Huayu: Serious director, who's eavesdropping on your thoughts?

Liu Yifei didn't look at the two of them; she just stared blankly at Zhao Huaiyuan sitting in the chair, her eyes red-rimmed.

"You promised me..."

Liu Yifei's voice was choked with emotion, and he sounded aggrieved.

"You promised me..."

She seemed to only know how to say this one sentence, repeating it over and over like a broken record.

Ning Hao and Director Zhang exchanged glances, their eyes darting back and forth between Zhao Huaiyuan and Liu Yifei.

Zhao Huaiyuan sat in the chair, his expression unchanged, but his mind was as clear as a mirror.

Having lived two lives, how could he not see the strangeness in these two people's eyes?

A rising starlet, the dream goddess of countless people, secretly traveled thousands of miles back from the film set.

With red eyes, he said to a young director, "You promised me." Anyone would have thought something in his shoes.

If you were in my shoes, wouldn't you overthink it?

Director Zhang is getting old, so he might mutter a few words to himself, but he wouldn't go around spreading them.

Although Ning Hao looks honest, he's definitely gossiping inside.

Zhao Huaiyuan considered sending them away to save face for Liu Yifei.

But then I thought, if I really managed to get them away, leaving a lone man and woman alone together, that would be like mud falling into my pants – I'd be in deep trouble, even if I wasn't already dead.

If any more rumors or gossip spread then,

He himself didn't care, but it was a devastating blow to the girl's fledgling career.

Instead of being secretive and leaving people to speculate, it's better to be frank and make things clear.

Having figured all this out, Zhao Huaiyuan's eyes gradually turned cold. He frowned and glanced at Liu Yifei.

[Target: Liu Yifei]

[Current favorability: 59?]

kindness?

Why?

That's really strange.

Why is the favorability rating still locked at 59?

What does this mean?

Zhao Huaiyuan was puzzled. After he discovered that the system was stuck with Liu Yifei, he had considered one possibility.

That's an age issue; the system may have some kind of protective mechanism for minors.

But in the audition just now, he clearly tried Yang Mi and Shu Chang, who are also underage, and everything was normal.

This shows that it has nothing to do with age.

And why is that?

"Huaiyuan, this...this is someone who came to see you?" Director Zhang looked at the two of them and couldn't help but break the silence.

Ning Hao, standing to the side, felt quite uncomfortable and instinctively wanted to go out, but Liu Yifei happened to be blocking the doorway, leaving him in a dilemma of whether to go out or not.

Zhao Huaiyuan put his mind at ease, repeating his previous statement: if you can't figure it out, don't dwell on it.

He looked at Liu Yifei and asked, "Weren't you filming 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils' in the south? Why did you come back to Yanjing?"

Zhao Huaiyuan's tone was flat, revealing no emotion.

Judging from his tone, Liu Yifei felt no concern for him whatsoever.

She bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes, but stubbornly refused to fall.

"The crew is filming at Juxianzhuang these past few days, it's all male-dominated scenes, and I don't have any other commitments..."

"Where's your mother? How could she let you run around alone?" Zhao Huaiyuan asked, frowning.

Liu Yifei's eyes darted away, and his voice lowered:

"I...I told my mom that I was too tired from filming these past two days and wanted to sleep in my hotel room without seeing anyone..."

I secretly asked my assistant to cover for me, and I secretly bought a ticket for the earliest flight.

At this point, she suddenly looked up, her eyes even redder:

"I'm not necessarily vying for the lead role; I just want to ask, with so many people auditioning..."

Why didn't you even call me? Don't you consider us friends? You promised me...

Upon hearing this...

Director Zhang and Ning Hao exchanged a glance, both feeling a little worried for the young girl.

A fifteen-year-old girl, handpicked by Zhang Dahuzi to play Wang Yuyan, has gone missing on such an important set of films...

Once it gets leaked.

Or Zhang Da Huzi might find out.

That's definitely acting like a big shot, completely disorganized and undisciplined.

This fledgling career is bound to leave a significant stain.

Zhao Huaiyuan had a headache.

"Nonsense!"

He hardened his heart and coldly retorted.

"If your mother finds out, or your director discovers you're not here, let's see how you handle it."

Liu Yifei didn't care about any of that: "Then why didn't you come to me?"

"Because you're not suitable," Zhao Huaiyuan replied crisply.

"If you're here to catch up, you've come to the wrong place. I'm really busy right now. If you're here to ask for a role, my answer is still the same: you're not suitable."

"I can learn! And...and I've already made great progress, really!"

Everyone's praising my progress, but have you forgotten I won an award too? Why don't you let me try? Can I give it a shot?" Liu Yifei said eagerly.

"This isn't a question of whether you should study or not. I told you, this play isn't suitable for you. Go back." Zhao Huaiyuan waved his hand.

Just a simple sentence.

If it's not suitable, it's simply not suitable.

Then what about all that hard work she did to get here?

She stared blankly at Zhao Huaiyuan.

She thought that since they were friends, there would at least be an explanation, at least a word of comfort, or at least an audition opportunity.

But to my surprise, this was the answer I received.

If it's not suitable, it's simply not suitable.

They couldn't even be bothered to make up a reason.

Liu Yifei stood there, feeling incredibly sad, truly heartbroken.

"Let's go, I'll see you off." Zhao Huaiyuan's tone softened a bit. Humans aren't plants or trees; how could they be without feelings?

Especially when facing such a pitiful little girl, he really found it hard to keep deliberately keeping a cold face and being fierce to her.

"I don't need you to deliver it!"

Liu Yifei suddenly shouted, wiping away the tears that were about to fall. With a look of grievance and anger, she gave Zhao Huaiyuan one last look.

