89: The Call of Chinatown, an Epic Gift

Allen Parker’s meticulously planned “actor emperor road” for Lin Da, starting with the HBO limited series “chinatown stories,” was undoubtedly a well-thought-out and strategically astute choice.

This series not only boasts the top-tier production quality and global influence represented by HBO’s golden reputation, but its epic theme, set in San Francisco’s Chinatown in the 1930s and 40s, tells the story of several generations of a Chinese gangster family’s grievances and entanglements, filled with dramatic tension and… infinite possibilities.

Lin Da knew that if he could successfully portray the core character that Allen Parker had secured for him—a character who rises step-by-step from a low-level hoodlum to a gang boss—it would be more than just a breakthrough in his acting; it would be… an excellent opportunity to showcase the unique charm and complex humanity of Eastern men to the whole world.

In the days leading up to his meeting with the producers and director of “chinatown stories,” Lin Da did not allow himself to slack off in the slightest.

He unhesitatingly added the 100 newly acquired Acting Points to two highly targeted attributes: “Character Portrayal (Gangster Overlord Demeanor)” and “Language Talent (American Slang and Period Authenticity).

He activated the Script Insight (Advanced) skill and meticulously studied the script outline and character bios for the first three episodes of “chinatown stories” that Allen Parker had sent him.

The story’s background is set in the turbulent “Gold Rush” era, full of opportunities and dangers. Countless Chinese people left their homes, traveled across oceans, and came to this unfamiliar land, struggling to survive amidst exclusion and discrimination in a foreign country, banding together for warmth, and… giving rise to a unique underground order and Jianghu grievances.

The character Lin Da was about to play was named Chen Ajiu, an orphan who grew up struggling at the very bottom of Chinatown. He was intelligent, forbearing, and ruthless, yet deep down, he retained a trace of dedication to family affection and righteousness. His life was filled with the baptism of blood and fire, and also with the entanglement of love and hate, making him a typical tragic hero who struggled to survive in the torrent of the times and eventually grew into a generation’s overlord.

“Interesting…” Lin Da watched with great interest, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

This character had a completely different charm from Wei Zhongxian, An Si Yuan, and Tower Keeper, whom he had played before. The tenacity and cunning of a small-time character from the bottom, the ruthlessness and helplessness of struggling to survive in the dark, and… the contradiction and pain of making difficult choices between brotherhood and family interests, all filled Lin Da with a desire to create.

He began to consult a large amount of information about the history of Chinese immigration to the United States in that era, the development history of San Francisco’s Chinatown, and Chinese gangster culture, hoping to gain a deeper understanding of that era, and the living conditions and spiritual world of that group.

He even started to imitate the words and deeds of gang bosses in old movies in his apartment, repeatedly practicing his gaze and… that aura of unapproachable authority in front of the mirror.

The Technique - Character Dimension (Beginner) skill played a huge role in this process. He seemed to be able to instantly enter Chen Ajiu’s “exclusive dimension,” to feel his inner loneliness and longing, and to experience his every struggle and choice on the brink of life and death.

A week later, Allen Parker personally drove Lin Da to a high-end private club in downtown Los Angeles.

This was where he would meet with the producers and director of “chinatown stories.”

“Lin, relax, just perform normally,” Allen Parker patted Lin Da’s shoulder, his eyes full of encouragement, “These people from HBO are all top figures in the industry, and their judgment is very sharp. But they also appreciate truly talented and prepared actors. I believe you will definitely conquer them.”

Lin Da nodded, took a deep breath, and walked steadily into the private room filled with a rich Eastern charm.

Inside the private room, three distinguished-looking middle-aged men were already seated.

The one in the middle was HBO’s star producer, Mark Johnson, known for his precise market insight and extreme pursuit of series quality.

To his left was a white-haired, deep-eyed, rather scholarly-looking elderly Chinese man. He was the screenwriter and co-director of “chinatown stories,” a renowned Chinese director in Hollywood—Director Li Anlan. It was said that the script for this series was his masterpiece, refined over several years of painstaking effort.

And to his right was a tall, imposing, and seemingly decisive white director. He was one of HBO’s exclusive directors, known for his sharp narrative style and profound insight into complex human nature—Director Michael Smith.

“Mr. Lin, welcome,” Mark Johnson was the first to stand up, extending his hand to Lin Da with a professional smile.

“Mr. Johnson, Director Li, Director Smith, it is a great honor to have the opportunity to meet the three of you,” Lin Da shook hands with each of them, neither humble nor arrogant, as the “Aura Control (Intermediate) – Affability” skill quietly operated, making him appear gentle yet confident.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two sides quickly got down to business.

“Mr. Lin,” Mark Johnson said directly, “We have all seen your audition footage from “the last silk road echo” and your excellent performance in “the chronicles of the great ming dynasty.” We have to say, your acting left a very deep impression on us.”

