Huayu: Starting from retirement, sweeping across the domestic entertainment industry

Li Ran's gaze slowly focused, landing on a point in the void, as if staring at a door that did not exist.

He walked unsteadily, mimicking the state of being drunk in the rain.

Although the room was silent, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, as if the unsettling sound of rain was lingering in his ears.

"Ma Xiaoyuan..."

Li Ran spoke, his voice dry and hoarse.

Liu Haocun, who was already in the zone, reacted immediately.

She turned slightly to the side, her face showing just the right amount of confusion, but her eyes were clear as she looked at him: "What are you doing so late at night?"

Li Ran didn't reply immediately; his Adam's apple bobbed as if he were swallowing some surging emotion.

He raised his eyes, his gaze darting away yet stubbornly fixed on her face.

Why did you block me?

Although it was a question, Li Ran spoke in an almost breathless voice, making him appear outwardly strong but inwardly weak.

"Didn't you say we'd contact each other again after we're cured?" Liu Haocun, who plays Ma Xiaoyuan, said in a tone that was a little defiant, but also carried a hint of heartache that was hard to detect.

"My illness is incurable."

"Stop!" Li Ran raised his voice slightly. "Don't say anything yet. While I'm still a bit tipsy, let me speak first..."

He took a breath, his chest heaving, and spoke faster, as if afraid of being interrupted or of regretting it.

Li Ran avoided her direct gaze, his eyes drifting to the corner before forcing himself to turn back and look at her.

"I'm the kind of person who likes to walk on the edge of the road, and when I take the bus, I have to squeeze into the last row. I don't want to have any contact with anyone..."

He paused, a pause that was agonizingly long, as if he had used up all his courage.

Then, looking directly into Liu Haocun's eyes, he clearly and tremblingly uttered the words that had been churning in his heart countless times:

"I'm afraid that I'll die as soon as I've laid my heart bare."

……

"Ma Xiaoyuan, I like you."

"Okay, stop."

Director Han Yan's gentle yet decisive voice rang out, interrupting the two actors' performance.

Li Ran seemed to be pulled out of deep water by this sound.

He first closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, there was no longer the dejection that belonged to Wei Yihang in his eyes, but the clarity that belonged to Li Ran himself.

He bowed slightly towards the director's seat, his posture respectful and natural.

Liu Haocun also snapped out of character instantly. She looked at Li Ran, her eyes sparkling, and said softly and sincerely, "Li Ran, you acted so well!"

She acted alongside both of them, so her experience was the most direct.

Yi Yangqianxi's performance was a precise and well-designed "likeness," while Li Ran, in those few minutes, seemed to be Wei Yihang himself.

That kind of "melancholy" that comes from the bone, the clumsy "cowardice" when facing someone you like, and the "courage" of going all out when confessing your feelings, all come naturally and without leaving a trace.

Director Han Yan, the producer, and the representative from Tencent Pictures exchanged a glance, each seeing satisfaction and even surprise in the other's eyes.

Director Han Yan smiled warmly and said, "Alright, the audition is over! Thank you for your hard work, Li Ran."

"Your team will be informed of the follow-up results."

"Thank you, teachers. Thank you, Director Han." Li Ran bowed politely again, a proper smile on her lips, and calmly left the audition room.

The door closed softly.

Not long after, the audition room door opened again, and Liu Haocun walked out briskly. Seeing Li Ran walking slowly out of the corridor, she jogged after her.

"Hey, Li Ran!" Her voice was clear and bright, filled with undisguised admiration. "You acted really well! You really captured the feeling; I almost couldn't catch it just now."

Li Ran stopped, turned to face her, and smiled: "You acted very well, especially your eyes."

"Really? Hehe, I also think my eyes are alright!" Liu Haocun was not modest at all, his eyes crinkling with laughter, exuding a lively, deer-like charm.

"By the way, let's add each other on WeChat! No matter how it ends, let's be friends, okay? I feel really comfortable acting alongside you."

After a moment's thought, Li Ran nodded: "Okay."

The two took out their phones, scanned the QR code, and added each other as friends. Their actions were natural, as if it were just a normal conversation between colleagues.

"We'll talk later! I hope we'll have the opportunity to collaborate this time!" Liu Haocun waved his phone, a bright smile on his face.

"We'll talk later." Li Ran nodded, and the two parted ways at the end of the corridor.

Inside the audition room.

The representative from Tencent Pictures leaned forward slightly, tapped his finger lightly on the table, looked at Director Han Yan, and said confidently, "Director Han, there shouldn't be any hesitation now, right?"

"Li Ran's performance just now, in terms of layers, emotions, rhythm of lines, and even the inherent temperament of the character, completely exceeded expectations."

"In comparison, Yi Yangqianxi's performance, though skillful, was more like a good student's answer sheet, lacking the natural, slightly prickly sense of decadence and vitality that Wei Yihang possessed."

He paused and added, "And Li Ran seems to live in that state."

Director Han Yan nodded slowly.

"Indeed, judging from the match between the actor and the role, and the effect just presented, Li Ran is more suitable. His performance has an unpolished but impactful quality."

"Wait a minute," another investor representative pushed up his glasses and interrupted.

His company had been deeply involved in "Better Days," so naturally they preferred Yi Yangqianxi, who had already proven his box office appeal.

"Director Han, President Wang, I admit that Li Ran's audition performance was amazing."

"But movies are not stage plays. Ultimately, we have to look at the market. Jackson Yee has a solid box office foundation, a huge fan base, and proven audience appeal."

"Li Ran is, after all, a newcomer. Good acting skills are one thing, but whether he can carry the box office is another. We have to consider this risk."

Upon hearing this, the representative from Tencent Pictures chuckled, his tone carrying the confidence and directness of a major platform: "Affluent appeal? In the end, it's just about traffic and trust."

"Do you think Li Ran's popularity is lower than Yi Yang Qianxi's right now? Look how popular the first episode of 'Mao Xue Wang' was, it was trending on social media for days, didn't you see? From a top e-sports star to a rising star in the entertainment industry, his popularity and media attention are now phenomenal."

"As for trust, Wajijiwa and we are willing to bet everything on his first leading role film, so what are you worried about?"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the representative, his tone becoming more pointed: "If you truly have doubts about Li Ran's market performance, are worried about risks, or have funding issues... Tencent Pictures can take over entirely. We value this project highly and are confident in our judgment."

At this point, it's practically a showdown.

The representative's expression changed, but he ultimately remained silent.

In the world of capital, the voice of money is the loudest.

Director Han Yan spoke up at the right moment, his tone calm: "Alright, there's no need to argue anymore."

"Actors serve the roles. From the perspective of artistic creation and the overall project, Li Ran is the most suitable candidate at present."

"Let's settle on this. Notify Wajijiwa and prepare the subsequent contract and schedule coordination."

He looked at his assistant: "Make the arrangements. Once the male lead is confirmed, organize the first script reading as soon as possible. Time is very tight."

"Okay, director." The assistant quickly took notes.

Even if Li Ran doesn't perform well in this audition, he will still be the lead actor. Capital won't care about whether he's suitable or not.

Moreover, Li Ran's performance was also better than that of the four characters.

Li Ran will become the next target of Wajijiwa Entertainment and Tencent's promotion, while the four-character name is more inclined to be an artist under the Ali-affiliated group.

Penguins have better options, so they naturally won't train employees for their rivals.