Chapter 4

Chapter 4

The second time I ran into Zhou Jibai, he was wearing nothing but a pair of boxer briefs. Practically naked, he was lying in a pile of filth, playing a corpse.

Despite the stench coming from that drainage ditch, I recognized him at a single glance.

The lead actors were filming a fight scene right there in the sludge, and it was common for the background actors to get stepped on.

Yet Zhou Jibai didn’t even twitch.

As the scene was wrapping up and the actors were heading off for a break, I walked over to him. I crouched down, pretending I was about to flick my cigarette ash onto him.

“Why didn’t you move?” I asked with a grin.

“The director hasn’t called cut yet.”

He kept his eyes fixed forward, his face a mask of earnestness. One look and you could tell he was a tough nut to crack.

I always did have a soft spot for stubborn streaks.

“Look at me.”

I reached out and turned Zhou Jibai’s face toward mine.

“I’m Xia Tu. You’ve heard the name, right?”

The moment he saw my face, a flicker of emotion finally crossed his eyes.

I felt a small surge of pride.

“Buy me a bowl of noodles, and I’ll sign you.”

I thought Zhou Jibai would jump at the chance and be eternally grateful to me.

At least, anyone else in his position would have.

But he wasn’t polite at all. He simply declined: “I don’t have the money.”

I was shocked. “A bowl of noodles is only fifty yuan. You can’t even afford that?”

Only later did I learn that at the time, Zhou Jibai’s annual income was less than twenty thousand yuan.

Every year, the film academies produce far too many graduates.

Some are lucky enough to become brilliant stars the moment they debut.

But the vast majority are buried regardless of how hard they work. Even those with talent are at the mercy of opportunity.

It is a high-stakes gamble where the outcome is never guaranteed.

We talked for a long time that day, and I learned many things.

For instance, I learned that the reason Zhou Jibai hadn’t been able to get any roles since graduation was partly due to Director Chen Che.

After one particular audition, Zhou Jibai had clearly stood out among the five finalists, but Chen Che still made things difficult for him.

“Donate eight hundred thousand to the production, and this role is yours.”

“You should understand that this is a standout role. Even if I don’t give it to you, whoever plays it will become a hit. So, I’m giving it to whoever puts up the money.”

In reality, that eight hundred thousand would have likely gone straight into the director’s own pocket.

He had even received an even more shameless proposal from Chen Che.

If he couldn’t produce the money, he could choose to accompany some ‘bosses’ for dinner. If he made them happy enough that they were willing to ‘sponsor’ the crew, then the role would still be his.

Zhou Jibai had punched Chen Che.

From then on, he was suppressed by the circle of directors associated with Chen Che. Sometimes, he was even ostracized by other background actors on set.

I also learned that when he had no filming work, he spent all his time honing his craft-watching movies and dramas, working out, and studying. He never let himself relax for a single moment.

That was why he had been able to seize that stunt double opportunity for himself that day.

“If I’m not prepared at all times, I don’t deserve to seize an opportunity when it comes.”

Zhou Jibai’s tone was nonchalant, but I could hear his unwavering persistence.

During those years of waiting, even when there were no roles to play, he remained true to himself, resisting the cold shoulder of the world.

That was Zhou Jibai.

For some reason, I thought back to the young immortal disciple on set that day.

“Zhou Jibai, do you dare to take a gamble with me?”

“I’ll treat you to noodles today. But if we win this bet one day, when you become the Best Actor, remember to pay me back for this bowl of noodles.”

I rested my chin on my hands and curled my lips into a smile.

“My luck has always been terrible. What if you lose by betting on me?”

He tilted his head back to finish the noodle soup, his gaze half-joking and half-serious.

I didn’t answer then.

But in my heart, I was thinking:

Zhou Jibai, I will definitely stay by your side until your time to bloom arrives.