Married in a Daze - Chapter 123
Chapter 123
The next day, Qin Zhenzhen had no work scheduled. Originally, she was supposed to meet with Director Hu, but because Director Hu had some business that delayed the schedule by a day, she was given a day off. On Meng Xin's end, she said she had already contacted people from SP and was preparing to fly over to discuss the contract. He Shuangshuang had gone with her.
Lu Ruyun finished making breakfast and saw her leaning on the sofa playing with her phone. She called out, "Zhenzhen, come eat breakfast."
Qin Zhenzhen tilted her head. Lu Ruyun stood behind her holding two bowls of porridge. She stood up and walked over, asking, "Do you have any schedule today?"
Lu Ruyun placed the bowls on the dining table and replied, "I need to take Mei Ling to an audition this morning. In the afternoon, I want to go see Qiuhan."
Mei Ling was one of the new recruits for the studio. Originally, He Shuangshuang was supposed to take her to the audition, but He Shuangshuang had flown off with Meng Xin in the morning, so she had to go herself.
Qin Zhenzhen rested her fingers on the edge of the bowl, looking up. "Is Director Duan's matter just going to end like that?"
Because of his lack of response, online controversy had been huge. All sorts of clamorous voices demanding Duan Qiuhan get out of the entertainment industry kept popping up. Even radical netizens had turned him into various memes, of course all paired with mocking captions.
To this day, he still hadn't stepped forward to say anything. Actually, Qin Zhenzhen knew that even if he did make some response now, the effect wouldn't be great. Netizens had already formed their own opinions. If he stepped forward now, not only would many people not believe him, they'd likely think he was just making excuses.
He had already missed the optimal time for explanation.
Hearing this, Lu Ruyun paused for a moment. "Let's wait until I've seen Qiuhan this afternoon before talking."
Qin Zhenzhen nodded. "Alright. Then I'll accompany you to the studio later?"
Lu Ruyun looked up. "Aren't you going to find Director Hu this morning?"
Qin Zhenzhen lowered her head to take a bite of pickled vegetables. "No need. Director Hu has business today. I'll meet up with them tomorrow."
A look of understanding appeared on Lu Ruyun's face. "Okay."
After breakfast, Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun went to the studio together. Mei Ling was in the studio practicing expressions. She knew her advantage wasn't beauty; among the countless pretty girls in the circle, she wasn't outstanding at all, so she diligently practiced her acting skills.
When Qin Zhenzhen saw Mei Ling, she was facing a mirror reciting lines, over and over if it wasn't right, matching it with expressions, her demeanor serious, completely unaware of the sound behind her.
She was just about to step in when Lu Ruyun grabbed her wrist, shaking her head to signal her not to go in just yet.
Qin Zhenzhen stood there like that and watched the performance for half an hour.
It wasn't until Mei Ling gave a light cough and sat down on a stool to drink water that Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun walked in hand-in-hand.
"Mei Ling." Lu Ruyun's call made Mei Ling turn her head, and the water she hadn't swallowed yet almost sprayed out. She quickly adjusted her breathing and swallowed it, her face flushing bright red.
"T-teacher Lu." Mei Ling hadn't expected to see Lu Ruyun first thing in the morning at all. Although she knew the studio was Lu Ruyun's, that she was her boss, because Lu Ruyun didn't appear here often, she had only seen her twice since being signed, so seeing her again was hard not to be excited about.
What made her even more excited was Qin Zhenzhen standing beside Lu Ruyun.
This was her first time seeing Qin Zhenzhen in person. She was three times more beautiful than in photos, with exquisite features, bright clear eyes, a light smile on her face, and a gentle expression when looking at people. Mei Ling had always liked the TV dramas she acted in. Seeing the real person now, she stammered out a greeting, "T-teacher Qin."
Hearing this, Qin Zhenzhen's smile deepened. She walked over and sat down beside her, smiling. "It's Mei Ling, right?"
