Chapter 15: Just Got Off the Sugar Daddy’s Bed!

Returning to the Song family manor, Sheng Jinchu finally had time to read the script. Li Jiameng had secured her a supporting role, the fourth female lead.

The character was a princess of a fallen kingdom. She was taken in by the emperor of a powerful nation due to her beauty. To survive, she was forced to navigate the treacherous waters of palace intrigue.

The emperor was deeply infatuated with her, and he went to great lengths for her. In the end, she fell in love with him and longed to bear him children. However, she remained childless until her death, when she learned that the emperor had secretly prevented her from conceiving.

The role had a significant amount of screen time, and Director Yu held it in high regard. He had auditioned numerous actresses, but none had met his expectations. Li Jiameng had fought hard to secure this role for Sheng Jinchu.

However, the role was a challenging one for many actresses. The princess was spoiled and arrogant in her youth, but after the fall of her kingdom, she became the concubine of the conquering emperor.

Her transformation, from her change in status to her shift in personality, and finally to the revelation that the emperor had secretly ordered the court physician to add safflower to her medicine, preventing her from ever becoming pregnant, was a complex journey. It required a certain level of acting skill to portray the character as Director Yu envisioned.

Sheng Jinchu was undoubtedly beautiful and had the physique to pull off the role. Director Yu insisted on an audition before making a final decision.

Sheng Jinchu settled into the sofa, engrossed in the script. Meanwhile, at the Song Group headquarters, Song Qing’an was reviewing files in his office.

Lu, his assistant, entered with a file in hand. “Sir, this is the script for the role Mrs. Song will be auditioning for. She’s playing the princess of a fallen kingdom.”

The man’s thin lips barely moved as he uttered a single word, “Hmm.”

Lu turned and left to resume his duties. He now had an additional task: to keep a close eye on Mrs. Song’s filming progress.

He sighed. Since his boss married Mrs. Song, he had become a complete wife-worshipper. He no longer exhibited the same aloof, dignified demeanor he once had.

The man picked up the script and began reading the princess’s scenes. He scanned the entire script to ensure there were no intimate scenes. Satisfied, he summoned Lu back. “Keep a close watch on Mrs. Song’s filming schedule. Report any unusual developments to me immediately.”

“Yes, sir.”

Sheng Jinchu spent the entire day studying the script. She felt a connection with the princess’s situation, so she believed the role wouldn’t be too difficult.

The audition day arrived quickly. Li Jiameng arrived at the Song family manor early in the morning. The driver of the chauffeured car was Leng Feng. They had initially planned to hire an assistant, but Sheng Jinchu declined. She felt that Li Jiameng and Leng Feng were enough.

Having too many people around would only create unnecessary complications. Li Jiameng would act as both her manager and assistant, while Leng Feng would serve as both driver and bodyguard.

Song Qing’an wanted to drive her himself, but she clung to him, pleading, “Ah Qing, I’m just going for an audition. I’ll be back soon. Leng Feng is with me, so you can rest assured.”

With that, she hopped into the car with a skip in her step and waved goodbye to Song Qing’an.

Li Jiameng covered her eyes with her hand, unable to bear the sight. “Good heavens, she’s just going out for a bit. Why is she so clingy?”

Leng Feng remained expressionless, though his heart was filled with joy. He was relieved that he hadn’t been sent to Europe to mine for diamonds. Instead, he was still allowed to accompany Mrs. Song. The boss was being exceptionally kind!

Thirty minutes later, the chauffeured car arrived safely at the hotel.

Sheng Jinchu was dressed in a vintage-inspired red gown, exuding an air of boldness and beauty. Her aura was captivating.

Many people were waiting for their auditions. The arrival of Sheng Jinchu and her entourage drew a lot of attention.

Among the crowd were several established actors and actresses, waiting their turn. Director Yu’s productions were known for launching even small supporting roles to stardom.

Therefore, everyone was desperate to be a part of his films.

One actress, seeing that Sheng Jinchu had attracted so much attention upon her arrival, sneered with disdain. “Who is this? A nobody like her dares to audition? Everyone here today is auditioning for major roles.”

