Gu Qingtong’s words were spot-on, hitting the nail on the head. Ren Zhi had been pretending to be aloof. The disdainful expression she had just put on faded away, and a sense of urgency crept into her tone as she said:
“Delusional much? Who cares about you enough to consider you a rival? You’re just fanning the flames of your own publicity while denying it. Everyone in the entertainment industry is cunning, don’t play innocent with me.”
Her company had gone to great lengths to manipulate the situation and manipulate trends by piggybacking off Yan Chi’s popularity. After all, Yan Chi was quite a sensation. Ren Zhi naturally assumed that everyone else’s negative publicity was also bought for the sake of generating attention. Just as she uttered these words, the door was pushed open once again.
This time, two people entered simultaneously.
Ren Zhi’s words seemed to have been heard by them, and both of them looked up at the confrontation between Gu Qingtong and Ren Zhi. Their expressions carried a subtle undertone that spoke volumes.
Gu Qingtong recognized them as well – the two were Fu Keqi and Tang Yun. Both were marketing figures in the industry, using controversies and unverified rumors to stir up attention regularly. They had decent acting skills and a certain level of fame. However, due to their overlapping positioning, they often competed for resources, earning them the title of “plastic sisters” in the industry.
They could be seen promoting together on the red carpet one moment, and then aggressively vying for the upper hand on social media the next. Even Gu Qingtong had witnessed their online battles quite frequently.
Now, with them once again competing for the same role, the situation was undeniably filled with drama.
During this period, despite the online attention that Gu Qingtong garnered, both sides were not holding back in their behind-the-scenes attacks against each other. Every few days, they had their marketing accounts release a bundle of the other party’s negative information.
While Gu Qingtong didn’t have concrete evidence, based on the typical strategies employed by both companies, it was highly likely that the negative trending topics were the result of concerted efforts from both Fu Keqi and Tang Yun’s teams.
Her speculation was accurate. Indeed, those two trending topics were bought separately by the companies representing Fu Keqi and Tang Yun. Although they couldn’t stand each other, they understood that when facing a formidable rival, the priority was to handle Gu Qingtong first and then deal with each other later.
This was the reality of the entertainment industry – a place where resources were fiercely fought over, and smear campaigns were common. When Gu Qingtong was still a nobody, nobody cared to spare her a second glance. But once she gained fame, she had to face these challenges head-on.
Unless you possess the strength to embarrass everyone else, or you’ve reached the level where nobody dares to target you, like Yan Chi. Gu Qingtong was no stranger to such animosity, so her gaze towards the two individuals remained rather composed.
“Oh, isn’t this Xiao Zhi? And there’s a sister I don’t recognize. What’s going on? Are you already quarreling before the audition even starts?”
Fu Keqi was acquainted with Ren Zhi. Though not close, upon arrival, she immediately formed an alliance, addressing her affectionately as “Xiao Zhi,” which was in stark contrast to how she referred to Gu Qingtong as “someone I don’t recognize.”
Both Fu Keqi and Tang Yun were aware that the other had bought negative trending topics for Gu Qingtong. However, with a scapegoat present, it was only natural to try to appear innocent.
“Big Sister Keqi, Big Sister Tang Yun.”
Although Ren Zhi didn’t hold these two “black material enthusiasts” in high regard, the current situation naturally prompted them to unite in order to edge out Gu Qingtong, who had the most advantage and popularity. Besides, Ren Zhi entered the industry later than them; they were her seniors. No matter how aloof she was, she still had to put on a facade.
“I’m just unable to overlook certain people who behave so unscrupulously. Not only did they purchase trending topics to build hype for themselves on the day of the audition, but they also deny it and insist that someone else is sabotaging them. There are only five of us competing for the role of Xuan Yao. Isn’t someone’s implication that the other four of us are envious of her? She hasn’t even acted in any movies, who does she think she is? How shameless.”
Ren Zhi immediately pinned the blame on Gu Qingtong, accusing her of unfairly implicating everyone else.
