novellhall Chapter 222 Character Influence Upgrade [5000]
Chapter 222 Character Influence Upgrade [5000]
Chapter 222 Character Influence Upgrade [5000]
Chen Xun looked at those images.
In his past life memories, he had some understanding of the popular culture of the 80s, but it was mostly symbolic.
Looking at these images full of everyday details, an emotional connection arises.
Peter's obsession wasn't just with those hit songs, but also with the ordinary childhood and sense of belonging they represented.
Chen Xun felt that he had grasped the core of the character Star-Lord.
Suddenly the numbers on his panel changed abruptly!
[Character Influence +38]
[Character Influence Upgraded]
[Your understanding of the character has touched the core of the emotion, allowing you to enter the character's state more quickly and naturally. Your sense of conviction during the performance has been greatly enhanced, making it easy for the audience to believe that you are the character.]
[Additional effect: In a state of deep immersion, it can slightly increase the level of engagement among the actors in the scene.]
Almost simultaneously!
The progress bar for "□Monument to the Way" has finally jumped to 99%!
Just 1% away!
Chen Xun was full of anticipation.
Over the next few days, he devoted himself to more training and role-playing in order to level up faster.
His routine was soon disrupted by Robert's phone call.
"Chen, let's find a secluded spot. I have something very important to tell you!"
Chen Xun's heart skipped a beat.
He raised his hand to signal the weapons instructor not far away to stop, grabbed a towel and a water bottle, and quickly walked to a corner of the warehouse where miscellaneous items were piled up.
"Alright, go ahead."
Rob took a deep breath: "The person who tampered with your diving equipment has been caught!"
Chen Xun's eyes narrowed.
He nearly drowned during a diving training session because of sabotage by a staff member, and now the staff member has finally been caught!
Due to a series of upheavals, including Warner Bros. replacing him and signing him with Marvel, he thought he would never find this person again!
After all, he had always heard about the efficiency of the American police.
For this reason, he and Rob even hired a private investigator to work with the police's limited resources to follow up.
"Where is he? What is his identity?"
Chen Xun was very curious about this person's identity.
After all, he has kept a low profile in the United States, and the security at the training center is very tight; not everyone can come and go freely.
"He almost slipped away to Mexico. He was caught in a border town. It was a guy named Calvin, 42 years old, with a criminal record for theft and property damage. He used to work as a temporary equipment operator on several small film crews."
Robert paused for a moment: "We didn't arrest him because our case was a priority. It's just that this kid was unlucky and ran into other trouble. When he was detained and examined, his fingerprints matched the traces left at the training base. That's when the local police contacted the detective we hired."
"Was there an interrogation? Who ordered it? Or was it him—"
This is what Chen Xun cares about most.
Is it a random act by a racist lunatic, or a targeted conspiracy?
He also wanted to know who his enemy was!
"That's all I wanted to say."
Rob's voice was very low, as if he had discovered something extraordinary.
"During the police raid and interrogation, he was initially very stubborn, saying he just didn't like you. But after applying pressure and offering to negotiate a reduced sentence, he finally gave in."
Robert paused again, this time for so long that Chen Xun couldn't help but ask, "Who is it?"
"Matthew McConaughey".
Silence fell on both ends of the phone call.
In the distance, the muffled sounds of Dave Bautista practicing his wrestling techniques and the coach's instructions could be faintly heard from the warehouse.
The name flashed through Chen Xun's mind in an instant.
Matthew McConaughey.
Newly crowned Oscar winner.
The new lead actor in Interstellar.
The person who was smiling and advising him on TV just a few days ago to be content with what he has and cherish the present moment.
Someone with whom he had almost no direct interaction, only being implicitly placed in an opposing position during the Warner Bros. casting controversy.
That makes sense now!
After his incident, Matthew was the only beneficiary.
"Calvin's motive was simple: money!"
"Matthew found him through an intermediary, gave him a considerable sum of cash, and asked him to stage a diving accident that looked like an accident during your training. It didn't have to be fatal, but it had to injure you so much that you couldn't continue with the high-intensity training and auditions."
