Becoming a Movie Star, System Only Finished Loading After Ten Years

There's no need to wait any longer for this task.

The task deadline is only 365 days, and Qi Hao can't possibly get a diploma from a self-study college in such a short time.

Even if he does manage to get it, it wouldn't count as an overachievement.

For this task, the system's overachievement likely refers to getting into a prestigious school, like Peking University or Tsinghua University, or among the global top 200, etc.

That's simply unrealistic.

Qi Hao confirmed the task was completed, and the system started working.

[Task 22 completed, rewards: Wisdom +10, song "Nocturne," 50,000 shares of Apple Inc. stock]

[Task completion, training opportunity gained]

[Training NPC selection: An Feng / Zhang Ruoyun / Shen Teng]

[New task release starting now]

[Task 23: Stars don't need to drive themselves, but they shouldn't be unable to drive. To avoid shaming the Santana 2000 car awarded by the system, please hurry and get a driver's license. Task difficulty: 3 stars, duration: 120 days]

[Task completion rewards: Director +10, script "Full House (Yuan Xiuyan)," Low Profile Hat]

Got 50,000 shares of Apple Inc.!

This reward isn't heaven-defying, withstands scrutiny.

If you bought Apple stock in 2002 or 2003, it wouldn't have required much cost.

By the end of 2002, Apple's stock price had dropped to $14.33 per share.

In 2003, Apple's stock price fell from $36 per share to $12, sinking even to $7 due to Jobs' sell-off.

Especially on March 24, 2003, Apple's stock price plummeted 68% in a single day, from $15 down to about $4.8.

If calculated at $4.8 per share, 50,000 shares would cost less than 2 million yuan.

But there's an important issue!

Stock splits!

Qi Hao isn't sure when this stock was purchased; if bought before 2000, would those 50,000 shares have undergone the 1-for-2 split in 2000 and another 1-for-2 split in 2005?

Even if they weren't bought before 2000, after having completed over twenty tasks, the timeline has likely advanced past 2000.

At the very least, the 1-for-2 split in 2005 should count.

Qi Hao didn't even have time to focus on the new task and quickly sought to check his US stock account.

He soon had an answer.

The 2000 split wasn't included, which is a bit of a pity.

Fortunately, the 2005 split wasn't omitted in bad faith by the system; although the reward mentioned was 50,000 shares, Qi Hao's account actually held 100,000 Apple stock shares.

In fact, Apple stock was also heavily hit by this financial crisis.

From August 14, 2008, to January 20, 2009, Apple's stock price fell by 57% in total.

But after that, the stock resumed its rapid upward trend.

Currently, the stock price has reached $125.

100,000 shares equal $12.5 million, which is 86.25 million yuan at an exchange rate of 6.9.

Moreover, Apple stock is sure to rise further.

Next is choosing a training NPC; recently, he hasn't interacted much with seasoned actors, and each option is as bad as the next.

An Feng/Zhang Ruoyun/Shen Teng, Qi Hao didn't choose any of them.

The system randomly selected a new NPC.

This time, it was Liang Chaowei/Pan Yueming/Wang Dazhi.

There's Liang Chaowei!

Qi Hao's eyes lit up instantly; regardless, this one is definitely an acting faction.

It's just unclear how these three got grouped together; Qi Hao can't see any connection between them.

Fortunately, this isn't important, merely curiosity left unsatisfied.

Of course, he chose Liang Chaowei.

After all, once in the training space, they're all NPCs, and if you find one annoying, you can slap them, and they wouldn't mind.

The new task requires Qi Hao to get a driver's license.

The task difficulty isn't hard, just absurd.

Qi Hao has had a driver's license for almost ten years.

Luckily, he only has a C1 license; at worst, he could get a B1.

Such a thing isn't useless.

Some nanny vans, due to their length, can only be licensed as trucks, requiring a B1 license to drive.

However, this dog's system and its foolish mechanism are bewildering.

If I already have a wife, and you ask me to marry, should I divorce and remarry, or simply find a mistress?

The task rewards, though, are quite attractive.

Director +10 is the attribute Qi Hao most urgently lacks.

Although his acting skills aren't top-notch yet, they're adequate for daily filming, and the training space is specifically designed for improving acting skills, so lacking attribute boosts isn't a big deal.

However, the Director Attribute is crucial.

It feels awkward to use the training space for practicing directing skills, plus only two directors, Jiang Wen and Zhou Xingxing, exist, both with very distinct styles.

Learning from them risks straying off course.

The script "Full House," is a 2004 Korean drama adapted from a manga.

The system indeed operates uniquely.

This made Qi Hao more eager to catch up with the system's timeline.

But what Qi Hao anticipates the most is the "Low Profile Hat."

Though the system didn't give an esoteric description of the hat, its name suggests quite a bit.

As a star, when is low profile needed?

That must be when going out privately.

It's not that disguises aren't needed in public either; they're usually "positive" disguises then.

Like padded shoulders, insoles, padded bras, and padded butts.

Insoles and padded bras are more common; padded butts are quite daring.

And hairpieces.

