"General, you've been throwing your weight around lately, repeatedly behaving improperly before the throne and showing no regard for my dignity."
Inside the imperial study, Si Yan stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes lowered toward the seated general, yet he seemed the less imposing of the two.
Jiang Nuo set down his teacup and looked up with a derisive laugh. "Your Majesty knows nothing of military affairs. I merely offered a pointer or two. Why get angry?"
"Insolence."
Si Yan could not help losing control. His noble, phoenix-shaped eyes reddened with anger, and only by clenching his fists could he keep himself rational.
"I am the Son of Heaven! You would do well to remember your place, General."
"The chief censor merely made a small mistake. I had intended to punish him and let the matter pass, but you had him brutally tortured! You subjected him to all hundred-odd punishments in the prison! Was that really necessary?"
Jiang Nuo smiled and rubbed his fingertips together, as though he could still smell the blood clinging to them. The smile he directed at the emperor was as gentle as ever.
He rose and slowly advanced toward the emperor, his presence overbearing.
"I would like to ask, he was only a chief censor. If he's gone, he's gone. Why is Your Majesty so alarmed?"
"Could it be... Your Majesty believes this man was unique and irreplaceable?"
Those words plainly told Si Yan that the man had lost his life over a minor mistake because he was one of his people.
Si Yan drew a deep breath, his body trembling with anger. His tone weakened slightly. "What exactly do you want? Do you still have any regard for me as your emperor?"
"Of course," Jiang Nuo answered without hesitation, tilting his head with an ambiguous smile. A smile suddenly bloomed across his exquisite face, his glances radiant and captivating.
"Your Majesty, you ascended the throne young and know nothing of state affairs."
Jiang Nuo approached the emperor and even brazenly reached out to straighten Si Yan's collar. His movements were plainly gentle, yet harbored murderous intent.
The neck was the most vulnerable vital point. Now that the overstepping general touched it so easily, Si Yan could not help lifting his chin, his Adam's apple bobbing helplessly.
Jiang Nuo's fingertips brushed across his neck. His smile as he looked at Si Yan was dazzling, like a demon bewitching the world who might plunge someone into the abyss at any moment.
"I helped you secure this realm, so naturally... I will guard it well for you. Do not anger me. Do you understand?"
At that moment, his presence was oppressive, murderous intent interwoven with deliberately feigned tenderness.
Si Yan breathed deeply, lowering his eyes as his voice trembled, as though reason had returned and he was deliberately showing weakness to preserve his life.
"...Very well." He slowly looked toward the general, his expression complicated.
"Cut!"
The director suddenly called out, shaking off the goosebumps covering his body.
He kept feeling as though a whole bunch of pink bubbles had inexplicably appeared in the room.
He hissed, his brows tightly furrowed, and looked toward the two assistant directors and the producer.
"What do you think?"
Assistant Director A said, "Jiang Nuo's acting is stunning. He handles this role very well."
Assistant Director B said, "Playing a madman comes very naturally to him, and he wasn't led off course at all while acting opposite Si Yan."
The producer nodded along, crossing his other leg over his knee. "It's just..."
"Why does this scene feel so... deeply affectionate when they act it out?!"
"Yes! That's exactly the problem!"
The director scratched his neck and sat up straight, utterly baffled. The script clearly called for threats and confrontation, so why did these two make it look like flirting?
But it really was quite good. He had never expected Jiang Nuo to be such a good actor, either.
Jiang Nuo straightened with a beaming smile, all his murderous intent vanishing. He touched Si Yan's neck again. "I don't think I used any force. It doesn't hurt, does it?"
"No."
Si Yan pressed his lips together, his eyes shining brightly. "You're amazing, Nuonuo."
Earlier, he had intended to help Jiang Nuo get into character, so he had deliberately slowed the pace and left him ample room to speak.
Who would have thought Jiang Nuo had a rhythm entirely his own and was thoroughly in character, with a very thorough understanding of the role?
"Jiang Nuo has a very good grasp of the character. It's settled, then."
The director ignored the inexplicable pink bubbles and decided to revise the script's dialogue later.
