Chapter 228: 228 New Script

Chapter 228: A New Script

Another episode of *Light and Shadow Journey*—the audience quickly noticed the difference from the previous one. The guests’ outfits looked thicker and sturdier, and even their backpacks had been swapped out.

Lv Yiyang’s transformation was the most obvious: he’d literally strapped his backpack to his clothes.

"One misstep leads to PTSD—but this episode seems free of monkeys."

"Once bitten, twice shy. Here's a tip for the cast of *Light and Shadow Journey*: if you ever run into monkeys again, just hand over all your supplies without a fight."

"And above all, don’t eat in the mountains. Hahaha, I still crack up thinking about last time."

Beyond that, perhaps because they'd all shared the experience of being chased by monkeys, the group seemed much more united—buying multiple portions of everything. Even when buying ice cream at the scenic spot, they always bought a whole bagful.

"The bond forged through being chased—truly touching."

"Hahaha, the vibe is so harmonious."

For fans, *Light and Shadow Journey* also brought them back to the days before Lu Xu entered the film industry.

Movies like *Night Sky Observations*, *Dough Figurine*, and *Fearless Life* were such massive hits that media now refers to Lu Xu simply as "film emperor."

By any standard, Lu Xu absolutely deserves the title. But to his fans, he's more than just "film emperor"—he's irreplaceable.

Lu Xu still has a quick wit, remains easygoing, and still has his share of awkward blunders. It’s just that, as his fame grows and his status in the film world rises, these moments have become increasingly rare.

*Light and Shadow Journey* reminded fans of the Lu Xu they know and love.

His personality hasn't changed—it's just that he rarely shows it anymore. His behavior on the show makes people forget his "film emperor" status and see him as no different from other young actors.

"Lu Xu is adorable!"

"The way Lu Xu meshes so well with everyone else is just too cute—I love it! For some reason, Lu Xu always gives off this genuine, down-to-earth charm. Yes, he's gotten older, but I feel like he's still the same Lu Xu from when he first debuted. He hasn't changed at all."

"Couldn’t have said it better myself!"

While *Light and Shadow Journey* promotes movies, Lu Xu’s fans took the opportunity to promote Lu Xu himself.

Objectively speaking, Lu Xu doesn’t need promotion anymore—in recent years, he’s become a household name, undoubtedly the hottest figure in the entertainment industry. Yet the passion of his fans is unstoppable.

Even though Lu Xu is already widely known, it doesn’t stop fans from continuing to adore him.

Promoting Lu Xu naturally starts from his Verse days—the awkward rookie phase, being bullied, doubts when he first starred in TV dramas...

"Honestly, among today’s top film actors, Lu Xu started from the lowest point. And yet, he’s reached the highest peak."

"Every time I compile Lu Xu’s body of work, I get super excited. He’s acted in underdog stories—and isn’t his acting career itself an underdog story?"

From time to time, fans are reinvigorated by Lu Xu’s journey—especially when those three *Contention Awards* appear on his list.

"Box office success might come from luck, but awards? Definitely not!"

"Ahhhh! As a drama actor, he was already a top idol—everything he touched turned to gold, breaking countless records. And the same goes for films. Lu Xu’s acting career is nothing short of legendary!"

"Even with reality TV. His appearances on such shows are surprisingly few, but if you dig deeper, you’ll find that each show topped the charts during its run."

"When you’ve earned a trio of *Contention Awards*, two Critics' Choice Best Actor wins, and one *Sunset Film Festival* Best Actor win; when your combined box office exceeds ¥20 billion domestically and ¥25 billion globally—and yet you remain humble—you realize what an incredible trait that is."

*Light and Shadow Journey* let more viewers see Lu Xu’s true self.

Of course, his strong reputation was built on one unforgettable film after another.

But *Light and Shadow Journey* really highlighted Lu Xu’s personality—whether it was his respectful approach to others’ work, the thorough preparation he put into recommending films, or how thoughtful he was with people, all of it made people like him even more.

"I’m officially a Lu Xu stan now, lol!"

...

For Lu Xu and the other two, *Light and Shadow Journey* was also a rare break from filming. The three were already close friends, so when they met on the show, they naturally had no hesitation in tossing around inside jokes.

After the trio moved into the film industry, they still tried to meet up whenever possible, but opportunities to get all three together became increasingly rare—often missing one person.

*Light and Shadow Journey* also made audiences more familiar with the "Mountain Trio," helping viewers understand why they were cut from the same cloth.

The group was great at making jokes, yet took film recommendations seriously. Not only did *Light and Shadow Journey* gain popularity, but old funny moments involving the trio were also resurfaced by fans online.

Though *Light and Shadow Journey* was just a regular reality show, by year-end reviews, it was considered the program with the most significant impact on that year’s film market—after its broadcast, more people went to the movies than before. Many viewers admitted in interviews that *Light and Shadow Journey* got them back into theaters.

While the film industry has plenty of half-baked projects, there are also those who dedicate everything to cinema with unwavering diligence.

That day, a post blew up on an entertainment forum.

"After watching a few episodes of *Light and Shadow Journey*, what really hit me was—Lu Xu genuinely loves being an actor."

"Isn’t this his break between projects? He’s been laying low lately, filming less and appearing in fewer public events. His new project is reportedly still in selection, yet he spent months recording *Light and Shadow Journey*."

