Zhan Yi felt a surge of delight. As far as she knew, Ren Kui was just a student who hadn't graduated yet. She was all too familiar with what was taught in schools, having graduated from the acting department of A University herself.
In terms of acting, she was confident she could beat Ren Kui. This would not only showcase her abilities but also eliminate any possibility of a predetermined outcome. Even if she wagered a year of her career, it wouldn't seem like she was bullying anyone.
It was a win-win-win situation.
So, she immediately said, "Thank you, Director He. Please give me the challenge."
Ren Kui looked bewildered. "Director He, shouldn't you consult my opinion on this?"
He Nian chuckled. "Young people, offer fewer opinions. When you truly have the capability, then it's not too late to speak."
Ren Kui rolled her eyes, speechless. A competitive spirit was ignited within her. She slapped the table and stood up. "Fine, let's compete. I'll say this upfront: with sixty to seventy people here as witnesses, if I truly win against you, you'll have to suspend your business for a year.
If there's any gossip or public opinion that distorts the facts and attacks me, you must come forward to clarify the truth. If you don't, then Director He..."
Ren Kui turned her gaze to He Nian. "You must come forward to explain the facts."
She then looked at the others. "And everyone present, if you want to watch me compete with her, you can't just watch for free. If there's public opinion directed at me in the future, you also need to come forward to clarify the facts for me."
Ren Kui thought to herself that even if she lost, she would only be giving up a phantom predetermined spot, so she really had nothing to lose.
For a moment, no one spoke.
He Nian chuckled. He had to admit, Ren Kui's counterattack and self-preservation skills were indeed commendable. She was truly the pampered darling of the Ren family, having been exposed to the intricacies of interests and disadvantages since childhood. Her ability to react at critical moments was truly... quite like a script's female lead.
Zhan Yi was absolutely confident that she couldn't possibly lose to a mere youngster, so she didn't leave herself any room for retreat. "Alright, I accept."
Ren Kui shrugged and smiled. "Director He, let's begin then. But I still have a question. We've only set the stakes for losing, but we don't know what the benefit of winning is." You want to gamble, so show some stakes.
He Nian's mouth twitched. This brat wasn't satisfied yet. However, it did seem unreasonable not to have stakes, so he thought for a moment and said, "The winner will be the first candidate for the female lead. As long as there isn't anyone better, the role of the female lead will belong to her."
Ren Kui opened her mouth, almost retorting again, but seeing He Nian's gaze, she could only hold back. After all, he was the director, and offending him wouldn't be good. So, she could only grumble inwardly: Old fox, what good are candidates as stakes? As long as there's someone better, she can be replaced at will. Truly something you'd do.
This was exactly what Zhan Yi wanted. She had come for the female lead today, so she quickly said, "Good."
The competition was thus settled.
Liu Teng had already washed his hands of it, choosing not to interfere. He Nian, though seemingly rigid, was actually quite entertaining. Trying to dissuade them now would be a waste of his breath.
He decided to join in and asked He Nian, "Since that's the case, let's make a bet too. Whoever you bet on to win, the winner will have absolute say over the female lead's casting."
Before He Nian could reply, Liu Teng immediately added, "I bet on Zhan Yi. You can't bet on the same person as me."
He Nian shot him a glance and clicked his tongue, shaking his head. "Fine, I'll play along."
Ren Kui heard their conversation clearly and smiled. "Director He, why the expression as if you've suffered a great loss? Have some confidence in me."
He Nian gave her a thumbs-up with a poker face. "Act well, and don't let me lose."
Ren Kui burst out laughing. The frustration she had felt from being manipulated earlier disappeared. She walked onto the stage first, looking at Zhan Yi with a hint of provocation.
Zhan Yi let out a cold snort. A newborn calf fears no tiger. This little vixen dared to provoke her? She would show her the meaning of embarrassment later.
However, before going on stage, she still turned back and gave Tian Cheng and Cui Min a fierce look: "You two wait too. How dare you play mind games with me? If I don't skin you two alive, my surname isn't Zhan."
Tian Cheng and Cui Min, feeling guilty, dared not look up. If they didn't want to witness Ren Kui's humiliation with their own eyes, they really couldn't sit there any longer.
