Eunuch, do you really know these martial arts?

"The secrets hidden within Zero may be more important than we imagine."

"The organization is willing to go to such lengths; it will never give up because of one failure."

"Instead of passively defending, it might be better to appropriately demonstrate some of Zero's harmless abilities, provided that safety is ensured. This might elicit more clues from the organization, or even... throw them into disarray."

Jiang Nian said slowly and deliberately.

The organization is too powerful to hide; they always manage to obtain information about Zero.

Since that's the case, let's release the news.

Sometimes it's better to limit them.

Bai Yongxu frowned, pondered for a long time, and then slowly shook his head:
"This idea is too risky. The existence of Zero is top secret, and the consequences of its exposure would be unimaginable. We cannot afford any mistakes."

He paused, his tone softening.

“Jiang Nian, I know you’re anxious, but this matter needs to be considered carefully. This mission has taken a heavy toll on you, so your priority is to recover.”

"The base will increase security, and at the same time, intensify the analysis of the data we have obtained and the monitoring of other suspicious facilities around the world. You should go back and rest well; that's an order."

Seeing Bai Yongxu's unwavering gaze, Jiang Nian knew that further words would be pointless, so she nodded.

"I see."

He knew that Bai Yongxu's concerns were valid.

Zero is indeed a huge variable.

This is also what worries them.

They currently do not know what zero means to the organization!
However, the feeling of being watched by the organization in the dark while one can only react passively is truly frustrating.

After two more days of observation and recuperation at the base, it was confirmed that the damage to the meridians had stabilized.

Jiang Nian then boarded a special plane arranged by the military and returned to the familiar city.

Back at the suburban villa, the gravity training room still stood quietly.

However, he heeded the doctor's advice and did not engage in high-intensity cultivation for the time being. Instead, he used gentle internal energy circulation to nourish his damaged meridians.

The huge success of the first season of "iPartment" was like a bombshell dropped on the entertainment industry, and its aftershocks are still reverberating.

He is the most mysterious driving force and honorary advisor behind this drama.

Although Jiang Nian deliberately kept a low profile.

But his name is already closely associated with words like "master of Midas touch" and "sharp eye for talent".

I had only been back for two days when invitations came flying in from all sorts of channels like snowflakes.

He received offers from film and television companies seeking collaborations, commercial events inviting him to participate, and even scripts directly offered to him, hoping he would act in them.

He filtered out most of them directly.

Until an invitation from Universal Entertainment caught his attention.

Universe Entertainment is one of the top entertainment groups in China.

With businesses spanning the entire industry chain, including film and television production, artist management, and cinema chains, the company boasts strong capabilities and a good reputation within the industry.

The invitation was quite elaborate; it wasn't sent to a group, but was delivered directly to his villa.

It was personally delivered by someone who claimed to be the assistant to the president of Huanyu Xingyu.

The project that invited him to participate was not an ordinary commercial project, but an epic science fiction blockbuster in preparation.

The other party was extremely sincere, not only offering an astronomical price that would rank among the top three highest salaries for male stars in China, but also promising a great deal of creative freedom.

What surprised Jiang Nian even more was that the other party seemed to know something about his physical condition.

They clearly stated that the filming schedule could be fully coordinated with his recovery progress, and that they were willing to provide him with a top-notch medical team to support him on-site.

And this is precisely what Jiang Nian cares about most.

Since he came back, he has hardly participated in any events, not even the Love Apartment. How did they know about his physical condition?

This group of people is probably not simple!
"Mr. Jiang, we at Huanyu are extending this invitation with the utmost sincerity. We have screened many top actors from home and abroad for the role of Morpheus, but we still feel that something is missing."

"Until the success of 'iPartment,' we saw that you not only have a masterful level of acting skills, but also a vision and insight that surpasses ordinary people. What Morpheus needs is precisely this kind of unfathomable quality."

Wang Lei, the vice president of Huanyu Star Entertainment, who came to visit, was respectful yet tactful, and his words were very persuasive.

"Moreover, to be frank, our goal for this series is to hit the global market. The director is Carlo Lee from Hollywood, and the investment is unprecedented. We believe this will be a work that goes down in film history."

Jiang Nian flipped through the well-prepared project proposal.

My gaze swept over the enormous investment budget and the impressive list of key creative personnel, and a slight ripple did stir within me.

