Inside the temporary office of Shanhe Culture Film and Television Company.
"Old Bi, this batch of kids just won't do!"
"The ones who look decent have terrible acting skills, and the ones with passable acting skills don't look good enough."
"Isn't there anyone who's both pretty and a decent actor?"
"Other crews can find them, so why can't we?"
"Look in my eyes, tell me why!"
Chief Director Qu Lei looked helplessly at the project producer, Bi Huo.
He was genuinely frustrated!
According to the original plan, filming was supposed to start today.
But two days ago, the young actress Yang Tiantian suddenly came down with acute pneumonia and was urgently admitted to a children's hospital.
The doctor said Yang Tiantian's condition wouldn't improve for at least ten days to two weeks.
Short-form dramas are all about timeliness.
From finalizing the script to shooting, post-production, review, and release, a fast-paced project can be completed in just over a month.
In today's hyper-competitive short-drama industry, time is money—time is everything!
Short-drama scripts prioritize being short, straightforward, and fast.
Their production is simple, which also means they're easily replicated.
Sometimes, multiple crews might even be shooting similar scripts simultaneously.
Whoever shoots faster and with higher quality gets the upper hand, attracts the audience, and makes the money.
Those who lead the pack feast on the rewards, while those who lag behind might not even get scraps.
The competition in the short-drama industry is fiercer than in traditional TV or film.
Originally, the drama Qu Lei was directing was set to start filming today.
But Yang Tiantian's hospitalization threw everything off track.
After careful consideration, the crew terminated their contract with Yang Tiantian and hurriedly began recasting.
Today, Bi Huo arranged for over a dozen kids to audition, but Qu Lei didn't like any of them.
For supporting roles or minor characters, they could make do.
Minor roles don't have a huge impact on the overall production.
But this time, they were casting for the lead role—the most critical part!
The lead's acting skills, appearance, and audience appeal are vital to a short drama's success. There's no room for compromise!
So, despite the tight schedule, Qu Lei stuck to his principle of "better to have nothing than settle for less" and refused to lower his standards.
He was extremely strict about the choice for the lead.
"There are a few more auditions this afternoon, Director Qu. Please take another look."
Bi Huo was anxious too. The success of this drama was tied to his bonuses and dividends, which were just as important to him.
But faced with Qu Lei's fiery temper, he could only endure.
After all, Qu Lei wasn't just the chief director—he was also a shareholder in Shanhe Culture, giving him absolute authority!
"Fine, you go out first. Have the other actors keep preparing their roles and memorizing their lines."
Qu Lei waved his hand, looking a bit irritated as he dismissed Bi Huo.
"Alright, Director Qu, you carry on."
Bi Huo gave a polite smile, bid farewell to Qu Lei, and let out a long sigh of relief as he left the room.
Back in his temporary office, Bi Huo started scrolling through his phone contacts, trying to find more people to audition.
*Knock, knock, knock—*
Just then, there was a knock at the office door.
"Come in."
Bi Huo didn't even look up, responding casually.
*Creak.*
The office door opened, and Jiang Tao, Jiang Hai, and Jiang An'an walked in.
"Huh?"
Hearing multiple footsteps at the door, Bi Huo frowned, shifted his gaze from his phone, and looked toward the entrance.
When he saw Jiang An'an standing there, delicate and charming, his eyes lit up instantly.
He stood up from his seat with a *whoosh*, visibly excited!
His gaze locked onto Jiang An'an, as if welded to her!
The moment he saw Jiang An'an, two words popped into Bi Huo's mind—*Gorgeous!*
This girl was so radiant, so stunning, so utterly likable!
"Wait, hold on. Which agency is she from? Why don't I have any impression of her?"
"If there was an actress this beautiful, I shouldn't have no memory of her, right?"
After the initial excitement, Bi Huo realized a small issue, but it wasn't a big deal!
"Hello, sir. We heard your crew is casting young actors."
"We're here to recommend ourselves. Could you give us a chance to audition?"
Jiang Hai calmed his excitement and looked at Bi Huo with a hint of nervousness.
Bi Huo asked, puzzled, "Which agency are you with? Why haven't I seen you before?"
Jiang Hai answered honestly, "We're not with any agency. We came on our own."
"No agency? Independent actors?"
Bi Huo was a bit surprised by Jiang Hai's words, but not overly so.
"Yes, sir, we're independent. Could you give us a chance?"
"Sure! Follow me!"
If it were anyone else, Bi Huo would've brushed them off and shown them the door.