"+1, he already has three *Contention Awards*. No one would blame him for skipping variety shows, yet he still came. If *Light and Shadow Journey* weren’t a film-related program, could they have even gotten Lu Xu?"

"What moved me the most was how he talked about movies. He remembered every detail about *Fearless Life* and *Night Sky Observations*—even parts that weren’t revealed during their releases. Fresh details."

"Lu Xu is so humble!!! Anyone who watched *Light and Shadow Journey* must feel the same way I do."

The forum post almost entirely recapped Lu Xu’s performance on *Light and Shadow Journey*. Occasionally, the show featured segments recreating original scenes, allowing the audience to glimpse why Lu Xu had won three *Contention Awards*—even if the original films didn’t star him, the moment he embodied a character, viewers could deeply sense his innate talent as an actor.

Quick immersion, unparalleled character embodiment… Coincidentally, a performance-themed variety show aired around the same time as *Light and Shadow Journey*. Initially, the two shows didn’t clash, but after *Light and Shadow Journey* aired, the other show’s ratings visibly dropped.

"I could tolerate it before *Light and Shadow Journey*, but now I really can't."

"The contrast is brutal… Are we allowed to say this?"

"Deadass, if nobody said that was a performance show, I’d think they were doing some kind of weird ritual. Feels like they’re doing something totally confusing."

"+1 +1."

In short, whether at the *Contention Awards* or other events, anytime Lu Xu showed up, the audience could strongly feel his influence.

...

After finishing up *Light and Shadow Journey*, Lu Xu signed onto two new projects, continuing his diligent acting career. Ma Yanwen in *Dough Figurine* was a seriously tough role, and when accepting it, Lu Xu didn’t aim to base his performance on Ma Yanwen directly.

He knew well that great roles come by chance, not something one could demand.

By coincidence, right after wrapping *Light and Shadow Journey*, Xu Wen slid him a new script.

"A historical film?"

Lu Xu flipped through it. "Not many of these around nowadays."

After fantasy films were overshadowed by *Sanctuary*, *Night Sky Observations* at least breathed some life into the genre. Historical films, however, were different—they never caught on, remaining neglected projects in both the TV world and film industry.

Lu Xu just happened to have this script.

"The director insisted on sending it to you," said Xu Wen. "He said you're the only one who can pull this off."

After so many years in the business, Xu Wen was familiar with most directors—even if only by reputation. When they thought a script might suit him, they'd often send it directly to him to see if Lu Xu might be interested.

This script also revolved around the stories of emperors and generals, inviting Lu Xu to portray a historically ambitious, brilliant emperor.

A born ruler, he expanded his empire and brought stability to the realm during his reign. Ice-cold and ruthless, he embodied the essence of imperial strategy. The script primarily focused on a bizarre incident that occurred during his rule.

It featured scheming eunuchs, treacherous ministers, and rival states eyeing their chance—yet none could escape the emperor's watchful gaze. When the Son of Heaven raged, blood would run in rivers.

Since this incident took place not in the emperor's later years, finding the right actor age-wise was tough. In terms of both age and acting prowess, Lu Xu was naturally the first choice.

Of course, the production team sought Lu Xu primarily for his star power at the box office.

To put it bluntly, historical films were box office poison no matter who starred in them—only Lu Xu could give the project a shot at success.

"Is this really for me?" Lu Xu asked his agent.

"Don't sweat it," Xu Wen replied. "If you feel you can play the role, that’s all that matters. Ignore whatever the media might say later."

Historical films were indeed a genre where actors could easily stumble, but Xu Wen believed the script was solid and the role well-suited for Lu Xu. Having starred in *The Son of Heaven* and *Chivalrous Fragrance*, Lu Xu had ample experience in historical works.

Though... there might later be rumors of Lu Xu’s "box office golden touch fading."

But Xu Wen felt that, for Lu Xu at this stage, choosing a role that spoke to him was far more important.

Even if the genre wasn’t popular or the film bombed at the box office, Lu Xu could at least deliver a performance he was proud of.

In recent years, Xu Wen had often seen critically acclaimed actors sign on for duds—usually due to financial troubles. In such cases, actors had to take whatever came their way.

From an agent’s perspective, he preferred Lu Xu to take on films without baggage.

A few days later, after careful consideration, Lu Xu informed Xu Wen of his decision—he would take on the historical film.

"I figured you’d accept."

Xu Wen was perhaps the person who best understood Lu Xu’s preferences. In fact, the reason this script had reached Lu Xu in the first place was because Xu Wen believed he would take it.

As an agent, Xu Wen also had a keen eye for scripts. With Lu Xu’s career soaring, he had become widely recognized as one of the industry’s most discerning agents—no one attributed Lu Xu’s role selections solely to the actor himself.

Not only had Lu Xu been poached by other agencies, but Xu Wen had also received offers—persistently. Yet Xu Wen never considered leaving Soaring Entertainment. After years of working with Lu Xu, he had grown accustomed to their partnership.

Lu Xu was easy to manage—switching to someone else might not be as smooth.

With his years of experience as an agent, Xu Wen could clearly sense the declining quality of talent in the entertainment industry. Some of the rumors about certain stars even made veteran agents like him blanch. In a way, meeting Lu Xu had been incredibly fortunate.

Author's Note:

Feels better to end with the pup taking home an award, so adding one more film~