My Costar can't be him

Yao Shen is having a terrible day.

It starts with the reality tv show he was going to star in, "Innocent Youth", being cancelled.

"What do you mean it has been cancelled?" he asks into his phone, holding it out while in speakerphone, so that his assistant Bi Jialu can listen in too.

"Ahhh, Yao-laoshi, the tv show is called "Innocent Youth" but on account of the scandals surrounding four of the seven cast members, that name is somehow unfitting." On the other end of the line, Boss Hong sighs despondently. "People have been making all kinds of jokes and memes on weibo for the past week. How can production go on like this?"

What the **** does that have to do with him?

"I'm not involved in any scandals! Just find new people to go on the show and replace the other guys," Yao Shen says, while his assistant pats his knee comfortingly.

The problem for Yao Shen is that he isn't involved in much of anything.

Ever since his debut in the entertainment industry four years ago, things have been terribly lackluster. A support role here, a second male lead in an unpopular drama there, but nothing that he can really sink his teeth into.

Four years of grueling work and sleepless nights, and Yao Shen is virtually anonymous.

This reality tv show was supposed to be his big break!

A feel-good show where D-list celebrities go on a series of dates with random, but attractive, anonymous people until finally finding "the one". The gimmick was that they were all inexperienced in love and that their focus on making their careers take off made them unable to date -- until the tv show came along.

Of course that if one of the cast members has been secretly married the entire time, the other has been found in the company of high end prostitutes, yet another one has a bitter foreign ex who is more famous than him, and whose fans google translate Twitter callouts into Chinese, complaining about what a two-timing bastard he is, and post them on weibo -- the "innocent" part is bound to be a hard sell.

And just like that, due to no fault of his own, Yao Shen's big break goes up in smoke.

He groans and thumps his head against the car seat.

If he doesn't find a paying gig soon, he's going to have to leave the entertainment industry.

His agency, HuaHua management has no confidence in him. He and his assistant are taking a didi to his first photoshoot in months, because they can't be bothered to waste one of their private cars on him.

"What am I going to do now, Boss Huang?" he asks, his eyes meeting Bi Jialu's downcast gaze over the phone.

They hear Boss Huang's crackling sigh from the other side, "There's one thing," he starts, "but I don't want you to get too excited, it's a long shot."

Yao Shen rolls his eyes -- his career is a long shot at this point.

"Have you heard of the ******** 'Shizun, this disciple will have to kill you?'" Boss Huang asks.

Bi Jialu's eyes grow comically wide. "It's one of the most popular danmei novels of all time! They're turning it into a live action drama."

Yao Shen grumbles, "Who hasn't heard about it?"

It's the hottest ticket in the industry right now, and everyone who is anyone has been auditioning for a role. It's such a massive production that even being cast as Fruit Vendor #3 is bound to get some actors more exposure than a leading role in a smaller drama.

Of course, Yao Shen hasn't managed to land an audition for Dead Body #21, he would never have such lofty aspirations as Fruit Vendor #3.

Unless..."Have they opened casting calls for the secondary roles yet?" he asks, barely able to contain his excitement.

"No, they're still looking for one of the Male Leads, they only have one right now."

Bi Jialu covers her squeal of excitement with both hands, jumping up and down in the backseat, to their driver's annoyance.

Yao Shen doesn't dare speak it out loud, "Then..."

"I got you an audition for the role of Yan Shuyi."

---

Two days later, Yao Shen goes for the audition accompanied by Bi Jialu.

The audition for Yan Shuyi will go on for several days, as hundreds of actors are being considered for the role. It's being hosted in a nondescript conference room in a swanky Beijing hotel. A huge waiting area outside the audition room is already crawling with expectant actors and their respective teams by the time they arrive.

In sharp contrast to his more famous peers, Yao Shen with only Bi Jialu as "staff" sticks out like a sore thumb

He knows he isn't bad looking. It were his looks that got him the contract with Hua Hua in the first place. His first ever agent praised his innocent peach blossom eyes, and how they always looked humid and on the verge of tears -- Yao Shen didn't have the heart to tell her that was due to recurring spring allergies.

