Chapter 3: No Background, No Resources, You Can't Make It in the Entertainment Industry

Ling Xiaosu, a student from the 1999 acting class at the Beijing Film Academy.

By the time he graduated, Qi Hui hadn't even enrolled yet.

He came from a family of artists; his grandfather had already picked up a camera to work as a director before the full-scale War of Resistance began.

His grandmother was already an international film queen before Hainan Island was liberated.

His father was a cinematographer at the Xi'an Film Studio, and his mother was a director and producer at the same studio.

His own career development was also quite good; while still in school in 2002, he had already begun collaborating with actors like Yuan Quan and Jiang Shan.

Afterwards, it was one major production every year, and he always played the male lead; he never lacked roles.

He seemed to be a rising star with an unstoppable momentum... until his divorce from the "Flower of Evil," compounded by the impact of his scumbag image in *The Temptation of Going Home*.

Ling Xiaosu took the full brunt of all the negative fallout head-on.

From then on, one could say he was effectively knocked down, while Yao Chen, conversely, became increasingly popular.

Of course, that is a story for another time.

"Senior, it's only been a few years, and you're really becoming more and more popular," Qi Hui said with a smile.

"I watched *The Wrestling King* that you starred in; you acted really well. A Northwest man playing a Shandong man, I couldn't see any flaws at all. And that wrestling—that wasn't real skill, was it?"

"Hahahaha, Junior, you flatter me, you flatter me." Ling Xiaosu was grinning from ear to ear; that was his proudest work, a collaboration with Yan Danchen, who had once played Chang'e.

This junior is not bad; he is good-looking and speaks well.

I like him.

Ding~

[Host has made contact with actor Ling Xiaosu. You have received one lucky draw opportunity. Would you like to draw now?]

Qi Hui’s brows twitched slightly, and he immediately performed the draw.

[Congratulations to the host for obtaining Acting +20 points.]

A radiant smile appeared on Qi Hui’s face, becoming a few degrees more sincere.

"Eh, Junior, you're here... and wearing this outfit..." Ling Xiaosu put aside his internal satisfaction, looking at the white suit on Qi Hui with some surprise, yet also a hint of excitement.

"Forgive me, Senior," Qi Hui said directly. "I heard the male lead for this production hasn't been decided yet, so I came to try out."

"Is that so?" The excitement on Ling Xiaosu’s face grew a bit more intense, and he also spoke plainly: "Actually, I am the male lead they invited."

"Uh..." Qi Hui feigned surprise, looking at Ling Xiaosu with some shock.

Ling Xiaosu said, "Don't be nervous. To tell you the truth, I actually don't like this script, nor do I like the character of Hong Shixian."

"Let's go in and audition together in a moment. I'll introduce you to the director and let the director choose for himself," Ling Xiaosu continued.

The implication was clear: he didn't lack roles, and he couldn't bring himself to like this current character.

To him, this production was a hot potato.

But since he had already given his word, it wouldn't be good to refuse outright.

So, he was willing to provide an opportunity.

As for whether he could land the role, that would depend on Qi Hui’s own ability.

"Many thanks, Senior, I understand!" Qi Hui said gratefully; he knew he had just picked up a golden opportunity.

Regardless of whether it worked out, he had to remember this favor.

Ling Xiaosu smiled and waved his hand: "Don't mention it."

He also had his own calculations: if it worked out, he would be rid of the hot potato and earn a favor.

If it didn't, he had already prepared to perform before coming, so he wouldn't lose anything.

Either way, he wasn't losing out.

"Could we add one more person?" Qi Hui’s eyes darted, and he pointed to Zhang Ruoyun not far away:

"He’s also from our Beijing Film Academy, a junior from the '07 class."

"Oh... eh?" Ling Xiaosu took a look, and without needing Qi Hui to introduce him, he said in surprise: "Isn't this little Zhang from the old Zhang family?"

Zhang Ruoyun’s father, Zhang Jian, was also a well-known director and producer in the industry.

Although Ling Xiaosu hadn't met him, he had heard of him a few times; after all, his business with Liu Bei had caused quite a stir.

Getting married and divorced, then divorced and remarried—it was such a huge commotion that it would be hard not to know.

"Hello, Senior, I've heard my dad talk about you." Zhang Ruoyun walked over quickly and greeted him.

"That’s perfect, let’s go in together then?" Ling Xiaosu’s eyes lit up; it seemed the probability of him not having to act in this production had greatly increased.

"No, no, no need." Little Zhang quickly waved his hands: "My dad put together a production and made me the third lead, so I won't get involved here."

