Translator: Vian
Not edited (Because I posted this before giving it to Shem lol, please tell me if you find any mistakes, but it should be readable.)
The audition location for "Black Clouds" was set in S-City, and the movie will also be filmed there later on.
Although this crew was only shooting a low-cost biography movie, they were not careless in their the movie props. Ever since Rong Xu entered the crew, he has seen many crew members being constantly busy arranging the set and preparing the props. When he entered the audition room, he saw six people sitting in the front row.
The prior determined leading actor, screenwriter, producer, investor, and director.
This was the usual composition for an ordinary audition.
However, there was six people sitting in "Black Clouds" audition room. Rong Xu did not recognize the woman who was sitting far to the side. The person was wearing a pair of black sunglasses, and a light-colored scarf covered a small half her face. People could only think that she has an elegant temperament, but were unable to see her real appearance.
His gaze stayed on the woman's for a moment before Rong Xu quickly turned away. He smiled and officially greeted the interviewers, and listened as Director Liang who was sitting in the middle open his mouth, saying: "Your image is excellent and temperament is also outstanding. Rong Xu, let's immediately start the audition now. You should have picked out the third scene, we are looking forward to your performance."
Jiao Jingshan was originally someone from S-City. Rong Xu heard the he had already finished the audition yesterday, and the results was very good. As for Ling Zhen, he had just rushed back to China from England, and it's said that he would only be able to reach S-City to do the audition by this afternoon.
Therefore, Rong Xu was the second person to do the audition.
Hearing Director Liang's words, Rong Xu politely responded and didn't say much more as he straightforwardly went up to the the prop wall set in the middle of the room. He first picked up the guitar placed on the floor and tried a few notes before then reaching out his hand to make his hair a bit more messy.
His actions was clearly seen by the six interviewers. Only Director Liang and the mysterious woman showed a small reaction and sat up straighter.
First taking a deep breath and slowly breathing out, when the youth opened his eyes again, there was a somewhat dazed expression in his eyes but the corners of his lip were slightly raised, showing a gentle and warm smile.
In the next moment, a clear and melodious voice sounded from this seemingly delicate youth.
The guitar was a very versatile instrument, and could be said to be one of the best instruments to get started with. As long as you want to learn guitar, you can fork out a song in a few months. Many boys are scrambling to learn the guitar; the reason being that girls all like boys who play the guitar.
Right now, a bright and dazzling light hit the youth's body, gently extending his shadow, and reflected a lonely shadow swaying on the wall. He sang seriously, sang loudly. He did not seem to be timis at all, but his eyes would dodge around, never daring to look up.
Director Liang contemplated as he looked at Rong Xu's feet, and suddenly discovered that he was actually standing very rigidly with his feet close together!
Not only that, the boy's whole body was taunt. If you looked carefully, you would even discover that his fingers plucking the guitar were also slightly quivering. He was nervous, he was tense, or you could said perhaps… he was shy!
"Summer has passed once again, and the time I have waited for you increase another year."
"Black clouds drifts over the horizon, I look back to be greeted by your smile…"
What was first love?
Many of Ling Xiao's fans have said that they heard of first love in his songs.
At first glance "Black Clouds" seems to be a gloomy name, but it was actually a very gentle love song. A boy fell in love with a girl, they tacitly met everyday in front of the fountain. Till the last day of summer, the boy came to the fountain again, but did not see the girl who he has never talked to before.
Then he waited another year, and waited for another summer. On the last day of summer, he saw the sky obscured by black clouds and sang this song. He did not have any hatred, nor was he sad. He was simply happy that he has such beautiful memories to look back to.
Then when the black clouds slowly drifted away, he turned around to only see that beautiful and bright smile once again.
The song's melody was very simple, the lyrics were also not extremely complicated and flamboyant, but it was precisely kind of simple and honest thing that manageto touch people's hearts. When Ling Xiao sang "Black Clouds" with his clear and pure voice, each fan couldn't help but smile thinking of their first love or a past relationship.
