Red String Across Worlds: BL System

Chapter 3

Manager Wang, a man in his late thirties with a shrewd gaze and an air of quiet competence, shook their hands. "Welcome aboard, you two. You both have potential. Let's see how you shine." He then gestured to a stack of papers on his desk. "Your debut project is a movie with two male leads. It's a historical drama, quite popular online. You'll both be auditioning for the two main roles tomorrow."

Ye Ming's eyes widened with excitement. "A movie already? That's amazing!"

Lin Mu nodded, a flicker of professional interest sparking within him. Historical dramas were often complex and offered great opportunities for showcasing acting skills.

As they left Manager Wang's office, Ye Ming turned to Lin Mu, his enthusiasm bubbling over. "This is so exciting! A movie! We should go over the script together tonight, maybe grab some dinner?"

Lin Mu smiled. "That sounds great, Ye Ming. How about we meet tomorrow morning before the audition? Say, around 12 pm at the company cafeteria? We can run lines then." He subtly avoided committing to dinner, wanting to settle into Bai Fan's life a bit more before socializing extensively.

"Perfect! See you then, Bai Fan!" Ye Ming waved goodbye, heading off with his own assistant, a slightly older, more experienced-looking man.

Xiao Mei, Lin Mu's new assistant, led him out of the bustling office building. She was polite and informative, if a little starstruck. As they drove in a company car to Bai Fan's apartment, she chattered about the company, the upcoming audition, and offered some basic advice. "Manager Wang thinks you both have a good chance. The director is looking for actors with a certain... chemistry. Since you two are new together, it might work in your favor."

Bai Fan's apartment was exactly as the System had subtly hinted - small and rather run-down. It was clear he was living on a tight budget. Still, it was his own space, and for a college graduate just starting out, it was probably acceptable. "It'll do for now," Lin Mu murmured to himself, already mentally planning his upgrade once his first paycheck came through.

"I'll pick you up at 10:30 tomorrow morning, Bai Fan-gege," Xiao Mei said with a polite bow as she dropped him off.

Stepping inside the cramped apartment, Lin Mu finally had a moment to himself. He surveyed the tiny living room, the cramped kitchenette, and the even smaller bedroom. The bathroom looked particularly uninviting.

"Alright, System," he said mentally, heading straight for the bathroom. "Time for a little... renovation." He retrieved the Body Transformation Pill from his mental inventory. It was a small, iridescent sphere that pulsed with a soft light. He swallowed it without hesitation.

A warm, tingling sensation spread through his body. He looked in the cracked mirror above the sink, focusing intently on his reflection. Bai Fan's features were pleasant but unremarkable. Lin Mu began to subtly adjust them. He softened the angles of his jawline, slightly widened his eyes, and added a touch more fullness to his lips. He didn't try to replicate his original, breathtaking beauty exactly, but he refined Bai Fan's features, enhancing his natural charm and adding a touch of ethereal softness. He experimented for a while, tweaking and perfecting until he was satisfied with the result - a face that was both captivating and approachable.

He then turned on the shower, letting the lukewarm water wash away the lingering tension of the day. As he toweled himself dry, he wandered into the tiny kitchenette. He opened the almost empty refrigerator, a stark reminder of Bai Fan's meager existence.

"System," he asked, his stomach rumbling slightly. "How do I level up these newly acquired skills?"

"Ah, skill progression!" the System chirped. "You have two main methods, Host! The first is good old-fashioned practice! The more you sing, dance, or cook, the more proficient you'll become, and the skill level will gradually increase. You can even check the progress of each skill in your status panel."

A new section appeared in his mental status, showing his singing, dancing, and cooking skills all at Level 1 with a progress bar at 0%.

"The second method is much faster, though it requires Mall Points," the System continued. "You can directly upgrade a skill by spending points. The cost usually starts at 500 Mall Points to advance one level. Higher levels might require more points."

Lin Mu considered his current balance of 500 Mall Points. He had earned 2000 from the newbie package but hadn't earned any from quests yet. His gaze drifted to the almost empty cabinets.

"Alright, System," he said decisively. "Let's max out the cooking skill. I have a feeling a good meal is exactly what I need right now."

"Cooking skill leveled up to MAX LEVEL! 1500 Mall Points deducted. Current balance: 500 Mall Points."

A wave of knowledge flooded Lin Mu's mind - recipes, techniques, flavor combinations, the subtle art of transforming simple ingredients into culinary delights. It was all there, instantly accessible. He opened the meager contents of Bai Fan's pantry and refrigerator, his mind already conjuring up possibilities.

With practiced ease, his hands moved efficiently, chopping vegetables, seasoning ingredients, and soon, the small apartment was filled with the comforting aroma of a simple but delicious meal. He ate slowly, savoring each bite, a sense of quiet satisfaction settling over him.

By the time he finished, the digital clock on the microwave read 8:50 PM. It had been a long and eventful day. He rinsed his dishes, the sounds echoing in the small space, and then headed to the even smaller bedroom. The bed was lumpy and the sheets thin, but for tonight, it would have to do.

As he lay down, staring at the cracked ceiling, a sense of calm washed over him. He had taken the first steps, navigated the initial chaos, and even managed to secure a slightly better starting position than Bai Fan had. He had a potential friend in Ye Ming, a debut audition tomorrow, and a whole new world of possibilities stretching before him.

"Time to shine," he murmured to himself, a hint of his old actor's confidence returning. The entertainment whirlpool might be turbulent, but Lin Mu, the adaptable chameleon, was ready to dive in and make waves.