Conquer the world, young man!

"Haha, kid, let me introduce you to the crew." Watanabe Akira grabbed Totsuka and, grinning, began showing him around the set. "This is the cinematographer in charge of interior scenes, the lighting technician, the costume designer, and the makeup artist..."

Totsuka was led around to meet almost everyone behind the scenes, and the repeated bows and greetings made her somewhat resentful of the island nation's etiquette.

The crew was well aware that Director Watanabe had personally gone to find the actor the day before. Watanabe, in high spirits after finding him, brought a sigh of relief to the crew. Seeing the young man's refined features, gentle and graceful demeanor, and impeccable manners, everyone had a very good first impression of him.

The makeup artist on set was a forthright woman named Rimi Ogura. When Totsuka saw her, she pulled him into her arms, pinched his cheek, and forced him to call her "Sister Rimi." Watanabe Akira laughed heartily, waved his hand, and told Rimi to take Totsuka to get ready and change clothes, adding that once Totsuka was dressed, he would introduce him to the actors.

Seeing such a delicate and gentle boy, Ogura Satomi was immediately filled with maternal love. She took good care of him and exclaimed, "Totsuka, right? You have such good skin and are so cute. I'm sure a lot of girls like you."

"Satomi-nee..." Totsuka blushed slightly. It was the first time he'd been so close to an adult woman, and he felt quite awkward. "Shouldn't 'handsome' be the more accurate description of me...?"

"Haha, Totsuka doesn't need to put too much effort into dressing up, she's already very pretty." Ogura Satomi gestured for Totsuka to look in the mirror. "Totsuka's looks are really on par with everyone else's. Okay, go change your clothes now, and do your best later."

"Okay, thank you very much, Rimi-nee." Totsuka bowed and thanked her, then took the hospital patient gown he was wearing as Suzuki Teru and went into the changing room.

Afterwards, Satomi Ogura gave Totsuka a little touch-up, making her complexion slightly paler, but her hair was styled very neatly, making her look like a well-behaved child. Leading Totsuka out of the dressing room, Satomi Ogura raised an eyebrow at Akira Watanabe, "How was it, Director Watanabe?"

Watanabe Akira circled Totsuka a few times and nodded vigorously. "That's right, this is exactly how I imagined Suzuki Teru. Come here, Teru, let me introduce you to your brother, Suzuki Hashisuke."

Totsuka was led by Watanabe to a tall man. Looking up at him, she was stunned, her eyes widening in disbelief. It was that man playing the male lead! The pressure was immense...

Author's Note: Today marks one month since I started writing this story. Without the support of everyone, I wouldn't have been able to persevere this long. I wish all readers a happy and lucky day! Double update for you all! Also, it seems to be Erque's birthday today. Okay, happy birthday to him too!

Thank you to [莫惜命], [Mr.KY], [格欧费茵], and [12676443] for the amazing gifts! I have received all your kind wishes, thank you!

Chapter 33033 Let's Act Together, Young Man

The actor invited by Watanabe Akira to play the male lead is none other than the current No. 1 figure in the entertainment industry—Tsuruga Ren. Why would Totsuka know him? Whether it's from the news and product advertisements he often sees on TV, or from the male lead in an anime called "Skip Beat" that he watched in his previous life, he would know how amazing this man's acting skills are.

His first role was opposite Tsuruga Ren, which surprised and worried Totsuka. However, the moment he saw Tsuruga Ren, he immediately stood up straight, bowed, and said, "Tsuruga-senpai!"

"Haha, Totsuka knows Ren, don't be too nervous." Watanabe Akira waved his hand and winked at Ren, saying, "Ren, why don't you come and see your little brother, Koki? This is his first time acting, don't put too much pressure on him."

Tsuruga Ren nodded, looked at the somewhat stiff-looking boy, and smiled, "Xiao Hui? You're so nervous seeing your older brother, do you want to go out for some fresh air today?"

