Chapter 1: Distressed Young Man

A young man who looks in his early twenties because of the vibe he exudes to others, dressed in white short sleeves and brown trousers, approached his parked car in the parking lot. Just as he was about to open the door, a voice called out to him.

"Hey, man, are you interested in becoming an actor?"

He turned his head and saw a man between the ages of 25 and 30, wearing a suit with the demeanor of a successful person, standing before him with a smile.

"Hello, I'm Frederick Rogers, the agent from Endeavour Elite Agency. You can call me Frederick or Fred," the man introduced himself, extending his hand. "Do you have an interest in acting?"

The young man, wearing a strange smile that held a hint of self-deprecation and helplessness, replied, "It's alright. But you should know that even though I'm well aware that I have a bigger package to offer than the average person, I have no interest in your movies."

Frederick, claiming to be an agent, was taken aback by the young man's response. After a pause of about two seconds, he realized something and burst into laughter, which only puzzled the young man further. Realizing his misstep, Frederick stopped laughing and pulled out a business card from his pocket.

"I apologize for any offense I may cause, and I can understand how annoying those people can be," Frederick said, noting the young man's reaction. "But trust me, I'm different. I'm an employee of a reputable brokerage firm."

The young man, still skeptical, reluctantly accepted the business card, noticing that the name on it matched the name of the company, Endeavour Elite Brokerage Company. Frederick went on to explain that although the company was relatively new, it was on par with any established firm, and several founders had previously held executive positions at ICM (International Innovation Management Company), one of Hollywood's renowned brokerage firms.

During the conversation, Frederick addressed the young man, Sean Tang, mentioning seeing his impressive performance at the bank earlier. He inquired about Sean's acting experience, but Sean remained silent, contemplating the business card in his hand.

Sensing Sean's hesitation, Frederick refrained from pushing further and patted Sean's arm. He informed him about their Beverly Hills office and offered him the opportunity to visit or explore their website for more information. Frederick concluded by urging Sean to consider it and reach out if he changed his mind.

As Frederick smiled and departed, Sean remained silent, observing Frederick drive away. He curled his lips, displaying a hint of pride, but it quickly faded into a wry smile.

***********

[Earlier]

Sean realized that he had no other option but to confront the bank employees. In his current situation, Sean found himself in an awkward position after the difficult month in Los Angeles, owning only a secondhand car, an apartment, and a few dollars in his pocket.

After completing his work this afternoon and receiving a $600 check, Sean hurried to the bank to cash it, only to discover that they had suspended check exchanges due to a system upgrade. Frustrated with the situation, Sean expressed his dissatisfaction articulately in the bank, accusing the staff of neglecting their duty to inform customers about the temporary suspension of services. His passionate speech resonated with others in the bank who were also frustrated with the situation.

The bank quickly responded, with the branch manager coming forward to apologize and take responsibility for the confusion. He assured the customers that they would make an exception and accommodate their check exchanges.

After the whole debacle, Sean publicly acknowledged the bank's efforts, expressing gratitude and support for their responsible actions because he doesn't want to be blacklisted in the employee's book as a problematic customer later on.

**********

[Now]

Finally, with the money in hand, Sean returned home, holding two paper bags and the apartment key with his little finger. However, he suddenly paused, realizing he had forgotten something. Just as the thought crossed his mind, a yellow and white fur dashed and jumped up and playfully hit his hand. Sean called out, "Polk!" Startled, Sean dropped one of the paper bags, causing household items and several cans to roll out.

Simultaneously, a small puppy with yellow and white fur, jumped on Sean's bent arms again for him to hold, affectionately licking his face with its tongue. "Polk, you little rascal!" After Sean closed the door and set down the paper bag, he finally had the freedom to hold the puppy in his arms and teach it a lesson by scratching its chin and ear.

The puppy barked loudly, occasionally playfully biting Sean's hand, seeming delighted with its actions. After their playful interaction, Sean released the puppy and held it up in front of him. "Did you cause trouble at home today? Don't rush to shake your head. If I catch you peeing indiscriminately again, you're in trouble, Polk!" holding Polk while surveying the room, Sean handed him the remaining can of dog food. However, the puppy turned its head without showing any interest. "Oh, look at you, being such a picky eater. Well, eat these obediently, and as a reward, I'll give you a big meal." It jumped down from Sean's arms and eagerly approached the unpacked can that had rolled out of the dropped paper bag.

After sniffing it twice, Polk barked twice, seemingly expressing its approval to Sean. "Haha, should I compliment your nose, Polk? You smelled the can even before it was opened," Sean remarked, amused and slightly annoyed. He had purchased better dog food with the $600 check he had received, intending to provide a more satisfying meal for Polk. However, the puppy immediately abandoned the original one in favor of the new can. Sean had initially wanted to persist, but when he looked into Polk's wide, innocent eyes, he could only sigh and open the can for him. As soon as the can was placed in front of him, the greedy little pup buried its head in and enthusiastically devoured the food, wagging its tail and displaying utmost happiness.

The month after Sean arrived in Los Angeles, he found Polk abandoned by the roadside. The poor pup had been packed in a small box, left alone in a remote area, and had become dirty and disheveled. If Sean hadn't kindly taken it in, Polk wouldn't have survived for long. Now, the once-neglected little companion had grown close to Sean and had a healthy appearance. Sean couldn't accurately determine Polk's breed—whether it was a shepherd or a harrier.

Regardless, the pup was undeniably adorable and well-behaved. Sean couldn't comprehend why anyone would throw away such a lovable creature. However, despite the joy Polk brought him, Sean found himself in a difficult financial situation due to the substantial expenses incurred for Polk's registration, check-ups, and vaccinations. Even without these additional costs, he would have only been able to sustain himself for a couple more days at best.

Chuckling at his circumstances, Sean surveyed his surroundings—a single room with a mini kitchen and bathroom, barely spanning over 200 square feet. The monthly rent amounted to $300. He possessed a bed, two chairs, an old sofa, a small coffee table, an acoustic guitar, a simple wardrobe, and an old computer. Adding to that, he had a second-hand car—these were his meager possessions. "I must be the most financially challenged 'Transmigrator' out there," Sean muttered to himself, taking out the pizza and beer he had bought.

After a few sips, he abruptly stopped, furrowed his brows, and narrowed his eyes for a while then sat in front of the computer, turned it on, accessed the internet, and retrieved his business card to enter a URL. "Am I really going to give it a try?" Sean hesitantly asked himself as he gazed at the official webpage and recalled the promises made by someone earlier in the afternoon, while absentmindedly rubbing his chin.