Huayu: I'm reborn, but you still force me to be a scumbag?

Chapter 604 The Greatest Respect
New Orleans, August 29, 2013.

"Bloodstained Yellow Dragon, Scene 117, Shot 6, Take 3."

"Snapped."

"Leo, you can start anytime."

He said "anytime," but as soon as Quentin Tarantino finished speaking, Leonardo DiCaprio, standing at the head of a long table with a full beard and smoky makeup, immediately began his performance.

He stroked a skull in front of him, looked at Chen Nuo sitting at the table, and said with a sense of nostalgia:

"This is Liu."

"He was the first Chinese man to come to my estate."

“He had a long braid, was very diligent and loyal. He was in charge of my daily life. Every morning at 5 o’clock, he would wait outside my door. No matter what time I got up, he would wait there without eating or drinking until I got up. Then he would come in and help me get dressed and shave.”

As he spoke, he smiled, struck a match, and lit the cigarette in his mouth. "As the son of a large plantation owner in Mississippi, I've seen countless N-ghosts since I was a child. I've spent my whole life here, right here, at Candy Estate. I'm surrounded by N-ghosts from morning till night."

Leonardo DiCaprio exhaled a puff of smoke and said calmly, "From childhood to adulthood, I've always had a question in my mind: why don't these black people kill us? Later, I asked my father, and he said it's because there's an area in their brains that represents enslavement, obedience, and loyalty."

"I'm curious, is Liu the same way?"

"Because Liu shaved my beard for three whole years. Three years, three times a week, he had hundreds of chances that when he slashed my neck with that sharp blade, he only needed to go in an inch deeper and my blood would spurt out."

"If it were me, I would have done the same on day one."

"But Liu, even on the day he smashed one of my vases and was beaten to death by my men, he still did not put up any resistance."

"Master, master."

"I'm sorry, my Chinese isn't very good, but that's what he kept saying, and then my men beat him to death on that tree."

"Now, let's verify that."

After saying that, Little Li picked up a small saw and began sawing at the head.

In another camera angle, Chen Nuo's eyes behind the mask showed not a single flicker of emotion.

Soon, Little Li sawed off a small piece of the plaster skull.

He blew on it, then gave an exaggerated, morbidly surprised smile, and said, “Wow, look, I wasn’t wrong. Look here, here, and here. There are three obvious indentations.”

“If I were holding Isaac Newton’s skull or Galileo’s skull right now, those three indentations would be in the area that controls creativity.”

"But this is just Liu's skull."

"Liu's skull has nothing to do with genius. Unfortunately, like those N ghosts, his indentation is still in the part that controls servility."

"Chinaman, I admit you're smart."

"You really fooled me. You put on that damn mask to hide your Qingchong appearance and made up a lie about being burned, and you successfully made me believe that you really are a fucking adventurer."

After speaking, Leonardo DiCaprio's tone softened, and his eyes held a chilling calm:

"But guess what?"

He waved the hammer in his hand, "If I were to use this hammer now to crack open the skull of you, you yellow-skinned monkey, the depression in your brain would be the same as this person's, the same as this poor Liu's... like a slave... Wait, excuse me, I want to rest for a while."

After saying that, Leonardo DiCaprio threw down the hammer and skull in his hand and strode out of the photography area, with his assistant and agent hurriedly following behind.

As soon as he left, a buzzing sound of whispers filled the room.

"what happened?"

"I don't know, could it be a stomachache?"

"Possibly. Wow, what a pity about such a great performance."

"Yes, that's a real shame."

Chen Nuo sat in the chair, listening to the discussion, and vaguely sensed something.

Then Quentin walked over and said, "Chen, do you know what happened to Leo?"

Chen Nuo stood up and said, "I'm not sure. Tell them to rest for a while, and I'll go check on them."

Quentin nodded thoughtfully and said, "Okay."

Chen Nuo took off his mask and walked outside the tent. Gulnazar followed behind him, muttering, "What's wrong with Leonardo DiCaprio? He was acting so well. Ugh, I have to say, the thing he's playing is really hateful. It makes me angry just watching him. I really want to go up and slap him."

After the girl had been following Chen Nuo for a while, she started calling him "Little Li Zi" too.

Chen Nuo ignored her, asked the staff in charge of production, and followed the directions to a dressing room in the corner of the set.

Leonardo DiCaprio's agent, assistant, and several staff members were gathered outside. When they saw him arrive, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

Li's agent, Rick Yorn, a well-known Hollywood agent known for his shrewdness, who had initially looked tense, immediately relaxed and said, "Chen, Leo doesn't want us to follow him..."

Chen Nuo nodded and said, "I'll go in and take a look."