But the serene and adorable Jiang An'an had won him over, and he was more than willing to give her a chance!
Plus, based on his understanding of Director Qu, if this girl's acting was even half-decent, she had a good shot at being chosen!
If this girl passed the audition, they could start filming!
And he wouldn't have to frantically search for actors anymore!
It was like finding a treasure after wearing out iron shoes!
"Come with me!"
Bi Huo called out to the trio and stepped out from behind his desk.
He led Jiang Tao, Jiang Hai, and Jiang An'an to a small audition room within the crew's setup.
The room had cameras, costumes, props, and other equipment.
Several staff members were organizing things and calibrating gear, making final preparations for the new drama about to start.
When they saw Bi Huo walk in with a girl who looked as exquisite as a doll, with big eyes and a charming face, everyone's attention was drawn to Jiang An'an, though they kept working.
The new drama needed a young actress for the lead role, and over the past few days, dozens of girls had auditioned.
But Jiang An'an was the first one this beautiful and instantly likable!
"Xiao Mao, come over and help with the audition!"
Bi Huo called out to a guy with dyed yellow hair, wearing a baseball cap, and sporting a sleeve of tattoos on his arm.
"Got it, Brother Huo!"
Xiao Mao was the crew's cinematographer but also occasionally assisted the producer and director with auditions.
Soon, Xiao Mao set up a camera, aimed it at Jiang An'an, and began fine-tuning the settings.
"OK! We're good!"
After adjusting the camera's parameters, Xiao Mao gave Bi Huo an "OK" gesture, signaling they could start the audition.
"Great, very relaxed expression, keep it up, yes, yes, yes, don't be nervous."
"Not bad, not bad, great camera presence."
Bi Huo watched the footage on the monitor and nodded repeatedly.
Even though Jiang An'an hadn't started performing or said a single line, just standing in front of the camera, she looked like a scene from a blockbuster.
Among all the girls who had auditioned, Jiang An'an was undeniably the most stunning—no competition!
And her camera presence was exceptional, exuding calm confidence in front of the lens.
That might sound simple, but only those who've experienced it know how hard it is!
People without professional training or strong mental resilience often feel awkward even when taking photos with family or friends.
Their smiles can come off stiff, and the photos look unnatural.
Smiling for the camera might seem like a small thing, but it takes practice to master.
Some people's smiles look forced and fake.
Others can make a smile vivid, turning it into an iconic moment.
Like in *A Chinese Odyssey*, when Pansi Daxian glances back at Zhizunbao before leading her donkey into the cave—that smile is unforgettable for anyone who's seen the movie.
Or take a glance: some people's eyes are dull and lifeless, while others convey deep emotion.
In *The Legend of the Condor Heroes*, the way Little Dragon Girl looks at Yang Guo is still considered a classic decades later.
An audition might seem like testing the most basic skills.
But it reveals whether an actor's performance is shallow or substantial!
Joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, melancholy…
Jiang An'an's audition lasted about ten minutes.
She demonstrated what it means to be "blessed by the heavens"!
Despite having no formal training, no matter what emotion Bi Huo asked her to portray, Jiang An'an could summon it in seconds.
Her smile was sweet, like an angel descended to earth.
When she cried, it was like pear blossoms in the rain—tears came on command, her emotions so full that she could break the hearts of every man in the room.
Though he hadn't shown the audition footage to Qu Lei yet, Bi Huo was certain this girl had secured the lead role!
Bi Huo had been in the short-drama industry for over two years, handling dozens of projects, if not a hundred.
He'd never seen a young actress as naturally gifted as Jiang An'an—she was a revelation!
She had the kind of adorable, universally loved look.
Her acting was phenomenal, her emotions full and perfectly delivered!
She was born to be an actress!
She was destined to have a place in the future of the short-drama industry!
Looking at Jiang An'an, Bi Huo could practically see a dazzling star rising!
"Please wait here! I'm going to find Director Qu right now!"
Bi Huo said to Jiang Tao and the others, then hurriedly left with a copy of Jiang An'an's audition footage to find Qu Lei.
"An'an, you did amazing. I think you've got this in the bag."
Jiang Tao was thoroughly impressed by Jiang An'an's natural and expressive performance, giving her a cheerful compliment.
"Thank you, Uncle Jiang Tao~ I hope so!"
Jiang An'an's eyes sparkled as she looked at Jiang Tao, thrilled to receive his praise.
More than anyone, she wanted to land this short-drama role.
"An'an, you're incredible."
Jiang Hai's gaze toward his daughter was complex, filled with both admiration and guilt.
