My Ex’s White Moonlight Omega Has a Crush on Me - Chapter 30.2

The driver took them, and within a dozen minutes, they arrived at an office building.

While waiting for the elevator, Ji Tanyue adjusted her hair in the mirror and asked softly, “Did you see the documents in my handbag last night?”

Chao Wan nodded.

They were several files related to Moon Over West River, indicating that she was a tentative candidate for the minor guard role “Ying.”

“Did Teacher Ji bring me here to audition?” Chao Wan lowered her eyes.

But she would ruin this drama.

The name listed above hers, Jiang Tang, was an actor who had been in the industry for a long time.

With a strikingly androgynous and spirited appearance, Jiang Tang perfectly fit the role of Ying, and her acting skills were far superior to Chao Wan’s.

From the brief few minutes of rehearsing with Ji Tanyue the night before, Chao Wan had already realized she was completely unqualified for this role.

Even so, Ji Tanyue had still brought her here for the audition.

It felt like a patron’s favoritism toward their caged songbird.

The elevator arrived, and they stepped inside. The assistant pressed the button for the top floor.

“I do have the intention of letting you gain some experience,” Ji Tanyue began, “but as the list states, you are only a tentative candidate. Whether you are chosen or not won’t affect the crew’s preparations.”

Chao Wan listened quietly, her heart sinking.

“Director Cheng admires you. If you like the role of Ying, go ahead and give it a try.”

Suddenly, a warm touch rested on her head.

Ji Tanyue gently smoothed her hair, not bothering to hide her actions.

Chao Wan’s eyes widened as she noticed the assistant standing diagonally across from them.

But the elevator was too small, there was nowhere to hide.

The assistant met Chao Wan’s gaze, expression unchanged, and even offered a polite smile while holding the files.

Chao Wan pursed her lips, her cheeks gradually warming.

When the elevator doors opened, Ji Tanyue withdrew her hand and stepped out first with the assistant.

“I’ll be watching your audition from the side, but I can’t decide whether you stay or go. The final decision rests entirely with Cheng Lou,” she said, glancing back at Chao Wan.

“Give it your best.”

They pushed open the door to the audition room.

The space wasn’t particularly spacious, and not all production staff had even arrived.

It was, after all, just a minor supporting role, it would be strange to make a big fuss over it.

Chao Wan followed behind Ji Tanyue, watching as she exchanged nods with the others in the room, and politely greeted them herself.

Cheng Lou was seated at a table adjusting the viewfinder, while on a nearby bench sat a short-haired woman reading a script, likely Jiang Tang.

To Chao Wan’s surprise, Ruan Rou was also there, resting her chin on her hand and offering a kind smile, her dimples looking especially sweet.

“Is everyone here?” Cheng Lou dusted off his hands and stood up. “Let’s begin then. We’ll aim to wrap up within two hours.”

Chao Wan sat beside Jiang Tang, who placed her script on the bench and said in a steady voice, “I’ll go first.”

Cheng Lou nodded and made a gesture.

The camera started rolling.

Chao Wan stared blankly as Jiang Tang slipped into character within three seconds, delivering a smooth and natural performance even without a scene partner.

The scene she had chosen happened to be the exact one Chao Wan had rehearsed with Ji Tanyue the night before,

the first encounter between Han Yun and Ying.

From wariness to gradually letting down her guard, the emotional progression was seamless, creating a deeply immersive experience.

By the time she ate the beef patty at the end, Jiang Tang had portrayed the child’s precocious yet naive demeanor so vividly that it was almost easy to forget her actual age.

Chao Wan had never seen such a brilliant performance before.

In her past life, confined by the limitations of her circle, she had mistakenly believed that her surroundings were the entire world.

But stepping outside her comfort zone, even competing for a minor supporting role felt humbling enough to make her feel inadequate.

“Thank you. Please wait for further updates.” Cheng Lou nodded to Jiang Tang, his expression clearly satisfied.

Ji Tanyue and Ruan Rou whispered briefly, jotting something down on paper.

