After Flirting with the Wrong Stand-in, I Overturned (GL) - Chapter 13

The official process for Lin Shuyan’s contract termination began. Xingyu Company had no legal ground to stand on. After much back-and-forth between the two parties, the situation ended up being framed entirely as Zhao Meili’s personal misconduct.

It was a transparent tactic, and Zhang Shaoyuan knew it; Xingyu Company was looking for a scapegoat.

“Boss Sun has a point.” Zhang Shaoyuan played along with the diplomatic talk, his attitude appearing much softer.

Before the smile could fully form on Boss Sun’s face, Zhang Shaoyuan continued, “I have already discussed the legalities of this contract with your lawyers. I’m sure you understand the situation better than I do.”

“If Manager Zhao’s actions were ‘private,’ which company does she belong to?”

“If this matter were to be publicized, I wonder about Xingyu’s reputation and whether any newcomers would still sign with you. Of course,” Zhang Shaoyuan smiled slightly, “I imagine there are other artists in similar situations to Miss Lin…”

Boss Sun’s expression grew increasingly grim. After a moment, he narrowed his eyes. “Are you threatening me?”

“You must be joking, Boss Sun. How would I dare?” Zhang Shaoyuan shook his head. “My words carry little weight; I am merely speaking from the perspective of your best interests.”

Boss Sun had enough self-awareness to know he couldn’t win against the Ren family. The Ren family was powerful, but they didn’t have significant assets in the entertainment industry, nor did his company have any ties to them. Yielding now was the only option. More importantly, having the Ren family point out his “under-the-table” dealings made him feel extremely uncomfortable.

“I’ll fire Zhao Meili immediately,” Boss Sun thought resentfully. He blamed the woman for her lack of foresight; if she had just managed to appease that little star surnamed Lin, none of this would be happening.

Could anyone Ren Xuan set her sights on be treated poorly in the future?

Fortunately, the girl wasn’t famous yet, and Ren Xuan was willing to make some financial concessions, so it wasn’t a total loss. This was a “limited-time offer” he couldn’t afford to miss.

With the original contract voided, Lin Shuyan went to Xingyu Company with Zhang Shaoyuan to finalize the paperwork. Before they even entered the office, the sound of wailing came from the boss’s room. “President Sun, President Sun, you can’t do this to me! I’ve been diligent all these years, dedicated to the company’s growth! I even trained a big star for the company!”

At this, she grabbed onto her last straw. “I’m the one in charge of Bai Zhanyan. Only I truly understand her…”

“She’ll get used to someone else.” President Sun was tired of her repetitive excuses. He went through the motions of helping her up. “I know your contributions, but you must understand—years ago, you were the one who asked me for a ‘chance’.”

“Our company is no longer suitable for your development. Isn’t the compensation I’m giving you enough?”

“You need to think of me, too. Those stars,” President Sun pointed toward the door and lowered his voice, “if they find out about the contracts… if you take the money and leave, isn’t it better for both of us?”

Lin Shuyan collided right into Zhao Meili. The woman emerging was covered in tears, but the moment she saw Lin Shuyan, her gaze turned vicious and sharp.

Lin Shuyan took two steps back.

“Miss Lin…” Zhang Shaoyuan stepped in to support her.

“I’m fine.” After steadying herself, Lin Shuyan shook her head. Watching Zhao Meili’s lonely, departing figure, she felt no pity. “Let’s go in.”

As soon as the contract issue was resolved, Lin Shuyan poured all her energy into her new prospects. Ren Xuan saw her hard work every day and occasionally asked, “With all this commuting, have you considered moving?”

“Auntie Lin mentioned last time that you could stay at her place for a while.”

“No need.” Lin Shuyan waved her hands repeatedly. Auntie Lin An was teaching her for free; how could she disturb her twenty-four hours a day?

“As you wish.” Ren Xuan smiled gently. “Then I’ll wait for your good news.” Ren Xuan was a woman of her word; regarding the Sheng Huang signing, she would do nothing more than provide guidance.

Lin Shuyan needed to grow; Ren Xuan couldn’t settle everything for her forever. Besides, the Ren family was destined for bankruptcy in the original plot. If she didn’t let Lin Shuyan develop her own “career line,” how could the story proceed?

The day for Sheng Huang’s recruitment arrived quickly. This time, applicants were given a script on-site, thirty minutes to study it, and ten minutes to audition. Lin Shuyan arrived at the theater early and found an inconspicuous spot to sit. She didn’t need to worry about her clothes getting dirty; Sheng Huang provided costumes for the audition. Not long after she sat down, someone bumped into her.

“I’m so sorry,” the girl apologized hurriedly. Lin Shuyan nodded and smiled to show it was fine, then closed her eyes to rest. She tried to recall the acting lessons Auntie Lin had given her, but instead of the lessons, she found herself thinking of Ren Xuan’s phone call that morning.

She thought of Ren Xuan’s face and voice; that person always gave her strength and an infinite sense of security.

“Line up! Everyone line up!” Someone nearby shouted. Lin Shuyan opened her eyes, checked her ID and makeup one last time, and hurried into the crowd.