Another actress, with a snake-like face, added with disdain, “She’s an 18th-tier starlet, Sheng Jinchu! She’s just relying on her looks. I bet she just crawled out of her sugar daddy’s bed. How else would she have gotten this opportunity?”

Li Jiameng was about to defend Sheng Jinchu, but Leng Feng held her back, shaking his head.

Sheng Jinchu didn’t seem to care. After all, she had just gotten out of her sugar daddy’s bed, but he was her man. She didn’t recognize the two women, so she turned to Li Jiameng and asked, “Who are they?”

Li Jiameng whispered in her ear, “The one with the snake-like face is Liang Sisi, a newly popular actress. The other one is a notorious troublemaker in the entertainment industry. That’s just how she is.”

Sheng Jinchu nodded. She was there to audition, and she didn’t want to mess things up. She found a spot to sit down, while Leng Feng stood behind them, acting as a protector.

In the audition room, the actresses were auditioning for the fallen princess’s role. The main cast members were already set, and the remaining roles were mostly filled.

A staff member announced, “Liang Sisi, please come in. Wang Qiwen, be ready for your turn next.”

Liang Sisi gave Sheng Jinchu a triumphant smile. Just you wait, she was going to get this role!

Sheng Jinchu felt annoyed. What was she so smug about? She didn’t even know her!

Liang Sisi entered the room and bowed to everyone on the set. “Hello, Director. Hello, everyone.”

Director Yu, upon seeing her snake-like face, couldn’t help but frown. This was clearly someone who had been pushed into the role by some sugar daddy. She didn’t fit his vision at all.

Liang Sisi began her performance, but it was too over-the-top. Director Yu couldn’t bear to watch anymore and closed his eyes, pretending to nap.

He had to give face to the sugar daddy.

After five minutes, Liang Sisi emerged from the room, her expression unreadable.

Director Yu told her to go home and polish her acting skills, implying that she still had a chance.

Wang Qiwen, seeing her come out, immediately asked, “How did it go?”

“You’ll find out when you go in.”

Wang Qiwen knocked on the door and entered. She had chosen the scene where the princess discovers that the emperor had been secretly drugging her.

She adjusted her clothes and began.

“Your Majesty, you have caused me so much pain! All these years, I have been unable to bear you a child. It was you, you who secretly drugged me, rendering me infertile!” This scene required the princess to express her heartbreak and accusations towards the emperor with intense emotion. Her performance needed to be powerful and filled with tears. However, Wang Qiwen was simply wailing, without a single tear.

Director Yu shook his head in disappointment.

“Alright, you can wait for our decision.”

Wang Qiwen, hearing the director’s words, assumed that she had already secured the role. She was convinced that she had it in the bag.

Sheng Jinchu was the last to audition. She had chosen the scene where the princess, after the fall of her kingdom, was taken in by the conquering emperor and made his concubine.

This scene was filled with hatred, not love, but a hint of gratitude for the emperor’s act of sparing her mother’s life. It was a mix of love and hate.

Sheng Jinchu stood on the set, and Director Yu’s eyes lit up. He asked, “Are you the one Jiameng recommended?”

“Yes, she’s my manager.”

The director nodded. “Good, you fit the character’s appearance. Let’s see how you perform.”

“Okay.”

“Your Majesty, I am now your concubine. Please have the court physician treat my mother. Her health is failing. I beg of you! From this day forward, I will be your concubine, living peacefully in this palace, with no other thoughts.”

Sheng Jinchu’s eyes welled up with tears, but her expression held a hint of defiance. Her straight posture was a testament to her remaining dignity. Yet, she was willing to submit to becoming the concubine of her enemy for the sake of her mother.

Director Yu nodded in satisfaction. The performance was excellent. The love and hate intertwined, perfectly capturing the complexity of the character.

He asked her to perform the scene where the princess discovers that her inability to conceive was due to the emperor’s secret orders.

Throughout the entire process, Sheng Jinchu’s performance was emotionally charged, and she flawlessly controlled every nuance of her emotions. Director Yu decided on the spot that she was the perfect choice for the role.