Chapter 52: Experiencing a Cultivation Realm Episode

*(Note: The previous chapter has been modified regarding the contract, and the system has applied a patch.)*

Ding!

[To gain recognition from the agency, you must showcase your strength and prove your potential for stardom!]

[Task]: Successfully audition for a leading male role!

Ding!

[Task]: Successfully audition for a leading male role! (Completed)

[Congratulations to the host for receiving the reward — Specific Role Experience Card!]

Ding!

[Your strength has truly astonished the company. They are preparing to pour resources into making you a star, starting with packaging and marketing!]

[Task]: Successfully secure an endorsement with a major brand!

...

A continuous sequence of dinging sounds almost made Chen Jin suspect the system was malfunctioning.

The endless dings were literally giving him a headache.

Only afterward did he realize that he had secured the male lead role of Lao San in *The Hawthorn Tree*, completing three of the system's tasks all at once.

A significant role, signing with an agency, and bagging the male lead!

A direct leap to the finish line!

Thinking about it, it made sense.

The old system initially only required him to successfully secure a significant role, meaning even a supporting part would have sufficed.

Yet he had overachieved, landing the male lead in Zhang Yimou's film.

Probably even the system hadn't anticipated that Chen Jin could soar straight to the top with a single task.

Naturally, the system rewards were exceptionally generous!

A full three Specific Role Experience Cards made Chen Jin want to immediately try out those movies and roles he had previously dared not attempt.

In the past, when he only had one, he had to be extremely thrifty and weigh every option carefully!

But now, with three whole cards in hand, why not take off immediately?

"Ahem!"

Still, Chen Jin was an actor after all, and he possessed at least that much self-control, offering a slight cough to signal his composure.

Once the signatures were dry, Pang Liwei immediately stood up and extended her hand to Chen Jin with a smile: "Chen Jin, welcome to Zhang Yimou Studio! You are the first artist signed directly under Director Zhang!"

"Thank you, Sister Wei, and thank you, Director Zhang, for giving me this opportunity!"

Chen Jin shook Pang Liwei's hand briefly. Pang Liwei smiled and said, "Don't put it that way. Director Zhang auditioned over 5,000 actors; you earned his recognition through your own strength!"

"I will definitely work hard!"

Chen Jin remained modest. Once the contract was signed, Pang Liwei's attitude noticeably shifted, or at least the smile on her face broadened: "You must not tell anyone about this. You'll need to cooperate with the studio's subsequent publicity. Filming begins in the middle of next month; the exact date hasn't been finalized yet, but we'll notify you by phone when the time comes!"

"Understood!"

In fact, the filming schedule and various precautions were all detailed in the performance service contract.

"Your subsequent accommodations, assistants, and so on will all be arranged for you. Make sure to save the phone numbers of Director Zhang, myself, Director Fu, and Director Pu. Director Pu will likely be your manager!"

"..."

Pang Liwei attended to every minute detail. Chen Jin took out his phone and added the contacts one by one.

Director Pu was Pu Lun, the casting director for Zhang Yimou's films. She was currently responsible for casting the female lead in *The Flowers of War*. Chen Jin had seen news about her in future autobiographical films.

New Pictures Film Company had been the first to sue her, causing a massive public uproar that became the talk of the town.

It just went to show that while Director Zhang was top-tier in cinematic capability, running a talent agency was a makeshift operation. Professional matters should be left to professionals, and neither of them had hired professional management teams, which made their eventual lawsuits look rather amateurish.

Yet, for Chen Jin, this was actually quite comfortable. Excessively professional agencies, such as Starmei or Huayi, imposed far stricter regulations on their artists' behaviors, public statements, and daily conduct than other firms.

And of course, being forced to accompany clients for drinks, entertainment, and sleeping around was par for the course.

In this regard, Old Mouzi's setup was much better—not that Chen Jin was trying to put a positive spin on it, but according to court-examined financial records, Pu Lun's lawsuit with New Pictures showed the studio's total artist management revenue for two years was only around 4.7 million.

