Abstract Art Award Winner

In the private café room, the air seemed to thicken slightly due to the unspoken, subtle probing between the two.

Dilraba's response, "Just lie down and relax," coupled with her sly yet slightly provocative gaze, stirred Zhou Le's heart.

In other words, it's inconvenient right now.

Picking up his coffee cup, Zhou Le used the act of drinking to conceal his almost uncontrollable heartbeat. He then put the cup down, met her gaze, and smiled knowingly. "That depends on whether you want to win without effort, or... have some involvement." He deliberately emphasized the words "win without effort."

A faint blush crept onto Dilraba's cheeks, but as a top-tier female star accustomed to big occasions, she immediately retorted, "With a master carrying me, of course I choose... to lie down obediently."

She dragged out the last syllable, her eyes darting back and forth across Zhou Le's face.

The two exchanged a smile, and a tacit understanding was quietly formed based on their top-tier good looks and sexual tension.

Although everyone knows that this "ambiguous" interaction during the promotional period is part of the job.

However, it cannot be denied that engaging in this kind of intellectual and charm contest between adults with such outstanding members of the opposite sex is itself extremely enjoyable.

Moreover, their current relationship goes beyond that.

Even though they already know the depth of each other's feelings, they still pretend to be in a flirtatious relationship.

Although we can't go into too much detail right now, no one will say it outright.

But there's an unspoken understanding between them.

They treated the current scene as a rehearsal for the future.

They then discussed in detail how to create a natural show for the subsequent hype.

How can the interaction satisfy both drama fans and game players without feeling awkward, while also concealing the true relationship between the two?

The whole process was filled with subtle flirting.

When saying goodbye, Zhou Le very gentlemanly helped Dilraba into the car.

Before closing the car door, Dilraba suddenly turned around and smiled sweetly: "Happy, it was a pleasure working together. I hope we can continue to have such a pleasant experience in the future."

"Of course, I look forward to fighting alongside you." Zhou Le nodded, watching the car leave, his anticipation for the start of filming for this drama rising even higher.

The process will likely be quite enjoyable.

……

Meanwhile, there has been progress on the rehearsals for Tian Xiwei's micro-drama.

The National Theatre of China sent the script to Zhou Le.

Zhou Le carefully read the script of the realistic ensemble drama. Indeed, as the dean said, the college student character did not have a large role, but he was very layered. From a naive and timid freshman to gradually finding his self-worth, he experienced confusion, struggle and finally growth. It was a great test of the actor's ability to convey emotions and shape the character within a limited space.

Zhou Le immediately forwarded the script to Tian Xiwei and called her.

"Xiaotian, have you read the script? What do you think of it?"

Tian Xiwei's clear and melodious voice came from the other end of the phone: "Brother Le! I received the script! I just finished reading it! This role is so good! It's just that I'm a little scared... I don't think I can handle it, after all, stage plays and filming seem to be quite different..."

"There's no difference; the core is still understanding and shaping the characters."

Zhou Le encouraged him, saying, "Drama tests your explosiveness and coherence on stage even more. This is the best training for you. Don't be afraid. I will talk to the director and ask the experienced actors to mentor you. Think about it, even someone like me who has never studied acting can perform, let alone you. This is actually a very good opportunity to hone your skills."

"Okay! Thank you, Brother Le! I will definitely try my best! Even if it's just a minor role, I will still go!" Tian Xiwei made up her mind.

"Okay, then you should prepare. The audition over there is just a formality. It mainly tests your understanding of the character. Just relax and perform."

After settling things with Tian Xiwei, Zhou Le threw himself back into his busy work.

The early clips and posters of "Fame and Fortune" began to generate buzz, and as he predicted, the ingenious structure and unexpected plot twists garnered unanimous praise from film critics and core audiences.

Praises such as "dark horse of the year" and "the pinnacle of murder mystery movies" began to emerge.

The morale of the entire publicity team was greatly boosted.

But Zhou Le didn't think this was a good omen.

After thinking about it for two days, he finally posted a video on Douyin.

"The film 'Famous and Prosperous' is my first work. Although people may go to the cinema because of me, to be honest, my role in it is not very big, and it is just a role that I personally want to challenge. As for whether to go to the cinema to see it, everyone should think carefully."

I know that saying this might make some partners unhappy. After all, it's about making money, and there's no shame in it. But I don't think the investors are really all brothers. Their only requirement for me is to break even. The clips that are released will definitely be exciting. If you are interested in the story, you can go and watch it. If you think there are better ones, go for them. I never thought of making a movie to educate anyone. As I always say, nobody's money comes from thin air.

