Prodigal System in the Flourishing City
Chapter 174: Chicken or Duck? [Please Favorite, Please Recommend]

Chapter 174: Chapter 174: Chicken or Duck? [Please Favorite, Please Recommend]

"Zhou Kunxin, come up here."

Lu Xiaobu looked at Zhou Kunxin, who played the character Zhi Zun Bao (Supreme Treasure), and said.

Lu Xiaobu had realized something when watching movies—although Zhou Kunxin didn’t resemble Stephen Chow physically, the ernest dedication to his role and the perseverance rooted deep in his bones were really similar to Stephen Chow!

Therefore, his portrayal of Zhi Zun Bao was satisfactory; it met Lu Xiaobu’s expectations!

"Yes, Young Master Bu."

Zhou Kunxin hurried onto the stage, standing respectfully beside Lu Xiaobu.

"Take off your clothes."

Lu Xiaobu said indifferently.

"Yes!"

Zhou Kunxin had no complaints about Lu Xiaobu asking him to strip in public; in his heart, he was filled with gratitude!

He knew this was Young Master Bu seeking justice for them, proving to the world that he was an actor, not just a pretty vase that sells his face!

Lu Xiaobu nodded in approval.

As the lead actor, Zhou Kunxin was the one who received the harshest demands from director Chen Feiyang, and as a result, he was the most injured.

One must know that at the time of filming, the total investment was merely ten million, and their salaries were virtually non-existent.

But still, he gritted his teeth and persevered, unlike that Gong Shu who abandoned the project halfway through!

If such a person cannot win an award, then who can?

The audience was still puzzled about why Lu Xiaobu made someone strip.

Then they saw the torso covered in scars.

"Hisss!"

Everyone at the scene took a sharp breath.

"These are scars from hanging wires; how many times did he have to do that?!"

"That’s a friction burn, and looking at the pattern, it’s been rubbed raw in the same spot over a dozen times!"

"And over there, those bruises from fatigue, one has to be truly dedicated to end up like that!"

"..."

"I know, perhaps in the eyes of some real veteran actors, these things here are all too common,"

Lu Xiaobu said.

Many of the veteran actors nodded in agreement.

Indeed, in their time, artists weren’t as insanely celebrated as they are now; back then, getting hurt during filming was the norm, and those who didn’t were the ones ridiculed.

"But now, the era is different; look at Zhou Kunxin, with his young, fresh-faced looks, he still threw himself so wholeheartedly into filming the movie. Of course, if the result was a bad film, then all of this would be meaningless, but is ’A Chinese Odyssey’ a bad film?"

Lu Xiaobu asked the crowd.

When this question was raised, everyone silently shook their heads.

You can say Lu Xiaobu is arrogant, that the ’A Chinese Odyssey’ crew bullies with their power, or even that the actors are terrible!

But no one would call ’A Chinese Odyssey’ a bad film.

Even those biased judges and the ’Youthful Frenzy’ crew didn’t dare to say that.

"Then let me tell you something else, the budget for ’A Chinese Odyssey’ was merely ten million!"

"Yes, you heard me right. Director Chen Feiyang only asked for ten million from me, just ten million!"

"You’re all artists; you should know, after deducting the production costs of ’A Chinese Odyssey’, how little of that ten million ended up in the actors’ pockets?!"

Lu Xiaobu spoke with a calm tone, as if he was discussing something unrelated to himself.

But it was this very tone that caused everyone to look at him with an increase in respect.

Good actors!

Perhaps not common in that era, but in this one, where materialism is rampant and everyone wants something for nothing, to still find actors who don’t care about the paycheck and are serious about their craft is truly rare!

Quite a few directors have already begun to quietly take note of Zhou Kunxin—this actor is not bad, we can consider him for future films!

"Why am I angry today, why am I upset? You all probably know. Such hard-working actors don’t get the recognition they deserve, while those who rely on their looks to deceive young girls win awards! If that’s the case, why bother making movies in the future? Wouldn’t it be better to just make a PowerPoint presentation and play it in cinemas?!"

