The auditions finally began.
Zhong Ying watched one familiar or unfamiliar face after another enter the “examination room,” only for almost all of them to emerge with gray, defeated expressions.
Portraying “Jiang Ci” was no easy feat.
In the story, Jiang Ci plays many roles: a kind-hearted daughter-in-law oppressed by her mother-in-law, a gentle wife who caters to her husband’s every whim, an overly strict mother to her child, and an exemplary lady in the eyes of her neighbors. She has exhausted her heart and soul just trying to manage her life.
Her journey spans from her initial silent endurance to her eventual breakdown upon discovering her husband’s infidelity; from the terror of accidentally killing her mother-in-law to the chilling calmness she displays while disposing of the body.
The sheer variety of her emotions is terrifying. It is as if several different personalities are screaming inside her mind at once.
Is it right? Is it wrong?
None of that matters anymore.
After killing her mother-in-law, followed by her cheating and abusive husband, Jiang Ci’s psyche gradually stabilizes into a quiet, cold-blooded state. Even when the police come knocking, she answers fluently, deceiving everyone.
In reality, however, her mental state is on the brink of collapse.
The breaking point comes when her “bear child” (spoiled brat) intentionally feeds chocolate to a neighbor’s dog because he dislikes it, causing the dog to die. When the neighbor comes to confront her, Jiang Ci finally snaps.
After slamming the door, she nearly strangles her son to death in his room. It is only when he cries out “Mama” that she stops. She collapses, clutching her head and weeping bitterly, before finally turning herself in.
Behind the plot of the movie lies a deep commentary on many themes. As the central figure, Jiang Ci’s internal transformation is vivid yet complex—like a tangled mess of rope coiled into a dead knot, eventually tightening into a single, lethal strand.
Even for someone like Zhong Ying, she couldn’t claim to be able to portray this character perfectly.
“Sister Ying, it’s number 28. It’s your turn!” Bai Lan said, staring at another person walking out of the room.
“Mhm.”
Zhong Ying took her number tag and pushed open the door to the audition room.
There were three judges: the director, the producer, and the presenter (investor), along with other staff members. Zhong Ying scanned the room. When her gaze landed on the last person, her eyelid twitched involuntarily. However, her professional poise allowed her to regain control of her emotions instantly.
Sitting in the investor’s seat, dressed in an air of high-society elegance—who else could it be but Zhu Xingtong? The very same woman who had been at home that morning eating the breakfast Zhong Ying cooked, getting a “little white milk mustache” after just one glass of milk.
“Number 28, Zhong Ying. You have a very rich resume.” The director, Yu Meng, was a well-known figure in the industry. She looked at Zhong Ying with a smile. “But as far as I know, you’ve never played a female lead. Not even once. Is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“Can you tell me why?”
Zhong Ying frowned slightly but answered honestly, “I didn’t like the female leads in many of those scripts.”
In today’s “fast-food” dramas, the logic of the plot—let alone the characters—was often beyond saving.
“I’ve seen your supporting roles. They were all excellent; personally, I quite like your work,” Director Yu said. “I’m looking forward to your performance today. Since you aren’t a newcomer, I won’t go easy on you. Zhong Ying, please perform the scene where Jiang Ci is about to strangle her son, ending with her bitter weeping. You may begin.”
In that instant, the look in Zhong Ying’s eyes changed.
Resentment, madness, and fury swept through her pupils in a flash. Her fists clenched tightly as she roared, “Don’t you know that too much chocolate is fatal to dogs?!”
“I’ve raised you all this time—did I never teach you such common sense?!” she screamed, her voice heart-wrenching.
Indeed, she was the “excellent lady” in the eyes of her neighbors; she was supposed to be able to raise her child perfectly. She could do it. She could!
Suddenly, she turned calm. “Just because it barked at you twice, you wanted to kill it? Do you even understand what killing is? Killing is a desecration of life! You are a living being too, born into this world—how could you do it?!”
“What are you crying for…?” She reached out into thin air as if grabbing something, squeezing with such force that her face became distorted and hideous. “Stop crying!! You’re the one who did something wrong!”
“I told you to stop crying!!”
There were a dozen people in the room, yet she seemed to see no one. Like a psychiatric patient, she stood lonely in the center of the stage, venting her rage.
Suddenly, Director Yu spoke up, stiffly reading out two words: “Mama.”
