第35章:试镜(加量啦)

After the pain in Si You's chest eased, he went back to eating and drinking as usual. Yuan Fei, meanwhile, was the one who started losing sleep.

Yuan Fei wanted to contact the Journey production team, but its director was the famously iron-hearted Zhu Qinsheng. There was no chance of pulling strings or slipping in through the back door with him. What if the man disliked Si You? Wouldn't that just backfire? Still, Jiang, the Movie Emperor, had always kept his word. Since he had promised to take Si You to audition, he probably would not go back on it, right?

It had been a long time since Yuan Fei had felt this anxious and worried.

The main thing was that Si You's reputation showed signs of turning around. If he could catch a ride on either Jiang Tingxu's or the Xue Household's coattails, his future would be limitless.

Yuan Fei had always found Si You's face a terrible waste. Even in the entertainment industry, it ranked among the very best, yet Si You had nearly ruined it himself. But looking at him now... well, there might really be a chance!

That morning, Si You received a call from Xue Boyu.

Although many artists appeared on the same show, they usually parted ways once filming ended. With their different levels of fame, some might not even exchange contact information from beginning to end. Si You, being at the bottom of the ladder, naturally had not. As for the previous season? Everyone had avoided the original owner like the plague.

"Are you feeling better?" Si You asked with a smile. "Did you get my number from the production team?"

"Yeah." Xue Boyu sounded energetic, clearly recovering well. "I had my knee checked this morning. There's nothing wrong with it now. What about you, Brother Si You?"

"Almost there." Si You leaned against the headboard, looking half-dead as he shamelessly bragged.

Maybe it was because of his constitution, but he was recovering slowly. He spent most of his time feeling sleepy now, and the doctor had left the backs of his hands bruised from all the needles.

Si You continued, "Focus on getting better. Once I'm well, I'll come visit you."

Huahua raised her head at that, thinking, You can barely get out of bed. Who exactly are you planning to visit?

After exchanging a few polite words with Xue Boyu, Si You hung up. As he saved the number, he asked Huahua, "What? You think that's unrealistic?"

Huahua said, "Mm..."

Si You laughed. Some color had returned to his lips, but his energy remained faint, like a gardenia drenched by rain—languid and fragile.

An unparalleled beauty, Huahua thought.

Si You took the medicine Huahua handed him. Before long, exhaustion welled up between his brows again, and he curled back into bed to sleep.

Huahua drew half the curtains to leave enough light in the room, then quietly slipped out.

"You are my son. You must be the best." In the haze, Si You saw a proud woman standing on white jade steps. Her gaze was lowered, filled with disappointment in him.

Si You felt uncomfortable, but in the dream, he still asked the same question he had asked as a child. "If I become the best, will Mom like me?"

The woman nodded. "Yes."

Si You's lips moved. He wanted badly to say something else, but his mind was completely blank.

He had been "tamed" for too long. He did not know how to resist.

The phone suddenly rang. Si You's breath caught, and then he opened his eyes. He mechanically grabbed his phone and saw an unfamiliar number. It was entirely the instinct to answer that urged him on.

"Hello..."

The other end was quiet for two seconds. Then a deep, mellow voice slid into his heart like a clear spring. "Why is your voice so hoarse?"

Only then was Si You's consciousness slowly pulled out of the mire. "J-Jiang Tingxu?"

"Yes, it's me."

Si You pulled the blanket tighter around himself with one hand, pressing the phone beneath his ear. He closed his eyes. "Can you say a few more words?"

"Are you feeling unwell?"

"Mm." Si You spoke softly. "I had a not-so-good dream..."

"You play Horror Livestream like a pro, and you still have nightmares?"

"You watched my livestream?"

Jiang Tingxu's tone was composed. "I have to understand my CP."

The mention of "CP" made Si You's ears burn. "Did you get my number from the director too?"

"I wouldn't contact them," Jiang Tingxu said. "Boyu gave it to me. By the way, your WeChat ID is the same as your phone number, right?"

"It is."

"Good." Jiang Tingxu said, "I'll visit you at the hospital tomorrow."

