I'm not mentally ill, I'm a master of a thousand faces!

Chapter 452, A New Circle

Addicted.

It's very hard to quit.

This is not only true for Eddie Peng.

At this moment, on this side of Hong Kong.

If there's any major social circle that has declined even faster than the Beijing and central government circles, it's undoubtedly the Hong Kong circle. Once incredibly popular and even the first to go international, it has now declined drastically.

Apart from large companies like Emperor Galaxy, small companies are basically on the verge of collapse.

The current Hong Kong entertainment circle feels like a centipede with a hundred legs.

Dead but not dead. Nowadays, the Beijing and central entertainment circles have almost stopped collaborating on projects because they have declined so drastically. Instead, they have started poaching talented actors from the Hong Kong entertainment circle.

Many of them have already made connections with the central government and Beijing circles.

"The sun is setting; I never imagined our industry would decline to such a point where there's a lack of new talent."

"It seems that after Gu Tianle and Liu Dehua started, the lineage stopped."

At this moment, Chow Yun-fat and Tony Leung Ka-fai were watching the sunset in front of them.

It seems I've also seen my own circle, and I feel like I'm walking into the twilight of my life.

Having fought in this industry for most of my life, it's hard not to feel a sense of regret to have reached this point. But decline is something no one can stop.

Of course, actors of their caliber will never have trouble finding work.

It's the circle that's heading towards its demise, not them.

At that moment, however, Leung Ka-fai made a decision.

"I'm going to the mainland with some actors I know."

"Go find the Beijing circle?" Chow Yun-fat asked. "Or the CCTV circle?"

Both of these circles have long coveted the "legacy" of the Hong Kong entertainment industry, and both want to acquire its outstanding actors and directors.

Especially the actors; the older generation of Hong Kong actors practically created a legend of an era.

At this moment, Liang Jiahui smiled slightly.

"No, let's go find Li Yun. Isn't he filming a TV series? Perfect timing, he needs actors."

"Are you crazy?"

"I'm not crazy."

"Have you read the script? And he's being targeted by the Beijing entertainment circle."

"I haven't seen it, and I know about it, but I still want to go, and I still want to bring some actors I know with me."

Chow Yun-fat remained silent; he understood Tony Leung Ka-fai.

He was previously sidelined for a period of time because of his stubbornness in taking on roles in mainland China. Although he was later exonerated after returning to the motherland, he is still the kind of person who always does things that are quite different from those around him.

"As an actor, encountering your own 'delicious dish' is the ultimate happiness. For me, Li Yun, as an actor, can bring me 'happiness'. For this addictive feeling of 'happiness', even if I have to give up something, it's not something I can't accept."

People are drawn to this addictive feeling.

It's true that you can lose a lot. Tony Leung Ka-fai still remembers the feeling of acting opposite Li Yun in Bodyguards and Assassins.

That feeling was wonderful.

However, it can also be seen as finding a way out for myself.

For his future acting career.

Choose a weight.

Choose a table.

The Three-Body Problem is a very ingenious project.

A project that nobody had any faith in; its existence was seen by industry insiders as nothing more than a scheme to scam subsidies. If anyone had to say who could make a name for themselves, it would probably be Wesley.

People have their own confidence in adapting IPs.

The upper echelons of Beijing's elite circle didn't seem to care much about this.

As for Li Yun's actions, even if it means destroying you, what does it have to do with me?

Even if it's simply about displaying power and authority.

Also worth it.

The Beijing film circle has its own projects, including Zhang Yimou's next film, The Great Wall, and Mulan, which is now ready to be approved.

They are all collaborations with Hollywood.

We've already transcended that; we've entered Hollywood. When we return, no one in the country will be able to stop us.

Truly invincible.

However, some news has caused a slight ripple in Beijing's social circle.

Eddie Peng, a top-tier actress who is currently in high demand, and Liu Hewei, who is also currently enjoying great popularity, are both at the peak of their careers. Eddie Peng, in particular, is a member of the Beijing entertainment circle.

If he wanted to make a living in this industry, he should have listened to what the Beijing elites said.

He was doing well in this industry and gradually climbed to the top, but now he's not playing by the rules.

He actually defied the "sanctions" imposed on him by the Beijing elite circle and committed the crime against them.

This in itself is a slap in the face.

Furthermore, it is said that Tony Leung Ka-fai, one of the leading figures in Hong Kong's entertainment circle, has also come to Beijing with his own team.

As it turned out, they went to find Li Yun.