Lu Xiaobu’s tone was unforgiving, and his next sentence was even sharper: "Let me ask you, who do you know that relies on their looks to seduce others for money?"

With this statement, everyone’s eyes turned to Han Meng and his team of young, fresh-faced actors.

The looks in their eyes were filled with amusement.

Yes, Young Master Bu asked a good question—who relies on their appearance to seduce others for money?

Han Meng and his team’s faces turned a shade of blue-green!

Their psychological defense was like a piece of fragile glass, smashed by Lu Xiaobu’s sledgehammer.

Humiliation, shame, embarrassment, fury—all these emotions were swirling in their hearts!

But they were at a loss for words to refute!

Unable to bring up any evidence to the contrary!

Compete in dedication?

Could they even compare?

Compete in popularity?

Hadn’t they been criticized enough?!

Competing on looks?

That’s freaking suicide!

"I bet you’ve guessed by now, it’s a chicken, oh, my bad, it’s a duck, or is it? Can anyone tell if it’s a chicken or a duck?"

Lu Xiaobu doesn’t know what it means to be lenient when you have the upper hand; he only knows to strike the snake at its vital point. When dealing with such people, you crush them without mercy!

Thought I wasn’t around and started mocking freely?

Talking behind someone’s back isn’t worth a damn!

Young Master speaks to your face!

And leaves you speechless with no comeback!

Upon hearing Lu Xiaobu’s words, everyone’s faces strained with mischievous smirks!

What does this mean? I think everyone is crystal clear!

It’s like saying you’re a duck, no respite for you!

Unable to distinguish between a chicken and a duck means you can’t tell men from women!

Han Meng exploded with fury but couldn’t utter a single word!

As for Fang Yunlong!

He’d long since dared not speak!

He was afraid that if he said anything, Lu Xiaobu would target him next!

But!

If he doesn’t speak, would Lu Xiaobu let him off the hook?

Wishful thinking!

"Fang Yunlong, where do you think you’re hiding? Where can you even hide?"

Lu Xiaobu’s eyes swept over and focused on Fang Yunlong: "Come on, tell me, what is this thing, a chicken or a duck?"

Fang Yunlong’s complexion tightened!

Damn it, he still couldn’t avoid it!

As everyone’s gaze followed Lu Xiaobu’s question, they all turned to him.

He began to sweat profusely!

Finally, a stroke of genius: "Lu Xiaobu, this is personal attack, I refuse to answer your question!"

"Right, personal attack!"

Han Meng finally found a reason to retort, immediately leaping up: "I’ll sue you, take you to court!"

"Sue me? Bring it on!"

Lu Xiaobu laughed: "Who’s got a phone for him to call and sue me?"

"Here you go!"

Chen Feiyang immediately passed his phone to Han Meng,

he was secretly thrilled!

Young Master Bu is Young Master Bu!

No one can match him!

Behind-the-scenes manipulation? Try that in front of Young Master Bu!

Showing off? Try that in front of Young Master Bu!

Let’s not even talk about that - given a phone now, would you dare to call?

Scared to death!

Sure enough!

Han Meng didn’t dare to take the phone.

Why would he dare to call?

He couldn’t even imagine the consequences that would follow!

"So, are you calling or not?"

Lu Xiaobu said, looking at Han Meng.

"No, I dare not!"

Han Meng, clenched his teeth and could only say so!

He had succumbed!

He had to succumb!

If this went on, he’d be the one who’d get destroyed in the end!

But does it all end with his submission?

The corner of Lu Xiaobu’s mouth curled into a cold smile: "But, I really want to know whether you’re a man or a woman! So, just like I said before, dress up in women’s clothes, let everyone have a look, let me know whether you’re male or female, and that’ll settle it! How about it?"

The crowd went wild at once—Han Meng in women’s clothes?

This humiliation really hit rock bottom!

Yet why did they feel a hint of anticipation?!