Chapter 46.2

The elevator ascended slowly and stopped on a floor, a group of people entered.

“…” Mu Yiyue’s face darkened.

Xin Nuo greeted with a smile, “Good morning, Mr. Mu.”

“Pearl, look who we’ve run into,” she playfully wiggled Xu Herans’s hand.

Xu Heran leisurely stood up, supporting Xin Nuo’s shoulder and looked at Mu Yiyue, who wore sunglasses and had a downturned mouth.

“Well, hello there, Mr. Movie Star.” Xu Heran grinned smugly, looking at him with her hands. “No flowers today, huh?”

She glanced behind Mu Yiyue, “No paparazzi either?”

Mu Yiyue’s and his manager’s expressions grew darker.

On Weibo, it was exposed that Xu Heran and Xin Nuo’s relationship evidence was concocted by Dream Entertainment. The evidence presented by the marketing account was secretly filmed by his assistant, who was nearby, with the purpose of generating a fake scandal involving Xin Nuo.

This move had always been a surefire success for him, but he never expected that not only did Xin Nuo not cooperate, she even secretly recorded it!

Mu Yiyue thought she was an eighteen-year-old, relatively innocent girl who hadn’t debuted yet. He didn’t expect her to be so calculating. After receiving a video from Universal Entertainment’s manager, he was so scared that he couldn’t sleep all night. He was worried that the video would be exposed. He spent the night in fear, only to realize that the video hadn’t been posted online. This was both a surprise and astonishment, and it sent shivers down his spine.

Clearly, he had obtained leverage on her, and he knew that all of this was his doing. Yet, Universal Entertainment didn’t seize the opportunity to attack him. Why?

He had been suspicious for a while, but after learning that Xin Nuo was auditioning for 《Rustling in the Wind》 he had a sudden realization. So, it turned out that Xin Nuo was auditioning for a movie that Dream Entertainment was preparing to invest in!

Mu Yiyue had no idea that Xin Nuo had auditioned yesterday due to a sudden idea from Li You, who had an assistant send an invitation to Xin Nuo. He thought Xin Nuo, like him, had received the invitation a long time ago and was just waiting for today’s audition.

He took a deep breath, removed his sunglasses, and sneered, “I’m here to act, of course, I wouldn’t bring a bunch of random people with me, unlike Miss Xin.”

“I wonder which role Miss Xin is auditioning for. Although I’m also an actor in the crew, I still have some say in the role selection. I can help you get in, and let’s forget about the past disagreements. How about it?” Mu Yiyue displayed what he thought was a dashing smile.

In front of him, both girls raised an eyebrow simultaneously.

The angle of the raised eyebrows was exactly the same.

“Huh, so Movie Star Mu isn’t being a movie star, he’s being a director?” Xu Heran said in surprise.

Curiously, Xin Nuo asked, “Could it be that Movie Star Mu’s actual last name is Li, and you are Director Li You?”

Mu Yiyue: “…”

The elevator doors opened, and the real director, Li You, stood outside waiting for Mu Yiyue. Mu Yiyue represented the investor, tried out for the male lead, and he was the movie star. He had to give him some face.

Only hearing the latter half of Xin Nuo’s sentence, Li You said in a calm voice, “My last name is Li, Li You. This is Dream Entertainment’s Mu Yiyue, Movie Star Mu.”

“Hello, Director Li. I’ve heard your name for a long time.” Xin Nuo smiled, “So, you’re Director Li. Well, that was an unexpected delight. Movie Star Mu just jokingly said he could give me a role and let me act in your film. I’ve seen more than a dozen of your movies, and my favorites are 《Moon River》 and 《Don’t Speak》 The performance where the mother breaks down in 《Moon River》 is truly admirable. I heard that it was a scene you personally helped Miss Yu resolve. I don’t know if there will be a chance in the future to receive your guidance.”

Li You rested his hand behind his back, flicked his fingers, and chuckled inwardly.

Having watched so many of his films and even knowing how he coached Miss Yu into character, how could he not recognize him? It seemed this young girl was intentionally taunting Mu Yiyue. Were these two not getting along?

What did Mu Yiyue say to that young girl? Giving her a role?

Li You thought about the insufficient funds that hadn’t arrived yet and made a “tut” sound. The funds hadn’t arrived yet, and among the actors who came to audition today, six out of ten were from Dream Entertainment. While Dream Entertainment didn’t explicitly demand anyone be included, from the looks of it, things weren’t going well.

Li You felt annoyed, raised his hand slightly, and said, “This way, please.”

