After resting for a while, He Yan received the audition notice.
The role He Yan was auditioning for was the film’s female second lead, Lu Zhenzhen.
The film was about the male lead, Qin Li, and the female lead, Zheng Ling, going undercover inside a gang to find evidence of their crimes. The female second lead, Lu Zhenzhen, was the gang boss’s daughter—an innocent character who had no idea what her father was really like.
When He Yan arrived at the audition location, she realized many people had come, including some well-known A-list actors.
She heard that this time, director Shen Chengjin had only confirmed Pei Yanchuan as the male lead, all other major roles had to be obtained through audition.
It was somewhat brutal, but for most people, it was an opportunity.
He Yan sat in the waiting area, immersed in reading the script pages she had just received.
“He Yan?” A female voice came from the side.
He Yan turned to look and saw a ponytailed girl she didn’t recognize.
Seeing He Yan look up, the girl immediately sat down beside her.
“Here for an audition? Which role? Hua Yuan?” Her tone was full of sarcasm.
Hua Yuan was indeed a fairly important character, but that character was an idiot.
Clearly, it was a veiled insult.
He Yan’s expression darkened, her voice turning cold. “No, I’m not competing with you for that.”
The ponytailed girl’s face instantly fell, her voice becoming sharp. “He Yan, what do you mean?! I’m just kindly asking how you are, why are you being so rude!”
“Oh? I didn’t mean anything else. Why are you so agitated? Are you really that afraid I’ll compete with you?” He Yan tilted her head slightly, her chin lifting just a little, which somehow gave the ponytailed girl a feeling of being intimidated.
Used to He Yan being easily pushed around, how could she swallow this? Her voice unconsciously rose. “Who would want to play an idiot?! Pfft, only someone like you would be willing to!”
With a swish, all eyes around them focused on them.
He Yan blinked slowly, her voice calm and unhurried. “There’s no such thing as good or bad roles. As actors, we should still respect every character.”
At these words, the attitudes of the two were made perfectly clear. Finally, someone around couldn’t hold back and stepped forward to reprimand the ponytailed girl: “Fang Wan, what do you mean by that? You know I’m here to audition for this role, are you looking down on me?!”
Seeing someone stand up, several other actors auditioning for Hua Yuan angrily gathered around. Those with a bit of fame started questioning her, while the less known ones just glared at her.
Fang Wan stood there awkwardly, hurriedly trying to explain to them, sweating with anxiety.
He Yan quickly put them out of her mind and focused seriously on the script, trying hard to get into character.
“Excuse me, is this where we wait for the audition?” A gentle female voice sounded. He Yan frowned, a little annoyed at being interrupted again, but she still looked up.
He Yan was stunned for a moment.
The girl in front of her had long, smooth hair cascading down. Her skin was fair, with a hint of alluring pink. Her features were gentle, her voice soft and light. And below her left eye, there was a charming tear mole.
Su An’an, the novel’s female lead, had arrived.
“Hello?” Su An’an looked at the stunned He Yan with a hint of confusion.
“Oh, hello. Yes, this is where you wait for the audition.” He Yan quickly snapped out of it.
“Thanks.” Su An’an smiled gently at He Yan and naturally sat down beside her.
He Yan couldn’t help but steal another glance. Sure enough, she was unmistakably the female lead, her entire aura incredibly gentle.
And in a little while, despite the director initially thinking her temperament was too gentle and not having high hopes for her, she would perfectly portray the female lead’s intelligence and resilience.
She would astonish the director and Pei Yanchuan, earning their thunderous applause.
But after thinking for only a few seconds, He Yan refocused on the script.
“Hmph, He Yan? You dare to audition for Director Shen’s film too?” He Yan frowned again, annoyed, and looked at her provocateur.
Can you people just leave me alone?! Can’t you see I’m trying to get into character here!
Lin Jingxi was met with He Yan’s slightly angry eyes. She instinctively stepped back half a pace, steadied herself, then lifted her head and spoke again: “Don’t think you can just muddle through in front of Director Shen. Hmph, with your acting skills, you couldn’t even play a bit part!”
He Yan narrowed her eyes slightly. This Lin Jingxi was really a nuisance. What was the point of saying these provocative things? It wouldn’t affect her anyway!
“Oh, you’re so right, that’s great!” He Yan said, clapping for her with utterly expressionless applause.
Lin Jingxi looked as if her eyes were about to pop out in anger.
What’s up with He Yan? She’s completely immune to both soft and hard tactics now? Before, just a couple of provocations would make her lose her temper immediately.
How has she become like a different person since the pool scene?
Now Lin Jingxi’s face alternated between pale and red. Under the mocking gaze of those around her, she slunk away dejectedly into a corner.
She had thought He Yan would kick up a fuss and everyone would mock her like before. She never expected He Yan to pull this stunt, which instead made her the laughingstock.
Lin Jingxi was so angry she ground her teeth, but there was nothing she could do.
It’s fine, let her be smug. No matter how smug she is, there’s no way she’ll get the role!
Director Shen would never want an actress known for making bad films!
