When Jane Anning found Xize, he had already completed the discharge procedures on his own. He wasn't seriously injured, just a few scratches on his arm and leg. The hospital had cleared him to leave.
As Xize finished the paperwork and was about to leave, he was suddenly stopped by a woman wearing sunglasses and draped in a bright red coat.
The woman removed her sunglasses, revealing a strikingly beautiful face with large eyes and a high nose. What was surprising, however, was that like Xize, she had distinctly Asian features, without any trace of mixed heritage.
Jane Anning exhaled a small breath, hooked her sunglasses on her chest, and gave Xize a hug, saying, "I'm so relieved you're alright."
Xize subtly stepped back, politely asking, "Hello, may I ask who you are?" He searched his memory but couldn't recall meeting this person.
Jane Anning raised an eyebrow and smiled, "I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Jane Anning, the agent the company has assigned to you. From today onwards, we're partners."
An agent? Xize nodded and smiled faintly, greeting her with a polite handshake. He understood the importance of having a good relationship with an agent, as they are the artist's right-hand. Though he didn't know much about the woman before him, her demeanor was friendly, and it was clear from her expression that she had a favorable impression of him.
Jane Anning was overjoyed. The boy standing before her was completely different from the one she had heard about and seen in photos!
There was no cold, distant expression, nor was there a dull look in his eyes. He was polite, articulate, and his smile carried a gentle warmth. He treated people with respect and seemed to understand how to maintain a comfortable distance. Everything about him was done with such grace and propriety that it was utterly satisfying, far from the reticent, awkward boy she had been told about.
Just like the ten-minute video clip she had watched before, Xize once again surprised her. There was a light in his eyes, a steady demeanor, and an exceptional aura. He gave off the impression of a well-mannered young gentleman. And up close, his looks were simply outstanding—his refined temperament made him seem like a prince from another world.
No wonder everyone she asked on her way down from the ward could point her in his direction. This boy was a natural, born with the charisma of a star. He was destined to stand out, as if he were already a celebrity!
Jane Anning and Xize got into the flying car, the canopy closing automatically. Xize sat in the passenger seat, quietly observing this advanced flying vehicle, feeling it was far more impressive than the cars of six millennia ago.
Jane Anning drove slowly, chatting with Xize about the company's matters before steering the conversation back to the audition. She asked, "When the company hadn't assigned you an assistant or an agent, why did you decide to attend the audition? Although the company doesn't forbid artists from negotiating roles themselves, it's clear you're not yet experienced in this, right?"
Xize replied, "My brother, Xining, recommended it to me."
As a seasoned agent, Jane Anning knew the competition within the company well. She was familiar with Xining but found it puzzling that as an elder brother, he would recommend such an unappealing role like "Ayer." The character was clearly undesirable in the script. It struck her as odd.
But since Xize and Xining were brothers, it wasn't her place as an agent to comment. Instead, she asked, "Have you read the entire script for this role?"
Xize thought for a moment. The original owner of his body hadn't actually read the full script. He answered, "No."
Jane Anning connected her computer to the flying car and sent Xize the script she had managed to acquire. In the past two days, Xize had become familiar with using the wristband that functioned like a mini-computer, holding personal data and allowing internet access.
He opened the script on his wristband and began reading it in the car. Though it wasn't a physical document, Xize was experienced in reading scripts and could quickly skim through them, flipping through pages at a rapid pace.
To his surprise, the script from this futuristic world was only a few pages long!
The lines were incomplete, scenes weren't fully described, and there were no psychological portrayals. Many sections were marked with "actor's discretion." Xize was so stunned he nearly wanted to jump out of the car to see if he was dreaming.
This is ridiculous! Do actors in the future have to be this versatile? The scriptwriter only writes a few pages—isn't that too easy? What's the point of a scriptwriter if they don't write anything?
Xize: "…" A thousand alpacas galloped through his mind…
Jane Anning glanced at Xize, noticing how quickly he was flipping through the script. She was amazed at his reading speed. When she looked back, it seemed he had already finished.
She continued driving, sensing the internal conflict within Xize, and explained, "That's how Tom's films work. He expects his screenwriters to be on a director's level and his actors to be on a screenwriter's level. He believes that only when an actor has the visual imagination of a screenwriter can they truly perform at their best."
Jane Anning spoke at length, but suddenly noticed that Xize, still looking at the script, had furrowed his brow as if contemplating something serious. She glanced at him and asked, "What's wrong?"
Xize, regaining his composure, replied, "This role has issues."
The role Xize had auditioned for was named "Ayer." After reviewing the script, he noted that Ayer appeared early in the story. Despite limited screen time, securing over twenty minutes in a major film was no small feat for a minor character. However, Xize's concern wasn't about the amount of screen time, but rather the nature of the character itself.
Ayer was cowardly, weak, and selfish, always in need of protection—a thoroughly unremarkable character who ultimately betrayed the protagonist and met a miserable end.
Such a role, with its negative qualities, would easily evoke a subtle but strong sense of disgust in the audience.
As an actor, Xize was particularly mindful of a character's depth when choosing roles. A character like Ayer was designed to be a transitional figure leading into an antagonist. At first, the audience would be frustrated with his incompetence, feeling he was a burden to the protagonist. Later, when Ayer betrayed the hero who had protected him all along, the stark contrast would make the audience despise and loathe him intensely.
As a blockbuster, Xize is baffled by the inclusion of such a role. In his view, a great film should feature roles that are positive, negative, those transitioning from positive to negative, and those with hidden negative attributes.
Typically, a minor role like "Ayer" appears in films of lesser caliber, where the scriptwriter's skills are insufficient and the dramatic tension is lacking. Such a character is often "deliberately" included to advance the plot.
An exceptional film would not arrange such a role unless necessary. However, there could be exceptional cases where "Ayer" is a concealed positive character, bearing hidden plot clues intended for future sequels, even the second or third installment.
Regardless, Xize currently holds a very poor impression of this character. Having previously researched Tom on a holographic computer, he learned that Tom is a highly esteemed blockbuster director. He even watched several films set in the future world. Frankly, Ayer feels like a fly in a bowl of porridge, leaving Xize with a very unpleasant impression.
When Jane Anning heard Xize's opinion, she raised an eyebrow and asked, "And then?"
Xize replied, "I can't take this role." Although he had just met Jane Anning and knew nothing of her as a manager, and had no support in the future world, Xize is someone who relies on himself. He must navigate his future life and, of course, learn to interact with a new manager. "It's an unappealing role. Although it appears in a major film and has substantial screen time, the character is simply dreadful."
Turning to Jane Anning, he added, "I messed up the audition, but I still reject this role."
Jane Anning switched the flying car to autopilot, laughing heartily. She turned to Xize with a look of delight and said, "Who said you messed up the audition?! Between the hospital and now, I met with the director. Your performance was outstanding. Tom was very impressed and wanted to sign with you on the spot, but I turned him down. You were right; this role should be declined."
Xize was taken aback. What? The director was satisfied? The scene right after he woke up, terrified, coughed up blood, and was thrown into the dirt? That wasn't acting; it was pure chance!
What a stroke of luck! Indeed, reborn individuals come with a protagonist's halo, and it's dazzlingly charming.
Xize admired Jane Anning's decision to reject the blockbuster director. She is a perceptive and long-sighted manager, not short-sighted but resolute, which is excellent.
This journey has been an unending green light, with a charming East Asian appearance, a stroke of luck in the audition, and now a perceptive and far-sighted manager!
Sitting in the passenger seat, Xize maintained a calm demeanor, but a subtle smile graced his lips. This is just the beginning; a long road lies ahead!