Totsuka was taken aback. This... Tsuruga Ren said that on purpose? He looked up and saw the tall, chestnut-haired man in front of him smiling with concern and a hint of doting. It seemed that he would grant any request to his beloved younger brother. Totsuka relaxed and remembered Suzuki Teru's admiration and longing for such an outstanding older brother in the script, along with the slightly spoiled attitude of a younger brother towards his older brother... He then smiled brightly and said to his older brother, Suzuki Hashisuke, "No way, I've always had a lot to do. Don't tease me, brother."

Tsuruga Ren looked at the boy's smile, paused slightly, then spoke in a gentler tone, with a hint of a sigh, "Xiao Hui, your brother will definitely let you go out in the future. Wherever you want to go, your brother will accompany you."

"Then brother... it's a deal!" Totsuka tilted his head and nodded heavily, his lowered eyes concealing the expression in them, but he quickly opened them, his eyes bright and captivating. "It's a deal!"

"Alright, alright!" Watanabe Akira clapped his hands, interrupting the two who were engrossed in the story, as well as the staff watching from the side. He gave Totsuka an encouraging smile, "It's good to see that the boy is adapting well. Just like Suzuki Teru in the story, he has a gentle, tolerant, and hopeful heart. He should get along well with Ren and cultivate their relationship."

"Ren, there are still many things that Totsuka doesn't understand, so I'll trouble you to teach him more." Watanabe Akira looked at Tsuruga Ren, who seemed to be deep in thought, but the smile on his lips never faded. Seeing the smile on Totsuka's face, Ren should understand why he chose him to play such an important role. With Ren's serious and responsible attitude towards acting, he believed that Totsuka would learn a lot in the future.

"Totsuka?" Tsuruga Ren had indeed been captivated by the boy's warm smile. He had initially intended to guide the boy into character and help him relax, but the boy had unexpectedly slipped into the role in an instant, responding to his words in a way that matched the character's personality. At that moment, Tsuruga Ren even saw the boy as his beloved yet worried younger brother, and longed for him to play and have fun without any worries. Emotionally, the boy's performance completely led him, immersing him in the story as well. For a boy acting for the first time to achieve this was truly remarkable—a testament to his exceptional talent.

And judging from the boy's appearance, he seemed unaware of his influence, and even lowered his head shyly. This made Tsuruga Ren want to laugh. He was indeed very happy to meet such a junior.

Upon hearing Tsuruga Ren call his name, Totsuka Tatara instinctively stood up straight and replied, "Yes! My name is Totsuka Tatara, Tsuruga-senpai!"

Totsuka's respect for Tsuruga Ren stemmed from his admiration for him in the anime. Tsuruga Ren's dedication and commitment to acting were evident, even to the point of often skipping meals and suffering stomach aches in the anime. Such a conscientious actor naturally commanded Totsuka's respect. Furthermore, Tsuruga Ren was initially dissatisfied with Mogami Kyoko, who entered the entertainment industry for revenge, and was extremely strict and demanding, even being called a "demon king" by Kyoko. This made Totsuka somewhat embarrassed, as his initial motives for agreeing to take on the role weren't entirely pure...

"Totsuka, don't be so nervous. Just treat me like an older brother." Tsuruga Ren's smile widened as he looked at the boy's reaction, and the warmth in his eyes became more genuine. "After all, just like Watanabe said, we're going to cultivate our relationship properly from now on. Being so reserved doesn't seem like we're real brothers."

Totsuka secretly glanced at Tsuruga Ren. This handsome man did indeed have a gentle expression and treated him very kindly, without any airs of a great god. This made Totsuka somewhat happy, and he smiled slightly and said, "Okay, brother."

"Now that you've finished your discussion, we'll start filming in a bit. Young man, make sure you've memorized your lines." Watanabe Akira led Totsuka to the filming location, which was just an ordinary single hospital room. "Today's scenes mainly consist of you and Ren in the hospital room. As for another important character you'll have many scenes with, Ito Taku, you won't see him today. You'll see him in a day when you have scenes with him."

"Hmm." Totsuka listened quietly and followed him into the ward. Because he had just rehearsed with Tsuruga-senpai, he was now completely relaxed and lay on the hospital bed, ready to immerse himself in the character in the script.

