Ding Yaxin was just released from her closed training when she was sent here to audition. She hasn’t even gotten her phone back yet.
For the past two weeks, Ding Yaxin has been cut off from the outside world. She has no idea what methods Cheng Youyou used to actually get her to audition together.
Ding Yaxin, who had originally been completely uninterested in this role, has reignited her fighting spirit.
Great, she was just about to find Cheng Youyou to snatch her resources, and now Cheng Youyou has come to her doorstep.
No matter what role Cheng Youyou plays, Ding Yaxin must snatch it away.
Ding Yaxin, who had been quiet the whole time, interrupted Shen Nanrong: “Do you know what role Cheng Youyou is playing?”
She hadn’t said anything the whole time, so everyone was startled when she suddenly spoke.
Zhang Kai glanced at Ding Yaxin and said, “Are you here for an audition as well?”
Ding Yaxin didn’t answer Zhang Kai, but asked again: “What role is Cheng Youyou playing?”
Shen Nanrong was about to speak, but when he saw Zhang Kai’s slightly frowning expression, he shook his head and said, “I don’t know.”
Ding Yaxin hit a wall and fell into silence again. She silently called out the system panel and began to pick out props to trip up Cheng Youyou.
Ever since her popularity has been declining, many items in the system mall have turned gray and cannot be used.
The few remaining props that can be used are either of little use or require money to purchase.
Ding Yaxin hasn’t made any money during this period, and she has actually lost quite a bit. Her already meager savings are dwindling, and the thought of it makes her furious.
While Ding Yaxin was feeling upset and troubled, the other three were chatting away quite comfortably.
“Teacher Zhang, do you watch this show too? ” Qian Siying asked.
Zhang Kai nodded his head, “Not only have I watched it, I’ve even been on it.”
Zhang Kai held up three fingers, “I’ve been on it three times. Xu Ning can always find something to make me cry. I went on three times and cried three times. I’m so embarrassed.”
However, all that changed after Zhang Kai met Xu Ning. Every time Zhang Kai went on “The World,” he cried once. He went on three times and cried three times.
Even on Bilibili, there are countless clips of Zhang Kai crying, with titles like “Tough Guy Zhang Kai Crying His Heart Out.”
Feeling angry, Zhang Kai clenched his fist, “It’s so satisfying. Cheng Youyou really got back at him for me. Even Xu Ning has her off days!”
Ding Yaxin tried to suppress her frustration. She was furious. Cheng Youyou had actually appeared on the national talk show “Look At Your World”1this is the original title of “The World” the author used the shortcut in the past chapters during her closed training!
“Cheng Youyou seems to be really popular lately. I’ve seen huge posters of her in several cities, ” Qian Siying said. “She’s really pretty too.”
Shen Nanrong replied, “She didn’t get famous just because she’s pretty. Didn’t Cheng Youyou just become the spokesperson for Xiaolan Shu? Those posters you saw were all Xiaolan Shu’s street marketing.”
Qian Siying is a workaholic. She usually focuses all her attention on her work and doesn’t pay much attention to other things in the entertainment industry.
But even if she doesn’t know much, she still knows about Xiaolan Shu. “Hasn’t Xiaolan Shu never had a spokesperson before?”
Qian Siying has also collaborated with Xiaolan Shu before, participating in a limited-time promotional event.
Shen Nanrong replied, “But this time they did, and it’s Cheng Youyou.”
Shen Nanrong felt a bit envious. “In our industry, sometimes you can skyrocket overnight. Cheng Youyou recently went to a fashion charity auction, and her popularity has surged again.”
Shen Nanrong is well-informed. “I also heard that Cheng Youyou single-handedly made a variety show popular. A niche variety show now has a bunch of sponsors lining up to invest.”
With a loud bang, Ding Yaxin slammed her fist on the chair. Her chest heaved up and down as she breathed heavily.
The other three looked at each other, puzzled.
Ding Yaxin was about to go crazy. She had only been in closed training for two weeks, and Cheng Youyou had already made such a big splash, secured so many resources, and gained so much popularity.
Originally, all of this should have belonged to Ding Yaxin. After all, Ding Yaxin’s wealth-absorbing system was linked to Cheng Youyou.
Never mind, Ding Yaxin decided. This time, she must get Cheng Youyou’s role. No matter what Cheng Youyou played, she would replace her.
