Chapter 20 - Actress Audition

"Brother Lu, the auditions are starting soon. Let's head inside first—we can check out the materials later." Meng Changkun grabbed two name tags from Wu Tianzheng's assistant, emblazoned with his and Lu Liang's names, listing their title as Producer. Slinging an arm around Lu Liang's shoulders, he grinned mischievously and passed along some insider wisdom. "These are our credentials. Every girl who comes in for an audition will greet us respectfully." "If any of them catch your eye, just ask Old Wu for her contact info. I don't need to teach you what to do next, right?" "I'm all ears," Lu Liang said, clasping his hands in a gesture of admiration. Today was definitely a crash course in a whole new world. It made him think of all those actresses who claimed to have no connections and no talent—before they rose to stardom, they'd probably gone through this exact same process. Meng Changkun preened under the praise, his smile widening. "This is just the tip of the iceberg. I'll take you to South Korea sometime—you'll see how it's really done." "Over here, we still need the women's consent. If they say no, there's nothing we can do. But over there, the chaebols treat actresses like dishes on a menu. They order whoever they want, and whoever they order has to come—even A-list celebrities aren't exempt." "Back home, we've put these celebrities on way too high a pedestal." Meng sighed, looking faraway and wistful. Lu Liang: "..." The two men pinned on their name tags and walked into a conference room. A director, an assistant director, and a real producer were already there. They all shot to their feet the second Lu Liang and Meng Changkun walked in. They were all part of the same crew—there was no way they wouldn't know if two new producers had been added. Their real identities were crystal clear: deep-pocketed investors slumming it with producer titles. "Don't let us interrupt your work. We're just here to watch," Meng Changkun said casually. He dragged two chairs over, sat down next to the director, and nodded. "You can start the auditions now." "Right away, sir." The director and producer nodded hastily, then called for the production assistant to kick off the day's auditions. Lu Liang was handed a copy of the script outline. The gist of the story: a group of college students decide to explore an abandoned school over the weekend. The day passes with a few odd occurrences, but nothing too terrifying. That night, someone suggests playing a game of Disc Fairy. Thus begins Disc Fairy vs. Pen Fairy. A series of bizarre and gruesome events ensues—the supporting cast is killed off one by one, or driven insane. Finally, the story takes a turn. As the old saying goes, "The Master does not speak of ghosts, spirits, anomalies, or feats of strength." The Disc Fairy and Pen Fairy were never real. Years earlier, a group of students had bullied a young girl until she'd fallen to her death from a building. To cover their tracks, they'd spread rumors that her death was the work of the Pen Fairy. Now, the girl's younger sister has come to avenge her... "What do you think?" Meng Changkun asked, seeing how intently Lu Liang was reading. "Wow... It's packed with content, the theme is clear, and the plot has its ups and downs. It's just... so coincidental," Lu Liang said, struggling to keep a straight face. All the bullies had younger siblings, and they all just happened to go to the same school? That was more far-fetched than a regular person winning the lottery. "Coincidences make for good stories," Meng Changkun chuckled. He actually thought the story had potential. A cast full of pretty boys and girls, with the horror dialed up just short of getting banned—it might even turn a small profit. Lu Liang stared in disbelief, then slowly found himself agreeing. He'd been judging the story on its structure and logic, but Meng Changkun was looking at it from a market perspective. Horror movies that hid behind supernatural tropes were never meant to be logical. And with a title like Disc Fairy vs. Pen Fairy, it wasn't targeting logic nerds—it was all about the vibe. Young couples cuddling on the couch, watching a not-too-scary horror movie, and doing... other things. "Hello, Mr. Meng, Mr. Lu, Director Liang..." "My name is Zhou Xiaoqi. I graduated from the Shanghai Film Art Academy..." "I'm here to audition for the role of Ye Qianwen. Please, be gentle with me, teachers..." A girl in her early twenties knocked on the door and stepped in. She had long, flowing hair and a willowy figure. She wore a loose white button-down shirt, a denim miniskirt, and a pair of Martin boots. She was easily over 170 centimeters tall—stunningly tall. Her personality was bright and bubbly; she greeted everyone warmly the second she walked in. Lu Liang glanced down at the script. Ye Qianwen was supposed to be the second