Chapter 3

Shen Yan had to temporarily change her plans because of her skirt. She decided to go home and change clothes first before going to the company to find her agent. Fortunately, Xingkong Entertainment wasn’t too far from her home.

Sitting in the car, Shen Yan looked at the hem of her skirt and frowned slightly. Meng Yi’an hated her so much. It seemed that she couldn’t wear anything he gave her from now on.

It wasn’t that Shen Yan still had any attachment to those things. It was just that after being reborn yesterday, there were a lot of things she needed to do, so she had forgotten for a moment. Or, it could be said that because Shen Yan no longer had any feelings for Meng Yi’an, she didn’t even remember that the dress she was wearing was a gift from him.

Before her rebirth, Shen Yan had cherished the things Meng Yi’an gave her, especially after they broke up. She wouldn’t wear anything he had given her out of the house.

Once today was over and she went home, she planned to gather those things and donate them.

While lost in these thoughts, Shen Yan fell asleep in the car.

At the audition, it was He Han’s turn. When she entered, she tried to mimic Shen Yan’s style, but when she thought about how Shen Yan had been eliminated, she became unsure of herself. If Shen Yan had been eliminated, could she really pass the audition by copying her?

The assistant director watched He Han perform. He thought she was acceptable, though not entirely satisfied. But after seeing so many auditions, He Han was the most suitable so far. He said, “Just perform the part where you say the palace is full of thorns during the final scene.”

He Han’s gaze shifted slightly. She quickly imitated Shen Yan’s performance and said, “The harem is full of thorns, and everyone is thinking about how to find a bright path through these thorns. But in the end, it’s all in vain. What I want to do is simply take good care of Empress Chen. She saved me. So, if she wants to find a bright path through these thorns, I will help her.”

The assistant director took a long time to respond, finally saying, “This role is yours.”

He Han felt a surge of joy inside, but soon she started thinking. Why was it that when she imitated Shen Yan, she could land the role of the maid, but Shen Yan herself couldn’t pass the audition?

After thinking it over, He Han came to one conclusion: It was because Shen Yan was too beautiful. If Shen Yan played the maid, what would happen to the female lead?

As she thought about this, He Han felt conflicted. Shen Yan didn’t succeed in the audition for the maid because she was too beautiful, and He Han had succeeded precisely because her looks weren’t as stunning as Shen Yan’s.

When He Han walked out of the audition room, the staff announced that the role of the maid beside Empress Chen no longer required auditions. Everyone around looked at He Han with envy. Under their admiring gazes, He Han stopped worrying about not being as pretty as Shen Yan.

So what if Shen Yan was more beautiful? She still didn’t succeed in the audition. And so what if He Han wasn’t as pretty? She was the one who passed.

Shen Yan and He Han shared the same agent, Sister Zhou, who managed over a dozen artists. If He Han wanted Sister Zhou to support her, she had to rely on her own abilities. Now that He Han had passed the audition, she planned to go straight to the entertainment company to find Sister Zhou and tell her that Shen Yan had also auditioned but hadn’t been successful.

Thinking this, He Han curled the corner of her mouth, imagining how Shen Yan had pretended not to recognize her earlier.

After a few more roles were auditioned at the audition site, the assistant director took out his phone and called the director.

“Director, about the role of Lan Fei, I’ve found the perfect person. She has a clean aura and a pretty appearance. She will definitely play the role well,” the assistant director said, flattering.

“You’ve already booked someone for Lan Fei?” the director asked, then added, “Alright, have her sign the contract when she joins the crew. If I’m not satisfied, then don’t sign the contract. The screenwriter really likes this role, you know that, right? Our screenwriter has connections with a senior executive at another streaming platform. If she’s happy, she can help promote it on that platform. At least our show will have some popularity.”

The assistant director quickly agreed and then said, “Director, trust me, Shen Yan will definitely be able to play the role of Lan Fei.”

The director replied, “Alright, let’s wait until she comes to sign the contract. As for the other minor roles, hurry up and finish the auditions. The main thing is to have high looks, not many lines, but the acting can’t be too exaggerated.”

Since the director still had to shoot, he hung up the phone.

The assistant director wanted to mention the role of the maid next to Empress Chen, but the director had already hung up, so he didn’t bring it up.

The assistant director muttered to himself, “That scene where He Han and Shen Yan acted together… There was something off about it.”

When Shen Yan returned home, she opened her wardrobe, grabbed a random dress, paused for a moment, then closed the wardrobe door. She would donate those clothes when she returned later. For now, it was more important to go find her agent.

Before leaving, Shen Yan called Sister Zhou. “Sister Zhou, are you at the company?”

Sister Zhou’s voice was indifferent. “I’m at the company.”

Shen Yan replied, “I’m heading to the company now.”

Sister Zhou responded, “Okay.”

