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The other students immediately replied: [Haha, Vice President Xuan doesn't even need to act. He's the champion in my heart.]

[Honestly, I'm only watching President Cai and Vice President Xuan this season. The atmosphere between them is just too adorable.]

[Exactly, exactly. Vice President Xuan is so biased. You can clearly tell he treats President Cai differently from everyone else.]

[I heard from my parents that President Cai and Vice President Xuan grew up together. Childhood friends, brothers—they're naturally closer than others.]

This student's parents were in business, so they naturally had ways of hearing such news.

[Wow, two people this outstanding spending every day together? I don't believe nothing else could develop between them.]

The discussion in the group gradually went off track.

Lou Xiaoxiao's heart began to race. She exited the group and opened another group chat.

The album there was filled with screenshots of Cai Jinbai and Xuan Yu.

There were also fan-written novels about the two of them...

As The Actors became a hit, actors in the industry naturally kept an eye on the show. Some hoped to appear as guest stars and ride its popularity.

At the same time, they noticed that Jinbai Entertainment was making a fierce push into the entertainment industry. It was bound to bring better resources and investments in the future.

Thus, they began paying attention to some of Jinbai Entertainment's recent projects.

For example, the script that had previously trended online after being stolen had now formed a new production team and was recruiting actors.

It was said that President Cai had also invested in this television drama. Its lineup was substantial, and its internal resources were all top-tier.

That meant the finished drama certainly would not be bad. At the very least, it would not make no splash at all.

For a time, quite a few actors went to audition for the Family Matters production team.

Zheng Jingyuan was one of them.

He was not a trendy young heartthrob, nor had he acted in idol dramas. His looks were somewhat plain, not the kind of handsome face that stunned people at first glance.

Yet he possessed a distinctive charm that only emerged after closer appreciation.

He was an award-winning Best Actor who took his profession seriously and responsibly, with a fairly good reputation in the industry.

Unfortunately, he had suddenly developed an eye condition during a shoot. His eyesight had deteriorated sharply, to the point that even reading a script became blurry.

It created enormous obstacles when he acted, ultimately forcing him to withdraw from that film and seek treatment abroad.

Everyone knew that an actor's skill depended in part on their ability to act with their eyes.

Zheng Jingyuan's sudden eye condition had nearly ruined him.

The information Cai Jinbao had brought back about Zheng Jingyuan popped up on the tablet. "Master, are you going to invest in him next?"

"Mm." Cai Jinbai answered as he flipped through the material. "Because I changed Li Qianqian's financial fortune, I also indirectly changed Zheng Jingyuan's."

"He went to audition for Family Matters, and one role there suits him very well."

"However, his greater financial fortune isn't there."

As a Best Actor, if he wanted to rise again, he still had to act in films.

Cai Jinbai leaned back against the sofa, his gaze resting on the phone on the coffee table.

Before long, the phone rang. He smiled. "See? Hasn't the opportunity arrived already?"

Xuan Yu handed the phone to Cai Jinbai.

After he answered, Chen Chengrong's voice came through. "President Cai, um... would you be interested in investing in another movie?"

Naturally, this was not a movie Chen Chengrong intended to shoot himself. Although Black or White, which he was currently filming, had reached its final stage, editing would still be a major undertaking after filming wrapped.

He valued this movie greatly. How could he begin shooting another before it was finished?

If the films Chen Chengrong was suited to making were commercial films, spy thrillers, and crime dramas, then his old friend Director Li excelled at realistic films—sharp, satirical works that explored the human heart and human nature.

The day after the call, Cai Jinbai went to the Family Matters production team.

As expected, Zheng Jingyuan was waiting for his audition.

He was not unknown in the industry, but after his sudden eye condition had forced him to temporarily leave the industry for treatment, most people assumed he would never return.

After all, the illness was difficult to treat, and even if it was cured, it would still affect his acting career.

The condition made his gaze appear dull even when he wore glasses.

Zheng Jingyuan had put in no small amount of effort to train his eye acting.

After returning, he had not immediately gone to audition for production teams. Instead, he had remained out of the spotlight for a while, living quietly and honing his lines and acting every day.

An actor's performance before the camera involved many aspects, but the eyes were the windows to the soul. If his eyes were not up to standard, he could not answer to himself.

Chapter 30

Zheng Jingyuan waited outside with several minor actors, reading through the script as they waited.

Someone recognized Zheng Jingyuan and could not resist approaching to ask for an autograph. Zheng Jingyuan signed for them all with a smile.

