Huayu: The young actress is heavily dependent on me

When Chen Li arrived, Jin Chen was already sitting by the window.

She held the menu high, obscuring most of her face, her long legs swinging under the table.

Seeing Chen Li enter, Jin Chen peeked half her head out from behind the menu and waved vigorously at him:

"Here, here, here—!"

Chen Li walked over and sat down, but before he could even speak, Jin Chen pushed the menu in front of him:

"Order whatever you like! I'm leaving soon, this is on you!"

Chen Li argued with Jin Chen for a few minutes, adhering to traditional Chinese culture, but in the end, he "helplessly" accepted that Jin Chen would pay the bill.

Since I started acting, I haven't paid for meals out of my own pocket much.

Is this the perk of being handsome...?

Chen Li flipped through a couple of pages of the menu, then looked up at her: "Didn't you say there was one more person?"

"She went to the restroom, she'll be right back." Jin Chen tilted her head and looked at him, chuckling, "Why are you in such a hurry?"

Before the words had even finished, a girl walked over from the direction of the restroom.

Chen Li looked up and froze the moment she saw the face.

Isn't that Li Yitong?

She was handpicked by Yu Zheng to star in "Demon Girl" in 2015, which marked her official debut.

Huang Rong, who played the role in the 2017 version of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes", went on to play leading roles in many popular dramas.

But right now she should still be a student at the Beijing Dance Academy who has just graduated.

Jin Chen noticed that Chen Li's reaction was a bit strange, so she raised an eyebrow:

"What? You know him?"

"I don't know her. I just think...this girl is very cute."

Jin Chen laughed upon hearing this, and reached out to pinch Li Yitong's cheek: "Of course! She's like a little kitten."

Li Yitong's cheeks puffed out as she was pinched, and she giggled:

"Hey, stop fooling around..."

"Alright, sit down now, don't make her stand." Jin Chen patted the seat next to her and picked up the bottle of Arctic Ocean soda on the table.

Li Yitong obediently sat down next to Jin Chen, and only after sitting down did she dare to look up at Chen Li.

I didn't originally intend to come today.

But Jin Chen had to coax and plead for a long time, even swearing that this time it was a top-tier handsome guy, before she was finally persuaded to come.

I never expected my best friend wasn't lying!

As expected of the Queen of the Sea, she has excellent taste!

Jin Chen slammed the soda bottle on the table and gestured with her chin towards Chen Li:

"Let me formally introduce myself. I am Li Yitong, my classmate from Beijing Dance Academy. Our birthdays are only one day apart."

She paused, then added, "She's incredibly talented. She always had top grades in her major at school and danced ballet for several years."

When Li Yitong heard Jin Chen praise her, she glanced at Chen Li a little shyly, then blushed and lowered her head.

Jin Chen then pointed towards Chen Li:

"This is Chen Li, from the Performance Department of Beijing Film Academy."

"Have you watched 'Nirvana in Fire'? It's normal if you haven't, it hasn't aired yet. Anyway, remember this person, they're definitely going to be famous."

Chen Li was amused by Jin Chen's salesman-like tone:

"You've made me feel embarrassed by your introduction."

He put down his teacup, extended his hand to Li Yitong, and softened his tone:

"Chen Li, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Li Yitong hesitated for a fraction of a second before reaching out and shaking his hand.

Chen Li could tell that the girl was a little nervous.

"Hello... My name is Li Xue, Jin Chen calls me Li Yitong, you can call me whatever you like."

Jin Chen rolled her eyes from the side:

"Why are you so nervous? He's not some big star, he's just a nobody like me who hasn't made it big yet."

"Oh right, I haven't told you yet—Chen Li isn't just an actor, he's also a musician with his own works."

Li Yitong blinked:

"Really? What song is it?"

Just one song, "Undyed".

"Undyed?" Li Yitong's chopsticks stopped in mid-air.

She paused for a moment, then hurriedly rummaged through her bag for her phone and turned it upside down to face Chen Li.

"Did you write this song?"

Chen Li glanced at the screen.

On the music player interface, "Bu Ran" is paused at the chorus and is still on repeat.

"I've been really enjoying this song lately, but I've never known who sings it..."

"I never expected it to be you! What a coincidence!"