Si You began to look forward to it, but he remained polite. "No need. Handle whatever you need to first."

"Is that so?" Jiang Tingxu's words carried a trace of amusement. "But your little emotions are telling me that you really want me to go."

Si You immediately fell silent.

Jiang Tingxu instantly regretted it. Why was he rushing?

"I'm just teasing you."

Si You had already curled into the blanket. "Mm."

The other end suddenly became noisy, as if someone were calling out.

Jiang Tingxu said, "Something came up. I'll hang up first."

"Okay."

Si You glanced at the screen. The call had only lasted two minutes, yet the damp, swamp-like feeling that had enveloped him was completely gone. He turned over, raised a hand to his forehead, and lightly tapped it twice. In his previous life, everyone had thought him omnipotent, but how long had he known Jiang Tingxu in this life? And he was already both admiring him and showing weakness.

Anyway, Si You thought what he had just said sounded pretty pathetic.

What nightmare? A workaholic king did not have nightmares!

Then his phone chimed. Si You immediately grabbed it and checked. It was a WeChat friend request. There was no need to guess who it was. Jiang Tingxu's profile picture showed stars against an aurora, dark in tone, while his nickname was a solitary "J," as though he had typed it at random.

Si You accepted the request and changed the contact note.

Jiang Tingxu was busy, so he did not send a message.

The next day, Jiang Tingxu arrived near dusk. Twilight lay heavy, and the figures on the street were blurred. He brought a small cake and two grilled sausage sticks, without chili.

When he reached the hospital room, Si You ate while enthusiastically giving him thumbs-ups.

Jiang Tingxu sat on a stool with a smile and took out his phone to reply to messages.

After finishing the sausage, Si You prepared to eat the little cake and asked curiously, "Are you filming lately?"

"No. I took on a few endorsements," Jiang Tingxu replied. "I don't even take one film a year now."

"You took Journey this year?"

"Yes."

After thinking it over, Si You still asked, "When will I audition? Has it been decided?"

"Once your health improves." Jiang Tingxu did not hesitate.

"Okay." Si You answered vaguely. He swallowed the strawberry on top of the cake in one bite, then stuck out his tongue to lick the cream from the corner of his mouth. Maybe it had been a long time since he had eaten something like this, because he ate with great concentration.

Jiang Tingxu held his phone, but his gaze stayed fixed on Si You.

Because he was eager to audition, Si You began eating bowl after bowl of even the nutritional meals he hated most. With motivation, and having passed his weakest point, his body gradually recovered. Still, he had only recovered enough to move freely. He had grown thinner, and his complexion was a cold white.

A full month had been delayed, one way or another.

And Lindu had ambled into early autumn.

Yuan Fei had already arranged a new apartment for Si You. He obviously could not keep living in that cramped rental. Xiaolin was discussing the lease termination and move with the landlord, while Si You especially stressed that his computer had to be protected.

On the day he was discharged, Si You went straight to the apartment.

It was around sixty square meters, with two levels and a typical European-style interior. It had plenty of sunlight, as well as a row of green plants on the balcony. Yuan Fei had clearly put thought into it. In any case, it was more than spacious enough for Si You alone.

"Thank you, Brother Yuan," Si You said.

Yuan Fei waved a hand. "It's nothing. Oh, right, I got you a facial mask endorsement. It's a domestic brand, and it doesn't pay much, but it has always had a good reputation. We can't try to get fat in one bite."

"Okay, Brother Yuan. You decide."

Yuan Fei could not help feeling pleased. This industry was dazzling with vanity, and there were plenty of newcomers who became arrogant the moment they showed the slightest signs of success. They looked down on this and disliked that at every turn. But Si You's attitude was humble and steady, truly rare.

Huahua had originally wanted to stay, but Si You refused. He said she had worked hard lately and should take a day off to go shopping with her girlfriends or something.

Huahua's eyes lit up. She picked up her bag and left with delight written all over her face.

Wearing a light gray trench coat, Si You sat on the glass stairs leading to the second floor. Yuan Fei had bought the clothes. They were slightly too large, but they felt warm around him. Si You held his phone for a long time before opening his chat with Jiang Tingxu and typing, deleting, then typing again: [I've been discharged. Brother Yuan arranged a place for me to live. Everything's pretty good.]