[The host has triggered the main quest: Conquer the No.1 celebrity in the entertainment industry, Ren Tsuruga (0/100). Quest reward: Mask of God. Penalty for failure: Express your determination to be with Akira Watanabe and come out as gay.]

Hey, system, issuing a task at this time is going to scare him! The emotions he had just managed to build up have all dissipated in an instant. He could have just accepted the task directly, but couldn't the punishment for failure be a little less brutal?! Totsuka glanced at Uncle Watanabe, who was staring at the screen next to him and then looking at him, and couldn't help but shudder. He absolutely must not come out as gay because of him!

Speaking of which... young man, the focus you're paying attention to seems rather strange...

Perhaps worn down by the various tasks assigned by the system, Totsuka quickly put aside the tasks and focused on thinking about the script and the characters. He was now Suzuki Teru, the younger brother of Suzuki Hashisuke. Thinking this, he seemed to find the feeling he had when acting with Tsuruga-senpai again, and his mind became completely absorbed.

The first scene of "The Longest Nite"—Visiting the Sick—Action!

Having just finished a long day at the Metropolitan Police Department, Hashisuke Suzuki rubbed his forehead. The recent series of murders had left him somewhat exhausted from the investigation. The killer seemed to be deliberately toying with his victims, whose deaths were all gruesome and filled with terror. However, the killer was extremely cautious, leaving no trace of the crime, which had brought the investigation to a near standstill.

Suzuki Hashisuke, of course, didn't believe in flawless crimes; every crime has a motive. He was confident that something would be discovered soon enough. Now, he was going to visit his younger brother, who had been living in the hospital. His brother had grown up with him, but had always been in poor health. Later, it was discovered that he had inherited his mother's heart condition, which prevented him from engaging in any strenuous exercise and from doing the things he enjoyed like a normal boy.

Suzuki Kyosuke went to the bookstore and bought a few storybooks. His younger brother, Suzuki Teru, had developed a love for reading after being hospitalized. He also bought some of his brother's favorite fruits before heading to the hospital.

Suzuki Hashisuke greeted the nurses at the hospital. He was a frequent visitor, so everyone at the hospital knew him well. When he reached the ward door, Suzuki Hashisuke made himself look relaxed and knocked on the door. "Kiyoshi, your brother is coming in."

"Brother!" Totsuka's eyes lit up as he saw Tsuruga Ren dressed as Suzuki Hashisuke walk in, and he beamed with joy and anticipation. "Brother, what did you bring for Koki this time?"

"Xiao Hui only noticed what his brother brought, and didn't he notice his brother at all?" Tsuruga Ren, playing Suzuki Hashisuke, looked at the boy's smile, seemingly relaxing his tired mind and body. He even put aside the cases he was dealing with at the Metropolitan Police Department, took out the storybook in his hand, and shook it. "His brother is sad, so he's decided not to let these things take up Xiao Hui's attention..."

"Brother!" Suzuki Teru pouted helplessly, "Teru still likes brother the most, so give it to me."

"Honestly, such a grown man, still acting like a child." Suzuki Hashisuke shook his head, a slightly helpless smile on his face, and sat down on the edge of the hospital bed, placing the book he was holding on the bedside table. Looking at Suzuki Teru's face, his brow furrowed slightly. "Teru, how are you today? Does your chest hurt?"

Teru Suzuki shook his head and pointed to the fruit that Hashisuke Suzuki had brought. "Brother, I'm fine. The doctor said I've been doing well. I want to eat a pear. Can you peel one for me?"

"You always order your older brother around." Suzuki Hashisuke glanced at his younger brother at home, then took out a fruit knife from the bedside table. "Once I'm done with this busy period, I'll take you out for a good walk and see the world, okay?"

Suzuki Teru squinted and clapped his hands cheerfully, "Brother is the best! I'll be waiting for you. But don't be too busy and neglect your health, okay? The nurses at the hospital prepare three meals a day for me, but it's different for you. Don't skip meals when you're busy!"