Ding Yaxin’s system had long calculated that Cheng Youyou was a child of destiny, so snatching the role from Cheng Youyou was definitely the right thing to do.
In the blink of an eye, it was already 3:40 PM.
The door to the “Those Times” room opened, and an assistant director walked out. “Director Chen will be here soon. Please wait a moment, everyone. ”
As he spoke, he flipped through the script, confirming again, “Teacher Zhang is trying out for the role of Mr. Gu today. He’s the first one to audition today, right?”
Zhang Kai nodded, “Sure, you guys always look out for me, worried that I’ll be tired from waiting too long.”
The assistant director then confirmed the audition scenes and times with Qian Siying and Shen Nanrong, and both of them agreed.
When it came to Ding Yaxin, before the assistant director could say anything, Ding Yaxin asked, “What role is Cheng Youyou playing?”
The assistant director glanced at her and didn’t expect that Ding Yaxin, who was the least famous and had the fewest roles, was even more difficult to communicate with than the other big-name actors.
“Both you and Cheng Youyou are auditioning for the second female lead, Zhou Yueru, a wealthy heiress.”
Buzz, Ding Yaxin’s mind went blank.
But she quickly recovered. Ding Yaxin grabbed the assistant director: “Wait a minute, I’ve already signed the contract. I’m playing Zhou Yueru. Why is Cheng Youyou also auditioning for this role?”
The assistant director impatiently pulled his arm away from Ding Yaxin: “I don’t know, that’s how Director Chen arranged it.”
As they were talking, Chen Yimin happened to come over.
Ding Yaxin immediately shut her mouth. She didn’t know what had changed, but she was certain of one thing: any resource Cheng Youyou was involved with would definitely be good. She was determined to get it, no matter what.
In fact, Chen Yimin and Ding Yaxin’s agency had indeed signed a contract, but it was a resource exchange contract. Ding Yaxin’s agency invested 10 million in Chen Yimin’s film, and in return, Chen Yimin reserved a role in his film for Ding Yaxin’s agency.
As for what the role is and who will be chosen to play it, Chen Yimin has not made it clear.
Chen Yimin himself was not willing to be constrained by the investors and affect his casting, but when he switched to making a youth film this time, he still encountered the problem of funding shortage. So, despite being the director, he sometimes had to consider the opinions of the investors.
Ding Yaxin’s agency did not invest the 10 million just for Ding Yaxin. After all, the agency was attracted by Chen Yimin’s fame, and they also wanted to take this opportunity to promote someone from their own company.
Chen Yimin: “Is everyone here? Let’s get started.”
Assistant director: “Cheng Youyou hasn’t arrived yet.”
Her chance had come. Ding Yaxin was determined to slander Cheng Youyou and make her lose this opportunity before she even had a chance to audition.
Ding Yaxin said, “Everyone else is here, but she’s the only one missing. Cheng Youyou really has no sense of time. ”
Chen Yimin glanced at his watch. Ding Yaxin continued to chatter, “She’s late for the first audition. If she were to join the crew for filming, and the props and sets were all ready, would we just wait around for her?”
Zhang Kai interrupted Ding Yaxin: “There are still five minutes left. Didn’t we agree to have the audition at four o’clock?”
The assistant director glanced at Ding Yaxin, who was acting weird, and said, “When we’re actually filming, it’s best for actors not to arrive at the set too early, otherwise it will disrupt our staff’s work on the set.”
Ding Yaxin: …
Ding Yaxin was speechless.
Chen Yimin looked at Ding Yaxin, who had been put in her place, and didn’t say a word. He turned to go into the room when he suddenly heard the click-clack of high heels.
The sound came from the corner of the corridor and grew louder.
The footsteps were hurried but the interval between each step was perfectly consistent, as if to suggest that the person making the noise was in a hurry but not at all flustered.
Everyone in the corridor, including Director Chen and the four actors, was drawn to the sound of the footsteps. Involuntarily, they followed the sound and looked towards the end of the corridor.
As the sound drew nearer, they looked up to see Cheng Youyou at the end of the corridor.
The soft yellow light of the corridor illuminated her delicate features, as if a layer of mist were floating on her face.
In her left hand , Cheng Youyou was carrying seven or eight bags, and in her right hand, she was carrying another seven or eight bags.
