Chapter One: The Ultimate Screenwriter System and Child of the Future

Inside the room.

Jiang Yi leaned against the headboard, reviewing the system’s rules:

[Host: Jiang Yi]
[Age: 17]
…
[Number of scripts successfully adapted: 0]

Indeed, Jiang Yi was a transmigrator. He came from Earth. Now he found himself in a parallel world remarkably similar to Earth, and like so many others who crossed worlds, he was bound to a system.

His system was called the Ultimate Screenwriter System.

This system contained a trove of classic scripts from countless parallel worlds, with the purpose of transporting and adapting these legendary works for film and television. If Jiang Yi could successfully adapt a script and produce it into a film that garnered significant influence, as recognized by the system, he would receive generous rewards.

According to the system, upon completing all his tasks, he could even attain immortality and become a carefree immortal! Whether that was true, Jiang Yi didn’t know.

But for now, Jiang Yi was just a freshly-graduated high schooler, with no progress made.

“Ding-dong!”

Just then, a notification sounded from the computer on the desk beside his bed.

“Hm? Someone replied to my script submission?” Jiang Yi’s excitement surged. He quickly jumped out of bed and opened the computer, finding an email waiting for him.

But as he read it, disappointment washed over him:

“What? Thank you for your submission? Rejected?”

Jiang Yi frowned. “What’s wrong with this film company? This is the script for ‘You Are the Apple of My Eye,’ a film that was wildly popular back on Earth! And they rejected it?”

He had previously extracted a youth romance film script and submitted it to the official inboxes of several film companies. The system had even automatically registered the copyright for him.

Yet, Jiang Yi was a complete unknown with no experience or standing in the industry. Naturally, no one took his script seriously.

Many companies didn’t even bother to reply!

It was likely that no one had even read it!

This company, at least, sent back a perfunctory, standardized rejection email.

But that changed nothing. There was still no way for his script to be turned into a movie!

As things stood, Jiang Yi’s system task remained at zero progress.

“In the end, it’s because I’m a nobody. No one cares about the scripts I write…” he mused. “Just like back on Earth, when famous actors wrote scripts, even if they were utter garbage, investors would still take them seriously…”

“So if I want to turn my scripts into movies and finish my tasks, simply submitting them like this is useless!”

“History is full of pearls thrown before swine. Even Harry Potter was rejected countless times before it found a publisher… But the system won’t wait for me forever. If I just keep submitting scripts and hoping for luck, when will I ever catch the eye of someone who recognizes true value?”

Jiang Yi pondered this as he absentmindedly opened one of the major video platforms, TengE Video, hoping to distract himself with some videos.

Suddenly, a wide-screen banner popped up:

[The Next Superstar, Season One Recruitment: Three Popular Celebrity Judges Join Forces!]

Jiang Yi’s eyes lit up. “Wait, is this world’s version of ‘The Coming Star’? Hold on, my resource library includes not only scripts but also original soundtrack songs! Maybe I could sign up? TengE Video has such a massive audience— even if I only make it through one round and just show my face, that might be enough to get my name out there. Then, when I pitch my script to investors, it might actually work…!”

He immediately clicked the link.

A handsome, middle-aged male singer with long hair parted down the middle appeared on screen: “Hello everyone, I’m Xue Zhi. I’m honored to be a star judge for The Next Superstar. Want to become the star of tomorrow? Then come to The Next Superstar. Here, your talent will not go unnoticed… I am the soloist judge, Xue Zhi!”

The next video featured a beautiful actress with wavy hair and a stunning figure: “Hello, I’m Yang Xiaomi. I’m the beauty track judge. Here, looks are justice…”

The final video showed a slim, short-haired young male singer in black-rimmed glasses. After a clear, soaring note, he introduced himself: “Hello, I’m Hua Chen, the magic voice track judge. On my track, vocal prowess is everything…”

Jiang Yi watched in surprise. “This… the first season? Back on Earth, the first season was the most popular by far! It produced a mega star, but later seasons never matched its success. Even if fame was short-lived, maybe the first season here will be just as explosive? If I join in and get some exposure, I can’t lose!”

He checked the details and found the show was indeed quite similar to the one from Earth.

“I’ll participate! I have to!”

With that thought, Jiang Yi clicked the registration channel.

“I wonder if I’ll run into this world’s version of that mega star at the audition…”

He checked the requirements: he had to fill in his personal information, attach photos— both full body and headshots— and record a talent video, then send everything to the official email for The Next Superstar.

If the producers selected him, he would be notified to participate. Plus, if chosen, travel and accommodation expenses would be reimbursed!

The forms were simple enough. Jiang Yi’s main concern was what kind of talent video to record.

“I can’t dance, so I’ll just sing. I’ll do ‘Those Years’… After all, I’m just going for the experience. Why bother with fancy skills?”

“If I do get on camera and this song gets released, maybe it’ll attract some attention. Then, selling my script will be much easier!”

“And once I get one script produced, I won’t have to worry about finding investors for my future projects— I could even make my own films…”

With that, Jiang Yi picked up the guitar from the corner of the room. The previous Jiang Yi had learned a bit of guitar, though his skills were nothing special.

He copied down the lyrics to “Those Years.”

Glancing around, he walked into the bathroom, closed the door, placed the lyrics to one side, and set up his phone to record.

“Ahem, hello directors, my name is Jiang Yi.”

“I’m seventeen years old. I actually want to be a screenwriter. But no one reads my scripts, no one wants to produce them, so I thought I’d try participating in your show to get some exposure.”

“I can’t dance, never studied at a music academy, and I only know a little guitar. Of course, I’ve studied basic music theory and can write songs…”

“So, my talent is performing one of my own original songs.”

With that, Jiang Yi placed his fingers on the guitar strings and began the prelude to “Those Years.”

Gentle music slowly filled the small room.

“This song is called ‘Those Years.’ It’s the theme I wrote for my own youth romance film script…”

Having said that, Jiang Yi wasted no more words and began to sing earnestly:

“Back to where it all began
Your youthful face in my memory
At last, we have come to this day
Old photographs beneath the desk mat
Countless memories linked together
Today, the boy keeps his final promise to the girl
…”