Director Li Anlan also smiled and nodded, with a hint of appreciation in his eyes: “Especially your unique Eastern temperament, and your precise grasp of complex inner emotions, are very consistent with our vision for the character Chen Ajiu.”

Director Michael Smith was even more direct. He pushed a thick script in front of Lin Da, his gaze as sharp as a knife: “Mr. Lin, this is the complete script for the first five episodes of “chinatown stories.” We would like to hear your understanding of the character Chen Ajiu and the entire story.”

The real test had arrived!

Lin Da’s heart slightly tightened, but his face remained calm and composed.

He knew that this was not just a simple character explanation, but also… a comprehensive assessment of his professional quality and artistic insight.

He took a deep breath, his gaze calmly sweeping over the three bigwigs. The Speech Manipulation (Intermediate) skill quietly activated at this moment, and his voice, gentle and magnetic, clearly echoed in the private room:

“Thank you very much for the trust of the three teachers. After reading the script outline and the first three episodes of “chinatown stories,” I have some preliminary understanding of the character Chen Ajiu and the entire story.”

“In my opinion, Chen Ajiu is not just a gang boss; he is more like… a tragic hero carried forward by fate in the torrent of the times.”

“He came from the bottom, suffered bullying, and in order to survive, he had to become ruthless and unscrupulous. But deep down, he always retained a trace of dedication to family affection, to brotherhood, and… a strong desire to change his own destiny.”

“His life is full of contradictions and struggles. He is both a destroyer of order in Chinatown and… a guardian in some sense. He possesses both appalling cruelty and touching tenderness.”

“And the entire story of “chinatown stories,” in my opinion, is not just a gangster epic, but also… a tear-stained history of the hundred-year struggle and perseverance of Chinese immigrants on American soil.”

Lin Da spoke eloquently. He did not deliberately show off profound theories, nor did he vaguely praise the script’s merits. He simply used the most sincere language to share his truest understanding and feelings about the character and the story.

Under the dual enhancement of Speech Manipulation (Intermediate) and Script Insight (Advanced), every word he spoke hit the mark, and every insight was filled with unique depth and penetration.

The three bigwigs listened quietly, their eyes shining brighter and brighter.

They had not expected that this young actor from the East was not only fluent in English, but his understanding of the script and grasp of the character had reached such an astonishing level!

When Lin Da finished his last word, the private room fell silent for a moment.

After a long pause, Director Li Anlan slowly spoke, a hint of barely concealed excitement in his voice:

“Mr. Lin… you… you are simply the perfect Chen Ajiu in my heart!”

Director Michael Smith also nodded heavily, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration: "Lin, your understanding completely exceeded my expectations! I believe you will be able to interpret this role perfectly!"

Producer Mark Johnson directly made the decision: "Mr. Lin, the role of Chen Ajiu is perfect for you! We at HBO are very much looking forward to working with you!"

It's done!

An unspeakable ecstasy surged in Lin Da's heart!

He knew that he had once again conquered these top figures from Hollywood with his strength!

And his "actor emperor road" had become clearer and more... anticipated because of "chinatown stories," which was full of infinite possibilities!

Just then, the system's exciting prompt sounded in his mind again:

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully receiving the official invitation for the core male lead 'Chen Ajiu' in the HBO limited series "chinatown stories"!"

"[Actor Emperor Road System] Core Mission Chain First Link: 'The Battle for a Foothold in Hollywood' has been activated!"

"Mission Objective: With the role of 'Chen Ajiu,' obtain at least one Emmy Awards or Golden Globe Awards nomination for Best Actor in a drama series, and spark widespread attention and discussion globally on the theme of Chinese immigrants."

"Mission Reward: Acting Points +1000, [Actor Emperor Aura (Intermediate)] proficiency greatly increased! [Technique - Character Dimension (Beginner)] skill proficiency greatly increased! [Mysterious Gift Pack (Epic)] x1!"

New core mission! More generous rewards!

Flames burned brightly in Lin Da's eyes.

He knew that his life was about to embark on a brand new, more magnificent, and more... brilliant journey!

"chinatown stories" will be the first and most solid foundation stone for his... actor emperor road!

Chapter 117: The Cornerstone of the Actor Emperor Road, Epic Gift

"[Actor Emperor Road System] Core Mission Chain First Link: 'The Battle for a Foothold in Hollywood' has been activated!"

"Mission Objective: With the role of 'Chen Ajiu,' obtain at least one Emmy Awards or Golden Globe Awards nomination for Best Actor in a drama series, and spark widespread attention and discussion globally on the theme of Chinese immigrants."

"Mission Reward: Acting Points +1000, [Actor Emperor Aura (Intermediate)] proficiency greatly increased! [Technique - Character Dimension (Beginner)] skill proficiency greatly increased! [Mysterious Gift Pack (Epic)] x1!"

