Never Forget - Chapter 8

Qin Zhizhen’s fingers twitched as she held the button. She didn’t know why she was fastening it again. She raised an eyebrow slightly and glanced at Ye Zhuyi, lost in thought.

If she hadn’t taken a step back, she would have missed the subtle change in Ye Zhuyi’s expression. The moment Ye Zhuyi saw her re-buttoning, her eyes, like thin ice, seemed to crack. A complex, indescribable emotion welled up, a mixture of joy and sorrow.

But in the next second, those glass-like eyes became as calm as still water, as if the entire moment had been nothing more than an illusion.

Was it really just an illusion?

Within those fleeting emotions, Qin Zhizhen had also caught a hint of mockery.

That brief, mocking glance made Qin Zhizhen feel strangely agitated. It wasn’t anger, but a feeling she couldn’t quite put into words.

A sense of déjà vu flashed through her mind.

Ye Zhuyi stepped aside to let Qin Zhizhen pass and greeted her politely, “Teacher Qin.”

Qin Zhizhen nodded. After walking a few steps, she suddenly turned back and asked, “Have we met before?”

The question was so abrupt and ambiguous that Ye Zhuyi froze. She looked up and met Qin Zhizhen’s dark, intense gaze. Her heart hammered twice before settling back to a steady beat. She curved her lips, her dimples faintly appearing. “Teacher Qin, we just saw each other five days ago.”

Qin Zhizhen’s thin lips parted as if she wanted to say more, but Lu Buping’s voice from inside the room interrupted her.

“Xiao Ye, you’re here! Come in and get your script.”

Ye Zhuyi called out to Lu Buping, “Coming, Director Lu.” She turned back to Qin Zhizhen and asked softly, “Teacher Qin, what were you about to say?”

Her eyes were innocent and harmless, her tone gentle, and her manner humble and polite. She looked exactly like a rookie actress showing respect to a senior.

The feeling from a moment ago had completely vanished. Maybe it really was just an illusion. How could Ye Zhuyi possibly look at her like that? If it wasn’t an illusion, then her acting was terrifyingly good.

Qin Zhizhen’s brow furrowed for a moment before quickly relaxing. Her expression returned to its usual cool composure. “It’s nothing. Go on in.”

Only after stepping inside did Ye Zhuyi’s shoulders drop slightly, as if she were finally breathing a sigh of relief, or perhaps slumping from exhaustion.

She quickly composed herself and walked toward Lu Buping, discreetly scanning the room as she moved.

A camera was set up on the spiral staircase to the right. On the far left of the first floor sat a velvet sofa and a small round table, which held a glass vase of roses, a pack of cigarettes, a lighter, and an ashtray. Another camera was positioned beside the table. Lu Buping, Zhou Wen, the assistant director, the producer, the executive producer, and the rest of the film crew were all seated in chairs behind the camera.

Lu Buping smiled and spread the two scripts on the table. “Alright, let’s see what you get.”

Ye Zhuyi picked one at random. Just like the previous round, it was a few dry paragraphs of description.

The scene was set in the 1940s at the Jinli Ballroom in old Shencheng. This was the first meeting between Shen Manqing and the female lead, Yin Xingmang, who was disguised as a man. By this time, Shen Manqing had become a star dancer at the ballroom. As usual, she arrived late. The Ballroom Manager informed her that Yin Xingmang had bought out all her time and given her a specific task: to seduce her.

Shen Manqing followed the Manager’s gesture and looked down the spiral staircase, locking eyes with Yin Xingmang. The script didn’t elaborate on Shen Manqing’s expression, but it added a note that the ballroom’s dancers were often tasked with approaching high-ranking officials and wealthy young men. Those who failed to please their clients would be penalized by the Manager, making their lives even harder. This was the first time Shen Manqing had ever been assigned such a task.

As Shen Manqing walked downstairs, she overheard the other dancers sighing. They said that if anyone could secure Yin Xingmang as a patron, they’d be set for life. Unfortunately, the woman was known to be completely frigid.

Shen Manqing descended the stairs and took her place at Yin Xingmang’s table. But no matter what she did to get Yin Xingmang’s attention, the woman remained utterly uninterested. When Shen Manqing’s advances became too bold, Yin Xingmang even grew impatient.

Realizing the mission was a lost cause, Shen Manqing noticed the piercing in Yin Xingmang’s exposed ear. She decided to take a risky gamble. The two women exchanged sharp words, their tension simmering beneath a thin veil of flirtation. In the end, they reached an unspoken agreement.

Lu Buping stroked her chin, observing Ye Zhuyi for a moment before asking, “Have you finished reading the script?”

Ye Zhuyi nodded. She had read it, but her mind was still reeling. She was supposed to seduce Qin Zhizhen? She licked her lips, her voice uncertain. “So, Teacher Qin is playing the female lead, right?”

“Yes, you’re acting with him,” Lu Buping confirmed. “As you’ve seen, the script doesn’t include any emotional cues or specific stage directions. You’ll need to interpret the character’s feelings yourself and convey the emotional shifts through your expressions and body language. This scene relies entirely on your improvisation.”

This was even harder than the last time. Not only did she have to understand the script and improvise, but she also had to match Qin Zhizhen’s acting, seduce her, and create an ambiguous atmosphere. Ye Zhuyi felt the pressure and couldn’t help but frown.

Perhaps it was because her calm expression cracking looked a little cute, but Lu Buping couldn’t help but smile. She patted Ye Zhuyi’s shoulder and comforted her, “Just relax. Whether you pass or not, this will be a great experience for you. Just give it your best. I have high hopes for you.” She glanced at Qin Zhizhen, who was heading back into the room, and tilted her chin toward her. “Actress Qin is really looking forward to your performance.”

