Chapter 1

"Here's your 800 yuan for today, take good care of it!" The chubby director said with a smile to Zhang Chen, the eight crisp red bills in his hand seemed to have a special kind of magic, but Zhang Chen’s gaze merely swept over them and then shifted away.

The director chuckled, patted Zhang Chen’s chest, and said kindly, "Others get 300 yuan a day, but you get 800 yuan a day. It's because you have a natural talent for playing villains. The Japanese you portray can vividly recreate the brutality of the Japanese during the invasion of China! As for playing a member of the Eighth Route Army, young man, let me give you a piece of advice: in anti-Japanese dramas, how could a heroic figure like the Eighth Route Army possibly have a villainous, more terrifying than the Japanese, soldier? You, by nature, are not the type to play a good guy, do you understand?"

"Even a minor role won't do?"

"No way!" the director said firmly.

Then, he glanced at his watch and smiled, "I have some business to attend to, I'll be off. Although this production is over, we can still collaborate in the future. If you really have aspirations to develop in the film industry, I have a few friends who are very interested in talented people like you. Who knows, in ten years, you might become China's top villain actor!"

Zhang Chen immediately smiled bitterly, why did he have to add the word 'villain'?

"I still have to finish my university studies. Let's talk about it when I have more time," Zhang Chen said.

The director's face showed a hint of disappointment, and he sighed, "Alright, then it's settled."

Watching the chubby figure walk away, Zhang Chen scratched his head and sighed helplessly, "Why is it so hard to be a good guy?"

He considered himself a well-rounded young man. From childhood to adulthood, he had done many good deeds, from helping grandmothers cross the street to helping little girls find their mothers.

Moreover, his appearance was quite handsome, not exactly handsome, but far from being a villain.

Overall, he was a perfect image of a good person by today's standards.

However, who knew what happened during his summer vacation. Introduced by a relative to work as an extra in Hengdian, it was as if a switch had been flipped inside him, suddenly awakening his acting talent. He couldn't stop himself from playing minor roles—always villainous ones!—in over ten TV series and at least five movies.

Even today, the chubby director had given him a role with over twenty minutes of screen time, only to have him die at the hands of the protagonist. This kind of treatment made countless extras in Hengdian envious to the point of jealousy.

But Zhang Chen didn't want this!

He came here to get some screen time, so he could brag to his classmates later. Making money and becoming famous were not part of his plan.

But now?

Getting screen time was no problem, and making money and becoming famous seemed to be just a thought away.

Then what?

When school started, would he point to the screen and proudly say, "That's me," referring to the character who was ruthless, capable of fighting ninety-nine people, and kidnapping and plundering without hesitation?

Just imagining the situation made Zhang Chen shudder.

"I still have half a month left, I won't believe it! Is it really that hard to find a positive minor role?" Zhang Chen clenched his fists and said with determination.

But when he found the next production, which he had already heard about, this hope instantly became much smaller in his heart.

"Our production is about our male lead saving his beloved female lead by challenging a seven-story tower. Each floor has a skilled opponent, and you are the first one. Here are your lines, take a look," the director, a young man just starting out, with thick glasses and a scholarly appearance, said. But his arrangement did not make Zhang Chen feel any better.

"Director, can't you give me a few more lines and a redemption at the end?" Zhang Chen said with a bitter face, "And your plot seems familiar."

"This is called a tribute, do you understand!" The director glanced at him, "You want redemption? Please, others can make it look very real and touching, but no matter how I redeem you, the audience will just criticize you!"

Zhang Chen was speechless, feeling a bit self-destructive, he thought, "Fine, I'll just play the role, what's the worst that can happen, it's just a villain, right?"

Immediately, he memorized his lines, changed into his costume, and the filming began.

The lights focused on him, Zhang Chen took a deep breath, and in an instant, his entire demeanor changed.

His handsome face twisted, exuding a mix of rogue, evil, and sinister expressions, all the traits of a villain, gathered on his face, forming an exceptionally terrifying look, as if a world-destroying demon had descended. Even the popular male lead, who was playing