Chapter 1: Ten Years, System Loading Complete!

"I never thought I’d stand here today, and I want to sincerely thank Director Qi Jian for choosing me to play the lead in 'The Dog'..."

Qi Hao choked up as he delivered his acceptance speech on stage.

He won the Best Actor award at the 26th Golden Rooster Awards for his role in the film 'The Dog'.

He became the youngest Best Actor in Golden Rooster history.

The audience below smiled as they listened.

But as Qi Hao spoke, he suddenly froze.

He stayed frozen for over ten seconds, nearly turning it into a stage disaster.

Fortunately, he regained his composure in time.

"Thank you to the screenwriter, thank you to my family, thank you to everyone—I’m truly overwhelmed. My acceptance speech is over."

I fucking shit you!

Why now? Why the hell now—right when I’m giving my acceptance speech as Best Actor, the most important moment of my life...

System loading completed!

Qi Hao was furious not just because of the timing, but because this system had been loading for ten years.

He was fifteen that year.

Just out of junior high, he’d inexplicably received a "Big Star System."

He was insanely excited back then.

Ignoring his family’s objections, he packed a bag and headed straight to the capital to break into the entertainment industry.

He was waiting for the system to launch him to the peak of his life.

But the system kept loading—day after day, year after year, three years, then another three years.

It’s been ten whole years and it’s still loading!

Ten years!

Do you even know how I’ve lived these past ten years?

In August 1997, he joined the set of 'Goodbye Mr. Loser' and began his career as a background extra.

He later appeared as a bit player in numerous films and TV dramas: 'Water Margin,' 'Tai Chi Master,' 'Emperor Kangxi’s Secret Missions,' 'Heavenly Bath,' 'The Assassin of Qin.'

It wasn’t until 2000 that he gained attention playing Qiao Ling’er in 'Journey to the West: The Sequel,' finally landing significant roles.

Since then, he starred in popular TV dramas like 'Wrong Wedding, Right Husband,' 'Young Bao Qingtian 2,' and 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes.'

He also appeared in films like 'Black and White Forest,' 'Seven Swords,' and 'Qing Hong.'

In 2003, Qi Hao was named one of the "Four Little Kings" of the mainland entertainment industry alongside Huang Xiaoming, Nie Yuan, and Tong Dawei.

This time, with 'The Dog,' he finally claimed the Best Actor crown, pulling ahead of the other four little kings.

He may not yet be at the absolute peak of the industry, but among his peers, he’s already unbeatable.

You fucking lizard-eating system, I’m already a big star—what the hell do I need you for?

But the system didn’t stop just because Qi Hao despised it.

【This system upholds the principle of customer-first service, striving to design the most rational path to fame for the host】

【In addition to daily training functions, it will assign main storyline tasks】

【Completing tasks yields substantial rewards】

【Of course, failure to complete them brings minor penalties】

【Task now being issued】

【Task One: Play a one-line background extra role. Difficulty: Two stars. Deadline: 15 days】

【Reward for completion: Acting +10, script 'That Man, That Mountain, That Dog'】

【Penalty for failure: Three electric shocks】

Oh oh oh, oh your fucking head—I told you I don’t want it, and you still go “oh~ oh~ oh~” like you don’t care if I can take it!

Playing a one-line background extra? This task is way too easy.

But when he saw the system’s reward, Qi Hao’s head went buzzing.

'That Man, That Mountain, That Dog'!

This script must be a masterpiece.

The film earned Teng Rujun the Golden Rooster Best Actor, the Student Film Festival Best Actor, and made 19-year-old Liu Ye a star overnight—it earned him a Golden Rooster Best Supporting Actor nomination, caught the eye of the director of 'Blue Gate Crossing,' and eventually led to his Golden Horse Best Actor award.

From April to October 2001, the film grossed over 350 million yen in Japan, surpassing 'My Father and My Mother' to become the highest-grossing Chinese film in Japan.

By November 2003, its global box office exceeded 60 million RMB.

A resounding success in both critical acclaim and box office!

But!

But this fucking thing is a 1999 movie!

I thought the system was going to drop a big one, but it just shit a huge one!

If the system were right here, Qi Hao would strangle it dead—eight years after its release, you’re handing me this now?

And you still have the nerve to say “customer-first service.”

I think you’re trying to drive your customer insane so you can inherit his Best Actor trophy.

Qi Hao originally planned to ignore this damn system.

But he discovered the task had a penalty: three electric shocks.

Electric shocks. Three times.

Why don’t you shock yourself?

Does it hurt? No, being shocked should feel numb...

Fuck, whether it’s numb or painful, I don’t want to get shocked at all—who knows if it’s high voltage?

After the film awards ceremony ended, the newly crowned Best Actor Qi Hao instantly became the center of attention.

Being a Best Actor alone isn’t that special.

Every year, countless award shows produce a Best Actor; over time, the number of Best Actors piles up endlessly.

Not every Best Actor reaches the peak of the industry.

Take Xia Yu, who starred in Jiang Wen’s 'In the Heat of the Sun' and won the Venice Best Actor, Golden Rooster Best Actor, and Student Film Festival Best Actor—now he’s practically nonexistent.

Qi Hao is different.

Qi Hao is a popular heartthrob and a Best Actor.

For young actors to enter the ranks of popular heartthrobs, it’s not just about their works—it’s about extraordinary looks.

Among all the "Four Little Kings," Qi Hao was unquestionably the most handsome.

And this stunningly handsome rising star actually has acting talent—can you believe it?

As long as he doesn’t do anything stupid, his future is limitless.

So every director and popular star rushed to talk to him, asking about his upcoming projects, looking for collaboration opportunities.

But Qi Hao couldn’t feel happy.

"Haozi, why do you look so down?" his agent noticed, asking with concern as he drove.

"Lao Tian, help me find a... uh..."

Qi Hao suddenly didn’t know how to say it—he’d just won Best Actor, and now he was about to ask his agent to find him a background extra role, one with only a single line, not even one extra word.

One extra word and I walk off set!

His agent would probably think he was insane.

In fact, he himself thought he was insane—no one else could possibly understand.

"Is something wrong?" Lao Tian saw his grim expression and immediately tensed up.

Over the past few years, the entertainment industry’s atmosphere had grown worse.

Many stars lived chaotic private lives—not just secretly eating chicken, some even had two or three mistresses, and some sought thrills with men.

Could this bastard Qi Hao be going down that path?

You can despise my profession, but don’t insult my integrity.

I’m a respectable agent.

"Help me find a..."

Fuck, it was just too hard to say.

How could he make his agent not think he was crazy?

"Haozi, I think you should get a girlfriend. Those outside options are unhealthy, and I don’t even have connections to find you any poultry!"

Lao Tian’s face fell like he was about to kneel before his master.

Look—

Look at me—do I look like someone who eats chicken?

Am I the kind of guy who can’t afford two hundred yuan but can summon seven or eight girls?

"I fucking—find me a background extra!" Qi Hao now wanted to kill not just the system, but his agent too.

Lao Tian was great in every way—except he was born without a conscience, destined to be beaten.

"What kind of scheme?" Agent Lao Tian hadn't heard clearly.