230: Chapter 230 The Queen's Battleground: He's Not Just Yours

Two hours later, Tang Yingxue was fast asleep, draped over Jiang Fan's shoulder.

That limited-edition lace set had completely turned into a few strips of fabric, dangling precariously from the edge of the bed.

Jiang Fan leaned against the headboard, and the system panel popped up at the edge of his vision.

[ Deep Compatibility × 2, Lifespan Value + 4000 ]

[ Current Lifespan Value: 111800 points ]

Jiang Fan closed the panel.

He turned his head to look at Tang Yingxue.

A few strands of hair were plastered to her face, her mouth was half-open, and her breathing was still somewhat heavy.

After being tossed around like this, he wondered if she would still be able to maintain her diva demeanor tomorrow.

Jiang Fan pulled the quilt over her and closed his eyes to sleep.

— —

The next morning, 8:30 AM.

Times Media.

Su Yuyan stood at the end of the third-floor corridor, holding a tablet and looking at the floor plan.

Administrative Director Xiao Wu followed behind, holding a folder.

"Tang Yingxue is in Lounge A, Xu Qingya is in Lounge C, and Shen Nian is in Lounge E."

Xiao Wu opened the folder and reported, "The three lounges are at opposite ends of the corridor and around the corner, so they can't see each other."

Su Yuyan nodded.

"What's the audition order?"

"Hou Jinlai is first, at nine o'clock sharp."

"You are second, Xu Qingya is third, Tang Yingxue is fourth, and Shen Nian is last."

"There's a ten-minute interval between each person."

Su Yuyan calculated the time interval.

It was enough for the previous person to leave before letting the next one in.

"What about the restroom?"

Xiao Wu was stunned.

"The restroom?"

"Three women on the same floor—what if they go to the restroom at the same time?"

Xiao Wu looked a bit troubled.

Su Yuyan rubbed her temples.

"Forget it, it shouldn't be that coincidental."

Today was a serious audition.

If they happened to run into each other and actually started tearing into each other, that would be quite the spectacle.

Su Yuyan herself wasn't afraid.

She was the investor and boss, so no one could find fault with her.

At 8:50, everyone had arrived.

Inside the audition room.

Director Yang Shuhua sat in the middle of the long table, with the script and list spread out in front of her.

Su Yuyan was on her left, and Jiang Fan was on her right.

Jiang Fan was wearing a black shirt today.

His bald head shimmered with a bluish tint under the fluorescent lights.

Director Yang Shuhua glanced at him and nodded with a smile.

Two stagehands stood at the door, holding walkie-talkies.

Director Yang Shuhua put on her reading glasses and picked up a pen.

"First scene, The Monkey King."

"Let Hou Jinlai in."

The door was pushed open.

Hou Jinlai walked in.

A young man in his twenties, over 1.7 meters tall, with a lean build.

He was wearing a gray tracksuit, and his hair was tied back with a rubber band.

Hou Chuanwu followed behind and gave his son a slap on the back of the head.

"Perform well, don't embarrass me."

Hou Jinlai walked to the center of the area and stood still, his hands hanging by his sides.

"Hello, Director Yang."

Director Yang Shuhua looked at him, sizing him up twice.

His appearance was indeed good.

"No lines for now. I'll give you a staff, show me your physical acting."

A staff member threw a white wax wood staff over.

Hou Jinlai reached out and caught it.

The moment he caught the staff, his center of gravity sank, and his knees slightly bent.

He saw his shoulders hunch, and he scratched his cheek with the back of his hand twice.

With a flick of his wrist, the staff spun in front of him, creating an airtight flurry of strikes.

Then he leaped into the air, performed a somersault, and landed silently.

Standing on one leg, he held the staff across his shoulders, while his other hand was placed over his forehead in a shielding gesture.

The room was silent.

Hou Chuanwu stroked his chin in the corner, unable to hide the pride in his eyes.

Director Yang Shuhua slapped the table.

"Good!"

"The posture is correct, the eyes are lively—that's exactly the flavor!"

She turned to look at Jiang Fan.

"Mr. Jiang, where did you find this treasure?"

"The Beijing Hou Family Troupe, the sixth-generation inheritor of the Monkey Opera."

Director Yang Shuhua put a checkmark on the list.

"The Monkey King is set. Next."

Hou Jinlai put away the staff, bowed, and retreated.

— —

At the entrance of the women's restroom around the corner of the corridor.

Tang Yingxue walked in on her high heels.

She happened to bump into Xu Qingya, who was just walking out after washing her hands.

Their eyes met.

"Oh, Teacher Tang is here to audition too?"

Xu Qingya pulled out a tissue to wipe her hands.

"Yeah." Tang Yingxue glanced at her. "What role are you auditioning for, Teacher Xu?"

"The Queen of the Daughter Kingdom."

Xu Qingya leaned against the doorframe, blocking Tang Yingxue's path.

"And you?"

"The Bodhisattva."

Xu Qingya's hand-wiping motion paused.

She crumpled the tissue into a ball and threw it accurately into the trash can nearby.

"Teacher Tang hasn't acted before, right? I wonder if you can pass Director Yang's test."

