Chapter 87: Genius?
Chapter 87: Genius?
After saying goodbye to Xing Weilong, Lin Mu quickly returned home. The three girls hadn’t gone to sleep yet; they were sitting together in the living room watching TV.
“You’re back. Where did you go wild with Fatty today?” Song Yuru smiled gently, asking Lin Mu as he entered.
“Haha, Fatty really splurged today! He treated me to a meal at Hilton. I’m so full.” Lin Mu rubbed his belly, looking uncomfortably stuffed.
“Look at you, it’s embarrassing! You look like a reincarnated hungry ghost.”
Seeing Lin Mu’s noticeably bulging stomach, the three girls burst into laughter.
“We didn’t just eat at Hilton today. I also bumped into someone. Guess who?” Lin Mu squeezed onto the sofa and grinned.
“Oh? Who?” Song Yuru shifted to give him more space.
“You’ll never guess. It’s that star we went to see at the concert last time!” Lin Mu leaned comfortably against Song Yuru’s shoulder and laughed.
“What?! You met Yao Xianxian?!” Ye Zixi instantly jumped up. Yao Xianxian was her favorite singer.
“Did you get me an autographed photo?”
“Oh, wow. What would you need that for?” Lin Mu looked utterly baffled.
“Duh! For collecting, of course!” Ye Zixi lunged at him like a wild animal, firmly pinching his mouth.
“Ouch! Forgot! Didn’t get one. But I can get you one later.” Lin Mu dodged her claws and rubbed his cheeks vigorously.
“You’re lying again! It’s not like Yao Xianxian is someone you can just bump into!”
Ye Zixi refused to let it go, determined to make him admit he was fibbing.
“Alright, alright, I really can get you one. Because I’m going to make a movie with Yao Xianxian!” Under her relentless pressure, Lin Mu blurted out the big news.
“What?!”
“Make a movie?”
“With Yao Xianxian?!”
All three girls froze, staring at him in utter disbelief, as if he’d suddenly turned into an alien.
“Yeah, make a movie with Yao Xianxian. She, the director, and the investors recommended me. I couldn’t say no. They were really eager to invite me, so I agreed to go to the audition.” Lin Mu shrugged, feigning helplessness.
“Are you sure you’re not tricking us?” Ye Zixi still couldn’t believe it. Lin Mu’s field had nothing to do with acting, so why would Yao Xianxian pick him?
“Of course not! Why would I lie about this? Whether it’s real or not will be obvious soon anyway!” Lin Mu rolled his eyes dramatically. Did they really think he was that untrustworthy?
“But it’s Yao Xianxian! Why on earth would she act with you?” Ye Zixi looked deeply confused, still unable to accept it. That was a mega-star!
“You ask me? Who do I ask? She wanted me, okay? Maybe because I’m handsome?” Lin Mu chuckled, stroking his cheek smugly.
“Pfft! There are tons of handsome guys in showbiz, definitely not just you! Wait! You must be involved with this Yao Xianxian! You were so late getting back last time. Confess! Is that it?” Ye Zixi swung her long leg over Song Yuru and planted herself in Lin Mu’s lap. She grabbed his face with both hands, shifting into interrogation mode.
“No! Really no!” His face stretched, Lin Mu’s speech became muffled. He could only whine incoherently.
“Oh, hurry up and let go! You’ll ruin his face!” Song Yuru couldn’t bear it and pulled Ye Zixi away. She kept rubbing Lin Mu’s cheeks as he leaned into her arms, pretending to be pitiful.
“Hmph! You dare mess around outside? You’ll bring shame to our whole dorm! Ruin all our reputations! I won’t stand for it! How can you keep fooling around like this?” Ye Zixi glared at Lin Mu angrily. Fidgeting atop him, she prepared for round two of punishment.
Lin Mu soon regretted her fidgeting. She had an amazing figure and was a martial artist, full of strength. The friction got a reaction down below. A noticeable bulge formed in his trousers.
After a moment, Ye Zixi felt something pressing against her bottom. Realization dawned, her face instantly flushed scarlet. With a powerful thrust of her legs, she catapulted off the sofa like a rocket and dashed upstairs in a flash.
“Ow! That hurts!” Lin Mu yelped in pain. His unlucky streak continued. Ye Zixi’s sudden movement crushed his bulge downward. He immediately curled up like a giant shrimp.
“That crazy girl, acting wild all the time.” Song Yuru whispered, her own face burning red. She understood what caused Lin Mu’s problem. But being a girl, she couldn’t ask directly. She could only watch as he groaned and complained.
Lin Mu took a moment to recover before collapsing limply onto the sofa.
“That girl almost destroyed me! If it stopped working, I’d make her take care of me for life!”
