[Brain Storage Area. Leave your brain here, and many problems will solve themselves.]
Blue Star, Demon City.
At a wooden table beside the restroom, next to the most luxurious entertainment and film production building in the city center, sat a young man.
On the table was a recruitment notice for MiHoYo Film & TV Development Company:
Job Requirements — Must be alive.
His name was Su Chen, with golden eyes and gray hair.
Truth be told, Su Chen was a transmigrator.
He still remembered that day—when he had painstakingly saved up Stellar Jades across 10 versions, just about to pull a 6+5 Firefly…
BOOM!
He got struck by lightning.
When he woke up again, he found himself in this parallel world where the entertainment and film industry was absurdly advanced.
Just how exaggerated was it?
A draft script could be finalized in the morning, a trailer released by the afternoon, and the first episode aired by night.
The efficiency was terrifying!
Because of this, audiences were bombarded with an endless stream of web series, leading to aesthetic fatigue—yet they kept consuming more anyway.
To make matters worse, Su Chen had somehow awakened the Web Series Production System.
As long as the web series he produced became a hit and generated emotional resonance from viewers, he could unlock various technologies—
Including but not limited to: scenes, special effects, scripts, lighting, music, costumes, props… and so on.
Thinking about this, despite it being the height of summer, Su Chen's heart felt ice-cold.
Bad luck isn't society's fault, and a hard life isn't the government's fault!
Of all worlds, why did he awaken this kind of ability here?
Dammit!
It was like bringing a Kunkun template to the NBA!
Other transmigrators got to live lavishly, surrounded by harems and blessed with overpowered talents!
And him?
He didn't even get a newbie starter pack—what a joke!
No way to monetize anything.
He could barely afford rent!
What should he do?
Just as Su Chen was wallowing in self-pity, a voice as melodious as heaven's chorus echoed beside him.
"Excuse me… are you still hiring here?"
Su Chen's eyebrow twitched.
Who in their right mind would come here to apply for a job?
He must be dreaming!
But when he looked up—his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
Was he actually dreaming?!
"Firefly?!"
Standing before him was a pure and lovely gray-haired girl.
She wore a black hairband, with a small bow on the left side of her hair.
Hearing Su Chen call her name, Firefly froze for a moment.
"How… do you know my name?"
Su Chen's mind raced as he quickly scanned her from head to toe.
A white dress, its hem fluttering gently in the breeze.
He couldn't look away.
No way!
How could someone look this similar?
She might as well have stepped straight out of the 2D world into reality!
This was terrifying!
And her name was actually Firefly?
What were the odds?!
"Ah, sorry! It's just… the female lead in the script I'm working on is named Firefly. The moment I saw you, I felt like she'd come to life—so I just blurted it out!"
"Huh?" Firefly looked awkward. "Me? That's… a pretty flimsy excuse. How could our names be the same?"
"Don't sweat the details! Let's talk about the job instead!"
It was the middle of summer—they couldn't just discuss things at a wooden table.
So, Su Chen generously took Firefly to a milk tea shop across the street and bought her a drink.
"So… why apply here? What kind of role are you looking for?"
"Me?" Firefly nervously crumpled the hem of her skirt. "Anything's fine. I just need a job, or else…"
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears.
Su Chen could tell—she had some unspoken hardship.
Was it an alcoholic father? A gambling-addicted mother? A sick younger brother? A broken home?
He quickly changed the subject.
"With your looks, you could easily audition for an Oscar-winning role at the film studio next door, right? Why come to me?"
"They said my outfit was… too plain. So they rejected me."
Since the milk tea shop was right across from the film studio, Su Chen knew exactly how things worked there.
The women going in and out were all dressed to the nines, with ample "career lines."
What should be revealed was revealed—and what shouldn't be? Also revealed.
In comparison… yeah.
Firefly seemed to lack… competitive advantages.
Because all her advantages were covered up.
In terms of natural beauty, Firefly was undoubtedly top-tier.
But nowadays, makeup skills were too advanced.
Until the moment you washed your face before bed, you'd never know if you were sleeping with Autumn Fragrance or Sister Ruhua!
"So… can I get the job? I really need the money right now." Firefly's voice snapped Su Chen out of his thoughts.
"I'm broke too, you know!" he grumbled inwardly.
After transmigrating, he had almost no capital.
Plus, his system hadn't done anything useful yet.
All he had was a few thousand bucks—barely enough as seed money.
He needed an office!
A filming location!
Actors!
And a script!
Right now, he had nothing but a company name!
But looking at the girl in front of him, Su Chen couldn't help but soften.
"You can be my secretary! Let me introduce myself—I'm Su Chen, founder of a film company destined to shake the world!"
Firefly looked taken aback. "Me? Really…?"
Just then—
A ripple surged in Su Chen's mind.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You've successfully hired your first employee: Firefly.]
[Newbie Starter Pack unlocked.]
[Please check your rewards!]
[Script: "Honkai: Star Rail 1.0"]
[Script: "Glamoth's Embers"]
[Herta Space Station's Stellaron Storage Room Scene]
[Film Editing Technique Acquired.]
Su Chen stroked his chin.
A Honkai: Star Rail web series script?
Talk about perfect timing!
As a veteran player with ten maxed-out accounts in his past life, he knew the story inside out—especially now that he had the actual script!
And a Stellaron storage room scene?
Did that mean the system would provide all the Honkai: Star Rail locations from now on?
Massive savings on set costs!
Plus, with film editing skills, post-production would be a breeze!
Damn it!
This was cutting expenses left and right!
Ah, the sweet, sweet taste of capital efficiency—it filled him with joy!
All he needed now was the right cast, and he'd be ready to roll!
The good life was within reach!
At that moment, the milk tea arrived.
Since Su Chen was still a broke commoner, he'd only ordered one cup.
He pushed it toward Firefly.
But after glancing at the drink, Firefly swallowed hard.
"Boss… you should have it. I'm trying to lose weight. Consider this my treat—I'll pay for it later!"
Su Chen didn't respond immediately.
She clearly wanted to drink it!
What was with this heartbreaking fragility?!
She hadn't even discussed her salary yet!
Was she really this naive?
"Relax, the tea's iced—the calories are diluted. You won't gain weight.
"Oh, by the way… do you have any friends who might be interested? The company's just starting, so we need more staff."
Firefly tapped her chin with a finger.
"Well… I live with a few friends at a café."
"There's an older sister, Kafka, and a younger one, Silver Wolf."