56: The fragrance is floating in the air, and the beauty invites you again

Old Qin, like a gentle breeze, swept through the bustling banquet hall, leaving behind a trail of admiration and lingering thoughts, then, surrounded by the crowd, he slowly walked towards the main seat in the inner hall.

Lin Da watched Old Qin's departing back, the excitement and joy in his heart lingering for a long time. To receive a few golden words of wisdom from this esteemed figure was, for him, worth more than countless empty praises.

"Brother Lin, how do you feel?" Li Shengshi approached with a glass of wine, smiling broadly, a hint of pride on his face, "My old Li's judgment, isn't it good? Old Qin rarely praises anyone, for him to talk to you so much today means he truly thinks highly of you!"

"Thank you, Chairman Li, for your support." Lin Da expressed his sincere gratitude once more, "I will always remember Old Qin's teachings."

"Haha, good boy, you're perceptive!" Li Shengshi nodded with satisfaction, then lowered his voice to a level only they could hear, "However, Brother Lin, don't be too happy too soon. Although Old Qin thinks highly of you, the Golden Tripod Award selection is not something he alone decides. The waters here run deep."

He paused, a meaningful glint in his eyes: "Tonight's banquet is a mixed bag, with various forces secretly competing. You, young man, are a hot commodity now, and many people are watching you. Later, you'll need to be extra vigilant, don't fall into anyone's trap."

Lin Da's heart tensed upon hearing this. He knew that Li Shengshi was kindly reminding him.

"Thank you for the guidance, Chairman Li, I understand." Lin Da nodded, his gaze becoming more alert.

Just then, a refreshing fragrance wafted over. Su Wanqing approached gracefully, holding a glass of red wine, her face adorned with a bright and charming smile.

"Chairman Li, Teacher Lin, what are you two talking about so enthusiastically?" Her voice was sweet and charming, her beautiful eyes flitted over Lin Da's face, carrying a hint of imperceptible curiosity and... scrutiny.

"Haha, Su Wanqing is here too." Li Shengshi laughed heartily, "We were just talking about Brother Lin. This young man is an unpolished gem!"

"Chairman Li, you flatter him." Su Wanqing covered her mouth with a light laugh, her gaze, however, remained on Lin Da, "Su Wanqing also greatly admires Teacher Lin's acting skills. Especially your gaze as Wei Zhongxian in the trailer for ‘the chronicles of the great ming dynasty’, it was simply amazing! I recently took on a historical drama, and there's a similar character in it, I was just thinking of asking Teacher Lin for some pointers."

Her words were half-true, half-false, both praising Lin Da and subtly revealing her own seriousness and pursuit of acting.

Lin Da looked at the charming top-tier young actress before him, secretly admiring her. This famous Miss Su was not only beautiful and intelligent, but her social skills were also remarkably sophisticated.

"Miss Su is too kind." Lin Da responded with a smile, his Aura Control- Affinity skill still quietly at work, "I am just a newcomer, still in the learning stage, how dare I show off in front of an award-winning actress like you? On the contrary, Miss Su, your understanding and portrayal of characters have always been a role model for me to learn from."

He skillfully redirected the conversation back to Su Wanqing, both deflecting her 'request for pointers' and offering appropriate flattery.

The use of his [Words of Power (Elementary)] skill made his every word sound sincere and proper, making people feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.

After hearing Lin Da's words, a hint of imperceptible surprise flashed in Su Wanqing's beautiful eyes. She hadn't expected that Lin Da, who seemed so young, not only had seasoned acting skills but also possessed wisdom in handling situations far beyond ordinary people.

She had originally intended to use this opportunity to gauge Lin Da's depth and, by the way, see if she could extract some 'inside information' about ‘the chronicles of the great ming dynasty’ or Director Zheng Guofeng from him. However, she hadn't expected Lin Da to be so airtight, leaving her no room for a breakthrough.