There was no sadness, only thanks; Thank you, for letting me have such good memories.
No matter how omnipotent Rong Xu was, it was still impossible for him to surpass Ling Xiao based on voice alone. In his last life, he had also sang, and released many albums, and had even played a pivotal role in the music scene. However, when Rong Xu personally heard "Black Clouds" last night, the music the crossed over from more than twenty years ago rang out let him be unable to help but be moved, but it also made him pity Ling Xiao.
In his last life, Rong Xu had also debuted as an actor. Later, he became an outstanding actor who could also sing, and also won several music awards. His voice wasn't extremely unique, but had invested enough time and energy and used his rich skills to make up for his innate mediocrity. Moreover, it took him years to find essential points that matched with his voice, and finally developed an unique singing voice.
That day when he had to sing "Resonance of War" with Tang Menglan, Rong Xu had also wanted to try out the vocalization method that he used in his last life, but it was a pity that it did not work well with his throat since it was not use to it, and had almost sang off tune. Fortunately, he corrected it in time. But this time for the audition, Rong Xu has been practicing for a few days and could now sing with his voice like in his last life.
For Rong Xu, this was what was called experience makes progress easier. With a voice similar to his previous one, and adding on to the vocal skills he discovered after practicing for several years, he would not lose to any other singer.
It was silent inside the audition room, everyone was listening to the song with rapt attention, and the youth standing in the middle of the room seemed to slowly relax. His feet was so tightly placed together, and his finger were no longer trembling. His voice got louder and louder, ringing out, just as if he was sing in the spacious and empty subway entrance.
In order to have his song be heard by more people, he overcame his shyness and came up to the crowded subway station. In order to have his voice heard, he sang loudly, letting his song become the topic of each white-collared worker who hurriedly came and went in the morning rush hour.
Gradually, his face became brighter and cheerful. He closed his eyes, and happily sang on.
The refined and blithe voice was like a clear spring striking against a boulder, the sound of flowing water urging on. The joyful and clear emotions forming a warm and fuzzy color in the air, as if it would infecting everyone. He sang sincerely, and he sang delightfully.
He sang sincerely, and he sang delightfully. When the end of the song fell on the lyrics "Maybe one day, we can go to life's last stop", suddenly! He opened his eyes, and smiled as he looked at the interviewers not far away.
The messy black hair fell in front of the clear pair of eyes, covering his forehead, but it outlined the pure expectations held in his eyes. This kind of bright and hopeful gaze couldn't help but startled Director Liang. When he snapped back, the youth has already sang the last words of the lyrics, then got up and bowed. With this scene, Rong Xu finished his audition!
After all, Director Liang has already filmed movies for over twenty years now, he quickly calmed down, and said: "Very good, you can go back first."
Unlike some newcomers, Rong Xu wasn't so nosy as to ask the Director's for his results, but instead nodded with a smile, gave a formal bow, and said: "Thank you, then I will leave first."
This attitude made the six people in the room give him a deeper look. After confirming that Rong Xu really left, the producer clapped his hands and exclaimed: "In terms of attitude, this Rong Xu is much better than yesterday's Jiao Jingshan ah. Yesterday, Jiao Jingshan didn't behave as calmly as him. Just by comparing this, I really couldn't tell that Jiao Jingshan has already debuted for eight years, and this Rong Xu only debuted for a few months."
"He acted well." said Director Liang.
Everyone nodded unanimously: "His singing was also much better than yesterday's Jiao Jingshan. He sang well, and his acting was excellent."
Before the audition, Director Liang said that Rong Xu got the third scene, but in actuality, where was there any scenes for the audition? Here, the crew was just using a ruse. All of their audition scenes was to let the actor perform the scene of Ling Xiao's singing "Black Clouds" in the subway, with no exceptions.
Regarding this, Rong Xu outstanding in all regards, to where even the producers who thought he was just a newcomer were full of praise, but the screenwriter seriously stated: "The appearance doesn't match."
Everyone immediately went silent.