The second praised his lips, and how they were always the color of ripe cherries even without any product, the upper lip arching subtly over the pillow of his pouting bottom one. The redness was the result of Yao Shen anxiously chewing on them, but he thought it best not to comment on that.

He had four agents in the four years since his debut, and they all praised him on something. His silky hair, his fine skin, his straight eyebrows, his long fingers and longer legs -- but no amount of praise got him roles.

And eventually the compliments would die down, as would his agents' excitement over the new artist assigned to them.

Yao Shen is certain they're not going to pick a nobody like him for a project this big. No investor in their right mind would let the production company cast a no-name actor in such a big role.

A lot of people expect to make bank with this drama.

Yan Shuyi's love interest has already been cast, and while there hasn't been an official announcement, he's rumored to be a big name in the industry.

"Maybe I should just leave," Yao Shen says to Bi Jialu, wiping his sweaty palms on his pant legs. "There's no way they'll pick me."

Bi Jialu glares at him. "Yao laoshi, that's just fear talking. Laoshi is a great actor, and this role actually plays to his strengths." She pats his arm. "My gut tells me this is going to work out."

He refrains from telling her that might just be indigestion.

Time passes and Yao Shen's nerves only mount, as actor after actor leaves the audition room looking pale, sad, or just plain scared.

Which is confusing to say the least.

He catches the tail end of a conversation just as one of them talks with his team members. "...so fierce and demanding. He criticized me from start to finish."

Oh no, that's not good.

A casting assistant comes out the casting room right after the last actor leaves, reading off her clipboard she says, "Yao Shen," she looks around until Yao Shen meets her eyes and then nods. "Come with me."

With one last panicked look towards Bi Jialu, Yao Shen follows the casting assistant into the audition room.

It's no different than all the other casting rooms he's been in; mostly empty with a makeshift stage in the middle, a camera on a tripod facing it, and some stage lighting.

Behind a long table sit five tired looking people, the casting director, the drama director and the screenwriter, most likely. Although Yao Shen can't tell who is whom.

The biggest difference is the lone figure standing in the corner, looking out the window at the busy streets, one hand carelessly shoved into the back pocket of his slim fit black joggers.

Yao Shen would recognize that elegant profile anywhere.

The long crane-like neck, the sharp angle of his jaw, the narrow slope of his upturned nose, all of it engraved with painful, heartbreaking detail in Yao Shen's mind.

Above all, he can't forget those cold phoenix eyes, angled sharply towards his temples. In his mind's eyes he always sees them narrowed in contempt, sneering at him with a subtle curl of his full upper lip.

Xin Hulei.

The motherfucker who got him kicked out of a talent show competition for young actors in the first round.

That's who they've cast to play Xie Huan?

---

didi- Chinese ride hailing app service, not the same characters as younger brother (pinyin also didi)

shizun - esteemed master. Same as Shifu (but hornier), master in a cultivation/ martial arts sect..

word count: 1519

My Costar thinks I'm the one

"Yao laoshi, I'm sure you know Xin laoshi," a young woman who introduces herself as the casting director says, waving towards Xin Hulei's motionless back.

He hasn't bothered to turn around and acknowledge Yao Shen at any point, gaze still fixed on the scenery outside the window.

Yao Shen's fingers tighten on his audition script.

"We've met," he says, biting out the words.

'Met' is perhaps an overstatement.

Yao Shen recreated a scene of a very famous wuxia drama with a fellow newbie actress in front of a live audience, for the talent show "Lights, Camera Actors!"

And during the judging portion of the show Xin Hulei, one of the guest judges, completely eviscerated his performance.

Yao Shen was once considered a promising up-and-coming actor. There was a lot of buzz around his eventual debut, but his poor performance in the talent show and Xin Hulei's harsh criticism effectively blew the wind out of his sails.

His first supporting role in a drama didn't garner much attention, and even less praise.

It has all been downhill since then.

Thanks in part to Xin Hulei's ruthless critique.

And now Yao Shen is expected to act opposite him, and convincingly play his love interest, if he hopes to have any chance to get the role.

If he didn't need this role so much he would just turn around and leave. As it stands, this might be his last chance to save his career from sinking into irrelevance.

