[Ding! Host has completed filming for The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate and received unanimous acclaim. You may choose from the following rewards.]
[1. Mastery of Xingyiquan.]
[2. Mastery of Bajiquan.]
[3. Peak-level understanding of the role of a eunuch.]
Chen Ming had wondered earlier if there would be another reward after filming wrapped. He had assumed that since the system didn't appear on the day of the wrap, there wouldn't be one. Who would have guessed it would show up now?
"System, do I have to choose now?"
"The host may choose the reward at any time."
He had no idea what his next project would be, and since he wasn't exactly aiming to be an action star, these martial arts skills didn't seem particularly useful at the moment. As for the peak-level understanding of a eunuch character... Chen Ming was terrified that if he kept acting, he’d go down this road and never be able to turn back.
Would he be remembered in film history as the "Progenitor of Eunuchs"?
The ultimate, peerless, chosen eunuch?
That didn't sound very appealing either.
He decided to hold off on the reward for now.
...
Looking at the many dilapidated buildings in Hengdian, Chen Ming felt as if he had truly returned home. After getting used to eating dust at the Hebei Film Base, even the air here felt sweet to breathe.
Inside a local chicken stew restaurant, Dajin and Chen Ming sat opposite each other, guarding a steaming pot.
"The other side agreed. They’ve asked me to head over in the next couple of days. They’re in a rush, acting like they want to start filming before the New Year. With less than three months left, I don’t know what they’re panicking about."
Dajin took a sip of liquor and continued, "Little brother, this time your big brother has put half his net worth on the line."
Chen Ming was stunned. "You haven't made a bad living these past two years, have you?"
"Bah, it's all hard-earned money, damn it. Compared to those other extras coordinators, it’s nothing."
Chen Ming believed him. Although Dajin didn't take a smaller cut than the others, he was decent to the extras under his care. If he saw someone struggling, he’d lend a hand. He also generally didn't deal with actresses, which was a double-edged sword—he had fewer female extras working for him.
Because many people come here specifically for that, and if you don't play that game, they won't stick with you. This industry is truly bizarre.
"I’ve got the money ready."
As Chen Ming spoke, he pushed a card across to Dajin. The latter glanced at the bank card in his hand and laughed, "Aren't you afraid I'll clear the account and run?"
"Can a monk run away from the temple?"
"Hahaha!"
Dajin laughed as he accepted the card, then said seriously, "I expect you won't be able to rest at home for long. Once the investment is finalized, they’ll definitely want you to audition, so you need to be prepared."
"Don't worry," Chen Ming said confidently. He had studied the character Wang Yiyang from Love Is Not Blind. The character’s mannerisms were a bit effeminate, and he knew his system could come in handy for that.
"As long as you’ve got a plan, that’s fine. Just keep taking gigs here for now, and I’ll remote-control things for you. You’ve bumped up your market rate, you know. Do you know how much you make per shift... wait, no, per day?"
"…Big brother, have you been sneaking off to the entertainment district again?"
"Don't interrupt! You're now at 2,800 a day, man. A regular stuntman only gets 460 a day."
Dajin poured drinks for both of them, continuing with excitement, "Even if this doesn’t work out—phooey, phooey, phooey, I mean even if it doesn't, you’ll still make a good sum."
Chen Ming didn't care about his slip of the tongue and raised his glass with a smile, "Then I'll wait here for your good news."
It wasn't that Chen Ming didn't want to go to Beijing with Dajin, but after the wrap party for The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate, Tsui Hark had recommended him to a production crew, telling him to stay in Hengdian and wait for an audition. No matter how much Chen Ming asked, Tsui Hark kept his lips sealed, only telling him to make sure he seized the opportunity.
Chen Ming thought about it carefully. Tsui Hark recommending him was likely because of his martial arts skills. He ran through the films released over the last two years in his mind, trying to calculate the timeline, but he couldn't figure out which upcoming film would be suitable for him.
After hanging around Hengdian for a few days, during which he took one small job, he finally received a phone call.