“I understand now. Little sister, the reason Xiao Zhi is upset is because you falsely accused her, right? After all, without evidence, you shouldn’t casually implicate anyone. While we are competitors, it’s still important for us to compete fairly. Buying a trending topic all by yourself is quite unethical. Everyone here is your senior. Accusing seniors like this could harm your reputation.”
Fu Keqi looked at Gu Qingtong and spoke with a smile, but her words were laced with accusations, a concealed blade within her humor.
Hearing this, Tang Yun almost burst out laughing. Isn’t it the two of us who bought the trending topics?
While thinking that Gu Qingtong was quite foolish, she chimed in: “Today, even we haven’t made it to the trending topics. How could we have spare time to promote your debut?”
They didn’t buy trending topics for themselves to avoid drawing too much attention. They had secured trending spots throughout the week leading up to the announcement of the audition participants.
Today ‘Fu Keqi’s Cool Style’ and tomorrow ‘Tang Yun’s Girlish Charm’ are both trending hot.”
“No, you’ve got it wrong. I never said that buying those trending topics was meant to harm me. Not only did it promote my acting skills, but it also dismantled the forced CP1Couple Pairing dynamics. They put their money and effort into it. They’re much more reliable than my lousy company. I’m grateful to them, so why should I blame them for hurting me?”
Gu Qingtong looked at the group with her eyes sparkling, genuinely seeming unbothered. Her words almost choked Fu and Tang2Referring to Fu Keqi and Tang Yun, who were the ones she referred to as “contributing their money and effort.”
Especially for Tang Yun, she had bought the trending topic related to acting and even spent money to remove the trending topic. It was as if she had lost both the wife and the soldiers3Chinese idiom that means suffering a double loss or ending up worse off than before in a situation., causing her to suffer a great loss.
Helping Gu Qingtong counter-promote for free nearly drove her crazy.
“Oh, and are all of you here seniors? I don’t think so. Six years ago, I acted in my first drama, and three years ago when I was a stand-in extra at Hengdian, Miss Ren hadn’t even made her debut. Why would a so-called senior come to suppress me?”
In the entertainment industry, the hierarchy is often like Schrödinger’s cat: As long as you’re not famous enough, people like to bring up their seniority. While Gu Qingtong might not be as famous as the others, she had managed to outlast many who started their careers alongside her, step by step.
This situation owes much to Yun Mingxuan’s trick on Gu Qingtong back in the day. Most people who see her young age right after graduating would subconsciously think of her as a fresh-faced newcomer.
Just as the other three were left speechless by Gu Qingtong’s response, the door of the small dark room where they were to perform suddenly swung open, nearly startling everyone.
Only then did they realize that the final auditionee had already arrived, but had been inside the room all along and had just emerged. However, this person wasn’t the less familiar name mentioned earlier by Gu Qingtong; instead, it was someone unexpected by all – Tan Siying.
Tan Siying was a true first-tier young actress, skilled and diligent, well-known for her hard work. She didn’t come from a formal acting background; she was discovered by a director when working as an extra. Starting from supporting roles, she eventually rose to play lead roles in just three years, becoming one of the rising stars in the TV drama industry.
If you really have to point out any shortcomings, it would probably be that she has never ventured into the world of movies. No one knows how her performance on the big screen would turn out. So, when everyone saw her at that moment, it was quite shocking.
It can be said that Tan Siying’s appearance has practically sealed the fate of this competition. What’s left to audition for? Isn’t the role of Xuan Yao tailor-made for her?! All the scheming and maneuvering by Fu Keqi and Tang Yun suddenly lost their significance.
Right now, everyone’s faces displayed a mix of shock and speechlessness. Even more so for Ren Zhi – she had attacked Gu Qingtong’s lack of experience on the big screen multiple times just now, not realizing that Tan Siying was in the room, and her words might have been overheard.
Now she had insulted the wrong person and managed to offend the A-list actress…
Tan Siying’s gaze landed on Gu Qingtong’s face, a moment of understanding flickering in her eyes.
