Ji Shuyao looked at Song Shi'an sprawled on the sofa and decided to try one more time. "If you want to make money, take the male lead. The opportunity's already there."
Song Shi'an immediately sat up straight, plastering a sincere smile on his face. "Supporting roles are still the best. They don't pay much, but at least they wear you out."
Ji Shuyao fell silent for two seconds. He had heard "It doesn't pay much, but at least it's easy," and "It's tiring, but it pays well." This angle of comforting oneself with "It doesn't pay much, and it wears you out" was genuinely a first for him.
He declared this the most difficult batch of talent he had ever managed.
Ji Shuyao and the others gathered their things and left. The moment the door lock clicked shut, Song Shi'an collapsed onto the sofa like a puddle of melted ice cream.
So tired, so hungry. I really want to stick my hands into the boss's money pouch and warm them up.
His phone vibrated. He scooped it up and saw a WeChat message from Director Zheng.
"Xiao An, are you free these next couple of days? A friend of mine has a role he'd like you to make a cameo in. Interested? This much!"
A screenshot of a quote followed.
Song Shi'an tapped it open and sprang off the sofa. Sitting bolt upright from his deathbed-fifty thousand for two days! I'm going! Never mind a cameo. Even if they wanted me to play a tree, I'd go!
Director Zheng sent over Director Sen's WeChat contact card, and Song Shi'an immediately added the contact.
The request was accepted instantly, followed immediately by a message. "Shi'an, hello, hello! I'm Sen Yu."
Song Shi'an hurriedly replied, "Hello, Director Sen. Director Zheng recommended me."
"I know! I've sent you the script, so take a look. If everything's fine, I'll send someone to pick you up tomorrow. There aren't many scenes; we can finish in two days. We've already contacted your manager, and he said it's fine as long as you agree!"
Song Shi'an opened the digital script and took a look.
It was an immortal romance drama. His character was called Tushan Yan, the divine lord of Qingqiu's fox clan.
The character biography was only a few short lines, but every word oozed gravitas: Qingqiu's strongest king, descended from an ancient divine clan. When the male lead went to the fox clan seeking medicine and accidentally entered forbidden ground, Tushan Yan casually wounded him grievously, severed all his meridians, and tossed him off a cliff.
Later, the male lead cultivated and ascended, and when he finally paid his respects to the Immortal Emperor, Tushan Yan stood beside the emperor without even sparing him a proper glance.
After reading it, Song Shi'an thought it was rather interesting.
Now this is a normal script. An old fox tens of thousands of years old isn't someone some hot-blooded male lead can casually catch up to.
He replied to Director Sen, "No problem!"
Early the next morning, the doorbell rang. Song Shi'an opened the door to find a young man standing outside in a neat light-blue shirt, holding a folder.
"Hello, Mr. Song. I'm Lin Fan, the assistant the company assigned to you. I'll be handling your itinerary for this trip."
Lin Fan's voice was steady as he spoke, but the little person inside him was already setting off fireworks.
Ever since he had been assigned to Song Shi'an, his older sister had called him three times a day to ask why he hadn't started work yet, more diligently than if she were nagging him to get married.
I've finally started! He looks even better up close. I'm sticking with this man for life!
Song Shi'an looked him up and down, thinking that the company really was reliable. This man looked professional at a glance.
He picked up the backpack he had packed in advance. "Let's go."
From leaving the villa for the airport to collecting tickets, checking luggage, clearing security, and boarding, the whole process took three hours. All Song Shi'an had to do was follow Lin Fan without using his brain.
Whenever they needed to turn left, Lin Fan was already standing on the left. Whenever he needed his ID, Lin Fan had already handed it to him.
When they landed, a dense crowd filled the area outside arrivals, holding illuminated signs and banners and blocking the exit so tightly that not a drop of water could get through.
Song Shi'an stood on tiptoe for a curious look. The illuminated signs read "Qinghe."
"Lin Fan, was there a celebrity on our flight?"
Lin Fan glanced at his phone. "The queen of song, Ye Qinghe, is holding a concert in this city. Her fans are here to welcome her."
Song Shi'an's eyes lit up. "The one who sings 'Isolated Island'?"
"Yes. It's the song that made her famous. It's very popular."
Of course Song Shi'an knew it. In those first few days after he transmigrated, Liu Bin next door had practiced his lines every night, howling so loudly that the whole building shook. He had survived by playing "Isolated Island" on repeat.
That song held about the same place in his heart as Phoenix Legend: etched into his DNA.
"When's her concert? Can I make it?"
Lin Fan checked the schedule notice. "Seven this weekend evening, at the Municipal Sports Center Arena."
Song Shi'an counted on his fingers. There were three days left, just enough time to finish filming, attend the concert, and then head back.
He immediately leaned closer to Lin Fan. "Lin Fan, can you get tickets to this concert?"
Lin Fan paused. "I'll try. The company should have a way to get complimentary tickets."
Then he reached up and tugged Song Shi'an's cap brim down a little. "Let's go first, bro. The car's here."
Song Shi'an nodded. He was just about to squeeze out through a corner when he accidentally knocked a sign out of a girl's hands.
He hurriedly bent down, picked it up, and handed it back. "Sorry!"
The girl took the sign and instinctively said, "It's okay." When she looked up to thank him, she suddenly froze.
She stared at the eyes visible beneath Song Shi'an's cap brim, her mouth slowly forming a circle.
"Are you Song Shi'an? I watched your livestream last night!"
Song Shi'an shook his head frantically. No! I'm wrapped up like this, and they can still recognize me? Are these people human recognition machines?
Lin Fan reacted instantly, pulling the suitcase and dragging Song Shi'an away.
The girl stood there stunned for a second before remembering to raise her phone. She snapped several photos of their retreating figures, then opened Weibo and began typing. "Girls! I just spotted someone while waiting at arrivals. Those eyes!! That build!! Isn't this Song Shi'an?!!!"
The fans caught the scent and came flocking.
Someone put screenshots from the previous night's livestream beside the photos of his retreating figure and compared them, analyzing everything from the contours of his ears to his finger joints. In less than twenty minutes, they reached a conclusion: confirmed, it was Song Shi'an.
Once inside the minivan, Song Shi'an let out a long sigh of relief and pulled down his mask to breathe. "I was covered up so tightly. How did they recognize me?"
Lin Fan glanced at him, then hesitated to speak.
Actually, Song Shi'an's eyes were particularly recognizable. Their outer corners tilted slightly upward, his irises were deep and dark, and there was a beauty mark at the corner of one eye. They were practically one of a kind in the Chinese entertainment industry.
Besides, Ying Qi, his first breakout role, had worn a mask throughout. His fans had remembered him by those eyes, so their ability to recognize him had long since been trained.