It was only today that he realized how talented his daughter was at acting!
If Mr. Jiang hadn't suggested auditioning, wouldn't he have held his daughter back?
In his heart, Jiang Hai silently gave Jiang Tao another point of gratitude, owing him yet another favor.
…
On the other side.
Bi Huo rushed to Qu Lei's office door and knocked.
"Come in!"
Hearing Qu Lei's voice, Bi Huo hurriedly pushed the door open.
"Old Bi? What's up?"
Seeing the excited expression on Bi Huo's face, Qu Lei couldn't help but feel a spark of anticipation.
Could Yang Tiantian have recovered and been discharged?
If that were true, it'd be great news.
But Qu Lei knew that was unlikely.
Acute pneumonia has clear symptoms.
The children's hospital wouldn't misdiagnose something like that.
He was probably overthinking.
"Director Qu! I just auditioned a girl. Take a look!"
"You're gonna love this one!"
Bi Huo didn't waste time with small talk, eagerly handing Qu Lei a small USB drive.
"Oh? So confident this time?"
Curious, Qu Lei took the USB from Bi Huo and plugged it into the Apple laptop in front of him.
The USB was clean, containing only Jiang An'an's audition video, no clutter.
Qu Lei moved the mouse, clicked the video twice, and started playback.
"Imagine your dad rewarded you with a big meal. How would you feel? Begin your performance."
"Imagine your pet cat didn't come home at night, and you're worried about it…"
"…"
Qu Lei's large, bell-like eyes were glued to the screen, his expression growing more animated with every moment.
"Not bad, not bad! It's her! Where is she?"
After watching Jiang An'an's audition, Qu Lei made the decision on the spot to cast her!
Seeing Qu Lei had no objections, Bi Huo said excitedly:
"She's in my office with her dad and an uncle! I'll go talk to them now!"
Qu Lei instructed, "As long as the price isn't higher than Yang Tiantian's, sign her."
"Got it, Director Qu!"
Bi Huo could tell from Qu Lei's words how much he valued Jiang An'an.
Yang Tiantian was an actress with several hit projects that had earned tens of millions.
Jiang An'an was a complete newcomer.
For a newcomer to get the same treatment as a somewhat famous actress, Qu Lei was setting a precedent for her!
Of course, this precedent was based on her exceptional acting skills.
Plus, he was eager to start filming and get the drama released soon.
Qu Lei added, "Oh, and it's best if she can join the crew tomorrow. The sooner, the better!"
"Got it, Director Qu. I'll talk to them."
Bi Huo nodded and headed for the door.
In his view, the terms their company was offering were already generous.
Jiang An'an had no reason to refuse.
Back at his office, Bi Huo pushed the door open.
Jiang Tao, Jiang Hai, and Jiang An'an all turned to look at him.
Bi Huo smiled and said, "Congratulations, you passed the audition! Now let's discuss salary and benefits."
"Yay!"
Jiang An'an clenched her little fist in a victory gesture.
Her delicate face was filled with excitement and joy.
After all, this was her first role.
And it was the female lead in this short drama!
Her "starting point" in the short-drama industry was enviable to many!
It might even be the endpoint for some or an unattainable dream for others.
In both short dramas and real life, the lucky ones are always a rare minority.
Most people are just ordinary, destined to be the "denominator" for the fortunate few.
Regarding compensation, the crew offered Jiang An'an a daily salary of 6,000 yuan.
Three meals a day were provided free, with an 8-hour daily shooting schedule.
They also offered nearby accommodations.
Hearing the terms offered to his daughter, Jiang Hai was stunned.
When he was an extra, he earned at most 150 yuan a day—4,500 yuan a month!
His daughter's daily salary was higher than his monthly earnings!
This was the vast gap between ordinary people and those with exceptional talent—this was the disparity of life!
Bi Huo's attitude was sincere, and the terms were generous.
Jiang Hai and Jiang An'an had no objections.
Both sides quickly reached an agreement and signed a simple labor contract.
"We hope Jiang An'an can join the crew as soon as possible, preferably tomorrow."
"It'd be great if she could come meet everyone tomorrow morning and get familiar, so we can start filming soon."
Bi Huo was straightforward about their needs.
Jiang Hai didn't make the decision for Jiang An'an, instead looking to her.
"I'm fine with it. I don't have anything else going on at home."
Jiang An'an nodded obediently, eager to start earning money to help support the family!
Hearing his daughter's response, Jiang Hai turned to Bi Huo and said:
"Alright, Brother Huo, we can come tomorrow!"
