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When Zheng Jingyuan read the script, he had been drawn to this character. This person could not be called a bad person, but he was definitely not a good person in the traditional sense either.

He had been attracted by the character setting and wanted to audition for the role, but his agent had advised him against it. The role's personality was completely opposite to the characters he had played before, and he had pitifully few scenes and not many chances to appear on screen.

He barely had any opportunities to act now. If he failed to perform well, wouldn't he lose another opportunity? It would be better to choose something more suitable for him.

After much deliberation, Zheng Jingyuan sighed and decided to follow his agent's advice.

He had been out of the industry for quite some time and no longer understood the current state of the entertainment world very well, so there were some matters he had to discuss with his agent.

But now, prompted by Cai Jinbai's question, Zheng Jingyuan's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Cai Jinbai said, "That's right. It seems you like this role too. So, do you want to audition for it?"

"Of course, the decision is yours. You can continue auditioning for it, or switch to the role of Yang Zixin."

Although Yang Zixin had very few scenes, if the role was played well, he would definitely stand out and leave a deep impression. In other words, although he had little screen time, the role carried considerable weight.

Zheng Jingyuan did not hesitate for long. He took a deep breath, struggled inwardly for a while, then decided to take a chance.

"I've decided to audition for Yang Zixin, President Cai."

Cai Jinbai smiled. "I think you've made the right choice."

Compared with the other role, the Wealth Aura brought by Yang Zixin was more suited to Zheng Jingyuan.

If he played this role, he would be more memorable in this television drama.

A role's quality was not determined by how many scenes it had.

It depended on whether it could make the audience's eyes light up and leave them with an unforgettable impression.

That was how a role's popularity manifested.

Since Zheng Jingyuan had made the right choice, once the audition was over, he could receive another precious opportunity.

Zheng Jingyuan's acting skills were unquestionably up to standard. As expected, he got the role of Yang Zixin.

Once it was confirmed, Zheng Jingyuan sincerely smiled. Then Cai Jinbai spoke again, giving him an even greater surprise.

"Would you be interested in auditioning for a film as well?"

After freezing for a moment, Zheng Jingyuan immediately said, "Yes, I am, President Cai."

No matter what kind of film audition it was, he had to agree. He could not miss this opportunity.

After all, it was no longer a matter of him choosing scripts. He had to fight for every hard-won opportunity.

But Zheng Jingyuan had not expected President Cai to give him such an enormous surprise.

Li Hua—Director Li's film—and the role he would audition for was the male lead.

Setting aside Director Li Hua's reputation, every film he made was deeply meaningful and had won countless awards.

The very fact that President Cai could give him an opportunity to audition for a film's male lead left Zheng Jingyuan flattered and overwhelmed, as though a trap had fallen from the sky.

He was hesitant and nervous, and a little unable to believe it.

Cai Jinbai saw through him and said, "Director Li Hua came to me seeking investment for a film. I agreed, but I proposed one condition: I would recommend a candidate to him. Of course, whether he ultimately uses the person I recommend will still depend on Director Li's decision."

"I've already read the script Director Li gave me. I think you're very suited to the male lead role and can give it a try."

"So I'll recommend you to Director Li, but whether you succeed will depend on your own efforts. I hope you won't disappoint me, Zheng Jingyuan."

Zheng Jingyuan licked his dry lips, his heart surging with excitement.

He controlled his expression and said, "I'll prepare properly, President Cai!"

Cai Jinbai nodded. Since he had finished this matter, there was no need for him to stay any longer.

Later, the information about the film audition arrived on Zheng Jingyuan's phone.

The film was called A Man and a Dog Adrift. On the surface, it was a warm and even somewhat comedic story, but at its core, it was tragic.

The male lead went through immense ups and downs. He had lived a life of luxury and excess, but he had also fallen to rock bottom. There had been times when he was proud and arrogant beyond compare, but there had also been times when he was decadent and lost. He clearly had a home, yet he did not dare return to it.

Because his investments had failed, his car, house, and other possessions had all been taken away. He did not dare face his wife and son.

He wandered outside, getting drunk beneath an overpass and nearly freezing to death. But when he woke up, he found an old dog lying on top of him, keeping him warm.

After that came the story of the male lead wandering with the old dog.

As he read the script, even Cai Jinbai could not help being drawn in.

"A Man and a Dog Adrift..." A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips as he looked at Xuan Yu. "It reminds me of when you and I wandered together as children. A man and a dragon adrift?"

After saying that, Cai Jinbai's smile deepened.

Back then, he had still been a little beggar, while Xuan Yu had been so weak that he could not even maintain his dragon form.

When they first met, Cai Jinbai had picked Xuan Yu up, thinking he was a little black snake.

He had been pitch-black, tiny, and pitiful, collapsed in the ice and snow, buried beneath the snow, and nearly frozen to death.

