Chapter One: Unfulfilled Ambition

  "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome this year's Golden Rooster Award winner to the stage to receive their award! At the same time, we would like to congratulate him on achieving a three-peat of the Golden Rooster Award!"

  A man in his thirties with straight hair and a face as if carved from marble stood up from his seat, gave Xu Zheng and Sun Li a tight hug, adjusted the tie of Deng Xiuru, and strode towards the rostrum covered with red carpet.

  He hugged the host, held up the trophy and smiled, saying "I'm thrilled to have achieved three consecutive championships. Everyone knows that ten years ago, I switched from the recording industry. In the film and television circle, I am a junior, and at first, I didn't think this trophy would fall into my hands..."

  Then, as usual, a long string of thanks, from the seventh uncle to the eighth generation ancestor. Finally, the man smiled slightly "Of course, I also hope that other members of the 'Crystal Boy' group can have better development in this circle."

  A knowing smile echoed from all directions, kind, malicious, unintentional. The Golden Rooster Awards is a very famous award at home, and for the three consecutive championships of the Golden Rooster Award, especially for such a still young man, almost everyone thinks that his future is boundless, and no one will offend him.

  However, their eyes all intentionally or unintentionally glanced at a corner far away from the front row.

  "They were all members of Crystal Boys and transitioned from records to film. Unfortunately..."

  Song Qingming has already stepped onto the big screen, Director Chen's trial roles have all been sent over. An old theater veteran said expressionlessly: "A bright future ahead."

  "With the same debut time, the same combination, he hasn't even carried a big beam. Another veteran producer shook his head "Every time there's an award ceremony, it's just to accompany him, this feeling must be unbearable. Ah, I said it early on, he's not material for acting, but he insisted on coming into the film and television circle, isn't that just asking for trouble?"

  Men fear entering the wrong profession, having read too many stories of "man can conquer nature". Without talent but insisting on a mistaken path is itself a tragedy. Perhaps he will have his day in the spotlight, but it's probably already sunset...

  "They especially want to send an invitation letter to him, isn't that obviously asking Song Qingming to come and compare? Someone as small-time as him can't afford not to come, if he doesn't come it's just being arrogant."

  These words were originally whispered, but the sudden chorus of voices sparked a considerable commotion. Like annoying flies, along with those ambiguous glances, they all landed on Lin Xiao's body. He clenched his fists tightly, suppressing the anger and helplessness in his heart.

  "Kobayashi, don't think too much." A hand covered with age spots patted his shoulder. "Awards aren't something that come just because you want them to. No one expected last year's low-budget '33 Days of Heartbreak' would sweep the awards. We're actors, just do our job well and that's it."

  "I know." Lin Xiao took a few deep breaths and said calmly, "It's natural for the company to choose artists with value, so keeping him makes sense. And I also understand that my acting talent isn't great, so what they say is right too."

  He is slightly above average in appearance, not ugly but not a big handsome guy either, far from Song Qingming's typical idol face, can only be said to be tolerable. Tian Guang had no intention of developing him and terminated the contract immediately after it expired. At the same time, Song Qingming started filming his first TV series.

  He refused some companies' invitations with his proud and arrogant attitude, and almost got collectively boycotted for being too big-headed. After a painful lesson, Lin Xiao put his resume into many entertainment companies, but the results were all similar.

  "Mr. Lin, your qualifications are sufficient. However, your appearance does not fit our company's packaging. Sorry."

  In that era when idols were all the rage, his contract was like a stone sinking into the ocean. A few years later, he quietly left the music scene which was increasingly focused on appearances and entered the film and television industry.

  But after a few years, he still didn't make a name for himself, but somehow managed to fall in love with acting.

  Unfortunately, fate played a trick on him, his talent was really too poor, and several years of hard work couldn't get him to the leading role. In the end, he could only join some low-cost productions, those mythological costume dramas that are now playing on every TV channel, not even worth mentioning by name.

  This time, he just sat in a small crew position with an investment of over 20 million.

  "Lin Ge, don't be discouraged, who isn't step by step climbing up. At least we can still eat and dress warmly in this circle. Look at the young people outside Broadcasting Road 43, eating bread and drinking mineral water, desperately trying to get into an entertainment company as an intern. And every time we're filming, those temporary actors outside, we're already very good." A fellow actor from the same drama group comforted him, anyone could hear the pride and sarcasm in Song Qingming's words.

  Lin Xiao didn't reveal an overly excited expression, he just silently nodded. He knew that at this moment, countless cameras were aimed at him, as a former teammate of Song Qingming and someone who had also transitioned into the entertainment industry. Moreover, his opponent was intentionally or unintentionally using Lin Xiao's lack of success as a contrast. If he showed even a hint of anger, tomorrow's gossip magazines would have a field day writing about him.

  Just then, all the joints in his hand had almost lost their color.

  He sighed silently, at this age, with such achievements, should he consider switching to hosting programs.

  "It's different, just because it is. The same combination, yet the outcome is worlds apart." A disdainful female voice came from behind him. Without turning around, he knew it was Chen Shanshan, the heroine of this film.

  Strictly speaking, this is not a formal TV series. Chen Shanshan can be said to have no acting skills at all, but at the age of 18, she is young and beautiful, and she is the investor of this film, the mistress of a real estate development company in Wuhan.

  That is to say, this TV series, which invested tens of millions and made him exhausted, was actually just a plaything for those big bosses to please their mistresses, whether it can be broadcast or not is still a question. This is a well-known fact in the crew.

