HuaYu: Starting with Photography to Navigate the Entertainment Industry

"Brother Lang, what's with that expression? Why are you looking so lewd? Don't look at me like that!"

Seeing Wang Zhe cross his arms and try to back away, Xu Lang scoffed in annoyance.

"Don't worry, even though I was born in the 'Land of Corruption,' I'll never be gay."

For a time, Xu Lang, who came from later generations, was embarrassed to tell others that he was from Chengdu.

The reputation of "Land of Corruption" is well-deserved; it comes with a built-in "gay-turning" buff.

"But you got into the Sichuan Conservatory of Music, which is a hub for top talents. You'd better watch your backside."

"What's the concentration of what? And what does 'turning gay' mean?"

Wang Zhe is now as pure as a little white flower, so pure that Xu Lang is embarrassed to explain it to him.

Looking back on his previous life, Wang Zhe was originally a rough and tough guy, but after studying at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music for a few years, he became noticeably more effeminate.

He hadn't noticed it before, but now that he thought about it, Xu Lang suddenly felt a chill.

"In short, you should go to Beijing more often in the future, and don't always stay in Chengdu. The humidity here is too high, and it's not suitable for you."

Xu Lang ignored the bewildered Wang Zhe, stood up, and stretched.

"I reckon my acceptance letter should be arriving soon, so I'm off to drink with you."

As Wang Zhe left the barbecue restaurant, his eyes were filled with envy as he looked at Xu Lang.

"Beijing Film Academy is famous for its many beautiful girls. Don't forget me when you go. If you see any pretty girls, think of me."

"No problem, if I'm eating meat, I have to give my brother a sip of soup too."

In his previous life, Xu Lang studied photography at the Beijing Film Academy, originally hoping to break into the film and television industry. However, the industry had too high a threshold, and Xu Lang worked hard for several years without making a name for himself.

Out of spite, Xu Lang stopped trying to squeeze in and, taking advantage of the booming portrait photography market, went straight into business and started his own photo studio.

In addition to shooting formal portraits, he also takes on private commissions and shoots personal portraits.

Over time, he gained some fame in the private food circle.

Although I didn't earn much money, I ate quite a lot of meat.

money?

They've all been mutually waived!

Looking back now, Xu Lang feels that he had many regrets and owed a lot to his ex-wife in his previous life.

The only person he owed nothing to was his second brother.

Xu Lang suddenly realized that he had eaten his fill of meat and hadn't been turned gay; his unwavering will was enough to make him a member of the underground Communist Party.

After parting ways with Wang Zhe, Xu Lang walked home when his phone suddenly vibrated. He picked it up and saw it was a text message from Shen Qingyue:

"Xu Lang, I'm giving you one last chance, or I'll delete your number."

"ha!"

Xu Lang could guess Shen Qingyue's little scheme even with his toes.

She got into Beijing Foreign Studies University, and she and Xu Lang were both in Beijing. When she went to register, she was hoping that Xu Lang would act as her protector and help her with her luggage.

Coolie work is the domain of sycophants.

Xu Lang was unwilling to take away what belonged to someone else.

"No need to give anymore, I've already deleted you, please don't reply."

After sending the text message, Xu Lang immediately deleted the call log that read "My dearest Yueyue."

"Holy crap, would I have been that cheesy to write this name?"

I got goosebumps all over.

When he got home, as soon as he opened the door, his father, Xu Jianguo, and mother, Wu Guilan, waved the bright red college acceptance letter in front of him.

"Haha, son, your acceptance letter has arrived."

Xu Jianguo stuffed a box into Xu Lang's arms.

"This is for you!"

"Canon EOS 20D?"

Although Xu Lang had experienced it once in his previous life, he still couldn't help but be moved when he experienced it again.

The Canon EOS 20D was the best consumer digital camera of 2004.

Sixteen thousand!

Although both parents work, they earn a living on their fixed salaries. They have no worries about food and drink, but spending 16,000 yuan on a camera is still incredibly extravagant!

While fiddling with the camera, Xu Lang gave his father some instructions.

"Don't buy me anything anymore. Save the money to buy some cosmetics for my mom. Look, she has crow's feet around her eyes."

And for yourself, save the money to buy yourself some supplements. Men over forty need to take care of themselves; their kidneys tend to weaken.

"Um?"

Xu Jianguo and Wu Guilan were dumbfounded. What was wrong with this child? What nonsense was he spouting?

While the two of them were wondering, Xu Lang had already assembled the camera.

Holding the camera, Xu Lang looked at his mother, and a cool glint flashed in his eyes amidst the dappled light and shadow.

At the same time, a message appeared in his mind:

[Full-dimensional visualization of light and shadow as a physical entity has been launched.]

[Dynamic lighting and shadow golden time anchoring has been activated.]

[Decoding the emotional narrative through light and shadow has begun.]

In an instant, the viewfinder became rich and colorful:

The absolute blind spot of ordinary human vision is gone.

Instead, there is a full-dimensional visualization of all light.

Natural light, ambient light, their layers, directions, attenuation, reflection, scattering, and micro-light and shadow—things that could only be felt and experienced before—all become visible.

Precise and clear!

It becomes like a tangible indicator, something that can be touched, measured, and managed.

In addition, Xu Lang's vision also showed a set of flowing light and shadow changes, which could distinguish and predict the optimal solution of light and shadow at the level of one-thousandth of a second.

What used to be a rare and precious snapshot has now become a target practice.

But that wasn't the most shocking thing for Xu Lang.

The light and shadow in his eyes automatically carried emotions.

Front lighting will smooth out the signs of aging on Mom's face, 45-degree side lighting will outline her bone structure, and side-backlighting will strip away her everyday identities as a "mother and wife," restoring her charm as a woman.

"Click!"

Xu Lang pressed the shutter, capturing his mother in the light and shadow.

At the same time, a system message popped up in his mind:

Welcome to the god-level photography system!

[Newcomer Task: Take a photograph and receive positive feedback and evaluation from the subject.]

[Task Rewards: Rewards are based on the evaluation level]

[Severe Negation Level: Deduct 5 random attribute points;]

[Negative Perception Level: Deduct 2 points from the Randomness attribute;]

[Indifference Level: Deduct 1 random attribute point;]

[Pleasing to the eye level: Rewards 1 physical attribute point;]

[Empathy Level: Reward 1 point in Appearance attribute;]

[Healing and Comforting Level: Rewards 1 Free Attribute Point]

[Hall of Fame Level: Reward 3 Free Attribute Points]

[God-level: Reward 5 free attribute points]

Current physical fitness assessment: 62/100 (above 62% of peers)

[Current appearance and physical attributes assessment: 80/100 (above 80% of peers)]

[Note: Free attribute points can be freely added to any specific item according to the host's wishes.]

[Note: When deducting attribute points, a specified number of points will be randomly deducted from any sub-item.]

As Xu Lang checked the system information, he heard his mother's scolding voice beside him:

"This kid, what are you taking pictures of? What's so interesting about it?"

Although she says that, it's in a woman's nature to love beauty and taking pictures.

In his previous life, several of Xu Lang's friends were dumped because they couldn't take good photos of their girlfriends.

Xu Lang stared blankly at the photo frozen in the viewfinder, when his mother snatched the camera away.

"Let me see. If the photo isn't good, you'd better delete it right away, you..."

As she was talking, Mom's voice suddenly stopped, and her body seemed to be frozen in place, unable to move.

"What's wrong? Why aren't you saying anything? Let me see."

Dad leaned over, and after just one glance, he too was struck by the Sunflower Acupuncture Technique and couldn't move.