female lead—the last of the supporting cast to die. He shot Meng Changkun a sidelong glance. Was this the unknown rookie here for an audition... or his little mistress? Meng Changkun smiled, cleared his throat, and said, "There's a scene where the character looks absolutely terrified. Can you show us that expression?" Zhou Xiaoqi paused for a second to prepare herself, then widened her eyes, flared her nostrils, and parted her lips slightly. "Stay away from me~!" Director Liang nodded approvingly. "Good. Now, show us the relief of surviving a close call..." Zhou Xiaoqi switched gears instantly, patting her heaving chest. "That was way too close. Way too close." The three professionals—Meng Changkun included—looked thoroughly satisfied. Lu Liang got it. This was the pre-selected second female lead. This was Old Meng's little mistress. He had good taste, Lu Liang thought. That long, slender frame... he didn't dare imagine what it would look like draped over someone's shoulders. As more girls auditioned one after another, Lu Liang finally understood just how "hardworking" these starlets were willing to be. Some bowed so deeply that their cleavage spilled out of their tops. Others walked in and immediately shed their coats, revealing outfits that were practically see-through. One girl even made a point of shaking everyone's hand as she left—Lu Liang felt her sharp nail art scratch his palm a few times. Meng Changkun, Director Liang, and the others didn't bat an eye. Clearly, they'd seen it all before. By the end of the day, Lu Liang's worldview had been thoroughly shattered. Everyone said the entertainment industry was a cesspool—now he knew just how rotten it really was. For every girl willing to sleep her way to the top, there were also innocent newcomers who refused to play the game. They dressed modestly, covering every inch of skin, and were among the few who'd shown up in long pants. They were beautiful, had great figures, and were actually talented actresses. One of them was Bai Xiaoqin, a 21-year-old who'd auditioned for the second female lead—a role that was already taken. Lu Liang, who hadn't said a word all day, suddenly called out to her as she was about to leave. "Would you be interested in trying out for the role of Jiang Xixi instead?" Jiang Xixi was a character in the movie—technically the fourth female lead. She died within the first half hour, but at least it was a credited role with actual lines. In the hierarchy of background actors in the entertainment industry, there were four tiers: Extra: Just a warm body to fill a crowd scene. Supporting Extra: A warm body who sticks around the set for the entire shoot. Featured Extra: An extra with a few lines and a couple of close-up shots. Character Actor: An actor who plays a named role and drives the plot forward. Bai Xiaoqin froze, her face lighting up with excitement. "Mr. Lu—really? Can I?" "We'll need to discuss it. If it works out, we'll send you a casting notice," Lu Liang said, careful not to make any promises. After all, he was just a guest here. The final decision wasn't his to make. "Thank you so much, Mr. Lu!" Bai Xiaoqin said, barely containing her joy. She bowed deeply again, then left the audition room. "Interested, are we?" Meng Changkun asked with a smirk. He took a sip of tea, then stood up and stretched his back. "A little," Lu Liang admitted openly. He then asked how much it would cost to cast her as the fourth female lead. "Director Liang—what did you think of her acting?" Instead of answering, Meng Changkun turned to the professionals beside him. "She was excellent. Easily the best actress we've seen all morning," Director Liang said honestly. He might have sold out now, but he'd once dreamed of becoming a renowned director. He still had a basic eye for talent. "Then the fourth female lead is hers," Meng Changkun said, clapping Lu Liang on the shoulder. He grinned. "What are brothers for? Besides, we're not short on cash." He paused, then added, "But if I may give you a word of advice, brother—that girl isn't going to be easy to persuade." He'd attended countless auditions over the years. He knew exactly which girls were easy to bed, and which ones were more trouble than they were worth. Bai Xiaoqin was in the latter category. Talented, beautiful, and unwilling to sleep her way to the top—she was the kind of girl who could easily end up costing more than she was worth. Meng Changkun had a firm rule when it came to women: no matter how beautiful they were, even someone as famous as Fan Bingbing, they were worth a maximum of one million yuan. If he couldn't bed a woman for a million, he'd walk away without a second thought. There were plenty of other beautiful women in the world. He could keep a young, beautiful, virgin college student for a mere tens of thousands of yuan a month. In his eyes, that was all any woman was worth.