The look was somewhat strange, prompting Gu Qingtong to meet her gaze. Although there was a fleeting moment of despair when she realized what was happening, she forced herself to calm down.
What mattered now was to perform well. Even if she didn’t get the role, it would still be an incredibly valuable experience. Seeing Gu Qingtong’s inquisitive gaze, Tan Siying even smiled and nodded at her.
Then she turned her gaze towards Ren Zhi, and indeed smiled as she said:
“I’ve heard that auditions in the film industry are quite intense, and newcomers from the television world aren’t always well-received. It seems I was a bit impulsive, having never acted in a movie before. I’ll definitely need everyone’s guidance to make the transition smoothly.”
She almost called out Ren Zhi’s name directly, especially after being subtly insulted by her earlier. Although Ren Zhi did indeed look down on TV actors, she seemed to back down in front of Tan Siying. She quickly said:
“I didn’t mean it that way. Senior Tan, you’re different. You’re just waiting for the right opportunity, and your acting skills are definitely up to par…”
However, Tan Siying didn’t even spare her a glance and looked at Fu and Tang:
“I fully agree with what you said about fair competition and I’m looking forward to competing fairly with all of you. So, how do we factor in the week of pre-audition trending topics you all had? We can’t just ignore it, otherwise it wouldn’t be fair .”
Quite the “fair competition.”
“Trending topics… It shouldn’t have any impact on the casting, as Director Yuan is not someone who follows trends…”
“Why did Big sister Siying suddenly start doing movies? And why take on such a minor supporting role? It’s really wasting her talent, isn’t it?”
Fu Keqi stuttered, trying to subtly discourage Tan Siying from participating.
“Of course, it’s because of all you seniors. Despite having more experience, I’m still a newcomer in the film industry, and it wouldn’t be right for me to overshadow all of you.”
Once again, Tan Siying’s words held a hidden meaning.
The reason Tan Siying was present here was solely due to her admiration for Director Yuan Jingyu. She had been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to be a part of her new project. Even though the roles of the lead and second female leads were already cast, Tan Siying was content with starting her venture into the world of films with a smaller role and harbored no grievances.
Yuan Jingyu and Tan Siying were essentially from different circles, so naturally she wasn’t considered for the project initially. It was Tan Siying herself who, upon seeing the cast list, asked her manager to negotiate on her behalf. Coincidentally, the fourth auditioning actress for the role of the third female lead had backed out due to nervousness and inexperience, so Tan Siying took her place.
Tan Siying had just put those three individuals who had been suppressing Gu Qingtong in their place. At this moment, they could only sit quietly and ponder how it was still not Gu Qingtong’s turn to face adversity.
Amid their anticipatory gazes, Tan Siying approached Gu Qingting and took a seat beside her.
As everyone thought that Tan Siying might also confront Gu Qingtong, they were surprised to hear her say: “Hello, do you remember me?”
Initially, Gu Qingtong had some apprehensions. While Tan Siying’s gaze towards her had been odd, there was no apparent hostility. But upon hearing Tan Siying’s words, Gu Qingtong was completely taken aback, asking: “Huh? Do…do we know each other?”
From Gu Qingtong’s expression, Tan Siying had already deduced the answer. She didn’t beat around the bush any longer and smiled: “Three years ago, you saved my life on a set.”
This statement not only shocked Gu Qingtong but also surprised everyone else who had been expecting Tan Siying to confront her. How did it turn out to be a life-saving connection?!
Saving a life, what does that mean? Could it be about that explosion incident? As Tan Siying spoke, Gu Qingtong suddenly recalled the situation. Could it be that Tan Siying was the fellow background extra she had saved? They had been navigating through the explosion, both of them with deliberately smeared dirt on their faces. Given the urgency of the situation, it’s no wonder that Gu Qingtong hadn’t remembered saving the very person who was Tan Siying.
“Did it come back to you? I never had the chance to properly thank you back then. I couldn’t even add your contact information before you left to tend to your injuries,” Tan Siying remarked. Three years ago, Tan Siying was just an unknown extra, earning a mere two thousand yuan a month. She could only express her gratitude verbally.
