Chapter 38: A Standout Audition

  "Let go of me! I’ve told you so many times—I don’t love you."

  "But I love you! I’d do anything for you. Just say the word and I’ll do it!"

  "Cut, cut, cut!"

  Director Li Jiahua smmed the script down on the table in frustration. "What the hell is this performance? I asked for a sweet puppy-like boy, not some scruffy stray! Can’t you even act with a bit of elegance, like a rich young heir should? Get off the stage!"

  Li Jiahua was notorious for his strict standards and brutal honesty when it came to actors. The young newbie on stage had never faced that kind of fire before—he scrambled up and ran off, completely shaken.

  The producer picked up the tossed script. "Director Li, don’t be mad. Let’s at least check out the next one."

  "We’ve been here all morning! They’re either too greasy or too over-the-top! Not one fits the role or has decent acting chops. Where are you even finding these people?!"

  Ratings for the show were dropping every day, and Li Jiahua’s temper had been fring constantly. Now they couldn’t even find the right actor for this new role—it was driving him mad.

  "How many auditionees are left?!"

  The assistant, already having taken a verbal beating, looked at the list in hand. "Just one more."

  Great. Probably another dud.

  Li Jiahua slumped back in his seat, all hope gone.

  "Hello everyone, I’m actor number 12."

  A voice, pure and clear like a mountain spring in springtime, rang out from the stage. Just hearing it was enough to make people feel refreshed.

  Li Jiahua looked up curiously.

  On stage stood a boy in a loose striped shirt and casual jeans. His features were so delicate and refined, it was like he’d stepped out of a manga. With a soft smile that effortlessly captured attention, all eyes in the room turned to him.

  This kid...

  If Li Jiahua didn’t know better, he’d think a popur idol had just walked in.

  That face, that aura—there was no way this was just some nobody auditioning for the minor role of Gu Chen, a fourth-rank supporting character.

  Li Jiahua’s expression lightened considerably. The producers and screenwriters beside him began whispering among themselves.

  "This kid’s great!"

  "Perfect vibe for a sweet younger guy!"

  "He’s even better-looking than our male lead..."

  "You’re here to audition for Gu Chen?"

  Li Jiahua asked. Ye Xian nodded. "Yes."

  Impressive as his appearance was, Li Jiahua was a director who cared most about acting skills. Until he saw this kid’s performance, he wasn’t going to praise him too soon.

  "Alright, start acting. Here’s your scene: Ning Xiner is waiting for a car outside the company building. Gu Chen shows up and confesses to her. Work around this setup—you can improvise."

  "Got it."

  "Bring in the actress!"

  Li Jiahua called for action. The stand-in actress pying Ning Xiner walked onto the stage with a purse in hand, looking around as though waiting for a ride.

  The lights slowly shifted back. Li Jiahua watched as Ye Xian quietly approached Ning Xiner from behind.

  What’s this kid up to?

  "Hey!"

  Ye Xian lightly tapped Ning Xiner on her left shoulder. Instinctively, she turned her head to the left—only to find nothing there.

  Turning back, she suddenly saw Ye Xian standing in front of her, smiling pyfully.

  "What are you doing?" Ning Xiner snapped, annoyed. "You’re so childish—"

  Before she could finish, Ye Xian magically pulled out a rose from behind him and presented it to her.

  "Sis, do you like it?"

  The way he called her “sis” was so teasingly sweet it made her skin tingle. That smile, and the surprise appearance of the rose, caught her completely off guard.

  Ning Xiner’s cheeks flushed a deep red, as vibrant as the rose he held out to her.