Taking a deep breath he steps in front of the camera, shoving the crumpled script into his back pocket. "I'm ready whenever Xin laoshi is."

Xin Hulei spares him the briefest of glances, before turning back to the window once again. "Let him run some lines on his own, I don't want to waste my time," he says in a smooth baritone, his breath barely fogging up the window pane in front of him.

The casting director smiles apologetically at Yao Shen and gestures for him to go ahead, "Please, laoshi."

Yao Shen needs a few moments to get himself under control.

That motherfucker is using his status as 'China's movie emperor' or whatever the internet is calling him these days, to handpick his fucking costar!

And they're just letting him!

No wonder the other actors left the audition room looking sickly.

He doubts anyone can measure up to Xin Hulei's exacting standards.

The problem is that the scene he prepared for requires a partner. It's a confession scene, and since he's playing Yan Shuyi, Yao Shen mostly reacts to Xie Huan's soulful declaration.

It's one of the most emotional scenes between the two characters, and Yao Shen understands why the drama's director would want to see it play out to analyse not only if the actor playing Yan Shuyi is able to deliver a moving performance, but more importantly if he has good chemistry with Xin Hulei.

Yao Shen isn't one to read webnovels, and his knowledge of 'Shizun, this disciple will have to kill you', is limited to seeing it trending on weibo from time to time.

But he skimmed through a few pages of the novel in preparation for the role, and there's a scene that stuck to his mind.

He schools his features into Yan Shuyi's graceful poise, and focuses on the mood he remembers from the scene, rather than staying true to any specific dialogue.

"Not worthy," he says, facing the table where the directors and producers sit, before turning around to face Xin Hulei, still gazing out the window. "This master's disciple is not worthy of receiving the Sword of Disquiet"

He waits for a beat of time. "This master has failed in teaching Xie Huan the proper conduct of a Frozen Peak disciple, and apologizes to all the masters for Xie Huan's conduct. "

Yao Shen straightens his back, and raises his chin, pouring his impression of Yan Shuyi's kindness and resilience into his performance. Allowing the character's warm nature and cold grace to inform his actions and speech.

The scene is remarkable not only for Yan Shuyi's humility in front of the members of his own sect, as well as the masters of the five other cultivation sects that have gathered for an inner sect competition, which Xie Huan has won. But also, because later on it will be revealed that Yan Shuyi only meant to protect Xie Huan.

However at the time, his words and actions will only inflame Xie Huan's hatred for him.

Yao Shen falls to his knees on the floor, in deep prostration. "If Xie Huan is indeed found to have been cheating, this master humbly requests to be punished in his place."

He remains prostrated for a moment, before raising slowly to his feet, as Yan Shuyi, dignified master of Frozen Peak sect might.

Xin Hulei is standing in front of him once he gets up, giving him a cold, accessing look.

"Let's run through the confession scene," he says, his eyes never leaving Yao Shen.

Yao Shen swallows dryly and wipes his sweaty palms down the front of his pants.

The casting director nods at them and Xin Hulei immediately falls into character.

His insouciant look of superior boredom vanishes, replaced by the scowl of an impulsive young disciple, a demon who pretended to be a human to infiltrate an immortal cultivation sect and steal a prized artifact to save his dying race.

And along the way fell in love with his kind Shizun.

"There's no one in Xie Huan's heart beside Shizun," Xin Hulei says, his eyebrows lowered in boyish consternation over his shining eyes.

Yao Shen smiles indulgently up at him. "Shizun also carries Xie Huan in his heart."

Xin Hulei's scowl deepens at not making himself understood. "Shizun, is not hearing me," he says, his voice falling to a lower register.

One of his arms snakes around Yao Shen's waist while the other wraps around his wrist, pulling him into his chest. "Xie Huan's feelings for Shizun aren't filial."

A voice inside Yao Shen's head screams, 'This isn't in the script!'

**** it, he's an actor, he can improvise.

He pulls against Xin Hulei's grip, his indulgent smile slipping minutely. "Xie Huan shouldn't joke about serious matters."

