The meeting place arranged with the film company was in a private room of a rather upscale-looking coffee shop.
Before going, Zhang Shaozhong gave the two big shots an emergency training session.
"Remember this, my two ancestors! When people ask about our background, just say we're lovers of traditional culture, and we've practiced martial arts since childhood... uh, dance! Yes, dance! Our natural beauty is undeniable! Just don't mention anything about cultivating immortality or demonic arts, time travel, or contracts!"
Zhang Shaozhong spoke earnestly, feeling like a parent teaching a child to lie.
Night Enchantress impatiently fiddled with her newly done crystal nails: "I know! Stop nagging! It's just about pretending to be serious! I'll just play myself!"
Ling Qingxue nodded slightly, which was taken as tacit acceptance of this explanation.
When they arrived at the coffee shop, three people showed up: Liu, the planner who had called earlier; a middle-aged man wearing a baseball cap and sporting a large beard, whom they all called Director Li; and a female assistant carrying a notebook.
After the introductions and pleasantries, Director Li's sharp eyes, hidden under the brim of his hat, kept scanning back and forth between Ling Qingxue and Ye Meier, his gaze filled with scrutiny and... an increasingly intense surprise!
"So alike! Absolutely so!"
Director Li couldn't help but slap his thigh, his voice booming, "Miss Ling's temperament is so refined and otherworldly, with such clear and bright eyes, she's simply the perfect candidate for the holy maiden of a reclusive immortal sect in my mind! She doesn't even need to act, she's perfect just by standing there!"
He then looked at Ye Meier, his eyes even more excited: "Ms. Ye is absolutely amazing! That charming yet fierce, domineering aura is exactly like that enchanting demonic woman from the script, who is both righteous and evil, stirring up storms! Yes, yes, yes! That's the feeling! Even the wildness in her eyes, the 'fight if you don't agree' attitude, is exactly the same!"
Zhang Shaozhong stood to the side, listening with his lips twitching.
I thought to myself, wow, this director has a really sharp eye!
This isn't casting, it's practically drawing lines from faces!
Liu, the planner, seized the opportunity and handed over the script outline.
The story is quite clichéd, nothing more than the usual battle between good and evil, love and hate.
But the roles of the saintess and the demoness seem tailor-made for Ling Qingxue and Ye Meier.
"What are your requirements for the remuneration and filming period?" Planner Liu asked with a smile.
As previously agreed, Zhang Shaozhong quoted a reasonable price and emphasized that filming should not interfere with normal live streaming work (after all, that's the foundation).
Director Li waved his hand and said, "The price is negotiable! The timeframe can also be negotiated! The key is these two... I'm extremely satisfied!"
He looked at Ling Qingxue and Ye Meier and tentatively asked, "Would you two be interested in trying out a scene? Just a simple one, to get a feel for it?"
Ling Qingxue and Ye Meier exchanged a glance, neither of them objecting.
Director Li had his assistant hand him two pages of script.
What was given to Ling Qingxue was a monologue of grief and restraint from the Holy Maiden after witnessing the murder of her fellow disciples.
What Ye Meier was given was a scene of a vixen flirting with a righteous young hero.
Ling Qingxue glanced at the script but didn't speak immediately.
She closed her eyes slightly, as if gathering her emotions.
A few seconds later, she opened her eyes, and her gaze had changed. It was no longer the usual cold and indifferent look, but filled with a deep grief and suppressed anger, as if she had really seen her loved one perish.
She didn't use a loud voice, but rather a trembling tone, as if from a secluded valley, slowly recited her lines. Each word seemed to carry immense weight, striking the heart with its weight.
"...Heaven is ruthless...treating all things as straw dogs...why...why treat my sect like this..."
She even unconsciously made a simple hand gesture for meditation, which, combined with her sorrowful eyes, was incredibly moving!
The private room was completely silent.
Director Li's eyes widened, and his breathing became rapid!
That acting! That emotional impact!
That natural, ethereal grace! This isn't just an ordinary person; this is a veteran actor!
It's Night Enchantress's turn.
She glanced at the script, threw the paper aside, and smiled at Zhang Shaozhong (who had been temporarily brought in as a prop). The smile was alluring yet tinged with a hint of wickedness.
She extended her nail-painted fingers and gently lifted Zhang Shaozhong's chin!
Zhang Shaozhong stood frozen, motionless. Ye Meier leaned close to his ear, her breath sweet and her voice soft and alluring, yet carrying an undeniable domineering air:
"Young master~ You are indeed handsome~ Why suffer with those hypocrites? Why not... marry me? I'll guarantee you a life of luxury, like a god~"
As she spoke, she looked Zhang Shaozhong up and down with her eyes, her allure and aggression almost overflowing, she was exactly the lawless enchantress in the script!
Zhang Shaozhong's face turned bright red, and he didn't know where to put his hands and feet. He felt even more nervous than when he was being chased by a real witch!
"Cut! That was great! The acting was superb!"
Director Li stood up excitedly and clapped his hands vigorously, "Perfect! Absolutely perfect! This is exactly the feeling I wanted! A natural performance! Absolutely a natural performance!"
Liu, the planner, and his female assistant were also pleasantly surprised and praised him repeatedly.
The interview went surprisingly smoothly, even far beyond my expectations.
Director Li immediately made the decision to sign Ling Qingxue and Ye Meier, and also gave Zhang Shaozhong a minor role as a "mysterious master," probably thinking he could keep these two "masters" in check.
On the way back, Ye Meier said smugly, "How about that? I told you I could just play myself! The director was practically begging me to come!"
Although Ling Qingxue didn't speak, there was a hint of relief in her eyes, as if she was satisfied with being able to "correct" the world's misunderstanding of cultivators.
Zhang Shaozhong looked at the letter of intent in his hand, feeling like he was dreaming.
So... he's going to enter the entertainment industry?
Filming a fantasy drama with a real fairy and a real witch? Who would believe that?!
He could almost see how "exciting" and "chaotic" the film crew would be in the future.
Hopefully, these two big shots will tone it down and not actually cause any "magical duel" or "demonic power manifesting" scenes on set...
Let them get into a mess!
However, if a fantasy drama becomes an instant hit, wouldn't we be making money hand over fist?!
Just thinking about it is exciting.
These days are getting more and more exciting!
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