Lin Da looked at the new core mission shining with purple-gold light in his mind, and the series of rich rewards that almost dazzled his eyes, the excitement and pride in his heart were like a volcano about to erupt, difficult to suppress.

Emmy Awards! Golden Globe Awards! Best Actor nomination!

Every single word represented the highest honor in the television drama field, and it was the first and most solid foundation stone for him to embark on the "actor emperor road"!

And that [Mysterious Gift Pack (Epic)] filled him with infinite imagination.

"System, open the [Mysterious Gift Pack (Epic)]!" Lin Da took a deep breath, suppressing his inner excitement, and silently recited in his mind.

"Ding! [Mysterious Gift Pack (Epic)] has been opened! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the following rewards:"

"1. [Oscar Road · Script Radar (Primary)] (Passive Skill): When the host comes into contact with film and television projects, he can more keenly perceive the potential of the project to impact Oscar and other top international awards, and has a certain chance to predict the 'key points for winning awards' of the project (such as director style, script theme, character setting, etc.). After the skill level is upgraded, the perception accuracy and prediction ability will be significantly enhanced."

"2. [Character Soul Shard (Chen Ajiu Exclusive)] x3: Collect a specific number of exclusive soul shards to unlock the character's hidden traits, backstory, or special emotional lines, greatly enhancing the depth and upper limit of character portrayal."

"3. [One-time Language Barrier-Free Card (Global)] x1: After use, you can perfectly master and fluently use any language in the world for communication within 24 hours, regardless of any accent and cultural barriers."

"4. Special Item: [Hollywood Golden Network Map (Fragment)] x1: A mysterious map fragment recording some core Hollywood connections and potential cooperation opportunities. Collect more fragments to unlock a more complete network, providing powerful assistance for the host's international development."

Oscar Road · Script Radar! Character Soul Shard! One-time Global Language Barrier-Free Card! And... Hollywood Golden Network Map Fragment!

Lin Da's heart was like a nuclear bomb thrown into it, instantly exploding into flowers!

This epic gift pack was simply... inhumanly generous! Every reward was heaven-defying!

[Oscar Road · Script Radar] was simply a divine artifact tailor-made for him to Impact the little golden man! Being able to perceive the potential of a project to win awards in advance was undoubtedly a huge advantage in the fiercely competitive Hollywood.

[Character Soul Shard] made him even more excited about "Chen Ajiu," whom he was about to play. Unlocking the character's hidden traits and backstory? This was simply injecting infinite possibilities into the character!

[One-time Language Barrier-Free Card], although it only had one use, it would definitely produce unexpected miraculous effects in certain key international communication situations.

And that [Hollywood Golden Network Map (Fragment)] was full of unknown temptations. The importance of Hollywood connections was self-evident. This fragment might be the key for him to open a brand new situation!

Lin Da felt full of strength, and he was filled with unprecedented confidence and anticipation for his future "actor emperor road."

He knew that his life was about to embark on a brand new, more magnificent, and more... brilliant journey!

Just as he was immersed in this great joy, Allen Parker's call came in again.

"Lin, congratulations, you are officially the male lead of "chinatown stories"!" On the other end of the phone, Allen Parker's voice was full of undisguised excitement and pride, "HBO is very satisfied with your performance, they are even willing to increase some budget for your role to better refine the details!"

"Allen, thank you." Lin Da said sincerely, "Without your help, I wouldn't have been so smooth."

"This is our common victory." Allen Parker smiled, then changed the subject, his tone becoming a bit more serious, "Lin, since your goal is Oscar, then "chinatown stories" is not just a simple TV series for you."

"It will be your first stepping stone to win the Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards, and to accumulate international prestige and audience base!"

"I will use all of CAA's resources to get you the best publicity and promotion. At the same time, I will also start looking for some... more artistic and award-winning film projects for you."

"Remember, Lin," Allen Parker's voice carried the unique confidence and control of a top agent, "Your actor emperor road officially begins today! And I, and CAA, will be your most solid backing and... sharpest weapon on this road!"

Lin Da nodded heavily, his eyes filled with infinite yearning for the future.

He knew that he was no longer fighting alone. Behind him, there was the system's blessing, Allen Parker's strategizing, CAA's strong support, and even more... the expectations of countless audiences and fans who loved him.

"chinatown stories" will be the cornerstone of his actor emperor road.

And he was ready to embrace his... star-studded future!

He opened the script of "chinatown stories" and his gaze fell once again on the character of "Chen Ajiu," who was full of tragedy and a heroic aura.

This time, his eyes became deeper and more... powerful.

He seemed to have already seen that Chinese hero who rose step by step in the bloody storm of San Francisco Chinatown and eventually became a legend!

And he, Lin Da, would use his soul to give this character... eternal life!