I'm really good at this.

Hengdian, 3 PM, the sun is shining brightly and the sky is cloudless.

Temperature: 37 degrees Celsius.

However, none of this mattered to Zhang Hong, because the audition room he rented had air conditioning.

Twenty-six degrees, the perfect temperature.

However, others don't seem to think so.

"Don't be so nervous, you're all sweaty." Zhang Hong scratched his cheek, looking at the handsome young man in front of him with a bored expression. "I won't waste your time. You really don't meet my requirements. I suggest you try your luck in other film crews. Sorry."

The handsome young man gave a wry smile and bowed, saying, "Thank you, teachers."

Then he left.

Zhang Hong yawned and casually pulled out a resume, handing it to Lin Chuan.

Lin Chuan's eyes lit up when he saw the name on the resume, and he called out, "Next!"

Soon, another pretty boy walked in.

He bowed and said, "Hello, Director Zhang, hello, teachers."

"Hmm." Zhang Hong responded casually, then stroked his chin and looked the pretty boy up and down.

Lin Muqing raised an eyebrow: "What's wrong?"

She also sized up the pretty boy.

Her eyes darted around, avoiding eye contact with Zhang Hong, and she kept her head down as much as possible.

He's hunched over and has no class whatsoever.

With a slight frown, Lin Muqing leaned close to Zhang Hong's ear and whispered, "It doesn't seem to be working. How about we try the next one?"

The heat and aroma made Zhang Hong instinctively move away slightly.

He rubbed his itchy ear and said, "I feel like I've seen this guy somewhere before, but where...?"

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Zhang Hong, and he realized the truth.

His face lit up with joy, and he said with a smile, "You're Sun Chenyu, right? I remember we met in Director Liu's film crew."

The young man opposite him paused for a moment, then said with a wry smile, "I'm not Sun Chenyu..."

Sun Chenyu is a popular celebrity who debuted two and a half years ago. What does he have to do with Wang Chen?!

And what about Director Liu's film crew?

You mistook me for someone else on Director Liu's film set last time too...

wrong!

Wang Chen suddenly realized.

If he really mistook someone for someone else, how could he remember seeing him in Director Liu's film crew?

Therefore, there is only one truth to this matter!

Wang Chen clenched his fists.

Zhang Hong is deliberately humiliating me!

He initially intended to storm off, but recalling the words of his cold-faced, bespectacled manager, Li Ran, he dejectedly explained, "Director Zhang, I'm Wang Chen..."

Zhang Hong raised an eyebrow. Who is Wang Chen?

Lin Muqing said in a low voice, "He was the original male lead in your previous drama 'Cloud Falls into the Mortal World,' and later played the second male lead in Liu Yishou's 'Blood-Red Youth.'"

This time she didn't whisper in Zhang Hong's ear.

Zhang Hong suddenly realized: "So it's that kid. No wonder he looked familiar."

"Um, Wang Chen, right?" Zhang Hong glanced at the resume Lin Chuan had returned in his hand. "Tell me your thoughts, what kind of role do you want?"

The resume was completely blank, except for the statement: "I played the second male lead in director Liu Yishou's film 'Blood-Stained Youth'. I am hardworking and obedient to the director's instructions. I am willing to work for free just to learn."

Zhang Hong was moved by his hard work, obedience, and willingness to learn and hone his acting skills.

After all, these days there aren't many young, handsome, and popular celebrities who are willing to hone their acting skills.

It's not because he doesn't want a paycheck.

Absolutely not.

Wang Chen said cautiously, "Actually, I'm fine with any role. My main goal is to hone my acting skills. Director Zhang, you can decide what suits you best."

This kid has potential! It seems his manager held him back all along... Zhang Hong laughed, "Actually, being a lead actor isn't bad, but your manager..."

Wang Chen quickly replied, "I've changed my agent. My decision to come to your production team for this audition was partly my own, and partly on the advice of my new agent."

Oh my? That's great!

Zhang Hong smiled slightly: "Okay, let's not go through any insider dealings. I don't care about seniority here; it's all about fairness, impartiality, and transparency. I'll give you a scene to act out, consider it an audition."

Wang Chen nodded hurriedly, "Okay, Director Zhang!"

"Yes, that's right." Zhang Hong thought for a moment and said, "The character you're playing is a chuunibyou (a person with delusions of grandeur). You know what chuunibyou means, right?"

Seeing Wang Chen nod, Zhang Hong continued, "Just imagine yourself as a genius excavator driver, fighting the enemy while driving an excavator. But because of psychological reasons, you feel that none of this has anything to do with you, so you don't want to drive an excavator anymore. Then, a leader wants you to drive an excavator, you refuse him, and then he scolds you, saying that if he were capable, he would have been driving one long ago."

Zhang Hong stood up and walked over to Wang Chen. He even stretched his limbs a bit: "Now you're the excavator driver, and I'm the leader. Let's act out a scene together. Just improvise the lines and stuff."

Only the first sentence—"I will not operate an excavator."

Wang Chen swallowed hard and nodded nervously.

"Three, two, one, begin."

Wang Chen took a breath, his expression turning as cold and expressionless as ever: "If you're so good, then you do it. Anyway, I'm not going to drive an excavator again."

Zhang Hong went up and slapped him, but not hard.

Wang Chen was stunned.

The director hit someone!

I never said I'd get slapped!

But seeing Zhang Hong's condescending and disdainful expression, Wang Chen gritted his teeth and said, "You actually hit me!"

