Huayu: I really am a genuine top star.

Chapter 45 What's the difference between this and a sheep entering a pack of wolves?

Shen Li rolled her eyes, put her phone and wallet away, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door to go out.

Outside the North Gate, it's still the same old barbecue place.

Shen Li and Ling Yingying ate lamb chops at this restaurant yesterday and thought it tasted good. It would be a good place to treat Xiong Rui and his senior.

But revisiting this place today brings a completely different feeling. Yesterday, he was treated to a free meal; today, he's the one paying to treat others.

When we arrived at the store, Xiong Rui was already there.

This muscular man, a martial arts major, was wearing a tight black T-shirt. His chest muscles, biceps, and abs were clearly visible even through the fabric. When he stood at the door, no one dared to approach within a five-meter radius.

"Brother Xiong!" Shen Li ran over.

Xiong Rui grinned, revealing a set of bright white teeth, and slapped Shen Li on the shoulder. Shen Li felt as if her shoulder blade had almost dislocated.

"Particle! You're here pretty early! My senior brother will be here soon, he's stuck in traffic." Xiong Rui put his arm around Shen Li and walked inside. "Come on, let's order first. Don't be shy with me today, my senior brother is the kind of person who likes to be generous."

Shen Li thought to herself: How could I not be generous when you say that?

The two entered the store and found a seat at the back.

Xiong Rui picked up the menu and rattled off a long string of words like a machine taking orders:

"Fifty skewers of lamb, ten lamb kidneys, one large serving of grilled lamb chops, one grilled fish, two servings each of grilled eggplant, grilled leeks, and grilled enoki mushrooms, ten grilled bread slices, and two cases of beer to start with."

As Shen Li listened, she felt as if her wallet was crying.

"Brother Xiong, there are only three of us, why are you ordering so much?"

"Hey, my senior brother can eat a lot! Don't worry, there won't be any waste!" Xiong Rui said matter-of-factly.

Shen Li's eye twitched. Fine, the bloodshed is off today.

While waiting for the food, Shen Li started to probe: "Brother Xiong, how many years has your senior brother been working at the film studio?"

"It's been five or six years. I started as a stuntman and now I lead my own team of over a dozen people."

Xiong Rui took a swig of beer. "He's been involved in movies like 'Flying Swords of Dragon Gate,' '14 Blades,' and 'Ip Man.' Although he wasn't the lead, he has a lot of connections in the industry."

Shen Li's eyes lit up. A stunt cop for five or six years, with a dozen or so men under his command, who had worked on big productions... This was the "ticket to the film studio" he had always dreamed of!

"Is your senior brother easy to talk to?" Shen Li asked tentatively.

"He's easy to talk to! He just has a bit of a temper and can't stand people who dawdle." Xiong Rui thought for a moment, "Just be honest with him. He's a freshman in the acting department, wants to work on film sets to earn some money, and is willing to work hard. He likes people who are down-to-earth."

Shen Li nodded, mentally planning her "persona" for later. She couldn't be too shrewd in front of someone like Senior Brother Xiong Rui; being too shrewd would only annoy people.

But you can't be too naive, or you'll seem unambitious. You have to strike a balance between being "quick-witted but hardworking."

Just as he was pondering this, Xiong Rui suddenly stood up and waved towards the door: "Senior brother! Over here!"

Shen Li looked up.

Good guy.

The person who came in is completely different from Xiong Rui.

Xiong Rui is a "muscular hunk," while this guy is a "lean and ruthless bandit."

He was about 1.75 meters tall and very thin, but the muscles on his forearms exposed outside his short sleeves were like steel cables, clearly indicating that he was a trained fighter.

He had dark skin, a sharply defined face, and eyes as sharp as an eagle's. He walked with a commanding presence, exuding an imposing aura.

There was another person following behind him. Shen Li was stunned when she saw him.

It's a woman.

She is not an ordinary woman.

The woman looked to be around twenty-five or twenty-six years old. She was wearing a black, tight-fitting tank top with a low neckline, but her figure was still incredibly impressive.

