Reborn Action Star: Starting in Hollywood

The morning sunlight, like molten gold, streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, outlining a bright line across Lin Yuan's tightly closed eyes.

Stimulated by the light, Lin Yuan opened his eyes.

Despite sleeping for less than three hours last night, his eyes were still surprisingly clear.

Lin Yuan turned over and sat up in bed, his joints making a slight cracking sound.

"Ah~"

He stretched, feeling his muscle fibers relax like springs.

This is one of the benefits of having a constitution far exceeding that of ordinary people: he can completely ignore the negative effects of staying up late and maintain his energy with very little sleep.

His exceptional physique allows him to remain energetic even after consecutive all-nighters, as if he has a never-ending engine inside him.

This is the ability that office workers who stay up late every day with a sense of guilt dream of the most.

If they found out, they would be consumed by jealousy and anger, and even if they liked him a lot, they would have the urge to unfollow and turn against him.

Lin Yuan glanced at the alarm clock on the bedside table; it showed the time as 8:07.

Even the faintest sounds coming from downstairs were amplified by his exceptionally keen senses: he could hear the sizzling of oil in the kitchen of the restaurant downstairs, and he could also smell the aroma of brewing coffee wafting in from the cracks in the window next door.

This atmosphere, full of everyday life, has always been Lin Yuan's favorite.

"Time to get up and have breakfast. It seems like there's still a lot to do today."

Yesterday, GAKKI went to stay at Taylor Swift's house. Without his assistant's reminder, he only vaguely remembered that he had a lot of schedules to attend today.

Lin Yuan got off the bed, and as his feet touched the cold wooden floor, a strange color on the desk suddenly caught his eye.

It was a folded notepad, clearly written on by someone and stuck in the most conspicuous place.

Lin Yuan clearly remembers that there was nothing on the table except some folders before he went to sleep last night.

Aside from the underwear thief last night, the only other person who would sneak into his room in the middle of the night is probably GAKKI-chan.

Lin Yuan walked to the desk, picked up the note, and sure enough, it was GAKKI-chan's handwriting.

Clearly, the assistant is still faithfully fulfilling her duties.

The note says today's work:

Two things are certain, and one thing is pending.

The two confirmed matters are a formal discussion with Lee Boo-jin and a trip to the Hollywood Walk of Fame to leave a star.

The first point goes without saying; we reached a preliminary consensus with Lee Boo-jin at the dinner table last night. Today, we'll strike while the iron is hot, finalize the details, and discuss any differences.

The second task, however, surprised Lin Yuan.

Oh, I didn't know that was the case.
After being betrayed by the Oscar committee at the Oscars ceremony, he received substantial compensation and honors from the film industry as an apology.

First, he almost lost the Academy Award, but after gaining Lin Yuan's forgiveness, he was awarded a special prize.

To highlight the special significance of his inscription, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce repurposed an area for him on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Although this happened not long ago, so much has happened in between that he had almost forgotten about it.

It's no wonder the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce went through such a complicated process, because compared to other stars' naming ceremonies, his was a completely special case.

Under normal circumstances, the area occupied by the Star medal for each star is of uniform size: a square area with sides of approximately 1.8 meters (6 feet).

Each star is approximately 0.3 meters (12 inches) in diameter and is made of terrazzo and brass.

Each star is spaced approximately 0.6 meters (2 feet) apart and arranged in a grid pattern.

The area occupied by Lin Yuan has a side length of 3.6 meters, which is four times the size of the other celebrities' areas!
This area is so big, it's about the size of a small room.

But the special treatment he received didn't stop there; in the center of the area where Lin Yuan left his name, there was also a 3.6-meter gap between the spaces.

This represents recognition of his unique achievements. The film industry unanimously believes that no one is worthy to be compared with him and that a distance must be maintained as a sign of respect.

It's fair to say that the film industry's current attitude towards Lin Yuan is one of complete groveling.

In terms of wealth, strength, and achievements, Lin Yuan is far superior in every aspect.

Since it's impossible to resist completely, the wise thing to do is to cling to a powerful figure and take advantage of their resources.

With the phenomenal success of "The King of Spies 2", Lin Yuan has once again broken through the ceiling of movie box office.

But his extraordinary achievements did not only make him rich, but also boosted the overall film market.

In 2005, besides Lin Yuan Film Studio's blockbuster films, other film companies also released:
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, King Kong, Madagascar… these are all well-made films.

