Chapter 10

Early the next morning, Zhu Xinyue headed to the audition location.
This was the building that Jin Huan Group had constructed for the film company. It was said that every floor had its specific function.
Zhu Xinyue and her assistant took the elevator to the tenth floor where the audition was being held. Most of the people in the elevator with her were also there to audition.
As soon as they stepped out of the elevator, they could see signs directing auditioning actors to the "Peach Blossom Spring" audition site.
The hallway was filled with a mix of perfume scents. Zhu Xinyue covered her nose and sneezed twice in a row.
People passing by quickly stepped aside to make way.
Zhu Xinyue, wearing a mask, followed her assistant toward the audition location. Along the way, she saw many handsome men and beautiful women.
Truly, the entertainment industry was filled with stunning individuals, and this was indeed a major production. Most of the actors auditioning were well-known, had been on trending searches, and had acting experience.
"Wow! That scared me, so many people inside."
"Even the investors are here!"
"Such a grand setup, I thought I was auditioning for the female lead..."
Two actors who had just finished their auditions came out of the room, and Zhu Xinyue overheard their discussion. Though she didn’t know the specifics, she couldn’t help but feel nervous.
It didn’t sound like good news.
After filling out the audition form, Zhu Xinyue handed it to the staff, received her number tag, and sat down in the hallway to calm her nerves.
"Number 30, Zhu Xinyue." The staff member signaled that it was her turn to audition.
Zhu Xinyue stood up, removed her mask, and walked into the room.
The room had a green screen as the backdrop, with a camera placed in the center. A staff member gestured for her to stand in front of the camera.
As she looked up, Zhu Xinyue spotted a familiar face sitting behind the camera and froze for a moment.
There were quite a few people seated behind a long table. While she didn’t recognize the others, the two in the center were the director of Peach Blossom Spring and... Ji Linyu, who was looking down at the script.
Ji Qingyuan, wearing a baseball cap, sat beside the director. He had been looking at his phone but noticed the newcomer. He put his phone away, lifted the brim of his cap, and flashed a bright smile at Zhu Xinyue. Then he leaned toward the director, covering his mouth with the back of his hand as he whispered something.
The director nodded and asked Zhu Xinyue, "Have you read the script?"
"Yes."
"Perform the scene... right before death."
Zhu Xinyue saw Ji Linyu behind the camera lift his head and look over, his gaze settling on her.
His expression was calm, just like the first time they met, cold and detached.
Ji Linyu in a professional setting was completely different from his usual self.
Icy and devoid of any warmth.
If she didn’t perform well, she would be replaced.
"I..." Zhu Xinyue’s voice trembled as she stared straight ahead, her eyes suddenly reddening. "I haven’t reported to the Second Elder yet..."
Her tone carried a mix of grievance, regret, and fear of death.
Though it was just a very brief line, it was filled with emotion, and everyone could sense the complexity in her words.
The tears in her eyes were just right, not overflowing, but stubbornly lingering in her gaze, merely reddening her eyes.
Ji Linyu stared unblinkingly at the girl in front of the camera, unconsciously tightening his grip on the script page.
He couldn't tell whether she was acting or if it was real.
"Great!" The director couldn't help but clap.
Sitting beside him, Ji Qingyuan also seemed quite surprised, casting an approving glance her way.
Zhu Xinyue lowered her head, and a staff member nearby stepped forward to hand her a tissue.
"Thank you, thank you," she said.
After the audition ended, Zhu Xinyue walked out.
Ji Linyu watched her retreating figure, then stood up and said something to the director before leaving.
Ji Qingyuan, who had to stay with the director to continue the character auditions, remained seated, his gaze following his brother's back thoughtfully.
"Next, we'll be auditioning for the female lead. Qingyuan, go help with the scene," the director patted Ji Qingyuan's shoulder.
Ji Qingyuan snapped out of his thoughts and smiled in response. "Okay."
After stepping out of the audition room, Ji Linyu didn't see Zhu Xinyue anywhere.
It was strange.
Ji Linyu couldn't quite explain why he had come out to look for her.
He walked along the corridor lined with actors waiting in line but didn't spot her, so he headed toward the adjacent, less crowded hallway.
Passing by the elevator, he paused, perhaps she had left right after the audition.
Just as Ji Linyu turned to leave, he heard a faint, muffled sob.
The sound seemed to be coming from the stairwell.
He walked toward the staircase and stood before the fire door, which was slightly ajar. Through the gap, he saw her curled into a small ball on the stairs, burying her face between her arms and knees as she cried softly.
He clenched his fist.
At this moment, he should leave, give her some privacy to collect herself. That would be the polite thing to do.
Ji Linyu wanted to move, but for some reason, he felt rooted to the spot, unable to walk away.
Her suppressed sobs, her fear of crying openly, hiding in a corner to avoid letting anyone see her vulnerability, just like that day when she twisted her ankle but refused to utter a single word of pain.
It was pitiful.