Rob spoke rapidly, recounting everything he knew about the case: "The timing was right when the internal debate within Warner was at its most intense, but before a final decision was made. According to Calvin's testimony, Matthew seemed to have received some kind of assurance that if you stepped down, he would be the only and best candidate."
"Where's the evidence?"
"Cash transactions are hard to track down, and there's no middleman in sight, but Calvin mentioned a detail: Matthew showed him a photo of you during your training for Fast & Furious, which had a watermark indicating the date of the photo, to confirm the target."
"The source of this photo is under investigation!"
"The police are trying to trace the flow of funds, but it will take time."
Rob's voice was heavy: "The trouble is that this news can't be kept secret. Calvin has been arrested, and the charges involve Matthew McConaughey and key Warner projects. Warner probably already knows!"
Chen Xun immediately understood what Robert meant.
Warner executives must be frantic right now.
If Matthew McConaughey is found guilty of instructing others to harm competitors.
Interstellar, a project that was expected to salvage its reputation and stock price, will instantly plummet into hell.
The lead actor is suspected of criminal offenses, and this scandal is a hundred times more serious than replacing a Chinese actor.
"Warner will do everything in its power to suppress this!"
Chen Xun immediately thought of Warner's reaction.
"That's right, and the movements will be faster than you can imagine!"
As soon as Robert finished speaking, his phone rang urgently with another incoming call. He hurriedly instructed Chen Xun, "There might be new developments on my end. Stay in touch. Don't do anything, don't say anything, just wait for my news!"
The phone hangs up.
Chen Xun stood in the messy cubicle, holding his phone.
Attempted murder.
He witnessed the darkness of Hollywood once again.
His career has been going smoothly these past few years, and he seems to have forgotten that this is Hollywood, a place where capital reigns supreme.
But he was just an outsider.
Why would Matthew take such a big risk?
Just for a role?
Or is there tacit approval or even encouragement from certain people at Warner?
Who was that middleman?
Time passed by, and the sky outside the window gradually darkened.
Around 9 p.m., Rob called again.
This time, his voice was filled with anger and lingering fear.
"Calvin is dead!"
"What?"
Upon hearing this news, Chen Xun's pupils contracted slightly.
"On the way to a supplemental questioning, the initial report was that he suffered a sudden myocardial infarction."
Rob almost gritted his teeth as he spoke: "A 42-year-old man with no major medical history other than a little petty theft suffered a sudden heart attack and died just two hours before Warner's legal team arrived and requested a private meeting with Calvin."
People are dead!
The most direct source of testimony has been cut off!
There's no way the dead can testify!
And he died so promptly.
Warner Music —
Chen Xun uttered this word.
"They won't admit that there will be perfect medical reports and explanations for all sorts of coincidences."
Rob's voice was subdued: "But this method was too skillful. With Calvin dead, most of the clues pointing to Matthew were cut off."
"With Warner's resources, they can find countless explanations for the remaining photo and the flow of funds, and they could even turn around and accuse Calvin of false accusation or that someone framed them."
"Matthew probably has a top-notch legal team now, and he'll get away with it cleanly."
hang up the phone.
Chen Xun recalled the documentaries about the dark ages of Hollywood that he had watched in his previous life.
How powerful figures cover up scandals.
How does an "accident" happen?
I used to think that was history, someone else's story.
It's very far away from me.
Now he's become the character in the story who almost died in an accident.
Matthew McConaughey —
Chen Xun thought of the gentle and refined man on television who spoke of life's philosophy.
For a role?
Perhaps more than that.
That might be a rejection of outsiders, and a deep-seated arrogance that believes one can be above the rules.
Some people at Warner may have been aware of it, or even tacitly approved it.
All they need is an uncontroversial, white Oscar-winning actor who can help them stabilize the situation.
Whether the process is clean or not is not a priority.
Robert is right, we can't touch them now.
With Calvin's death, the most direct link in the chain was broken.
