Shadow of Chinese Entertainment

Chapter 211 A Promise
At 8:8 a.m. on August 6, the scorching sun had already begun to bake the entire city.

Hu Xiaobei and An Xiaoqian arrived at the audition venue early. A few rays of sunlight shone through the windows on the third floor, and the view outside came into their view.

The scene was packed with actors who had come to audition, and the cacophony of voices created a soundscape reminiscent of a bustling market.

In an inconspicuous corner, a group of obscure actors gathered together.

Most of them wore faded, outdated clothes, and the original books in their hands were worn out, with curled edges and wrinkled pages.

One of the actors, speaking in somewhat broken Mandarin, was quietly but urgently reciting lines from the book, his forehead beaded with sweat from nervousness.

Some actors wore old MP3 headphones and swayed slightly to the music, trying to use it to dispel their inner tension.

The hall was brightly lit, and some well-known actors and celebrities, dressed in the latest trendy designer casual wear, either leaned back lazily or sat elegantly.

One of the actresses was facing a delicate little mirror, gently pursing her lips, repeatedly adjusting her facial expression, muttering to herself, her eyes filled with determination to get the role of Li Qingzhao.

When she gets to a crucial point, she'll suddenly pause, take out her rhinestone-encrusted flip phone, check missed calls and text messages, and occasionally smile, as if showing those around her how busy and important she is.

In the rest area of ​​the corridor, several veteran actors were chatting casually.

For them, this audition, though important, was just another ordinary job in their acting career, and the success or failure was not so important.

The warm sunlight gently shone on them, gradually outlining the contours of time.

Their faces carried a calm and composed demeanor, and their every gesture revealed profound skill.

A veteran actor gently gestured, sharing his unique understanding of a certain character in a steady voice, his words filled with love for acting.

Occasionally, a popular celebrity who doesn't deserve to be mentioned arrives late, instantly causing a small commotion at the scene.

Hu Xiaobei sat in the main seat of the audition room, exuding a calm and composed aura, with a thick stack of actor information piled up in front of him.

An Xiaoqian, dressed in simple casual clothes, sat quietly to the side, occasionally whispering to Hu Xiaobei and expressing her opinions.

The first young male actor stepped into the room, looking nervous, his voice trembling slightly as he introduced himself.

As the performance began, he tried his best to immerse himself in the role, but made frequent mistakes due to nervousness.

Hu Xiaobei frowned slightly and bluntly said, "The performance was too stiff, the emotions were superficial, and he didn't really get into the character's heart."

The senior actress, Qian, gently added, "Your sense of rhythm is a bit off. In future auditions, try to be more natural and relaxed."

The male actor, looking ashamed, bowed and withdrew.

As time went on, the young actors entered one after another.

Some performers forgot their lines and stumbled during their performances, while others overdid it.

Hu Xiaobei pointed out the problems one by one, while Da Lao Qian offered some suggestions from a female perspective and from the perspective of the lead actress.

At that moment, an old actor whose name I don't know walked in.

He appeared calm and composed, exuding ease in every gesture. After a brief self-introduction, he began his performance.

His performance was delicate and nuanced, and his understanding and interpretation of the character were profound and accurate. Every look and every movement was full of stories.

Hu Xiaobei couldn't help but sit up straight and exclaimed in admiration: "As expected of a senior actor, his acting skills and control over the role are textbook-level."

An Xiaoqian nodded repeatedly and excitedly said to Hu Xiaobei, "The whole atmosphere changed as soon as he appeared. The gap between him and the young actors is too obvious. If he could join the crew, he would definitely bring a lot of inspiration to everyone."

The auditions continued the next day. A young actress delivered a lively and natural performance, perfectly capturing the character's vivacity and playfulness. Hu Xiaobei smiled with satisfaction: "Not bad, very promising. With continued refinement, she has a bright future."

Big Sister Qian also smiled and chimed in, "The performance was very captivating; I was completely drawn into the story. It's perfect for portraying Li Qingzhao in her youth."

After two days of intensive auditions, Hu Xiaobei and An Xiaoqian carefully considered and discussed the candidates before selecting the most suitable actor from among the many auditionees.

With the addition of some veteran actors who were previously cast, the main cast of "The Grandmasters" has now been finalized.

Subsequently, under Liu Xiaoli's leadership, the staff will proactively contact the relevant actors and handle a series of complicated matters such as contract signing.

............................................................

May 8th, evening.

An Xiaoqian nestled lazily in the soft sofa, idly scrolling through her phone, when a message from Shu Chang popped up.

Shu Chang's message read: "XiXi, what are your plans for tomorrow?"

An Xiaoqian frowned slightly, a hint of confusion on her face, and her fingers tapped rapidly on her phone: "Why are you suddenly asking this? Tomorrow will be the same as usual."

After sending the message, she tilted her head, happily opened her little mouth to bite into the grapes her mother fed her, and waited for Shu Chang's reply.

Soon, Shu Chang's message came again: "Oh dear, tomorrow is Qixi Festival! Have you made any plans with Hu Xiaobei to go anywhere?"

Upon seeing this message, An Xiaoqian's eyes widened involuntarily, a hint of panic flashing in them. A strange sense of shyness welled up in her heart, and a blush quickly crept from her ears to her cheeks.

She hurriedly typed an explanation: "No, no, Xiao Bei and I are not dating. We just have fun together."

After sending the message, she bit her lip, feeling flustered, and her fingers unconsciously tapped lightly on the sofa armrest.

Shu Chang seemed unconvinced and replied, "Really? I don't believe it! Besides, even if you didn't make an appointment, didn't others make appointments with him too?"

Maybe someone has already made plans with Hu Xiaobei, and they're going out together tomorrow?

An Xiaoqian looked at the message, and on the surface, she curled her lips and let her mouth droop down, looking completely indifferent.

But I felt inexplicably nervous, and my heart started racing uncontrollably.

After chatting with Shu Chang for a few more minutes, An Xiaoqian still felt uneasy and had a sense of unease. She hurriedly replied to the message, "Okay, okay, I'm not talking to you anymore. I'm a little sleepy. I'm going to sleep now."

After sending the message, she breathed a sigh of relief and put her phone aside.

But then she picked up her phone again, her finger hovering over the buttons for a moment.

After hesitating for a moment, I still sent Hu Xiaobei a text message on my own: "What are you planning to do tomorrow? Your passport is ready, why don't you come and pick it up tomorrow?"

After sending the text message, she held her phone in her arms, glancing at it every now and then, hoping for Hu Xiaobei's reply.

Meanwhile, Hu Xiaobei was lying on his bed in his dormitory, remotely controlling his shadow and typing on his laptop to plan the filming schedule for "Dialogue with Masters of the Past and Present".

When he received An Xiaoqian's text message, he was slightly taken aback. A hint of doubt flashed in his previously focused eyes, and a look of confusion appeared on his face. He wondered why Xiaoqian had suddenly asked about this.

He calmed his thoughts, picked up his phone and replied directly: "No rush, just leave it with you. I plan to plan the filming schedule for 'The Legend of the Grandmasters' in my dorm tomorrow, nothing special."

When An Xiaoqian saw Hu Xiaobei's reply, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Her previously tense shoulders relaxed, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smile.

But after a short while, she seemed uneasy again, biting her lip and unconsciously gripping her phone.

(End of this chapter)