What does it take to become one of the world's greatest actors?
The answer is the ability to act.
Then what does it take to be the most popular actor in the world?
If it's popularity, then I can answer with confidence that 'good looks' or 'beauty' is the only right answer.
Are the above two assets enough to become the number one actor in history? Of course not. Those two things are just the basics.
Charm, charisma, mentality, and even trivial things like attitude and intelligence. All of those things are very important if you want to be the number one actor in history.
So, do I have any of the qualifications to become the greatest actor in history? Of course not.
My face? It would be lucky if people didn't laugh if they noticed me. It can't be said to be ugly, but cheek fat and neck fat seem to dominate my face.
"This is your money, sir."
After taking the money from the bank counter, I walked out. Before opening the glass door, I noticed the reflection of my body. My fat body shape looked really disgusting.
An ordinary person would think that I could kill a pig using my weight.
A few steps after exiting the bank, four cars pulled up and surrounded the bank entrance.
I, along with the other people coming out of the bank, just stood in shock.
People carrying pistols were seen coming out of the cars. The moment they stepped on the ground, they immediately fired their guns.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
"Puhahaha. You're all dead!"
As they fired, they laughed loudly with their faces covered in masks.
If I had to describe the scene before my eyes, I'd say-shooting in broad daylight.
"Argh!"
"T-Help!!!"
"Hurry up and get out of here!"
People's shouts rang out.
Just like everyone else, I also screamed and tried to run. However, because of my large body, I moved slowly. In the end, I was one of the first to be shot.
Just like me, everyone else started to fall one by one. Red-colored liquid could be seen coming out of the mouths and body parts of the people who were getting shot, including me.
However, among the many people who fell, there was one person who was still standing. That person took out a gun from his pocket and shot back at the terrorists.
Did you think I would die and be reincarnated into another world? 'It would be great if so.' Too bad your guess is wrong.
"Cut!"
When the sound of 'cut' was heard, everyone stopped what they were doing.
The armed terrorists stopped acting like criminals. The fallen humans covered in blood suddenly stood back up. Lastly, the main character who attacked back also stopped acting like a hero. Everyone suddenly laughed amongst themselves.
"Good job. You guys have worked hard. We've captured good images this time. I'm sure this movie will be a success. Hahaha."
Not far from me, the person sitting on the chair was talking happily. That person was the director who managed everyone's acting.
You're right. Here, my job is an extra in a movie. Although my dream is to become the greatest actor in history, here I am, an extra.
Li Mao Zhe, the director, approached me when I finished talking to people.
"Qin Yu. Good job. I've sent your pay. You can check later."
"Isn't it too soon if you pay me now?"
"It's fine. I'll pay with my own money first. I know you're struggling. But, are you okay with continuing to be an extra? Maybe my words will hurt you a lot, but you honestly won't be able to become a top actor if that's your goal."
Li Mao Zhe's face looked very curious while squinting.
Naturally, from face to body, as well as from acting ability, anyone would say that I wouldn't be able to get a significant role in any movie or drama.
"...If there's an offer to be an extra again, let me know immediately." I could only change the subject. There was no point in telling Li Mo Zhe about the reason why I had stayed as an extra for so many years, even though he was my friend.
Although Li Mo Zhe's words did hurt my feelings a bit, I didn't really mind his honest words. In fact, I was happy if he dared to tell the truth directly in front of me. What I needed to do was to take his words as fuel to pump up my enthusiasm to become a real actor.
After talking to Li Mao Zhe, I went to an empty room inside the bank that had been converted into a collective dressing room.
There, I cleaned my face of fake blood and changed my clothes. Afterward, I returned home after receiving the message, "Xiao Ling is asleep. I'm going home for the day. Thank you for your trust."
The message came from Aunt Wang.
***
When I returned home, it was already night.
The first thing that greeted me when I opened the door of the small studio room where I lived was the sound of the television.
In the dimly lit living room, I saw a child sleeping on a bed, while the bed in front of her had a TV still on.
She was my kid, Qin Mei Ling.
"F-fathel?"
She opened her eyes slowly. Her little hands rubbed her eyes cutely. She was only a year and a half old, so she was just starting to learn to speak and walk.
When she saw me come in, she got off the bed with difficulty and came over to me with a limp because she wasn't yet fluent in walking.
Seeing her trying to approach me, I immediately went to her first, hugging and holding her. Every time I saw her face, a smile appeared on my face. However, the guilt of not being able to be with her all day couldn't escape from my chest either.
"I'll turn off the TV, okay. It's not good to watch TV. You're still a baby, why can you watch TV alone here? Or did Aunt Wang turn it on?"
I intended to turn off the TV, but I could only stand frozen when I saw the movie scene playing on the TV.
- Will you live with me forever?
- What can you give me?
- I will make you the happiest woman in the world! Treasure, throne, everything I will give you! You will be my queen! And I will never marry another woman!
There are two people on the TV. They were wearing red hanfu. It was clear that they were a couple who wanted to get married.
Although the scene they were in looked very romantic, their acting was so real that it could make anyone cry. However, I'm not one of those viewers who would cry tears of joy.
A flood of emotions of anger, jealousy, and despair filled my heart. I don't know how my current expression looked, but Xiao Ling, whom I was hugging, looked worried when she saw my face.
"Fhatell, no ploblem?"
Xiao Ling's small hand tried to grab my face.
On the tip of Xiao Ling's little finger that touched my face, there were beads of water... were they my tears?
Xiao Ling's eyes then looked at the television. Her small hand pointed at the female actor in the movie scene and said, "...Mothel?"
When I heard Xiao Ling say that word, my chest felt as if it had been pierced by thousands of needles. Tremors ran through my body. Especially when I saw her cuddling with a handsome man—her co-star—my feelings were burning even more furiously.
If I hadn't been hugging Xiao Ling, I might have punched the old television set in the living room until my hands bled.
Just like Xiao Ling had said, the woman in the television was Wang Jia Yi, A.K.A my ex-wife and Xiao Ling's biological mother.