"If I buy these things and then go stand outside someone's private lounge, won't I get arrested for being a pervert?"
"This isn't a chance to earn Liu Shishi's favor. It's a chance to offend her and get myself thrown in jail."
Zhang Yang mentally grumbled at the Entertainment Industry Opportunity Manual. What kind of proper cheat would tell an honest man to do something like that?
But his expression didn't change in the slightest. A thoughtful glint flashed in his eyes.
It wasn't hard to tell from the Guide's information that Liu Shishi would get her period tomorrow and had forgotten to bring sanitary pads.
If he brought the pads she needed and showed up at just the right moment, he'd naturally earn her favor. And something so private and embarrassing would leave a special impression on her.
This really was an opportunity to earn the favor of Tangren's Top Sister, Quasi-A-List Actress Liu Shishi. It certainly deserved to be called an "opportunity."
The question was whether he was willing to go through with it and whether he cared about saving face.
"I'm doing it." Zhang Yang didn't hesitate.
It definitely wasn't because he wanted to see Liu Shishi's reaction or leave a special impression on her. He simply wanted to verify that the Opportunity Guide was real and didn't want to waste his Character Points.
A real man was born between heaven and earth. How could he let himself languish beneath others for long? He was going to make it big in the entertainment industry!
"But why does this feel like playing a dating sim with female characters?"
Zhang Yang flagged down a taxi. He didn't return to his dorm at Shanghai Theatre Academy, but headed for the rental apartment Tangren had prepared for one of its veteran contracted artists like him. It was closer to the company.
The apartment was in an upscale complex with solid security, and the rent wasn't cheap—it was about what an ordinary person earned in a month. But for a major company like Tangren, it was nothing.
Zhang Yang got out at the complex entrance and greeted the security guard on duty before going in.
He lived in Building Seven, close to the entrance. It took only two minutes to walk there.
"Ding!"
The elevator doors opened, and Zhang Yang strode in. Someone inside was holding a huge pile of things.
He glanced up instinctively. The moment he recognized her, his heart gave an involuntary jolt.
She wore jeans and a white blouse. Her deep eyes seemed to speak, and her features were exquisite: a delicate little nose with a high bridge, thick lashes, and lively eyes.
She wore flats, yet she was almost as tall as him, though he stood a little over 1.8 meters barefoot. Her skin was so pale it seemed to glow.
A beauty like that would turn heads wherever she went.
But Zhang Yang was startled because he recognized her. She was Gulinazha, one of the future Four Beauties of Xinjiang, and this year's Most Beautiful Candidate of Beijing Film Academy, whose name had made the news.
He drew his gaze back and turned to face the elevator doors without pressing a floor button.
Nazha was going to the same floor as him: the eighth.
"Um, aren't you going to press a floor button?"
While Zhang Yang had been looking her over, Nazha had been watching him, too.
Women with great figures or beautiful faces attracted men. The reverse was true as well—and women could sometimes be even more enthusiastic.
Nazha was a bit of a face-con, and a tall, handsome, sunny guy with a muscular build like Zhang Yang's made her look twice. She even thought he seemed a little familiar.
Seeing him leave the buttons untouched, she figured he must have been distracted by her beauty. It happened to her all the time.
"Is it possible that we're on the same floor?" Zhang Yang turned to look at Nazha, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
He'd been wondering how to introduce himself to her, and she'd beaten him to it.
That was the "price" of having an utterly ordinary face—something most people couldn't imagine.
"Impossible!" Nazha replied firmly. "There are only two apartments per elevator. The person across from me is a senior colleague from the company."
The amusement in Zhang Yang's eyes deepened. He asked again, "Could it be that I'm the senior you're talking about?"
"Huh!?" Nazha found it hard to believe.
On the way to the apartment, she'd been so caught up in the excitement of getting to film Xuan Yuan Sword: Scar of Heaven that much of what her manager said had gone in one ear and out the other.
All she'd retained was that the person across from her was also an artist at the company, a veteran who had debuted in 2004 in Chinese Paladin 1 and was on good terms with Hu Ge and the others.
