By the time Wen Ting got out of the car, Li Jin had already driven into the city center.
It was still pouring outside, and a light breeze carried the drizzle onto her shoulders. Wen Ting felt thoroughly irritated.
The Rolls-Royce in front of her drove off without a second glance.
Wen Ting cursed Li Jin a few more times in her head.
Sure enough, a heartless capitalist!
A man with no conscience!
In the end, she hailed a cab and returned to her private villa.
The next day, Wen Ting’s mood had settled. She arrived early at Shi Xing Group and found Xu Li.
Xu Li was a top-tier agent at Shi Xing, having managed quite a few hugely popular artists over the years.
She didn’t know Wen Ting’s background, but when she’d signed her, she’d gotten the sense that this woman had quite the explosive temper. Xu Li hadn’t originally planned to take Wen Ting on, but that face—it was simply too beautiful.
This woman could absolutely blow up in the entertainment industry. It was only after Wen Ting repeatedly assured her that she actually had a good temper and would take her acting seriously that Xu Li finally signed her.
But who would’ve thought—her very first audition would go like that…
When Wen Ting walked into the office, before Xu Li could even start scolding her, she said directly, “Give me the script for the second female lead in Feng Ning.”
Hearing this, a flicker of surprise crossed Xu Li’s face.
“Didn’t you say before that your first role absolutely had to be the female lead?”
Xu Li had originally thought Wen Ting’s face suited the second female lead quite well, but Wen Ting had shown zero interest in that role and insisted on playing the lead. Why the sudden change of heart now?
“Don’t worry about it. Just give it to me.”
Xu Li found the script in the office and handed it over.
After a brief skim, the corner of Wen Ting’s mouth twitched. The character was indeed exactly as Li Jin had described.
“How is it? Want to consider it? I told you from the start—this role suits you better.”
Wen Ting looked up, staring at her with a hint of gloom. “Do I have the face of a vicious supporting female character? Am I going to have to play these kinds of malicious side roles from now on?”
“Not necessarily. Director Li’s female lead for this production is the gentle, pitiable type—she really doesn’t suit you. In the future, when there’s a more assertive female lead role, you’ll naturally be able to take it.”
Wen Ting tossed her hair and thought for two seconds.
“Fine!”
For the first time in her life, the young miss compromised.
Because Director Li was a renowned golden-director in the industry, and also because this production was funded by Li Jin.
Wen Ting really disliked that man.
But the harder he was to get a hold of, the more interested she became!
Sooner or later, she’d make him fall at her feet!
When Xu Li heard Wen Ting agree, she was immediately delighted.
“The audition is in two hours. Study the audition scene a bit and perform well—there’s no doubt you’ll nail it.”
Wen Ting nodded calmly.
Two hours later, Xu Li brought her to the audition venue. In the dressing room, she changed into a striking red ancient-style costume.
Heavy smoky makeup, a seductive figure, an arrogant face.
The quintessential vicious supporting female character.
There were many other auditioning artists in the dressing room. Everyone stared at Wen Ting’s unfamiliar yet stunningly beautiful face, momentarily stunned, and a buzz of whispers broke out.
Wen Ting had only just been registered by Xu Li, so she was scheduled last.
After waiting about two hours, the little princess was growing impatient. Finally, it was her turn to go on stage.
Wen Ting walked into the audition space. Aside from the director, producer, and scriptwriters, Li Jin was there too.
“Oh, this young lady is so beautiful. Her styling is the best I’ve seen today.”
Hearing this, Li Jin, who was reading the script, slightly raised his eyes. When his gaze landed on that graceful figure, it paused for two seconds before a trace of mockery curled at the corner of his lips the next moment.
Wen Ting’s gaze had been fixed on Li Jin the entire time she was on stage, so she naturally caught the sarcasm in his expression.
Last night, she had confidently declared she would never play the second female lead, and today she showed up at the audition site.
It really was a slap to her own face.
She pressed her lips together and stepped onto the stage, saying, “Hello, esteemed teachers. My name is Wen Ting.”
Her voice carried a hint of coolness.
The staff asked her to begin her performance.
Wen Ting quickly immersed herself in the role. The person she was performing opposite was a young woman. The audition piece lasted three minutes total and depicted the scene where the Fifth Princess, the second female lead who had been doted on since childhood, had orchestrated a grand conspiracy only to be exposed and reduced to ruin.
