Chapter 148: Lin Ze? I Just Don't Understand...

Although both of them tried to comfort Teacher Lu, Lu Zhoushan genuinely thought otherwise, because Lin Ze had only just stepped into the acting industry.

In the music world, Lin Ze's position was now virtually unshakeable.

He was just a few awards away from firmly securing the number one spot.

However, in the film and television industry, he was merely a newcomer. Furthermore, the movie industry was even more complicated than the music industry, involving matters tied directly to money, making it much harder to break through than the more easily conquerable music scene.

"This is my fault. In my mind, that director was still the same person who drank two bottles of beer back then and told me that art is higher than money."

Lu Zhoushan shook his head. "I originally wanted this to be a major-production film that would help you establish a solid foothold, but now it has fallen through."

Lu Zhoushan took out his phone from his pocket. "How about taking a look at this instead? This movie is directed by a friend of mine, and it's actually the one I originally wanted to recommend to you."

Lin Ze leaned over with curiosity.

An art film?

The movie was about a father and son undergoing mutual redemption over the course of more than a decade.

"Don't let the plot summary make you think this is purely a highbrow art film; there is genuine narrative drive. You could call it a comedy infused with family elements," Lu Zhoushan explained. "Actually, the reason is that the role of the son has never been cast."

"A character spanning more than a decade requires showcasing the sense of growth brought by the passage of time."

Lu Chuan rested his chin in his hands, leaning over from the side. "I said I wanted to act in it, but my dad wouldn't let me, saying that with my current skills, I couldn't pull off that kind of feeling yet."

"Ah, the father is played by you, Teacher Lu?" Lin Ze spotted the actor cast as the father.

"Yes," Lu Zhoushan nodded.

"Huh?"

Su Zitan pinched Lin Ze's chin, turning his face left and right to examine him. "He doesn't really look like your son... well, no, there is still a slight resemblance."

"There aren't many young actors nowadays with that kind of capability. Originally, Tang Chuan was just one of the alternates. I've been keeping an eye on this show, and I was about to make my final choice until I saw Lin Ze on this program."

"The way this kid memorizes lines and rehearses silently..."

Lu Zhoushan paused mid-sentence. "I'm going to say something rather shameless."

"I somehow feel like I can see a bit of my own shadow in this kid."

"Oh, that must be because you are my favorite actor, and all my acting skills were learned from you," Lin Ze said with a smile, though every word of that statement was entirely true.

"Well, if you put it that way... this counts as self-taught; I certainly didn't teach you." Lu Zhoushan was delighted by Lin Ze's remark.

After all, who doesn't like hearing flattering words?

"In that case, why don't you take me on as your apprentice?" Lin Ze smoothly seized the opportunity to push further.

Listening from the side, Lu Chuan became instantly overjoyed upon hearing Lin Ze's suggestion.

Since this older brother was such a great person, if his father took him on as an apprentice, wouldn't that bring their relationship even closer?

"Yes, absolutely!" Lu Chuan immediately began to clap.

"I..."

A wave of emotion stirred in Lu Zhoushan's heart, but hesitation followed closely behind.

"To be honest, I actually want to accept you, but I always feel..." Lu Zhoushan looked at Lin Ze. "I always feel like this piece of uncarved jade has already matured into a master craftsman, leaving me nothing left to teach you. Taking you as my apprentice would feel like I'm taking advantage of you."

Su Zitan pondered for a few seconds and suddenly spoke up out of the blue.

"Why don't you two become sworn brothers? That way, it could also go down as a wonderful tale of a friendship across generations..."

"Pfft, cough, cough..." Lu Chuan choked on his own saliva and coughed heavily a few times. "Don't! Cut it out, Sister Zitan. You two are my wonderful older brother and sister—if you became my uncle and aunt, who could possibly handle that..."

Interrupted by his son, Lu Zhoushan's budding thought was instantly scattered.

"Alright, alright. Lin Ze, if you're willing, this role is yours." Lu Zhoushan glanced down at his phone once more.

"No problem at all! I couldn't ask for anything better!"

...

"I'm sorry, Chu Yunlang, Teacher Lu has already finalized the male lead."

Director Ma Zhong replied to Chu Yunlang's phone call.

"Huh?" Chu Yunlang frowned. "So fast?"

Chu Yunlang mentally reviewed the young actors currently active in the entertainment industry.

There were probably very few who could rival him.

"Director Ma, give me the inside scoop—who is it? Is it that Tang Chuan?"

Chu Yunlang had been staying on set recently and was completely unaware of a certain rising singer who had skyrocketed to fame.

Ma Zhong paused on the other end. "No, it's Lin Ze."

"Lin Ze? Which Lin Ze?"

"Well..." Ma Zhong didn't quite know how to phrase it. "It's the singer Lin Ze."

"Huh?"

Chu Yunlang fell silent.

That couldn't be right. Why did he suddenly feel like he was falling out of touch with the times?

The singer Lin Ze?

This...

Wait, had Director Ma and Lu Zhoushan started compromising with the capitalists...

Chu Yunlang's mind was racing with countless thoughts; he didn't even realize when the call had ended.

"Yunlang? Yunlang?" His manager waved a hand in front of his face, finally pulling Chu Yunlang back to reality.

"The actor has been cast as Lin Ze?" Chu Yunlang opened his mouth. "I... I don't get it."

"There's nothing to not get. During the time you were filming, Lin Ze participated in that show *I Am an Actor*. After the first episode aired, because Shen Lei gave him zero points, he kicked Shen Lei right out of the entertainment industry."

"???"

With a face full of question marks, Chu Yunlang pondered for a long time. "Is that the professor?"

"Yes."

"..."

Chu Yunlang fell silent for another moment. "Forget it, forget it, I won't think about it anymore."

"I originally wanted to participate in this movie specifically for Teacher Lu. Since that's no longer an option, then so be it."

"Brother Wang, help me contact the crew of *Love in the Iron Forest* instead," Chu Yunlang rubbed his fingers as he plotted.

"Huh? *Love in the Iron Forest*? Didn't you say before that this film is destined to be a piece of trash?" His manager, Brother Wang, asked with some confusion.

"Trash is trash, but help me secure the second male lead position. That character is written much better than the brain-dead role of the male lead."

At this, Chu Yunlang grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth.

"When the time comes, I'll hire some internet trolls to spread the word that I shouldn't have participated in this movie, and that I single-handedly elevated its entire level. Then, when other audiences go watch it and compare me to the male lead, achieving my goal won't be out of the question."

"Brilliant, Yunlang! I'm on it right now!" The manager agreed, grabbed his phone, and hurried away.

...

"Shocking! Lin Ze auditioned for the crew of *Love in the Iron Forest*, and after failing to get selected, he kicked the door in anger and left harsh words in the hallway..."

"Lin Ze demanded that all actors playing the male lead leave the hallway, purely because he wanted to audition for the male lead himself."

"Lin Ze..."

Account holders everywhere had grown smart by now; whenever anything was attached to Lin Ze's name, it was guaranteed to go viral. With this fresh piece of gossip freshly dropped, those marketing accounts couldn't help but rush to publish articles.

"Huh? Who? Say that name again, who?"

A woman stared at her phone screen in utter disbelief.

"Lin Ze? Don't you guys know that whoever goes up against Lin Ze is completely finished?"