Chapter One: Unfulfilled Ambition

  "Haha, changed, this kid's face has finally changed!" Yao Chang'an laughed loudly. "This is the kind of expression a young person should have! If I didn't jump up at something like this, it would be strange."

  Chen looked at Lin Xiao's expression with satisfaction "Great prospects, this opportunity cannot be missed."

  Lin Xiao finally opened his eyes, suppressing the excitement in his heart, filled a cup of wine to the brim, stood up and toasted "Thanks to the director and all the teachers for their kindness!"

  He downed it in one gulp!

  What he drank was the bitter water of his past life and this life! But he believed that after a while, his efforts would definitely be rewarded to the greatest extent!

  Watching him finish drinking, Gong Xuehua couldn't help but speak up: "Lin Xiao, this opportunity might take some people several years, or even ten years to come by, you must treasure it."

  "I understand." Lin Xiao nodded solemnly.

  "You don't have to thank everyone, opportunities are always reserved for those who are prepared. Originally, I was going to bring Li Rui in." Chen Jialin also said bluntly, "However, your acting skills and character are not on the same level as his, so in the end, this opportunity was left to you."

  "Yes, before filming, no one knew if there would be such an opportunity. But when it really happens, countless people sigh and wonder why they didn't take their acting more seriously." Siqin Gaowa also sighed and said "Grab this opportunity and tell your company about it, for an actor to go from being unknown to 'A-list' is no small thing for any company."

  Lin Xiao nodded again "I understand, the crew is just one aspect, if the company doesn't support it and continues to hype it up, then the pay for the next part of the show still won't increase much."

  "It's fine if you understand, but I'd like to remind you that if CCTV's prime time slot is approved, it will be a national promotion. You need to make preparations and clear your schedule." Chen Jialin reminded.

  National publicity!

  Lin Xiao clenched his fists tightly, and his heart skipped a beat.

  A long-held dream has come true right before one's eyes!

  "That's it, I just wanted to tell you this." After finishing the main topic, everyone returned to chatting and laughing. Chen Jialin asked again, "Lin Xiao, aren't you planning to come to Zhongyuan? Huaxia is good, but its foundation is too shallow after all."

  "Director Chen, this is the third time!" "Three strikes and you're out!" "You've said it three times already, penalty! You must be penalized with a drink!" "Enough, Director Chen, I've heard you muttering this phrase all through dinner!"

  Everyone cheered again.

  "Sorry, Director Chen." Lin Xiao could only reluctantly decline.

  "Haha, three visits to the thatched cottage should also have Zhuge Liang. Director Chen, you're still a bit off." "What kind of person is Liu Xiang?" "Hey, Old Chen, don't force it on new people either."

  Chen Jialin sighed, "To be honest, after I sent your contract back, the top management of Zhongyuan Entertainment was very interested and immediately asked how much your signing fee was. Judging from their attitude, they probably plan to pay you a breach of contract fee or directly sell you to Huaxia. I'm afraid someone has already gone to negotiate."

  "What?" Lin Xiao said incredulously, he really hadn't heard of this before.

  "It's a bit strange. Digging up new people? Honestly, I haven't seen many like that." Gao Lan Chun stroked his beard thoughtfully and said "Unless he has accumulated a lot of popularity, but hasn't made a debut. But you're...".

  He looked up and down at Lin Xiao, and said with a bitter smile, "Anyway, digging out a new person with no popularity at all, I've seen less than five in my life."

  "Lao Chen, no wonder you asked him three times if he was entering the entertainment industry." "So there's this twist after all."

  "I've never seen anyone conquer the HR department with their acting skills like that!" Chen Jialin exclaimed, "I sent back the scene where you and he were acting together. As a result, Manager Cao watched it for two hours, even breaking it down into segments to analyze. After finishing, he immediately asked me for his information."

  "But you don't have to rush, this kind of thing will definitely be discussed with the company." He added.

  Lin Xiao almost vomited blood. Director Chen, Director Chen! Do you know this is a disguised murder?! The company really wants to sell me out! You're all waiting for my corpse!

  A dog that bites doesn't bark, a system that kills people is absolutely dead at ordinary times! Lin Xiao silently cursed in his heart, now he can only hope that CAMI won't lose their heads for the time being, otherwise he would be even more wronged than Dou E.

  "Go ahead, everyone continue drinking a bit, don't delay tomorrow's filming." Chen Jialin just treated what happened earlier as an interlude and continued to smile and persuade people to drink.

  It wasn't until 8:30 in the evening that this dinner party finally came to an end.

  Lin Xiao was the last to leave, but Gao Lan Chun stayed behind.

  "Kobayashi." He beckoned with his hand "Come for a walk with me."

  This opportunity was sought after, and the two of them strolled out of the crew, slowly swaying onto the grassland.

  The moon has risen, a sky full of stars, like diamonds on the black night's dress, and the moon is the heart of the ocean above.

  The sky is the curtain and the earth is the bed. This beautiful night sky, the endless grassland, makes people think of this sentence that is not very relevant.

  "After finishing filming here, you'll have to go back to Beijing, right?" said Gao Lan Chun.

  "Yes, I have a play to consider next." Lin Xiao didn't hide it either. He could feel that Gao Lan Chun was the one who cared about him the most, truly treating him like a younger generation.

