After Becoming a Scummy Alpha, I Was Spoiled by a Sweet Omega - Chapter 58

“Director He, it’s Ning Xuan—she forced her way in, saying she wants to livestream the audition with me.”

Zhu Shanshan was quick to play the victim. “She’s so arrogant, claiming her acting is amazing. If you don’t choose her, it’s because you lack vision.”

He Sheng frowned. He despised conceited newcomers, and Ning Xuan was as new as they came.

Ning Xuan noticed his displeasure but didn’t rush to defend herself. Instead, she spoke respectfully: “Director He, your new film has already attracted wide attention from fans. I suggest that Zhu Shanshan and I audition live. This way, we can give back to the audience and also promote your film. What do you think?”

The audition room fell silent.

He Sheng pondered, glancing at the script. He worried about spoilers.

Xu Ci, however, found the idea intriguing.

Catching He Sheng’s hesitation, he leaned closer and whispered: “I think it’s a great idea. A showcase of young actors’ skills makes for excellent publicity. Ning Xuan is a rising star with plenty of buzz.”

He Sheng remained silent, still weighing the risks.

At that moment, the door opened again.

Yu Yazhi entered. “Director He, let’s livestream the audition. As investors, we need market feedback.”

She sat at the judges’ table, her gaze fixed on Ning Xuan.

Ning Xuan, flustered, quickly looked away. She hadn’t expected Yu Yazhi to come. The thought of performing under her watchful eyes made her heart race.

Capital ruled.

He Sheng had already been wavering. With Yu Yazhi’s support, he nodded. “Alright, livestream the audition.”

Ning Xuan smiled and thanked him.

Zhu Shanshan, however, couldn’t smile.

Ning Xuan’s confidence unsettled her. The thought of her performance being broadcast live made her nervous. She was used to directors guiding her through scenes. Joining He Sheng’s crew was her chance to learn from him.

Staff set up the equipment, logged into He Sheng’s account, and started the livestream.

“Miss Zhu Shanshan, please begin.”

Xu Ci smiled politely, treating both equally—at least on the surface.

Zhu Shanshan nodded, gathered her emotions, and began her scene.

It was simple: the second female lead, He Suizi, enters the brothel where her husband Cheng Zhaoqing keeps Chen Xiangying, and throws a tantrum.

“Heh, come out and let me see what kind of beauty dares seduce my husband?”

Zhu Shanshan slipped into character, sneering her lines.

Her eyes shifted as she saw the woman descending the stairs, the mistress her husband kept.

Anger flared in her gaze.

She strode forward, slapped her, and snarled: “Dare to covet my man? You’re not worthy!”

The lines were few.

Zhu Shanshan grew more confident, even exceeding her usual performance.

Satisfied, she ended humbly: “Please, Director He, give me your guidance.”

He Sheng replied: “Not bad. You captured the shrewish image well. But did you read the script carefully? That scene was imagined by He Suizi. In reality, she’s different. I need to see you transition from fantasy to reality.”

Zhu Shanshan: “Ah?”

Her eyes widened in shock. She froze, then panicked, turning to the staff: “Turn it off! End the livestream!”

But the viewers were already laughing hysterically:

【Hahaha, this is like writing an essay for the college entrance exam—worked hard, but completely off-topic.】

【To be fair, she did play the shrew convincingly.】

【Our Shanshan is the best!】

【Where do these brainless fans come from? Did you see Director He’s face?】

【Looking forward to Ning Bao’s turn.】

【Cheering for Ning Bao!】

【Do you know why they’re livestreaming the audition?】

【Someone uploaded the video—Zhu Shanshan picked a fight, stomped on Ning Xuan’s script, and accused her of violence. Ning Xuan exposed her, and Zhu lied, saying she was “acting.” She even pretended to be pitiful, claiming Ning Xuan misunderstood her for the role. Finally, she said she’d give up the role if Ning Xuan stopped misunderstanding. As if the role was hers to give! So, Ning Xuan insisted on livestreaming for fairness.】

【Thanks for the explanation.】

【No problem—copy, paste, share. Spread the truth!】

The comments flew by in a torrent.

Many clamored to see Ning Xuan’s audition.

Under the weight of expectation, Ning Xuan stepped onto the stage.

She stood before the camera, glancing at the judges’ table—at Yu Yazhi.

Today, Yu Yazhi wore a white blazer, her long hair cascading down. A pair of pearl earrings peeked through, elegant yet playful.

She rested her chin on one hand, watching Ning Xuan intently, as if the world held no one else.

Ning Xuan’s heart fluttered, her composure unraveling.

The livestream audience noticed her nervousness and flooded the screen with comments:

【What’s wrong with Ning Xuan?】

【Is this stage fright?】

【Impossible, she was fine on Shining Future.】

【Come on, Ning Bao! I want to see you act!】

【Don’t be nervous, Ning Bao. Whatever you do, we’ll love it!】

【Haha, caught a fanboy here!】

【She’s looking at someone, why is her face red?】

The staff, reading the comments, suddenly realized and shifted the camera—zooming in on Yu Yazhi.

