Global Film Emperor

Chapter 399 A Trip to Luze Zoo

The water surface rippled rhythmically, forming soft waves that gently pushed against the mosaic tiles embedded in the poolside, helping the person in the pool to glide forward. The sound of splashing water echoed continuously in the empty room. Finally, a pair of large hands pressed against the edge of the pool, completely supporting the man's body.

Moonlight streamed through the skylight, making his body shimmer with a silvery sheen. His long black hair swung gently, scattering starlight. With a long sigh, he sat down to rest by the pool.

Looking at the stopwatch by the pool, it showed one minute and fifty-eight seconds. This speed is not slow for a 100-meter freestyle, but after sprinting at full speed, my body was exhausted, and my chest was heaving violently.

He draped a white towel over his body, and drinks were laid out on the table. He stood up and stepped onto the scale. He weighed 69.6 kilograms, the result of his two months of hard work in losing fat. He had lost 23 kilograms in two months, which was no small feat.

It's not that he can't lose more weight, but the roles he'll be playing in the future aren't about being skinny; they'll be about being a muscular man. Losing any more weight would be counterproductive. After he goes to England, he'll need to do a lot of muscle gain, probably 10 to 15 pounds, which will be even more painful than losing weight.

After drinking a glass of lemonade, rinsing off, and styling my hair, my khaki handmade suit is now a little loose, but it doesn't affect the overall look. The jade pendant is stunningly green, and the silver ring has many tiny scratches under the light, and the polishing has been worn down to a matte finish. The men's leather watch is on my wrist, and I'm back to looking like a successful person.

The waiter outside waited patiently, standing as straight as when he entered the pool room. Only when Lu Ze came out did he bow slightly and say "Welcome back again."

"Attention passengers, your flight CZ345 to Amsterdam is about to depart. Please board at Gate 8. Have a pleasant journey."

This was Lu Ze's first time taking an international flight at Lu Hua's airport. Due to the large number of passengers at the airport, the airfare in Lu Hua was a bit more expensive than in Beijing, but it was still within his budget.

This time, he still had to transfer flights, first flying to Amsterdam, then waiting for twelve hours before taking a plane to Liverpool to reach his destination. It was another tiring trip, something Lu Ze was well aware of.

Lu Ze boarded first, and the flight attendants were waiting at the door to welcome the passengers. After finding his seat, Lu Ze connected his phone to the in-flight Wi-Fi, took out the script of "Exile" with a cover that had been properly sealed, and began to study it quietly until the plane slowly headed toward the runway and then accelerated violently.

A familiar feeling of soaring filled him as he looked out the window. The view was of countless lights, a dazzling spectacle. He had never seen Lü Hua so beautiful. Even though the city was small and most people would be asleep at this hour, this scene was still beautiful because it was his hometown. And now, he was about to set sail again, just like when he left home for Hengdian more than a decade ago, leaving his hometown once more.

"Host has entered a resting state. Shall we enter training mode?"

"Yes."

"I love you, Lü Hua," was the last thing he saw on the large screen in the city government square. Then came darkness, followed by a burst of white light.

"First……?"

The flight attendant pushed the cart to Lu Ze's side. She was about to ask him what he wanted to eat and place a hot towel on his head, but seeing that he was already fast asleep, she immediately stopped talking, smiled, took a blanket from under the cart, and gently covered him with it.

……

Liverpool remains the same. Compared to the ever-changing China, this city has remained unchanged, only slowly aging over time. If Lu Ze were a Liverpool native, he would definitely like it here, because even if he didn't come back for ten or twenty years, he wouldn't lose his way home.

It's 10:43 AM Liverpool time. Mickey is waiting by the roadside, leaning against the car door, arguing with a policeman. Lu Ze witnesses the policeman scolding him and him bending down to pick up a cigarette butt from the ground. Finally, after the policeman leaves, he nonchalantly throws the cigarette butt back onto the ground.

"Can't you have some manners?"

"Where did I see you just now? Dude, you've lost a lot of weight. Are you alright? Don't worry, the road administration's garbage truck passes by every day at 11 o'clock. There are no trash cans around here, so where am I supposed to throw my trash? Come on, let's get in the car."

He forcefully pulled Lu Ze into the car and excitedly started the engine, but Lu Ze still picked up the cigarette butt, put it in a plastic bag, and casually stuffed it into his pocket.

Mickey was still driving the same old Ford, but the interior and some parts had been replaced, such as the shock absorbers, which made it much better. It no longer felt like it was going to fall apart when it encountered bumpy roads like before.

"Where are Kesha and the others?"

