Cui Ming had been feeling rather pleased with himself these past few days. Even his back was noticeably straighter when he reported on work at the company.
Before, anyone at the company could make fun of him. He had once been something of an ace manager, yet he had insisted on taking over the mess that was Jiang Nuo.
He had even gotten dragged through the mud for no reason and could no longer work with good artists.
But he just believed Jiang Nuo could become a top star someday!
Now look! Jiang Nuo was the most talked-about person in the entire company. Let anyone try mocking them now!
Just today, Jiang Nuo was going to audition with an internationally renowned director! And his scene partner was Si Yan!
Who else in the company got treatment like that?
"Brother Cui, what are you thinking about? You're practically drooling."
Jiang Nuo made a sound of distaste and quietly shifted away.
"Ahem, nothing!"
Cui Ming snapped out of his delight at all the praise he had just received and handed Jiang Nuo the lunch box he was holding.
"Once you're inside, give this to Si Yan first. Tell him you made it yourself."
Jiang Nuo silently conjured a question mark and hung it over his head.
"Even monsters won't eat my cooking." He had even tested it before, poisoning three instance monsters to death.
"Oh, come on, it's not like he'll ever get a chance to actually taste it... wait."
Cui Ming suddenly sucked in a breath, rubbing his chin as he studied Jiang Nuo. Judging by how close those two were now...
They might actually get together someday!
Wouldn't that make him guilty?
"How about this? Say you brought him breakfast especially for him. Whatever you do, don't say you bought it on the way."
That would work. At least it wouldn't give him away.
Jiang Nuo took the lunch box and gave Cui Ming a lingering look, his tone inscrutable. "Brother Cui, even my breakfast wasn't this lavish."
Why had he only gotten a bowl of plain congee with pitifully few grains of rice?
"Heh."
Cui Ming sneered. "Maybe if I hadn't caught you secretly eating two family buckets last night."
Two whole buckets! All by himself! What other artist dared indulge like that?
Jiang Nuo blinked and hurriedly opened the door to get out.
"We're short on time and have a lot to do. Audition first. Hurry up and get out."
The audition venue was in Hengdian. The directing team had cleared the area, and quite a few crew members were stationed there. There weren't many artists around, but there were plenty of RVs.
"Nuonuo!"
Si Yan was still wearing a black overcoat today, his tall, slender figure naturally exuding nobility.
When he saw Jiang Nuo get out of the car and approach, a smile instantly appeared on his previously expressionless face. His radiant beauty stirred tender affection.
His complexion was rosy, and he seemed to be doing very well.
Jiang Nuo waved a paw in greeting too. At Cui Ming's pointed look, he handed over the lunch box.
"Good morning. I brought you breakfast."
Sure enough, Si Yan's smile deepened, and even his heart rippled.
Nuonuo bought breakfast for me himself. How was that any different from making it himself?
There was no difference.
He accepted it happily, then blinked his long, slender phoenix eyes at Jiang Nuo, completely unconcerned by all the crew members and paparazzi present.
He seemed eager for the whole world to misunderstand their relationship.
Jiang Nuo understood immediately. He was in a good mood today and happy to indulge him. Under Cui Ming's shocked gaze, he took Si Yan's hand and walked inside.
And so everyone present could see Si Yan showing off like a peacock spreading its tail, carrying the lunch box in one hand and holding Jiang Nuo's hand with the other. He couldn't stop smiling and kept glancing toward the cameras.
Like a kingdom-ruining enchantress who had won the emperor's favor.
Pah.
The crew member who made that association inwardly scorned themself.
How could I think that? Si Yan was the one playing the emperor this time!
He was just... a little delicate, a little cute, a little tsundere.
...Fine, he was an enchantress!
The crew member looked up at the sky, quietly took out their phone, and shared their joy with their girlfriends, without mentioning a word of what had happened.
Seriously, leaking news from the production would be a disaster.
When they entered the audition room, the director looked up to see Si Yan lifting the lunch box and repeating himself.
"You carry on. Nuonuo's going to keep me company while I eat breakfast. He brought it especially for me."
The director and producer, who had been working until now without eating, said, "..."
Damn it. If this brat weren't the biggest investor, they would... still be unable to do anything.
Annoying.
The lunch box opened, and the aroma of meat congee immediately filled the room. There were also small portions of all sorts of delicacies. Si Yan sat in the same row as the director and ate without the slightest ceremony.
While inwardly scorning Si Yan, the director sized up Jiang Nuo's appearance.
His looks were certainly outstanding. The question was how well he could act.
"Have you read the script?"
The assistant director asked.
He wore a baseball cap and had the sternest expression of anyone there.
"Yes," Jiang Nuo answered immediately, stepping in front of the camera. Facing him was a row of directors, with the producer seated near the middle.
Even under so many pairs of eyes, Jiang Nuo showed no stage fright. He looked composed, a smile playing on his lips.
Si Yan had personally chosen his role this time, and it was an extremely challenging one.
In the story, Si Yan played an emperor whose throne was threatened by a general who held sway over the entire court.
He went from anger and helplessness at being oppressed early on to enduring his burdens and secretly laying plans, finally reclaiming real power.
Jiang Nuo played that general, whose methods were cruel and ruthless, yet whose looks surpassed even the most beautiful consort of the reigning emperor.
The role had a great deal of screen time, almost more than the female lead, who served as a plot device. The director had originally intended to invite several popular actors to audition together, but on the very day the script came out, Si Yan had slapped the table and decided Jiang Nuo would play the part.
"The scene we're auditioning today is the confrontation between the general and the emperor in the imperial hall."
Jiang Nuo glanced at the lines in the printed script. When he looked up, he saw that Si Yan had finally finished breakfast and was wiping his mouth as he stood.
"Nuonuo, I'll run the scene with you."
"Sure."
The director pushed up his glasses. "All right, one audition take. Roll camera."
The room immediately fell utterly silent.