That Year, 2000

In 2000, Los Angeles, on the set of the movie The Fast and the Furious.

Lin Yuan sat in the lounge area, fiddling with the Nokia 3310 in his hand.

"A phone sturdy enough to crack walnuts, did I really get reborn?"

Even though it had been over ten days since his rebirth, Lin Yuan still found it hard to believe.

He turned his head to look in the mirror beside him. The reflection showed a slightly younger but exceptionally spirited version of himself, prompting him to sigh, "Youth is truly wonderful; anything is possible."

This was not his sickbed in 2024. He was no longer the down-and-out middle-aged man who had wasted half his life and was nearing his end.

Time had rewound to October 2000. He had just turned 18 and was participating in the filming of The Fast and the Furious, which was nearing its completion.

As a reborn individual, he naturally knew this movie would be a huge success.

Starting with this film, it would kick off one of the most profitable film series of the next two decades.

It was a shame that, as a Chinese-American, he couldn't play any significant roles and could only be an extra.

Was this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity going to slip through his fingers?

Never! He didn't want to live a mediocre life like he did in his previous one.

Lin Yuan's gaze swept over the set. He was waiting for an opportunity that would allow him to soar, even if it meant risking his life.

"I wonder how the conversation between Uncle and the director went. We'll know the result after this scene is filmed," Lin Yuan thought to himself.

At this moment, a car chase scene was being filmed on set.

"Rumble~ Rumble~"

Amidst the piercing roar of car engines, a black Dodge Charger and an orange Toyota Supra, moving at breakneck speeds, took to the air.

"CRASH!"

The barrier in front of them was smashed to pieces.

The two speeding sports cars weaved through the flying debris of wood splinters before landing simultaneously with a flourish.

At the same time, a train sped past them from behind in a thrilling manner.

"Cut!"

The director gave a thumbs-up, indicating that the scene was a success on the first take.

A burly bald man stepped out of the black Dodge Charger and walked straight towards Lin Yuan.

The bald man's name was Vin Diesel. He was 33 years old and played the leader of the street racing gang in the film. He was powerfully built, with dark skin and a defiant expression, looking more like an American football player.

As he approached Lin Yuan, a song reached his ears.

"Hey yo hey hey hey yo hey, nothing can stop me from moving forward..."

"On this vast and unknown journey, I will face my life seriously..."

"Uncle, what did the director say?" Lin Yuan asked.

"That's a great song, is it by Jackie Chan?" Vin Diesel asked back, not answering immediately.

"Yes, it's 'My Ambition in My Chest' sung by Jackie Chan. You've heard it too?"

"Of course, he's my idol. But the path to becoming a legend like him is extremely perilous. If you were to have an accident, how could I face your parents' dying wish?" Vin Diesel's concern for Lin Yuan was evident.

"Compared to the danger to my life, I fear a mediocre life more," Lin Yuan replied.

"Your starring role in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon received rave reviews at its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May, and it's about to be released in the US and mainland China these days. You already have a very good starting point, isn't it better to play it safe? Why must you take such a dangerous path?" Vin Diesel tried to persuade him again.

After his rebirth, Lin Yuan discovered a few differences from his previous life. In this timeline, the role of Luo Xiaohu in Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was played by himself. Because of this role, he had already gained some attention.

Lin Yuan knew that this movie would eventually gross $200 million at the box office and also win the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film next year, achieving both fame and fortune. And riding the momentum of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, his career would naturally soar.

However, Lin Yuan had no intention of just waiting for success to come to him. To become someone who rides the wind, one must learn to create their own wind. He wanted to become the next generation's global action superstar in an era when Bruce Lee was deceased and Jackie Chan was gradually aging. He had to seize every opportunity and never back down.

"Uncle, I appreciate your concern. But life offers few chances for such a gamble, please help me!" Lin Yuan's attitude was firm.

"Alright, the director has agreed to let you try, but you'll have to bear the consequences yourself." Vin Diesel pulled out a document and handed it to Lin Yuan.

The "Assumption of Risk Agreement" clearly stated that the high-risk stunt Lin Yuan was about to perform was his own request. If any accident occurred, the crew would not bear any legal responsibility.

Lin Yuan flipped through a few pages, signed his name, and handed it back to Vin Diesel.

"Okay, I'll take you to see the director. Good luck."

The two of them got up and walked onto the set, approaching the director.

"Here comes our handsome young man. Are you really sure about this?" the bald director greeted him.

The director and producer was Rob Cohen, who had directed the biographical film Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story and had always had a soft spot for Chinese action stars. This was also why he was willing to give Lin Yuan a chance.

The Fast and the Furious is a movie centered around car chases, with its quarter-mile duels igniting adrenaline and dopamine.

Director Rob Cohen was very confident in his car chase scenes, but the two action sequences where the street racers hijack a cargo truck seemed rather crude in comparison.

Cohen had originally planned to just go with it, but a young Chinese extra in the crew surprisingly proposed an astonishing filming plan.

If his vision could be realized, it would add a significant highlight and promotional hook to the movie.

However, wasn't this plan just too dangerous? Just reading about it sent a chill down one's spine.

Perhaps only Jackie Chan in his prime could pull off such a stunt. Could he really do it?

"Yes, Director. I've already figured it out," Lin Yuan nodded.

"Good, then I'll look forward to you creating a miracle. Get ready, we'll film your scene next."

Lin Yuan nodded and walked to the side to start his warm-up exercises, mentally reviewing the action details of the shoot.

The Fast and the Furious opens with a scene: the leader of the street racers, along with three sports cars, goes to hijack a large truck.

The original design was for the street racer crew members to ride in the sports cars, get ahead of the truck, and then jump into the driver's cabin to hijack it directly.

Filming it this way wasn't particularly spectacular. Lin Yuan's proposed solution had two main changes.

The first change was that the street racer he played would jump onto the truck from the rear and climb to the driver's cabin along the bumpy, shaking cargo.

This action was more thrilling than the original one-and-done jump, significantly enhancing the visual appeal.

The second change was even more audacious: instead of using a studio with green screen and post-production, it would be filmed in a single, continuous long take on location, uncut from start to finish.

If Lin Yuan's plan could be successfully executed, it would undoubtedly be one of the biggest highlights of the film.

Even though it was an era of mature special effects, the results of post-production, under various limitations like budget, would still fall short of practical filming.

It's just that stunt actors willing to risk their lives are virtually extinct now, as it's simply too grueling and dangerous.

If there were any accidents during this scene, the best outcome for Lin Yuan would be to spend the rest of his life paralyzed in a hospital bed.

But what did that matter? He hadn't been paralyzed before in his past life.

Compared to living a mediocre life, Lin Yuan would rather be brilliant for a moment like a firework.

At this moment, Lin Yuan calmly gazed at a line of golden text on his retina:

[Danger level of this action scene: D. Host success rate: 50%.]

[Completing this difficulty action scene will reward 1 attribute point.]

New book seeking collections and reads.

Thank you very much!