Even in her downfall, the Fifth Princess remained proud to her very core.
Wen Ting portrayed the Fifth Princess’s arrogance and madness with vivid intensity.
By the end of the performance, Director Li and the others wore expressions of great satisfaction.
After greeting them, Wen Ting left the venue.
Xu Li was still waiting outside. Seeing Wen Ting emerge, she hurried forward to ask, “How did it go?”
“I think it’s in the bag.”
If she couldn’t even land the second female lead role, Wen Ting would have no choice but to storm straight into Li Corporation.
Xu Li smiled with satisfaction.
Wen Ting removed the ornaments from her hair as she spoke. “You go ahead. I’ll head back on my own later.”
Xu Li still had work to do, so she didn’t say much.
“Alright.”
After changing her clothes, Wen Ting walked out of the dressing room and asked around, only to learn that Li Jin had already left.
Already gone…
She had been hoping to invite him to lunch.
At the thought, Wen Ting couldn’t help but pout slightly.
In the end, she drove alone to a nearby restaurant.
By the window, Director Li and the producer had just finalized the actress for the lead female role. When it came to the second female lead, both agreed that Wen Ting was a perfect fit.
“Mr. Li, what do you think?” Director Li looked at the man sitting across from him, who exuded an air of cool detachment.
“She’s fine.”
Li Jin didn’t want any more contact with Wen Ting than necessary, but he had to admit that she was perfectly suited for the role of the Fifth Princess—as if she were playing herself.
Just then, a familiar figure walked in through the restaurant entrance.
Wen Ting was looking down, texting Yan Qing, and didn’t pay attention to her surroundings as she followed the hostess inside.
At that moment, a voice came from the side.
“Well, well, Wen Ting, what a coincidence!”
Wen Ting looked up. It was Director Li who had greeted her.
“Director Li, Teacher Zhang.” Her gaze then shifted to Li Jin with a smile, and she curved her lips. “Mr. Li.”
“We just confirmed you for the second female lead role.” Director Li, thinking they would all be on the same set soon, made a polite gesture. “Are you alone? Care to join us?”
It was meant to be nothing more than a courteous invitation, but Wen Ting responded without any pretense: “Sure.”
With that, she pulled out a chair and sat down in the seat beside Li Jin.
Director Li: “…”
Producer: “…”
Seeing that Li Jin said nothing, they breathed a sigh of relief.
The server brought tea and handed a menu to Wen Ting.
Wen Ting was already hungry, so she naturally ordered her favorite dishes.
“Braised fish, no ginger or scallions, please.”
“Sweet and sour pork.”
…
Then Wen Ting ordered many more dishes. By the time she was done, everyone could tell she had a rather picky palate. Only after finishing did she hand the menu to the others nearby.
“What would you all like?”
Director Li smiled in response. “No need—we’ve already ordered.”
Director Li was a fairly mild-mannered person, and over the course of the meal, the atmosphere wasn’t too awkward.
After dinner, Li Jin settled the bill.
The group left the restaurant together, and Director Li said goodbye to Li Jin. Only after the two of them had walked away did Wen Ting leisurely follow Li Jin toward the parking lot.
The sound of high heels clicking came from behind. Li Jin walked a few steps, then finally stopped and looked back at Wen Ting with an indifferent expression.
“Don’t follow me.”
Hearing this, Wen Ting raised an eyebrow with a smile. “Who’s following you? Is the parking lot your house or something?”
With that, she stepped past Li Jin, walked ahead a few paces, and stopped in front of the Ferrari. She opened the door, started the engine, and drove off without a backward glance.
Wen Ting would have liked to leave with Li Jin, but… she was a high-end prey.
Li Jin narrowed his eyes slightly.
The woman who had pitifully told him yesterday that she had no money to pay him back had shown up in a Ferrari the very next day.
Wen Ting’s attire, her bearing—everything about her told Li Jin that she was no ordinary person.
Surnamed Wen?
There didn’t seem to be any wealthy family with the surname Wen in Haicheng.
Li Jin didn’t dwell on it. He had no interest whatsoever in which prominent family Wen Ting belonged to.