Chapter 19 Self-Awareness.
The onlookers were digging into the details with great enthusiasm, which startled Sheng Yi.
The so-called "same IP" simply means that she happened to be filming two movies in those two cities during those days.
Cao Jun's favorite breakfast shop was also highly recommended by Fu Xiaodan. It's good quality and inexpensive, so what's wrong with having one more person like it?
As for being on the same flight, that's utter nonsense. She's in first class while he's in economy, they won't see each other at all, so what's the point of comparing them?
Who in their right mind would think to dig this up?
I see myself trending on social media every now and then. It's hard to say whether I'm happy or not. But the increase in followers and the business collaborations I've landed are real.
The topic trended on social media for half a month, but Wen Shili did nothing but remove the relevant entries, so Sheng Yi could only stay put for the time being.
After all this, even among the fans, two opposing opinions began to emerge.
Some people thought they were indeed having an affair, while others thought that obscure celebrities just liked to freeload.
Neither side could convince the other, so they could only act independently.
On the other hand, the sentiment was much simpler: people either praised how well-matched they were or expressed their affection for each other. Any sporadic malice was quickly washed away by the overwhelming blessings.
"Wen Shili isn't a popular idol; it's perfectly normal for him to be in a relationship at his age."
"His character is terrible."
"You mean that recording from before? You'd be better off believing me, the First Emperor of Qin, than trusting those marketing accounts."
"This young lady doesn't look like that kind of person at all. Brother Li isn't blind."
Sheng Yi remained silent, accepting the situation. After all, her so-called fans were just there for the spectacle. One day, she would produce good work and gain her own dedicated fans.
Seeing the onlookers being brainwashed one by one, the fans who couldn't accept it stared wide-eyed, just waiting for her to cause trouble so they could beat her to a pulp and never let her recover.
As a result, after being exposed, Sheng Yi's pendant never appeared in public again.
Intentionally or unintentionally, the colors of clothes in newly released business blogs have become increasingly diverse, with some busybodies noting that blue accounts for the lowest proportion.
When sharing her breakfast with fans, she cleverly explained that she prefers to cook for herself whenever she has free time.
After Wen Shili was revealed to be attending the event, Sheng Yi cancelled her trip.
The onlookers were bewildered: "Isn't this a bit too obvious a way of avoiding the issue?"
"Perhaps Wen Shili doesn't want to be too high-profile? What's wrong with having such a beautiful wife?"
"Your sister-in-law is so sensible, it really breaks my heart."
In comparison, the fans seem like a wicked mother-in-law trying to break up a couple.
There's nothing we can do about her right now, so we can only accept it for the time being. "Fine, as long as you know your place."
Sheng Yi, who is self-aware, is actually not doing very well.
Currently, most people on the internet consider her to be Wen Shili's girlfriend, assuming they must be secretly dating. Her number of followers on social media platforms is also growing at a visible rate every day.
However, even now, most of the people she contacts are for business collaborations, and very few submit scripts.
She did consider taking the initiative, but most of the resumes she sent out disappeared without a trace.
No response is a form of tacit agreement.
She knew that the film she made years ago had dealt a fatal blow to her already almost nonexistent reputation.
Over the years, regardless of the size of the role, she would go to the film set whenever she had the chance. While her acting skills have not improved significantly, she should still be able to get an audition opportunity.
Even considering Wen Shili's popularity and the buzz surrounding his scandals, things shouldn't be like this now.
Tomorrow's interview is her only chance for the near future.
The biographical sketch and audition clips sent to her were only two pages long. Since receiving the notification, Sheng Yi has spent several hours every day familiarizing herself with them, even going so far as to dig out classic films and television shows to try and figure out the subtle differences between them.
When you can only bet on one thing, the anxiety of having nowhere to turn can completely break you down.
She hadn't had a good night's sleep in days.
Fortunately, it will all be over soon.
Early in the morning, Sheng Yi quickly tidied herself up and arrived at Haotian Hotel at the agreed time.
The project's investment scale is average, but there are few productions that can be made now, and people are fighting tooth and nail for even a single role.
The corridor was crowded with all sorts of girls, each holding a script and reciting their lines, none of them wanting to miss their chance if they didn't hold on until the very last moment.
Although Sheng Yi believed she had prepared everything she could before coming, she still couldn't help feeling uneasy.
As I pulled the script from my bag, intending to familiarize myself with it, I felt an unfriendly gaze loom over me.
"She had to come to the audition anyway, so this role couldn't have been pre-selected, could it?"
"It's hard to say. Just do your best. There's nothing you can do if it's really predetermined."
"Let her boyfriend find her resources, why does she have to compete with us lower-class people?"
Sheng Yi took a deep breath, trying to ignore the blatant stares and speculations.
Some people went in, and some people came out crying.
The number of people waiting in the corridor dwindled, and finally, it was almost her turn.
Sheng Yi put her belongings into her bag and then checked her clothes using her phone's camera.
To better fit the character, her costume and makeup today were deliberately chosen to be charming and alluring. Just as she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, the tightly closed door opened from the inside.
Sheng Yi hurriedly stepped forward and introduced herself to the casting director who squeezed out from the crack in the door, "Hello, teacher, I am..."
Before she could finish speaking, the other person raised their hand to signal her to pause. Sheng Yi silently swallowed the rest of her words.
From the half-open door came the sound of footsteps and laughter of a group of people.
They got closer and closer, and finally stopped by the door.
