Chapter One: Unfulfilled Ambition

  With her experience from the previous life, Qin Xin put it off until later, and with a bit of packaging, she would absolutely be on the same level as Fan Bingbing, and would definitely be a "naturally harmless" beauty that would move the hearts of all men.

  "What are you looking at?" Qin Xin lowered her head slightly with a hint of shyness, and similarly, she didn't know why their hearts skipped a beat when they exchanged glances.

  It suddenly occurred to her that she had been rescued by him from Qian Zhong's hands, and he had also offended a small leader because of this. From then on, her gaze at him was different from before.

  Last time I ate, it seemed like there was a bit more than usual.

  Lin Xiao didn't say a word, just looked at Qin Xin's face turning red, she also didn't want to understand what this difference was, only feeling very flustered.

  She suddenly asked "Are you almost done taking pictures?" after bowing her head for a few minutes.

  "Hmm." Lin Xiao finally spoke up.

  "Oh." Qin Xin didn't continue asking, but her voice was tinged with a hint of loss.

  Lin Xiao laughed "It's not like we can't see each other again, besides don't you have my phone number?"

  "Can still contact?"

  "When did I say no?" Qin Xin now looked like a rabbit who had spotted a carrot, making Lin Xiao want to pinch her snowy face.

  He moved his hand, but didn't grasp it.

  Qin's heart was filled with joy as she lifted her head, just in time to catch Lin Xiao's gaze, and her face turned even redder.

  "I... I'm going back, I have a play tomorrow." After saying that, she hastily left without giving him a chance to explain.

  Lin Xiao sat alone at the village entrance sipping tea, and after a long time, he smiled lightly.

  At night, he arrived at the crew very early. At six o'clock, Gong Xuehua called again to tell him that the dinner gathering was at the crew.

  He was also a bit puzzled, such a big gathering, can the catering team of the crew handle it?

  Only after leaving did I realize I was overthinking things.

  It's indeed a dinner party, but there are absolutely not many people! Chen Dao Ming, Si Qian Gao Wa, Xue Zhong Rui, Yao Chang An, Li Hong Tao, Gong Xue Hua...

  Everyone present is a second-line actor or above! Not even one third-liner! The biggest name in the entire crew!

  And he alone is a thorough newcomer!

  Seeing him standing at the door in a daze, Chen Daoming smiled slightly "Jialin, you scared the newcomer, who told you to make such a big show?"

  Chen Jialin also smiled and beckoned to Lin Xiao, without any director's airs. "Sit down, sit next to Teacher Gao."

  Gao Lan Chun smiled and patted the stool, suddenly saying "You little rascal, you actually dare to refuse the play I recommended, it seems that among the new generation of China, not one person is obedient."

  Lin Xiao awkwardly smiled and sat down.

  "Alright, alright. This is Lin's first time joining us for dinner, so let me say this: the food we have here is made by our own catering team, and of course it can't compare to what you'd find outside. But the advantage is that there's plenty of it, and it's all very hearty - big fish, big meat, all that. Don't be shy, just dig in! This isn't work time, it's just a casual get-together." Chen Jialin said with a smile.

  Lin Xiao hastily nodded.

  "Do I need to be invited to a small gathering? Do I have such a big face now? In two or three years, can I directly get an Oscar?"

  He didn't say much and quietly waited for the "main dish."

  Everyone was drinking wine, and Lin Xiao naturally couldn't be an exception, but no one drank too much.

  He was naturally very careful, this specification can be considered a small-scale Golden Horse dinner party, being complacent is absolutely not allowed.

  Except for him, the other old-timers were very relaxed, chatting about all sorts of trivial matters and... gossip.

  Who says actors are not gossipy? Who says old actors are as calm as still water? Lin Xiao found that the other person's gossip cells were far more active than his.

  Several plates of pork knuckle disappeared quickly, and several fish were also swept away. Beer was only opened for two bottles per person. When everyone had eaten enough, Chen Jialin finally put down his chopsticks and asked with satisfaction, "Xiao Lin, how does it feel?"

  "The taste is pretty good, much better than I imagined." Lin Xiao said, the taste was really good. Zhong Yu, a veteran of the entertainment industry, has always been wealthy and arrogant.

  Chen Jialin smiled and said "I'm asking you about this afternoon's matter, how did I handle it?"

  The main course has arrived.

  The dinner table suddenly fell silent, and Lin Xiao was also stunned, not expecting Chen Jialin to get straight to the point.

  Chen Daoming picked up a paper towel and wiped his mouth, Yao Chang'an put down his wine glass, and everyone's eyes were intentionally or unintentionally fixed on him.

  "Director Chen handled it very well, I think it's pretty good."

  "Words are not in line with the heart." Chen Jialin said so, but Lin Xiao looked at his expression and did not blame him. "I know you think I handled it lightly, they made a big mistake today, it can be said that they broke the biggest taboo in the entertainment industry, no matter which one. But we can't do anything about it either."

  Lin Xiao nodded "I understand."

  "It's fine if you understand." Chen Jialin didn't say much either, waving her hand "You and Gong sister have some misunderstanding, come on, let's toast to Gong sister. After all, you've used several tens of thousands of yuan worth of her cosmetics."

  "Haha, right! As for Gong sister's cosmetics, don't even mention your current worth, not even a few second-tier artists can afford it."

  "Drinking and drinking."

  "No way!" Gong Xuehua suddenly spoke up, and everyone at the table fell silent. Chen Jialin also subconsciously furrowed her brow.

  "After all, this is my fault. How can I let him toast? Although I am the elder, but the words at the beginning were a bit too much." Gong Xuehua's next words made everyone's eyebrows relax. "I should be the one to apologize."

