92: The hero's first cry, in-depth analysis

The “Apple Dispute” on the pier was like a burning meteorite thrown into the calm lake of the "chinatown stories" crew, stirring up an indescribable shock and… ecstasy in everyone’s hearts!

When Director Michael Smith shouted that slightly hoarse but excited “Cut!”, the entire set fell into an eerie silence for more than ten seconds.

Then, as if on cue, thunderous applause suddenly erupted!

“My God! This… this is simply a miracle!” Director Michael Smith suddenly stood up from behind the monitor, his azure eyes filled with an unbelievable light. He quickly walked to Lin Da’s front, patting his shoulder hard, his voice trembling slightly, “Lin! You… you just… you were Chen Ajiu! You were that lone wolf struggling to survive on the streets, with an unyielding flame burning in his eyes!”

Director Li Anlan, a Chinese director, also walked over. His face, always known for its elegance and composure, was now filled with excitement and admiration: “Mr. Lin, your performance just now completely transcended the words of the script. You endowed the young Chen Ajiu… with a soul! That kind of primal vitality bursting forth in desperation, that kind of dignity and ruthlessness that never extinguished in humility, made me… my blood boil!”

Mark Johnson, HBO’s golden producer, even gave Allen Parker a direct thumbs-up, not hiding his pride: “Allen, this time, you really dug up… no, you snatched a true treasure for us at HBO!”

Allen Parker wore a professional smile on his face, but his heart was already blooming with joy. He knew that Lin Da had once again conquered these top Hollywood figures with his impeccable strength!

And those crew members who had previously harbored doubts about Lin Da, even with a hint of disdain, now looked at him with completely changed eyes.

There was admiration, reverence, disbelief, and even… a hint of genuine awe.

They knew that this young actor from the East was by no means an ordinary person. His talent and potential were enough for him to carve out his own place in the fiercely competitive Hollywood world of fame and fortune!

Amidst the praise and applause, Lin Da merely smiled faintly, with no trace of pride or complacency in his eyes. He knew this was just the beginning. The complexity and challenge of the Chen Ajiu character were far from over.

In the following days, Lin Da fully immersed himself in the filming of "chinatown stories".

The Chen Ajiu he played gradually grew from the street lone wolf struggling to survive on the pier into a… ruthless character who began to make his mark in the undercurrents of Chinatown.

Sometimes, he was in the smoky underground casino, relying on his extraordinary courage and wisdom to outwit those cunning gang bosses, resolving crises again and again with ease; at other times, he was backstage in a bustling dance hall, feigning compliance and testing the waters with dancers, politicians, and… hidden enemies, each with their own ulterior motives.

The Technique - Character Dimension (Beginner) skill allowed him to navigate these complex scenes with ease and proficiency. He could clearly construct and immerse himself in Chen Ajiu’s multidimensional inner world in different situations, freely switching and blending various complex emotions such as forbearance and ruthlessness, cunning and sincerity, despair and hope.

And the “One Word Settles It” effect of the Speech Spirit (Intermediate) skill made him burst out with astonishing energy in some key opposing scenes.

During the filming of a scene where Chen Ajiu negotiated with another Chinese gang leader, the other party was numerous and arrogant, attempting to force Chen Ajiu to hand over his territory by force.

Just as tensions were high and a conflict was imminent, Chen Ajiu, played by Lin Da, slowly raised his eyelids, sweeping a cold glance at the other party with his unfathomably deep eyes, his tone calm but with a chilling coldness that made people’s hearts palpitate:

“In this Chinatown, no one… can stop what I, Chen Ajiu, want to do.”

A simple sentence, yet it was like an invisible sharp sword, instantly piercing through the other party’s arrogant demeanor!

The aura emanating from him, belonging to a generation’s overlord, and… an unquestionable authority, moved everyone present!

Even the seasoned Asian actor from Hollywood who was acting opposite him, upon feeling Lin Da’s powerful aura, involuntarily felt a trace of… palpitation, and his pre-prepared lines even got stuck.

“Cut! Perfect!” Director Michael Smith watched from behind the monitor, excitedly waving his fist, “Lin! This shot of yours is absolutely amazing! This is the aura a true Chinatown boss should have!”

Director Li Anlan also clapped his hands in praise: “Mr. Lin, your understanding of the Chen Ajiu character has reached a new height. You not only acted out his ruthlessness, but also his… soul!”

As the filming progressed smoothly, Lin Da’s prestige within the crew also grew steadily.