Ling Xiao was not ugly, but his face really could not be said to be handsome, and could only be said to be an average face. His temperament made up for it, and his character also made his friends felt that he was very good, but Rong Xu's appearance was too outstanding. It would difficult to be associated with Ling Xiao.
After pondering on it, the investor said: "This afternoon's Ling Zhen also doesn't seem to match in appearance?"
The screenwriter replied: "Ling Xiao doesn't have such beautiful face like this Rong Xu, he's a bit too eye-catching. The most suitable would have to be Jiao Jingshan, his acting has always been good, and his appearance isn't especially remarkable among the young stars."
The five people discussed for a while. Even Director Liang was gradually being persuaded by the screenwriter, but at this time, the mysterious woman who sat at the side without saying a word slowly stood up and walked to the door.
Director Liang was startled: "Xinrou?!"
The mysterious women slowly turned around, and finally raised her hand to take off her sunglasses. When they saw those pairs of eyes, the other five people in the room were all stunt. The pair of bright and beautiful eyes was watery; this pair of eyes was extremely beautiful, there was some redness at the rim, and seems to be holding back tears.
If Rong Xu was still here, he would have definitely been able to called out this person's name: He Xinrou.
Fifteen years ago, Wen Xuancai just debuted. At that time, the most popular actress in China was He Xinrou. He Xinrou took the Golden Phoenix Award for Best Actress three times, an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, and one Berlin award for Best Actress; she used to be an extremely popular actress, but has gradually disappeared from the scene in recent years, and rarely appeared in public.
Some people says that her time has past, and was afraid the box office of her next movie would be a complete failure, so she doesn't dare to film again, but her fans ignored these words, and not a single fan left.
At this moment, He Xinrou stood here, and firmly expressed word by word: "Rong Xu is Ling Xiao, it cannot be Jiao Jingshan. I do not want to see the next audition anymore. I ask that you let Rong Xu act as Ling Xiao!"
In the afternoon, Rong Xu and Luo Zhentao stayed in S-City to wait for the audition results. If the results were that Rong Xu passed, then he naturally doesn't need to leave, but instead follow the crew to prepare for the starting ceremony and filming. And in B-City, a man received a text.
【Xu Jin: Rong Xu passed the audition, He Xinrou named him.】
Seeing the first half of the sentence, Qin Cheng nodded approvingly. Seeing the second half of the sentence, his handsome brows knitted together, and he typed in a replied: 【Why did He Xinrou specially name him? What reaction did He Xinrou have towards him during the audition? Did she do anything out of bounds?】
【Xu Jin：……】
Not long after, Xu Jin directly called: "You're thinking too much. Didn't you know that He Xinrou has always liked Ling Xiao? I thought that since you had participated in several award ceremonies with both of them before, you would've found out a long time ago ah. However, Ling Xiao doesn't seem to like He Xinrou back that way. This time's "Black Clouds" was planned by He Xinrou, her lack of activity these past few years should have been because of the blow from Ling Xiao's sudden death."
Hearing this, Qin Cheng faintly let out an "Oh", as if that person who had just made a fuss out of nothing didn't exist.
Xu Jin didn't think too much of it, and subconsciously questioned: "You care so much about Rong Xu, it seems to be a bit too much ah. Did Madame Qin ask you to even pay attention to his private life? Even if it's only because He Xinrou looks favorably on Rong Xu that she named him to act as Ling Xiao, it's not that big of a deal. No matter what, He Xinrou is only 38 years old right now and maintained herself well, although Rong Xu… eh, is a bit younger, but if the two are happy together, there's nothing wrong with that."
The sharp pair of eyes suddenly narrowed, Qin Cheng's ice-cold voice sounded from the phone: "So it turns out you like this kind of mature woman with tender man thing."
Xu Jin: "…I have a girlfriend!"
Qin Cheng: "Oh, so it turns out you already got your older woman."
Xu Jin: "My girlfriend is younger than me by two years!!!"
Qin Cheng: "Oh."
Xu Jin: "……"
Suddenly turning so cold, exactly what the hell is it than you want ah!!!
