[You arrived at Exam Room No. 3. Your beauty stunned every NPC present—men and women alike stared at you in a daze, and the entire examination room fell into complete silence.]
"You have gained a large amount of goodwill."
[You began your assessment.]
"…Calculating stats…"
""Acting" check passed. The "Natural-born Actor" buff has been activated. Your performance rating: Perfect."
[Your performance was exceptionally stunning, showing none of the awkwardness or stage fright of a newcomer. Your performance conquered every examiner present. When the assessment ended, applause rang out across the room.]
[Gazing at you in the center of the examination hall, one examiner remained silent for a long time. After a long while, he murmured to himself: "With such beauty, why need such acting skill? With such acting skill, why need such beauty?" (Note 1)]
[You have triggered the Iconic Scene: "Beauty Reborn."]
[Unexpected Event: You have received a drama invitation for the TV series "Ode to Great Yan." Do you accept?]
An unexpected gain—getting a drama invitation this quickly?
Xia Cheng curiously tapped on the entry for "Ode to Great Yan." The system rated this production as S-Rank, with a highly reliable crew and storyline. What was even rarer, she discovered that the director of this drama, "Qin Yuesheng," was actually an SSR-Rank Card, followed by a string of glittering credentials—all critically acclaimed and commercially successful film works!
Oh my god! In a barren desert growing nothing but R-Rank Cards, an SSR-Rank Card had actually appeared!
She had to latch onto this powerful connection!
The opportunistic player immediately chose "Accept."
[You have become the female lead of the TV drama "Ode to Great Yan," cast in the role of "Princess Changning," beginning a four-month filming period.]
Xia Cheng had originally been somewhat curious about life on set, but after discovering that aside from the director, nearly all the crew members were R-Rank Cards—with even SR-Rank Cards being pitifully scarce—the player immediately lost interest in these mediocre NPCs.
Dialogue was skipped with a quick "skip," invitations were all met with "decline," and any NPC foolish enough to approach was completely ignored—she planned to grind through these four months as quickly as possible, then swiftly move on to her next film.
On the set of "Ode to Great Yan."
"Brother Tan, you've worked hard. Have some water? I haven't thanked you yet for guiding my acting earlier. Brother Tan truly deserves his reputation as a Best Actor—just a little pointer from you and I've already gained so much…"
The young man kept spewing flattering words without pause. The man before him wore a smile on his face but didn't take the water bottle he offered, merely saying: "It was just a small favor. We're all on the same production—no need to be so formal."
Having finally fended off the young man's attempts to cozy up to him, Tan Ye picked up his own water bottle and took a sip. As he raised his head, the bottle conveniently concealed the flash of impatience that crossed his face.
Having been crowned Best Actor multiple times by his mid-thirties, it was impossible not to have some pride. What Tan Ye despised most were pretty faces like that young man—flower vases who relied solely on looks and popularity to act.
However, those who could survive in the entertainment industry were all shrewd operators. No matter how impatient they felt inside, they wouldn't show it blatantly on their faces. Moreover, the young man's company was the well-known major agency "Starlight Entertainment," with formidable resources. Slipping in a few resource-backed actors was nothing unusual, and Tan Ye still had to show some respect to these industry connections.
There was no helping it—in this world, one couldn't always do as one pleased. The entertainment industry's interests were intricately intertwined. Even someone of Director Qin's stature sometimes had to compromise and yield to these capital demands, agreeing to add some insignificant minor roles to his productions.
If not for Director Qin's invitation, Tan Ye would never have deigned to appear in a TV drama. "Ode to Great Yan" was already a major production with numerous cast members, and those minor actors who normally couldn't get anywhere near him were seizing this opportunity to ingratiate themselves with him, as if terrified of failing to turn the Best Actor into part of their network.
Except… for that one person.
Tan Ye set down his water, his gaze unconsciously drifting toward the young woman.