"So what if I hit you?" Zhang Hong struck a rather strange and mysterious pose.

His lower body was facing Wang Chen, while his upper body was completely twisted away, and he stretched his arms out diagonally downwards, saying, "So what if I hit you? If you're so capable, you can hit me too."

Wang Chen glanced at the other people in the audition room, gritted his teeth, and said, "Anyway, I definitely won't..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Hong slapped him again.

No force was used either.

However, perhaps he twisted his back while posing, because he was now holding his lower back with one hand, grimacing, and had even forgotten to say his lines.

Wang Chen was dumbfounded.

His bloodshot eyes widened, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "You actually hit me twice! Even my dad never hit me!"

He has indeed been wronged.

Ignored by the company, overwhelmed by pressure, and scolded by director Liu Yishou.

But I've never been hit!

It's still a slap in the face!

Twice!

To be honest, most of the new generation of entertainers like him come from relatively well-off families.

He truly has never been hit since he was a child.

Seeing Zhang Hong standing opposite him with his hands on his hips, winking and making faces at him with complete indifference, Wang Chen understood everything.

What acting! What audition!

He just wanted to humiliate himself!

This Zhang Hong has never forgotten that he withdrew from "Yun Luo Hong Chen"!

The reason he didn't cause trouble for himself on the set of "Bloody Youth" was because it was Director Liu's crew!

Why recommend yourself?

In the end, he still exposed his own dirty secrets!

That way, he'll appear to be a good person while I'll be an ungrateful bastard!

I'm not acting in this movie! You never intended for me to pass the audition anyway!

He covered his face, which didn't hurt but still wounded his pride, and gritted his teeth, saying, "I won't act..."

"That's the right expression! You've passed!"

Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Hong grabbed his shoulder and said excitedly, "Ever since I found out we were going to film a Gundam movie, I've really wanted to perform this joke! You did a great job!"

And your performance! Absolutely unbelievable! That resentful, childish gaze and expression! The slightly trembling body and clenched fists! Even your bloodshot eyes speak volumes about what acting is!

Zhang Hong punched him on the shoulder: "You're something else, kid! You really shouldn't judge others based on prejudice. I'd always heard you were a pretty boy with no acting skills. But back in Director Liu's crew, I felt you had the talent to be an actor, and now it seems I was right! You're a born actor!"

"I've made up my mind! You're the male lead! Don't refuse, or my manly pride will be hurt."

Wang Chen was stunned for a moment: "Huh...?"

Looking at Zhang Hong's enthusiastic expression, Wang Chen suddenly felt ashamed of himself.

I really am a dark and wicked person.

Director Zhang clearly values ​​me so much, and even recommended me to Director Liu, yet I suspect him of being petty... really...

Biting his lower lip tightly, Wang Chen lowered his head: "Director Zhang, I...actually...I've always felt that you're targeting me."

Zhang Hong was baffled: "Why would I target you?"

"Because I didn't dare to go against that agent, I left the crew without even getting out of the car to see you."

Zhang Hong recalled for a moment, smiled slightly, and put his arm around Sun Chenyu's shoulder like a caring older brother: "Call me Brother Hong. What you're talking about are mistakes you made when you were young. It's okay, let bygones be bygones, Sun Chenyu."

Wang Chen: "Brother Hong, my name is Wang Chen."

"Don't worry about the details," Zhang Hong said with a smile. "By the way, is it true that you said on your resume that you don't want any payment? I didn't mean that, don't worry about it, I was just asking."

Wang Chen nodded honestly: "Brother Hong, let me tell you the truth. It was my agent who told me to say this. He said that the dirt on me and you has been dug up, so I have to get into your film crew so that the rumors will be dispelled."

"It's okay, as long as you don't ask for a paycheck, the male lead is yours too. Don't worry, I didn't mean anything by it, I was just saying. At least you'll still have a place to sleep at night and three meals a day." Zhang Hong patted his pectoral muscles. "Everything else is minor. Should I issue a statement saying those are all baseless rumors?"

Those are nothing!

It's only real once you have the money in your hand!

With just this one lead actor who doesn't cost any money, we can save at least several million!

The money saved will ultimately belong to me, Zhang!

Compared to real money, what does it matter if crickets are exploited?

Moreover, it wasn't considered taking advantage of them; they confessed honestly, so everyone was happy.

Wang Chen was flattered: "Brother Hong, you really don't need to. I'm already satisfied with being able to join your crew. The innocent will clear themselves, and those rumors will naturally disappear. Thank you, Brother Hong."

Zhang Hong was amused.

This talented young actor came to act for free, and now he has to thank himself?

Indeed, good people are rewarded.

"Okay, you go back and rest first. Once all the actors are in place in the next few days, we'll go back and start filming! I'll give you a copy of the script then, and you can study your character carefully."

"Okay, Brother Hong!"

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

At the same time, in the president's office of Huaxia Heavy Industry.

"What? Liang Ya took two days off, and today is the third day he hasn't gone back to class?"

The secretary nodded: "Yes, but we checked and the young master is currently with Chief Engineer Liang."

Liang Luo breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good, but why has this child suddenly become so rebellious?"

The secretary hesitated for a moment: "Um... there's something else."

"explain."

"Chief Engineer Liang... seems to have cancer."

"What?!"

P.S.: Daily request for votes 2/2!

6000-word chapter completed~

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