“Qiao Shu!” Han Lianmeng gritted her teeth in anger. “If you really can’t get any roles, you can come beg me.”
“I might be generous enough to grant you a supporting female role. Once this opportunity passes, there won’t be another.”
Qiao Shu’s lips twitched slightly. How shameless, she thought, deliberately avoiding the question. “So, which role are you here to audition for, little sister?”
Han Lianmeng crossed her arms, looking down at Qiao Shu arrogantly from her ten-centimeter high-heeled boots.
“Of course, the female lead. It’s rumored online that the male lead for this drama is Jiang Tu. Soon, I’ll be acting alongside brother-in-law. You won’t be too upset, will you, sister?”
A flicker of surprise passed through Qiao Shu’s captivating fox-like eyes. Jiang Tu playing Chi Ye? What a joke. That can’t be true.
Qiao Shu raised her gaze to look in the mirror. Her short black hair and fair, delicate complexion made her face appear even smaller. She truly looked like a high school student.
Han Lianmeng clenched her jaw, her long nails digging into her palms. There was no denying Qiao Shu was beautiful.
A sense of unease rose within Han Lianmeng. She suddenly remembered that the female lead in “Glimpses of Light” also had short hair. Was Qiao Shu here to audition for Yu Shujia?
“Are you here to audition for Yu Shujia?”
Qiao Shu paused as she removed her wig, tidied her hair in the mirror, and left the restroom.
Han Lianmeng glared furiously in the direction Qiao Shu had gone. No, she couldn’t let Qiao Shu succeed. She needed to go back and ask her father to invest in this drama.
The female lead role in “Glimpses of Light” could only belong to her, Han Lianmeng. She was going to act alongside top star Jiang Tu.
She was going to step all over Qiao Shu!!
Although she had already stepped over Qiao Shu, it wasn’t enough. Qiao Shu absolutely must not get the female lead role.
She would never allow Qiao Shu to threaten her position.
She was a rising starlet, with a fanbase dozens of times larger than Qiao Shu’s. Qiao Shu only deserved to stay at the bottom of the mountain, while she, Han Lianmeng, was destined to stand at the summit.
Jiang Tu’s Studio.
“A Tu, are you really going to take this drama?” Fang Zheng frowned. A campus drama wouldn’t offer any benefit to Jiang Tu’s career.
Jiang Tu’s fingers, flipping through the script, paused.
After a long moment, he finally said, “Yes.”
Fang Zheng sighed. Although “Glimpses of Light” wouldn’t advance Jiang Tu’s career, it would attract a massive number of fans because the drama was already slated for broadcast on major networks. Most importantly, the director was Liu Zhongran.
Jiang Tu’s national recognition would skyrocket, becoming known to everyone from the young to the old—that was the true path to success.
Jiang Tu continued flipping through the script. When he reached the scene where the female lead confesses to the male lead, he paused for a few seconds.
He asked, “Has the female lead been decided?”
Fang Zheng glanced at his watch. “Director Liu said he’d give us an answer before noon. It should be soon.”
“Buzz—”
As soon as Fang Zheng finished speaking, the phone on the table vibrated. The caller ID showed Director Liu. He picked up the phone and answered.
Fang Zheng put it on speakerphone.
“Xiao Fang, the female lead has been decided. It’s a relatively unknown actress, ranked far outside the top tier. I’m not sure if you know her—she’s an artist under Huanyu Entertainment.”
“Her name is Qiao Shu.”
Fang Zheng’s pupils contracted slightly. The female lead was actually Qiao Shu? How could it be such a coincidence?
Know her? Of course they knew her—more than just knowing.
Could it be that Jiang Tu took this drama because of Qiao Shu? Fang Zheng lowered his gaze, studying Jiang Tu intently as if trying to see through him.
Jiang Tu’s fingers, holding the paper, paused. He lifted his eyelids and glanced at Fang Zheng with an air of indifference.
Fang Zheng felt a pang of guilt under his gaze.
“By the way, ‘Glimpses of Light’ is centered around the female lead. Jiang Tu and Qiao Shu will have equal billing. What do you think? We’ll arrange the order based on the first letter of their surnames.”
Fang Zheng looked at Jiang Tu, who appeared indifferent and unconcerned about the billing order mentioned by Director Liu. Of course, no one would compete with their own wife for top billing.
Arranged by the first letter of their surnames, Jiang Tu would be listed before Qiao Shu, and netizens would naturally assume Jiang Tu was the lead.
