Cassius took a deep breath and stepped forward.
He could feel the scrutinizing gazes of Mike and the others—especially the muscular grip, whose disdain was practically dripping off him.
He didn't start immediately. Instead, he closed his eyes, rapidly replaying Mike's demonstration in his head while mobilizing his [Physicality] attributes, feeling the surge in muscle memory and coordination.
When he opened his eyes, they were laser-focused.
Action!
He moved!
His straight punch was explosive, cutting the air with a whoosh. No flowery nonsense.
His side kick was crisp and clean, power flowing from the waist, his stance grounded like he was nailed to the floor.
The low sweep was startlingly fast, kicking up dust from the concrete floor.
But the key was the transition after the sweep.
With almost zero pause, using the rotational momentum, his body pounced forward like a cheetah. His right hand formed a claw, locking onto the imaginary enemy's throat with vicious precision.
He stopped dead just at the moment of impact.
Clean movement. Power radiating off him.
The whole sequence flowed like water!
Fast, powerful, and carrying the ruthless vibe of a street fight—completely unlike the soft or flashy performances of the guys before him.
The room went silent for a beat.
The muscle-head grip, who had been crossing his arms, had dropped them without realizing it. The contempt in his eyes had turned into surprise.
Mike, the fight coordinator, raised an eyebrow. For the first time, he looked interested.
And the Asian extra who had been cursing in Chinese earlier was now standing there with his mouth open, looking like he'd swallowed a whole egg.
Cassius held the final chokehold pose, breathing steadily.
The moment he completed the move, a blue orb dropped from his own body.
[Physicality Attribute: Improvisation +3]
Absorb!
An enlightened understanding of how to control spontaneous movement flooded his body.
"Good! Very good!"
The casting director pushed up his glasses, his tone noticeably warmer.
"Your moves have real power, and they feel modern. Did you train?"
Cassius relaxed his stance and answered humbly: "I studied with some stunt masters from China for a few days. Just figured some stuff out on my own."
"A few days?"
Mike walked over, inspecting Cassius up close. He squeezed Cassius's arm and patted his shoulder.
"Core strength is good. Not gym muscles—functional muscles. The moves are still a little rough, but the feel is right. You got that killer instinct."
The muscle-head grip came over too, his tone much softer.
"Hey, kid. That was nice. Interested in taking a real hit? We want to see your reaction."
Cassius knew this was the next level of the test.
He nodded. "No problem."
The grip put on gloves and threw a few symbolic punches at Cassius.
Using the dodge and breakfall techniques he'd learned over the last few days, combined with his high Physicality stats, Cassius dodged nimbly. Occasionally he blocked, looking solid as a rock.
"OK! That's enough!"
Mike called it. He was smiling now as he turned to the casting director.
"I think he's the guy. Good foundation, learns fast, looks the part. Unlike some people who are either frail as twigs or wrinkled as raisins."
The casting director clearly respected Mike's opinion. He turned to Cassius.
"Cass, right? Congratulations. The role is yours. Should we discuss the contract details with your agent or directly with you?"
"Directly with me is fine."
Cassius suppressed the ecstasy in his heart, trying hard to stay cool.
Leaving the warehouse, Cassius could feel the gazes on his back.
Envy, jealousy, and the complicated stare of the Asian extra who had cursed earlier.
He didn't look back.
Walking out of the building, the Los Angeles sun was still brilliant.
He clenched his fist, feeling the surging power in his body and the new attribute he had just absorbed.
This time, he didn't rely on pure luck or Rob's help.
He used solid, undeniable skill to shatter prejudice and win the opportunity.
---
With a few days left before shooting started, Cassius walked into the SAG-AFTRA office in Los Angeles, clutching two official actor contracts.
His visa expiration date was looming. He had to solve his status problem fast.
The AC in the office was blasting, and the lighting was bright—a sharp contrast to the chaotic heat of the Santa Monica street corner.
Queue, take a number, wait.
Most people around him were white actors, with a few Black or Latino folks. Pure Asian faces like his were rare.
His number was called.
He walked to the designated window. Behind it sat a woman in her forties with meticulously combed brown hair. Her name tag read Susan.
"How can I help you?"
Susan's tone was standard, accompanied by a professional smile.
Cassius slid the two contracts and his documents through the window.
"Hi. I'd like to apply to become SAG-Eligible and get my union card."