Sheng Yi looked up and saw a girl in a white dress bowing deeply at a ninety-degree angle, her voice filled with excitement, "Thank you for your trust, teachers! I will definitely do my best!"
The casting director quickly stepped forward to help her up, saying, "Don't mention it." He then whispered to Sheng Yi, "I'm sorry, Xiaoru has already been cast."
Xiaoru is the character who is eager to meet Sheng Yi.
She knew what kind of clothes she liked to wear, what tone of voice she used, and what kind of personality traits she had.
However, it's already decided.
Yes, that's how it is. Once a suitable actor is selected, the process can be interrupted. Sheng Yi is not unaware of this.
The director and actors were having a great time, but she felt as if she had stepped into thin air.
She clenched her fists, trying to get a little closer to Xiaoru, just a little bit.
"Could I have a chance to audition? It will only take a few minutes of your time."
The other person firmly shook their head, "There are many excellent students ahead of us. You must know how important Xiaoru is. We can only choose the best of the best."
He patted the girl in the white dress on the shoulder and said to Sheng Yi, "This is a role we all chose. It's a pity. I hope we'll have the opportunity to work together again next time."
Sheng Yi numbly tugged at the corners of her mouth and gave a smile, "Then congratulations."
She dragged herself to the elevator, the doors opened, and she walked in, still dazed.
The elevator started moving and stopped intermittently. Sheng Yi vaguely heard a "ding" sound and came to her senses, only to find that she and another man were the only ones left in the elevator.
The only passenger arrived at his destination just then, and Sheng Yi cheered himself up and followed him out.
The elevator entrance was marked with the number 29, and she was going to the first floor.
When she's down on her luck, even the elevator seems to conspire against her. She frantically presses all the down buttons, head bowed, waiting at the elevator entrance.
Now all she wants is to go home as soon as possible, lie in bed, and have some peace and quiet.
"Oh, Mr. Huang, what are you saying? I promised to host the next event, so don't try to take it from me."
A group of people walked over, talking. They must have just finished a dinner party, and the air was thick with the smell of alcohol.
Sheng Yi lowered her head and listened to them talk about everything from the economic situation to the international landscape. She silently moved to another elevator entrance and unconsciously pressed the down button hard.
"Ding—" The elevator door next door opened first.
The men scurried into the elevator, filling it up haphazardly.
Sheng Yi glanced at it, then lowered her eyelashes again.
Forget it, let's work on the next one.
Suddenly, she heard a male voice call out to her, "Teacher Sheng, aren't you coming together?"
Looking up, she saw Huang Zhicheng pressing the elevator button, smiling as he looked in her direction.
She had blocked all his contact information since their last meeting. Logically, if they met again, they should pretend they didn't know each other. She had tried her best to minimize her presence, but he still found out.
Someone understood and glanced at Sheng Yi meaningfully, "Oh, so it's an old acquaintance of General Manager Huang."
With his greasy skin and large belly, he immediately fit Sheng Yi's stereotype of Huang Zhicheng's group of people.
She gritted her teeth and endured the nausea. "No, thank you. You can go now. I'm still waiting for someone."
"Then I'll stay with Teacher Sheng a little longer." Amidst the cheers, Huang Zhicheng stepped out of the elevator and gestured for the others to go first.
With no outsiders present, Sheng Yi didn't bother pretending with him and silently moved a good distance away. They'd already completely broken off all pretense anyway.
"What, don't you recognize your old friend?" Huang Zhicheng said with a smile, looking like a kind elder.
This kind of person is most skilled at deceiving and swindling others while wearing a fake identity. Sheng Yi glanced at him warily.
Huang Zhicheng was amused by her reaction. He circled her once, resting his chin on his hand and muttering, "Let me guess, Teacher Sheng isn't here for an audition, is she? I heard that Director Wang's project is casting here today..."
After he accurately stated the names of the audition and the director, Sheng Yi had a strange intuition.
Huang Zhicheng didn't try to hide anything, saying, "I even got this audition opportunity for you, Teacher Sheng."
"What, you didn't get selected? Director Wang is really something, I'll definitely have to talk to him about this later. Tsk tsk tsk..."
He grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, and shook his head as he spoke, as if he felt sorry for her.
With each word, Sheng Yi became more aware that all her preparations and efforts over the past period were nothing more than a game played by capitalists when they had nothing better to do.
The emotions that were suppressed when they lost the election have now erupted in double force.
Sheng Yi's eyes stung with tears, but she didn't expect to make a fool of herself in front of such a person.
She took a deep breath, her nails digging into her palms, clenching her fists tighter and tighter. The sharp pain reminded her of her current predicament, preventing her from losing her mind.
She tried her best to keep her voice steady, "Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Huang. I have failed to live up to your expectations."
She wore a fitted long dress, and although she was in a subordinate position, her neck was always held high, as elegant and graceful as a swan.
Unfortunately, they remained stubborn and unyielding.
Huang Zhicheng scoffed inwardly. He didn't mind chipping away at her pride inch by inch, making her realize who was truly worthy of her sincere affection.
"Professor Sheng, you're being too polite with me. Professor Wen has an abundance of resources; you wouldn't even look at my little stunt."
Sheng Yi followed his words, saying, "I still need to thank him. He's so busy with work, how could he have time to bother with such a small thing as mine?"
Upon hearing this, Huang Zhicheng's expression changed drastically. "You actually slept with him?"
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