"Alright, Kai Ge, I believe you! At that time, I suddenly felt very unwell, so I left immediately and went to the hospital. And I also want to tell you something, I don't plan to accompany bosses for meals and chats anymore. I want to be seen by directors for my acting skills based on my own abilities." Xiao Wenqiang didn't believe Li Bokai, but she couldn't fall out with him at the moment.
"Su Ling, don't be naive! You've been with the company for over four years, haven't you? Look at the girls who joined after you, which one is not doing better than you now! In this industry, everything is fleeting, only traffic is real. Without capital pushing you from behind, you can act your whole life and still not make it!"
"I know, but I can't get past my own conscience! Kai Ge, the police are here, I'll hang up now." Xiao Wenqiang found an excuse to end the call.
"Su Ling, you need to know how to choose. As long as you are willing to make sacrifices, with your looks and figure, becoming popular is just around the corner! Don't you..."
Li Bokai was still rambling on, but Xiao Wenqiang decisively pressed the hang-up button. Silence instantly fell.
Exhaling a breath of stale air, since entering this body, she had either been unconscious or in a state of chaotic escape. Xiao Wenqiang finally had some time to sort through Su Ling's memories.
Su Ling was 26 years old this year. Her first acting role came about because a crew filming the period drama "He Walked Out of the Fire" borrowed space from their university. Su Ling, with her striking looks, was chosen by the director for a role with one line. It was because of this drama that Su Ling displayed her good figure and pure face, attracting the attention of her agent, Li Bokai.
Li Bokai made acting sound incredibly simple, spinning a fantastic tale. At that time, Su Ling, a second-year university student, felt she was born to do this. A job where she could dress up prettily and earn money easily, where else could she find such a thing? So, on impulse, without carefully reading the contract, she signed a five-year management agreement with "Xingyao Entertainment."
"Xingyao Entertainment" was not a company that focused on solid acting management; they always dabbled in unconventional methods. For the first two years, because Su Ling refused to accept unwritten rules, her agent Li Bokai arranged roles for her with no lines, sometimes even just as blurred background figures.
By the third and fourth years, even those kinds of roles disappeared. Li Bokai deliberately wanted to freeze Su Ling out, while simultaneously instilling in her the idea that other girls who joined the company later but were willing to go the extra mile were now more famous than her. Unfortunately, Su Ling still refused to compromise. Instead, she began to pick up her books again, continuing her paused studies, and successfully obtained her graduation certificate.
In the fifth year, with Su Ling's management contract nearing its end, Li Bokai didn't want such a promising talent to go to waste. So, he tricked Su Ling into believing she didn't need to sleep with anyone, only drink and chat. His so-called "promising talent" didn't refer to Su Ling's acting skills, but rather her exceptionally superior external appearance. The saying "devilish figure, angelic face" was probably a true description of Su Ling.
This time, Su Ling was a little moved and, half-heartedly, agreed to Li Bokai's request to have a meal with Boss Song. However, life isn't that simple. Li Bokai deceived both sides. He slipped Su Ling a "compliance water" and sent her to a hotel room, then told Boss Song it was a form of "playfulness" she liked. Thus, the scene Xiao Wenqiang experienced at the beginning unfolded.
The original owner of this body was an actress, which was quite advantageous for Xiao Wenqiang. This was a direct clash. In her own world, Xiao Wenqiang had even won a Best Actress award! However, the most important thing right now was how to get acting roles and how to let directors see her capabilities.
After settling the final payment at the hospital, Xiao Wenqiang inwardly sighed at the astonishing price of this private hospital. In just one night, the ten thousand yuan prepaid by Gao Shiying was reduced to only three thousand two hundred.
Following her memory, she returned to Su Ling's rented apartment, the place from which she had leaped from the twentieth floor. The apartment was small but complete. One bedroom, one kitchen, one bathroom, and one balcony, basically covering all living functional areas. Moreover, it was evident that it was kept relatively clean and tidy. The original owner, Su Ling, was a diligent and tidy girl.
Xiao Wenqiang entered Gao Shiying's phone number and searched for his "Weishu" account. She then left a message: "Hello, Manager Gao, I am Su Ling. Please accept my friend request on 'Weishu.' I will transfer the hospitalization fees you prepaid for me. Thank you! httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět"
Setting aside the ten thousand yuan to be transferred to Gao Shiying left Su Ling's already tight budget even more strained. Xiao Wenqiang consolidated all of Su Ling's bank deposits, electronic deposits, and cash, only to find 23825.70 yuan remaining.
Ever since signing with the agency, Su Ling hadn't asked her family for a single cent. However, because she had no roles, she couldn't send any money home either. The money earned from a few minor roles was barely enough to support herself. If she had no further income, she would truly be facing starvation.
Fortunately, after graduating from film school, Xiao Wenqiang had found her own way into the industry, starting as a background extra. Therefore, she had some experience in this area. She opened the "Weishu" groups that Su Ling had previously followed and saw that several crews were recruiting actors. After screening them one by one, Xiao Wenqiang decided on an ancient fantasy drama called "Yi Hua Lu" (Record of Flowery Blossoms).
"Yi Hua Lu" was a Xianxia production and urgently needed a martial arts double for the female lead. The previous stunt double had been accidentally injured on another set and had not yet recovered. "Yi Hua Lu" was starting filming ahead of schedule, so the director's team was urgently recruiting a martial arts double for the female lead. Xiao Wenqiang looked at the required body measurements and the compensation, and finally decided to try out for the role.
Fortunately, Su Ling's rented apartment was in the film city. To save money, Xiao Wenqiang rode a shared bicycle to the location.
Half an hour later, Xiao Wenqiang contacted the casting director of "Yi Hua Lu" to confirm. Holding Su Ling's resume, she finally entered the temporary office on the audition set.
"Height is fine, just a bit fuller than Yang Li, but it should be alright once she's in costume," the casting director, Brother Wang, said, looking at Xiao Wenqiang's beautiful face with some doubt. "I see from your resume that you have no experience as a martial arts double at all. To be clear, our show has a lot of wire work and fight scenes. Can you handle it?"
"Yes, Brother Wang, why don't you see my flexibility?" Xiao Wenqiang performed a set of martial arts she had learned before, showcasing her agile movements.
"Not bad! Our Xianxia drama's combat style is a bit more graceful, but the martial arts choreographer will teach you that. Then it's you. Can you start working today?" Brother Wang was very satisfied.
"I can start now!" Xiao Wenqiang immediately agreed and followed Brother Wang to get her makeup and hair done.
Dressed in the ethereal costume of the female lead Hua Li, the stylist also styled her hair in the same way as the female lead. When Xiao Wenqiang walked out of the dressing room, the crew members couldn't help but turn to look at her. As she was a stunt double, she wasn't wearing full makeup yet. However, Su Ling's skin was naturally good, combined with her pure looks and Xiao Wenqiang's sparkling eyes, it made everyone temporarily overlook that she wasn't wearing makeup.