Xin Hulei lets out a growl of frustration, some of Xie Huan's demonic nature shining through. "My feelings for Shizun are not a joke," he says, staring deeply into Yao Shen's eyes.

The next thing he knows, Xin Hulei is kissing him, the wet tip of his tongue teasing at the seam of Yao Shen's lips.

Panicking, Yao Shen bites down and shoves Xin Hulei away.

Xie Huan's heated look melts off Xin Hulei's face as soon as they break away.

Haughtiness settles over his limpid eyes like a cloak as he wipes the blood on his lower lip with the back of his hand, staining his skin.

He nods towards the casting director, his silky hair falling in front of his eyes. "He's the one," he says, before turning his back on Yao Shen and making his way towards the window again.

Yao Shen barely has time to digest his words before a man's alien voice echoes inside his mind.

[Demon Capture System: Activated. Target acquired. Capture and bind Demon King Xin Hulei to save the human realm from destruction.]

---

laoshi- lit. teacher, but here it's meant in a sense of "professional in a field", coworkers, people with jobs in the same area, might address each other like this..

word count: 1305

My Costar is much more famous than me

Is he going insane? What the hell was that voice?

"Thank you for your time, Yao laoshi," the casting director says, motioning him towards the door with a raised arm. "We'll announce the casting results in three days time."

Yao Shen nods numbly and leaves the audition room.

Outside, Bi Jialu is waiting for him. Frantic with anticipation. "How did it go?" she asks, wringing her hands.

"Xin Hulei kissed me," he says, still in a daze.

He can't wrap his mind around that.

Bi Jialu blinks at him in rapid succession, her wide eyes enormous.

Yao Shen clicks his tongue at her. "Do you have something in your eye?"

"That wasn't in the script, why did he do that?" she asks, snapping out of her fugue state.

Yao Shen shrugs. "Probably to antagonize me, who knows what goes on in his mind?"

He doesn't tell her about Xin Hulei's declaration that Yao Shen was 'the one'. For one, it might not mean anything. It's one thing for casting choices to take into account chemistry with an already chosen actor, it's another thing entirely to cast someone based on another action's recommendations.

The most likely option is that it was another of Xin Hulei's attempts to humiliate him.

"Let's go, I'm tired," he tells Bi Jialu.

They leave the hotel and call a didi, to take Bi Jialu back to their agency's office, and Yao Shen home.

---

He barely remembers the weird voice he heard in his mind by the time he steps into his tiny rental apartment.

One of the hardest things of trying to make it as an actor, and failing at it, is affording Beijing rents on his agency's meager stipend.

Some weeks, all his meals consist of instant noodles.

He drops down into his beat up sofa with a tired sigh, sinking into the worn down cushions.

Sometimes he thinks he should get another job as a deliveryman or waiter, that would make affording rent less of a struggle, but on the other hand would also leave him with less time to attend casting calls.

He has already completely forgotten the eerie voice ringing in his mind by the time he hears it again.

[Capture Target Xin Hulei to earn rewards, ensure peace and prosperity of the human realm.]

Yao Shen jumps up from the sofa with a shout. "What the hell is going on? Why am I hearing things?"

[Demons have long escaped the demonic realm and roam the earth freely, causing strife, chaos and destruction. Host can achieve merits by capturing high ranking Demon King Xin Hulei, and locking him back in the demon realm.]

Yao Shen falls back into the sofa with a dispirited sigh, clutching his head between his palms.

"I'm losing my mind."

[Host can say: "Activate Demon Capturing Seal", to verify this system's claims]

Does he have anything to lose? "Activate Demon Capturing Seal," Yao Shen says, and nearly falls off the sofa when a flaming talisman materializes on his hand.

"What the ****?"

[Host can use this seal to capture Demon King Xin Hulei, once he gains possession of his spirit stone.]

None of this is making sense. Spirit stone, what?

"Uhm, you seem nice and all, voice in my head, but I don't wan to do any of this," Yao Shen says, watching in awe as the flaming seal vanishes into thin air.

[Host doesn't have a choice.]

"Excuse me?"

[This Demon Capture System has been bound to him since birth. Close proximity with target 'Demon King Xin Hulei' activated it.]

