Transcending Boundaries: Journey to the Infinite

Untitled Part 18

Dragon and Tiger Stuntmen

Fish Head Xu led Yang Chu into a set that was an office building.

The set was bustling with people and machines. Yang Chu glanced around briefly and noticed from the signs hanging on the walls and the nameplates on the doors that the set was designed to resemble a police station.

"Hey, Chu, see those folks over there? They're all big stars, here to support the Big Boss by making cameos," Fish Head Xu whispered to Yang Chu, standing at the edge of the set.

Following Fish Head Xu's direction, Yang Chu saw several familiar faces in the crowd not far away. However, ever since he came back to life after crossing over, his memory seemed to have gaps, and he couldn't quite recall them. He wasn't even sure if this version of Hong Kong Island was the same as the one in his previous life.

"Xu, where have you been? Big Boss is about to lose it!"

A young man with a baby face, slightly chubby but looking quite agile, hurried over as he spotted Fish Head Xu entering the set.

Unlike others, the young man with the baby face did not call Fish Head Xu by his nickname. Though there was a hint of complaint in his tone, he still addressed him respectfully as "Brother Xu."

"Jia... Jia Le, I went to pick someone up. What's the situation now?" Fish Head Xu greeted the baby-faced young man with a smile and inquired about the situation on set, looking quite close to him.

"The role you were supposed to play—Big Boss couldn't wait any longer. So, when Brother Lek showed up, he took over. But don't worry, Brother Xu, there are plenty of roles later on, and they'll definitely need your help," the baby-faced young man named Jia Le explained, trying to reassure him.

"I know. Big Boss called all these people back to revive his career. It's just a minor role, no big deal. Besides, he's not shooting a cop drama this year; he only greenlit a racing movie to give Big Boss a chance. We've been with him for years, of course, we'll support him!" Fish Head Xu nodded repeatedly, showing no frustration over losing the role. It was clear this wasn't his first time in such a situation.

He then brought Yang Chu forward and introduced him to the young man named Jia Le: "Jia Le, this is Chu. He's got great skills and wants to join the crew."

"Since you introduced him, Brother Xu, I'm sure he's fine," said Jia Le, glancing at Yang Chu. "So, your name's Chu, right? Just call me Jia Le. I'm the stunt coordinator for this film. You can start working with me shortly."

"Alright," Yang Chu nodded slightly, not saying much more.

Making movies was completely new to him, so he just planned to follow instructions.

"Fish Head Xu, where did you wander off to?"

While they were talking, a sturdy man in his forties with a scar on his lip walked over from the office set area.

Yang Chu noticed that, despite the scar giving him a somewhat menacing appearance, the man's demeanor was confident, and he walked with a commanding presence.

"Big Brother," Fish Head Xu and Jia Le greeted the stout middle-aged man as he approached.

Although everyone called him "Big Boss" when talking about him earlier, they addressed him as "Big Brother" directly.

Yang Chu didn't fully understand these titles, but it was evident that this stout middle-aged man had a significant status, possibly more than just being a director.

"Sorry, Big Brother, I was picking someone up," Fish Head Xu explained, bowing slightly and repeating what he had told Jia Le.

"You should have handled this sooner. Originally, I wanted you to play that comedic role, but since you were not around and Brother Lek showed up, I gave it to him. He was planning to leave soon anyway," the stout man said.

"It's all good, Big Brother. I understand," Fish Head Xu replied, grinning without a hint of displeasure, and then pulled Yang Chu over. "Big Brother, this is Chu. He's helped me out before and wants to join the crew."

"If you're recommending him, it's no problem. Let him follow Jia Le," the middle-aged man nodded at Yang Chu, taking a quick look before turning back to Fish Head Xu. He then patted Xu's hunched back and said, "My master used to say, when you're young, it's okay to bend your back a bit—it makes others feel more comfortable. But as you get older, stand up straight, show everyone you're still in the game. We started out as dragon and tiger stuntmen together, so stand tall."

"Got it, Big Brother." Fish Head Xu quickly straightened his back.

With his cross-eyed and serious expression, combined with his effort to stand rigidly straight, he unintentionally gave off a comical vibe.

"Not having you on screen is a real loss for this movie," the middle-aged man chuckled and pointed at Fish Head Xu. "Alright, no more chatter. Everyone, get ready for the shoot. Fish Head Xu, give me a hand."

"Sure thing! It's been a while since I worked with you, Big Brother," Fish Head Xu said, nodding with a smile. Then he turned to Yang Chu, "Chu, follow Jia Le. I'm going to help Big Brother."

Yang Chu nodded. From their conversation, he roughly understood the situation—a role originally meant for Fish Head Xu had been given to someone named Brother Lek, who was there for a cameo.

The reason for the change could very well be because Fish Head Xu was away picking him up, and they couldn't find him when needed.

Still, Yang Chu felt a bit moved by the whole situation.

"Chu, come with me," Jia Le called, waving Yang Chu over after Fish Head Xu and the stout man left.

"Alright," Yang Chu replied. He didn't know what he was supposed to do, but he followed the instructions.

When he got closer to Jia Le, Yang Chu noticed another young man standing beside him, wearing a black suit with a yellow shirt, looking quite handsome.

"I'll give you a quick rundown. In a moment, Brother Lek, who's cameoing as a deranged cop, will hold his superior hostage at gunpoint. Everyone outside the office will be watching, and you, Wu Zai, will come from behind, step on Big Brother's shoulder, and kick through the office window to stop Brother Lek," Jia Le explained, describing the scene in detail.

"This is your character's first appearance, so you need to showcase your skills," Jia Le continued, pointing to various spots around the set. "Due to the set constraints, we can't use wires. So, the sequence is like this: from the high platform, step on Big Brother's shoulder, push off a desk, and then kick through the glass, diving diagonally into the office."

"Jia Le, how about I try it myself? It would reduce the chances of it looking fake," suggested the handsome young man called Wu Zai, his eyes gleaming with eagerness.

"No way. You're the lead actor. If you get hurt, Big Boss will blow a fuse," Jia Le shook his head, turning to Yang Chu. "Chu, Xu says you've got great skills. Can you handle this stunt?"

The stunt wasn't overly complicated. Jia Le himself could pull it off without much trouble. But to make a name for himself as a dragon and tiger stuntman and to earn a living in this line of work, one had to show some real skills.