This behavior displeased people in Beijing's elite circles.

It gives one the feeling that one's authority has been challenged.

"Does this mean that our voices in Beijing's elite circles have lost their power?" Lu Haishi asked, slightly puzzled and even somewhat annoyed.

He had no 'malicious' intentions towards Li Yun.

But the fact that the power that is being exercised is not being rewarded is disheartening.

This displeasure and dislike are very obvious!

At this moment, Zhang Mouzi spoke.

"It's just a group of old, weak, sick, and disabled people, plus a motley crew of all sorts of shady characters trying to scam subsidies. This motley crew can't cause any trouble."

Hong Kong's entertainment circle is now a thing of the past, a thing of the past.

It's been a long time since I've heard any news from this industry—the news of a talent gap is there, though. For so many years, there hasn't been any new generation of actors, whether in the TV drama or film industry, and a sense of complete decay is palpable.

Rotten, decayed.

"I know I can't cause any trouble."

At this point, Lü Haishi already knew about this matter.

The problem is that these "old, weak, sick, and disabled" individuals, who are incapable of causing any trouble, actually disregard the authority of the Beijing elite circle.

This is actually quite annoying.

It's annoying.

"Did I fall into a trap?"

"How can this be considered falling into a trap?"

At this moment, Li Yun smiled and said.

Looking at the people Liang Jiahui brought, and Peng Yuyan and Liu Hewei who looked like they'd just eaten shit.

What they miss is the "addictive" feeling they had after filming with Li Yun.

Now, Li Yun tells them that this time he won't be acting in any role; he'll be acting purely as a director and screenwriter. Although Li Yun's directing and screenwriting abilities are already somewhat well-known.

But this time, it's a 'science fiction drama' project.

They're all here for Li Yun's men.

Most of them came because of Li Yun as an actor. After all, acting with Li Yun is a wonderful experience, much like the feeling of approaching a delicious meal.

Now they're telling me there's no food.

Do you think I came here for the script?

Please, it's common knowledge that domestic science fiction scripts are just a huge, sloppy mess.

Knowing that there are rare things ahead, they still choose to venture into the rare mountains. The circle did not pay much attention to "The Three-Body Problem" before, but because of this wave of ragtag people who came here in a hurry, it has gained some attention.

These actors knew the road ahead would be difficult.

Most of them said they had been tricked.

"However, I would like to thank everyone for your trust and support. Thank you all in advance."

Li Yun bowed deeply.

It feels good.

This means they have placed their trust in you.

Even Eddie Peng found it unbelievable.

Although outsiders often say that the Hong Kong entertainment circle is full of small fry, the old and the weak, it is only the circle that is declining, not the actors themselves.

As actors, they remain a highly skilled and capable force.

They are coveted by all sides.

They all want to open up and absorb.

However, the first thing this group did upon arriving on the mainland was to seek out Li Yun.

That's incredible.

Moreover, their purpose was very clear: to find Li Yun, an actor.

It's one thing for him to act alone, but Tony Leung Ka-fai, the actor with a thousand faces, has almost reached the limit of his acting skills.

In terms of pure acting skills, he has reached the limit of what the industry can offer.

A super actor, a superstar with his own name, and the people he acts with are all renowned film emperors, people who have reached the highest level in their respective fields.

Logically speaking, they should have more and better partners to race alongside.

For Li Yun, they were still in a relatively high position.

At least in the field of acting, that's true; after all, they are at the pinnacle of their field, having reached the very end.

It has reached the very end.

It can be said that Tony Leung Ka-fai is the epitome of Hong Kong's acting prowess.

One of the highest and strongest crystals.

And he actually followed this addictive feeling.

He even brought along a group of people he knew well, both men and women, whose positions ranged from first-tier to third-tier cities.

Zhang Jingchu, Ma Hongguang, and many other well-known and unknown supporting actors.

They all followed this versatile actor.

It can't be said that they came to surrender, but at least their gesture was quite equal.

Gold and silver treasures, luxury cars and watches, beautiful women and luxury cars.

These things that accentuate one's status can bring an addictive pleasure.

And as an actor.

Even actors of the highest caliber are not immune to the common pitfalls.

Fame and fortune are the initial motivation for most people to act, and also the ultimate goal they pursue.

At this moment, Li Yun was not like a beautiful woman or a luxury car; he was more like something addictive.

Working with him can be addictive.

What was unexpected was that even the more charismatic and multifaceted actor fell for it.

I'm sinking into this feeling of being poisoned.