She had initially wanted to bring something to express her gratitude to her, but after Gu Qingtong had her wounds dressed, she left the medical room directly. After that, she never ran into her again. Later, when Tan Siying got noticed by the director as a background actress, everything changed. As she gained popularity, she remembered Gu Qingtong’s life-saving act. At the time, she thought she was still working as an extra, so she even inquired about her at the film and television studio, hoping to lend her a helping hand. However, she later found out that she was a drama student who had worked there part-time for three months to hone her acting skills before leaving.
When she was preparing in the room just now, she never could have imagined that she would hear that familiar voice again.
After listening at the corner for a while, she was almost certain she hadn’t misheard. And when she opened the door, she was met with that striking face she remembered. In almost an instant, Tan Siying stepped up for Gu Qingtong, deliberately addressing those few individuals.
Gu Qingtong never thought she’d encounter her again, and her whole being was filled with excitement:
“It’s really you?! I never expected that within just three years, you’ve come from being an extra to this level. I’ve seen you in quite a few TV dramas, yet I still couldn’t recognize you!”
“It’s not like that. It’s just luck. When I saw you acting just now, I also felt quite emotional.”
After all, three years ago, both of them were extras. Now, neither of them had given up, and they had met again due to fate. It was almost like a reunion on a mountaintop.
Those three individuals extracted the key information from the openly spoken words of the two:
Tan Siying had been saved by Gu Qingtong before—she was Gu Qingtong’s support. They had hit the nail on the head! For a moment, their expressions were quite vivid.
However, upon second thought, they realized that even though Gu Qingtong was being protected, she couldn’t possibly obtain the role of Xuan Yao just like they could. After all, who could surpass Tan Siying?!
With this realization, their mood improved a bit. They felt more balanced, after all. Having support meant nothing; their end results were the same as theirs.
To their surprise, Tan Siying’s next words were:
“Do you want to get the role of Xuan Yao? If it’s important to you, I can try for other roles. I came to act in this film for Director Yuan in the first place. This role doesn’t matter to me.”
Fu Keqi was nearly choked by Tan Siying’s words. Was this gratitude taken to the extreme?
The others were a mix of envy and jealousy. Despite their unhappiness, they secretly hoped that Gu Qingtong would agree and help them chase away their formidable competitor.
However, Gu Qingtong was taken aback and quickly shook her head: “No, no way!”
She earnestly explained: “While I do want this role, I’d rather not play it if it’s obtained through such means. I’ve put in quite a bit of effort preparing for the audition, so I hope my acting skills are genuinely recognized. If I don’t get the role, I’ll just continue to work hard and improve.”
Both of them had started as body doubles and extras, gradually working their way up from small supporting roles. Tan Siying understood Gu Qingtong’s persistence and dedication, and she also realized that withdrawing from the competition would be an insult to Gu Qingtong.
So, she nodded in agreement, saying: “Then I look forward to competing with you.”
Gu Qingtong smiled back and said: “Although I’m still a bit muddled, my acting skills have improved so much compared to three years ago. You’ll see!”
The three onlookers, however, couldn’t muster a smile. The hope that had sparked when Tan Siying considered withdrawing from the audition had now vanished.
They couldn’t help but feel that Gu Qingtong was acting rather foolishly. With such a great opportunity in front of her, why was she being so stubborn? Unfortunately, the one who had the leverage of a life-saving favor wasn’t them. No matter how urgent their desire, it wouldn’t sway the outcome.
After waiting for a while, the sound of hurried footsteps from outside indicated that Yuan Jingyu had arrived with the other audition participants. At that moment, everyone sat up straight, wanting to make a good impression on the director.
As the door opened, Gu Qingtong couldn’t help but let out a quiet “huh.”
Her gaze immediately locked onto the familiar figure of Yan Chi.
Yan Chi also noticed her, and their eyes met directly, carrying a hint of inexplicable emotions. Perhaps due to not seeing each other for about a week, Yan Chi appeared just as she had at the hospital. However, today, her usually loose hair was tied up.
