As the person involved, Xia Wei Liang had something to say.
"Uh, Director Zhou, actually Su Yu Xi is also fine. After all, we've worked together before and have some chemistry..."
A spotlight suddenly hit.
Xia Wei Liang couldn't open her eyes due to the light and instinctively raised her hand to shield herself.
A figure gradually became clear.
"Heh, Su Yu Xi is fine, but I'm not?"
It was a question.
But Xia Wei Liang distinctly heard a hint of mockery.
"Teacher Xiao, you misunderstand. I didn't mean it like that... it's just..."
"We have no chemistry."
"Right... uh, no!"
Xia Wei Liang almost fell into his trap.
Looking up at the man, his usual indifferent attitude was akin to aloofness, while his gaze upon her was somewhat... intriguing?
Xia Wei Liang was stunned. Before she could probe further, Xiao Yi had already walked up to her, sizing her up, "Are you ready?"
She quickly adopted a formal posture: "Please, Teacher Xiao, guide me."
What's done is done, no point in being sentimental!
Acceptance meant facing a challenge, even if the esteemed Xiao stood before her.
The scene of "passing by" was deeply etched in Xia Wei Liang's memory.
Without any atmospheric build-up, the actors had to enter the zone instantly. Cameras were all over the room, magnifying every facial expression. Even the slightest change was exposed to scrutiny beyond the lens.
*Knock knock knock—*
Perhaps it was her first time participating in an audition of this caliber, or maybe the aura of the movie star beside her was too overwhelming, Xia Wei Liang's heart pounded like a war drum. The more she tried to suppress it, the faster it beat.
"I've seen your previous works."
The low voice that suddenly sounded beside her startled Xia Wei Liang.
Oh my goodness!!
The movie star had seen her work!!
After the excitement came shock.
The movie star had seen her work?!
Could it be that after the hotel incident, with the supposed 'know thy enemy,' the movie star was looking for someone to slander her, thus demeaning himself by watching her films?!
Sensing the doubt in her eyes, the man spoke indifferently, "Based on your previous standard, as long as you can recite the lines without a single mistake, it's an improvement. After all, the script is a bonus."
"!"
Was he insulting her?
Or was he openly, shamelessly insulting her?
Faintly, she heard suppressed laughter from within the room.
Xia Wei Liang was furious!
It was just an audition, what was there to be nervous about! With her acting skills, even if she were mocked to the core, if she lent the keyboard warriors another mouth, they wouldn't know where to begin!
So, what was there to fear?
Effort was not shameful!
With this fierce determination, Xia Wei Liang looked up at him calmly, her eyes signaling: Come, let's have a fight to the death.
Voiceover—
Assistant Director Wang: [Is she going to meet a lover or confront a scoundrel?]
Director Zhou: [Heh heh.]
Suddenly, Xiao Yi turned around, his dark eyes fixed on her, showing heartache, unwillingness, and more than anything, struggle.
On the path of revolution, there was no such thing as unwavering conviction; there was only compromise.
Between family and ideals, between lover and country, between oneself and death...
In that instant, Xia Wei Liang was stunned.
She finally understood why the movie star was called a movie star.
All achievements were not accidental.
To be able to draw her into the scene with just a look—that was skill!
The surroundings suddenly became very quiet, so quiet that even the subtle hum of the machines couldn't be heard.
The setting also shifted, from a modern hotel suite to a bustling street.
Xia Wei Liang walked down the street helplessly, looking back from time to time, both hopeful and hesitant.
Wanting him to appear, yet not wanting him to appear!
This intense internal conflict pushed her to the brink of collapse.
Her name was Lian Zhu, and she knew her life had reached its end.
She was afraid, yet not afraid.
Afraid of never seeing him again; unafraid of no longer being used by anyone to threaten him.
Suddenly, she saw someone approaching!
Wearing a dark blue student uniform, with a hat pulled low over his brow.
She knew it was him.
Strangely, though she had longed for this moment, upon seeing him, she felt a sense of calm. As they slowly walked towards each other, she didn't even spare him an extra glance.
The enemy only knew the codename "Paper Crane," but not that Paper Crane was him.
Closer, they drew closer.
She could feel the man's breathing changing, his entire body tensing up, that readiness to strike making her unable to hide a hint of shy delight in her heart.
He had never told her he loved her.
But she was content.
"Take care."
She said softly.
The man clenched his fist and brushed past her.
His life, brushing past hers.
After finishing the scene, silence still reigned in the room.
Xia Wei Liang stood there blankly, her head slightly bowed. A coolness spread across her face. When she raised her hand to touch it, she realized that her entire face was wet with tears, though she didn't know when they had started.
"You've worked hard."
Behind her was the movie star's usual detached voice. These simple words, however, made Xia Wei Liang suddenly cover her cheeks with a sense of grievance, unable to snap out of character for a long time.
These were tears shed for Lian Zhu.
This feeling was too foreign. At this moment, she had become Lian Zhu.
Her affection, her resentment, all remained in that turbulent era.
The audition ended. As the spotlight vanished, darkness enveloped the room once more, and faint voices gradually emerged.
Whether she was selected or not was no longer important to Xia Wei Liang. For the first time, she had connected with a character, and this feeling made her so excited she wanted to cry.
She accidentally bumped into the person beside her. Seemingly sensing her trembling, after a moment's hesitation, she was pulled into an embrace.
Xia Wei Liang froze.
"You performed very well."
From above, she heard the man's gentle murmur.
Xia Wei Liang's eyes reddened again.
The feeling of being affirmed after putting in effort was truly wonderful.
Even if that person was Xiao Yi.
"Thank you," she said, sincerely.
The moment the lights in the room flickered on, the man beside her had already left, returning to his seat.
Xia Wei Liang took a moment to adjust before seeing the person sitting in front of the camera. She quickly bowed and greeted, "Hello Director Zhou, I am Xia Wei Liang."
Director Zhou merely nodded. Without a word, he instructed them to call the next person.
Seeing this, Xia Wei Liang knew it was a no-go.
However, she didn't seem particularly disappointed. On the contrary, with this valuable experience, she felt even more resolute about the path ahead.
Xiao Yi sat there, still exuding an aura of unapproachability.
Even the glance he cast her was cold and aloof, as if the person who had acted with her moments ago wasn't him, but another, neurotic Xiao Yi!
However, that embrace...
Xia Wei Liang left the room.
Everyone was still watching the playback. Director Zhou, while watching, suddenly turned to the person beside him, "Just now..."
Xiao Yi lowered his gaze, "An accident."
Director Zhou: Heh heh.
"Wei Wei Jie, how was it? Did Director Zhou say anything?"
"Wei Wei Jie, you have to say something!"
"Wei Wei Jie... why is your face so red?"
Xia Wei Liang suddenly snapped back to reality, slapping her cheeks with both hands: "Nervous!"
Nuomi, this child, was simple-minded from a young age.
"That's right! In a situation like that, let alone trying it, just thinking about it makes me scared... So Wei Wei Jie, even if you're eliminated, you're still the most glorious!"
To encourage her, Nuomi even raised both hands above her head and made a heart shape for her.
It was just that her voice was so loud that everyone in the waiting room could hear it. The effort to suppress laughter was too genuine.
Xia Wei Liang raised her hand to cover her face and pulled her away.
Just then, someone walked in. A tall figure blocked her path and called out to her in surprise, "Wei Liang?"