A Joke 1

He finally decided to accompany Zou Yan to meet his future backer. He had known Xing Zhanyun for years, but he had never met his father.

Zou Yan was right. What did he have to fear from Xing Zhanyun? He had someone backing him now, so he ought to stand his ground when he needed to! Yes!

But plans could not keep up with changes. That very same day, Xie Yibai received an unexpected interview notice for a film audition Yin Ran had arranged for him.

It was a commercial romance film. The female lead was the A-list actress An Fei, and the male lead had been chosen but could not yet be announced. Xie Yibai was auditioning for the second male lead.

The production team had provided materials, including a complete character profile, a plot synopsis, and excerpts of dialogue.

Now that was a proper audition process. You needed a scene to perform before anyone could judge your acting.

An Fei had started out in stage plays and risen to fame through film. Her image and acting were highly praised by the public, and she had once created a box-office legend in mainland Chinese film history.

Acting alongside her meant getting a chance to appear in a major hit, and perhaps generate some buzz as well.

Xie Yibai discussed it with Zou Yan, who said the production team was decent and that taking the role would not be a loss. He also told him, "Acting is more important than social obligations. You don't need to come to the dinner. Preparing for the audition is more important."

Since Xie Yibai had little experience acting in films, Zou Yan was worried and asked Yin Ran to help him prepare in person.

"This film is what the market calls a chick flick. The overall tone is lighthearted and humorous, a little artsy and fast-paced, catering to the tastes of young people in today's cities. The second male lead you're auditioning for, Lin Wen, is a graduate student in literature. While working part-time at a coffee shop, he meets Mi Na, a pediatrician, and falls for her at first sight. He invites her to try the shop's new coffee beans. I want you to build a scene around that. Prepare it first, then perform it for me." Yin Ran reminded him, "I don't know if they'll provide props at the audition, so just in case, do it without any physical objects for now."

Xie Yibai followed her instructions, memorized the lines, and performed a romantic first encounter between a literary young man and his goddess. The scene lasted less than five minutes. When he finished, Yin Ran said nothing, and Xie Yibai watched her anxiously.

"Too long, and too slow," Yin Ran said, pointing out his mistakes. "This film will be just over two hours at most, and every minute is precious. How much screen time you get as the second male lead depends on how compelling your performance is and the value it brings, so you can't waste a single second. I want you to shorten it and perform this scene well in under two minutes. Use your acting to grab me."

Xie Yibai humbly accepted her criticism. "Sorry, Yin Ran. I really am unfamiliar with acting for film. Let me think about it some more. I'll cut it down."

"Yibai, I have two suggestions. First, you need to understand the character inside and out. Lin Wen is still in school, and making coffee is his hobby. He'll come across differently from an ordinary part-time worker, so don't play him so mechanically. Second, he studies literature, so you should bring out the refined air of someone well-read. Then there's how chemistry develops between a modern young man and woman. It needs to make the audience's hearts flutter, and that should be your strong suit. I think this role suits you. Give it more thought and show them your best. But don't be nervous. We're only rehearsing, and if there are any problems, I'll help you make adjustments."

Xie Yibai said, "Then I'll go change my clothes first."

The casual outfit he was wearing had long sleeves and was made of light, soft, flowing fabric. It was not what a barista or server would wear.

"All right," Yin Ran agreed.

Ten minutes later, he changed into a basic white shirt. He could not find an apron, so he pinned on a name badge to look the part. Xie Yibai also fixed his hair in the mirror, then straightened his shoulders and back and walked over to her. "I'm ready."

Yin Ran looked up from her tablet and studied him. She smiled. "A costume is still about the face wearing it. Once you're dressed like that, the character is more than halfway there. That's a gift, Yibai."

Xie Yibai smiled. "Then I'll do another take."

His audition was in the afternoon. At noon, Zou Yan had lunch with Xing Zhanyun and his father, then called Xie Yibai when the time was right.

"Hey, Xiaobai, finished your audition?"

"I haven't gone in yet."

Zou Yan had obviously been drinking. His voice was unusually excited as he said, "We've struck it rich! Guess how much President Xing plans to invest in us?"

"I can't guess." Xie Yibai was not good with numbers, and the amount an investor put in had nothing to do with his acting fee.

"All right, then I'll tell you in person!" Zou Yan said, keeping him in suspense. He was standing in the sun, and the afternoon light flowed warmly over the back of his hand like water. He turned his palm over and grabbed at it, but the light did not diminish in the slightest.

The wealth in this world seemed like an endless day: grab one handful and there was another, and it could never be grasped in its entirety. Zou Yan said into the phone, "The weather today... is really nice. Do you want to make a wish?"

Xie Yibai knew he was flirting and murmured, "A wish? If I make one, will you help me make it come true?"

Zou Yan said, "Yes. So what do you wish for?"

Drinking loosened the tongue, and a drunk person's words could not be taken seriously.

Xie Yibai checked the time. It would soon be his turn to audition, and dragging things out with Zou Yan was rather dull. In a playful mood, he teased, "Then... I want that watch of Director Ke's. Go ask him for it and give it to me."