Of course, if you see it and don't like it, feel free to criticize; that's okay.

After the video was posted, the overall response from viewers and passersby was quite positive.

At least Zhou Le is doing his publicity, but he doesn't want people to praise him too much.

On the other hand, the pilot episode and the first episode of the second season of "Five Ha" are not ready to be broadcast yet, but the editing work has been completed. They have also summarized some highlight shots for Zhou Le, so Zhou Le can prepare to promote them when the time comes.

For example, segments such as Zhou Le's catapult start in a Jinbei van, his stay in Wei Daxun's room, and the "story swap" will definitely become the focus of heated discussions among viewers, and there's no need to worry about ratings and online viewership.

Just as all the work was progressing smoothly, Zhou Le received an unexpected phone call.

It was a call from Wu Jing, the director with whom he had previously collaborated on "Wolf Warrior 2".

"Xiao Le, what are you busy with?" Wu Jing's voice was as cheerful as ever.

"Brother Jing? That's rare! I just finished a busy period and am catching my breath. Do you have any instructions?" Zhou Le replied with a smile.

"It's not really an instruction. I'm working on a new script, a military action film, a bit tough. There's a character in it, not the one with the most screen time, but quite crucial, and I need a young actor who can fight, has a good image, and is also smart."

"You're the first person I thought of. How about it, are you interested in suffering a little more?" Wu Jing got straight to the point.

When Zhou Le heard that it was Wu Jing's new movie, and that it was a military action movie, his spirits immediately lifted.

This means extensive physical training, professional military guidance, and the potential risk of injury, but it also means extremely high production quality, huge exposure, and irreplaceable brand value.

This is completely different from the urban romance style of his ongoing drama, "You Are My Glory".

"Brother Jing, are you directing?!" Zhou Le hesitated for a moment.

"I'm not the director. The directors are Tsui Hark and Huang Jianxin. I'm just listed as the producer and the lead actor."

"Filming is expected to begin in the second half of the year. There may be one or two months of military training beforehand. I can only say that this role is really suitable for you," Wu Jing said.

Zhou Le pondered for a moment.

If Wu Jing isn't the director but just a producer, then he probably has a portion of the investment in it.

But this is fundamentally different from Wu Jing directing.

"Brother Jing, what other production companies are involved in the film?"

"Others include Bona Film Group, China Film Group, and Alibaba."

Zhou Le sighed. In that case, it would be difficult for him to get involved, since these were all companies that didn't lack money.

Even if you go in, you might only get a sip of soup at most, but if you factor in the time you spend going in, it's not worth it. After all, this is a sequel to Chosin Reservoir, and since it was successful before, this one is sure to be just as good.

"Brother Jing, I'll think about it, but I doubt it will work in the second half of the year, since those slots are hard to reschedule." Wu Jing understood Zhou Le's meaning.

"Okay, it's no big deal. The main thing is that this project is really valued by the higher-ups. I got it done with the help of some big shots I knew before. We can work together again when I have other good projects later."

Zhou Le smiled and said, "Thank you for understanding, Brother Jing."

"Haha, we're brothers, why are you talking about understanding?"

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Le immediately instructed his team to continue preparing publicity for making a name for themselves.

At the same time, we must continue to follow up on the other side's desperate gamble.

A few days later, the joint press conference between "You Are My Glory" and "Honor of Kings" was held as scheduled.

The atmosphere at the scene was electric, and the appearance of Zhou Le and Dilraba Dilmurat triggered a deafening roar of screams from the fans.

The two interacted perfectly on stage, with Zhou Le dominating the stage with his witty banter, while Dilraba was responsible for being beautiful and funny.

Even if I occasionally let my teammates down, no one says anything.

After all, who would be willing to do that?
And none of his teammates said anything.

When Zhou Le truly carried the entire team with his exceptional Li Bai skills, and ultimately unintentionally allowed Dilraba's Cai Wenji to secure a kill, the atmosphere reached its peak.

#A certain celebrity and Dilraba Dilmurat playing King of Glory#
#YuTuQiaoJingjingLockedUp#
Topics such as these quickly dominated the trending searches.

It's hard to say who's behind every trending topic.

It could be the game company, the film company, or even another party involved.

At the dinner following the press conference, Zhou Le and Dilraba inevitably became the focus of attention once again.

During a break from social engagements, the two stood on the terrace to rest for a while.

