Huayu Entertainment: Starting with Exorcising Evil from a Film Queen

Chapter 104 A Complete Transformation, Bai Bing's Curiosity (4K)

The air seemed to freeze in the dark hotel room.

Zhang Ze sat cross-legged on the carpet, his breathing long and shallow.

There was no roaring sound from inside the body, nor any so-called hot flow washing over the meridians.

An indescribable coolness spread from the top of my head downwards, instantly permeating my limbs and bones.

The body, which had been somewhat heavy, seemed to have been relieved of a tremendous burden at this moment.

The five senses are magnified infinitely in an instant.

The noise from the television in the next room, the sound of the cleaning cart rolling in the hallway, and the rustling of leaves in the wind hundreds of meters away outside the window clearly penetrated my eardrums.

It is not chaotic noise, but a well-structured flow of information.

Zhang Ze slowly opened his eyes.

The pitch-black room was no longer a chaotic mess in his eyes.

The faint moonlight shone through the gaps in the curtains, and the dust particles floating in the air were clearly visible, even their chaotic dance could be seen.

This is called refining the spirit to return to emptiness.

The spirit, energy, and vitality are in harmony, returning to simplicity and authenticity.

Zhang Ze stood up.

Without any effort to build up momentum, the toes lightly touch the ground.

The body floated up as if defying gravity.

There was no sound of wind, no sound of air being cut.

His palm gently touched the three-meter-high ceiling.

She hovered in mid-air for a moment, like a gecko climbing a wall, before landing lightly.

It landed silently, without even deforming the carpet fibers under the weight.

Zhang Ze raised his arm, brought it close to his nose, and smelled it.

The smell of sweat and dust that I had picked up after working on the film set for several days had completely disappeared.

Instead, there is a very faint fragrance of herbs and trees.

It doesn't belong to any famous brand perfume; it's more like the scent of pine trees and rocks in the deep mountains after the rain.

Natural, clean, yet possessing a very strong presence.

He walked up to the mirror.

In the dim light, the person's features remained unchanged, but their sharp edge had softened considerably.

Instead, it possesses a warm, jade-like texture; the skin is so delicate that pores are invisible; and the eyes are as deep as pools, so captivating that they seem to draw one's soul in if you look at them for too long.

This kind of temperament, in ancient times it would be considered the mark of a highly accomplished person; in the entertainment industry, it's the mark of a natural spotlight.

Zhang Ze withdrew his gaze and looked at the panel.

Cultivation Level: Refining Spirit to Return to Emptiness (1/10000)

[Reputation Value: 387]

There are still a little over 300 points left.

Keeping it is a waste.

Zhang Ze turned his gaze to the skill bar.

[Director: Junior (74/200)]

A slight thought.

The numbers were fluctuating wildly.

[Director: Beginner] → [Director: Intermediate (1/400)]

In an instant, a flood of information about mise-en-scène, color aesthetics, and cinematic metaphors rushed into my mind.

If his previous directing skills only taught him how to tell a story, then his current intermediate skills have taught him how to...

Using the camera to manipulate the audience's emotions.

Zhang Ze closed his eyes, absorbing this vast amount of knowledge.

When I opened my eyes again, everything was calm.

The next morning.

Zhang Ze arrived at the dressing room on time.

The stylist, a woman in her thirties, was organizing her makeup case. When she saw Zhang Ze come in, she dropped her eyebrow pencil on the floor.

She paused for a few seconds, bent down to pick up the eyebrow pencil, her eyes somewhat glazed over.

"Ze-ge, did you go for a beauty treatment last night?"

The stylist leaned closer and couldn't help but sniff.

"What skincare products do you use? Your skin looks amazing, you don't even have dark circles."

Zhang Ze sat in a chair, closing his eyes to rest.

"Just sleeping well."

The stylist didn't ask any more questions, but when applying makeup, her hands were noticeably gentler than usual, as if afraid of ruining the perfect base.

She even skipped the heavy foundation she had prepared and just did a simple contouring.

Hu Ge walked in yawning, carrying two cups of soy milk.

"Good morning, Zhang Ze."

He placed the soy milk on the table, turned to look at Zhang Ze, and froze halfway through his yawn.

Hu Ge circled around Zhang Ze, marveling at his work.

Something's not right.

Something's really wrong.

"You don't look like someone who's just been pulling all-nighters for days on end. You look like a succubus who's just been drained of her life force—cough cough."

Zhang Ze glanced at him, took the soy milk, and took a sip.

"How dare you talk like that! Stop joking around, have you memorized today's lines?"

Hugo shrugged and pulled over a chair to sit down.

"Don't worry, I wouldn't dare to lag behind Lord Zhao Gao in his performance."

The morning's scenes were filmed inside the main hall of the Qin Palace.

Today we're filming a scene between Zhao Gao and Princess Yu Shu.

Zhao Gao was ordered to teach etiquette in Yu Shu's palace, but in reality, it was to establish his authority.

