4. To Become Bell

Yan Lang still didn’t show up when Qi Le An was going to sign the contract at weekend.

Qi Le An usually didn’t go back to his uncle’s for weekends for he knew how his uncle disliked him, he was used to spend his weekends in the company.

Mr. Li liked that about Qi Le An, he interpreted it as it would be easier to manipulate Qi Le An.

Mr. Li took Qi Le An to the mall on Saturday morning, he bought Qi Le An a new outfit. Mr. Li had worked in show business, so he had a good eye for fashion. The outfit wasn’t pricy, but it looked great on the boy.

Qi Le An took the outfit with pleasure because he knew Mr. Li would get 5% cut of his revenue, but he was loud in thanks. Mr. Li said a lot of encouraging words to Qi Le An at lunch, Qi Le An would have been really grateful to Mr. Li if he hadn’t known Mr. Li in his true color.

They were meeting Director. Cui on the 17th floor in the company, Glory Entertainment was a dominating company in show business, about half of the active celebrities were working with Glory.

In his last life, Qi Le An didn’t have the chance to set foot in the 17th floor until he was eighteen, so he couldn’t help getting emotional as he walked out of the elevator. He was well aware that he wasn’t in the position to challenge any clause in the contract, he just signed his name after Mr. Li and Director. Cui’s crew talked the whole thing through.

Everyone seemed to be in a good mood, the producer even had exchanged phone numbers with Qi Le An. Wechat just hit the market back in 2011, Qi Le An was still using a non-smart phone with basic functions.

Qi Le An took the producer’s name card reverently, he knew the importance of networking in show business.

It turned out Yan Lang was diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis, so he asked for a week off and went back home to better rest. This treatment once again proved the hearsay about Yan Lang’s background, he was not ‘sold’ to Glory like other trainees.

Qi Le An was about to go to the film and television base for his show, To Perish Demons, when Yan Lang was back. According to the contract, Qi Le An needed to stay with the crew for a month and a half, Qi Le An felt glad that he had the chance to take a break from Glory.

Qi Le An didn’t have much stuff to pack, his suitcase was only half full. Most of the outfits were recently bought, none of them were designer brands, but they suit him well.

Glory didn’t arrange any assistant for Qi Le An for he was a trainee. But that was fine, the base was only two hour away from Hai City, and he would be picked up by a crew member after he arrived at the train station.

Qi Le An found everything so familiar when he arrived at the base, crew members who were always on the go, all bustle and hustle... ...

Qi Le An would have a roommate, but he wasn’t expecting he would be live with some star, probably some star’s assistant, thought Qi Le An.

In the last life, the male leading star in To Perish Demons was Hu Bin, a young star with a huge fan base who should take credit for the high ratings. The female leading star Lin Xue, was also a famous young actress, there was a high expectations for the show, and the show had such a high rating, all of the main actors had become even more popular, even Bell, the Spirit Beast.

Bell, was a Bunny Spirit, he became the male lead Hao Ran’s Spirit Beast by chance. Hao Ran who had a mysterious background went to mortal world to slay demons and protect the people under the master’s instruction, he met Bai Hua, a female cultivator from the most renowned sect, Hao Ran and Bai Hua fell in love as they fought the devil side by side. Bai Hua helped Hao Ran to discover his background only to find the evil behind the scene turned out to be Hao Ran’s Grandmaster... ...

Bell had sacrificed himself on the fight where Hao Ran and Bai Hua confronted the Grandmaster, Bell had transmitted his memory to Hao Ran before he passed away and helped Hao Ran to find out the Grandmaster’s true intentions... ...

The character, Bell, was an important supporting role, chances were the audience would love the actor for the role. He was simple-minded, loyal, adorable looking, and he had sacrificed himself for its master, the challenge was to make Bell adorable in a clever way.

Qi Le An had been studying his scrips so carefully, the pages were all worn out. He was confident his version of Bell would be so much better than Yan Lang’s in his last life.

Qi Le An opened his scripts as soon as he had settled in, and his roommate knocked on the door at night. His roommate was Hu Bin’s assistant, a young and tall man.

Qi Le An didn’t know Hu Bin personally in his last life, but he did remember that Hu Bin once had a love affair scandal, his assistant was the only one who had stayed by his side and found out the truth to prove Hu Bin’s innocence.

Qi Le An appreciated someone who was loyal and righteous, so he showed a genuine smile to Assistant He.

Assistant He was nice to Qi Le An as well as he found out this young man was his boss’s Spirit Beast, the two young men hit it off. They became fast friends.

The rest of the actors arrived the next afternoon, they had a dinner together that night.

“Come on, everyone, this is our youngest actor in the show, Qi Le An.” Director. Cui introduced Qi Le An to everyone, he was being nice to Qi Le An because he and Mr. Li were on good terms.

Qi Le An was still a growing boy, he wasn’t very tall yet, and he said hi to the crew timidly with a glass of orange juice in hand.

Lin Xue was a straightforward person, “Such a good boy you are, An! Don’t worry, I will take care of you!”

The crowd burst into laughter and Qi Le An blushed crimson. Everyone was having a good time, Director. Cui told them they could expect a surprise the day after, he surely knew the way to keep the crowd in suspense.

Hu Bin, Qi Le An and Assistant He played poker after they went back, both Hu Bin and Qi Le An’s faces were pasted with paper slips as they keep losing, Assistant He on the other hand, had the Midas touch.

“An, I think this one is cheating.” Hu Bin pretended he was bummed, “No way we are gonna win tonight!”

Assistant He snickered, “Cheating or strength? I’m sure An has the right answer.”

Qi Le An pouted, “I’m sure I don’t have either... ...”

Hu Bin and Assistant He were amused by Qi Le An’s reaction, Assistant He checked the time and said, “Boss, we gotta call it a night, tomorrow we all need to attend the sacrifice ceremony for the show!”

Hu Bin nodded, “Righto, but I need to take a photo of you two looking this silly!”

Click.

Qi Le An didn’t communicate with Nightmare System that night, he slept like baby for the first time! And he felt his new life was really about to begin.

Qi Le An didn’t realize how big the surprise Director. Cui mentioned was until the next day!