Lin Yuan learned that the box office performance of these films had generally increased by more than 30% compared to his previous life.

This resulted in three more films grossing over $1 billion in 2005.

After reaping the "spillover benefits" brought by Lin Yuan, how could the entire film industry not want to elevate him to the highest level?
However, for Lin Yuan, he no longer valued such empty fame.

But having your name on the Avenue of Stars is not just a hollow title; it also brings real benefits.

Therefore, Lin Yuan still had to complete this trip.

The last item was the alternative task, which, to be honest, surprised Lin Yuan somewhat: Li Xiuman's work report.

Clearly, Lee Soo-man didn't dare to report directly to him, but he still wanted to make his presence felt in front of him.

So Lee Soo-man went around in circles and first found GAKKI-chan to ask her.

It can be said that Lee Soo-man is indeed very good at grasping the nuances.

Normally, it is quite impolite to try to insert extra work when your superiors already have a fixed work schedule.

However, the attitude of subordinates wanting to get close and show loyalty is also an attitude that is needed by superiors.

This makes it extremely important to grasp the proper measure.

In her note, GAKKI mentioned that Lee Soo-man didn't expect to take up too much of her time.

He just hoped that Lin Yuan would say a few words to him while he was having breakfast.

Of course, Lin Yuan can also choose to refuse. GAKKI-chan suggests:
“If you don’t want to talk to him, just put a cup of coffee on the table while you’re eating breakfast, and Lee Soo-man will be sensible enough not to bother you.”

As her personal assistant, GAKKI-chan naturally knew that Lin Yuan didn't like coffee; he preferred sweet milk with a coffee flavor.

So if you choose coffee, you don't have to worry that if Lin Yuan wants to drink coffee for breakfast, he might accidentally discourage Lee Soo-man from having it.

Lin Yuan was quite satisfied with his assistant's thoughtful arrangements.

He had become completely accustomed to having her by his side, and if one day GAKKI-chan were to suddenly disappear, he would really find it hard to adjust.

"Now I understand why all the wealthy characters in movies and TV shows seem like overgrown babies who can't take care of themselves," Lin Yuan sighed.

Having a caring secretary and a whole team to serve you means you gradually lose many life skills, don't you?
But Lin Yuan wouldn't be pretentious and insisted on maintaining a "simple style".

His time and energy became increasingly precious as his wealth grew.

By entrusting trivial matters to trusted individuals, one can focus on the important decisions that require personal input.

The two tasks that were finalized today, and the one task that is pending, are all quite important.

Lin Yuan pondered for a moment and decided to talk to Lee Soo-man. Lin Yuan put down the note in his hand, but through the light, he could vaguely see what seemed to be writing on the back?

Lin Yuan then flipped the note over, and what came into view was a very cute "peace sign" pattern.

Clearly, this means "to win".

GAKKI-chan is expressing that she is going to win the bet.

Seeing the adorable drawing, Lin Yuan couldn't help but smile, no longer caring about winning or losing the bet.

In addition to the scissor-hand symbol, there is a camera and three simple line drawings of women's faces below.

The painting was very lifelike, and Lin Yuan recognized it at a glance: Lee Boo-jin, Kim Tae-yeon, and Im Yoon-ah.

GAKKI-chan clearly meant that she watched the surveillance video and knew roughly what happened last night.

Seeing this, Lin Yuan couldn't stop smiling.

It has to be said that Japanese girls are truly masters at understanding and manipulating men's psychology.

As an assistant with a close relationship with Lin Yuan, if the notes only contain positive work-related communication, while thoughtful and meticulous, it might also seem a bit too businesslike.

On the back of the sticky note, GAKKI-chan talked about all her private matters, and her manner and level of discussion were just right.

Through drawings, the two of them, by their mutual understanding, were able to know what she wanted to express.

There's no need to worry about the written information causing unnecessary trouble if it's seen by others.

At the same time, it can also express the offense in a coquettish way, so that Lin Yuan will not only not be angry, but will feel that it is a kind of fun.

Japanese women really understand men!

After reading the note left by GAKKI, Lin Yuan didn't just throw it in the trash can. Instead, he folded it in half, put it in his pocket, and headed towards the restaurant.

What should we have for breakfast today?

……

……

"Mr. Lin, breakfast for you includes shrimp wontons, fried dough sticks, and crab roe shumai. Would you like a cup of hot coffee?" the butler asked with a polite smile.

