Auditions and Dinner

On the tenth, Wei Jin received word that the script had passed review.

As the producer, Teacher Jiang Wei was highly conscientious.

To make sure his student's work made it to the Berlin International Film Festival, the Beijing Film Academy teacher pulled out all the stops, devoting even more care to it than to his own projects. Everything was proceeding in an orderly fashion.

The twelfth was the day Wei Jin had arranged to meet Qin Hao. He brought Zeng Li to a private room at the teahouse where they had agreed to meet.

To their surprise, Qin Hao had already arrived well ahead of them.

"Qin Hao, long time no see."

Zeng Li hadn't seen her former classmate in a long time either, and she was a little excited.

"It has been a long time, Pear. You've gotten prettier and prettier."

Qin Hao was fairly easygoing in private. Seeing the woman he had once had feelings for in college, he was filled with emotion.

"Hehe, thanks for the compliment. Oh, let me introduce you. This is Wei Jin."

Since getting together with Wei Jin, Zeng Li had come to act more like a young girl. She introduced the two of them with a grin.

"Wei Jin, this is Qin Hao, the one I told you about. He's a great actor."

"Brother Hao, hello. Sister Li has been praising your acting to the heavens."

Wei Jin followed up on his girlfriend's words with a compliment.

"Not at all. Pear gives me too much credit."

After exchanging greetings and taking their seats, Qin Hao spoke up.

"Wei Jin, what made you think of asking me to act in your film?"

When Zeng Li called Qin Hao, she had only told him to come and give it a try, so he was curious.

"I have a script that really tests an actor's skills. I'm not very familiar with the actors in the industry, so Sister Li recommended you."

It was Wei Jin's first time meeting Qin Hao. How should he put it? The man looked a little unremarkable. He'd have to take a closer look.

"Thanks, Pear. If it's all right, could I take a look at the script?"

Now that they were getting down to business, Qin Hao became a little more serious.

Qin Hao took the script Wei Jin handed him and slowly began leafing through it.

Wei Jin didn't disturb him. He gently took Sister Li's little hand and rubbed it against his leg, earning himself an eye roll from Zeng Li.

Qin Hao didn't notice their little movements at all. The script had captured his entire attention.

In Wei Jin's previous life, Buried Alive was a low-budget suspense thriller distributed by Shimen Pictures.

But unlike the thrillers Shimen had distributed before, this film didn't rely on blood and violence. Instead, it drew attention with the suffocating atmosphere of a confined space and a struggle for survival that felt like a countdown to death.

Notably, beneath its low-budget exterior, the film was also rich in deeper meaning.

Its metaphors about society and human nature went far beyond imagination, leaving viewers deeply oppressed and unable to find peace for a long time afterward.

Wei Jin had chosen this film for his debut partly because it was one of the few award-winning films he had seen, and partly because its low cost and artistic qualities made it suitable for winning awards.

Besides, when he first began writing the script, Wei Jin had already made some changes to the original film.

These included setting it in a fictional country and changing the background, mainly to make it easier to pass review.

After all, for domestic films, regardless of genre, censorship was the first hurdle. He didn't want to follow the sixth-generation directors' example and make underground films.

"Whew... This script is really intense. It'll be a blast to act in."

After finishing the script, Qin Hao let out a long breath.

"Looks like you're happy with the script, Brother Hao. Next, I'd like to see your acting and find out whether you can bring the lead to life."

The choice went both ways. Wei Jin had great expectations for his debut, so he asked for an audition.

Qin Hao said no more. He began building up his emotions and putting himself in the role.

He performed several passages in succession. Whether tense, angry, desperate, or relieved, Qin Hao's performances were commendable. Wei Jin also saw the actor's versatility and was generally satisfied.

"Filming won't take more than a month. Just keep your schedule clear for me before December. That won't be a problem, will it, Brother Hao?"

"No problem. I'll be there whenever you need me."

After reading the script, Qin Hao was already very interested and answered without hesitation.

"As for your fee, how does ten thousand sound?"

As Zeng Li's classmate, Qin Hao wouldn't be shortchanged by Wei Jin. Ten thousand for a month's time was genuinely quite good.

After all, Sun Honglei had only earned a thousand yuan per episode for Conquest, twenty thousand in total.

And that was after Sun Honglei had already gained a little fame from Like Fog, Like Rain, Like Wind. One could imagine how cheaply ordinary actors with no name could be hired.

"No problem. Thank you, Director."

Qin Hao looked pleasantly surprised. The amount was already more than he had expected.

