Chapter 146: If I don't look like I'm working hard, I'm genuinely afraid of getting struck by lightning when I step outside (Part 3 of 3)

Early the next morning, a trending search topic skyrocketed: "Su Mu Feeding a Baby."

A video of Su Mu feeding a baby in various quirky ways during Liu Yadong’s livestream had been clipped and uploaded online, subsequently being forwarded by major gossip accounts. The view count exploded instantly.

Initially, the public expressed considerable surprise that Su Mu was actually like this in private. However, as more and more video clips of him from that day surfaced, public perception gradually began to shift. Increasingly, people found it quite hilarious.

[I really like this kind of contrast in Su Mu.]
[Turns out his core skill is comedy, and acting as Xin Qiji was just a way to make a living, haha.]
[The part at the end where the kid pooped cracked me up, yet he still managed to remain so elegant.]
[Is this really Su Mu? I'm starting to look forward to his New Year comedy!]

There were plenty of comments along these lines, which opened up a whole new world for Su Mu.

Over the ensuing month, Su Mu began to throw himself wholeheartedly into the daily routine of grinding his livestream proficiency. He spent every day reading a massive volume of jokes and comedic bits, learning interesting punchlines from videos. He would livestream for a few hours each week, weaving these elements into his acting and then casually displaying them during the broadcasts.

Unawares to everyone, they had all gradually accepted the persona that Su Mu was hilarious in private.

In addition, Su Mu persisted in breaking down the psychological defenses of his studio employees every single day. As the mental states of the staff completely warped, Su Mu could be said to have found his very own comedic style.

It might be a little cheeky, but viewed from a third-party perspective, it still brought plenty of joy.

Su Mu: "Send little Orange to buy the fruit; she can get a discount."
Little Orange: "Why would I get a discount?"
Su Mu: "Because you're a girl."
Little Orange: "So what if I'm a girl?"
Su Mu: "Twists and turns at every step."
Little Orange: (๑•̌.•̑๑)ᵎ
Sun Liaojun: "Hahaha!"
Little Li: "Hahaha..."
Little Zhang: "Ahaha"

[Humor Proficiency +1]
[Skill Point +0.01...]

...
...

July.

The preparations for Zhang Huaimou’s film crew had essentially concluded, and the casting process was largely finished. Next came the specific procedural steps, after which they could officially enter the production stage. According to the schedule provided by Zhang Huaimou, principal photography would commence no later than September.

Therefore, Su Mu was left with only two months of preparation time. And during these two months, apart from refining his comedic foundation, he had one more crucial task to accomplish: put on weight.

He had thought it through carefully; the protagonist in the story of *Goodbye Mr. Loser* is, in reality, a middle-aged man steeped in greasy mediocrity. Of course, one could portray him a bit more fresh and refined, but the fundamental premise was right there. At its core, the character of Xia Luo is a middle-aged man who is full of fantasies, cares immensely about saving face, yet is actually a coward.

Su Mu could use makeup to make himself look slightly older, but his body lines would still create a brief sense of incongruity. He needed a slight belly and a somewhat rounded profile, which might double the comedic effect.

His current weight was one hundred and thirty pounds. Gaining another twenty or thirty pounds of flesh shouldn't be a problem. Besides, he was planning to film movies in the future that would be more challenging and demand higher physical standards. He would definitely need to build muscle then anyway to give his physique a fuller appearance.

So, he might as well focus on muscle hypertrophy this time, shoot this comedy while he was a bit chubby, and then train back into shape afterward, expanding his muscle definition by another notch so that he would look more three-dimensional in clothes.

Having completed his mental preparation and mapped out his subsequent plans, Su Mu had Qian Jida find him a temporary muscle-gain coach and began packing on weight according to their provided diet plan.

Actually, shedding fat was indeed difficult, but gaining weight was remarkably easy.

