"It'll be your turn soon." Mo Hong was somewhat excited, already envisioning the envy of the other agents in the company once Wan Yurou landed this role.
An ominous premonition kept gnawing at Wan Yurou's heart. The person who had just walked in looked too much like the character, as if she had stepped right out of "Red Ear."
"Yurou? Yurou?" Seeing Wan Yurou distracted, Mo Hong called her name a few more times. "What's wrong?"
Wan Yurou snapped back to attention. "It's nothing, Sister Mo. I'm just going to the restroom."
"Alright, be quick. They'll call you in as soon as the person inside comes out."
Wan Yurou skirted around the crowd and entered the restroom, standing before the mirror. Her hairstyle had always been black, voluminous waves, complementing her gentle and delicate face—a mix of charm and fresh beauty. However, she had straightened her hair just the day before yesterday.
She took a small red floral hair tie from her bag and tied her hair into a low ponytail, exactly the style described for the female supporting character in the original novel.
Looking at her reflection in the mirror, with many small details from the original work faithfully recreated, the unease in Wan Yurou's heart dissipated considerably.
The director was sure to notice her dedication.
After Wan Yurou came out, she waited for nearly twenty minutes before a staff member opened the door and called, "Is Wan Yurou here? Come in."
The staff didn't call a number but directly named her, causing a stir among those still waiting outside.
This was clear enough indication that Wan Yurou was a top contender for the role; otherwise, she wouldn't have been called in by name.
"Yurou, don't be nervous. This role is yours for the taking," Mo Hong said, unable to hide her delight.
"Contestant number twelve hasn't come out yet," Wan Yurou said, her heart sinking once more.
Mo Hong was taken aback, only then realizing that the twelfth contestant who had gone in earlier had not yet emerged. Before, it had always been one person out, then the next person in.
"Come in quickly, everyone's waiting for you," the staff member urged, seeing her hesitate.
Wan Yurou followed the staff member inside. The director, producers, and a few others were seated at the far end, chatting among themselves, not even glancing her way.
The twelfth contestant who had entered earlier was sitting to the side, holding a thermos and drinking from it.
The director turned and, seeing she had entered, said, "Yurou's here. Perform the scene where the two characters reunite."
In this reunion scene, the female supporting character has to shed tears, portraying a complex mix of sudden joy and sorrow.
Wan Yurou was very familiar with the original work; she had indeed put in the hard work. She also intended to show off her skills in front of the twelfth contestant, so she began her performance immediately.
As she took the tissue handed to her by a staff member and wiped her tears, she could see the satisfied expressions on the faces of the director and the others, which greatly reassured her.
"Ding Zi, did you see that? Her emotions need to be complex, not just simple joy after the reunion. This is something Yurou did better than you," the director said, turning to the twelfth contestant, who was holding her steaming thermos.
"I understand. Thank you, Director," Ding Zi nodded earnestly.
Wan Yurou: "?"
Director Liu was satisfied. "Alright, you can both go back and wait for news. We'll send out notifications in a week."
Wan Yurou stood rooted to the spot, not yet processing what had happened. Had she come in and performed like that just for the twelfth contestant to watch?
"Director, how did you think my performance was?" Wan Yurou didn't leave. Instead, she took a few steps forward and asked.
Director Liu was flipping through the profiles of the remaining candidates. Hearing her voice, he looked up and smiled. "Yurou, your performance was excellent. You fully captured the emotions of the female supporting role. I'm very impressed. As for the casting decision, we still need to follow procedure and watch all the remaining auditions. We'll notify everyone in a week."
His tone was official, clearly polite and perfunctory.
As soon as Wan Yurou stepped out, Mo Hong approached her. "How did it go? What did the director say?"
The others waiting for their auditions subtly listened for Wan Yurou's response.
"The director thought I fully captured the emotions," Wan Yurou said calmly, maintaining a composed demeanor.
Mo Hong, thinking the role was practically secured, immediately smiled triumphantly and led Wan Yurou away.
