Never Forget - Chapter 7

Ke Shu paused before continuing. “The three other actresses in the second round are all skilled and quite popular. Especially Jin Yue, who was nominated for Best Actress again this year. Even that special guest actress, Sui Xuan, has worked with Qin Zhizhen before. I’m already happy you made it to the second round. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Director Lu said you don’t need to prepare, so just do your best and leave the rest to fate.”

After hanging up with Ke Shu, Ye Zhuyi placed her phone on the ledge beside the bathtub. She lay back and stared at the white porcelain wall, processing Ke Shu’s words.

According to Xiao Qiao, the assistant director had the actresses enter the audition room one by one at the end of the first round to hear their results. At the time, everyone thought Director Lu Buping was just being polite. Now, Ye Zhuyi realized it was to keep the list of second-round candidates a secret.

Who could have guessed that only three actresses would be chosen from the original thirty, plus one special guest? The remaining candidates must be those the director was truly satisfied with.

Her pressure and nerves never came from others or from herself. They only ever came from Qin Zhizhen.

If she failed the second round, would it mean she could only watch Qin Zhizhen through a screen again? Watch her act with other actresses? Watch her be so intimate with someone else?

There were no intimate scenes in Cold Night. Sui Xuan had merely played Qin Zhizhen’s wife, yet that role alone was enough to drive Ye Zhuyi mad with jealousy. She couldn’t bear to let it happen again, to lose out once more simply because she wasn’t good enough.

I can’t let that happen. I absolutely won’t!

Ye Zhuyi sat in the bathtub, her eyes red and her lower lip bitten bloodless. She hugged her knees to her chest, shivering despite the hot water.

She had to nail this scene.

A sudden tremor ran through her body.

A scene… with her…

How long had it been since she last acted with Qin Zhizhen?

The blood in her veins seemed to boil again, leaving her feeling a mix of excitement, anticipation, and nervous dread.

As she straightened and then bent her legs in the water, she slipped downward. The water covered her nose and eyes, muffling the world into a quiet void. Fragmented memories flashed through her mind, scenes that had haunted her dreams countless nights, born from her uncontrollable longing for Qin Zhizhen. They felt as vivid as if they had happened yesterday.

“Yiyi, are you sure you don’t want to act?”

“Yiyi, please run lines with me.”

“11, you’re amazing.”

A pale, slender arm rose from the water. Long fingers gripped the edge of the bathtub. Amidst the rushing sound of water, Ye Zhuyi sat up, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled with a tremble.

She wiped her face with her hand, her heart racing. She sat in the tub for a long time, until the water grew cold and her mind finally calmed. Only then did she stand up and take her phone outside.

Her wet hair clung to her back, reaching just to her waist.

Ye Zhuyi grabbed a towel, lifting her long hair with one hand to dry it. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Below her right shoulder, there was an irregular, pale scar.

She turned away instantly. The phone on the vanity lit up. The caller ID showed “M.” Ye Zhuyi glanced at it, a flicker of emotion passing through her otherwise still eyes.

She picked up the hairdryer and ignored the call. The sound of the dryer drowned out the phone’s vibration.

The phone continued to buzz.

Inside the van, Lian Rong pulled her phone from her bag and held it out to Qin Zhizhen, who was resting with her eyes closed. “Teacher Qin, it’s Director Lu.”

After finishing the first round of auditions with Director Lu, Qin Zhizhen had flown abroad overnight to film a promotional video for a brand ambassador. Upon her return, she immediately shot a magazine cover. The back-to-back schedule was exhausting.

Without even opening her eyes, Qin Zhizhen said in a cool, detached voice, “Answer it. Put it on speaker.”

Lian Rong complied. As the call connected, Qin Zhizhen took the phone and greeted, “Director Lu.”

