Three days dragged like three weeks.
Ye Chen filled the time with delivery runs on a borrowed electric scooter, weaving through traffic for a few extra yuan. The work kept his mind off the waiting, mostly.
Every time his phone buzzed, his heart jumped, only to sink again when it was just another order notification.
He didn't admit it out loud, but he checked the system panel more than his messages.
[Callback likelihood: 92% → 94% → 96%]
"Stop teasing me," he muttered once, earning a strange look from a customer handing over fried chicken.
On the third evening, he was back in his room, eating cold rice straight from the cooker, when the phone finally rang. Unknown number.
He answered on the second ring.
"Hello?"
"Ye Chen? This is Assistant Lin from Summer Again. Director Zhao wants you for a callback tomorrow morning at ten. Can you make it?"
His grip tightened on the phone.
"Yeah. I can make it."
"Great. And… between us, it's looking very good. See you tomorrow."
The line went dead.
Ye Chen sat there for a long moment, staring at the screen. A slow breath escaped him, half relief, half something warmer.
[Ding! Mission Milestone: Callback Confirmed.]
[Minor Reward: 500 Fame Points.]
He didn't even roll his eyes this time. He just closed them and let the quiet victory settle.
First step cleared.
The next morning, he arrived at the office twenty minutes early. The hallway felt different today, fewer people, less tension in the air. Only three others waited, two guys and one girl he didn't recognize.
Then the door opened and Bai Ling'er stepped out from the restroom down the hall, smoothing her ponytail. Simple jeans, light sweater, script tucked under her arm.
She spotted him and her whole face brightened.
"You got called back too?" she asked, hurrying over.
"Looks like it."
She clasped her hands together, nervous energy spilling out. "I thought I completely bombed. My voice was shaking the whole time."
Ye Chen shook his head. "I heard you through the door when I was leaving. You were good. Really good."
Her cheeks pinked. "You… heard me?"
"Just the start. Enough to know they'd call you."
She laughed softly, relieved. "I'm glad you're here. At least there's one person who isn't a total stranger."
They sat together. The other contenders were called in one by one. When the second guy came out looking dejected, Bai Ling'er leaned closer.
"This script… it's different, isn't it?" she said quietly. "No villains, no big misunderstandings. Just people trying to fix what they broke."
Ye Chen nodded. "That's why I want it. Tired of playing side characters in stories that don't matter."
She studied him for a second. "How long have you been doing this?"
"Four years. Mostly extras and one-line roles."
He paused, then added, "Got close to something bigger recently. Didn't work out."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. This feels better already."
The assistant appeared. "Ye Chen and Bai Ling'er? Director Zhao wants both of you."
They exchanged a quick glance, surprised and hopeful, and followed her in.
Zhao Lei stood at the table, scripts spread out, coffee cup in hand. The producer sat beside him, smiling for the first time Ye Chen had seen.
"Close the door," Zhao said. The assistant did.
He looked between them. "We called back four actors total. Did a group read this morning. And honestly, after hearing you two opposite each other just now, I don't need to see anything else."
Bai Ling'er's hand flew to her mouth.
Zhao grinned. "You're my leads. Xia Tian and Su Xia. If you're in, contracts tomorrow. We start shooting in two weeks."
Ye Chen felt the words hit like warm sunlight.
"We're in," he said before Bai Ling'er could even speak. She nodded fast, eyes shining.
Zhao laughed. "Good. Now sit. Let's talk scenes."
They spent the next hour doing an informal table read with Zhao reading supporting roles.
The chemistry was immediate. Lines flowed, pauses felt natural, quiet moments landed softly.
Halfway through Scene 18, Ye Chen casually suggested the tweak the system fragment had given him, a small gesture where Xia Tian brushes a leaf from Su Xia's hair before the big confession, turning the moment more tender.
Zhao stopped reading. "That's… perfect. How'd you think of that?"
Ye Chen shrugged. "Felt right."
"Write it down. It's in."
When they wrapped, Zhao walked them to the door. "This project's small. Twelve episodes, minor platform, budget tighter than my old jeans. But we're going to make something real. Something people remember. You two believe that?"
"Yes," they said at the same time.
Zhao smiled. "Then we're golden."
Outside in the hallway, the system chimed softly.
[Ding! Mission Milestone: Role Secured. Creative contribution accepted by director.]
[Reward: Permanent Acting Skill Upgrade (Intermediate → Advanced), 2,000 Fame Points, New Skill Unlock: Chemistry Boost (Passive: +20% natural rapport with co-stars).]
The upgrade settled like a warm current, subtle, but he felt it. Lines he'd read a hundred times suddenly had new layers.
He glanced at Bai Ling'er walking beside him and realized the new skill was already working. Being near her felt easy, natural.
They stepped out into the late morning sun.
"Coffee?" she asked timidly. "To celebrate surviving the callback?"
"There's a stall around the corner. Cheap but decent."
"Perfect."
They sat at a plastic table under a striped umbrella, paper cups steaming between them.
Bai Ling'er wrapped her hands around hers. "I can't believe this is happening. My first real role, and the lead."
"Same," Ye Chen said. "Feels like a second chance."
She tilted her head. "You said something big fell through recently?"
He hesitated, then nodded. "Got a supporting role in a big drama. Last minute, they gave it to someone with connections. Kinda blacklisted me after."
Her expression darkened. "That's awful."
"It's the industry." He sipped his coffee. "But this? This feels cleaner."
She smiled softly. "I'm glad we're doing it together. I think… we'll make something good."
Ye Chen met her eyes. "Yeah. We will."
They exchanged numbers, first for schedule updates, then just because.
When they parted, she waved from the bus stop. "See you at contract signing!"
He watched her go, then headed home.
That night, back in his small room, he stood in front of the old movie posters on the wall.
The peeling corners didn't look so tired anymore.
The system panel glowed gently.
[First Step Back: Completed.]
[New Mission Unlocked: Make Summer Again a Success.]
[Objectives: Achieve 50 million views within 3 months of release + Positive critical reception (80%+ approval rating).]
[Rewards: Major Skill Unlock, Agency Foundation Support, ???]
Ye Chen exhaled slowly.
Two weeks until filming.
For the first time in years, the dream didn't feel distant.
It felt close enough to touch.