Mu Yiyue’s words, which were about to be spoken, came to a halt. He took a few steps forward, about two meters away, and then smiled, “I was just joking with Miss Xin.”

Xin Nuo chuckled softly, and Li You also smiled.

Xu Heran looked at the insincere smiles of the adults and displayed a brilliant smile.

“Right, that’s it. Movie Star Mu’s joke was really funny. It’s a good thing you explained it to us; otherwise, we would’ve thought 《Rustling in the Wind》 was your investment, and you could let whoever you want act in it. Our auditions are all just for show, thanks to your arrangements. Hahaha, hahaha…”

Xin Nuo: ^_^

“Nonsense, Movie Star Mu is also here to audition,” Xin Nuo pretended to scold, lightly patting Xu Heran’s palm. “Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Oh, is that so?” Xu Heran turned her head and looked at Mu Yiyue. “You weren’t pre-selected for the male lead?”

Mu Yiyue: “…”

Li You: “…”

In the corridor, various celebrities who had come to audition walked around, their expressions puzzling.

“Pre-selected?”

One A-list male lead auditioning for the male lead furrowed his brows, smiling at Mu Yiyue with a gentle tone, “You aren’t joking like this, are you, Great Movie Star Mu?”

“Director Li?”

“No pre-selection.” Li You glanced at Xu Heran from the corner of his eye and said to the male lead, “For auditions for important roles, I’ve grouped everyone together. Everyone’s performances are under observation, and whether or not there’s any pre-selection will be evident once the results are out.”

Mu Yiyue’s heart skipped a beat. No one had informed him of this before the audition. Although he wasn’t afraid of auditions, it didn’t mean others were necessarily worse than him. If they were truly compared…

A sinking feeling settled in the man’s heart. He furrowed his brows and glanced at the smiling Xu Heran.

It’s her again!

Ruining his plans time and time again!

“So, auditions work like this! Director, you truly are a fair and just director. If all directors were like you, selecting the most suitable and skilled actors to interpret the script, how could the Chinese film industry not prosper!” Xu Heran’s tone fluctuated with emphasis.

Li You: “…”

Considering Xu Heran had helped him out of a predicament, he decided to remain silent.

“By the way, can I observe the auditions?” Xu Heran said with a beaming smile, “I won’t watch the others, I just want to see our Nuo Nuo!”

Mu Yiyue gritted his teeth in anger but had to feign his usual gentle demeanor.

“Non-personnel are not allowed in the audition room. After all, until filming begins, the script remains confidential.” He squinted with a smile.

Xu Heran suddenly understood.

“Oh, I see. That’s a shame, otherwise I’d audition too, you know?” Little Pearl’s tone was enthusiastic.

Mu Yiyue cursed in his heart. Do I need your presence? Is this your home? Audition if you want!

Li You waved his hand, “You’re not suitable.”

He glanced at Xu Heran’s eyes, “Your eyes aren’t suitable.”

Hmm… maybe for a children’s fantasy live-action movie.

“Tsk.” Xu Heran leaned her arm on Xin Nuo’s shoulder, not the least bit shy about striking up a conversation at the audition room’s entrance. She looked genuinely eager to go in.

“Then aside from your staff, who else can enter the audition room?” she asked.

Xin Nuo lowered her head, appearing calm and quiet. Upon hearing Xu Heran’s voice, a sudden thought floated through her mind. She lifted the corners of her lips, raised her head, and whispered softly, “If you’re an investor, perhaps you might have a chance to enter the audition room.”

The black-haired girl’s voice was incredibly gentle, as if she were asking Xu Heran whether she wanted water or juice. But when her words fell, Li You, Mu Yiyue, and the actors eavesdropping with attentive ears all froze.

Li You suddenly remembered the six words Director Liu had said—

No shortage of money, no interference.

He also thought about the Dream Entertainment funds that had yet to be received.

Li You: “…”

Mu Yiyue swiftly turned his head to look at Li You.

“Director, the production’s investment should have been secured, right? The script is nearly ready for filming, but you haven’t secured the investment yet, have you?” Mu Yiyue heavily emphasized the word “investment,” reminding Li You that Dream Entertainment was the movie’s main backer!

It would have been better if he hadn’t spoken, but the moment he opened his mouth, not only did Li You remember the lacking investment, but also the numerous actors from Dream Entertainment filling the corridor!

“Alright, this is our concern. Everyone should focus on acting well. Let’s start with the scene for the female assassin, then the male actors,” Li You opened the door and glanced at Xu Heran, “Oh, and Xu Heran, right? You can come in too and have a look.”

Mu Yiyue: “?!?”