"You did a great job today, Zhou Le, the master." Dilraba said softly to Zhou Le, raising her champagne glass.

"Haha, I don't know if it's miraculous or not, but it's definitely quite big," Zhou Le replied.

A gentle evening breeze carries the subtle warmth of a summer night.

The two stood side by side, looking down at the dazzling city lights. They were silent for a moment, yet there was an indescribable sense of harmony between them.

"Next, I'll be joining the film crew," Dilraba suddenly said. "I hope the filming goes smoothly."

"Yes, I will." Zhou Le looked at her, his eyes appearing particularly deep in the night. "It will be a pleasure working with you."

"It's a pleasure to work with you." Reba smiled slightly, her wine glass lightly touching his glass, making a crisp sound.

Back home, those trending search terms were still up.

But just as I took off my shirt, a WeChat notification sounded; it was a message from Nazha.

There were no words, just a simple emoji: [eating popcorn]
Zhou Le smiled and replied with a: [doge emoji]
Another message came back quickly, this time with a hint of emotion: "Hmph! Someone's a pro carrying you, having a lot of fun!"

It was followed by a "cleaver" emoji.

Zhou Le could almost picture Naza nestled on the sofa, pouting, scrolling through the trending topics that annoyed her, and sending him a sour message.

He teased Nazha on purpose: "What? Teacher Nazha wants to win without lifting a finger? I'll take you next time?"

Naza: "No way! I can carry the team myself! You go play with your woman."

Zhou Le: "It's for work, please understand, there's nothing I can do about it."

Naza: "Oh~ so it's work~"

Zhou Le just found it funny.

Just as she was about to reply to soothe this Persian cat who occasionally got angry, Naza sent another message: "Fine, I know it's official business, but I don't care if you're just putting on an act on the surface, you're not allowed to sleep with her in private!"

Zhou Le: "Okay! I said I wouldn't sleep, and I won't!"

After saying that, he thought to himself, "If I don't stay up overnight and fall asleep, it probably doesn't count as sleeping."

Putting down his phone, Zhou Le picked up the script for "You Are My Glory," preparing to review the filming content.
Looking at Yu Tu, a character clearly from an idol drama, he fell into deep thought again.

Since the idol drama he co-starred in with Tian Xiwei became a huge hit last year, he has indeed personally experienced the enormous benefits brought by the surge in popularity.

Their commercial value skyrocketed, and endorsements, variety show invitations, and scripts poured in like snowflakes, including some hugely invested, S+ level idol drama projects that became popular even before filming.

The salaries offered are increasingly astonishing.

Despite the salary cap, film studios have plenty of ways to cope.

To be honest, filming idol dramas is really "fun".

It's easy, makes money quickly, attracts fans easily, and allows you to work with different types of beautiful actresses.

The feeling of being the center of attention and pursued by capital is very easy to become addicted to.

But he always had a nagging feeling in his heart.

He knew perfectly well that traffic was a double-edged sword; it came quickly and went quickly.

If you keep indulging in the comfort zone of idol dramas and constantly deplete yourself, your situation will become awkward when the novelty wears off or a newer husband appears.

Even Tian Xiwei was keenly aware of the need to settle down; he certainly couldn't let the current prosperity blind him.

"These idol dramas have had their fun and generated a lot of buzz, it's time to pull back a bit."

Zhou Le pondered to himself.

He needs more substantial works to solidify his position, he needs to challenge himself with more complex roles to prove his acting skills, and even... it's time to aim for awards.

Whether it's mainstream TV drama awards or more prestigious film awards, they all need to be supported by solid works.

Although Wu Jing's military-themed project was turned down for various reasons, it undoubtedly served as a wake-up call for him—he needed more works like "Making a Name for Himself" and "Going All In."

Even more hardcore and challenging roles.

Idol dramas can be used occasionally as a way to maintain popularity, but they shouldn't be your main job.

With this in mind, he had a clearer understanding of the role he was about to play in the upcoming drama, "You Are My Glory".

This was just a routine task to maintain popularity and commercial value, and of course, it was also to make some money and consolidate his position within Tencent.

But it is by no means the end.

Taking a good photo is a sign of respect for one's profession, but after taking the photo, one must look further ahead.

Zhou Le closed the script, having already made up his mind.

While maintaining necessary exposure, it is essential to carefully select projects that can truly enhance one's reputation and offer depth.

He wants the traffic, but he wants recognition of his abilities even more. (End of Chapter)