After Being Blackened All Over the Internet, I Ruled the Military Variety Shows
Chapter 395 - 386: The Ambitious Girl

Chapter 395: Chapter 386: The Ambitious Girl

"Mr. Jiang, I’m sorry to bother you. I’m in such a mess right now and didn’t know who to talk to. Before I knew it, I ended up here."

Jiang Lingxi looked at Pei Xinyuan who had come to her on her own initiative.

The young girl slumped her shoulders, looking quite listless, much like a little quail shut inside a cage and starting to feel reclusive.

"Have some water first, haven’t you noticed your voice is a bit hoarse?"

Taking the cup of warm water handed to her, Pei Xinyuan took a sip and cleared her throat. Facing those clear, determined eyes that seemed to carry infinite tolerance, she suddenly felt the urge to pour out everything.

"Mr. Jiang, Han Jiaojiao—you probably don’t know her—is the girl I share an apartment with. We used to hang out together in various crews in this film city, always getting along well."

"I have met her," Jiang Lingxi nodded towards her, "a very ambitious young girl."

"Ambitious..." Pei Xinyuan repeated unconsciously, stunned for a moment, then couldn’t help but let out a bitter smile, "Mr. Jiang, you’re good at reading people!"

"Why did you suddenly mention her?" Jiang Lingxi took a light sip of tea, "Did something happen between you two?"

Pei Xinyuan calmed herself, "A few days ago, I was debating whether to accept Mr. Cheng’s invitation, so I also told Jiaojiao about it. She kept advising me to take the opportunity and give it a try. But I already told her clearly that I’m not planning to go. I just don’t feel secure. Maybe because I’m a little timid, I still think it’s better to be grounded. But just now, Han Jiaojiao told me that she..."

Seeing Pei Xinyuan becoming hesitant, Jiang Lingxi had a hunch, "Han Jiaojiao asked if you could give her this opportunity. After all, since you’re not planning to go, it would be a pity to waste it."

Pei Xinyuan pursed her lips and nodded lightly, "I don’t know why she’s so persistent this time. I tried to warn her that there might be pitfalls, but she didn’t seem to listen to any of it. Now we’re both upset with each other. Mr. Jiang, I really meant well!"

"I already mentioned before, this friend of yours is a very ambitious young girl." Jiang Lingxi looked at the pain and struggle appearing on Pei Xinyuan’s face, and couldn’t help but sigh internally.

This girl not only resembles Qing Yuan, even her personality... is almost identical.

"Are you afraid you might harm her?"

Pei Xinyuan closed her eyes lightly and nodded.

"People are different, and the paths they choose are also different." Jiang Lingxi didn’t like seeing this girl hang her head in self-blame, so she reached out, lifted her chin, and made her look into her eyes, "Moreover, it’s her own choice, she is mentally prepared for it. Even if you understand some perspectives, you can’t impose them on others because people are subjective. You have advised her, done your duty as a friend, and that’s enough!"

"Is that enough?"

"Isn’t that enough?" Jiang Lingxi chuckled lightly, her tone suddenly gaining a few more degrees of coldness, "The path she chose, she will have to bear the consequences herself, what does it have to do with you!"

Coming out of the lounge, Pei Xinyuan took out her phone, turned off the mute mode, and message notifications chimed in right after.

Besides two messages in the actor’s group, the rest were all sent by Han Jiaojiao to her.

She opened Han Jiaojiao’s profile picture first.

[Xinyuan, I redesigned my actor card, can you help me check how it looks?]

[If you think it’s okay, I’ll print it and laminate it; can you help me get it to Mr. Cheng?]

[Please, please, I’m really, really in need of this opportunity!]

[Picture.JPG]

For special actors aiming higher, they would want to land roles with names and lines, which require preparing a well-crafted actor card in advance.

It would have one’s basic information, some representative roles they’ve played, along with a few photos in either period or modern costumes.

By then, casting directors use the photos on the actor card to make preliminary candidate selections before arranging any live auditions.

Pei Xinyuan opened the picture Han Jiaojiao sent; she could immediately tell that the photos were newly taken.

It might even be safe to say they were intentionally styled to fit the role of the second female lead in "Shengjing Little Lady."

