King of Entertainment World: Waste To Be Rich

"Cut!!!"

"Okay, good, let's take a rest, everyone. We'll continue filming in the afternoon."

"Thank you, Mr. Durkheim! My stomach has been waiting for this moment for so long, ha ha."

"Then tell Ashley to buy you some food, I'll pay for that!"

"Kelvin, you're more and more skillful! Just maintain your professional style!"

So it was lunchtime?

With both eyes emotionless, Ernest looked at the film crew nearby who were waiting for lunch after 'working hard' for hours, then looked back at his own meal-which he ate a half and held another half for hours without biting a piece.

Why didn't he eat the meal?

Ernest stared at the half of bread for a while. Then he closed his eyes, putting it all into his mouth and gulping it down, though the bread is nothing but a tasteless edible object.

Honestly, Ernest was not a picky eater who just decided to eat what they loved. His poor identity didn't allow that, and even though this meal was just bread with some peanut butter spreaded on, he could eat it without any problems... Or at least till the moment that damn film crew came and started working just near him.

Ernest had never seen how a film was made, and he was even interested in watching them in person, thinking that it would be a good experience while enjoying his lunch.

The actor was playing the role of a beggar rummaging the trash bin to find a piece of bread. He ate it, and he turned the bread in Ernest's mouth into something tasteless.

Why?

Because the action... sucked.

It hurted his eyes, especially when the actor was eating another bread in a way that Ernest could even feel deeply... abused.

Ernest could swear on the honor of a poor guy from birth that once the film was released, this actor, as well as this film crew, would be yelled to death.

It was the most sincere, brief review that he could give.

Thinking so, Ernest left the shadow and came close to the place where the film crew was taking a break.

The actor, who played the role of a beggar, was sitting in such a comfortable style. His staff surrounded him, each of which had their own business to serve the guy, but that actor himself seemed not to be satisfied at all.

Ernest even heard his voice scolding the staff.

"Fck, Annie! Are you deaf, huh? I told you that I need a cold Espresso, not this hot coffee! Go buy it again or I'll fire you!"

The girl called Annie repeatedly bent her body and apologized, while the other members of the film crew just looked at her for a moment before turning their back on her and continuing their work.

This guy might be a famous actor, and it would be a bit hard to give him a review, Ernest thought. But he didn't care much about that.

Ernest stretched his arm to stop the staff, asking her with a smile.

"Excuse me, can I talk with the actor over there for a moment? It won't take long."

The girl's eyes opened wide. She was about to refuse, but she guessed that it could be a fan coming to visit the actor. She nodded slightly, going back to ask the assistant.

"Ashley, there is a fan coming here to find Kelvin. Can we let him in?"

Ashley was the assistant who took charge of all the contracts that Kelvin, the actor playing the role of the beggar, signed. He also decided who Kelvin could meet, and he raised his eyebrows while looking at Ernest in a bargain outfit.

"You mean that beggar?" Annie nodded, and Ashley immediately narrowed his eyes.

Ashley looked at Ernest again, and he went away while speaking loudly as if he didn't care if Ernest could hear, "Definitely no, okay? Kelvin is busy, he has no spare time to meet a so-called fan for nothing! Get him out of here, Annie!"

Ernest, as expected, heard everything from the arrogant assistant. He also saw the guy called Ashley patted her shoulders and threatened her with a gentle voice.

"Later I want an explanation from you saying how other people know that Kelvin is here."

The girl's face turned pale, but she tried to talk politely to Ernest, "I'm afraid not, sir. Kelvin is busy now and he can't go meet you. But next Friday is his fan meeting, you can go there and Kelvin will be ready to meet you."

Ernest didn't understand why he could be misunderstood, but he still explained, "Thank you, miss. But I'm not his fan or something. I came here to leave a comment. That's all."

How coincidental it was, Kelvin had just washed all the smelling objects from the damn trash bin. He didn't even want to touch it in real life, and if he could choose on his own, Kelvin would never agree to work in such a smelly situation-even if it's just acting.

But Ashley tried to convince him that the director was skillful, talented... and Kelvin didn't trust a bit.

Kelvin hadn't felt good since the morning, so when he heard Ernest's words, they became the matches thrown into the gasoline.

Kelvin threw the handkerchief on the floor, scolding loudly while walking towards Ernest.