Lu Buping’s slightly raspy voice came through the line. “Zhizhen, don’t forget to go to the suburban villa the day after tomorrow to run lines with the actors from the second round of auditions. Arrive early to get a feel for the set. Old Zhou and I decided to use the same method as the first round: we’ll draw scripts randomly. We won’t give you the full scripts, so there will be a lot of improvisation during the performance. Just see who you have the best chemistry with.”

Qin Zhizhen gave a faint “Mm,” sounding completely unbothered.

Lu Buping cleared her throat and added, “Let me confirm the list with you one more time: Mu Wangning, Jin Yue, Ye Zhuyi, and Sui Xuan.”

Qin Zhizhen’s elegant brows furrowed instantly. Her ice-cold eyes snapped open, and her tone turned displeased. “Director Lu, why is there an extra person?”

“The investors pushed her in,” Lu Buping sighed helplessly. “You know how this industry is. I’ve already warned them that if she fails the audition, she’s out.”

Having worked together a few times, Qin Zhizhen naturally understood the implication in Lu Buping’s words. She tapped the armrest of her chair with her fingertips, her deep, dark eyes flickering slightly as she let out a soft scoff.

She looked as if she had just come up with a mischievous idea and was confident in her plan, simply waiting for the right moment to strike.

Lu Buping, hearing this, knew she understood. She smiled and said, “Don’t be too obvious. Hold back a little so you don’t embarrass them too much. Aside from Mu Wangning, none of the remaining candidates are very experienced. Especially that Ye Zhuyi, to be honest, I’m quite looking forward to her performance, but I’m not sure if she can keep up with you.”

Beside them, Lian Rong’s heart sank. Why did Director Lu sound so unconfident in her favorite idol? She had been eagerly anticipating her idol acting with Qin Shen, thinking it would be even more impactful and exciting than a fan-made video! But… looking at the web dramas Ye Zhuyi had starred in, although she had talent, her opponents weren’t very strong. If she had to act against Qin Shen, she would probably be completely overwhelmed…

Lian Rong blinked, not daring to imagine the scene that would be both exciting and heartbreaking to watch. She shuddered, then suddenly heard Qin Zhizhen laugh.

A faint hint of amusement lingered in his cool voice as Qin Zhizhen said, “Just you wait and see.”

Lian Rong’s mind immediately started racing with excitement. Teacher Qin sounds so eager! Who cares if Director Lu isn’t confident? It’s enough that Teacher Qin believes in Ye Yiyi!

When Ye Zhuyi ignored the phone call, found Group A’s collector’s edition album, and messaged Lian Rong for her address, the younger girl replied with a flurry of excited messages.

[Ah! Teacher Ye, you don’t need to mail it to me. Just bring it with you to the audition the day after tomorrow. Good luck with your audition, Teacher Ye! We’re all rooting for you!]

Bringing it in person would indeed be more convenient. Ye Zhuyi replied with an emoji of an orange cat giving a thumbs-up. She carefully wrapped the album and placed it in a pretty gift bag, but then her movements froze.

We?

Does she mean what I think she means? Does that include Qin Zhizhen?

Ye Zhuyi placed the wrapped album into the gift bag. After thinking it over, she couldn’t help but pick up her phone and ask Lian Rong: [We?]

Lotus Seed Paste Bun: [Me and Teacher Qin~ Teacher Qin is really looking forward to your performance!]

—I’m really looking forward to your next performance.

He had said that before. Ye Zhuyi couldn’t stop smiling, her eyes curving with joy as dimples appeared on her cheeks.

I’m looking forward to it too, she thought.

Time flew by, and soon it was the day of the second round of auditions. The location was the same, but this time the production crew had arranged a waiting room because there were fewer actors.

The four actresses met at the drawing station. The Assistant Director watched them quietly as he handed out the lots.

Mu Wangning was the daughter of veteran Film Emperor Mu Wensong. Half-German, she had stunning, well-defined features and an aura of elegance. At just twenty-one, she had already won the Film Empress award two years in a row. She was a legend in her own right, second only to Qin Zhizhen. If she and Qin Zhizhen starred together, the movie’s box office and critical acclaim were practically guaranteed.

