Huayu: Brother, I'm having such a great time!

Chapter 88 New Role Challenge

The next morning at eight o'clock, Mao Xiaotong knocked on Xu Jingxing's door precisely at the moment the alarm clock rang.

The bed next to me was empty.

Xu Jingxing was about to turn off the alarm when he noticed two unread text messages from Fan Bingbing on his phone.

[I'm going back to my room now. The bag on the table contains the new clothes I bought for you; try them on in a bit.]

[I had a really strange dream last night. I dreamt that I was hearing moaning and groaning coming from the bathroom next door. I suspect your room is haunted. You should come to my room from now on.]

Xu Jingxing felt a chill run down his spine. This wasn't a dream; it was exactly the noise he heard while he was half asleep.

Although Yili had tried to lower her voice, she couldn't help herself when it came to this.

Fortunately, Fan Bingbing thought it was just a dream, a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.

After taking a shower and changing into the new clothes Fan Bingbing had bought for him, Xu Jingxing, holding the coffee Mao Xiaotong had bought for him, arrived at the film studio in the crew's car.

It's easier to go with the film crew's car. Parking is scarce at the studio, and just finding a parking spot takes a lot of time.

Stepping off the car, you are greeted by a cluster of Jiangnan-style buildings with white walls, black tiles, waterside pavilions, and terraces.

Without the elaborate decorations of the opening ceremony, Tianyi Pavilion instantly exudes the unique elegance of the Jiangnan water towns, yet also reveals the solemnity and reverence characteristic of a library.

This money was indeed wasted on empty land.

Upon entering the dressing room, Lin Lu, the makeup artist from the fan meeting that day, was doing Li Jie's makeup. When she saw Xu Jingxing enter, she nodded to him in a friendly manner.

Li Jie, who was putting on makeup, saw Xu Jingxing and suddenly said, "It's not a good day for us to meet."

"It's really not suitable. I even felt like stabbing you!" Xu Jingxing said.

Lin Lu looked at the two of them with a gossipy expression.

Why are they even using knives? I thought to myself, I can finally witness a dramatic catfight today.

Let's start fighting! Let's start fighting!

Lin Lu cried out silently in her heart.

However, they soon found themselves struggling with the decision of who to pull back if a fight broke out.

But soon the two of them stopped moving. Li Jie continued to put on makeup, while Xu Jingxing sat on the sofa and started reading the script.

Is this over?

Lin Lu was completely bewildered. What happened to the stab? Hurry up and stab me!

But the two of them continued doing their own thing.

Unable to contain her curiosity, Lin Lu quietly asked Xu Jingxing while he was putting on makeup, "What's going on between you two?"

"What?" Xu Jingxing was replying to Tang Yan's message on his phone when he suddenly paused in surprise upon hearing this.

"I saw you two arguing just now."

"Oh my god." Xu Jingxing suddenly realized, "We were just talking about the plot."

"Shall we talk about the plot?"

"In the drama, he cheated on me!" Xu Jingxing explained.

"So that's how it is..." Lin Lu said with a look of disappointment.

"What else do you want?" Xu Jingxing said speechlessly.

Lin Lu realized what was happening and quickly explained, "No, no, I was just curious."

Xu Jingxing: "..."

After getting his makeup done, Xu Jingxing headed towards the filming area.

Huang Lei was sitting in front of the monitor directing the work, while the staff were busy setting up the set and adjusting the lighting. Yi Li and Wang Jinsong were chatting with screenwriter Han Wei about the plot.

"Xiao Xu, come here for a moment."

Upon seeing Xu Jingxing, Huang Lei waved to him.

"Director Huang." Xu Jing walked to the monitor.

"Xiao Xu, I've read your 'Brief Notes on People,' and the summary is quite good."

"It was mainly because Director Huang explained things very clearly at the reading session yesterday that I was able to better understand the character."

Huang Lei was clearly impressed by this, and he nodded in satisfaction before continuing:

"The character of Lin Shaoqing is quite complex. Just as you wrote in your notes, he is first a promising and passionate young man, then a revenger driven by hatred, then a traitor under great pressure, and finally a redeemer who repents for his life."

"Director Huang, you're right," Xu Jingxing continued, echoing Huang Lei's words.

"The most poignant aspect of the character Lin Shaoqing is that he is not an inherently evil person, but a tragic figure caught in the crossfire of hatred, the pressures of the times, and an unhappy marriage."

Huang Lei paused for a moment, then continued, "Therefore, my expectations of you will be even higher."

"I will definitely live up to Director Huang's expectations," Xu Jingxing said.

"I actually wanted to find a newcomer to play this role because he is as clean as a blank sheet of paper, which would be more suitable for the role."

Huang Lei looked at Xu Jingxing and said, "Moreover, with your appearance, you are very suitable for the role of Lin Shaoqing. Even if it weren't for Yi Li and Fan Bingbing's recommendation, I would have cast you if you had auditioned."

Is this the start of self-harassment/manipulation?

Even if you understand it in your heart, you still have to cooperate with the appropriate reaction.

Xu Jingxing quickly made a "a scholar will die for one who understands him" expression and presented it to Huang Lei.

"Good!" Huang Lei patted Xu Jingxing on the shoulder with satisfaction. "Go down and prepare for the scene later."

"Then you go ahead with your work, Director Huang, I won't bother you any longer."

Upon arriving at the rest area, Wang Jinsong, who plays Fan Boqing, the eldest son of the Fan family, is currently rehearsing his lines with Yi Li.

Upon seeing Xu Jingxing, Wang Jinsong quickly invited him to come over.

The next scene is an ensemble piece, where Wang Jinsong plays Fan Boqing and his sister Fan Yunlian, played by Fan Bingbing, come to the dock to welcome Lin Shaoqing, who has just returned from abroad, and Lin Ruoyun, played by Yi Li.

When Yili saw Xu Jingxing sitting next to her, her cheeks flushed slightly as she thought about what happened last night.

Although she's not a young girl anymore, the thought of what she and Xu Jingxing did last night still makes her heart flutter.

I don't know why, but every time I get close to Xu Jingxing, I always want to do something with him that crosses the line of morality.

No wonder people always say that stealing is addictive; once you do it once, you'll do it again, and once you do it again, you'll do it countless times.

Especially last night, after witnessing his relationship with Fan Bingbing, she actually felt a pang of jealousy.

It's clearly a common exchange in the entertainment industry—he provides emotional value, and she provides resources—so why does it feel like jealousy and rivalry?

Yi Li glanced at Xu Jingxing, who was rehearsing his lines with Wang Jinsong beside her; he was indeed good-looking.

But then I thought again, having learned from Guan Hu's experience, I really dislike feelings that are out of my control.

Wenwen.

It is indeed an easy target to control.

As the group was chatting, Fan Bingbing, who had finished her makeup and styling, came over.

"It's really fate that the first scene is with just a few of us." Fan Bingbing smiled as she sat down next to Yi Li.

"Looks like you slept well last night; you seem to be in pretty good spirits today," Yili said meaningfully.

"Thankfully, I slept quite soundly last night."

Fan Bingbing glanced at Xu Jingxing discreetly.

As they were chatting, Yili's phone suddenly rang.

Yili took out her phone, got up, and went to the side to answer the call.

When Fan Bingbing saw the phone in Yi Li's hand, her expression suddenly froze.

"This phone looks so familiar..."