She had tied her hair up into a high ponytail in a traditional style, secured with a single red silk ribbon. It seemed like she had just finished trying out the look for a scene.
This new appearance made today’s Yan Chi carry a touch more of a gallant and heroic aura than usual. Her sharp facial features were well-suited for this kind of neutral style. At this moment, it was nearly impossible to divert one’s gaze from her face. She exuded a charm reminiscent of General Xuan Qingyun, the Empress in “Bai Mei Sheng.”
Indeed, on the set, Yan Chi’s allure was doubled.
Not only did she possess her inherent coolness like the moon, but she had also already entered into the state of the character. Her entire demeanor was magnified, carrying a hint of dominance and a sense of superiority over all living beings. Under the gaze of such eyes from Yan Chi, Gu Qingtong felt her cheeks inexplicably warming up.
She quickly withdrew her gaze and looked at others, not wanting to be influenced by Yan Chi’s presence. After all, she still had to audition later!
Before this moment, she had no idea that Yan Chi would be here, let alone participating in the actor selection audition. It wasn’t surprising, though, considering that Yan Chi was qualified from various aspects. It was just that Gu Qingtong felt a bit strange in her heart. The thought of performing in front of Yan Chi and being evaluated by her made her quite embarrassed.
Yan Chi, however, didn’t look away from Gu Qingtong. Just at that moment, she noticed a curious gaze from the side, directed towards Gu Qingtong. It made her realize that there seemed to be someone sitting beside Gu Qingtong.
Could it be…..Tan Siying?
Yan Chi might not pay much attention to others, but she was certainly aware of the rising stars in the industry. While she and Tan Siying worked in different realms – TV and film respectively – they had never crossed paths before.
She keenly sensed the connection between Gu Qingtong and Tan Siying, and the faint smile in her eyes diminished slightly, as if lost in thought.
The spark generated by the meeting of Gu Qingtong and Yan Chi’s gazes didn’t escape the notice of Yuan Jingyu. Her face remained calm, but her heart had already stirred up turbulent waves of surprise and suspicion.
This tension in the air….is truly palpable.
Yuan Jingyu, a female director approaching her forties, might be the epitome of an artist-director, yet her attire and demeanor aren’t eccentric. On the contrary, she exudes an approachable charm.
The appearance of Yan Chi and Yuan Jingyu immediately drew the attention of all the auditioning actors. Particularly Yan Chi, there wasn’t a junior actor who didn’t regard her with admiration and awe. In an instant, they all seemed to embody the admiration and pursuit that Xuan Yao, the younger sister of Yan Chi’s character, had for her royal sister in the story.
The gaze that Yan Chi placed on Gu Qingtong didn’t appear to be concealed, but everyone assumed it was due to their prior acquaintance on the variety show.
Gu Qingtong being repeatedly favored by these big shots further unsettled the others’ mindsets. They all thought to themselves, it’s just a stroke of luck. We’ll see how she performs during the acting, then it will be clear who’s embarrassed.
Besides Yan Chi and Yuan Jingyu, there were also a few unfamiliar assistant directors and producers, both male and female, all looking quite formal. Once about four or five of them were seated, Yuan Jingyu smiled at the group:
“Thank you all for waiting patiently. Because I have to personally oversee the selection of all the actors, I’ll have to ask you to proceed with your auditions promptly. You are the first group. After the auditions, results won’t be announced immediately. We’ll record your performances for further evaluation, and please await further instructions.”
The more formal the audition, the longer it takes for results to come out, unless the roles have already been preselected. And especially with a director like Yuan Jingyu, who maintains strict control over the final casting decisions, those who manage to get an audition slot but don’t impress her won’t shake her resolve in making her ultimate choices.
“I’ve chosen the audition scene from the last assassination attempt that ends in failure and death. You have ten minutes to prepare. Once time is up, please proceed for the shoot according to the order on the list.”
With this statement, everyone hurriedly started flipping through their scripts.