I opened the door, went in, and closed it behind me. I looked around and saw that the dressing room was empty. I could only hear the sound of running water coming from inside.

A few minutes later, Leonardo DiCaprio came out of the restroom, his smoky makeup completely ruined, and he was holding a tissue to dry himself. He wasn't surprised to see Chen Nuo, but just gave a slightly tired smile: "How was my performance just now?"

Chen Nuo said, "I really don't want to act. I just want to watch from the sidelines. It's really great."

Leonardo DiCaprio forced a smile and said, "Before filming this movie, I watched your Blueberry Nights at least 50 times."

Chen Nuo asked in surprise, "Really?"

Leonardo DiCaprio said, "Yes, I remember saying that this is my favorite movie of yours. To this day, I still think it's your best performance. Rick also suggested that I study some of your acting style in it, saying that the judges liked that kind of acting."

Chen Nuo said, "I can't see any connection between your performance and mine at all. It was completely Leo-style acting. And your explosiveness and expressiveness are something I can learn from."

Little Li found a stool and sat down. "You really can't tell? Doesn't that mean I haven't improved at all?"

Chen Nuo sat down opposite him, thought for a moment, and said seriously, "Although I can't tell, I really think you acted very well, it was definitely an Oscar-worthy performance."

Leonardo DiCaprio exhaled, remained silent for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I'm really fine. I just—you know, sometimes it's like two personalities are struggling and fighting inside me. When those vicious, racially prejudiced lines come out of my mouth, you can't tell if they're real or unreal, if I'm acting, or... if I really did it, said it."

Upon hearing this, Chen Nuo understood that it was indeed the reason he had previously suspected.

It wasn't a stomachache; rather, he was too immersed in the role, and the pressure the character put on him was too much for him to bear.

This is a problem that immersive actors often encounter.

Based on their interactions, it must have put a lot of psychological pressure on Leonardo DiCaprio to say things like "yellow-skinned Chinese" in front of him.

However, Chen Nuo did not expect it to be so big.

To be honest, he was genuinely touched and couldn't help but offer words of comfort:
“It’s just acting, Leo. Everyone on set knows you’re not like that. You’re not Calvin Candy. You’re completely different from that racist bastard. You’re warm-hearted, kind, and everyone on set loves you, regardless of skin color.”

Leonardo DiCaprio glanced at him and said, "Can you tell me the truth?"

Chen Nuo laughed and said, "At least every woman likes you."

"Why do I feel like you're talking about yourself?"

"Perhaps it's because I am too."

Little Li chuckled, then said, "How did you feel when you heard what I just said? Weren't you angry? Didn't you want to rush up and punch me a couple of times?"

"Of course I think so. When I was reading the script, I actually wanted to twist Quentin's head off. I even wondered if Motherfucker was really a racist, otherwise how could he have written such lines?"

Leonardo DiCaprio laughed, and you could tell he meant it this time. "Me too. I actually went to see him a few days ago, hoping he could revise the lines and try to reduce the discriminatory language, but that Motherfucker refused."

"So do you think this Motherfucker is a real KKK member? Do you think I should put him in a sack and beat him up after filming wraps up?"

"Haha, great idea! Remember to call me in advance."

“No problem,” Chen Nuo laughed, then became serious again and said, “Leo, you should know better than me that as actors, sometimes we have to play characters we ourselves hate on screen. However, unless you’re crazy, no one would associate Calvin Candy with Leonardo DiCaprio. I did get angry listening to those lines, but they were directed at Candy, not at you. The Leo in my heart is still that good brother who was willing to sell his fat body to help me and go downstairs to play with water guns in the middle of the night.”

As Chen Nuo spoke, his words were so cheesy that the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.

But he knew that this was exactly what actors needed at times like this. Just like when he played the Joker, Nolan had once comforted him in a similarly sentimental way.

Sure enough, Leonardo DiCaprio nodded silently, then smiled, and this time it was clear that he was genuine.

"Thank you."

"Actually, if someone thinks you're a racist, it's simple: just find a Black girlfriend, and everything will be fine. I believe that even if you're a member of the KKK, you would never discriminate against women."

Leonardo DiCaprio burst out laughing and gave him the middle finger.

The two laughed together for a while.

Then, Chen Nuo became serious and said, "Relax a bit, Leo. We all know this is your one-man show. Don't worry about me or anyone else. Merge yourself with that demon, and then, bang, explode! Let the thousands of viewers in the movie theater be completely silent because of you. Let those motherfuckers who discriminate against Chinese and people of color realize how ugly and hideous their faces are. That's the greatest respect you can give me."

