Chapter 4: A Perfect Score on the Art Exam

Chapter 4: A Perfect Score in the Art Exam

"Chen Ping, you are the most impressive extra I have ever seen."

"Thank you, President Jiang."

"You are welcome. I believe you will surely become an outstanding actor in the future."

"I believe so too."

With great excitement, President Jiang Tianxing personally stamped the seal of approval on Chen Ping's art examination certificate.

Chen Ping, however, was still somewhat lost in the performance he had just delivered. Although he had used a character card, the experience of Stephen Chow playing Yin Tianchou was deeply etched into his mind. He felt as if he had changed somehow, though he could not quite put his finger on it.

...

"Hey, why hasn't that guy come out yet?"

"Oh, look, there he is."

"Finally, he's out. Come on, let's go over."

In the Actors Guild hall, the candidates who had chatted with Chen Ping earlier were waiting for him. They hadn't originally intended to wait, but having failed their own exams, they were feeling discouraged and hoped that connecting with Chen Ping might provide some psychological comfort.

They had waited for quite a while, and just as they were about to leave, Chen Ping finally appeared.

"Hey, buddy, finished with the exam?" asked the candidate from the Shanghai Theatre Academy who had spoken to him earlier.

"Yeah, just finished. Anything up?"

"No, nothing much. Just wanted to ask, how did you do?"

"It was alright."

Thinking about passing the assessment, Chen Ping felt a surge of excitement. This certificate meant he now had the credentials to officially debut. Moreover, according to the guild's rules, passing the art exam allowed him to become a specialized actor. While he wouldn't become a star overnight, the path to his future had finally opened up. The only downside was that he might have gone a bit overboard during the exam, perhaps making the examiners think he was a bit eccentric. But given how important this exam was, a little intensity was worth it.

"Alright? Did you pass? What was your score?"

"What was your score?"

Chen Ping thought for a moment, "I don't know." He hadn't paid attention to the numbers at the time. As long as he passed, the exact score didn't really matter.

"You don't know your score?"

"No."

"Do you want us to look it up for you?"

"No need."

"Don't be like that! We're acquaintances now; let me check for you. By the way, what's your candidate number?"

"That..." To be honest, Chen Ping was also curious. After a moment's hesitation, he gave them his number: "0062842, Chen Ping..."

"Okay, let me check." The student from the Shanghai Theatre Academy pulled out his phone and entered the number.

"Lines: 100."

"Vocal performance: 100."

"Physical movement: 100."

"Acting: 100..."

As he read the scores aloud, the student could hardly believe his eyes. "My god, a perfect score."

"What? A perfect score?"

"Are you serious?"

The others crowded around. Four subjects, all 100—what else could it be but a perfect score?

"Oh, so it's a perfect score," Chen Ping nodded. The system's cheat was indeed powerful. It was just a shame it consumed popularity points so quickly; damn it, he didn't have a single point left now.

"Alright, guys, see you later." With his score confirmed, Chen Ping decided to head back and celebrate with his friends.

"This..." Watching him leave, the group looked at each other, their faces flushed with disbelief.

...

"Chen Ping, holy cow! What is this?"

"You passed? You actually passed... Damn, that's incredible!"

"Chen Ping, I always knew you were different from the rest... This is amazing. You've really brought glory to us extras today."

"Let's have a drink! We definitely have to celebrate today."

In the Hengdian dormitory, his fellow housemates were jumping for joy as they looked at the certificate Chen Ping had brought back. Chen Ping was in high spirits as he brought out the food and drinks he had prepared. "Look, brothers, I've brought the goods."

"Ooh, braised pork trotters, chicken wings, fish with pickled greens..."

"Jian-ge, here is your favorite Niu Lan Shan, and Dongzi, here is your Jin liquor."

"Good brother!"

"Oh, right, the girls across the hall don't have any scenes today. I'll call them over too."

"Jian-ge, if you go over there, they'll say you're harassing them again."

"Screw that! Look at what day it is today. Trust me, I'll definitely get them to come."

Zeng Lanjian acted quickly, and before long, he returned with a few girls. Like Chen Ping and the others, they were "Hengpiao"—drifters in Hengdian. Though they were women, they didn't have many advantages in the industry. Like most extras, they lived day-to-day, clinging to their dreams.

When they learned Chen Ping had passed the guild's art exam, one of the girls named Yanzi said, "Chen Ping, are you going to be a big star now? Don't forget us when you make it big."

"Yanzi-jie, it's not that easy. With this certificate, I can only be a minor specialized actor at most. Who knows what the future holds? As for being a star, that's way too far off..."

"How is it far off? Look, there are hundreds of thousands of extras in Hengdian, and how many actually pass that exam? Chen Ping, it's just you. Come on... Yanzi-jie is having a drink with you today."

"Cheers!"

"Chen Ping, I'm drinking with you too. I rarely admire anyone in Hengdian, but you—you're the one I admire most."

That night, everyone drank until they were tipsy. By the end, they were rambling. Zeng Lanjian talked about why he had come to Hengdian in the first place. Dongzi swore that starting tomorrow, he would act more seriously and strive to pass the art exam just like Chen Ping. And Yanzi-jie, as she talked, began to cry...

Everyone knew the bitterness and struggle of being an extra in Hengdian. Chen Ping didn't know how to comfort them. He had been exactly like them before. In Hengdian, it was incredibly rare for an extra to break through. If not for the system, he wouldn't be where he was today.

However, since fate had given him this opportunity, Chen Ping was determined to seize it.