Chapter One: Unfulfilled Ambition

  The next afternoon, CAMI received a call from the crew, and it was confirmed that Lin Xiao would play Yun Qi.

  Cami put down her phone and let out a sigh of relief.

  "So nervous?" Lin Xiao asked with a smile beside him.

  "You don't know how much the company has invested in this role. Fortunately, you're not that piece of trash. CAMI flicked her hair and said "You've read the script for this role, do you think a supporting actor like you can get a turn? In terms of qualifications, background, which one can you rank?"

  At night, Lin Xiao called Li Hao and let the kid cheer for a few times. He also knew that he was about to start hosting an outdoor program on a local station.

  This program is very tiring and physically demanding, and the ratings will definitely not be high. Fortunately, he remembered that his opponent moved to 380.

  After chatting for a few sentences, he hung up the phone. On the third day, a detailed outline of the Kangxi Dynasty was delivered to his hands. Of course, it was only his part, how many episodes, where, with whom, and what lines, all need to be remembered clearly.

  He roughly flipped through it, and had very few opportunities to interact with Chen Daoming. However, Gao Lanchun, Xue Zhongrui's Mingzhu, Suo Ertu, had a lot of interactions with him.

  This is also two old drama bones, but the name is not as big as Chen Dao Ming, however, the acting skills are absolutely not sloppy. He already has a premonition that this play will make his acting skills go up to another level.

  But without a complete outline, it's because they're afraid of leaks. Big-name actors don't care, but some small-time artists and newcomers might throw everything away for the chance to rise to the top.

  These days, he has been memorizing his lines. Constantly pondering the psychology of Yin Zhen, and repeatedly reading the descriptions of Yin Zhen in the Kangxi dynasty. As the casting auditions became increasingly busy, apart from directly sending contracts to established actors, more and more people from the entire crew were present, occasionally seeing people wearing high-heeled shoes or red hats standing outside the house where he auditioned that day. From first-class officials to eunuchs, all were specifically assigned by the production team.

  It really has a feeling of ancient imperial concubine selection. Lin Xiao's heart was also excited when he first entered the big production, this is a big movie, compared to those casual films he played before, the scale is much larger.

  However, he didn't regret it. Without those years of depression, he absolutely wouldn't have gotten Chen Daoming's praise that day. What he had to do was to work hard and act well as Yun Cai. So, apart from going to the Prime Minister's mansion every day, he spent all his other time in the dormitory rented by the actors, studying his role.

  A few days later, another person moved into his room, also a two-person room rented by the crew. The roommate was Liu Songde, a young actor who played a certain prince, and when he learned that Lin Xiao would play Yun Cai, he envied him so much that his mouth couldn't close.

  "My goodness, that role doesn't require high acting skills, but without any experience or background, it's basically impossible to get. So many big companies are competing for that role! It has a lot of weight, and among the supporting roles, it's considered a leading position! And you actually got it!"

  "It's just good luck." Lin Xiao smiled and didn't plan to continue discussing this topic further.

  "Alas... luck, who can tell what this thing is." Liu Songde shook his head and sighed "You're fine, at least you can still be an idol type, people like us with ordinary looks aren't special types, let alone idols. If I say I'm a talent type, even I don't believe it myself. If luck lets me find a suitable role, I'll be content."

  He climbed onto Lin Xiao's shoulder and said "Spill the beans, which company is it? What's the big deal?"

  Lin Xiao laughed and said, "It's not a big company, it's Huaxia's. First time shooting."

  "Hua Xia? Never heard of it. First time filming?! Impossible! How were you chosen..." Liu Songde suddenly stopped talking, glanced at him a few times, and turned back to tidy up his things.

  Lin Xiao could only smile wryly. What the other party meant, he didn't know how to understand. Being able to be selected like this, it was either because of being favored or having a relationship with the investor.

  It's hard to believe that Li Hao was being pursued by her, and even if he was, it's likely that a big shot who is used to seeing handsome men and beautiful women wouldn't have taken a liking to him.

  At least so far, chrysanthemum is still very tight.

  In the following days, people in the same room gradually kept their distance from him, and their eyes also became vigilant. There is an unspoken rule in the entertainment industry that if someone has been secretly promoted to a higher position, many people will look down on them. Lin Xiao didn't mind, he just focused on his own role. In the afternoon, when there was nothing else to do, he went to the Xiang Fu to get a feel for it.

  In the blink of an eye, several months have passed. He has been living a secluded life, gradually realizing that the system's numbers are not just about understanding, but also intuitively manifesting themselves. In many places, one second he can't figure out why it's like this, and the next second suddenly +2 appears, yet suddenly a flash of insight allows him to grasp a thread.

  This is a big killer for acting.

  The casting of Kangxi Emperor has also been finalized, now only some props are left for final preparation.

  He never saw the little beauty again, probably didn't get selected, he sighed regretfully.

  After the casting decision, the entire crew had a meal together in Yangcheng County, saying that everyone would get to know each other. Lin Xiao was directly dazzled by the data of Su Qianhua, Gao Lan Chun and others.

  A crew of five people, even the actors who played Su Ma Lai and Rong Fei, such as Yu Ping and Li Jianqun, have acting skills above 480.

  The difference between mainland actors and Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan actors is that they have high acting skills, but few films sell well. However, this only applies to the big screen. Lin Xiao remembers that in TV series a few years later, it was the mainland's world, even selling well in many countries. One still remembers "The Legend of Zhen Huan", "Step by Step Shocking", and "Jewel in the Palace" which defeated foreign TV dramas.