He not only conquered the director and producers with his exquisite acting skills but also won the respect and affection of all cast and crew members with his personal charm.

He was humble and polite to others in daily life, never putting on airs, and during filming breaks, he would even actively exchange acting insights with some young actors and share his experiences. His dedication and love for the art of acting also deeply influenced everyone in the crew.

Allen Parker watched Lin Da thrive in Hollywood and rise to prominence, and his heart was filled with emotion. He knew that this time, he had truly… bet on the right person!

This young man from the East, his future is limitless!

Just as Lin Da was fully immersed in shaping the “Chen Ajiu” character, almost forgetting the outside world’s disturbances, the system’s long-awaited prompt sounded in his mind again:

“Ding! Detected that the host has continuously performed outstandingly in the filming of the HBO limited series "chinatown stories", with deep and popular character portrayal, receiving consistent high praise from the director, producer, and core cast team!”

“The Actor Emperor Road System’s core mission chain, first link: ‘The Battle for a Foothold in Hollywood’, current mission completion progress has reached 30%!”

“Ding! Host’s reputation value (international) has significantly increased! Current reputation value: 10000 points.”

“Ding! Due to the host’s significant breakthrough in portraying complex internal monologues and showcasing an overlord’s temperament, the Technique - Character Dimension (Beginner) skill proficiency has greatly increased! The Actor Emperor Halo (Intermediate) proficiency has increased!”

“Ding! System Mall has unlocked new items: [Acting Depth Analysis Report (Specified Character)], [Hollywood Social Etiquette Mastery (Skill Book)].”

Mission completion reached 30%! Reputation value exceeded 10,000! Skill proficiency increased! And new mall items!

An indescribable joy surged in Lin Da’s heart.

He knew that he had taken another solid step on this journey towards the “actor emperor road”.

And what awaited him next would be… an even more exciting and challenging… Chinatown saga!

He was ready to embrace the next chapter of his… overlord’s path!

The filming of the HBO limited series "chinatown stories" officially entered the fast lane after Lin Da’s breathtaking “Apple Dispute” scene.

Chen Ajiu, played by Lin Da, was like a black mandrake from the East, quietly blooming in the unfamiliar land of Hollywood, quickly conquering the entire crew with his unique charm and unfathomable complexity.

Director Michael Smith and Director Li Anlan almost regarded him as the crew’s “secret weapon.” They not only gave Lin Da full trust and creative freedom during filming but also privately discussed the script with him multiple times, listening to his understanding and suggestions for the Chen Ajiu character and even the entire Chinese gang culture in Chinatown.

Lin Da did not disappoint their expectations either.

Relying on the two “divine skills” of Technique - Character Dimension (Beginner) and Speech Manipulation (Intermediate), as well as his almost obsessive dedication and love for the art of acting, he vividly and remarkably portrayed Chen Ajiu, an overlord struggling in darkness and reborn in blood and fire, leaving people in awe.

Sometimes, he was in the smoky mahjong parlors, feigning compliance with cunning old gang members, resolving crises again and again with ease and wit; at other times, he was in a dark and windy pier warehouse, holding two guns, his eyes fierce, leading his brothers to engage in a desperate struggle with rival gangs.

His performance was full of tension and layers. He possessed both the resilience and cunning of a low-level individual and the dominance and decisiveness of a generation’s overlord; he showed both warmth and tenderness in the face of brotherhood and coldness and ruthlessness in the face of family interests.

The completion of the first link of the Actor Emperor Road System’s core mission chain: “The Battle for a Foothold in Hollywood,” also steadily increased, quickly breaking the 50% mark. Lin Da’s international reputation value soared like a rocket.

However, Lin Da knew that the real challenge was yet to come.

According to the script, Chen Ajiu, in the process of becoming a Chinatown overlord, would face a… difficult choice that would change his life forever.

He had to personally eliminate his good brother, A Yong, with whom he had grown up and was as close as family. This was because A Yong, in a drunken slip of the tongue, unintentionally leaked core gang secrets, bringing about a devastating disaster for the entire family.

This scene was the most complex and painful scene in Chen Ajiu’s inner world. He had to show both his cherished and reluctant feelings for brotherhood, and also the coldness and decisiveness of an overlord who had no choice but to kill for the sake of family interests.

This extreme contradiction and struggle required extremely high demands on the actor’s inner performance and emotional explosiveness.

To perform this scene well, Lin Da specifically locked himself in his room before filming and reactivated a newly unlocked item in the System Mall—the [Acting Depth Analysis Report (Specified Character)].