Only Gu Qingtong didn’t move, directly recalling that scene.
Throughout the week, she had practically memorized every important scene. At this moment, as soon as she mentioned which scene it was, clear dialogue and actions from the plot would appear in her mind.
It wasn’t surprising that Director Yuan chose this scene, but the description of this particular scene in the script wasn’t very detailed. Many characters’ emotions and expressions weren’t explicitly described in words, as if the incomplete script was intentionally designed to challenge the actors’ own interpretation and insight.
In fact, this had always been Yuan Jingyu’s style. She relied heavily on improvisation and inspiration on set. She never wanted her actors or her works to be confined by rigid structures.
The script merely provides a backdrop; it’s the actors’ understanding of it that is key to the performance. For Gu Qingtong, she had extensively analyzed this scene. Without opening her notes, the essential points and emotions were already vividly present in her mind.
Xuan Yao was a character who lived in the protection of her elder sister and younger brother, a timid individual despite her tough background. Thanks to them, despite her less privileged upbringing, Xuan Yao had a carefree childhood and adolescence. Even when she first heard that her younger brother had been killed by the crown prince, her initial instinct was not to take matters into her own hands but to seek the aid of her sister, Xuan Qingyun, whom she had always admired and relied upon.
Upon learning the truth, her years of belief crumbled, ignoring the vast power difference and hastily carrying a dagger to seek vengeance.
Rather than seeking revenge, it’s more accurate to say that Xuan Yao was seeking death wholeheartedly. This wasn’t a breakthrough of her timidity but a manifestation of being overwhelmed by it. It could be said that Xuan Yao didn’t die by the hand of Xuan Qingyun but rather perished due to her own weakness. Therefore, considering this scene as Xuan Yao’s transformation and breakthrough is incorrect; it’s better seen as the final requiem before facing death.
As Gu Qingtong snapped back to reality from her contemplations, the auditions had already begun in front. Faced with her work, Yan Chi finally shifted her gaze away from being fixated on Gu Qingtong and started watching their auditions.
This wasn’t a private performance; besides the judging panel led by Director Yuan, even the competitors could see it. It indeed felt a bit awkward.
Fu Keqi, who was the first to go up, frequently glanced at the audience, indicating that she wasn’t fully immersed in her role initially. Though she got into character later, from Gu Qingtong’s perspective, Fu Keqi hadn’t fully grasped the essence of the character Xuan Yao. She seemed to have put a lot of effort into portraying the “anger” during the character’s transformation, which appeared to be a result of being constrained by the script.
However, Gu Qingtong quickly restrained her inclination to judge others, recognizing that her own analysis was subjective. The original script might have only contained these elements, so following it might not necessarily be incorrect…
It wasn’t just Fu Keqi; Tang Yun was cut from the same cloth. However, Tang Yun had a sweeter demeanor. In order to emphasize her strengths, she took some liberties and emotionally recounted her childhood preferences while addressing “Xuan Qingyun.”
Yuan Jingyu and Yan Chi didn’t offer any comments on the performances of the two. Yuan Jingyu remained smiling, while Yan Chi’s expression remained inscrutable, making it difficult to discern her thoughts.
As a result, Fu Keqi and Tang Yun didn’t leave after their performances. Instead, they stayed to watch the others and engaged in whispered conversations, gesturing and discussing. Gu Qingtong couldn’t believe that it wasn’t their intention to affect others.
Ren Zhi was the third to perform, but Fu and Tang didn’t show any concern for the alliance they had formed earlier against Gu Qingtong. They seemed to be operating under the mindset of making the other person perform worse if they were performing poorly themselves.
Regardless of what Ren Zhi performed inside, Fu and Tang shook their heads and displayed expressions of shock, as if they had heard Ren Zhi misspeak. Under their influence, Ren Zhi’s rhythm was completely disrupted, and she lost her composure.
In fact, she even forgot her lines towards the end, ending up with the weakest performance among the first three performers.
