Huayu Entertainment: It was the young actress who took the initiative.

Chen Mo arrived at the audition location half an hour early at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

The lounge was already quite full of people, and a faint sense of tension permeated the air.

The actors who came to audition sat together in twos and threes, some whispering their lines, and some closing their eyes to rest.

Chen Mo found a corner to sit down, took out the script from his bag, and thought about going over the lines one last time.

I had only read two pages when a cheerful voice came from beside me:

"Dude, are you here for an audition too?"

Chen Mo looked up and saw a boy with a short haircut and strong features sitting down next to him with a friendly smile on his face.

He was followed by a handsome, tall boy.

"right."

Chen Mo nodded.

"My name is Wang Yanlin, and I'm here to interview Yuwen Huai."

The boy with the short haircut stretched out his hand and pointed to the boy behind him.

"This is my junior from the Shanghai Theatre Academy, Deng Lun, here to audition for the role of Xiao Ce."

Chen Mo shook hands with them: "Chen Mo, audition for Yan Xun."

"Yan Xun..."

Wang Yanlin raised an eyebrow, relieved that he wasn't auditioning for the same role.

Chen Mo smiled and said, "The role of Yuwen Huai is quite challenging."

"That's right, the villain, and he has quite a few scenes."

Wang Yanlin was very talkative. "I read the character biography. This character is evil in a rather nuanced way, not the stereotypical villain. What about you? Yan Xun is the second male lead, are you feeling a lot of pressure?"

"There's definitely pressure."

Wang Yanlin glanced at him a few times, then suddenly leaned closer and lowered his voice:

"Seriously, man, you're really handsome. I saw you as soon as I came in, and I thought you were some young actor who had already debuted."

Deng Lun nodded and smiled as he stood beside him.

"Teacher Chen Mo's physical appearance is indeed outstanding."

"Just call me Chen Mo, I'm not your teacher yet."

As the three were chatting, the stagehand pushed the door open and came in:

"Chen Mo, number 36, get ready, you're next."

Chen Mo stood up and put the script into his bag.

Wang Yanlin patted him on the shoulder: "Good luck, buddy. If we both get selected, we'll be colleagues."

"Thank you for your kind words."

Chen Mo followed the stage manager out of the lounge.

Watching his departing figure, Wang Yanlin sat back down in his chair and said to Deng Lun:

"This guy is pretty handsome, not the effeminate kind, but the very masculine kind."

"Yes, you have great bone structure; you're suited for period dramas."

"Do you think he can get the role?" Wang Yanlin asked, stroking his chin.

Deng Lun thought for a moment: "Let's see how well he acts. Yan Xun's character changes a lot from beginning to end, so just being handsome isn't enough."

I doubt it.

Wang Yanlin shook his head, lowering his voice.

"I heard that Dou Xiao also auditioned for this role. He debuted in Zhang Yimou's 'Under the Hawthorn Tree' and is now a well-known actor."

"We..."

He paused, his tone carrying a touch of the seasoned veteran's感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing both admiration and a sense of accomplishment):

"What's the use of being handsome? There's no shortage of good-looking men and women in this industry. To survive, you need connections, relationships, and luck."

Deng Lun didn't respond, but his eyes revealed a hint of agreement.

This is the reality of this industry.

……

The audition room was small, rectangular, with several long tables in front where five people were sitting.

The group included director Wu Jinyuan, producer, screenwriter, casting director, and a representative of the investors.

Chen Mo walked in and bowed slightly to the judges' panel:

"Hello teachers, I am Chen Mo, and I am auditioning for the role of Yan Xun."

Director Wu Jinyuan looked up at him, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Alright, let's begin. Let's start with the first scene, the first encounter at the hunting ground."

Chen Mo nodded and walked to the center of the room.

He didn't immediately begin the performance; instead, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

When I opened my eyes, thanks to the "expressive eyes" technique, my gaze was completely different.

