Chapter 134: An Outlandish Audition

"Excuse me, does Director Wu have any specific requirements for this?"

"No idea."

"Do I need to perform a talent?"

"No idea."

"Could you give me a scenario? I’d like to prepare."

"You’ll find out when you go in."

Yan Ni was feeling incredibly flustered. She had received a phone call yesterday inviting her to an audition. She was thrilled, but also terrified; it was all so sudden, and the director was a famous one at that.

Wu Xiang was the director who had summoned Yan Ni. As she stepped into the room, she saw him sitting across from her. He was shockingly young—so young that Yan Ni could hardly believe it.

At thirty years old, Yan Ni felt that her career as an actress had reached a dead end. Apart from a film she had done the year before last, she had virtually no other experience in film or television. To have a big-name director—a young one, no less—suddenly ask her to audition left her feeling deeply uneasy.

"..." Yan Ni grew even more anxious. Wu Xiang just kept staring at her without saying a word, not even half a sentence.

*Could this director be a pervert? But I’m thirty! Surely he couldn't have designs on me?* Yan Ni couldn't be blamed for such thoughts; Wu Xiang’s behavior was just too bizarre.

In truth, Wu Xiang was not being strange at all. He wasn't doing anything else; he was simply observing Yan Ni. He found it quite amusing—it was Manager Tong, the yet-to-be-famous Manager Tong. Even though she was turning thirty this year, for some reason, Wu Xiang couldn't help but smile whenever he looked at her.

In fact, the only reason he hadn't spoken was that he was trying hard to hold back his laughter.

"Um, excuse me, are you Director Wu Xiang? Haha, I’m Yan Ni, and..." Stunned by Wu Xiang's gaze, Yan Ni struggled to get the words out.

Truth be told, she was nervous. Yan Ni was not yet the iconic Manager Tong who would later dominate the screens; she was just an artistic soldier who had performed in a few plays and appeared on stage for the cultural troupe.

"Don't be nervous," Wu Xiang said, realizing he had indeed been a bit excessive and had frightened her.

"Hehe, I'm not nervous!" Yan Ni nearly added a "sir" to the end of it. "Um, Director Wu, you called me here for an audition, right?"

"Right!" Wu Xiang finally turned serious. He knew he had to get down to business. He took out a piece of paper, scribbled something on it, showed it to Yan Ni, and said, "Read these words to me. Actually, don't just read them—say them the way you normally would, in your hometown dialect. Understand? Go ahead!"

"Huh?" Seeing the two words and hearing his request, Yan Ni was completely dumbfounded. She had no idea why he was asking this. Was this director crazy?

Because those two words were: "Gua Song!" (Foolish wretch!)

"You really want me to say it?"

"Do you think I'm joking?"

"Is this really okay?"

"What could possibly be wrong with it?"

*It's over,* Yan Ni thought to herself in Shaanxi dialect, *this director is a total fool.*

"Use your natural state. The more natural and assertive you are, the better. Find the feeling, and then start!" Wu Xiang added.

"This requirement is just... perverted! Is this director a masochist?" Yan Ni could no longer comprehend Wu Xiang’s thinking. But then again, maybe all directors were like this; they were "artists," after all!

Wu Xiang had been labeled as having an "artistic temperament," though in reality, he was no artsy youth.

"Can we start?" Wu Xiang was getting impatient.

"Um..." Yan Ni hesitated; after all, this was an insult.

"If you can't do it, then I'm afraid this audition is over," Wu Xiang said, deciding to provoke her.

"Gua Song! Gua Song! You really are a Gua Song!" Sure enough, pushed to the edge, Yan Ni let it all go.

*Not bad! It really has the right feel,* especially when delivered in that Shaanxi dialect. It was quite interesting.

Had Wu Xiang lost his mind? Had he really become a masochist who insisted on being insulted? Of course not. Wu Xiang smiled and said, "Take this line, go home, and really think about how to say it more naturally. When we film this, you'll be insulting someone who is much more venerable than me—oh, he might get angry if I say that—let's say, a highly prestigious performing artist. Go and prepare well." So, it wasn't for the sake of insulting him after all.

As soon as he finished, Wu Xiang gestured for Yan Ni to leave.

Yan Ni was left stunned. Was that it? A few insults, and... wait, did that mean she had passed the audition?

"Director, did I... did I pass?" Yan Ni wasn't sure. She had never seen an audition like this. Honestly, not just her—in the entire history of film, there couldn't have been many who passed an audition by being good at cursing.

"You passed, you passed. Shen Yuxing will tell you about the next steps." Shen Yuxing was a recent college graduate and one of Wu Xiang's assistants, hired to help with the logistics.