Just then, a staff member appeared in the room. He jogged over and said a few words to the director.
"He's already here?"
The director was surprised, then frowned in annoyance. Wasn't this deliberate?
If he had not seen Jiang Nuo's performance today, he really might have let Lin Yu come in.
But he believed there would be no actor more suited to this role than Jiang Nuo.
"Go turn him down. There's no need for him to come in. If he wants to play the fourth male lead, have him send an audition video online."
He had already sent out the script for the fourth male lead and discussed everything with the executive director and production coordinator.
What was Lin Yu trying to do, changing his mind at the last minute and asking to audition for the second male lead?
"Okay."
The staff member quickly jogged away to give Lin Yu's manager the reply.
Inside the RV.
"What? The director won't even see me?"
Lin Yu instantly sat upright. He found it unbelievable. He had shared meals with this director several times before and considered their relationship quite good. How could this happen?
"So who did they cast as the second male lead?"
Lin Yu still wanted to fight for it. This film had a good script and a strong directing team. Besides, the male lead was Si Yan, which meant they could work together a second time. That would greatly help his future prospects.
"Jiang Nuo."
His manager sighed. "I asked around. Si Yan invested in this film, so he has casting rights. He picked Jiang Nuo outright."
"He was just going through the motions today."
Jiang Nuo. Why was it Jiang Nuo again?
Lin Yu's expression shifted slightly. "With his acting skills, can he handle such a challenging role? How could Si Yan do this?"
"All right, don't get so angry. You might as well play the fourth male lead. This character has quite a lot of screen time, too. Once you're in the same production, won't it be immediately obvious who's better?"
His manager had worked with him for a long time and already knew what Lin Yu was like. He added, "I've already contacted paid fans to leak the news that Jiang Nuo stole your role. We'll buy a trending topic later and let it gain traction. You don't need to respond."
"Mm."
Still furious, Lin Yu flung aside the script on the table. "Go to the Imperial Court."
"You're going there again today? You have a business banquet tonight."
His manager hesitated.
"Paparazzi have already been waiting outside lately, just looking for something to spin a story out of."
"He's my older brother. What could happen? Just go."
"All right, all right."
The auditions in the room at Hengdian continued.
Jiang Nuo told Cui Ming that he had passed the audition. Cui Ming was delighted and immediately decided to go throw the news right in that bloodsucker's face, and find Jiang Nuo two assistants while he was at it.
Si Yan still had several scenes to rehearse today, and he wanted to have lunch with Jiang Nuo, so he invited Jiang Nuo to stay in front of everyone.
"If you could stay and wait for me, Nuonuo, I'd be happy very soon."
"If you don't want to, then never mind."
Si Yan sat beside Jiang Nuo, his brows slightly knitted as he lowered his head a little and stared at him.
Jiang Nuo looked up at the pitiful-looking man. He had to admit that this really worked on him.
Besides, this man was his Little Lucky Star, who could bring him benefits.
What else could I do? Spoil him.
He's pretty cute.
"Sure. Watching you act is pretty nice. I can hone my acting skills, too."
He put on a thoroughly doting manner. To everyone else, these two practically looked like they were already together.
But after Si Yan turned away, his brows knitted even tighter, and he felt a little disappointed.
He kept feeling that every time Nuonuo indulged him, it was out of consideration for something-because the spiritual power in his body could replenish Nuonuo.
But on second thought, what was wrong with that?
Spiritual power was scarce now, and only his innate spirit body could supply it endlessly. Even if Nuonuo indulged him in every way for his spiritual power, no one else had that opportunity.
No one else could lay so much as a finger on the person he had set his sights on.
"Can we start?"
The actress acting opposite him waved a hand in front of Si Yan's eyes. "What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing. Let's start."
The director signaled for the cameras to roll. "Consort Li audition, take one. Action."
Jiang Nuo sat where Si Yan had been sitting earlier, propping up his chin as he watched lazily, interest in his eyes.
Both were skilled actors, so the directors had not been worried at all. But just a few minutes in, they noticed something was wrong.
"Cut!" the director called.