At a time like this, it was natural for the movie "Crouching Dragon" to be brought up under the name of "collaboration". Costume martial arts, as a special element with Chinese flavor, are quite popular both domestically and internationally. Of course, the prerequisite for popularity is quality assurance. In terms of meticulousness, any movie that Duan Xiubo can participate in can definitely be considered a conscientious work.

The director of "Crouching Dragon," Huo Xie, is one of the most acclaimed commercial film directors in the industry. His works have always been well-received both critically and commercially. This reputation is well-deserved. Huo Xie's meticulousness can be seen in every aspect of his work, such as personally styling characters, never hesitating to reshoot a scene if even a slight dissatisfaction arises, or making actors study certain elements that could easily be overlooked in the script for up to six months. Because of his reputation for box office success and awards, no matter how eccentric he is, there are plenty of people willing to cling to him for support. For example, he dislikes actors using stunt doubles for action scenes, so there wasn't a single person in the "Crouching Dragon" crew who chose to use a stunt double. Actors who worked hard were satisfying to Huo Xie, but little did he expect that shortly after shooting began, the male lead ended up in the hospital due to inadequate safety measures during filming.

The news was suppressed, unknown to the public, and only core members of the crew were aware of it. This matter wasn't something Duan Xiubo should concern himself with; casting actors was the director's job, and he was exceptionally clear about separating personal and professional matters. In his work in the film industry, apart from Ji Jia, who mingled in the fashion circle, almost all of his close friends were people from the film industry. As for Luo Ding... the relationship between the two hadn't reached the level of being good friends yet. In any case, there were people who heard rumors and came to inquire about the news from him. Duan Xiubo always brushed it off with a smile, keeping his lips sealed.

But now, after seeing Luo Ding's portrayal of the character, he felt an impulse to show favoritism for the first time.

For an artist of Luo Ding's stature to be invited to collaborate at a time like this was indeed a great honor. Luo Ding was naturally willing; everyone in the industry knew that Duan Xiubo never participated in a project unless it was of high quality. Participating in a movie, especially one of such high caliber, would greatly help Luo Ding's burgeoning career in the entertainment industry.

As a director, Zheng Kezhen should have been firmly against Luo Ding seeking other work during his scheduled time. But people's hearts are soft; since he met Luo Ding, he had seen the talent and effort the latter put into his performances. In Zheng Kezhen's eyes, Luo Ding truly had the potential to become a big star. The opportunity to work with Duan Xiubo on a movie wasn't something that came by often. Missing out on this chance meant waiting who knows how long for the next one. So when Luo Ding consulted him for his opinion, he generously granted him a week off. Luo Ding's few scenes saved him a lot of money, and with the extras still available these days, they could conveniently shoot the scenes without Luo Ding. His early arrival and late departure wouldn't cause any inconvenience.

These past few days had been truly hectic for Huo Xie. Chen Xufeng, the actor playing the male lead, broke his right leg due to improper filming a week ago and was hospitalized. With a hundred days of recovery ahead, he wouldn't be discharged until after the completion of the film.

While the actor was hospitalized, the filming schedule of the crew couldn't be halted. Each day delayed meant a loss of revenue. On one hand, all of the male lead's scenes were postponed, and on the other hand, they quietly began contacting suitable actors. Until a new actor was confirmed, everyone involved was to keep silent about the incident. Starting production and then having news of an actor's injury leaked was definitely not a good thing.

But finding a suitable actor in such a short time was easier said than done. The male lead played an antagonist role, and although his role wasn't extensive, each appearance in the script was crucial, adding a touch of brilliance to the story. Chen Xufeng wasn't a very famous actor, but his appearance and temperament perfectly matched the character, making it a stroke of luck that he was cast. Without Chen Xufeng, how many actors would fit the role?

After trying out more than ten people over several days, none were satisfactory. Delaying any further would affect everyone's work. Reluctantly, Huo Xie had to consider revising the script.

Changing one aspect would affect the entire story. This was a significant blow to him, someone who considered each work to be like a child of his own. So when he received a call from Duan Xiubo, he immediately requested to meet the person being recommended without delay.

Duan Xiubo had never personally recommended an actor before; this was the first time. Anyone he vouched for must have enough strength. This was good news for Huo Xie, who was on the verge of giving up.

