No matter how Qi Hao acted, whether fawning or remaining defiant, the system ignored him.
Yet Qi Hao couldn't find peace for a long time.
6.3 million shares of Penguin stock!
Compared to the beginning, there was actually a tremendous price difference of over seven thousand times.
The positive effect of the time difference finally emerged.
If Qi Hao were allowed to buy freely, he could have directly acquired Penguin, valued at just 5.5 million US Dollars, even borrowing money to bring it under his banner.
Because Penguin not only has a market value of 13.7 billion US Dollars, but also enormous potential, one of the few high-quality assets in the current economic crisis.
Of course, that's impossible.
In 2000, Qi Hao didn't even have 5.5 million US Dollars.
And even if Penguin was given to him, he couldn't manage it; back then, nobody wanted to take over Penguin.
But that's not the point.
The point is, if the system could reward him with 6.3 million shares of Penguin, why couldn't there be other similar opportunities?
Forget about increasing value by seven thousand times, even a hundredfold increase would still be a massive fortune.
So, at this moment, Qi Hao deeply felt the joy of having an advantage.
Hmm, it's painful but joyful.
He now also had to consider the matter of tripping on the red carpet.
And because of the "weirdness" of this reward, he didn't even dare to try any tricks.
The so-called trickery was spending some money to arrange a private red carpet in a deserted place, or pulling a curtain over him on the red carpet...
Anyway, if people couldn't see his face, it wouldn't be as embarrassing.
But what if the system ruled the task failed?
That's 6.3 million shares of Penguin stock!
He must take a good fall in front of everyone.
Thinking about it, he's a bit excited...
Qi Hao suppressed his urge; knocking on Old Tian's door at this time would only make him think too much.
Besides, there's no need to discuss the matter of tripping on the red carpet with him.
Better to calm down and see which actor can be randomly selected today.
Once he confirmed the start of the random selection, the original options of Random 1/Random 2/Random 3, after a brief spin, turned into Ren Dahua/Xu Jinjiang/Cao Chali.
Lousy system, oh no, Tongzi, are you serious?
This little brother looks at these candidate actor NPCs and can't help but feel they're not very decent.
Why isn't there Shan Liwen?
Originally, Qi Hao intended to stick with the old actors today.
Try a new approach and a new playstyle.
But now seeing these three, he felt it was a pity not to choose them.
There's no loss in selecting them.
Just choosing who to pick was a problem, after hesitating for a moment, Qi Hao reluctantly gave up on Xu Jinjiang and Cao Chali.
Definitely not for "Unstoppable Charm" and "Sudden Change" or anything like that.
Although Ren Dahua acted in many third-tier films, his ability is quite good, with a distinct style in acting, and Qi Hao could learn a lot from him.
For example, in "PTU", "Underworld", and so on.
He also performed well in movies like "Tracking", "Exiled", and "Parrot".
Moreover, the actors he shares scenes with are quite good.
Look at the people who act with Cao Chali, not a single one is serious.
Since it's a dual socket, both sides need consideration.
Qi Hao had mixed in Xiangjiang for some time, played bit roles in various crews, and the best time was being selected by Wang Jing to play the third male lead Cola in "Black and White Forest".
The roles in that movie were chaotic, but Cola had quite a few scenes, considered one of the protagonists.
However, the film's response was average, and Qi Hao quickly returned to Inner Entertainment.
Once, he played an extra in a Ren Dahua film, where a small incident occurred; some drunk troublemakers came to cause trouble, claiming the filming crew affected their business and demanded compensation.
This was a typical case of causing trouble.
Usually, the crew would pay up to settle the matter.
However, Ren Dahua went over to talk, and the troublemakers obediently left.
After choosing Ren Dahua, Qi Hao first tried performing alongside him in "PTU", playing the small hoodlum forced to scrub off his tattoo.
This small hoodlum doesn't have much screen time, but his character is well-rounded.
Being slapped repeatedly by Ren Dahua, the psychological pressure intensified layer by layer until he was forced to scrub the tattoo off his neck.
One must admit, Galaxy Image's films are impressive.
"Actually, this scene doesn't require much acting skill. A bit of naïveté makes it more realistic. You're playing a small hoodlum, not a big mafia boss; they tend to show off and posture..."
Ren Dahua slapped Qi Hao a few times, then stopped.
Xiangjiang films are inseparable from the gangs, and Ren Dahua has acted in many gangster movies, so in terms of understanding gangsters, Qi Hao couldn't possibly compare.
"Like this?" Qi Hao stiffened his neck and looked up at Ren Dahua.
"Yes, that's about right. Your gaze could be a bit more brazen. They rely on their recklessness, especially since the gaming hall is their turf."
"You're making me doubt my ability to act; after all, I'm an award-winning actor."
In the training space, conversations with NPCs could be more relaxed.
Qi Hao allowed himself to complain a bit.