As soon as she exited the recording studio, Ren Zhi’s face turned dark. She had forgotten about Gu Qingtong and immediately pointed at Fu Keqi and Tang Yun, lodging a complaint with Director Yuan. Her appearance already had a touch of aloofness, but now her gloomy expression was even more intimidating.
“It’s all because they’ve been gesturing and whispering behind me that I got so distracted that I couldn’t even remember my lines!” she exclaimed angrily, completely forgetting her own attempts to ingratiate herself with Fu and Tang in order to go against Gu Qingtong.
Fu Keqi retorted: “When did Tang Yun or I say anything about you? Can’t we have a conversation in the waiting area? Don’t be so presumptuous and put the blame on us when you can’t handle your lines. You’re really something.”
Both sides were channeling the frustration they had received from Gu Qingtong and Tan Siying onto each other, it was like two dogs barking at each other. Gu Qingtong observed the imminent conflict between the two sides and decided to stay out of it, mentally rehearsing her upcoming performance.
However, Yuan Jingyu spoke up: “But acting has never been an individual endeavor. IIf you let your guard down and make mistakes because of her today, how will you react tomorrow when you’re in front of me and I correct your mistakes seriously time and again?”
This was the reason she didn’t intervene in the behavior of the two individuals behind her.
Yuan Jingyu has incredibly high demands for her projects; even a simple dining scene could be re-shot twenty or thirty times. Her demeanor on set and in the current situation was quite different – back in the day, she had made almost the entire crew cry with her scoldings. If that’s the mindset, it’s indeed not suitable for her to take on her role.
Yuan Jingyu’s refusal to mediate the situation for Ren Zhi seemed like a bucket of cold water had been poured on her. In a sudden realization, Ren Zhi, who had an impulsive and proud personality, went straight into confrontation:
“So, you’re trying to snatch roles by influencing others, huh? You’re pointing fingers at me, and buying negative trending topics for Gu Qingtong. Do you think you can secure a role by dragging others down with dirty tactics? I’d like to see how you plan to deal with Tan Siying!”
After saying that, she didn’t leave but instead took a seat and continued watching. For a moment, the atmosphere in the room became tense. Sitting in her place, Yan Chi’s eyes twitched upon hearing the words “negative trending topics.” She naturally also noticed the two trending topics that were deliberately created about Gu Qingtong today.
Those discussions that had turned the trending topics’ direction were not solely the work of fans and bystanders; a large part of it was orchestrated by Hua Yan’s public relations team. Since those two topics started trending, Yan Chi had promptly obtained information about the party behind the purchase of the trending topics. They were none other than Fu Keqi and Tang Yun, nominally competitors of Gu Qingtong.
When it came to those who bullied Gu Qingtong, Yan Chi didn’t mind teaching them a lesson. Since they liked using fake negative information to grab attention, what if some genuinely damaging revelations were exposed?
Yan Chi “coincidentally” held a bit of information that they feared being uncovered. Thinking about it, now seemed like the right time.
Gu Qingtong heard Ren Zhi suddenly and inexplicably acknowledging that those negative trending topics were purchased by those two individuals. She realized that Ren Zhi’s change of tone wasn’t sincere at all. It was driven by self-interest, as her own reputation had been harmed, and now she was trying to gather allies to deal with a bigger enemy.
Gu Qingtong wasn’t interested in such an admission. As soon as Ren Zhi’s words fell, Gu Qingtong seemed to ignore them completely and turned her gaze to Tan Siying beside her:
“What’s the order for our auditions, who goes first and who goes next?” Gu Qingtong’s casual tone seemed to steer the audition back on track. The assistant directors who had been looking serious and embarrassed earlier about the commotion no longer paid attention to the previous drama.
This natural question made Yan Chi’s grip on the pen tighten. She knew Gu Qingtong’s habit – she would always be respectful and keep a distance from big shots, addressing them as seniors or teachers. Yet, the way they were addressing and conversing with each other now made it seem like they had known each other for a long time.
Yuan Jingyu discreetly glanced at Yan Chi. This emotion was quite familiar to her. It was the intense possessiveness that Xuan Qingyun displayed towards He Haomei in “Bai Mei Sheng,” particularly when she caught He Haomei getting close to her own sister, Xuan Yao.
