Chapter One: Unfulfilled Ambition

  "What's your surname, sir?" Zhou Xingchi asked.

  "His surname is Huang, and his single name is Bo." Huang Bo maintained his composure, excited but not losing his demeanor. "As Director Zhou said, it's truly 'better to hear of someone than to meet them'."

  "Hehe." Zhou Xingchi flashed a hint of a smile, his first impression was not bad, gentle and elegant, very generous, and he actually dared to make fun of himself in front of him.

  "Lin Xiao." He turned his head and said "You go out first, I'll stay with Mr. Huang for a while."

  This was for Lin Xiao to give Huang Bo a hint, Lin Xiao nodded and went out, sitting in the main hall waiting.

  Time passed minute by minute and second by second until half an hour later his mobile phone rang.

  "Come in." It was Zhou Xingchi who had called out.

  As he walked into the room, Zhou Xingchi was already chatting and laughing with Huang Bo, as if they were old friends who hadn't seen each other in years.

  "Are you saying that this passage would be more interesting if it were like this?" Zhou Xingchi took out his notes and wrote down "worth considering, I'll think about it again."

  "Director Zhou, Huang Ge." Lin Xiao closed the door and shouted. He took a glance at Huang Bo, whose calm face was slightly flushed.

  That was exciting, this meeting, undoubtedly very successful!

  "Ah, you're here." Zhou Xingchi put down his book and stretched comfortably "Lin Xiao, at first I really didn't have any hope. But unexpectedly, you've given me another surprise."

  "Huang Bo's style is different from mine, and he has never acted in a comedy before, but he seems to have been born with perfect comedic cells. My comedies are exaggerated, while his are understated." Zhou Xingchi sighed, "A rare talent!"

  "What does 'that week's guide' mean?" Lin Xiao asked.

  "It's settled! Actually, this film, although it's already full now, but there are a few actors that I'm not completely satisfied with. So as soon as I heard you say that there are suitable actors coming to see me immediately, it was also good timing on your part, if it were one more day later, I would have had to go to Hong Kong to find them."

  "This time I plan to make it a ceremony and sign together at the press conference. So you don't have to rush either."

  Even with Huang Bo's temperament, when he heard Zhou Xingchi's voice, Lin Xiao also saw the opponent's clenched fist with bulging veins, and at the same time, let out a faint sigh.

  A weight has been lifted off one's mind.

  "Welcome Mr. Huang to join the crew of Shaolin Soccer. I will send you the script in a few days, please make sure to read it carefully before the press conference." Zhou Xingchi stretched out one hand.

  "Thanks for the opportunity, Director Zhou!" Huang Bo said sincerely.

  "No need to thank me, if you want to thank someone, thank Mr. Lin instead. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have met such a kindred spirit." He smiled and said, "Mr. Huang, Mr. Lin, I'd like to take this opportunity to wish Shaolin Football all the best on their journey to success, and also hope that we can have more opportunities to collaborate in the future."

  After the two walked out of the room, Huang Bo suddenly stopped. Lin Xiao looked over and found that he was clenching his fists tightly, taking deep breaths with his head raised, and the muscles on his face were trembling slightly.

  He understands this feeling too well, after suffering comes bliss. If he had such an opportunity in his previous life, he would probably jump up frantically!

  Huang Bo didn't make any outstanding moves here, which is already quite good.

  "Have you eaten?" Huang Bo let out a few heavy breaths and returned to his usual wit, smiling as he asked Lin Xiao.

  "Hehe, I'm not hungry."

  "Aren't you hungry?! I'm starving! I could eat a whole prairie right now!" Huang Bo burst out laughing "Let's go! Let's eat at this hotel! We'll also try the food at this four-star hotel and see what level it is! This time, I'll treat."

  Lin Xiao laughed and pushed back, "Teacher Huang, how can this be good?"

  "Huang Bo glared at him. 'Still calling me Teacher Huang! If you keep calling me that, I really won't recognize you! I've lived a few more years than you, so if you want to show some respect, just call me Brother Huang.'"

  He burst out laughing and said "Let's go! Try it! I'm in a good mood today! Even if we spend half a year's salary, I don't care!"

  Lin Xiao felt embarrassed and really ate away half a year's salary of Huang Bo, but only symbolically ordered a dish. Huang Bo took a look at the price tag and ordered several dishes.

  He smiled and said to Lin Xiao, "Don't worry, although I'm not famous, I can still afford the money for a meal."

  "Open six more bottles of beer."

  Lin Xiao hastily advised, "Huang brother, I don't drink wine."

  "Not drinking?! Huang Bo glared again "No way, we have to drink today! Ah? 20 yuan a bottle? If you're not drinking, then let's get four bottles, one for you, you must drink!"

  Lin Xiao cried and laughed as he took over the wine glass.

  The dish was served quickly, Huang Bo took a sip and let out a long sigh, as if he had sighed out the bitter water of nearly ten years.

  His fingers lightly tapped on the table, his voice a little low "Beiyin's graduates, who doesn't want to stand at the top of this circle. But, not one has succeeded. Lin Xiao Di, it's not that I'm saying too much, but I'm just one example. For years... nothing accomplished, don't know how many extras and crowd actors I've played. But not even one!

