It was noon.
Everyone was eating lunch boxes in the rehearsal room.
Chen Feng ate while glancing at his attribute panel.
Host: Chen Feng
Profession: Actor
Level: 1 (7/30)
Activated Character Templates: Addict, Chef, Rich Second Generation, Domestic Abuser, Arrogant Man, Prison Gambler, Kunqu Opera Performer.
Personal Skills: Sound Discrimination Skill, Play Cards As You Wish, Supreme Cheating Technique.
Item Bar: None
It's getting richer and richer.
Seven characters activated, still far from the goal of 30.
But Chen Feng was not in a hurry.
Just slowly experience it.
Life was becoming more and more interesting.
Suddenly, the door of the rehearsal room was pushed open.
Liu Tianchi stood at the doorway, his eyes sweeping around before landing on Chen Feng's face, and he loudly called out, “Chen Feng, come here.”
“Coming.”
Chen Feng immediately stood up and hurried out.
As soon as he left, the remaining six people in the rehearsal room gathered together and whispered.
“Everyone, Teacher Tianchi seems to really like that Chen Feng.”
“Yeah, could it be that he pulled some strings?”
“You never know.”
“Unfair.”
“Our group is seven into one. If he went through Liu Tianchi’s back door, he’ll definitely advance.”
“Not necessarily. It still depends on the stage effect, right? If you ask me, we won't include him in the afternoon's script rehearsal. Let him go play by himself. Isn't he amazing? So much like a male prostitute. Maybe he really is one in private.”
“Damn, your words are pretty venomous.”
“Li Xiaodan, why aren't you speaking? What are you thinking?”
Li Xiaodan, who had been silent, looked at the five people in front of her, and after a long moment, she shook her head: “He might not have pulled strings. None of us know, so we can't jump to conclusions.”
“Li Xiaodan, aren't you worried about him?”
Li Xiaodan let out a long breath and said, feigning relaxation: “Worrying is useless. At least he really has the ability to portray Bai Xiaonian's feeling. I'll just focus on finding my own feeling.”
After speaking, she turned and left.
She didn't join them.
The remaining five people huddled closer together again.
“Hmph, she's not worried. She got the role of Gu Xiaomeng, so she already has a good chance.”
“Exactly, why pretend to be so noble?”
“Let's five of us team up. In the afternoon rehearsal, we'll practice our lines. We won't include them. Let them do whatever they want. If they're capable, they can advance without acting with us.”
“Okay, it's decided then.”
“Right, right, right, among the five of us, whoever can advance, it's by their own ability. But for those two, let them figure it out themselves.”
“It's decided then.”
The five of them each extended a hand and clasped them together.
A united front was formed.
For the sake of advancing, they stood united against outsiders.
Li Xiaodan, seeing this scene from a distance, sighed helplessly.
Now it was even worse.
The difficulty increased.
Even she was starting to be excluded.
Sigh!
...
Outside the rehearsal room.
Chen Feng followed Liu Tianchi all the way to the second floor of the live broadcast venue and entered a room.
Two people were sitting in the room.
One was the great Director Jiang, and the other was surprisingly Cui Qin, the most famous star teacher at Yan Film Academy.
Chen Feng had seen Cui Qin before.
But during his time at school, Cui Qin probably didn't know Chen Feng.
He didn't expect to see her here today.
Chen Feng quickly greeted her respectfully: “Teacher Cui, hello.”
“Hello, come and sit.”
Cui Qin, with a kind smile, warmly waved to Chen Feng.
Only then did Chen Feng look at Director Jiang and greet him: “Director Jiang, hello.”
“Good, sit.”
Director Jiang was as concise and direct as ever.
So, Chen Feng sat on the sofa nearby.
Liu Tianchi also sat down.
After everyone was seated.
Liu Tianchi spoke first: “Chen Feng, let's get straight to the point. After the last promotion match, Director Jiang took a liking to you.”
Upon hearing this, Chen Feng looked at Director Jiang in surprise.
Director Jiang didn't speak.
He just smiled.
Liu Tianchi continued: “Director Jiang specifically went to Yan Film Academy, found Teacher Cui, and asked her to provide all your performance and grades during your time at school.”
“Teacher Cui also paid close attention to you.”
“You should understand what this means, right?”
“Now, Director Jiang has some questions for you.”
“He hopes to ask them face to face.”
“How about it? Are you interested in talking?”
Chen Feng blinked, looked at Director Jiang, and nodded: “What does Director Jiang want to ask?”
“Chen Feng.”
Director Jiang looked intently into Chen Feng's eyes, and his unique husky voice slowly asked: “I've seen your grades from your time at school. Your cultural courses were outstanding, but your professional courses were average, especially your acting skills.”
“Teacher Cui also thoroughly checked your performance during your time at school.”
“Very ordinary.”
“There was nothing particularly astonishing.”
“After graduation, you've been squatting on sets, working as an extra, am I right?”
Chen Feng nodded: “That's right.”
“Alright then.”
Director Jiang frowned and asked: “I now have a question. Ever since you participated in the variety show 'What is an Actor', the characters you've played have all been brought to life by you.”
“For example, the Addict, for example, the Domestic Abuser.”
“Please forgive my bluntness, but your state in those roles is completely inconsistent with your performance during your time at school.”
“Can you tell me how you achieved such a big transformation?”
Upon hearing this, Chen Feng suddenly understood.
The huge disparity in his acting level before and after might have caused them some suspicion deep down.
Was it truly a natural performance?
Did he really dabble in prohibited substances?
Chen Feng let out a long breath and said indifferently: “Director Jiang, do you know Teacher Song Guohui from Yan Film Academy?”
“I know him.”
Director Jiang nodded.
“Teacher Song once said that being an Actor requires enlightenment. In the acting profession, sweat and hard work alone are not enough; luck and comprehension are also needed.”
“Once enlightened, one naturally understands What is an Actor.”
“Perhaps, I just became enlightened?”
“Anyway, the moment I get a script, I seem to know how I should interpret it.”
“It's that simple.”
After Chen Feng finished speaking, Director Jiang and Cui Qin exchanged glances.
Cui Qin nodded and smiled: “I've also heard Teacher Song's theories. This is part of his unique teaching, and it is indeed very novel.”
“Alright.”
Director Jiang also breathed a sigh of relief.
Then he looked directly at Chen Feng and said: “Chen Feng, I am very interested in you. As you know, my 'Unending Joy' only selects unique actors. So, if you are willing, you can come to me. How about it?”
Cui Qin, who was beside him, said with a smile: “Chen Feng, Director Jiang's olive branch is not just casually extended.”
Liu Tianchi also smiled: “During the entire broadcast of the last episode, nothing like this happened. Chen Feng, Director Jiang is one of the top powerful directors in the country. An opportunity is right in front of you.”
The three of them stared at Chen Feng intently.
Chen Feng fell silent.
If he didn't have the system, he would choose Director Jiang without hesitation.
But the key was, if he didn't have the system, he wouldn't have this kind of authentic acting that felt like a natural performance.
At that time, Director Jiang wouldn't have taken a liking to him.
Signing with a company is undoubtedly the primary goal for every young person with an acting dream.
But Chen Feng couldn't.
Once he signed with a company, his actions would be restricted.
All roles would have to be arranged by the company, greatly reducing his opportunities to experience other characters.
So…
“I'm sorry, Director Jiang. I may… not want to sign with a company for now. I still want to hone myself for a while longer.”
As soon as his words fell, the room immediately became quiet.