Unable to extricate oneself.

At this moment, Zhang Jingchu was looking at Liang Jiahui.

This seasoned beauty has seen it all; what kind of people hasn't she met in the industry? What kind of movies hasn't she acted in?

She even started her career in Category III films.

This debut resume doesn't seem very impressive.

However, Zhang Jingchu has never hidden her past experience, nor has she concealed her uninhibited lifestyle in her private life.

But this doesn't seem to affect her status as a leading actress.

She remains the leading lady, as always, and always has been.

Because she has enough acting skills.

A true acting talent has solid professional skills; everything else is secondary.

This is the principle of the strong.

She was one of the Hong Kong actors who came with Tony Leung Ka-fai, but the decline of the industry has reduced her opportunities.

"Ye Wenjie, a female scientist, that's interesting. It's surprising that someone with only a junior high school education like me is playing such a role." Zhang Jingchu smiled slightly, looking at her script with great interest.

For example, if Zhang Jingchu has any shortcomings, it's probably that she doesn't understand the ins and outs of the entertainment industry.

She didn't care about Li Yun being blacklisted by the Beijing entertainment circle; she only knew that Liang Jiahui had introduced her, so she came.

Having never worked with Li Yun, she couldn't sense the charm that even Tony Leung Ka-fai was captivated by.

That ultimate appeal as an actor.

"The Commander-in-Chief of the Trisolaran Project? Holy crap, he's a supporting character! How could I, a chameleon actor, end up like this?" Tony Leung looked at his script and couldn't help but laugh and cry.

It's one thing if I can't act opposite Li Yun.

They only managed to get this minor role; it's a truly despairing choice.

Li Yun denied any wrongdoing.

This role is perfect for you.

A versatile actor.

At this moment, Zhang Jingchu closed her script again.

"This script is more interesting than I imagined. I wonder what it will be like to film it."

"It's normal for everyone to not understand since this is the first time we've been involved in a sci-fi project." At this moment, Tony Leung looked at Zhang Jingchu and said with a self-deprecating smile, "I'm even called the 'Man of a Thousand Faces' actor, but it seems I've never actually filmed a sci-fi movie."

Science fiction has always been the prerogative of Hollywood. The fantastical visions of the stars and the future, and the grand descriptions of the epic history of civilization, are something that only Hollywood can currently achieve.

"So you're here just to try your hand at sci-fi? A genre you've never worked with before, but find interesting."

"I do have that idea," Leung Ka-fai admitted, "but it's definitely the result of a combination of factors."

A trial run for science fiction films.

Acting opposite Li Yun brought back the addictive feeling I had back then.

Furthermore, Li Yun's acting skills seem perfectly suited to inherit his reputation as a multifaceted actor.

I feel like I want to train him as an apprentice.

Tony Leung is getting old, and he doesn't want his name to go unreplaced.

He also wants to witness the next person become a versatile actor, even if that person is not in his circle.

It doesn't matter.

"If you want to make science fiction works, both the Beijing film circle and the CCTV circle have their own science fiction projects, and they are quite high-profile."

And they all seem quite determined.

Especially within the CCTV circle, the scale of the operation didn't seem like a scam to collect fees at all.

It's the same old circle.

CCTV still has a lot of legacy to exploit, but the Hong Kong cultural sphere's heritage has been largely exhausted.

People are starting to vomit when they see police and gangster movies now.

The Hong Kong film industry is best at making police and gangster films; it seems like that's all they've got.

When all three methods start to fail.

The ship was nearing its end, and escaping the sinking was the consensus.

"And there's another point, one that you might think I'm a bit crazy, but it's absolutely important."

"Um?"

"What is the essence of a circle? It is a group of people who gather together because of a certain core point. The core of the Hong Kong circle is the location of the Asian financial center. The CCTV circle is because of the drama troupes of CCTV with professional titles. The Beijing circle is because of a group of children of high-ranking officials. They are brought together for a certain reason or a certain consensus."

"Is it possible that a new circle could emerge, brought together by a new consensus?"

Under Zhang Jingchu's shocked gaze, Liang Jiahui seemed to be talking in his sleep, uttering a string of seemingly nonsensical words.

Insane words.

Circles come together because of consensus.

Zhang Jingchu wanted to refute it, but she couldn't, because she really discovered that these guys from different circles all over the country in the Three-Body Problem crew were all there for the same reason.

Came here.

Because of one person.

Because of Li Yun.

Does this form a kind of circle?

(End of this chapter)