The line was long, moving slowly according to the lottery numbers drawn the day before. The initial resume screening had already filtered many out, but there were still nearly two hundred people in line. Recalling Auntie Lin An’s advice to focus only on herself, Lin Shuyan handed over her phone, received the script, and began to study it intently.

The script was titled “The Dragon Emperor.”

Lin Shuyan had done some research; this was a novel Sheng Huang Entertainment had purchased a year ago. Word was the script was finished and filming would start soon. Usually, auditions used scenes from classics or aired shows. For Sheng Huang to provide a new script this time was unexpected. Lin Shuyan didn’t have time to ponder the reasons; she quickly entered “the zone.”

“The Dragon Emperor” was a xianxia fantasy with a grand setting and complex relationships. Lin Shuyan was to play the male lead’s Senior Sister, Bai Ling. She had always loved him in silence, and in the male lead’s eyes, she was his “White Moonlight.”

The scene was the climax where the male lead is assassinated, and his Senior Sister dies saving him. Lin Shuyan memorized her lines rapidly; time was a luxury she couldn’t waste.

“Next, Lin Shuyan.” A voice called from inside.

Lin Shuyan closed the script, glanced at the cover one last time, handed it to a staff member, and followed them to change costumes.

A purple robe and a single hair pin—a simple outfit in a color Bai Ling had never worn. Disciples of the Fusheng Sect usually wore fluttering white. As the eldest Senior Sister, Bai Ling strictly followed the sect’s rules; the only reason she wore this outfit was because the male lead had chosen it for her.

The moment Lin Shuyan walked in, a row of eyes fixed on her. After a brief self-introduction, the woman sitting in the center spoke: “You may begin your performance.”

This was a “prop-less” performance, a minor climax of the novel. It involved many characters, yet the actor had no scene partner. Aside from the costume she wore, everything relied on her own imagination.

Bai Ling didn’t have many lines in this scene; it was more about her reaction the moment the male lead was in danger and her expression as she fell through the air after being stabbed. She had no time to say goodbye; she only saw his figure rushing toward her before her eyes closed.

Lin Shuyan immersed herself in the role of Bai Ling, her figure descending slowly from the wire harness. Time seemed to freeze in that second. Falling heavily to the ground, Bai Ling’s lips moved; the words she wanted to say were eventually swallowed by blood. Darkness swept in, and a smile was fixed on the woman’s face.

“You may get up.”

Lin Shuyan opened her eyes from the darkness, her heart trembling. She couldn’t immediately step out of the character. As she hurriedly bowed, the person in the center asked, “How do you interpret Bai Ling’s final smile?”

“I think…” Lin Shuyan began to explain based on her performance, “Bai Ling died saving the person she loved. She was happy to save him, and she finally put a period on her own life.”

“Oh? Why is that?”

“Bai Ling spent her whole life suppressing herself. In the Fusheng Sect, she was always the kind, diligent Senior Sister, a role model for all disciples. Because of the grievances of the previous generation, she had to hide her feelings for the male lead. To speak of them would be unfilial; to watch him sink into despair was unjust. She didn’t want to live in that dilemma anymore. Death was her best release.”

The people on the judging panel seemed to nod, but by the time Lin Shuyan walked out, she felt she might have misread them. Carrying her sword out the door, she saw a nervous applicant clutching her hem. Lin Shuyan watched quietly, changed her clothes, and sat in the waiting area.

Time passed, the air grew tense, and the voices around her grew louder.

“I didn’t answer that question well. I was too nervous to say much.”

“Me too, me too.”

“I feel like there’s no hope. I stumbled once during my lines.”

“I’m a bit afraid of heights; I couldn’t help looking down while on the wires.”

The chatter grew louder. Even though they knew not everyone had finished, people kept asking, “When will it be over?”

Finally, as the sun began to set, the large doors opened. The woman from the interview walked out. Lin Shuyan now knew her name from the other applicants: Wu Wenshan. Lin Shuyan had heard of her; several high-quality period dramas were her work.

Everyone sat up straight, waiting for the final result. Lin Shuyan’s fists clenched instinctively until she heard a familiar name.

“Miss Lin, congratulations.”

Someone walked over…

It was only when Lin Shuyan held a warm hand that it felt real. Walking out of the building, her hand was shaking as she dialed the number.

“Miss Ren, I… I was selected.”

In this moment, Lin Shuyan didn’t care if Ren Xuan would think she was too impatient; she only wanted to tell her the news.

“Congratulations,” Ren Xuan replied. She had just finished a business meeting and was rubbing her tired eyes when she took the call.

“Miss Ren, am I disturbing you?”

“Not at all,” Ren Xuan said, puzzled.

“Miss Ren, you seem…” Lin Shuyan held the phone with a look of disappointment. She thought that by telling her so excitedly, Ren Xuan might tease her for being restless, but she never expected her to be so calm.

“Because I knew,” Ren Xuan said. Even without seeing her face, she knew what the lead was thinking.

“Lin Shuyan,” Ren Xuan’s chuckle sounded warm and resonant through the receiver, “I knew you would definitely be selected.”

Lin Shuyan’s eyes lit up instantly.