The philosopher Zeno made a famous analogy, saying that human knowledge is like a circle. The more knowledge one has, the longer the circumference, making one realize one's ignorance even more.
Qi Hao won the Best Actor award and even got a +10 performance reward from the system, but he kept facing setbacks in the training space.
Of course, this might have something to do with the NPCs' skills. Even though they're intelligent, they never hold back from Qi Hao due to the rules.
If it were the real world, who the hell would open their heart like that to you?
"Your acting is learned from teachers or film works, or developed through your own insight, but true performance should come from life.
Those that are above life might be called art, but they're not necessarily suitable performances."
Ren Dahua's words probably had a hint of criticism towards the academy style.
He would never say that in real life.
After finishing this segment, Qi Hao switched to Ren Dahua's perspective, portraying the character with a deadpan style.
This acting approach, if seen in some other films, might make people feel it's pretentious and unsuccessful, but in Galaxy Image's films, it feels as natural as a stranded fish returning to water.
Simply put, it really looks captivating.
Another tiring night passed, and after eight hours, Qi Hao still didn't get time to experience "Unstoppable Charm."
It's all action scenes, with no opportunity to hone acting skills.
When he got to the living room, he saw Old Tian having breakfast and brought an extra portion for Qi Hao.
"Are you going home for New Year's Day?" Old Tian's breakfast was a meat pie with lamb offal soup.
"Yeah, I'll head back. Filming starts after the new year." Qi Hao was having fried dough sticks with lamb offal soup.
Neither of them liked drinking bean juice.
"You haven't had any conflict with your uncle and aunt lately, have you?"
Old Tian remembered that when he first met Qi Hao, around the year 2000, the kid was at odds with his family.
The family wanted him to go back to school, while he insisted that mixing in the entertainment industry would lead to success.
No one knew where he got that confidence from.
Of course, it's precisely because of this mysterious confidence that Old Tian was willing to follow, step by step to where they are today.
Qi Hao's relationship with his family had already thawed long ago.
After all, when parents frequently see their son on TV, even the most stubborn ones have to admit that the kid has indeed become successful.
"No, I even called my mom yesterday. It's just my old man being so stubborn, obviously proud of me, but still calling me illiterate at every turn."
Qi Hao criticizes even his own dad when he's mad.
"Your uncle is right."
Old Tian looked up at Qi Hao and, stripping away the titles like Four Young Stars and Golden Rooster Best Actor, he's just a semi-illiterate.
"Old Tian, how's your child bride? Has she married someone else behind your back?"
Qi Hao retaliates.
"Damn it, you idiot, why don't you go marry your cousin!" Old Tian retorted directly.
"She's my own cousin!"
Qi Hao and Old Tian have one thing in common: although both are only children, each has a "sister" at home.
The difference is that Old Tian's "sister" was legally adopted by his father and has no blood relation.
Qi Hao had met the girl in Old Tian's family.
Jokingly, she referred to herself as Old Tian's child bride.
But Qi Hao's sister is his own cousin. When Qi Hao's aunt passed away, his cousin, whose father had run off with a wealthy woman from Taiwan shortly after her birth, was raised by his family.
Qi Hao is very grateful to his cousin; she played peacemaker countless times between Qi Hao and his parents, helping to restore their relationship to what it is today.
"She's my real sister!" Old Tian insisted.
"Or should I become your brother-in-law?" Qi Hao laughed so hard he almost choked on the lamb offal soup with too much pepper.
"Get lost! If you dare covet my sister, I'll ruin you beyond redemption."
Old Tian attacked Qi Hao with the last meat pie.
"I'm not coveting, just joking. Are there any recent red carpet events?"
Qi Hao also ate the meat pie.
Might as well spend more time at the gym today.
"What are you trying to pull this time?" Old Tian had developed a reflex to Qi Hao's questions.
Look at what he's been up to for over two months.
Cameos, spicy strips, singing, calendars...
"What do you mean? I'm just checking the schedule. Even though you're not my agent anymore, you still have to be responsible."
Unfortunately, Zhang Nan already has a wife and kids and can't move in.
"A few days ago, there was the Penguin 2007·Starlight Ceremony, which you didn't want to attend. The exposure was pretty good; Penguin has indeed been strong in recent years."
Old Tian started discussing work seriously.
"Sigh! What's the next one coming up?"
Qi Hao couldn't help but wish he'd completed the earlier task faster.
Participating in Penguin's event to complete a system task and get rewarded with Penguin shares is just too perfect.
The sense of ceremony was overflowing...
"The first Capital Satellite TV Annual Film and TV Festival, I haven't had time to refuse yet."
Old Tian sensed a familiar formula.
"I seem to recall, oh right, Fan Xuexue asked me if I wanted to go with her before. Why would she ask me? I'm not familiar with her at all?"
Qi Hao was very puzzled by this.
Then he turned and saw Old Tian looking at him with a disgusted expression, like he was looking at a dead cockroach.