The Young Second Male Lead

The assistant director immediately took up the script and read the opposing lines. "What's it got to do with you? Which family's little brat with barely dry behind the ears are you? Go cool off somewhere else."

"I'd know what you're up to even if you didn't tell me!" Lu Heng curled his lip and glanced sideways at the boy being held down by his brother and sister-in-law. "The male brothel isn't a place decent men go. That place eats people alive!"

As he spoke, Lu Heng yanked the boy from the grip of his brother and sister-in-law, shielding him behind himself. "I've heard of descendants fighting over the family fortune and driving people out of the house, but I've never seen anyone sell their own younger brother to a male brothel for a bit of money. Aren't you driving him to his death? You two are some black-hearted brother and sister-in-law."

Lu Heng spat, then grabbed the boy's hand and bolted.

That was the end of the audition scene. Lu Heng pulled himself out of the role, steadied his breathing slightly, and stood still in the room.

The performance had just the right balance of tension and release. He could let go and rein himself in at will. Most importantly, he understood how to act for the camera, with subtle yet expressive facial changes and several movements that flowed as smoothly as water. He did not look at all like a newcomer who had never acted before.

Fang Kaizhi immediately felt the joy of having found a treasure. Screenwriter Yao Suhua and the production supervisor, who had originally worried that Lu Heng might not be up to the role, both nodded in approval. Taking into account Lu Heng's current explosive popularity and public attention, everyone leaned toward casting this gifted actor as the younger Cen Qiubai.

Rong Xiu, who played the second male lead Han Lusheng, praised him with a gentle smile. "I think he's quite good. Seeing how lively and clever he was when he played the hero saving the beauty just now, the audience won't find it strange that the second male lead gradually falls in love with his senior brother—"

Having accidentally spoiled the plot, Rong Xiu abruptly fell silent. He smiled at everyone with relaxed brows, then nodded in Lu Heng's direction.

Since everyone's opinions were fairly unanimous, it seemed the decision could be finalized. Fang Kaizhi cleared his throat and was just about to announce it when Yue Sennan, the male lead who had remained silent all along, suddenly spoke. "How about we take another look?"

Yue Sennan smiled at Lu Heng. "Although the little hero's performance was commendable, it was still rather conventional. There wasn't much that was new."

It was a conventional arthouse film to begin with. What kind of novelty did he want?

Fang Kaizhi frowned. But Yue Sennan had been jointly chosen as the male lead by the company, the investors, and the directing team. He had also brought funding into the production, so Fang Kaizhi had no choice but to give him some face.

"Then what do you mean, Sennan?"

Yue Sennan smiled and glanced at Lu Heng. "Didn't you mention before, Director Fang, that you thought Zhao Miao from our company was pretty good and wanted him to come audition? Zhao Miao has a packed schedule, and it wasn't easy for him to clear some time. We hope you can give him a chance."

Yue Sennan paused slightly before continuing with a beaming smile, "After all, everyone wants what's best for the production."

Fang Kaizhi sighed inwardly. He really had been the one to suggest having Zhao Miao come audition. But Star Entertainment had politely declined, citing Zhao Miao's unavailable schedule. They had probably thought that the younger Cen Qiubai had too few scenes. If Zhao Miao, a child star beloved by audiences across the country, adjusted his schedule to make a cameo, it would only add icing to the production and would not do Zhao Miao himself much good.

Fang Kaizhi understood that perfectly well, which was why he had sent the casting director to search for people at major arts schools and opera academies. Yet he had not expected that just as he found a suitable candidate, Zhao Miao's schedule would open up too.

What timing!

Fang Kaizhi gave Yue Sennan a calm look. He also knew about the friction between Yue Sennan and Huaxia Imperial Entertainment. Yue Sennan had been Huaxia Imperial Entertainment's top star, only to be lured away by Star Entertainment with a hefty sum. In the business world, artists changing agencies was hardly unusual. But people like Yue Sennan, who not only switched companies but also helped his new employer poach talent from his old one, were truly few and far between in the industry.

Yue Sennan smiled, glanced at Lu Heng again, and deliberately said, "Zhao Miao is already on his way here. He should arrive soon. Director Fang, how about we wait until Zhao Miao finishes his audition before announcing the decision?"

The people in the audition room looked at one another. Several investors and film supervisors conferred in low voices for a while before asking tentatively, "Why don't we wait a little longer?"

After all, when it came to popularity, Zhao Miao, who had remained active on the big screen, was certainly no less popular than Lu Heng, who had burst onto the scene out of nowhere. More importantly, he had extensive acting experience, often performed opposite major stars, and had always been consistently reliable. As for box-office appeal, there was even less need to mention it.

Though they were investing in an arthouse film, they did not want to lose money. Otherwise, they would not have spent so much to hire Rong Xiu, Yue Sennan, and Zhou Jingxiao as the male and female leads and an important supporting actor.

Even screenwriter Yao Suhua could not help but feel moved. When she had written the script, she had shaped the younger version of the male lead, Cen Qiubai, based on Zhao Miao's image. Now that the real inspiration was coming to audition, she naturally did not want to turn him away.

With things having come to this, Fang Kaizhi could not insist on his own way. He could only nod and say to Lu Heng, "All right, then. Go back and wait for my call first."

The Young Second Male Lead

That very evening, Huaxia Imperial Entertainment received a personal call from Director Fang Kaizhi. He first congratulated Lu Heng on landing the role of the second male lead, the younger Han Lusheng, then informed him to report to Yan Film Studio in three days.

Wei Linxuan questioned the audition result. "Didn't you go audition for the male lead's childhood role? How did it become the second male lead?"

Lu Heng smiled faintly and brushed over the details. "Maybe Director Fang thought I was better suited to the second male lead."

Lu Heng did not want to make trouble, but there had been too many people at the audition that day. News of Yue Sennan's little schemes, including how Lu Heng had clearly passed the audition only to be cut off by Zhao Miao halfway through, eventually reached Huaxia Imperial Entertainment.

This not only made Wei Linxuan furious, but even Wei Zhanjie felt that Star Entertainment had gone too far.

"This is outrageous! Do they really think the artists of Huaxia Imperial Entertainment are cabbages at the market, for them to pick and choose as they please?" No matter how Wei Linxuan thought it over, he could not swallow this indignation. He simply said, "Tell Fang Kaizhi we're not doing it!"

It was just a minor role in some lousy arthouse film! If not for Fang Kaizhi's reputation, who the hell would care?