Chapter 129: A Busy Year-End

P.S. Thanks to "Friends" for the continued support.

In mid-December, Cadi Corporation officially began filming their second commercial. Due to the remarkable success of the first one, senior executives at the company decided to urge their Chinese branch to accelerate the schedule, aiming to have the second ad on screens around the Spring Festival.

The location for this shoot was a small, ancient town. The architecture was weathered and aged, the streets were paved with bluestone slabs, and towering trees stood as silent witnesses to who knows how many years of history. Gazing out, the entire town was steeped in a quaint, timeless charm. Especially after a rain, the fresh, crisp air was so invigorating that one couldn't help but breathe it in deeply.

Of course, it was currently winter, so there was no rain. However, because it had just snowed, the town seemed draped in a silver mantle.

In a two-story attic, a man sat by the window, peering out. Suddenly, his brow furrowed. He bolted out the window, leapt onto the rooftop, and moved with lightning speed, traversing obstacles as he sprinted toward the other end.

First on the roof, then on the ground, and finally...

"Mr. Lin, could you slow down just a bit for this last part? At least enough for our cameramen to capture the motion... Honestly, I cannot fathom how you manage to vault over those obstacles with such ease," Director Abbott said, his tone remarkably gentle.

Ever since their first collaboration, this foreigner had held the yellow-skinned man in absolute awe. In his own words, if he were ten years younger, he would have apprenticed himself to Lin Chuan to learn the techniques of parkour. Of course, that was likely just a joke, and Lin Chuan hadn't taken it to heart. Nevertheless, it spoke volumes about Abbott’s recognition of Lin Chuan and his passion for the sport.

"Uh... I didn't think that was particularly fast," Lin Chuan replied, frowning slightly.

"No, no, no, Mr. Lin. Perhaps my choice of words was imprecise. It’s actually that your movement is somewhat complex... oh no, that’s not right either. It should be..." Director Abbott was flustered.

In truth, he wanted to convey that he needed Lin Chuan to make his movements clearer and more pronounced. When Lin Chuan had cleared the final obstacle, he hadn't used any flashy flair; he had simply passed over it with natural, effortless grace. This left the cinematographers confused and helpless. They were a world-class team, so how could they fail to capture the shot? The real issue was that there was simply no "action" to capture.

Abbott’s tactfulness made Lin Chuan feel a bit embarrassed. He had indeed been trying to save effort, which was why he hadn't added any flourishes. However, this commercial was for a new line of athletic shoes, and the final movement was meant to highlight the product. If he didn't do anything, the shoe wouldn't stand out.

There was nothing for it; they would have to do it again. Fortunately, it was only the final segment, so they didn't need to start from scratch.

...

The commercial took about a week to film from start to finish. As for the post-production, that was no longer Lin Chuan’s concern. He was incredibly busy; the moment filming wrapped, he began preparing for the National Drama Awards without a moment’s rest.

This was no small matter. Generally speaking, a star who had only just debuted like him would never have the opportunity to attend such a grand ceremony. In truth, he really had to thank the drama *Noble Loyalty* and Director Chen; without them, he wouldn't know when he would have had the chance to witness such a grand stage and meet so many masters and predecessors. His inner excitement was beyond words.

Since the National Drama Awards were held in Kyoto as they were every year, Lin Chuan didn't have to travel far.

That day, in the office, Uncle Gao spoke with deep sincerity: "Xiao Chuan, this opportunity to attend the National Drama Awards is a significant one for you. Get to know more of the seniors in the industry; it will make your path ahead much smoother..."

Lin Chuan nodded with a smile, understanding the logic. At such a major event, everyone attending was a veteran of the industry. In terms of fame, status, and seniority, who wasn't superior to him? Yes, since his debut, Lin Chuan had created a few classic songs and had gained a decent reputation, but compared to the others, it was like a drop in the ocean.

To say nothing of anyone else, even the young diva Qin Xiyao, whom he had worked with, had tens of millions of fans, yet she still had to remain humble and respectful in front of these old masters. Let alone him? At most, he had a few million followers, which meant nothing to them. More importantly, in this industry, the number of fans didn't define everything; it was about interpersonal relationships. As long as you managed those connections well, getting more opportunities for fame was just a matter of a few words.

Most importantly, if Lin Chuan could build those bridges, it would bring significant benefits to the future development of Tiandi Culture. Despite his age, Uncle Gao had great ambition. He wanted to see Tiandi Culture grow and had long-term goals. Therefore, this moment was crucial.

"I won't accompany you tomorrow. It seems Director Chen is sending someone to pick you up. Be sure to remain humble. Don't think of yourself as a star; in front of those veterans, you are at best a student. Hmm, watch more, listen more, observe more, speak less, and keep your eyes sharp," Uncle Gao lectured tirelessly.

Lin Chuan nodded while maintaining a smile. Honestly, his facial muscles were starting to cramp, and his neck was growing sore. But he had no choice; he had always treated Uncle Gao as an elder, and one does not ignore an elder's lecture.

"Did you take in everything I said? Stay low-profile. You’ve only been nominated, so whether you win or not is another matter. Don't worry about that; even if you don't win, it doesn't matter. Just treat it as an opportunity to broaden your horizons. Not everyone gets a chance like this..."

"Uncle Gao, you've been talking all afternoon. I've remembered every word. You must be thirsty; let me pour you some water," Lin Chuan tried to interrupt.

But Uncle Gao was in the middle of his flow and wouldn't be easily stopped. His expression tightened as he said sternly, "No water. Sit down and listen carefully. Tomorrow..."

"Sigh!" Lin Chuan shook his head with a bitter smile and sat back down. He had spent the entire afternoon doing nothing else.