Bearing a pile of troubles, Duan Xiubo felt like he was out of his mind. But upon seeing the young man sitting quietly in the passenger seat, any trace of regret he had disappeared instantly.

"Huo Xie has a bit of a temper, talks like he's arguing. Don't be afraid during the audition, I'll be sitting beside you, he won't dare to give you a hard time." Seeing Luo Ding looking out the window with a calm expression, Duan Xiubo wasn't sure if he was worrying about the upcoming audition. After some thought, he spoke up to offer reassurance.

Luo Ding turned to look at him, smiling slightly. "Thank you."

Regardless of whether he passed or not, he owed Duan Xiubo a great deal. But facing him, he didn't feel any psychological burden. Isn't life about owing and being owed? Maintaining a dignified and composed attitude was the key. This attitude gradually reassured Duan Xiubo, who initially worried that Luo Ding might change their relationship dynamic.

The security on the set of "Crouching Dragon" was very strict. Even an artist brought by Duan Xiubo had to wait for Huo Xie's approval over the phone before being allowed in.

As Duan Xiubo led Luo Ding into the office, they saw Huo Xie sitting behind the desk, staring at the door with bright eyes.

Huo Xie was truly unattractive, with a long, thin face, a double chin, a neck almost as thick as his face, and rough, dark skin. His perpetual frown lacked any artistic charm, and his unattractive appearance made him look like a farmer from deep in the mountains.

But Luo Ding didn't dare to underestimate the person in front of him. After entering the office, he politely nodded to the other party. "Director Huo, hello, I'm Luo Ding. I'm here to audition for the role of 'Prince Guangling' in 'Crouching Dragon'."

As the two handsome and charismatic men walked into the rather simple office together, the surroundings suddenly seemed to light up like two searchlights.

His outstanding appearance initially impressed Huo Xie, as an artist's appearance was also a major selling point for commercial films. However, upon closer inspection, he couldn't help but feel disappointed.

"How old are you?" "Twenty-two." "Have you acted in movies before?" "No, but I'm currently participating in a new drama directed by Zheng Kezhen called 'Tang Chuan.'"

"Are you kidding me?" Huo Xie turned to Duan Xiubo, glaring at him. "He's young and inexperienced. How does he fit the role of Prince Guangling? Prince Guangling is sinister! He exudes evil! He's not scholarly!"

Duan Xiubo knew that Huo Xie had made the same mistake as himself. Instead of rushing to explain, he smiled slightly and, with confidence, pulled out a chair and sat down. "You're overreacting. I'm playing the hero. Do I look like I usually perform chivalrous acts? Let him try; you can't draw conclusions after just a brief meeting. It's too early."

Huo Xie's hope, which had just been raised, plummeted to the bottom of the valley. A newcomer in his twenties who hadn't acted in any films—no matter how good his acting was, how good could it be? But since the person had come, it wouldn't be right to chase him away without even giving him a chance to audition. Huo Xie casually took out Prince Guangling's character profile from the drawer, flipping through several pages with a frown, furrowing his brows into a knot. Finally, he slammed it onto the desk. "Take a look yourself, and in two hours, show me a scene." With that, he picked up his teacup and left.

Luo Ding wasn't angry. Huo Xie's temper during filming was even worse than now. Luo Ding had endured it when Huo Xie's reputation was even higher. So there was no reason to fuss over such trivial matters now.

Duan Xiubo, however, felt somewhat unsettled. He patted Luo Ding's shoulder, indicating that he shouldn't take Huo Xie's words to heart, then followed Huo Xie out of the office.

This film, "Crouching Dragon," had a simple plot. It told the story of a hero who, upon learning of a significant secret, was pursued and ultimately defeated the mastermind behind the scenes, achieving victory in the end. Duan Xiubo played the hero, while Luo Ding was vying for the role of the mastermind behind the scenes, Prince Guangling.

Prince Guangling, the most favored prince by the emperor, wielded supreme power and enjoyed all the glory and splendor, yet he was still ambitious and dissatisfied with the status quo.

He deceived the emperor's beloved consort, Princess Yu, using the throne of her son as bait to persuade her to poison the emperor secretly. Meanwhile, he formed cliques and eliminated dissidents in the court. Leveraging Princess Yu's influence and the emperor's trust in him, he killed loyal ministers who refused to join his camp.