In the quiet audition field, the atmosphere was extremely tense.
The actors who came for the audition already took their scripts, reading it painstakingly for each and every second, like they were students desperately cramming before their exams.
Only Yu Qing Huan stood there without any emotion, with a blank and dull expression. Even the script in his hand, had drop to the ground without awareness. His action did not suit the current atmosphere at all.
Even so, there were quite an amount of women with blushing faces, secretly looking over at him.
The entertainment circle did not lacked any attractive people, but their beauty pales in comparison to Yu Qing Huan. His fine aquiline nose and exquisite eyebrow, together with a pair of exceptionally beautiful peach blossom eyes. His big eyes were bright with alluring black pupil, as if within lies a clear spring water, beautifully framed with long, thick eyelashes. When he gazed upon people with his slightly upturned lateral Canthus, with distinct and passion, it gave an indescribable feeling.
In addition to his beautiful figure, was his straight and elegant posture. As he stood there alone, it's impossible for onlookers to remove their line of sight away from him.
"Qing Huan, this is your very first battle into the entertainment circle, you must perform your very best!" Yu Qing Huan's Manager, Yu Xin was not in the mood to appreciate his own artist. He bent his waist and picked up the script, and stuffed it back into Qing Huan's hand. Yu Xin strongly encouraged Qing Huan again, "When it is your turn, you must not be nervous, alright? Just pretend that those judges does not exist! I will be outside cheering you on."
Yet, Yu Qing Huan just stood there staring blankly into nothingness, not a single response to his manager's advice.
Yu Xin did not felt that it was strange. He thought that Qing Huan was shocked silly by the scene in front of him. Yu Xin patted Qing Huan's shoulder and earnestly instructed him: "Qing Huan ah, to judge whether or not if your starting point is good, it depends on this battle ah."
At this moment, Yu Qing Huan finally turned his head slightly. His eyes shot towards Yu Xin's face, and with a raspy voice he said, "Yu-Xin?"
It's as if Yu Qing Huan used all his might to utter these two short words, inexhaustibly difficult. Like an old machine that was finally oiled, noisily starting to turned.
"Oh my ancestors!" Yu Xin slapped his thigh. He felt extremely heartbroken by Qing Huan's negligence attitude towards his surrounding. Yu Xin couldn't take it anymore and pulled Qing Huan to a corner. He angrily snapped softly near Qing Huan's ear: "You better quickly compose yourself, the director will not care whether its your first time or not. I painstakingly manage to snatch this opportunity for you. If you miss this chance, you will lose it forever. You take a look at those who come for this audition, there are even several debuted supporting actors. You are a newbie, if you don't act well, how will you fight with others..."
Yu Xin was still nagging non-stopped near his ear. Yu Qing Huan took a step back, and leaned on the cold surface of the wall. With a disbelieving look, he slowly and carefully took his surrounding in. Then, suddenly he used his entire arm strength to pinch his own thigh.
A gut wrenching pain spread throughout his body. Yu Qing Huan shut his eyes, and slowly opened them again. The scenery in front of his eyes did not changed at all!
He got reborn! Really got reborn!
After reaching the peak of the entertainment circle, he got reborn to ten years ago when he just turned 21 years old. Reborn to the moment he entered the entertainment circle.
As for here, this place was the audition scene of the film, 'The Line of Life and Death'. The work of the famous director, Liu Jia An, accumulation of his 7 years aspirations.
This film used combat medic as its concept, so at a time where youthful romance was the hit, the film was looked at with veiled criticism. People were scornfully criticizing and ridiculing the movie behind closed door. Many said that Liu Jia An, had already lost his mind and could no longer followed the trend of the entertainment field.
When the film was released, many took Liu Jia An as a joke. They were waiting for his box office. Contrary to everyone's belief, even when 'The Line of Life and Death' had the least screen time, it ended up surprising everyone with its 5.5 billion dollars box office. It became the dark horse of the year. Even after the passage of several years, people couldn't help but to continue referencing the film.
Yu Qing Huan was auditioning for the supporting third male lead called Ye Shang, a young doctor with good family background.