Yuan Jingyu wasn’t sure if Yan Chi was genuinely immersed in her role or if this emotion was stirred because of Gu Qingtong. Regardless of which it was, Yuan Jingyu was quite pleased, as it added authenticity to her creation.
“According to the list, since I came in later, I should go last,” Tan Siying stated truthfully.
Gu Qingtong was more inclined to go first. After all, Tan Siying’s acting skills might cause her to doubt her own ideas if they happened to disagree. If their thoughts were aligned, it would be fine, but if they weren’t….she might start questioning her judgment.
Heading towards the small room, Gu Qingtong could sense Yan Chi’s slightly heated gaze on her, but she clenched her lips and didn’t glance at the other. She was afraid that her own state of mind might be influenced again.
Whether or not she could secure the role, she didn’t want to embarrass herself in front of Yan Chi. Even if she lost, she wanted to do it gracefully.
“Let’s begin.” Unlike the interactions with the others, this voice was Yan Chi’s. Her cool tone carried a touch of magnetic depth, as if it resonated right next to Gu Qingtong’s ear.
Whether Fu and Tang continued their mischief wasn’t important anymore. Compared to them, Yan Chi’s influence on her was much stronger. If she could just isolate herself from Yan Chi, she felt she could regain her composure.
Finally, Gu Qingtong took a deep breath and began her performance.
“Imperial sister….No, you’re not worthy of being my imperial sister!
So, Lan’er’s death was all your doing, trading his life for power.
All these years, you’ve deceived me, made me suffer… And not just that, you even took his wife by force. Do you even have a shred of conscience?!”
Anger and lamentation filled her voice.
Within a single day, she learned that the last family member she relied on and admired was the enemy who killed her brother. She was in agony, torn between the desire for revenge and the lack of the ability and confidence to confront her. Moreover, she…..couldn’t bring herself to harm her big sister, even though she wanted to avenge her brother’s death.
This was the sister she had admired and depended on for the past twenty years of her life. But to forget about it all, to continue living alongside the enemy, and even to assist her, was something that Xuan Yao simply couldn’t do. The pain of betrayal burned in her heart constantly, leaving her tormented.
In this emotional state, Gu Qingtong immersed herself in the role, watching as her character’s sister remained in a position of power while she, herself, was powerless to seek revenge. She saw a future of living in pain and isolation.
Given the circumstances, she thought it might be better to let that person’s hand be the one to take her life on this day. After all, the only two people in the world who cared about her were no longer there – one was dead, and the other had deceived her from the very beginning.
Gu Qingtong didn’t want any explanations. She drew out the dagger concealed within her clothes, the one her sister had given her as a gift on the anniversary of her brother’s death.
“Ah Yao, Lan’er is gone. You have to protect yourself with this dagger from now on.”
The sound of her sister’s voice echoed in her ears.
Gu Qingtong’s motion of thrusting the dagger out was weak and hesitant. She was too scared, afraid to see that person depart from her as well. She couldn’t hold back her tears, which fell in large drops.
There was no need for cries or shouts; the soundless requiem had already begun. The dagger was snatched away from her, and the bodyguards’ blades fell as well. Gu Qingtong knelt on the ground, unable to rise for a long time.
Gu Qingtong’s performance had concluded, but there was no immediate reaction from the judges’ panel. Even someone like Yan Chi seemed surprised that Gu Qingtong could capture such a profound emotional depth while portraying Xuan Yao.
Director Yuan silently retracted her gaze halfway through. She was afraid that if she continued to watch, she would inadvertently influence Gu Qingtong’s performance as Xuan Yao. But that wouldn’t do; later, she had to orchestrate a scene between her and Yan Chi in the room!
Gu Qingtong remained kneeling on the ground, feeling a twinge of pain in her knees, but she could only wipe away the tears streaming down her face.
Just then, she heard Yan Chi’s voice from the speakers: “Are your legs okay?”
