Chapter 106: A Chance Encounter with a Kung Fu Superstar

Chapter 106: A Chance Encounter with a Kung Fu Superstar

Zhang Le’s film *Crazy Stone* suffered a complete wipeout at the Golden Dragon Awards, which seemed to provide fresh ammunition for those who had been criticizing his other film, *Flirting Scholar*. Yet, contrary to all expectations, the more vicious the criticism became, the more the box office for *Flirting Scholar*—which had been on a decline—began to rebound.

The media and individuals who had been kicking him while he was down were suddenly dumbstruck.

Zhang Le’s failure at the Golden Dragon Awards seemed to have stirred the sympathies of his and Yang Xin’er’s fans, who channeled this silent comfort and support into the film still showing in theaters.

Zhang Le was not cold-hearted, and he was deeply moved by this show of support from his fans. Having rarely used Weibo, he specifically posted a message to express his gratitude, stating bluntly that once he and Xin’er returned from their vacation, he would definitely shock everyone with a new film.

To many, Yang Xin’er and Zhang Le’s trip was seen as a way for Zhang Le to clear his head and adjust his mindset after his Golden Dragon defeat, helping him shake off the shadow of failure.

Of course, many others believed that the trip had nothing to do with the awards at all and was simply another way for the couple to show their affection. This theory gained even more traction when Yang Xin’er posted a sweet photo of the two of them during their travels on Weibo.

Zhang Le had offered Yang Xin’er a choice of ten beautiful international destinations, and she had chosen Hawaii.

Visiting Hawaii with the one you love makes everything feel perfect. All year round, the hills and fields bloom with exotic flowers, a feast for the eyes.

The beautiful scenery, paired with the harmonious and melodious songs drifting through the air, makes it a place that enriches a traveler's life. Donning the fragrant floral garlands gifted by the locals instantly washes away one's fatigue. Sea activities like windsurfing and water skiing are both thrilling and relatively safe.

Travel brings joy, and away from the constraints of material concerns and social inhibitions, one feels free to try anything. For a few dozen dollars, the pair took a submarine tour, descending 150 meters underwater to view fish, other marine life, and submerged ruins.

Every island offers helicopter tours; for a little over a hundred dollars, one can circle the islands to take in the volcanic terrain and the breathtaking Waimea Canyon.

For another few dozen dollars, one can learn to windsurf and ride the waves.

One could also enjoy traditional Hawaiian food while watching performances of Polynesian folk songs and dances.

"Xin’er, look, who is that? Why does he look so familiar?" Zhang Le pointed in a direction on the beach and said to Yang Xin’er.

"Hmm, it looks like Li Jie. Yes, it’s him," Yang Xin’er said after following his gaze and looking closely.

"What a small world to meet an acquaintance in a foreign land!" Zhang Le smiled and said, "Shall we go over and say hello?"

"Sure!" Yang Xin’er smiled and agreed.

Li Jie was a true superstar among Chinese actors, a figure that even Chow Yun-fat paled in comparison to. Li Jie also enjoyed considerable fame internationally, being one of the few Chinese actors to gain a firm foothold in Hollywood, though he had recently seemed to hit a bottleneck in his Hollywood career.

Seeing Li Jie, Zhang Le was reminded of a superstar from his previous life. The two shared many similarities; beyond their names being only one character apart, they both broke into Hollywood through kung fu and became world-renowned.

Both were international kung fu superstars celebrated across the globe.

Their movements were elegant and stylish, carrying the aura of a grandmaster. Seeing him, Zhang Le immediately thought of Li Mubai, a character from the film he was planning to shoot.

If the legendary hero Li Mubai were played by Li Jie, the impact of the entire film would undoubtedly be elevated to a new level.

In his previous life, when Ang Lee filmed *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon*, the first person he invited to play the lead, Li Mubai, was Jet Li, not Chow Yun-fat. Unfortunately, Li missed out on the role. It was his loss, and the loss of the film as well.

Chow Yun-fat’s acting skills were indisputable, but he always felt like he was missing something—the true essence of a chivalrous hero.

"Mr. Li Jie, hello!" Zhang Le walked over with a smile and greeted him.

Li Jie looked at Zhang Le and Yang Xin’er. They looked familiar, but he couldn’t quite place them. He smiled and said, "Hello! Forgive my poor memory; you both look familiar, you must be in the industry. But I can’t quite recall at the moment, my apologies!"

"Mr. Li Jie is developing his career in Hollywood; we are just two newcomers just starting to make a name for ourselves in China," Zhang Le said with a smile. "My name is Zhang Le, a small-time director. This is my girlfriend, a singer and actress named Yang Xin’er."

"Zhang Le? Yang Xin’er? Ah, it’s you two! No wonder." Upon hearing their names, Li Jie had a sudden moment of realization. His focus was currently on Hollywood and the global film scene, so he paid little attention to the domestic market. However, even with his limited attention, he had heard of this couple.

"I heard Smith Bell mention your film *Crazy Stone* last time; he had nothing but praise for it. However, I personally preferred your performance in Director Chen Ke’s film *No Way Out*. You practice martial arts, don't you?" Li Jie added.

"Oh?" Zhang Le was surprised. Smith Bell was a famous Hollywood director; he hadn't expected his name to come up.

"I am a descendant of the Wudang Jinchan school," Zhang Le said with a smile, then gestured to Yang Xin’er. "Xin’er knows a thing or two as well. In a way, she’s from the same tradition as you, Mr. Li Jie!"

"Oh? It’s rare to see girls practicing Shaolin kung fu these days. With the popularity of films, Wing Chun, which is more suited for women, has become quite the trend," Li Jie said, looking at Yang Xin’er with some surprise.

Li Jie was a former martial arts athlete who entered the film industry after winning several consecutive national martial arts championships. He had received authentic Shaolin training; he wasn't just a performer of choreographed routines but possessed real skill. As for the depth of his ability, no one knew for sure. Zhang Le also knew that the Shaolin Temple had played a significant role in Li Jie’s success.

However, Zhang Le could tell that Li Jie had likely already mastered "hidden energy" (an jin).

"It’s just a family tradition; I’ve only scratched the surface. I can’t compare to you, Mr. Li, having received the true teachings of Shaolin," Yang Xin’er said with a smile.

Li Jie was in his early forties, and for a martial artist, his physical condition was still at its peak. He was there to relax and relieve some pressure with his wife.

The pressure Chinese actors faced in Hollywood was far beyond what outsiders could imagine. The three began to chat happily, starting with the topic of kung fu. Soon, Li Jie’s wife walked over to join them, and the atmosphere became very pleasant.

Both Zhang Le and Li Jie were martial artists, but neither had any intention of sparring. After all, while they practiced martial arts, they weren't strictly "people of the martial arts world." They were far more interested in film.

Whether it was kung fu films or action movies, they had plenty of common topics, and these topics were even more engaging to them than kung fu itself.

After their conversation, Li Jie became quite interested in Zhang Le and even looked him up after they parted ways.

"This man is a genius," Li Jie’s wife remarked after reading about him.

Li Jie only smiled, a touch of indifference in his expression. Were there really a shortage of geniuses in the entertainment industry? At his current level, Zhang Le didn't truly command his attention, and he certainly wouldn't go out of his way to forge a connection based on that.

They had enjoyed a pleasant conversation, and it was fine to leave on good terms. What he didn't expect, however, was that Zhang Le would soon present him with a script that would leave him both intrigued and hesitant, struggling to make a decision.