CHAPTER 488: CHAPTER 381: DRAGON LIVER AND PHOENIX GALL

Wei Heyun retorted with a smirk, "It’s interesting that wherever you go, you worry that others will suspect I’m keeping you."

"Who can help but think that when you have the face of a playboy, and besides, who doesn’t know you?" Zhou Yun said, "Hasn’t Yu Sitian’s attitude towards you changed recently?"

Wei Heyun dismissed the question irritably with a wave of his hand, "Let’s not talk about that, it’s just ridiculous. She learned somehow that I was preparing a movie. Out of the blue, she came to chat, asking me if the protagonist for the movie had been decided. At first, I truly wanted to tailor a film for her, but then I figured I needed to familiarize myself more with the process, so I ended up with a crappy movie. I couldn’t just let her act in it, but who knew she’d get mad? I tried explaining, but she wouldn’t listen and even blocked me."

Zhou Yun: "..."

Sometimes, Zhou Yun felt that Wei Heyun was just plain unlucky.

A rich and handsome second-generation like him, with no bad habits, would be considered a rare breed in any era.

Yet he had fallen for someone who didn’t feel the same way about him.

All she could think was that fate loved to play tricks, seemingly intent on letting no one in the world have an easy time.

"The situation between you and Sitian... it’s really quite a complicated karma," concluded Zhou Yun.

Wei Heyun gave Zhou Yun a sidelong glance but didn’t argue.

They went into the private room and ordered food.

A waiter in a tailcoat, handsome and built enough to walk straight onto a runway, handed them the menus with a smile.

Zhou Yun opened the menu and was shocked by the prices. Her eyes widened.

"Is the food here made of gold?"

"Don’t worry, it’s my treat, you don’t have to spend a penny," Wei Heyun said.

"I’m still shocked even if I’m not paying," Zhou Yun exaggerated with wide eyes. "What are they serving here, dragon liver or phoenix gallbladder? Is the chef a descendent of the imperial culinary lineage?"

Wei Heyun said, "That’s why I brought you here. A friend once brought me, claiming the chef here was poached from a Michelin-starred restaurant, a real master."

"No matter how masterful the chef is, the food’s not worth these prices," Zhou Yun said. "You go ahead and order. I wouldn’t dare make a move in this place, for fear you’ll accuse me of taking advantage of you later."

Wei Heyun clicked his tongue twice, "Do I seem like that kind of person? I can afford this small expense."

"You really are a young master who has never known worldly suffering, born with a golden key in your mouth, and spending big seems natural."

"I always feel like you’re being sarcastic."

"Ah, come on, just order," Zhou Yun urged. "I want to see if this place is really as good as it’s made out to be."

Wei Heyun quickly ordered a few dishes, closed the menu, and handed it back to the waiter.

"Care for a drink?" he asked.

Zhou Yun said, "Just the two of us, I won’t play it up. Do you have any fruit wines? I only like to drink fruit wines."

Wei Heyun covered his forehead with one hand.

"Are you a primary school student?" he complained.

Zhou Yun confidently rolled her eyes, "Can primary school students drink fruit wines?"

Wei Heyun looked at the waiter.

The waiter nodded, "Yes, we have it."

"Then bring up a bottle," said Wei Heyun.

"You don’t have to accommodate me, you know. You drink yours, and I’ll drink mine," Zhou Yun said.

"Then why don’t we split the table? You eat your food, I’ll eat mine," Wei Heyun remarked. "I’ve noticed that since dining out with you, I have completely lost all manners."

"That’s right, friends," Zhou Yun said with a cheery laugh. "I’m really happy to have made friends with you."

Wei Heyun let out a chuckle.

"Next time, I’ll invite Song Chi to join us for dinner."

"Why would you invite Song Chi?" Wei Heyun inquired.

"Because he’s my boyfriend, and you’re a guy," Zhou Yun said. "Of course, I have to reassure my boyfriend. He doesn’t say it, but he must feel jealous hearing I’m dining alone with an eligible young man."

Wei Heyun: "Ho, are you implying that I have designs on you?"

"I know you don’t, but I also have to make it clear to my boyfriend that you don’t," Zhou Yun said. "Besides, don’t you want to get to know Song Chi?"

Wei Heyun’s eyes shifted, "Well, not really."

"There you go then."

After the food arrived, Zhou Yun grabbed her chopsticks and took a couple of bites.

"So, is it worth the price?" Wei Heyun asked.

Zhou Yun spoke her mind, "No, it’s not."

The face of the treating Wei Heyun turned dark.

"But I’ve fully sensed your sincerity from the pricing," Zhou Yun said with a smile. "Let’s just eat normally next time, no need to come back to this pricey place. It pains me."

Wei Heyun’s face was set in deadpan, "Oh."

"What’s the deal with that movie project you’re working on?" Zhou Yun asked curiously.

"It’s supposed to be a big film based on ancient mythology, which was initially intended for an online release, but a friend of mine who’s collaborating with me insists on going theatrical," Wei Heyun said with a clearly irritated expression. "We haven’t even started filming, and after several months of looking, we can’t find the right cast. We really want to get some famous actors, but who wants to star in such a flop of a movie? I don’t even think it’s any good myself."

"You and your spectacular flop of a debut," Zhou Yun remarked.

"What else could I do? Sure, I’d like to make a decent film with a solid script, but the investors think it won’t make money. They only believe in this ghostly nonsense because it’s popular and has a market. So that’s what I’m left with," Wei Heyun said. "These are people who have never done this kind of thing, and I think it’s okay. It’s a learning experience, so I won’t get taken advantage of again in the future."

"If you want to find famous actors willing to take the roles, you might consider those who have faded from the limelight," Zhou Yun suggested. "There are many actors who were quite popular ten or twenty years ago but have fallen out of favor and are now appearing in minor roles on various sets. If you’re willing to have them as your leads, I’m sure they’d be interested."

"You’re being far too naive. Don’t you think I haven’t tried that? I’ve approached quite a few, but damn it, one after another they turn me down with an air of being some grand Artist, claiming that acting in our kind of movie would damage their reputation. At first, I thought they genuinely didn’t want the roles, but it turned out they were just angling for higher pay," Wei Heyun explained.

"Can’t you afford to up their remuneration?"

"This lousy movie will be lucky to break a few million in profit, and now we’re supposed to allocate a big budget for the actors?" Wei Heyun said.

Zhou Yun: "... Then you are indeed too greedy. You want famous actors but can’t afford to pay the high fees."

Wei Heyun, "Who knew actors’ fees would be so incredibly high nowadays, it’s frightening."

"Don’t talk to me about it; I’ve always charged market rates and never quote excessively," Zhou Yun said. "Of course, I am also picky with the roles I take, I don’t just act in any film."