That kind of money wasn't even enough to cover the gaps between the teeth of executives wining and dining VIPs.

A director like him had no time for such nonsense; in his studio, it was likely just about making movies and occasionally picking up an endorsement.

Commercial performances and events probably had to be booked privately by the actors themselves or their managers.

And with Pu Lun being an assistant director, she was obviously even more of an outsider.

In short, apart from filmmaking, which could genuinely be called professional, the rest of this studio was just pieced together.

"That's pretty much everything!"

"Anyway, if anything comes up, you can call my phone or Sister Pu's, but try not to call Director Zhang!"

"When he works, he's rather... crazy, and doesn't like being disturbed!"

"Understood!"

Holding the two copies of the contract, Chen Jin smiled slightly: "Well, Sister Wei, if there's nothing else, can I take my leave?"

"You may. Just one final warning!"

Pang Liwei's expression turned solemn as she emphasized every single word: "You must never reveal to anyone that you are playing the male lead. Although we haven't signed a non-disclosure agreement yet, you must understand the gravity of this matter!"

As she spoke, Pang Liwei subconsciously glanced at Su Wanyu.

The implication of her "friendly reminder" was self-evident.

"..."

Su Wanyu had actually been thinking of telling Chen Jin's father, but the moment she pictured Chen Xianqi's big mouth, she mentally exclaimed that it had been a close call.

"Understood. I will fully cooperate with the studio's publicity!"

"Right. Actually, it's also for your own good, so you can fully immerse yourself in the filming and avoid being distracted by the media!"

"Mm!"

Pang Liwei escorted Chen Jin and his mother out of the residential complex. Once inside the car, Su Wanyu could no longer hold it in. Just as she was about to speak, Chen Jin hastily intervened: "Mom, don't say a word. I know you're anxious, but hold on for a second and trust your son this once!"

Su Wanyu was clearly worried that Chen Jin was young and inexperienced, suspecting there might be flaws in the contract or wondering why they hadn't hired a lawyer... But the system had already authenticated it; could a lawyer possibly compare to his thoughtful personal steward?

"Sigh, it's not that Mom doesn't trust you, it's that I don't trust these entertainment companies. They all say this industry is treacherous, and I'm afraid you'll get scammed!"

"There are so many traps in contracts... even with Zhang Yimou, you still have to keep your guard up!"

Su Wanyu deliberately softened her tone, afraid of dampening Chen Jin's enthusiasm.

After all, having just landed the male lead in Director Zhang Yimou's new film was undoubtedly a massive cause for celebration.

Yet, if there were any issues with the contract, Su Wanyu would still be deeply worried.

Naturally, she had no idea that Chen Jin possessed a system.

"Mom, cheer up! Your son is the male lead!"

"And a 100,000-yuan salary at that—it matches a whole year of your income! Come on, let me treat you to a grand dinner!"

Chen Jin certainly didn't want to linger on this topic; since his mother didn't know the full situation, the best approach was to let it fade into the background.

Treating his parents to a lavish meal with the first money he ever earned, and buying them some clothes and shoes along the way, was far better and more joyful than anything else.

He understood Su Wanyu's worries, but it was difficult to explain further.

After dining and a shopping spree, the two of them indeed seemed to have put the matter out of their minds.

Tomorrow was the day the Beijing Film Academy secondary examination results would be posted. As soon as Chen Jin returned to the hotel and finished his daily actor's routine, he couldn't wait to use a Specific Role Experience Card to experience the sensation of taking off.

For instance... a Xianxia or Wuxia film!

The main drawback was that the experience card didn't let him control his own movements, which made romancing heroines a bit less fun and immersive, making it a better path to use them for experiencing professional filmmaking instead.

Though he wasn't sure if he could actually learn to leap across roofs and vault over walls, what if he picked up a trick or two?!

Anyway, Chen Jin now had three cards, meaning he could afford to be extravagant.

"Use the Specific Role Experience Card!"

Swish!

Countless movie posters instantly materialized before Chen Jin's eyes.