The applause sounded exceptionally abrupt in the quiet studio.
“Director Li, you have a great eye.”
Wang Jin stepped forward, the smile on his face so natural it was as if nothing had happened just now.
“You've really found a treasure.”
“With this performance, forget Zhang Yu—even the award-winning young actors in our company might not have been able to portray it so thoroughly.”
Li Cheng was stunned.
He had already prepared exactly how he was going to lay into them.
But Wang Jin's move completely threw him off.
“Wait... you...”
Wang Jin waved his hand, putting on a magnanimous front.
“The new generation surpasses the old, after all.”
“As seniors, we should be nothing but happy to see such talented newcomers.”
As he spoke, he even patted Li Cheng on the shoulder, his tone as sincere as could be.
“Let this young brother play this role.”
“Our Zhang Yu simply lacked the skill. I'll make him reflect on this when we go back.”
Then, his tone shifted.
Wang Jin turned back to look at Zhang Yu, his gaze instantly turning cold.
“What are you standing there for?”
“Apologize to Director Li.”
“Go back and copy 《An Actor Prepares》 a hundred times.”
Zhang Yu's face was incredibly unsightly.
But since Wang Jin had spoken, how could he dare to talk back?
He could only grit his teeth and bow to Li Cheng.
“Director Li, I'm sorry.”
After this sequence of moves, Li Cheng's pent-up anger was forcefully choked back.
Not only did they admit defeat, but they also took the opportunity to praise Jiang Yue.
They had given him plenty of face.
One couldn't slap a smiling face.
For a moment, it was really hard for Li Cheng to continue scolding them.
He had to admit that Wang Jin, this old fox, truly knew how to handle social situations.
Just moments ago, he was using the contract to pressure them.
Now, seeing that the tables had turned, he immediately pivoted.
It was all about making a graceful exit.
Right then, Jiang Yue walked up to them.
He ignored the undercurrents between Li Cheng and Wang Jin.
Nor did he care about Zhang Yu's face, which looked as though he was about to suffer internal injuries from holding back his anger.
He took out his phone and smoothly opened his WeChat payment screen.
“Director Li.”
“Do you think this footage is usable?”
“We agreed on five thousand yuan earlier. Can we settle the payment now?”
Li Cheng snapped out of it. Looking at Jiang Yue's calm, “the job is done, pay up” attitude, he was almost amused to the point of laughter.
After acting in a scene like that, any other actor would be waiting for praise.
But he was something else.
His very first reaction was to pull up his payment QR code.
Yet, truth be told...
...this contrast was actually quite endearing.
Li Cheng waved his hand grandly.
“Settle it! Of course we'll settle it!”
After saying that, he added solemnly, “Jiang Yue, listen to me.”
“This five thousand is your fee for stepping in to save the day today.”
“This character's code name in the show is ‘Ghost’. He's the core villain of the first arc, and there are about seven or eight scenes left.”
“If you're willing to play him, we'll sign a formal actor's contract.”
“We'll package your salary according to the market rate for newcomers.”
“One hundred thousand after taxes!”
One hundred thousand!
In the studio, quite a few actors and staff members gasped.
Although it was an important supporting role...
...offering one hundred thousand after taxes to a complete newcomer was already very fair.
It was even on the higher side.
It seemed Director Li truly wanted to keep him.
Jiang Yue's heart also skipped a beat.
One hundred thousand.
This was no small sum.
What he lacked most right now was money.
Rent, living expenses, a place to settle down after graduation—every single one of them required money.
However, his expression remained perfectly steady, and he merely nodded.
“Sure.”
The two words were spoken crisply.
Li Cheng seeing him agree, his mind felt completely at ease.
He immediately took out his phone to scan the code.
Soon, a notification chimed.
“WeChat payment received: five thousand yuan.”
Jiang Yue put away his phone, feeling in a rather good mood.
Adding the one thousand from before...
...he had earned six thousand in a single day.
And this was just the fee for his trouble.
The real bulk of the money was yet to come.
Jiang Yue picked up his tool bag and nodded to Li Cheng and Qin Shuang next to him.
“A pleasure working with you.”
With that, he turned and walked out.
Qin Shuang stared at his retreating back, a complex look in her eyes.
A computer science college student.
Someone who had just come to fix the server temporarily.
Yet, he had delivered such an outstanding performance in front of the camera.
This guy was definitely not simple.
