Pretending to Be a Submissive O: My Fiancee Is a Little Pup - Chapter 5

“You?” Ji Yaran was slightly taken aback. She only then remembered that Song Qingxue worked as a talent manager, so she undoubtedly had plenty of connections in the industry.

It was simply that an Omega in heat was far too fragile, and Song Qingxue was even thinner than the average person. In Ji Yaran’s subconscious mind, she had completely overlooked this fact.

“Yes,” Song Qingxue spoke very earnestly, “If you want to act, Sister, I might be able to help.”

“Why are you being so proactive in helping me?” Ji Yaran couldn’t help but be amused by her. This little Omega was being a bit too enthusiastic toward her, wasn’t she? She could easily do nothing and just move out of the house in a couple of days once her heat passed.

“Just think of it as paying my rent,” Song Qingxue blinked, “You’ve taken such good care of me during this time, Sister, I want to repay you.”

“It’s a service fee,” Ji Yaran corrected her, feeling that “rent” sounded a bit improper, “But… are you serious?”

Honestly, given Ji Yaran’s current situation, she truly did need an opportunity.

Not just for her daily life, but her career also needed to break away from Yu Shi as soon as possible.

In the past, many of Ji Yaran’s resources were given by Yu Shi. However, the fact that Yu Shi replaced the female lead of Indulgent with Liu Jia’an was enough to ring alarm bells for Ji Yaran.

She couldn’t just sit around and wait for death, hoping that Yu Shi would continue feeding her resources after their relationship had soured. Yu Shi wasn’t a fool, so why would she support someone who didn’t listen?

She currently had no connections, no major works, and her reputation in the industry was terrible. If Song Qingxue could provide assistance, it wouldn’t hurt to try and accept it.

“Of course I’m serious,” Song Qingxue said, “Don’t worry, Sister. Even though I’ve terminated my contract with my previous company, I still have my connections. If you don’t object, I’ll start reaching out for you tomorrow.”

“Will it be too much trouble?” Ji Yaran’s help toward Song Qingxue had been a simple gesture, she had only done what any decent Beta would do. She felt a bit hesitant, wondering if asking Song Qingxue for such a huge favor was crossing a line.

“It won’t,” Song Qingxue placed her hand over the back of Ji Yaran’s hand, soothing her softly, “This was my job before, I’m used to it.”

Ji Yaran finally felt at ease.

“Then I’ll leave it to you,” she thought for a moment and added, “It’s okay if it doesn’t work out.”

Song Qingxue smiled brightly, “Rest assured, Sister. Just leave it to me.”

Ji Yaran never expected that within a single day, Song Qingxue would actually contact a production crew and get her an audition.

The speed was staggering.

Even for Yu Shi, who had massive influence as a director, it was rarely this fast to arrange an entry into a crew. This gave Ji Yaran a whole new understanding of this seemingly fragile Omega.

“Sister, have you heard of Embrace When the Snow Falls?” Song Qingxue hung up the phone and sat down beside her. Her posture was elegant yet charming, enough to make even a Beta like Ji Yaran feel a stir in her heart.

“Embrace When the Snow Falls… Is that the modern drama starring Tang Rui and Xue Yan?”

Ji Yaran had heard of the title. Although it was an original screenplay and lacked the built-in fanbase of a novel adaptation like Indulgent, the plot was full of ups and downs, and the director was very famous. Consequently, it had attracted a popular “Little Flower” and a first-tier idol. The competition was incredibly fierce.

She had assumed Song Qingxue would, at most, introduce her to some obscure, low-budget production. She didn’t expect such a major project right off the bat.

“Yes, that’s the one,” Song Qingxue said, “I know the director. They are casting right now, and there’s an audition tomorrow. If you’re willing, Sister, you can go and try out.”

Before Ji Yaran could answer, Song Qingxue’s eyes dimmed, and she spoke with a hint of guilt, “However, the leads are already set. You can only audition for the second or third female lead roles… I’m sorry, Sister, I couldn’t get the best for you.”

Ji Yaran’s heart twitched.

The best?

As an 18th-tier flop who caused every project she touched to fail, being able to get a script like this without relying on Yu Shi was like a reward for her good deeds in a past life. Forget the second or third lead, even playing the seventh female lead would be enough for her to brag about for half a lifetime. How could she have the face to be picky?

As for the first female lead… She hadn’t even dared to dream of it.

Yet, Song Qingxue’s reaction right now made it seem like auditioning for a supporting role was a great injustice to her.

Was she actually being sarcastic?

Ji Yaran swallowed and looked at Song Qingxue. She saw the girl sitting on the sofa with her head slightly lowered, looking quite dejected. Her long eyelashes trembled, and her eyes shimmered with a watery glaze, as if she might burst into tears at any moment.

Someone who didn’t know better would think she had committed a grave sin.

Ji Yaran even felt a sense of guilt, as if she had bullied her.

She truly couldn’t stand to see an Omega cry in front of her, so she quickly comforted her, “It’s okay, this is already great. Thank you for your help, I’ll go to the audition.”

Hearing this, Song Qingxue’s expression softened slightly.

“As long as you aren’t angry, Sister…”

“How could I be angry? I can’t thank you enough. Alright, don’t be sad. Tell me if there’s anything I should pay attention to.”

Song Qingxue finally wiped away her tears and beamed at her, “Mhm.”

What Song Qingxue told her was mostly about the director’s personal preferences. Every director has their own favorite acting style. For instance, Yu Shi liked more flamboyant performances, whereas Zhao Qingyan, the director of Embrace When the Snow Falls, preferred nuanced and delicate emotional acting. Most of Zhao’s works were romance-oriented.