Xu Heran’s eyes curved, “Sure!”

She looped her arm around Xin Nuo’s shoulder and waved at Mu Yiyue.

“Come on, don’t stand in the way here.” Xu Heran raised her hand, touched her hair, and grinned, “Well, I don’t have many talents, just a bit of monetary power, and it’s quite handy, hehe.”

Mu Yiyue: “…”

Xin Nuo held Xu Heran’s hand and lightly laughed, “Monetary power isn’t much of a talent?”

“Our Little Pearl has quite the talent.”

“Right, Mu Yiyue?” Xin Nuo cast a contemptuous smile at Mu Yiyue, lazily lowering her eyelids. She held onto Xu Heran’s hand and walked into the audition room.

Mu Yiyue stood at the doorway, abruptly grabbing his manager’s arm.

“Tell the company to immediately transfer funds to the production team, quickly!”

Initially, they wanted to use the funds to subtly pressure Li You into choosing Dream Entertainment’s actors. But now, with Xu Heran’s interference, Li You was unexpectedly given a second option!

Xu Heran followed Xin Nuo into the audition room. The audition space was like a small auditorium, with the show’s screenwriters and other directors sitting in the seats below, engaged in hushed conversations. Upon seeing Li You enter with his group, they exchanged greetings, stood up to shake hands with Mu Yiyue, and curiously glanced at Xin Nuo and Xu Heran.

“Let the actress for Assassin Ah Qing audition first,” Li You said.

Xu Heran whispered, discreetly encouraging Xin Nuo, “Good luck.” She turned away and looked around, noticing that no one was paying attention to her. She quickly grabbed Xin Nuo’s hand and lightly kissed the back of it.

“A lucky kiss, do your best!”

Xin Nuo playfully slapped her hand, then poked Xu Heran’s shoulder with a finger, gesturing for her to find a seat. After Xin Nuo went on stage, Xu Heran walked to the center of the second row and sat behind Li You.

People beside Li You discreetly turned their heads to look at her, lowering their voices as they asked Li You, “Who’s she?”

During this period, they had been focused on writing the script in seclusion and analyzing the plot. They hadn’t had time to keep up with entertainment news.

“A newly debuted idol,” Li You nodded towards the stage, indicating the girl. “From a group.”

“An idol, huh…” The crowd’s tone turned subtle, and they looked at Li You with some curiosity. During the production of a previous film, Li You had been tormented by an idol that investors forced into the project. He had suffered hair loss and sleepless nights, and the whole endeavor ended in tears for the young idol, leading to a failed investment. If it weren’t for the new investors that had come in, half a year’s effort from the entire team and two years of script polishing would have gone down the drain. Since then, Li You had been wary of dealing with idols. So, why was he inviting an idol now?

The group collectively looked up at the girl on stage. The screenwriters scrutinized Xin Nuo seriously and nodded. “Well, surprisingly, her aura and demeanor are quite good.”

Sitting on the side, Mu Yiyue rubbed his fingers together, his gaze deepening.

Li You picked up a pen and leaned forward. “Let’s see again.”

Before long, the auditioning actress for Assassin Ah Qing and the male lead’s actors entered the audition room. There were seven male actors in total, and five girls, including Xin Nuo, stood on the stage for the audition of the female assassin role.

In 《Rustling in the Wind》 the female assassin Ah Qing was a supporting character with not too much screen time. In the script, the assassin was cold-blooded and ruthless, raised from childhood to be a killing machine. Her primary role in the story was action scenes. However, this character was pivotal for the awakening of the male lead and had a brief highlight moment if performed well.

On the stage were the female actors who had arrived with Xu Heran and Xin Nuo in the nanny car earlier.

“Let’s try the Wang Residence scene first,” the assistant director said. “Has everyone read the script?”

The five girls nodded.

“Alright, you can go first.”

The assistant director pointed to the leftmost girl, the same female actor from before.

The actress stepped forward, bowed, and asked, “Can I use props?”

The assistant director hesitated for a moment, then smiled, “Of course.”

“Thank you!”

The actress happily retrieved a prop sword from her bag. Li You crossed his arms and leaned back in his seat.

In the Wang Residence scene, Ah Qing leads a group to assassinate the male lead. After a couple of lines, it transitions into an action scene.

“Thud.” The actress pretended to jump down from a wall, furrowing her brows and turning to her companions behind her. “Scout.”

She performed a sword flourish and charged forward. In the plot, their assassination attempt is discovered, and the male lead confronts Ah Qing.

“Today, it’s your time to die!” the actress said coldly, then shouted, “Attack!”

