Chapter 130 - Superb Acting

"Haha, Zhao Hua, we didn't know you would be auditioning too." A group of women approached Zhao Hua.

"Sister Hua, if you had informed us, we could at least have at least prepared us a little better to stand a chance against you."

"Stop joking! With Sister Hua in here, how can we still hope to win the role? It would be lucky enough if we are called in for the audition."

Girls flocked around Zhao Hua. Shun the underprivileged and seek the prospering. No matter the place, the same rule was employed.

Zhao Hua enjoyed the company, laughing and making small jokes on occasions. But her mind was elsewhere. She was eagerly waiting for Chen Yi to show up and face disappointment...

"Maybe she learned somehow that Sister Hua is going to audition and lost the confidence to even show up?" Her assistant suggested.

"Hmm, it's not unlikely. Maybe she read the message sent by Brother Qin." 

Auditions started but Chen Yi was nowhere to be found. One after another, girls auditioned. Most of them were rejected after a couple of lines and sent home. A few names were put on the selection list.

"What do you say, Director Song? Aren't her looks superior? Even her aura fits the antagonistic role of our genera, Dark Fantasy." The Assistant Director said after Zhao Hua entered the room.

After a great deal of reluctance, Director Song squeezed out a nod in agreement. He couldn't help himself but say. "That's most probably because she got the assistance of her company's stylists. You do know that our budget is limited? No way we can hire such expensive artists for the makeup."

Producer Wang laughed heartily, patting the Director's back with forceful strokes. "Song Wei, you are always like this. The one who moves you in one sweep, no matter we bring you gold, you would still be biased for him."

"I'm open to a change of opinion. That is if this girl has the ability to."

"Haha, don't just get all grumpy now. All right, I was just joking."

Zhao Hua introduced herself. She was provided with a script from the Movie.

It was the part where the Vampire Princess meets the Male Lead for the first time. She finds him wounded in a cage.

The princess had been bored, she had set out on a stroll to the area where human slaves were bought and sold. Moved by the beautiful looks of the caged boy, she takes an interest in him. 

"Start!" The stage assistants arranged the settings and gave the green signals. 

The lights went out.

A second later, a flashlight illuminated Zhao Hua.

She closed her eyes and opened them, getting into the role.

Her lips curled up into a cold smile, her eyes had no change. The smile looked ruthless as she stared into the eyes of the dummy. 

"Pretty little thing, aren't you?" Traces of condensation appeared in her expressions, her eyes lingered on the filth on the dummy's face. "How difficult it would have been to lay here all day in filth and mud, watching people passing you, looking at you like some animal." She let out a loud, emotionless laugh. "Would you want a place where you can keep yourself warm and fed?"

...

"What do you think?" Producer Wang asked.

"I refuse to express my opinion, you are going to accuse me of being biased anyways." Someone who had had a taste of heavenly wine, would he ever settle for the highest quality mortal wine? That was the state of Director Song's mind.

"Her manner was refined, no shaking and she did it in her first attempt." The assistant director getting a taste of their Director's reservations towards Zhao Hua continued to praise her.

But not a ripple of softness appeared on Director's face.

A couple of more candidates passed by, none of them being the ones everyone sought.

"Song Wei, where is your favorite. I am getting anxious now." Producer Wang joked.

"She should be here." Song Wei's forehead scrunched up into a frown. He beckoned an assistant over, tasking him to look out for Chen Yi.

However, the assistant returned with bad news. He hadn't found Chen Yi among the waiting girls. Chen Yi had most likely not arrived at the venue.

"Maybe, she got delayed for some reason."

"An actress who fails to show on an audition in time, you can tell how would she fare in the movie." The Assistant Director was proved with a chance to chide. 

Director Song may have wanted to but he couldn't voice out his antagonism to that. He sighed. Maybe his assistant director was right. Maybe he was being obstinate.

In anyways, now if Chen Yi wished to pass, she would have to surpass Zhao Hua by astonishing contrast.

That was going to be difficult. Because Zhao Hua had the help of the best stylist and makeup artists out there while the girl he was hopeful for... Director Song wasn't sure about her.

Director Song sighed again. His hands closing the file, he was going to end the audition for today.

It was at this moment, someone walked in. 

"Oh, there is someone we were looking for." Producer Wang delighted words halted Song Wei's hands midway before they could close the files and terminate the audition process.

Chen Yi looked up at the stage, finding curious glances at her. Unaware that they already knew her name, she introduced herself and bowed as a greeting.

Taking on the script, she read through it.

She took her time reading it, understanding the character's emotions and motives behind their dialogues.

When the cage was brought close to her, she handed the script to the stage assistant. 

She closed her eyes. After a moment, when the lights in the Hall turned off and the spotlight landed on her, her eyes were already open.

She had already gotten into the role.

Fascination danced in her eyes. Her lips parted in surprise before curling up into a smile. Bending her knees to being her eyes on the level of the dummy's, her smile progressed into a cold smirk.

"Pretty little thing, aren't you." Her eyes looked up and down the dummy. Disgust appeared in them taking note of its dirty appearance.

However, when her eyes caught the sight of 'supposed' subtle prettiness, they revealed a trace of infatuation. "How difficult it would have been to lay here all day in filth and mud, watching people passing you, looking at you like some animal."

She let out a loud laugh but it was not emotionless, it had an undertone of sadness. As if the princess could see herself in the cage, imprisoned and helpless.

The transition from disgust to pity was smooth, their dynamics excellent.

"Now would you want a place where you can keep yourself warm and fed?"