Chapter 112: International Sensation

The latest chapter of *The Superstar of the Rich and Powerful*...

After more than half a month of intensive training, the program ended with Rong Qing’s flawless finishing strike. By early March, the entire cast and crew had completed their training and immediately set off for the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau to begin location shooting. After extensive discussion among all parties, the epic historical production was finally given the title *The Savage God*.

A film so grand and imposing had already attracted attention from every quarter before filming even began. Evans was hailed as the father of cinema, and the films he produced had earned widespread acclaim among Americans. This lavish epic was therefore bound to receive the support and attention of the entire country. Yet what surprised people even more was that this international blockbuster had not cast Hollywood stars. Instead, it had chosen a Chinese woman with yellow skin, black eyes, and black hair. The moment this groundbreaking casting choice was revealed, the entire international film world was shaken.

Rong Qing was already well known internationally because of her outstanding runway performances, which had unleashed a frenzy for Eastern beauty throughout the fashion world. Although her supporting role in *The Splendid Years* had won unanimous praise, her acting was still questioned by many, since she had appeared in relatively few productions.

Some Americans even declared that this would be the final work of the great director Evans before his downfall, and that his reputation would be destroyed by this Eastern woman. Some online users went so far as to protest, demanding that the American superstar Wendy play the lead instead.

“Return Hollywood to American dominance!”

People throughout Europe and other countries, meanwhile, watched with the attitude of spectators waiting for a good show. They eagerly awaited the result, curious to see what kind of surprise this Chinese woman who had created a fashion miracle would bring them next.

Without a doubt, while Rong Qing stood at the center of the storm, the Chinese people offered her the strongest and most unconditional support. In decades, she was the only Chinese actress to receive such immense recognition in Hollywood. She represented the image of China and the highest level of Chinese acting—how could her countrymen possibly undermine her? Chinese citizens even took to the internet to trade insults with Americans.

“Damn it, you’ve never even watched one of Rong Qing’s films, and you still dare challenge her? Every Chinese person could drown you in spit!”

“Support Rong Qing! Even if those Americans refuse to buy it, we’ll still rush to purchase tickets on opening day!”

“Qingqing, don’t be afraid. Your country stands behind you. The box office will never be a problem!”

“Rong Qing, love will always support you!”

Warm messages of this sort flooded the official website of *The Savage God*.

When the world looked down on a great and vigorously rising Chinese nation, its people used their own unique methods to win their pride a place in the global film industry. Even those producers and directors who had once ceased to value Chinese actors began, for the sake of the box office, to take this great nation seriously. This was the butterfly effect stirred up internationally by little Rong Qing.

Under the eyes of the entire world, *The Savage God* officially began filming.

A series of Rong Qing’s costume portraits spread wildly across the internet. A suit of gleaming silver armor wrapped her entire petite figure. Her glossy black hair was braided into a thick plait and tightly coiled at the back of her head. Her expression was cold and severe, her gaze like a sharp blade flashing with merciless, icy light. Her left arm rested against the armor, and her posture was both graceful and domineering. She stood upon the bone-strewn wasteland like a celestial deity descended to earth.

In her right hand, she held a blue-gray blade. Blood trickled down along its edge, while the cold weapon reflected the desolation and carnage of the entire continent. This woman possessed the proud, world-conquering force of a man. She was sharp and bloodthirsty, as fearsome as a god of war.

After the astonishing styling in *The Metamorphosis of Miss Y*, this even more commanding appearance caused countless film fans to fall helplessly under her spell.

Good heavens—was this really their beautiful and captivating goddess? She was clearly a brave and dashing emperor!

Perhaps the stills were simply too imposing. The entire world seemed unable to withstand their force. Even the Americans who had not been optimistic about the film changed their attitudes one after another.

Was this truly a weak and helpless woman? Merely looking at the aura of the photographs left them instantly crushed beneath Rong Qing’s presence. Her dense killing intent carried the air of a supreme ruler.

This... this was absolutely their Els.

Rong Qing’s photographs had delivered a vicious warning to those arrogant Americans who looked down on others, and attention toward her rose directly from the Chinese nation to the entire world. Calling her an international superstar was hardly an exaggeration.

Yet Rong Qing remained as low-key as ever. Even under the media’s relentless bombardment, she did not reveal a single detail about the film, leaving foreign reporters tearing their hair out in frustration.

Among the rolling mountain ranges of the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau lay numerous lake basins. The region was vast, and its climate pleasant. It was precisely its rugged terrain and irregular landscape that had led the crew to choose it as a filming location. Even in March, when spring had warmed the land and flowers were blooming, the super-heavy armor she wore placed an enormous burden on her body as she worked more than ten hours without interruption each day.

She had originally been a soft and delicate girl, yet circumstances had forced her to become as tough as a man. Once she removed the cumbersome iron armor, she collapsed into a reclining chair. After several consecutive days of work, she finally had half a day to relax.

With her eyes narrowed, she comfortably basked in the warm afternoon sunlight. Freed from the immense weight of the armor, her whole body felt lazy and loose. She watched the Hollywood actors performing nearby, studying their every movement with concentration and learning from their careful, commendable performances.

