3: It's you, Xingzai!

Lin Da would never mistake that face, even after fifty years of weathering, even though it was now covered in grease and sweat.

It was Xing Zai! It really was him!

An indescribable mix of sourness and excitement welled up in Lin Da’s heart. He never expected that on the first day after his rebirth, he would be reunited with his most important partner from his previous life in such a way.

At this moment, Zhou Xingxing was far from the high-spirited person he would later become. He wore an old, faded T-shirt with a stretched-out collar, his body was as thin as a bean sprout, and his hair was somewhat greasy and plastered to his forehead. His eyes, which should have been sparkling with genius, were now red and filled with grievance and unwillingness over a chicken leg.

“...I work myself to death every day, more than all of them, so why is my bento different? It’s one thing to be missing a chicken leg, but there isn’t even a piece of meat! You’re bullying the new guy!” Zhou Xingxing’s voice was tearful, but he tried to straighten his back, not wanting to show weakness in front of everyone.

The prop master distributing the bentos was a burly middle-aged man, who waved his hand impatiently: “What are you yelling about? All bentos are the same, why so many special requests? Eat it or don’t, I don’t care! There are still people waiting behind you!”

“Exactly, just an extra, and he’s being picky!” Another young actor, also wearing a cheap costume, echoed sarcastically.

The onlookers pointed and whispered.

Zhou Xingxing’s face turned even redder, as if it would drip blood. He clenched his fists tightly, his body trembling slightly with anger.

Lin Da watched this scene, a mix of emotions in his heart. He knew Xing Zai’s temper; he seemed unrestrained, but in reality, his self-esteem was extremely strong. This incident today would likely leave a significant knot in his heart.

He couldn’t let him suffer this grievance.

Lin Da took a deep breath, pushed through the crowd, and walked over.

He didn’t directly accuse the prop master, but instead patted Zhou Xingxing’s shoulder and said in a gentle and steady tone: “Brother, getting angry over a chicken leg isn’t worth it. Your body is your capital for revolution; eat first, then you’ll have the strength to worry about other things, don’t you agree?”

His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried a strange power to soothe people’s hearts.

Zhou Xingxing suddenly turned his head and saw a tall, smiling stranger, half a head taller than himself. The young man’s eyes were strange; although it was their first meeting, he seemed to have known him for a long time, with a gentle and understanding gaze like that of an elder.

“Who are you?” Zhou Xingxing asked cautiously, but the hostility in his tone had clearly lessened.

“My name is Lin Da, and I’m also here at this film crew trying to make a living.” Lin Da smiled, and from his freshly received bento, he used his relatively clean chopsticks to pick up the solitary but remarkably plump chicken leg and, without a word, placed it into Zhou Xingxing’s bento, which contained almost nothing but vegetables.

“Here, mine’s for you. I don’t really like greasy food,” Lin Da said casually.

This action stunned everyone present.

The prop master opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing Lin Da’s calm eyes with a hint of undeniable resolve, he swallowed his words. After all, it was better to avoid trouble; offending one extra for the sake of another extra wasn’t worth it.

Zhou Xingxing was also stunned. He looked at the shiny, fragrant chicken leg in his lunchbox, then at the empty spot in Lin Da’s lunchbox, and his nose suddenly felt a little sore.

Since he decided to pursue his acting dream and ran away from home, he couldn’t remember how many cold stares he had endured or how much hardship he had suffered. Like today, arguing with someone over a chicken leg was not the first time. But someone like Lin Da, who unhesitatingly gave him his chicken leg, was the first.

“You… what are you doing?” Zhou Xingxing’s voice was a little dry.

“Nothing, just making a friend.” Lin Da still had that gentle smile. “It’s not easy being away from home. Hurry and eat, it won’t taste good when it gets cold.”

He turned to the prop master and said, “Big brother, I trouble you. My brother here is young and a bit hot-headed, please bear with him. The money for this bento, has it not been paid yet? I’ll pay for him.”

Saying that, he pulled out a few crumpled change from his pocket and handed it over.

The prop master took the money, his expression softened considerably, he mumbled, “Consider yourself smart,” and then stopped bothering them, calling out to others to get their food.

The surrounding crowd also gradually dispersed.

Zhou Xingxing held his bento, his head lowered, his bangs covering his eyes, making his expression unreadable.

Lin Da didn’t rush him, but quietly stood by, opened his own bento, and slowly began to eat. Although it only had vegetables and tofu, he ate with great relish, as if it were the most delicious food on earth.

After a while, Zhou Xingxing finally said in a voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz: “Thank… thank you.”

“Don’t mention it,” Lin Da looked up and smiled at him. “My name is Lin Da, and you?”

“Zhou Xingxing,” he replied gruffly, finally picking up his chopsticks, grabbing the chicken leg, and taking a big bite, as if to swallow all his grievances and unwillingness.

Lin Da watched him wolf down his food, a hint of a smile and nostalgia flashing in his eyes.

This is great, Xing Zai, in this life, we meet again.

After eating, the two squatted side by side in a corner, resting.

“You… are also from the “Jianghu Xiaoxiami” film crew?” Zhou Xingxing asked proactively, his guard against Lin Da noticeably lowered.

“Yes, I just reported yesterday,” Lin Da nodded. “What about you? What character are you playing?”

When the character was mentioned, a hint of sadness flashed across Zhou Xingxing’s face, then he feigned casualness and said, “Me? I’m playing a corpse! The kind that just lies on the ground, doesn’t even show their face!”

His tone carried self-mockery, but Lin Da detected a hint of unwillingness.

“A corpse?” Lin Da feigned surprise, then nodded thoughtfully, “Playing a corpse is good, it’s easy, you don’t have to remember lines, and you still get paid.”

Zhou Xingxing pouted, “It’s easy, but what’s the difference between that and a salted fish?”

“Even a salted fish has its way of acting,” Lin Da smiled mysteriously. “If you act it well, maybe it can even stand out.”

“Tsk, you’re just bragging.” Zhou Xingxing clearly didn’t believe him, but he didn’t refute either. He felt that this guy named Lin Da, although he seemed mature, always talked a bit off-kilter, and in a way, they were “birds of a feather.”

Lin Da smiled and didn’t continue the topic. He confirmed one thing from Zhou Xingxing’s words—Xing Zai was indeed in this “Jianghu Xiaoxiami” film crew, and he was playing an even less significant role than an extra, a “background plate.”

A bold idea flashed through Lin Da’s mind like lightning.

The beginner task given to him by the system was to get a supporting role with lines and perform it outstandingly.

The “Jianghu Xiaoxiami” film crew… mountain bandit lackeys…

And Zhou Xingxing in front of him…

What if…

Lin Da’s lips curved slightly upward, forming a meaningful smile.

Perhaps, this beginner task could be made more interesting.