21: The proposal in Chapter 21 was approved, and the system was "upgraded".

After sending out the music visual proposal for "Harmony Bridge", Alex didn't just sit around waiting.

He went to class, filmed his footage, and occasionally had to deal with his increasingly enthusiastic neighbor, Sarah—whenever this girl ran into him now, their conversations had upgraded from "The weather is nice" to "I baked some cookies, do you want to try some?", with her hints becoming increasingly obvious.

Just as he was pondering how to tactfully and politely draw a clear line with Sarah, he received a call from New York.

It was Ms. Allison again, and her voice sounded much gentler than last time. "Alex, we and Taylor's team have carefully reviewed your proposal, 'echo gallery Visual Interpretation'."

Alex held his phone and walked to the window in the library corridor; his heartbeat was steady, but his ears pricked up.

"Let's get straight to the conclusion," Allison said, her tone carrying professional appreciation. "Your idea is very unique; it's not just some cookie-cutter MV script. You captured the 'soul' of the song, rather than just the literal meaning. The feedback from Taylor's team is excellent; they feel you understand the private, slightly melancholic vibe of the song, and your visual concept has a real auteur quality."

She paused before providing the key information: "So, we'd like to invite you to create a concept short film of about 90 seconds based on this proposal. We'll provide the budget. It doesn't need to be too complex; it's mainly to see if the visual feeling you described matches the music and if the rhythm is right. This is a critical step in deciding whether to continue our collaboration. So, are you interested?"

"I'm interested. I can work out the schedule." Alex answered crisp and clear. He'd done it! At the very least, he'd passed the first hurdle and earned the right to the "entry test." This feeling of being professionally recognized by a top-tier team was more satisfying than simply gaining a hundred thousand followers.

After hanging up, as he was planning how to approach the concept short film, the familiar system notification sound suddenly chimed in his head. But this time, it felt a little different.

【Detected that the host's creation has received deep professional recognition from a specific high-value target.】

【Source of recognition: Authoritative music copyright agency and the core team of an associated top-tier artist.】

【Quality of recognition: Extremely high. Contains deep aesthetic resonance and potential for high-end cooperation.】

【'Diverse Popularity' to 'Core Influence' conversion program activated.】

【This recognition has been converted. Gained 'Core Influence': 18 points.】

【New dimension: 'Core Influence' unlocked. These points can be used to redeem high-level items involving fundamental rules. Some high-level redemptions now require consuming both 'Popularity' and 'Core Influence'.】

【Special Note: Superficial 'awareness' or data growth primarily increases 'Popularity'; only deep 'recognition,' 'admiration,' or 'resonance within key circles' can effectively accumulate 'Core Influence.' Acquisition difficulty significantly increased.】

Alex was stunned, but then it clicked. Good grief, had the system just undergone a "version update"? It was no longer just looking at who knew him, but now looking at who recognized him and how seriously? 'Core Influence'? The name sounded much more high-end than 'Popularity,' and it was clearly much harder to obtain.

With a thought, he pulled up the system interface. Sure enough, next to the original blue-colored Popularity number, there was now a small gauge glowing with a dark golden luster, showing 18. He checked the high-end categories in the shop that had previously been grayed out, such as 【Life Evolution】 and 【Rule Peeking】. Sure enough, the redemption requirements now included a "Core Influence" requirement in addition to the astronomical amounts of Popularity, and the values made him gasp.

"Now this is more like it." Far from feeling annoyed, Alex actually felt a bit excited. A system where you could get superpowers just by posting random videos to chase trends would collapse sooner or later. The current setup forced him to produce high-quality work that truly impressed insiders and conquered the upper echelons, which was the only way to unlock more core rewards. This actually made the system's "game" more challenging and authentic.

18 points—pitifully low, but deeply significant. It was a new key, even if it couldn't open any locks just yet.

Carrying the excitement of this "system upgrade" and the reassurance of having secured the "entry test" qualification, Alex returned to his apartment. Just as he sat down at his computer to brainstorm locations for the concept short film, the doorbell rang.

It was Sarah. She wasn't wearing her nurse's uniform today; she had changed into a fresh floral dress, and she was indeed holding a small plate of golden-baked cookies. Her smile was a bit shy. "Just baked them—butter cookies. Want to try some? And, by the way… that coffee we mentioned last time, is tomorrow still on?"

Alex took the cookies and thanked her. Looking into Sarah's expectant eyes, he knew he couldn't be vague anymore. He offered a friendly but slightly apologetic smile. "Sarah, the cookies smell amazing, thank you. But, about tomorrow…" He carefully chose his words, his tone sincere. "I recently took on a very important creative project, and my schedule is going to be incredibly tight. I'll probably be working non-stop for the next month or two. I'm afraid that even if I agreed to go, I'd likely end up canceling on you at the last minute, and that would be even worse."

He paused, his gaze steady. "You're a wonderful neighbor, and very kind. But my life right now is basically being pushed along by one creative deadline after another. I really can't spare much energy for… well, other things. I hope you can understand."

Sarah was a smart girl. The smile on her face faded slightly, but she didn't lose her composure. She blinked and nodded. "I understand. People in creative fields are all like that—when inspiration strikes, you can't stop it." Her tone lightened, with a touch of self-deprecation. "Looks like my cookies came at just the right time, then. At least they can provide some fuel for your late nights. Well… you get back to work. Good luck with your project! If you ever need it to be quiet, just let me know. I definitely won't disturb you."

After seeing Sarah out, Alex closed the door and let out a sigh of relief. He had handled it well, and their neighborly relationship hadn't turned awkward.

He returned to his computer and began planning the 90-second concept short film in earnest. Time was tight and the budget was limited; he had to spend his money and energy where it counted. He quickly listed several locations in Los Angeles that best captured the feeling of "echoing memories": an old carousel playground that was always deserted at dusk; the corridor of a century-old bookstore with stained-glass windows that was always quiet; and an abandoned drive-in theater in the suburbs, with its massive, dilapidated screen facing an empty field.

The core of the shoot wouldn't be a story, but rather emotion and texture. He would use the most delicate shots to caress the peeling gold paint, the dust-covered stained glass, and the cracks on the screen eroded by the elements, letting the images breathe on their own to match the faint melancholy and nostalgia in the music of "echo gallery."

After finalizing the preliminary plan, he stretched. On the system interface, that dark golden "18" flickered quietly.

His Popularity was still growing slowly due to the spread of his daily videos, but the progress bar for "Core Influence" was almost completely motionless. It seemed that if he wanted to earn this high-level currency, he would have to rely on projects on the level of "echo gallery," or even more impressive collaborations in the future.

He shut down his computer and walked to the window. Los Angeles was still ablaze with lights in the night, but in his eyes, the city seemed to have taken on a new layer of meaning—it was a mine for his creativity, and also a ladder to higher "Influence."

The next step was to first nail this 90-second concept verification. Then, he would use his skills to earn more "Core Influence" and see what secrets were hidden behind those truly good items in the system.

Right, he still needed to find time tomorrow to visit those selected locations and check the lighting in person. He glanced at the butter cookies Sarah had given him on the table, picked one up, and popped it into his mouth.

Hmm, the taste was good. At least on the neighborly front, things were stable for now.