CHAPTER 99

"You look great," Xiaoyuan smiled at her and asked softly, "Have you finished filming the last project?"

Her tone was gentle and casual, as if she were just chatting with a friend.

"Yes, the web movie had a limited budget, so it only filmed for a month," Lu Jingnian smiled, her attitude neither humble nor arrogant.

"Let me know on WeChat when it airs..."

Meanwhile, Zou Yirui had just given Lu Jingnian a half-hearted wave. Ever since she became famous, she had been compared to Lu Jingnian, always coming up short. Previously, their interactions were merely superficial, maintaining a facade of "harmony" for their fans.

After that PR battle, Zou Yirui initially resented Lu Jingnian. If Lu Jingnian wanted to expose her relationship, why drag her into it? In the end, Lu Jingnian's downfall was entirely her own doing.

However, as a woman, Zou Yirui also despised Fang Hao's heartlessness. But what did that have to do with her?

Later, when she heard the news of Lu Jingnian's suicide attempt, she thought she was even more foolish. Wasn't it just a man?

Although Lu Jingnian wasn't as good-looking as her, she was still a well-known actress. Why couldn't she move on? New opportunities always arise.

She used to consider Lu Jingnian a rival, but now she realized Lu Jingnian was just a hopeless romantic.

But why was Xiang Xiaoyuan so nice to her? Had these two even added each other on WeChat?

Wasn't she supposed to be Xiaoyuan's best friend?

Zou Yirui suddenly felt a strong sense of crisis. Xiang Xiaoyuan was someone she had finally managed to befriend, and she wouldn't allow her to treat another woman better than her.

She quickly joined the conversation, "Then let me know too..."

Lu Jingnian glanced at her, smiled faintly, and remained silent.

Zou Yirui hooked her arm around Xiaoyuan's and stared at Lu Jingnian, smiling as if to assert dominance.

At that moment, a voice approached from behind them, "Wow, you're all having a lively time!"

Xiaoyuan turned her head and saw a female actress she didn't recognize. Her surname seemed to be Guo?

She was tall and slender, a bit taller than the three of them, with bright eyes and a very small face. She took the initiative to extend her hand to Xiaoyuan. "Hi, let me introduce myself. I'm Guo Zhilu."

Xiaoyuan smiled and shook her hand, recalling the name. Guo Zhilu was the Best Newcomer at the last Golden Bauhinia Awards, and she was only 23 this year.

In the entertainment industry, there was no shortage of talented and skilled actors. Just when you thought you were doing well, someone younger and more capable could easily surpass you.

"I've seen your dramas, and I really like you," Guo Zhilu smiled at Xiaoyuan. "I hope we get to work together someday."

Xiaoyuan nodded and smiled, "Definitely."

"Then see you later, I need to go prepare now." Guo Zhilu waved and walked away. From start to finish, she didn't spare a glance for Zou Yirui or Lu Jingnian.

Zou Yirui pursed her lips, unable to help but speak to Lu Jingnian, "Look at us standing right in front of her, and she actually ignored us!"

Lu Jingnian shrugged slightly and pressed her lips together.

"I don't even know her, it's my first time seeing her." Xiaoyuan said softly.

"She... after winning that Golden Bauhinia Newcomer Award or whatever, she's been buying articles every day praising her acting skills. The media even calls her the 'Little He Chenying' or 'He Chenying's successor'..." Zou Yirui filled Xiaoyuan in while subtly rolling her eyes.

"What?" Xiaoyuan muttered, "How shameless!"

Well, she had no good impression of Guo Zhilu now.

The auditions started at nine, and Lu Jingnian was the first to arrive and the first to go in.

The person leading the charge was truly commendable for their courage. Xiaoyuan gave her a thumbs-up, and she smiled before walking in.

When she entered, her steps were light, but when she came out, her expression was slightly serious. After the audition, the actors were supposed to go to another room to rest or leave early, so the others couldn't get any useful information from her expression.

Over the next hour, the actresses went in one by one, and each came out looking worse than the last. Many left directly.

By eleven, Xiaoyuan finished her audition and walked to the waiting room next door, only to find Lu Jingnian and Zou Yirui still there.

"You guys haven't left yet?" Xiaoyuan walked in.

Lu Jingnian smiled, "We were waiting for you."

Zou Yirui yawned slightly, a little late in following Lu Jingnian's reply, and hurriedly added, "Yeah, I was waiting for you too."

The rest room was now empty except for the three of them, all the other actors had left.

"This is the first time I've seen such a large audition team." Xiaoyuan sighed.

"Same, I was really nervous." Lu Jingnian said, still a bit shaken.

Zou Yirui awkwardly touched her head, perhaps because she was someone with connection, so she didn't feel as pressured...

The team included Chief Screenwriter Xu Shumin, Producer Chen Yunxiu, Executive Producer, Director, Assistant Director, Casting Director, and two script assistants—eight people in total, sitting in a long row, looking particularly imposing.

"I only recognize Director Chen, he's the producer in this team," Xiaoyuan said, somewhat surprised. "The director looks even younger than me and unfamiliar."

He was thin, with pale skin, looking almost like a college student.

"The director is a newcomer, Teacher Xu's son," Zou Yirui whispered, just loud enough for the two of them to hear. "Our company, Tonghua, was also worried, so Director Chen was 'called to duty' in a crisis."

"Teacher Xu is also one of the producers of this drama."

Lu Jingnian and Xiaoyuan exchanged thoughtful looks.

"Guo Zhilu came out beaming earlier, as if the role was already hers." Zou Yirui said with a pout.

"Your audition took so long," Lu Jingnian remarked, then added after a moment, "It seemed like the longest."