He is essentially still an actor.

The desire for top-notch productions and complex roles is ingrained in their very being.

The character of Morpheus is complex and extremely challenging, which is indeed very appealing to him.

Moreover, the successful investment in "iPartment" made him extremely well-off.

Participating in and investing in such a top-tier production targeting the global market would be a brilliant move, both in terms of artistic merit and business strategy.

Can I take a look at the script first?

Jiang Nian put down the project proposal and asked.

Wang Lei smiled just the right amount of his smile.

"Of course! The full script is highly confidential, but I have brought some of Morpheus's key scenes and a brief biography for you to take a look at."

He handed over an encrypted tablet.

Jiang Nian took it and began to read it carefully.

It must be said that Universal Star Entertainment was very well prepared.

Even from just a few scenes, one can already glimpse the complex charm of this character.

He navigates between the empire and the resistance, ruthless yet harboring some unspeakable ideals. His lines are concise and philosophical, offering immense room for performance.

"I need to think about it."

Jiang Nian handed the tablet back, not immediately agreeing.

"Of course, such an important collaboration should be handled with caution."

Wang Lei's smile remained unchanged as he handed over a plain black business card.

"This is my personal contact information, available 24/7. I look forward to hearing from you."

After seeing Wang Lei off, Jiang Nian leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes in deep thought.

Things seemed perfect, the conditions were excellent, and the role was enticing.

But for some reason, he always had a vague sense of unease in his heart.

I have a feeling that the appearance of the other side was somewhat coincidental.

He picked up his phone and dialed Yang Mi's number.

In terms of connections and access to information within the entertainment industry, Yang Mi is undoubtedly the best person to consult.

"Universal Star Entertainment??"

Yang Mi's voice carried a hint of surprise, "They actually approached you? This project is shrouded in mystery within the industry, kept very tightly under wraps. All we know is that it involves a huge investment and boasts a top-tier team. I never imagined that the Morpheus they've set their sights on is you?"

"You think there's something wrong?"

Jiang Nian asked directly.

After a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, Yang Mi carefully chose her words before speaking: "The strength of Huanyu is beyond doubt, and Carlo Lee is also an internationally renowned director."

"But I've vaguely heard some rumors that the project's funding structure is very complicated, and it seems that overseas capital is deeply involved and has a strong say in casting and scriptwriting. The specific capital involved is being kept very secret."

Overseas capital?

Jiang Nian's eyes flickered slightly.

“However,” Yang Mi changed the subject, “if you can participate, and the conditions are as they say, it will greatly enhance your international reputation and industry standing. There are risks and opportunities in between, right? What do you think?”

“I’m very interested in the role,” Jiang Nian said honestly, “but I need to learn more about it.”

"Do you need me to inquire further for you?"

Yang Mi said enthusiastically.

"No need, I'll handle it myself."

Jiang Nian declined her offer.

Some investigations are not suitable for being conducted through overt channels.

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Nian pondered for a moment and then dialed another number.

That was a special communication channel that Bai Yongxu left him, used to handle information inquiries in the gray area.

Generally speaking, Jiang Nian would not use this method to contact people about matters in the entertainment industry.

However, this time it was indeed a bit strange.

Regardless, he should take the initiative to investigate.

He sent over the project and basic information about Universe Star Entertainment.

We request assistance in investigating the complex sources of capital behind it, particularly the overseas capital portion.

Only after doing all this did he feel a little relieved.

Over the next few days, Jiang Nian continued to nourish his meridians while handling some profit-sharing and copyright matters related to "iPartment".

Wei Zheng and the lead actors frequently sent messages, sharing the joy and busyness brought about by the continued popularity of the series.

During this time, Wang Lei called again politely to inquire, his attitude remaining warm yet restrained.

Three days later, Jiang Nian received initial feedback from Bai Yongxu.

Information displayed.

Huanyu Star Entertainment has a clean background and is a legitimate entertainment giant in China.

But as Yang Mi said, the project did indeed attract a large amount of overseas funding.

The most important investor is "Star Capital", a company registered in the Cayman Islands.

On the surface, Xinghan Capital appears to be an international investment fund focused on the cultural and technological fields, but further investigation into its equity structure and fund flows requires a higher level of authority and time to verify.