Then, without saying a word, she ran out.

boom!

The door was slammed shut.

..

"Huaiyuan, are we really just going to ignore this? Don't we need to chase after them?" Ning Hao looked at Zhao Huaiyuan somewhat awkwardly.

Director Zhang, being an elder, hurriedly said:

"Xiao Zhao, what are you still sitting there for? No matter what, she's just a young girl, and she ran out crying. What if something happens to her? Hurry up and chase after her!"

Reason told Zhao Huaiyuan.

If we chase after them now, all the previous efforts to calm them down might be wasted.

He couldn't help but recall Liu Yifei's appearance from earlier, and then looked at the road outside.

This girl is sulking right now. If something really happens to her on the road... I'll feel guilty for the rest of my life.

"I'll go take a look."

Zhao Huaiyuan chased after him.

At the end of the corridor outside the rehearsal hall, there is a small garden belonging to China Film Group.

Liu Yifei did not run far.

She was squatting in the corner next to the garden bench, her head buried in her knees, her shoulders shrugging like a wronged little quail.

Zhao Huaiyuan slowed his pace and walked over quietly.

"Alright, stop crying. If you keep crying, your eyes will be swollen like walnuts tomorrow."

I heard a familiar voice.

Liu Yifei looked up; her face was still streaked with tears, but she stubbornly refused to look at him, turning her back and saying fiercely:

"Mind your own business! Didn't you say you were busy? Didn't you say I wasn't suitable? What are you doing out here?"

Zhao Huaiyuan took out a pack of tissues from his pocket and handed it to her, then sat down at the other end of the bench, maintaining a distance that was neither distant nor ambiguous with her.

Looking at the little girl, he sighed inwardly.

How could he not understand?

He knew all too well what the girl was thinking at that moment. What did a child who hadn't even reached adulthood know about love?

This is more of a teenage girl's stubbornness about commitments and possessiveness towards a male friend she has a crush on.

But it is precisely because he understands that he has to be ruthless.

Not to mention that there was a behemoth of harmony named 404 watching him intently, preventing him from having any wicked thoughts.

Realistically speaking, at her age, if something were to get out, it would ruin her life.

"There were a lot of people inside just now, I shouldn't have said that, but there are some things I have to say more strongly."

Zhao Huaiyuan looked at the withered tree branches in the distance, his tone much gentler than when he was inside the house.

Why?

"Think about it, with Director Zhang and Ning Hao here, what will they think if I'm too nice to you or speak too softly to you?"

Tomorrow, rumors will spread in the industry that Liu Yifei had a late-night rendezvous with Zhao Huaiyuan, or that he's suspected of being the pre-selected female lead. You're a newcomer; this kind of reputation won't be good for you.

Liu Yifei stopped holding the tissue. Although she was young, she knew what it meant for gossip to be a powerful force.

"But you can't...you can't say it so harshly. You said I'm not suitable, that I have no acting skills, and that you wouldn't even let me audition. I've really improved a lot now."

Liu Yifei's voice softened considerably, as if he had calmed down, but he was still feeling aggrieved.

"I'm telling the truth. At least for now, you're not really suitable for the role of Xiao Yu Hu. But that doesn't mean you're bad; you're just not the right fit."

"What if I become suitable?" Liu Yifei suddenly looked up, his eyes sparkling.

"What if I can act well?" she asked again.

Zhao Huaiyuan stood up, looked at her serious expression, and couldn't help but smile.

"Let's talk about it when you're more suitable, but don't even think about this role."

Liu Yifei also stood up. She tilted her head, looked at Zhao Huaiyuan, and suddenly burst into laughter through her tears.

"I know! You were being so fierce on purpose to avoid suspicion, right? I knew you weren't that bad."

Zhao Huaiyuan was speechless. This little girl's mind was really slow, and he couldn't keep up with her at all.

He didn't deny it, but just shrugged: "Think what you want, go back now, I have to go back to a meeting."

"I'm not leaving! I'll stay in Yanjing for a few days. Anyway, there are no scenes for me on that film set. I want to stay and see who's more suitable than me!"

After saying that, without waiting for Zhao Huaiyuan to refuse, she slung her bag over her shoulder, turned around, and ran. After running a short distance, she turned back and shouted, "I won't give up! Zhao Huaiyuan, you just wait and see!"

Zhao Huaiyuan shook his head helplessly.

This girl is really stubborn.

Neither of them noticed.

Behind a pillar on the other side of the garden, a pair of cold eyes were watching everything intently.

Li Qingrou.

After being inexplicably eliminated, she didn't leave immediately. Because she was unwilling to accept it, she lingered around the area, hoping to find an opportunity to plead with the director again.

When necessary, she can even sacrifice her looks.

Unexpectedly, this is what I witnessed.

During the interview, Zhao Huaiyuan, who inexplicably told her to get lost, now had an undisguised look in his eyes when facing Liu Yifei, this young girl...?

She understands things too well; her experience far surpasses that of a naive young girl like Liu Yifei.

She could see right through Liu Yifei's incomprehensible gaze.

That Zhao Huaiyuan deserves to die!

Although he said he wanted to avoid suspicion and that it wasn't appropriate, his eyes couldn't lie, and they certainly couldn't fool Li Qingrou.

They kept saying they needed acting skills, that I wasn't pure—it was all just an excuse. It was all pre-arranged all along!

Li Qingrou gritted her teeth, staring at Zhao Huaiyuan's retreating figure with eyes full of resentment and venom.

Why pretend to be so high and mighty? You're just playing favorites.

Liu Yifei, right? Okay, very good.

She gave a cold laugh, turned around, and disappeared into the shadows.