He didn’t know.
Just as he turned around with a sarcastic look, Ye Shaohua leaned back in her chair behind him and also gave a mocking smile.
“Ye, Boss Ye,” Li Wen walked in from outside, “Qu Ran has arrived.”
“Let him in.” Ye Shaohua reached out and tapped the table.
Qu Ran walked in looking a little timid. When he first joined Feisheng, he already knew about Ye Shaohua’s reputation as the infamous female boss in the underworld.
He’d certainly heard about all those unspoken rules and shady practices in the entertainment industry.
Thinking about this, he gave Ye Shaohua a complicated look.
Actually, though…
If someone like her were to take advantage of him, wouldn’t he be the one getting the better deal?
“Take this,” Ye Shaohua directly tossed a script to him. “Spend the next few days studying it. The male lead’s image fits you really well. As long as nothing unexpected happens, this character will easily attract fans. Practice hard. In half a month, I’ll take you to meet the director.”
Qu Ran looked down at the script—
Gods of the Firmament?
What kind of ridiculous script is this?
He looked up blankly. “Boss Ye, didn’t you say you’d take me to an audition tomorrow?”
“No audition,” Ye Shaohua said with a slight curl of her lips. “We’re shooting a movie first. The TV drama route is too slow—it would take two or three years to get you onto the international stage. But a movie is different.”
She paused there. “Alright, go home and study it carefully. If there’s anything about the character you don’t understand, call me. You won’t have any public appearances or assignments for these two weeks.”
Getting to play the lead in a movie right at his debut—Qu Ran wasn’t about to complain.
Even if it turned out to be a lousy film, he’d still be thrilled.
Especially since Qu Ran knew he’d signed an S-level contract. Thinking of that, he looked at Ye Shaohua and said, “Boss Ye, don’t worry. I will never leave Feisheng, even if I die!”
Recently, he’d actually heard rumors that Feisheng was on its last legs. Even though he knew the road ahead might be tough, he had no intention of leaving.
After saying that, he left.
Ye Shaohua leaned back in her chair and watched Qu Ran go, feeling a little surprised.
But she didn’t respond to his declaration. She appreciated people who understood the lay of the land.
With that thought, she picked up another script and went out to find the director.
Gods of the Firmament—a story that had caused massive sensations in two different worlds—absolutely had its own unique charm. Its passionate, positive energy and tear-jerking plot were the biggest selling points for this film adaptation.
Especially after going through so many worlds, she had gained new insights into the world of fantasy and mysticism.
Ye Shaohua had revised the novel to make it more realistic. The cultivation methods and their operations described in it were all factual.
People who weren’t experts wouldn’t have a clue, but if this novel were serialized in this world, it would definitely cause an even bigger uproar.
But even without serialization, Qu Ran, who took the script home to study carefully, was still blown away.
He didn’t sleep the whole night, his eyes turning red from staying up.
He was incredibly excited that Ye Shaohua had given him this script.
But at the same time, he was also very conflicted. He felt like there was no way he’d actually land this role.
Just from reading the script, he could tell how wildly popular this production would be. How could a complete newcomer like him possibly get this part?
“What are you standing around spacing out for?” Ye Shaohua stood with her arms crossed, squinting at him. “The male lead in this drama is tough on himself and appears tough on his friends, but in reality, he’s very loyal. The struggle between the female lead and his friends—you need to convey that inner conflict well…”
Hearing Ye Shaohua explain the role to him,
Qu Ran listened carefully while also stealing glances at her. With talent like hers… why didn’t she go into acting?
But then again, the daughter of such a powerful figure would never be desperate enough to get tangled up in the entertainment industry.
Thinking that, Qu Ran felt relieved.
He immediately threw himself entirely into the role.
——-
Half a month later, a Weibo post went viral.
Director Yu, who hadn’t made a film in three years, was going to direct his final swan song—a massive cinematic production.
Rumors also said that Director Yu had paid a huge price to acquire the script because he absolutely loved it.
As soon as this news broke, the entire entertainment industry was shaken.
On the day of the auditions, nearly half of the entertainment world showed up.
“You’re here too?” Yin Tianyu spotted Ye Shaohua at the audition venue. He was a bit surprised. When he noticed the newcomer Qu Ran behind her, understanding flickered in his eyes. “Here to accompany a newcomer for an audition? I’m here to try out for the male lead today too. But there are a lot of seasoned actors here, so my chances are probably pretty slim.”
Even as he said that, his expression was quite smug.
He seemed almost certain he’d get the male lead.
He spoke gently, but since they were in a public place, he didn’t act overly familiar with Ye Shaohua.
To Ye Shaohua, his performance didn’t mean much. Having been through so many worlds, she could tell at a glance that Yin Tianyu still lacked a certain finesse in his acting. He wasn’t quite ready for the male lead role.
She gave him a polite smile and then led Qu Ran straight in for the audition.
On the way, they also ran into Yu Qingjiu, who was there to audition for the third male lead.
“Qu Ran, you’re here for an audition too?” Yu Qingjiu was a bit surprised to see Qu Ran and Ye Shaohua.
Especially since Ye Shaohua just blatantly brought her guy right in. Isn’t that a bit too arrogant?
“How did she manage to bring someone in like that?” Yu Qingjiu frowned. “Director Yu has always hated newcomers who rely on backdoor deals. Besides… how did Feisheng even get the rights to Gods of the Firmament?”
As far as he knew, even Yin Tianyu’s agency had tried to secure a steady role for him in the production, but Director Yu had rejected them flat out.
“She’s just putting on airs,” Yu Qingjiu’s agent said with an easygoing attitude. “Feisheng is just an empty shell now. She’ll probably get kicked out by Director Yu soon enough. Everyone knows he has a terrible temper.”
But Qu Ran, following behind Ye Shaohua, was extremely uneasy.
She was just bringing him straight in like this?
On the way in, he had spotted a Best Actor waiting patiently outside like everyone else.
This was… way too brazen, wasn’t it?
Besides, Director Yu hated people who pulled stunts like this.
Qu Ran followed Ye Shaohua inside with some worry. But as soon as they entered, he found that Director Yu and the producer’s attitudes toward Ye Shaohua were completely different from what he had imagined.
And Ye Shaohua herself was also totally different from all the rumors circulating outside.