It was the male lead, the pay was high, and the film was aimed at winning awards. Qin Hao had lost any pickiness he'd had before coming. What more could he ask for?

"Here's to a pleasant collaboration!"

With that, Wei Jin sealed the deal.

After they finished discussing business, Zeng Li and Qin Hao began chatting about their student days. Wei Jin listened to the gossip about the Central Academy of Drama's class of '96, looking like an intensely curious child. He couldn't help it; Zeng Li rarely shared these things with him.

Qin Hao was also curious about Zeng Li and Wei Jin's relationship, though he didn't feel it was proper to ask outright. Still, from what he could see, something was going on between those two.

Watching Zeng Li chatter away like a chatterbox, Wei Jin suggested they have a meal together.

Zeng Li hadn't seen her classmates in a long time either, so she took out her phone and invited another classmate who was in Beijing.

The group went to an old Beijing restaurant and booked a private room. Before long, Zeng Li's other classmate arrived.

"Jingjing, you're here!"

Zeng Li looked delighted.

"Pear, what's the occasion today? It's rare for you to ask me out these days. Oh, Qin Hao's here too?"

The newcomer was Hu Jing, Zeng Li's closest friend in the Central Academy of Drama's class of '96.

"Who's this handsome young man? Pear, aren't you going to introduce him?"

Wei Jin was also studying Hu Jing. Hmm, her baby fat was obvious, and so were her dimples.

"Hello, I'm Wei Jin."

"So you're Wei Jin? You really are handsome. No wonder you've got our Pear so head over heels."

Seeing that there was no one else in the private room, Hu Jing spoke freely.

"Jingjing, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Zeng Li looked embarrassed.

"Isn't it true? Just tell me how many times I've asked you to go shopping these past two months. Hmm? Now that you have a handsome young man, have you forgotten your girlfriends?"

Hu Jing wore a resentful expression, her lips pursed in a little pout.

Well, good grief. Her acting made even Wei Jin want to give her an award.

"No, I haven't..."

Zeng Li was left speechless by the retort.

"Pear, you have no idea. I went to a film set a while ago, and there were quite a few stars from Hong Kong and Taiwan. Good grief, they put on airs like you wouldn't believe. Coming from places barely bigger than a fart, I don't know what they're so arrogant about."

"Uh, it's not that bad, is it? Just keep a low profile on set."

The two friends chattered nonstop throughout the meal.

Qin Hao and Wei Jin could hardly get a word in, so the two of them started shooting the breeze about everything under the sun. Sure enough, they got along much better afterward.

After dinner, Hu Jing suggested going singing, but Qin Hao excused himself, saying he had something to do. Zeng Li, thinking she hadn't spent time with her friend in ages, looked pleadingly at Wei Jin.

Wei Jin couldn't bear to spoil their fun, so the three of them went to a karaoke place and got a private room. Zeng Li went to pick songs first.

"Wei Jin, come clean. How did you win Pear over?"

Hu Jing began to fish for gossip.

"Uh, Sister Jing, if I said it was because of my talent, would you believe me?"

Wei Jin found this woman's instant familiarity a little hard to handle.

"Hmm... Pear does seem to prefer talented men."

For the moment, Hu Jing believed him.

"But you'd better not bully her. Otherwise, there are quite a few of us sisters. Let's see if you're scared of us."

"I know, I know. The seven golden flowers of the Central Academy of Drama, right? I won't give you the chance. Sister Li is so wonderful, I couldn't bear to bully her."

Wei Jin raised a hand in promise.

"What are you talking about? Come sing..."

Zeng Li walked over.

"Huh? You can already pick this song?"

Wei Jin was a little surprised when he saw the song title on the screen.

"You have no idea how popular this song is. Jingjing, isn't it your ringback tone?"

Zeng Li boasted with some pride, "Jingjing, Wei Jin wrote both the lyrics and the music for this song. Impressive, isn't he?"

Seeing the proud look on her best friend's face, Hu Jing slapped her forehead. "Pear, you really are beyond saving."

Wei Jin picked up the microphone and sang "Who Do You Really Love" for the first time. His singing was actually average, but perhaps because he was the songwriter and composer, Zeng Li thought every note sounded just right. The look she gave Wei Jin couldn't have been more tender.

Hu Jing had probably come to regret it. After being showered with dog food by the two of them all evening, she pulled Zeng Li aside and said they had to have a long, heart-to-heart talk that night.

The two friends left together, leaving Wei Jin alone, disheveled in the wind.