“Cut!” The assistant director raised his hand. “Did you add a couple of lines?”

The actress touched her face and blushed. “Yes, I got carried away. Sorry.”

“Alright, thank you,” the assistant director said. “Next.”

The next three actresses felt a bit overshadowed by the first one who had brought a prop. They tried their best to perform, but the limited lines and straightforward plot led to similar performances across the board.

“Thank you, next.”

Xin Nuo stepped forward.

While the others were performing, she tightly tied her long hair behind her head and bent down to fasten her shoelaces. Today, she wore a black sportswear outfit, even her shoes were plain black sports shoes with no decoration.

The first actress to perform glanced at her with the corner of her eye, thinking sarcastically, Little idol, what do you know about acting?

As she was internally ridiculing the “fake actress” she saw the girl on stage with an expressionless face. Then, she lifted her coat, pulling out two crescent-shaped daggers from her waist.

Female artist: “…”

Li You: “…”

Others: “…”

Xu Heran: “??”

Hey, I’m familiar with this move!

Mu Yiyue stared at Xin Nuo in horror, almost jumping off his chair.

Wait, where did she take those from? How can someone carry these things around?

Aren’t you afraid of accidentally hurting yourself?

Xin Nuo placed the crescent daggers between her middle fingers, casually spun them twice, and explained, “Found them in a hurry, not sharpened, just two iron pipes.”

A few people below the stage nodded slowly.

Onstage, Xin Nuo closed her eyes and then opened them again. Her once bright gaze gradually dimmed, becoming lifeless, like a soulless puppet. She made a leaping motion against the wall and landed gracefully.

The crescent daggers in her hands spun, and she lifted her hands to cover the guard’s mouth. Swiftly, she pulled out the crescent dagger that had penetrated his throat, which he hadn’t noticed was there.

The dagger pulled out, blood spurted from the dead man’s neck, splattering onto the assassin’s face. However, she remained expressionless, only a slight quiver in her eyelids caused by the blood droplets.

The assassin let go, and the body fell to the ground.

“Scout.”

The assassin’s voice was deep and mournful, like a funeral bell tolling in the darkness, eerie and terrifying.

Then, the Wang Residence was brightly lit. The assassins were discovered, but the female assassin remained cold and detached, colder than the ice of the highest mountains. She remained indifferent to everything before her, including the angry male lead.

The crescent daggers spun in her palms. The female assassin raised her eyebrows slightly, her voice icy and deep.

“Kill.”

“…”

Xin Nuo withdrew the crescent daggers and bowed to the audience.

Three seconds later, applause erupted.

“Not bad,” the assistant director said with a smile. “You were only given two scenes from the script, yet you understand Ah Qing’s true character quite well. Good job.”

“It’s possible,” Li You said.

The actresses auditioning for the role of Ah Qing, including the one who had previously shown disdain for Xin Nuo, looked at her in astonishment. They only let out a sigh of relief after she put away the crescent daggers.

… Are you idols all this versatile now?

That was way too intense!

Especially for the actress who had just been internally mocking Xin Nuo as a “resource coffee.” She quietly hugged her bag. Damn, from now on, she’d have to practice several more skills. She couldn’t just rely on spinning swords!

“Thank you,” Xin Nuo expressed her gratitude.

Li You suddenly stopped her, saying, “Wait a moment.”

“Can you switch the crescent daggers for a dagger?”

Xin Nuo raised an eyebrow, holding up the crescent daggers. The short and long iron pipes spun in her palm, looping around her hand and firmly grasped in a reverse grip.

“Clap, clap, clap,” Li You applauded.

“Like this, could you do me a favor, Miss Xin?” Li You said, looking at the remaining male artists. These were all A-list and B-list popular male artists, including this year’s breakthrough star, Mu Yiyue.

“Let’s directly try the scene for the male lead, the rainy night at the Wang Residence,” Li You said. “It’s the second scene from the script we provided you.”

Xin Nuo readily agreed.

“Let’s start with Mu Yiyue,” Li You said.

Mu Yiyue’s heart skipped a beat. He put on a fake smile and said, “You really have to be careful, or blood might splatter all over the place.”

Everyone thought he was joking and laughed along.

Mu Yiyue’s smile became even more forced.

Xin Nuo twirled the crescent daggers again and smiled, saying, “Rest assured.”

Rest assured? I sure as hell don’t feel assured!

Mu Yiyue’s gaze twisted.

Wang Residence, rainy night.