“Alright, we’ll sign on for this drama.”
After hanging up the phone, Fang Zheng looked at Jiang Tu, hesitating to speak. In the end, he decided it was better not to ask what shouldn’t be asked.
“I’ll get busy then. You focus on studying the script. Director Liu said filming will start on the 12th of this month.”
Jiang Tu responded with a soft “Mm.”
Shallow Water Bay, Unit 3, A1701.
Qiao Shu had just put down her chopsticks when her phone vibrated. She picked it up and saw an unfamiliar number.
A premonition stirred within her. With trembling fingers, she swiped to answer. “Hello! This is Qiao Shu.”
“Xiao Qiao, the script for the female lead is yours. If there are no issues, we can sign the contract.”
Qiao Shu was stunned for a moment. She pinched her thigh hard, and the sudden pain made her grimace.
“Qiao Shu?”
“Sorry, I’m here. I have no issues. Thank you, Director Liu, for your recognition.”
“Come tomorrow for costume and promotional photos. The opening ceremony will be held on the 12th of this month.”
“Alright.” A slight curve lifted the corners of Qiao Shu’s red lips. She had secured the role through her own abilities.
Wasn’t the 12th of this month the day after tomorrow?
Costume photos tomorrow, and filming starts the day after? So rushed—wouldn’t the crew need time to finalize the promotional posters?
And who was the male lead?
“Buzz—”
The vibration of her phone interrupted Qiao Shu’s thoughts. She glanced down and saw it was Zhang Qian.
Qiao Shu swiped to answer. “Qian Jie.”
“Congratulations, Qiao Qiao.”
“Thank you, Qian Jie.”
“Go sign the contract tomorrow. Since you’ve done so well, I’ll allow you to have a serving of fried chicken.”
Qiao Shu’s lips twitched slightly. “Qian Jie is so generous. I’ll gladly accept.”
Zhang Qian: “…”
“Enough joking. I’ll send you the electronic script. Study Yu Shujia’s character carefully.”
“Got it,” Qiao Shu paused for a few seconds. “Qian Jie, do you know who the male lead is?”
Zhang Qian remained silent on the other end. Qiao Shu frowned slightly. Zhang Qian definitely knew but was keeping her in suspense.
“You’ll find out tomorrow.”
Qiao Shu: “…”
Playing mysterious?
Fine. She’d see for herself who was playing Chi Ye. As for her, it didn’t matter who the male lead was, as long as it wasn’t an actor with a problematic history.
The next day.
Zhang Qian drove to pick up Qiao Shu. Glancing at the rearview mirror, she said, “Qiao Qiao, you should create a secondary account.”
Qiao Shu: “??”
“Everything in the entertainment industry spreads through Weibo. You should keep up with the latest trends.”
Qiao Shu frowned. This wasn’t the first time Zhang Qian had urged her to create a secondary account. She rarely browsed online, afraid of accidentally liking something she shouldn’t.
Even though she was an obscure, low-tier celebrity, she still had to be cautious. Many artists had ended up trending due to accidental likes.
“Qiao Qiao?”
“I understand, Qian Jie.”
They soon arrived at Hengdian. Zhang Qian took Qiao Shu to meet the director. Only Liu Zhongran was in the office, and they exchanged pleasantries and handshakes.
“Good morning, Director Liu!”
Liu Zhongran smiled and nodded. “Please, have a seat.”
As Qiao Shu and Zhang Qian sat down, Liu Zhongran’s assistant entered to serve them tea.
Liu Zhongran took out two copies of the contract. “Here are the contracts. If everything is in order, we can sign them.”
Qiao Shu nodded and accepted them.
Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door. Liu Zhongran’s eyes lit up. “Come in.”
Qiao Shu and Zhang Qian turned to look at the entrance, and Jiang Tu’s devastatingly handsome face came into view. The man wore a black overcoat, his figure tall and straight.
Qiao Shu’s pupils contracted in shock. Jiang Tu?
What was Jiang Tu doing here? Was Jiang Tu really playing the role of Chi Ye? Her heart pounded wildly.
Jiang Tu glanced at Qiao Shu, then strode inside on long legs. “Good morning, Director Liu!”
“A Tu, you’re here,” Liu Zhongran stood up and extended his right hand to Jiang Tu. “May our collaboration be a pleasant one!”
Jiang Tu nodded and shook his hand.