I Stole the Male Lead's White Moonlight [Transmigration] - Chapter 52

Zhu Xinya entered the interview room and saw three people seated inside. The one in the middle was the director, Feng Ruohong a lean, middle-aged man with an air of scholarly refinement about his brows, appearing somewhat aloof and unapproachable.

To Feng Ruohong’s left was the assistant director, Fang Lue, and to his right, the screenwriter, Tang Yanyan.

As Zhu Xinya walked in, all three lit up with interest at the sight of her.

Even in an industry teeming with beauties, Zhu Xinya’s face was undeniably striking.

“Hello, Director Feng, Director Fang, and Screenwriter Tang,” Zhu Xinya greeted with a polite smile and a slight bow as she entered.

Feng Ruohong picked up her file, glanced at it, and said, “Zhu Xinya, right? You previously acted in Fangting’s Forgotten Dream. Which role are you auditioning for this time?”

“Director Feng, I’m here to audition for Liu Qing.”

Feng Ruohong exchanged a surprised look with Fang Lue. “Liu Qing doesn’t have many scenes.”

Zhu Xinya replied earnestly, “My experience in film acting is limited, so I hope to gradually build it up and improve where I’m lacking.”

Suddenly, Tang Yanyan interjected, “The lead role would give you more experience. You’ve chosen to audition for the seventh female lead, do you think your acting skills are only suited for such a minor role?”

Tang Yanyan’s sharp remark drew the attention of both Feng Ruohong and Fang Lue. She remained composed, her eyes fixed on Zhu Xinya.

In most production teams, the director takes the lead, and screenwriters rarely dare to overstep by asking questions in front of the director. But Tang Yanyan was different she had another identity: Feng Ruohong’s wife.

Feng Ruohong was famously henpecked in the entertainment industry.

Unfazed by Tang Yanyan’s tone, Zhu Xinya calmly replied, “That’s not it, Screenwriter Tang. The roles open for this audition don’t include the female lead. My agent told me the female lead has already been internally decided, so she recommended Liu Qing, the best-characterized role among the other female characters.”

From what Zhu Xinya knew, not only had the female lead been predetermined, but it had been assigned to Ni Xin, the actress who had been linked in rumors with Feng Ruohong for years.

After speaking, Zhu Xinya didn’t miss the flicker of embarrassment in Feng Ruohong’s eyes.

Fang Lue shifted in his seat, coughed lightly, and said nothing.

Tang Yanyan shot Feng Ruohong a sidelong glance and said meaningfully to Zhu Xinya, “My scripts never have predetermined female leads. The role goes to whoever is most capable. The female lead, Xu Wenting, is only eighteen, so it’s better if the actress’s age is as close as possible.”

Ni Xin was already thirty-six this year.

“What do you think, Director Feng?” Tang Yanyan asked.

Feng Ruohong took out a handkerchief and meticulously wiped away nonexistent sweat from his temple, replying calmly, “Of course. Although acting skills can make up for some age difference, it would be ideal to find an actress who is both age-appropriate and skilled.”

Tang Yanyan smiled with satisfaction and nodded. “Director Feng, I think this young lady’s age and appearance are quite suitable. We just don’t know about her acting skills. Why don’t you test her?”

Zhu Xinya blinked in surprise. Wait, how had she gone from auditioning for the seventh female lead to the female lead?

Feng Ruohong said, “Zhu Xinya, I’ll pick a scene for you. Go to the empty room next door and prepare for fifteen minutes. Come back to audition after that. Any questions?”

“Director Feng, no problem!” Zhu Xinya thought to herself that refusing would be the real problem.

Zhu Xinya walked over and placed her half of the script in front of Feng Ruohong, then looked up and smiled at Tang Yanyan. Tang Yanyan responded with a gentle nod.

Feng Ruohong noticed the worn edges of Zhu Xinya’s script, a sign it had been flipped through countless times, and her stern expression softened slightly. “You’ve read the script many times?”

Zhu Xinya nodded. “Auditioning for Director Feng’s film requires absolute precision. I have to give it my all.”

Feng Ruohong set her script aside, pulled out a complete version, and marked a section from the latter half with a pen before handing it to Zhu Xinya. “Prepare this part.”

