84: The gaze of a genius, the resonance of the soul

“You… are Lin Da?”

Victor Antonioni’s hoarse question, laced with a thick Italian accent, was like a stone dropped into an ancient well, creating ripples of echoes in the dimly lit private room. His gaze, sharp as an eagle’s, seemed to pierce through Lin Da’s skin, directly into the essence of his soul.

Lin Da’s heart, at this moment, involuntarily constricted slightly. He could clearly feel the almost obsessive artistic aura and unquestionable authority emanating from this director, known as a “genius” and “tyrant” in European cinema.

But he did not flinch or panic because of it.

He slowly raised his head, meeting Victor Antonioni’s scrutinizing gaze, his eyes calm and profound, carrying a hint of the Tower Keeper’s melancholy and… confusion about the unknown.

“Yes, Director Antonioni, I am Lin Da.” His voice was not loud, but exceptionally steady. The Speech Manipulation (Intermediate) skill quietly operated at this moment, making every one of his words filled with sincerity and… a subtle confidence.

Victor Antonioni did not speak immediately, only continuing to scrutinize Lin Da up and down with eyes that seemed to see through everything.

The atmosphere in the private room became somewhat heavy due to this silence.

Lin Da could feel that this genius director was conducting a… silent “interview” in his unique way. He was scrutinizing not only Lin Da’s appearance and demeanor, but also his inner depth as an actor and… the texture of his soul.

Lin Da did not try to break the silence, nor did he deliberately try to perform. He just stood there quietly, fully immersing himself in the state of the Tower Keeper, allowing the other party’s sharp gaze to sweep back and forth over him.

The Essence of the Role (Advanced) skill played a crucial role at this moment. He could clearly feel an… indescribable resonance between himself and the soul of the Tower Keeper. He seemed to be able to touch that complex soul that had held steadfast on the isolated island for a lifetime, filled with loneliness, despair, yet never giving up a glimmer of hope.

This unique aura emanating from within, belonging to the role, also quietly influenced the atmosphere in the private room.

After a long while, Victor Antonioni slowly spoke, his voice still hoarse and low:

“Green said you are very young.”

“Yes, Director.”

“He said you are very talented.”

“You flatter me, Director. I just love acting.”

“Love?” A hard-to-read curve played on Victor Antonioni’s lips, and a hint of mockery flashed in his eyes. “In this circle, countless people talk about ‘love’ every day. But how many can truly give everything, even… sacrifice everything, for this ‘love’?”

His words were like a sharp knife, piercing straight to the heart.

Lin Da’s heart slightly tightened. He knew that this genius director was testing his resolve, and also… questioning his soul.

“Director,” Lin Da’s gaze became exceptionally firm, his voice filled with unquestionable power, “For me, acting is not just a profession; it is more like a… belief.”

“I am willing to pay, to sacrifice, to challenge all impossibilities for this belief. Because only in the world of a role can I find… my true self.”

His words were impactful, every word from the bottom of his heart. Under the enhancement of the Speech Manipulation (Intermediate) skill, that purest love and dedication to the art of acting, like surging tides, swept towards Victor Antonioni.

Victor Antonioni looked at Lin Da’s eyes, burning with blazing flames, and a subtle… touch of emotion flashed in his cloudy eyes.

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly picked up an old-looking music box from the table beside him and gently opened it.

A melodious and slightly sad tune slowly flowed through the private room.

“This music box was a memento my grandfather left me.” Victor Antonioni’s voice suddenly became a little low and… distant. “He said every note carries a forgotten memory, a wronged soul.”

He paused, his gaze returning to Lin Da, his eyes becoming exceptionally sharp: “The Tower Keeper in lost lighthouse, his heart also hides such a… music box filled with sad melodies.”

“Can you… hear it?”

This question, seemingly simple, was actually testing Lin Da’s depth of understanding of the character’s inner world, and whether he could truly resonate with the character on a… soul level.

Lin Da’s heart leaped!

He knew this was Victor Antonioni’s true “test”!

He slowly closed his eyes, completely immersing himself in the melodious and sorrowful tune.

In his mind, the image of the Tower Keeper, who lived day after day, year after year on the isolated island, accompanied by the lighthouse and loneliness, began to appear.

He seemed to see his weathered eyes, feel the unspeakable pain and struggle deep within his heart, and also touch the never-extinguished… longing for light deep in his soul.

The Essence of the Role (Advanced) skill was brought to its fullest extent at this moment!

His soul and the soul of the Tower Keeper seemed to truly… resonate!

After a long while, Lin Da slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes were filled with an unspeakable sadness and… a hint of understanding.

He did not directly answer Victor Antonioni’s question, but instead, with a slightly hoarse and weary yet storytelling voice, softly hummed a… similarly melodious and sad tune.

It was a tune he had never heard before, yet it felt as if it had been swirling in his heart for a thousand times.

