When Chi Feiran called out “Shixiong,” Rong Jin’s emotions were quite complicated.
How to put it—it was like a mix of pride with a tinge of jealousy.
Rong Jin glanced at the four “shixiong” present, feeling an intense desire to take their place himself. He thought he could easily take on all their roles with his split personality! It would be perfect for the film’s promotion too!
Luckily, Director Zheng had no idea what he was thinking. If she did, she might have thrown her tea at him.
She was fully focused on observing Chi Feiran and his portrayal of Ji Yunsheng.
The subtle arrogance of Young Master Ji, which wasn’t annoying, showed through in the details of his expressions and movements. He was clever and charming, and his tone, unlike the previous suppressed hoarseness, was lively.
His tone was light and slightly provocative, with a soft ending that had a hint of childishness, making people want to laugh helplessly and think, “This kid,” without feeling any annoyance.
Because he had just been praised by his master, his words were somewhat restrained, but his expressions and actions betrayed his inner thoughts. He couldn’t help but, at the height of his excitement, flip the knife in his hand like a juggler.
Ji Yunsheng looked around proudly after his knife trick, and when he noticed no one had seen it, he pouted slightly, feeling his shixiong were quite disappointing.
But he couldn’t bring himself to call attention to it, so he cut the food quickly, his skill making him happy again, appearing carefree and content.
Indeed, he was the young master of the Ji family restaurant. With a loving father and gentle mother, the most frustrating thing in his life was being sent to Dewey House to learn the trade. Initially reluctant, he now knew how to strive and had just been praised by his master. All worries had disappeared, making him cheerful and carefree.
Zheng Lin was lost in her thoughts, only snapping back when the assistant director nudged her, realizing the audition scene had ended.
Having watched Chi Feiran closely, she knew why she hadn’t immediately reacted to the scene’s end. His portrayal of Ji Yunsheng was truly captivating.
Zheng Lin pursed her lips and said, “Numbers 40 to 44, please leave and await further notice. Number 45, stay.”
The others weren’t surprised by this result. The focus was on Chi Feiran, and anyone could see that. After politely bowing, they left. The remaining auditionees waited for Zheng Lin to speak.
As the chief director of the film, she had absolute authority in the production. Chi Feiran’s case wasn’t just about selecting a main supporting role; it could influence the film’s publicity later.
Zheng Lin gave Chi Feiran a final once-over and said, “I initially didn’t plan to consider you, and I think you know why.”
Her bluntness didn’t surprise Chi Feiran. He patiently waited for her to continue. Since she said “initially,” it indicated a change in her thinking.
Chi Feiran was somewhat nervous. It was a moment of judgment. Claiming not to be nervous would be a lie, but it wasn’t enough to shake his composure.
He knew he had done his best. If that wasn’t enough, it meant his abilities weren’t sufficient to secure a spot in Dewey House’s cast.
Director Zheng’s considerations were valid. Chi Feiran was highly talked about, and if his acting couldn’t support the role or was merely adequate, it could be disastrous for the entire crew.
A big director’s earnest work seemed high-end and anticipated, but if overshadowed by gossip—especially involving a wealthy background—it could derail the focus.
The world holds different standards for different people. Some might find achieving a 50 satisfactory, but for many, he needed to exceed 100 to be barely acceptable.
If he couldn’t deliver an impressive performance, people might wonder why he couldn’t give the opportunity to someone else. They’d conclude it was due to his wealth and background, even making a renowned director bend.
This was Chi Feiran’s future challenge. Every performance had to surpass expectations.
He didn’t want to turn this into an unfair complaint but rather a driving force.
Chi Feiran waited for Zheng Lin’s decision, eager for victory.
Zheng Lin was observing Chi Feiran’s reaction.
The young man had bright, clear eyes and a calm, honest gaze. Zheng Lin’s meticulous observation revealed much about his character.
Not impatient, nor easily swayed.
Zheng Lin smiled unexpectedly. Since the audition began, this was her first positive expression. Previously, she was more scrutinizing, as if studying a product rather than a person.
But now she smiled. The smile softened the traces of age on her face, making it more vivid.
Zheng Lin said softly, “But your performance today surprised me.”
Zheng Lin wasn’t unfamiliar with Chi Feiran. She even got all the footage of him shooting “Heroic Bones” from Director Jin.
Zheng Lin admitted Chi Feiran had talent, but to say a newcomer’s acting was stunning and awe-inspiring would be an exaggeration. After years in the industry, she’d seen it all.
Facing a talented newcomer, a director’s love for talent was natural, but it was insignificant compared to an entire film.
But today, she felt genuinely shocked.
The surprise came not just from Chi Feiran’s live performance but from the stark contrast with his previous work on set.
While reviewing the footage, Zheng Lin noticed Chi Feiran’s reliance on experienced actors to carry him. When guided by someone like Rong Jin, he could deliver. Without guidance, he seemed lost.
The last scene in “Heroic Bones” was decent but showed Chi Feiran’s inconsistency. His acting couldn’t sustain his hype.
So, when selecting audition scenes, Zheng Lin purposely chose challenging ones for Ji Yunsheng, hoping Chi Feiran would withdraw.
But unexpectedly, he proved her wrong, genuinely surprising her.
Zheng Lin glanced at Rong Jin. He was right; she was wrong.
No matter how composed Chi Feiran was, he was still a bit anxious. He calmed himself and asked, “Director Zheng, what is the result of my audition?”
Zheng Lin smiled again and said, “Wait for the callback.”
It wasn’t the best result, but far from the worst. It indicated his performance had indeed impressed her to some extent, which was good.
Chi Feiran calmed down, thanked them, and left.
After he left, the other assistant directors started whispering their opinions.
“I think he’s pretty good.”
“He has a great feel for the character. These two scenes were tough, and he handled them well, showing his overall capability.”
“His acting was good, but that knife scene scared me. I felt like I was having a heart attack…”
Everyone looked at the cracked cutting board, which had a deep cut.
There was a moment of silence before someone nervously asked, “Did he pull it out bare-handed?”
Someone reviewed the recorded audition scene, and everyone gathered around to watch. They saw that Chi Feiran had indeed pulled out the knife bare-handed right after saying that soft “Shixiong.”
Then he resumed chopping like nothing happened.
One assistant director sighed, “Wow…”
That was everyone’s sentiment. At the time, they were all focused on his face and missed the shocking detail.
Rong Jin was the calmest of all because he had noticed. He was worried Chi Feiran wouldn’t transition smoothly between scenes, but when he saw Chi Feiran lower his hand, he relaxed. Then he noticed the knife was still stuck in the board and was about to call for a pause, but then…
His boyfriend just pulled it out.
Rong Jin didn’t want to admit it, but he was taken aback at that moment.
Producer Rong stayed silent, and Zheng Lin, thinking he was waiting for her, said, “Alright, I admit I was wrong. Your judgment was good. Satisfied?”
Before the audition, she had discussed Chi Feiran with Rong Jin. Rong Jin always seemed confident in Chi Feiran, and Zheng Lin thought the tough scenes would prove him wrong, but instead, she was proven wrong.
Rong Jin replied, “Then why not finalize the decision?”
Zheng Lin countered, “Can’t I, as a big director, keep up some pretense? What if there’s someone better?”
Rong Jin smiled confidently, “Impossible.”
Then he got up, ready to leave.
Zheng Lin quickly called out, “Where are you going?”
Rong Jin replied, “Home.”
He planned to go home, exercise with his junior brother, and listen to him call “Shixiong.”
Author’s Note:
Director Zheng: What if there’s someone better? What if?!
Rong Jin: Not possible!