It was clear Feng Ruohong was making things difficult for her. Zhu Xinya’s heart skipped a beat as she took the script. “Screenwriter Tang, Director Feng, Director Fang, I’ll go prepare now.”

Fang Lüe had a favorable impression of Zhu Xinya, appreciating her calm and unflappable demeanor. He reassured her, “Don’t worry. Even if you don’t get the female lead, you can still audition for the seventh female role.”

“Thank you, Director Fang.” Zhu Xinya smiled, then left the audition room with the script.

As soon as she stepped out, Ling Xiaoxiao hurried over. “Yaya, how did it go? What did Director Feng say?”

Zhu Xinya sighed and shook her head.

Ling Xiaoxiao’s heart sank, but she tried to comfort her. “It’s okay. It’s just a small audition. Next time, I’ll get you a role without an audition. We won’t let others pick and choose like this.”

The company had entrusted her with the young lady, showing their confidence in her. If she couldn’t make the young lady famous, she’d feel she had let the company down.

Just then, Lili emerged from the audition room and smiled at Ling Xiaoxiao. “Congratulations, Sister Ling! Director Feng asked me to take your artist to the empty room next door to prepare for the female lead audition.”

“Huh?” Ling Xiaoxiao stood there, stunned.

Zhu Xinya couldn’t help but laugh and patted Ling Xiaoxiao’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Xiaoxiao. Even if I don’t get the seventh female role, I’m sure I can land the female lead.”

Lili escorted Zhu Xinya to a small room nearby. Afterward, she arranged for the next actor to audition and approached Ling Xiaoxiao. “Sister Ling, your judgment is spot-on. Zhu Xinya was originally auditioning for the seventh female role but managed to secure a chance for the female lead.”

Ling Xiaoxiao asked, “Do you know what happened? Wasn’t the female lead already reserved for actress Ni Xin?”

Lili pulled Ling Xiaoxiao aside and whispered, “Tang Yanyan and Feng Ruohong had a disagreement over Ni Xin. Ni Xin was Director Feng’s choice, but Screenwriter Tang had no idea. When she found out today, she nearly exploded. As long as Zhu Xinya performs decently, the female lead role will definitely be hers.”

Ling Xiaoxiao said, “So Director Feng kept it from Screenwriter Tang. I thought she knew.”

“If Screenwriter Tang had known, she would never have agreed to Ni Xin. There would have been way more people auditioning for the female lead today. Honestly, you guys just got lucky.”

Fifteen minutes flew by, and Zhu Xinya emerged from the small room. Lili led her back into the audition room.

Ling Xiaoxiao overheard other actors discussing Zhu Xinya, wondering why she had gone in twice.

Nervously clenching her fists, Ling Xiaoxiao waited for the results of Zhu Xinya’s audition.

If Zhu Xinya could become the female lead in Feng Ruohong’s film, even if she didn’t win Best Actress, she’d at least secure a nomination for it!

Ten minutes later, Zhu Xinya emerged from the interview room. Seeing the smile on her face, Ling Xiaoxiao felt a wave of relief and walked over with a grin. “Did you get it?” she asked, though her trembling voice betrayed her inner unease.

Zhu Xinya raised an eyebrow triumphantly. “Of course.”

Lili came over to ask Ling Xiaoxiao for contact information so the production team could get in touch with Zhu Xinya to sign the contract.

Zhu Xinya stepped aside to call Que Hanfu, eager to share the good news with her right away.

“Sis!” Zhu Xinya’s voice was hushed but brimming with excitement.

Que Hanfu set down her pen, stood up, and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the miniature scenery outside. A faint look of relief crossed her face. “Did the interview go well? How do you want to celebrate?”

Zhu Xinya’s proud laughter came through the phone. “Not just that, I got the female lead role! The female lead in Feng Ruohong’s film!”

Que Hanfu was surprised. “How did that happen?” She was certain she hadn’t pulled any strings behind the scenes.

Zhu Xinya explained the whole story. “It all started because Screenwriter Tang was jealous of Director Feng and Ni Xin, so she decided to replace the female lead. But if I didn’t have the talent, I definitely wouldn’t have been able to snatch the role from Ni Xin. Sis, am I amazing or what?”

“Mm, Yaya has always been the most amazing in my eyes,” Que Hanfu praised her unconditionally.