Sui Xuan had worked with Qin Zhizhen before, and their “CP” fans were still active on Weibo.

Jin Yue had a pure, innocent look and decent acting skills. She was the most popular and had the highest traffic of the four.

Compared to the others, Ye Zhuyi seemed unremarkable. Her acting was okay, but she lacked experience. It was unclear if she could hold her own against a powerhouse like Qin Zhizhen. She had little fame and was unknown to the public.

Bad luck had struck her. She had arrived earliest but drawn the very last slot. The longer you wait for an audition, the easier it is for your nerves to fray.

The assistant director snorted, clearly unimpressed with Ye Zhuyi. He gestured for Ye Zhuyi, Mu Wangning, and Sui Xuan to head to the waiting room, then waved Jin Yue over. “Come on, Chosen One No. 1.”

Jin Yue flashed a sweet smile and strolled over, her voice soft and sugary. “Assistant Director, stop teasing me.”

Sui Xuan rolled her eyes at Jin Yue, rubbing her arm as if to shake off nonexistent goosebumps. “What’s with all the flirting?” she cooed.

The atmosphere in the waiting room was tense. The three women occupied separate corners, each avoiding the others. At first, Sui Xuan tried to flatter Mu Wangning, but the Film Empress was as cold as a refrigerator. After being shut down, Sui Xuan lowered her pride and tried talking to Ye Zhuyi, figuring they’d at least have something to discuss since they’d worked together before.

To her dismay, Ye Zhuyi was another human refrigerator. Every question was met with a curt “Mm” or “Oh.”

Just as Sui Xuan was about to burst from the awkwardness, the assistant director entered the room and called her name. She couldn’t have been happier to leave, clicking out of the room in her high heels.

Noticing her rubbing her arms, the Assistant Director asked with concern, “Xuanxuan, are you cold?”

Sui Xuan chuckled. “The air conditioning is set too low, isn’t it?”

After seeing Sui Xuan out, the Assistant Director returned to the lounge and called out to the inner room, “Should I turn up the AC?”

Ye Zhuyi and Mu Wangning both looked at him. The Assistant Director flinched. He glanced at the AC unit and realized it wasn’t even on. “Sorry, sorry.”

As he turned it on, he thought, With these two human refrigerators in here, we don’t even need the AC.

After he left, the lounge fell silent again, filled only by the whoosh of the air conditioner.

A moment later, the Assistant Director returned to call Mu Wangning.

Mu Wangning rose from her chair and walked to the door. She turned back to glance at Ye Zhuyi, who was standing by the window, gazing at the view outside.

Sensing the gaze, Ye Zhuyi turned and met Mu Wangning’s eyes.

Their stares locked for a fleeting moment before they both looked away. Ye Zhuyi turned her head, and Mu Wangning stepped out the door, as if the brief eye contact had been nothing more than an illusion.

Half an hour later, the assistant director led Ye Zhuyi to the audition room. They had changed to a different room this time. Ye Zhuyi followed her down the long corridor. When they reached the door, the assistant director gripped the handle and said, “Go on in.”

Before she could even turn it, the door was pulled open from the inside.

Qin Zhizhen was turning to speak to Lu Buping, saying, “I need some air.” She was unbuttoning the top two buttons of her shirt and fanning her collar with her hand. As she turned, she nearly collided with Ye Zhuyi.

Ye Zhuyi stopped just in time. Her eyelashes fluttered as she stared at the thin lips just inches away. I almost… kissed her.

Ye Zhuyi quickly averted her gaze, but her eyes fell on Qin Zhizhen’s pale skin and straight collarbones. The familiar scent filled her nose, and she swallowed hard.

Her brain felt starved of oxygen as a blush crept up her ears.

Qin Zhizhen noticed Ye Zhuyi’s reddened ears. She took a step back and, as if possessed, buttoned the two buttons back up.

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