Ye Shang became willfully arrogant because he grew up spoil rotten by his parents. He was also extremely greedy and deadly afraid of dying. Due to a mistake in the hospital name list, he was sent to the battlefield as an aid. In the process of a difficult situation, he began changing slowly. Finally in order to save a local girl, he was shot by a stray bullet and died.
The setting of the character was tall, rich and handsome. In addition to having good image and great style, the character was also a doctor with white coat as a uniform. Ultimately set a trend of new generation male god wearing uniform. Although in the beginning Ye Shang was unpleasantly unbearable, but the end was an unforgettable scene that painted an indelible mark. That scene made sure that after the audience finished watching, it would leaved an emotionally deep impression.
Nobody would dared to make noise, even if the film result was weak due to good established public relations and Liu Jia An's reputation. Precisely because of this, Yu Xin attached utmost importance towards Yu Qing Huan's current audition and made a point to accompany Qing Huan.
In his previous lifetime, Yu Qing Huan did came for audition, but he didn't pass.
The evaluation that Yu Jia An gave was: able to act, but not transparent enough.
Yu Qing Huan was exceptional since young. Although it was his first time entering the entertainment circle, he thought that he was capable enough to get chosen because of his proud and arrogant heart. Far from being picked, he even met his Waterloo here. Thus, his mentality became unstable, and almost got depressed. Qing Huan spent a very long time getting out from this unexpected slum.
Yu Xin was shocked by Qing Huan's action, and thought that he gave Qing Huan too much pressure. He hurriedly held Qing Huan's wrist. Using a gentle and careful tone, Yu Xin said, "Qing Huan, don't listen to my reckless babbling, just take this audition as a test to familiarize yourself in this entertainment circle, alright!"
Yu Qing Huan looked at Yu Xin's thoughtful care. His heart felt warm at Yu Xin gentle action. Qing Huan carelessly set his script on a nearby stool, and said: "Ge, let's go back, I don't think this character suits me."
In his last life, he had no regrets towards the entertainment circle. Any award that could be won, he had won. Qing Huan had starred in many different big hit movie and had actually gather a huge group of fans oversea.
Everyone that met him would respectfully called him Yu ge. His name could be counted as a famous household name.
The only imperfection in his life was that even though he was in the entertainment circle, he never had any lover! He didn't even have any ambiguous relationship with anyone.
Yu Qing Huan was naturally bent. After he entered the entertainment circle, there were eyes everywhere and everyone was waiting for his fall from grace. For the sake of his future, he listened to the company and manager. So Qing Huan kept a distance from everyone, he didn't dared to get too close, not even a bit.
Until his death, he became known as the entertainment circle famous old ******! It was really humiliating for Yu Qing Huan. He wanted to find a hole and buried himself!
A short while after his rebirth, Yu Qing Huan decisively decided.
**** his image! **** his future! He painstakingly regained a lifetime, now all he wanted to do was to have one hell of a love!
Yu Qing Huan was no longer interested in walking the same path as he did during his last life. This time, any job that he can refused he would refused. He would minimized his appearance in the sight of public. He would wait for the expiration of his 5 year contract with the company and then quit immediately!
Anyways he had the look and a degree. In this life, he was not afraid of not being able to obtain any job.
He would looked for an adequate lover to settle down peacefully and normally, just like everybody else. This was Yu Qing Huan current biggest life goal!
Hearing what Qing Huan said, Yu Xin almost lost his soul: "What do you mean go back! Even if you are asked to act as a dummy today, you still have to act!" He thought his artist had stage fright, so Yu Xin silently pondered in his heart. He decided when he went back later, he must planned a schedule, or else how would they overcome from being blindsided by any momentary psychological impact.
"Ge, listen to me." Yu Qing Huan's voice was extremely pleasant with its clear tone, really soothing to the ears. His voice was like a balm, could calmed people down, "I am not afraid, it's just that yesterday I read and ponder the script thoroughly. Ye Shang, this person, in the beginning I could cope with forcefully. But in the later scene, with my present acting abilities, frankly speaking it's impossible."
Yu Qing Huan felt grateful towards Yu Xin. Even though the man was slippery, Yu Xin was very good to him. Seeing that Qing Huan had no mother or father, no matter what Yu Xin would be considerably more caring.
But Yu Qing Huan did not interacted with him for long. Several months after the audition for 'The Line of Life and Death', Yu Xin was sending a famous artist signed under him to an acting studio. He met an accident and died on the spot. Yu Qing Huan didn't managed to see him one last time.