Suzuki Hashisuke handed over the pear, wiped his hands, and gently ruffled his younger brother's hair. "Yes, my little butler, brother must eat well so that he will have the strength to catch bad guys."

The atmosphere in the ward was incredibly warm and intimate. It seemed impossible for a third person to get between the two. The brothers were talking quietly to each other, which made the doctors and nurses watching from outside chuckle softly.

Cut from the first scene of visiting the sick in "The Dark War"!

The sound of the clapperboard brought Totsuka back to reality, who was immersed in his role and enjoying his brother's care. Looking up at Tsuruga Ren, who was tucking the blanket around him, Totsuka's eyes welled up with tears. How wonderful it would be if he really had a brother like that. The emotions in the play were so beautiful that he was reluctant to leave the set.

And it wasn't just Totsuka who was reluctant to part with him; Tsuruga Ren was also astonished. He hadn't expected such a talented actor to have such a flawless first scene without a single retake, and that the emotional impact far exceeded his expectations. The boy's expressions were sincere and moving, making him want to care for and protect him, and feel sorry for him. Could a young actor just starting out really do that? Unless his personality was almost identical to the character in the script—equally gentle and considerate, equally kind and cheerful—and he possessed the same traits as Suzuki Teru from the script, this boy seemed destined to be pampered, and he certainly deserved it.

Thinking this, Tsuruga Ren noticed that Totsuka's eyes were a little red, so she reached out and gently touched them, whispering, "Kiru, I'm here..."

Totsuka clutched the corner of the blanket, his face suddenly turning bright red. He was utterly humiliated! How could he have been so moved by the emotions in the play that he almost cried? How incredibly embarrassing! And to be treated like this by Tsuruga-senpai... He glanced at Tsuruga Ren, feeling even more awkward...

Tsuruga Ren lowered his eyes, withdrew his hand, and felt a little strange.

Watanabe Akira was overjoyed. He waved his hand and shouted, "Alright, alright, enough about you two being so friendly. Get ready for the next scene. Young man, you really are Hikaru! Ren did a great job too!"

Main Quest: Conquer the No.1 entertainer, Ren Tsuruga, Completion Rate (20/100)

Author's Note: Okay, now it's time for the acting. Thanks to [Rongrong], [Hope Half-baked], [Windbreaker], [You Are My Exclusive 'Note'], [Xiaowu], [3823], and [Li Yunyu] for giving the lamb a thunderbolt; and to [Jing] for throwing a grenade.

Is this the comeback of double updates?

Chapter 34034 Please Give Me Your Guidance, Great God

The next scene is short and mainly focuses on Teru Suzuki's inner thoughts. It needs to express Teru's admiration and longing for his older brother, Hashisuke Suzuki, and his desire to go to the hospital and live a normal life. This is much more difficult than reciting lines, and Totsuka was immediately challenged with such a scene, leaving him somewhat overwhelmed...

After several takes, Totsuka still couldn't find his rhythm. When acting with senior actor Tsuruga, he felt completely immersed. But when it was his turn to act alone, something always felt off. Totsuka quickly bowed and apologized, feeling like he had wasted a lot of time.

"Totsuka, don't be too hasty. It's not bad for your first time." Watanabe Akira was quite strict when directing, but as soon as his gaze left the camera, he naturally became approachable. He said to Tsuruga Ren, who was watching from the side, "Ren, go help Totsuka. The feeling when he was filming with you just now was really good!"

Tsuruga Ren nodded. He too felt that the boy had given him a very strange feeling, and he was looking forward to acting opposite him. He also believed that the boy could definitely capture the feeling that Watanabe Akira wanted, but he hadn't yet been able to immerse himself in the role at will. He didn't mind helping him with that.

"Alright, alright!" Watanabe Akira clapped his hands, signaling everyone to stop. "Let's take a break for a bit, and then we'll continue filming."

"Yes, Director!" everyone replied, carefully putting down their tools and preparing to rest for a while.

"Tsuruga-senpai, I'm so sorry to trouble you again!" Totsuka lowered his head in embarrassment. In front of this entertainment industry legend, his acting skills were really not up to par.

