Huayu: I really am a genuine top star.

Chapter 7 A Pure Heart Remains Unperturbed Even When the Sky Collapses

"A short film production team on campus is urgently seeking several young, energetic, and attractive male and female students to serve as background actors and special guest actors."

Requirements: Strong camera presence, obedient, and able to accept scenes with a certain degree of physical contact (such as hugging, holding hands, etc.). Excellent pay, daily settlement. Contact: Director Wang, Tel: 138XXXXXXXX.

Shen Li's little heart skipped a beat.

Background actor? Special guest star? Scenes involving physical contact? Excellent pay, paid daily!

These keywords exploded in his mind.

This was practically a tailor-made opportunity for Shen Li to make his "first pot of gold"!

Image and temperament? We're a regular student from the Beijing Film Academy's acting department, after all. Even if we're broke, we still have some shamelessness and acting skills.

Physical contact? For the sake of art (and money), some sacrifices are inevitable!

He glanced around, like a thief, quickly snapped a picture of the phone number with his phone, and then casually slipped away.

He was overjoyed: "There's always a way out!" Director Wang was like a timely rain for Shen Li, a true hero!

Back in his dorm, Jingyang was fiddling with his newly bought hairspray in front of the mirror, trying to create a "messy, unruly, and handsome" hairstyle. A strong fragrance filled the air.

Yang Yi was diligently washing socks. Dai Xiao remained completely absorbed in his computer.

Shen Li climbed into bed, drew the curtains to create a private space, took a deep breath, and dialed the number of "Director Wang".

"Hey? Who is this?" A slightly hoarse male voice came from the other end of the phone, and the background noise was a bit noisy, as if someone was shouting "Lights on!"

"Director Wang, hello! I saw your casting call on the school bulletin board. I'm a freshman in the Performance Department at Beijing Film Academy, and my name is Shen Li (粒). I'm particularly interested in your project. I think my appearance and versatility are pretty good, and I'm wondering if I have a chance..."

Shen Li spoke at a moderate pace, with a respectful yet confident attitude, packaging her pitiful "performance experience" (playing a tree in a high school arts festival) as if it were real.

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, as if they were assessing the sincerity in his words.

"A performing arts major? A freshman... Okay, tomorrow at 3 PM, at 'Time Cafe' outside the west gate of the school. Bring two candid photos for me. Remember, they need to show your body shape, don't try to fool me with overly edited photos."

"Understood, understood! Thank you, Director Wang, for the opportunity! I will definitely be there on time!"

Shen Li hung up the phone and excitedly pumped her fist.

There's a chance!

The next afternoon, Shen Li specially changed into a more figure-flattering fitted T-shirt and jeans, and picked out two casual photos that were still somewhat recognizable (one of which was taken by the river in her hometown during summer vacation, barely showing the slender outline of a young man), and arrived at "Time Cafe" twenty minutes early.

The coffee shop was small and not crowded.

Shen Li found a seat by the window, ordered the cheapest lemonade, and sipped it while observing everyone coming and going.

At exactly three o'clock, a middle-aged man wearing a floral shirt, a baseball cap, and a bit of a beard walked in and looked around. Shen Li quickly stood up and tentatively asked, "Excuse me, are you Director Wang?"

The man sized him up, nodded, and sat down opposite him. Without any hesitation, he ordered an Americano. "Did you bring the photos?"

"I brought it, I brought it." Shen Li quickly presented the photos with both hands.

Director Wang glanced at it, then looked up and examined Shen Li closely, tapping his fingers on the table:

"Hmm, his appearance is alright, he looks good on camera, and he has a youthful vibe. He's just a bit thin, but it's not a big problem."

Our film needs a few sunny, outgoing guys as background characters. There are a few scenes where they need to interact with the actresses, like walking side-by-side, passing a book to each other in the library, and possibly a pool scene where they need to wear swim trunks and show some skin. Are you okay with that?

Pool scene? Wearing swim trunks? Showing off her figure?

Shen Li's mind flashed to Xiong Rui's muscular physique, and then compared it to her own "slender" body, she felt a little apprehensive.

But the words "generous compensation" hit him like a shot of adrenaline. He immediately straightened his back, his eyes resolute:

"I can accept it! Director Wang, I'm willing to try anything for art! Besides, I'm currently working out a lot, and I'll be in shape soon!" (Actually, he didn't even know which way the gym door faced.)

Director Wang seemed moved by Shen Li's "enthusiasm" (or perhaps too lazy to look for more), and nodded:

"Okay, you're the one. Meet at the school swimming pool tomorrow afternoon at 1 PM. We'll shoot the pool scenes first. Remember to bring a pair of swim trunks that fit well, and avoid anything too flashy. The pay is 300 yuan a day, paid after filming. Is that alright?"

"No problem! Thank you, Director Wang!"

Shen Li was overjoyed. Three hundred a day!

For him now, it's a huge sum of money! As for swim trunks... he seems to only have one pair of dark blue boxer trunks that he bought in high school and that's been washed until they're a bit faded.

Back in her dorm, Shen Li announced this "good news".

Jing Yang's eyes lit up upon hearing this: "Pool scene? Interacting with actresses? Shen Li, you're something else! Getting this kind of 'perk' on your first day? Do you know any pretty actresses? Introduce me!"

Yang Yi was a little worried: "Shen Li, can you swim? Safety first."

Dai Xiao drifted out from behind the computer with a quiet voice: "Be aware of the potential risks of electric shock and water quality issues during underwater filming."

Shen Li: "...Thank you for your concern, I will pay attention." What he was more concerned about was how to make himself look less "skinny" in the pool tomorrow.

The next afternoon, at the school swimming pool. When Shen Li arrived, lights and cameras had already been set up, and several staff members were busy at work.

In the changing room, Shen Li changed into her old swim trunks and looked at herself in the mirror.

Well, his face is alright, and his shoulders aren't too narrow, but his chest and abdominal muscles... are basically in a "Schrödinger state," not very prominent.

He did several chest-expanding exercises in an attempt to make his muscles look fuller, but with little effect.

"Oh well, I'm mainly just in the background anyway. Hopefully, the camera won't get too close." Shen Li cheered herself up and walked out.

Seven or eight young men and women, all dressed in swimsuits, had gathered by the pool; they appeared to be actors hired to act as background or foreground figures.

Shen Li glanced over and thought, "Wow!" Most of the men had pretty good physiques. Although they weren't quite at Xiong Rui's level, at least their chest and abdominal muscles were well-defined.

Not to mention the women, each one wearing a swimsuit of various colors, with hot figures and curves on full display, they were all incredibly voluptuous, with long legs, slim waists, perky buttocks, and fair skin.

Some looked innocent and lovely in one-piece swimsuits, some boldly showed off their great figures in two-piece bikinis, and one wore a high-cut one-piece swimsuit with simply incredible proportions.

Her long, straight, and white legs were dazzlingly white under the poolside lights, and her chest was almost bursting out, making Shen Li quickly recite "If the heart is pure, the sky will not be alarmed."