Chapter 44

Wang Zhaoyi shook his head decisively. "No room for discussion. This is the role with the most scenes opposite Su Man in the entire script. There's no way I'm giving it up."

Left with no choice, Zhang Xianyang turned to discuss it with the director. "Mayor Gu must have already told you why our Old District invested in this film. This movie is crucial to promoting the Old District. I can't let one person's selfish motives ruin the bigger plan. If you don't dare say much because of his background, I can find a way to get him removed."

To Zhang Xianyang's surprise, Director Zhang Chaofan said with firm conviction, "Before coming to the Old District, I had already learned about this place's special circumstances. But please trust my professional standards, Third Young Master. I won't let anyone destroy my reputation or standing. So rest assured, there will absolutely be no problem with Wang Zhaoyi playing Sun Liancheng."

Zhang Xianyang stared in astonishment. He looked at Wang Zhaoyi, who was dressed like a hoodlum and still glued to Su Man's side, but no matter how he looked, he could not see any trace of righteous grandeur in the man.

Following Zhang Xianyang's gaze, Director Zhang Chaofan could not help sighing. "All I can say is that Mr. Wang is a natural actor. His audition was brilliant."

"Really?" Zhang Xianyang eyed Wang Zhaoyi skeptically and decided he would wait and see. "When you're filming, I want to stay nearby—what do you call that, visiting prison?"

Director Zhang Chaofan rolled his eyes helplessly and corrected him, "Visiting the set."

"Whatever." Zhang Xianyang waved a hand and smiled. "I'll be here anyway. If anything happens, I can help."

No sooner had he said that than a commotion suddenly broke out among the extras. Everyone looked over to find that the Old District Gang brothers playing extras had clashed with the soldiers on the other side. Hearing someone say, "What, not convinced? Then let's fight," and seeing the increasingly impatient men shoving one another while several actresses nearby turned pale with fright, Zhang Xianyang scratched his head in frustration.

"Settle the fuck down!" Wang Zhaoyi, who had been sitting beside Su Man trying to talk to her about life and dreams, bellowed at the gang brothers who had started the provocation. "If you've got the guts, save it for the set. Right now, sit your asses down and read the script. When the director calls for filming, I'd better not see a single one of you screw up, or I'll skin every last one of you!"

Then he turned back to Su Man with a fawning smile. "Did that scare you? They're just a little rough around the edges. They're all good men. You'll get used to it. Besides, if you're with us, nothing else aside, your personal safety is absolutely guaranteed. What's that saying? A man should make people feel safe. A good man shouldn't let the woman beside him live in fear. That's why we've all been studying how to transform ourselves. Harmonious society and all that—fighting and killing isn't really good... Oh, right, what do you want for lunch? I hear film crews always serve food that's basically pig slop. I'll have the brothers bring us takeout. Want to try some Old District specialties? Or maybe a Manchu-Han Banquet..."

Zhang Xianyang watched Wang Zhaoyi spray saliva as he talked, while the famous actress beside him trembled nervously. He shook his head, both annoyed and amused, wondering how many days this renowned "Ice Faction leader" could hold out.

Turning around, Zhang Xianyang walked over to the brothers and asked, "What happened?"

Dayangzi, one of Wang Zhaoyi's lackeys, grinned. "Nothing much. The brothers all heard about the Ace Division's reputation and wanted to exchange pointers."

The military officer on the opposite side was an acquaintance of Zhang Xianyang's: Jiang Peize, the special envoy who had come to mediate over the special forces matter. He immediately smiled. "It's nothing serious. When men get together, this sort of thing is unavoidable. Don't worry, I'll keep our people in line. We won't cause trouble for the crew."

Looking at the clearly dissatisfied soldiers behind Jiang Peize, Zhang Xianyang smiled. "There can't be trouble on set, but we'll be together for at least half a year. It wouldn't do for everyone to stay so distant. Besides, skills get rusty if you skip training for even one day. If you don't move for half a year, you'll really lose your edge. If you don't mind, bring your brothers by our training grounds when you have time. Consider it a chance to loosen up."

