Chapter 77 – Pure Land

“Do you need a mask?” Shen Fubai handed Xavier a mask printed with a Minion pattern, which he had just bought at a merchandise store.

Although Shen Fubai deeply resented Xavier due to various reasons, he couldn’t help but feel sympathetic towards his current miserable situation. As fellow domestic superstars, Shen Fubai understood the pain of constantly evading fans and paparazzi.

Moreover, China’s population was nearly five times that of America. If Xavier’s temple escape was a nightmare difficulty, Shen Fubai was facing hell level. Fortunately, his fame had only spread throughout Asia, and he wasn’t well-known in Europe and America. Otherwise, Shen Fubai would have been running for his life alongside Xavier.

Shen Fubai felt it necessary to help his fellow celebrity out of his predicament.

“Thanks, but it won’t work. Fans can recognize me even from a single hair strand,” Xavier said, yet he obediently put on the mask anyway. It was better than nothing.

Shen Fubai rummaged through Jiang Heng’s bag and found a straw hat for sun protection, which he placed on Xavier’s head. “Then cover your hair strands too.”

Jiang Heng watched this scene with restraint. Jealousy twisted him.

Fubai had never even put a hat on him!

Xavier was still somewhat uneasy. “They can recognize me from seeing my hands and feet…”

“In that case, chop off all your limbs,” Jiang Heng coldly played with a miniature knife he had bought at the tourist attraction. “They would never think that a disabled person is Xavier.”

Xavier looked at the small knife glinting under the sunlight, swallowed his saliva, and cautiously said, “I think the current disguise is enough. They definitely won’t recognize me.”

Under the cover of Jiang Heng and Shen Fubai, Xavier was successfully delivered to his destination. This novice temple escape player didn’t realize that he was accompanied by two expert fugitives who had far more experience in evading pursuit.

“Thank you.” Outside the film studio, Xavier sincerely extended an invitation. “You saved my life. Do you need me to take you inside for a tour?”

Every visitor to Universal Studios wanted to see the filming locations for movies. However, real film studios were generally not open to the public, especially when rented by production teams. Tourists could only get a glimpse from the periphery.

Being guided by a superstar into a film studio was enough to make anyone ecstatic.

Jiang Heng and Shen Fubai didn’t show much excitement. Strictly speaking, their popularity wasn’t lower than Xavier’s; they just operated in different markets.

But they weren’t completely unexcited. This was Hollywood, and every actor working in the film industry yearned for it.

Shen Fubai said, “It would be an honor.”

Xavier showed them around the green screens, sets, props, and cameras. Many breathtaking scenes in movies were filmed in these simple green screen rooms. This required actors to possess extraordinary imagination and mental fortitude, as acting without physical objects wasn’t something everyone could handle.

“People assume that being an actor is cool, but it’s not. Have you heard of Chester Joseph?” Xavier asked.

Jiang Heng replied, “Of course. The Berlin Film Festival’s Best Actor last year.” He was an internationally renowned veteran Best Actor from America, starring in numerous commercial films while not lacking in awards.

“He had a movie screened globally, with very impressive scenes. He fought a dragon like a true warrior,” Xavier said. “In reality, he was rolling around with a green screen man. I almost burst out laughing on set, I wonder how he managed to hold back.”

Shen Fubai said, “That’s professionalism.”

Xavier shrugged. “You’re right, but once the scene was over, I couldn’t help but laugh.”

Xavier was a versatile artist, both a singer and an actor. He had many popular songs and had starred in several films, but his professional dance skills hadn’t been utilized much. Unless he entered the Red House or Broadway.

He had originally planned to record a song in the recording studio here today.

Renowned Hollywood director Joshua Chapman recently planned to shoot a new movie titled Pure Land. It was a fantasy adventure film about a merman named Wells seeking help on land due to ocean pollution issues. He visited the elves in the forest, the dwarves in the underground kingdom, and the angels in the sky city, only to find that these races were preoccupied with their own problems. The forests were being deforested, the soil eroded, and the air polluted, all races faced survival crises.

A demon proposed a deal to Wells, offering to purify the oceans if given a taste of mermaid flesh.

However, the demon was lying. Demons only possessed destructive power and couldn’t purify the ocean; they merely coveted the legendary mermaid meat, rumored to enhance strength.

Naive Wells foolishly believed him and was about to cut off a piece of his own flesh when the angels, elves, and dwarves arrived in time to stop him and expose the demon’s plot.

Realizing the situation, the demon immediately transformed into a bat and flew away. The elder angel informed Wells that the Eastern merman Clan possessed a sacred treasure called the Eternal Candle, a single drop of wax tears could purify hundreds of square kilometers of ocean.

For this reason, Wells crossed the vast ocean to seek assistance from foreign mermaids. There, he met a beautiful Eastern merman, who told him that the Eastern seas were also severely polluted, and the Eternal Candle’s tears were only a temporary solution. In the East, there was a saying, “The one who tied the bell must untie it.”

The true polluters were humans in modern society.

Following that, Wells concealed his identity and entered human society, befriending a wealthy human girl. Together, they made various efforts and engaged in a battle of wits against the demon. Eventually, their endeavors awakened humanity’s environmental awareness, transforming the polluted world back into a pure land. At the end, he gave the girl a scale and a pearl before returning to the blue ocean.

It sounded exciting. Upon receiving the script, Xavier couldn’t help but anticipate the grandeur of the film upon its release.