Not long after Shen Yan hung up, He Han called Sister Zhou. Sister Zhou’s tone towards He Han was the same as it was with Shen Yan.

Sister Zhou had always been like this. Except for the one artist she was heavily promoting, she was indifferent to the others, especially since she managed over a dozen artists.

Since Shen Yan had delayed a bit to change clothes, He Han arrived at the company first.

“Sister Zhou, I passed the audition!” He Han said, grinning.

“You passed the audition? For the role in ‘Empress Chen’?” Sister Zhou sent out the audition information to all of her artists, except for the one she was heavily promoting. She thought that even if someone passed the audition, it would likely be Shen Yan, because Shen Yan’s temperament matched the role, and she was good-looking.

As for why she sent out this audition message instead of just telling Shen Yan to audition alone, it was because Shen Yan was not the artist Sister Zhou was promoting. So, she gave everyone the opportunity to audition. After all, they were all her artists, and whoever succeeded was beneficial to her. Plus, she didn’t want others to think she was favoring Shen Yan.

Sister Zhou said, “Since you passed, just do well in your performance. By the way, who else auditioned?”

He Han smiled and replied, “I auditioned with Shen Yan. I’m not sure about the others, but Shen Yan…”

He Han trailed off, looking like she wanted to say more but stopped herself.

Sister Zhou asked, “What about Shen Yan?”

He Han continued, “There were so many people auditioning. While we were waiting, I bought Shen Yan a coffee, but she pretended not to recognize me.”

Sister Zhou was surprised, “Shen Yan pretended not to recognize you?”

Sister Zhou had always thought Shen Yan was the most well-mannered among the dozen or so artists she managed. She couldn’t believe Shen Yan would pretend not to recognize He Han.

He Han shrugged. “She was probably in a bad mood.”

Sister Zhou hummed in response but didn’t say anything further. At that moment, her phone buzzed with a message from the company’s agent group.

【Who snagged a role?】

【Huh?】

【For the ‘Empress Chen’ web drama, the director has good connections with a senior executive from a streaming platform. Even though the investment is small, once it airs, it will likely be one of the platform’s main shows.】

【I thought it was just a regular web drama. We didn’t even send any of our artists to audition for it, as we went to audition for another web drama instead, and none of us passed.】

Sister Zhou looked up at He Han. “You have to perform well in this show. Many artists are becoming popular through web dramas now.”

He Han quickly agreed, “Okay, I understand. I’ll perform my best, Sister Zhou!”

Outside the door, Shen Yan knocked.

“Come in,” Sister Zhou called.

Sister Zhou and He Han both looked toward the door, and then Shen Yan walked in. He Han smiled and said, “Yan Yan, I passed the audition.”

He Han passed the audition?

Does this mean I’ll have to act with He Han in the future?

Shen Yan was thinking about this. As for why He Han passed the audition, Shen Yan didn’t really care. After all, in her previous life, Shen Yan didn’t attend the audition, and He Han ended up playing the maid next to Empress Chen. This time, Shen Yan auditioned and succeeded for a different role, so it wasn’t surprising that He Han passed.

Shen Yan simply felt that if she had gone to the audition in her past life, maybe her outcome would have been different. So, she reaffirmed in her heart that it was right not to like Meng Yi’an.

Sister Zhou asked, “Shen Yan, did you pretend not to recognize He Han at the audition?”

Shen Yan glanced at He Han and then replied, “Oh, so she’s He Han.”

He Han frowned. “You…”

He Han didn’t say anything because Sister Zhou was present. She simply stood behind her, thinking that Sister Zhou would lean towards her now and help her out.

Shen Yan had come to tell Sister Zhou about her successful audition. She didn’t want to engage with He Han, so she directly said, “I passed the audition this time.” Just as she finished speaking, He Han let out a laugh.

“You passed the audition? How is that possible? The assistant director let me into the group, said I was perfect for the role, and was very satisfied with me, even complimented me a few times.”

Both of these artists are claiming they passed the audition?

Sister Zhou’s tone became stern. “You both passed for the same role? Then tell me, how are you going to perform it? Are you planning on taking turns as a stand-in?”

At that moment, Sister Zhou’s phone rang, and she picked it up to answer.

He Han lowered her voice and said, “Shen Yan, you passed the audition? How is that even possible? When you left the audition site, the role of the maid next to Empress Chen was still being auditioned. So, it was me who passed the audition. Do you think your actions make any sense?”

Shen Yan had no intention of arguing with He Han. She just smiled faintly and said nothing. But He Han, seeing Shen Yan’s indifferent attitude, clenched her fists. She had passed the audition, yet Shen Yan was acting like she didn’t want to engage with her?

The person who called Sister Zhou introduced themselves, saying, “Hello, I’m a staff member from the web drama ‘Empress Chen.’ I wanted to discuss the pay for Shen Yan and He Han with you when you’re available, and then we can talk about finalizing the contract and their schedules.”