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Some people had not heard the news.

Cai Jinbai had Yuan Guangjin personally send them text messages and deliver the scripts.

Du Ru was already in his forties. He was an actor from the older generation, and when he was young, he had played leading roles too. But as he grew older, he could only play supporting roles in television dramas. He loved acting and did not make films for the money. His family was not short on money either; he simply wanted to indulge his passion for acting.

But his family felt that filming was exhausting. Every shoot meant being away from home for a long time, and sometimes his body could not even hold up. He was no longer young, and as he aged, all kinds of ailments came knocking. Just like the last time he filmed—he had spent time somewhere crowded and came back with the flu.

Du Ru did not care what his family thought. He had a phone, knew how to use the internet, and could even go straight to production crews himself. There would always be opportunities to act.

This time, news of auditions for "Imperial Authority" arrived on his phone, along with a script sent directly to him.

Du Ru had wanted to secretly take the script first and deal with the rest later, but the moment he entered the house, his daughter snatched it away.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Du Ru grew anxious.

His daughter shot him a glance. "Is this a script? Don't tell me you want to go act again?"

"What's wrong with acting? Can't a person have a hobby?" Unable to get the script back, Du Ru snorted and sat down on the sofa.

"What's wrong with acting? You tell me what's wrong. The family doesn't need you to earn money, yet you insist on finding something to do. It's not that I won't let you do anything—raise fish, grow flowers or grass, anything would be easier than acting. What if you get the flu again like last time and have to stay in the hospital for half a month..." Du He muttered as she pulled out the script and began flipping through it. This time, she had made up her mind not to let her father go filming.

She had to read the script first, focus on criticizing its logic and plot holes, and make her father feel that it was not worth acting in, then, then...

However, as she read on, Du He became engrossed before she knew it, reading with complete concentration.

Du Ru: "...?"

"Let me have a look?"

He tried to reach for it, only for Du He to slap his hand away. "Wait. Let me finish first."

"..." Du Ru was angry but did not dare vent it. He stood up and wandered around the courtyard outside with his hands behind his back. One lap, two laps, three laps later, and his daughter still had not finished.

Fortunately, before he completed a fourth lap, his daughter waved to him through the glass.

Du Ru hurried inside and said, "Let me tell you, I'm not giving up acting. I have to..."

Du He said, "Fine, you can act this time. First, you have to pass the audition. Pack your things—we'll go to S City together. If you succeed, I'll stay with the crew and look after you, so you won't neglect your health."

Such a good script would be such a waste not to film.

She had a feeling that if this drama was made well, it would become a massive hit. Missing it would truly lead to regret.

Du Ru: "...Huh?"

The entertainment industry did not lack veteran actors, but they had far fewer acting opportunities than young people. Usually, opportunities for high-quality productions were even rarer.

This time, Jinbai Entertainment's big-budget production, "Imperial Authority," truly attracted quite a few veteran actors and performers from the older generation to audition. Most had learned about it through text messages specially sent by Jinbai Entertainment, and they had also received scripts.

Some young actors were interested in the drama as well. Unfortunately, because of some online commentary, they deliberated again and again before ultimately choosing the two S+-tier big productions at Star Universe Entertainment. One was an immortal fantasy drama, while the other was also an ancient political intrigue drama—but it was the kind of political intrigue young people liked. Ratings still depended on the youth market, so by comparison, Jinbai Entertainment's television drama was not particularly popular.

Hao Sumei was known as Sister Hao in the entertainment industry. She had struggled in the industry for half her life and had always played supporting roles. When she was young, her looks had not been enough for leading lady roles, but after she grew older, she gained a certain mature charm.

But once women aged, it became even harder for them to get by in the entertainment industry.

Still, Hao Sumei did not care much about that. She loved acting, and as long as she could get a role, she did not care whether it was a leading role or a supporting one.

To her, as long as she gave it everything and acted it well, even a supporting role was still the protagonist of her life.

Therefore, no matter what role she played, she gave it her all. She could get up early in winter to memorize lines and read scripts at night. Sometimes she would fall asleep while reading. Her energy was waning, but that did not stop her from persevering.

Besides memorizing lines during the day, she also studied acting.

Hao Sumei's acting skills ranked among the best in the entertainment industry.

However, she kept a very low profile, so she was not particularly famous online.

Some time ago, Hao Sumei had been filming with a crew as a supporting actress for a popular young idol. When she saw him perform poorly and get harshly scolded by the director, she kindly went over to teach him.

Yet behind her back, he called her a know-it-all who meddled in other people's business. She was only a supporting actress, yet she dared try to teach him.

