Zhuo Lu hadn't expected such a sudden turn of events. Overjoyed, she quickly replied to Tian Yue.
They were asked to come for an audition the following Monday.
The couple stayed home for the next few days.
Zhuo Lu occasionally offered guidance on company matters and began recruiting people who could assist her with special effects. The CEO now had a recruitment tool and had no objections to the boss's decisions, assigning them several offices on a separate floor and a large conference room.
As he understood his boss better, he gradually became more familiar with his own responsibilities, no longer experiencing the earlier hesitation.
Zhuo Lu was unaware of his change, or she would have been very pleased.
Early Monday morning, Chong Yan had himself ready and made breakfast before digging Zhuo Lu out of bed.
"Why so early?" Zhuo Lu mumbled sleepily.
Chong Yan excitedly replied, "Didn't you say you were going to Tian Yue with me for the audition today?"
Zhuo Lu then remembered, pinching his chin and laughing, "Just a male third lead, and you're this happy?"
"Very happy, and not just because of the male third lead."
It was also because it had been his dream.
Zhuo Lu was unaware of Chong Yan's dream.
However, Chong Yan didn't have his memories. The original body usually contained fragments of his soul, and the integration was seamless. Most of the original body's thoughts would influence him.
"I made breakfast, hurry and eat."
"Then carry me to wash up."
She wasn't tired or lazy, just liked him to serve her, liked their hugs and closeness.
Chong Yan kissed her forehead helplessly and carried her to the bathroom. After washing her face, Zhuo Lu seemed to wake up.
Chong Yan's assistant appeared punctually after the couple finished breakfast. Since Chong Yan had little work now, his assistant was quite idle.
After finishing his last movie with Director Chen's crew, Chong Yan had been idle at home for over a week.
"Yan Ge, Miss Yao."
"Xiao Chao, have you eaten breakfast?" Chong Yan seemed ready to prepare breakfast for him too.
The assistant quickly refused, "I ate before I came. Yan Ge, let's hurry. Tian Yue gave us a ten o'clock slot, so it's about time to go."
"Mm."
As they went out, he opened the car door for Zhuo Lu. The assistant seemed to realize they were both going, looking somewhat surprised.
"Miss Yao, you're coming too?"
"Mm."
The assistant hesitated for a moment before getting into the car. Before they departed, he sent a message to Zhou Lu, informing her of the situation.
He hadn't expected Zhuo Lu to go. If she were an ordinary person, it would be fine. Chong Yan wasn't famous yet, so seeing him wouldn't cause much of a stir.
But she was far from ordinary.
She was the daughter of an internationally renowned director, a film empress who achieved her status at seventeen, and a popular celebrity who had recently made headlines several times.
If they were photographed, it wouldn't be Chong Yan who would be affected, but her.
Unfortunately, they were driving the whole way, and he didn't have a chance to see Zhou Lu's reply. He nervously drove them there and, upon parking, immediately checked his phone.
"Let her go if she wants. We can't stop her anyway."
The assistant was slightly relieved.
This was a company, not a film set, so there weren't many reporters lurking. The two walked in directly through the main entrance.
Some less famous and less busy artists were entering and exiting the company. Upon seeing Chong Yan, they all looked surprised.
Few people knew about the affairs of the higher-ups.
But many knew that Manager Wang from the main company had suppressed Chong Yan for his mistress, and the outcome was a double death.
The company's high-level management had clearly avenged Chong Yan.
Immediately after this, Chong Yan resolutely terminated his contract with the company. Yet, the company didn't object at all, didn't demand exorbitant breach of contract fees, and didn't retaliate. They simply let him leave.
Now he dared to come back; was he here to cause trouble?
Chong Yan ignored their gazes and, with Zhuo Lu, followed the employees upstairs, finally arriving at the office of Tian Yue's president.
"Aren't you supposed to be auditioning? Why are you here?"
Qin Chu Ming's assistant respectfully replied, "President Qin and the director and producers are inside. The author of the original work, Mr. Jia, wants to meet Mr. Chong Yan first."
The pen name of the original author of "Partridge Sky" was Jia Jia Hu Hu, a very casual choice that had once been criticized.
Later, when he participated in a public event, everyone learned that he was from an ethnic minority and his surname was Jia, with the given name Hu.
The assistant stepped forward and knocked on the door. "President Qin, Mr. Chong and Miss Yao are here."
He specifically mentioned Zhuo Lu, wanting to give the other party some psychological preparation.
A response came from inside, and they were led in.
In Tian Yue's spacious presidential office, several people sat on black sofas. The youngest was Qin Chu Ming, the president of Tian Yue. There was a balding man in his forties, smiling somewhat obsequiously.
A man with a receding hairline in his fifties, wearing glasses, had a relatively refined demeanor. Beside him was a woman in her thirties, heavily made up. She wasn't particularly beautiful but had a good temperament and a constant smile.
The oldest, looking over sixty, also had a smile, appearing like a smooth and worldly old fox.
"President Qin."
The two stepped forward. Qin Chu Ming stood up and first shook hands with Zhuo Lu.
"Hello, Miss Yao. I heard you're friends with my uncle. I didn't expect you to come today. It's true that hearing about you is not as good as meeting you. Miss Yao is indeed very impressive."
Zhuo Lu smiled without responding.
She didn't quite understand Qin Chu Ming's words.
Qin Chu Ming exchanged pleasantries with them and then introduced them to everyone, also informing Zhuo Lu and Chong Yan of their identities.
Apart from the three men with Qin Chu Ming, the oldest was the director. The man with the least hair was the assistant director. The one with the receding hairline was the author. The woman was the producer.
She was also a high-ranking executive at Tian Yue.
After they greeted each other, Zhuo Lu detected a subtle, scrutinizing gaze. This gaze made her feel slightly uncomfortable.
She looked over. The assistant director whom Qin Chu Ming favored was secretly looking at her, his eyes not just scrutinizing but filled with a nauseating desire.
The man seemed surprised that she looked over, but he wasn't shocked and smiled at her, saying, "Miss Yao, we meet again."
Zhuo Lu frowned slightly in confusion.
He explained, "I collaborated with Director Yao before and saw you twice. It's been a few years, and I didn't expect you to be even more beautiful."
"Which project did you collaborate with my father on?"
He mentioned a movie title. Zhuo Lu thought for a moment and said indifferently, "My father didn't end up directing that movie."
Her abrupt, out-of-context remark made him somewhat awkward.
Qin Chu Ming shot the man a stern glance, his eyes darkening.
He then turned to Chong Yan. "Mr. Jia, this is Chong Yan. You've seen his performance clips, and also his work in Director Yao's and Director Chen's new films. What do you think?"