Fortunately, now was the chance to redo everything one more time.
"Ge, I feel that the most important thing to do right now is more tempering, after my acting become more mature, it's still not too late, or else I might drag everyone down."
Yu Qing Huan said nonsensically with a serious demeanor.
"You don't give me sweet talks!" Yu Xin narrowed his eyes, his face oozed disagreement. This was a rare opportunity after all. Even if he was uncertain, but his heart still held a silver of hope.
Yu Xin display a face of indifference, but with Yu Qing Huan understanding, he keenly managed to capture a hint of doubt in Yu Xin's eyes. Qing Huan took an advantage while the iron is still hot, to earnestly persuade Yu Xin. He was too engrossed that he neglected the footsteps coming to him.
Yu Xin was persuaded until his heart was in a mess. He was in no mood to turn back towards the direction of the footsteps.
The two talked for a long time that Yu Qing Huan's throat almost dried up. Yet, he still couldn't move Yu Xin's heart.
There was only a few people left at the audition field, this was Yu Qing Huan last chance. He looked at the number in his hand. If this continued on, it would be his turn soon.
He could guaranteed that with his current acting skills, don't talked about the third male lead, the main male lead was also not a problem. So he cannot go for this audition. He had to be low key and slowly backed off the entertainment circle. This was his original intention.
Just as Qing Huan trying to exert more effort to move Yu Xin's heart, suddenly a voice of praise came from behind, "Not bad! Nowadays there are not many actors who can keep their initial intention ah!"
Yu Qing Huan and Yu Xin turned towards the voice and stopped simultaneously. The person who approached them was the director of 'The Line of Life and Death', Liu Jia An!"
Liu Jia An initially came out to take a breather. Most of the actors that came today have had their audition, but none of them made him felt satisfied! Either it a cunning, coquettish behavior, or a delicate small posturing deliberately acting strong and mighty, looking at those act made him felt disgusted.
"The Line of Life and Death" was a film that he meticulously prepared for many years. In order to have total full control, even the investors were screened and cautiously chosen, let alone the actors.
But he was aware that with his present charm as an outdated director, it would be impossible for the big fishes to come audition for the third male lead.
Inviting those with good acting skills was impossible and those that could were not what he wanted.
The more Liu Jia An thought about it, the more anxious he felt. He decided that there were no more need to see the later auditions. Just when he wanted to throw caution to the wind and tried to use his connection to find for an adequate substitute, he didn't expect to accidentally caught a conversation happening between Yu Qing Huan and Yu Xin.
The young kid had a great look and good temperament. The most important thing was that he wasn't corrupted by vanity and fame. Even if his acting skills was a bit weak, with him as mentor, he could taught him and brought him up. It's hundred times better to have a hardworking newbie without achievements than using a friendly connection to bring someone in.
In a split second, Liu Jia An made a decision.
He looked at Yu Qing Huan number plate and took in his overall look. When the conflicted Yu Xin tentatively opened his mouth to greet him, Liu Jia An suddenly said: "Acting cannot be learn behind closed door, following a good director is the most important of all."
After Director Liu cease talking for a while, he smiled and regarded:"I have been standing here listening for quite awhile. The little brat is transparent, free and sensible. It's suitable with Ye Shang's character setting in the later scenes. You don't have to audition, the role is yours."
Yu Qing Huan: "???"
Yu Xin:"!!!"
Yu Qing Huan looked at Liu Jia An in disbelieve with his eyes wide opened, making his already small face became smaller. When Liu Jia An saw this, he showed a rare smile: "Enough dallying. Follow me to the audition room for your part. I must figure out your acting skill properly, so that I can make proper arrangement."
"Director Liu, I don't think that's okay." Yu Qing Huan stood still at his place. He almost thought that he was hallucinating.
What kind of luck was this! That Director Liu would accidentally overheard when Yu Qing Huan was persuading his manager. Because of that, Liu Jia An held him in high regard and generously just gave Yu Qing Huan the role!
If this happened during his last life, he would be smiling even in his dreams. But it's different now, Yu Qing Huan didn't want to fly high. He had no thoughts of being famous. He only wanted to quit the entertainment circle and have a nice happy relationship, okay!