  It's a bit like the feeling of playing with the lords. Lin Xiao smiled faintly, having been in the circle for so many years, although he was limited by his talent and couldn't make any achievements, but he had also experienced all the human emotions in the entertainment industry, he wouldn't be like a naive young man arguing with an outsider who is more than ten years younger than him.

  "Hmph." Lin Xiao's nonchalant attitude greatly displeased Chen Xiangxiang. "What kind of attitude is this? Be careful or I'll expel you. You clearly have no skills, yet you're pretending to be a senior. If you were truly a senior, you'd at least bring back some awards."

  "Whether or not, it's probably up to Director Li's intention." Lin Xiao furrowed his brow, glanced at his watch, and saw that Song Qingming was the last award of the year. The Golden Rooster Awards ceremony had already come to an end. Many people had begun to leave, and he gave a complex glance at Song Qingming, who was surrounded by flowers and applause, before standing up himself.

  At the Golden Rooster Awards ceremony, of course, there couldn't be such an unprofessional actor like him.

  As people flowed out of the hall, the cool evening breeze brushed against his face, and the red carpet outside was still dazzling, but he couldn't muster up any enthusiasm.

  No qualifications for the red carpet show, no qualifications for awards, and no one will mention it, except for Song Qingming's deliberate contrast. In the tenth year, ten years after the disbandment of Crystal Boy, ten years after his transformation, he accompanied him throughout the year again.

  As for the Asian film rankings, it's even more of a distant dream.

  "The most painful thing is that heaven gives you a dream, but you can never fulfill it because of your own limitations." He sighed and walked away.

  The phone rang suddenly, and as soon as he picked it up, a sharp voice came out "Is this Mr. Lin Xiao? We are the Armani flagship store. When will you return the Armani suit you borrowed from us? It's already been half an hour past the return time..."

  "I know, right away." He smiled wryly and adjusted his suit. The reporter had a pair of sharp eyes and held a pen that could make or break someone's career. If there was even a slight flaw in what he wore, it was likely that no major brand would dare to sponsor this movie star's clothes in the future. It was the same for these "green leaves" as well.

  Just then, several new recruits from Tian Guang walked by, and the sound of his phone was just loud enough to be heard by the other party.

  "After all these years, Armani still needs to borrow. A young man who looked like he was eighteen or nineteen sneered, 'They both started from scratch, they both transitioned from singing to acting, how can the gap be so big?'"

  The voice was not loud, as if muttering to himself, but just enough for Lin Xiao to hear.

  "Keep your voice down, that's a senior." Another person glanced at him and smiled, saying "Do you know about this year's Golden Rooster Awards? Armani, Burberry and others are rushing to send clothes to Song Ge, of course, they are unreleased styles. How could it be the kind of clothes that would clash with what he's wearing outside? Burberry even invited Song Ge to be their spokesperson."

  Lin Xiao clenched his teeth, a sharp pain in his heart, and walked forward with a raised leg. He just wanted to leave this place quickly.

  Just then, two dazzling rays of light suddenly appeared beside him, accompanied by a sharp scraping sound.

  "What's going on?!" He came back to his senses from his reverie, shocked to find that he had unknowingly walked out of the pedestrian path! And in front of him, a huge black shadow was rushing towards him head-on! Under the dazzling headlights, the driver's terrified face was reflected.

  "Boom!" With a loud noise, he lost consciousness again.

  "Hurry! Call a doctor! An artist has been knocked down!" "Ah! Isn't that Lin Xiao, formerly of Crystal Boys?"

  This was the last sound he heard before he passed out.

  ……

  Pain, headache splitting!

  This was his first thought after he became aware.

  Is this the underworld? He wanted to open his eyelids, but found that they weighed over a thousand catties. All he remembered was the last scene before he fainted - being knocked down by a large truck.

  Is he going to die? A hint of bitterness arose in his heart, he still had too many dreams that hadn't come true, not even walking the Chinese red carpet.

  In the depths of darkness, past events flashed before his eyes like a lantern. At 16, he joined Tian Guang Entertainment as an intern, trained for a year and a half to become a trainee, and at 18, officially debuted with Song Qingming and others as Crystal Boy. For a year, they were lukewarm, and when he was 20, the team officially disbanded. Song Qingming renewed his contract and went solo, while he and another person ended in obscurity.

  After that, he transformed into film and television, but the result was even more miserable than his music career. He worked very hard, but heaven seemed to be playing tricks on him, and there was never a good script that appreciated him. There was no guidance or support from his seniors, let alone idol dramas, commercials, and big screens, which were just luxuries. Meanwhile, Song Qingming had reached the peak of his career.

  A feeling of loss and discontent surged up in his heart like a tidal wave.

  No! He absolutely refuses to live a life like this! His dream is to stand on the Grammy Music Hall, to stand on the Oscars award ceremony!

  A surge of life burst forth from his heart like a flood, stronger and more savage than ever before.

  He finally had a feeling, and his fingers seemed to move slightly.

  "Doctor! He's awake! He's awake!" Instantly, a shout of surprise reached his ears.

  It's okay, he's still alive. The stone in his heart had just relaxed, and he fell into a deep sleep once again.

  "The fifth host awakens, initiating bodily repair protocols. Checking performance parameters..."

  A faint "drip, drip, drip" sound echoed in his mind... He, who had fallen into a deep sleep, did not hear it.