"Oh, I auditioned for all three roles," Xiaoyuan admitted frankly, now that it was over. "But their reactions were quite vague, and they asked me not to leave yet."

Lu Jingnian and Zou Yirui exchanged glances, looking puzzled.

Zou Yirui said, "Well, it's over now, so there's no harm in saying it. I auditioned for the role of Princess Chong'an."

Lu Jingnian also confessed, "I didn't think I'd get either of the princess roles, so I auditioned for the maid Suhe."

Xiaoyuan looked at Lu Jingnian with a smile in her eyes, "Suhe is also my first choice."

Zou Yirui let out a sigh, then glanced between the two of them. Both chose Su He? She muttered, "Well, then you two..."

It was really hard to say who would be chosen.

At this moment, Lu Jingnian suddenly smiled at Xiaoyuan. Her previous smile had been polite but somewhat detached, but now it felt genuine, carrying a teasing tone that only friends would have. "They won't choose you to play Suhe."

Xiaoyuan: "Huh?"

......

"Xiang Xiaoyuan isn't suitable for the role of Suhe," Xu Shumin rubbed his temples and said. "Suhe's appearance is merely delicate, her temperament gentle and quiet..."

The executive producer pondered, then turned to look at Chen Yunxiu, "What's your opinion, Producer Chen?"

"Xiaoyuan's image really doesn't match Suhe. She's too dazzling." Chen Yunxiu sighed with a smile.

"This child is really good at acting, suitable for all three roles, but the image of Suhe, the role she prefers, is the farthest from her own." Xu Shumin, with his thick, slightly white hair, still bore the handsome looks of his youth. "If she were to play Suhe, I think the audience would definitely curse us for being blind, hahaha."

The others also laughed.

After the laughter subsided, the executive producer asked, "What about the roles of Princess Chong'an and Princess Chongping? does anyone have a preferred actress?"

"Guo Zhilu is suitable to play the younger Princess Chongping," the casting director said. "In her audition just now, she portrayed Chongping's arrogance and nobility."

"Yes, I think so too." the assistant director chimed in.

Xu Shumin also nodded.

The executive producer clapped his hands, "Good, then one is settled."

As for Princess Chong'an, everyone tacitly agreed, but they still went through the motions.

"Princess Chong'an will be played by Zou Yirui."

"To be honest, her skills, image, temperament, and popularity combined make her the most suitable," the casting director said, "Zou Yirui's acting has been improving over the past few years."

Everyone nodded, and there was nothing more to say. The role of Princess Chong'an wasn't difficult to handle, so it was unanimously approved.

"Then only Suhe is left."

"Lao Xu, who do you have in mind to play Suhe?"

"I think..." Xu Shumin tapped his pen on the paper several times, "I think the first girl who came in was good. What's her name?"

"Lu Jingnian," Chen Yunxiu flipped through the list and said.

"If this role is played well, it could outshine both princesses. As for Lu Jingnian..." the assistant director hesitated, "If it were before, there would be no problem..."

Xu Shumin was puzzled and asked for the reason.

The casting director quickly summarized in a few words.

"That's her private matter. What I value is her talent." Xu Shumin waved his hand dismissively.

The casting director nodded, "Alright, I'll communicate with Boyi to see if they're willing to sign. Just in case, we need a backup actor for Suhe."

"What about this Xiang Xiaoyuan..." the executive producer asked, "Should she be the backup for Suhe?"

"That won't do."

"Such a pity."

"Consort Zheng is indeed stunning, but Xiang Xiaoyuan is too young to match it."

"Zheng Wan is available," the casting director said. "We had already decided on her for the role of Consort Zheng."

Zheng Wan, a double Best Actress winner at the Feitian Awards and the Magnolia Awards, had proactively called the production team to express her interest in participating.

"Xiang Xiaoyuan is a very talented young actress, what a pity..." Chen Yunxiu sighed with regret as she flipped through the script. "None of our roles really seem to fit her..."

The executive producer said, "We'll just have to wait for the next opportunity to collaborate. Anyway, today's auditions went quite smoothly."

After some discussion, the group concluded, "We're still missing one crucial role—the male actor to play the eunuch Liang Ji..."

"Yes, none of the young male actors who auditioned recently were suitable. They couldn't portray the character well. We've been searching for a while now..."

"Lao Xu, if we can't find anyone, maybe you should consider aging up Liang Ji's character a bit?"

Xu Shumin furrowed his brows and shook his head, "That won't do!"

As everyone was discussing, Xu Muyi, who had remained silent the entire time, cleared his throat. He was wearing a pair of round black-framed glasses. "I... I think..." His voice was so soft that no one noticed him. He took a deep breath, adjusted his glasses, and raised his voice, "I think..."

Wei Zhuang leaned back on the sofa, a dark green document spread open in her hands. Her slender fingers rested on her chin as she pondered.

"Chong'an, Chongping, Suhe." Her pen glided over the names and paused. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she wrote two characters on the paper: "Liang Ji."

After writing, she circled "Liang Ji" emphatically with her pen, a faint smile appearing in her clear, indifferent eyes.

At the same time, Xu Muyi pushed his glasses up and finally managed to voice his thoughts, "I think Xiang Xiaoyuan can play Liang Ji. Liang Ji has a feminine appearance, is exceptionally beautiful, and has a natural cold and alluring aura."

"I've seen Xiang Xiaoyuan's performance in that web movie where she played a transgender character. I think she could try cross-dressing. Since we haven't been satisfied with any of the male actors who auditioned for Liang Ji, why not let her give it a shot?"

Xu Muyi's single-lidded eyes behind his round glasses curved slightly as he suggested softly.

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