"Well, thank you, Director Wu! Thank you, Director Wu!" Yan Ni maintained her manners, even if the audition had been bizarre.

With a heart full of uncertainty, Yan Ni left the temporary office in room 307. Little did she know that this audition experience would be something she would remember for the rest of her life.

After Yan Ni left, Wu Xiang confirmed an important role for his new film, *Drawing Sword*: Sister-in-law Xiuqin from the Women's Salvation Association. He felt that having Yan Ni play this role, especially with her thick Shaanxi accent, would be a stroke of brilliance.

With one major female role settled, it was time to meet the next.

Click, click... The crisp sound of high heels echoed, accompanied by a faint fragrance as a woman walked in. She had shoulder-length hair and a face that, while not sharply pointed, was delicate and charming. Her cheekbones were slightly high, but it didn't detract from her overall look; instead, it made her appear pure and down-to-earth. Her large eyes were framed by soft eyebrows, her nose was straight, and her mouth was well-proportioned. It was none other than Gao Yuanyuan, the "Qingzui Girl" who was currently very popular in the advertising world.

That's right, Gao Yuanyuan. She was a candidate for the role of Tian Yu, the female lead in Wu Xiang's *Drawing Sword*. The reason she was only a candidate was that Wu Xiang wasn't sure if she could meet his requirements yet.

As a person who had been reborn, he knew Gao Yuanyuan. She was undeniably beautiful. Of course, some might disagree, but she possessed a beauty that was very appealing to men.

The main reason was that she appeared incredibly pure—especially for the year 2001, when she was only twenty-two.

Even at thirty, Gao Yuanyuan would still project that sense of purity, as if that were simply her nature. However, she was only a candidate because Wu Xiang had no idea how well she could act.

It was true; it wasn't that she relied solely on her looks, but she lacked professional training in film and television. She was just a starlet who shot good commercials. As for the few dramas she had appeared in, they were essentially eye candy.

Wu Xiang wasn't exaggerating. Anyone who had seen her previous work would have that impression: she hadn't carried a lead role yet, only left a strong impression because her appearance was truly unforgettable.

"Hello, my name is Wu Xiang," he greeted.

"Hello, Director Wu. I'm Gao Yuanyuan," she replied, polite as ever.

"..." Again, silence. Was this guy, Wu Xiang, finding her funny too?

Of course not. Wu Xiang was observing her expressions.

Even though Gao Yuanyuan had worn a smile since she entered, Wu Xiang could tell it was a standard, artificial smile—no different from the ones in her commercials.

However, from Wu Xiang's perspective, Gao Yuanyuan’s technique for fake smiling was quite advanced; if you didn't look closely, you wouldn't notice it at all.

"Do I need to perform something?" Gao Yuanyuan spoke first. She didn't seem to like being stared at like that, even if Wu Xiang was a famous director.

"No need!" Wu Xiang rejected her suggestion and added, "Come a bit closer."

"Okay." Though Gao Yuanyuan didn't understand why, she obliged. What could he possibly do to her?

"Good!" Seeing she was close, Wu Xiang smiled and said, "From now on, look into my eyes for one minute!"

"Huh?" Gao Yuanyuan was taken aback, but she followed his instructions.

"..." They locked eyes. But Wu Xiang didn't just use his gaze.

"Do exactly as I say." Wu Xiang didn't give her a chance to answer. He continued, "Now, you are not looking at me. You are looking at an ugly guy."

As soon as he said this, Gao Yuanyuan thought to herself, *You aren't exactly a looker yourself, are you?*

Well, she spared his feelings and didn't say it out loud. After all, this was an audition. She had been through many before, mostly for commercials, but also for dramas. She wasn't inexperienced, but she was finding this situation very confusing.

Wu Xiang didn't care about that; he didn't know what she was thinking. He just did what he thought was right. "Good, now I want you to show some impatience."

"..." Impatience? Gao Yuanyuan immediately conjured up the expression she imagined.

"Good. Now, I want you to show me adoration," Wu Xiang demanded next.

*Adoration? He's really full of himself!* But again, Gao Yuanyuan kept it to herself.

"Alright! That's one minute!" Wu Xiang didn't actually know if a minute had passed; he just felt it was enough.

"Oh, Director Wu, your audition method is very strange. I've never experienced anything like it." Gao Yuanyuan meant it.

"That's right," Wu Xiang said, seeing through her. "Do you want to know how you performed?"

"How did I do?" Gao Yuanyuan acted like a student waiting for her grade.

"You followed all my instructions, but I only saw your face changing. Your eyes didn't change at all. To put it simply, it wasn't quite up to standard."

"What?" Gao Yuanyuan was stunned.