Once seated in the car, Wan Yurou's face fell. "Sister Mo, find out what background contestant number twelve has."
"Number twelve? But the director..."
"Director Liu had me perform for number twelve to watch," Wan Yurou said through gritted teeth. She had never been subjected to such humiliation before.
Mo Hong's smile also faded as she speculated, "I've never even seen her before. She's probably a nobody. If she gets the part, she must have connections."
Wan Yurou said impatiently, "Her looks fit the original character better than mine. Director Liu clearly favors her."
If someone could have been pushed into the role through connections, Director Liu wouldn't have gone to such lengths to search for the female supporting actress.
As it turned out, Wan Yurou's premonition was correct. A week later, "Red Ear" officially announced Ding Zi as the female supporting actress.
Wan Yurou spent a day at home smashing things, but it did nothing to vent her anger. She couldn't shake the feeling that she shouldn't have lost this role. Ever since "Quiz Quest," it seemed like everything had gone wrong.
...
"Wahhh, is this really our Zai Zai's autograph? Look at this beautiful penmanship! How abstractly artistic this 'Rong' character is written!" Rong Shiyun pressed the torn piece of paper against her cheek, nearly moved to tears.
Ye Qiusuo: "How did he become your... Zai Zai?"
Last time, her student also called herself a 'mom.'
Rong Shiyun squeezed next to Ye Qiusuo to explain. "There are many types of fans. For example, girlfriend fans see their idol as a boyfriend. Me, I'm a mom fan. I see our Xixi as my Zai Zai."
From the nickname 'Xixi' for Xie Xi, it's clear that mom fans make up a significant portion of his fanbase.
"Hmm." Professor Ye found them a bit odd but wouldn't interfere.
"I'm leaving tomorrow," Rong Shiyun sighed. "I've only been here a few days."
"Come back after you finish your project," Ye Qiusuo said seriously.
"After I complete this current project, I plan to return to China for good," Rong Shiyun said, reaching out to touch the autograph. "It'll be much easier to chase stars back home."
Ye Qiusuo: "..."
"Never thought you'd be recording TV shows now. Tsk tsk, I watched a bit. The people on it didn't seem all that impressive," Rong Shiyun shook her head.
She and Ye Qiusuo were around the same age, both child prodigies. However, Ye Qiusuo later changed her field, returned to China to re-do her PhD, and had been there for four or five years.
"I was helping a friend initially, as a temporary guest. Then I just stayed on," Ye Qiusuo explained.
Rong Shiyun rested her chin on her hand. "It's good to relax occasionally sometimes."
Unlike others their age who were just starting in their fields, they had been in the industry for many years. Being young and without many burdens, they had a lot of freedom outside of research. Yet, Ye Qiusuo worked 365 days a year without a break. Her appearing on TV completely surprised Rong Shiyun.
"The champion gets prize money," Ye Qiusuo added.
Rong Shiyun: "..."
She should have known. Ye Qiusuo always had a purpose and a plan for everything. There was no way she'd waste a whole Sunday evening otherwise.
"Are you short on money?"
Ye Qiusuo nodded. "The project needs funding."
Rong Shiyun thought about it and felt something was off. Given Ye Qiusuo's current achievements, securing project funding would be a matter of minutes; some might even offer it proactively.
"What about Tianqiu Tech? Aren't they investing?" Rong Shiyun asked. "You could also contact other companies."
"They're covering part of it. The experimental equipment for the project is only available domestically at Tianqiu Tech," Ye Qiusuo said. These were decisions she had made after careful consideration.
Currently, when the public thinks of Tianqiu Technology, the first person that comes to mind is Zhang Chengjue. However, in reality, the initial company framework was entirely facilitated by Ye Qiusuo. Those few unique instruments in the country were also acquired by her through various connections; money alone couldn't have bought them.
"What kind of thorny project are you working on that even Tianqiu Technology isn't willing to fully fund?" Rong Shiyun asked casually.
"Money can always be earned."
For some reason, the word 'money' sounded oddly discordant coming from Professor Ye's mouth.
