Top Dupe CH 042 Change The Tea Part 1

Luo Yu glanced at Mr. Yang Chen not far away. He still needed to say goodbye before leaving.

“Teacher Yang, let me see what you're doing. Oh dear, you're sneaking some cream."

Yang Chen quickly moved the plate aside, pretending to hide it. "My blood sugar has been fine lately. You... young people shouldn't be meddling in everything!"

"If you want to eat, just eat. No need to hide it," Luo Yu said with amusement.

"You're leaving, and I feel reluctant. It's been a long time since I've seen a young actor capture the essence of a character so finely. The last one was Gu Xiaowei," Yang Chen said, shaking his head at the mention of Gu Xiaowei.

"What's up with Gu Xiaowei?" Luo Yu asked curiously.

"He’s only in his twenties but acts like an old man, always serious and not the least bit adorable."

"Oh," Luo Yu responded. "He also didn't let you eat cake?"

"Exactly! He wouldn't let me eat anything good. On my birthday, I could've had a big piece of cake, but he cut me a slice as thin as paper. Don't be like him. What's the point of living if you can't be happy?"

Luo Yu laughed and nodded. "But after this piece, you really can't have more. This one is as thick as a dictionary!"

He even measured the thickness with his fingers for emphasis.

Mr. Yang Chen quickly changed the topic. "Xiao Luo, Zhu Jun and Yan Mingrui and I have high hopes for you. We were excitedly talking about your performance in the car that day. Keep acting well; we're all watching you!"

"I will act well and not disappoint you three teachers."

The cake was finished, and the crew had more scenes to shoot.

Luo Yu spent the afternoon watching scenes between Mr. Yang Chen and Cheng Fei, then reluctantly said goodbye to the crew.

He returned to his apartment and took a deep breath.

His phone buzzed. It was a WeChat message from Gu Xiaowei: [Congratulations on wrapping up.]

Luo Yu smiled, surprised that Gu Xiaowei was following his progress. He replied: [Yan Ye, have you fulfilled your promise to Bai Ying?]

Gu Xiaowei: [Another week, and Yan Ye will tear down that dark sky to let Bai Ying see the light.]

Luo Yu: [When that happens, Luo Yu will treat Gu Xiaowei to a meal. You can think about what you'd like to eat, Teacher Gu.]

Gu Xiaowei: [Alright.]

For some reason, Luo Yu missed Gu Xiaowei.

He missed his unexpected "gift of popularity rubbing," his disregard for others' opinions when feeding Luo Yu candy, and his focus during their scenes together.

"As expected of Gu Xiaowei, he really knows how to make his presence felt, even in a few WeChat messages."

The next day, the sun rose as usual. Luo Yu maintained his routine, waking up early, going for a run, and then swimming a few laps.

Sister Cui called, so excited that she could barely hold her phone: "Luo Yu! Luo Yu! Luo Yu! I’m in such a dilemma right now!"

While drying his hair, Luo Yu asked curiously, "Is there a scheduling conflict for a role's audition?"

"No, it's just that the official account for 'Storm' released the second team building video. It includes the scene where you and Li Shengyu were acting opposite each other! Especially the death of Huo Haoyan; it was so impactful! You can really see the difference in acting skill!"

Luo Yu paused, "But won't showing Huo Haoyan's death spoil the character's ending?"

"The official video didn't have any dialogue, only background music, so viewers can’t be sure if Huo Haoyan died or just rested. It actually piques their curiosity and anticipation. Many people said your scene of collapsing in the chair was very atmospheric. If that’s Huo Haoyan’s ending, it’s a good one! Several film companies have already reached out to ask if you’ve decided on your next move," Sister Cui said.

"The reason that acting comparison trended is because other industry colleagues were kind enough to share it. Like Brother Long, Fang Qin, Cheng Fei, Xie Chang... and Gu Xiaowei all liked and shared it, which is why it trended. It’s not entirely due to my own ability. I suspect these companies are more interested in riding the wave of popularity than in my acting skills."

"Your clarity is refreshing but also a bit disheartening. However, having such popularity means you have good connections! That’s why so many people helped you share it!"

"I'm happy to hear that."

Luo Yu thought to himself that he had made many good friends.

"Plus, your trending status wasn't bought; it's real popularity! These companies have noticed that your looks and acting skills are both impressive. Once 'Counterattack' and 'Storm' are both aired, the terms for signing you will definitely improve, so they want to act quickly!" Sister Cui pondered, understanding the motivations of these film companies looking to snag a good deal.

"Oh." Luo Yu grabbed his waterproof bag, brushed his hair aside, and walked out.

"Don't just 'oh' me! First, your old opponent, Dijun Media, reached out again. Ou Juntao's secretary said they want to have dinner with us and discuss any terms we might be dissatisfied with. Should we give them a chance?"

"While it’s good to leave a way out for the future, since I don't intend to sign with them, let's not waste their time. After all, if we have dinner, they might think there's hope."

Sister Cui agreed.

"Next, Xinghan Pictures also reached out. They sent over a contract. The terms are quite fair, but..."