She'd naturally assumed that the senior was nearly thirty.
But Zhang Yang looked about her age.
"Let me introduce myself. I'm Zhang Yang. I live on the eighth floor, and I'm an artist with Tangren." Zhang Yang held out a hand.
"Hello, senior. I'm Gulinazhal Bahetiyar. My stage name is Gulinazha!" Nazha seemed to think of something, and her face flushed bright red. She hurriedly reached out and shook his hand.
Zhang Yang drew back his hand and said, "I know you. You're this year's Most Beautiful Candidate of Beijing Film Academy."
"That's just the media hyping things up." Nazha waved a hand, a little embarrassed, though also somewhat pleased.
Not every girl applying to an arts school was beautiful, but most were—especially at Beijing Film Academy, one of the three major arts schools.
The fact that she'd been called the most beautiful candidate without sparking any controversy said a lot.
"I didn't expect Sister K to sign you. No wonder you're here instead of at school." Zhang Yang smiled and took out his phone. "Let's exchange contact information. I've lived here for years, so I know the area pretty well. We're at the same company, too. If you run into any problems or need help, just ask me."
"Thank you, senior." Nazha didn't think much of it. She typed her number into Zhang Yang's phone.
"Ding!"
The elevator reached their floor.
Zhang Yang stepped out first, dialed her number, and let it ring once.
Then he took out his keys and unlocked the door to 801. He waved to Nazha. "Junior, remember to save my name. Zhang, as in 'to spread'; Yang, as in 'rippling waves.' Call me anytime if you need anything. I've got plenty of free time."
Zhang Yang remembered that Nazha didn't have a habit of saving people's real names. Even when Hu Ge needed to reach her, she sometimes didn't realize who was calling.
"Okay, senior." Nazha nodded.
Only after Zhang Yang went inside did she take out her keys and open the door to 802.
"The senior across the hall is exactly my type, and he seems nice, too. This looks promising."
"But he's so handsome—I think he's even better-looking than Old Hu. He debuted in 2004, so why isn't he famous at all?"
After locking the door, Nazha went straight to the bathroom, ready to soak in the tub.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yang headed straight to the gym and took off his shirt, revealing his muscular upper body.
Perhaps because of his memories from his previous life, he'd begged his parents to let him learn martial arts when he was only eight.
His family had a little money, and his father was a martial arts novel fan, so he really did hire him a decent teacher.
After more than a decade of practicing Baji Quan and Tai Chi Quan, Zhang Yang had developed real skill.
"I've got real martial arts skills. Maybe I can use them as a way in and land some movie roles, overtaking others by taking a shortcut."
"Sure, in this era of celebrity traffic, plenty of film stars make money and boost their popularity by acting in TV dramas and web series. Even Liu Yifei does it."
"But most people in and out of the industry believe movies are more prestigious."
"..."
Zhang Yang was especially calm as he practiced his forms, and he used the time to start making short-term plans for his life.
When a TV star acted in a movie, it was a step up. When a film star acted in a TV drama, it was a step down.
If he could build connections in the film industry, that would help him later if he wanted to end his contract early or part ways amicably.
Anyone hoping to get ahead in the entertainment industry had to plan in advance. He was an artist with Tangren, but that didn't mean he couldn't start a company and sign promising future directors, screenwriters, and actors.
It would be best if he could get the male second lead in Xuan Yuan Sword: Scar of Heaven. If not, he could try his luck in Hengdian.
Besides, he had a cheat. Who knew? That Opportunity Guide might just send an opportunity his way.
After finishing a set of forms, Zhang Yang, drenched in sweat, prepared to take a shower.
"Nazha?" Zhang Yang wondered.
Judging by the time, she'd called just after getting home. What was going on?
He immediately called her back.
She answered quickly. "Senior, I need a little help."
"Go ahead." Zhang Yang perked up.
"Do you know the property management's phone number? Or... can you fix a water pipe?"
Zhang Yang: Is this water-pipe repair request on the level?
Before you continue