This had also been the Zhang Family elders' intention. They said men forged their bonds on the battlefield; there was a saying, after all, that you never truly know someone until you fight them. Besides, everyone knew the Old District was a tough bone to chew, but people needed to see just how tough it was. Otherwise, there would always be fools who feared nothing because they knew nothing, jumping around in the shadows.

Jiang Peize had probably brought the soldiers here with orders to sound out the Old District's strength as well. Hearing Zhang Xianyang's offer, he said nothing further. He merely asked casually, "I heard from my old man that during the war of invasion, the Old District's most famous militia forces were the Hidden Dragon Guard and Dark Dragon Guard under the Old Zhang Family. Looks like we'll finally get to see them today. Won't you introduce them to us, Third Young Master?"

Zhang Xianyang smiled faintly. The Hidden Dragon Guard and Dark Dragon Guard were busy modifying genes and building the base. Where would they find the time to come here and fool around with these people?

When Jiang Peize saw Zhang Xianyang smile without answering, he knew the people they were looking for were not here. He felt slightly disappointed, but probing the Old District's visible strength first was not bad either. So he smiled and said, "Then after we wrap up tonight, let's find a chance to exchange pointers."

Zhang Xianyang nodded with a smile. "Sure."

Turning back, he looked at Dayangzi, who stood crookedly in a Japanese soldier's uniform, and smiled. "I have to say, Dayangzi really does look a bit like a sleazy Japanese soldier in that outfit."

Dayangzi's face twisted bitterly. Their group had only been assigned to play Japanese soldiers because they had lost the fight against the ones playing militia members. As for the men from the army, they only had to stand there casually to look ramrod straight, with the word "soldier" stamped all over them.

After chatting for a while longer, the scenes ahead had almost all been filmed. In another two or three shots, it would be time for Sun Liancheng's first appearance, played by Wang Zhaoyi. A production assistant came over to "invite" Boss Wang to change into costume and put on makeup. Wang Zhaoyi gave Su Man an overly affectionate farewell, then strutted into the dressing room like some grand lord to get changed.

Taking the chance, Zhang Xianyang walked over and sat beside Su Man. Smiling, he said, "Wang Xiao'er only looks domineering. But if you tell him plainly that you don't want anything to happen, he won't force you. So you don't need to worry too much."

Su Man's face was pale as she forced a smile at Zhang Xianyang, saying nothing. After several years in the entertainment industry, she had seen plenty of such things. Though the media had dubbed her the "most elegant Ice Faction leader," Su Man was no fledgling who had just entered the industry. How could she never have encountered such filthy affairs? She had met investors even more shameless and troublesome than Wang Zhaoyi. It was simply a matter of fame for one and profit for the other. As long as Wang Zhaoyi could give her what she wanted, Su Man was not the sort of woman to act coy and affected. Besides, before coming to the Old District, the old master of the Kyoto Zhang Family had sought her out...

Seeing Su Man's hesitation and wavering, Zhang Xianyang shrugged indifferently and continued, "Wang Zhaoyi has a thick skin. If you don't give him a clear answer and only rely on hints like this, you won't be able to shake him off. But he's also a man with a wife and children. He can't have no concerns at all. As long as you say it, he won't keep pestering you. He's only looking for some amusement because he's bored. Don't be foolish enough to throw yourself into it."

Su Man lowered her head and did not reply.

Zhang Xianyang was about to say something else when Wang Zhaoyi emerged from the dressing room, already changed and made up. He smiled at Zhang Xianyang. "You're here ruining my romantic encounter again. What, you got a grudge against me or something?"

Zhang Xianyang turned to him and said, "Your son is already that grown. Can't you settle down a little?"

"There are plenty of people in the Old District keeping mistresses and second wives. Why do you have to pick on me?" Wang Zhaoyi scratched his head carelessly, nearly ruining his hairstyle. The stylist immediately hurried over and combed his hair back into place. The director shouted, "Actors, get ready! All departments, positions!"