  To put it simply, the melodramatic plot of dozens of women fighting for one man was loved by audiences across Asia. Additionally, I also learned about medicinal knowledge such as red flowers and musk from the show.

  Director Chen Jialin rented a restaurant. Due to the existence of Xiangfu, many crews come here to shoot, and the development of Yangcheng County is quite good.

  Chen Jialin raised his glass, "This is a big show for CCTV. I'm honored to have the opportunity to direct this play and gather with everyone. Once again, I'd like to wish in advance that this TV series will be a huge success and achieve new heights in ratings!"

  Among the cheers and laughter, everyone drank down what was in their cups. It wasn't until then that Chen Jialin announced that the launch ceremony would be held five days later on a specially selected auspicious day.

  The crew attaches the most importance to the opening ceremony and the wrap-up dinner, which is universally applicable. Therefore, five days later, everyone changed into their character's costumes as required by Director Chen and gathered at the Xiangfu residence.

  One by one, shiny big heads, familiar beginnings tease each other. Some even complain about working hard to gain or lose weight for a certain role.

  The large courtyard of the mansion had already set up a incense table covered with red cloth. On top, there was also a steamed yellowish-orange pig's head arranged in a seemingly casual manner. In front were four plates of melon and fruit offerings. A golden incense burner held three yellow incense sticks. Two thick red candles as thick as wrists were lit on either side.

  On both sides of the table were two cameras covered with red cloth. Once the red cloth was lifted, it was what they called "starting up".

  A reporter from each magazine and newspaper had set up their cameras not far from the crew, ready to capture everyone's expressions. Of course, Chen Daoming, Shi Qingsong, and other leading actors would definitely be among them, but it was hard to say about those supporting actors.

  "Clap!" The camera shutter sound didn't stop, after Chen Jialin solemnly bowed to the crew several times, he devoutly walked up to the camera covered with a red cloth and carefully lifted it.

  The sound of cameras is like a thunderstorm in the sky, and at this moment it has become a piece.

  "Wishing us a prosperous Kangxi dynasty, with a long and auspicious view!"

  "Wishing Kangxi Dynasty becomes a new milestone for historical dramas!"

  All the actors cheered in unison. Who doesn't want their film to be remembered for ages?

  "Swish!" The red cloth was lifted!

  "Clap! Clap! Clap!" The cameras around us sparkled like a galaxy. In 2001, the historical epic "Kangxi Dynasty", which occupied the prime-time slot of 8 pm and sparked countless hot discussions, officially started filming!

  As the opening ceremony came to an end, reporters swarmed in, and even if it wasn't a CCTV big production, just the appearance of Chen Daoming and Gong Li alone was worth more ink.

  "May I ask, Mr. Chen, how did you decide to take on the role of Kangxi? And how did China Entertainment choose you to portray Kangxi?"

  "Mr. Chen, how confident are you about playing Kangxi well?"

  "Ms. Shi Qiong Xia, what's your view on the role of Empress Xiaozhuang that you portrayed?"

  "Mr. Gao Lan Chun, what do you think about Ming Xiang?"

  Various inquiries, in front of each leading actor were seven or eight microphones, cameras facing them. They spoke freely. Lin Xiao smiled slightly, feeling a bit bitter, thinking that he had filmed so many before, at the start of filming, not to mention seeing no shadows of reporters, sometimes even the opening ceremony was omitted directly.

  But then a surge of hot blood came up again, just like when he first crossed over. If others can do it, he can too! The red carpet show in a few years will definitely have his figure!

  "Mr. Lin? Is it Mr. Lin?" Just as he was lost in thought, a reporter had already walked up to him.

  "Yes." How could a nobody like me be interviewed by a reporter?

  The reporter, however, was excited as if he had been injected with chicken blood, and immediately picked up his notebook, firing off questions like a machine gun: "I'm an entertainment reporter, can you tell me how you thought of entering the film industry after Crystal Boys disbanded? And Song Qingming, who renewed his contract with Tian Guang, also set out on the path to enter the film industry - is this just a coincidence?"

  "Whoosh!" In an instant, the reporters next to him were like sharks smelling blood, and upon hearing this remark, they immediately swarmed over. Within a few seconds, four or five reporters had gathered in front of Lin Xiao, with a trend that rivaled the main actor!

  The main actors are all old-timers who have been mixed for decades, and they can't dig up any valuable news. On the contrary, Lin Xiao's identity plus age, stirring up a bit, might just be a big news.

  "Hmph, someone actually fancies him with this look? These people are really blind." Not far away, Liu Songde and several others were standing by, looking clean and tidy. Seeing the reporter rush over to Lin Xiao's side, they let out a dissatisfied hum.

  "Whatever, maybe others are just backed by investors and have a pretty face? You see the muscles are not bad, I heard that this time there is an investor who is a rich woman, and someone else has a good relationship with her." The person next to him also said sarcastically.

  "What's there to envy? You have that kind of relationship too, go try it out. Maybe others' rich wives aren't satisfied yet either."

  "Who's envious?" Liu Songde said with a sarcastic smile, "Hey, Huang Xiao, aren't you supposed to have scenes with his opponent? I'd love to see how the up-and-coming actor gets outperformed by the veteran and what expression the director will have on his face."