Jiang Ruyi felt the smile on her face was about to crack at the edges.
After submitting her information sheet, she stood in the center of the performance area, waiting for the director to initiate a conversation.
She held her chin up slightly, striking a confident pose.
Before coming, she had her assistant inquire about the competition. Among those auditioning for supporting roles in 《The Eldest Princess》, she was the only one with significant fame and a built-in fanbase. No one could compete with her.
However, what Jiang Ruyi didn’t expect was that after standing there for a full two minutes, not one of the people sitting in the row before her had even given her a proper look!
Who were they talking about right now?
That first young girl?
Jiang Ruyi narrowed her eyes and looked back. Sure enough, among the crowd, there was only one person who stood out so exceptionally in both figure and appearance.
She paused, gritting her teeth.
It was precisely because she had seen the girl’s beauty earlier that she had grown jealous and signaled her assistant to cause some trouble for her. Making her cause a scene outside would lower her standing with the director’s team.
That way, the girl would certainly not appear in the cast, and she wouldn’t have to worry about someone competing with her for resources in the future.
But she never imagined that she had inadvertently paved the way for her rival!
Not only that, but from the sound of it, the director’s team had already placed the blame for the incident on her, directly accusing her of cutting in line.
It was a small matter, but the loss outweighed the gain. She had tried to be clever but ended up shooting herself in the foot.
Jiang Ruyi secretly cursed her assistant for the sloppy job but still forced a smile on her face.
Jiang Ruyi thought for a moment and decided to take the initiative. She forced a smile and said, “Director Zhang, sorry to trouble you. My name is Jiang Ruyi. I’m one of the specially invited actors for this audition.”
Zhang Nanchuan, who had been excitedly questioning Chu Feiliang, was interrupted. He looked up and carefully observed Jiang Ruyi’s face.
Then he squinted his eyes and said, “Wait a moment.”
“Xiao Chu.” Zhang Nanchuan tapped the table. “How about a bet?”
Chu Feiliang watched him with composure.
Zhang Nanchuan was nearly forty, but in his professional field, he was like a child—always sincere, and always… mischievous.
He smiled and said, “The one you have your eye on happens to be next. Let Jiang Ruyi perform first. After they’re both done, we’ll know who wins and who loses. I also want to see if she’s truly worthy of your praise.”
Chu Feiliang thought for a moment, then lifted her head to glance in Rong Guang’s direction.
She hadn’t expected that the moment she looked over, her eyes would meet Rong Guang’s once again.
This was the second time today.
Chu Feiliang nonchalantly shifted her gaze back and said, “I’ll wait and see.”
As the main stage was prepared, Jiang Ruyi took a deep breath and stepped back.
After all, she was a veteran actress who had been in four or five television dramas. Coupled with her existing level of public interest, her every move was far more polished and fluid than the university students with no foundation who had gone before her.
This time, the scene to be performed was a simple one: a maid being assassinated.
Because she was a specially invited actor, the production team didn’t make her perform without props. An assistant actor came on stage to work with her.
Therefore, this already simple scene was not difficult for Jiang Ruyi at all.
Jiang Ruyi stood obediently in a corner with her head lowered. The woman playing the Eldest Princess was bent over a desk, writing something.
In the next second, Jiang Ruyi suddenly raised her head, her eyes wide, and she shouted urgently, “Princess, be careful!”
She lunged forward, stumbling toward the princess to block the fatal blow for her.
As the prop knife plunged into her abdomen, Jiang Ruyi’s eyes widened instantly. She gripped the blade with both hands and collapsed with a look of utter disbelief.
After falling, she trembled all over, coughed up some non-existent blood, and cried out with all her might, “Princess… run!”
When the sound of her knees hitting the floor echoed with a ‘thud’ in the room, Rong Guang’s expression was momentarily priceless. She couldn’t help but rub her own knees—how much must that have hurt?!
Chacha, who was watching the show beside her, blinked and said, “That looks so painful.”
Rong Guang covered her face. Chacha was right.
“Her acting is so good…” A naive girl next to them couldn’t help but feel a little dejected. “It’s a live performance, but the effect is exactly the same as what you see on TV.”
A smile touched Rong Guang’s lips.
Yes, exactly the same.
And that was why it wasn’t what Chu Feiliang and Zhang Nanchuan were looking for.
Zhang Nanchuan’s expression didn’t change. Jiang Ruyi had already been helped up by the assistant actor. She was limping, seemingly unable to stand properly, and looked at Zhang Nanchuan with a face full of anticipation and nervousness.
Zhang Nanchuan lifted his eyelids but said nothing.
Rong Guang’s lips twitched. She vaguely remembered that Jiang Ruyi had been on several variety shows showcasing the acting skills of the new generation of actors. Although her acting was always mocked back then for only consisting of widening her eyes, gritting her teeth, and so on, some people also said she was willing to work hard.
This was because she often couldn’t stand up after kneeling for too long, or because she would still go into the water under special circumstances… and so on.
So she was waiting for Zhang Nanchuan to give her a way out.