Seeing the two cowering like turtles, Zhan Yi sneered and strode onto the stage.
The auditioning actors in the audience were all happy to watch this showdown. Who didn't enjoy some gossip?
He Nian and Liu Teng also sat down again. Liu Teng asked curiously, "How are you going to have them compete?"
"Let's do something simple. The female lead's personality is cold, domineering, and powerful, with formidable skills. Let's focus on these aspects and have them compete in a best-of-three format."
He Nian picked up the microphone and said to the two on stage, "The competition format will be a mutual performance. Whoever loses their rhythm first and is led by the other will lose. It's best of three. For the first round, Act three, Scene two. I'll give you one minute to gather your emotions."
Liu Teng cooperatively turned on the stopwatch.
While the two on stage were preparing, Liu Teng analyzed, "No matter how you look at it, Ren Kui can't beat Zhan Yi. Zhan Yi's dominance was already evident. Her personality is quite similar to the female lead's. Ren Kui is cunning and mischievous, which is the complete opposite of being cold."
He Nian nodded slightly. "In terms of personality, Ren Kui is indeed at a disadvantage. Fortunately, her appearance isn't cute, otherwise, I would have eliminated her immediately."
Liu Teng felt a secret joy. Although the producer had the right to finalize the casting, he had collaborated with He Nian for many years, and they always listened to each other. It was difficult for him to make a strong decision. However, if he gained absolute say, he could choose Fan Yixing. Although they would lose Lu Liang, he had to admit Han Zhao's appearance was impressive.
"Ding~" As soon as the timer went off, He Nian said, "Start." The two on stage almost simultaneously began their performance, speaking their lines.
"A mere mortal dares to bellow at me. I'll reiterate: whatever I tell you to do, you must do. If I tell you to kneel..." He pressed his palm downwards. "You must obediently kneel."
The lines were very brief, with no flashy physical movements. Yet, in these short ten-odd seconds, the cold arrogance, disdain, dominance, and the inherent authority of someone in a high position were all embodied and perfectly executed, making one believe she was indeed an immortal.
The moment Ren Kui pressed her palm down, Zhan Yi's rhythm was disrupted by the powerful aura. The opponent's cold, disdainful gaze suppressed her, causing her to be involuntarily drawn in. Even though she quickly adjusted, she was ultimately a step behind. Ren Kui had already taken the lead.
Below the stage, there was a collective gasp, and people exchanged bewildered glances.
This turn of events was unexpected for many. Who would have thought that a newcomer could overwhelm an experienced senior with her presence? Was she a genius? Otherwise, it was simply illogical.
Discussions and murmurs filled the venue, all expressing amazement at Ren Kui's superb acting.
Tian Cheng and Cui Min's faces turned as black as the bottom of a pot. Both glared resentfully in the direction of the stage.
"It's just a fluke. There are still two more scenes. Let's see how she cries later," Cui Min whispered fiercely.
Tian Cheng gritted her teeth. "She's not as pretty as me, nor as good in figure. What's she so arrogant about?"
Cui Min snorted inwardly: Shameless. In terms of beauty, I'm the prettiest.
On the judging panel in the front row, Liu Teng was also momentarily speechless. After a while, he said with a wry smile, "As expected of a rich young lady. Her vision, experience, and courage have been cultivated since childhood. Even though her personality is cunning and mischievous, her inherent noble and cold demeanor, refined by wealth, is like her true self. This is essentially method acting."
To say her acting was superb might not be accurate, but her natural portrayal, without any trace of acting, meant that for this scene, Ren Kui truly fit the character perfectly.
"Fine, consider this round yours. I misjudged." Liu Teng had to admit.
He Nian chuckled and began searching for the second scene.
On stage, after the shock, Zhan Yi was filled with unwillingness.
How could this be? How could this little vixen's presence overwhelm her? She was supposed to be a strong woman. It must be that she didn't perform well, was too nervous, and the preparation time was too short. It had to be like this. She still had two more scenes; if she crushed Ren Kui in the remaining two, she could salvage the situation.
Zhan Yi thought this, constantly encouraging herself.
He Nian picked up the microphone and said, "Second round, Act one, Scene seven. One minute preparation time."