Would that make him seem self-indulgent? Si You wondered.

Jiang Tingxu was probably busy. There was no "typing..." indicator.

Si You let out a breath. Just as he was about to stand, a call came directly through.

Jiang Tingxu found typing too troublesome.

"Where did they choose for your new address?" he asked straightaway.

"Near Huandong Road. Security is good, and it's pretty quiet," Si You said. "I think it's called Starry Street? It's all apartments around there."

Jiang Tingxu matched it up. "I know where that is."

"You even know that?"

"Jiang Corporation invested in it."

Si You said, "..." Fine. He had almost forgotten what it felt like to have money.

"Did Yuan Fei arrange anything for you?"

"A facial mask endorsement."

Jiang Tingxu asked, "When?"

"Probably in a week."

"Then that works." Jiang Tingxu added, "I'll take you to audition tomorrow?"

Si You became excited in an instant. "You're not allowed to lie to me!"

"Why would I lie to you?" Jiang Tingxu laughed. "I'm in a hurry too."

At first, Si You did not quite understand what that meant.

Si You did not sleep soundly all night. His dreams were filled with Yun Si's scenes. He only regretted not reading more of the script that night, or he could have understood the role more thoroughly.

Si You did not tell Yuan Fei about the audition until he woke up in the morning. Yuan Fei took a sharp breath, immediately called Huahua and Xiaolin, and drove over in the nanny van to pick him up.

After learning that someone would be driving Si You there, Jiang Tingxu sent over the audition address.

Yuan Fei was clearly more talkative along the way. "Director Zhu is strict when he films, and his words aren't pleasant either. But any actor who genuinely survives being polished under him is the real deal! It'd be best if you can hold out. If you can't..." Yuan Fei thought of Si You's acting in that idol drama and immediately felt his teeth ache. "If you can't, it's fine too. We'll think of something else."

By comparison, Si You was much calmer. "I can hold out. Don't worry, Brother Yuan."

How could Yuan Fei not worry? As far as he was concerned, Jiang, the Movie Emperor, had given Si You an opportunity for some unknown reason. Maybe the Xue Household was even secretly protecting him in gratitude. With another director, it might have worked out. But it had to be Zhu Qinsheng!

Si You arrived at the filming location on time. A staff member led them into the studio. Jiang Tingxu was there too, sitting in a chair and going over the script with someone. He wore modern clothing, but his hair had already been bound up in a jade crown, with a white jade hairpin laid horizontally through it. The styling made him look refined and composed.

Hearing the movement, Jiang Tingxu and the middle-aged man beside him both looked over.

The man's gaze was sharp. He sized Si You up from head to toe at once. He was Director Zhu Qinsheng.

"This is him?" Zhu Qinsheng asked.

"Mm."

"His build fits," Zhu Qinsheng said. "Yun Si should be a little thinner when he first appears."

Jiang Tingxu sighed inwardly. Si You had not fully recovered, yet he had to audition so soon. But Si You wanted it badly, so Jiang Tingxu had gone along with him.

Zhu Qinsheng spoke casually. "You're here? Fine, let's begin."

Yuan Fei's heart sank. That perfunctory attitude meant Zhu Qinsheng had not intended to give Si You a chance at all.

Jiang Tingxu understood Director Zhu better. He walked over to Si You and said quietly, "Director Zhu is like this with everyone. His attitude depends on your acting."

Si You nodded. "Got it. But I want to change into costume first. Is that okay?"

Jiang Tingxu could still make that call. "Sure."

Yuan Fei stood outside with Huahua and Xiaolin, all of them looking somewhat uneasy. Everything was moving too fast.

Si You calmly changed into costume and even had a staff member quickly put a hairpiece on him. In his previous life, rushing through shoots had been commonplace. Rather than nervousness, Si You felt a sense of familiarity.

I really want to go home.

Zhu Qinsheng quietly asked Jiang Tingxu, "You insisted I turn down Sun Wenzhu, all for him?"

