Chapter 46: Completing the Task in the Entertainment World (2)

Although Lin Yuetian had grandly declared he was searching for clients, in reality, he immediately called the director of that movie, Wei Dawen, without a moment’s delay.

“Who?” Wei Dawen feigned ignorance the moment he picked up the phone.

“It’s me, Lin Yuetian,” Lin Yuetian said. “Not many people should have access to your private number, right?”

“Ah, Yuetian!” Wei Dawen suddenly sounded as if he’d just remembered. “Oh, my memory is so bad! I didn’t react at first, haha—what’s up?”

Lin Yuetian didn’t beat around the bush. He straightforwardly stated that he wanted to play the lead role in that movie. In the past, Wei Dawen would have gladly agreed. But under the current circumstances, with controversies still surrounding Lin Yuetian’s past, Wei Dawen didn’t want to take that risk. It turned out that his relationship with Lin Yuetian’s original body wasn’t very deep—he was only willing to share success, not hardship. Lin Yuetian calmly listened to Wei Dawen’s bureaucratic excuses and half-hearted refusals, feeling completely unbothered.

Then, he delivered a direct hit: “Director Wei, my mental state hasn’t been great lately. If you don’t agree to my request, I’ll leave behind a suicide note saying you drove me to my death, then jump off a building at your film set.”

“?!?!” Wei Dawen was utterly shocked. “Now, now, Yuetian, if you’re feeling down, you should take a break, get some rest! Your reputation in the industry has been built over many years—it’s solid! This little controversy is nothing. No rain, no rainbow! A sharp sword is forged through grinding, and the plum blossom’s fragrance comes from enduring the bitter cold! Everyone in the industry still believes in you!”

“I’m actually feeling quite good. Ever since I lost my mind, I feel more energetic,” Lin Yuetian replied calmly, laced with an underlying threat. “I just really want this opportunity. Even just a chance to audition would do. Director Wei, as you said, my situation may not be great right now, but I still have connections. My reputation hasn’t collapsed yet—consider this me asking you for a favor. You won’t regret it.”

【”Heh, if he refuses, he might regret it to death, right?”】 The system knew Lin Yuetian’s style too well.

“How can you say that?” Lin Yuetian countered. “At most, I’ll make him regret it just a little. After all, I can’t disrupt the main task.”

Wei Dawen had no idea how much his fate was hanging by a thread, but luckily for him, he softened his tone, perhaps sensing that Lin Yuetian didn’t sound entirely sane. “But the role has already been given to Gao Yan’s team.”

“Gao Yan? Him?” Lin Yuetian chuckled. “Even in five hundred years, he couldn’t match me. How about this, Director Wei? I won’t make things difficult for you. This is a dual-male-lead film, right? Give the other role to him. I’ll have my studio invest additional funds, and you can say I snatched the role—I won’t mind.”

“Oh? What’s going on?” Wei Dawen got nosy. “You’ve had a change of heart? Weren’t you obsessed with little Gao before? Did you guys break up?”

Lin Yuetian remained perfectly composed. “Got tired of him.”

【”I’m adding this to the ‘Scumbag Quotes Collection,'”】 the system declared.

Wei Dawen clicked his tongue in amusement but eventually agreed.

“I still trust your acting skills and popularity,” he said apologetically. “I had a bad attitude earlier, I hope you understand—everyone’s just trying to make a living. I’ve been preparing for this movie for a long time, so I have to be careful.”

“I understand,” Lin Yuetian said with a smile. “Looking forward to working with you.”

That night, Gao Yan called Lin Yuetian, demanding to know why he had stolen his role.

“I’ve given you so many roles before. Now I’ve taken just one—what’s the big deal? Gao Yan, calm down. Don’t throw a tantrum like a madman,” Lin Yuetian tried to comfort him, though his words were clearly adding fuel to the fire. Gao Yan became even more furious.

“Listen to me, Lin Yuetian! So what if you’re a Best Actor? Stop harassing me! To be honest with you, I’m straight! Every single day of the three years we were together made me sick!” Gao Yan exploded. “I quit! I won’t do the movie!”

“Little Gao, don’t be childish,” Lin Yuetian said in the same indulgent tone one would use with a child. “I don’t care whether you’re straight or not. If you think of our three years together as me ‘keeping’ you, then as your sponsor, I only care about what you provided—I don’t care about your orientation. At the very least, on our last night together, you didn’t seem that straight…”

【”Oh no! No dirty jokes! No dirty jokes!”】 the system panicked.

“I wasn’t making a dirty joke,” Lin Yuetian said, displeased. “I always give a warning before I tell a joke. I was seriously discussing things with my task target.”

“You—you—” Gao Yan was so enraged he couldn’t even speak. He had no idea when Lin Yuetian had become so articulate and sharp-tongued.

“Let’s lay everything out, Gao Yan. We were together for three years. You’re taking things too far—too much of anything is bad, understand? I have dirt on you, too, but I don’t think there’s a need to make things ugly. Listen, Gao Yan, I know you won’t believe me, but I really just want to act in this movie with you. After that, I’ll leave the entertainment industry.” Lin Yuetian spoke slowly.

Gao Yan was stunned. “…You’re leaving?”

“Yeah, so don’t worry,” Lin Yuetian said warmly. “The entertainment industry—this gold-devouring pit, this dazzling yet empty world—I’ve enjoyed it for over a decade. You still love it, but I’m tired of it. Gao Yan, I’m exhausted. I just want to wrap up my career on a satisfying note—consider it leaving behind a good memory for both of us.”

Gao Yan hung up.

“He’ll agree,” Lin Yuetian said confidently.

【”Oh, here we go again—your ‘no one understands men better than me’ speech?”】 the system sneered. 【”Fine, fine, you’re the expert. But how are you going to make your first bucket of money?”】

Lin Yuetian opened the system store and purchased a hacking skill worth 500 points. “I’ve got a plan. When I do things…”

“You getting things done puts me at ease—I know!” The system retorted just as quickly. “But, big bro, the problem is that you’ve never actually given me any reason to be at ease!”

“You’re slandering me,” Lin Yuetian expressed appropriate dissatisfaction. “System, my friend, I think you’ve been biased against me from the very beginning.”

“Hah? What makes you say that, big bro?”

“You refuse to acknowledge that I am a gentle and reasonable, dedicated and professional, life-loving industry elite.”

“Oh, give it a rest.” The system ignored him.

Lin Yuetian created an account on a niche website and spent the night making a couple of rough PPT-style animations. The content was simple—Truth or Dare. A bored mastermind forced various stick figures to tell the truth. If they refused, they’d receive a thrilling dare experience, with the main props being tools more suited for an interrogation room.

Then Lin Yuetian started searching through the original body’s memories. “…Who would be willing to pay me to kill Gao Yan?”

“You’re asking me? How would I know?” The system said grumpily. “Different trades have different specialties, and that’s not my line of work!”

Lin Yuetian pondered for a long time but couldn’t come up with an answer, feeling a little regretful. But he was no ordinary person—he understood that life was rarely perfect. Three parts destiny, seven parts hard work. He encouraged himself: “Forget it. If there are no clients, I’ll create them. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

“Please, stop making me develop an aversion to all these motivational proverbs,” the system said in despair. “Just go sign up for a class and learn some normal language skills already!”