After completing the box office growth mission for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Luke earned another two attribute points—just what he needed.
Without hesitation, he added both points to Strength and Constitution.
[Name: Luke]
[Age: 18]
[Strength: 13 → 14]
[Agility: 15]
[Constitution: 13 → 14]
[Unassigned Points: 0]
[Skills: Master-Level Swordsmanship, Master-Level Parkour]
With his stats improved again, his Strength and Constitution were nearing the current cap of 15. His enhanced muscles made him feel that his jumping ability could rival that of professional basketball players, and his punches were powerful enough to match pro boxers.
His increased Constitution didn't just make him tougher—it also boosted his endurance. Luke figured he might even be able to run a full marathon now.
Feeling more confident thanks to his improved physical condition, Luke looked forward to the meeting arranged by Director Cohen that night.
Cohen would be introducing him to The Mummy Returns director and producer, Stephen Sommers.
That movie was considered a classic in the fantasy genre—scarab beetles, the Book of the Dead, the Book of the Sun, and the high priest Imhotep were all iconic elements that became well-known after the film's release.
So much so that many online novels later borrowed those classic concepts. In fact, The Mummy Returns often showed up in "infinite world" web novels as one of the early challenge arcs for protagonists.
Another noteworthy fact: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson made his movie debut in that film as the Scorpion King.
He probably had no idea that his brief role would mark the beginning of his transformation from a pro wrestler into a full-fledged action star.
For Luke, this film was a childhood favorite, so of course he dreamed of being part of it.
To show his sincerity, he choreographed a set of action sequences in line with the film's tone and recorded a demo video.
He also realized that improving the film's overall fight choreography would require teamwork, not just individual effort.
So, through Zhang Ziyu, who was working on Rush Hour 2, Luke reached out to Brother Chen Long (Jackie Chan) to borrow a few stunt coordinators from the Chan family team to help with the choreography.
Though Jackie was busy filming in Hong Kong and couldn't meet in person, he readily agreed over the phone—his only condition was for Luke to make a cameo appearance in Rush Hour 2.
It wasn't really a trade—it was more like a senior giving a junior a helping hand.
Luke was deeply grateful.
After putting in so much effort and preparation, he was sure he'd impress Stephen Sommers that night and secure an important role in The Mummy Returns.
To look the part, he neatly styled his hair and put on a sharp suit before driving off.
He headed to the Conrad Hotel in downtown New York—a luxurious place near Central Park with a view of the Hudson River. A single night there cost at least $700, a clear sign that Sommers enjoyed the finer things in life.
When Luke arrived, Director Cohen was already waiting for him outside.
"Come on," Cohen said. "Director Sommers is expecting us."
"Anything I should be careful about?" Luke asked.
"Yeah," Cohen replied. "Try not to talk too much tonight. Let me handle the conversation. Sommers doesn't have the best temper."
Hearing that, Luke felt a chill of unease but nodded respectfully. "Thank you, Director."
He was truly grateful—Cohen was going out of his way to help him.
Even though both Fast & Furious and The Mummy Returns were Universal Pictures productions, Fast & Furious 1 was a relatively low-budget project of just over $30 million—a test run, really.
Meanwhile, The Mummy Returns had a budget nearing $100 million and was a sequel to a proven hit.
It was clear that in Universal's eyes, Sommers carried far more weight than Cohen.
Would Sommers even give Cohen's recommendation any consideration?
That thought weighed heavily on Luke's mind.
When they entered the suite's living room, Director Stephen Sommers was already waiting for them.
At 37, born in 1963, he was in his prime—stronger and more assertive compared to the 51-year-old Cohen.
Tall, muscular, and standing at about 6'2", Sommers gave off an impression of brute force, but his shrewd, calculating eyes quickly dispelled any notion of simplicity.
He didn't bother to get up when they entered. His gaze swept over Luke briefly before gesturing for them to sit.
"Director Sommers," Cohen began, "this is Luke—the young man I wanted to introduce to you. Give him a few years, and he could become the next Jackie Chan."
"Is that so?" Sommers said indifferently. "Well, good luck to him."
"If you let him join The Mummy Returns, I'm sure he can elevate the action scenes. Here, this is the proposal he put together."
Cohen handed him Luke's prepared materials.
Sommers flipped through the pages lazily, then tossed them aside.
Luke's heart sank.
Sommers hadn't actually looked at anything—his eyes didn't even move. He'd just pretended to skim a few pages before discarding it.
"The plan's fine, I guess," Sommers said dismissively, "but my cast is already full. No room to add anyone else."
"I've read the script," Cohen persisted. "That Pharaoh's guard captain role would fit Lin perfectly. Trust me—he'll surprise you!"
Sommers frowned. "No, I only use Western actors for major roles. Asians aren't right for the image I want."
"But—"
Cohen tried to argue, but Sommers cut him off.
"Even if I were to cast a Black actor, I still wouldn't use an Asian. I'll never hire a actor."
"…"
Cohen stood up, clearly frustrated. "You have no idea what kind of talent you're turning down. You'll regret this one day."
With that, he and Luke left.
As the door closed, Sommers sneered. "If it weren't for Cohen, I wouldn't have wasted my evening on them. A yellow-skinned kid trying to make it in Hollywood? Absurd."
— — —
Outside the room, Cohen sighed. "I'm sorry, Lin. I didn't expect things to go that way."
"No, Director. You don't owe me an apology. I'm the one who caused you trouble."
"That guy's a racist jerk," Cohen cursed. "Such arrogance."
Seeing Luke's gloomy expression, he added, "Don't worry, I'll find you another opportunity."
Then, almost to himself, he muttered, "Although, come to think of it, not many directors are willing to cast leads. These people and their damn stereotypes…"
Luke said nothing. He just felt a heavy weight settle in his chest.
He realized how naïve he'd been—how simple he'd thought everything was.
Sure, he was brave and talented, but was that really enough?
This was Hollywood—a white-dominated world.
Maybe Black actors could at least get a small piece of the pie, but for actors, even crumbs were hard to come by.
It wasn't just about individual prejudice—it was the entire West's stereotype of people: backward, ignorant, squinty-eyed, like the old "Fu Manchu" caricature.
Prejudice was like an invisible wall, and that night, Luke ran straight into it.
He couldn't even dream of escaping typecasting or landing a heroic role.
But he wasn't going to give in. Like Jackie Chan, he wanted to crack that wall open—and then tear it down completely.
Sensing his resolve, golden system text appeared before his eyes:
[Host's aspiration detected. Unlocking chain mission: Legendary Action Superstar.]
[Mission 1: Star in a Hollywood film and surpass The Mummy Returns in global box office revenue.]
[Rewards will be based on the host's performance.]
— belamy20