But speaking of it, in his last life, his luck had always been horrible.
When the film crew went around the country to promote the film, there would always be traffic jam as long as Yu Qing Huan was in the car; When his fellow actor got married and gave out Xi Tang[1], everyone would get good ones and only Yu Qing Huan would get an empty one; Even during eating time, of all the people at the table, only his bowl had worms inside.
[1] 喜糖 (Xi Tang): Xi Tang. Commonly used during wedding.
Some friends used to joke with Yu Qing Huan. With his 'good' luck, maybe he should go buy some lottery. In the beginning, Yu Qing Huan listened and kept trying. When not a single number was hit after so many tries, he completely gave up in buying lottery.
Was it after his rebirth that he became incredibly lucky?
He thoughtfully touched the back of his head.
Liu Jia An looked at Yu Qing Huan face. He thought that Qing Huan was being embarrassed so his attitude became gentler, "It's okay, I am the Director. Whatever I say, goes. Your name is Qing Huan, right? Come, follow me."
It sounded like a wrench uncle trying to trick a little loli.
While Yu Qing Huan was thinking up ways as to not offend Director Liu with his refusal, Yu Xin finally reacted. Looking at this huge pie that landed on his lap freely, his mouth couldn't close. He immediately dragged Yu Qing Huan towards the audition room and greeted Liu Jia An, "Hello Director Liu. Our family [2] naive brat has always been like this. He's not rejecting you. This kid just enter the entertainment circle so he has no confidence in himself."
[2] 我们家 (Wo Men Jia): Our family. Does not necessarily means blood related. In this context, it means their company. It's like how Chinese called some of their male friends 'Ge' (Brother).
Director Liu nodded his head; "I know. I think like that is also quite good."
The two of them began chatting excitedly completely ignored Yu Qing Huan who was standing beside them.
Yu Qing Huan: "...O-O"
It's not that he lacked confidence, it's just that he didn't want to act ah! QAQ
The rest of the judges halfheartedly listened to the remaining actors after Director Liu leave the audition room. They hastily passed all the candidates and finally sighed tiredly at their place.
Co-director Jiang Qi used the script as a fan. Fanning once then stopping once: "Today work is in vain. Let's leave after packing, nowadays actors ah ze ze ze." Jiang Qi clicked his tongue.
[T/N: 嘖嘖嘖 (ze ze ze): Similar intonation for when you clicked your tongue.]
The producer who had a good relationship with him gave him a glance: "Lao Jiang! Stop spreading your negativity. Who knows, maybe we will find a suitable one later."
[T/N: 老 (lao): Old, sometimes used when addressing a good friend in Chinese. Ex: Old John. ]
Jiang Qi shrugged him off and used one word to express himself: "((  ̄へ ̄ ) / He-"
At this moment, Liu Jia An brought Yu Qing Huan inside the room. He raised up his hands and clapped twice, attracting everyone attention.
Jiang Qi 'homemade fan' fell to the ground.
The producer spat out a mouthful of tea.
After a few seconds of silence, some were greeting him and some were wiping their eye glasses. Everyone wanted to see, who was this actor that could make Director Liu so satisfied.
At their first glace. Wow, so handsome!
When they took a closer look, everyone was stunned.
Not every actor could stand the pressure of being scrutiny. They could see that the young man called Yu Qing Huan was not wearing any makeup at all with their godlike eyesight!
This kind of beauty was simply unbelievable! The only thing that they didn't know was his acting abilities.
They didn't know where did Director Liu found him. They also couldn't find anything relevant on the Internet.
"Well, Qing Huan." Director Liu sat on his chair and indicated that Yu Qing Huan should sit opposite him. After flipping through several pages of the script, Liu Jia An pointed to one of the dialogue and told Yu Qing Huan: "Act these out for me."
The chosen dialogue was the part where, after Ye Shang found out that he had to go to the battlefield, he made a huge ruckus inside the plane.
Even though the difficulty level was not high, it was still a demanding scene for a newbie because once he was careless, the acting would seemed willful.
Yu Qing Huan immediately knew how he should act when he sweep through the dialogue. When Yu Qing Huan failed in his audition in his last life, he flipped through the script countless times to hone himself. After the film was released, he also watched it thoroughly for numerous times. There was no other reason aside from his unwillingness to accept his failure.
