Haochuan opened his eyes and looked at Shen Jingqi's concerned gaze.
"It's nothing, just thinking about some things from the past." Haochuan said, trying to conceal the waves in his heart.
Shen Jingqi seemed to see through Haochuan's thoughts, he gently patted Haochuan's shoulder: "Haochuan, let the past be the past. What's important is the present and the future. Remember, you are an actor, you need to use your performance to conquer the audience, to convey emotions. Those past experiences will become valuable assets in your acting."
Later, Haochuan devoted himself more diligently to acting training. Finally, Haochuan won the director's appreciation with his outstanding emotional expression. His performance was full of realism and infectious power, making people involuntarily moved.
"Haochuan, your performance this time was really outstanding." The acting teacher looked at Haochuan, eyes gleaming with admiration.
Haochuan's performance was like a brilliant star in front of the director and producer, instantly illuminating the entire audition room. The director's gaze glistened with surprise and appreciation, he gently patted Haochuan's shoulder, his voice carrying a tinge of uncontrollable excitement: "Haochuan, your performance is very impactful, I think you are the leading actor we've been looking for." ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ ɴovel(ꜰ)ɪre.nᴇt
Haochuan's heart raced, his face beaming with incredible joy. He took a deep breath, trying to remain calm: "Thank you for the director's recognition, I will work even harder."
The director smiled and nodded, then shifted the topic: "However, regarding the final decision on the leading actor, we still need to see your compatibility with the leading actress. She is the soul of our play and the most sought-after star at the moment—Su Qing."
Mentioning Su Qing's name, Shen Jingqi's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise.
Su Qing, a name known by everyone in the entertainment industry. She has won countless fans' love with her superb acting skills and exceptional appearance, being the dream collaboration partner for many male actors.
"Haochuan, I know you might be a little nervous, but remember, confidence is the most important quality for an actor. I believe you can definitely spark something different with Su Qing." The director's encouraging words flowed into Haochuan's heart like a warm stream, instantly filling him with confidence.
"Ding-dong—" A crisp doorbell sound interrupted Haochuan's thoughts. He quickly looked up, gazing towards the door. A tall woman with outstanding grace slowly walked into the meeting room, wearing a simple yet elegant white dress. Her long hair cascaded like a waterfall over her shoulders, a faint smile on her face, her eyes exuding calmness and confidence.
Haochuan's heart raced, he almost couldn't believe his eyes. This was the superstar he was about to work with, the woman shining on the screen, now standing right in front of him.
Su Qing glanced around the meeting room and finally rested her gaze on Haochuan. Her eyes carried a hint of curiosity and inquiry, as if trying to see through his heart. Haochuan felt her gaze and couldn't help but stand up straighter, trying to appear more confident.
"Su Qing, you're here. This is Haochuan, the lead actor we just auditioned." The director stood up, smiling as he introduced her to Su Qing.
Su Qing nodded slightly, walked over to Haochuan, and reached out her hand: "Haochuan, nice to meet you. I'm very glad to have the opportunity to work with you."
Haochuan's hand trembled slightly but quickly regained composure: "Su Qing, nice to meet you too. I'm also looking forward to this collaboration."
Su Qing smiled faintly, as if seeing through Haochuan's nervousness: "No need to be nervous, Haochuan. We're both actors, as long as we sincerely feel the characters, we can definitely spark something different."
Haochuan nodded, secretly admiring Su Qing's composure and confidence.
"Su Qing, Haochuan. Please sit down, let's talk about the upcoming arrangements." The director interrupted their conversation, gesturing for them to sit.
Haochuan and Su Qing sat on opposite sides of the conference table, with the director sitting in between them. He opened a script and started talking about the upcoming filming plans and character settings.
"This play is about a time-transcending love story. The male lead is a passionate and persistent young man, who crosses the boundaries of time to find the female lead. The female lead is a smart, independent woman with her own pursuits and dreams. After experiencing various hardships, they eventually come together." The director's voice was deep and magnetic, narrating the plot.
Haochuan and Su Qing were captivated, their eyes reflecting anticipation and curiosity for the characters. They knew this would be an unprecedented challenge, as well as a great opportunity to showcase their acting skills.
"Su Qing, Haochuan. Do you have any thoughts on the characters?" The director asked, looking at them after he finished talking.
Su Qing was the first to speak: "I think the female lead should be a woman with a strong inner self and firm beliefs. She's brave enough to stand up in the face of adversity and fight for her dreams."
Haochuan nodded and added: "And the male lead is a passionate and persistent person. He has his own perseverance and beliefs and will never give up his determination to find the female lead no matter how difficult the challenge."
The director smiled, looking at them with eyes glistening with satisfaction: "Very good, your understanding of the characters is spot on. I believe these two characters will come to life under your performances."
In the following time, the director, Haochuan, and Su Qing discussed the characters' inner world, emotional expressions, and filming details. Sometimes they had heated discussions, other times they exchanged knowing smiles, as if they had already found a mutual understanding between each other.
"Ding-dong—" Another doorbell sound interrupted their conversation. The director stood up, looking toward the door: "It should be the makeup and styling team. You both should go get your looks done. We'll continue talking in the afternoon."
Haochuan and Su Qing stood up and followed the director out of the meeting room. They went to the makeup room and sat in front of the makeup mirrors. The makeup artists and stylists began crafting their character images, while Haochuan and Su Qing started discussing their understanding and feelings about the characters.
"Su Qing, what challenges do you think the male lead will face after crossing time?" Haochuan asked.
Su Qing thought for a moment and answered: "I think he would face many cultural conflicts and identity issues. After all, he's in a completely unfamiliar era and needs to adapt to new lifestyles and social rules."
Haochuan nodded in agreement: "Indeed. And how would the female lead react to the male lead's sudden appearance?"
Su Qing smiled slightly: "She might feel surprised and puzzled at first. But as time goes by, she would gradually discover the male lead's sincerity and persistence, and thus develop feelings for him."