She walked slowly and carefully, as if she were carrying the most precious treasures. She was so gentle with the bags, as if afraid of damaging them with the slightest wrong move.
Director Chen and his group were still a distance away from Cheng Youyou and couldn’t see the logos on the bags clearly. However, just by looking at the material, they could tell that the bags were expensive designer brands.
Cheng Youyou walked closer, and her blurry figure came into focus. Chen Yimin felt as if he had just woken up from a dream. Cheng Youyou reached out and glanced at the watch she had just bought, with the price tag still attached. “Sorry, I’m late,” she said.
The time is now 3:59, and there is still one minute left until the agreed audition time.
Chen Yimin looked at the bags in Cheng Youyou’s hands and asked, “Where did you get this from?”
“The Starlight Plaza is having an anniversary sale, so I just went shopping,” Cheng Youyou replied. As if thinking of something else, she wanted to elaborate on her explanation.
Cheng Youyou raised her little finger, showing off the luxury car key, as if explaining something obvious. “My car is in the underground parking lot. Going back and forth would have taken too much time, so I came straight here after shopping.”
Chen Yimin saw the logo on the bag in Cheng Youyou’s hand clearly. Even though he was a straight man who didn’t know much about luxury brands, he could recognize that every bag Cheng Youyou was carrying was a high-end item.
Then he noticed the price tag still attached to the watch on her wrist and the luxury car key dangling from her little finger. Seeing Cheng Youyou’s indifferent attitude, as if everything in the world should be this way, Chen Yimin clapped his hands and exclaimed, “Amazing! It’s perfect! Cheng Youyou is definitely Zhou Yueru!”
Time stood still at exactly 4 o’clock. The Zhou Yueru in Chen Yimin’s mind was exactly like this: a woman who lived a life of luxury, spending money lavishly, and who seemed to believe that the world should revolve around her.
It was precisely because of these personality traits that Zhou Yueru looked down on the female lead, who came from a much different background. This was the root cause of her subsequent bullying of the female lead and her efforts to prevent her from being with the male lead.
Chen Yimin exclaimed excitedly, “Perfect! Perfect! Cheng Youyou is exactly Zhou Yueru!”
Ding Yaxin coughed loudly, trying to get his attention. “Director Chen, we haven’t even auditioned yet. Why don’t you see on camera who’s more suitable for the role, me or Cheng Youyou?” Chen Yimin looked at Ding Yaxin and replied, “Alright, I’ll decide after the auditions.”
Although Ding Yaxin’s words were a bit abrupt, Chen Yimin actually agreed with her. After all, there are many actors whose performances in front of the camera are quite different from their off-camera personalities.
Cheng Youyou only then noticed Ding Yaxin. She stared at Ding Yaxin in disbelief, and their eyes met. Both of them read a few words from each other’s eyes: “How could it be you?”
Cheng Youyou and Ding Yaxin’s thoughts were working rapidly at this moment.
Ding Yaxin thought to herself: “The more Chen Yimin likes Cheng Youyou, the more it means this role is going to be a big hit. If I can snatch this role away from her, then the opportunities to become famous and make a lot of money will all be mine.”
Cheng Youyou thought to herself: “With Ding Yaxin having a system to help her, there’s no hope for me to win this role. She’s definitely going to steal it from me.”
Since the situation has come to this, Cheng Youyou was prepared for her audition to fail.
Cheng Youyou started thinking about her next step. She thought to herself, “Starlight Plaza closes at 10 pm. If things go well here and I get eliminated quickly, then it won’t waste my time for continuing my shopping spree. ”
As planned.
Cheng Youyou had already planned to go back to Starlight Plaza immediately after the audition.
The assistant director announced today’s arrangement: “Cheng Youyou and Ding Yaxin will both audition for the role of Zhou Yueru. You two will be the last ones to try.”
The assistant director checked his phone and said, “Your audition time is tentatively set for 6: 30 PM. Is that okay with you?” Ding Yaxin replied, “No problem.”
Cheng Youyou frowned and asked, “You mean half past six? I still have to wait another two and a half hours?”
Two and a half hours! I can buy so many good things in that time!
Starlight Plaza’s anniversary sale is only for one day, and there are many limited edition items that are only sold today. If I miss this opportunity, I’ll never get another chance.