The show was *Snow Leopard*, with Wen Zhang as the lead and himself as the third lead.

"Ahem... if only I and little Qi go in, there’s a high probability it won't work out," Ling Xiaosu coughed twice and said.

"We go in together to share the firepower," Qi Hui explained.

Ling Xiaosu had been chosen by the producer and director; if he just dragged himself in, the producer would definitely look at him with displeasure.

But if there were a third person, the probability of the matter succeeding would be much higher.

"Hmm... the junior is right," Ling Xiaosu was somewhat surprised.

He was surprised that Qi Hui understood his meaning so quickly.

This didn't look like a student who had just graduated.

"Uh... alright, but actually, I don't really like this male lead role either," Zhang Ruoyun said.

He had read the script; the male lead was a playboy who wavered between two women—a scumbag.

He didn't like such a character at all; it was too unfaithful.

The thing he hated most was unfaithful people!

"Who doesn't?" Ling Xiaosu shrugged.

He didn't lack male lead roles, nor did he lack work, and he truly didn't like this character.

Moreover, the main parts of this show were for the first and second female leads.

The male lead... one couldn't say he was dispensable, but one could say he wasn't that important.

If it weren't for the fact that the producer’s sincerity was too great (promising high pay), he wouldn't have agreed.

Qi Hui: "..."

So willful... sure enough, without a background or resources, you can't make it in the entertainment industry!

In a room, the production’s producer Wu Zhuji, director Lin Tianyi, as well as the assistant director, screenwriter, female lead Choo Ja-hyun, and her manager were all waiting in the room.

They were waiting for the arrival of the show’s male lead.

"Why hasn't he come yet?" The producer looked at his watch and couldn't help but frown.

The director, however, was expressionless; he was actually somewhat displeased that the audition was being treated as a mere formality.

Which director doesn't want to find an actor who fits the character?

Which director doesn't want to make their show better?

Yet, such an important matter as an audition was actually just a formality.

This was even his first time seeing the male lead.

But there was no help for it; the production was put together by others, and he was just a hired hand.

Knock, knock, knock~

At this moment, a knock on the door sounded.

The producer’s eyes lit up, and he said in a deep voice: "Please come in."

With a creak, the door was pushed open.

Walking in, however, was a young man in a white suit, handsome and dashing.

Director Lin Tianyi and the female lead Choo Ja-hyun’s eyes immediately lit up. Was this the male lead?

That’s not bad at all!

Ding~

[Host has made contact with actor Choo Ja-hyun. You have received one lucky draw opportunity. Would you like to draw now?]

The system sounded again. Qi Hui’s brows twitched slightly, his gaze sweeping unobtrusively over Choo Ja-hyun to the side.

"Draw."

[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the skill: Korean Language.]

Qi Hui subconsciously pursed his lips, feeling somewhat speechless.

Every time he made contact with an actor, he got a draw, but the things he drew didn't seem to have anything to do with the actors.

"This gentleman, you are..." The producer frowned slightly and asked.

"Producer, he is my junior," at this moment, Ling Xiaosu smiled and walked into the room with Zhang Ruoyun.

Ling Xiaosu introduced him: "Beijing Film Academy acting class of '05, Qi Hui."

"Hello, Producer, hello, Director," Qi Hui greeted with a smile.

The director smiled and nodded.

Choo Ja-hyun, meanwhile, silently sized up Qi Hui.

"Beijing Film Academy acting class of '07, Zhang Ruoyun," Ling Xiaosu continued to introduce.

"Hello, Producer, hello, Director," Zhang Ruoyun greeted with a smile.

The producer was confused: "This is..."

"Isn't the male lead not decided yet?" Ling Xiaosu laughed: "The three of us have come to audition."

"Later, whichever one you take a fancy to, just pick it; please don't stand on ceremony with me."

The producer understood what he meant; his old habit of not wanting to act was acting up again.

Immediately, the producer frowned: "This isn't what we agreed upon..."

"Eh, since you're already here, there's no harm in trying it out," Director Lin Tianyi said, "Doesn't the final decision still rest in your hands?"

He could see that the originally cast male lead didn't really want to perform.

This was not strange; the male lead of this drama, while called the male lead, was actually a supporting role meant to play opposite the female lead and the second female lead.

The most important roles were still the female lead and the second female lead.

Hearing this, and looking at Ling Xiaosu's cheeky grin, the producer nodded slowly.

That was true; he could decide whoever he wanted for the male lead.

"Since that's the case, then let's have a tryout," the producer said, giving face to the director and Ling Xiaosu.

However... no matter how the tryout went, it was just a formality anyway.