CH 37.1

“We’re here, we’re here.” As the driver brought the car to a smooth stop, an app on his phone played the automatic message, reminding the passenger to not forget anything within the car.

Lin Sifei pushed open the door, took out her sunglasses and put them on, and then lifted her head and pushed her chest out, walking into the facility.

A lot of people were there at the casting. Those who had no popularity or only a little sat on little benches out in the hallway.

Lin Sifei took off her sunglasses, revealing her great facial features, and upon seeing those who were captivated by her beauty, she curled her lips up a bit and lifted her feet to walk straight ahead to the room at the end of the hallway. Due to her long time lifestyle of living under the cameras, she habitually presented the best image of herself in front of others. Her every step was even, and she looked straight ahead, with her shoulders laid back, as if she was a model on the runway.

“Next, Chen Qiyuan.”

As Lin Sifei pressed down on the door handle, a fair-skinned hand was placed on top of hers.

Lin Sifei, surprised, raised her head, finding the owner of the hand. The girl in front of her had a high ponytail, with her eyebrows and eyes quite sharp and her facial shape being quite defined.

“Miss, my name is Chen Qiyuan.”

Lin Sifei nodded robotically, “My name is Lin Sifei, hello.”

She smiled, continuing to press on the door handle, wanting to enter. Chen Qiyuan’s hand on her also used quite a bit of strength to push down, leaving Lin Sifei’s hand red from the force.

“Ah!” Lin Sifei, hurt, gasped, and quickly retracted her hand, glaring at her, “What are you doing!”

Chen Qiyuan sneered, “You cut in line and you are now the one with reason. Are you named Chen Qiyuan? Get out of my way.”

Lin Sifei’s eyes grew bigger with shock, but just as she was about to refute, she saw the girl in front of her raise her right hand slowly to put a little folding bench frame on her shoulder.

“Excuse me.”

Lin Sifei curled up her hand as she watched the girl walk in with a bossy aura.

“Do I look like someone who’s here for the casting? Doesn’t have an ounce of observation skills. I’m on such high heels, does it look convenient for acting in any way!” Lin Sifei pouted to herself, but also followed inside.

“Hello, seniors, teachers, I’m Chen Qiyuan.”

When Lin Sifei walked in and saw that the girl had already started, she immediately lowered her head to her waist and scurried to find a corner to sit. Chen Qiyuan didn’t look at her, instead starting to act.

She took a deep breath, and placed her little folding bench on the floor. Her long legs were covered by her jeans, slightly bent, and very randomly stretched out to thin air. Her head rocked from side to side, and her fingers pinched the air, as if acting out the action of eating sunflower seeds.

Lin Sifei gradually straightened her back, her eyes lightning up with interest.

The script was about a blind person’s family, with the main story arc centered around the plight of blind people in society and their struggles to survive. However, one main theme of this movie also focused on the main character’s disagreements with her family, especially with her younger sister. Because of her condition, the main character’s parents showered her much love and attention but at the cost of her sister, causing her little sister to be reserved and bearing a grudge towards her.

Chen Qiyuan was actually acting out the third female character in the movie, a good friend of the younger sister. This character did not have a lot of planned shots in the script, but when Lin Sifei saw the script, she felt that this third female character was the mirror of what the younger sister wished she could be: slightly brash but worry free.

Chen Qiyuan did not have anyone in front of her, but she was acting like she was having a conversation with someone, pausing a bit and then saying, “Don’t worry, we won’t be late. Come on, we made fried chicken at our house, it’s so good, come.”

“There’s no portion for your sister. Don’t mention her in front of me, I feel slighted when I hear about her,” Chen Qiyuan said as she very pointedly rolled her eyes as she brushed out the bangs on her forehead.

As her time was up, Chen Qiyuan spun around to face the directors and the script writer, “That was my performance.”

Lin Sifei placed her chin on her hand upon seeing her humble attitude. Chen Qiyuan had lost all of the aloofness from when she was coming in the door, her hands in loose fists, showing her nervous disposition.