Chapter 19: A Joke 1

Sheng Ke's watch was a gift from his mother. When he was twenty-two, his first feature film had been selected for the Cannes Film Festival, and he was to attend the red carpet with the principal members of the production team. Hoping he would stand out and receive the recognition he deserved, his mother had given him the watch, which represented the vast expanse of stars, as a blessing.

His parents divorced

after

, his mother was promoted and transferred to the United Kingdom. There, she found her second husband, married him in a whirlwind wedding, and gave birth to a pair of mixed-race twins, two adorable girls. From middle school onward, Sheng Ke flew to London every summer and winter vacation to reunite with his mother, stepfather, and younger sisters, and he often brought Zou Yan along.

Just as Zou Yan displayed a photo of the two of them at home, Sheng Ke had a family portrait on his desk. In it, his mother stood with his two younger sisters, while he and Zou Yan stood on either side of them.

A few years later, his mother divorced her second husband as well. She was a strong woman, inside and out. Raising the twins alone was not easy, yet she still managed to send both daughters to a boarding school in Switzerland with astronomical tuition fees, while also looking after her exceptionally talented son.

Overnight, her son became famous, bringing his mother honor and pride.

So it was not just a watch, but a repository of family affection and a testament to a mother's love.

"Unless I'm dead," Sheng Ke told Zou Yan. "If you're not using your brain, you can donate it, so someone else doesn't possess you."

Zou Yan had drunk quite a bit at lunch and arrived at the company with his mouth and throat parched. He drained every one of the several glasses of water Jiang Ni poured him. If his left hand had not been bandaged, he would have loved to pick up the water jug and guzzle it down.

Zou Yan had expected Sheng Ke's firm refusal, but he refused to give up and kept wheedling. "Just think of it as trading with me. We'll swap for fun, and I'll give it back in a few days. I have several watches at home. Take one and wear it! You've worn that one for so many years. Aren't you tired of looking at it?"

Sheng Ke closed his laptop and set his work aside. "All these years, you've never shown any interest in my watch. Tell me, why now?"

Zou Yan stared at him and laughed. "I can't hide anything from you, hahahaha. Xiaobai sent me. He said your watch was beautiful and he wanted to touch it."

It's not like your Xiaobai can't afford one. He's teasing you. Sheng Ke wanted to say that, but on second thought, Zou Yan might well know it was a joke. Human nature was base, however, and he was simply enjoying himself.

"Just for that?" Sheng Ke said. "Then tell him to come here. I want to hear him say it himself."

"You're fierce all day long, and you always speak so sarcastically. He can't avoid you fast enough." Zou Yan pressed his palms together in supplication. "Please, please. I promised him that whatever he asked for, I'd help him get it."

Sheng Ke shook his head firmly. "No way."

"Stingy..." Dizzy, Zou Yan leaned back in his chair and gazed up at the ceiling. "How about I buy him the same model to make him happy? Could I get a brand-new one in stock?"

"You haven't even touched his hand, have you?" Sheng Ke remarked sarcastically. "If you spend those few million, will he let you hold it?"

"I have." Zou Yan patted his cheek. "See? I got hit. My hand's broken, and my face is injured too."

Sheng Ke was speechless. He scolded him for the sake of his health. "Your injury hasn't healed, and you dare drink so much? Do you have a death wish?"

"That punch wasn't for nothing, and I wasn't drinking for the sake of drinking. It was productive drinking." Zou Yan raised a hand and held up his fingers. "Sixty million! The post-production funds are secured!"

"You're crazy."

"What do you know? You're frigid."

Sheng Ke could not be bothered arguing with him. Someone whose brain was full of love was not worth wasting his breath on.

"I say, Xiao Ke," Zou Yan said with concern, "I'll go with you to the hospital one of these days. We ought to find out whether your problem is psychological or physical."

Sheng Ke enunciated clearly, "Get lost."

"With that foul temper of yours, who but me could put up with you?" Zou Yan's patience ran out, and he gave up trying. "Give me your watch, or I'm staying right here today."

"If you won't leave, I will." Sheng Ke promptly picked up his laptop and started for the door.

"Our friendship is over!" Zou Yan shouted.

Sheng Ke stopped in his tracks and forcibly swallowed his anger. "Fine. You win."

The film Xie Yibai was auditioning for was called Someone in the World Will Always Love You. The assistant director had been friends with Yin Ran for years and had only let him jump the queue for an audition as a favor to her.

He had never been the kind of actor film producers favored. First were his looks and acting: his appearance was too polished, like some kind of template, while his acting skills were unremarkable, with no visible potential.

Second, web dramas and films were different mediums, and their audiences did not completely overlap. Box-office takings came from real money. Viewers of historical idol dramas might click on a show because its male lead was called Xie Yibai, but casual viewers would not buy a ticket and go to the cinema for him.

What did it matter if his fans were active? Even if several million fans were mobilized to buy tickets, the total box office would still fall short of a hundred million.

He was neither a top-tier star nor a box-office draw, but he was still famous, so he could not lower his acting fee.