Jiang Tingxu replied flatly, "You'll know once you see him try."

"Fine, I'm watching." Zhu Qinsheng tucked both hands in front of himself and drawled, "I refuse to believe some traffic star..."

Si You lifted the curtain and stepped out from backstage.

The sixth prince of Qiyun Kingdom, Yun Si, possessed breathtaking beauty, but he was naturally aloof, vicious, and calculating.

Zhu Qinsheng had to admit that the moment Si You put on the costume, he perfectly overlapped with the Yun Si in his mind.

But appearance alone was not enough. What appeared on screen was acting skill.

"Let's do this scene!" Director Zhu became interested. "Yun Si is humiliated at the gates of the Heroic Martial Gate and saved by Lu Tu."

Si You took the script and rapidly skimmed it. He accurately caught the written descriptions used to convey emotion and character, memorized some lines, then said, "I'm ready."

Zhu Qinsheng called over the actor who would perform opposite him, sat boldly in his chair, and said, "Begin!"

Sixth Prince Yun Si was unloved. At his first palace banquet after coming of age, the Third Prince, who had never gotten along with him, grew jealous. The Third Prince's birth mother, Consort Ning, secretly set obstacles in his way and instructed her serving eunuch to deliberately make things difficult for Yun Si. Right at the gates of the Heroic Martial Gate, the eunuch intentionally smashed the bird's nest soup meant for Consort Ning, then claimed that Yun Si had done it on purpose.

"Impudent!" the eunuch shrieked. "This is blood bird's nest soup specially prepared by the imperial kitchen for Consort Ning! Consort Ning has just given birth to the Eighth Princess. Even His Majesty ordered the entire palace to prioritize Her Ladyship in everything, from food and clothing to daily expenses. What kind of thing are you? How dare you ruin His Majesty's goodwill?"

Once that accusation was placed on his head, Yun Si knew he would not be able to leave.

He swept back his long robe and knelt in the courtyard, lowering his head so that no one could see his emotions. "It is Yun Si's fault. I beg His Majesty and Your Ladyship for forgiveness."

The youth's voice was cool and steady. A gloomy, lifeless air clung to him, born of years of torment. Yet his half-closed eyes seemed to conceal blades, waiting only for the right moment to cut his opponent's throat and draw blood.

Director Zhu narrowed his eyes and sat up slightly.

"Worthless wretch!" Though Yun Si was a prince, he lived worse than a palace maid. As Consort Ning's eunuch, the man would not put him in his eyes. He immediately kicked Yun Si in the shoulder.

Yun Si had only just recovered from a cold. How could he withstand it? He gave a muffled groan and fell to the ground. Between coughing and gasping, he slowly turned his head to look at the eunuch.

Those eyes shifted from darkness toward the light. Fierceness and malice were like reefs exposed beneath moonlight. The youth did not yet know how to hide his sharpness, but his intent to kill was absolute. His life was already like this anyway. For everyone who humiliated him, killing one meant profit!

The eunuch was startled, but no matter what, Yun Si was only a wolf cub without claws or fangs.

The eunuch quickly came to his senses and gave a soft snort. "Keep looking at me like that, and I'll have someone look at your stewardess like that."

The stewardess was one of the few people who sincerely treated Yun Si well. At those words, Yun Si immediately became timid and retreated.

His emotions had a natural, reasonable progression.

Extreme unwillingness surged in Yun Si's eyes, but only for an instant. Then those feelings ebbed away like a receding tide, leaving numbness and resignation behind. Yun Si knelt properly again and said hoarsely, "It is Yun Si's fault. I beg Your Excellency for leniency."

An abandoned child of the deep palace, with only a ruthless heart—he was a vine struggling in darkness, instinctively strangling everyone who approached him. Yet he could also become soft, become fragile, wanting to grasp the person standing in the light.

Such a Yun Si needed only one opportunity.

And for that opportunity, he would pay any price. Yun Si looked toward the camera, his gaze dark and resolute, telling the director exactly that.

"Cut!" Director Zhu shot to his feet, astonishment written across his face.