Morning, 11:30 AM.
Brother Wang sat behind his desk, gripping a thin script outline and character profile, his brow tightly furrowed.
This was an opportunity Lin Shu had just pushed his way.
She mentioned she had already sounded out Director Li Mo and the producers. The director had a good impression of Su Qianqian and was willing to offer her a chance to audition.
Brother Wang hesitated for a long time, his gaze sweeping over the girl sitting quietly across from him as she sipped water.
She had come today to sign the contract for that campus romance drama, and it seemed she had dressed up deliberately, looking especially fresh and lovely.
But now, a far better opportunity had presented itself.
Brother Wang sighed inwardly before finally speaking, his voice heavy with seriousness:
"Qianqian, there’s something I need to discuss with you."
He cleared his throat and slid the printed script outline toward her.
Su Qianqian looked up, her dewy almond-shaped eyes meeting Brother Wang’s with quiet curiosity as she set down her glass.
"Lin Shu just passed along some news," Brother Wang began, choosing his words carefully. "Director Li Mo finished filming The Jinse Conspiracy last month. Now, he’s working on a major project he’s been preparing for years."
"This isn’t a commercial, fast-food drama like The Jinse Conspiracy. It’s aiming for depth and awards."
Su Qianqian gave a soft "Mm," signaling she was listening.
Brother Wang tapped the outline. "As a senior, Lin Shu recommended you to the director. She wants you to audition for the female lead’s supporting role."
A faint flicker passed through Su Qianqian’s eyes, though her expression remained unreadable, her gaze steady as she waited for him to continue.
Seeing her calm demeanor, Brother Wang felt even more uncertain. He flipped open the character profile and slowed his pace:
"This role is extremely complex—and extremely difficult to portray."
"The story is set during the chaotic three years after the abolition of the constitutional monarchy, when the newly established electoral system was fiercely contested by old and new factions."
"On the surface, the female lead’s supporting role is a kind, innocent doctor at a missionary hospital—a compassionate healer with a heart of mercy."
He paused, pointing at a keyword in the profile. "But her true identity is a spy planted by the old monarchy within the core of the new faction."
"She uses her medical cover to secretly pass intelligence and even indirectly facilitates the elimination of several key figures in the reformist movement."
Brother Wang’s voice grew even graver. "The character’s torment lies right here."
"On one hand, she genuinely saves lives—she can’t bear to see people die."
"On the other, she must carry out orders, pushing those she could have saved toward their doom."
"She knows what she’s doing is wrong, knows she’s causing deaths, and her conscience is constantly torn between duty, loyalty, morality, and personal emotions."
"She’s not resolute. She wavers."
"If this internal conflict isn’t portrayed well, the audience will see her as hypocritical, cowardly, and erratic—she’ll be torn apart by criticism."
He looked up at Su Qianqian. "But if it’s done right, this is humanity at its most complex, real, and deeply moving."
"Her kindness is real. Her pain is real. Her struggle and weakness are real."
"If this character shines, it’ll be your golden ticket in the acting world."
Before Su Qianqian could respond, Brother Wang took a deep breath and revealed the character’s tragic ending:
"At the final moment, when the old monarchy collapses and the electoral system seems victorious, she betrays her side and provides critical intelligence to aid the reformists."
"Then, she returns to the cold palace—a symbol of the old regime—and dies by her master’s side."
Silence filled the office for a moment.
Brother Wang’s voice carried a note of irony:
"The cruel twist? She never knew that the electoral system she helped establish in the end only served to crown the four major financial dynasties lurking in the shadows—the true puppet masters of the nation."
"They became the empire’s shadow rulers, armed with wealth and power, controlling everything."
"Everything she suffered, sacrificed, and agonized over—in the end, it was all for someone else’s gain."
"Though this drama is fictional, it carries allegorical weight. You’d recognize one of these four dynasties."
Brother Wang traced a single character on the desk: Gu.
His gaze settled on Su Qianqian, complicated. "This opportunity is top-tier."
"But the risks are unpredictable."
"Lin Shu recommending you? She’s absolutely not doing it out of kindness."
"This role is too demanding, too easy to attract backlash—especially for a newcomer like you. It’s like being roasted over an open flame."
"Qianqian, what do you think? Should we turn it down?"
Su Qianqian didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she reached out with slender, porcelain fingers and gently picked up the character profile.
Her fingertips brushed over the words female doctor, spy, internal conflict, and martyrdom, her gaze focused and serene.
Through the pages, the tormented soul of the script—torn between light and darkness, kindness and sin, loyalty and betrayal—seemed to cry out to her in silence.
That sense of rupture, that tragedy, gripped her completely.
It was a hundred times deeper than any minor role she’d considered before.
Su Qianqian lifted her eyes. The usual timidity in those clear almond-shaped eyes was gone, replaced by resolve.
Her lips parted softly as she spoke:
"Brother Wang, I want to audition for this role."