"They're organizing the film crew, but unlike you, they haven't rested for almost three months. Ever since the promotional activities for 'Rebirth' ended, they haven't stopped studying props, scripts, cameras, actors, and all sorts of other random things. After all, this opportunity has been coming for far too long for them."

Indeed, it was too late for someone who had won the Cannes Best Short Film award at the age of 25 to make his first feature film at the age of 31. With such qualifications, people from other countries would probably have started preparing their own films the following year. But unfortunately, they are Russians, living in Europe. Without Mickey's help, they might never have made a decent film in their entire lives.

Don't say that gold will always shine. Talented people will never be buried. Weren't they buried before they came to Universal Brothers?
Lu Ze didn't speak, stroking his chin, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. This wasn't the direction to the company, but rather heading towards the northern part of the city center, until he entered the wealthy district and stopped in front of a detached villa.

"This is your new home, what do you think?"

This neighborhood is located in Formby, north of Liverpool, one of the city's most prestigious and affluent areas, home to many celebrities and billionaires. Although this villa is two blocks away from the prime Victoria Street location, it is still quite expensive, with prices expected to start at two million pounds.

As soon as the two got out of the car, Lu Ze noticed a police car parked on the side of the road. Through the windshield, he could see the police officer in the passenger seat take off his sunglasses and quietly watch the two until Mickey entered the code to open the door, and then the police car drove away leisurely.

Although the refugee problem has been effectively resolved, the police force of two officers on duty 24 hours a day on one street in the wealthy area is still maintained. Once a household reports a case, the police can arrive within two minutes.

It's not surprising that the two policemen targeted Lu Ze and his companion. After all, even cars parked on the street aren't cheap. In their minds, an old car like Mickey's, with black smoke billowing from its exhaust pipe, shouldn't be parked here.

"If the police are all snobs, using wealth to measure whether someone deserves protection, then this country is already rotting, isn't it, man?"

As Mickey lowered his head to enter the password, he murmured something softly. Lu Ze wasn't surprised that he would say such a thing. After all, in everyone's impression, he was so extreme—no, not just in their impression, but in fact.

"Humans are social animals, but they are also individuals. The pursuit of wealth is an instinct, which only proves that these two policemen have some influence."

"What about the streets? If someone dies in the slums, you might not see them for half a day. Why don't the two police officers on each street enforce this rule in the slums?"

"That means there are too many wicked people eyeing the people living here, instead of the poor. There are still good people out there, buddy."

"There are still good people? Ha... That's why I still love this country. Look at your new home. Although it's rented, don't worry, as long as you want to live here, you can renew the lease until you die."

"The first floor has a kitchen. Oh, and I've already secretly removed the fire extinguishers for you, so you can cook Chinese food with peace of mind. In addition, the gym, living room, and entertainment room are all on the first floor. The second floor has six bedrooms, three walk-in closets, and four bathrooms. There's a wine cellar in the basement, and I've already bought some wine and put it in. I estimate it's less than a tenth full. There's a huge heated swimming pool in the back of the house, which I love."

"That wooden shed next door is a garage and tool shed. You can build your own treehouse, modify cars, or even secretly modify guns, as long as you know how. Don't worry, no one will come to check. There's a stable in the back, but the landlord has taken all the horses away, leaving only a Deborah pony, the kind you could crush if you sat on it. A gardener will come to mow the lawn on the 10th and 25th of each month, housekeeping will come every Wednesday, and the stable cleaner will come every three days, but you'll have to clean up the horse manure yourself. You'll deposit two thousand pounds into this bank card every month to pay the workers' fees, and the bills will be sent to you monthly. Finally, take a look at your new ride."

Mickey spoke very quickly and said a lot, leaving Lu Ze feeling a bit dizzy. In his daze, he took the bank card that Mickey threw to him, flipped it over, found the PIN on the back with a label, and casually put it in his pocket. Only then did he realize that the cigarette butt that Mickey had thrown had spilled out, filling his pocket with cigarette ash.

Finally, Mickey pressed the garage key, and the garage door slowly lifted, revealing a massive vehicle covered by a car cover slowly receiving the sunlight. This inevitably made Lu Ze curious: what kind of car was this? A George Patton? Unlikely. A Knight XV? Even less likely.

I bet you'll like it.

Mickey smiled and pulled back the hood, revealing a matte black body, wheels, and brake discs—a completely black knight-like style. The only shiny thing was the handcrafted crystal emblem on the front of the car.

That's right, Rolls-Royce, Cullinan.