Speaking of hairpieces, I heard that Huang Xiaoming started balding at a young age, so he's using them now.

Qi Hao is not envious of him at all.

He has so much hair that every time he gets a haircut, he asks the stylist to thin it out and shave around his hairline with a razor.

Since there are positive disguises, there naturally are negative ones too.

The idea is to make sure celebrities aren't easily recognized; it's what you'd call "low-key."

This hat clearly has that kind of mystical effect.

If it's really as Qi Hao suspects, this thing is very important.

As a celebrity, Qi Hao's daily outings are troublesome. In winter, it's fine because you can wrap up tightly, but in the summer, with a whole outfit, you may or may not get recognized, but you'll definitely get heat rash.

This task is worth doing!

Getting an additional license is the same as the first one; you need to go through the tests for subjects one, two, and three.

Moreover, upgrading to A1, A2, A3, and B1 licenses is quite special; generally only 1-3 driving schools in a region can offer this, and some places don't even have any.

Qi Hao's household registration is in Jinmen, so he asked Zhang Nan to contact the people over there.

When "First Love, That Little Thing" goes to Xiamen for filming, the driving school will send a coach over there for a business trip.

Qi Hao can come back for the test whenever he has time.

If you're willing to spend money, it's incredibly convenient to get privileges.

Never mind practicing driving in another location; even if you want a long-legged, black-silk-clad female coach, it's no problem.

Not only will they drive with you, but they'll let you drive.

Qi Hao didn't wait for "Wait and See" to be released on April 24th; he went to Xiamen in advance.

The film crew was already set up.

All functional positions were filled, and most people were quite experienced.

Of course, there were exceptions.

This world is a web of personal relationships; anywhere, anytime, there are people pulling strings.

For instance, a professor from the Central Academy of Drama pulled strings to get his son in.

Strangely enough, his son wasn't from the Central Academy of Drama; he was from the Beijing Film Academy's directing department.

"Young people all have a bit of rebellion, don't they?"

Lu Yang found it odd that Qi Hao would ask him why he went to the Beijing Film Academy because Qi Hao was seen as the epitome of rebellion.

Whose child would run off to mix in the entertainment industry after just finishing middle school?

Fortunately, Qi Hao made it big; if not, his parents might never be able to lift their heads proudly.

I heard Qi Hao's parents are both educators, just like his own.

He understood Qi Hao's parents more than anyone.

Qi Hao, this rebellious brat, was practically an unbearable disgrace in the teaching careers of his parents.

"If you're so good, why'd you pull strings to join the crew?"

Qi Hao wasn't polite at all.

For privacy and convenience, the crew lavishly booked a whole hotel in Xiamen where everyone was checking in.

Only Qi Hao and Lu Yang seemed unfazed, chatting there.

The former was the boss, the latter knew nothing.

Perhaps because they were of similar age or came from teaching families, they had a lot in common.

"I had no choice; your crew only hired experienced assistant directors. I submitted a resume and heard nothing back."

Lu Yang spoke honestly.

Since the straightforward route wasn't working, he didn't bother hiding it anymore. My dad is Lu Haibo; I'm a second-generation. I'm going to use connections.

"I had no choice; I'm just a new director. Would I hang out crying with a new assistant director?" Qi Hao said helplessly, curiously asking, "Why are you so set on becoming an assistant director in my crew?"

It's not like you have any ulterior motives towards me.

"Do you think... I stand a chance if I pursue An Feng? Why are you looking at me like that? I know I'm a bit daydreaming, but what's wrong with liking pretty women?"

Lu Yang took two steps back.

"How can you think like that? Did you come to Xiamen just to chase girls?" Qi Hao stepped closer, sternly reproaching, "If that's your real motive, then our crew really can't afford to keep you."

"Just kidding, just kidding!" Lu Yang waved his hands repeatedly.

He was indeed joking, but An Feng was truly stunning. If he could spark something during filming, he wouldn't mind ending his single life.

"Brother, I'm telling you because I find you agreeable," Qi Hao patted Lu Yang on the shoulder and asked seriously, "Which do you think is more important, love or career?"

"Duh, career is definitely more important!"

Lu Yang answered without hesitation, saying that women are nothing compared to movies.

"Look at me; I've been in the industry for so many years. Haven't I met enough beautiful women?"

Qi Hao pointed to himself.

"I have to admit, brother, your romantic luck leaves me in awe."

In front of Qi Hao, Lu Yang had none of the arrogance of a second-generation.

While comparing careers, although Qi Hao was two years younger, he was already accomplished; comparing women, the celebrities he'd been rumored with outnumbered Lu Yang's female classmates.

"But I'm not married. I don't even bother finding time to date because I know..." Qi Hao earnestly explained, "Time is the most precious and fair thing. Until your career meets expectations, relationships will only lead to despondency and lack of ambition."

Lu Yang couldn't help but nod; Qi Hao was absolutely right.

"Once you're truly successful in your career, you'll have all the money and women you want!"

Qi Hao mimicked a classic gesture from Xu Jinjiang, implying a real man should have both money and women.