Little Li looked at him and said, "Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm fucking sure. If I'm destined not to win Best Actor for this movie, then I think you might have a good chance of winning Best Supporting Actor. Didn't you say you learned my acting methods? I've been winning awards so many times I'm sick of it, don't embarrass me."

Chen Nuo stood up and stretched: "I'm going out. You can stay here by yourself for a while."

As he reached the door, he suddenly turned back and said, "By the way, regarding your next scene, I actually have a suggestion: hide a blood pack in your hand, and then you..."

……

……

"Bloodstained Yellow Dragon, Scene 117, Shot 6, Take 4."

"Snapped."

"ACTION!"

"...I bet your skull will be just like Liu's."

As soon as he finished speaking, the door next to the restaurant was kicked open from the outside with a bang.

As Chen Nuo and the others were startled and stood up to turn around...

Little Li shouted "Ah—" in a fierce voice, slamming his left hand hard on the glass on the table with a loud bang. He slammed it so hard that all the cutlery on the table jumped.

He then pointed with his right hand and shouted, "Put all your hands on the table! If you dare to move them, I'll smash your heads open! There are too many lies on this table tonight, but I'm not kidding. Try me if you dare!"

Three white men carrying double-barreled shotguns rushed in from outside, pointing their guns at Chen Nuo, Quvenzani, and James Remar.

After Chen Nuo and the other two sat down again, he looked at his left hand, which was covered in blood as if he had been cut by glass, and casually shook the blood off his hand. He said, "Mr. Mogel, could you please take all the guns from them? Thank you. Oh, and that damn mask on his face too."

When Christoph Waltz walked up to Chen Nuo, removed his mask, and revealed his true face, Leonardo DiCaprio laughed and said, "Wow, look who this is? Should I call you Mr. Huanglong or Mr. Long now? My mistake, I should have realized sooner that 'lung' and 'dragon' in Chinese are pronounced the same, right?"

Chen Nuo stared at him coldly without saying a word.

Little Li took a drag of his cigarette and said, "It's quite obvious now. Mr. Long's purpose in coming here is not to buy any maids, but to find his lover, Miss Hong."

"Gentlemen, your intelligence is very useful, thank you."

He was speaking to the two white men behind him, the very same two whom Quvenzani had previously let go out of pity. In the earlier episodes, it was their sudden arrival that allowed Calvin Candy and his butler to uncover Sean's true identity.

Quvenzani then noticed everything. With her hands on the table, tears welling in her eyes, she sobbed, "I'm sorry, Father."

Chen Nuo said, "It's nothing, Ying. Remember from now on, never show any mercy to your enemies."

"Haha, pity? Let's see who's really pitying whom!" Little Li laughed, lit another cigarette from the match, slowly took a drag, and said in a low voice, "I believe you're ready to buy Ms. Hong from me now, aren't you, Mr. Long?"

Chen Nuo closed his eyes briefly, and under the light, the twitching muscles on his face were visible, indicating his great inner turmoil.

Yes, the appearance of two unexpected people caused the entire plan to fail. Who could remain calm in such a situation?
After comforting Quvenzani, it was understandable that this battle-hardened warrior could not contain his emotions.

But his strong and resilient heart quickly calmed him down. He opened his eyes, looked at Little Li, and said, "Yes."

Leonardo DiCaprio laughed, picked up the chair, and stomped it on the ground.

"Bring her in!"

Samuel L. Jackson, playing the black butler, twists Ayase Haruka's hands behind her back and pushes the woman into the house.

Little Li grabbed the woman by the neck and said with a ferocious look, "Get the fuck to sit in that chair."

Ayase Haruka let out a terrified scream, just as Chen Nuo was whipping her.

"Put your hands on the table and shut up!" Little Li said menacingly.

Ayase Haruka sat down in the chair, her eyes meeting Chen Nuo's in mid-air.

She seemed to sense something, and her eyes gradually calmed down.

But Little Li's performance wasn't over yet. He swaggered around the room, came to Chen Nuo's side, put his hands on Chen Nuo's shoulders, and said, "Mr. Long, if I remember correctly, when you were in Greenville, you said yourself that you were willing to exchange that jade pendant for an ideal maid."

After saying that, he slowly walked away, saying as he went, "Considering that you went through so much trouble, traveled such a long distance, and paid such a high price to get here."

He walked up to Ayase Haruka, suddenly grabbed her face with his hand, his fingertips digging deep into her skin, "Then I believe, Miss Hong, that you are the maid you have been looking for."

He turned his head and said, "Then I think it would be a reasonable price to exchange all the money and treasures you have on you for her."

Chen Nuo remained silent.