The feedback message specifically noted at the end that Xinghan Capital's recent cash flow has been unusually active.

Furthermore, it has indirect connections with several overseas research institutions with military backgrounds!
Upon seeing the words "overseas research institutions with military background," Jiang Nian's heart sank.

This made him think of that mysterious organization.

Is it a coincidence?

He stared at the report, his gaze sharp.

A top-tier sci-fi blockbuster targeting the global market, a complex and captivating villain, and a tailor-made, lucrative contract.

In addition, there is the looming presence of overseas capital, which may be linked to the organization…

Is all of this really just a coincidence?

It looks just like an elaborate trap!
What's the purpose?
Was it to lure him out of the country so that it would be easier to take action overseas?

Or is it that you want to gain something from him through the filming process of this movie?
Or perhaps he wants to use this opportunity to get in touch with or even control the people around him?

For example... zero!

Countless thoughts churned in my mind.

If this was indeed the work of an organization, then their infiltration capabilities and the depth of their planning are truly alarming.

A direct refusal is certainly safer.

However, it could also alert the other party, making them realize that he is on guard, and thus prompting them to take more extreme actions.

accept?

That would undoubtedly put one in a huge risk.

Jiang Nian slowly stood up, walked to the window, looked at the quiet night outside, and her eyes gradually became firm.

He was never a timid or hesitant person.

Since the opponent might make a move, he will follow suit.

There's no way to escape it!
Only by confronting the situation head-on can we find a way to break the deadlock.

He wanted to see what was hidden at the bottom of this pool!
The next day, Jiang Nian took the initiative to contact Wang Lei.

"Mr. Wang, I've thought through the project."

"Oh? Mr. Jiang, please go ahead."

Wang Lei's voice was filled with anticipation.

"I agree to play the role of Morpheus."

Jiang Nian said calmly, "However, I have one more condition."

"Please tell us, and we will do our best to meet your needs as long as it is within our power."

"I hope to convert a portion of my salary into an investment share in the project."

Jiang Nian slowly said, "Furthermore, I need a seat to enter the core decision-making level of the project, at least regarding decisions on the script and post-production. I need to have the right to know and the right to make suggestions."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone; it seemed Wang Lei hadn't expected Jiang Nian to make such a request.

This is no longer just about being an actor; it's about being deeply involved in the project.

“Mr. Jiang, your request… I need to report to the board of directors and major investors. Please wait a moment, I will get back to you as soon as possible.”

"can."

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Nian's lips curled into a cold smile.

If this is indeed a setup, then he will become the biggest variable in this setup.

Investment and decision-making power would allow him to gain a deeper understanding of the project's inner workings and take more initiative.

He wanted to see what would happen when he, the actor, became restless and wanted to sit at the card table.

How will those behind the scenes respond?
To Jiang Nian's surprise, Huanyu Star Entertainment responded very quickly.

Just half a day later, Wang Lei called, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement: "Mr. Jiang, congratulations!"

"After our urgent consultations with the main investor, Xinghan Capital, they greatly admire your vision and courage, and unanimously agreed that you would participate in the project investment by contributing your film fee as equity."

"We will grant you the status of an advisor, with the right to participate in discussions on the script, art direction, and core post-production stages!"

The other party's quick agreement only made Jiang Nian even more anxious.

Xinghan Capital...

Sure enough it was them!
"very good."

Jiang Nian remained calm and said, "I look forward to a pleasant collaboration."

"It's a pleasure working with you, Mr. Jiang. We will prepare the relevant contracts as soon as possible. Also, Director Carlo Lee was very pleased to learn that you have joined the team and hopes to communicate with you online as soon as possible to discuss the role."

"Okay, let's schedule a time."

In the days that followed, Jiang Nian became exceptionally busy.

The online communication with Carlo Lee went very smoothly. This internationally renowned director, known for his demanding standards, showed great respect and appreciation for Jiang Nian.

The two engaged in an in-depth discussion about their understanding of the Morpheus character, sparking many insightful exchanges.

Of course, he also made sure to focus on his physical recovery.

The internal energy was slowly and steadily repairing the damaged meridians. Although it was still far from its peak state, it no longer affected daily activities and some basic cultivation.

During this time, Bai Yongxu also learned about his acceptance of the role and made a special phone call to him.

"Jiang Nian, you know this might be a trap." (End of Chapter)