Rong Shiyun glanced at her friend: "Why don't you take this opportunity to enter the entertainment circle and make a bundle? I heard some half-baked scholar from Tsinghua or Peking University joined the entertainment industry and is now rolling in money by spouting hollow, pseudo-intellectual inspirational nonsense for the artsy middle-aged crowd."
Ye Qiusuo actually thought it over seriously for a moment: "If the schedule can stay as it is now, I could go."
Professor Ye, in her quest to secure project funding, was now ready to resort to any means.
Rong Shiyun shook her head: "Your life is all about research, with no fun at all."
Unlike Ye Qiusuo, although Rong Shiyun had a high IQ, started school early, and had some achievements in her field, her mental state was no different from that of an ordinary girl in her twenties. She liked everything girls typically enjoy and was passionate about chasing stars.
Ye Qiusuo didn't respond. Holding her laptop, she went upstairs, clearly intending to continue working.
"I'm leaving tomorrow, and you won't even chat with me!" Rong Shiyun shouted from below.
"Go to bed early. I'll take you to the airport at seven tomorrow morning." Professor Ye's steady voice came from upstairs.
Rong Shiyun's fantasy of sitting and chatting with her bestie was instantly shattered. Professor Ye was completely unsuited to being a girlfriend—a rigid, straight-as-an-arrow woman.
...
Ye Qiusuo, who had gone to bed at two a.m., got up at six, woke her friend, then washed up and had breakfast.
"Why do I have to eat bread even after returning to China?" Rong Shiyun complained while eating the bread on her plate.
Professor Ye looked down at her phone and noticed Xie Xi had sent two messages.
One was a forwarded video, the other a voice message.
Ye Qiusuo clicked on the voice message first. A clear, pleasant male voice came through the speaker, tinged with a leisurely calm.
Before she could even react, the sound of a plate shattering suddenly came from across the table, followed immediately by Rong Shiyun scrambling over: "Was that my Zai Zai talking just now?!"
Ye Qiusuo nodded.
"Can you let me hear it again?" Rong Shiyun looked at Ye Qiusuo with pleading eyes. This was her closest chance to get near Xixi.
Ye Qiusuo hadn't heard the full message earlier due to the interruption, so she played it again, listening as Xie Xi called her a gangster.
Gangster?
Frowning, she clicked on the forwarded video above.
Accompanied by a perfectly fitting background score, the love-hate saga of two people unfolded before Ye Qiusuo and Rong Shiyun's eyes.
Professor Ye, always upright and never exposed to such edited CP videos, watched in bewilderment.
"Wah..." Rong Shiyun beside her suddenly burst into tears as she watched. "Our Zai Zai is so good, why would you treat him like that? You heartless woman!"
Professor Ye: "..."
"I've never had feelings for him." Professor Ye had no idea where these videos came from; they were pure fabrication.
Tears hanging at the corners of her eyes, Rong Shiyun stared blankly for a moment before suddenly wailing: "Why don't you like him? Zai Zai is so handsome, sings so well, and is so kind!"
Listen to that. That's the unified train of thought for Xie Xi's fans.
Their Xixi is so wonderful, how could anyone in the world not like him!
Professor Ye lowered her head, held her phone, and pressed the voice message button: "Utter nonsense."
Rong Shiyun: "???"
"You're even scolding our Zai Zai?!"
Ye Qiusuo put down her phone and, using her height advantage, held back Rong Shiyun's advancing head. "Time to go to the airport."
The entire way to the airport, Rong Shiyun kept nagging Ye Qiusuo to be nicer to Xie Xi and not to scold their Xixi, clearly projecting the video's narrative onto reality—after all, she was one of the few who knew about their teacher-student relationship.
Ye Qiusuo paid no attention, focusing on driving her friend to the airport.
As for Xie Xi, he didn't hear this voice message until ten in the morning. When he clicked on it and heard Professor Ye's serious words, a chill instantly ran down the back of his neck.
What if she got angry and assigned more homework?