But someone else could not help muttering softly, "Isn't he a Best Actor? Why is he here waiting to audition with us?"

Wasn't this bullying? With a Best Actor here, would anyone still want them?

"Exactly. A Best Actor is actually here to act in a television drama." Someone else echoed in a low voice, "He's really leaving us no way to survive. Is being a Best Actor his excuse for bullying minor actors?"

With Cai Jinbai's investment, Family Matters had an abundance of funding. The director was well-known and had never made a bad drama.

Moreover, this director had previously specialized in this kind of television drama and had won quite a few awards.

Because of the director's reputation alone, many actors wanted to audition and get a share of the pie.

Furthermore, this newly established drama production had invited that director, and the director had brought in a TV King and TV Queen as well.

Clearly, they placed great importance on the script and were likely aiming for awards, which made everyone even less willing to pass up such a huge opportunity.

Now that Zheng Jingyuan was also competing with them for a role, some people naturally felt uncomfortable.

It was not as though Zheng Jingyuan failed to notice, but he could only lower his head with a bitter smile.

Only he himself understood how difficult his current situation was.

The entertainment industry changed rapidly. His treatment and recuperation abroad had taken quite a while, and by the time he returned, there was clearly not much room left for him in the industry.

It was not that he lacked old friends or connections.

But Zheng Jingyuan was stubborn about such things. Others described him as having the style of an old cadre: rigorous and serious.

In truth, he was even harsher on himself.

He could not possibly take part in films or television dramas when his acting was not up to standard.

Therefore, even after recuperating and seeing improvement in his eyes, Zheng Jingyuan had remained out of the spotlight for a long time in order to hone his acting.

Even his former agent had urged him to return as soon as possible. The longer he delayed, the worse it would be for him.

But after considering it for a long time, Zheng Jingyuan had still refused. At the time, his eyes had not recovered enough to convey his emotions.

They did not even meet his standards in the mirror, let alone before a camera. That would have been far too irresponsible toward the audience.

Now, he felt that he was ready. But just as his agent had told him before, not many opportunities remained for him.

So few that he had to compete with minor actors for the chance to play a supporting role in a television drama, and even this chance had been obtained for him by his agent.

Zheng Jingyuan was not yet forty, but he was close to it.

The years and hardships had settled upon him. Though he was not conventionally handsome, he was like a stalk of green bamboo—resilient and steady.

He dressed simply as well, in a faded white shirt and glasses, quietly seated in a chair.

When Cai Jinbai and Xuan Yu arrived, he was still bent over the script, silently reciting his lines and striving to perform his best later.

However, the other actors noticed them. They immediately stood to greet them, and the noise made Zheng Jingyuan look up.

At that moment, Cai Jinbai happened to be looking at him as well, and their eyes met.

Cai Jinbai nodded at Zheng Jingyuan.

Flattered, Zheng Jingyuan stood and returned the gesture.

He knew of Cai Jinbai and Xuan Yu, after all. The two had frequently trended online before.

More recently, they had also participated in The Actors, drawing even more attention.

Speaking of The Actors, Zheng Jingyuan had wanted to join as well. But his agent had realized that President Cai had invested in the show primarily to promote new actors and minor actors who had lacked opportunities for a long time.

The goal was to inject fresh vitality into the entertainment industry. If someone like him, an award-winning Best Actor, participated, he would inevitably receive criticism.

Thus, Zheng Jingyuan had later abandoned the idea.

He thought President Cai's investment was excellent. The entertainment industry truly needed fresh vitality.

"President Cai, President Xuan." Li Qianqian came out to welcome them.

The two entered and took their seats. During the audition process, Cai Jinbai did not offer any opinions until Zheng Jingyuan entered.

The role Zheng Jingyuan wanted to audition for was the father of another family corresponding to the protagonist's family in the drama, but before he could begin, Cai Jinbai interrupted him.

"Zheng Jingyuan, I know you." Cai Jinbai's voice was calm. "The role you want to audition for does suit you, but don't you think another role would be more challenging?"

Zheng Jingyuan froze, then vaguely sensed something. He immediately asked tentatively, "President Cai, are you referring to the role of Yang Zixin?"

Yang Zixin was the younger brother of the male lead, the head of the protagonist's family. He was a character with an extremely complex personality and considerable importance.

He had been adopted out as a child and often went hungry when he was young. Thus, after growing up, he became especially fond of money.

In that era, he went out to make his way in the world, experienced failed investments and hardship, then made a comeback. His moral bottom line was low, yet his feelings for his family were genuine. In short, he could not be defined by a single word.