Li Yitong said with delight.

Jin Chen watched from the side and laughed, making two smacking noises while biting her straw:

"Hey, you've finally seen one alive today."

"I really love this song, and it's been quite popular lately." Li Yitong glanced down at the cover of "Bu Ran" on the screen.

It was a plain white background image, with nothing but the song title and a few lines of lyrics; it was as rudimentary as a demo.

"There's just no music video yet...it feels like something's missing."

Chen Li's eyes lit up slightly.

He did consider making a music video, but he didn't know who to ask to direct it.

But now it seems like this is a ready-made one.

"The music video is already in the planning stages, and I plan to film it in Chongqing."

"Chongqing?" Li Yitong tilted her head.

"Yes." Chen Li put down her teacup.

"Chongqing's landscape has a strong sense of layering, and it has a sense of story and everyday life."

"Moreover, there's an event I need to attend in Chongqing during the May Day holiday, so I can take care of both things in one trip."

Jin Chen raised an eyebrow: "Your schedule is quite packed."

Chen Li smiled, his gaze falling on Li Yitong, pausing for a moment.

"Li Yitong".

Li Yitong was taken aback by his serious tone and subconsciously sat up a little straighter: "Hmm?"

"Your temperament is perfect for the female lead in the 'Undyed' music video." Chen Li looked into her eyes.

"You're a graduate of the Beijing Dance Academy, so you definitely have the physique and camera presence."

"Music videos don't need dialogue; they need physical expressiveness and pure charisma, which happens to be your area of ​​expertise."

He paused slightly after speaking, a slight smirk playing on his lips, and his tone softened again:

"Of course, our budget for shooting a music video is limited, so the pay might not be high—"

"I do!" Li Yitong blurted out before he could finish speaking.

She realized she had agreed too quickly after she finished speaking, her face flushed, and she hurriedly explained.

"I mean... I can do it..."

Jin Chen laughed out loud, raised the Arctic Ocean bottle, and gestured to the two of them:

"Okay, it's settled then—my Tongtong will be the female lead in the music video!"

Li Yitong pinched her leg under the table, and Jin Chen cried out in pain, almost spitting out her soda.

"By the way—Chen Li, which year did you graduate from the Beijing Film Academy?"

"Level 13."

"Level 13?!" Jin Chen's eyes widened suddenly.

"Doesn't that mean he's in the same year as Chen Yao?!"

Chen Li nodded subconsciously.

Jin Chen became even more excited. She leaned back in her chair, a "I'm such a genius" smile on her face.

"So you're currently out of work? Perfect timing! Tangren Media is launching a new project in the second half of the year called 'Wu Xin: The Monster Killer.' The original IP is great, you should give it a try!"

"Wu Xin: The Monster Killer?" Chen Li's eyes narrowed slightly upon hearing the name.

He knew about this show.

Filming began in Zhengzhou and Hengdian at the end of 2014, and it premiered on Sohu Video in the summer of 2015. The production cost 40 million yuan, with 8 million yuan spent on special effects.

Back when web series were considered "leftovers" from TV dramas, "Wu Xin: The Monster Killer" carved out a path for itself.

With 7.1 million views and an 8.6 rating on Douban, it pioneered the trend of high-quality online dramas.

"Yes!" Jin Chen saw that his expression changed and immediately pressed her advantage.

"The second male lead, Zhang Xianzong, hasn't been cast yet. He's the one who has a lot of scenes with Chen Yao."

"Zhang Xianzong falls in love with Yue Qiluo at first sight and is willing to die for her, which is particularly touching."

"If you were to play this role, you could act alongside your classmate Chen Yao, wouldn't that be great!"

Chen Li listened, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.

Jin Chen is trying to get herself into Tangren's projects.

He clearly understood the meaning of "winning them over."

However, Jin Chen was unaware that she had already signed a contract with Fan Bingbing's studio a year prior.

Once Cai Yinong finds out later, will he still agree?

However, this is indeed a good opportunity that should not be missed.

"Okay." Chen Li put down his teacup, a smile spreading across his face.

"Then I'd like to trouble Sister Jin Chen to help me make a connection. I'd like to give this role a try."

"It's a deal! I'll talk to General Manager Cai for you when I get back!"