Out of kindness, Cai Jinbai had picked up the little snake. Who knew that after waking up, the little snake would try to bite him?

Thinking of this, Cai Jinbai sighed repeatedly and cast a reproachful look at Xuan Yu.

Xuan Yu's lips twitched. "...Kindness? Do you want me to remind you that you wanted to roast me and eat me back then?"

Cai Jinbai said, "Really? Did that happen? Why don't I remember?"

"I only remember some little snake opening his mouth wide and lunging at my neck to bite me. He scared me half to death."

He put on a frightened expression, his eyes turning aggrieved, as though every mistake had been Xuan Yu's fault.

Before becoming the revered artifact refiner everyone admired, Cai Jinbai had actually been sly and exceptionally good at putting on an act. He often used an innocent and pitiful appearance to trick others into trusting or pitying him, while secretly being full of schemes and skilled at calculation.

Now, several hundred years had passed. Cai Jinbai had long since concealed his sharpness, appearing refined and gentle, elegant and composed on the outside.

But in truth, a trace of hidden mischief still remained within him.

And only someone as close to him as Xuan Yu could see it.

That alone made Xuan Yu extremely satisfied.

Sure enough, he and Xiaobai were the closest.

But even Xiaobai could not twist black into white!

So a fierce smile appeared on Xuan Yu's lips as he suddenly pounced on Cai Jinbai. "Is that so? Do you really not remember? Shall I help you recall exactly how you threw me into the fire? Hmph."

Cai Jinbai was immediately knocked onto the sofa by Xuan Yu. His artifact refining skills were exceptional, but in other areas, he was no match for Xuan Yu.

Especially when it came to "fighting." Usually, he made money while Xuan Yu protected him—one used his hands, and the other also used his hands.

Xuan Yu restrained Cai Jinbai with one hand, gripping both his wrists tightly, while his other hand reached toward Cai Jinbai's waist.

Cai Jinbai's eyes widened at once, and then he could not help bursting into laughter, twisting his waist desperately to evade Xuan Yu's attack.

"Ch-Childish, aren't you? Let go, hahaha, let me go already, Xuan... I really can't, hahaha, I can't take it anymore." Cai Jinbai spoke in broken fragments between laughs. His glasses had slipped crooked, sweat beaded on his forehead, his collar had fallen open slightly, and the clothes around his waist were in disarray.

After a while, Cai Jinbai's glasses fell beside the sofa, revealing his handsome brows and eyes.

With nothing obstructing his face, Xuan Yu could see his expression even more clearly. A flush had spread across the corners of his eyes, and his gaze seemed to ripple...

Suddenly, watching Xiaobai laugh until even his lips had turned red, Xuan Yu felt his palm grow burning hot. Whenever he brushed the skin at Xiaobai's waist, his fingertips felt as though they had been struck by lightning. The current traveled up from his fingers, shot through his arm to his back, then surged to the top of his head, making his scalp tingle and his spine tremble...

How strange. He had not been struck by heavenly lightning, had he?!

Xuan Yu abruptly withdrew both hands and instantly teleported to the other end of the sofa, sitting close against the armrest. He stared fixedly at Xiaobai as he slowly climbed up from the sofa, as though facing a formidable enemy.

Cai Jinbai said, "...?"

He wiped the tears of laughter from the corners of his eyes, then straightened his clothes.

"What are you afraid of? You don't have any ticklish spots. Are you afraid I'll tickle you back?" Cai Jinbai curled his lips speechlessly.

That was the unfair part. Xuan Yu was not ticklish at all. Whenever Cai Jinbai had fought back before, Xuan Yu would sit there lazily, a faintly mocking smile at his lips, offering no resistance whatsoever. He would calmly watch Cai Jinbai fuss around, obviously enjoying the joke at his expense. He really had a face that begged to be punched.

Xuan Yu said, "...Y-You can tickle me back if you want. Come on."

After thinking about it, he even began to look forward to it.

Cai Jinbai said, "..."

What a crazy dragon. He could not be bothered with him.

He still had work to finish, so he continued reading.

After a while, Xuan Yu slowly moved back over and sat beside him. "What happens later in that script?"

When the script had been given to Xiaobai, he had not been interested and had not read it.

Cai Jinbai said, "The male lead names the dog Hope."

At first, the male lead was utterly dispirited and had no motivation to keep living. It was the old dog who went out to find food and brought it back for him.

The male lead was fed by the dog, but the dog went hungry. Once, the dog was even beaten and injured its leg.

Then the male lead was moved. To keep the dog from going hungry, he went out to find work. When he left home, he had left all his money to his wife and son, with not a cent on him. He begged for interviews at jobs he had once looked down on, climbing up from the bottom and meeting all kinds of people.