Some say that apart from the good-looking logo, the car's exterior is really ugly, but when you actually stand in front of it, no one will say no to it. It is tall and heavy yet elegant and dignified, and the color is very aggressive. Moreover, it is the most suitable car for Lu Ze to drive in the entire Rolls-Royce lineup.

"Like it, buddy? Want to take a ride?"

The car keys were tossed to him, and Lu Ze caught them without refusing. He opened the car door and got into the driver's seat, but he couldn't enjoy the carriage-style rear doors for the time being.

The first impression of holding the steering wheel wasn't luxury, but rather its sheer length. The car was over five meters long, like driving a bus, making Lu Ze feel like he was missing a pair of pure cotton work gloves that were missing his fingers.

After adjusting the seat and steering wheel height, the second most noticeable feeling is comfort. The seats are soft yet have an unexpected elasticity, ensuring that you won't experience back or leg pain even after long periods of sitting. The wide steering wheel provides a sense of security that other cars can't offer.

When you start the engine and accelerate, the noise from the engine is basically negligible. The only remaining sound is simply to remind the driver, "Dude, I'm on fire."

Even more surprisingly, the car didn't lurch forward when he pressed the accelerator. Instead, it started gently and smoothly drove out of the garage. It was hard to believe that this was a product from a strategic partner of a gas station with a V12 engine, a 6.7T, and an average fuel consumption of 18 liters per 100 kilometers. But this wasn't a sign of weak power. Lu Ze could clearly feel that if he pressed the accelerator a little harder, the power would definitely come up, making it impossible for him to brake and he'd be stuck against the wall. The car truly achieved a perfect balance of power and gentleness. When turning out of the yard, he intended to make a wide turn, after all, Lu Ze was an experienced driver who had driven 4x8 in the system's courses. But unexpectedly, the wide steering wheel felt light and airy, with excellent power steering, making it very easy to drive out of the house.

Once on the road, the car's only drawback was finally revealed to Lu Ze: it was too long, requiring him to turn the steering wheel well in advance when turning. Because of this, Lu Ze almost ran over the median strip the first time he turned the wheel a little too slowly. Fortunately, it didn't have much of an impact after he got used to it.

He glanced at the rearview mirror and saw that other vehicles were already far away from it, afraid of accidentally bumping into it and ending up with a huge insurance policy.

"where to?"

"Just follow my instructions. Turn left, then turn right at the third traffic light, then go straight onto the overpass. I'll tell you after you get off the overpass. I'm sleepy, I'm going to lie down for a while."

Having married a "Audrey Hepburn" as a concubine, Lu Ze would definitely need to be intimate with her until he was exhausted to feel truly happy. Lu Ze stopped talking to Mickey and focused on driving his beloved "little motorcycle." When waiting at a red light, he would turn his head to examine the equipment inside the vehicle. Mickey had fallen asleep, which was enough to prove the comfort of this vehicle. If it were his old car, sleeping? He would knock his teeth out.

After driving for about thirteen or fourteen kilometers, they finally arrived at their destination. There were many people there, but most of them were adults with children. Mickey was snoring in the passenger seat, and a transparent line slowly overflowed from the corner of his mouth and flowed down under Lu Ze's gaze. Lu Ze couldn't stand it anymore, so he tore off a few tissues and stuffed them directly into Mickey's mouth.

"Huh! Ugh... Ugh... Did I vomit?"

What are you doing here?

"Brother, what's the date today?"

"November 1st... I remember now, the zoo, right?"

“That’s right, come with me. First, fill out your onboarding form. I’ve found a friend who will be your mentor and help you raise the animals he’s taking care of. I’ll make a call first. Hello? Morgan, I’m outside in a Cullinan. Yes, I’m waiting for you. Okay.”

After hanging up the phone, the two waited in the car. After a short while, a white man wearing a blue zoo uniform and rain boots came out of the zoo, looked around, and then walked over quickly.

"Hey buddy! Long time no see. I'm counting on you this time. This is my friend Lu Ze. You can just call him Lu. This is my childhood friend, Morgan."

"Hello."

"Dude, I've seen your movies, and you're really awesome."

Morgan probably heard that Lu Ze was going to work with him, so he did some research and gained a thorough understanding of Lu Ze, or rather, he became a fan of Lu Ze and shook hands with him very excitedly.

"Alright, alright, enough chit-chat. You'll have plenty of time to chat. Let's go fill out the forms first."

It was already 1 p.m., and the zoo closed at 4 p.m., so there was no time for them to have lunch. Led by Morgan, Lu Ze and his companion went to the personnel department, filled out identity registration forms, signed employment contracts, and obtained insurance...

"Your work ID is worn on your left chest, that's right."