Ye Zhuyi turned to look, and Qin Zhizhen shot her a deadpan glance.

…This is “looking forward to it”?

Ye Zhuyi pressed her lips together and turned back to Lu Buping. Lu Buping gave her an innocent grin and shrugged. “I’ll give you fifteen minutes to memorize the lines and get into character. If you think it’s too crowded here, you can go to the next room. Someone will come get you when time’s up.”

Even just one Qin Zhizhen was too much of a distraction. Ye Zhuyi went to the next room.

After Ye Zhuyi left, Qin Zhizhen walked over to Lu Buping, pulled out a chair, and sat down. “What did you say to her? She suddenly turned to look at me.”

Lu Buping chuckled. “I just told her I was looking forward to her performance.”

Zhou Wen had been dying to speak while Lu Buping was talking to the auditioning actresses. She dragged her chair over to Qin Zhizhen and chimed in, “And then that little girl looked back at you, but you just had a completely blank face.”

“That’s a bit harsh,” Qin Zhizhen said with a faint smile, glancing at Zhou Wen. “Aunt Zhou, is calling an actor ‘blank-faced’ really a good idea?”

“You really are blank-faced when you’re not acting,” Zhou Wen replied bluntly. She paused as if remembering something and added, “Too many people are blank-faced the moment they start acting. Don’t you think Sui Xuan’s face looks weird? Like she had another procedure?”

“It looks like it to me,” Lu Buping said, raising an eyebrow at Qin Zhizhen. “Anyway, she’s out. With a performance like that, no investor would ever approve. How did the other two feel to act with?”

Qin Zhizhen shifted in her seat and subconsciously rubbed her ear. “Mu Wangning is passable. But Jin Yue is a no. Her scene required a slow build-up of emotion, but all I felt was screaming.”

Recalling Jin Yue’s recent scene, Lu Buping and Zhou Wen burst into laughter.

“Don’t even get me started,” Zhou Wen gasped, still catching her breath. “My ears are still ringing. That girl really needs to work on her acting.”

“She’s definitely not cut out for the Female Second Lead,” Lu Buping said, glancing at the producer sitting beside her. “But… her backers pulled some strings with the producer. Maybe we can give her a small supporting role just to let her show her face.”

This kind of thing was common in the industry, a form of unspoken rule. Zhou Wen snorted. “The producer seems to really like Mu Wangning, though.”

Lu Buping nodded. “In terms of overall suitability, she’s definitely the best choice. Her father is quite influential, but she herself… she’s still lacking. I felt she couldn’t keep up with Zhizhen’s performance.” Lu Buping poked Qin Zhizhen and asked, “Did you pull back in the second half to let her shine?”

Qin Zhizhen chuckled. “As expected of Director Lu.”

“Tsk. Which script did she get?” Zhou Wen picked up one of the unused scripts and flipped through it. “Ye Zhuyi and Mu Wangning have the same script. Is it the scene where she offers to reveal Yin Xingmang’s true identity as a woman in exchange for her own freedom?”

“Yes, that’s the one. It’s a perfect comparison. Zhizhen can get a better feel for acting with both of them,” Lu Buping said, then looked at Qin Zhizhen’s long hair. “You’ve already lost weight. Are you still reluctant to cut your hair?”

Qin Zhizhen’s long eyelashes fluttered. “I’ll cut it in a couple of days.”

“I’ve always found short hair more convenient. Washing and drying are so much easier,” Lu Buping said, running a hand through her own short hair. “But it’s a shame to cut it off after growing it for so long. You don’t have to go too short, though. Yin Xingmang is a playgirl on the surface, so it wouldn’t be strange for her to have a little braid in long hair.”

Zhou Wen gestured toward Qin Zhizhen’s shoulder. “Cut it to here. The stylist can braid a small section for her. It’ll be perfect for the scene where someone pulls her braid.”

“You’ve thought of everything,” Lu Buping laughed. She turned to Qin Zhizhen reassuringly. “Wait until the costume shoot to cut it. You can put the extensions back in after filming.”

Qin Zhizhen’s lips curved into a slight smile, but she said nothing.

“Is it about time?” Lu Buping checked her watch, stood up, and called the Assistant Director over. “You can go get Ye Zhuyi from the next room for her audition.”

Lu Buping clapped her hands and announced to the room, “Alright everyone, let’s get ready for the auditions!” She turned to Qin Zhizhen with a smile. “You should go get ready too.”

Qin Zhizhen shifted positions and sank into the velvet sofa. Her entire posture transformed instantly. She rested her elbow on the armrest, propping her chin on her bent fingers, and crossed her legs with a lazy, effortless grace.

Lu Buping’s lips curled into a smile. This girl is as quick as ever when it comes to getting into character, she thought.

The assistant director led Ye Zhuyi into the room. Lu Buping studied her closely. Her striking beauty perfectly matched Shen Manqing’s appearance, but her expression was as still as water. Even with her lowered eyelashes, no emotion betrayed her. In Zhou Wen’s words, she looked like a “stone face” right now.

But Shen Manqing was anything but stoic. As the Dance Empress, every smile and every glance had to be filled with captivating charm. Lu Buping wondered if fifteen minutes had been too short for Ye Zhuyi, or if the second-round audition requirements were simply too demanding for her.

I can’t jump to conclusions yet, Lu Buping thought, composing herself and smoothing out her frown. “Go upstairs.”

Without raising her eyes, Ye Zhuyi nodded slightly and began to climb the spiral staircase.

When she reached the middle of the stairs, Lu Buping called out, “Stop. Right there.”

Ye Zhuyi turned around.

“Action!”

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