The remaining so-called evidence will be dismissed as a misunderstanding or a slander by malicious individuals in the face of Warner's massive legal and public relations apparatus.
Matthew will continue filming Interstellar without incident and receive praise from the media.
If Chen Xun were to jump out and make accusations now, he would only be accused of being a sore loser and a slanderer trying to gain sympathy with conspiracy theories, which could even affect the fledgling "Guardians of the Galaxy".
"Damn fast!"
Chen Xun muttered a curse under his breath, unsure whether he was referring to the swiftness of capital or the rapid passing of life.
He sat there for a long time.
After the initial shock subsided, a stronger determination slowly took hold.
Anger solves nothing, and impulsiveness only leads to a trap.
He recalled his early days in Hollywood, picking up attribute balls on set, playing corpses, and being bossed around.
The goal back then was simple.
Survive, stand firm!
Later, when the opportunity arose, he climbed all the way up, breaking through several ceilings, and thought he had seen the light.
Now that this bucket of cold water has been poured on him, he finally understands.
Beneath the glamorous red carpets and Oscar statuettes of this place lies the naked law of the jungle and the blood of capital.
To avoid being devoured, talent, luck, and even a system are not enough.
You must possess value that makes them hesitant to touch you and the ability to retaliate in a way that makes them feel the pain.
The reason Matthew and Warner are so detached right now is because, in their view, Chen Xun's value is not enough for them to pay a devastating price to uphold the truth.
They were betting that Chen Xun wouldn't be able to cause any real trouble.
Then let this value become large enough that they cannot ignore it, large enough that one day in the future, when they want to take action again, they will have to weigh the consequences.
Will Interstellar flop?
Chen Xun had no idea what Nolan and Matthew would ultimately deliver.
But he himself has "Fast & Furious 6" and "Guardians of the Galaxy" which is about to start filming.
These are his bargaining chips, the building blocks upon which he constructs his own value.
He can only gain a certain degree of security when he succeeds to the point that capital is reluctant to give him up, and when his failure would cause capital to suffer heavy losses.
This isn't idealistic fairness; it's the survival logic of Hollywood realism.
The most important thing right now is to do the task at hand to the best of your ability.
The success of "Guardians of the Galaxy" and the audience's recognition of the character Star-Lord proved that Chen Xun is not a Chinese actor who can be easily replaced.
He wants to become an irreplaceable Chen Xun.
He took a deep breath, stood up, and dusted off his pants.
I sent Rob a message: "I understand. Focus on the present, let your work speak for itself. As for what's going on over there, do what's legally possible, but don't confront it head-on. Protect yourself."
Rob quickly replied, "Understood. Be careful, the film crew—"
"Everything's fine here!"
Chen Xun continued typing.
The next morning, Chen Xun returned to the training area.
Dave, drenched in sweat after finishing a set of throws, grinned and greeted Chen Xun as he returned, "Hey, Chen! Where were you yesterday afternoon? Come on over, the coach said my takedown angle was wrong just now, can you take a look?"
"They're here!"
Chen Xun responded, his face already back to its usual training state.
He walked over and carefully observed Dave's movements, pointing out issues with the point of force application and center of gravity. Dave listened and nodded repeatedly.
On the weapons stand not far away, Zoe was wiping her training dagger.
She seemed to notice the subtle change in Chen Xun's aura today and looked up at him.
Chen Xun met her gaze and nodded as a greeting.
Zoe nodded slightly and didn't ask any further questions.
Training continues.
Chen Xun was more engaged than before; every movement and every impromptu line seemed to carry a powerful force.
The progress bar for "Highly Rated" remains at 99%.
Chen Xun felt that he was only one membrane away from upgrading.
Once you break through, you can upgrade immediately!
Back in his dorm that evening, he once again opened the diary he had written about Peter Quill.
