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Chapter 20: Passed the Audition—It Feels So Flirty When You Say It Like That…
“Sure. To keep things fair…” he said, lifting his juice glass. “My name is Pei Yunzhe.”
“Ah?” Zhong Yang froze, then blurted out, “Employees shouldn’t be calling the boss by his full name, right?”
Pei replied calmly, “If the boss thinks it’s appropriate, then it is.”
“Okay then—your words!” She clinked her glass playfully: “Pei Yunzhe?”
“Yes?” he answered softly.
She giggled. “You’re like Siri—when I call you, you respond.”
“I’m a bit better than that,” he teased, standing up to clear the table. “I can wash dishes too.”
“You can wash dishes?” Zhong Yang stopped him. “Your hand is injured. I’ll do them today—you wash next time.”
“Next time,” he repeated, sliding into the sink to wash. “I learned when I was little. If I didn’t help with chores, my aunt wouldn’t feed me.”
While rinsing, Zhong Yang recalled today’s confrontation: “Honestly, I probably didn’t insult her hard enough.”
Rubbing the dish, he leaned on the doorframe. “Is that so? What would count as harder?”
She hesitated, then laughed: “Hard to explain—you have to be in the moment. But normally, I’m gentle… just step in when things get unfair.”
He smirked, unconvinced. “I can tell.”
Ding-dong. The doorbell sounded.
Assistant Zhang Lin, having sorted security issues and braved the evening traffic, arrived with the suit and phone.
He opened the door and did a double-take at the CEO’s oversized yellow-Duck ensemble. Still, he merely widened his eyes. “Uh, Mr. Pei, here are your suit and phone.”
“Thanks. Please wait in the car.”
“Got it.”
Pei took the suit into the bathroom, changed from his cartoon attire back into his crisp suit. Immediately his posture straightened.
Seeming casual, he asked Zhong Yang, “By the way, why do you have men’s clothes at your home?”
She answered: “I hang them on the balcony so intruders think a man lives here—so they won’t break in.”
“I see.” He picked up the duck-outfit bag. “I’ve worn these—I’ll take them. I’ll have someone bring you a clean set tomorrow.”
“Okay.” Zhong Yang warned, “It’s fall—remember to get autumn clothes, or they’ll seem out of place.”
He glanced at her but didn’t speak.
Still, she made a point. He nodded. “Okay.”
“Bye! Stay safe.” She waved as he left.
Back in the living room, she noticed something odd—the papers on the coffee table seemed less neatly arranged than before.
Meanwhile, in the car:
Zhang Lin, still stunned, hadn’t recovered while in the passenger seat. The driver asked, “Who lives there? Finally some action with the boss?”
Zhang replied, “She’s the new signed actress. And yes—it didn’t feel right.”
“What was off?”
“Imagine—the boss was wearing a cartoon t-shirt with a goofy yellow duck… Can you picture it?”
“Sort of—but also, kind of can’t.”
Zhang shook his head. “They say love makes people lose IQ—looks like Mr. Pei’s no exception.”
Later that week (Wednesday):
A local unknown number rang, sending Zhong Yang’s heart racing.
“Hello—is this actress Zhong Yang?”
“Yes!”
“This is the Wusu production team. We’re pleased to inform you that you passed the audition and are tentatively cast as the female lead, Jibuchuhe.”
Bang! Fireworks exploded in her mind. She could barely believe it.
“Are you serious?”
“Absolutely. We’ll contact your agency with the next steps soon.”
“Okay! Thanks so much!”
After hanging up, Zhong Yang tumbled onto her bed, tossing around her hair and blankets, grinning ear to ear.
This was unbelievable. She needed to share the news.
Her best friend, Xu Youyou, got the first text:
“Big sis!!! I got Jibuchuhe! Female lead of Jasper’s movie!!!”
Xu replied excitedly via voice message:
“Holy crap, Zhong Yang—you are awesome!”
“As expected of my best girl!”
“As your former boss, I’m your biggest fan—I’ll rent the theater when the movie comes out!”
The text said:
【Zhong Yang】 “Thanks! Are you two… okay now?”
Xu teased: “Not yet—he still hasn’t confessed. When we get back from Maldives, that dummy better treat us to dinner.”
Zhong Yang: “Got it.”
Then she messaged Su Mingzhu:
“I passed the Jasper audition!”
“Congrats!!” Su Mingzhu called to celebrate.
“So you got Jasper’s movie audition?”
“Yes, they just called me.”
“Great! Lucky timing—we just recruited a top agent, Wu Zhirong—heard of him?”
“The lead agent from Yuanfang Entertainment?”
“Yes! He’ll be handling you. We’ll set up a group chat with make-up and operations staff. Oh, and we still need an assistant. Do you know anyone reliable?”
Zhong Yang realized she did.
“I think so—I’ll ask.”
“Perfect! Congrats again, future Best Actress Zhong Yang!”
“Thanks a lot, sis!”
Her former stage assistant (“Xiao Yun”) was hardworking and high-spirited. Once, she’d helped diffuse a disturbance. After Zhong Yang left, Xiao Yun got promoted too.
So she messaged her:
“Xiao Yun, what’re you up to?”
“At work—everything smooth with you?”
“Great—signed to a new company and just got my role! I’m looking for an assistant—interested?”
“Of course! Wherever you go, I go!”
“Amazing—thank you!!!”
“Once Boss Chen returns, I’ll resign officially!”
Stealing an assistant—she wondered how the old boss felt, but didn’t care.
After sharing the news, she lay still, staring at the ceiling. It felt dreamlike—just last month, she doubted her future as an actor, and now she’s about to star in a film.
She owed it all to that one person. She opened WeChat to Pei Yunzhe:
“(spinning-happy emoji) I got female lead!”
He replied instantly:
“Congratulations. The gift is ready.”
A gift? Already prepared?
She realized: he, as an investor and producer, must have known about the casting early.
“Thanks to the world’s best, most thoughtful boss (love emoji)”
“So you knew before I did?”
“Yes. Two days earlier.”
“Really? We’ve had dinner together!”
“What kind of relationship?”
“We’ve eaten together at my home!”
“Is that so? Not just that, right?”
Oops.
Besides dinner—they showered together, held hands, he wore her duck outfit and donut boxers…
Her heart fluttered. So flirty…
She closed her phone, shaking her head to clear it.
A few minutes later, Su Mingzhu messaged: Jasper’s team invited them to dinner tonight—including the male lead cast, Ruan Yu.
Ruan Yu was a talented young actor who started in idol dramas but successfully transitioned into period dramas and films. Last year he even won Best Actor. Handsome and warm, he’s a significant star with huge fanbase and reputation.
Zhong Yang had seen his work—both in TV and film—and couldn’t believe she’d get to work with him.