  "Uh, when are we leaving?"

  "Within three days."

  Gao Lan Chun fell silent, and the two of them walked a little further before he said, "You are me, even among all the newcomers in our crew, you have the most against-the-odds talent. I once told Chen Dao Ming that within four years, you will have hope to be nominated for Best Actor. Within seven years, you can win the Best Actor award."

  Lin Xiao quietly listened.

  "But this is on the condition that you continue to improve like this."

  "The entertainment industry is a big dye vat, even more complicated than society."

  "Newcomers should go through this and remember a few things."

  "Not arrogant nor impatient, cannot be without confidence, and must not be self-satisfied."

  "There's another one." He looked at Lin Xiao and said "Don't talk nonsense."

  Then he smiled and said: "Actually, it's just one thing: knowing how to be a human being."

  "Now that you've learned to be a good person, you'll naturally get more opportunities. Even if you're not the best actor, after filming several big movies, the training you receive will be extraordinary. Building good relationships is much better than being isolated and alone."

  "Do you understand?"

  Lin Xiao sincerely replied, "Thank you, Teacher Gao, for your guidance."

  "I hope you remember. I'm also reminding you, this time, don't say too much. I know you don't like Li Ruijin, but he's not worth a future movie emperor using his status to clash with him. Besides, Liu Yiyi and the others will naturally explode. You don't need to say more."

  Lin Xiao felt a touch of emotion, such an unassuming king-level figure would actually take the time to instruct him, a newcomer.

  "Teacher Gao, I will remember. I know that you allowed me to bring in the DV, but didn't stop Li Rui from coming in, it's a way of making things difficult for them and I don't agree with it. But I'm a newcomer, if I always yield, they will always take advantage of me. Maybe in your eyes this method is too much, but I am not an ungrateful person."

  Gao Lan Chun shook her head and said, "Some people say that being a movie emperor is all about who can endure the longest."

  "The longer you endure, the more likely you are to encounter a good play. If you don't even understand self-preservation, you can only be buried by the black hands in the circle."

  "Your approach is not wrong." He looked at Lin Xiao and said, "However, remember not to be so aggressive in the future. The technique should be smoother. You've already offended Xu Ziyao to death today. I heard you also had a falling out with Zhao Qingya?"

  Lin Xiao did not deny it.

  "It's not difficult to have a falling out with big shots, they won't be bothered to remember what number you are all day long, most of the time it ends once they've vented. He said meaningfully, "Only when you can really threaten her one day will this new grudge and old hatred erupt together, that's when it becomes extremely dangerous."

  "Work hard and seize this opportunity, I look forward to seeing you and her play together one day."

  The two finally parted ways, and Lin Xiao's thoughts deepened a bit more.

  As expected, old actors are all old foxes!

  He suddenly thought of the palace drama in the future, isn't this just a competition to see who lives longer? Those who survive to the end, aren't they all masters of human nature?

  Hyan Hyan...... Shiro......

  Yeah, it's better not to think about this anymore. He inexplicably got goosebumps and quickly walked towards the dormitory.

  Just then, his mobile phone rang out. The crisp ringtone spread across the grassland.

  "Sister Cami." He picked it up and said.

  The person on the other end of the phone didn't say a word for half a day. After a while, CAMI said indifferently, "You're really patient."

  "...Lin Xiao guessed what was going on and didn't expect Chen Jialin's mention of it to come true so quickly."

  "I didn't know the artist I trained was so popular. Cao Xiaojun from Chinese entertainment actually came over personally. As soon as he opened his mouth, he asked about your signing fee, whether you're selling or not."

  She immediately changed her tone "Is this a brothel? Lin, the top courtesan, is she for sale or not? Give me a straight answer!"

  Lin Xiao's forehead was covered in sweat "Don't sell... CAMI sister, listen to me, whatever you do, don't sell..."

  "Oh my, this is not good at all. Chu has already agreed to it, and the compensation they're offering is more than three times what you'd get. Just looking at that thick stack of money makes me envious." CAMI's voice immediately turned into that of a villainous female lead from a palace drama, the kind that could kill someone with her words. "I heard that your past will be exposed soon, and there's going to be a big show coming up. The pay is calculated per episode, and it seems like you're still the main character. What are we going to do? I'm getting tempted myself."

  "Sister Cami, can you please not talk like that..."

  "Not selling? Think it over?" CAMI's voice was steady. "Zhong Yue can be much better than the current Huaxia, have you considered it?"

  "I will never sell!" Lin Xiao said with an unusually stern expression.

  "We finally didn't raise a white-eyed wolf." CAMI let out a sigh of relief. "Three days later, Cao Xiaojuan will come over in person, and at that time we will have a detailed discussion with him. Today, Chu Zong just knew this news and immediately asked me to ask for your own opinion. In addition, Cao Xiaojuan specifically stated that you should also be present for the discussion. So, you must return to the company within two days!"

  "Remember, I'm telling you, Chinese entertainment is much better than 'now' Huaxia. You won't regret your choice today! I'll make you China's Tom Hanks!"

  So soon? Lin Xiao thought about it and let it go. His part in the play was basically over, and naturally, Zhong Yun's people wouldn't want to let him off easily.

  "Alright, sister Cami, I'll set off tomorrow."