Such a movie usually required extensive preparation. Director Chapman planned to start shooting in November. Most of the roles had already been cast, and the others weren’t urgent. Only the role of the Eastern merman, a fleeting yet indispensable character, remained unfilled.

Xavier came today to record the song for the interlude. As a merman, he naturally possessed a heavenly voice. Fortunately, Xavier himself was a singer with a great voice. Additionally, Queen Antonia joined the project, singing the theme song for the movie. The leaders of various races were all A-list celebrities, and the human girl accompanying Xavier on his adventures was portrayed by American top actress Helena. Coupled with the renowned Hollywood director, it was undoubtedly a major production.

Whoever acted in it would become famous.

Even a minor supporting role in the film attracted countless people vying for the opportunity.

This was Hollywood.

Inside the film studio, there were many high-tech products, leaving Shen Fubai marveling at Hollywood’s lavishness.

“Oh! My God!” Antonia let out a scream. “We meet again, cute little stud!”

Xavier was pleased. “Antonia, you praised me for being cute instead of pitiful for the first time. On that account, I’ll refrain from saying that your rainbow-colored eyeshadow is hideous today.”

Antonia completely ignored Xavier and gave Shen Fubai a big hug. “God has brought us together again. Cute little stud, can I have your contact information?”

Xavier: “…I emphasize that your rainbow-colored eyeshadow is hideous today.”

Antonia seemed to notice Xavier for the first time. “Poor Xavier, you’ve escaped.”

Xavier: “…I declare that your auntie’s lipstick color is hideous today.”

“Xavier, who are they?” A deep male voice echoed, carrying a French elegance.

Both Shen Fubai and Jiang Heng looked over. It was a handsome Western man with silver hair and gray eyes, the kind of beauty that could easily grace the screen himself.

But he was a director.

The genius director Joshua Chapman, a Franco-Chinese mix, only twenty-eight years old, already a Best Director award winner, known for his distinct style and original ideas.

Just as Shen Fubai was about to introduce himself, the silver-haired director’s gaze fell on his face, interrupting the words about to spill from his mouth. “Regardless of who you are, I declare that you are now my Eastern merman.”

Shen Fubai was stunned.

“Here’s my card.” Chapman handed him a business card. “My movie needs a character like you. From the moment I saw you, I knew it was you. Are you willing to act in it?”

Shen Fubai was bewildered.

Wasn’t it too casual for a Hollywood director to pick actors?

Xavier: No, he’s not casual at all. Before meeting you, he had already screened at least a hundred actors.

After all, it was just a supporting role that appeared for no more than three minutes, yet Chapman insisted on meticulous standards.

“I did say, Chapman, they are the handsome guys I picked up this morning. Aren’t they gorgeous?” Antonia proudly said. “I knew that once you saw him, you would change your mind.”

Shen Fubai hadn’t recognized Antonia at first. She wore sunglasses in the morning, and now she changed her eyeshadow and lipstick color, plus her eyeshadow was so exaggerated, no one could recognize her. He remembered her based on her voice.

“You, you are…” A name suddenly popped into Shen Fubai’s mind. He was a bit unsure.

Jiang Heng recognized her. “Antonia Hobson.”

Shen Fubai: “Ah! I remember now!”

Antonia blinked. “Looks like my fame in China is quite significant.”

Shen Fubai: “Yes, all Chinese people know you. They call you the Eyeshadow Killer.”

Antonia’s smile froze slightly. “I hope the identity that spreads widely is that of a singer, not the Eyeshadow Killer.”

Xavier laughed heartily beside them, not an ordinary “haha,” but a crazy “hahahahahahahaha”…

Tears streamed down his face as if he was saying, “Antonia, you’ve got what you deserve today.”

Antonia snapped her auntie’s lipstick.

Xavier instantly silenced. “Sorry.”

When a woman could break her own lipstick with such cruelty, one had to be cautious, as what she truly wanted to break might be you.

Shen Fubai was still perplexed.

Even Xavier’s earth-shattering laughter couldn’t bring his thoughts back. He had merely come out for a vacation with Heng Heng and decided to spend a day at Universal Studios in Hollywood. How did he end up riding in the car of an international diva, crossing paths with an American idol, and receive Director Chapman’s business card?

This was Hollywood, a holy place, a heaven-sent opportunity.

Even if it was just a minor role.

Everyone knew how difficult it was for Asian actors to secure a role in a Hollywood movie. Moreover, he wasn’t even a Chinese-American; he was a completely Chinese national. No, they didn’t even know his status as an entertainer. They simply picked up a random tourist!

Was being good-looking really that free-for-all?

—Sorry, yes. At least in this matter, yes.

Shen Fubai directed an inquiring look at Jiang Heng. This wasn’t a trivial matter, and he hadn’t made up his mind yet.

Jiang Heng spoke in Chinese. “Fubai, accept his offer.”

He knew how rare an opportunity to step out of the country was. Shen Fubai had ambitions in his career and needed a broader platform to shine.

Besides, after this, Shen Fubai would be part of Jiang Heng’s studio, and Jiang Heng could adjust his schedule accordingly.

Shen Fubai nodded gently.

Jiang Heng then said in English, “Alright. To be honest, we are also actors.”

The three people in the film studio raised their eyebrows in surprise, but they weren’t too shocked.

With their appearance, it wasn’t unreasonable for them to be actors.