"But they have many actors. If the acting industry had ten points, Xinghan Pictures already holds five. Signing with them would certainly give me good roles, but becoming a lead like Cheng Fei would be tough."

Sister Cui shared Luo Yu's thoughts. "Exactly, that's my concern too. However, they didn’t shut the door on negotiations, meaning we can still discuss better terms."

Luo Yu gave a light hum. "Any other companies?"

Hearing that Xinghan Pictures wanted to negotiate on their turf, it was clear they wanted to use home advantage to push them into accepting a fair but not superior offer.

"Oh, there's Honghe Film and Television. Their offer was pretty average, like they heard about your reputation and sent a contract just to join the fray."

Luo Yu expected this and calmly asked, "Besides these three, are there any others?"

"Yes! There's Yuanjing Films, where Li Shengyu works. They also want to have dinner to discuss intentions, but they didn't send a contract, suggesting more flexibility and room for negotiation."

After comparing all options, Sister Cui found Yuanjing Films quite appealing.

They collaborated with various companies but didn't have any standout actors, so Luo Yu would likely be highly valued there.

"Let’s wait a bit," Luo Yu suggested.

Sister Cui was taken aback by Luo Yu’s calmness. "Wait? I know you have your own ideas now and think long-term, but can you share if there's a company you prefer? Are you waiting for better terms?"

"Just a little longer. It won't take long," Luo Yu said, glancing at the torn calendar page.

"By the way, Luo Yu... six months ago, I couldn't even imagine negotiating contracts with these major companies. Even meeting their assistants made me feel half a head shorter. But now, they’re all coming to us, speaking politely and respectfully. Is this a case of life’s unpredictability or the wheel of fortune turning?"

Luo Yu lowered his gaze. He knew well how much Sister Cui had suffered for his sake.

"What’s the big deal? You’ll be even more successful in the future."

This wasn't just Luo Yu boasting but the goal he set for himself.

—To never disappoint anyone who had worked hard for him.

"Alright! Let’s work hard together!"

Sister Cui believed Luo Yu's top choice might be Xinghan Pictures.

After all, Lin Yue, Luo Yu's benefactor, was a director under Xinghan Pictures.

Moreover, Gu Xiaowei from Xinghan Pictures had always looked out for Luo Yu, sharing all his updates, almost to the point of "traffic sharing."

During this filming period, Luo Yu and Cheng Fei had even become good brothers.

Even if Xinghan Pictures’ contract didn’t seem preferential, having these supporters meant Luo Yu wouldn’t really be unable to make it.

With the pay from two dramas received, Luo Yu wasn’t financially strained.

He became more selective with scripts, choosing roles cautiously, though still mostly supporting roles. Some were significant roles in small productions, while others were third or fourth leads in medium to large productions.

A few days later, the temperature dropped again.

Luo Yu decided to buy some groceries and cook hotpot for himself.

He bundled up in a hat and mask, found the small cart given when he got a membership card last year, and was about to head out when his phone rang.

The caller ID showed "Hu Wei," a classmate from the Film Academy. After graduation, Hu Wei had struggled to get signed by a company, and Luo Yu had introduced him to Zhuque Media.

Hu Wei later became a "powerhouse" promoted by Zhuque Media, while Luo Yu kept taking subpar gigs, widening the gap between them.

Initially, Hu Wei promised to help Luo Yu once he succeeded, but after gaining some fame, their interaction became a mere exchange of nods.

There’s a saying online: when a long-absent classmate suddenly contacts you, it's either to borrow money or to invite you to their wedding.

Hu Wei definitely wouldn't get married during the peak of his career, and borrowing money was even more out of the question. He had far more money than Luo Yu. So, it could only be a case of a weasel paying a chicken a visit—no good intentions.

Luo Yu smiled faintly; the opportunity he had been waiting for had finally arrived.

He answered the phone, and Hu Wei's enthusiastic voice came through: "Hey, Luo Yu! You finally picked up! Got any plans tonight? Let's have dinner! It's my birthday today!"

Luo Yu replied leisurely, "It's your birthday, huh? I didn't prepare a gift, so it's a bit embarrassing to go."

"It's not like we're kids needing gifts to be happy! The main thing is to get together!"

Pouring himself a cup of coffee, Luo Yu said, "I've left Zhuque Media, so going to your birthday party would be awkward. I'll just wish you a happy birthday and great success."

Hu Wei's voice turned a bit urgent, "Come on! There's no one else from Zhuque Media tonight! I didn't even invite Boss Bo. I just want us two brothers to have a good talk!"

Luo Yu's smile grew more evident. Back then, he had fallen for Hu Wei's nonsense, leading to that disastrous dinner gathering.

At that same time in his previous life, Luo Yu had faced loneliness and pressure alone. Receiving Hu Wei's call, he thought someone was finally showing kindness, ignoring Hu Wei's clumsy excuses, which led him into a trap, almost losing his chance to make a comeback.

But this time, he had to attend this dinner, as there was a friend he couldn't abandon.