A smartphone, a Wi-Fi connection, a sofa, and a delivery food hotline within a three-kilometer radius could ruin you in a few months. From then on, you could drop out of the circle of heartthrobs, no longer bothered by girls, and focus entirely on lying flat and decaying earnestly, sweeping away all troubles.

Naturally, Su Mu wouldn't allow himself to degenerate. After all, he hadn't made enough money yet. Furthermore, in order to maintain a healthy diet, he still had to consult professionals for a meal plan.

He had already anticipated that people would praise him for his professionalism by then. Transitioning from skinny to fat, and then training from fat back to skinny—this back-and-forth torture was indeed something ordinary people could not endure. At that time, he could leverage a wave of online heat to highlight his dedication and hard work.

To be honest, though, if one hundred million yuan was slapped down right in front of you, would you do it? The answer was obvious. Forget getting skinny, getting fat, and then getting skinny again; even if you had to go through a few more rounds, it wouldn't be a problem at all.

Be aware that what Su Mu could earn this time was far more than just one hundred million. He had earmarked seventy million for his own acting fee alone. The remaining funds, along with the portion invested by Huayi themselves, constituted the shooting and production costs.

And what if the subsequent box office exceeded one billion? Let's tentatively calculate it based on a one-billion-yuan box office. After deducting the cinema chain cuts, as well as distributions and Huaxia taxes, the net box office is typically 33%, which translates to a pure profit of over three hundred million. Subtract half to split with the three major video platforms, and the remainder is split 50-50 between him and Huayi.

Therefore, all things considered, Su Mu could secure at least another seventy million. Of course, this was calculated merely on a one-billion-yuan box office, but the final outcome might very well surpass that, meaning he could pocket even more.

And this was merely box-office revenue. Once this drama succeeded, the hidden benefits it would bring could no longer be measured purely in specific sums of money.

Summing it all up, Su Mu felt it wasn't so much that he was exceptionally professional; it was mainly because he earned too much. If he didn't make an effort to look hardworking, he was genuinely afraid he would be struck by lightning the moment he walked out the door.

...
...

In the blink of an eye, two months later.

The September temperatures gradually turned cool, though the entertainment industry was swept by one trending topic after another.

Having spent the past two months in closed-door cultivation, Su Mu's weight had soared straight to one hundred and sixty pounds. The desired potbelly was now visibly protruding, and while the lines on both sides of his cheeks had softened slightly, he remained as handsome as ever. This was perhaps a matter of natural talent—his face simply refused to put on fat no matter what he ate, and there was nothing he could do about it. Still, overall, some changes were evident.

Additionally, he had pushed his three proficiencies—punchlines, comedic bits, and nonsensical humor—all the way to Level 3, with only a few thousand proficiency points remaining until Level 4. Nevertheless, Su Mu felt that his current stage was fully sufficient for him to nail the role of Xia Luo, and he could continue leveling them up during the subsequent filming process.

...
...

Beijing Film Studio, a certain sub-district set.

Zhang Huaimou and his entire crew had already reported for duty. All that remained was to wait for a few individual actors to join the production before filming could officially commence.

Most of the actors he had cast this time were comedians, though for a few older roles, he had also invited several veteran actors. For instance, for Xia Luo’s homeroom teacher, Teacher Wang, and the principal, Zhang Huaimou once again sought out Zhuang Yan and Wang Ouyi to play the parts.

Soon, all the actors had arrived on set. Yet, upon laying eyes on Su Mu, even Zhang Huaimou couldn't help a trace of surprise: "Aren't you afraid you won't be able to slim back down?"

Su Mu smiled: "That depends on how much I can get paid for my next project. If they pay poorly, then I'll just stay looking like this. But if they pay well, I can revert to top-tier Su Mu in a split second!"

Zhang Huaimou: "..."

True to form, you're still the same old you.

P.S.: Thank you all for your support and votes, and thanks to book friend *Sad but Voice Actor* for the twenty-thousand-yuan tip! I owe two chapters, on top of the previous ones... I'll do my best to pay them back!
(End of this chapter)