When Hao Sumei learned of this, she became so angry that she fell ill.

How was she a know-it-all? She had merely kindly offered him a sentence or two of advice. She had not even spoken to him for more than five minutes.

The young idol had agreed with a smile on his face, but behind the scenes, he revealed an entirely different face. He was nothing like the humble person online rumors claimed he was, someone who respected his seniors.

Even if she had played supporting roles her whole life, she was still a senior, was she not? Did she not deserve even a little respect?

Hao Sumei fell ill from anger, but she did not tell her family about it. She only said she was exhausted.

After all, she knew very well that no one had it easy in the entertainment industry. At her age, why should she bother arguing with an immature youngster?

Her son and daughter were filial. Knowing that she loved acting, they had not done much to stop her from continuing in the entertainment industry.

It was only after she fell sick this time that her son and daughter persuaded her to consider retiring from the industry and spending her old age peacefully at home.

After hesitating for a few days, Hao Sumei began to consider it too.

Then Jinbai Entertainment's script arrived. They were not asking her to audition; they directly told her that one role in the script could be played by no one but her, and they hoped she would take it.

Not long after Hao Sumei opened the script, she became immersed in it.

Then she immediately decided to take the role.

Her son and daughter still wanted to persuade her. "Mom, didn't you want to retire from the industry? Why are you taking on another drama?"

"Exactly, Mom. You're already at this age. Acting is so exhausting, how about..."

Hao Sumei said, "No. This script is too good. They said the role of the Empress Dowager could be played by no one but me. Look at it—if I don't act in this, it would be such a shame."

She handed the script to her son and daughter.

The two took it and read it through in silence.

Her son said, "Mom, this role carries a lot of weight."

"Indeed. If it's acted well..." Her daughter looked at Hao Sumei. "Mom, do you think you can win an award?"

"I can." Hao Sumei answered with conviction, her expression full of excitement. It was rare to encounter such a good script, and missing it would be a pity. She said, "Even if I don't win an award, I still want to act in it for the sake of this script."

Her son said, "All right, we won't stop you this time. But you have so many scenes, and you'll have to stay with the crew for ten days or half a month... My sister and I will take turns looking after you."

Her daughter nodded.

Hao Sumei waved a hand. "No need. They won't lack anything there. You don't need to look after me."

She felt full of energy now, as though she had strength for anything.

Her daughter smiled. "How could that do? You just focus on acting well. Leave everything else to us."

While rumors continued to spread online about Jinbai Entertainment and Star Universe Entertainment, the television drama "Family Matters" finally premiered.

Perhaps they wanted revenge for being crushed by that idol drama last time, because Star Universe Entertainment had actually released another drama of the same genre this time.

[No way, they're competing again? The first time was idol dramas, the second time is period dramas, and it seems there'll be a third time too—the political intrigue dramas about to start filming. Oh, no, Jinbai Entertainment only has one political intrigue drama for the third round, but Star Universe Entertainment has placed its bets on two: one immortal fantasy drama and one ancient political intrigue romance drama. Haha, let's see who wins these two rounds. Curious.]

[Star Universe Entertainment: We lost once, so we have to win back our pride!]

[I'm not interested in either of these period dramas, but my parents might watch them. I'll watch with them then.]

[This time, I'm betting Jinbai Entertainment will win again. Supporting President Cai!]

[Not necessarily. It seems neither Jinbai Entertainment nor Star Universe Entertainment has made period dramas before. Jinbai Entertainment is newly established, so of course it hasn't, but Star Universe Entertainment has always focused on novel adaptations—popular immortal fantasy dramas and ancient romance dramas. It hasn't made period dramas either. Anyway, I'm not optimistic about either of them.]

[The screenwriter of "Family Matters" is the one who was previously accused of plagiarism. I've decided to support them.]

When the drama began airing, Cai Jinbai and Xuan Yu were at home, turning on the television and waiting.

Cai Jinbai was also holding a tablet, with messages constantly pouring into the company group chat.

Oddly enough, Xuan Yu was holding a tablet too. Strange—wasn't he usually uninterested in these things?

Cai Jinbai thought Xuan Yu was monitoring the data too, so he leaned over and said, "Xuan, you're..."

Before he could finish, Xuan Yu turned around, his broad shoulders blocking Cai Jinbai's view of the tablet. He looked back, his expression seeming a little stiff. "What?"

He gave him a fright. Why had Jinbai suddenly come over?

Cai Jinbai had taken off his glasses by then. Seeing Xuan Yu like this, he could not help narrowing his eyes. "What do you mean, what? Are you hiding something from me?"

Otherwise, why did he look so guilty? What was he looking at on that tablet?