The scene being filmed depicted a bloody struggle between savage tribes fighting for territory. Across the entire wasteland, the Wolf Tribe led by Tucker possessed the greatest strength and the largest population. With their powerful physiques and barbaric methods of conquest, they firmly controlled the region along the Luo River. Opposing them was the Yue clan, led by the shrewd and treacherous Ao Gu, whose people were skilled in the use of cold weapons.

Numerous tribes coveted the fertile soil of the Luo River basin. The day’s scene portrayed the largest battle of all—the tribes clashing in a chaotic melee. Countless people would be wounded or killed, and rivers of blood would flow. Els, the female American agent who had infiltrated the country, would also unfortunately cross into the battlefield of this great war.

Rong Qing watched the two male Hollywood actors in their crude armor. Even though they were only acting, their professionalism and concentration earned her sincere admiration. Blades and swords did not distinguish between real and false danger. Even after half a month of combat training, every movement had to be designed in advance during filming to prevent accidents. The scale and grandeur of the battle scene were genuinely astonishing.

The scene went fairly smoothly and was completed after only a few takes.

“Cut. Let’s take a break first.”

Evans was practically working himself to death, determined to complete his final masterpiece with absolute rigor. He took a sip of water, then explained the upcoming scenes to the actors in his slightly hoarse voice.

Rong Qing had not wanted to delay the production either, but she truly had something important to attend to.

“Director, I’d like to go home this Saturday and Sunday.”

Evans raised his brows at first. After thinking for only a few minutes, he nodded.

“We’ll make up your schedule over the next few days. Go study the script carefully.”

“All right.”

The heavy stone in Rong Qing’s heart finally fell away. She knew that over the coming days she would have to work day and night, enduring exhausting and arduous hours, but she was still determined to return home. That day was important to her.

Rong Qing’s acting ability was beyond question, and she continued to perform at an exceptionally high level. Simple scenes could usually be completed in a single take. Even when she was dissatisfied with certain shots, she quickly adjusted after studying them repeatedly. Her scenes progressed with remarkable smoothness, leaving the Hollywood actors watching nearby astonished.

Even an actor who had received multiple Academy Award nominations might not necessarily have performed so brilliantly. This was not something that could be achieved through hard work alone; it was practically an innate talent.

Inspired and challenged by the intensity of her performance, the two international stars were also driven by her enthusiasm and began displaying astonishing efficiency. The director was delighted, and his determination to recruit such a rare treasure grew stronger than ever.

For nearly a month, the Huo family had been shrouded in gloom and misery.

Ever since their gentle, lovable, and endlessly charming young mistress had left, the cold-blooded and domineering head of the Huo family had worn an icy expression wherever he went. Take the week before last, for example: a servant accidentally shattered the photograph frame in Madam’s bedroom, and Huo Ling Tian flew into a rage. That very night, he drove the old servant, who had waited upon the family for his entire life, out of the estate.

Even the residence of Old Master Huo, which had been filled with family harmony and boundless happiness only a few days earlier, had lost all its laughter and cheer. Heaven knew how many weeks it had been since his grandson had come over for a meal.

The poor old man missed his granddaughter-in-law terribly, yet was afraid of his grandson. His entire spirit had withered.

It was not only the Huo residence that had frozen over. The entire Huo Corporation building was cold enough to freeze three feet deep. Every day, their boss arrived early and left late, working beneath the stars and moon until he had forcibly doubled the company’s monthly performance.

Unfortunately, this meant misery for everyone beneath him. If the boss himself was personally stationed at work all day, who would dare sneak home and slack off? Absolutely no one.

Thus, the Huo employees created the illusion of working from before dawn until late at night.

Sigh. Heaven alone knew when this bleak and sunless life would end. Never before had they longed so desperately for the return of the president’s wife.

Of course, while Rong Qing was away filming, quite a few young and beautiful women with ulterior motives tried to exploit the opportunity. But the moment Huo Ling Tian’s utterly emotionless, cold-blooded gaze swept over them, they fled for their lives. How could they still dare set their sights on him?

“Knock, knock...”

The person living the most comfortably and working with the greatest enthusiasm these days was undoubtedly the super-assistant beside Huo Ling Tian.

Lu Meng Yi was, heaven knew, an absolute workaholic. She earned an exceptionally high salary every day while doing the work she loved most. It was a blissful and satisfying existence.

Thus, even in such a low-pressure environment, the chief assistant wore a sharp business suit and high heels, carried a stack of reports, and entered the president’s office.

“Mr. Huo, all the projects on Dragon Island will be completed today. Are we still not putting the villa at the center of the lake up for sale?”

Lu Meng Yi glanced at the reports in her hands. Sales on Dragon Island were excellent. Although construction had not yet been completed, half the houses had already been sold. Even more buyers had their eyes on the auspicious treasure at the heart of the lake, and many wealthy men were willing to spend fortunes for it.

“Mm. No area of the central island is to be sold. I have three sets of luxury furnishings here. Find someone to have them installed.”

It was a gift for his beloved, and the nest where they would live together in the future. At the thought, Huo Ling Tian’s heart softened.

“Understood.”

Lu Meng Yi was brisk and capable. She quickly organized the documents and issued the necessary instructions.

Huo Ling Tian sat wearily before his desk, forcing himself to work day and night only to lessen the surging ache of longing and the coldness that refused to leave him, no matter how many hours passed.