Wang Jin also watched Jiang Yue's back, a glint of shrewdness appearing in his eyes.
This kid didn't have an agency.
No agent.
He wasn't even officially an actor.
Wang Jin withdrew his gaze, turned to Li Cheng, and smiled.
“Director Li, we won't disturb you any further then.”
“Let's grab tea sometime when you're free and talk about Director Xu's project.”
With that, he pulled the unwilling Zhang Yu along and turned to leave the studio.
As they stepped out of the studio hangar, the setting sun cast its glow on the bluestone pavement of Donghai Film and Television City.
The slanted rays of light stretched their shadows long.
Jiang Yue pulled out his phone and took another look at the six thousand yuan balance in his WeChat.
He couldn't help but let the corners of his mouth curl upward.
For a graduating senior, this money was earned far too easily.
What did it mean to make a trip worthwhile?
This was exactly it.
He had only walked a few steps forward when a sudden rush of footsteps sounded behind him.
“Teacher Jiang!”
“Teacher Jiang, please wait!”
Jiang Yue turned around.
He saw the casting associate director, Old Wu, jogging up to him.
He was clutching a tablet in his hand, panting for breath.
Just two hours ago, Old Wu had still been calling him “that computer repair guy.”
Now, look at him.
He had been directly upgraded to “Teacher Jiang.”
Jiang Yue was still a bit unaccustomed to it and smiled.
“Director Wu, just call me Jiang Yue.”
“Oh, how could I do that?”
Old Wu's attitude was incredibly enthusiastic.
“In our crew, capability comes first.”
“Everyone saw your two scenes today.”
As he spoke, he handed over the tablet.
“Director Li asked me to show you the digital contract and your call sheet for tomorrow.”
“Also, let's add each other on WeChat. I'll send you the rest of the script.”
Jiang Yue nodded and readily scanned his code.
While sending the files, Old Wu advised, “Teacher Jiang, tomorrow at nine in the morning, same studio. Your role is quite heavy, with plenty of lines. It'll be a bit tough tonight, but please look over it.”
Jiang Yue put away his phone.
“Alright, thank you for your hard work, Director Wu.”
“Don't mention it, don't mention it.”
Old Wu waved his hands repeatedly.
After bidding farewell to Old Wu, Jiang Yue boarded the bus back to school.
Outside the window, the scenery of the film city gradually receded.
Ancient streets, soundstages, prop trucks, and bustling extras were quickly left behind.
Leaning against the window, Jiang Yue summoned the system panel in his mind.
A pale blue screen of light expanded.
【Current Reputation Points: 160】
【Acquired Traits: Refined Scoundrel (Green), Micro-Expression Master (Purple)】
Jiang Yue stared at the panel, his mind quickly calculating.
Today on set, the emotions of Li Cheng, Qin Shuang, Wang Jin, and the rest of the crew had directly given him a massive haul.
What if the show was broadcasted in the future?
Millions, or even tens of millions of viewers sitting in front of their screens, grinding their teeth because of his character, or exclaiming, “This villain actually has some depth.”
How many Reputation Points would he get then?
Just thinking about it made Jiang Yue feel that this path was highly promising.
The direction was already laid out right before him.
The one-hundred-thousand-yuan “part-time job” was originally just to solve his rent issues.
Now, it was different.
This might very well become a stepping stone in his career.
The bus rumbled and swayed its way back to Donghai University.
When he returned to the male dormitory, his roommate Lu Ming was the only one in the room.
Lu Ming was from the School of Journalism and Communication and was very close with Jiang Yue.
He had proper, neat features and wore a pair of black-rimmed glasses.
Right now, he was sitting in front of his computer, clattering away at his keyboard, rushing to meet a deadline without even raising his head.
Hearing the door open, Lu Ming finally raised his head from the screen and pushed up his glasses.
“Brother Yue, you were fixing a crappy server until now?”
“How much did you make? Is it enough to treat me to some barbecue tonight?”
Jiang Yue casually put down his tool bag.
“Made a bit.”
“Call Old Chen later. Skewers are on me.”
Lu Ming's eyes lit up.
“Generous!”
Having said that, the speed of his fingers clattering on the keyboard increased by a few notches.
Jiang Yue didn't disturb him further.
He pulled out a chair, sat down, and opened WeChat.
Old Wu had already sent the files over.
The solo script for “Ghost” in 《Manhunt》.
Rate on N.U.
