15: Arriving in Beijing for the first time, undercurrents surge

Three days later, early morning.

Lin Da, carrying a well-worn canvas bag, stood at the entrance of a somewhat dilapidated urban village alley, bidding farewell to Director Wang and Zhou Xingxing who had come to see him off.

"Lin Da, be careful when you get to the capital. It's not like our small place; the waters run deep there," Director Wang, uncharacteristically shedding his usual boisterousness, earnestly cautioned him, his eyes a little red. He truly admired this young man and genuinely hoped he would have a good future.

"Yes, Lin Da," Zhou Xingxing's eyes were also red, his voice choked with emotion, "You must take good care of yourself. Remember… remember to call us often."

He pulled something wrapped in several layers of newspaper from his pocket and pressed it into Lin Da's hand: "Lin Da, this is… a little money I saved. It's not much, but use it on your journey."

Lin Da looked at the heavy paper-wrapped item in Zhou Xingxing's hand, and his heart warmed. He knew this small sum was likely what the boy had saved by being frugal for several months.

He didn't refuse, but simply patted Zhou Xingxing's shoulder firmly: "Xing Zai, I appreciate your kindness. Once I'm settled, I'll let you know I'm safe. You also work hard on your script at home; maybe next time I come back, it'll be your turn to surprise me."

He then turned to Director Wang: "Director Wang, thank you for your care during this time. If there's an opportunity in the future, I'll definitely work with you again."

"Alright, alright, stop being so sentimental!" Director Wang waved his hand, hiding the reluctance in his eyes, "Hurry up and go, don't miss your train! If anyone dares to bully you there, tell Director Wang, I'll… I'll curse them to death from afar!"

Lin Da was amused by Director Wang's words, and his feelings of parting sorrow faded a bit.

He took one last deep look at the two people who had given him so much help and warmth after his rebirth, nodded firmly, and turned to walk towards the train station.

The sunlight stretched his shadow long.

The train was the most ordinary kind of green-skinned train, its carriages filled with a mixture of smells and noisy human voices. Lin Da found a window seat and placed his canvas bag on his lap.

As the train slowly started, the scenery outside the window continuously receded. He knew he was moving away from a familiar environment towards a future full of unknowns and challenges.

The Capital.

This name, to him, was both familiar and strange.

It was familiar because in his previous life, he had also struggled there, witnessing the city's prosperity and cruelty. It was strange because in this life, he would re-enter that land with a completely new identity.

the chronicles of the great ming dynasty, Director Zheng Guofeng, Wei Zhongxian.

Every keyword was like a heavy stone pressing on his heart, yet also igniting his infinite fighting spirit.

He took out the script excerpts and character biography Qin Ya had given him from his bag and began to study them carefully again.

This "Wei Zhongxian" was completely different from the notorious eunuch leader in history. In the script, he was more like a tragic figure caught in the center of a power vortex, yet always maintaining a shred of clarity and conscience. He was loyal to the master he served and once tried to uphold justice in his own way, but was ultimately swept away by the tide of the times, ending up in a situation beyond his control.

This was a role with an extremely rich inner world, a large age span, and a complex personality, demanding extremely high acting skills from the actor.

Lin Da knew this was both a huge challenge and a rare opportunity for him. If he could play this role well, his standing in the entertainment industry would undoubtedly reach a new level.

"[Path of the Golden Supporting Actor] Phase Two Mission: 'Gaining Fame in the Capital'…" Lin Da silently recited the system's mission in his mind.

"Mission Objective: Successfully obtain and excellently portray the role of 'Wei Zhongxian' in the chronicles of the great ming dynasty, receive public praise from at least three core creative members of the crew (director, screenwriter, lead actor), and achieve a character reputation score of 8.0 or above after the series airs."

"Mission Reward: Acting Points +100, [Golden Supporting Actor Exclusive Skill Fragment] x1, System Mall Advanced Access Unlock Opportunity x1."

100 Acting Points! And that mysterious [Golden Supporting Actor Exclusive Skill Fragment]!

A fiery glint flashed in Lin Da's eyes.

For these rewards, and to live up to Director Zheng and Producer Qin's trust, he had to give his all.

After more than ten hours of bumpy travel, the train finally arrived at the Capital Train Station.

The moment he stepped out of the station, Lin Da was struck by the overwhelming prosperity and hustle and bustle before him. Skyscrapers lined the streets, traffic flowed like water, and the hurried crowds all showcased the vitality and pressure of this international metropolis.

Compared to the small city he had been in before, this was simply another world.

Following the address Qin Ya had given him in advance, Lin Da first found a small hotel not far from Hua Guang Film and Television and settled in. The room was small but clean enough.

After settling in simply, he didn't rush to contact Qin Ya. Instead, he first walked around the vicinity of the hotel, familiarizing himself with the environment and experiencing the atmosphere of the Capital.

The next morning, Lin Da changed into clean, neat clothes and arrived at the Hua Guang Film and Television office building half an hour early.

This was an imposing modern office building, and most of the people entering and exiting were well-dressed, walked quickly, and wore professional smiles with a hint of subtle arrogance.

After Lin Da explained his purpose, the receptionist politely led him to a spacious waiting room.

In the waiting room, several young people were already seated. From their appearance, they seemed to be actors also here for auditions.

Some sat upright, silently reciting lines; others gathered in twos and threes, talking in low voices, their faces showing expressions of both nervousness and excitement.

Lin Da noticed that the temperament and attire of these people were significantly higher class than the actors he had encountered on the Jianghu Xiaoxiami set. Most of them were professionally trained, carrying an academic rigor and dedication to acting.

The air was filled with an invisible pressure.

Lin Da found a corner to sit in and didn't interact with anyone, just quietly observing while re-examining the character of "Wei Zhongxian" in his mind.

He knew that today's audition was crucial for him.

Just then, the waiting room door opened, and an elegant woman wearing a smart professional suit and gold-rimmed glasses walked in.

It was Qin Ya.

"Teachers, thank you for waiting," Qin Ya said with a professional smile, her gaze sweeping around the waiting room before finally resting on Lin Da, to whom she gave a slight nod.

"Director Zheng has an important meeting today, so the audition time might be slightly delayed. But please rest assured, we will arrange it as soon as possible."

As soon as she finished speaking, a small stir arose in the waiting room.

"Will Director Zheng also come personally?"

"That's great! If he notices me, I'll be set for life!"

Lin Da noticed that when Qin Ya said this, her eyes seemed to linger on him for a few extra seconds, perhaps intentionally.

His heart stirred. It seemed that Director Zheng Guofeng would indeed personally oversee today's audition.

This made him feel both a little nervous and a strangely excited.

Being able to communicate face-to-face with such a top director was in itself a rare learning opportunity.

Time passed minute by minute, and the atmosphere in the waiting room grew heavier.

Finally, after nearly an hour of waiting, Qin Ya walked in again, with an apologetic smile on her face: "Teachers, I apologize for the long wait. Director Zheng's meeting has just finished, and the auditions can now begin. Please, when your name is called, follow me."

She paused, picked up the list in her hand, and read out the first name:

"Teacher Lin Da, please follow me first."