Mei Ling quickly nodded. Qin Zhenzhen continued, "I've heard Teacher Lu mention you. She said you have a lot of natural talent."
"I don't," Mei Ling said with an embarrassed smile, scratching her head. "Teacher Lu is too kind."
Lu Ruyun listened to them chatting on the side, then composed her expression. "Are you ready? We need to leave soon."
The audition was in a neighboring city, a two-hour drive. The audition time was 10:30, so if they went now, they could still have some preparation time. Hearing Lu Ruyun's question, Mei Ling nodded. "Ready."
Her expression was still very nervous, her hands fidgeting. Seeing her like this reminded Qin Zhenzhen of her first audition, also so nervous. She smiled and patted Mei Ling's shoulder, her lips curving up. "Relax a bit. The more nervous you are, the less you can perform."
Mei Ling listened to her crisp voice, tilting her head to glance at her. Qin Zhenzhen wore an encouraging smile, her pair of bright clear eyes resting on her. Being looked at by her idol like this, the nervousness in Mei Ling's heart slowly calmed. She nodded. "Thank you, Teacher Qin."
Qin Zhenzhen laughed at her form of address. "Call me Zhenzhen."
Mei Ling looked serious. "That won't do." It was too impolite. She thought for a moment. "Then I'll call you Sister Zhenzhen, is that okay?"
Qin Zhenzhen shrugged. "Of course."
Chatting along the way, Mei Ling's expression relaxed considerably, her demeanor softened, not as tense anymore. Lu Ruyun glanced at Qin Zhenzhen and her from time to time but didn't join the conversation.
When they arrived at the audition location, it was just ten o'clock. Mei Ling followed behind Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun inside. Everyone in the dressing room stopped their movements, staring dumbfounded at the three people entering.
It wasn't until Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun accompanied Mei Ling into the dressing room that someone in the makeup room whispered softly, "Who was that just now??"
"Did I see that right? Lu Ruyun and Qin Zhenzhen? Why are they here?"
"Are they here for an audition too?"
"Audition for what? The male and female leads for this drama are already decided. Could they be here to audition for a supporting female role?"
"Supporting role? You really don't understand the situation. If they came, the male and female leads would have given up their spots long ago. The key is, can the production team even afford them? Do you know what Qin Zhenzhen's current asking price is?" The speaker extended a finger, and everyone who saw it gasped.
"Then why are they here?"
A slightly older person among them watched them looking at each other in confusion and said with amusement, "Didn't you see the person with them just now? I heard she's from Lu Ruyun's studio. She's here for the audition. They probably just came along with her."
Everyone quickly glanced at their own assistants and swallowed their words. When Mei Ling came out after changing clothes, someone immediately stepped forward to get chummy with her.
Seeing the situation, Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun left the makeup room, heading to the audition location first.
The role Mei Ling was auditioning for this time was a fool character, openly playing dumb but actually the male lead's confidant, lurking beside the female lead. Although the role's screen time wasn't much, it was very important, so of course, Mei Ling wasn't the only one here to audition.
It's just that the others were all in a wait-and-see mode, with only a few girls huddled together whispering.
"What's the point of still auditioning? With such a grand entrance just now, as if afraid people wouldn't know they have connections."
"Don't talk nonsense. What if someone hears?"
"So what if they hear? This isn't some shameful thing. If I had connections, I'd use them too. Who wouldn't? So many people fighting for one role. I say they're really stingy. They could just casually leave a female lead role for her, why come audition for such a small supporting part?"
The sour words spread. Everyone heard, but brushed it off with a laugh. Mei Ling ignored the three girls huddled together and began applying makeup.
The production team only provided costumes for the audition, not makeup artists, so the makeup was all their own doing. Mei Ling saw several girls with very exquisite makeup, presumably having done their research. It's just that her makeup was decidedly not so exquisite.
Because the role she was auditioning for was a fool. If the makeup was too exquisite, it wouldn't be a fool anymore.