Unfortunately, Zhang Nanchuan paid her no mind. After all, this wasn’t a TV show; there was no need to project a gentle and considerate persona.
Zhang Nanchuan said, “Go wait on the side. The rules have changed. After the specially invited actor performs, the next performer will also perform, and then the results will be announced together.”
Jiang Ruyi’s face was full of disbelief. She forgot about maintaining her delicate, hobbling posture and said in astonishment, “What?!”
Zhang Nanchuan frowned, and when he looked up, his expression had already soured. “Don’t waste time. Next, Rong Guang.”
Jiang Ruyi wanted to say more, but her sense of reason stopped her. Gritting her teeth, she walked to the waiting area on the side.
A few other specially invited actors who had arrived later were already waiting there. Since they were all acquainted through various connections, Jiang Ruyi went over to greet them.
Rong Guang was also taken aback when she heard this rule. In her memory, this kind of PK-style audition had appeared in other production crews before. It could also be used during promotion to win over the audience’s favor and pique their curiosity about the behind-the-scenes daily life of the crew.
But in the crew of 《The Eldest Princess》… had this happened before?
Suppressing her doubts, Rong Guang smiled faintly, composed herself, and walked steadily and unhurriedly toward the audition stage.
Chacha waved a spoon from behind her. “Go, Sister Guangguang! This sister here charges five yuan for a face pinch.”
After Rong Guang reached the front of the stage, it took almost all the self-control she had ever possessed to keep her gaze fixed on Zhang Nanchuan, instead of letting it lock onto Chu Feiliang.
Heaven knew how much she wanted to, just once more, get a good, close look at her.
In her past life, after learning of Chu Feiliang’s death, she had frantically, almost madly, called her number.
But before long, Chu Feiliang’s private account began to prompt, ‘The number you have dialed is no longer in service. Please check the number and dial again.’
The cold, electronic voice had crushed her last shred of remaining hope, again and again.
It was for this reason that after realizing she had been reborn, Rong Guang had spent nearly every waking moment frantically planning how she could get close to Chu Feiliang.
She took several deep breaths, suppressing the pathetic tears that were welling up.
“Rong Guang?” A voice that was slightly cool, yet always carried a lazy drawl at the end, called out Rong Guang’s name.
Rong Guang was stunned. Recognizing it as Chu Feiliang’s voice, she instantly looked up. “Wh-what?”
Chu Feiliang sat up a little straighter, her expression softening. When she looked at Rong Guang, she was like the gentlest older sister looking kindly at a younger one. “Are you nervous?”
“No…” Rong Guang swallowed stiffly. She was about to deny it, but then she remembered that Chu Feiliang detested lies the most. She immediately stopped shaking her head and said, “A little nervous.”
“Don’t be afraid.” Chu Feiliang smiled reassuringly. “I’ve seen your previous audition clip. You did very well. Just perform as you normally would.”
Rong Guang’s face flushed with excitement. She never imagined that she would hear these words, which should have come much later, at this moment.
Chu Feiliang had an impression of her… This was the best possible start!
Suppressing her excitement, Rong Guang nodded. “Okay!”
Because of this exchange, the originally noisy set suddenly fell silent.
From the moment Chu Feiliang had entered, she had been the visual focal point for everyone.
There are some people who, even if they are just sitting there casually, can capture everyone’s eyes, making it impossible to look away.
However, throughout the entire audition, besides communicating with Zhang Nanchuan, Li Yan, and others about work matters, Chu Feiliang hadn’t spoken to anyone else.
Even the few specially invited actors who tried to approach her were stopped by Chu Feiliang’s assistant, who handled all external communication.
This was the first time Chu Feiliang had raised her voice to a level that many could hear, speaking to another auditioning actor.
“Oh my god, I’m going crazy with jealousy!” A girl offstage jumped up and down in excitement. “This is the first time I’ve been this close to Chu Feiliang, ahhh! I have to post this in the group chat! Help, did anyone bring a camera? My phone’s camera is too low-res to get a good shot!”
A small hand suddenly extended from the side, struggling to hold up a high-definition camera.
Chacha had a righteous expression on her face. “Here.”
The girl who had been speaking was taken aback.
“Weren’t you going to take pictures?” Chacha’s eyes glinted. “Take a few more.”
The camera was so heavy.
She was so tired of holding it.
“Th-thank you…?” The girl felt like something wasn’t quite right.
But the opportunity was right in front of her, and it would be a waste not to take it.
She took the camera and began to diligently take pictures, all the while begging Chacha to send her the photos afterward.
Chacha nodded magnanimously. “Of course.”
Chacha was a very generous Chacha.
Rong Guang, over on the stage, was completely unaware of all this. After the assistant actor playing the Eldest Princess was in position, Rong Guang looked around, found a potted plant about half a person’s height in the corner, and moved it to a spot about three steps away from the assistant actor.
She looked up, brushed the dirt from her hands, and smiled.
Chu Feiliang was somewhat surprised.
Zhang Nanchuan, however, was very satisfied. He turned his head and whispered to her, “The one you picked is not bad, huh? She’s the first one all week to have any awareness of her positioning.”
