indignant
That concludes the script reading for the plot...
As the director's deep voice faded, the discussion in the conference room gradually subsided, and the sounds of people getting up and pulling out chairs rose and fell.
Yun Jin blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. She looked up at the script in Shen Yi'an's hand, its edges slightly curled from being turned over. The dense notes and highlighter marks on it silently testified to the passage of time.
Shen Yi'an breathed a sigh of relief, rubbed his eyes, and said to the sullen Yun Jin, "Now it's your turn to audition. Maybe you'll have more scenes than me."
Yun Jin suddenly turned around, her round eyes filled with disbelief, which amused Shen Yi'an.
"Teacher Shen, is this the kitten you acted with?"
A woman with short, ear-length hair was standing not far away, her face mostly covered by a black mask, revealing only a pair of slightly upturned almond-shaped eyes. She wore a name tag that read "Animal Educator Wang Xiao" on her chest and held a recorder in her hand.
Yun Jin glanced at it; it was the assessment criteria for animal actors.
Name: Abu
Breed: Labrador
Lens adaptability: B
Command compliance: C
Stress response: To be observed
...
Wow, that's strict! Yun Jin's tail stiffened involuntarily. She had thought that animal actors only needed to act cute in front of the camera, but she didn't expect to have to undergo such a professional evaluation.
Shen Yi'an noticed the kitten's nervousness in his arms, gently scratched her chin, and chuckled softly, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."
“Yes, Teacher Wang,” Shen Yi’an said with a smile in his eyes and a sincere tone, “When Xiaoyun and I collaborated on ‘The Amazing Furry Child,’ it went very smoothly. She is very intelligent and doesn’t need her owner’s guidance most of the time.”
Yun Jin was a little embarrassed by Shen Yi'an's sincere praise, and her fluffy tail quietly wrapped around Shen Yi'an's arm.
"Is it that 'The Amazing Furry Kid'? I've seen some of it," Wang Xiao raised an eyebrow in surprise. "It's amazing that it can produce such an effect without any guidance."
Yun Jin suddenly felt a little scared. Would Teacher Wang be able to tell that she wasn't an ordinary cat?
“Yes, I was surprised too.” Shen Yi’an smiled, his fingers brushing against Yun Jin’s earlobe, making it tickle.
"Let's test it out, Teacher Shen, this way." Wang Xiao led them to a room specifically for filming.
The room had a pure white backdrop, several dark cameras, and various filming props.
"Come on, let's do a simple environmental adaptation test first." Wang Xiao's voice softened considerably. She gestured to her assistant to bring over a plush toy. "Xiaoyun, look here."
Yun Jin did the same old thing: tilt her head, observe, and then pounce. During this time, the sound of camera shutters clicking incessantly and the blinding flashes of light constantly blinking.
Yun Jin wasn't afraid, but since she had to play the role of an ordinary cat, she first alertly pricked up her ears, jumped a few steps to the side, and then scratched a few times with her paws.
After a while, Yun Jin carefully chased after the toy, her tail swaying nimbly with her changing mood.
"Meow!" Yun Jin suddenly stumbled, her front paws tripping over her hind paws. The cat rolled half a circle on the ground before regaining her balance, her fluffy tail bristling in fright.
A suppressed gasp of surprise immediately erupted from the scene.
"So cute! This accident felt so natural!"
"Quick, take a picture! That expression is amazing!"
The staff members were busy recording this "unexpected" wonderful moment.
"Very good, very brave and curious, and unaffected by the filming environment." Wang Xiao carefully noted on the evaluation form:
Environmental adaptability A+, camera adaptability B, command compliance C, and mild stress response.
Yun Jin breathed a sigh of relief. After deciding to appear on the variety show as "Xiao Yun," she had studied hundreds of cat videos. Hard work pays off, and she managed to fool the animal educator.
"Our big star has worked hard." Shen Yi'an walked through the crowd towards her and picked her up in his arms. "You are much more capable than me. I auditioned several times before I was chosen."
He gently scratched behind her ear with his long, slender hand, and Yun Jin squinted her eyes, making a purring sound.
"Meow meow meow meow—I'll be embarrassed." Yun Jin happily kneaded her breasts in his arms, her soft paws rhythmically stretching and retracting.
The day ended with Yun Jin passing the test perfectly, and Shen Yi'an took Yun Jin home.
When Shen Yi'an's fingerprint lock clicked open, Yun Jin was still immersed in the joy of her successful acting. However, when the door slowly opened, she froze in Shen Yi'an's arms.
Yun Jin couldn't help but marvel at how real the descriptions in novels were; the homes of the wealthy were truly enormous. Thinking of how she and Yun Chen were crammed into a dilapidated rental room of less than ten square meters, Yun Jin's eyes gleamed with envy, jealousy, and resentment.
Shen Yi'an carried her to the master bedroom. The setting sun was streaming into the room through the bay window, adding a touch of warmth to the cool-toned bedroom.
Yun Jin felt something was off. She jumped down and sniffed around, but there were no signs of human habitation. It was as clean and tidy as a model apartment. Was this one of his villas? This guy was way too rich.