Bai Bing plays Princess Yu Shu.

She wore a plain white Qin palace dress, her long hair flowing over her shoulders, making her look charming and beautiful.

This wasn't her first time acting alongside Zhang Ze; although she felt pressured during the previous scenes, they went relatively smoothly.

All departments are ready.

Jiang Jiajun sat behind the monitor, holding a walkie-talkie.

"Three, two, one, go!"

The clapperboard is struck.

Zhang Ze's original gentle temperament vanished instantly, replaced by a complex sense of Zhao Gao's sinister and humble nature.

He bowed slightly, clasped his hands in front of him, and took small steps to Bai Bing.

"Princess, raise your hand three inches higher."

Zhang Ze's voice was high-pitched and hoarse.

He reached out to correct Bai Bing's gesture.

The two closed the distance between them.

A faint, fresh scent of herbs and trees instantly entered Bai Bing's nostrils.

It wasn't the usual sweaty smell from a film set, nor was it the pungent smell of cologne.

This flavor instantly relaxes your nerves, yet you can't help but want to explore its source.

Bai Bing subconsciously raised her head, her gaze meeting Zhang Ze's deep, dark eyes.

Those eyes seemed to hold whirlpools.

Bai Bing's mind went blank for a moment, and the lines she had memorized perfectly instantly vanished.

She stared blankly at Zhang Ze, her cheeks turning red at a visible speed.

"Card!"

Jiang Jiajun's voice came through the loudspeaker.

"Bai Bing! What's wrong with you? Are you staring blankly? Where are your lines?"

Bai Bing suddenly came to her senses, hurriedly took a step back, and bowed repeatedly.

"I'm sorry, director, I'm sorry, Zhang Ze, I—I was daydreaming."

Jiang Jiajun frowned, but because Zhang Ze was present, he couldn't let his temper get too bad.

"Let's adjust our mindset and try again!"

The second shoot begins.

Zhang Ze approached again.

That delicate fragrance wafted back, even more distinct than before.

Bai Bing tried her best to control her heartbeat, telling herself that she was filming a movie.

Zhang Ze's fingers gently touched her wrist.

Cool, yet powerful.

Bai Bing felt as if she had been electrocuted where she was touched, and her body couldn't help but tremble.

"Card!"

Jiang Jiajun rolled the script into a tube and tapped it on the table.

"Bai Bing! Zhao Gao is a eunuch! What are you trembling about? He's trying to teach you manners, not to assault you!"

A suppressed laugh came from the set.

Bai Bing's face was so red it was almost bleeding, and her eyes were red-rimmed.

She didn't dare look at Zhang Ze, standing there with her head down, twisting her sleeves with her fingers.

This is so embarrassing.

But the smell was so wonderful—and Zhang Ze's sudden change today really made it hard for her to concentrate.

It's still the same person, but they give off a flawless feeling. They seem unremarkable at first glance, but you can't help but be captivated by them upon closer inspection.

too weird.

Zhang Ze straightened up and resumed his normal standing posture.

He noticed Bai Bing's embarrassment.

That scent is a natural fragrance brought about by changes in physical constitution, coupled with the enhancement of mental strength from refining the spirit and returning to emptiness. Ordinary people are indeed easily affected when they come into close contact with it.

Zhang Ze took two steps back, creating some distance between them.

"Director Jiang, I think Bai Bing hasn't recovered yet. How about we take a ten-minute break?"

He turned to Jiang Jiajun, who was in the distance, and said.

Jiang Jiajun paused for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

Since Zhang Ze has already spoken, we should definitely give him face.

Zhang Ze walked to the nearby rest area and picked up a bottle of mineral water.

Bai Bing hesitated for a moment before walking over.

"Um—Zhang Ze, I'm sorry for taking up your and everyone else's time."

Her voice was very soft, like that of a student who had done something wrong.

Zhang Ze unscrewed the bottle cap, tilted his head back, and took a sip of water, his Adam's apple bobbing.

"It's okay. Acting is never smooth sailing. It's hard to find the right state of mind for this kind of role."

Zhang Ze spoke calmly, without any hint of blame.

Bai Bing glanced at Zhang Ze secretly, then hesitated before speaking.

"Director Zhang, are you wearing perfume today?"

Zhang Ze paused for a moment and turned his head to look at her.

I don't wear perfume.

"But you have a very nice smell."

After saying that, Bai Bing blushed again, feeling like she was a pervert.

"And—" she pointed to Zhang Ze's face, "you seem to be glowing all day."

This is the combined effect of reputation bonus and cultivation improvement.

Zhang Ze, of course, wouldn't explain that this was a change brought about by cultivating immortality.

He tightened the cap and casually placed the water bottle on the table.

"When I was a Taoist priest, I learned some methods for conditioning the body."

"Taoist priest?"

Bai Bing's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Were you a Taoist priest before?"

Zhang Ze nodded, his expression calm.