This entire performance was decent, so it seemed like this little actress did come from an acting school. Although she didn’t seem to have a particularly eye catching performance, one could tell that she was trying hard.

Lin Sifei was grading Chen Qiyuan in her mind when Director Chen, who was sitting in the middle, looked at her and asked, “Hey, you, what did you think of that?”

Lin Sifei looked at Director Chen and knew that he must’ve liked it enough to want to cast her, otherwise he wouldn’t even have asked.

“I think…” Lin Sifei smiled as she got up, using the opportunity to move from the sides of the room towards the middle, “I think she acted very well, but it wasn’t eye-catching enough, so no one will remember it.”

Chen Qiyuan, upon hearing this, became more nervous, eyes fixated on her all the way.

“What did you think of Song Qi, as a role?”

Song Qi was the name of the aforementioned character, the friend of the younger sister. Chen Qiyuan thought for a bit before replying, “I think that she is a very loyal friend, and a little bit of a rebel, but she is actually really observant and sensitive herself. She can realize that her friend Xiao Xing holds a grudge towards her sister, so she gave her friend a special type of love. Actually, I don’t think she hates the older sister, but did so to give her friend, Xiao Xing, some semblance of a feeling of security.”

Lin Sifei nodded as well, “But in your performance just now, you didn’t express any of these.”

Chen Qiyuan froze as she tried to remember what she just performed, “But I think those need some of the editing of the entire movie.”

“But if you didn’t even act out these details, how would the editor be able to edit that for you?”

Chen Qiyuan bit her lip, not saying anything else.

“Also, your performance just now was a little too staged, like, you tried too hard.” Lin Sifei looked at the paper in front of her for her notes. That was the end of them for this actress.

Director Chen smiled as he twisted his head to look at her, “Yes, you talked about everything, but I think that you can’t just be all say and not do it yourself. This child is a newcomer and hasn’t even graduated, so why don’t you two act out another scene and you can teach her.”

Lin Sifei’s eyes glanced slightly towards him, and seeing his happy expression, she also smiled.

Ha, all say and no action, he just probably wanted her, someone who technically took a shortcut, to embarrass herself.

“Okay,” Lin Sifei smiled as she stood up and walked over to Chen Qiyuan, “Xiao Yue and Song Qi only have one scene where they meet in the script. That one, when Xiao Xing and Song Qi went out on their motorbikes and didn’t come home for the entire evening, when their families were panicking, trying to find them. Did you read that scene?”

Chen Qiyuan nodded, “I read it.”

Lin Sifei raised her eyebrows. It did seem like this girl was hardworking and focused.

She smiled at Chen Qiyuan, and the latter, not sure of what to do, also smiled.

Lin Sifei suddenly reached out a hand to grab her, “Is Xingxing with you?”

It was only when Chen Qiyuan saw Lin Sifei’s expression when she knew that they had started, and she had to scramble to compose her face into a mocking expression. She subconsciously moved a step back and glanced behind her, as if checking for her motorbike and Xingxing, who was on it.

“No, I haven’t seen her.”

Xiao Yue took a deep breath, “Okay, but please, if Xingxing contacts you, please tell me.”

“Why should I tell you?” Chen Qiyuan pushed her, “Haven’t you annoyed Xingxing enough, if I was her, I would have run away from home early. Just because you’re blind doesn’t mean that you’re the center of the world, okay? And also, your makeup makes you look like a ghost, just stay at home and try not to get hurt, since I know you’ll blame Xingxing later.”

Xiao Yue touched her face, “But again, if Xingxing contacts you, please tell me.” She smiled, and turned, walking with her hands against the wall for support.

“If you didn’t exist, it would be so much better,” Chen Qiyuan’s eyes were red as she glanced at her back’s shadow.

Xiao Yue’s throat moved a little as she swallowed, “Thanks again.”

Lin Sifei turned back around to look at Chen Qiyuan, “Not bad, better than last time. You seem to be good at scenes where there are explosive emotions.”