Fang Ning frowned at the greens Ji Xiangchen pushed toward her. She really wanted to say that she genuinely hated eating grass! She liked meat!
Two other people witnessed this little incident.
Zhou Lu was eating nearby with another actor he knew, and they saw Fang Ning and Ji Xiangchen eating together.
The two curled their lips, exchanged a glance, and clicked their tongues softly.
Of course, while Fang Ning and Ji Xiangchen were there, neither of them dared to say anything too outrageous.
But once Fang Ning and Ji Xiangchen left, Zhou Lu couldn't resist making an exaggerated expression of disgust. "See that? I told you. Tsk, there's something going on between those two."
The man opposite him grew curious at this and lowered his voice. "Are you sure? Are they really?"
Zhou Lu already loathed Ji Xiangchen, and he wouldn't pass up a chance to disparage him. Besides, he didn't think he was lying. Given how fiercely Fang Ning had defended Ji Xiangchen earlier, he didn't believe there was absolutely nothing between them.
So he wasn't really spreading rumors now, either.
"Obviously. Tsk, tsk, tsk. What kind of taste does Fang Ning have, liking trash like Ji Xiangchen?"
"And Fang Ning is a total nobody, yet she managed to land a role in Director Wang's production. Do you think that's possible without someone backing her? Ji Xiangchen actually has his eye on her, too. What an idiot."
As he went on, Zhou Lu noticed that his friend wasn't agreeing with him or eating. He was just staring blankly at something behind Zhou Lu.
Puzzled, Zhou Lu waved a hand in front of his eyes. "What's wrong with you? Scared?"
The man stiffly pointed behind Zhou Lu without making a sound, merely gesturing as he stared past him.
Why was he pointing behind him? What was back there? Puzzled, Zhou Lu turned to look.
Before he could get a clear look at the person behind him, a solid fist came flying at him, followed immediately by Ji Xiangchen's icy voice. "Zhou Lu, don't go too far."
Fang Ning and Ji Xiangchen headed back after their meal, but they ran into Director Wang and the assistant director along the way.
Director Wang was holding a script and was about to ask Fang Ning to audition for his friend's production.
After spending the past two days with her, he felt that Fang Ning truly had potential worth developing. As it happened, his friend was casting a new production, and there was one role for which he hadn't found a suitable actor in a long time.
His friend happened to show him the script that day. He felt Fang Ning was a good fit in every respect, and after two days of working with her, he knew her acting wasn't a problem.
So he had come to ask whether she was interested. Director Wang explained, "Whether in terms of appearance or other aspects, this role suits you very well. Would you like to give it a try?"
Fang Ning was a little surprised that Director Wang had come to see her personally. Of course, someone had brought an opportunity right to her doorstep.
She wanted to coast through life, but only an idiot would turn down money!
Only children chose. She wanted both.
Fang Ning nodded. "Director Wang, I'd like to read the script first. If it's a good fit, I'd be willing to give it a try."
They found somewhere to sit, and Director Wang introduced the production to Fang Ning. "This is a film by my old friend, Director Zhang. He's been preparing to shoot an arthouse film lately, but he hasn't found a suitable actress for the second female lead."
"He just sent me the script, and I took a quick look. I think you'd suit this role quite well. Take a look and see whether you'd like to give it a try."
Ever since discovering the day before that she had a talent for acting, Fang Ning felt she could keep pursuing it.
For one thing, she could make money in the entertainment industry.
The second reason was that everyone had wrapped themselves in a bedsheet and played a fairy as a child. Who hadn't dreamed of being an actor?
Fang Ning read through the script carefully.
This script was for a film about reflecting on life.
It was called "The Journey Home."
Several characters of different classes, social standing, ages, and genders were searching for the meaning of life.
The role Director Wang wanted her to try was a girl who felt lost after graduating from university and failing to find a job.
After studying for nearly twenty years or more, she couldn't even find a job that would support her after graduation.
She had tried to save herself and had also attempted suicide, but both had failed. Finally, by a chance encounter, she met a wandering beggar and followed him, wandering for over a month.
During that month, she went through many things and ultimately managed to find hope, find herself, and find her own way home.
"Although this film doesn't have a big budget or major stars, the overall quality of the script is pretty good. Fang Ning, you can give it some thought."
Fang Ning closed the script and spoke slowly, without haste or agitation. "Director Wang, I can't decide these things on my own. I need to hear what my agent and the company decide. Besides, even if I'm willing to try a new role, I might not necessarily get it. Wouldn't you agree?"
Director Wang disagreed with Fang Ning. "Fang Ning, I have faith in you. As long as you go for it, this role will definitely be yours."
His judgment was the yardstick. It was never wrong!
"Of course, accepting a role isn't a small matter, either. You should discuss it with your agent. I'm just helping someone out, and this is still up to you. I have other things to do, so I'll be going."
After Director Wang left, Fang Ning called her agent, Sister Xue, and told her about it. She had thought Sister Xue would tell her to consider it carefully.
Who knew that once she finished speaking, even the phone couldn't diminish her agent's shock? "Fang Ning! What the fuck are you talking about? You're saying you need to think about a role in Director Zhang's film? Have you gone crazy, or have I?"
"Do you know how many people beg for a role in Director Zhang's films and still can't get one?"
Director Zhang was renowned in the entertainment industry as a brilliant, unconventional director. His films all aimed for major awards! On top of that, his standards were extremely strict. Never mind someone like Fang Ning, who already had some acting ability.
Even talentless freaks could soak in one of his films for a while and, after he worked them over, come out able to act.