After Mei Ling finished her makeup, she looked in the mirror a couple of times. The girl beside her thought for a moment and still said, "Your floral appliqué is in the wrong place. It should be here."
As she spoke, she pointed to a spot in the center of her forehead. Mei Ling looked at her and showed a smile. "Thank you."
The girl shook her head. "You're welcome."
After saying that, she turned and went back to her own vanity. Mei Ling, however, didn't change the position of the appliqué. She just smiled at her reflection in the mirror, giving herself encouragement. Not a few minutes later, a staff member came to knock on the door. The audition candidates filed out one after another. Mei Ling was fourth in line.
Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun stood below the stage watching. The first two weren't acting for the first time. This time they were auditioning for the female lead's maid servant, not in competition with Mei Ling.
"Teacher Lu, can she pass?" Qin Zhenzhen leaned against Lu Ruyun, asking with her head tilted.
Lu Ruyun glanced at her sideways, smiled, and didn't answer. Qin Zhenzhen understood her; when she showed a smile like this, it usually meant a positive answer.
Mei Ling was the fourth to go on stage. Qin Zhenzhen first noticed the difference in her makeup. Of course, she wasn't the only one who noticed. The audition director and assistant directors all saw it too. They quickly exchanged glances before continuing to focus on the stage.
Mei Ling's scene was her first meeting with the female lead. She staggered and bumped around the stage alone, finally falling to the ground with a shout, "Why did you push me!"
She glared angrily ahead, as if someone really stood in front of her. The directors couldn't help but follow the direction of her finger. The lips Lu Ruyun had been pursing the whole time curved up slightly. She turned to look at Qin Zhenzhen. "Let's go."
Qin Zhenzhen was stunned. "Go where?"
Lu Ruyun leaned close to her ear and said softly, "Prepare to sign the contract."
Just as Lu Ruyun predicted, Mei Ling successfully secured the role. When signing the contract, Mei Ling nervously tugged at her sleeves. Qin Zhenzhen sat beside her and patted her shoulder. "Your performance just now was really great."
Praised by her idol, Mei Ling's face immediately flushed slightly red. She lowered her head, her voice weak. "Thank you, Sister Zhenzhen."
Qin Zhenzhen smiled, pursing her lips, and exchanged a look with Lu Ruyun. After signing the contract and coming out, Lu Ruyun drove Mei Ling to the studio entrance. Qin Zhenzhen originally wanted to accompany her to visit Director Duan, but her phone suddenly chimed with a message, interrupting the words she was about to say.
Seeing the several photos on her phone, Qin Zhenzhen's face turned cold. She quickly glanced at the person beside her. Lu Ruyun hadn't noticed her abnormality and was still asking, "Are you sure you want to come with me?"
Qin Zhenzhen thought deeply for a few seconds. "No, I suddenly remembered my mom asked me to go back home to get some vegetables earlier. Just drop me off at my doorstep. Come pick me up when you're done."
Lu Ruyun, suspecting nothing, smiled. "I'll go in with you to get them."
Qin Zhenzhen shook her head. "No need. I'm thinking of staying home for a while. Just come get me when you're done." She thought for a moment and added a sentence. "It's fine if it's a bit later."
Seeing her so insistent, Lu Ruyun had no choice but to nod. "Alright then. I'll finish early and come back to have dinner with you and your parents."
Qin Zhenzhen lowered her head. "Okay."
When they arrived at the Qin family home, Lu Ruyun handed Qin Zhenzhen a mask and hat. Qin Zhenzhen took them, giving her a deep look, then quickly leaned over and kissed her. Lu Ruyun's expression froze for a few seconds before she lowered her head with a smile. "Hurry and go in."
Qin Zhenzhen put on the mask and hat. After getting out of the car, she turned around, her gaze heavy. "Ruyun, see you tonight."
Lu Ruyun hummed in acknowledgment. "See you tonight."
Qin Zhenzhen watched the black sedan slowly drive out of the neighborhood in front of her. She withdrew the smile from her eyes and called Ji Lu.
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