It could be said that Yu Qing Huan had eaten and fully chewed through the entire script a lot more compared to other actors.
[T/N: had eaten and fully chewed: Fully comprehended the script]
He really didn't want to act this role in this life. So now, should he deliberately act poorly and privately find Director Liu to quit later?
His wishful thinking only lingered for a split second in his mind and was quickly discarded by Yu Qing Huan.
Although he didn't want to enter the entertainment circle, he never wanted to fool others. Yu Qing Huan refused to leave an impression of having bad acting and cowardly image.
After Director Liu finished talking, everyone was waiting for Yu Qing Huan to act but it was as if he lost his soul and didn't move for a long time.
Jiang Qi secretly Wechat the producer: We cannot use this person.
Producer: What is the Director trying to pull =.=? Which part he got attracted to? His face?
Jiang Qi: Maybe. ╮( ̄- ̄)╭
Producer: I never thought there will be a day where Director Liu would use face to judge ah. 【/(╯▅╰) \ Le sigh~】
Unlike the others who were being a contented bystander, Yu Xin was like an ant on hot pan. He really really want to strangle Yu Qing Huan neck so that he would hurry up and act.
The mood in the audition room became weirder the longer Yu Qing Huan remained silent. Yu Xin couldn't take it anymore and wanted to remind Yu Qing Huan when suddenly he put down his script.
Yu Qing Huan's eyes dilated and became bloodshot with rage and horror.
Ye Shang thought that someone had plotted against him and made sure that he was in the plane en route to the battlefield. The arrogant and willful young master felt incredibly angry and he started shouting like a madman: "I want to get off the plane! AT ONCE! NOW! Who would want to go to that damn place! Anyways, I am not going! I'm warning you, my parents are waiting for me at home. Do you know who are my parents ah....."
The reason why he snapped was not only due to anger, but a larger part was because of fright.
What kind of place was the battlefield? If you got careless, you would die. He still have a long beautiful future ahead with so much of wondrous things waiting for him. Why would he want to go to such a place where even the birds wouldn't dared to shit and throw his life away!
Yu Qing Huan's acting was so emotionally on point that it's almost like he had became Ye Shang. He kept shouting and screaming with his whole might because he wanted to delay the plane from taking off. He refused to go to the battlefield.
An array of complex and bountiful expression was beautifully acted by Yu Qing Huan. Even after he finished acting, everyone couldn't react as if their soul had flew away and hadn't came back.
The Co-Director and producer saw the shock in each other eyes when they exchanged glances.
This was a newbie? Don't speak nonsense! How could a newbie be so powerful!
The acting was smooth and natural. It was a hundred, no a thousand times better than all the previous candidate combined together regardless of their experience! This kind of acting ability! This kind of powerful emotional control! Director Liu dared to say he was a newbie? His mother a newbie!
[T/N: 他妈 (ta ma) : Literally translate to 'His mother'. Chinese way of cursing someone. Means motherf**ker.]
Director Liu couldn't care less about the questioning look or shock the others shot towards him because he was too preoccupied by the phrase in his heart: He had picked up a treasure!
Everyone's attitude took a 180 degree turn and they quickly warmed up to Yu Qing Huan after his performance. Some even wanted to introduce their contacts to Yu Qing Huan after they found out that he had no assistant. Yu Xin couldn't helped but puffed up in pride as he slickly handled some inquiries.
As a matter of fact, Yu Xin wasn't too happy in the beginning when the company pushed Yu Qing Huan to him. He was the top 1 graduate in the country, so what? He jumped grade several times, so what? This was the showbiz, not an exam room! ╮( ̄▽ ̄)╭
Yu Xin couldn't helped but soften after he learnt about Yu Qing Huan's background. His heart still held a silver of kindness even though he was an old fox.
Yu Qing Huan was a lonely orphan who had to 'eat a hundred rice' while growing up. He had no choice but to jump two grades because he couldn't forked out the tuition fee for high school. Fortunately, he was intelligent. Yu Qing Huan managed to get number 1 in the provincial exam and was admitted to the best university in the country.
