Huayu: Starting with living with a girl from Taiwan

The next morning, Lin Mo brought Xiao Jingteng to the Grand Hyatt Hotel located on Zhongxiao East Road.

The hotel's entrance is impressive, with its golden revolving door gleaming in the morning light.

Several vans were already parked at the entrance, and many staff members were going in and out, all wearing name tags from the "Kung Fu Dunk" crew.

"Wow, what a spectacle..." Xiao Jingteng looked up at the scene and couldn't help but swallow.

Lin Mo remained calm.

The two waited at the door for about ten minutes before they saw Liu Genghong jump out of a van and stride over to them.

"Good morning, Lin Mo and Ateng."

Liu Genghong, dressed in sportswear and looking energetic, asked, "Have you been waiting long?"

"Just arrived." Lin Mo smiled.

"Today is mainly for casting. Besides us, there are quite a few other artists who will be auditioning," Liu Genghong explained as he walked, leading them through the lobby and into the elevator area.

As soon as the elevator reached the third floor and the doors opened, a cacophony of noise hit us.

There were busy staff members, hotel service personnel, and quite a few well-dressed young actors.

Liu Genghong led the two through the crowd to the entrance of a large conference room that had been temporarily converted into a waiting area.

He gestured with his lips towards the inside, lowering his voice:

"Look, that's Director Zhu Yanping. He wrote and directed this movie, 'Kung Fu Dunk'."

Lin Mo followed his gaze.

At the far end of the conference room, behind a long table sat a man in his fifties, wearing black-rimmed glasses and with slightly graying hair, looking down as he flipped through documents.

Several assistant directors and producers were gathered around, whispering amongst themselves.

Lin Mo certainly knew Zhu Yanping.

You could even say he grew up watching Director Zhu's movies.

"Island of Fire", the "Shaolin Popeye" series, and "The Outcast" and so on.

These are all classic memories from the video rental era.

This director is prolific, has a diverse style, and a keen business sense. He is considered one of the most prolific and commercially successful figures in the Hong Kong and Taiwan film industry.

Lin Mo scanned the area but didn't see Jay Chou.

Just then, Liu Genghong explained:

"Jie Lun isn't coming today. His role was already decided long ago; he'll be playing the lead role of Fang Shijie."

"Today's main focus is on finalizing the other roles."

He patted Lin Mo on the shoulder, then glanced at the trembling Xiao Jingteng beside him, and said confidently, "Don't worry, your role is fine, I've got it covered."

Then he leaned closer and lowered his voice even further:

"Actually, apart from those few main competitors, everyone else is just going through the motions today. With your looks, you're more than qualified to play a teammate."

Lin Mo nodded: "Thank you, Coach Liu."

To be honest, although he had a cameo role in "The Ultimate Family," it was just that Angie Chai put him in there.

This was my first time doing a proper audition, and it felt quite novel.

While waiting, Lin Mo continued to observe.

Indeed, I saw quite a few familiar faces:

Tsang Chi-wai was chatting and laughing with several actors from Hong Kong, including Charlene Choi and Wong Yat-fei...

They're all familiar faces from the Hong Kong entertainment circle.

The audition officially began at around 10:30.

The staff called people in according to the list, and they went in one group at a time.

Liu Genghong, Lin Mo, and several other young actors were grouped together, while Xiao Jingteng waited alone outside.

Stepping into the audition room, it was much quieter inside than outside.

Zhu Yanping sat in the main seat, next to another screenwriter, Lin Chaorong, as well as several producers and casting directors.

The process is actually very simple.

Liu Genghong was the first to step up.

He was already a moderately famous actor, and with his robust physique, playing a basketball team captain would have been a piece of cake for him.

Zhu Yanping was clearly very satisfied with him and immediately cast him as the villainous captain "Li Tian".

When it was Lin Mo's turn, he stepped forward and gave a brief self-introduction:

"Hello director, hello teachers, I'm Lin Mo, from mainland China..."

As soon as he finished speaking, the people behind the table looked up.

Zhu Yanping pushed up his glasses, looked him up and down a few times, then turned his head and whispered something to Lin Chaorong next to him.

Lin Chaorong also looked at Lin Mo, nodded, and made a few notes in his notebook.

"Sure," Zhu Yanping nodded. "Good looks, and tall enough, he'd be fine playing a player on a sports team."

The producer next to him interjected, "Director Zhu, isn't it a bit of a waste to only have someone with such good looks playing a background player?"

Zhu Yanping pondered for a moment: "Let's settle on this for now, and then we'll see about the specific scenes when we're filming."

That means it's passed.

Liu Genghong winked at Lin Mo, his face saying, "See? I wasn't lying to you."

Lin Mo nodded slightly in thanks and stepped aside.

The next few young actors were quite nervous during their auditions, and they even stumbled over their words.

As the auditions were over and the group was preparing to leave, the side door of the reception room was suddenly pushed open.

A staff member strode in, went straight to Zhu Yanping, and leaned down to whisper a few words in his ear.

Zhu Yanping's expression changed visibly, first showing surprise, then nodding.

The staff member turned and quickly left.

He returned in less than two minutes.

A woman followed behind him.

He was around fifty years old, dressed simply, and his hair was neatly combed.

She carried a very ordinary handbag, her steps were unhurried, and her expression was calm.

But her appearance suddenly changed the atmosphere of the entire audition room.

Liu Genghong's eyes widened, and he blurted out:

"President Ge Fuhong? What brings her here?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Mo's heart stirred, and the same question arose within him.

How did this variety show guru, who holds contracts with half of Taiwan's entertainment industry, end up at the casting for the commercial film "Kung Fu Dunk"?

Is he here to ask for a role for some artist?

Moreover, judging from Zhu Yanping's reaction just now, he obviously didn't know she was coming.

Ge Fuhong walked in, smiled at Zhu Yanping, and greeted him.

Zhu Yanping also stood up and quickly extended his hand, looking very enthusiastic.

The two exchanged a few words, and Ge Fuhong's gaze swept around the room.

It passed by a group of young actors, and finally... stopped in Lin Mo's area.

Then, Ge Fuhong walked over to him.

Her steps were unhurried, yet she possessed an invisible aura.

The actors, who had been whispering just moments before, all fell silent, their eyes fixed on her.

She stopped in front of Lin Mo and looked up at him.

Lin Mo's height of 185 cm meant that she had to look up slightly.

"Lin Mo?" Her voice was calm, yet composed.

"Hello, Mr. Ge." Lin Mo nodded politely.

Ge Fuhong sized him up for a few seconds, a faint smile appearing on his lips:

"Chai Zhiping mentioned you to me. She said you have a lot of ideas."

Lin Mo maintained his smile and did not respond.

He probably knew why Ge Fuhong had come.

They also knew that Ge Fuhong was actually saying this to others.

really.

Ge Fuhong turned to look at Zhu Yanping:

"Director Zhu, sorry to interrupt your casting call. I have a young man here who's good-looking and can play ball. I don't know if he'd be suitable?"