Chapter 55

It's really bizarre, Li Zhengxi thought to himself after confirming that the system's reward was the role of the runaway soldier in the movie "My Sassy Girl."

Not only was the way the role was rewarded bizarre, but the role itself was quite peculiar. If he were to play the role of Han Tae-sik and then make a cameo as the runaway soldier, his fans would probably find it quite strange and might even label him as bizarre.

Just as he was feeling both amused and reflective, Sun Yijin suddenly elbowed him and said with sparkling eyes, "Hey, not bad at all!" She was genuinely happy for him, and at the same time, she felt that acting alongside him would be more comfortable, almost like their usual interactions. She even thought it would help bring out her acting skills even more.

"Really?" Li Zhengxi came back to his senses and replied with a teasing smile, "Didn't you say you wanted to make me look bad?"

Before he could finish speaking, Sun Yijin hadn't even had a chance to react when Yoon Seok-ho was already calling them over. When they approached, he said, "Although the role of Han Tae-sik has been confirmed, many scenes need to be reshot, so the schedule is still very tight!"

He paused for a moment and then looked at Li Zhengxi, "Now, we'll head back to Seoul first to handle the contract signing and take new promotional photos. We also need to discuss your participation with your mother..."

At this point, even he laughed, but it was a serious matter. Li Zhengxi himself had no way of convincing his mother, and he didn't even dare to bring it up...

Time was tight, and after confirming the next steps, Park Dong-chan called KBS to report the situation and asked them to stop recruiting actors. After a moment's thought, he turned to Li Zhengxi with a smile, "What are your requirements for the pay this time?"

Li Zhengxi also smiled, looked at Sun Yijin beside him, winked playfully, and shrugged, "It seems you already know, Director Park!"

Even Yoon Seok-ho laughed at this and asked, "Are you planning to sign the same contract as the one for the screenplay?"

"Why not?" Li Zhengxi replied with a calm smile, "I just want to see what the base rate KBS is willing to offer me!"

Park Dong-chan chuckled, "Actually, this is quite easy to handle. If everyone were like you, it would be even better!"

Undoubtedly, in South Korea, the number of TV dramas that can achieve an average viewership of 30% in a year is no more than ten. Li Zhengxi's base rate was very low, and if calculated this way, it would undoubtedly benefit the producers.

Therefore, without commenting on Li Zhengxi, Park Dong-chan, upon learning his thoughts, immediately called KBS from the car to discuss the matter, showing no hesitation. This was clearly due to his relationship with Li Zhengxi, which made Yoon Seok-ho feel a bit impressed.

After about two hours of driving, KBS had basically reached a consensus. Since it was a supporting role, the base pay was 5 million won per episode, 15 million won per episode for a 30% viewership, 25 million won per episode for a 40% viewership, and so on.

Li Zhengxi was quite satisfied with this and quickly called Zhang Dongguo to have him communicate with KBS first, and then sign the contract once it was ready.

By the time they arrived in Seoul, it was already past 6 PM. Coming from Gangwon Province, the car first passed through Seongbuk District. Li Zhengxi gently woke Sun Yijin, who was still sleeping on his shoulder, and softly said, "We're almost home!"

Sun Yijin opened her eyes in a daze, rubbed her face, and nodded. Seeing the main road leading into Seongbuk-dong, she told the driver, "Could you please stop at the next intersection?"

Since the driver asked for a specific location, she explained in detail. Park Dong-chan, curious, asked, "Do you live in Seongbuk-dong?"

"Oh!" Sun Yijin, just waking up, answered casually. After the car stopped, she got out on her own, leaving Park Dong-chan and Yoon Seok-ho staring at her as she turned into the road leading to Seongbuk-dong, a bit stunned.

Li Zhengxi chuckled to himself, thinking these guys would start guessing wildly again!

It was rush hour around 6 PM, and it took Li Zhengxi and the others about half an hour to reach home, arriving just before 7 PM.

By then, Kim Mi-yeon and Kim Tae-hee had already heard the car and were waiting at the door. When Sun Yijin mentioned she lived in Seongbuk-dong, it had stunned Park Dong-chan and the others. Now, seeing the old but still elegant Korean house with its spacious grounds, even Park Dong-chan, who knew about Li Zhengxi's family background, was a bit impressed. Clearly, this was not an ordinary household.

Yoon Seok-ho, meanwhile, thought that Li Zhengxi had woken Sun Yijin, suggesting he knew where she lived. The idea of "a good match" and "they've known each other for a long time" couldn't help but come to mind.

As the host, Li Zhengxi introduced Park Dong-chan and Yoon Seok-ho to his mother first, "This is Director Park Dong-chan, whom I mentioned to you, and this is Director Yoon Seok-ho. I usually rely on their help..."

"Hello, Director Park, hello, Director Yoon!" Everyone exchanged pleasantries, and on the porch, Gao Xiuzhen, as the elder, welcomed the guests with polite conversation.