"Do you smell anything strange?" Shen Yi'an unbuttoned his cuffs and walked towards the bay window. "I rarely come back because of work, so the housekeeper should have cleaned it up."
Shen Yi'an walked to the bay window and gently patted the shallow cat bed placed on it. The hemispherical bed had a fluffy cashmere lining that looked very comfortable.
Yun Jin jumped up and curled up in the cat bed. The soft cashmere lining enveloped her, making her so comfortable that she wanted to let out a strange cry, but Yun Jin held back.
Outside the window, the setting sun adds shimmering colors to the central river, and several cruise boats slowly pass by, leaving golden streaks in their wake.
Along the riverside path, people strolled leisurely in twos and threes, while flocks of white birds suddenly took flight and disappeared into the unseen horizon.
A gentle breeze blew by, and the gauze curtains on the bay window swayed gently. Yun Jin exclaimed how wonderful the view was here; in their rented room, all they could see through the small window was a gray sky.
The amount she earns from filming variety shows might not even be enough to buy a bathroom in this villa. What's even more infuriating is that Shen Yi'an rarely comes back to live here; this is just one of his many properties.
Cats are more infuriating than people.
Thinking about this, Yun Jin felt even more indignant. Why could he so easily have all of this? Why could he just stand in front of the camera and smile casually, and his reward would be an amount she couldn't earn even if she worked her hardest? Why could he return to such a luxurious mansion after filming...?
"Would you like to try this? I heard it's quite palatable."
Shen Yi'an pried open the metal lid of the can with a "click," and the aroma of minced meat instantly filled the air. Yun Jin's ears perked up, and her pink nose twitched involuntarily. It smells so good!
Even though the cat is angry, it still needs to eat.
Yun Jin buried her head and focused on eating. Shen Yi'an had brewed a cup of black tea at some point. He took a sip, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.
“The scenery here is beautiful. It’s been a long time since I’ve sat here to watch the sunset,” Shen Yi’an put down his teacup. “Xiao Yun, you really are my lucky cat. I’ve become much luckier since I met you.”
Shen Yi'an paused for a moment, then continued, "Actually, when I was little, I also met a calico cat, and it was very smart..."
"Bang--"
The door was suddenly flung open, and Yun Jin jumped up from the cat bed in shock. The little girl she had met at the mall was leaning against the door frame, panting heavily, her little black leather shoes covered in mud.
"My mom and dad are fighting again, and my mom said she's coming to find you," the little girl said anxiously. "Uncle, you'd better hide."
Yun Jin's eyes widened suddenly. Why was Shen Yi'an hiding? Was he a homewrecker who interfered in someone else's marriage? It seemed she had thought too highly of him before.
"Hey, what's that little kitten here?" The little girl picked up Yun Jin in one swift motion, squeezing her so tightly she could hardly breathe.
Do children's attention spans change so quickly? Yun Jin struggled to jump out.
Shen Yi'an's expression froze instantly. He squatted down, gently pried open the little girl's arms to free Yun Jin, and asked in a flustered voice, "Tell me what happened?"
Before the little girl could speak, the door was pushed open with a bang, and a well-built woman with an angry expression appeared in the doorway.
A door that has suffered many misfortunes.
"Zhang Xiaohua!"
A sharp female voice, accompanied by a strong scent of perfume, squeezed into the room. Yun Jin shrank her ears and watched as the woman in red-soled high heels stormed in.
She raised her hand high, waving it at Xiaohua, but Shen Yi'an was faster. He stepped aside to block Xiaohua, saying, "Don't hit the child, Xie Xinrou!"
He gripped her wrist with one hand and said coldly, "What happened now?"
Xiao Hua peeked out from behind Shen Yi'an's legs and said defiantly, "Why did you hit me? I didn't do anything wrong."
"You dare talk back? I shouldn't have given birth to you!" Xie Xinrou was even angrier. "You heartless little thing, I've lost everything because of you. Don't call me Mom anymore..."
Shen Yi'an's hands, hanging by his sides, were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. This was the first time Yun Jin had ever seen him so angry.
"You two get out."
These words seemed to be forced out of his trembling mouth, and his usually gentle eyes were now frighteningly gloomy.
"Isn't it all your fault?" Xie Xinrou slammed her bag to the ground. "That bastard, and Xiaohua, it's all your fault..."
Xiao Hua's tears fell "plop" onto Yun Jin's head. As she carried Yun Jin out of the room, her eyes glared at Xie Xinrou with hatred, grievance, and a stubbornness that Yun Jin was familiar with.
After the door was gently closed, Xiaohua quickly wiped her face with her sleeve, pressed her entire upper body against the door, and listened intently to what was happening inside.
Yun Jin pressed the cat ears close to the door, and the sounds inside the room came in fits and starts...
"Meow! -- Ouch!"
Xiao Hua not only clung tightly to Yun Jin, but also dug her fingers into Yun Jin's fur.
"Shh—" Xiaohua raised her index finger, but her grip did not loosen.
Yun Jin was on the verge of tears; how could this child have such a strong grip?
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