Shu Han spent more time inside than everyone before him.
Nearly twenty minutes passed before he finally emerged and sat back down in another waiting area, awaiting the final results.
The other actors glanced at their watches, mentally calculating how long Shu Han had been inside, their expressions growing complex.
Being able to stay in there that long clearly indicated Director Ning was quite satisfied with Shu Han...
While everyone was lost in their own thoughts, Xiao He stood up and followed the staff member into the audition room.
This audition room wasn't particularly large, roughly the size of an ordinary classroom. On one side stood a row of neatly arranged tables, while the other side featured a relatively open rehearsal area with floor-to-ceiling mirrors. Behind the tables sat Director Ning Jiaqi, Executive Producer Zhuang Hongyi, and several other key creative personnel from the production team.
When Xiao He entered, their faces remained completely expressionless. Only the slightly unfamiliar assistant director gestured beside them: "Number 13, Xiao He, please come forward to receive your audition scene."
Xiao He walked up, respectfully accepted the small slip of paper handed by the assistant director, then moved to the center of the open area and stood still, looking down at the content on the paper—
[Your brother died in a car accident. You receive the news and rush to the hospital, where you meet your brother's parents.]
It was actually this scene!
A subtle light flickered in Xiao He's eyes.
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When Shu Yuxiu worked as an employee at the auto repair shop, he accidentally met Zhu Penglin, a rich second-generation heir who came to get his car fixed.
Zhu Penglin's father was a nouveau riche. Their family had just moved from another city to develop here and weren't very familiar with the local wealthy circles.
Because his family had suddenly become wealthy, Zhu Penglin developed a passion for racing and wanted to connect with other rich second-generation heirs who also loved racing in this new circle. However, he was actually quite fearful of death, and his racing skills were rather mediocre. Before moving to this city, Zhu Penglin had been constantly mocked by his former "friends" in the previous circle, so he hesitated to approach the local rich second-generation racing scene.
But by chance, Zhu Penglin discovered that Shu Yuxiu possessed excellent racing skills.
So he came up with an idea, begging Shu Yuxiu to secretly race in his place in the underground races within the rich second-generation circle, to help him win first place.
Shu Yuxiu appeared quite ordinary, having worked in the auto repair shop for years, but his driving skills were truly exceptional. He actually managed to help Zhu Penglin secure the championship within the circle, earning Zhu Penglin immense admiration and allowing him to bask in the worship of other rich second-generation heirs.
Through these repeated interactions, the two became extremely close friends.
Unfortunately, during a later race, Zhu Penglin died in a car accident. When Shu Yuxiu learned the news and rushed to the hospital, he only arrived in time to see Zhu Penglin's body.
At that time, Zhu Penglin's parents were out of town and couldn't return immediately. The new friends Zhu Penglin had made were all cowards—after learning that racing with them had caused Zhu Penglin's fatal accident, none dared to come to the hospital. In the end, it was Shu Yuxiu who busied himself with all the arrangements, handling the funeral proceedings for Zhu Penglin.
Because of this, when Zhu Penglin's parents returned from out of town and understood the situation, they were deeply grateful to Shu Yuxiu, even voluntarily acknowledging him as their godson.
The current scene depicted the moment when Shu Yuxiu met Zhu Penglin's parents at the hospital after Zhu Penglin's death.
Xiao He had only five minutes to prepare. He stood in place, closed his eyes, and seriously immersed himself in the emotions. When the time came, the assistant director beside him reminded Xiao He that he could begin his performance. Xiao He immediately displayed regret and anguish on his face.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have let him go alone! I never imagined something like this would happen—I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
The young man knelt on the ground, heavily pounding his thighs with his fists, his entire body trembling slightly from the grief in his heart.
He lifted his eyes, gazing sorrowfully at the "people" before him, as if hearing Zhu Penglin's parents' accusations and curses. His fingers beside his legs kept clenching, fiercely gripping his trousers, his voice choked and hoarse: "I know, I know, I know this happened too unexpectedly. If it were possible, I too wish Brother Penglin could have remained safe and sound! But, but..."
His voice grew increasingly choked with sobs, until he could no longer form a complete sentence. He despondently lowered his head, his body swaying constantly, as if being beaten and cursed by Zhu Penglin's grief-stricken mother.
Finally, a doctor nearby couldn't bear to listen any longer and loudly rebuked Zhu Penglin's parents: "This young man was the only one who rushed over from Dongcheng District after your son's accident! What did he do wrong? By the time he arrived, everything had already happened! He was the one running around handling all the procedures, even spending all his savings to beg the doctors to continue resuscitation efforts a little longer. Where were you at that time? How dare you blame him?"
Clearly, Zhu Penglin's parents had misunderstood—they thought Shu Yuxiu was one of the culprits responsible for Zhu Penglin's car accident. But upon hearing the nurse's words, they suddenly realized they had wronged the young man before them.
The young man slightly turned his head, his body being supported by someone. Hearing Zhu Penglin's parents' apologies, he shook his head in fluster, then showed a sorrowful expression: "I know, although I'm not the main culprit in this incident, I usually accompanied Brother Penglin whenever he went out driving before. Only this time... I've failed Brother Penglin, and I've failed you too. If I had been in the car at that time... perhaps all of this—"
Before the young man could finish speaking, he suddenly spread his arms, steadily supporting the virtual form of Zhu Penglin's mother who had collapsed from grief, anxiously looking toward Zhu Penglin's father on the other side: "Uncle, Uncle Zhu, this, this is—"
"A heart attack?"
His face instantly showed regret, "Brother Penglin mentioned this to me before, how could I forget! I'll go call a doctor right away!"
But before he could leave, his hand was grabbed.
He turned his head in confusion.
"Huh? No need? Are you sure that's really okay?"
The young man sniffled, barely suppressing the sadness in his heart. Only his deep eyes showed traces of tears. He tried to soften his voice, speaking gently: "I hope you can take good care of your health. Brother Penglin wouldn't want to see you like this!"
Then he slightly bowed, carefully supporting the virtual Zhu Penglin's mother beside him, asking in a trembling, hoarse voice: "Auntie Zhu, let me take you to rest for a while, okay?"
As if receiving Zhu Penglin's mother's affirmative response, the young man's expression finally relaxed considerably, but his movements became even more gentle. He guided this middle-aged woman, overwhelmed with grief from losing her son, slowly outward, even lightening his breathing, as if handling a fragile object...
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Only after covering more than half the audition space did Xiao He slowly withdraw his supporting gesture into empty air.
He took a deep breath, walked back to the center, and bowed slightly toward the row of people sitting opposite him: "My performance is complete."