This Best Actress is a Bit Annoying - Chapter 6

The opportunity for the second audition arrived quickly, and Xia Qingye was in excellent spirits. She spent her days reading the script and browsing Weibo, living a very leisurely life. Her Weibo profile still only featured that one “brain-dead fan” post @-ing Chu Rou; other than that, she hadn’t even posted a single selfie. Despite this, her follower count had jumped by several hundred, most of whom were screaming in the comments with a mix of envy and jealousy, or maliciously speculating if she and Chu Rou had some scandalous, hidden relationship.

Xia Qingye guessed that Wei Xianghong was likely waiting for the perfect moment to officially introduce her.

And that opportunity was Director Xun Guang’s new drama.

“Qingye, I still haven’t figured out why Director Xun Guang asked you for a second audition,” Wei Xianghong voiced her confusion. She had been ecstatic when she first received the call, but once the excitement faded, she felt like she had overlooked something.

Without even looking up, Xia Qingye replied half-jokingly and half-seriously, “Probably because he thinks my acting is good. After all, I’ve been training hard in those classes for months. I might not be a classically trained actress, but acting is something that relies on talent and hard work. Sister Xiang, even if you don’t believe in me, you should believe in the training instructors and Director Xun Guang’s eye for talent.”

Over the past few months, aside from dance practice, Xia Qingye had spent all her remaining time honing her acting skills. Every time Yu Lan reported to Wei Xianghong, it was usually “Sister Xia is in training,” “Sister Xia is reading the script,” “Sister Xia is rehearsing against the mirror,” or “Sister Xia pulled another all-nighter.” Because of this, Wei Xianghong felt that Xia Qingye’s words actually made sense.

“I’ll go with you tomorrow.”

“Sure.”

The next day, there weren’t many people at the audition venue—just a few scattered here and there. Xia Qingye arrived early again, and as she watched several girls run out with red faces and looks of frustration, she rubbed her nose in confusion. She waited another twenty minutes before it was her turn.

Upon entering, she found the room had been cleared. Including herself, there were only three people.

Director Xun Guang’s balding head gleamed under the lights like a small light bulb, making it impossible to ignore. As for the other person, his handsome face and slightly roguish smile made Xia Qingye freeze for a moment. This man was the very “pillar” of the show that Xun Guang had invited—the Great Film Emperor, Lu Yu. She had crossed paths with him briefly in her past life.

Currently, the Film Emperor was sitting in his chair with a lazy, carefree posture, one elbow resting on the frame and a faint smile on his lips. He exuded an aura of pure “enjoyment”; an outsider would think he was lounging on a sofa rather than a hard wooden chair.

“Director Xun.”

“I want you to try the scene where Bai Qinying seduces Teng Yichen. Lu Yu will act opposite you.”

Xia Qingye finally understood why those girls had left with red faces. This scene was quite suggestive and a true test of acting skill. If played too hard, Bai Qinying would look like a common courtesan; if she was too timid, she wouldn’t capture the character’s decisive nature. It was a difficult balance.

In the script, Teng Yichen is “Eagle,” the most secretive intelligence head for the Nationalists hidden within the Japanese Special Higher Police. He is Bai Qinying’s superior, an Imperial Japanese Army Lieutenant Colonel who uses the name “Sato Yichen.” From the start, he appears as a playboy and is placed on the Communist hit list, yet he “luckily” escapes every dangerous situation, making him impossible to read.

Bai Qinying receives secret orders to obtain a confidential report from this Japanese officer. The report is locked in a safe, and the only way to get the key is through this playboy, requiring her to crack the safe code in a very short amount of time.

Xia Qingye quickly organized the plot in her head. She shed her black shrug, leaving only a form-fitting, deep-V, backless red dress that perfectly highlighted her “devilish” figure. She swiftly pulled the hair tie from the back of her head, allowing the long hair she had nurtured for months to cascade down.

“Film Emperor Lu, do you mind a quick warm-up?”

“Not at all.”

Lu Yu shed his casual posture and stood up. He removed his expensive, high-end suit jacket and draped it carelessly over the chair. Wearing only a white dress shirt, he walked into the center of the room. He elegantly adjusted his cuffs and loosened his collar by one button, revealing a sexy Adam’s apple and a hint of collarbone. He asked languidly, “How do you need me to cooperate?”

Xia Qingye felt lucky that she preferred women; otherwise, she would surely have become Lu Yu’s number one fan. The man was a walking hormone, releasing sex appeal and charm with every gesture.

“I’d like you to dance with me, Teacher Lu.”

Lu Yu understood immediately. He extended his hand in a standard, gentlemanly invitation, his gaze sweeping over her curvaceous figure just long enough to be suggestive without being vulgar. His eyes were filled with a playful, flirtatious energy. “Miss Bai, may I have the honor of this dance?”