Susan took the documents and flipped through them skillfully.
When she saw Cassius's name and role descriptions on the contracts—especially the words "Principal Performer with Stunts" on the indie action film contract—her standard smile cracked a little. She looked up and examined Cassius closely.
"Both of these contracts are yours?"
She confirmed, a hint of undetectable surprise in her voice.
"Yes."
Cassius nodded.
Susan looked down at the documents again, specifically checking the production company stamps and signatures, seemingly verifying their authenticity.
"Rare."
She murmured, almost to herself. Then she looked back at Cassius, her smile a bit more genuine.
"I mean, it's not easy to land two official contracts at this stage, especially for an Asian—specifically a Chinese male actor. Congratulations, Mr. Cass."
Cassius breathed a sigh of relief internally.
It seemed that while the projects Rob introduced were low budget, they were legit enough for the union to recognize.
"Based on your contracts and hours, you are fully qualified."
Susan started typing on her computer. " The initiation fee is $3,000, plus the first year's dues..."
Hearing the number, Cassius's eye twitched. But he pulled out his debit card without hesitation.
This was pretty much his entire life savings, including the advance payments from the two contracts.
He had saved for a long time, never touching this money even when he was skipping meals.
But for that card? Worth it.
The process was fast.
When the hard plastic card printed with his name and the SAG-AFTRA logo was handed to him, Cassius felt his heart thump heavily.
The card was light, but it felt like it weighed a thousand pounds.
"Welcome to the union, Mr. Cass."
Susan smiled. "This will open more doors for you. With this and your contracts, you can proceed with your visa matters."
"Thank you!"
Cassius gripped the card tight.
Leaving the union building, the LA sun was blinding.
He stood by the roadside, looking down at the small card in his hand for a long time.
He took out his phone. The first person he thought of was Shen Man.
But he hesitated, then clicked on Lee So-yeon instead.
He sent a text: Don't eat pizza tonight. My treat. Unlimited fried chicken!
Seconds later, Lee So-yeon called immediately. "Oppa! You got the union card? Visa problem solved?"
Her voice was full of excitement.
"Yeah. Solved."
"Daebak! Fried chicken! We must celebrate! I want half Sweet & Spicy, half Soy Garlic!"
Lee So-yeon cheered on the other end.
That evening, Cassius, clutching his union card and a finally relaxed mind, was ready to take Lee So-yeon to the fried chicken joint.
But when he was ready to go, Lee So-yeon was sitting on the living room rug, not moving.
"Oppa~"
She batted her eyes, a mischievous look on her face. "Can we skip the fried chicken?"
Cassius paused. "Weren't you the one screaming for it?"
"I changed my mind!"
Lee So-yeon scrambled up, ran to the kitchen, and pulled out the bottle of soy sauce and a few sad-looking green peppers.
"I want to eat that magic attack dish you made. Stir-fried Pork with Peppers!"
Cassius looked at the pathetic ingredients in her hand, speechless. "Just that? To celebrate?"
"This has more meaning than fried chicken!"
Lee So-yeon insisted. "I think that taste is delicious. It feels more like a celebration than fried chicken!"
Seeing her foodie expression, Cassius could only agree.
"Fine."
He took the leftover pork slices from the freezer and rolled up his sleeves. "But the ingredients are crap, so don't blame me if the taste is discounted."
"No, no!"
Lee So-yeon immediately handed him the ingredients like a little assistant.
The familiar sizzle rang out in the kitchen again. Garlic and ginger popping in oil, meat hitting the pan.
Amidst the rising smoke, Cassius stir-fried expertly.
Lee So-yeon leaned against the doorframe again, inhaling the aroma intoxicately, drool practically dripping from the corner of her mouth.
When the Stir-fried Pork and Scallion Scrambled Eggs were served on the coffee table again, Lee So-yeon took a bite and squinted in satisfaction.
"Mmm~ Still that taste! Better than fried chicken!"
Cassius ate his rice, feeling the warmth in his stomach and the steadiness in his heart.
He took out the union card and placed it on the coffee table.
Lee So-yeon picked it up, turning it over and over like it was a rare jewel.
"This is the Hollywood ID card... so many people fight to death for this."
"Just the first step," Cassius said calmly between bites of rice. "Long road ahead."
"But at least you don't have to leave, right?" Lee So-yeon looked at him, eyes bright.
"Yeah. Don't have to leave for now."