After returning to Shanghai from Beijing, Xiao He resumed his busy schedule.
"Shining Stars" is still airing and the plot is getting better and better. The shrewd Li Shuo, the beautiful and intelligent Qiu Rongyue, the upright and kind Bai Mingchuan, and the ruthless Meng Zetian... Even minor supporting characters with few scenes have ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) impressive points. The intense conflicts and constant plot twists make the audience eager to watch and can't help but open the platform every day to watch the show.
Unsurprisingly, as a regular guest on Bilibili, Xiao He's Meng Zetian once again made it onto the "Top Ten Villains List".
While it's not advisable to admire such villains, it's undeniable that Xiao He portrayed Meng Zetian's evil to the fullest extent, creating a memorable villain that is rarely seen today and is well-known to the public.
Like Mu Ze, played by Xiao He, and Zhu Laosan, although the former made his name on Bilibili and the latter became famous in movies, they are ultimately within a certain scope or circle.
But spy dramas are different. They target not only young people but also middle-aged and elderly people, making their audience much broader. Moreover, the barrier to entry for watching these dramas is almost zero; they are the kind of shows that you can watch as soon as you turn on the TV.
Therefore, Meng Zetian is more well-known by comparison, and his portrayal of Xiao He was just a brief appearance in front of the whole nation.
The last villain with such personal charisma and public recognition was a ruthless boss in a crime drama. After that drama aired, everyone knew about him, even those who hadn't watched it.
This is the different traffic effect brought about by TV dramas.
...
Back in his villa, Xiao He, who had just returned from outside, opened the system and looked at the more than 100,000 points on his system panel, and began to think seriously.
Should I try to acquire a new skill... or upgrade an old one?
Sigh, life is always full of so many beautiful troubles~
In the end, Xiao He still focused his attention on the old skills.
The main reason is that Xiao He has been living a carefree life lately, and he hasn't really realized what skills he urgently needs right now.
Since I can't think of anything right now, let's upgrade what we already have...
"System, do you have any items related to upgrading skills? I want to upgrade my skills."
The system immediately redirected to the targeted lottery interface.
【Targeted Lottery: Skill Upgrade Capsule (10 draws remaining until the guaranteed reward)】
Sure enough!
Without hesitation, Xiao He raised his hand: "Let's try two draws first—"
However, the two draws quickly turned into lifespan points, and nothing happened.
Xiao He, who had been unlucky for years, was used to it, but he still couldn't help grumbling, "I really can't believe it! I always get a big win in the game, and it's the same in real life?"
Despite saying he didn't believe in superstitions, Xiao He still went to the bathroom to shower and change. Then, with utmost piety, he knelt before the coffee table and earnestly bowed three times to the void: "God bless me, Buddha bless me, Lady Luck bless me, God of Wealth bless me..."
Whether it's a Western god or an Eastern god, anyone who protects him is a good god, and he will be extremely grateful...
Filled with anticipation, Xiao He clicked the button—
The third draw, the fourth draw, the fifth draw...
Finally, Xiao He looked at the final guaranteed amount after the targeted lottery and his eye twitched.
【Targeted Lottery: Skill Upgrade Capsule (1 draw remaining until the guaranteed reward)】
"No, System, are you doing this on purpose?"
Xiao He finally couldn't hold back any longer.
"I told you to have a guaranteed minimum, but you actually maxed out the guaranteed minimum? Are you sure you didn't secretly change the stats?"
"Then you might as well put a price tag on it, 100,000 for each skill, I'd feel more comfortable buying it that way."
"Damn it, is there a complaint button? I want to file a complaint!"
However, the system popped up a reminder:
【Attention! This system's lottery is absolutely fair and transparent. Since its inception, this system has always adhered to the principles of fairness, impartiality, and openness, upheld the system's auxiliary laws, and is committed to correctly assisting the host in their criminal activities, ensuring a swift response...】
Xiao He: ...No, what is this?
No, system, do you use official jargon in your world too?
Such a politically charged answer sheet...
Thinking of that year, that question, and that score, Xiao He couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.
Pooh!
This system is garbage! Instead of going through all this trouble, why not just give me the real money?!
The next moment, the prize finally appeared before Xiao He's eyes—
【Congratulations on obtaining the "Skill Upgrade Capsule," which has been automatically stored.】
【Skill Upgrade Capsule Details: It can help you upgrade one of your current basic criminal skills, provided the skill has room for improvement.】
Xiao He looked speechless: "Look, look, you won't come out if I don't say anything, but you come out as soon as I do!"
It's really hard not to suspect it was intentional! Feeling guilty, huh?
【Note! This system's lottery draw is absolutely free of any fraudulent elements...】
"Okay, okay, stop! You don't need to say anything more!" Xiao He directly interrupted the system's disclaimer and official explanation, "I'm going to draw another identical skill upgrade capsule, but I only have five draws left. You figure it out yourself!"
He'd already taken nine draws from the system; if he continued to be unlucky, he'd have to fight the system to the death!
The system remained silent this time, offering no response.
Xiao He snorted coldly, then pressed the lottery interface—
One draw, nothing happens; two draws, nothing happens; three draws...
【Targeted Lottery: Skill Upgrade Capsule (6 draws remaining until the guaranteed reward)】
Xiao He: ...
Damn it, isn't this bullying honest people?
This is absolutely outrageous!
Why did he even develop a safety net mechanism for the system? He's just digging his own grave!
Xiao He couldn't take it anymore.
Is the system serious?
"Brother Xiao!"
Just then, Xiao Chen walked in from outside, carrying a bunch of things: "Sister Liu wants you to come over later and shoot a funny video with some abstract elements, then post it on Yin Fu Video to ride the wave of Zang Xing Shan Shan's traffic."
The recent plot of "Shining Stars" has been too depressing. Liu Rulan is worried that Xiao He will be beaten up on the street, so she asked Xiao He to shoot some abstract short videos to get closer to the audience and allow everyone to separate the characters from the drama so that the villain's behavior is not attributed to the actor.
This is a common tactic in the industry. If a villain actor plays a really bad character, they will post some funny or abstract short videos on their short video account to create a contrast, divert people's hatred, and attract a wave of traffic and fans.
Of course, this also serves a certain promotional purpose.
However, as for Xiao He—Liu Rulan was simply afraid that Xiao He would get beaten up.
Xiao He: "...Please thank Sister Liu for me."
Xiao Chen put down what she was holding and saw Xiao He still kneeling in front of the tea table, with a koi fish painting on the table in front of him and a wooden fish for increasing merit beside him. She looked at Xiao He with great confusion and asked, "Brother Xiao, what are you doing?"
Xiao He glanced at the system panel that Xiao Chen couldn't see at all, blinked, and suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
"Xiao Chen, how's your luck usually?"
Xiao He rubbed his hands together, smiling kindly.
Xiao Chen shrank back, feeling like she was being watched by some strange person: "I... I'm just so-so—"
"My colleague stole my job at work..."
Xiao He: But in the end, the colleague who tried to steal the job was thrown out and made the scapegoat...
"I was in a car accident on my way home..."
Xiao He: But in the end nothing happened, and I even got a few days of paid leave...
"Even when I go out with you guys, Brother Xiao, we still encounter a boat capsizing incident..."
Xiao He: This is my fault. In the end, this guy even won the MVP award and was nicknamed "Eagle Eye Xiao Chen".
"besides--"
"Alright, that's enough."
Xiao He grasped Xiao Chen's hand tightly and said with a touch of melancholy, "You are the lucky one I've been waiting for!"