“Sister, don’t be nervous. Director Zhao is very fair in casting and doesn’t care about an artist’s fame. Just go to the audition tomorrow with a calm mind.”

“Okay, I’ll do my best.”

“I’m sorry, Sister, I’m still in my heat and can’t go out… otherwise, I really wanted to accompany you.”

“What’s there to worry about? It’s just an audition, I’m not so helpless that I need someone to hold my hand. Just rest well at home, call me if you need anything.”

A smile bloomed on Song Qingxue’s lips, warm enough to melt winter snow.

“Okay, then I wish you a triumphant return, Sister.”

The next morning, Ji Yaran took a taxi to the hotel where the auditions were being held.

There were many artists present. Ji Yaran barely managed to squeeze into the line when she saw a WeChat message from Song Qingxue asking about her situation. Just as she was about to reply, she heard a voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Oh, isn’t this Director Yu’s little lover? Why are you auditioning with us? Didn’t Director Yu stuff you into her own crew?” The woman’s voice was sharp and her tone mocking, clearly harboring some kind of grudge against Ji Yaran.

Ji Yaran put away her phone and looked up at the woman speaking.

The woman was tall and slender, dressed flamboyantly like a peacock spreading its feathers.

Ji Yaran knew this woman. Her name was Xiao Rongrong. She had previously failed to compete with the original host for a female lead role, and since that drama happened to be invested in by Yu Shi, she naturally assumed Ji Yaran had won based on her backer. Because of this, she had always targeted Ji Yaran.

“Sister Xiao, you might not know this, but Director Yu’s true love has returned to the country. Why would she care about a little lover anymore?” Another woman in white smiled and glanced at her sideways, “Look, she didn’t even have an assistant to come with her today.”

The woman helping Xiao Rongrong was Li Qiongyue. She and Xiao Rongrong had played the first and second leads in a drama before and were rivals who couldn’t stand each other. Their relationship was like fire and water. The only reason she was chiming in was purely to enjoy the drama and stir the pot. After all, Xiao Rongrong’s temper was famously explosive in the industry, a little fanning of the flames would easily enrage her.

However, Li Qiongyue also looked down on actors like Ji Yaran who relied on directors to rise. She thought Ji Yaran’s private life was a mess, that she only had a pretty face with no acting skills, and that giving her a good script was a waste.

In fact, several dramas directed by Yu Shi and starring Ji Yaran had aired last year with zero impact. Ji Yaran was even mocked as the “Adou of the entertainment industry who can’t be propped up” due to her emotionless, wooden acting.

It was truly hilarious.

Li Qiongyue had known for a long time that Ji Yaran had no assistant. The person who used to stay by Ji Yaran’s side was actually Yu Shi’s assistant. She said this entirely to crowd Ji Yaran out, making her realize she was nothing without Yu Shi, let alone capable of competing with them for the second female lead in Embrace When the Snow Falls.

“I’m so sorry, Sister Xiao, I accidentally stole your spotlight,” Ji Yaran spoke with a smile, “If you want Director Yu’s attention that badly, I’ll put in a word for you some other day. Don’t keep it bottled up inside, or you might make yourself sick from the stress.”

“You… what nonsense are you talking about?” Xiao Rongrong grew flustered upon hearing this, “Who wants to climb up using those kinds of methods like you?”

“Oh? Really? But your expression looks very honest to me, Sister Xiao,” Ji Yaran looked her up and down with a piercing gaze, the smile on her lips deepening, “Are you sure you don’t need me to introduce you to Director Yu?”

“Who do you think you are…” Xiao Rongrong’s face changed slightly because Ji Yaran had hit the nail on the head.

She looked down on Ji Yaran for being able to cling to a big director like Yu Shi, yet she also wanted to be like Ji Yaran, picking and choosing resources effortlessly through a famous director.

It was much easier than struggling on her own in the entertainment industry.

Ji Yaran’s acting was so bad, yet just by relying on Yu Shi, she got her hands on great resources that Xiao Rongrong hadn’t been able to obtain in six years of hard work. Now that she was 29, her options were becoming fewer, and she desperately needed a good role to prove herself.

If she could find a backer like Ji Yaran…

“Sigh, Sister Xiao is so noble. Since you don’t want it, then forget it. Just consider it my offense.” Ji Yaran saw through her thoughts and, before the other woman could speak, proactively “withdrew” her good intentions.

“You!” Xiao Rongrong finally realized she had been played by Ji Yaran and stamped her feet in rage, “Ji Yaran, you just wait and see!”

She refused to believe Ji Yaran could actually be selected by the director today!

Ji Yaran finally pushed through the crowd and found the line for the second female lead.

The drama Embrace When the Snow Falls told a story centered around dance.

The female lead, Shu Tong, had a graceful figure and staggering beauty. She was a ballet dancer who had clawed her way up from the bottom, possessing a sharp, arrogant personality and a strong sense of justice. She was the most famous “Black Swan” in the dance troupe.

The male lead, Yu Bin, was originally a stage actor but had to quit after suffering a severe injury during a performance. He then became a behind-the-scenes worker, a man who was indifferent to fame and fortune and saw through everything.

Fate made Shu Tong the lead in Yu Bin’s stage play.

During their time together, the two gradually became attracted to each other, opened their hearts, entered each other’s inner worlds, and became each other’s salvation, eventually ending up together.

The character designs for both leads were excellent, and the story was touching.

But… none of that had anything to do with Ji Yaran.

Because the role she was auditioning for was the villainous second female lead, a calculating “White Lotus” who frequently tried to tear the leads apart.

A character designed to be utterly hated by the audience.

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