Chapter 369 Almost Caused an Accident at the Mushroom House!

"...His greatest success was breaking away from the stereotypical image of emperors in previous films and television dramas. He gave Yongzheng a human touch."

"He will have suspicions, feel helpless, be jealous like an ordinary husband, and also yearn for a touch of pure warmth like a lonely king."

"Xiao Chen used an extremely restrained approach to fully showcase this complexity. When he gazed at Zhen Huan and called out 'Huan Huan,' the light in his eyes was genuine."

"And when he ordered the execution of Nian Gengyao, the murderous intent in his eyes was genuine. What a talent it is for an actor to possess both divinity and humanity at the same time."

Even the straight men on "Hupu Pedestrian Street" are not immune.

[Fellow JRS, to be fair, isn't Xiao Chen's appearance and acting skills far ahead of others in the Chinese entertainment industry?]

"Top comment: Don't ask, just say he's a galaxy ahead. Damn, I used to think all popular celebrities were effeminate, but now I just want to say, with Xiao Chen's looks, whatever he does is right."

"Second bright spot: His acting is truly amazing. Watching him portray Prince Dun, without a single line, just one look, sent chills down my spine. That sense of oppression, I'm in awe."

The online frenzy had nothing to do with Xiao Chen.

He was shirtless, standing in front of the bench press rack in his own gym. Sweat dripped down his clearly defined abs and onto the floor.

His chest and arms bulged with blood, presenting a powerful and beautiful appearance.

During the few days that Xiao Chen was in seclusion, he didn't touch his phone or read the news.

My daily life consists of only three things: eating, sleeping, and training.

Five kilometers every morning without fail. In the morning, it's chest and triceps; in the afternoon, back and biceps; and in the evening, legs and shoulders.

High protein, low carbohydrates, precise gram-level dietary control, as strict as an ascetic.

Ye Huimei walked in carrying a cup of protein powder. Looking at the nascent muscles on her son's body, she felt both heartache and pride.

"Son, take a break. You've gotten so much stronger in just a few days."

Xiao Chen sat up from the bench press, took the cup and drank it all in one gulp, a relaxed smile on his face.

"Mom, this is nothing."

He rubbed his arm, his tone carrying a hint of childish boasting.

"My goal is to be one of those tough guys in Hollywood, like Wolverine, you know? I want to play those kinds of roles in the future."

Ye Huimei didn't understand anything about Wolverine; she only knew that once her son made up his mind, nothing could change it.

"Okay, okay, you're the best."

She lovingly wiped his sweat away.

"You're going to record a show tomorrow, don't overwork yourself."

"Don't worry, Mom."

Xiao Chen stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the capital city where thousands of lights had already been lit.

The praise he received online and the record-breaking viewership ratings were just a passing scene on his acting journey.

His ambitions have long since transcended this land, reaching towards the highest echelons of cinema across the ocean.

……

Two days later, in western Hunan.

The final episode of "Back to Field" was filmed in a picturesque village nestled in the mountains.

Smoke curls from chimneys, dogs bark, and roosters crow.

When Xiao Chen got out of a low-key van, Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui were leisurely drinking tea in the courtyard of the Mushroom House.

Sixteen-year-old Dilraba was squatting on the ground next to her, teasing the puppy H.

Hearing the noise, the three of them turned around at the same time.

Under the sunlight, Xiao Chen wore a simple white T-shirt and light-colored jeans, looking clean and refreshing.

However, it was this simplest of outfits that made Leslie Cheung's eyes widen in surprise.

He put down his teacup, got up and walked quickly over, reaching out to pinch Xiao Chen's shoulder.

"Ah Chen!"

Leslie Cheung's voice was filled with disbelief.

"It's only been a week since we last saw each other, right? You... secretly went to cheer someone on?"

"How did you get so muscular?"

It feels solid and strong in your hand; even through the thin T-shirt, you can clearly feel the outline of the muscles underneath.

This was completely different from the tall but slender boy he remembered.

Mei Yanfang also came over. She circled around Xiao Chen, her beautiful eyes also sparkling with surprise.

"Guo Rong is right, he really has gotten a lot stronger."

"Especially your shoulders and chest, your clothes are almost bursting open."

She patted Xiao Chen's chest with a smile, and the firm feel of it made her admire it.

"What are you secretly working on now, kid?"

Facing his two mentors and friends, Xiao Chen simply gave them his signature bright smile, tinged with a hint of mystery.

"Guess?"

His silence only fueled the curiosity surrounding him.

From the moment he appeared, Dilraba's gaze never left him.

The girl squatted down, hugging her knees, and quietly watched him.

She's known Xiao Chen for far too long. From when he was a tiny, adorable little boy to now, a dazzling superstar.

In her eyes, Xiao Chen has always been the most handsome, gentlest, and most caring older brother next door.

But today, this older brother seems... different.

His features were still exquisite and impeccable, but the lines of his face seemed to have become a bit more angular.

It's no longer that androgynous boyishness, but rather a more angular and heroic air.

Especially when he wears a T-shirt, his slightly protruding chest muscles and broad shoulders create a powerful silhouette.

As he spoke with his older brother and sister, sunlight shone on him, and his sweat-dampened temples reflected dappled light.

At that moment, Dilraba felt her heart skip a beat.

A strange, tingling sensation rose from the bottom of my heart.

This is no longer the handsome "older brother".

This is a man.

A man brimming with hormones, whose mere presence makes one blush and their heart race.

In the afternoon in western Hunan, sunlight filters through the dense foliage, scattering like shards of gold across the wooden corridor of the mushroom-shaped house.

Xiao Chen looked around at this pristine land that he had personally planned and selected, and a long-lost sense of relaxation welled up in his heart.

Although he is now worth over 100 million, he still prefers this down-to-earth lifestyle.

Xiao Chen smiled at his brother and Sister Mei.

"Now that we're back, we can't just freeload."

Xiao Chen smiled, rolled up his sleeves, and fixed his gaze on the pile of timber, which looked like a small mountain, in the corner of the yard.

There's no modern natural gas here; the earthen stove relies entirely on physical strength to heat the fire, making it a natural gym for him.

He picked up the heavy iron axe, tested its feel, and his movements were so practiced that they didn't seem like those of a big star who had won an Oscar.

"Thump—"

The axe fell, and the wood split open with a clean cut.

Leslie Cheung sat in a rattan chair, fanning himself with a paper fan, watching Xiao Chen's nimble movements and couldn't help but admire him.

"With Ah Chen's stamina, he wouldn't even need stuntmen to film action movies."