Reborn in Hollywood

Li Rui later learned that there was a lot of story behind Depp's casting in this role.

It is said that the producers initially considered Jim Carrey, Michael Keaton, and Christopher Walken. Bruckheimer himself admitted that he considered casting Hugh Jackman because the name "Jackman" fits the captain's image well.

But when Depp arrived, he overturned all those traditional pirate ideas.

He modeled his version of Captain Jack Sparrow after Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards.

Disney executives were terrified when they heard about it. One of the producers who was "supervising" on set openly complained to Li Rui that the film was doomed.

But Jerry Bruckheimer withstood the pressure and said to let Depp give it a try.

The filming went very smoothly.

Li Rui and Depp didn't have many scenes together, but every collaboration was very pleasant.

On set, Depp was a complete goofball, often playing harmless pranks.

One day, Li Rui was resting when Depp suddenly came over and said with a serious expression.

"Little blacksmith, do you know, this film was almost never shot on St. Vincent Island."

Li Rui was taken aback, thinking to himself, "Could it be that I remembered it wrong?"

Why?

Depp lowered his voice.

"Jerry originally wanted to go to Baja California in Mexico, where there is a giant tank where Titanic and Pearl Harbor were filmed, but another movie beat him to it."

"What movie?"

"Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World"

Depp scoffed, "Russell Crowe's."

Li Rui nodded.

"So you're filming here now?"

Depp shrugged.

"This place is not bad either; at least there's no danger of coconuts hitting your head."

Li Rui was stunned for a moment, somewhat bewildered by Depp's rambling way of speaking.

"coconut?"

Depp said in a very serious tone.

"It's true, on many islands in the Caribbean, coconuts on palm trees can fall and kill people at any time, and the staff don't let us stay under the trees for too long."

Li Rui was speechless, finding this knowledge rather obscure.

Keira Knightley joined the crew on the fourth day.

When she arrived, Li Rui was chatting with Bob Anderson.

Kayla walked over, and Li Rui stood up to greet her.

Kayla glanced at him, her expression a little strange.

Later, Li Rui learned that Keira had heard about him before joining the crew—his cohabitation with Jessica in "Step Up," his rumored affair with Natalie Portman, and the two supermodels, Lima and Ambrosio.

Jennifer Connelly, on the other hand, is not yet known to the public.

In her mind, Li Rui had already categorized himself as a "playboy".

But Kayla is a smart person.

She knew there was no point in causing trouble on set, so she simply adjusted her mindset and treated Li Rui as an ordinary colleague.

Unexpectedly, this place led to a friendship.

The first scene the two actors shared was when Li Rui, playing Will Turner, went to the Governor's residence in Port Royal to deliver a sword.

After filming three takes, director Gore Verbinski called for a stop.

"Kayla, your gaze can be a little colder. You're a noble lady now, you should look down on a blacksmith with a bit of superiority."

Kayla nodded.

The fourth scene is about to begin.

This time, her gaze was right; when she looked at Li Rui, she exuded an innate sense of superiority.

After the filming was finished, Li Rui said in a low voice.

"You have good taste; you really don't like me?"

Kayla glared at him.

"Don't be narcissistic."

A few jokes greatly improved the relationship between the two.

Kayla also told Li Rui an embarrassing story about herself.

"Do you know I almost didn't play Elizabeth?"

Why?

"On the day of the audition, I got stuck in a huge traffic jam."

Kayla looked shaken. "I was so anxious in the car I almost cried. I thought I was doomed and was going to miss the biggest opportunity of my life."

Li Rui found it somewhat amusing; he hadn't expected this woman to be so carefree.

"And then?"

"When I ran in later, they were just about to finish up."

Kayla said, "I gasped and said, 'Let me try,' and they probably took pity on me and let me try."

"You're quite lucky."

Kayla shrugged.

"Just lucky."

During filming, Li Rui received text messages from Alibaba every week.

The box office of "Step Up" has been soaring.

On October 20th, one month after its release, the film had already grossed $150 million at the North American box office.

The film was released overseas under Universal's management, and the numbers are still rising.

Universal Pictures predicts that the global box office will eventually reach 2.3 million, which is much higher than previously predicted.

Although these box office results have nothing to do with Li Rui—the derivative rights were all sold to Universal—his name has been thoroughly established in Hollywood.

Ali told him on the phone, "Raphael, you're in high demand right now. If Disney were to sign you now, I would absolutely not agree to it unless the salary is doubled. Several producers have been asking me about your schedule, saying that they will definitely give you priority consideration for their next film."

Li Rui leaned back in his recliner, listening to the phone call.

"No rush, let's finish filming the pirate movie first. How many scripts have you collected, as I asked you to?"

"I have over three hundred notebooks on hand right now, just waiting for you to come back and choose. They are all 'inventory' accumulated by the six major organizations over the years."

Ali then added, "Jessica is also very popular. She has received several audition offers for movies recently and is extremely busy—her agent told me all of this."