And, perfectly timed, Yu Yazhi smiled warmly at Ning Xuan and made a heart gesture with her hands.

The livestream exploded:

【Oh my god, did I just see that?】

【That’s Ning Bao’s wife, isn’t it?】

【Flirting eyes and a heart gesture, this is killing us with sweetness!】

【So Ning Bao’s distracted because her wife is watching?】

【Exactly!】

【Ning Bao, hold steady! Don’t embarrass yourself in front of your wife!】

【She’s auditioning, and her wife is guarding her—this is too sweet, I can’t take it.】

【Whoever said their marriage was fake, come out and eat your words!】

Ning Xuan had no idea the livestream chat was overflowing with pink bubbles of adoration.

In truth, she only froze for two minutes before steadying herself and beginning her performance.

An actor must be able to ignore all distractions.

He Suizi, a half-Chinese, half-Japanese beauty, was elegant and confident.

When she learned her husband kept a mistress, she remained indifferent.

Even when she met Chen Xiangying, curiosity outweighed anger.

“When did you two meet?”

Standing by the coffee table, she plucked a rose from the vase, sniffed it lightly, her expression proud and dismissive.

Chen Xiangying stared at her silently, eyes lifeless, saying nothing.

(This Chen Xiangying did not exist—it was all imagined by the heroine, performed without props.)

He Suizi’s gaze shifted, realization dawning. “Oh, so you don’t love him.”

Her eyes grew heavy as a thought struck—this woman didn’t love her husband, yet stayed by his side. Was her husband forcing her? If a man forced a woman to remain, it must mean he loved her deeply. And what about her?

She remembered their first meeting, beneath romantic cherry blossoms. Her kite had landed in the branches, and he climbed up to retrieve it.

The tree wasn’t tall, but the view from above was beautiful.

He reached out his hand: “Want to come up and see?”

As a pampered young lady, she would never do something so unrefined.

But when she met his eyes, she forgot everything else and clutched his hand tightly.

They fell in love.

They married.

And then, he had another woman.

Her confidence shattered. Her eyes filled with sorrow and grievance. How could he love someone else?

She was so terribly wronged.

Yet her pride as a young lady remained, so her tone was defiant: “He doesn’t love you. Whatever he told you, don’t believe it. He’s mine. You’d better never fall for him.”

Chen Xiangying suddenly laughed, as if hearing a joke. “My dear young lady, you’re pitiful. Just as pitiful as me.”

“You’re the pitiful one!”

She hurled the rose at her, ran a few steps, then stopped, turned back, glaring viciously. “What’s your name?”

“I’m Chen Xiangying, hahaha. ‘After dusk, wine in the east pavilion, fragrance lingers in the sleeves.’ He said he was Cheng Dongli (Cheng Zhaoqing’s original name), and I am Xiangying. We were destined to be a pair. Hahaha.”

Her face twisted with anguish, her laughter loud, filled with despair and madness.

He Suizi found it unbearable, fled toward the door but at the threshold, she stopped. Tears spilled down her cheeks.

No matter how much a pure girl pretends to be strong, in that moment she felt the crushing pain of betrayal.

[Oh my god, tears! Real tears!]

[Ahhh, Ning Bao’s first on-screen tears!]

[Idiots, screenshot it now!]

[One tear from Ning Bao, one star in the sky!]

[Incredible, her acting is flawless!]

[My god, I’m stunned—every expression tells a story.]

The livestream erupted, showering Ning Xuan’s performance with endless praise.

A viewer recorded the stream and uploaded it to Weibo. Soon, Ning Xuan’s audition brilliance shot to the trending list.

Meanwhile, Ning Xuan herself struggled to shake off the role. Her eyes were red, on the verge of tears.

He Suizi was truly pitiful.

Her husband was a spy. Their opposing loyalties doomed their love.

Even when she betrayed her family and country for him, she never gained his love.

She was like the rose in Oscar Wilde’s fairy tale—cast into the street, crushed beneath the wheels of history.

“Clap, clap.”

Xu Ci led the applause.

He Sheng nodded approvingly, joining in.

Zhu Shanshan, unable to bear watching, slunk out in disgrace before Ning Xuan even finished.

Outside, other audition candidates were waiting.

They watched the livestream on their phones, chatting:

“Zhu Shanshan’s acting was so exaggerated.”

“I don’t know where she found the courage to compete with Ning Xuan.”

“You don’t realize until you compare, what a shock.”

“Haha, bad acting isn’t scary. What’s scary is not knowing you’re bad. That’s true humiliation.”

“Exactly, exactly.”

The flood of ridicule crashed into Zhu Shanshan’s mind like waves.

She broke down, stomping her feet, screaming: “Shut up! All of you shut up! Like you can act any better!”

The laughter stopped instantly.

But everyone stared at her—with sympathy, with mockery, with disgust.

Self-inflicted misery cannot be undone.