Demons Beside You

Chen Zhao could manage to accept this price.

“When does shooting start?” he asked.

“I’ll let you know. The cast is still preparing. Oh, Vincent has a role in this too.”

“Oh? What’s his role?”

“One of the robbers—the getaway driver in a bank robbery case. He gets killed by the Mexicans.”

Chen Zhao didn’t know if he should laugh or cry. “Oh, my character won’t die, right?” he asked.

“Of course not. I promise,” Steven replied, half-joking.

“Right, did you hire those two bodyguards recently?”

Steven nodded. “A few days ago, I attended an event and a stranger tried to approach me, but the event’s guards stopped him. He took out a gun and injured one of the guards. I hired these two that same day.”

“Did you get hurt?”

“I’m fine, just had a fright.” Steven shook his head. He had everything at this age, making him fear death even more.

This was normal. Even Chen Zhao feared death, let alone Steven.

Steven already prepared the contract, so Chen Zhao signed it.

“Oh,” Steven asked. “Do you still have contact with Yafen Livana?”

Chen Zhao thought for a moment. Hollywood was a realistic place. The main reason that she’d gotten that role before was because of him. She didn’t have a foundation in Hollywood. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have asked for his help after acting in Steven’s movie.

If this path was blocked, all her past efforts might go to waste.

“If possible, give her a chance. I think she’ll be a good actress.”

Yafen didn’t have a representative work in Hollywood yet. Without that, no one would remember her. If no one remembered her, she would fail.

There were too many actresses like her in Hollywood. It was a homogenous group. Yafen wasn’t the most extraordinary. If she didn’t have a representative work—a memorable role—she would be lost in the sea of people.

“You still have feelings for her?”

“She’s a good actress,” Chen Zhao said vaguely. “She works hard too.”

Feelings? Chen Zhao didn’t think that he had any special feelings for Yafen. They’d had something before though, and had ended things without problems. Yafen had even given her blessings when Chen Zhao told her he had a girlfriend.

Whether she was genuine or not, Chen Zhao still hoped that she could succeed in Hollywood. At least, she wouldn’t be as miserable as right now, laboring for the tiniest roles.

“Do you think she can take the female lead?” Steven asked.

“The role of Kate, the reporter?”

In the script, David became the main character. The female lead was Kate, who was brave enough to expose the truth.

“If you think she can, I won’t object,” Chen Zhao said.

But could Steven decide on the female lead?

Chen Zhao wasn’t part of Hollywood, but he knew that the casting wasn’t only the director’s decision. He might be able to decide the second and third leads, but there were too many considerations for the female lead.

“It’s my movie,” Steven said nonchalantly. “I’m in charge.”

Chen Zhao glanced at Steven. He’d almost forgotten that this man was a renowned director in Hollywood.

Steven’s box office totaled to a few billion. He didn’t rely on the accumulation from sequels either. He never filmed sequels. Even if the six major film companies wanted him to direct a movie, they wouldn’t get involved in the cast.

This was Hollywood. This was reality.

As long as you proved your talent and was able to attract box office numbers, then you could do whatever you wanted.

As one of Hollywood and the world’s most successful directors, Steven was able to ask for even more authority, even to the editing of the film.

Many times, the movie filmed by the director and the final product were completely different. This was a problem in editing.

This was also the difference between major and ordinary directors. Chen Zhao didn’t even pay attention to the entertainment industry, but even he’d heard of Steven back in China.

“If she can have this chance, I’ll thank you for her.”

“If you really want to thank me, cut down Amon’s cost by half.”

“In your dreams.”

Just then, a guard in black walked in. “Sir, a woman wants to see you.”

“Name?”

“Lucy.”

“Oh, her? Tell her I’m busy.” Steven waved his hand.

“I should go, Steven.”

“Okay.” Steven rose to embrace Chen Zhao.

“Can I take this lobster to go?”

“You *sshole,” Steven said, laughing. “You scammed me out of tens of thousands of dollars just then. This lobster costs $8,000.”

“Bye.”

Exiting the restaurant, Chen Zhao took out his phone.

“Hi, Yafen.”

“Chen, how come you have the time to call me today? Did you break up with your girlfriend? If you need comfort, I’m just a call away.”

“I just talked to Steven. You might have a chance at being the female lead in his new movie. Prepare a bit for it. I can’t make promises, but you have a big chance.”

“Really? Chen, are you serious? Female lead? Can I really?”

“Please, it’s not confirmed now,” Chen Zhao said nonchalantly. “Don’t get so excited. The female lead is a reporter. She’s the type to act on her own. I can’t reveal too much, but I hope you can get this chance.”

“Chen, thank you. If you have any needs, I can satisfy you. Any position.”

Yafen teased Chen Zhao without holding back. Thinking of her sexy figure, Chen Zhao grew heated. However, he kept calm. He thought for a moment and gave up on it. Having sex for exchange was too much.

Chen Zhao might not be an extremely dedicated person, but he would never be the first to betray his significant other.

A polyamorous relationship was great, but not many women were willing to share her man and feelings with someone else. At least, Chen Zhao felt like he wasn’t that lucky.

Just then, a pair of long legs appeared before him. Chen Zhao looked up those long legs to see a gorgeous woman.

Chen Zhao recognized her. He’d treated her before.

“You’re…”

“Lucy, did you forget? You saw my body before.”

1

Chen Zhao remembered Lucy—albeit only remembering that she’d suspected she had STDs. As for seeing her body, it was only for a checkup.

Chen Zhao had seen Normans body a handful times now. Looking with the eyes of a doctor and a man were completely different feelings.