That melody echoed the music flowing from the music box, yet it carried a deeper, more… desperate charm unique to the Tower Keeper.

Victor Antonioni looked at Lin Da, listening to the humming that seemed to come from the depths of his soul, his expression changing from initial scrutiny, to surprise, and then to… unbelievable shock!

His sharp eyes even became slightly… moist.

He knew that this young man from the East… truly heard it!

He heard the sound of the music box, filled with sad melodies, deep within the Tower Keeper’s heart!

And he also heard… the most obsessive call to art deep within his own soul!

Victor Antonioni’s sharp eyes, at this moment, even became slightly… moist.

He looked at Lin Da, listening to the humming that seemed to come from the depths of his soul, his expression changing from initial scrutiny, to surprise, and then to… unbelievable shock!

He knew that this young man from the East… truly heard it!

He heard the sound of the music box, filled with sad melodies, deep within the Tower Keeper’s heart!

And he also heard… the most obsessive call to art deep within his own soul!

“You…” Victor Antonioni’s voice trembled almost imperceptibly as he slowly extended his hand and tightly grasped Lin Da’s hand. “Child, what… is your name?”

He seemed to have forgotten that David Green had already introduced Lin Da to him. At this moment, he only wanted to re-acquaint himself with this young man who could resonate with his soul.

“Director, my name is Lin Da.” Lin Da looked at Victor Antonioni’s eyes, filled with excitement and admiration, and a warm current surged in his heart. He knew he had succeeded.

“Lin Da… Lin Da…” Victor Antonioni repeated the name, his eyes shining brighter and brighter. “Good! What a Lin Da!”

He suddenly stood up and paced back and forth in the small private room, his expression at times excited, at times solemn, as if undergoing a fierce inner struggle.

Lin Da stood quietly to the side, not making a sound to disturb him. He knew that this genius director was making a… crucial decision.

After a long while, Victor Antonioni stopped, turning his gaze back to Lin Da, his eyes filled with unquestionable determination:

“Lin Da, I don’t care what you’ve acted in before, nor what your plans are for the future.”

“Now, I only ask you one thing—”

He paused, his voice becoming exceptionally solemn:

“Are you willing to become the Tower Keeper in my lost lighthouse?”

“To use your soul to portray his loneliness, his despair, his struggle, and… that never-extinguished longing for light in his heart?”

This was more than just a simple role invitation.

It was more like an artist issuing a… soul’s calling to another potential kindred spirit!

Lin Da’s heart pounded wildly at this moment!

He knew this was the sentence he had been waiting for!

He took a deep breath, meeting Victor Antonioni’s eyes, which were full of expectation and trust, his gaze firm, his voice strong and clear:

“Director, I… am willing!”

“I am willing to dedicate my entire being to become him, to feel him, to present his soul on the big screen, so that audiences worldwide can hear… the sound of that music box deep within his heart!”

“Good! Good! Good!” Victor Antonioni said “good” three times, each word filled with irrepressible excitement and joy. He suddenly extended his hand and tightly clasped Lin Da’s hand again, as if he had found a long-lost confidant.

“Lin Da, I believe our collaboration will… create miracles!”

The moment their hands clasped, the system’s exciting notification sound rang in Lin Da’s mind again:

“Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully passing the soul interrogation of European genius director Victor Antonioni and receiving his high recognition and a formal invitation for the male lead role in the movie lost lighthouse!”

“The Actor Emperor Road System special side quest: ‘Artistic Sanctuary — The Challenge of Independent Cinema,’ the objective ‘Successfully obtain the male lead role in a designated independent art film’ has been achieved!”

“Current quest completion: 50%!”

“Ding! Host’s prestige greatly increased! Current prestige: 9000 points.”

“Ding! Due to the host’s excellent artistic comprehension and soul resonance demonstrated during the in-depth exchange with an international top art film director, the proficiency of the Essence of the Role (Advanced) skill has greatly increased! The proficiency of the Speech Manipulation (Intermediate) skill has increased!”

“Ding! Special reward: Artistic Perception (Beginner) skill activated!”

“Artistic Perception (Beginner): The host’s perception, comprehension, and appreciation of various art forms (film, music, painting, literature, etc.) are enhanced, making it easier to draw inspiration from artworks and integrate it into their own acting creations.”

The generous rewards and the brand new Artistic Perception skill filled Lin Da’s heart with light and hope, like the dawn breaking outside the window.

He knew that his life was about to embark on a new, grander, and more… artistic journey!

And he was ready to face the more severe, and more… anticipated challenges from the temple of art!

He looked at the genius director, who was gesturing excitedly, having found his “kindred spirit,” and a warm current surged in his heart.

He knew that the upcoming collaboration might be full of challenges, even… “torment.”

But so what?

For art, for the Tower Keeper who had held steadfast on the isolated island for a lifetime, and for… his own never-extinguished faith in acting, he, Lin Da, was willing to endure it all!