She had just finished a scene and was sitting on a chair in the corner of the set. A pair of oversized sunglasses covered most of her face, yet the skin exposed was as fair and dazzling as snow-white cream, impossible to look away from.
Someone couldn't resist walking up to strike up a conversation with her, but the young woman acted as if she hadn't heard a word he said, treating him as if he didn't exist, simply lowering her head to sip her juice.
Unwilling to give up, the man lingered beside her, rambling on for quite a while longer. Seeing that the young woman truly had no intention of acknowledging him, he could only slink away in defeat.
People like him who refused to give up until they hit a wall were not few in number. Those who found all sorts of excuses to try to exchange a few words with her came one after another, but without exception, the young woman chose to ignore every single one of them.
She really was insufferably arrogant.
Yet even so, no one could bring themselves to be angry with her.
Tan Ye was no exception.
He had never heard the name "Xia Cheng" before. When he learned she had been cast as the female lead in a major production, his first thought was that she must have powerful connections—the ultimate nepotism hire. Otherwise, how could a newcomer who had never acted before land the female lead in a serious drama?
But the moment he saw her, he suddenly understood why Director Qin had chosen her for the role.
Because the resemblance was uncanny.
She looked as if she had stepped straight out of the history books—the living embodiment of Princess Changning.
Like the moon reflected in water, a celestial being from a painting.
Beautiful enough to be a dream that should never exist.
Even someone like him—a Best Actor who had seen countless beauties in the entertainment industry—was struck speechless by her breathtaking, otherworldly beauty the instant he laid eyes on her.
Director Qin said, "Xiao Cheng, this is Tan Ye, our Best Actor and the male lead of this production. He also graduated from A City Film Academy, so he's technically your senior. Feel free to ask him if you have any questions."
"…'Best Actor'?"
Xia Cheng seemed intrigued. Her gaze landed directly on him.
For some reason, when those clear, ocean-deep eyes fixed on him, Tan Ye—a man accustomed to grand occasions—felt a tremor that reached deep into his soul, as if he were undergoing some crucial interview.
He found the feeling absurd, yet he couldn't control the thunderous pounding of his heart.
But her gaze lingered on him for only a few seconds before moving away.
"What a letdown—just an SR-Rank Card…"
She muttered, sounding slightly disappointed.
Her voice was too soft for Tan Ye to catch what she said. But from that moment on, the girl's gaze never lingered on him again.
Apart from filming, she never even initiated a single conversation with him.
Of course, she wasn't deliberately targeting Tan Ye. Across the entire set—whether Best Actor or internet celebrity, veteran performer or newcomer—Xia Cheng treated everyone the same: she ignored everyone equally.
As a Best Actor with connections and backing, Tan Ye could casually toss out resources that countless people would fight over. Wherever he went, he was surrounded, welcomed, flattered, and fawned upon. Though he sometimes grew weary of the endless sycophants—so many they became annoying—he had never imagined he would be ignored.
And ignored so completely.
She was so aloof that she seemed utterly unaware he was a Best Actor.
He admired her aloofness, and he resented it.
How could anyone be so pure?
The interpersonal politics of the entertainment industry, the glitz and glamour—she seemed to care about none of it. Apart from acting, there seemed to be nothing else in her heart.
Tan Ye let out a bitter sigh, unable to hide the frustration building inside him.
If it were her—if she came to him seeking advice on acting—he wouldn't be impatient like he was with those other vapid pretty faces.
But she didn't need him.
Some people were mediocrities who could toil their whole lives and never cross the threshold of acting—like that young man from earlier.
Some people were geniuses who understood with a single word, who could play any role convincingly—the favorite kind of actor for every director, like Tan Ye.
But then there were those born for the screen. They didn't need to act; they just stood there, and they were already the character.
Xia Cheng was one of those born for the screen.
Four months of grueling filming would be boring to grind through. After two hours, Xia Cheng handed the task over to the system's auto-play and logged off to buy fruit. By the time she finished eating and logged back on, two months had passed in the game.