  He raised a finger, although he had only drunk one cup, as if he was already drunk. "Not even a single named character!"

  "It's really a shame for those who aspire to be actors."

  He poured himself another cup, smiled and sighed "How many times I wanted to go back home, but thinking about it, maybe tomorrow the film crew will start working. So I stayed again. Just like that, several years have passed."

  He smiled bitterly and shook his head, "Even Sun Lei and Cai Dekuan, those two useless students, are doing better than me. I went to find a brokerage firm, but others said I'm too old and have no experience, so they refused to sign me."

  Suddenly, he stared at Lin Xiao with piercing eyes "Actually, I'm most grateful to you, little brother, not Zhou Xingchi!"

  "Without your recommendation, I wouldn't have been able to join this crew at all! Although it's just a supporting role! But being able to play a supporting role in Zhou Xingchi's big-screen debut is already enough to make up for the hardships I've suffered in recent years!" He closed his eyes, his voice trembling "Do you know what I was thinking just now? I was thinking that maybe my experiences over the past few years were all just waiting for today!"

  "Enough said! Lin, younger brother, I'll toast you a cup."

  Before Lin Xiao could speak, Huang Bo had already filled a cup and downed it in one gulp.

  Lin Xiao didn't say a word. He knew that Huang Bo's bitter-turned-sweet emotions needed to be vented out, and he just needed to be a listener for now.

  Sometimes, it seems like just a small gesture can bring about genuine gratitude from the other person. He was also moved by Huang Bo's emotions and only spoke up after watching Huang Bo start drinking non-stop.

  "In fact, I'm also a small actor, and being able to enter the crew is also a coincidence."

  "Little brother, you're really lacking in ambition! Don't even mention being a small-time actor, from now on we must aim for the Golden Horse and Hundred Flowers Awards!" Huang Bo took another sip. "I, Huang Bo, will remember this sentiment. Maybe I'll be a small-time actor my whole life, or maybe one day I'll stand on the stage as a movie emperor, but no matter what, I won't forget you, the one who showed me the way."

  Next, the two of them clinked glasses and drank together. Lin Xiao reluctantly finished a bottle of wine, while Huang Bo didn't drink much but was already flushed with red cheeks. After exchanging some detailed contact information, they left the Century Light.

  Back in his dormitory, he didn't expect CAMI was already waiting for him downstairs.

  "What's wrong?" CAMI sniffed like a hunting dog "You actually drank?!"

  "Do you know that beer can ruin your figure! Your face is not as handsome as Li Hao's, but at least you have a good body to show off. Are you going to destroy the only thing worth bragging about?! Are you tired of being on this road?!" CAMI's anger poured down like a waterfall.

  "Sister Cami, isn't it that serious? I only had a little." Lin Xiao hastily explained.

  "Not at all! From now on, unless necessary, keep me away from these things! Li Hao is even better than you!" CAMI glared at him fiercely and took out a notebook "I cancelled all your appointments next month except for Happy Camp. Although the number of appointments is zero."

  "Starting from tomorrow, you go to 'Blue Fire' gym. Until the promotion starts, you have to work out well. Shaolin Soccer heard that your movements are not few, and Director Zhou I heard that the scene is very temperamental, need to make good psychological preparation for a shot to be repeated."

  "Movies and TV are different, don't think that just because you're good at TV, you can go make movies. The value of a TV actor is not as high as a movie actor, because there are too many episodes to shoot for TV, and many shots the director can just pass off as okay, but with movies, absolutely not, 120 minutes, every second is crucial. If one shot isn't satisfactory, stopping filming for a day is normal."

  "This I know." Lin Xiao rubbed his chin and asked "What I'm worried about is that I don't have the money to go to the gym right now."

  Honestly! He's so poor now he's almost selling himself!

  "Where's the money?!" CAMI was stunned. "The 5,000 from signing the contract, the 1,500 prepaid by Kangxi, and this month's salary? Don't tell me you're left with nothing!"

  Lin Xiao touched his head and said "That's actually how it is."

  The system was like a bottomless black hole, no matter how much money he had, it couldn't withstand the extravagance. In order to reach E-level as soon as possible, all his funds were invested in training. Just like that, after half a month of training, only meal expenses were left.

  However, the effect is indeed there, and he now only has 200 moves left. The activity of this gym came just in time.

  "You...!" CAMI pointed at his nose, and after a long while, he finally managed to squeeze out three words: "Good-for-nothing!"

  "You spend money faster than you earn it! Do you think you're Wang Fei or Zhao Wei?!"

  She glanced at Lin Xiao with a smile and said "Of course you don't have to pay."

  Shoving a card at Lin Xiao with an ill temper: "It's Director Chu's card, a VIP card. Don't lose it."

  Chu Zong really has a good heart, he can even use his personal belongings to win people's hearts. Lin Xiao didn't decline and accepted it.

  "Chu said, after this wave of publicity is over, I'll take you to play a game of hide and seek."

  Will we meet again? Lin Xiao's eyes lit up, this is the tea restaurant opened by Feng Xiaogang and others, the king of the New Year's Eve file. Many mainland movie stars love to go there later, while Hong Kong and Taiwan stars often go to Wu Mengda's mountain top tea restaurant or Wu Qilong's Thai hot pot store.

  "It's settled then."