled through the air.
Wei Song, the head screenwriter, and several core producers sat around, all with grim looks.
The biggest problem — Xiang Yu — had been solved.
But an even more urgent problem had appeared.
Who would play Liu Bang?
“No!”
Wei Song rubbed his temples in annoyance and threw a list of candidate actors onto the table.
“These people, none of them will do!”
The head screenwriter sighed, “Old Wei, your standards are too high. The names on this list are either long-established powerhouses or award-winning mid-career actors. Why can’t any of them play Liu Bang?”
“Why can’t they?” Wei Song stood and paced the room, “They could before! But they can’t now!”
He stopped and faced everyone.
“You know my original plan. If Peng Shaofeng played Xiang Yu, I would have Jiang Ci play Liu Bang.”
“Peng Shaofeng’s raw strength against Jiang Ci’s resilience — one outward, one inward — would create an amazing confrontation. It would be a nearly even chess match.”
A producer nodded, “That idea is great.”
“But now?” Wei Song’s voice rose, “Now Jiang Ci is playing Xiang Yu!”
Wei Song grew increasingly agitated, “Jiang Ci’s performance elevates the dimensions of the Xiang Yu role by a full layer.”
“Facing this kind of ‘Xiang Yu,’ which of the actors on your list could possibly hold their own?”
“I dare say any actor using conventional methods would be crushed in the first scene!”
“Then the audience would not watch ‘The Chu-Han Contention,’ they’d watch ‘The Overlord Training a Puppy’!”
The people in the meeting room were drenched in cold sweat at Wei Song’s picture of that scenario.
They finally understood his dilemma.
This perfect Xiang Yu from Jiang Ci made all the routine Liu Bang candidates look dull, even invalid.
It was a troublesome problem born of good fortune.
“Then... then what do we do?” the head screenwriter was stumped, “You can’t have Xiang Yu perform a one-man show, right?”
At that moment, a timid voice piped up.
It came from a young investment representative sent by Huaxing Pictures.
He cautiously suggested, “Director Wei, how about... we tone down Xiang Yu’s scenes a bit?”
“Make him more grounded, less... less inhumanly domineering. Then it’ll be easier to match him.”
No sooner had he finished than—
Bang!
Wei Song slammed his palm on the conference table so hard that the teacup jumped.
“What did you say?!”
He stared daggers at the young investment rep.
“I worked so hard to find a rough gem who could bring Xiang Yu to life, and you want me to chip him down to fit mediocre people?”
“I tell you, impossible! When I make a film, I never let actors kidnap a role!”