Chapter 78: Once a Youth, Now a Youth

How to show off with elegance and subtlety is a skill every adolescent boy wishes to master. Wu Miao was probably led into a belated rebellious phase by Poison Mushroom, and was now eager to learn from Mo Fei.

His agent, face flushed with embarrassment, quickly pulled his artist away.

Lu Chunqiu wasn’t faring much better, his own cheeks burning red. Two troublesome youths together—no wonder their guardians were mortified.

Mo Fei, however, remained composed, still trying to reassure Lu Chunqiu, “There’s really no need for such a reaction. This is just one of life’s attitudes, an experience after all.”

“If you could wipe that gloating grin off your face before saying that, I might actually believe you,” Lu Chunqiu shot him a glare.

What a disaster. If a perfectly normal child star were to be led astray, Lu Chunqiu didn’t dare imagine what might happen next.

A double dose of Mo Fei?

What a terrifying thought!

“You’d better land Director Wang’s film,” Lu Chunqiu sighed. “This is a rare opportunity.”

“Man proposes, heaven disposes,” Mo Fei said, biting on a dental stick as if blowing a smoke ring. “Ah, life.”

Lu Chunqiu was so amused by his feigned depth that she couldn’t help but laugh, giving him a playful smack. “Come on, let’s go home.”

As expected, Director Wang’s audition didn’t go smoothly.

After witnessing the performances of Wu Miao and Mo Fei, the other actors’ attempts seemed lackluster in comparison.

A police officer and a criminal—these two identities are inherently opposed, yet they must also be close friends. If either dynamic is overemphasized, the portrayal becomes distorted.

Either the enmity fails to convey the emotional ties between the two, or the feelings become too intense, making it seem as if the officer is about to break the law and the criminal is on the path to redemption.

In the end, Director Wang managed to pick out only a handful of barely satisfactory actors, sifting through the profiles and discussing them with the assistant director and screenwriter.

“I’ll be honest,” the screenwriter said, shaking his head as he scanned the dossiers. “The police officer role is manageable, but for the criminal—we’ve established him as a high-functioning antisocial personality. He can’t be overtly menacing, or we’ll fall right back into the old black-and-white action movie rut.”

He tossed one folder onto the table. “This face is too fierce, not suitable.”

Director Wang nodded, agreeing with his assessment.

“Let me add something,” the assistant director said, pulling out several more profiles. “Boss, I support you directing your own project, but we have to consider the budget. Some of these actors are skilled and have impressive resumes, but their cost-effectiveness is questionable.”

If they hadn’t met Mo Fei, they might have just endured it and hired whoever they could.

But having seen how affordable and efficient Mo Fei was, it became hard to settle for less.

As a newcomer with only one prior collaboration, Mo Fei’s greatest asset was his cost-effectiveness.

This film was Director Wang’s hopeful attempt at a career transformation—he should select only the best!

“If we hire Mo Fei, the money saved can be used to negotiate Wu Miao’s agent down. After all, at least one of these roles should carry some box office draw,” the assistant director said earnestly. “These two came to audition together—why not take them both as a package?”

Perhaps Wu Miao’s fee could even be lowered.

Director Wang was almost convinced.

After all, making a movie really does require significant funding. If he were to finance it himself, even though the crew was willing to work for nothing but food and lodging, expenses like equipment maintenance and venue utilities still cost money.

He really had to weigh the actors’ cost-performance ratio.

“But Mo Fei is truly a wild card,” Director Wang finally voiced his main concern. “You all saw it—severed limbs, missing arms, murderers—”

“Boss!” the screenwriter drawled, trying to persuade him. “None of that was his doing. If we can shoot and release the film, isn’t that enough?”

“As for the rest, if we have it all recorded, that’s free material for us!”

The assistant director nodded along. “Last time, we had to consider the investors’ opinions. But now, it’s just us. As long as we can film and release it, we use it. A little controversy can save plenty on publicity.”

Director Wang’s expression grew suddenly complicated as he looked at his old partners.

Being in charge meant not having to worry about investors.

Though they had become poorer, their authority had grown.

Director Wang sighed, “All right, we’ll do as you say.”

Even as he spoke, a flutter of excitement rose in his chest.

To capture the source of one’s inspiration is the privilege of every creator; to experience thrilling adventure is the yearning of every youth.

Everyone was once young.

He had thought that the daring, reckless boy he once was had long been buried by reality.

“Wow!” Lu Chunqiu danced around holding her phone, nearly jumping with excitement. “We did it! We got the part!!”

“Calm down, sis, calm down.” Mo Fei watched from the side, feeling as though a flea were bouncing endlessly before his eyes. “Granny Zhang’s still at home. Don’t make her think there’s an earthquake.”

“What do you know!” Lu Chunqiu beamed. “Being chosen by Director Wang for a second collaboration means you’ve caught his eye. That’s something for your resume when working with other directors.”

Mo Fei thought the whole thing was a bit strange.

By all accounts, given how often things went wrong around him in Director Wang’s crew, no sane person should want to work with him a second time.

Could his charm really be that great?

Or did Director Wang simply have a taste for excitement?

“Heavens bless us,” Lu Chunqiu pressed her palms together, making a mock gesture of prayer. “Imported gods are useless. I’ve been to temples and churches, nothing worked. It’s the Taoist temple that’s effective.”

“I think I’m a bit more useful, actually…” Mo Fei raised his hand, trying to take credit.

But Lu Chunqiu wasn’t listening. “We’ll burn some more incense later, just to be sure!”

Mo Fei withdrew his hand, hugging himself in mock dejection.

The slitted-eyed cat, always keeping an eye on Lu Chunqiu, started to feel dizzy from all her movement: ‘Did she just inhale catnip or something?’

Mo Fei glanced at the cat. “I’d advise you to keep quiet right now.”

Unconvinced, the cat let out a loud meow.

Lu Chunqiu immediately noticed, scooping up the cat and spinning around joyfully. “Little fortune cat! Mo Fei wasn’t lying—black cats do ward off evil and bring wealth! At last, he’s brought something useful into this house!”

The cat’s fur bristled in alarm.

‘I’m flying! Somebody help me! Hey!’

Mo Fei pretended not to notice, gazing up at the ceiling.

What a ceiling it was.

After her excitement waned, Lu Chunqiu cradled the cat and called out to Mo Fei. “Go get Granny Zhang. I’m treating us all to dinner!”

“Dinner?” Mo Fei immediately perked up, springing to his feet. “What are we having?”

“Taking the elder out—” Mo Fei asked, eyes wide, “Hotpot or barbecue?”

Neither seemed quite suitable.

Lu Chunqiu waved a hand. “We’ll go to a restaurant!”