Li Rui hummed in agreement.

"Let her keep busy; it's a good thing she's busy."

After hanging up the phone, Li Rui thought for a moment and then sent Jessica a text message.

I heard you're really popular lately?

Jessica replied instantly.

[Nonsense. Don't you even know whose woman she is?]

Li Rui smiled happily. He liked Jessica for this reason: she provided emotional value, which made him very satisfied.

I'll come see you after I'm done with this busy period.

Jessica replied with a kiss emoji.

But in reality, Li Rui couldn't leave at all.

Because it's very lively here too.

In early November, the first group of people who came to visit the set arrived.

Lima and Ambrosio.

As if by prior arrangement, the two appeared on the film set on the same day.

Wearing a bikini with a sheer overlay, sunglasses, and high heels, she wandered around the film set all day.

The male staff members of the entire film crew were stunned.

Depp leaned closer to Li Rui and whispered.

"Little blacksmith, you're quite the ladies' man."

Li Rui was helpless.

"Just friends."

Depp gave a meaningful smile.

"Friends? That kind of friend?"

Li Rui rolled his eyes, too lazy to pay him any attention.

Lima and Ambrosio spent a week on the island, spending their days sunbathing, watching Li Rui film, and taking Li Rui out for dinner every night.

A week later, the two left, and Li Rui acted as if nothing had happened.

Depp looked at him, clicking his tongue in amazement.

"You're in great shape! I used to be like that too, but it's a pity I can't anymore."

Li Rui mercilessly mocked Depp.

"What's wrong? Can't you get an erection?"

At the end of November, the second group of people came to visit the set.

Jennifer Connelly.

When she arrived, the entire set fell silent for a second.

An Oscar-winning actress, a Yale graduate, and a goddess of elegance—it does feel a bit out of place for such a high-caliber actress to suddenly appear on set.

Jennifer, on the other hand, remained quite calm.

She chatted with Bruckheimer for a few minutes, greeted Verbinski, and then sat down next to Li Rui to watch him film.

Depp leaned closer again.

"Little blacksmith, how many do you have?"

Li Rui glared at him.

Not a single one!

Depp's smile is exactly like Captain Sparrow's.

"Do you want me to believe you or not?"

Jennifer also stayed on the island for a week.

Before leaving, she hugged Li Rui in front of the entire team and whispered something in his arms.

"How do you think they view the relationship between you and me?"

Li Rui chuckled.

"They see things the way you do."

Jennifer gently bit Li Rui's chest.

"You're shameless! You're a damn bastard!"

Li Rui pretended to be stupid.

"What bastard? How have I been a bastard?"

Jennifer was so angry that she took another bite, this time a bit harder, and it looked a little red and swollen.

Director Gore Verbinski could only instruct the makeup artist to apply more concealer to the blacksmith's chest—the next scene required the blacksmith to expose his chest.

Depp suddenly chimed in from the side.

"Stop rubbing it, just let this kid find someone to lick it a couple of times."

Li Rui was so angry that he almost grabbed a sword and stabbed Depp in the butt.

In early December, the third group of people who came to visit the set almost arrived.

Natalie Portman called to say she wanted to visit the set.

Li Rui refused outright.

"Natalie, the filming here is so busy, I won't have time to spend with you even if you come."

Natalie snorted on the other end of the phone.

"Raphael, you've changed."

Li Rui didn't respond.

Natalie could only say helplessly, "Never mind. You go ahead and do your work."

The phone hangs up.

Li Rui put away his phone, thinking that this was for the best.

He didn't want to have any further involvement with Natalie. That woman was too cunning; he couldn't handle her.

Jessica had wanted to come too, but she simply couldn't find the time. She had four or five notebooks to work on, and her agent was constantly pressuring her to make a decision; she had no time to think about going to the Caribbean.

Li Rui wished she wouldn't come.

It's not that I don't love her, it's just that I'm too busy here.

He has to film every day and deal with those who visit the set at night, so he doesn't have time to spend with Jessica.

What if Jessica bumps into Lima or Ambrosio...

Although Li Rui was thick-skinned and didn't care at all, he didn't want the entire crew to witness his chaotic drama.

In mid-December, a major event occurred.

That night, after filming the night scenes, Keira Knightley and several staff members took a small boat back to their accommodation.

As a result, the ship ran aground halfway through the journey.

Li Rui was resting on a deck chair on the shore when he heard cries for help coming from afar. He immediately started the engine and rushed over.

By the time he arrived, the small boat was already half-submerged. Kayla and several staff members were struggling desperately in the water.

Li Rui steered the speedboat closer and pulled the people aboard one by one.

Kayla was the last to board the ship.

She was soaked to the bone and shivering from the cold, but she still managed to say "thank you."

Li Rui took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders.

"Don't speak. Go back first."

The speedboat returned to the base, where the doctor was already waiting.

They were all just frightened, but nothing serious happened.

The news spread throughout the entire film crew the next day.