The first shot of this scene showed Sun Liancheng, who had successfully infiltrated the Old District, wandering down its bustling streets in a dark long robe. The sight of peddlers hawking goods in the market and crowds moving back and forth through the peaceful, prosperous streets deeply surprised Sun Liancheng, who was used to seeing villages emptied and people left destitute.

At the same time, Gou San'er, an Old District Gang brother dressed as a commoner and patrolling the streets while taking the chance to slack off, noticed both this unfamiliar face and the bulging purse at his waist. Harboring ill intent, the gang brother approached to steal from him, only to be noticed by the sharp-sensed Sun Liancheng. Thus, amid the crowded throng, one stole while the other evaded, their little movements never stopping.

In the end, the gang brother was so focused on stealing money that he failed to notice several Japanese soldiers disguised as Old District civilians sneaking in through the city gate. He was given a vicious beating by the minor leader selling goods from a stall at the gate, then had the two silver dollars in his own pocket stolen by the quick-fingered Sun Liancheng. He had tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used to bait it, and was furious.

Sun Liancheng, who deliberately wanted to strike up a connection with the Old District's local forces, returned the money after successfully stealing it, on the condition that Gou San'er introduce him to their leader. Eager to get his silver dollars back, Gou San'er tested him out and confirmed that Sun Liancheng was Chinese. After gaining the minor leader's approval, he acted as an intermediary and introduced Sun Liancheng to his own boss.

The focus of this scene was that Sun Liancheng, outwardly a graceful scholar, possessed agile and efficient fighting skills utterly at odds with his appearance. At the same time, he needed to show an unrestrained charm and quick-witted flexibility when teasing Gou San'er. This characterization was completely unlike people's usual impression of cautious, low-profile underground workers. Done well, he would be a likable Chinese Bond. Done poorly, he would be an arrogant, showy idiot of a peacock. The actor needed to portray Sun Liancheng's mild elegance as the son of an influential family, while also conveying that he was a reformer steeped in the latest foreign systems of knowledge. Yet due to his identity, he could not appear overly flamboyant. What was needed was a low-key kind of showing off, and the balance was extremely difficult to grasp.

In Zhang Xianyang's mind, Wang Zhaoyi, who was both prideful and idiotic, definitely could not portray this character's complexity and sense of superiority. But when he saw Sun Liancheng's performance through the camera, Zhang Xianyang had to admit that Wang Zhaoyi's acting had absolutely achieved the image he had envisioned. On top of that, he had unconsciously given the character an effortless confidence, as though everything in the world lay within his control.

Thinking it over carefully, Wang Zhaoyi had been born into the Wang Family. Although he was illegitimate, Wang Qi had brought him home to raise him from the age of seven. The inheritance of a century-old family could not have been lacking. Moreover, Wang Qi's specialty was forging antiques, a profession requiring an extremely high degree of skill and a thorough understanding of Chinese culture. That alone suited the pretentious qualities of Sun Liancheng as the heir of a prominent family. As for the so-called Western reformist air, Wang Zhaoyi had always been an unconventional fool in the Old District, so it was only natural for him to carry a sharp, rebellious aura. And having served as second-in-command of the Feng Family Gang for years, he naturally possessed a certain domineering flamboyance from his pampered life. As for his fighting ability, there was even less to say. How could a rising boss capable of taking on small and mid-sized gangs alone possibly be some pretty-faced weakling?

Thinking about it that way, the role seemed as though it had been tailor-made for Wang Zhaoyi.

At that thought, Zhang Xianyang pouted in dissatisfaction, feeling as though a peach he had grown himself had been plucked by someone else. Staring thoughtfully at Wang Zhaoyi, he secretly pondered how to squeeze a payment out of him.

Just as he became absorbed in thought, someone patted his shoulder from behind. Zhang Muyang's smiling voice sounded at his back. "So? Is the set fun?"

Author's note: Thanks—

Demeter threw a landmine. Time: 2013-09-10 12:36:34