“System, perform a deep analysis of the character ‘Chen Ajiu’s’ inner activities and performance details in the key scene of ‘eliminating brother A Yong’.”

“Ding! [Acting Depth Analysis Report (Chen Ajiu · Key Choice)] has been generated. Consumed 500 reputation points.”

As the system prompt sounded, a vast and detailed stream of information, like a gentle trickle, poured into Lin Da’s mind.

That was the most precise and profound interpretation of Chen Ajiu’s every gaze, every subtle expression, every breathing rhythm, and even… every tear that was about to fall but was forcefully held back in this scene.

The report not only thoroughly analyzed Chen Ajiu’s psychological motivations and emotional changes when making this difficult choice but also provided some… performance detail suggestions that could instantly elevate the character.

For example, when facing A Yong’s questioning and pleading, Chen Ajiu’s eyes should not be simply cold or angry, but rather… a complex emotion mixed with pain, reluctance, disappointment, and a hint of desperation.

Another example, at the moment of finally delivering the fatal blow, the corner of Chen Ajiu’s mouth could curl into a… faint, almost imperceptible, bitter smile, tinged with self-mockery and sorrow.

These details, like the finishing touch, instantly elevated Lin Da’s understanding of this scene to a new height.

He knew that he had found… the best way to portray this “Tragedy of an Overlord.”

On the day of filming, the atmosphere on set was exceptionally solemn.

Everyone knew that today’s scene was a true test for Lin Da.

Lin Da was dressed in a black Chinese long gown, with no extra expression on his face, but his deep eyes seemed to contain surging waves.

A Yong was played by a Chinese actor who was also somewhat famous in Hollywood, and his acting skills were equally impressive.

“Action!”

With Director Michael Smith’s command, filming officially began!

In the dim room, Chen Ajiu and A Yong stood opposite each other.

“Brother Jiu… you… you really want to kill me?” A Yong’s voice trembled, his eyes filled with disbelief, fear, and… a hint of despair.

Chen Ajiu, played by Lin Da, slowly raised his head, looking at the brother who had once lived and died with him, as close as family, his eyes filled with indescribable pain and struggle.

His lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, it only turned into a… barely audible sigh.

He did not explain, nor did he defend himself.

Because he knew that in the face of cruel reality, any language seemed so pale and powerless.

He just slowly took out a… cold dagger that he had already prepared from his embrace.

The cold gleam of the dagger reflected his expressionless face, which seemed to convey a thousand words.

“Brother Jiu! No! Please! For the sake of us growing up together! For the sake of me once taking a knife for you! Spare me this time!” A Yong fell to his knees with a “thud,” hugging Chen Ajiu’s thigh, pleading tearfully.

Chen Ajiu, played by Lin Da, trembled slightly, a flicker of unbearable emotion flashing in his eyes.

But that trace of unbearable emotion was quickly replaced by a deeper… coldness and decisiveness.

He knew he had no choice.

For the family, for the brothers who trusted and followed him, he had to be… ruthless!

He slowly raised the dagger in his hand, pointing it at A Yong’s chest.

Just as the dagger was about to plunge, the corner of his mouth suddenly curled into a… faint, almost imperceptible, bitter smile, tinged with self-mockery and sorrow.

That smile, like a black poppy quietly blooming in the dark night, was full of fatal temptation, and also… full of heartbreaking despair.

“Pfft—”

The dagger plunged into flesh and blood.

A Yong’s body trembled violently, the light in his eyes gradually dimming.

And Chen Ajiu, played by Lin Da, slowly closed his eyes, two lines of hot tears finally silently sliding down his resolute face.

At that moment, he was no longer the decisive, terrifying Chinatown overlord.

He was just a… pitiful person who had personally killed his best brother.

“Cut!”

Director Michael Smith’s voice carried an uncontrollable tremor and… deep shock.

The entire set was dead silent.

Everyone was completely conquered by Lin Da’s just-concluded “god-like” performance!

They seemed to have truly seen the soul of a… tragic overlord struggling bitterly between loyalty and righteousness, betrayal and redemption!

Lin Da slowly opened his eyes, which were filled with exhaustion and… a hint of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

He knew that he had once again… performed a character to its absolute fullest!

And his “Actor Emperor Road” became clearer and more… anticipated because of this “Tragedy of an Overlord”!

Just then, Allen Parker’s call suddenly came in, his tone carrying an unusual… solemnity:

“Lin, something happened. In China… someone is targeting you.”