“Hehe, Sis, are you at the company now? I’ll come find you in a bit. While I’m still not famous, let’s go out for lunch together~”

“Alright. Do you need me to pick you up?”

“No, no, you focus on your work. I’ll have Xiaoxiao drop me off.”

Not long ago, Que Hanfu had directly purchased a 99-story building in the CBD district, shocking the elite circles of Longcheng.

In Longcheng, the only person whose wealth could rival Que Hanfu’s was probably Zhu Yin, the city’s richest person. Lately, Zhu Yin’s ears had been filled with mentions of Que Hanfu’s name some praising her, others envious, and a few even trying to provoke Zhu Yin into buying the 101-story building next to Que Hanfu’s to one-up her and put her in her place.

Zhu Yin promptly blocked that person.

What a joke, why would he compete with his own daughter over who had more money?

Zhu Xinya had heard countless praises about Que Hanfu from Zhu Yin and had long been curious about the building she had purchased.

When Ling Xiaoxiao heard the address Zhu Xinya wanted to go to, she asked curiously, “Isn’t that the Yueya Building, bought by Yueya Group? Do you have business with Yueya Group?”

Fangyin Group’s headquarters and Yueya Group were located in the north and south of the city, nowhere near each other.

“I’m going to meet someone~”

Ling Xiaoxiao grew wary. “Who? Yaya, you’re going to be a movie star you have to be careful about who you associate with. You can’t give the paparazzi any reason to cause trouble.”

“Don’t worry, Xiaoxiao,” Zhu Xinya reassured her.

“Let me be honest with you, I’m going to see the CEO of Yueya Group.”

Ling Xiaoxiao wasn’t familiar with the dynamics among the wealthy, so she didn’t question it. “Everyone thought Yueya Group appeared out of nowhere, but it turns out you’ve known each other for a while. Seems like the CEO of Yueya Group was a hidden tycoon before.”

“Mm, super rich. She could support me for a lifetime without any problem,” Zhu Xinya nodded seriously.

Ling Xiaoxiao knew the CEO of Yueya Group was a woman and didn’t suspect anything about her relationship with Zhu Xinya. “Chairman Zhu already has enough money to support you for a lifetime. You don’t need anyone else to do that.”

Ling Xiaoxiao dropped Zhu Xinya off at Yueya Building. Zhu Xinya got out of the car and called Que Hanfu, “Sis, are you off work yet?”

“You’re here already?” Que Hanfu sped through the last document, signed it, and had her assistant distribute it before standing up. “I’ll come find you now.”

The assistant, holding the processed documents to distribute to various departments, couldn’t resist gossiping, “Who did President Que just take a call from? She actually left early!”

“Could it be her boyfriend?” Everyone was intrigued by the gossip surrounding the icy and unapproachable Que Hanfu.

“I wonder what kind of man could win President Que’s heart.”

“I don’t think there’s a single man in the world worthy of President Que.”

Just then, a woman with a ponytail rushed in energetically. Seeing everyone gathered together, she asked, “What are you all talking about?”

“We’re discussing President Que leaving early. No idea who she’s meeting.”

“Oh, I just went downstairs to pick up a package and saw her it was a really pretty young girl. I even heard her call President Que ‘sis.'”

Everyone immediately lost interest in the gossip. “So, it was just President Que’s sister looking for her.”

“Let’s disperse, let’s disperse. I knew President Que wouldn’t be interested in those ordinary men.”

Zhu Xinya and Que Hanfu had lunch together at noon. In the evening, Que Hanfu opened a bottle of red wine to celebrate with Zhu Xinya. Zhu Xinya got drunk and poured the wine all over herself, urging Que Hanfu to drink it. Que Hanfu didn’t hold back and thoroughly indulged her, drinking every drop.

When Zhu Xinya woke up the next morning, she felt clean and refreshed Que Hanfu must have bathed her the night before.

Zhu Xinya couldn’t believe how bold she had been, pouring red wine all over herself. What surprised her even more was that Que Hanfu had actually gone along with it.

Blushing, she picked up her phone to check the time, it was already 10 a.m.

The phone icon showed ten missed calls. Before Zhu Xinya could check them, Ling Xiaoxiao called.

As soon as Zhu Xinya answered, Ling Xiaoxiao’s anxious voice came through, “Yaya, your female lead role has been snatched back by Ni Xin!”

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