"Who the fck are you? Why are you here?" Then Kelvin noticed that Annie was standing aside, "Annie Rotterfield, you're fired! How the hell can you take your salary from me and let this bastard come to offend me?"

Annie then burst into tears.

Then Ernest can't hold back his words to Kelvin. "It's wrong, sir. I'm not offensive. I was nearby when you started acting, and I just want to say something about your acting skill. Too fake."

The actor is angry, asking "Who the hell are you, again?" And now after scolding Annie, he shouted at his assistant, Ashley, "How can you let a stranger in our crew? Do you still want your salary?"

Being scolded was what Ernest expected, so he was still calm. "I won't cause any trouble here, sir. I just want to advise you that your actions are not good at all. Yeah, from an experienced one."

Ernest was confident while saying this. And it's absolutely true, because he had been poor since childhood, and the older he was, the poorer he was. Now, at the age of eighteen, Ernest's belongings were just old clothes which he is wearing, a tattered bag and a pair of torn shoes. Who else knew about poverty better than him?

The argument, though Ernest didn't even argue, easily attracted other people's attention, because there's nothing louder than Kelvin's furious voice at noon. Some people came to stop the conflict, including the director.

The director also looked at Ernest.

Though Ernest's appearance obviously showed that he was just a poor guy, the type that robbers would never give a damn, but his expression was telling a different story.

The unique confidence, he thought.

This young man was even more confident and calm than some young masters coming from wealthy families. Despite facing such an impolite attitude from a stranger, his actions were naturally elegant, as if he was taught from birth to behave exactly this way. The director thought of a possibility, although there was no reason at all: this poor appearance may be just a camouflage.

But the director didn't have time to think about this, because his actor had already been provoked and started yelling at Ernest.

"Oh? Then who the heck are you? Are you a famous actor who won an Oscar? Or the honored lecturer working in the National Film Academy? You are just a kid trying to draw our attention!"

"Listen, kid. The word 'experienced' is not for such an innocent teenager like you. I graduated from The National Film Academy, and I know what I'm doing! Just getta of here and let us adults work, okay?"

All those bad words slapped Ernest at an incredible speed, and it's fast to the point he couldn't hear exactly what this handsome man was yelling about. However, even the dumbest man could realize that this man was humiliating Ernest.

And Ernest was not dumb.

He looked at the actor, slowly telling him with a disdainful smirk.

"As far as I know, your character is a beggar struggling to find food on the street, right? Then your actions are absolutely wrong."

Ernest pointed at Kelvin's sleeves. "First you have to clean your hands by your sleeves, no matter how dirty they're. It was a common action showing how precious the food is, which beggars usually do. Of course they know that they have to wash first, but the poor have no time to clean their newly found food by water-the other beggars will come and take it away."

"Second, the way you eat the bread is inappropriate." Ernest raised his eyebrows while looking at the food given as edible props. "Eating fast doesn't mean that you're a beggar. You have to eat with both your bare, dirty hands, holding the bread tight to the point it doesn't look like bread anymore, because you are scared of other beggars."

"Your mouth has to open as wide as possible, and you are not eating-just literally cramming everything into your mouth, and you don't even care if you can be choked."

The more Ernest said, the more attracted the others were. All the film crew slowly paid attention to the young man, his calm voice, and his finger pointing at Kelvin, including Kelvin himself. Ernest's voice seemed to be a magical spell, and even the director realized those flaws in acting, which he never thought about.

"And finally, you have to lick your fingers, even though they're really, really dirty." Ernest didn't know about the crew's attention, just raising his left hand. "You are a beggar, which means it's very hard to get something to fill your hungry stomach. You don't know when you will get another piece of bread, so you want to consume everything at once-including the wonderful taste left on your dirty hand."

"But I don't see the poverty in your actions." Ernest smiled, but it looked like an elegant smirk in other people's eyes. "You eat like the elite do, and I guess this scene will be better with a butler in a tuxedo standing aside."

The final sentence mde all the film crew laugh. They couldn't hold back laughing, and suddenly all the studio was filled with laughter.

Till this moment did Kelvin escape from Ernest's words. As a good student graduating from the National Film Academy, he couldn't deny that all the things Ernest said are true. Some are even more obvious than what he had learnt at school, which made him confused for a moment.

Who was this guy, exactly?