After thinking for a moment, he wrote on a new page: "Today I learned that some pirates in space not only steal things, but also shoot people in the dark, and even throw witnesses into black holes. Yondu is at least openly evil ———"
"My mom said that when you can't outrun a vicious dog, don't stop and fight it. You have to run to a place where it can't catch you, or find a big enough gun. I think I know what to do. Run first, and look for a gun while you run!"
The months-long closed training has finally come to an end.
At the end of the final training session, the sergeant gave Chen Xun a rare nod and said, "Barely passable. Don't die on set and embarrass me."
This is probably the highest praise he could give.
The real test is just beginning.
The crew bus, carrying the main actors and core team members, left the warehouse training base outside London and headed to the renowned Shebbotton Studios.
The atmosphere was a bit restless along the way, and even the usually calm Zoe kept glancing out the window.
Dave couldn't sit still any longer, asking Chen Xun every now and then, "How big do you think the spaceship is inside? Is it big enough for me to stretch out my arms?"
The bus slowly drove into the studio area, passing by the iconic white film studio buildings.
-
The car eventually stopped in front of an unusually large photography studio.
Welcome to our playground.
Director Gunn was already waiting there.
He rubbed his hands together, like a big kid eager to show off his secret hideout: "Get ready, don't blink—"
The heavy, soundproof doors slid open slowly to both sides.
The first thing that catches the eye is the collectors' museum, which almost fills the entire field of vision and is breathtaking.
"My God!"
Dave opened his mouth and was the first to make a sound.
Chen Xun stood at the door, stunned.
He knew the set would be large, but he didn't expect it to be so spectacular.
This place looks to be seven or eight stories high, like a Victorian natural history museum hijacked by a mad scientist and an interstellar scavenger.
Beneath the enormous dome are countless metal and glass display cases arranged in a staggered manner, filled with indescribable things.
Crystals shimmering with an eerie light, specimens of unknown creatures slowly writhing in liquid, strangely shaped weapons, broken robot wreckage, and even the skeleton of an entire miniature spaceship.
The wrought-iron staircase spirals upwards, connecting viewing platforms at different heights.
Steampunk-style brass pipes meander along the walls and ceiling, emitting a low hissing sound, whether for decoration or to actually transport some kind of gas is unclear.
The light was dim.
The main lighting comes from the display cases themselves and a few scattered gas lamp-like lights, casting swaying shadows on the countless treasures.
Gunn watched the actors' reactions with smug satisfaction.
"Of the 13,000 items in this collection, more than 60 percent are physical props or special effects models."
"The art team spent six months sourcing items from antique shops, junkyards, and even museum warehouses around the world, and then reworking them."
"Go over there and touch it!"
Chen Xun stepped into this strange forest.
Beneath your feet is a smooth, dark stone floor marked with strange runes.
He passed a display case containing a three-eyed reptile head floating in transparent gel.
The skin texture is clearly visible, and you can even see the subtle reflections of the scales.
Another cabinet was filled with all sorts of coins and currency from different civilizations.
In one corner, there were several Chinese ancient coins that he recognized, the kind that Han Li had played with in "2 Broke Girls".
He couldn't help but laugh.
This is a cleverly placed Easter egg.
Dave was leaning over a display case showcasing giant alien insect carapaces, his nose almost touching the glass: "If this thing were real, it could slap me to death."
Zoe stood in front of an area displaying various sharp melee weapons, her gaze sweeping over the menacing swords, spears, and halberds, and nodded slightly: "The grips of these weapons are designed to fit the hand structures of various aliens, taking practicality into account, not just decoration."
She was assessing it from Gamora's perspective.
Chen Xun could feel that, being in such an extremely realistic environment, Peter Quill's excitement and tension, like that of a thief entering a treasure vault, rose naturally in his heart almost without any deliberate effort.
[Character Immersion +30]
A large golden attribute ball fell from his body.
Chen Xun absorbed it directly.
He combined all of this with his diary entries about Peter Quill, his targeted training, and the music he had listened to during this period.
It was as if a new character card had been created in his mind.
It contained all of Peter Quill's information.
At that moment, he seemed to have become the character Peter Quill himself.