"Then it's settled. Go home and prepare, and come to the crew to report to me before 9 a.m. tomorrow."
Bi Huo liked this father-daughter duo—they were sensible and honest.
"Thank you! We'll head back now."
Jiang Hai respectfully bid farewell to Bi Huo, then left with Jiang An'an, following Jiang Tao.
Jiang Tao had stayed silent the entire time, leaving all decisions to Jiang Hai.
He came along today for two reasons: first, to ensure his task was completed.
Second, he genuinely wanted to help Jiang Hai and Jiang An'an, with no expectation of reward from them.
Of course, he wasn't expecting their reward, but the system's reward!
[*Ding! You have successfully helped Jiang An'an join the crew. Task completed. Rewards are being distributed, please wait…*]
The moment Jiang Tao stepped out the door, a blue virtual screen popped up with a notification.
At the same time, his phone buzzed in his pocket.
Based on past experience, barring any surprises, it was likely the 880,000 yuan reward arriving.
[*[Bole] title and 880,000 yuan in cash have been distributed. Please check!*]
Seeing the notification flash across his vision, Jiang Tao's mood brightened even more.
Today's trip was worth it—"payday" had arrived!
Suppressing his excitement, he returned to the car.
Jiang Yi and Jiang Xue were thrilled to hear Jiang An'an had passed the audition.
"Sister An'an, you're amazing! Now I have a superstar friend!"
"An'an, you're incredible, well done!"
Jiang An'an grinned playfully, "Hehe, the audition wasn't as hard as I thought. I passed so easily."
"You little rascal, showing off now, huh?"
Jiang Yi playfully tapped Jiang An'an's forehead, her eyes full of affection.
As they chatted and laughed, Jiang Tao stayed quiet, studying the *[Bole]* title.
The *[Bole]* title, like the *[System-Level Freestyle Fighting]* skill he'd previously acquired, wasn't a physical reward—just a title.
Its use was straightforward.
When equipped, it allowed him to see a person's suitable career path.
Jiang Tao equipped the title and first looked at his daughter, Jiang Xue.
[**Name**]: Jiang Xue.
[**Talent**]: Aesthetics
[**Career Suggestions**]: Travel Blogger (5 stars), Photographer (4 stars)
Seeing Jiang Xue's talent and career suggestions, Jiang Tao was surprised.
He'd thought his daughter, who always talked about loving dance, would have a dance-related suggestion, but it was travel?
Aesthetics was a broad concept, and Jiang Tao didn't fully understand it.
But he could grasp the system's career suggestions.
Travel, in simple terms, was about enjoying life—eating, drinking, and exploring.
A travel blogger could earn money while doing just that.
It wasn't a bad career, and it suited his daughter well.
"Looks like I'll need to take Xue'er traveling more to broaden her horizons."
"It'll also lay the groundwork for her to become a travel blogger in the future."
After Jiang Xue, Jiang Tao turned his gaze to Jiang Yi, sitting to her right.
[**Name**]: Jiang Yi.
[**Talent**]: Heavenly Voice
[**Career Suggestions**]: Singer (5 stars), Voice Actor (4 stars)
Seeing Jiang Yi's talent and career suggestions, Jiang Tao was stunned again.
So, Teacher Jiang was a singer held back by her teaching career!
To be fair, Jiang Yi's gentle, slightly sweet voice was indeed pleasant.
He could hardly imagine how delightful it would be to hear her sing with that voice.
If she followed the system's career suggestions and switched industries, Jiang Yi could surely achieve greater success in her true calling!
Honestly, her monthly salary of just over 10,000 yuan at Aidi Kindergarten didn't seem like much to Jiang Tao.
Online streamers, who couldn't hold a candle to Jiang Yi's natural beauty even with maxed-out filters, could earn 70,000 to 100,000 yuan a month just by posing and dancing in front of a camera.
In Jiang Tao's view, Jiang Yi's current income didn't match her potential.
*Whoosh!*
Suddenly, the air in front of Jiang Tao rippled like water.
A blue system interface appeared with a task notification.
[*Ding! Congratulations, you have triggered a special task—Pathfinder!*]
[**Pathfinder**]: Guide Jiang Yi into a suitable career!
[**Task Rewards**]
[**1**]: Guide Jiang Yi to become a singer: 5 million yuan in cash, +10 Constitution, +5 Charisma, +5 Health!
[**2**]: Guide Jiang Yi to become a voice actor: 500,000 yuan in cash, +1 Constitution, +1 Charisma, +1 Health!