Tang Yingxue adjusted her collar.

"No need to trouble yourself, Teacher Xu. After Jiang Fan's guidance, I feel there won't be any problems."

Xu Qingya's gaze swept across Tang Yingxue's face.

She stared at Tang Yingxue for two seconds, her voice dropping half an octave.

"I didn't expect a dignified diva to also fight others for a man."

Tang Yingxue did not avoid her gaze, the corners of her mouth curling upward.

"Teacher Xu, he is not yours alone."

Xu Qingya's eyes narrowed slightly, and she was about to retort.

Tang Yingxue didn't wait for her response; she turned and walked away on her high heels.

Xu Qingya stood there, staring at her back.

After three seconds.

Xu Qingya turned and walked toward her own lounge.

Her high heels clicked rapidly against the floor tiles in the corridor.

"Bang!"

The lounge door was slammed shut.

The sound carried down the corridor, echoing through the floor.

— —

Inside the audition room.

Su Yuyan frowned and glanced in the direction of the door.

It couldn't be that coincidental, could it?

She looked down at her phone.

Xiao Wu hadn't sent any messages, so nothing major must have happened.

Director Yang Shuhua turned a page on the list.

"The White Bone Demon, Su Yuyan."

Su Yuyan composed herself, stood up from her chair, and walked to the center of the area.

Director Yang Shuhua adjusted her glasses.

"President Su, the White Bone Demon's first appearance is when she transforms into a village girl to deliver vegetarian food."

Su Yuyan nodded and took a few steps back.

She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, her entire aura had changed drastically.

Her shoulders hunched inward, her steps became smaller, and she walked with a touch of affected shyness.

Her hands were held as if carrying an invisible basket, and a smile hung on the corners of her mouth.

"Elder, this young woman greets you."

Her voice was sickeningly sweet.

Su Yuyan took another three steps forward.

She slowly raised her head, shedding the frailty.

The sweet smile on her face faded.

The light in her eyes turned cold, and the corners of her mouth curled into a hint of cruelty.

Director Yang Shuhua took off her glasses and looked at Su Yuyan.

"President Su, it's a real pity that you don't act."

After saying that, she drew a checkmark on the list.

Su Yuyan nodded slightly and walked back to sit behind the table.

As she passed by Jiang Fan, she glanced at him sideways.

Her lips moved slightly, and her voice was only audible to the two of them.

"How was it?"

Jiang Fan gave her a thumbs up.

Su Yuyan picked up her teacup and took a sip to suppress the curve of her mouth.

Director Yang Shuhua turned to the next page.

"Next, The Queen of the Daughter Kingdom. Xu Qingya."

The door opened, and Xu Qingya walked in.

A low ponytail, a goose-yellow dress, and very light makeup on her face.

She walked to the center of the area and stood still, her peripheral vision sweeping over Jiang Fan, who was sitting behind the table.

Hmm? A bald head.

Xu Qingya's mouth twitched, and she forcefully held back her laughter; her previous anger had also dissipated by more than half.

Director Yang Shuhua looked at her.

"Qingya."

Director Yang Shuhua leaned back against her chair.

"I'll be blunt. I admire your singing, but acting is a different matter from singing."

"If you perform poorly today, I won't go easy on you just because of who you are."

Xu Qingya stood there and nodded.

"Director Yang, tell me which scene, and I'll perform it."

Director Yang Shuhua opened the script.

"The Queen of the Daughter Kingdom sees the Tang Monk for the first time."

"You need to portray a queen who has never seen a man before, experiencing her first heartbeat."

Xu Qingya glanced at Jiang Fan.

A bald head, black shirt, sitting there motionless.

Xu Qingya closed her eyes for a moment.

She recalled the scene from that night when he sat in front of her wearing monk's robes.

When she opened them again, she took two steps forward.

Her steps were very slow, and every step was steady.

Her shoulders were square, her chin slightly raised, capturing the bearing of a ruler of a kingdom.

Halfway there, she stopped.

Her gaze fell on a point in front of her.

Her expression shifted from dignity to curiosity, and then to panic.

Her hands unconsciously gripped her skirt, then let go.

Her lips parted slightly, but she didn't speak.

She just stood there, looking ahead, motionless.

Director Yang Shuhua put down her pen and stared at Xu Qingya for quite a while.

"This expression of yours... who taught you?"

Xu Qingya dropped the expression.

"I practiced it myself."

Director Yang Shuhua turned to look at Jiang Fan.

Jiang Fan picked up his water cup and took a sip, expressionless.

Director Yang Shuhua put a checkmark on the list, clamped the pen between her fingers, and tapped the table twice.

"You've got something, but it's still a bit lacking."

"After joining the crew, go over it with me before filming starts."

Xu Qingya nodded.

"No problem."

"Alright, next."

Xu Qingya turned and walked out.

When she passed Jiang Fan, she turned her head and silently mouthed, "So ugly."

Jiang Fan glared at her.

Xu Qingya stifled her laughter and left the room.

Director Yang Shuhua looked down at the next name on the list.

She pushed up her reading glasses.

"The Bodhisattva. Tang Yingxue."