[Chapter 397: In the Gym]
The biggest gain from the early screening of The English Patient was not just the improved film quality, but a 20% boost in physical fitness.
After this boost, his stamina and physical condition doubled compared to before. He became stronger, faster, and his reaction time was twice as quick as before. If he ever faced a street shooting again, he was confident he could dodge bullets fluidly.
His endurance and stamina also doubled, surpassing normal human limits.
Moreover, during testing, he found he had a marked improvement in controlling his muscles and organs.
This change excited him greatly. Increasing control over muscles and organs brought many benefits, including weight control, enhanced fitness and endurance, increased basal metabolism, stronger immunity, and stimulated hormone secretion.
If he could control his muscles and organs 100%, he could freely regulate his physical condition -- a power akin to that of a superhero.
However, he was still exploring his organ control and needed to continue acting to become stronger.
...
Link continued lifting weights in the gym to observe any further changes in his body.
"Link! Still training?"
Footsteps came down the corridor. Winona Ryder approached, her black hair loose, wearing a white Chanel summer dress, bringing a fresh jasmine scent into the room.
The woman rested her fair arms on the barbell rack, her sparkling eyes watching Link doing weighted push-ups on the open floor.
He was shirtless, showing his toned upper body, wearing gray shorts. Two 30kg weight plates rested on his strong back -- over 100 pounds in total.
Yet Link did push-ups effortlessly, sometimes doing clapping push-ups, looking very cool.
Even more impressive was his physique -- muscles bulging evenly, more pleasing to the eye than those steroid-fed bodybuilders. After sweating, his muscular contours emitted an extraordinary sensuality and visual impact.
Winona, not typically one for lust, couldn't help but recall the nights they had shared and the crazy passionate moments.
She swallowed hard, her face warming.
"Winona, did you need something?"
Link removed the weights and stood up.
"Nothing urgent. You can keep working out; we can talk later," Winona smiled.
"Go ahead. I've been training all morning; if you weren't coming, I was about to stop."
"Okay. Everyone says you have good taste. Before I accept a role, I want you to look at the script. Will you find me annoying?"
"No, I like it when you bother me."
Link pinched her smooth cheek and sat on the bench, taking the script she handed him titled Shakespeare in Love.
The script was written by Todd Stoppard and Mark Norman.
Todd Stoppard was a renowned British playwright known for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and Arcadia, having won Best Play in 1968.
Mark Norman was also a respected screenwriter, known for The Aviator, Cutthroat Island, and The Killer Elite.
...
Shakespeare in Love was Norman's fictional work based on William Shakespeare's personal experiences.
The story is set in the summer of 1593 when Shakespeare, working as a playwright at a theater, faced a major crisis -- a loss of creative inspiration. No matter what he tried, he couldn't find motivation to write his next play.
Someone suggested he find a woman to inspire him. At first, Shakespeare was indifferent, but during his work, he fell in love with a woman named Lady Viola.
Lady Viola was a theater enthusiast and fan of Shakespeare. Hearing about his new play, she dressed as a man and auditioned at the theater.
The two were drawn to each other and fell in love.
Through this love, Shakespeare created Romeo and Juliet.
...
Reading the script, Link recalled the movie Shakespeare in Love.
That film had won Best Picture at the 1999 Oscars, beating out Saving Private Ryan. Gwyneth Paltrow won Best Actress for her role.
However, this win was controversial, and fans nicknamed her "Worst Oscar Queen."
The film's distributor was Miramax, and Harvey Weinstein's career soared after the strong Oscar showing, landing him the top spot on Hollywood's power list for the first time.
There was also media gossip that originally Winona Ryder was supposed to be the lead in Shakespeare in Love.
She and Gwyneth were both Jewish and got along well. Gwyneth had read the script at Winona's house and secretly contacted Harvey Weinstein to secure the role for herself.
The TV show 2 Broke Girls even referenced this story.
It was quite credible.
Since Winona moved into the villa, she got along well with Jennifer Connelly and Michelle Pfeiffer, often sleeping over together. She wasn't close with Gwyneth, so never got a chance to see the script.
...
"So, what do you think?"
Winona put her arm around his, sitting next to him.
"Pretty good. I've heard of this script. I heard Universal wanted Julia Roberts to play Lady Viola. How did they come to you?"
Last year, when considering new films, he came across this script, knowing the rights belonged to Universal, which had begun preparations. He then chose The English Patient instead.
"Julia backed out. She wanted to work with Daniel Day-Lewis, but he declined. Julia got another project and gave up the role. Universal, worried about losses, shelved it for a while. Recently, Mark Norman contacted me through his agent to take over from Julia Roberts and restart the film project," Winona explained.
"I see."
Universal wanted to drop the project, but Mark Norman didn't want that, wanting a new collaborator to replace Julia. Winona had played English ladies in The Age of Innocence and Bram Stoker's Dracula, earning high praise in the industry.
That's probably why Norman chose her for Lady Viola.
"The script is good; you should take it. If Universal doesn't invest, you could have Mark Norman approach Guess Pictures for cooperation."
"Is it worth investing in?"
Winona hugged his arm, her expression joyful.
"British period films are popular in America, plus Shakespeare's fame, box office won't be bad -- definitely worth investment."
"Okay, I'll contact Mark Norman soon."
Winona hooked his neck and tilted her delicate face up for a kiss.
Link smiled lightly, pulling the petite girl into his arms, kissing her pink lips.
At first just a kiss, but the dark-haired girl grew more excited, pressing into him for more affection. His movements grew more passionate.
Her fair skin against the black metal rack looked especially alluring and dazzling.
*****
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