Chapter 1

In the autumn and winter of 2003.

Hengdian.

The TV series "The Empress Who Enchanted the World," with a total investment of three hundred million, was in full swing.

"Twenty more dead bodies are needed, who wants to come over?"

"I will!"

"Director, pick me, I've been a professional dead body for twenty years, guaranteed to be professional!"

"Director, pick me!"

"Pick me!"

Chu Qing, wearing a jacket, was pushed into the production team amidst the bustling crowd, a bit confused. When he tried to struggle and leave, he found that his body was completely out of his control.

There were simply too many and too enthusiastic temporary actors in Hengdian. Chu Qing, a tourist, was forcibly pushed into the temporary actor registration tent, and he couldn't even find a gap to squeeze out to get a drink of water...

Of course, Chu Qing didn't dare to go against the flow of people.

Trampling incidents were very common in his previous life, and he didn't want to die just after being reborn without even figuring out the situation.

Chu Qing was a reborn person.

Yes, Chu Qing was a reborn person, and he had crossed over to a world that was highly similar to Huaxia but also different.

This world also had Huaxia, the United States, Hollywood, and the general things were the same, but there were more differences. For example, he hadn't heard of any of the big stars from the original world, and he hadn't heard of any famous works...

Well, maybe this was a way to get rich, at least casually copying some famous works to live a good life wasn't a problem.

Chu Qing was a go-with-the-flow person. Since he had crossed over, he might as well accept it. Of course, his wish to just get by and live a carefree life hadn't changed at all.

Becoming the richest man?

Too tiring, what's the point of scheming all day...

Reaching the pinnacle of power?

Too lonely, and Chu Qing had no ambition...

Famous writer?

This was also a path, one he could take, and it was very easy, just typing and being a literary copycat...

But no matter how much Chu Qing thought about it, he never imagined he would become an actor.

"Don't crowd, one by one, one by one!"

"Okay, you, you, you, and you... come over..."

"Me?" Chu Qing pointed to himself, still a bit dazed.

"Yes, don't look at others, it's you. The rest, disperse. Wait for the next time the production team needs dead bodies..."

The people chosen to play dead bodies, except for Chu Qing, were all overjoyed, their expressions as if they could instantly become big stars.

Chu Qing, looking a bit foolish, followed these "dead bodies" into the production team and was assigned to a large sandy field, where he put on clothes and played a motionless dead body.

Playing a dead body, should also count as acting, right?

Chu Qing lay on the sandy field with a speechless smile, closing his eyes.

Playing a dead body was fine, at least he would get a free boxed meal and a few dozen yuan, which would cover his drink expenses for the day. This was what Chu Qing thought as he closed his eyes.

...

The director of "The Empress Who Enchanted the World" was Xia Baoyang, a very meticulous and even perfectionist director.

This time, CCTV invested three hundred million to create a TV series that was slightly representative and more appealing to young people, so they chose Xia Baoyang as the director.

"Cut!"

"Zhao Ying'er, don't cry like that, do it like this, see?"

"Cut!"

"I told you to cry, where are the tears? Do you think squinting counts as crying? Do it again!"

"Cut!"

"How are you playing the villain? Be fierce, be ruthless, see? Do it like this, what are you doing? That's just baring your teeth. We're shooting a TV series, not a sketch, go away if you want to be funny!"

Chu Qing originally thought playing a dead body was a very easy job, just lying down and everything would be fine. But after lying on the sandy field for almost an hour, he still hadn't heard the director say the shooting was finished or anything like that.

Just lying there wasn't a solution. He still had to go to another tourist spot in Hengdian called "Qingming Shanghe Tu" later. If he didn't go, he wouldn't be able to enjoy his day.

Chu Qing thought the director was a bit cruel.

Was it necessary to be so precise with every tear?

Perfectionists are unbearable...

Forget it, I'm not shooting this scene anymore.

He opened his eyes, thinking about quitting, but when he saw the muscular bodyguards outside the set, he immediately gave up on this impulsive idea...

He was sure that if he tried to run, these bodyguards would come over and beat him up.

Forget it, if I get beaten, that would be a big problem.

So, Chu Qing obediently continued lying on the ground, playing his dead body.

Yeah, Zhao Ying'er is really beautiful, wearing ancient costumes, she looks like a fairy...

Chu Qing, of course, opened his eyes and secretly watched the female lead, Zhao Ying'er, who was riding a horse a few hundred meters away.

Zhao Ying'er was one of the hottest stars of the year, and it was said that her pay per episode was in the hundreds of thousands.

Yeah, even if it's a hundred thousand per episode, and this series has fifty episodes, how much is that?

It's over five million!

Over five million?

So much money was like an astronomical figure to Chu Qing at this moment...

After this scene is shot, I must get Zhao Ying'er's autograph. A famous star's autograph should be worth a lot, at least a thousand or so. If I get a signed photo, it would be even better!

The "dead body" Chu Qing was thinking all sorts of things...

Time passed bit by bit, and this scene was shot from morning to afternoon. The director, like a ruthless landlord exploiting farmers, kept shouting "Cut, Cut, Cut," and the entire production team had to go hungry and couldn't get angry.

Get angry?

Do you want to die? This is a famous director, a famous director hired by a major TV station like CCTV!

Finally, as the sun set, the director finally shouted "CUT."

The "dead body" Chu Qing finally staggered to his feet, stretching his slightly sore body and loosening his muscles.

It seems that making a living in Hengdian is not easy. Fortunately, I'm not in this line of work.

After receiving fifty yuan and eating a boxed meal, Chu Qing thought to himself.

The feeling of being an extra for the first time wasn't good...

Actors are also very hardworking.

Fortunately, I'm just an extra.

"Hey, you, come over after you finish eating."

Just as Chu Qing was about to finish his meal and return to the hotel for a good nap, and then tour the "Qingming Shanghe Tu" the next day, a voice suddenly came from the side.

Chu Qing turned around and saw a young man with glasses pointing at him...

"Help me move some things in the production team later..."

"Okay." Chu Qing nodded.