Chapter One: Unfulfilled Ambition

  Lin Xiao, who was surrounded by reporters, found that the other party's questions were all about the Crystal Boy and his relationship with Song Qingming, and immediately understood what they meant.

  He's been in this circle for so many years, if he can't even handle a journalist, then he might as well be dead.

  "It's just a coincidence," he said with a smile, although he dislikes hype, but what he dislikes is rumor-mongering, this kind of normal hype, any star wouldn't mind. "The three of us had a good relationship in the group. Although we disbanded in the end, we also kept in touch often. Recently he seems to be very busy, I didn't even know he switched to the film and television industry."

  "Mr. Lin, Song Qingming has recently received an audition from Mr. Li Youbing that he will never give up on. I'd like to ask for your opinion on this."

  This is a typical provocation. Lin Xiao thought for a moment and said "I congratulate him, he can take off quickly on this starting line."

  "However, the cost of never giving up is not as high as during the Kangxi Emperor's reign. I wonder if some undesirable situations will occur when competing for CCTV's 8 o'clock slot?"

  "We are just actors, the success or failure of the script is on the shoulders of the screenwriter and director. So even if next year 'Never Give Up' and 'Kangxi Dynasty' compete for CCTV's broadcast rights at the same time, I don't have any decision-making power." Lin Xiao said with a smile, but he knew that next year's 8pm slot belongs to 'Kangxi Dynasty'.

  The reporter was stunned, no one had expected that Lin Xiao, a 20-year-old boy, would answer so flawlessly. Logically speaking, he should have been furious with Song Qingming for being kicked out of the house, but instead he became calm and composed, leaving them unsure of how to write about it.

  But a journalist's nature is such that if they don't dig up what they want, they will definitely keep circling around for at least 100 days.

  "Mr. Lin, I heard that you joined Huaxia Entertainment Company. And you've never acted in a movie before. Yet this time you got such a great role! Can you tell me how you got it?"

  In an instant, all the reporters' ears perked up, and even some of the "meat background" actors who were not being interviewed looked over.

  "Are you satisfied? Let's see how he responds." Liu Songde sneered, "Does he dare to say loudly: I am the one who rose to power?"

  "Haha, now the news is out."

  "Hehe, don't say that, maybe tomorrow someone will come out and settle this matter."

  This question really stumped Lin Xiao. He wasn't unable to speak, but rather what he said would be overly flattering to Chen Ming, which was a bit too much, a typical case of making a tiger out of a straw man. These reporters were masters at weaving tales and wouldn't go easy on him.

  "The role of Yu Zhuo is mine." Just then, a familiar voice rang out "Fourteen brothers, all over 18 years old, have appeared. They are all personally selected by me, because they need to play with me, I must review them one by one."

  At this critical moment, it was Chen Daoming who came to his rescue!

  He threw a grateful glance, Chen Daoming nodded slightly and continued to say to the reporter "His acting skills are very good. Looks like an old actor, I think he should have no problem playing the role of Da Ge."

  After a few turns in his mind, he immediately understood why the other party would help him out, and it wasn't because they looked up to him. Chen Daoming had many juniors who looked up to him, at least after breaking through the newcomer wall, let alone being an actor, otherwise it was just hurting Zhong Yong. He hadn't felt good about himself to that extent yet.

  However, Ah Ge was chosen by Chen Dao Ming himself, and many people in the crew knew about it. He didn't say anything, perhaps others would, so he might as well save face for himself; with his status, no one dared to continue asking questions.

  As for not mentioning his name, Chen Daoming probably wouldn't even remember who he is.

  "What?! Chen Lao's chosen him?! Liu Songde and the four or five people around him looked as if they had swallowed a dead child. 'And Chen Lao even publicly praised his acting skills?'"

  Dead silence, no one responded to his words.

  After a long time, a voice finally sounded "Liu Ge... I think, the task of suppressing him should be done by you... Don't you also have a scene to act against him? I'm afraid I don't have such good acting skills... can't carry him."

  Liu Songde almost slapped him in the face.

  He still endured it, silently cursing the ancestors of these people for eighteen generations. Weren't they happy when they were scolding just now? Why did they all become mute after hearing Old Chen speak up?

  "Hmph, I'd like to see how much real talent this kid has!" He said viciously and turned around to leave.

  It was unbearable here, and several people felt like they had been slapped in the face. After he left, they dispersed one after another.

  Chen spoke up and the other reporters let Lin Xiao off the hook, knowing they couldn't get anything out of him. They then turned their attention back to the main character again.

  Lin Xiao let out a sigh of relief and had just walked out the door when he saw CAMI standing there looking at him with an air of leisure.

  "What?"