Tsuruga Ren smiled gently, his words warm and friendly. "I'm just offering you advice; the key is how well you understand it. I believe Totsuka can definitely play this role well. You should also have more confidence in yourself. People as polite and earnest as Totsuka are rare indeed."

"Ah..." Totsuka blinked. Was Tsuruga-senpai praising him? When it comes to being serious about acting, no one can compare to Tsuruga-senpai. Being praised like this only made him feel more embarrassed.

"Now let's talk about the question from earlier." Tsuruga Ren's expression turned serious, her tone low and pleasant. "Totsuka, imagine yourself as Suzuki Teru. The hospital is where you spend your days, and what you look forward to most each day is the arrival of your older brother, Suzuki Hashisuke. Suzuki Hashisuke is an excellent police officer, and every child dreams of being a hero. And your hero is your older brother..."

As Tsuruga-senpai recounted his story, Totsuka gradually grasped the psychology of Suzuki Teru. Teru himself was experiencing some pain, but he didn't wallow in sorrow. He loved his older brother, Suzuki Hashisuke, who was the most amazing person in his life—not only quick-witted and agile, but also a police officer who punished evildoers. His brother cared for him deeply, but ultimately, his brother couldn't always be with him; he had his work. And Suzuki Teru could only remain in the small confines of the hospital room…

Totsuka's expression changed as well. He lost his cheerful demeanor from when he was in public; his face darkened, and his eyes held a mixture of expectation and confusion. He murmured softly, "Brother..."

Tsuruga Ren did not interrupt Totsuka, but instead made a gesture to Watanabe Akira. Watanabe Akira immediately called the crew members, and after they were ready, they prepared to start filming.

Tsuruga Ren then led Totsuka into the ward, helped Totsuka snuggle into the blankets, and then began to make a move to leave.

The second act of "The Dark War"—Visiting the Sick—Action!

"Brother!" Suzuki Teru called out as he watched his brother's departing figure.

Suzuki Hashisuke turned his head with a smile and asked softly, "What's wrong, Hikaru?"

"No, it's nothing!" Suzuki Teru quickly put on a big smile and gave his brother a light snort. "Brother, go ahead and get busy. But next time you come to see me, don't think you can just brush me off easily! You'd better bring me a few more cakes!"

"Be careful of cavities, you little glutton." Suzuki Hashisuke smiled. "Get some rest, I'll come see you again tomorrow."

"Okay, take care, brother!" Suzuki Teru watched his brother leave, his expression turning somewhat somber. He suppressed his smile, reached out, and flipped through the storybooks his brother, Suzuki Hashisuke, had bought for him. "That idiot brother!"

The only sound in the quiet hospital room was the rustling of pages turning. Suzuki Teru rubbed his eyes, neatly placed the storybook beside the bed, and reached out to stroke the beautiful scenery on the pages. His eyes held a hint of envy as he murmured, "I really want to see it. It must be so beautiful..."

Suzuki Teru looked at the empty hospital room, gently bit his lip, and gazed out the window. For a moment, everyone seemed to think the boy would cry, but he didn't. Suzuki Teru simply threw back the covers, walked barefoot to the window, and looked at the passersby outside. "Did my brother go back to the Metropolitan Police Department? He's always so busy, I worry about him, but... my brother is the best after all!"

When he spoke the last sentence, the boy's eyes no longer held their previous sorrow, but instead shone with a burning light. Perhaps from the cold floor, the boy hopped and skipped to the bedside in a few steps. "Oops, I forgot to put on my shoes! If my brother finds out, I'll definitely get a scolding!"

Suzuki Teru's voice gradually lowered. He glanced at the book beside the bed and sighed softly, "Sigh... I hope my brother will come to see me early tomorrow."

Suzuki Teru lay on the bed, his eyes slightly closed, a hint of sadness on his face. He seemed lost in thought, but the expression ultimately softened into a faint smile...

Cut from Act Two of "The Dark War" - Visiting the Sick!

