This system... Divine Gold

["Superstar System" kindly reminds you: Filming requires caution; harmony ensures safety.]

["Masked Gourd Hero Filming Guide" has been delivered.]

["Film and Television Pyrotechnics and Explosion Techniques Classification" has been delivered.]

["Action Scene Analysis and Production Explanations" has been delivered.]

...

[Wishing you a swift fundraising journey—present a classic to this beautiful world!]

Is this system not the most annoying thing ever...

Li Jie had absolutely zero interest in shooting any so-called "Masked Gourd Hero" right now. All he cared about was making money!

Fundraising for filming costs... In any sane scenario, shouldn't the system just give me the money to shoot?

But with a system already in play, talking about logic is obviously pointless.

He had to find a way to make money—because the next round of real estate development was just around the corner. The higher-ups at "Red Star Welfare Institute" had already issued notice—they were researching a plan for the institute's full relocation.

After all, what was once Government Street was now surrounded by luxury apartments and office towers. When a "land king" plot emerged a couple of years ago, Li Jie had already realized that the meager copyright income from those plagiarized songs would never suffice.

Just two kilometers west of "Red Star Welfare Institute," a plot of land sold for 2.7 billion yuan the year before last. The twelve mothers at the welfare institute could only sigh—who could possibly afford to buy and live there?

2.7 billion yuan...

The total revenue from all the songs Li Jie copied didn't even reach 2.7 million. Sure, they were somewhat popular, but after more than a decade, the hype had long since faded. Nowadays, any lead single from a top star's album could easily rake in three hundred thousand.

A pity, truly. With nothing left to plagiarize, Li Jie could only stare helplessly, longing for more but powerless.

He should have been a fanboy before he transmigrated!

He had studied this so-called "Superstar System" as well. Its main shtick was: I want your works, but I'm not giving you money. Maybe the host can figure something out?

Funding had to be raised by Li Jie himself, and even after producing the work, the "Superstar System" made no promises about whether it would be a hit.

Absolutely diabolical.

Li Jie figured that if he actually went and filmed that ridiculous "Masked Gourd Hero" and lost the couple million he'd scraped together, his future would truly be a comedy of mutual misfortune.

So, the system could just save itself the trouble.

He didn't want the works, and he certainly didn't want to pay.

There was no way he was going to spend his own money.

With this much free time, he might as well try becoming an internet influencer and sell products.

"Brother Chen, any news on that thing?"

"Don't even mention it. They promised you a monk role in 'Thirteen Monks Help the King,' but the bastard suddenly told me there are no more monk roles. Then he asks me, 'How about the role of Cheng Yaojin?' I just—"

"Brother Chen, I think I could really nail Cheng Yaojin!"

"...."

Li Jie had an agent, although it was just a small company. Still, it was a state-run business, one of the television station's subsidiaries in Pingjiang City.

Agent Brother Chen used to work in the TV station's advertising sales. When Li Jie became a "child star," he did shoot a few commercials, so the two got connected through the station.

What's more, the organization had its own logic. What kind of unit was "Red Star Welfare Institute"? It was a public institution under the civil affairs department—one of their own.

Initially, Brother Chen thought he'd eventually become general manager, marry a rich and beautiful woman, and reach the peak of life. After all, Li Jie at age seven, eight, nine, and ten had made quite a few people a lot of money.

But by age eleven, Li Jie was washed up.

Seven years later, Brother Chen was still just Brother Chen. If not for his hard work, even if not much merit, the company would have long since axed his sorry department.

"Xiao Jie..."

"Brother Chen, I've told you a hundred times—don't call me that."

"Lao Li, you've already gotten into university, can't you show me some mercy?"

"Brother Chen, I have to get famous, or I won't have any money!"

"Famous? Give it a rest. If you had even a shred of acting talent or singing ability, I wouldn't still be single! Tell me, what are you good at? Remember two years ago when the provincial station had that variety show? I brought you along, hoping for a miracle comeback, and what did you perform?"

"Breaking stones on my chest. What's the problem with that?"

"....."

Brother Chen didn't want to talk anymore. He quickly sent Li Jie a dog emoji, baring its teeth, ready to bite.

"Brother Chen, you've got connections. Web series, microfilms—those work too!"

"I've got connections? I've got connections?!" Brother Chen was furious. "You, who almost took a fake liquor commercial, dare say I've got connections? Come on, be honest—if you had any skills whatsoever, I wouldn't be at my wit's end. Just give it up. You don't have what it takes."

"The fake liquor thing wasn't my fault! The guy was my high school friend's dad. How was I supposed to know he sold fake booze? Anyway, the outcome was good, wasn't it?"

"Good? How so?"

"My friend's dad got three and a half years in prison. Society's peace and harmony were preserved..."

"..."

Are you here to mess with me?

Brother Chen was angry for a moment, but just for a moment.

He suddenly remembered this kid could swing him around like a hula hoop with those two arms.

Other people get into arts schools based on their talents.

This guy got into Jianye Arts Academy because he was a national first-class athlete, and one of the mothers at "Red Star Welfare Institute" was a martyr's family member. After she talked to the organization, Li Jie, the "innate orphan saint," was admitted without a hitch.

He didn't study acting, music, or painting, of course.

He didn't have many choices for his major, so he picked "Film and Television Photography and Production" at the School of Media. All the other majors were key disciplines, either master's or doctoral programs.

But none of that mattered to Li Jie. He just wanted to pick up some skills to become an internet celebrity.

These days, if you want to shoot your own vlog, you have to edit it nicely.

Last year, he wasn't yet eighteen, so performing "breaking stones on the chest" online wasn't allowed. The platform wouldn't let him.

He tried to use his father's ID to get by, but Li Jie, as black as could be, had no father.

He couldn't very well use one of his twelve mothers' IDs, could he?

"By the way, Brother Chen, how about we shoot our own film?"

"How many people?"

"Two people isn't allowed here, right?"

"Is performing a comedy duo illegal?"

"...."

"You kid, don't get any wild ideas about shooting your own film. What would you even shoot? Beauty and the Super Beast? You'd better not cause me any more trouble. Focus on your studies. When you graduate, I'll help you get a job editing at the TV station."

"...."

Where was the trust between people?

Besides, a film like Beauty and the Super Beast was completely off his track.

With his looks and his gender, there was no way he could play the beauty.