"After spending a few years in the mountains, cultivating my mind and body, and eating a light diet, I naturally feel more energetic."

Although this explanation is bizarre, it seems to make perfect sense when applied to Zhang Ze.

After all, there are many celebrities in this circle who believe in Buddhism and Taoism, but very few have actually been Taoist priests.

This mysterious background only added a special charm to Zhang Ze.

"No wonder----"

Bai Bing muttered to herself.

No wonder Zhang Ze always had a sense of detachment from the circle; he was a person outside the world.

"Alright, stop investigating whether I'm a Taoist priest or not."

Zhang Ze pointed to the camera not far away.

"When we're filming later, stare at the space between my eyebrows, don't look at my eyes, and slow down your breathing."

This is a simple psychological suggestion technique that, combined with his current mental strength, can effectively soothe the other person's emotions.

Bai Bing nodded obediently.

"I see."

Filming resumed ten minutes later.

This time, following Zhang Ze's method, Bai Bing no longer looked directly into his eyes, but instead stared at the space between his eyebrows.

Sure enough, the unsettling sense of oppression lessened considerably.

Although Zhang Ze's scent still distracted her somewhat, at least she was able to deliver her lines completely.

One take.

Jiang Jiajun watched the playback on the monitor and nodded in satisfaction.

"That's right! Keep it up!"

The day's filming ended at 8 p.m.

After removing his makeup and changing into casual clothes, Zhang Ze left the film set.

Hu Ge was leaning against a pillar by the door, playing on his phone. When he saw Zhang Ze come out, he put his phone away and went to greet him.

"Zhang Ze, where should we eat tonight? A new hot pot restaurant opened nearby, and I heard it's pretty good. How about we go there today?"

"Okay, I'm actually hungry."

As the two were talking, they heard footsteps behind them.

Bai Bing changed into a simple outfit of jeans and a T-shirt, holding a bag in her hand, looking somewhat hesitant.

"Um—can I come along?"

Bai Bing looked at the two of them, but her gaze was mainly fixed on Zhang Ze.

"I'd like to treat everyone to a meal to apologize for making everyone do so many takes today."

Hu Ge glanced at Bai Bing, then at Zhang Ze, a meaningful smile appearing on his face.

"More people means more chopsticks, I have no objection, Zhang Ze, what do you say?"

Zhang Ze nodded indifferently.

"Let's go, it's cheaper since someone's treating."

The three of them arrived at the hot pot restaurant.

Because it's near a film and television base, celebrities often frequent the restaurant, so the owner wasn't surprised and simply led them into a private room.

The copper pot is heated by charcoal, steaming hot.

After a few beers, the atmosphere became more lively.

Bai Bing was no longer as reserved as she was on set, showing the lively side of a young girl.

"Zhang Ze, did you really practice Taoism on the mountain? Then can you tell fortunes?"

Bai Bing picked up a slice of mutton and asked curiously.

Hu Ge was peeling garlic when he heard this and immediately chimed in.

"He's more than just a fortune teller; his reputation as a master has spread all over the internet. Didn't you know?"

"Last time on the set of 'Chinese Paladin 3,' he even personally blessed the equipment."

"Even I got through it with his guidance!"

Hu Ge began to embellish Zhang Ze's glorious deeds, describing Zhang Ze as almost mythical.

Bai Bing was stunned, her eyes filled with admiration as she looked at Zhang Ze.

Zhang Ze calmly ate the tripe, neither refuting nor admitting anything.

Maintaining an air of mystery is sometimes more effective than explaining.

Just then, Zhang Ze's phone, which was on the table, vibrated.

Sun Ying's name was displayed on the screen.

Zhang Ze put down his chopsticks and picked up his phone to answer the call.

"Feed".

Sun Ying's voice, brimming with barely suppressed excitement, came from the other end of the phone; she spoke very quickly.

"Zhang Ze! The money's here!"

"I just received a text message from the bank saying that the funds for those overseas publishers have all arrived!"

Zhang Ze remained calm as he picked up a peanut and put it in his mouth.

"How much in total?"

"After deducting all taxes and fees, and converting it to RMB, the total is 61.28 million!"

Sun Ying's voice was trembling.

She had been an agent for half her life and had never handled so much money before, especially since this was just the overseas copyright revenue from one movie.

The private room was a bit noisy, but Zhang Ze's voice was steady.

"Okay, I understand."

"What should we do with this money?"

"Don't move yet."

Zhang Ze interrupted her suggestion.

"Calculate the proportion and transfer 10% of it to Chen Zhixi."

Sun Ying on the other end of the phone was stunned for a moment.

"Should we transfer it now? It's such a large sum, should we—"

"Transfer now."

Zhang Ze's tone left no room for argument.

"This is the profit sharing we agreed on back then. You have to be honest in business."

Chen Zhixi deserved this 10% reward for running around in Cannes.

Moreover, Zhang Ze knew very well that the most stable relationship for someone to survive in the industry for a long time was one based on shared interests.

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