After changing into their work clothes, the three of them went to scout out the place where Lu Ze would be working for the next two months. They walked slowly because there were many people ahead, and they couldn't even pass through the power strips.

They could only walk slowly with the crowd, taking the opportunity to look at the animals in the zoo. Suddenly, the crowd erupted in a scream as a white rooster was bitten and torn to pieces by a crocodile. The scene was a bit bloody, and many children covered their eyes.

"Morgan...you wouldn't be keeping..."

"No, no, don't worry, I only raise mammals. Crocodiles, snakes, and lizards are not under my jurisdiction."

"Phew...that's alright. So, you're raising...lions?"

"Herbivorous."

Hearing this, Lu Ze finally felt relieved and swallowed the saliva in his mouth. Don't blame Lu Ze for being timid; anyone who has never been in contact with cold-blooded carnivores would be scared if they were asked to come into contact with crocodiles or pythons on their first day of work. However, this also aroused Lu Ze's curiosity.

"Then what do you raise?"

"I have a group of seven chimpanzees: four adults and three babies, two rhinos, two hippos, two giraffes, and four kangaroos."

"This is even worse than raising crocodiles!"

Lu Ze's face darkened. Apart from elephants, all the fiercest herbivores were here. Killing someone in a frenzy was no harder than peeling a banana, and the worst part was that they didn't even peel the bananas! They just stuffed them in their mouths and chewed them!
To be honest, Lu Ze really wanted to throw Mickey into the crocodile pool. He was supposed to be a zookeeper, but why did he have to raise a bunch of ruthless creatures instead of just two raccoons and sloths? Seeing Mickey still smirking to himself, Lu Ze felt like he had entered a wolf's den—no, even more dangerous than a wolf's den.

"It's time for the kangaroos to eat, we need to hurry or we'll get docked pay. Please make way!"

Since Lu Ze and Morgan were wearing work clothes, it wasn't too difficult for them to squeeze out. With Mickey by their side, the three of them ran around happily and finally appeared in the kangaroo colony carrying carrots, apples, and cookies.

"Why are you going?"

At this moment, Lu Ze suddenly realized that Mickey was trying to slip away. With the mindset of making a profit by taking him along, Lu Ze did not intend to let Mickey leave. Unfortunately, he was not registered as a zoo employee, so Mickey was not allowed to enter the zoo.

"Me? Panda! I'm here! Yay!"

Stunned, Mickey took off his coat, revealing a hoodie with a panda pattern underneath, and a panda-patterned hat that appeared out of nowhere, before disappearing into the crowd.

"A few days ago, the zoo just rented a giant panda from China, otherwise there wouldn't be so many people here today... There's no one even watching the kangaroos."

Lu Ze realized that Morgan was sick, really sick. Even now, he was still thinking that no one liked his pet anymore, and his tone was a little disappointed. Lu Ze didn't know what to say, so he just grabbed the vegetable basket and went into the cage first. So what if he died? He was a herbivore and couldn't eat people.

"I also want to see giant pandas..."

Instantly, Lu Ze froze, his neck stiff, turning his head to glare at Morgan with a look exactly like Nick Young's bewildered expression. If it weren't for the fact that he had to help Morgan raise animals for the past two months and that he couldn't feed Morgan alone after he was injured, Lu Ze would have beaten Morgan into a panda by now.

Perhaps sensing Lu Ze's anger, Morgan became obedient, holding a carrot and preparing to feed the kangaroos an afternoon tea. It was also the first time that Lu Ze had been so close to Australia's national treasure.

"They are very docile, and having been raised by people for a long time, they have even less tendency to be violent. Don't worry, you just need to let them get used to your scent and know your purpose, and they won't do anything rash. Good girl, great job, Dani. Lu, you give it a try."

Perhaps it was true, as Morgan had said. The kangaroos were unusually well-behaved when Morgan fed them, but a fresh carrot was bitten to pieces. The force of their bite made Lu Ze gasp. So when Morgan invited him to feed them, Lu Ze was still a little hesitant.

He walked over quietly, picked up the carrot, and a kangaroo looked at him. He stood three steps away from the kangaroo, stretched out his hand, and gently tossed the carrot. Thud! It hit the kangaroo in the face.

"Haha, don't be so scared, they are really well-behaved."

"It seems that it is indeed as you said."

Morgan was still stroking the kangaroo's fur, which emboldened Lu Ze. He tiptoed over, picked up a carrot from the ground, and was about to hold it up to the kangaroo's mouth.

"Jack! No! Lu! Watch out!"

"Fuck!!!"

"..."

(End of this chapter)