Bai Qinying was beautiful and held a position in the Special Higher Police; she was surrounded by men constantly trying to flatter her. Facing such an invitation, she tilted her chin arrogantly, meeting the playfulness in Sato Yichen’s eyes. She then elegantly placed her hand in his. “It would be an honor to accept Lieutenant Colonel Sato’s invitation.”

The two glided into the dance floor. Bai Qinying felt Sato’s hand resting restlessly on her waist and hip. A flash of disgust flickered in her eyes, and she pushed against his shoulder with just the right amount of force to maintain distance. After a turn around the floor, someone gave her a signal; her face darkened slightly, but was quickly replaced by a fake smile. Her foot “slipped,” and she fell into Sato’s embrace. “Oh!”

Sato caught her squarely. “What happened, Miss Bai?”

Bai Qinying’s hand moved swiftly across his pocket, but she felt nothing. The first attempt to steal the key had failed.

Lu Yu thought the audition was over and was about to help the lady up, but he noticed the frustration on her face instantly transform into a look of resolve. Her gaze became even more determined.

Even if it was just for a second, Lu Yu found himself pulled into the scene by her performance.

Bai Qinying pressed her palm against his chest, her fingers tracing him suggestively. She teased him in a low, flirtatious whisper, “Lieutenant Colonel, I’ve sprained my ankle and it hurts. Why don’t we find somewhere more private to… talk? Hmm?”

Lu Yu felt his heart race at that cooing, kitten-like sound. He twirled a lock of her hair around his finger, brought it to his nose, and closed his eyes to inhale the scent. He looked utterly intoxicated, as if he were drunk and losing his senses, yet his face still wore the habitual, slightly repulsive look of a jaded hedonist. “Then, let me take you somewhere quiet.”

Following this, Xia Qingye displayed the full allure of a woman. She was naturally stunning, and with a slight tilt of her “peach blossom” eyes and a flush at the corners, she became an irresistible temptation—especially with her “push-and-pull” technique.

When the audition ended, Xia Qingye looked at Lu Yu—who looked as though he had been thoroughly “ravished” by her performance—and said with a look of embarrassment and apology, “Teacher Lu, I am so sorry.”

Before Lu Yu could speak, Xun Guang walked over, sounding dissatisfied. “Earlier, when Lu Yu touched you, as a trained soldier, Bai Qinying would have found a clever way to avoid it.”

Xia Qingye humbly accepted the director’s guidance. In truth, she hadn’t been comfortable with such intimate scenes in her past life either. But acting was acting; since she took the job, she had to interpret the character perfectly. She had overlooked the original owner’s reflexive repulsion to men’s proximity. Although she had adjusted her state quickly, she couldn’t escape the sharp eyes of a veteran director like Xun Guang.

“Thank you for the guidance, Director Xun and Teacher Lu.”

After Xia Qingye left, Lu Yu buttoned up his shirt and put on his tie, transforming back into the cold, aloof Film Emperor.

Xun Guang looked Lu Yu up and down through his squinted eyes. “How did it feel?”

Lu Yu thought for a moment and said seriously, “She’s a very promising newcomer. If I’m acting opposite her, it will likely be very easy.”

Xun Guang nodded slightly. “Alright then. No need to audition the others.”

After returning home, Xia Qingye went about her business as usual. However, her manager and assistant were like ants on a hot pan, worrying every second that she hadn’t gotten the part.

“Sister Xiang, I think it’s time for me to post something on Weibo.”

“Huh?” Wei Xianghong didn’t react immediately. She was past the age of being this anxious, yet here she was, staying by Xia Qingye’s side and waiting fearfully for a phone call. She had heard through the grapevine that Director Xun Guang had already finalized the cast list and was notifying people in batches. The proof was that she had run into Chu Rou’s manager, Fang Xiang, yesterday, who had bragged and gloated in her face.

Wei Xianghong quickly caught on to what Xia Qingye meant and said thoughtfully, “That’s fine. You have to post eventually anyway.”

Xia Qingye knew this manager truly cared for her artists, but sometimes, if something is too deliberate, people can tell. With her manager’s permission, Xia Qingye typed a short sentence on Weibo, officially beginning her journey as an artist.

[Hello everyone, I am Xia Qingye.]

A week later, just as Wei Xianghong was convinced the role had slipped through their fingers, she received the salary offer and contract draft from Director Xun Guang’s assistant. The role: Lead Actress, Bai Qinying.

Wei Xianghong stared at the contract for a long time. Her first instinct wasn’t to go slap Fang Xiang in the face with the contract, but to take a photo of it as a memento.

Years later, facts would prove that although this artist was the most rebellious and prone to trouble, her path through stardom was the smoothest of them all.