[T/N: 吃百家饭 (chi bai jia fan) : Literally translated to eat a hundred rice. It means to grow up supported by aid. Harsher way of saying it is 'to beg'.]
During his university days, he acted a lot because the drama club would earn money from each performances. In the end, Yu Qing Huan finally signed to their company due to poor judgment and was assigned under Yu Xin's care.
At the moment, Yu Xin couldn't help but to rejoice in glee. He felt that he was lucky because of his barely existed sympathy that made him to give a chance to Yu Qing Huan or else he would lost a good seedling.
"Ge, you go back first. I want to stroll around." Yu Qing Huan suddenly announced while Yu Xin was lost in thoughts.
Yu Xin blanked out for a second and then thought of when Yu Qing Huan became famous later on, it would be difficult for him to randomly strolled about. Yu Xin drove away in his old secondhand Audi after he warned Yu Qing Huan to be cautious of his surroundings.
After Yu Xin's departure, Yu Qing Huan didn't go anywhere else and immediately went to a nearby lottery stand. He simply chose several numbers and bought ten notes.
Although his luck was bad, but it was a fact that he managed to encounter rebirth. So, just in case!
Then, he slipped the lottery notes into his pocket. Yu Qing Huan didn't flagged down a cab and casually took his own sweet time to walk around. In his previous life, he was always swarming with work. When he carefully thought back, Yu Qing Huan found that he never felt happy with life despite earning a lot.
Yu Qing Huan didn't want to be a money making machine in his current life. He wanted to travel to the best place, see the best scenery, eat the best food and then find the best man to live a happy life together.
As for the money, sufficient for him to use was good enough. Fame? He didn't need such unnecessary thing.
The corner of Yu Qing Huan's lips slightly upturned. He found a pedestrian crossing and waited for the light to turn green so that he could cross. Suddenly, there was a riot at the other side of the road.
A tall, lean man with straight posture apathetically stood in the middle of the road. The man never move regardless of how the cars kept honking at him. His behavior was causing a serious traffic jam.
There were many drivers who stuck out their head and told him off. Their language was getting more and more vulgar. Didn't know whether the man was doing it deliberately or not, because he just wouldn't move.
The pedestrian at the roadside was just watching the show unfolding and there were none who was willing to go and pulled the man away.
When the traffic jam became worse, Yu Qing Huan couldn't take it any more. With a long stride he rushed towards the man, grabbed his wrist and quickly dragged him to the roadside.
"Red light means stop, Green means go. You know or not? Did you graduate from primary school?" Yu Qing Huan grumpily reprimanded. He raised up his head and got stunned silly.
The man was strikingly handsome with defined facial features and a sharp figure. Bearing a thigh length black windbreaker coat and a white dress shirt fully buttoned inside didn't make the man seemed old-fashion but it gave out a restrained air of manliness.
Too bad he had poor mannerism. Such a waste of a good face.
Yu Qing Huan felt woeful for a second in his heart and coldly regarded: "The traffic almost got stuck because of you. You better obey the traffic rules when you cross the road next time, understand?"
The man just stared at him without a word.
Yu Qing Huan suddenly felt annoyed. Was the man the type to be unrepentant even in death?
Yu Qing Huan really couldn't tolerate those who looked like an upright and noble person but in actuality was a person with, 'My business is my business and your business is your business, so what I do is none of your business" mentality. After Yu Qing Huan finished nagging and wanted to leave, the man suddenly grabbed the corner of his shirt.
Yu Qing Huan turned his head and dully asked: "What?"
Is it because of what he said made him unhappy? Now he wanted to fight?
The man slightly drooped his eyes, his long thick eyelashes quivered. He seriously replied: "I have graduated from primary school."
Yu Qing Huan: "..."
Yu Qing Huan: "Okay, you graduated already. Now I know, so can you let me go?"
The man didn't let go and kept looking at him with his dark, profound eyes. He didn't know why but Yu Qing Huan managed to see that the man felt wronged.
Yu Qing Huan: "Anything else?"
The man: "I respect the traffic laws, but I don't know how to cross the road."
Yu Qing Huan:"..._(´ཀ`」 ∠)_"
[The author has something to say:
Huo Qu's savant syndrome + a new branch of autism, has both symptom but not all. Not allow to say he is mentally retarded, I will feel distress.]
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