With relaxed shoulders, a straight back, and a slightly raised chin, his eyes held the unique nobility and confidence of a scion of a prominent family, yet without any sense of arrogance; instead, they exuded a youthful purity.

This was during the time of Prince Yan Xun, a time of sunshine and cheerfulness, untouched by hardship.

"Miss Chu Qiao, I saw the rabbit first."

Chen Mo spoke, his voice clear and cheerful, tinged with a smile.

He made a gesture of support, as if there really was a girl who had fallen in front of him.

His gaze shifted clearly from wariness to curiosity, and then to appreciation.

"But since the young lady likes it, it's fine to let you have it."

He smiled, a clean and warm smile. "Just be careful next time; there are quite a few wild beasts in this hunting ground."

With just a few lines of dialogue, the image of a charming, kind, and cheerful young master of Yanbei is vividly portrayed.

On the judges' panel, several people exchanged glances.

"Okay, stop."

Director Wu Jinyuan said, "Now we're filming the second segment, after the Nine Nether Terrace."

Chen Mo nodded, walked to the wall, and turned his back to the judges' table.

When he turned his head, the sunlight in his eyes vanished, replaced by an unfathomable darkness.

His face was expressionless, but the pain and hatred in his eyes were almost overflowing.

This is Yan Xun after the tragedy at Jiuyoutai, his family destroyed and his people killed.

Chen Mo slowly raised his hand, looking at his palm as if it were stained with blood.

"Father...Mother..."

He read it in a low voice, hoarse, each word seeming to be squeezed out of his throat.

Then he smiled.

His smile was twisted, filled with madness and despair.

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Laughter rose in volume, echoing through the quiet audition room, sending chills down one's spine.

As I laughed, tears streamed down my face.

But he quickly stopped laughing, wiped away his tears, and his eyes turned cold again.

It was a chilling feeling that came from utter despair, a resolute abandonment of all weakness.

"From this day forward, Yan Xun is dead."

He spoke slowly and deliberately, his voice not loud, but each word carried immense weight: "Those who survived are demons from hell."

With the addition of the "Eagle's Gaze and Wolf's Gaze" attribute, his eyes were sharp as knives, carrying a terrifying aura, as if he had truly become Yan Xun, who had returned from hell and vowed revenge.

The performance has ended.

The audition room was silent for a few seconds.

Chen Mo composed himself, stood up straight again, and bowed to the judges' panel.

Director Wu Jinyuan stared at him for a few seconds before slowly speaking:

What is your understanding of the character Yan Xun?

Chen Mo didn't rush to answer. He thought for a moment and then spoke:

"Yan Xun is a tragic figure. His descent into darkness was not a voluntary choice, but rather he was driven to the brink of despair by fate step by step."

In the beginning, he was a sunny and kind prince, with ideals and ambitions, and he loved his family and friends. But the Nine Nether Platform changed everything.

He lost not only his family, but also his trust in the world.

He paused, then continued, "So the later Yan Xun was truly ruthless, and his suffering was also real."

He hated those who caused his family's ruin, but he also hated this unjust world.

I believe that to portray this character, one must not only depict his ruthlessness, but also his pain and his struggle.

The screenwriter nodded, clearly satisfied with this understanding.

The producer asked, "If you were to play this role, is there anything you particularly want to portray?"

"I want to convey the sense of Yan Xun's transformation into a villain."

It wasn't a sudden change in attitude, but rather a gradual erosion of hope and a gradual indifference.

This process needs to be detailed, so that the audience can understand him, and even sympathize with him.

The judges exchanged a few more words in hushed tones.

Director Wu Jinyuan concluded by saying, "Okay, your audition is over. You will be notified of the results soon. Regardless of whether you pass or not, thank you for your participation."

Thank you, teachers.

Chen Mo bowed slightly, turned and left the audition room.

The moment the door closed, he heard faint sounds of discussion coming from inside.