Totsuka successfully completed her scenes in the second act, and her eyes sparkled as she looked at Tsuruga-senpai. "Tsuruga-senpai, thank you so much! I was able to finish filming this part so smoothly!"

Tsuruga Ren looked at the boy with a gentle expression, even smoothing his slightly messy hair. "I told you, this is about your comprehension. After seeing your performance just now, I think everyone would agree that Suzuki Teru is good. Even I, as his older brother, think that only you, Totsuka, could act so well."

"Huh? Tsuruga-senpai's evaluation of me is too high!" Totsuka couldn't help but smile with surprise. For him, being recognized by Tsuruga-senpai was indeed the greatest encouragement. "Isn't Tsuruga-senpai afraid that I'll become arrogant?"

“The key is that Totsuka is never arrogant.” Tsuruga Ren was amused by the boy’s reaction and laughed out loud. “Totsuka will only work harder.”

Upon hearing Tsuruga-senpai's reply, Totsuka helplessly spread his hands. "Why do I feel like Tsuruga-senpai has seen right through me? With Tsuruga-senpai's encouragement, I will naturally work even harder! Otherwise, I would be letting down Tsuruga-senpai's guidance."

"Call me Ren." Facing the boy, Tsuruga Ren, for some reason, didn't want their relationship to remain just that of senior and junior. Perhaps it was because he hadn't seen such a hardworking child in a long time, or perhaps he hadn't seen such a beautiful smile as the boy's? Whatever the reason, he did want to get closer to the boy.

Totsuka looked at Tsuruga Ren with some surprise. He hadn't expected that Tsuruga-senpai, who was a great demon in Kyoko's eyes, would be so approachable. However, was it really appropriate to call him Ren directly? After all, he was indeed Tsuruga-senpai's junior now! But looking at Tsuruga-senpai, he couldn't bring himself to refuse. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Okay, Ren-senpai, please call me Tatara as well."

Ren Tsuruga's response was a mixture of agreement and inexplicable disappointment. Indeed, he was now the senior actor, and if Totsuka directly addressed him as "Ren," it would seem impolite to others. He led Totsuka to his resting place on set. The main scenes for the day were mostly filmed; next, they would shoot more scenes featuring interactions between Teru Suzuki and Hashisuke Suzuki. This wasn't too difficult, and they had some time to rest.

"Ren, have some water. I bought you a mixed rice pot; have some to fill your stomach." The speaker was a handsome man with short brown hair and glasses. He looked at the boy Ren had brought over, his expression softening. "You must be Totsuka. I've heard Director Watanabe mention you before. I also saw the scene you filmed just now; it was very good."

Totsuka was led to sit down next to Tsuruga Ren. He looked at the man who was speaking to him; he recognized him—Tsuruga Ren's exclusive manager, who in the anime was dedicated to bringing Kyoko and Ren together. Kyoko was the stage name of the female protagonist, Mogami Kyoko. He was, in short, a very good manager, capable and genuinely caring for Ren. Totsuka quickly stood up and bowed, "Hello, I'm Totsuka Tatara. I'm really grateful for Ren-senpai's help just now; otherwise, I might have had to do several more takes."

"Haha, Totsuka, don't be so polite." The man waved his hand and gestured for Totsuka to sit down. "I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Ren's manager, Koichi Sha. I can tell that Ren thinks highly of Totsuka."

"Didn't Ren-senpai have lunch?" Totsuka looked at the food that Shigeichi had brought for Ren, his gaze carrying a hint of disapproval. He always believed that only by filling one's stomach could one have the energy to do anything. Everyone's body needs to be taken good care of and maintained by themselves.

As if finding a topic to talk about, She Xingyi began to complain to the boy, "Yeah, Ren, that guy, he's always working like a madman. He had a press conference to attend this morning, and then he had to rush to the film set this afternoon. He's so busy he doesn't even have time to eat..."

"Senior Ren!" Totsuka's tone turned serious, and his expression became extremely earnest. "No matter how busy you are, you still have to eat when it's time to eat. Even if it's just for the sake of your poor stomach, please don't let it go hungry in the future!"