Lin Yuan: "..."

"Because we have guests today, Miss Aragaki specifically asked for lunch to be prepared. The dishes prepared for you were also arranged by Miss Aragaki. Would you like to adjust them?" the butler continued to ask.

"No need, it's fine as it is," Lin Yuan replied.

I'm really turning into a giant baby!

GAKKI-chan's arrangements were so thoughtful. Not only did she consider his preferences, but she also made a special effort to continue the arrangements from last night by serving Chinese food to the Korean guests.

In fact, Koreans have already begun to adopt some Westernized eating habits.

For example, in terms of staple foods, wheat consumption has surpassed that of rice, which is a very significant phenomenon.

But GAKKI doesn't care whether you like bread and milk for breakfast or not; when you come to Lin Yuan's house, you eat Chinese food.

This could be considered a form of subtle PUA (Pick-Up Artist) tactics.

Lin Yuan thought the arrangement was fine, and he didn't think the guests would be unhappy. Judging from how satisfied they were with their lunch last night, they would probably be even more satisfied this morning.

"Oh, and no coffee," Lin Yuan instructed the housekeeper.

"Yes, Mr. Lin, breakfast will be served shortly." The butler bowed.

"Have the guests had breakfast yet?" Lin Yuan asked again.

"Yes, Chairman Li, President Li, Miss Jin and Miss Lin have already had breakfast," the butler replied.

Lin Yuan: "..."

It turns out I was the one who woke up the latest.

No, don't you Koreans ever sleep?

Especially Kim Tae-yeon and Im Yoon-ah, they went to bed so late last night, and now they've already finished breakfast?
Lin Yuan suddenly understood why coffee was still provided even though a Chinese breakfast was prepared.

It is said that Koreans have American coffee flowing in their blood.

The coffee you get here is absolutely authentic "Americano".

Lin Yuan sat down at the dining table, and soon his breakfast was served.

The small wontons floated in the bone broth, their paper-thin wrappers revealing the tender pink shrimp filling, while bright green scallions and golden egg strands floated on the surface.

Lin Yuan gently stirred the seaweed and dried shrimp with a porcelain spoon, and the fresh aroma wafted straight to his nose.

Take a sip of the soup: Delicious!

The delicious flavor traveled down his esophagus, carrying a burst of heat that made Lin Yuan feel completely comfortable.

After eating several small wontons, Lin Yuan began to tear the golden-fried dough sticks into pieces and throw them into the wonton soup.

The fried dough sticks, soaked in broth, gleam with an enticing sheen; this is the true way to enjoy fried dough sticks.

Perhaps because he has a Chinese stomach, no matter how many years he has lived in the United States, Lin Yuan can never get used to Western breakfasts represented by bread, milk, sandwiches, and bacon.

After Lin Yuan wolfed down most of the breakfast on the table, Lee Soo-man finally made his appearance.

He cautiously approached the table and said, "Good morning, Mr. Lin."

After greeting him, he simply stood by the table and didn't dare to sit down.

"Good morning, President Li. Why are you standing? Please have a seat." Lin Yuan said, swallowing the shumai in his mouth.

Lee Soo-man then pulled out a chair and sat down on it.

Lin Yuan immediately noticed this detail, and he felt a sense of helplessness.
Why learn this kind of thing so quickly when you don't learn anything else?
But he couldn't say anything, since in Eastern culture, it's believed that being polite is never a bad thing.

He couldn't change other people's preconceived notions.

"I was rude last night, and I hope Mr. Lin will forgive me," Lee Soo-man apologized.

Lin Yuan: "..."

Everyone says you, Lee Soo-man, are an old turtle, and they're absolutely right.

I got myself drunk after a few drinks last night, which was rude but saved me a lot of unnecessary trouble.

But if you hadn't been so "rude," how could I have encountered so many "even more rude" things last night?
With this in mind, Lin Yuan decided to give Lee Soo-man a push:
"If there's anything you want to talk to me about today, just say it."

Encouraged by this positive feedback, Lee Soo-man immediately perked up: "Mr. Lin, under your leadership, our SM Entertainment has seen remarkable growth in performance over the past few years."

I've developed a plan to double the company's revenue and profits within the next five years. Could you please provide your guidance?

Lin Yuan shook his head: "No, I want the company to turn from profit to loss within the next five years. That's what I want."

Lee Soo-man: "???" (End of Chapter)