"Is this Mr. Chen Ming?"
The voice on the phone had a distinct Hong Kong accent. Chen Ming knew immediately that this must be the crew Tsui Hark had mentioned.
"Hello, hello, this is Chen Ming."
"Are you free tomorrow morning? Come for an audition at the China World Trade Center. I'll text you the details later."
"Uh..."
Chen Ming paused, wondering, *Is this a legitimate production crew?* Usually, crews announce themselves right away; who acts as secretive as you guys? Still, out of trust for Tsui Hark, Chen Ming agreed.
"Okay, is there anything I need to prepare?"
"No, just show up."
It was a good thing scams weren't as rampant now, or Chen Ming would have thought he was being set up.
The next day, Chen Ming woke up early and rushed to the China World Trade Center. He crouched by the stairs, eating a steamed bun in one hand and drinking soy milk in the other. While eating, he dialed the number from yesterday.
"Hey, Director, hello, this is Chen Ming."
"Right, right, I've arrived."
"Alright, I'm heading up now."
He finished his breakfast in a few quick bites, threw the trash into a nearby bin, and walked into the hotel. While in the elevator, he used the reflection to tidy himself up.
"Chen Ming, right? Just call me A-jun."
A young man with a side-parted hairstyle and white-framed glasses, who looked rather flamboyant, met Chen Ming at the elevator lobby.
"Yeah, I'm Chen Ming, hello, hello."
"You're the first one here. The director happened to wake up early today, so he let you come up first."
As they spoke, they walked toward the end of the hallway. Unlike the casting process for The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate, where the crew would hang A4 papers on the doors of the rooms they were using, there was very little signage here—rarely did anyone act this mysterious.
This style...
Chen Ming had a guess, though he didn't quite dare believe it.
"Director!"
The young man knocked on the door and, after receiving permission, pushed it open to enter the conference room. Chen Ming followed him in and saw many people sitting inside. At the head of the table sat a square-faced man wearing sunglasses.
Chen Ming recognized him instantly, and his heart began to race.
Wong Kar-wai! Damn, it really was the man who was essentially one with his sunglasses. No wonder the whole crew was being so mysterious; that was exactly his style.
And to call him at this specific time...
There was only one possibility.
"Hello, directors, I'm Chen Ming..."
Chen Ming quickly calmed his racing heart. This was his home turf; he had auditioned in many hotel conference rooms as an extra, and he was well-used to it. The only thing he felt slightly awkward about was adding the recently filmed The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate to his self-introduction.
Wearing his glasses, it was impossible to tell if the "Sunglasses King" was even looking at Chen Ming. After his introduction, the room fell into a brief silence. Chen Ming kept his head held high, putting his best state forward under their scrutinizing gazes.
"I heard someone say you're quite good at fighting?" asked a long-faced man who looked quite elderly, sitting next to the Sunglasses King.
"I'm alright," Chen Ming replied honestly.
"Which styles of boxing do you know?" the long-faced man asked, yawning and swinging his leg carelessly.
"Which kind are you looking for? Mainstream ones... I know them all, except for Taiji."
*This hits right where it hurts,* Chen Ming thought. *What do I know? You tell me what you need!*
The long-faced man saw the confidence on the boy's face and revealed a hint of interest. He said casually, "Then let's do Xingyiquan. A-jun, spar with him."
As soon as he finished, a young man who clearly looked like he trained stood up from behind him. He acknowledged the request and strode into the center of the room with a powerful gait, looking at the handsome, "pretty boy" in front of him with disdain.
A-jun cupped his hands in a salute before speaking, "We're doing this for real."
It wasn't his fault for being contemptuous; the guy was just too good-looking. *You’re that handsome, yet you’re here to steal our jobs? What, you think you can be a stuntman after learning a few flashy moves?*
Chen Ming understood the contempt in his eyes, but he wasn't annoyed. Everything Chen Ming had today was earned through the sweat of his labor, his day-after-day perseverance, and his nights of tireless...
"System! Give me a boost!" he whispered to himself.