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

To win an award, Qi Hao even turned down the invitation to be a Golden Horse Award jury member.

There's no way you can win an award while being a judge.

Qi Hao doesn't shy away from showing his ambition for awards.

He attends award ceremonies solely for winning.

Because if he doesn't show it, others might really not give him any award.

To many people, Qi Hao doesn't really need to win any award.

At his current status, awards are just child's play to him.

But Qi Hao needs to complete tasks.

He has to do them now, and possibly in the future too.

The rewards from tasks are extremely valuable, often worth billions.

More than what you earn from making three to five films.

A film with a 500 million box office, after deducting the theater share and taxes, would leave less than 200 million on hand.

If there are multiple production companies, everyone has to split the profits.

There's no fun compared to the rewards from tasks.

Qi Hao arrived in Taiwan a day earlier and participated in two film events.

One was an industry-based film seminar attended by many Chinese filmmakers.

Though Qi Hao is young, his achievements are remarkable.

His films "First Love, This Little Thing", "Those Years", "Uncle" are treated as a series for analyzing commercial film creation methods.

Taiwan's local films were once overshadowed by Xiangjiang films, becoming their backyard, and later Hollywood films took over.

There was nothing much for local films.

Films weren't profitable, leading to fewer newcomers joining.

Therefore, analyzing how films make money is necessary, and Qi Hao became their subject of analysis.

Another event was held at Taiwan University.

It was akin to a lecture on a film career.

Qi Hao, as the lead and producer of "hello! Mr. Tree", talked about some of the film's creative concepts and the character creation of Mr. Tree.

Finally, he interacted with the university students to complete the event.

Just starting off being challenged makes it hard to stay calm.

"Qi Hao, this film is about reality, right? So, is rural mainland full of people like Mr. Tree?"

This student's question was very sharp, mishandling it would make the news.

Qi Hao had no concerns; he chose to respond straightforwardly:

"The question from this student is very impolite, the starting point itself carries plenty of poor intentions. I don't know if Taiwan's education could change your narrow mind, but what I want to say is, if you've watched the film, you should know it reflects the various problems encountered in rural modernization, which are development problems. There needs to be development before there are problems; the purpose of the film is for people to focus on this group, thereby facing and valuing these problems..."

Mr. Tree's life tragedy can be seen as a generational symbol in the era's torrent, a social allegory of absurdity. We all share extraordinary similarities with Mr. Tree, always being gradually overwhelmed unconsciously.

This student asked if there are many such people.

Indeed, there are many.

Who's life isn't perplexing?

The tree isn't just symbolic of a person; it represents a class of people, those in the collective unconscious state in rural lower tiers, those forgotten in the tides of time.

Under the era's torrent, many people are drifting and sinking.

Amplified to every big or small productivity revolution, it's the same issue.

This is the era's pain, not an excuse for attack.

The student didn't expect Qi Hao to be so straightforward.

Isn't it said that a strong dragon cannot repress a local snake?

He should think, Qi Hao's achievements are apparent, he was invited by Taiwan University.

Moreover, his three continuous films were shown in Taiwan.

Locally, there must be many forces supporting him.

As long as he can make people earn money, there won't be a shortage of people maintaining him.

"Regarding mainland's development status, seeing is believing; as long as you're willing, you can find many channels to understand, rather than hearsay or pure imagination.

When I first arrived, many asked if I had any successful experiences; I can now answer that question, which is to have a brain and learn to use it."

Qi Hao attended university activities.

These students came specifically for the seminar.

Some came as fans, but some hoped to learn successful experiences from Qi Hao.

Qi Hao has a net worth of over a billion US dollars, surely a successful person.

This year's Taiwan Forbes ranking, the twentieth, Xu Wenlong, has a net worth of about 1.1 billion US dollars; Qi Hao definitely surpasses him.

The key is, there's not a single person under thirty in the top twenty.

For the students, someone like Qi Hao with so much money at this age is definitely their idol, a model they think they can follow.

That person just now was sarcastic, facing many glares.

There's a mentality of admiring strength everywhere, especially severe in Taiwan, those with spine sacrificed during the resistance against Japanese invaders.

Qi Hao's mention of success being about having a brain and knowing how to use it made it seem he was mocking the previous asker for lacking brains.

"During this exchange at your esteemed school, I've secured sponsorship for an event. If any student wishes to visit the mainland for a firsthand experience, you can contact my assistant for details; complete sponsorship, free guiding... It's a rare opportunity, don't miss it if interested."

Qi Hao chuckled and signaled the staff to select the next lucky student.

Sponsoring Taiwan students to visit the mainland doesn't involve any sensitive issues.

After all, Qi Hao is promoting film cultural exchange.

There's plenty of such civilian-organized exchanges, no lack of this kind of interaction.

"Mr. Qi Hao, I'm nineteen this year. I always feel particularly mediocre. Even if I work hard, I won't achieve success, so I often feel like giving up on myself. Do you have any suggestions?"

A bespectacled student stood up.

Such questions aren't meaningful; the asker merely seeks encouragement.

"I think you might as well try a bit harder; even if you fail, it won't stop you from being mediocre, but what if you succeed? You could change your way of life."

When interacting with young people, being unique is the key.

Qi Hao, only thirty, has no generation gap with these around-twenty young folks.

If he introduced his online name "Full of Monkey Butts, I'm the Most Popular," he might even find a soulmate onsite.

Qi Hao's response earned a round of applause from the audience.

"Qi Hao, as a billionaire ranked within the mainland's top 100, why did you choose to marry a star?"

This question isn't outlandish; "First Love," "Those Years" were hot in Taiwan.

The love story between Qi Hao and An Feng swept across Asia.

But the farther it spreads, the more far-fetched it becomes; there's all kinds of versions, but none match reality.

Some claim An Feng holds leverage over Qi Hao.

Some say Qi Hao actually likes men, and An Feng is merely his shield.

...

"I didn't choose a star or any other profession; I chose An Feng, regardless of her profession."

Qi Hao answered that question.

Quite a dull question; asking why he married a star makes him want to counter with, then who do you think is more suitable?

Would you be recommending yourself?

"Mr. Qi Hao, as a billionaire, why are you so dedicated to films?"

It's a question many can't understand.

"In my view, film is a wonderful thing; it's my hobby and my business.

When we were young, everyone had dreams; some wanted to be scientists, others soldiers... How many here still remember their childhood dreams?

Yet, those who truly develop their interests into careers are scarce.

I've loved films since I was young and treated it as a career; this is why I chose to do films."

Qi Hao was speaking honestly.

Before any systems came into place, he particularly loved watching films.

Conditions at home were alright when young; his battle of wits with parents involved secretly watching discs.

Not wanting to get caught, he even researched methods to cool the TV.

"But... shouldn't you be growing and strengthening your business?"

Young folks can't comprehend.

They feel Qi Hao is wasting time; when wealth reaches a billion dollars, you should aim to make ten billion, rather than engaging in the film industry.

"Has anyone calculated my film's total box office this year? Roughly equivalent to how large of an enterprise's revenue; calculate it and let me know."

Qi Hao really wasn't trying to boast.

He genuinely struggles to articulate his investment philosophy; there's no need to discuss investment matters.

Can only package films as something grander.

Overall, as a billionaire Qi Hao didn't face much challenging at Taiwan University.

Whether as a star idol or wealth idol, most people regard him as an idol.

The next day at the Golden Horse Awards, Qi Hao finally got the Best Actor trophy.

This trip wasn't made in vain.