“Chao Wan.” Cheng Lou called her name.

Chao Wan stood up and walked over to the audition panel.

She bowed deeply, her long hair hiding the uncertainty on her face.

After witnessing the previous performance, she had already begun to feel constrained, and the scene she had originally planned to perform now seemed daunting.

If she couldn’t even master the simplest encounter from last night, how could she possibly handle scenes requiring more complex emotions?

“Begin.” Cheng Lou prompted.

Several pairs of eyes turned to her, including Ji Tanyue’s.

Her expression was as calm as ever, even carrying a hint of scrutiny.

The tension had reached its peak, yet her mind felt strangely less strained.

Chao Wan lowered her head, beginning to immerse herself in the emotions.

The memory of rehearsing with Ji Tanyue the night before flashed through her mind.

Han Yun was a frail yet ambitious tyrant, while Ying was merely a stepping stone in her path, disposable at any moment.

Yet, Ying saw Han Yun as the only light in the darkness, following her with unwavering devotion and loyalty.

The tragic, moth-to-flame life of the young guard Ying replayed vividly in her mind.

Chao Wan desperately wanted to do justice to this role.

Pressing her lips together tightly, she knelt on the solid wood floor.

Placing her hands together before her forehead, she kowtowed deeply to an imaginary scene partner.

But she remained in that position for a long time.

“My Lord,” her voice choked, trembling with lingering fear. “…He is dead.”

This scene depicted Ying’s first mission for Han Yun, returning after carrying out an assassination.

She was only fourteen, the blood splattered on her face not yet wiped away, her once-clear eyes now tainted with a grim, vivid hue.

Today happened to be her birthday, a fact no one in the palace cared about, except her master, Han Yun.

Before sending her off, the gentle yet frail woman had cupped her face and said with a smile,

“Kill him, or drink this jug of wine as your birthday gift. Choose one.”

It was a jug of poisoned wine. A greedy bird that had flown in through the window pecked at it a few times and soon lay lifeless.

But Ying didn’t want to die.

As if hearing the ruler’s indifferent command to “lift your head,” Chao Wan’s shoulders trembled slightly, and she slowly pushed herself up from the floor, her movements weak and unsteady.

Her hands, slick with sweat, caused her to stumble slightly.

Cheng Lou raised an eyebrow, pleasantly surprised.

He hadn’t expected Chao Wan to capture such a nuanced detail that spoke volumes about the character’s inner turmoil.

As if seeing Han Yun rise from her throne, her voice gentle as she said, “Well done.”

Chao Wan choked back a sob, too afraid to make a sound, her lips quivering as she curled into herself.

Suddenly, she lifted her face.

It was as if someone had harshly gripped her chin, her expression a mix of pain and panic.

Ying, who hadn’t shed a single tear while killing, now felt her eyes redden merely from meeting the woman’s skeptical gaze.

The Crown Princess doubted her, a blow she could hardly bear.

“Are you afraid?” Han Yun’s voice came, just as expected.

The woman’s tone dripped with mockery as she suddenly shoved Ying’s face away, as if even a glance was too much to bear.

“Then leave the estate and cease working for me.”

Chao Wan stared blankly, tears silently tracing paths down her cheeks as she bit her lips until they turned pale, her gaze fixed on the delicate face so close to hers.

She used to be afraid, but after this night, fear no longer held her.

Her voice was tender and fragile, yet carried a hint of ruthlessness.

“This servant is willing to exhaust all loyalty and effort for my master.”

Even if the birthday gift was that pot of poisoned wine, what did it matter?

As long as she could earn the trust of the Grand Princess, she was willing to do anything.

Cheng Lou curled her lips, gazing at the person in the viewfinder with great satisfaction.

“Senior Ji, this newcomer you signed…” Ruan Rou whispered to Ji Tanyue.

“Truly impressive.”

Ji Tanyue smiled without responding, her attention solely focused on Chao Wan in the distance.

A raw gem will eventually shine.

Perhaps the acting practice disguised as bedroom self-reflection could be increased a little more.