After quite a while, a staff member finally came to call for people again.
This time, they called all the actors auditioning for the female second lead.
Lin Jingxi looked surprisedly at He Yan, who was walking alongside her. She wanted to say something, but glanced at the staff member ahead and closed her mouth.
The group arrived outside the audition room. Again, they would go in one by one while the others waited outside.
He Yan watched as Lin Jingxi walked in confidently, throwing her a fierce glare before entering.
After a while, Lin Jingxi walked out again, just as confidently. As she passed He Yan, she deliberately let out a hmph.
He Yan: ? Why do you have to target me specifically?
Soon, it was He Yan’s turn.
He Yan knocked on the door and pushed it open.
Inside the room, the atmosphere was serious. The director sat expressionless in the very middle, and beside him sat Pei Yanchuan.
Pei Yanchuan smiled gently at He Yan.
But He Yan didn’t see it and just walked straight to the center.
When the other judges saw He Yan, they immediately put down their pens.
He Yan? That actress who made three bad films in a row, known as the queen of bad movies? No need to take notes then. This one’s only good point was her face.
And it’s especially good-looking.
The several people had made up their minds: they would just appreciate her beauty, no need to carefully watch her act.
He Yan curved her lips slightly, bowed to the judges, and began her performance.
The segment she performed was when the female second lead, Lu Zhenzhen, begins to suspect that her father was not just an ordinary company boss, and that there seem to be many interests involved behind his back.
He Yan quickly got into character. She vividly portrayed Lu Zhenzhen’s complex emotions—the suspicion, yet the unwillingness to believe that her most admired father might be a villain.
By the time the entire segment was finished, everyone was still immersed in the scene.
She had drawn them into the story.
A dozen or so seconds later, everyone snapped out of it, looking at He Yan with some shock.
Wasn’t she the queen of bad movies? This acting was explosively good!
Director Shen, who had been frowning the whole time, finally revealed a smile. “Well acted. It’s clear you put your heart into it.”
He Yan’s eyes curved like crescents. She bowed to the judges again. “Thank you for the compliment, Director Shen.”
“You portrayed the character’s emotions very well, with strong expressiveness.” Pei Yanchuan, sitting to the side, suddenly spoke up as well. He Yan followed the voice and looked at him, meeting his eyes directly.
He Yan smiled at him openly and generously.
But Pei Yanchuan felt as if that smile had slammed straight into his heart.
Thump, thump—
Today, she was exceptionally captivating.
“This is the first time you’ve praised someone today!” Director Shen teased from the side with a smile. The atmosphere in the room immediately became lively, no longer as serious and oppressive as when she first entered.
He Yan nodded at Pei Yanchuan in thanks, then turned and left.
The results of the audition wouldn’t be known on the spot. He Yan picked up her belongings and prepared to leave.
“He Yan!” A voice came from behind her, it was Lin Jingxi. He Yan didn’t stop, she kept walking out, pretending not to hear.
“He Yan! Stop right there!” Lin Jingxi ran to catch up with He Yan and grabbed her sleeve.
He Yan forcefully shook her off, straightened her clothes, and then turned around, looking at Lin Jingxi with displeasure. “Is there something you need?”
“Why did you also audition for the female second lead!” Lin Jingxi demanded aggressively.
“What role I audition for, is that any of your business?”
“Hmph! You don’t actually think you can take the role from me, do you? Let me tell you, no way!”
“You already said there’s no way, so why are you even asking me?”
“I… you!” Lin Jingxi was so angry she couldn’t utter a single sentence.
If it were the old He Yan, she really wouldn’t have taken her seriously. But the current He Yan’s acting skills had indeed improved a lot. Even if she was unwilling to admit it, He Yan was now a formidable opponent not to be underestimated.
But she just couldn’t accept it!
Why did she get both beauty and talent? It wasn’t fair!
While Lin Jingxi was still fuming, He Yan had already walked out the door. She didn’t want to waste time on someone like this.
A few days later, He Yan received the notification: she had passed the audition and secured the role of the female second lead, Lu Zhenzhen.
Sister Jingyi was overjoyed. Internally, she was already starting to look forward to the glorious moment in the future when she would be known as a top agent.
Since He Yan was so motivated, she had to work hard to keep up and do the work a good agent should do.
Those past messy, low-value activities couldn’t be accepted anymore. She needed to secure some positively impactful opportunities for He Yan.
Director Wang was also very surprised. He hadn’t expected He Yan to actually land an audition role, and the female second lead at that!
Now he finally believed in He Yan’s determination to pursue the path of a serious actress.
But the happiest one, of course, was He Yan herself.
He Yan rolled around on the bed several times and squealed a few times before finally calming down.
She buried her face in the blanket, unable to suppress her uninhibited laughter.
Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door.
“Come in.” He Yan restrained her unrestrained laughter.
A slender hand gripped the doorknob and slowly pushed the door open, revealing the cold, handsome face behind it.
Jiang Mingcheng was rubbing his temples with one hand, frowning slightly. His gaze swept over He Yan. “What were you screaming about?”
**