Xiao He really is my lucky star!"
Just as Xiao He was worrying about his impending "character reputation collapse," Ma Qianyou once again elevated Xiao He to new heights.
The next day, after successfully signing Pan Yuerou, he suppressed his joy and posted a picture of the God of Wealth on his social media, accompanied by his heartfelt thoughts.
[Ma Qianyou: Fortunate to meet a benefactor in life, may wealth flow endlessly from now on.]
Xiao He, who had already returned to the production team and resumed his exhausting filming work, saw this post during his break and immediately showed a confused expression with a question mark face.
Scrolling down, he also saw comments from many acquaintances—
[Wen Hongyuan (Hidden Star Shine director): ? Where are you getting your fortune told again? Is it useful? Don't get scammed again.]
[Tan Yuan (Screenwriter): I think I can guess who Old Ma is talking about.]
[Zhang Mo (Male lead): Wishing Producer Ma great wealth this year, remember to collaborate with me again later.]
[Yi Man'er: Mr. Ma, if you become wealthy, don't forget about me.]
Finally, Xiao He even saw Sister Liu's comment from a few minutes ago:
[Liu Rulan: Meeting Manager Ma is also our good fortune.]
Xiao He: ...Sister Liu's ability to speak appropriately to different people has improved again, impressive.
Xiao He silently clicked the like button.
In the blink of an eye, the day of Director Ning's audition arrived.
Liu Rulan had already made arrangements with Director Yan in advance, so Xiao He could go directly.
Recently, news about Director Ning's upcoming audition had spread, and many people in the industry were paying attention to this matter.
However, not everyone could go. The preliminary process mainly involved actors submitting their resumes first, then Director Ning would conduct a general screening, and finally send audition invitations to actors he found promising.
For someone like Xiao He who was directly using "connections," there was no need for Liu Rulan to submit a resume on his behalf.
Xiao He could go directly.
This day was Saturday, and the Spring Festival was approaching soon. Many places already had a New Year atmosphere. The location for Xiao He's audition was a large theater at Beijing Film Academy. The theater's external glass windows were already decorated with red paper cuttings, and strings of charming mini lanterns hung from the top platform. When Xiao He arrived, he even saw some staff members setting up ladders to climb up and prepare to hang festive banners related to the holiday.
It was said that this place was later intended to be used as a small campus Spring Festival Gala stage, but had been temporarily requisitioned by Director Ning.
Strangely enough, when Xiao He came to Beijing for filming this time, he never imagined he could visit both of Beijing's most representative schools in the performing arts industry in one go. Yet through one lecture attendance and one audition, Xiao He had indeed managed to visit both Beijing Drama Academy and Beijing Film Academy.
Perhaps because it was a new campus, the buildings at Beijing Film Academy here were quite new, clearly built in recent years. Even the luxurious flower bed at the theater entrance was filled with flowers carrying Spring Festival elements, growing out of season during winter, which originally wasn't the flowering season. They had likely been recently replaced and planted.
This large theater was even more impressive. Not only did the overall decoration have a high-tech fashionable feel, but the three-dimensional display platform nearby was densely marked with the achievements and awards this building had received in the architectural field after its completion.
Xiao He walked while looking around, taking the opportunity to admire the school's specially displayed "Hall of Fame" in the lobby, where he found several actors and celebrities currently doing quite well in the domestic entertainment industry.
In the outstanding graduates section, Xiao He also saw Zhuang Hongyi and Fan Congwen.
He never expected both of them to be graduates from here.
But then again, the fact that Ning Jiaqi could borrow this theater indicated he had close relations with Beijing Film Academy. And people like Zhuang Hongyi and Fan Congwen were also Ning Jiaqi's students, which meant they were all part of the Beijing Film Academy circle and knew each other.
He just never expected Director Ning to have so many students, and each one of them talented.
But he wondered if the employment rate here would be higher than other schools...
Xiao He stared at the graduates' graduation dates, comparing them with the approximate number of enrolled students, studying the data in his mind.
Meanwhile, Liu Rulan had already approached.
"Finished looking around?"
"Yeah, pretty much. Is the audition about to start?"
"There's still some time. Before the audition, I'll take you to meet someone."
Liu Rulan said with a somewhat helpless expression.
Xiao He looked puzzled as he followed Liu Rulan up the nearby spiral staircase.
Just a few steps after going upstairs, they saw an old acquaintance.
"Little He! Sister Liu!"
Shu Han scratched his head awkwardly: "Long time no see! I was just thinking about treating you to a meal again before Spring Festival!"
Xiao He: ...
He seemed to understand what Liu Rulan's previous helpless and complicated expression meant!
"Um, Brother Shu is also here for the audition?"
"Yes, that's right."
"For the male lead?"
"Yes..."
The atmosphere among the three suddenly became awkward.
Shu Han quickly pulled over nearby public seats, gesturing for them to sit first, his smile carrying some caution: "Please sit, please sit."
Xiao He glanced at Liu Rulan, unsure what exactly was going on.
Liu Rulan sighed, signaling Xiao He to sit down with her first to talk: "This matter is indeed unexpected. I didn't expect Shu Han to return to the country during this period."
Previously, Liu Rulan had planned everything perfectly, with all arrangements in place, and she believed in Xiao He's abilities. But she never expected Shu Han to return to the country recently and so quickly start entering work mode, even coinciding with them for the same production team audition—
But it was actually understandable.
Shu Han had just returned to the country and needed a work to establish himself. He happened to be staying in Beijing, and news about the No Bait script's male lead audition had been spreading everywhere in the industry these past few days, with many actors wanting to compete for it. As the originally selected male lead from back then, Shu Han coincidentally encountered this audition, so he would definitely come to try.
Just based on his previous connection with this role, even if Ning Jiaqi wouldn't directly give this role to Shu Han again, he would certainly give Shu Han an audition opportunity to compete with everyone on the same stage.
Conversely, the fact that Shu Han could stand out from all candidates back then and win the No Bait male lead role itself demonstrated Director Ning's recognition of Shu Han.
And now, Shu Han had both fame and acting skills, plus he frequently participated in various extreme sports and competitions abroad. He was no longer the ordinary actor from back then who had no skills to show except martial arts. In terms of skill quantity, he might indeed be inferior to Xiao He, but it could basically offset most of Xiao He's advantages.
After all, those skills required for the protagonist essentially only demanded basic proficiency from the actor. If someone really couldn't manage, finding a stunt double would be quite simple. Compared to others, this might indeed be a bonus point, but compared to Shu Han, knowing a few more skills didn't make much difference.
Given the current situation, I'm afraid Xiao He's chance at the protagonist role is in danger!