He couldn't be a poor man like he seemed to be, that's what the actor was sure about. An ordinary poor guy would never come here telling a film crew that they're doing wrong then teaching them again. He couldn't remain calm even though he was yelled at badly either. Last but not least, Ernest's behavior made him think deeper.

As what the director was guessing, Kelvin also found that the way Ernest behaved with elegance and politeness was the most obvious evidence showing that he was not a penniless guy. Who the heck would teach their children to behave like the elite did while they had nothing to eat?

Suddenly Kelvin chilled to the bone.

This man was hiding his true identity.

He started remembering those young people coming from wealthy families. Thanks to his family, he had actually joined their fancy parties, meeting lots of them. But he didn't remember anyone having this significant style like this young man, who would surely be in his mind.

Could he be... some mysterious young master returning home from abroad?

While Kelvin was thinking about the 'true identity', his assistant had already been furious. Ashley didn't listen to all Ernest's words since he had just come back bringing beverages for Kelvin. But how unlucky Ashley was, he just heard the last sentence.

Then Ashley stepped to Ernest while shouting at him.

"Then what? Who the hell are you? This is the professional style which you the amateurs, no, idiots, will never be taught! Kelvin knows what he is gonna do! Getta out of there! Right now!"

Now Ernest didn't even glance at Ashley. Rude behavior? He had been treated this way too many times. Ernest was penniless, so it's just inevitable on the way to grow up. He was unhappy at first-when he had been a kid-but now he looked down on this terrible deportment.

With disdain, of course.

Then all the film crew saw Ernest smile slightly, bowing down his head for a second and apologizing to the assistant as if he was standing in a royal ball.

"It's my fault to express such rude behavior this way. And I'm going to leave now. Please don't be angry, mister."

Ernest turned at the bewildered actor. "I didn't mean to interrupt your work or try to be someone superior, though it seems that I've actually caused interruption. Please accept my apology for annoying you, sir. I'll leave. Hope your work will be successful in the future, and sorry for what I caused."

Then Ernest left right in front of those people's shocked look, including the rude assistant.

Ashley couldn't believe that there would be someone still calm when someone yelled at him that way. Couldn't this man feel offended?

Ernest was satisfied with this.

Ernest was not the guy who didn't know how to be angry. He did, actually, and he also knew that what he had just said to the actor was useful. Who the heck would be calm after being scolded for helping a person with courteous language?

But Ernest didn't argue. Oh, come on, it's the twenty-first century already, who would spend their precious time arguing (or even fighting) like kids while they could do something more efficient? In Ernest's opinion, the best way to fight back against an arrogant guy was to behave even more politely.

"What defeats you is not my words but your own education", that's why Ernest spent years learning how to behave exactly like the well-educated do, though he was as poor as a church mouse.

Ernest glanced back at the young assistant.

You lost. Just stood there with your stupid anger, kid, haha.

"No, no, please stop!" At the moment Ernest was about to go across the road, the director chased after him and called him back with a hurried voice.

What's the problem, sir?"

Ernest turned back with a slight smile, even though his mind was full of bad words. All those crew members looked scary like hell when he commented, so what's this man gonna do? Punch him?

Ernest had decided that he would punch back at this man if he just came to yell.

But it didn't happen. The middle aged director immediately smiled, as he was trying to show his friendliness to Ernest. His words were polite as well, which made Ernest think that the director wanted to copy him.

"My name is Michael Durkheim, this crew's director. Please don't bother Ashley's rude behavior. He didn't hear what you've said and it's all his fault. Don't leave this way, sir. May I talk to you for a while?"

Ernest raised his eyebrows for a long time, which abruptly chilled Michael to the bone.

"My pleasure."

"This way, please go this way, Mr... Sorry, may I know your name?"

"Ernest Eswaranski."

The director stopped for a moment. He might have heard of this surname somewhere before, but now he had no time to remember.

"Okay, Mr. Eswaranski. Please go this way."

The director was trying to hold back his excitement in front of Ernest's suspicion. The more he thought about Ernest, the smarter he realized he was.

No one could describe his happiness when he had seen Ernest showing his knowledge and elegant behavior in that case. If he had used to be suspicious of Ernest's identity, then he could be sure that this guy-who was wearing low quality clothes-was the son of some famous, mysterious clan. Moreover, it's likely that he could be the heir which Michael had just heard about.

Great clans were mysterious because they didn't like the public's eyes on them, which brought nothing but unnecessary troubles.