Recalling Mr. Jiang’s consoling words from earlier in the lounge influenced Pei Xinyuan to resist yet again advising Han Jiaojiao to let go, replying: [Jiaojiao, are you truly sure about this?]

The message was barely sent before she saw the typing indicator from the other side.

[I spent three days of my extra work wages just to take these pictures, so I’ve never thought clearer. Honestly, Xinyuan, this is the closest I’ve ever been to a chance, I genuinely want to seize it. Rest assured, even if not chosen in the end or if anything else happens, it’s all my own choice. If you help me just this once, I’ll be grateful to you. Plus, I’m quite vigilant, so don’t worry!]

[Okay then, the photos came out beautifully, print them and get them ready for me.]

[Thanks, thanks, Xinyuan, wait for me, I’ll go print them right away!]

Sending the message, Pei Xinyuan watched Han Jiaojiao’s almost eager response of gratitude and let out a heavy sigh.

She already advised her, and now she can help by talking to Cheng Qian about it. This would fulfill her duty as a friend.

As for what happens next, she reckons she probably wouldn’t be able to intervene even if she wanted to.

So let nature take its course.

*

When Pei Xinyuan handed Cheng Qian the carefully prepared actor card by Han Jiaojiao, he was taken aback for a moment.

It was the first time this girl had called out to him on her own.

Actually, he had already noticed that she began to brush him off a little lately. Having mixed in this circle for over a decade, he’s seen countless people.

Pei Xinyuan, she’s got a bit of trickery, but her foundation is still shallow. He didn’t catch it at first, but after a while, it naturally became clear to him.

However, he didn’t plan to give up directly; who knows, maybe something might occur to her all of a sudden.

Nothing is certain until the very end.

After that moment of surprise, he habitually raised a warm-brotherly smile, "Xinyuan, what brings you to me? Has the director granted your leave?"

"No, not yet." Pei Xinyuan was a little nervous, but having already stopped him, with the arrow on the string, she had to continue no matter how nervous she felt, "Brother Cheng, I’m afraid I really have to disappoint your kindness this time, regarding Director Wei..."

"Did you not see the notice in the group chat?"

Interrupted first and then seeing the smile on Cheng Qian’s face, a bad premonition crept into Pei Xinyuan’s mind, "I haven’t gotten the chance yet. Did the director send anything important?"

"Director Wei said he’s freeing up two hours tomorrow afternoon. Isn’t there an actor who can’t film because of an incident? Probably a promising actor is coming to audition tomorrow. The assistant director put in a good word, and everyone in the crew has been pretty tense lately which affected their performance, so he arranged for those two hours off for everyone. Director Wei agreed with a reply emoji."

Pei Xinyuan almost lost her smile, "Is that so?"

"Yes, after these few tense days, now everyone can finally relax a bit. Incidentally, the director of ’Shengjing Little Lady’ has been in this film city for site selection these days, enough time to meet for sure. Oh, what’s that in your hand?"

"It’s an actor card from a good friend of mine." Pei Xinyuan forced a smile, "I’m not going to make it, so I thought to recommend my friend for a try. Her name is Han Jiaojiao, and she came to the film city around the same time as I did. We even live together, and have always got along well. She’s very talented and is also prettier than me, but she just hasn’t encountered a good opportunity."

There are plenty of girls in the film city who haven’t encountered good opportunities.

Cheng Qian thought to himself, taking the actor card Pei Xinyuan handed over easily. Seeing the beautifully printed and clear photo, his eyes lit up, "The no-makeup shot is good, this period costume shot is also nice."

It was obvious that she had put some serious effort into them, even the role introductions below the photos were mostly from period dramas.

The intention was self-explanatory.

Overlaying a hint of regret on his expression, "It’s indeed a bit of a pity."

"So, what do you think, Brother Cheng?"

"Such a great opportunity," Cheng Qian gave Pei Xinyuan a meaningful look, "Are you really willing to give it away to your friend?"

Before Pei Xinyuan could answer, he patted the actor card in his hand, "How about this, why don’t you and your friend both go meet the director tomorrow. Even though personally, I think highly of you, maybe the director might prefer your friend, you know. What do you think of this suggestion?"