Leonardo DiCaprio's voice was like that of a vicious fighting dog tearing apart its prey, hissing and growling as he whispered, "By the way, just so you know... although the laws have changed, and those damn Yankees have made them all free, in Candy Manor, I can still do whatever I want..."

After saying that, he used his blood-soaked left hand to smear and ravage Ayase Haruka's face. "If you, Mr. Ryu, don't agree with me, then what I'm going to do is..."

He slowly put down his cigarette, picked up a hammer, grabbed Ayase Haruka's hair, slammed her head down, and shouted with a crazed expression, "Use this hammer to kill her in front of both of you, then open her skull, and I'll see where those three indentations are!"

"Now, tell me, what's your answer!? Mr. Lung!?"

The room was completely silent, not even a breeze could be heard. The dim light hung like an endless black net over everyone's heads.

Chen Nuo said in a low voice, "I agree."

The words fell.

"boom!"

Little Li slammed the hammer down hard on the table, making a loud noise. At the same time, the mangled plaster head shattered instantly under the blow, and Ayase Haruka finally couldn't help but let out a shrill scream.

Amid screams, Leonardo DiCaprio grinned maliciously and said, "Then I declare it a deal!"

The set fell silent again.
After a while.

“CUT! That’s a wrap!” Quentin said.

But still, no one on set made a move.

Little Li was still holding the hammer, and Chen Nuo was still looking at him with an expression as if he were a dead man.

After a while.

Little Li finally put down the hammer.

He clearly realized that just now, he had delivered the most stunning performance of his decades-long acting career.

Rick Yorn couldn't help but cheer and hug everyone around him outside the set, only to be pushed away by Gulnazar with a look of disgust.

Little Li looked a little lost. Finally, he hesitated and slowly walked to Chen Nuo's side.

Chen Nuo stood up.

Little Li took a deep breath, hugged him tightly, and whispered, "Thank you."

Chen Nuo patted him on the back and said, "You're welcome."

……

……

"Do not have any pity for the enemy."

These were the last words my father said to me while he was still alive.

Malcolm, I would also like to pass on these words to you.

"Thank you, Ms. Sakura. May your father's soul find peace in heaven under the Lord's care."

A tall, thin, middle-aged Black man stood up from the sofa next to an elderly Black woman.

"Ms. Sakura, I'll come to see you again when I have time."

"No need, Malcolm. You have more important things to do. Don't waste your time on a dying man like me."

The Black man nodded silently.

Then, he strode out of the room.

Looking out the window, one can see countless figures, raising flags with black fists, following the tall black figure.

Inside the house, the old woman slowly closed her eyes.

The camera then pans away and lands on the table by the door, where a blurry old photograph sits.

In the photo, an Asian man with a gunshot wound on his right cheek stands side by side with a little Black girl. Both of them look like they are having their picture taken for the first time; they appear nervous and serious, and there are no smiles on their faces.

However, he awkwardly put his arm around her thin shoulder with one hand.

……

……

On September 24, 2013, the crew of "The Bloodstained Dragon" completed filming all their scenes in Louisiana.

Most of the actors, such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Haruka Ayase, have also left the crew, leaving only Chen Nuo and Quwenzani.

Ayase Haruka returned to Japan. Before leaving, she saw him once, hugged him, but ultimately didn't say a word, leaving all her emotions in that farewell hug.

Leonardo DiCaprio made a promise with him to throw a party and have some fun when he returned to Los Angeles. At the same time, he also had to start preparing for his next film, "The Great Gatsby," which had been delayed for several years due to scheduling conflicts.

At this point, the paparazzi who had been following the film crew dispersed.

Next, Chen Nuo went to Wyoming with the crew and filmed transitional scenes with Quvenzani and James Remar for a few days. These scenes depicted them spending the winter together in the snowy mountains of Louisiana while hunting wanted criminals.

On September 30, in the snow-covered mountains of Wyoming, Quentin Tarantino announced that filming had officially wrapped.

With this, the film, for which Chen Nuo had been preparing and filming for nearly a year, has come to an end.

That evening, in a local tavern with a rugged Western style and antler fireplaces, Chen Nuo, Quentin, and the entire crew got completely drunk.

The next morning, the crew officially disbanded, and Quentin returned to LA to begin his intensive post-production work.

Still hungover, Chen Nuo didn't immediately go to Los Angeles to pick up Gao Yuanyuan and the others to return to China. Instead, he took a plane and flew to Silicon Valley, another famous place in California besides Hollywood, 359 miles away from Los Angeles.

He attended his first Facebook board meeting here.

Ps:

There will be another chapter at midnight, but the word count is unknown.

Thanks for the monthly pass, I slept for 14 hours yesterday.

(End of this chapter)