The main quest had progressed by five percent, and filming was proceeding without issues. The only strange thing was that many NPCs in the crew seemed to have suffered severe drops in mental state—several had plummeted directly from "A" to "C." A few NPCs had silently left the crew, their status bars displaying cryptic messages like "I'm not cut out to be an actor," "Hard work is truly worthless in the face of talent, wuwuwu," and "She'll never look at me (heartbroken)."
Xia Cheng was baffled. "What the heck? Is this production that demanding? It's breaking the NPCs' cultivation hearts?"
But players had limited concern for R-Rank Cards. After a second of confusion, she decisively cast the issue aside and refocused on the main quest.
【Your four-month filming journey is drawing to a close. You have gained a wealth of experience and goodwill, while the other actors have gained a wealth of setbacks and heartbreak. Everyone has a bright future.】
【Unexpected Event: The production has suddenly received an order to "halt filming." The reason is that someone has reported Ode to Great Yan for "historical nihilism," and the crew is required to cooperate with an investigation. But you've read the script—it strictly follows the historical records with no random melodramatic elements added. Why would it be reported?】
Upon receiving the news, Director Qin sneered, "They report it now of all times, right when…" She trailed off ambiguously, not finishing her sentence. "Alright, don't worry about it. I'll handle this."
Director Qin left in a huff. Although she told you not to worry, you couldn't shake a nagging sense of unease.
Back at the hotel, you received a text message. The sender claimed to be an executive at "Star Entertainment," expressing concern about the recent halt in filming of Ode to Great Yan and offering to help resolve your predicament. They invited you to a cruise ship banquet tomorrow. Do you accept?
"Star Entertainment"?
Xia Cheng tapped on the orange hyperlink. The description stated that Star Entertainment was one of the three most powerful entertainment companies in the Eastern Continent, having catapulted countless artists to fame.
Because they controlled the vast majority of online platforms, channels, and media resources, no one in the industry dared to offend Star Entertainment. This time, Star Entertainment had also invested in the production of Ode to Great Yan—of course, in return, Director Qin had tacitly allowed Star Entertainment to shoehorn a few nepotistic hires into the cast.
Connecting the dots, it wasn't hard to see that Star Entertainment was behind the report that had halted Ode to Great Yan's production.
But why? Star Entertainment had poured substantial funds into the production themselves. If the crew stopped filming, they'd suffer losses too. Wouldn't they have to be insane to report their own project?
Driven by curiosity, Xia Cheng readily accepted Star Entertainment's invitation, deciding to board the cruise ship and find out what was going on.
【You accepted Star Entertainment's invitation and went alone to the luxury cruise ship "Deep Sea" to attend the banquet.】
【A sea breeze brushed gently, the setting sun bled crimson across the sky, and the luxury cruise ship transformed into a glittering social playground on the water. A steward led you to one of the lavish private suites, where you finally met the person who had summoned you here.】
"You must be Miss Xia?" A man in impeccably polished attire opened the door. He froze for a moment upon seeing her, a flicker of undisguised admiration flashing through his eyes before his face broke into a fawning smile. "Please, come in. Mr. Feng has been waiting for you for quite a while."
Mr. Feng was Feng Sheng, the chairman of Star Entertainment. He held an exalted position in the industry and was a figure of considerable reverence, yet he showed no airs of importance in her presence. Instead, he seemed remarkably approachable.
"Please, have a seat, Miss Xia." From the moment she entered, Feng Sheng's gaze never left her. He chuckled warmly. "They say Director Qin found a Celestial Beauty of a newcomer at the film academy. Seeing is believing—Miss Xia is even more breathtaking in person than the rumors suggest."
Then came the usual spiel: "Miss Xia, you wouldn't want Ode to Great Yan to be forced to halt production and let all the crew's hard work go to waste, would you?"
Xia Cheng understood.
Was this old geezer trying to proposition her?