Listening to her cries, his throat felt as if blocked by a stone, making it hard to swallow.
With a creak, the fire door was pushed open, emitting a harsh, grating sound.
Zhu Xinyue didn't know who had entered and instinctively trembled, unable to control her sobs as she buried her head even deeper.
She heard the door close and the footsteps of the person stop beside her.
Her contact lenses had long fallen out, and her vision was blurry. Even if she looked up, she couldn't make out who it was.
But she had a feeling, even without looking, she could guess who it was.
Zhu Xinyue clutched the damp tissue in her hand, not wanting to appear so disheveled in front of him, like a child.
But...
She couldn't help it, she was too scared.
She had already died once.
To pass the audition, to not disappoint him, when the director gave the scene to act out, she recalled the moment before her death, sitting on the bus.
There were so many things she hadn't done, so many words left unspoken. She was only in her twenties, she didn't want to die!
She didn't want to die yet!
Zhu Xinyue felt a gentle pat on her shoulder blade, as if to comfort her.
The tissue in her hand was taken away and replaced with a softer handkerchief.
Zhu Xinyue lifted her head, her vision blurred by tears, and saw a familiar silhouette.
It was a silhouette she could recognize at a glance, even if it were pixelated.
"Ji Linyu..."
This was the first time she had called him by his full name. Ji Linyu withdrew his hand and sat properly beside her, tucking his long legs in and placing his hands on his knees, as obedient as a schoolboy.
"I'm here."
Hearing his voice, Zhu Xinyue cried even harder.
Ji Linyu was at a loss. He wanted to pat her back again but feared being too forward. He reached out toward her, then withdrew his hand.
Zhu Xinyue grabbed his sleeve, pulling his arm closer, and deliberately wiped her tears on his expensive suit jacket.
Ji Linyu let her do as she pleased, not pulling his arm back, and even asked, "Do you want me to take off my jacket so you can wipe your tears?"
He thought it might be more convenient that way.
Zhu Xinyue lifted her head and glared at him, meeting his innocent gaze as if the cold, ruthless person in the audition room earlier wasn't him.
"What's wrong?" Ji Linyu looked at her expression, as if he were the one who had made her cry.
Zhu Xinyue clutched his sleeve, her eyes red, and said fiercely, "It's all your fault."
Ji Linyu frowned. "What did I do?"
"You were so harsh." Her voice still carried a sob as she accused him in the most pitiful tone, making Ji Linyu feel guilty even if he were innocent.
"Where was I harsh?" Ji Linyu couldn't help but defend himself.
Zhu Xinyue pointed at him, then in the direction she had come from, and choked out, "You were sitting behind the camera with that 'if you can't act well, I'll replace you' cold expression. You scared me to death!"
How unfair.
Ji Linyu raised his hands in surrender and said, "My neutral expression just looks like that. It's naturally unlikable."
Zhu Xinyue wasn't wearing her glasses and couldn't see clearly whether he was lying, so she leaned toward Ji Linyu, propping herself up with one hand.
Ji Linyu was sitting beside her, originally with a small distance between them. As she leaned sideways, her knee bumped against his leg, and then she leaned forward, suddenly closing the gap between them.
She didn't seem to realize how excessively close they had become. Ji Linyu's heart nearly stopped, and he instinctively shifted away. She followed his movement, step by step, until she had backed him against the staircase railing behind him.
Zhu Xinyue clearly saw Ji Linyu's eyes, his dark pupils reflected her figure. His long eyelashes fluttered rapidly before his gaze dropped, then he turned his face away as if scalded by something, presenting the slightly reddened tips of his ears to her.
She carried a faint fruity scent, sweet and unexpectedly pleasant.
"Ahem." Ji Linyu coughed, hoping to remind her to sit properly.
Zhu Xinyue caught his hint and sat back.
Even so, the distance between them sitting side by side was much closer than before.
"Yesterday you mentioned you were worried about the audition," Ji Linyu glanced at her. "Jin Huan Group is an investor in this film and has some say in casting. Your role isn't crucial, even if you aren't selected, I can ask the director to assign you another role based on your audition performance."
Zhu Xinyue understood.
He was here today to pull strings for her.
No wonder he hadn't shown any reaction yesterday, he'd already planned this.
She had thought he hadn't taken her concerns seriously.
"Ji Linyu, you're such a good..." Zhu Xinyue's words trailed off mid-sentence.
Ji Linyu was accustomed to her handing him "good person cards," but hearing her stop halfway, he looked at her in confusion.
"I take back what I just said." Zhu Xinyue clutched the handkerchief he'd given her, speaking with utmost seriousness.
"Hm?" Why wasn't she praising him this time? Ungrateful little thing.
Zhu Xinyue maintained a solemn expression. "You're my great benefactor, my savior. I should call you da..."
Before she could finish, Ji Linyu pinched her cheek.
He rarely got this infuriated with anyone.
Through gritted teeth, he said, "Don't bite the hand that feeds you. Zhu. Xin. Yue."