"Teacher Lin really knows how to talk." Su Wanqing feigned a pout, her tone carrying a hint of playful reproach, but also a greater degree of genuine appreciation, "It seems it's really not easy to learn something truly valuable from you."

Li Shengshi watched the two exchange pleasantries from the side, smiling but not speaking, his eyes full of amusement. He knew that neither of these young people was easy to deal with. Lin Da's composure and maturity, and Su Wanqing's intelligence and quick wit, both left a deep impression on him.

Just then, a Vice President Zhang from Huaying Group, whom Li Shengshi had introduced earlier, approached with a wine glass.

"Chairman Li, Brother Lin, Miss Su Wanqing, you three are chatting so happily." Vice President Zhang's face wore a genial smile, his gaze lingered on Lin Da for a few seconds, his tone carrying a hint of approval, "Brother Lin, when Chairman Li mentioned you earlier, I felt you were a promising talent. Meeting you today, you truly live up to your reputation! Especially your conversation with Old Qin just now, neither humble nor arrogant, reasonable and well-measured, this demeanor and insight are rare among young actors!"

This Vice President Zhang held a high position of power within Huaying Group, overseeing film and television production and investment, making him one of the true influential figures in the industry. To receive his direct praise was undoubtedly a positive sign for Lin Da.

"Mr. Zhang, you flatter me." Lin Da quickly responded humbly, "I still have much to learn, and I hope Mr. Zhang will continue to support me in the future."

"Haha, no problem, no problem!" Vice President Zhang laughed heartily, patting Lin Da's shoulder, "Our Huaying has always been committed to discovering and nurturing promising new actors. Brother Lin, after you finish filming ‘the chronicles of the great ming dynasty’, if you're interested, you can come visit us at Huaying. I happen to have a few good projects on hand, and perhaps we'll have an opportunity to collaborate!"

Another olive branch! And it came from an industry giant like Huaying Group!

Lin Da's heart once again surged with an indescribable excitement. He knew that his performance today had successfully attracted the attention of these truly influential figures.

Just as he was about to express his gratitude, the system's notification sound rang in his mind again:

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully getting acquainted with a key industry figure: Su Wanqing (Top-tier domestic actress, multi-award-winning film queen)!"

"Initial impression evaluation: Good (The other party expresses appreciation for the host's acting skills and emotional intelligence, and has a desire to further interact)."

"[golden supporting role system] Quest: 'First Taste of Fame in the Magic City', 'Successfully get acquainted with at least three key industry figures who will have a significant impact on the host's future development' Goal completed (2 / 3)!"

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully getting acquainted with a key industry figure: Zhang Qiming (Vice President of Huaying Group, Senior Producer)!"

"Initial impression evaluation: Excellent (The other party expresses high recognition for the host's acting skills, demeanor, and potential, and clearly expresses an intention to collaborate)!"

"[golden supporting role system] Quest: 'First Taste of Fame in the Magic City', 'Obtain a clear intention of cooperation or high praise from at least one of them' Goal completed (1 / 1)!"

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the [golden supporting role system] Special Quest: 'First Taste of Fame in the Magic City'!"

"Quest evaluation: S-rank (The host, by virtue of excellent social skills and personal charm, successfully got acquainted with multiple key industry figures, and obtained high recognition and intentions for cooperation, exceeding the quest objectives)!"

"Quest reward issued: Acting Points +100 (20 points for exceeding completion), [Advanced Network Expansion Card] x1 (Quest reward upgraded), [Mysterious Skill Fragment] x1!"

A series of system notifications made Lin Da's mood fluctuate like a roller coaster, filled with one pleasant surprise after another!

He not only over-completed the quest but also received unexpected and generous rewards! Especially the upgraded [Advanced Network Expansion Card] and the mysterious skill fragment, both filled him with anticipation.

It seemed that this Golden Tripod Award welcome banquet, for him, was no longer just a simple social event, but more like a 'treasure hunt' full of opportunities and challenges!

And he, undoubtedly, was the luckiest treasure hunter in this 'treasure hunt'!