Ding Yaxin taunted, “Oh, Youyou, you can’t wait? What’s so important that it’s more important than the audition? Or maybe you don’t even plan to take this role seriously?”
Cheng Youyou only had shopping in her mind. She asked the assistant director: “I want to audition in advance, is that okay?”
Ding Yaxin sneered, “Do you think this is your personal film set? You can audition whenever you want? There are big-name stars and film queens waiting, and you want to jump ahead of them?”
Zhang Kai was the first to make his stance clear: “It’s fine with me.” Qian Siying and Shen Nanrong also said: “It’s fine with us.” Who wants to be labeled as a big shot by Ding Yaxin? The three of them made their stance clear at the same time.
Ding Yaxin asked, “Even if everyone else doesn’t mind, have you asked Director Chen’s opinion?”
Chen Yimin turned around and said, “Alright, let Cheng Youyou go first.”
Ding Yaxin: …
When Chen Yimin left, he said to himself: “That’s right, I want this attitude that the whole world has to revolve around me.”
Cheng Youyou and Ding Yaxin entered the room at the same time for their scene audition. This scene was about Zhou Yueru’s reaction after she learned that the male lead had prepared a birthday surprise for the female lead.
Ding Yaxin went first. She sat on the sofa in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. The assistant director said the lines of Zhou Yueru’s secretary: “Miss, Song Ruisi ordered 999 roses. He might confess to Yue Xiaobai today.”
Ding Yaxin stood up suddenly: “Say it again!” She screamed at the top of her lungs, and then without waiting for the secretary to answer, Ding Yaxin dejectedly and slowly sat down on the sofa.
She collapsed on the sofa, and her voice softening. After a few seconds, Ding Yaxin seemed to have exhausted all her strength and said dejectedly: “Is he really going to be with her?”
Ding Yaxin shook her head again, “They’re really together?” Her voice was even lower this time.
She sank deeper and deeper into the sofa. Suddenly, Ding Yaxin sat up abruptly, “No! I can’t let them be together!”
“Cut! ” Chen Yimin called cut, still shocked by Ding Yaxin’s performance. He hadn’t expected that the actress, who was basically thrown into the project by the investors, had such a strong ability to switch between different emotions. In just a few minutes, Ding Yaxin had perfectly portrayed a wide range of emotions.
Chen Yimin said to Ding Yaxin, “Very good, very good indeed. You can rest on the side for now.” Ding Yaxin pursed her lips and left the sofa with a look of satisfaction.
She looked at Cheng Youyou and thought to herself that the two weeks of acting training she had undergone had not been in vain.
Next, it was Cheng Youyou’s turn. Just like Ding Yaxin, Cheng Youyou sat on the sofa beneath the large floor-to-ceiling window.
Cheng Youyou reviewed the plot once more. Zhou Yueru, a wealthy heiress, had always been in love with Song Ruisi, her childhood sweetheart from a similarly wealthy family. They grew up together, attended the same school, and she was also deeply favored by Mrs. Song. In Zhou Yueru’s heart, marrying into the Song family and becoming Mrs. Song was merely a matter of time.
Zhou Yueru’s noble background didn’t allow her to easily doubt herself. Chen Yimin called out, “Action!”
Cheng Youyou sat on the sofa, her back facing Chen Yimin.
The assistant director who played the secretary said the same line as before: “Miss, Song Ruisi ordered 999 roses. He might confess to Yue Xiaobai today.” Cheng Youyou didn’t move; it was as if she hadn’t heard.
Time flowed quietly, and it seemed like two or three seconds had passed. In this quiet environment, Chen Yimin felt the powerful aura brought by Cheng Youyou.
Cheng Youyou still didn’t turn around; her voice was cold, “Really, they’re together?”
Cheng Youyou turned around, and just as the secretary was about to speak, Cheng Youyou’s phone suddenly rang loudly. The ringing of the phone became louder and louder, sounding particularly abrupt and chaotic in that moment.
Chen Yimin rubbed his head in annoyance. He couldn’t understand why some actors would not turn their phones to silent mode during auditions.
No one noticed that Ding Yaxin, standing nearby, had twisted her mouth slightly into a smile.
This prop, the “suddenly ringing phone,” was specifically chosen for Cheng Youyou by Ding Yaxin from the system’s store. The use of this prop would definitely disrupt Cheng Youyou’s acting rhythm.