How can this be? How can a 'Demon King' be something that exists?

"Like in the drama? Is Xin Hulei a demon like Xie Huan?"

[No, Xin Hulei is a real demon, not a character in a human charade for entertainment purposes.]

Then how can it fall to Yao Shen to capture him, or whatever?

"I'm really not qualified to do this," he says, with a groan of dismay.

[If Host fails to capture the target the human realm will sink further into chaos. Demons cannot walk the human realm freely. Their very presence is anathema to the balance of the Universe. They must be banished back to the Demon realm.]

Is the voice in his head trying to tell him the fate of the human race rests on his shoulders? Him? A struggling actor with 1000 yuan to his name?

[There are other Demon Exorcists, Host may cross paths with them in the course of his task, if they choose to reveal themselves.]

That's probably not as encouraging as the system thinks it is.

In the middle of all the wild information that has been forcefully shoved directly into his brain, the fact that Xin Hulei is a 'Demon King' is the more believable part -- it definitely explains his devilish good looks.

He bets demons have some other unfair advantages too.

[Demons have heightened charisma and charm. Seducing humans is easy for them.]

That gives Yao Shen some small measure of vindication. It explains Xin Hulei's meteoric rise to fame. Even though he's only three years older than Yao Shen, at 26 his movies completely dominate the box office.

'Shizun, this disciple will have to kill you', is his first drama since his debut in the popular 'Blooming Love of Innocence' when he was only 16 -- coincidentally, the first time Yao Shen saw him.

His performance as the lovelorn scholar Fei Gui earned him universal praise, and cemented in Yao Shen the desire to become an actor too.

He feels a shameful wave of rage bubble up every time he remembers that his childhood idol is responsible for his career never taking off.

Sometimes Yao Shen thinks the universe is laughing at him.

[Entirely possible, Host has worse luck than the average person.]

Not surprising, considering the overall trajectory of his life, but also, "why me?" he asks groaning into his open palms.

[Inconclusive.]

Yao Shen rolls his eyes. "Is there really no way for me to get out of this?"

[No.]

Fine, Yao Shen will just ignore the stupid system an go on with his life. Honestly, if they want an Exorcist, a Taoist Priest would be a more appropriate choice than a random actor.

[Resistance is futile. Host should work hard to gain the Demon King's trust in order to get him to reveal the location of his spirit stone. Host will find himself drawn to him regardless of his best efforts.]

Yao Shen sets his jaw. They'll have to see about that.

Demon hunting won't pay his bills, Yao Shen's biggest concern right now is getting cast in something, anything.

He'll think about sending demons back to where they came from when he feels like it, and not a second earlier!

---

It's easy to forget about the whole bizarre thing with the system over the next couple of days, since he doesn't hear the eerie voice again, and is busy attending other auditions.

Each of them more disappointing than the last.

Most of the feedback he gets involves some variation of, "we're looking for more established faces."

It's hard to become established if no one will give him a damn chance!

Yao Shen is brewing himself a pot of tea in his tiny kitchen, in his tiny apartment, when his mobile phone rings in his pocket.

Immediately Boss Huang's deep voice rings from the other end of the line, his characteristic smoker's drawl crackling on the connection. "Have you checked weibo today?"

"No, why?" Yao Shen asks, stirring his tea one handed.

"Do it now, and then call me," Boss Huang says, before disconnecting.

His cryptic words are worrying. Is Yao Shen involved in some scandal he doesn't even know about?

The number one trending topic catches his eye, and sends his heart into frantic overdrive: "'Shizun, this disciple will have to kill you' leads announced!"

Yao Shen almost drops his mobile when he sees the top post.

Two pictures of himself and Xin Hulei, announcing them as the actors playing Yan Shuyi and Xie Huan, respectively.

Yao Shen's first thought is that he wishes they had chosen a different photo for him. The one they picked is from an early photoshoot when he was still being styled as a teenager, despite being twenty already.

His second thought is dismay at reading the most voted comment: "Xin Hulei will do great no matter the project...but who the **** is Yao Shen?" -- a sentiment shared by the over 800,000 people who liked the comment..

word count: 1646