Those two words acted like a signal from a clapperboard. Instantly, “Jiang Ci” froze in place.
The look in her eyes was agonizingly complex. Her entire body began to tremble as she slowly released her grip.
He called me Mama? Right… this child is hers.
“Hahaha—” She burst into laughter on the spot.
But as she laughed, tears suddenly spilled from the corners of her eyes. She stumbled back several steps until she reached a corner. Her legs seemed to give out; with her back against the wall, she slid slowly to the floor. Her tear-filled eyes remained fixed on the spot where she had been looking.
Finally, she buried her head in her hands and broke into a devastating sob.
The atmosphere of grief permeated the entire room. Everyone forgot to applaud; they couldn’t look away, completely captivated and subdued by her masterful performance.
This was also the first time Zhu Xingtong had seen Zhong Ying act from such a close distance. It was a profound shock. Even though she knew her “cub” was talented, she hadn’t realized she was this powerful. A sense of pride swelled in her chest, causing her to instinctively clutch her heart.
Zhu Xingtong stood up quickly and walked toward her.
“Cub, it’s okay. That’s enough,” Zhu Xingtong whispered near her ear. Those beautiful eyes were cried red.
With that, “Jiang Ci” faded away. Zhong Ying blinked her bloodshot eyes and gave a low response: “Mhm.”
She had entered the character quickly, and she exited just as fast. Zhong Ying stood up and returned to stand before the judges.
Director Yu was the first to clap. The surrounding staff followed suit, breaking into spontaneous applause. Amidst the thunderous clapping, Zhong Ying thought: This is the stage I truly wanted.
“Zhong Ying, you are truly incredible,” Director Yu couldn’t help but praise. “You are gifted. And as far as I know, this is your first film? Your sense of camera control is remarkably strong.”
In their industry, it is well known that there is a massive difference between television and film. TV shots are often wide and focus on the full scene. Films, however, involve many “tight” face shots. Even a tiny detail in the corner of an eye must be captured by the lens.
Director Yu had watched closely: Zhong Ying’s face had remained consistently oriented toward the camera. Even while clutching her head and crying, she had subtly adjusted her posture to ensure her eyes were visible. Actors without years of big-screen experience rarely achieve this.
“If I didn’t have to give everyone a fair chance at the competition, I’d want to give you the offer right now,” Director Yu said appreciatively. “Please go home and wait for our notification. We will inform you as soon as there is a result, alright?”
Zhong Ying nodded. “Thank you.”
After Zhong Ying left, the judges began their discussion.
“What do you all think?” Director Yu looked at the other two. “I like actors with this kind of strength. I’m giving Zhong Ying a passing vote.”
The producer frowned. “The acting was indeed good, but her looks and physique don’t quite fit the character of Jiang Ci. Zhong Ying is… a bit too beautiful.”
Director Yu paused, then nodded. “That is true.”
The producer sighed. “I’ll reserve my judgment for now.”
“Now that you mention it,” Director Yu added helplessly, “she is indeed too beautiful. Just looking at her, it’s hard to see the shadow of Jiang Ci. And her figure…”
That figure was so “hot” that even a mature woman like Director Yu found it hard not to acknowledge.
“Then I’ll also reserve my judgment for a moment…”
“Ahem!” Zhu Xingtong cleared her throat, interrupting them directly.
“President Zhu?”
Director Yu and the producer looked over. No one dared to disrespect the opinion of the “Gold Master” (investor).
“Apologies, but I believe being ‘too beautiful’ is not a flaw. On the contrary, it increases the appeal for the younger market,” Zhu Xingtong argued righteously. “Furthermore, Jiang Ci is supposed to be in her late twenties. Finding someone in that age bracket who can act this well is likely very difficult. And as you saw, her acting is enough to make one overlook everything else. A beautiful face will simply serve as a polish to her skill. No one will dislike a movie featuring an actress who is both stunning and talented.”
Director Yu and the producer exchanged a glance. Put that way, she wasn’t wrong.
“Let’s put it this way: I’ve set my heart on Zhong Ying. You can do as you please with the others. I have things to attend to, so I’ll be leaving first.” Zhu Xingtong picked up her bag and left without looking back.
The two judges were startled.
She said they could “do as they pleased,” but they understood perfectly: the role of Jiang Ci was settled. It belonged to Zhong Ying.