As long as the rhythm is disrupted, and Cheng Youyou makes a mistake, Chen Yimin would definitely not use an actress who couldn’t act properly.
Cheng Youyou’s phone continued to ring without any sign of stopping. The noisy ringtone echoed throughout the room.
Chen Yimin was already agitated. He waved to a staff member next to him and said, “Let’s wrap this up.” Just as the staff member was about to interrupt, Cheng Youyou answered the phone.
Her voice was as cold as before, devoid of any warmth, “Who is this?”
For some reason, the voice on the other end of Cheng Youyou’s phone was exceptionally clear, “Hello, this is Starlight Plaza. The bag you ordered is now in stock. Just to confirm, is it the 16-inch one you wanted?”
Every time the system’s props are used, the scenario and reason for its appearance are made to seem plausible.
Cheng Youyou’s voice remained cold, but for some reason, there was a hint of pride in her icy tone this time. “Only 16 inches? Are the other bags still out of stock? ”
Chen Yimin frowned upon hearing this.
Ding Yaxin was secretly pleased. She realized that Cheng Youyou wasn’t just having her rhythm disrupted; she was completely led astray by the person on the other end of the phone.
Ding Yaxin was very happy. The 2000 yuan she spent on the prop was worth it.
A voice came from the other end of the phone, “We also have 18-inch ones, and 22-inch ones are in stock too, but I personally think the 22-inch is a bit too big for everyday use.”
Cheng Youyou narrowed her eyes slightly, her tone tinged with disdain, “I don’t care, I’ll take them all.”
The person on the other end of the phone complimented: “Alright, I’ll register your order. Have a nice day.”
Cheng Youyou hung up the phone and stared blankly into the distance, her current emotions seemingly unreadable.
Without changing her posture, Cheng Youyou murmured softly, “Yeah, with so many bags, why would I care about those empty feelings of love?”
The staff member wanted to interrupt Cheng Youyou, but Chen Yimin raised his hand to stop them, whispering, “She’s still in character.”
Cheng Youyou turned to the secretary and asked, “He only ordered 999 roses for her? ” The assistant director, who was acting opposite her, didn’t follow her train of thought, “Who are you talking about? ”
Cheng Youyou pursed her lips. If Chen Yimin hadn’t been staring at her, he wouldn’t have noticed the subtle changes in her expression.
Cheng Youyou remained haughty and indifferent, sitting up straight and elegantly, “Song Ruisi.” Her expression didn’t change, but when she said those three words, there was an added touch of tenderness, as if they sounded better than anything else she had said today.
The assistant director, playing the role of the secretary, said, “Yes, Mr. Song gave 999 roses to Yue Xiaobai”
“She agreed to that?” Cheng Youyou raised an eyebrow, her tone disdainful.
The assistant director turned to ask Chen Yimin. Chen Yimin replied, “Keep going with the scene.”
The assistant director, biting his lip, improvised, “Yes, she agreed, and Yue Xiaobai was overjoyed. ”
“Heh,” Cheng Youyou snorted, “I’m not someone who can be fooled by a few roses.”
Cheng Youyou stood up, her head held high in pride, “I wouldn’t even look at 999 roses. If it were me, I’d need 9,999 drones, each carrying a French rose with dew on it, before I’d even consider gazing up.”
The assistant director responded, bewildered, “Huh?”
Without even looking at the assistant director, Cheng Youyou continued her fantasy, “And that’s not enough. There should be a diamond ring hidden in each flower.”
“Then maybe I could give Song Ruisi a chance,” she said.
Cheng Youyou never left the sofa from beginning to end. Resting her hand on the armrest, she said, “So it’s because Song Ruisi knew he couldn’t chase after me that he went for cheaper girls.”
Cheng Youyou took a deep breath, as if she had never been defeated. “It’s me, Zhou Yueru, who doesn’t need Song Ruisi!”
Cheng Youyou clenched her fingers on the sofa, her knuckles turning white.
Chen Yimin noticed and shouted, “Cut!” Then he excitedly rushed towards Cheng Youyou, “You are Zhou Yueru! No one is more suitable for this role!”
Zhou Yueru was supposed to be this arrogant. Coming from a wealthy family, she would never admit defeat. Never. She would fill the void in her emotions with a lot of material possessions.
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