Chapter 56: The Sky Falls

“However, how could a variety show like this possibly come to me? Doesn’t our company still have Jin Dong and Wang Kai? Logically, even if they were looking for someone, they should prioritize them. Compared to them, I’m like a rookie.”

Hearing this, Su Yingxia on the other end of the phone revealed a proud expression.

“Le Ge, you don’t know, I just called Director Lu. She said she had dinner with you once before and thought you were quite a decent person, so this time she gave you Wang Kai’s opportunity.”

Zhou Le inhaled sharply.

He was starting to not understand what Director Lu was thinking.

He had previously wanted to accept her as a sworn mother, but she refused; yet in the end, she was willing to give such a valuable resource to him?

Putting that aside, any male artist in the country would never refuse a show like this.

They would even be willing to pay to get in.

At least if Zhou Le had to spend money to buy such an opportunity, he would be willing to, as long as it was within his means.

He recalled how the master had been willing to pay Director Zhang for a role.

And the platform he was going on was even bigger.

“All right, I’ll start preparing then.”

But then he thought to himself that he seemed to have already adapted to this kind of life.

When he was a child, Zhou Le’s wish was to become an architect.

It wasn’t until he grew up that he realized he had only achieved half of that dream. His work involved buildings, but he wasn’t an architect, just a construction worker.

So later, Zhou Le’s wish became to become a rich man.

Looking back now, that too was only half fulfilled.

He was wealthy, yes, but he was a wealthy workhorse.

Of course, Zhou Le had grown from the lowest level of workhorse to a higher one.

“Forget it, put on your socks before your shoes; be the grandson before being the grandpa.”

Zhou Le quickly adjusted his mindset.

Just as Su Yingxia was relaying the good news that Zhou Le would be appearing on “National Treasure,” she added another piece of news related to the film “Dying to Survive.”

“Le Ge, because the film is about to start shooting, you’ll be heading to Nanjing next Thursday. But according to the film’s requirements, you need to portray a gaunt, sickly patient…”

Zhou Le’s heart skipped a beat: “Should I lose weight?”

“Yes.”

For a moment, Zhou Le felt dizzy.

Although he thought it was normal for an actor to fit the character’s physical image, according to the shooting schedule for “Dying to Survive,” he was set to appear about two weeks after filming started, meaning he only had a little over twenty days to lose weight?

He felt the sky was falling.

Later, Zhou Le stepped on the scale.

One hundred and fifty jin (about 75 kilograms).

Zhou Le: “...”

“Do I really have to lose at least thirty jin (about 15 kilograms)?”

Zhou Le looked at his muscles on his body.

Then he sighed.

“Xiao Su, before tomorrow, help me make a fitness plan. The goal is to lose at least thirty jin, don’t worry about intensity, just make it effective... Oh, and also prepare a diet plan.”

Su Yingxia nodded. “Le Ge, can’t we try other methods? Like makeup to make you look thinner? Losing thirty jin in less than a month sounds like a lot.”

“Don’t worry, it’s not too much. They’re paying me millions for this role—even though seventy percent goes to the company—but think about it, an ordinary person working all year only earns so much. If I’m getting paid to do this, wouldn’t it be a waste of their money not to do what’s required?”

“Le Ge, you’re really dedicated.”

Zhou Le shook his head, “It’s not dedication; it’s the self-discipline of a workhorse.”

“If I earn three thousand a month, I’d let the boss know that three thousand means doing three thousand worth of work. But if I earn three hundred thousand a month, and all it takes is acting in a few scenes and losing weight, why not?”

Su Yingxia suddenly understood, then clenched her fists and said fiercely, “Fine! I’ll work until the boss goes bankrupt!”

“So, Xiao Su, it’s all up to you. Whether we strike it rich depends entirely on whether you can get this weight loss plan and diet right!”

Su Yingxia felt the pressure mounting.

But the more pressure she felt, the more motivated she became.

And so, another day passed.

Su Yingxia arrived early at Zhou Le’s home and prepared breakfast.

“Le Ge, get up and eat breakfast. After eating, you still need to exercise.”

Zhou Le, half-asleep, emerged from the bedroom shirtless.

He looked at the dark cup Su Yingxia handed him.

“What’s this?”

“Black coffee. This will be your breakfast from now on.”

Zhou Le took a sip.

It was sour and bitter, a sharp wave of discomfort hitting his head instantly.

“Wow, this tastes like herbal medicine with coffee flavor!”

“No, it’s just black coffee.”

Zhou Le looked again. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure!”

Zhou Le nodded, thinking of his childhood self, then lifted the large cup to his lips and drank it all in one gulp.

Instantly, his face twisted into a mask of pain.

He spoke with difficulty.

“Is there sugar? Give me some candy, I can’t take it.”

“No, Le Ge, you’ve already started dieting. No sugar allowed. But I have a way to help ease it—close your eyes.”

Zhou Le obeyed and closed his eyes.

Then he felt two soft lips press against his.

“It really doesn’t taste bitter anymore.”

Zhou Le opened his eyes and looked in amazement at the young assistant before him.

“Of course. The lip balm I put on is sweet—it’s lychee flavor today.”

But it was morning.

Zhou Le was a young man full of vigor; in this moment, he reached out, wrapped his arms around Su Yingxia’s slender waist, and lifted her up.

“No, no, you can’t.”

At first, Zhou Le thought it was a playful moment.

“Le Ge, really, no. You need to go out and exercise now.”

Zhou Le stopped in his tracks, looking at Su Yingxia in his arms.

“So, what should I do?”

“What do you mean? That kind of thing drains your energy. How will you run and jump rope afterward?”

“Put me down and go change. You said before you’d supervise me. Now, I’m not just your agent and assistant—I’m your strictest fitness coach! Hurry up, or I’ll whip you with a little leather whip!”

Having spent some time together, Su Yingxia knew Zhou Le was easygoing.

This kind of joke was harmless.

So that morning, Zhou Le went out and ran in six sets, totaling six kilometers, then jumped rope in sixteen sets, completing eight thousand jumps.

Finally, he collapsed, utterly exhausted, on an empty running track.

“I’m dead tired. This isn’t humanly possible.”

“But I’m doing this for work. Still, some people who don’t even look fat insist on losing weight. Do they have some masochistic tendencies?”

Su Yingxia wiped Zhou Le’s sweat as she spoke.

“I don’t know if they do, but I do know that, Le Ge, in half an hour we should be having lunch.”

At the mention of food, Zhou Le immediately perked up.

After resting a bit at home, Zhou Le saw Su Yingxia bring out a plate of jet-black noodles, alongside bright green broccoli.

“What’s this?”

“A fitness meal.”

“Not bad, the pre-meal diet is indeed healthy, though not very appetizing. But what about the main course?”

Su Yingxia blinked.

“This is the main course.”

Zhou Le was speechless.