Since they had called ahead, the family had already prepared dinner. After Li Zhengxi invited Park Dong-chan and Yoon Seok-ho to sit down, the elders, including Kim Mi-yeon, chatted with them, while he and Kim Tae-hee went into the kitchen to bring out the food.

"What have you been up to these days?" In the kitchen, Li Zhengxi casually asked Kim Tae-hee, whom he hadn't seen since she ran away that day. The girl had ignored him when she saw him today.

Actually, Kim Tae-hee had regretted running away that day, but she was too embarrassed to return. She had stayed away for a few days, thinking about going back but feeling too shy. Today, she ignored Li Zhengxi out of a bit of feminine pride.

Hearing his gentle question, she felt a weight lifted from her heart, feeling much more relaxed. If he had been angry and ignored her, she wouldn't have known what to do.

"Oh, I had some things to take care of when I came back!" She casually brushed it off and asked Li Zhengxi, "Are you okay?" Then she gave him a glare and said with a bit of a huff, "I heard from Dongguo that you got into a fight. You haven't learned martial arts like Seo-hee..."

"I'm pretty good too!" Li Zhengxi smiled at her worried expression, seeing her quickly avoid his gaze, as if afraid he would eat her. She wasn't as fierce as before. He smiled and whispered, "I'm going to be an actor!"

"Ah!" Kim Tae-hee turned her head in surprise, but Li Zhengxi had already gathered a large tray of dishes and walked out, leaving her feeling frustrated.

What a jerk, Kim Tae-hee thought angrily, but she also felt a bit happy. They were back to their old ways, still enjoying playful banter. Perhaps, they were a bit closer now...

Outside, Li Zhengxi carried the dishes out, and after the pleasantries, Park Dong-chan and Yoon Seok-ho explained their purpose to Kim Mi-yeon. Park Dong-chan, kneeling formally, said, "I apologize for the intrusion, but the production has an urgent matter that requires Zhengxi's help. However, he said he cannot accept without your permission, so we had to come and disturb you..."

He then explained that "Blue生死恋" (Blue生死恋) was KBS's major project for the year, and since Won Bin had broken his leg, the role was left vacant. Time was tight, and after Li Zhengxi auditioned, they found him to be a perfect fit. He continued, "We know you have high expectations for Zhengxi, and he can certainly do well, but this time, it's really unavoidable, so we have to ask for your help..."

Kim Mi-yeon was surprised by this and turned to look at Li Zhengxi, who had just brought out the food.

Li Zhengxi felt uneasy and even coughed before speaking, "I really didn't want to act!" This made Park Dong-chan and Yoon Seok-ho find it amusing, but they also admired his respect for his parents, a quality not often seen in someone his age.

Kim Mi-yeon believed Li Zhengxi, and Park Dong-chan and Yoon Seok-ho wouldn't lie to her. However, she still frowned, knowing that transitioning from a screenwriter to an actor would truly involve him in the industry.

Once he became a big star, his personal life and privacy would be constrained, and even his family would be affected. Moreover, the lifestyle of the entertainment industry was something Kim Mi-yeon disliked.

After a while, she finally spoke, her tone calm, "Keep looking!" This made Park Dong-chan and Yoon Seok-ho feel a chill, as it was clearly a polite refusal.

"Mrs. Li," Yoon Seok-ho finally understood why Li Zhengxi had said what he did earlier, but he wasn't willing to give up. "It's not just about finding someone more suitable than Zhengxi; the most important thing is the tight schedule..."

Park Dong-chan added, "I understand your concerns. I have children too, but Zhengxi is a very smart, mature, and sensible young man. He won't be corrupted by the bad elements..."

This didn't help much and even brought up more concerns for Kim Mi-yeon, making the atmosphere tense again.

Just then, Zhang Dongguo rushed in. He was a frequent visitor to the Li family and was familiar with Gao Xiuzhen and Kim Mi-yeon. Because of his upright and kind nature, he was well-liked by the elders.

His arrival eased the tension a bit. He sat next to Gao Xiuzhen, greeted everyone warmly, and started eating.

Eating and chatting were the easiest ways to get things done, but Zhang Dongguo didn't start with the main topic right away. Instead, he began with casual gossip. After a few rounds of drinks, he finally said to Kim Mi-yeon, "Auntie, I'm Zhengxi's agent, but I also consider him like a younger brother. Please trust me; I won't let him go astray or suffer any losses..."

Although he didn't say it outright, his meaning was clear. However, Kim Mi-yeon still didn't speak, making the atmosphere tense again. Finally, the usually quiet old lady spoke up. This was encouraged by Kim Tae-hee. Gao Xiuzhen slowly put down her chopsticks and said calmly, "Since they are in trouble and we can help, let's help them..."

The old lady had little education and didn't usually get involved in such matters, but when she spoke, it was like the final word in the Li family.

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