“Pfft! If it really stopped working, just make her take responsibility!” Song Yuru giggled, smoothing his messy hair.
“Oh, right. When I was talking to them, I got a couple of business cards. This person seems to be an investor.” Lin Mu pulled a crumpled card from his pocket and showed it to Song Yuru.
“Wang Shaokun! It really is him!” Song Yuru saw the card, her eyes instantly sparkling.
“He’s Huaxia’s most renowned movie investor! Pretty much every film he backs ends up a huge hit. Lin Mu, looks like you’re about to strike it big!”
“I didn’t know that. She gave me the card. Is he really that impressive?” Lin Mu looked utterly clueless. Life basics were manageable now, but these things still left him bewildered.
“Impressive? His name is on nearly every big hit. He has an incredibly sharp eye. But I just don’t understand why they’d want you?” Song Yuru suddenly seemed worried.
“You didn’t study acting, and have zero experience in entertainment. Could this be some kind of trick?”
Hearing this, Lin Mu felt a jolt. He instantly remembered the recent attempts on his life.
“It can’t be, right? They’re just movie people. What would they plot?”
“Not sure. But Yao Xianxian has a stellar reputation and probably wouldn’t be deceitful. Just be extra cautious when you go.” Song Yuru was just speculating. She didn’t truly think they harbored ill intentions.
“Right, I’ll stay alert. Won’t be so easy for anyone to take advantage.” Lin Mu nodded. He knew Song Yuru worried about him, especially after he was almost harmed just days ago.
“Alright, you all rest soon. Don’t stay up too late. I’m going to wash up and sleep. Need to get up early.”
While Lin Mu bathed, Song Yuru and Ling Xuanrong discussed his movie news.
“Do you think A-Mu is telling the truth?” Song Yuru passed the business card to Ling Xuanrong. The situation felt unbelievable. Why choose Lin Mu? Was it just his looks?
A surefire hit wouldn’t lack for talented lead actors. Handsome men weren’t rare either. Picking a total newbie like Lin Mu? Was there an ulterior motive?
“I think it’s probably real. After all, Yao Xianxian invited him. Should be fine. Plus, A-Mu got badly hurt just days ago. He’ll be more careful now.” Ling Xuanrong stared at the card thoughtfully.
“Hmm, guess so. Forget it, we should head to bed too. We’ll know when he checks it out tomorrow.”
The next morning, Lin Mu got up early, tidied his room, then changed into a silver-gray Armani casual jacket. He checked himself in the mirror; satisfied, he left for his appointment.
By 8:30 a.m., Lin Mu had arrived at the address on the card: Mingcheng International Entertainment Co., Ltd.
He walked into the building. The receptionist had just started her shift. Lin Mu approached with a smile. “Hello, I’m here to see President Wang.”
Looking barely awake—it was only 8:30—the receptionist lifted her head lethargically. “President Wang? Did you have an appointment?”
Her words trailed off as her eyes suddenly lit up. The man in the silver-gray suit was incredibly handsome. An instant caffeine boost for her brain.
One glance dispelled all sleepiness. Her tone transformed instantly.
“Hello, did you have an appointment?”
“Yes, 10:00 a.m. today. To meet with President Wang.”
Lin Mu replied politely.
The receptionist checked the system. Sure enough, the appointment existed.
“Please head upstairs and wait. President Wang hasn’t arrived yet. I’ll notify you when he does.”
Lin Mu waited upstairs. Wang Shaokun arrived soon after, bringing others from the production team, including Yao Xianxian.
The morning involved Lin Mu doing a few screen tests. Though he’d never acted professionally, cultivating for tens of thousands of years had honed his experience through countless major tribulations. With Yao Xianxian offering minor pointers, he easily demonstrated the required emotions.
The director and producer watching on the sidelines were thoroughly impressed. They marveled at his natural talent. It was like he was a born actor, able to portray such a rich inner world.
Even seasoned actors with years of experience struggled with that. Yet Lin Mu had mastered it within mere minutes after some guidance.
With that, any lingering doubt about his casting vanished. His raw acting ability captivated everyone.
Yao Xianxian also felt a swell of surprise. Though she’d expected Lin Mu to impress, this level exceeded her wildest thoughts. Her curiosity about him deepened.
Everyone chatted all morning. They planned to grab a casual lunch, but Yao Xianxian said she had something to discuss privately with Lin Mu. So the two left alone.
Disguised with scarves and hats, they found a nearby tea restaurant and settled into a small private booth.
Taking a sip of her juice, Yao Xianxian removed her large sunglasses. She gazed at Lin Mu with a knowing smile. “Turns out, you’re quite the Martial Arts Master!”
Lin Mu froze, the juice held mid-air. Surprise flickered across his face.
“Huh? How did you know?”