  "Gong sister, never mind," Lin Xiao said sincerely, although it was the other person's fault, after all, they were seniors.

  Gong Xuehua glared at him sideways "Are you the senior or am I the senior? You don't listen to what seniors say? Do you want to be the second Li Ruijin?"

  She filled up a cup of wine and drank it all in one gulp.

  As soon as she put down her wine glass, she smiled and said "I'll drink first."

  Suddenly, everyone at the table burst out laughing. "Come on, Xiao Lin, Gong sister is a female wine god, if you don't give her face, be careful she'll get you drunk!"

  "Gong sister admitted her mistake... Tsk tsk, it's been many years since I've seen this."

  "If you don't drink anymore, you'll be fined three cups!"

  Lin Xiao could only smile wryly and also downed his drink in one gulp.

  "Alright, let bygones be bygones over a cup of wine." Chen Jialin clapped his hands and laughed loudly, "Now, let's get down to business!"

  "Let me say it." Gaolan Chun was already impatient.

  "Lao Gao, when did you become so impatient?" Chen Dao Ming teased "What a waste of talent, what a waste of talent."

  Gao Lan Chun gave him a white eye and said, "Little Lin, how do you think your performance was?"

  "I did my best." Lin said hesitantly, "As for whether it's good or not, that's up to the director and all of you teachers to decide."

  "Kobayashi, don't be modest. In this circle, excessive humility is sometimes just cowardice!" Gao Lan Chun said solemnly, "Old Chen, you saw the play between Lin Xiao and me, how many points do you think it deserves?"

  Chen thought for a moment before speaking, but beside him, Si Qian Gao spoke up "Eight points, the middle section was particularly brilliant, unfortunately the beginning was insufficient."

  She added, "This is absolutely right."

  "Listen." Gaolan Chun smiled as she looked at Lin Xiao, the more she looked, the more pleasing to her eyes. Refusing to perform the introductory play, what's the big deal? The entertainment industry hasn't seen such a talented newcomer in years.

  "Eight points, let's put it this way, Li Ruijin, I can only give four points. But he is already a talented actor among the newcomers."

  Gong Xuehua also smiled and spoke up, "When you and I were acting together, there was a scene that even made me feel very difficult to act. You know, I've been in the industry for six years now. At that time, your acting skills seemed like you were born to do this."

  "What you lack is just an opportunity." Chen Jialin made a summary speech "Your acting skills, no, your acting skills can be said to be comparable to those of third-line actors. The other day's confrontation with Gao Lao was a cinematic-level confrontation. You are only short of one opportunity, truly rising from being nameless actors!"

  He looked at Lin Xiao deeply, "This period is very difficult, extremely difficult. What's lacking is a good play and promotion in all aspects. More importantly, it's the recommendation of the crew. The recommendation of people who are worth their salt."

  After finishing speaking, he suddenly said a sentence "Don't you really consider coming to Chinese entertainment?"

  "Shh!" "Director Chen, let's get down to business!" "This is a mess!" Suddenly, the room fell silent.

  Chen Jialin didn't mind either, and smiled as she waved her hand.

  Lin Xiao was secretly complaining in his heart, it's not that I didn't want to come! This damn system is usually dumb, but as soon as I leave Huaxia, I'm immediately wiped out, and now you're telling me to go to Zhongyuan, isn't that just asking for my life?!

  "Let's just say it, we're preparing to have you participate in the Kangxi drama group's promotion." Chen Jialin continued "However, we need to wait and see if we can make it onto CCTV's prime time slot. You know, this is a kind of proof for domestic film and television."

  Lin Xiao certainly knows that in 2000, CCTV's Golden Time Slot was called the invisible Oscar, and it made many films, actors, directors, and companies famous, influencing an entire generation of people. Every film that could be broadcast on this time slot was a recognition of the film industry. Moreover, most actors who passed the acting test relied on this to make a name for themselves.

  He clenched his fists secretly, the Kangxi dynasty, next year will definitely rush into the golden file. Whether it's a fish jumping over the dragon gate depends on the company's attitude towards artists, the crew's attitude, and the publicity efforts. Otherwise, relying solely on oneself is absolutely impossible to break through from being unknown to entering the "line" qualification.

  Now, according to Chen Jialin's words, the crew is willing to give him this opportunity!

  "Kangxi dynasty, it's expected to finish filming in two more months, but the PR has already started, and several big films have been submitted along with ours. It's expected that in another month, we'll know the results." Chen Jialin said word by word "At that time, every promotional event will bring you along, and give you as many topics to talk about as possible."

  Lin Xiao's heart was so excited that he almost shouted out loud!

  This opportunity didn't even exist in the last life! Publicity, premiere, such treatment is the best way for a newcomer to become famous! And Chen Jialin actually sincerely wants to support him! Brought out such good conditions!

  "Haha, I thought you'd always be able to keep a straight face." Gao Lan Chun finally burst out laughing after staring at his expression "Finally saw you couldn't hold back your smile."

  "Hey kiddo, are you excited to the point of screaming?" Yao Chang'an said exaggeratedly. "You know, this kind of opportunity is only available to the most outstanding actors in each play. The production team must be big enough and the background must be strong enough to afford this kind of promotional expenses. Not only that, on CCTV's advertisements, Focus Interviews, and even after the news broadcast, there will be your name."

  Lin Xiao finally couldn't hold it in anymore, closed his eyes and let out a satisfied sigh.

  After years of ups and downs, a rebirth in one morning, several months of filming, guarding against others' intrigue and scheming, finally exchanged for today's opportunity that is hard to come by!