Honestly, she wasn't opposed to the "cling to a sugar daddy, take the shortcut, and ascend to the peak of life" canary script. She even found it rather thrilling—after all, who wouldn't enjoy getting something for nothing while also getting to play a man? But the prerequisite was that the "sugar daddy" had to be handsome enough!
This old geezer looked like he was pushing fifty. No matter how powerful he was, his character model was just a wrinkled old relic!
She had no interest in unattractive old men.
The player, a lifelong devotee of good looks, thought disdainfully.
【You came at the invitation to resolve the production halt, only to discover that the mastermind behind it all—the chairman of Star Entertainment—harbored intentions of "propositioning" you. Faced with his coercion and temptation, you decide—】
「A. Smile coyly, give his chest a playful little punch, and immediately throw yourself into old baby's arms~」
「B. Seethe with indignation, but knowing you're outnumbered and outmatched, hesitate for a moment before reluctantly and unwillingly throwing yourself into old baby's arms.」
「C. Refuse outright, tear into this sanctimonious lecher, and declare with righteous conviction that even if it means quitting the industry, you will never accept this kind of transactional arrangement!」
What kind of deranged options were A and B?! Who would want to play a sugar daddy script with some wrinkled old geezer who might not even be functional anymore?! She'd have nightmares even after leaving the game pod!
The player frantically chose 「C」.
Xia Cheng's face twisted into a look of shock and indignation. She declared with righteous conviction: "Even if it means quitting the industry, I will never accept this kind of transactional arrangement! Give up now!"
【You refused the "proposition" invitation. "Integrity" +1.】
【You have acquired the temperament trait "Aloof Purity." In the eyes of others, you are like a lofty, radiant moon—sacred, cold, and untouchable. Some will wish to protect this moon, while others will want to drag it down into their arms and ravage it at will.】
Her refusal clearly sent Feng Sheng into a humiliated rage. Having sat in a position of power for so long, he was used to being respected wherever he went—he'd never encountered a newcomer so ungrateful and unyielding. He sneered coldly: "Once you're here, whether you leave or not is no longer up to you!"
He immediately ordered his bodyguards to seize her. Xia Cheng, in a "panic," grabbed a small knife from the table and plunged it straight through the back of his hand, pinning him to the table. Blood splattered as Feng Sheng screamed in agony, and in the ensuing chaos, she made her escape without a backward glance.
Feng Sheng, mad with pain, clutched his bleeding hand and flew into a rage: "Catch that little bitch for me—I'll make her suffer! Let's see where she can possibly run on this cruise ship!"
[You've offended Feng Sheng. In the enclosed space of a cruise ship, you can't even bear to imagine what will happen if you're dragged back… Under the circumstances, the only sensible move is to find a safe place to hide as quickly as possible. Please choose your escape route—]
"A. Jump into the sea and beg the sharks for help."
"B. Head to the banquet hall and beg the red wine and cake for help."
"C. Take the elevator and beg ??? for help."
Logic told the player she should pick A—maybe it would trigger a special storyline like "riding a shark back to shore," or of course it could also yield a bloody, grotesque CG of "dying in a shark's jaws"… But the player was naturally curious, and the "???" in the last option piqued her interest. Without hesitation, she abandoned logic and chose C.
[You sprint toward the elevator at full speed, the bodyguards hot on your heels. It's like you're in the "boss chase sequence" of a horror game—what a lively, breathless, and utterly picturesque scene.]
[You shout "Help!" as you run, and finally, in the last second before the elevator doors close, you dart inside. You feel like you've crashed into someone's embrace—their chest is as hard as iron, your nose smarts from the impact, and you're forced to a stop—]
A hand lands on her shoulder, gripping it to pull her back and create some distance between them.
The player covers her aching nose and looks up. Before she can even make out the person's face, she's immediately stunned by the gleaming emblem above his head.
It's—it's a UR-Rank Card!
A UR, even rarer and more precious than an SSR!!