Xu Jin originally wanted to say more, however, a certain man would only reply to him a sentence after another with an "Oh". Following each "Oh", Xu Jin had actually heard a trace of… murderous intent!
He originally thought to end the call to keep his life, but just when Xu Jin was going to hang up, he hear the man's low and magnetic voice slowly saying: "When will they start the filming, it seems they're going to stay in S-City? You go book me a ticket to S-City tomorrow, I will go and negotiate with the crew first."
Xu Jin's heart shook: "What are you negotiating for?"
Qin Cheng answered as if it was matter of course: "Negotiate the scenes I will filming."
Xu Jin: "……" Why does he have a bad feeling about this…
Holding onto this kind of "There seems to be something wrong, but it feels that if it's voiced out loud then it would expose something improper" feeling, Xu Jin quickly booked a ticket. He hesitated till the last moment, but he finally also booked a ticket for himself to prevent his family's always irresponsible Great Young Master from doing anything he shouldn't do.
Waiting until nighttime, Rong Xu finally got a notice from the "Black Clouds" crew confirming that he passes the audition. He didn't have too much of a reaction, but Luo Zhentao was so happy that he opened a bottle of wine to celebrate.
Jiao Jingshan also got the results, but was only disappointed for a while before leaving this behind.
And in a certain five-star hotel in S-City, a handsome and elegant young man angrily threw the cups to the ground, shattering it to pieces.
"Rong Xu? How can it be that Rong Xu? That scrap garbage "Ambush" he was in last time actually had a much rating than my "Summer's Truth", but that's still okay. That was just a problem of bad script, it had nothing to do with me. But why the hell did he get the role? Which part of me isn't as good as him? You tell me ah, how am I not as good as him!"
The little assistant rushed to clean up the broken shards on the floor.
Ling Zhen was angrily sitting on the sofa, just as he looked up, he happened to see the title "Vie for Supremacy" flash past on the TV——
It even had that damn Rong Xu!
"Turn off this broken TV! What "Vie for Supremacy", what's there to look at!"
The little assistant only nodded his head and went to turn off the TV.
Ling Zhen sat on the sofa, he couldn't help be feel suffocated. He asked: "Have you seen "Vie for Supremacy" yet? How's his acting in it? Was it horrible?"
The little assistant hesitated for a while, but answered: "The character he played just appeared tonight, I haven't seen him yet…"
"Hehe, what's there to see in "Vie for Supremacy". What do you think this Rong Xu did, I don't know what methods he used to be able to squeeze in front of me and Jiao Jingshan, and took the lead role in "Black Clouds". Really amazing, this year's newcomers are all unbelievable ah…"
The little assistant wanted to argue, but as he looked at Ling Xiao's arrogant expression, he could only quietly bow his head and continue cleaning up the broken shards, thinking in his heart: Actually, "Vie for Supremacy" is very good, the preview last episode showed that it would have Rong Xu's appearance, it seems really good ah…
At this moment, on China mainland, countless viewers were sitting in front of the TV, watching "Vie for Supremacy".
On the screen they saw a small boat floating on the river, a young and heroic female general was looking at the building far away. She narrowed her eyes, and ordered her men to row faster. Finally, they arrived on shore and walked to the front of that building.
The bright and valiant female general raised her head to see the beautifully and elegantly written characters on the horizontal plaque. In a cold voice, she stated: "Wangqiu Pavilion. This is… who ever gets Wanqi, gets the world's Wangqiu Pavilion?"
The next moment, everyone took a step together and entered!
The author has something to say:
Qin Orangeorange: Acting acting, acting together~ Rongrong, let's act together~ Baby is not the one who deliberately wants to act with you yo, it's not the Baby want to acting with you. See, it's just that the crew invite Baby~ Tee~hee =3=
Rongrong: ……Can I really not apply for a change in gong?
Translator’s Addition:
Vian: You know, it wasn’t until a few chapters back that I realized Orange was talking about himself when he said “Baby”. I always thought he meant Rong Xu _(:3 」∠ )_
Ι Ι