Playing the Eighth Route Army, the system is forcing this on me?

Kong Sheng held the phone in his hand, his heart skipping a beat.

On the other end of the phone was Mr. Wang, the biggest investor in the film and a well-known capital tycoon in Beijing's financial circles.

These investors are practically vampires reincarnated; their noses are sharper than a dog's.

Although Kong Sheng is a famous director in China, he still has to be mindful of others' opinions when it comes to capital.

The most fatal flaw is that the crew has been filming for more than half a month, and the role of the second male lead, the core villain who runs through the entire series, remains vacant!

Kong Sheng was under immense pressure and kept the matter tightly under wraps, not daring to report it to his superiors.

He knew all too well the character of these investors.

If they knew that he had kept the production crew waiting for half a month in order to find an actor with "flavor," it would be a disaster.

They even drove away several popular young male celebrities they had brought in, insisting on turning their backs on the investment on the spot!

Now look what's happened.

Some incredibly unscrupulous person uploaded the audition video online!

Even the official account of the Special Museum was alerted!

This is completely out of control now.

"Mr. Wang."

Kong Sheng was thinking about how to come up with a reason to cover it up.

"Kong Sheng, you old fox, you've kept it well under wraps!"

On the other end of the phone, Mr. Wang's voice suddenly rose.

"Tell me, where did you find the actors?"

Kong Sheng's heart skipped a beat.

It seems that the news of signing Yi Zheng has already reached the investors.

However, he was already mentally prepared, no matter how much pressure his superiors put on him.

Yi Zheng, that guy, he signed the contract today.

"Mr. Wang, it's like this. That kid was indeed an extra, but..."

"That's enough!"

Before Kong Sheng could finish speaking, the other party interrupted him.

But there was no hint of blame in his tone.

"Kong Sheng! I watched the video. Well done."

"That look in his eyes, that accent—I wanted to punch him even through the screen!" Mr. Wang's tone carried a hint of excitement.

"However, you really did delay my progress."

"I'm in a difficult position because of what you've done. Hurry up and catch up on the progress, and don't let it happen again."

The voice on the other end of the phone sounded like a reprimand, but there was a hint of encouragement in it.

Kong Sheng opened his mouth, but couldn't come to his senses for a long time.

Investors are always the most difficult to deal with.

In the past, no matter who Kong Sheng liked, these people would always pick and choose, and would insist on stuffing in a few people with connections to disgust people.

But today, did the sun rise in the west?

These capitalists, who usually only care about traffic data and like to patronize pretty boys, have actually been completely won over by Yi Zheng?

Who says only artists know how to appreciate art?

Good actors are indeed loved by everyone!

"Understood! We'll arrange for overtime work!"

After hanging up the phone, Kong Shengsheng let out a long sigh of relief.

The moment the progress was mentioned, Kong Sheng's nerves immediately tightened to the extreme.

Mr. Wang is right. The production team is throwing hundreds of thousands or even millions of yuan into the water every day. If this drags on any longer, they'll lose everything, let alone make a profit.

We must secure this second male lead contract today!

"Old Qin! Where's Old Qin?! Hurry up and get the contract—"

Kong Sheng had only shouted halfway through when his voice suddenly stopped in his throat.

The door to the dressing room was pushed open in the passageway on the side of the audition studio.

Yi Zheng had already removed her makeup and stepped out.

The passive skill will automatically turn off after you step down from the position.

A handsome, even overly sunny, boy-next-door type appeared before everyone.

Who is this? !

Where is that disgusting Japanese colonel from just now?!

This extreme contrast caused several female interns from the nearby film crew to cover their mouths and whisper among themselves.

At this moment, Yi Zheng is fair-skinned and clean-cut, and he is indeed quite handsome.

Who says pretty boys can't play Japanese soldiers?

This is practically God feeding us!

Just then, Team Leader Qin returned with the contract he had just signed.

"Director Kong, how should we fill in the salary details?"

Kong Sheng took the contract directly, and Chao Yi walked over.

"Kid, I won't waste any more words. The second male lead is the core villain who appears throughout the entire series, and his role is extremely important."

"I know you were an extra before and never signed with a proper agency, but rules are rules, but people are flexible."

He held up one finger.

"Ten million! Ten million for the film!"

"But I demand you sign the contract immediately! Tomorrow, no, this afternoon, get straight to the set and start filming!"

boom!

As soon as those words were spoken, the roof of the entire audition studio was almost blown off!

Everyone felt a chill run down their spines and their heads were buzzing!

Ten million?!

The assistant director, standing nearby, also gasped in shock.

Team Leader Qin's eyes rolled upwards, and he almost fainted.

Ten million?

What does this mean?!

The production team spent a lot of money to hire Xiao Zhan, the male lead, but his salary was only a little over 12 million!

Moreover, everyone in the industry knows that Director Kong is a notorious miser!

When negotiating with established veteran actors about their fees, they always try to cut the price ruthlessly, sometimes even going to great lengths to save a few hundred thousand yuan.

But what about today?!

The sun really did rise in the west!

Kong Sheng, that miser, not only plucked his own feathers, but he also ripped them off skin and flesh!

He actually offered a background actor a sky-high salary of tens of millions of yuan in front of the entire crew!

What's even more outrageous is that Kong Sheng, a famous director with a fiery temper, actually asked an extra in public with such an impatient and even somewhat consultative tone.

This favor is more than the heavens!

The crew members, cameramen, and extras who hadn't left yet all looked at Yi Zheng with the eyes of someone looking at the Jade Emperor.

This is insane!

How did a mere ten-second audition transform him from a lowly extra earning 120 yuan a day to a second male lead with a multi-million yuan salary?

This isn't just smoke rising from the ancestral grave; it's clearly an explosion!

Team Leader Qin was so anxious that he was jumping up and down, desperately trying to signal to Yi Zheng with his eyes, his face almost contorted with rage.

Say yes already!

Living ancestors!

Ten million!

What are you standing there for? Quickly kneel down and kowtow to Director Kong!

Everyone present, including Kong Sheng, felt that Yi Zheng would definitely jump up excitedly the next second, or even faint from happiness.

After all, who could refuse such a windfall?

however.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Yi Zheng stood still, looking at the finger Kong Sheng had raised, pondering for a long time.

Ten million is indeed a lot, more than he ever dared to dream of before.

However, Yi Zheng knew exactly what was going on.

The system assigned him the task of playing a member of the Eighth Route Army!

He had endured the ridicule of the entire Hengdian community through wind and rain, and persevered through 799 shows. This was the last one he had to do!

As long as he finishes this last Eighth Route Army performance, he will be able to receive the system's mysterious "newbie gift pack"!

With this cheat code, what can't I have?

If I sign this contract now to play the second male lead and end up playing some kind of Japanese soldier, not only will I have to be treated like an animal on set every day and be secretly cursed, but the system's mission will also be completely ruined!

Then all that suffering he endured for the previous 799 performances as an extra with awkward footwork was for nothing!

Thinking of this, Yi Zheng took a deep breath.

Under the expectant, maddening, and envious gazes of dozens of people in the audience.

He looked calmly at Kong Sheng and shook his head slightly.

"I'm sorry, Director Kong."

"I refuse this role."