He Yunru made several phone calls, seemingly discussing with her team. In the end, this decisive woman agreed to the incredibly demanding request.
"Alright, I agree!"
"For this film, I'll give Lin Muchen a ten-million-dollar salary, plus ten percent of the film's profits."
With this, the three lead actors would push the budget to its absolute limit. This also meant that if the film couldn't achieve an astronomical box office of over one billion US dollars, it was highly likely to suffer severe losses and become a cinematic joke!
Ling Qianhe's expression was indifferent.
He glanced at the script and spoke.
"So, I'm playing...?"
"A bloodthirsty tyrant?"
Lin Muchen, playing the female lead Ye Ling, is a task executor who enters a fast-paced transmigration world. Her mission is to make this bloodthirsty tyrant regret his actions and feel profound heartache.
The tyrant is initially foolish and tyrannical. The one he loves, carrying his child, is treated merely as a tool, used in various ways by him.
Because of immense childhood trauma—his mother was murdered, and he painstakingly killed his half-brother to ascend the throne—he inherently trusts no one.
He believes the female lead, initially sent as a political bride from a foreign land and formerly his brother's fiancée, must be wary of him and plotting to kill him every second.
Therefore, this dog emperor strikes first.
Every moment, he relentlessly torments his wife.
As Lin Muchen read the script, she couldn't help but think, "Good heavens, this princess bride buff is stacked. She's his brother's former fiancée and a political bride, no wonder the tyrant would go mad!"
The tyrant abused the original host to the brink of death!
Ultimately, the original host, carrying his child, died tragically.
And then this princess of a fallen kingdom died.
This tyrant never even knew that the female lead had carried his child and genuinely loved him.
Ye Ling's role is to travel back to the moment they first met, to let the tyrant know the female lead loved him, to reveal all the truths, and to make him deeply repent and feel immense heartache!
To make this tyrant completely experience the taste of despair.
Frankly, Lin Muchen felt this role was perfect for Ling Qianhe.
That damned aura was exactly the same.
That scummy essence was truly something only Ling Qianhe could embody so perfectly!
Ling Qianhe silently read the script, then looked up at Lin Muchen, a faint smile playing on his lips. Honestly, his face, while scummy, was genuinely handsome!
Even if he played a playboy, he'd be the kind of top-tier playboy that people would fall head over heels for, willingly becoming a fish in his ocean.
As for Hanks, he looked at the script. When it came to acting, he became serious. After all, as an actor who had won acting awards globally, his professional skills were top-notch.
"Interstellar Commander?"
"Using the one he loves, an interstellar Valkyrie, to continuously fight for him in space. Then, for his own benefit, he watches as she is swallowed by the swarm... Damn it, this character is truly terrible. If it weren't for the US dollars, I wouldn't play such a character with such a bad image."
"Once the audience forms an impression of me as a scumbag, it will be very hard to change..."
Lin Muchen couldn't help but tease him.
"Aren't you a scumbag to Vivian?"
Hanks was immediately silenced. He scratched his head.
"That's different... Vivian and I... Sigh. I truly regret it in my heart. I swear, this time I will absolutely be loyal to her. In this world, no woman touches me more than she does."
"I hope she can forgive me..."
Ling Qianhe patted his shoulder.
"That will be very difficult. Believe me, trying to win back a woman who is completely disappointed in you is a very difficult path."
"Unless..."
Hanks's spirits immediately lifted!
"Unless what?"
Ling Qianhe's smile widened.
"Unless she still loves you. Do you think that's possible? If it's possible, then you might be able to win her back."
Hanks's expression turned grim again. The feeling he gave off could even be described as mourning a deceased parent.
"Damn it... I don't even know if she still has feelings for me."
He slumped dejectedly and returned to the script.
"I can play this commander role... I know too well what it feels like to disappoint someone who loves you. The pain, the unwillingness, desperately trying to convince yourself, yet unable to help but cry at night, tormented by regret and remorse, unable to sleep..."
"I guarantee I can portray this role exceptionally well!"
Hanks had no problem.
However, for the script "I Thrive in the World of Abusing Scum," there was also a subplot involving a top star and a film empress. This particular segment placed even higher demands on the female lead.
"Little Mu, you need to embody the aura of the film empress. It's a May-December romance—are you confident? After all, you're so young, I'm afraid you might not be able to handle the complex emotions between a mature older woman and a youthful younger man."
He Yunru looked at Lin Muchen with great concern.
Just as Lin Muchen was about to speak.
Ling Qianhe interjected before her.
"She's confident. Don't worry, this script is practically like portraying herself for her. She won't mess it up."
Ling Qianhe's words even carried a hint of resentment.
Lin Muchen almost choked on the cold air.
She coughed several times consecutively.
Ling Qianhe reached out and patted her shoulder.
"Didn't I speak the truth?"
He Yunru found the behavior of these two people rather strange.
Dating?
Not quite.
A love-hate relationship?
However, everyone had read the script, and if there were no issues with the characters, that was ideal.
He Yunru stood up.
"Then it's settled. After I get back, I'll contact my team. I'll notify you for costume fittings once we're officially starting. It should be around summer. Can you clear your schedules for me?"
Ling Qianhe nodded. He had already told Chen Fei to clear his schedule specifically for this film.
Hanks, on the other hand, hadn't taken on a film for a considerable time, maintaining his status solely through advertisements and endorsements.
He would have no issues.
Only the film's most crucial female lead, Lin Muchen, hesitantly raised her hand.
"Wait... wait a minute. I have a slight issue."
"I have exams."
"I must wait until summer break... before I can clear large blocks of time."
Hanks was a foreigner and might not understand the importance of domestic examinations, while Ling Qianhe looked at He Yunru, who frowned.
"In that case, will the filming have to be postponed?"
Ling Qianhe said.
"Hanks and I will join the crew first to wait for her. It's already May, and she'll finish her exams by the end of June and join the crew smoothly—it's not too long. As long as you can coordinate all the crew's work, it won't cause any delays."
He shifted the problem to He Yunru.
He Yunru calculated the time.
"Alright, alright. Then you two go ahead and join the crew."
She couldn't help but tease Ling Qianhe.
"You're quite protective of her."
Ling Qianhe smiled.
"Naturally."
In this world, if he didn't protect Lin Muchen, who else would he protect?
The only person he cared about was Lin Muchen.