Her chest was voluptuous and full, tightly wrapped in black fabric, outlining a breathtakingly voluptuous curve. Her waist was extremely slender, so thin that it could be encircled with one hand, and her abs were clearly visible.

He wore army green cargo pants, the legs of which were tucked into black military boots, making his legs look long and straight, and his buttocks were made round and perky by the cargo pants.

Her hair was tied in a high ponytail, revealing her smooth forehead and sharp jawline.

Her features were strikingly beautiful, with thick eyebrows, large eyes, a high nose bridge, and full, plump lips. She wore no makeup, but her skin was so smooth it looked like it could be squeezed to release moisture.

His eyes were cold, carrying a sense of aloofness that kept strangers at bay.

The moment she stood there, she exuded a heroic and aloof aura, looking every bit like a female assassin straight out of an action movie.

Shen Li's mind raced. Xiong Rui hadn't said her senior brother would bring anyone? Who was this woman? Her senior brother's girlfriend? A colleague? Or…?

"Xiongzi!" The lean man walked over and exchanged fists with Xiong Rui. The force was so great that it made a dull thud.

Then he looked at Shen Li, scrutinizing her from head to toe with eyes as sharp as knives.

"Is this the junior from the acting department you were talking about? Trying to work on film sets?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Xiong Rui quickly introduced, "Senior brother, this is Shen Li, my brother from the dorm next door. He's very clever and hardworking. Shen Li, this is my senior brother, surnamed Wu, Wu Yue. In the stunt work at the film studio, everyone calls him 'Brother Yue'."

"Hello, Brother Yue!" Shen Li immediately stood up, put on a harmless yet slightly shy smile, and bowed.

Wu Yue nodded without saying much, then turned his gaze to the woman beside him: "This is my junior sister, and also my deputy, Yao Jia. Martial arts instructor."

Yao Jia glanced at Shen Li with a cold look in her eyes, then nodded as a greeting.

Shen Li quickly bowed again: "Hello, Sister Yao Jia!"

In his mind, however, he was quickly jotting down notes: Yao Jia, martial arts instructor, Wu Yue's right-hand woman. SSR figure, cold and aloof aura, not easy to approach.

The four sat down. Wu Yue sat opposite Shen Li, and Yao Jia sat next to Wu Yue. Xiong Rui sat next to Shen Li.

Before all the dishes were served, the beer was already opened. Wu Yue picked up a bottle of beer, bit off the cap with his teeth, and chug half of it down. He did it with the same bold and unrestrained style as a hero from Liangshan.

Yao Jia didn't hesitate either; she bit open the bottle cap, tilted her head back, and took a swig.

As she tilted her head back, her neck formed a graceful curve, and a few drops of wine slid down the corner of her mouth, along her jawline, and further down... Shen Li quickly looked away.

"Shen Li, a freshman in the acting department?" Wu Yue put down his wine bottle and got straight to the point. "Want to work on film sets?"

"Yes, Brother Yue." Shen Li sat up straight, her expression becoming serious.

"I'm a freshman in the acting department at Beijing Film Academy. My family isn't well-off, so I have to earn my own tuition and living expenses. I heard there are a lot of opportunities at the film studio, so I'd like to give it a try. I'm open to any kind of work—extra, stunt double, or background actor. I'm not picky."

Wu Yue didn't say anything, picked up a skewer of mutton, and slowly gnawed on it. After finishing, he threw the skewer on the table with a crisp "snap".

He looked up, his hawk-like eyes fixed on Shen Li, as if trying to see right through her.

"Not picky?" Wu Yue's lips curled into a half-smile. "Kid, do you even know what a film studio is?"

Shen Li shook her head, looking completely honest.

"That's a place where people eat each other." Wu Yue picked up another bottle of beer, bit it open with his teeth, and gulped down two mouthfuls.

"Extras can fight over lunchboxes, assistant directors rake in kickbacks until they're stuffed, and casting directors take so much cut you'll question your existence. You're a student from the Beijing Film Academy, all delicate and tender, standing there like a lamb among wolves—what's the difference?"