Amateur talent show? Top mentors are my students.

The restaurant is tucked away at the end of an inconspicuous side street in Beverly Hills.

There was no sign at the entrance, only a dark gray iron gate with a palm-sized bronze plaque embedded next to it. The plaque had a line of very thin lettering on it—no name, just the English words "Enjoy the tranquility".

When He Xu followed Jiang Yanbai inside, he found that it was much smaller than he had expected.

There were only six tables, spaced far apart, each lit by a warm yellow lamp, the light dimmed, like a deliberately created private sanctuary.

An old man was sitting at the table furthest inside, by the window.

He was in his sixties, wearing a dark gray suit jacket draped over the back of a chair, and the cuffs of his white shirt rolled up to his forearms, revealing a section of his strong wrists.

His hair was completely white, but it was neatly combed back, revealing his broad forehead.

A pair of silver-rimmed glasses sat on his nose, and behind the lenses were light blue eyes that looked younger than his actual age under the warm yellow light.

He saw Jiang Yanbai walk in, put down his wine glass, and smiled.

The smile was natural, and deep lines appeared at the corners of his eyes, making him look like a gentle elder.

"River." He stood up, opened his arms, hugged Jiang Yanbai, and patted him on the back. "[The following dialogue is in English] You're finally here. I almost thought you were going to hide until next year."

"Here I am." Jiang Yanbai released him, turned to the side to make room for him, "John, this is He Xu."

John Carter's gaze fell on He Xu.

The gaze was very light, as if it were a casual glance.

But in He Xu's view, it was a professional, rapid scan.

From head to toe, from shoulder width to posture, from the angle of the jawline to the position where the fingers naturally fall.

The whole process took less than two seconds, so fast it was like an instinctive reaction.

Then he smiled and extended his hand to He Xu: "Mr. He Xu, it's a pleasure to meet you. River has told me a lot about you."

He Xu grasped his hand with just the right amount of pressure: "...What he said may not all be true."

John chuckled. "I know. That's why I'd rather meet you in person."

The three of them sat down at the table.

The waiter silently approached, poured a glass of water for He Xu and Jiang Yanbai, and refilled John's glass with half a glass of red wine before retreating into the shadows.

Several appetizers were already served on the table, exquisitely presented but not overly fancy.

John picked up his fork, not rushing to get to the point, but instead began to chat leisurely.

He asked He Xu how long he had been in Los Angeles, how well he had adapted, and what places he had visited.

His tone was as casual as if he were chatting with a younger relative.

He Xu answered each question in turn. He didn't say much, but the conversation was lively.

Jiang Yanbai sat down next to him, put a piece of salad in his mouth, and glanced back and forth between the two of them, as if assessing the direction of the conversation.

When the appetizers were cleared away, John put down his fork, leaned forward slightly, and turned the conversation to what he really wanted to talk about.

"River should have mentioned it to you. I have a project on hand," John said in a low voice. "An action movie, mostly set in Los Angeles. There's a character—young, Asian, with a complicated background—who has an action sequence that runs throughout the film. I've been looking for a long time, but haven't found the right person."

He Xu leaned back in his chair, his fingers resting on the edge of the table: "...What kind of 'suitable' do you mean by 'suitable'?"

"Good physical condition, able to perform high-intensity action scenes. Strong camera presence, doesn't need many lines, but needs to convey a story while standing there." John's blue eyes looked at He Xu under the light. "And also—can't be a conventional martial arts actor."

He Xu raised an eyebrow slightly: "Why can't we find martial arts actors?"

"Because they're too 'standard'." John picked up his glass, took a sip, and put it down. "They're professionally trained, and their fights are visually appealing, but every move they make seems formulaic."

"What my character needs is an ordinary person who is athletic but not formally trained in martial arts. His fighting style should be instinctive and reactive, rather than a set of pre-designed moves."

He Xu paused for a moment, then said, "...Do you think I'm suitable?"

"I think you have that potential." John's tone remained gentle, but his gaze towards He Xu became more direct than before. "I watched your stage video, the one where you collaborated with Emiko. Your body control, your perception of space and time, your performance in front of the camera—these things can be transferred to film."

He Xu did not speak.

John did not urge him.

He forked a piece of side dish, put it in his mouth, chewed it, and swallowed it. Then, as if casually, he added, "As for the salary, I can offer you this much."

He gave a number.

He Xu's hand holding the water glass didn't move, but his eyelashes trembled slightly.

That number—based on his understanding of Hollywood pay standards—was ridiculously high for a complete newcomer with no film or television experience.

But He Xu's expression remained unchanged. He paused for two seconds, then said, "...I don't lack money."

That's not a lie.

Although his choreography and teaching fees over the past few years haven't made him rich, they've been enough to ensure he lives a comfortable life.

With his previous contract income as a special guest mentor on "Absolute Debut", he really doesn't have much financial pressure.

Carter scrutinized his expression, as if he could see through the true meaning behind his words.

He didn't push the price further, but changed his tone: "Think about it, you don't need to decide now. If you don't want to act, I won't force you."

He Xu nodded and was about to say, "I'll think about it," when Carter said something else before he could speak.

"However—if you're willing to take on this role, I can add one more condition." He leaned back in his chair, his voice neither loud nor soft.

John leaned forward slightly, his hands crossed on the table: "I've heard you've mentored quite a few students. Your boy group from that talent show—NOVA, right? You did their debut stage and choreography."

He Xu neither nodded nor denied it.

"They're just getting started, and they have a long road ahead. As their teacher, you should want them to have a smooth journey." John's voice was still not loud, but each word seemed to fall to a certain rhythm. "I'm currently in talks with several music producers in Asia for the soundtrack of my film. If it's suitable, we can find a young group to sing the end credits song."

He paused, looked into He Xu's eyes, and then asked very naturally, "Do you think NOVA's voice would suit the tone of this film?"

The air around the dining table fell silent for a moment.

He Xu leaned back in his chair, his fingers resting on the edge of the table, his knuckles slightly white.

He certainly understood what that sentence meant.

John's words were impeccable—"if it's appropriate" and "we could find a young group to sing"—every word left room for maneuver, allowing for both a fallback and a possibility.

But beneath that gentle, professional phrasing lies a condition so clear it's almost naked.

He Xu was silent for a moment, then spoke: "...You want me to play that role. In exchange, you'll give NOVA a chance."

John looked at him, neither admitting nor denying.

He simply picked up his glass, took another sip, and then said something He Xu couldn't refute: "This isn't an exchange. This is a win-win-win situation. You gain an opportunity to enter a new field, your student gains a platform to showcase themselves, and I get the actors I wanted. Nobody loses out."

Jiang Yanbai sat to the side, his fork hovering in mid-air, his gaze darting back and forth between He Xu and John.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but was stopped by a very slight look from He Xu.

He Xu looked at John and remained silent for a long time.

Then he spoke, his tone calmer than he had expected: "...I'll think about it."

John smiled slightly. "Of course. No rush."