Most of their information was classified. There were just a few people knowing about them, let alone knowing about their heir's whereabouts. So it's purely explainable that Michael hadn't remembered Ernest's existence-this young man could live abroad, right?

Clans had their own way to educate their children, especially the one who would inherit the power. It could be out of ordinary people's imagination, then Ernest's weird style was normal as well.

Growing up in one of the richest families, was there any pricey thing that Ernest hadn't seen? He might be fed up with expensive belongings, and wearing cheap clothes didn't matter to him-he was still the heir even if he's nude, right? It was bitter, but possibly a truth.

Although appearance played no role in his life, Ernest behaved like a true member of the elite class. Look at the way he stood, walked, smiled, and the perfect attitude he expressed! Not even a bit of haughtiness was found in his behaviors, though his family was great! This must be the result of years of learning with professional education, which an ordinary family could not provide.

Eswaranski... Eswaranski... Michael had heard about this name somewhere, but where was it, exactly?

Michael looked at the young man sitting in front of him. A decision was made right after that.

He couldn't remember the origin of the last name Eswaranski, but Ernest Eswaranski was still the greatest resource that he had to keep!!!

Since the film studio was set temporarily outside, the best place for discussion purposes was just the van where the director and his assistant took a rest at noon.

The director, Michael, recalled the beginning days when they had bought stuff for filming. This old van was not even his possession, Michael had hired it with only fifty dollars from one of his friends, after two days of persuasion.

Michael knew that they nearly had no budget at all-all the props they got were which they had borrowed, hired, asked from everyone-and he was sure that the 'wealthy heir' could realize this at first sight.

And Ernest was observing all the film crew with a complicated eye.

That's why Michael became nervous while thinking of the invitation of investment that he was going to say.

Though Ernest was wearing dirty cheap clothes, Michael never forgot the fact that this young man came from the elite class. What was he thinking while looking at their low quality stuff? Would he agree with what Michael was going to offer? This project needed money, Michael himself needed money, but there's actually no reason for Ernest to put his money into this project.

Never had he felt confused like this before.

The director invited Ernest to sit on a chair. He was going to mention the budget, but the young man just kept silent as he's thinking of something.

Michael was more and more nervous, because this might be the last chance for him to maintain the project before participating in the Kannan Film Festival. It's been his dream since childhood. He had done so many things to get this crew, and if this project couldn't move on, Michael didn't know what to do next.

All of Ernest's emotions were hidden under his calm expression.

"I know it's rude to say this the first time we meet, but I have an offer for you, Mr. Eswaranski. Could you listen to me for a few minutes? It won't take too long, I promise."

But Ernest didn't reply. He was just looking outside where the crew was preparing for the afternoon shift.

"Mr. Eswaranski?" Michael asked again.

Though Michael was worried as a toad under a harrow, Ernest was thinking of a different issue.

That was the way to escape once this weird middle aged man did something unspeakable to him.

Now after facing his chilling smile, Ernest started regretting his behavior a while ago. What the hell had he done? Pretending to be an expert while he was just a stranger, not even a well-educated one? This action was silly, with the word 'silly' capitalized.

Ernest suddenly felt cold in his back when he realized that this man didn't stop staring at him. What was his purpose while inviting a penniless guy? Ernest knew that he would never be chosen to be an actor, so what was the director going to do? Tied him up and beaten him for his speech? Or...

All of a sudden, Ernest remembered some newspaper titles which he had used to sell on the streets...

[Shocking news: Teenager's body found days after his last meeting with a stranger.]

[Police: "Be aware of people who showed abnormal behaviors, no matter who they are!"]

Didn't he fall into a criminal den? He didn't, right?

Those titles were the final factor which made Ernest worried like hell. He wanted to stand up and run, but he was afraid that the man called the director would catch him. He drew a figurative line from the place where he was to the outside, with lots of stuff put everywhere like obstacles.

When Michael called, Ernest was completely confused. His mind was now filled with steps to run away from this place to the outside, but asking the director to repeat would reveal that he actually heard nothing. This man could be furious after that, and Ernest couldn't deal with that situation for sure.

Therefore, Ernest looked straight ahead at the nervous director and gave him a pointless sentence.

"Please give me a reason for that, sir." So that Ernest could figure out what the previous sentence was. All words had their own meaning, right?