The male lead sought tranquility, but countless people couldn’t stand to see him calm. Unable to endure it any longer, he engaged in a battle with the assassin. In the end, his blade pierced the assassin’s chest. As the victorious male lead removed the black cloth that concealed the assassin’s face, he discovered that the assassin was an extremely young girl. She died with her eyes open, yet her gaze held no emotions in death. It remained still, silent, devoid of soul.

Suddenly, the male lead collapsed. He finally realized that avoiding conflict and not joining the battle still led to countless young souls like the assassin being coerced and used, becoming lost souls under the blade. He wanted to escape the situation, but he was already a part of it.

The crew set up a table and a chair on the stage. Xin Nuo raised her hand and pressed down on the table.

Mu Yiyue sat on the chair, nervously asking her, “What are you planning?”

Xin Nuo looked at him with confusion, and her lips curled with a hint of disdain.

A shock coursed through Mu Yiyue’s heart, his fingers trembling slightly. This was his audition. Could Xin Nuo be intentionally disrupting him? No, he was the movie emperor, and Xin Nuo was a recently debuted idol. There was no way she could outshine him in acting!

“Begin,” the assistant director shouted from the audience.

Xin Nuo stood behind Mu Yiyue and lightly jumped down, pretending to land. Mu Yiyue, playing the male lead, rested his hands on the table and said in a deep voice, “You’re here.”

The assassin didn’t reply. She didn’t need to. Her mission was singular: to kill him.

The assassin lifted her hand, and the crescent dagger descended toward the male lead’s neck. Immediately, the male lead raised his hand to block her arm. Xin Nuo stopped just a forearm’s length away from Mu Yiyue’s arm. She looked at his trembling fingers, her expression blank.

Suddenly, the emotionless assassin lunged forward. Her left hand pressed on the table, and her legs pushed off, her body rotating swiftly like a jade bead on the table, landing smoothly inside the table and in front of Mu Yiyue.

In the next moment, on and off the stage, everyone felt the change in Xin Nuo’s aura. Her face was so emotionless, and a dense killing intent gathered in her pitch-black pupils. This was the only emotion she, as an assassin, possessed.

To kill.

To murder.

To kill him.

In the assassin’s still eyes, there was excitement as her target was right before her. Even though she maintained an expressionless demeanor, everyone sensed the suppressed, twisted excitement, causing her dark eyes to brighten.

Malevolence infused the assassin with an unexpected soul.

“Swoosh—”

The frigid crescent dagger descended toward the target’s chest—swift, earnest, anxious, and fervent. The long-suppressed intent to kill exploded like thunder, filling the air. In the obscurity, as if the fickle chains of fate had latched onto Mu Yiyue’s neck, he met Xin Nuo’s face, her eyes brimming with intense killing intent. A buzzing echoed in his mind.

A blankness followed.

“Bang—clang.”

The assassin’s crescent dagger stopped in midair, and the assassin herself pressed down the corner of her mouth, slowly retracting her weapon and standing upright.

In the audience, everyone stood up in astonishment, gazing at the stage.

The chair collapsed, and the tall man lay on the ground, his face upwards. It was unclear whether he fell due to a slip or embarrassment. With wide, vacant eyes, he stared at Xin Nuo.

The acclaimed Jinbei Best Actor of this year, a seasoned actor with years of experience! He was startled enough by a recently debuted idol entertainer during an audition to fall off his chair!

He fell solidly!

Who would believe this if it were told?

“…”

Li You pressed his lips, lowering his head to look at the script. Others drank water, buttoned and unbuttoned their clothes, checked their watches—anything to avoid looking at the stage and giving Mu Yiyue time to recover.

The crescent dagger danced in Xin Nuo’s hand. She retracted it, pressed her palm on the table, lowered her gaze, and smiled at Mu Yiyue, who had fallen to the ground, stiffened and pale, with cold sweat on his forehead.

“Are you alright, Movie Emperor Mu?”

“Do you need me to call an ambulance for you?”

If Xu Heran had been behind her, she would surely have detected the insincere tone in her voice and seen the delight emanating from the corner of her eye.

Unfortunately, Xu Heran was seated in the audience and couldn’t appreciate Xin Nuo’s “enthusiastic” “concern” up close.

But Xu Heran could do something else.

In the audience, Xu Heran sprang up, crossed her palms, and clapped vigorously as she watched Xin Nuo’s audition with delight.

“Great!” Little Pearl shouted, “Well done!”

“Fantastic!”

“One more time!”

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Author’s Note:

Little Pearl: Encore! Encore! Encore!

Thanks to Leilei and Yeyeye!!! Muamuamua~~~~ 

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Sinensis

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