  "Not bad." CAMI snapped his fingers. "You should learn from Li Hao when dealing with reporters, you're much better than him. The other day a reporter asked if he had a girlfriend and he turned bright red, getting laughed at for half the day."

  "Is he all right?" Lin Xiao asked Li Hao, treating him as his own brother.

  "It's nothing, but you'd better make a phone call to comfort him." CAMI took out a notebook and flipped through it "Didn't you say you wanted to take the role of 'Never Giving Up'? Unfortunately, your rival Song Qingming has already taken it. Tian Guang is very powerful, he's the second male lead."

  She closed the book. "However, this also means that this play should not be aimed at CCTV's 8 o'clock slot. Otherwise, the second lead position would not have been settled so easily. What I want to remind you is that if you take on this play, you will definitely meet Song Qingming."

  "I know," Lin Xiao said calmly. "We're all artists, it's nothing if we bump into each other."

  "Oh? Hope you're consistent inside and out. Also, in the future, whenever a reporter asks about you and Song Qingming, as well as your past combination, just respond like this with Tai Chi."

  Lin Xiao smiled and didn't continue speaking. He just clenched his fists tightly.

  Never give up? Alright, he didn't have it as easy as Song Qingming, who smoothly and effortlessly walked past the newcomer wall, but he absolutely won't give up, he wants to meet his opponent again on this different battlefield!

  At 12:00 pm, the opening ceremony ended, and what was left was a banquet. At the same time, the schedule was also handed over to them.

  Lin Xiao roughly scanned it, his play is not much, within a month it will be settled smoothly. Moreover, the Kangxi dynasty started with a six-year-old ascension to the throne, capturing Ao Bai, and pacifying the three feudatories, and only then did the prince's play appear. His play has been scheduled until August.

  Before this, he must find something to do.

  At this moment, "ding" sounded again, and the system voice came on "Branch task: Signing with Kangxi Dynasty completed. Reward acting skills 50 points."

  "Whoosh!" His retinas flashed again with his stats, the numbers jumping one by one. His acting skills had reached 268 points!

  Only 32 points away! He can enter C-level acting. However, overall, he still hasn't broken through the D-level actor.

  He added 50 points to his mind, and he already had some new insights into the play. If there was no work, he would just stay here and watch a few old actors' plays! Especially Sichen Gao's performance with Chen Daoming, it was like a fire hitting the earth!

  Unfortunately, his idea did not last long.

  It all started with the struggle between young Kangxi and Ao Bai, Yao Chen's Ao Bai was also played quite well, on the other hand, young Kangxi was just a child star, and was far inferior. Many times he was led by Ao Bai, and even once in the Golden Temple, he was so frightened that he was stunned, and had to be comforted by the crew for a long time.

  He actually learned a lot from his opponent's acting skills. In one week, he unexpectedly triggered three +1 acting skill prompts, which was an unexpected surprise.

  Just after he had been studying crazily for a week, CAMI's phone call came quickly. "Half of your signing fee has arrived, 2,000. The company takes 40%. I've looked at your schedule and you're free in August. I've arranged an appearance for you on Hunan TV's Happy Camp, it's not a bad show. Next month there will be several film academy students appearing on their show, I plan to have you and Li Hao go together."

  "Sister Cami, can you stop smoking for 2000 bucks?"

  "This is fair."

  "Alright, when do I set off?" Lin Xiao also didn't care, after all, the company wasn't doing charity.

  "Let's go next week, it's your first time on a variety show, pay attention to what you say. I'll go with you to Changsha then. Let's finalize the usable phrases." CAMI said, and then complained again "Chinese variety shows are really boring, they're too strict with their words, it's not fun at all."

  Lin Xiao laughed and said that it is indeed the case now, but after entering the world next year, this situation will change greatly. Variety shows are coming out one by one, and topics have also become more "spicy".

  A week later, he flew directly to Changsha. CAMI was already waiting for him at Huanghua International Airport.

  "It's my first time on a variety show. China doesn't have stand-up comedy yet. Most of the time, it's just reading from a script, but not entirely, the host needs some skills. The ratings and hosts of Happy Camp are pretty good." Cami explained to Lin Xiao in the car.

  Lin Xiao nodded casually, of course he knew, and even which programs would make him popular. Thinking of this, he said casually "Sister CAMI, are you interested in digging up a few screenwriters to create your own script?"

  "Who?" CAMI glanced at her phone and asked casually.

  "Cheng Wanning." He thought for a moment and added another sentence "Lan Xiaolong, all Liang."

  "Ass!" CAMI stepped on the accelerator heavily, and the speed of the car suddenly exceeded 100. She gritted her teeth and said "I don't talk to madmen."

  Lin Xiao glanced at the speedometer "You're also a madman."